JP2003186729A - Content distribution method, its device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the efficient and wide distribution of content while managing and controlling the content distribution so as to prevent the distribution against a content owner's will. <P>SOLUTION: When the content 206 is distributed between devices 201, 203 that can mutually communicate through a network, the devices mutually exchange service policies 202, 204 being the policies of the respective devices 201, 203 concerning how to deal with the content, in each of the devices, the service policy received from the counterpart device is compared with the service policy of the own device to determine whether or not the content distribution is to be executed with the counterpart device, and only when it is determined, in both the devices, that the content distribution is to be executed with the counterpart device, progress is made to the distribution stage of the individual content 206. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution method for managing content distribution, a content distribution device, a content transmission device, and a content reception device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a multimedia environment typified by the Internet, various digital data such as voices and moving images can be handled, and digital data or contents of these various formats and contents are called contents. Content-related services have rapidly expanded and become popular in recent years, and a representative example thereof is a content distribution service. This is a system that enables contents such as images, sounds, and programs to be delivered from a server to a client terminal through a network such as the Internet, and allows the client terminal to play back images and sounds by playing contents and execute programs. is there.

In such a content distribution system,
The same content is distributed from a plurality of servers for the purpose of promoting the distribution of the content and improving the convenience of the user. For example, in the WWW server mirroring technology, both the master server and the slave server of the mirroring have mutual IP addresses to authenticate each other and copy the contents in folder units, and the slave server has the same contents as the master server. Publish. In such a WWW server, Internet Protocol (IP) transmission is used as a method of transmitting contents between computers using a communication line. FIG. 37 shows an example of the configuration of a transmission device such as a WWW server that performs IP transmission.

In FIG. 37, the IP packet receiving unit 26
01 receives data called an IP packet sent from another transmission device. The communication-permitted IP address storage unit 2603 stores an IP address list of another transmission device that can communicate with the transmission device. IP address comparison unit 2
602 determines whether or not the IP address of the transmission device that transmitted the IP packet recorded inside the received IP packet exists in the IP address list stored in the communication-permitted IP address storage unit 2603. If it is determined that the data exists, the data in the IP packet is stored in the data storage unit 2604. On the other hand, the IP address storage unit 2605 stores the IP address assigned to the transmission device.
Remember the address. The IP packet transmission unit 2606 is
In the data stored in the data storage unit 2604,
The IP address of the transmission device stored in the IP address storage unit 2605 is added to generate an IP packet, which is transmitted to another transmission device. In FIG. 38, 270
Reference numeral 1 is an example of an IP address stored in the IP address storage unit 2605, and 2702 is a communication-permitted IP address storage unit 2
An example of the IP address list stored in 603, 270
3 schematically shows an example of an IP packet received by the IP packet receiving unit 2601.

On the other hand, when the contents handled by the contents distribution system are contents owned by a specific person, such as digital works, the distribution of the contents is controlled so that the distribution does not go against the owner's will. , A management system is required. Hereinafter, this type of conventional technique will be described.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-512074 (hereinafter, referred to as
Document 1) describes a technique related to safe distribution of contents and protection of rights. FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining the concept of this technique. In FIG. 39, the publisher 2814,
Video production studio 2804, author 2806 is the sender of the content, office 2810, consumer 2808.
Is the recipient of the content. Information delivery service 281
Reference numeral 6 is a mediator of contents. The office 2810 may also be a mediator of content. Further, the information utility 2800 is a general manager of the content distribution network (information exchange: ClearingH in FIG. 39).
equivalent to the “use”). In this document 1, a virtual distribution environment (VDE) is used as a content distribution player, that is,
It refers to a system that manages the distribution of contents by distributing and executing the contents to senders, intermediaries, and receivers. The general manager integrally manages content distribution management, encryption key management, certificate management, user management, and the like.

In Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-357195 (hereinafter, referred to as Document 2), the permission of use is determined from the presentation use condition defined by the information possessing entity and the usage regulation regarding the use of the information presented by the information utilizing entity. The possible information distribution methods are described. Specifically, the information owner is
Regarding the individual information (content) to be provided,
Manage the content entity and the presentation use condition (redistribution prohibition, usage fee, non-profit use limitation, copyright display, etc.) that defines the condition for disclosing the content entity, in combination,
The information usage subject is a usage rule (usage fee, commercial purpose, etc.) that is a condition regarding usage of the content to be used.
Is specified to issue a usage request to the information owner. When the information possessing entity compares the presentation usage condition paired with the content requested to be used by the information utilizing entity with the usage rule specified by the information utilizing entity, judges whether or not to permit the use, and permits the use. The content and the usage constraint on the usage as necessary are transmitted to the information utilization entity, and the content is not transmitted when the utilization is not permitted. When the information use entity requests the use of a plurality of contents, the above processing is repeated.

A technique similar to that of Document 2 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-254.
It is also described in Japanese Patent No. 573 (hereinafter referred to as Document 3). However, in Document 3, whether or not to permit the use by comparing the presentation use condition for each content with the use condition of the information use subject is integrally controlled by a device, which is a separately provided server federation device, rather than the information possession subject.

[0009]

In order to activate and further develop the content business such as the content distribution service, the content distribution is controlled and managed so that the content owner does not disobey the intention. While
A technology that can efficiently and widely distribute contents is important. In this regard, the related art has the following problems.

In the conventional example of IP transmission, whether or not the receiving side transmitting device receives the digital information transmitted from the transmitting side transmitting device is determined by the IP address of the transmitting side transmitting device described in the received IP packet. , It is performed by judging whether it is included in the IP address list of the transmitting device of the receiving side transmitting device, so if the IP address is matched, all the contents owned by the transmitting side transmitting device are unconditionally received. It will be copied to the side transmission device. With this, it is difficult to control and manage the distribution of the content so that the distribution is not performed contrary to the wishes of the content owner. Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the conventional technique described in Document 2 or Document 3, but the following problems occur.

Now, a server X of a certain content distribution service provider owns a plurality of contents C1 to Cn owned by him / herself.
Suppose that the user owns the server and uses it on the server Y of another content distribution service provider. At this time, the server Y needs to acquire the contents C1 to Cn from the server X. When the technique of Reference 2 is used, the server Y presents a usage condition for each content to the server X and requests usage, and the server X compares the usage condition with the presented usage condition for each content. The permission or denial is determined, and when the permission is granted, the content is transmitted to the server Y. In Document 3, whether or not the content can be used is comprehensively controlled by the service federation apparatus, but the basic mechanism is the same.

The problem here is that, when each server has a certain policy regarding the handling of contents, in the prior art described in Document 1 and Document 2, the policy needs to be held and managed for each content, and therefore If the policies of the server X and the server Y do not match, even if there is no content available to the server Y in the server X, it is useless to compare the presentation use condition and the use condition for each content. That is, the process is repeated. For example, if the server X has a streaming speed of 20 Mb
While one policy is to distribute contents at ps or more, if the streaming speed of the server Y is 10 Mbps, in the technologies of Literature 1 and Literature 2, the server X presents this policy for each content. It is necessary to set the usage conditions, and the server Y needs to present the policy as the usage conditions when requesting each content. In this case, as a result, all the content requests are rejected, but it becomes clear when the last request for the content Cn is rejected, and a great deal of processing and time are wasted by then. become. Such wasted time and wasted processing impede efficient distribution of contents.

[0013] Another factor in the prior art in which contents cannot be efficiently and widely distributed is that the load concentrates on a specific device during distribution, and the processing capacity of the device becomes a bottleneck. For example, in the conventional technique described in Document 2, since the content owner side permits or prohibits the use of the content,
For example, in the example of the server X and the server Y described above, considering another server Z requesting the use of the content owned by the server X, when the server X requests the use of the content from the server Y and the server Z. However, the load of deciding whether to use the content is doubled. Further, in the conventional technique described in Document 3, since the service interworking device centrally performs the permission / prohibition process of content use,
The load increases according to the number of servers that issue requests for content use.

Another factor that hinders efficient distribution of contents is that the distributor is limited to the original contents owner and does not support re-distribution. For example, in the system described in Reference 1, when redistributing the content stored in the VDE site operated by each distribution player, the distribution is managed by the general manager (information exchange: ClearingHouse). There is. Further, the VDE site does not have a distribution record database of contents or a function for transmitting and receiving the distribution record. Therefore, it is not possible to properly manage the distribution of the content without passing through the general manager and then distribute the content from the VDE site to the VDE site.

An object of the present invention is to enable efficient and wide distribution of contents while controlling and managing the distribution of the contents so that the distribution does not go against the wishes of the content owner. is there.

[0016]

The content distribution method of the present invention is a method of distributing content between devices that can communicate with each other via a network, and is a service that is a policy regarding how to handle the content of each device. By exchanging policies with each other and comparing the service policy received from the partner device with the service policy of the own device on both devices, it is determined whether or not the content is distributed with the partner device, Only when it is determined that the device distributes the content with the partner device, the process proceeds to the distribution stage of the individual contents. In this way, by confirming that the service policy, which is a policy regarding how to handle contents, is compatible with both parties, the process goes to the distribution stage of individual contents, whereby distribution is performed against the content owner's will. It is possible to efficiently and widely distribute the content while controlling and managing the distribution of the content so as not to exist.

After the service policy is met, the individual contents may be unconditionally distributed between the two, but the contents should be distributed so as not to be against the content owner's wishes. When finely controlling and managing distribution, a content policy, which is a unique policy, is set for each content, and control using this content policy is performed. In particular,
At the distribution stage of each content, the distribution source device transmits the content and the content-specific content policy to the distribution destination device, and at the distribution destination device,
Based on the received content policy, it is determined whether or not the received content is stored in the device together with the content policy. In the content distribution method of the present invention, as a content policy, for example, a content policy including at least one of declarative information regarding the content details, request information regarding services to be enjoyed, and request information regarding distribution deadlines is attached to each content and transmitted. At the receiving side, it is determined whether the received content can be stored or not by referring to the received content policy.

