JP2003186780A - Information providing system, apparatus and method, information processor and method, recording medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire data more efficiently. <P>SOLUTION: When a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) proxy server 12 receives a request for acquiring contents from a home router A, requests a search of the source of contents supply to a C/S management engine 13. The C/S management engine 13 determines the source of contents supply source with reference to data recorded on a database server 14 and notifies the source to the proxy server 12. The proxy server 12 instructs a home router B determined as the source of supply to supply the contents to a home router A. The home router B supplies the contents to the home router A according to the instruction from the proxy server 12. <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 an information providing system, an information providing apparatus and method, an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium, and a program, and particularly, an information providing system capable of acquiring data more efficiently. The present invention relates to an information providing device and method, an information processing device and method, a recording medium, and a program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the digitization of various information and the expansion of network infrastructure, an environment has been constructed in which large-capacity content data such as video and audio can be acquired from a home terminal via a network. There is.

[0003]

However, a network line that can be practically installed in a general home cannot be said to have a sufficiently wide band with respect to the capacity of these contents data, and the communication is not possible. On the so-called best-effort Internet, where speed is not guaranteed,
There is a problem in that it takes a very long time to collectively download desired content data due to the fact that the performance may be significantly reduced depending on the line congestion.

For the same reason, a sufficient bit rate cannot be obtained by streaming reproduction from the server, and high quality content reproduction is impossible. Further, depending on the line condition, a moving image may be displayed during streaming reproduction. There was a problem that voices, voices, etc. might be interrupted on the way.

Although it is considered that the bandwidth of network infrastructure will be further advanced in the future, it is expected that the content data will be replaced with one having a larger capacity and higher quality along with it, and the problem of the bandwidth lowering at the time of congestion will also occur. Since it still exists, it cannot be expected that the above-mentioned problems will be fundamentally resolved in the future.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to enable data to be acquired more efficiently.

[0007]

According to the information providing system of the present invention, an information providing apparatus includes an information processing apparatus, a location of the information processing apparatus on a network, a management means for managing content held by the information processing apparatus, and a content supply destination. From the information processing apparatus as the above, a receiving unit that receives the content acquisition request, a determining unit that determines the information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content whose content acquisition request is received by the receiving unit, and a content that is determined by the determining unit. The information processing apparatus serving as the supply source receives the content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus serving as the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request has been received by the reception unit, and the content acquisition request transmitted to the information processing apparatus. In the information processing device that is the destination of the received content,
A first storage unit that stores a pre-acquisition instruction of the content from the user, and a first storage unit that includes a notification unit that notifies the information processing device that is the source of the content.
Based on a pre-acquisition instruction of the content stored by the storage means of the transmitting means for transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing device, and the content providing source based on the notification of the content supply source from the information providing device. It is characterized by comprising an acquisition unit for acquiring the content from the information processing apparatus as the supply source and a second storage unit for storing the content acquired by the acquisition unit.

The information providing apparatus of the present invention issues a content acquisition request from the location of the information processing apparatus on the network and the management means for managing the content held by the information processing apparatus and the information processing apparatus as the content supply destination. First accepting means for accepting, deciding means for deciding an information processing device as a supplier of the content whose content acquisition request is accepted by the first accepting means, and information serving as a supplier of the content decided by the deciding means The information processing apparatus, which is the destination of the content for which the content acquisition request has been received by the first receiving unit, to the processing apparatus,
A first command means for instructing to transmit the content, and a first information means for notifying the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply source for which the content acquisition request has been received by the first receiving means. And a notification means.

The management means manages information relating to at least one of the identification information of the user who owns the information processing apparatus, the storage capacity of the information processing apparatus, and the communication speed of the information processing apparatus. You can

[0010] Second accepting means for accepting an instruction for pre-acquiring the content from the user via a device connectable to the network and different from the information processing apparatus, and accepted by the second accepting means. A search unit that searches the information processing device owned by the user based on the obtained instruction of the pre-acquisition; and the information processing device searched by the search unit for the content from the user. A second notifying unit for notifying the pre-acquisition instruction can be further provided.