When declaring information about the content is used, the content policy is configured to include declarative information about the content, and the distribution destination device preliminarily sets the received declarative information about the content and its own device. It is determined whether or not the received content is stored in the own device together with the content policy by comparing the received content information with the request information regarding the content to be distributed. The request information regarding the content to be distributed can be included in the service policy, for example.

When the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed is used, the content policy is configured to include the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed, and the distribution destination device receives the request information regarding the received service to be enjoyed and the service policy of its own device. It is determined whether or not the received content is stored in its own device together with the content policy by comparing the content with the declaration information about the provided service.

When the request information regarding the distribution deadline is used,
The content policy is configured to include request information regarding the distribution deadline, and the device at the distribution destination determines whether the received content matches the received request information regarding the distribution deadline by determining whether the operating time matches the received request information regarding the distribution deadline. It is determined whether the content policy is to be stored in the device itself.

Of course, it is possible to determine whether or not the content can be stored on the receiving side by using any two or all of the declaration information about the content, the request information about the service to be enjoyed, and the request information about the distribution deadline. .

Further, according to the content distribution method of the present invention,
Regarding the content and its content policy held and managed by its own device, the number of times it is sent to another device is held and managed as a delivery record, the delivery record sent from another device is received, and the delivery record held and managed by the device, Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the received delivery record is a delivery record related to the content received from another device, and the held / managed delivery record or the received delivery record is transmitted to another device that has acquired the content. It is characterized by transmitting. This eliminates the need for a device or system that controls the distribution of content, and enables distributed content distribution control in which a plurality of devices cooperate to manage the distribution of content.

Further, according to the content distribution method of the present invention,
At least one of pull-type distribution in which content distribution is performed by a content transmission request from a distribution destination device to a distribution source device, and push type distribution in which content distribution is performed by a content reception request from a distribution source device to a distribution destination device Content distribution by.

Further, according to the content distribution method of the present invention,
A device that mediates the distribution of contents between one or more distribution source devices and one or more distribution destination devices is interposed, and the service policy of the distribution destination device is stored in the mediation device. By comparing the content policy of the content acquired from the distribution source device with the stored service policy, the distribution destination device for distributing the content is automatically determined to mediate the content distribution.

Further, in the content distribution method of the present invention,
The content policy of the content has the distribution route of the content, and the device that has acquired the content automatically determines the distribution destination device to which the content is distributed next according to the distribution route in the content policy of the content.

The content distribution apparatus of the present invention is a content distribution apparatus that distributes content, wherein the service policy storage means for storing a service policy, which is a policy regarding how to handle the content, and the service policy other than the service policy using a communication line. Service policy transmitting means for transmitting to the content distribution apparatus, service policy receiving means for receiving a service policy transmitted from another content distribution apparatus using a communication line, and other content distribution apparatus received by the service policy receiving means Receiving service policy storage means for storing the service policy of the other policy, and comparing the service policy stored in the service policy storage means with the service policy stored in the receiving service policy storage means to obtain the other service policy. Ntsu distribution apparatus and whether to implement the distribution of contents, and a service determining means for determining whether not performed. More specifically, a service policy storage unit that stores a service policy including declaration information about the provided service and request information about the service of the distribution partner, and at least the declaration information about the provided service of the service policy using a communication line. Service transmitting means for transmitting to another content distribution apparatus, service policy receiving means for receiving a service policy transmitted from another content distributing apparatus using a communication line, and other content distribution received by the service policy receiving means Receiving service policy storage means for storing the service policy of the device, request information regarding the service of the distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the service policy stored in the receiving service policy storage means. By comparing the declared information on providing services contained in, or to implement the distribution of the other content distribution apparatus and the contents, and a service determining means for determining whether not performed.

Further, the content distribution apparatus of the present invention, the service policy is further configured to include request information regarding the content to be distributed, and holds and manages the content policy including the content and at least declarative information regarding the content. A content database, content transmission means for transmitting content and its content policy to another content distribution apparatus using a communication line, and content reception for receiving content and its content policy transmitted from another content distribution apparatus. With reference to the means, the content storage means for storing the received content, the content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and the declaration information regarding the content of the content included in the received content policy, It is determined whether the received content conforms to the request information regarding the content to be distributed included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and if it conforms, the received content and its content policy The content
And a content check means for issuing an instruction to additionally record in the database.

Further, the content distribution apparatus of the present invention stores a content database which holds and manages a content policy including content and at least request information regarding services to be enjoyed with respect to the content, a content line and the content policy using a communication line. Content transmitting means for transmitting to another content distribution device,
Content receiving means for receiving the content and its content policy transmitted from another content distribution device, content storage means for storing the received content, content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and the content policy It is determined whether the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the storage means and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means match each other,
If the contents are matched, the service check means is provided for issuing an instruction to additionally record the received content and its content policy in the content database.

Further, the content distribution apparatus of the present invention uses a content database that holds and manages the content and a content policy including at least request information regarding the distribution deadline of the content, and the content and its content policy using a communication line. Content transmitting means for transmitting to another content distributing apparatus, content receiving means for receiving content transmitted from another content distributing apparatus and its content policy, content storing means for storing the received content, and received content policy By referring to the content policy storage unit that stores the request and the request information regarding the distribution deadline included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit, it is possible to determine whether the operating time matches the request regarding the distribution deadline. It was carried out, if they comply and a flow limit checking means for issuing an instruction to add record received content and the content policy to the content database.

Of course, the content distribution is configured so that the receiving side determines whether or not the content can be stored by using any two or all of the declarative information about the content, the request information about the service to be enjoyed, and the request information about the distribution deadline. The device is also included in the present invention. Further, the content distribution apparatus has a function of only transmitting the content excluding the function related to the content reception from the content distribution apparatus, and has the function of only receiving the content excluding the function related to the content transmission. The content receiving device is also included in the present invention.

[0031]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention uses a service policy storage unit 104 that stores a service policy that is a policy regarding how to handle content in the content distribution apparatus, and a communication line such as the Internet or a telephone line. A service policy transmission unit 105 for transmitting at least a part of the service policy to another content distribution device,
A service policy receiving unit 101 that receives a service policy transmitted from another content distribution device using the communication line, and a received service policy storage that stores the service policy of the other content distribution device received by the service policy receiving unit 101. Whether the content is distributed to the other content distribution device by comparing the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104 with the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104; The service determining unit 103 has a service determining unit 103 that determines whether or not to execute the service.

Here, in the present embodiment, the service policy includes declaration information regarding the provided service, request information regarding the service of the distribution partner, and request information regarding the content to be distributed. In addition, the declaration information about the provided service and the request information about the service of the distribution partner are the information used when the content distribution device is the content distribution source (content transmission source) and the content distribution device (content reception source). )
And information used when The information transmitted by the service policy transmission unit 105 to the partner device is the information used when the content distribution device is the content transmission source and is the content transmission source of the declaration information about the provided service. If is the content receiving source, it is the information used when it is the content receiving source of the information regarding the provided services. Also,
The service determination unit 103 is the reception service policy storage unit 1
The target to be compared with the service policy stored in 02 is
When the own content distribution device is the content sender, it is the information used when it is the content sender of the request information regarding the service of the distribution partner of the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104. If the device is the content receiver,
This is information that is used when the content is received from the declaration information related to the service provided by the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104. Although the request information regarding the content to be distributed is not strictly a policy regarding how to handle the content, in the present embodiment, it is held and managed in the service policy. Therefore, as another embodiment, the request information regarding the content to be distributed may be held and managed separately from the service policy.

Further, the content distribution apparatus according to the present embodiment has a content database 110 which holds and manages content and its content policy as a set.
And a content transmission unit 111 for transmitting the content and the content policy to another content distribution device using the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line.
A content receiving unit 106 that receives the content transmitted from another content distribution device and the content policy, a content storage unit 116 that stores the received content, and a content policy storage unit that stores the received content policy. 107 and three check units for checking whether or not the received content policy conforms to the policy of the own device by referring to the received content policy, that is, a content check unit 108, a service Checking unit 109 and distribution deadline checking unit 117
Then, the judgment results of these three check units 108, 109, 117 are input, and when it is judged that all the judgment results are in conformity, the received content and the content policy are additionally recorded in the content database 110. It has a decision integration unit 118 that issues an instruction. The content transmission unit 111 also has a function of delivering content to end users.

Here, the content policy of the content is a policy unique to the content, such as the feature of the content and the evaluation standard of the service that the content should enjoy. In the present embodiment, the content policy includes declaration information regarding the content of the content, request information regarding the service to be enjoyed, and request information regarding the distribution deadline.

Then, the content check unit 108
By referring to the declaration information about the content of the content included in the received content policy, the received content is the content receiving source of the request information about the content to be distributed included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104. If so, it is determined whether or not it matches the information used. Further, the service check unit 109 serves as a content receiver of the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the received content policy and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104. Judge whether the information used in the case is compatible. In addition, the distribution deadline check unit 117 refers to the request information regarding the distribution deadline included in the received content policy, and determines whether the time at the time of operation conforms to the request regarding the distribution deadline.

Furthermore, the content distribution apparatus according to the present embodiment holds and manages the number of times the content is stored and managed in the content database 110 and the content policy thereof in the content transmitting section 111 as a distribution record. Database 113,
The distribution record receiving unit 114 for receiving the distribution record sent from another content distribution apparatus, the distribution record of the content and its content policy transmitted by the content transmitting unit 111, or the distribution record received by the distribution record receiving unit 114 is Distribution record distribution unit 115 for determining whether or not the distribution record is related to the content received from the content distribution device
And the distribution record of the content and its content policy transmitted by the content transmission unit 111, or the distribution record received by the distribution record reception unit 114 to the other content distribution apparatus that acquired the content.
Configured with 12.

The content distribution apparatus of this embodiment can be realized by an information processing apparatus such as a workstation or a personal computer and a content distribution program. The content distribution program is provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk or a semiconductor memory, and controls the operation of the information processing apparatus to allow the content distribution apparatus according to the present embodiment to operate on the information processing apparatus. Realize each function means to constitute. Other embodiments described later can be similarly realized by the information processing device and the program.

Next, each function of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 25.

First, a description will be given of whether content distribution can be carried out between content distribution devices prior to actual content transfer. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining whether or not the content distribution can be performed. In FIG. 2, a transmission device 201 and a reception device 203 are the content distribution devices shown in FIG. 1, respectively. Receiver 203
From the transmitting apparatus 201 to the receiving apparatus 203 in response to a content transmission request 205 from the transmitting apparatus 201 to the transmitting apparatus 201, more accurately, the transmitting apparatus 2 in the case where a copy of the content 206 is generated in the receiving apparatus 203.
01 and the receiving device 203 will be described. Although the pull-type distribution is illustrated in this example, the receiving device 20
By transmitting a content reception request from 1 to the receiving device 203, content distribution may be performed by push type distribution.

Reference numeral 202 is an example of a service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104 of the transmission device 201. Reference numeral 204 is an example of a service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104 of the receiving device 203. In both cases, only a part of the service policy is illustrated, 202 is information used in the case of a content transmission source, and 204 is an example of information used in the case of a content reception source.

First, the operation of the transmitting device 201 after the transmitting device 201 receives the transmission request 205 will be described. The service policy reception unit 101 of the transmission device 201 receives the service policy of the reception device 203 transmitted from the service policy transmission unit 105 of the reception device 203. The service policy received by the service policy receiving unit 101 is the received service policy storage unit 10 of the transmitting apparatus 201.
Stored in 2. That is, the reception service policy storage unit 102 stores the service policy 204 which is the service policy of the reception device 203, and the service policy storage unit 104 stores the service policy 202 which is the service policy of the transmission device 201. The service determination unit 103 of the transmission device 201 determines that the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit 102, that is, the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy 204, is the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104, that is, It is determined whether or not the request information regarding the partner service included in the service policy 202 is met. The service policy 204 describes the service provided by the receiving device 203, and in FIG. 2, “streaming speed: 10 Mbp
The items "s", "retransmission: no", and "reliability record: high" are written. The service policy 202 describes a request regarding the service of the distribution partner of the transmission device 201. In FIG. 2, “streaming speed:
Items such as "10 Mbps or higher", "retransmission: not permitted", and "reliability record: medium or higher" are written. The service determination unit 103 of the transmission device 201 makes an integrated determination on these service policies and determines whether or not the content can be distributed to the reception device 203.

As an example of the integrated determination method, a determination criterion is set for each item included in the service policy,
There is a method of determining that content distribution is permitted by an integrated determination if all items satisfy the determination criteria. In the example of FIG. 2, the receiving apparatus 2 receives the “streaming speed: 10 Mbps or higher” requested by the transmitting apparatus 201.
"Streaming speed: 10 Mbps" declared by 03
It can be seen that is satisfied by the algebraic calculation. Further, it can be seen from the determination table of FIG. 3 that “retransmission: not permitted” declared by the reception device 203 satisfies the determination criteria in response to “retransmission: not permitted” requested by the transmission device 201. Further, it can be seen from the determination table of FIG. 4A that “reliability performance: medium or higher” requested by the transmission device 201 satisfies the determination criteria. Here, the receiving device 203
The reliability performance of is based on, for example, the number of recent distribution accidents.
It is set in advance by the reliability record evaluation table shown in (b). As the above 3 items meet the criteria,
It is determined that the criteria are comprehensively satisfied, and the transmitter 2
01 determines that the content can be distributed with the receiving device 203.

In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the transmitting device 201 has the service policy shown in FIG. 5 instead of the service policy 202. In such a case, the transmitter 20
"Streaming speed 20 Mbps or higher" required by 1
On the other hand, the streaming rate of the receiving device 203 is 10M.
It can be seen that “bps” does not satisfy the criterion by algebraic calculation. If the determination is performed in the same manner as the above-described integrated determination method, it can be determined that the determination criteria are not satisfied in an integrated manner, and the transmission device 201 determines that the content distribution with the reception device 203 is impossible.

Next, the operation of the receiving device 203 after the receiving device 203 sends the transmission request 205 will be described. The service policy receiving unit 101 of the receiving device 203 is the transmitting device 2
The service policy 202 of the transmission device 201 transmitted from the service policy transmission unit 105 of 01 is received. The service policy received by the service policy receiving unit 101 is stored in the received service policy storage unit 102. That is, the reception service policy 102 of the reception device 203 stores the service policy 202 that is the service policy of the transmission device 201, and the service policy storage unit 104 stores the service policy 204 that is the service policy of the transmission device 203. . The service policy determination unit 103 of the reception device 203 determines that the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit 102, that is, the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy 202 is the service policy storage unit 1
It is determined whether or not the service policy stored in 04, that is, the request information regarding the partner service included in the service policy 204 is met. Service policy 202
Describes a service provided by the transmission device 201. In FIG. 2, “virus check: completed”,
It says "Content check: completed". The service policy 204 describes a request regarding the service of the distribution partner of the receiving device 203, and in FIG. 2, “virus check: necessary” and “content check: necessary” are written. The service determination unit 103 of the reception device 203
An integrated determination is made for these service policies to determine whether content distribution with the transmission device 201 is possible.

As an example of the integrated determination method, a determination criterion is set for each item of the service policy, and if all the items satisfy the determination criterion, it is determined that the content distribution is permitted by the integrated determination. There is. Figure 2
In the above example, it can be seen from the determination table of FIG. 6 that “virus check: required” declared by the transmission device 201 satisfies the determination criteria, whereas “virus check: required” requested by the reception device 203. Similarly, in contrast to the “content check: required” requested by the receiving device 203, the “content check: completed” declared by the transmitting device 201 satisfies the judgment criteria according to the judgment table of FIG. 7. Since the determination criteria are satisfied for the above two items, it is possible to comprehensively determine that the determination criteria are satisfied, and the receiving device 203 determines that the transmitting device 2
01 and content distribution is determined to be possible.

Here, the "content check" means, for example,
"Video size check", "Screen resolution check"
Checks related to quality, "character code check", "image compression method check", etc. related to digital encoding, "sexual expression check",
Checks related to the content of the work, such as "check for slanderous expression".

In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the transmitting device 201 has the service policy shown in FIG. 8 instead of the service policy 202. In this case, in response to the “virus check: required” requested by the receiving device 203, the transmitting device 20
It can be seen from the judgment table of FIG. 6 that “virus check: unprocessed” declared by 1 does not satisfy the judgment standard.
Therefore, the receiving apparatus 203 determines that the content distribution with the transmitting apparatus 201 is not possible because the determination criteria are not satisfied in an integrated manner by the above-described integrated determination method.

Alternatively, in FIG. 2, the receiving device 203
Suppose that, instead of the service policy 204, it has a service policy shown in FIG. The service policy illustrated in FIG. 9 includes an item “storage storage: yes” that is unknown to the transmission device 201. In order to deal with such a case, "the unknown item is always judged N
A criterion of “G” or “determination of unknown item is always OK” is provided. This enables integrated determination of service policies.

Alternatively, in FIG. 2, the receiving device 203
10 has a service policy shown in FIG. 10 instead of the service policy 204. The service policy shown in FIG. 10 lacks the items regarding “retransmission” required by the transmission device 201. In order to deal with such a case, a determination criterion of "always NG when the necessary items for the service policy are insufficient" or "ignore when the necessary items for the service policy are insufficient" is provided. This enables integrated determination of service policies.

As described above, the content distribution apparatus according to the present embodiment determines whether or not the content can be distributed based on the service policies of the content distribution apparatus on the content transmitting side and the content distribution apparatus on the receiving side.
Then, when both the content distribution device on the transmission side and the content distribution device on the transmission side are determined to be mutually distributable, the content is distributed.

2, FIG. 5, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, the service policies necessary for explaining the content distribution device are shown in particular in the figures, and the same applies to other service policies not described here. Operate. In addition, as an integrated determination method of the service policy, an example in which all the items satisfy the determination criteria and the integrated determination satisfies the determination criteria has been described. It is stronger than other items B ",
Even if the item B does not satisfy the determination standard, if the item A satisfies the determination standard, it may be determined that the item B comprehensively satisfies the determination standard. The same applies to the determination of unknown service policies and the determination of insufficient service policies.

Next, the distribution check for each content, which is performed after it is determined that both the content distribution device on the transmission side and the content distribution device on the transmission side can distribute each other, will be described. In the present embodiment, the distribution check includes three checks, that is, a check by the content check unit 109, a check by the service check unit 109, and a check by the distribution deadline check unit 117.
Hereinafter, each check will be described.

First, the check by the content check unit 109 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing contents and content policies recorded in the content database 110. In FIG. 11, 1
Reference numeral 101 is content, and 1102 is an example of content policy. The content transmission unit 111 transmits the content and the content policy as shown in FIG. 11 to another content distribution device. Also, the content receiving unit 10
6 receives the content and the content policy as shown in FIG. 11 from another content distribution device. The content received by the content receiving unit 106 is stored in the content storage unit 116, and the content policy is stored in the content policy storage unit 107.

The operation of the content check unit 108 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the content check unit 108. In FIG. 12, a receiving device 1201 is a content distribution device that has completed the reception of content. Reference numeral 1202 denotes the service policy storage unit 10 in the receiving device 1201.
4 is a service policy stored. A content 1203 is content stored in the content storage unit 116 of the receiving device 1201. Further, 1204 is a receiving device 1201.
Content policy storage unit 107 stores the content policy. The operation of the content check unit 108 of the receiving device 1201 will be described below.