The information providing method of the information providing apparatus of the present invention comprises:
A management step for managing the location of the information processing device on the network and the content held by the information processing device;
A receiving step of receiving a content acquisition request from an information processing apparatus serving as a content supply destination, a determining step of determining an information processing apparatus from which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the receiving step, and a determining step A command for instructing the information processing apparatus that is the source of the content determined by the processing of step 1 to transmit the content to the information processing apparatus that is the destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the receiving step It is characterized by including a step and a notification step of notifying an information processing apparatus, which is a supply destination of the content, of which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the reception step, of the information processing apparatus which is the supply source of the content.

A first recording medium of the present invention is a content acquisition from a location of an information processing apparatus on a network and a management step of managing content held by the information processing apparatus, and an information processing apparatus serving as a content supply destination. A receiving step of receiving the request, a determining step of determining an information processing apparatus as a source of the content of which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the receiving step, and information of a source of the content determined by the processing of the determining step A command step for instructing the processing device to transmit the content to an information processing device, which is a supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the reception step, and the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the reception step. Information processing equipment to which the supplied content is supplied In, characterized in that it comprises a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus serving as a supply source of the content.

A first program of the present invention is a content acquisition request from a management step of managing the location of an information processing apparatus on a network and a content held by the information processing apparatus, and an information processing apparatus serving as a content supply destination. A receiving step for accepting a request, a determining step for determining an information processing apparatus as a supply source of the content for which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the receiving step,
The information processing apparatus that is the source of the content determined by the processing of the determining step is instructed to transmit the content to the information processing apparatus that is the destination of the content of which the content acquisition request is received by the processing of the receiving step. The computer is caused to execute a command step for performing the processing, and a notification step for notifying the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply source to the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply source for which the content acquisition request has been received by the processing of the reception step.

The information processing apparatus of the present invention is based on first storage means for storing an instruction for pre-acquisition of content from a user and an instruction for pre-acquisition of content stored in the first storage means. Transmission means for transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing apparatus, acquisition means for acquiring the content from the information processing apparatus as the content supplier based on the notification of the content supplier from the information providing apparatus, and acquisition means And a second storage unit for storing the content acquired by.

Based on a command from the information providing device to supply the content to the other information processing device, a supplying means for supplying the content to the other information processing device may be further provided. .

A determining means for determining the content to be acquired is further provided on the basis of the pre-acquisition instruction of one or more contents stored in the first storage means, and the transmitting means is provided. The content acquisition request for the content determined by the determining means may be transmitted.

[0017] Receiving means for receiving an instruction for the advance acquisition of the content from the user from the information providing apparatus is further provided, and the first storage means includes:
The instruction for the advance acquisition of the content received by the receiving unit may be stored.

The information processing method of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is
A content acquisition request is sent to the information providing apparatus based on the first storage step of storing a content pre-acquisition instruction from the user and the content pre-acquisition instruction stored by the processing of the first storage step. The transmitting step of transmitting, the acquisition step of acquiring the content from the information processing apparatus as the content supplier based on the notification of the content supplier from the information providing apparatus, and the content acquired by the processing of the acquiring step are stored. And a second storing step of

In the second recording medium of the present invention, the storage is controlled by the first storage control step of controlling to store the instruction of the advance acquisition of the content from the user and the processing of the first storage control step. Information processing as a content supply source based on a transmission step of transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing apparatus based on a pre-acquisition instruction of the content and a notification of the content supply source from the information providing apparatus. It is characterized by including an acquisition step of acquiring the content from the device and a second storage control step of controlling to store the content acquired by the processing of the acquisition step.