In FIG. 12, the content policy 1204
As declarative information about the contents of the content included in
"Price: 0 yen", "Time length: 1 hour 50 minutes", "Genre: Japanese movie", "CM video: Including" are written.
In addition, “price: 100 yen or less”, “time length: within 2 hours”, “genre: movie”, and “CM image: acceptable” are written as request information regarding the content included in the service policy 1202. Content check unit 108
Determines the content policy and the service policy in an integrated manner, and determines whether to save the received content and the content policy in the content database 110.

As an example of the integrated determination method, for example,
There is a method in which a judgment criterion is set for each item of the content policy and the service policy, and if the judgment criterion is satisfied for all the items, the integrated judgment criterion is also satisfied. In the example of FIG. 12, it can be seen that the “price: 0 yen” declared by the content satisfies the determination criteria by algebraic calculation, in contrast to the “price: 100 yen or less” requested by the receiving device. Similarly, it can be seen that “time length: within 2 hours” and “time length: 1 hour 50 minutes” satisfy the determination criteria by algebraic calculation. Further, in contrast to the “genre: movie” requested by the receiving device, the “genre: Japanese movie” declared by the content can be judged from the genre classification diagram shown in FIG. 13, and it can be seen that the judgment criterion is satisfied. Also, "CM image: Included" in contrast to "CM image: OK"
It can be seen from the judgment table shown in FIG. 14 that the judgment is satisfied. In this way, when all the items satisfy the judgment standard, it is judged that the judgment standard is comprehensively satisfied.

In FIG. 12, the content policy 12
04 and the service policy 1202 particularly show the service policies necessary for explaining the content distribution apparatus, and the same applies to other content policies and other service policies. Also, as an integrated determination method of content policy and service policy,
The case where all the judgments of the individual items satisfy the criteria is regarded as satisfying the integrated judgment criteria. For example, the criterion "some item A is stronger than the other item B" is set, and the item B Even if does not satisfy the determination standard, if the item A satisfies the determination standard, it may be determined that the integrated determination satisfies the determination standard. The determination of unknown content policies and service policies and the determination of insufficient content policies and service policies are performed by the same method as the determination of the service policy 202 and the service policy 204 described above.

Next, the check by the service check unit 109 will be described. FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing contents and content policies recorded in the content database 110. In FIG. 15, reference numeral 1501 is content, and 1502 is an example of content policy.

The operation of the service check unit 109 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 17. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the service check unit 109. In FIG. 16, a receiving device 1601 is a content distribution device that has completed the reception of content. 1602 is a part of the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit 104 of the receiving device 1601. 1603 is content stored in the content storage unit 116 of the receiving device 1601. Also, 1604 is a receiving device 1601.
Content policy storage unit 107 stores the content policy. The operation of service check section 109 in receiving apparatus 1601 will be described below.

In FIG. 16, as the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the content policy, "display:
“Yes”, “Record: No”, “Print: No”, and “Redistribution: No” are written. In addition, "Display: Yes" as declarative information about the provided service included in the service policy,
"Record: No", "Print: No", "Redistribution: No" are written. The service check unit 109 comprehensively determines the content policy and the service policy, and determines whether to save the received content and the content policy in the content database 110.

As an example of the integrated judgment method, for example,
There is a method in which a judgment criterion is set for each item of the content policy and the service policy, and if the judgment criterion is satisfied for all the items, the integrated judgment criterion is also satisfied. In the example of FIG. 16, it can be seen from the determination table of FIG. 17 that the service policy “display: yes” of the receiving device satisfies the determination condition, whereas “display: yes” requested by the content. In addition, in response to the content requesting "recording: not possible", "printing: not possible", and "redistribution: not possible", "recording: not possible", "printing: not possible", "redistribution: It can be seen from the determination table of FIG. 17 that each item “do not perform” also satisfies the determination condition. In this way, when all the items satisfy the judgment standard, it is judged that the judgment standard is comprehensively satisfied.

In FIG. 16, the content policy 16
04 and the service policy 1602 particularly show the service policies necessary for explaining the content distribution apparatus, and the same applies to other content policies and other service policies. Also, as an integrated determination method of content policy and service policy,
When all the judgments of the individual content policies and the service policies satisfy the criteria, it is considered that the criteria are comprehensively satisfied. For example, the criterion of "a certain item A is stronger than another item B" is used. Even if the determination criterion of item B is not satisfied, if the determination criterion of item A is satisfied, the determination criterion may be comprehensively satisfied. The determination of unknown content policies and service policies and the determination of insufficient content policies and service policies are performed by the same method as the determination of the service policy 202 and the service policy 204 described above.

Next, the check by the distribution deadline check unit 117 will be described. FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing contents and content policies recorded in the content database 110. 18 in FIG.
01 is a content, and 1802 is an example of a content policy.

The distribution time limit check unit 117 compares the received content and the content policy with the received content and the content policy by comparing the request time regarding the distribution time limit included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit 107 with the current time at the time of operation. It is determined whether to additionally record in the database 110. In FIG. 18, the content policy 1802 describes “Distribution period: September 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001”. For example, the current time at the time of operation is October 1, 2001, 10:01
If it is 0 minute, the current time is included in the distribution period, so it is determined that the content and the content policy are additionally recorded in the content database 110. If the current time is 5:05 on March 10, 2002 during operation, the current time is not included in the distribution period.
It is determined that the content and the content policy are not additionally recorded in the content database 110.

Next, the decision integration unit 118 will be described. The determination integration unit 118 uses the content check unit 10.
8. The content stored in the content storage unit 116 and the content policy storage unit 10 when all of the service check unit 109 and the distribution time limit check unit 117 determine that the integrated determination satisfies the determination criteria.
7 is stored and recorded in the content database 110 as a set of content policies stored in 7.

Next, the distribution record management function will be described. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the distribution record management function. In FIG. 19, a transmitting device 1901, a mediating device 1902, a receiving device A1903, and a receiving device B1904.
Are content distribution devices according to the present embodiment. Here, the contents of the transmitting device 1901
Content A1905 is recorded in the database 110, and this content A1905 is the intermediary device 1902.
Assuming that the content is distributed to the receiving device A1903 and the receiving device B1904 via the, the content database 110 and the distribution record database 113 in each content distribution device will be described as an example of data recorded by the content database 110 and the distribution record database 113.
The operations of the distribution record receiving unit 114, the distribution record transmitting unit 112, and the distribution record distribution unit 115 will be described. It should be noted that it is assumed that the determination as to whether or not the content can be distributed between the transmitting device and the intermediary device and between the intermediary device and the receiving devices A and B has already been performed, and it has been determined that all of them can be distributed.
FIG. 20 is an example of data recorded in the content database 110 and the distribution record database 113 in the above-described four content distribution devices. Figure 20
Then, the content A exists in the transmission device 1901 and the content A is not distributed to other content distribution devices.

First, the transmission device 1901 to the intermediary device 19
The operation of the transmission device 1901 when the content A1905 is distributed to the network 02 will be described. FIG. 21 shows the states of the content database 110 and the distribution record database 113 after the content A has been distributed from the transmission device 1901 to the intermediary device 1902. The content transmitter 111 transmits the content A and the content policy recorded in the content database 110. At this time, the distribution record distribution unit 115 confirms that the transmitted content is not acquired from another content distribution device from the content database 110 (table 2002 in FIG. 20: the acquisition source is “−”). Then, the delivery record is recorded in the delivery record database 113. In this way, the distribution record database 113 in the transmission device 1901 is in a state as shown in Table 2103. Further, in the intermediary device 1902, the content A is recorded in the content database 110, and
The state becomes 04.

Further, from the intermediary device 1902 to the receiving device A
Mediation device 19 when content A is distributed to 1903
The operation of 02 will be described. FIG. 22 shows the contents A
7 shows the states of the content database 110 and the distribution record database 113 after distribution from the intermediary device 1902 to the receiving device A 1903. The content transmitter 111 transmits the content A and the content policy recorded in the content database 110. At this time, the distribution result distribution unit 115 confirms that the transmitted content is acquired from the transmission device 1901 from the content database 110 (table 2104 in FIG. 21: acquisition source is “transmission device”). Know, record the delivery record in the delivery record database 113,
Further, the delivery record transmission unit 112 causes the transmission device 1901
Send the delivery record to. In this way, the intermediary device 19
The distribution result database 113 in 02 is the table 220
It becomes the state of 5. Also, in the receiver A1903,
Content A is recorded in the content database 110, and the state shown in Table 2206 is obtained.

Next, the operation of the transmitting device 1901 will be described. The distribution record receiving unit 114 receives the distribution record sent from the intermediary device 1902. The delivery record includes information that "1" of "content A" has been transmitted. The delivery record distribution unit 115 learns from the content database 110 (table 2102 in FIG. 21: the acquisition source is “−”) that the content A is not received from another content distribution device, and the delivery record The distribution record of the database 113 is updated to the state of table 2203.

Finally, from the intermediary device 1902 to the receiving device B.
A case where the content A1905 is distributed to the 1904 will be described. The transmitting device 1901 and the intermediary device 1902 are
The operation is similar to the case where the content A is distributed from the intermediary device 1902 to the receiving device A 1903 described above. Also,
The receiver B1904 operates in the same manner as the receiver A1903 described above. In FIG. 23, the content A is the intermediary device 190.
2 content after distribution to the receiving device B1904
Database 110 and delivery record database 113
Shows the state of.

In the embodiments described so far, the service policy and the content policy are as shown in FIGS.
However, the format of the service policy and the content policy is not limited to this, and may be recorded in the XML format as shown in FIG.

Although the content database and the distribution record database are shown in the table format shown in FIG. 20 and the like, the recording format of the database is not limited to this, and the XML format as shown in FIG. 25 is also possible. Good.

Further, as the service policy, a service policy which is closely related to a general receiving device as shown in FIG. 2 is taken as an example. For example, a receiving device such as “display: display for a 22 year old man”. Information related to the user of may be described in the service policy. The content policy may also describe "display: only men over the age of 30". With such a content policy and service policy, it becomes possible to distribute the content by limiting the age group and sex of the recipient.

Further, when transmitting the service policy transmitted by the service policy transmitting section 105 and received by the service policy receiving section 101, the service policy may be encrypted as necessary. Further, when transmitting the content and the content policy transmitted by the content transmitting section 111 and received by the content receiving section 106, the content and the content policy may be encrypted as necessary.

[0076]

Second Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment. In FIG. 26, there are a plurality of distribution chains 2911 to 2914 composed of at least one content distribution device. The content distribution device in each distribution chain has the same function as the content distribution device according to the first embodiment. Each of the distribution chains 2911 to 2914 has a connection with a device called a marketplace device 2905. The marketplace device 2905 has, in addition to the function of the content distribution device according to the first embodiment, content that includes an event generation unit 121, a route selection unit 119, and a policy database 120 as shown in FIG. It is a distribution device. Hereinafter, the specific operation of this embodiment will be described focusing on the operation of the marketplace device 2905.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the distribution permission / inhibition determination based on the service policy is performed between the content distribution device 2901 and the market place device 2905 in the distribution chain 2911, and it is determined that the content A can be distributed. It is assumed that the content is passed from the content distribution device 2901 in the distribution chain 2911 to the marketplace device 2905. Marketplace device 2905
And the content distribution devices 2902 to 2904 in the distribution chains 2912 to 2914, the distribution permission / inhibition determination based on the service policy is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and it is determined that distribution is possible.
The service policies of 02 to 2904 are the reception service policy storage unit 102 of the market place device 2905.
Are transferred to the policy database 120 and accumulated.

Here, the service policy of each of the content distribution devices 2902 to 2904 is a device ID sufficient for delivering the content (for example, domain name, IP address, or other information sufficient for identifying the device). Is included and, for example, as a service policy of each of the content distribution devices 2902, 2903, and 2904 (for the provided service),
It is assumed that the brokerage margin is set to "100 yen", "500 yen", and "1000 yen". At this time, the device IDs of the content distribution devices 2902 to 2904 are “Alice” and “B”.
Assuming that “ob” and “Chalie” are set, the policy database 120 stores such information in the form as shown in FIG. 28, for example.

On the other hand, the contents database 110 stores contents A. In the explanation below,
As the content policy of the content A, it is assumed that the condition that the intermediary margin is less than 1000 yen is set.

The event generating section 121 generates an event signal corresponding to a timer event such as, for example, every hour or a change in the update status of the content database 110, and transmits the event signal to the route selecting section 119.

The route selection unit 119, which has received the event signal, extracts the content A from the content database 110, and then sequentially refers to the service policies registered in the policy database 120 to refer to the content policy of the content A. Matches with the service policy in use. For example, in the above example,
The content distribution devices 2902 and 2903 have compatible service policies, and the service policy of the content distribution device 2904 does not match. At this time, the route selection unit 119 transmits the content A to the content distribution devices 2902 and 2903 corresponding to the device IDs “Alice” and “Bob”.

In this example, the method of distributing the content to all the content distribution apparatuses having the compatible service policy has been described. However, one content distribution apparatus having the most suitable service policy is selected and distributed. You may let me. For example, in the above example, the content A may be transmitted only to the content distribution device 2902 corresponding to the device ID “Alice” having a lower mediation margin.

As described above, the marketplace device 2905 according to the present embodiment holds the requests of the downstream content distribution devices 2902 to 2904 as a content policy, and selects the downstream content from the upstream content distribution device 2901. It is possible to automatically distribute the content that meets the above requirement, and it is possible to more efficiently distribute the content.

Further, by allowing the content distribution between the plurality of upstream content distribution devices and the plurality of downstream content distribution devices to be performed via the marketplace device 2905, the upstream content distribution device and the downstream content distribution device can be distributed. It is possible to reduce the processing amount of the distribution permission / denial determination based on the service policy as compared with the case where the content distribution device directly distributes the content. That is, when there are n content distribution devices on the upstream side and m content distribution devices on the downstream side, if content distribution is performed directly, each content distribution device on the upstream side and each content distribution device on the downstream side It is necessary to determine whether or not the content can be distributed based on the service policy, and the total processing amount is n × m.
Since it is only necessary to determine whether or not distribution is possible with 905, the total processing amount is n + m.

[0085]

Third Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining the present embodiment. In FIG. 29, user devices 3201 to 3204 used by different users.
And shows that the content A is circulated between the respective user devices. Individual user devices 3201-32
In addition to the function of the content distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment, 04 further includes an event generation unit 121, a route control unit 123, and a content input / output unit 122, as shown in FIG. The operation of this embodiment will be described below using a specific example. It should be noted that it is assumed that the distribution permission / inhibition determination based on the service policy has already been performed between the respective user devices, and it is determined that all the user devices can be distributed.

First, each user device has sufficient information for identifying the device, such as the domain name and IP address.
It is given as a "device ID". Here, as the device IDs of the user devices 3201 to 3204, "Al"
It is assumed that "ice", "Bob", "Charlie", and "David" are set.

Next, the content A is displayed on the user device 3201.
Is located. Then, as the content policy of the content A, “Alice → Bob → Ch
"arlie" is set and its meaning is to specify the circulation order. As a specific description example, as shown in FIG. 31, a method of enumerating the device IDs of the respective user devices can be used.

Now, the event generating section 121 of the user device 3201 generates an event signal corresponding to a timer event such as, for example, every hour, or a "change in the state of the content database" caused by, for example, viewing or changing the content A, It is transmitted to the route control unit 123. Then, the route control unit 123 sequentially extracts the content stored in the content database 110, determines the user device that is the next circulation destination according to the content policy of each content, and via the content transmission unit 111, Transmitting the content to the user device. Immediately thereafter, the content database 1
The content A in 10 is deleted. In the case of the content A given in the above example, the route control unit 123 of the user device 3201 has the user device 3 corresponding to the device ID “Bob”.
202 will be selected and transmitted.

User device 320 that has received content A
2 stores the content A in the content database 110. At this point, the user who uses the user device 3202 can browse the content of the content A or add new content via the content input / output unit 122.

Then, after the event occurs in the event generating section 121 of the user device 3202, the user device 320
By the operation of the route control unit 123 of No. 2, the device ID “Charli
The e ”is transmitted to the user device 3203 and is deleted from the user device 3202. Furthermore, in the route control unit 123 of the user device 3203, the content A
The device ID “Al” described at the beginning of the content policy of
The user device 3201 corresponding to “ice” is selected as the next destination and is transmitted to the user device 3201. In this way, the content A is periodically, or triggered by a browsing / editing operation or the like, the user devices 3201 to 3203.
It will be circulated between 203.

Further, the user holding the content A can change the circulation destination in addition to adding the content. Specifically, as with the addition of the content, the “next destination” is changed via the content input / output unit 122. At this time, as shown in FIG. 32, the content input / output unit 122
Inserts the modified "next destination" into the previous content policy.

For example, when the content A is located on the user device 3202, the user who uses the user device 3202 selects the “next list” as the previous user device 320.
From the device ID “Charlie” of No. 3 to the device I of the user device 4
Suppose you changed to "David". At this time, the content policy of the content A is “Alice → Bob → Chalie”
Changed to "Alice → Bob → David → Charlie". Therefore, the content A that has undergone such a change in the content policy (hereinafter referred to as content A ′) is transmitted to the user device 3204 by the operation of the route control unit 123, and then the user devices 3201 to 3204. Circulation will take place in between.

As another embodiment of the user device, as shown in FIG. 33, an acceptance refusal processing unit 124 is further provided, and the acceptance refusal processing unit 124, the content check unit 108, and the service check unit 109 are provided. , And the route control unit 123 may be connected. In this case, when the content check unit 108 or the service check unit 109 refuses to accept the content, the content is immediately transmitted to the acceptance refusal processing unit 124. Then, the acceptance refusal processing unit 124
From the circulation route of the content policy of the content,
The description of the user device is deleted, and the route control unit 12 is further added.
It will be sent to the next time via 3

According to the above example, now for example the user device 3204 receives the content A ′ and the user device 320
It is assumed that either the content check unit 108 or the service check unit 109 of No. 4 determines that the content A ′ is rejected. At this time, content A '
Is transmitted to the acceptance refusal processing unit 124, and the device I of the user device 3204 is selected from the circulation route of the content policy.
D "David" is deleted. That is, as shown in FIG. 34, from “Alice → Bob → David → Charlie”, select “Alice
→ Bob → Charlie ”(that is, the same as the content A before the route change). Then, the route control unit 1
23 selects the device ID “Chalie” as the next browsing destination, and transmits it to the user device 3203 corresponding to “Chalie” via the content transmission unit 111. After that, the content A ′ is circulated among the user devices 3201 to 3203.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by setting the delivery route in the content policy of the content, the content itself can control its own delivery route. In addition, it is possible to change the distribution route in the content policy in each user device,
When each user device has a function of rejecting the content and correcting the delivery route when the check by the content check unit 108 or the like does not pass, it is not appropriate while maintaining flexibility of the delivery route setting. It is possible to prevent the user from browsing / adding content.

[0096]

Other Embodiments of the Invention In each of the above embodiments, the content check unit 108 and the service check unit 109 are provided.
The distribution deadline check unit 117 is provided, but any one or two of them may be provided.