In the second program of the present invention, the storage is controlled by the processing of the first storage control step for controlling to store the instruction of the advance acquisition of the content from the user and the processing of the first storage control step. An information processing apparatus as a content supplier based on a transmission step of transmitting a content acquisition request to an information providing apparatus based on a pre-acquisition instruction of the content and a notification of the content supplier from the information providing apparatus. The computer is caused to execute an acquisition step of further acquiring the content and a second storage control step of controlling to store the content acquired by the processing of the acquisition step.

In the information providing system of the present invention, the information providing apparatus manages the location of the information processing apparatus on the network and the content held by the information processing apparatus. The content acquisition request is accepted, the information processing device that is the source of the content for which the content acquisition request is accepted is determined, and the content for which the content acquisition request is accepted to the information processing device that is the determined content supplier The information processing apparatus that is the supply destination of the content is instructed to transmit the content, and the information processing apparatus that is the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is received is notified of the information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content. The processing device stores an instruction for pre-acquisition of content from the user, A content acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing apparatus based on the stored instruction for pre-acquisition of the content, and based on the notification of the content supplier from the information providing apparatus, the information processing apparatus as the content supplier. The content is acquired, and the acquired content is stored.

In the information providing apparatus and method, the recording medium, and the program of the present invention, the location of the information processing apparatus on the network and the content held by the information processing apparatus are managed, and the information processing apparatus as a content supply destination. The content acquisition request is accepted, the information processing device serving as the source of the content for which the content acquisition request is accepted is determined, and the content acquisition request is accepted for the information processing device serving as the determined content supplier. The information processing apparatus serving as the content supply source is instructed to the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply destination, and the content supply source receiving the content acquisition request is notified by the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply source. To be done.

In the information processing apparatus and method, the storage medium, and the program of the present invention, an instruction for pre-acquisition of content from a user is stored, and the information providing apparatus is based on the stored instruction for pre-acquisition of content. To
The content acquisition request is transmitted, the content is acquired from the information processing apparatus as the content supplier based on the notification of the content supplier from the information providing apparatus, and the acquired content is stored.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the Internet 1 includes a WEB server 11, SIP (Session Initiatio
n Protocol) proxy server 12, content / storage management engine 13 (hereinafter also abbreviated as C / S management engine 13), and database server 14 are connected.

The WEB server 11 transmits and receives Web contents such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) sentences to and from a WEB browser installed in a general-purpose personal computer or the mobile terminal 3 by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol). I do. In addition, the WEB server 11 uses the SIP user agent 11a for SIP
Communication processing is performed with the proxy server 12. The mobile terminal 3 has a WEB browser function and transmits / receives Web content to / from the WEB server 11.

The SIP proxy server 12 includes home routers 5-1 to 5-4 (storage devices 31-1 to 3-4).
Send and receive information by SIP with 1-4). The SIP proxy server 12 also sends a search request for information managed by the database server 14 to the C / S management engine 13 and receives the search result. The C / S management engine 13 searches the information registered and managed in the database server 14 according to the search request received from the SIP proxy server 12, and sends the search result to the SIP proxy server 12. Database server 14
Accepts registration of user information, storage device information, and content information, and retrieval of those registered information.

Further, the Internet 1 is connected to a content server 4 for providing a user with movies, music, and other information (content) via the Internet 1.

A home router 5-1 serving as an entrance and exit to the outside of the home network is installed in the home A (Home A), and a storage formed by a hard disk or the like is provided inside the home router 5-1. Device 31-
1 exists so that the service can always access it.
Further, client computers 6-1 and 6-2 operated by a user are connected to the home router 5-1.

A home router 5-2, which serves as an entrance and exit to the outside of the home network, is installed in the home B (Home B). Inside the home router 5-2, a storage formed by a hard disk or the like is installed. Device 31-
2 exists so that the service can always access it.
Similarly, home routers 5-3 and 5-4, which are doorways to the outside of the home network, are installed in the home C (Home C) and home D (Home D), respectively. Inside the home routers 5-3 and 5-4, storage devices 31-3 and 31-4, which are hard disks and the like, are present so that they can be always accessed from the service side.