In the content distribution apparatus including only the content check unit 108, the content database 11
The content policy to be held in combination with the content at 0 may include at least declarative information about the content, and the determination integration unit 118 may be omitted, and the content storage unit 108 may store the content when the content check unit 108 determines that the content information matches. An instruction to additionally record the content stored in the unit 115 and the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit 107 in the content database 110 may be issued.

In the content distribution apparatus having only the service check unit 109, the content database 110
The content policy held in combination with the content needs to include at least request information regarding the service to be enjoyed, and the determination integration unit 118 is omitted, and when the service check unit 109 determines that the content storage unit matches the content policy. An instruction to additionally record the content stored in 115 and the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit 107 in the content database 110 may be issued.

In the content distribution apparatus having only the distribution time limit check unit 117, the content database 110
The content policy to be held in combination with the content needs to include at least request information regarding the distribution deadline, and the determination integration unit 118 is omitted, and when the distribution deadline check unit 117 determines that the content storage unit matches, the content storage unit An instruction to additionally record the content stored in 115 and the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit 107 in the content database 110 may be issued.

In the content distribution apparatus having only the content check unit 108 and the service check unit 109,
The content policy stored in the content database 110 in combination with the content only needs to include at least declarative information about the content of the content and request information about the service to be enjoyed.
Additionally records in the content database 110 the content stored in the content storage section 116 and the content policy stored in the content policy storage section 107 when both the content check section 108 and the service check section 109 determine that they match. The instructions should be issued.

In the content distribution apparatus including only the content check unit 108 and the distribution deadline check unit 117,
The content policy stored in the content database 110 in combination with the content only needs to include at least declarative information about the content and request information about the distribution deadline. Deadline check section 117
Content storage unit 11 when it is determined that both match
It is sufficient to issue an instruction to additionally record the content stored in No. 6 and the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit 107 in the content database 110.

In the content distribution apparatus including only the service check unit 109 and the distribution deadline check unit 117, the content policy held in the content database 110 in combination with the content is at least request information regarding the service to be enjoyed and request information regarding the distribution deadline. And the content stored in the content storage unit 116 and the content policy storage unit 10 when it is determined that both the service check unit 109 and the distribution deadline check unit 117 match.
An instruction to additionally record the content policy stored in No. 7 in the content database 110 may be issued.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the content distribution apparatus having both the function of transmitting and receiving the content is taken up, but the content transmitting apparatus that only transmits the content and the content receiving apparatus that only receives the content are described. The present invention is also applicable.

In the case of the content transmission apparatus, the function related to the reception of the content is omitted in the configuration of FIG. 1, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. Further, in the case of the content receiving device, the function related to the transmission of the content is omitted in the configuration of FIG. 1, and has a configuration shown in FIG.

[0105]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the content transmitting side and the receiving side confirm the suitability of the service policy, which is a policy related to how to handle the content, before proceeding to the distribution stage of each content, the process immediately proceeds to the distribution stage of the content. As a result, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the suitability determination of all content policies ends up in vain, and to control and manage the distribution of content so that it does not go against the wishes of the content owner. It can be distributed efficiently and widely.

Further, unlike the conventional example of IP transmission, it is not necessary to manage an appropriate IP address of the partner device, and even for a newly appearing content distribution device, the content policy must be understood after understanding the service policy. Since the distribution of the content can be performed with peace of mind, the content distribution can be further promoted.

At the distribution stage of contents,
Since the content and its content policy are sent from the sender to the receiver and the compatibility of the content policy is judged at the receiver, the processing is performed when the sender and the receiver are operated in a 1: n relationship. It is distributed to each receiving side, and in this sense, efficient content distribution is possible.

Regarding the content and its content policy held and managed by the own device, the number of times it is transmitted to another device is held and managed as the delivery record, and the delivery record sent from the other device is received, and the storage Determine whether the managed delivery record or the received delivery record is the delivery record related to the content received from another device, and obtain the content with the held and managed delivery record or the received delivery record. According to the configuration for transmitting to another device described above, a device or system that controls the distribution of content is not required, and distributed content distribution control in which a plurality of devices cooperate to manage the distribution of content becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to construct a content distribution network with high scalability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining whether or not to implement content distribution according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example of a determination table regarding retransmission used by a service determination unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a reliability record determination table used by a service determination unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is another example of a service policy according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a determination table relating to a virus check used by the service determination unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example of a determination table regarding a content check used by the service determination unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is still another example of the service policy according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example of a service policy including an unknown item according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is an example of a service policy in which corresponding items are missing in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a part of content and a content policy for explaining the operation of the content check unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the content check unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an example of a movie genre classification diagram used by the content check unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an example of a judgment table regarding a CM image used by the content check unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram schematically showing a part of content and a content policy for explaining the operation of the service check unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the service check unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an example of a determination table regarding display, storage, printing, and redistribution used by the service check unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram schematically showing a part of content and a content policy for explaining the operation of the distribution time limit checking unit in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a distribution record management function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

20 is an example of a state before distribution of the content A in the content database and the distribution record database in the transmitting device, the mediating device, and the receiving device in FIG.

21 is an example of a state after the first distribution of the content A in the content database and the distribution record database in the transmitting device, the mediating device, and the receiving device in FIG.

22 is an example of a state after the next distribution of the content A of the content database and the distribution record database in the transmission device, the mediation device, and the reception device of FIG.

23 is an example of a state after the next distribution of the content A in the content database and the distribution record database in the transmission device, the mediation device, and the reception device in FIG.

FIG. 24 is an example in which a service policy is described in XML format.

FIG. 25 is an example in which the contents of the content database and the distribution record database are described in XML format.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a principal block diagram showing the configuration of the market place device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of the contents of the service policy of the content distribution device registered in the marketplace device.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a main part of a user device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram of contents of a content policy according to the third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram of an example of changing a content policy according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a main part of another example of the user apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an operation explanatory diagram of another example of the user apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a content transmission device of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a content reception device of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique related to the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique related to the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining a conventional technique related to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Service Policy Receiver 102 reception service policy storage unit 103 service determination unit 104 service policy storage unit 105 Service Policy Transmission Unit 106 content receiver 107 content policy storage unit 108 Content Check Section 109 Service Check Department 110 content database 111 Content transmitter 112 Delivery record sending part 113 delivery record database 114 delivery record receiver 115 Delivery record distribution unit 116 Content storage unit 117 Distribution deadline check section 118 Judgment Integration Unit 119 Route selector 120 policy database 121 Event occurrence part 122 Content input / output 123 Route control unit 124 Acceptance / Rejection Processing Section 201 transmitter 202 Service policy of transmitter 203 receiver 204 Service policy of receiving device 205 Send request 206 content 1101 content Content policy for 1102 content 1201 receiver 1202 Receiving device service policy 1203 content Content policy for 1204 content 1501 contents 1502 Content policy for content 1601 receiver 1602 Service policy of receiving device 1603 contents 1604 Content policy 1801 contents 1802 Content policy for content 1901 transmitter 1902 Mediation device 1903 Receiver A 1904 Receiver B 1905 Content A 2001 Distribution status of content A 2002 Content database of transmitter 2003 Transmission device database 2004 Mediation device content database 2005 Mediation device distribution record database 2006 Content database of receiver A 2007 Distribution database of receiver A 2008 Receiver B content database 2009 Delivery data base of receiver B 2101 Distribution status of content A 2102 transmitter content database 2103 Distribution database of transmitter 2104 Mediation device content database 2105 Distribution database of mediation device 2106 Content database of receiver A 2107 Distribution database of receiving device A 2108 Content database of receiver B 2109 Distribution database of receiving device B 2201 Content A distribution status 2202 transmitter content database 2203 Distribution database of transmitter 2204 Mediation device content database 2205 Distribution record database of mediation device 2206 Content database of receiver A 2207 Distribution database of receiving device A 2208 Content database of receiver B 2209 Distribution database of receiving device B 2301 Distribution status of content A 2302 transmitter content database 2303 Distribution database of transmitter 2304 Mediation device content database 2305 Distribution record database of mediation device 2306 Content database of receiver A 2307 Distribution database of receiving device A 2308 Content database of receiver B 2309: Distribution database of receiving device B 2401 XML description of service policy 2402 XML description of service policy 2501 XML description of content database 2502 XML description of delivery record database 2601 IP packet receiver 2602 IP address comparison unit 2603 communication-permitted IP address storage unit 2604 data storage 2605 IP address storage unit 2606 IP packet transmitter 2701 IP address 2702 IP address list 2703 IP packet 2800 Information Utility 2802 communication line 2804 Video Production Studio 2805 broadcasting line 2806 Consumer / Author 2808 consumers 2810 office 2812 Independent financial provider 2814 Publisher 2816 Information delivery service 2901-2904 Content distribution device 2905 Marketplace Equipment 2911 to 2914 Distribution chain 3201 to 3204 user equipment 3401 Content policy

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5B082 EA11 HA05                 5B085 AA08 BA07 BE03 BG01 BG06                       CA06                 5K030 HB15 LB05

Claims (40)

[Claims] 1. A method of distributing contents between devices capable of communicating with each other via a network, wherein service policies, which are policies regarding how to handle contents of the respective devices, are exchanged with each other, and both devices have counterparts. By comparing the service policy received from the device with the service policy of the own device, it is determined whether or not the content is distributed with the partner device, and whether the content is distributed with the partner device in both devices. A content distribution method characterized in that it proceeds to the distribution stage of each content only when it is determined. 2. The service policy is configured to include declarative information regarding a service provided by the own device and request information regarding a service of a distribution partner. The declarative information regarding the provided service is exchanged with each other, and the partner device is used by both devices. The method of determining whether to distribute or not distribute the content with the partner device by comparing the information about the provided service received from the request information about the service of the distribution partner in the service policy of the own device.
Content distribution method described in. 3. At the distribution stage of each content, the distribution source device transmits the content and the content-specific content policy to the distribution destination device, and the distribution destination device is based on the received content policy. The content distribution method according to claim 2, wherein it is determined whether or not the received content is stored in the device together with the content policy. 4. The content policy is configured to include declarative information about the content details, and the distribution destination device requests the declarative information about the received content content and the distribution target content preset in the device itself. The content distribution method according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether the received content is stored in its own device together with the content policy by comparing with the information. 5. The content policy is configured to include request information regarding a service to be enjoyed, and a distribution destination device includes request information regarding the received service to be received and declaration information regarding a service policy providing service of its own device. The content distribution method according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether the received content is stored in its own device together with the content policy by comparing. 6. The content policy is configured to include request information regarding a distribution deadline, and the device at the distribution destination determines whether the time at the time of operation conforms to the received request information regarding the distribution deadline, The content distribution method according to claim 3, wherein it is determined whether or not the received content is stored in the device together with the content policy. 7. A content and a content policy held and managed by the device itself are held and managed as a distribution record of the number of transmissions to another device, and the distribution record sent from another device is received and stored. It is determined whether the managed delivery record or the received delivery record is the delivery record related to the content received from another device, and
7. The content distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the managed distribution record or the received distribution record is transmitted to another device that has acquired the content. 8. A pull distribution in which content is distributed by a content transmission request from a distribution destination device to a distribution source device, and a push distribution in which content distribution is performed by a content reception request from a distribution source device to a distribution destination device. The content distribution method according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein content distribution is performed according to at least one of the forms. 9. An intermediary device for intervening content distribution between one or more distribution source devices and one or more distribution destination devices, wherein the distribution destination device is By saving the service policy and comparing the content policy of the content acquired from the distribution source device with the stored service policy, the distribution destination device for distributing the content is automatically determined and the content distribution 8. An intermediary as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7.
Content distribution method described in paragraph. 10. The content policy of a content is provided with a distribution channel of the content, and the device that has acquired the content automatically determines the distribution-destination device that subsequently distributes the content according to the distribution channel in the content policy of the content. 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein
Content distribution method described in paragraph. 11. A content distribution device that distributes content, wherein the service policy is transmitted to another content distribution device using a service policy storage unit that stores a service policy that is a policy regarding how to handle the content, and a communication line. A service policy transmitting unit, a service policy receiving unit that receives a service policy transmitted from another content distribution device using a communication line, and a service policy of the other content distribution device received by the service policy receiving unit are stored. By comparing the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit with the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit and the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit, A content distribution apparatus comprising: a service determination unit that determines whether or not to perform distribution. 12. A content distribution device for distributing content, including a service policy storing means for storing a service policy including declaration information regarding a provided service and request information regarding a service of a distribution partner, and the service policy storing means using a communication line. Service policy transmitting means for transmitting at least declaration information regarding the provided service to another content distribution device, service policy receiving means for receiving a service policy transmitted from another content distribution device using a communication line, and the service policy reception Reception service policy storage means for storing the service policy of another content distribution device received by the means, request information regarding the service of the distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the reception service. Service determination means for determining whether to distribute or not distribute the content with the other content distribution device by comparing the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means. A content distribution device comprising: 13. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding content to be distributed, and a content database that holds and manages content policy including content and at least declarative information regarding the content, and a communication line. Content transmitting means for transmitting the content and its content policy to another content distribution device by using, content receiving means for receiving the content and the content policy transmitted from the other content distribution device, and the received content The received content is referred to as the service by referring to the stored content storage means, the content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and the declaration information about the content of the content included in the received content policy. It is determined whether or not the request information regarding the content to be distributed contained in the service policy stored in the policy storage means is matched, and if it is matched, the received content and its content policy are stored in the content database. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a content check unit that issues an instruction to additionally record. 14. A content database that holds and manages a content policy including content and at least request information regarding services to be enjoyed regarding the content, and transmits the content and the content policy to another content distribution device using a communication line. Content transmitting means, content receiving means for receiving content transmitted from another content distribution device and its content policy, content storing means for storing the received content, and content policy storing means for storing the received content policy. Request information regarding a service to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit, and a service provided in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit. And a service check means for issuing an instruction to additionally record the received content and its content policy in the content database when the content is declared to be compatible with the declaration information about the content. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the content distribution apparatus is a content distribution apparatus. 15. A content database that holds and manages content and a content policy including at least request information regarding the distribution deadline of the content, and content that transmits the content and its content policy to another content distribution device using a communication line. A transmitting means, a content receiving means for receiving the content transmitted from another content distribution apparatus and its content policy, a content storing means for storing the received content, and a content policy storing means for storing the received content policy. By referring to the request information regarding the distribution deadline included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, it is determined whether or not the time at the time of operation conforms to the request regarding the distribution deadline. Is received 13. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: a distribution deadline check means for issuing an instruction to additionally record the created content and its content policy in the content database. 16. The service policy is configured to further include request information regarding contents to be distributed, and holds and manages a content policy including declarative information about the contents and at least contents of the contents and request information regarding services to be enjoyed. Content
A database, a content transmitting means for transmitting the content and its content policy to another content distribution apparatus using a communication line, and a content receiving means for receiving the content and the content policy transmitted from the other content distribution apparatus. The received content is referred to as the service policy by referring to content storage means for storing the received content, content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and declarative information about the content of the content included in the received content policy. Content checking means for determining whether or not the request information regarding the content to be distributed contained in the service policy stored in the storing means is suitable,
It is determined whether the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit match. A service check means, and when it is determined that both the content check means and the service check means are compatible,
13. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and its content policy in the content database. 17. The service policy is configured to further include request information regarding content to be distributed, and holds and manages a content policy including content and at least declaration information regarding content details and request information regarding a distribution deadline. A content database, content transmission means for transmitting content and its content policy to another content distribution apparatus using a communication line, and content reception for receiving content and its content policy transmitted from another content distribution apparatus. Means, content storage means for storing the received content, content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and declarative information about the content of the content included in the received content policy The content policy stored in the service policy storage means and the content policy stored in the content policy storage means for determining whether or not the content conforms to the request information regarding the content to be distributed contained in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means. A distribution deadline check means for determining whether or not the time at the time of operation conforms to the request concerning the distribution deadline by referring to the request information concerning the distribution deadline included, and both the content check means and the distribution deadline check means. 13. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and the content policy thereof in the content database when it is determined that the content conforms to. 18. A content database that holds and manages a content policy including content and at least request information regarding services to be enjoyed regarding content and request information regarding a distribution deadline, and content and its content policy using a communication line. Content transmitting means for transmitting the content to the content distributing apparatus, and content receiving means for receiving the content transmitted from another content distributing apparatus and the content policy thereof,
Content storage means for storing the received content,
Content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, request information regarding services to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, and provided services included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means With reference to the service check means for determining whether or not the declaration information regarding the information matches, and the request information regarding the distribution deadline included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, the time at the time of operation is related to the distribution deadline. A distribution deadline check means for judging whether or not the request is met, and when both the service check means and the distribution deadline check means determine that the received content and its content policy are matched, Content distribution apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that it has a structure that additional recording to database. 19. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding contents to be distributed, and includes declaration information regarding contents and at least contents of the contents, request information regarding services to be enjoyed, and request information regarding distribution deadlines. A content database that holds and manages a content policy, a content transmission unit that transmits content and its content policy to another content distribution device using a communication line,
Content receiving means for receiving content and its content policy transmitted from another content distribution device, content storage means for storing the received content, content policy storage means for storing the received content policy, and received content Refer to the declarative information about the content of the content included in the policy,
Content check means for determining whether the received content matches the request information regarding the content to be distributed contained in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the content policy stored in the content policy storage means In the content policy storage means and service check means for determining whether the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the service policy and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means match. A distribution deadline check means for determining whether or not the time at the time of operation conforms to the request concerning the distribution deadline by referring to the request information concerning the distribution deadline included in the stored content policy. service 13. The content according to claim 12, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and its content policy in the content database when it is determined that all of the check means and the distribution deadline check means are suitable. Distribution equipment. 20. A content record database that retains and manages the number of times content has been transmitted and received by the content transmission means as a distribution record for content and content policies that are stored and managed in the content database, and transmitted from another content distribution device. The distribution record receiving means for receiving the distribution record, the distribution record of the content transmitted by the content transmitting part and the content policy thereof, or the distribution record received by the distribution record receiving part is the content received from another content distribution device. A distribution record distribution unit that determines whether or not the distribution record is related to the distribution record, and a distribution record of the content transmitted by the content transmission unit and the content policy thereof, or a distribution record received by the distribution record receiving unit. Content distribution equipment The content distribution device according to any one of claims 13 to 19, further comprising: a distribution record transmission unit that transmits the distribution record to the storage device. 21. 1 stored in a policy database