In FIG. 1, the home router 5-
Although the client computers are not shown in FIGS. 2 to 5-4, it does not mean that the client computers are not connected to the home routers 5-2 to 5-4. Although not shown, the home router 5
Each of -1 to 5-4 is connected with an electric appliance having a function of connecting to a network in addition to the client computer.

In the following description, the home router 5-1
If there is no particular need to distinguish each of
Collectively referred to as home router 5. Further, in the following description, the storage devices 31-1 to 31-4 are collectively referred to as the storage device 31 unless it is necessary to distinguish them. In the following description, the client computers 6-1 and 6-2 are collectively referred to as the client computer 6 unless it is necessary to distinguish them.

By designating desired content data from a portable terminal or the like by the mechanism or apparatus proposed by the present invention, the desired content data is acquired and stored in advance in the storage device in the home of the user who makes the request, and this is stored. By using it, it becomes possible to perform high-speed streaming playback and download of the content from the home terminal.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the SIP proxy server 12. In Fig. 2, the CPU (Centr
al Processing Unit) 101 is a ROM (Read Only M)
emory) Program stored in 102 or RAM
Various processes are executed according to the program loaded in the (Random Access Memory) 103. The RAM 103 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 101 to execute various processes.

CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103
Are mutually connected via a bus 104. An input / output interface 105 is also connected to the bus 104.

The input / output interface 105 includes an input unit 106 including a keyboard and a mouse, an audio output unit 107 including a speaker, and a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tub).
e), a monitor 108 including an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a storage unit 1 including a hard disk, etc.
09, a modem, a terminal adapter and the like are connected to the communication unit 110. The communication unit 110 performs communication processing via a network including the Internet 1.

The input / output interface 105 also includes
A drive 111 is connected as necessary, and a magnetic disk 112, an optical disk 113, a magneto-optical disk 114, a semiconductor memory 115, or the like is mounted as appropriate, and a computer program read from them is stored in the storage unit 110 as necessary. Installed.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the C / S management engine 13. This C / S management engine 1
The CPU 141 to the semiconductor memory 155 forming part 3 have basically the same configuration as the CPU 101 to the semiconductor memory 115 forming the SIP proxy server 12 in FIG. 2, and the corresponding names have corresponding functions. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted because it is repeated.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the structure of the database server 14. CP of this database server 14
The U 181 to the semiconductor memory 195 are also basically configured similarly to the CPU 101 to the semiconductor memory 115 of the SIP proxy server 12 of FIG. 2, and the corresponding names have the corresponding functions, so the description thereof will be repeated. It will be omitted.

Further, FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the client computer 6. The CPU 221 to the semiconductor memory 235 of this client computer 6 are also S in FIG.
CPU 101 to semiconductor memory 1 of the IP proxy server 12
The configuration basically similar to that of No. 15 and the corresponding name has the corresponding function, and the description thereof is omitted because it is repeated.

Although not shown, the WEB server 11 basically has the same configuration as the SIP proxy server 12 shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the home router 5. In FIG. 6, the CPU 261 executes various kinds of processing according to the programs stored in the ROM 262. RA
In the M263, data and the like necessary for the CPU 261 to execute various processes are appropriately stored.

CPU 261, ROM 262, and RAM 263
Are mutually connected via a bus 264. An input / output interface 265 is also connected to the bus 114.

The input / output interface 265 has a storage device 3 for storing contents supplied from the content server 4 or another home router 5.
1, an input unit 2 that receives the input of the setting of the home router 5
66, a setting content of the home router 5, an LCD 267 displaying the storage capacity of the storage device 31, and the like, and a communication unit 268 having a connector of a cable for communication are connected.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the mobile terminal 3.

In FIG. 7, a camera section 302 is installed in the main body 301 of the portable terminal 3, and the user can take a desired image with the CCD camera 303 of the camera section 302. .