A route for automatically determining a distribution destination device to which the content is to be distributed, based on the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy of the distribution partner and the content policy of the content stored in the content database. 21. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a selection unit and an event generation unit that activates the route selection unit at a predetermined time such as every fixed time or when the content database is updated. 22. A distribution destination device which has a description of a distribution channel of the content in the content policy of the content stored in the content database, and which distributes the content next according to the distribution channel described in the content policy. 21. The route control means for automatically determining, and the event generation means for activating the route control means at a predetermined time such as at regular time intervals or when the content database is updated. Content distribution device. 23. In a content transmitting apparatus for transmitting content, a service policy storing means for storing a service policy, which is a policy regarding how to handle the content, and a service policy for transmitting the service policy to the content receiving apparatus using a communication line. Transmitting means, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content receiving apparatus using the communication line, and receiving service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content receiving apparatus received by the service policy receiving means Whether the content is distributed to the content receiving device by comparing the service policy stored in the service policy storage means with the service policy stored in the received service policy storage means, A service determining unit that determines whether or not to perform the operation, a content database that holds and manages the content and a content policy including at least declarative information about the content, and a content receiving apparatus that uses the communication line to provide the content and the content policy. And a content transmitting unit for transmitting the content to the content transmitting apparatus. 24. In a content transmitting device for transmitting content, a service policy storing means for storing a service policy including declaration information about a provided service and request information about a service of a distribution partner, and the service policy of the service policy using a communication line. At least the service policy transmitting means for transmitting the declaration information about the provided service to the content receiving device, the service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content receiving device using the communication line, and the service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy. Receiving service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content receiving device, request information regarding a service of a distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storing means, and the receiving service policy By comparing the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy stored in the storage means with the content receiving device, it is determined whether to distribute the content or not, the service determining means, the content, and A content database that holds and manages a content policy including at least declarative information about the content, and a content transmission unit that transmits the content and the content policy to a content receiving device using a communication line. Content transmission device. 25. A distribution record database that holds and manages distribution records of contents held and managed by the content database and its content policy, and the distribution record database that records the number of times the content is transmitted by the content transmitting means as a distribution record. 25. and a distribution record distribution unit that stores the distribution record of the content received from another device that has transmitted the content and its content policy in the distribution record database in the distribution record database.
The content transmission device described in 1. 26. In a content receiving device for receiving content, a service policy storing means for storing a service policy that is a policy regarding how to handle the content, and a service policy for transmitting the service policy to the content transmitting device using a communication line. Transmitting means, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus using the communication line, and receiving service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content transmitting apparatus received by the service policy receiving means Whether to perform distribution of content with the content transmission device by comparing a service policy stored in the service policy storage means with a service policy stored in the reception service policy storage means, Service determining means for determining whether or not to implement, a content database for holding and managing content and its content policy, content receiving means for receiving the content transmitted from the content transmitting device and its content policy, and A content receiving device comprising: a content storage unit for storing content; and a content policy storage unit for storing a received content policy. 27. In a content receiving device for receiving content, a service policy storing means for storing a service policy including declaration information about a provided service and request information about a service of a distribution partner, and the service policy of the service policy using a communication line. At least the service policy transmitting means for transmitting the declaration information regarding the provided service to the content transmitting device, the service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content transmitting device using the communication line, and the service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy. Receiving service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content transmitting device, request information regarding a service of a distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storing means, and the receiving service policy By comparing the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy stored in the storage means with the content transmission device, it is determined whether the distribution of the content is performed or not, A content database that holds and manages the content policy, a content receiving unit that receives the content transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus and the content policy, a content storage unit that stores the received content, and a received content policy. A content receiving apparatus, comprising: a content policy storage unit for storing the content. 28. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding content to be distributed, and the content policy is configured to include at least declarative information regarding content details, and is included in the received content policy. By referring to the declaration information regarding the content, it is determined whether the received content conforms to the request information regarding the content to be distributed included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the content conforms. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising content check means for issuing an instruction to additionally record the received content and its content policy in the content database. 29. The content policy is configured to include at least request information regarding a service to be enjoyed regarding content, and the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit and the service policy. It is determined whether or not the declarative information about the provided service included in the service policy stored in the storage unit is matched, and if it is matched, the received content and its content policy are additionally recorded in the content database. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a service check unit that issues an instruction. 30. The content policy is configured to include at least request information regarding a distribution deadline of content, and the operation is performed by referring to request information regarding a distribution deadline included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage unit. A distribution deadline check means for determining whether the time of day conforms to the request regarding the distribution deadline, and if it matches, issuing an instruction to additionally record the received content and its content policy in the content database. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising: 31. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding content to be distributed, and the content policy is configured to include at least declarative information regarding content details and request information regarding services to be enjoyed, and , Referring to the declaration information regarding the content of the content included in the received content policy, whether the received content conforms to the request information regarding the content to be distributed included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means. Content checking means for making a determination, request information regarding services to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, and provided services included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means Service check means for determining whether or not the relevant declaration information is relevant, and when both the content check means and the service check means are determined to be compatible, the received content and its content policy are set to the content. The content receiving device according to claim 27, characterized in that the content receiving device has a configuration for additionally recording in a database. 32. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding content to be distributed, and the content policy is configured to include at least declaration information regarding content content and request information regarding a distribution deadline, and Refer to the declarative information about the content of the content included in the received content policy,
Content check means for determining whether the received content matches the request information regarding the content to be distributed contained in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the content policy stored in the content policy storage means And a distribution deadline check means for determining whether or not the time at the time of operation conforms to the request concerning the distribution deadline by referring to the request information concerning the distribution deadline included in the content check means and the distribution deadline check means. 28. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and its content policy in the content database when both are determined to be compatible. 33. The content policy is configured to include at least request information regarding a service to be enjoyed with respect to the content and request information regarding a distribution deadline, and is included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means to be enjoyed. Service check means for determining whether or not there is conformity between the request information regarding the service policy and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and the content policy stored in the content policy storage means. A distribution deadline check means for determining whether or not the time at the time of operation conforms to the request concerning the distribution deadline by referring to the included request information regarding the distribution deadline, and both the service check means and the distribution deadline check means. Fits in 28. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and its content policy in the content database when it is determined that the content is received. 34. The service policy is further configured to include request information regarding contents to be distributed, and the content policy includes at least declaration information regarding contents, request information regarding services to be enjoyed, and request information regarding distribution deadlines. Request information regarding the content to be distributed, which includes the received content policy and is included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit, by referring to the declaration information regarding the content included in the received content policy Content check means for determining whether or not the service policy is stored, the request information regarding the service to be enjoyed included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, and the service policy stored in the service policy storage means. Service check means for determining whether or not the declaration information about the provided service included in the content policy matches, and the request information regarding the distribution deadline included in the content policy stored in the content policy storage means, at the time of operation. A distribution deadline check means for determining whether or not the time of day conforms to the request regarding the distribution deadline, and when it is determined that all of the content check means, the service check means and the distribution deadline check means are matched, 28. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a configuration for additionally recording the received content and its content policy in the content database. 35. A computer constituting a content distribution device for distributing content, a service policy storage means for storing a service policy, which is a policy relating to how to handle the content, and a communication line for storing the service policy in another content distribution device. To store the service policy of the other content distribution device received by the service policy receiving unit, the service policy transmitting unit transmitting to the content policy, the service policy receiving unit receiving the service policy transmitted from the other content distribution device using the communication line, By comparing the service policy stored in the received service policy storage unit with the service policy stored in the received service policy storage unit. A program that functions as a service determination unit that determines whether or not to distribute Tents. 36. A computer constituting a content distribution device for distributing content, using a communication line, a service policy storage means for storing a service policy including declaration information about a provided service and request information about a service of a distribution partner. Service policy transmitting means for transmitting at least declarative information about the provided service of the service policy to the other content distributing apparatus, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the other content distributing apparatus using the communication line, and the service policy Reception service policy storage means for storing the service policy of another content distribution device received by the reception means, request information regarding the service of the distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage means, and A service for determining whether or not to distribute the content with the other content distribution device by comparing the declaration information about the provided service included in the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage means. A program that functions as a determination means. 37. A computer, which constitutes a content transmitting apparatus for transmitting content, transmits the service policy to the content receiving apparatus using a service policy storing means for storing a service policy, which is a policy regarding how to handle the content, and a communication line. Service policy transmitting means, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content receiving apparatus using the communication line, and received service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content receiving apparatus received by the service policy receiving means Distributing the content with the content receiving device by comparing the service policy stored in the service policy storage means with the service policy stored in the received service policy storage means Service determining means for determining whether or not to execute, content database that holds and manages content policy including content and at least declarative information related to content, content reception of content and its content policy using a communication line A program that functions as content transmission means for transmitting to a device. 38. A computer constituting a content transmission device for transmitting content, using a communication policy, a service policy storage means for storing a service policy including declaration information about a provided service and request information about a service of a distribution partner. Service policy transmitting means for transmitting, to the content receiving device, declarative information about at least the provided service of the service policy, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content receiving device using the communication line, and received by the service policy receiving means. Service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content receiving device,
By comparing the request information regarding the service of the distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit, Using a service determining means for determining whether or not to distribute the content with the content receiving device, a content database that holds and manages the content and a content policy including at least declarative information about the content, and a communication line A program that functions as content transmitting means for transmitting content and its content policy to a content receiving device. 39. A computer, which constitutes a content receiving device for receiving content, transmits the service policy to the content transmitting device using a service policy storing means for storing a service policy which is a policy regarding how to handle the content and a communication line. Service policy transmitting means, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content transmitting apparatus using the communication line, and reception service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content transmitting apparatus received by the service policy receiving means And distributing the content with the content transmission device by comparing the service policy stored in the service policy storage means with the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage means. Service determining means for determining whether or not to implement, a content database for holding and managing content and its content policy, content receiving means for receiving content transmitted from the content transmission device and its content policy, received A program that functions as a content storage unit that stores content and a content policy storage unit that stores a received content policy. 40. A computer, which constitutes a content receiving device for receiving content, uses a communication policy, a service policy storing means for storing a service policy including declaration information about a provided service and request information about a service of a distribution partner. Service policy transmitting means for transmitting at least declarative information regarding the provided service of the service policy to the content transmitting device, service policy receiving means for receiving the service policy transmitted from the content transmitting device using the communication line, and receiving by the service policy receiving means Receiving service policy storing means for storing the service policy of the content transmitting device,
By comparing the request information regarding the service of the distribution partner included in the service policy stored in the service policy storage unit and the declaration information regarding the provided service included in the service policy stored in the reception service policy storage unit, A service determining means for determining whether or not to distribute the content with the content transmitting device, a content database for holding and managing the content and its content policy,
A program that functions as content receiving means for receiving content transmitted from a content transmitting device and its content policy, content storing means for storing the received content, and content policy storing means for storing the received content policy.