The LCD 304 displays the user's schedule, WEB
Various information such as a home page provided by the server 11 is displayed, and an image taken by the camera unit 302 is also displayed.

Further, the LCD 304 has a transparent touch panel 337 for accepting inputs of various operations from the user.
(FIG. 8) is laminated, and the touch panel 337 is previously prepared.
The pen prepared for the user allows the user to input various operations.

A predetermined depression is provided on the back surface of the portable terminal 3 and a jog dial 305 is provided.
The jog dial 305 can be rotated left and right,
It is also possible to push the inside of the main body.

A memory stick slot 344 (FIG. 8) into which a removable memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation) 344 (FIG. 8) is inserted in the main body 301.
Is provided.

Next, FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of the portable terminal 3 of FIG.

In FIG. 8, the CPU 331 uses the program stored in the ROM 332 or RA from the storage unit 340.
Various processes are executed according to the program loaded in M333. The RAM 333 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 331 to execute various processes.

CPU 331, ROM 332, and RAM 333
Are interconnected via a bus 334. An input / output interface 335 is also connected to the bus 334.

The input / output interface 335 includes an operation input control section 336, an LCD 304, a voice output section 339, a storage section 340, a communication section 341, a camera section 302, and
A memory stick interface 342 is connected. The operation input control unit 336 includes a touch panel 337,
Jog dial 305 and other operation keys 338
Corresponding to the operation input from the
The processing corresponding to the input operation is executed. The audio output unit 339 outputs audio based on the supplied audio data.

The storage unit 340 stores programs executed by the mobile terminal 3 and various data. Communication unit 34
1 performs communication processing via the Internet 1.

Memory Stick Interface 342
Reads information from the memory stick 344 inserted in the memory stick slot 343 and supplies and stores information to the memory stick 344.

Here, the memory stick 344 is a kind of flash memory card developed by Sony Corporation, the applicant of the present application. This memory stick 344 is an EEPROM (Electrically) that is a non-volatile memory that is electrically rewritable and erasable in a small and thin plastic case of 21.5 vertical x 50 horizontal x 2.8 [mm] thick.
Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), which is a type of flash memory device.
It is possible to write and read various data such as images, voices, and music through the 10-pin terminal.

Further, the memory stick 344 adopts a unique serial protocol capable of ensuring compatibility with the equipment used even when the specifications of the built-in flash memory are changed due to an increase in capacity, etc. 1.5 [MB /
S] and a maximum read speed of 2.45 [MB / S] are realized, and a high reliability is secured by providing an erasure prevention switch.

A user who uses the service provided by the information providing system needs to subscribe to the service through a predetermined procedure in advance. At the time of subscription, the user is issued a user ID and password for identifying the user. The user performs the initial registration procedure of the storage device to be used after joining. Initial registration is normally performed from the client computer 6 used for viewing the content to the WEB on the home router 5 with the built-in storage device 31.
It is automatically performed by accessing the server 11 and inputting the acquired ID and password. An example of a database holding initial registration information is shown in FIG.

In the table shown in FIG. 9, the top row shows items of initial registration information stored in the storage unit 189 of the database server 14. That is,
In the table of FIG. 9, in the top row, from left to right,
"User ID", "registrant name", "storage ID", "storage IP", "storage capacity (MB)", "storage area", "downlink speed (kbps)", and "uplink speed (kbps)" ) ”Item is shown.

The "user ID" is identification information for identifying each user who has subscribed to the information providing system, and is issued when the user subscribes to the service of the information providing system. The “registrant name” is the name of the user registered by the user when the user joins the information providing system. The “storage ID” is a device ID unique to the storage device 31, and the storage device 3
It is used to identify each one. “Storage IP” is an IP (Internet Protocol) address of the home router 5 (storage device 31) used by the user. The IP address is premised on that a fixed value is assigned to each home router 5.

The "storage capacity" indicates the storage capacity (unit is megabyte (MB)) of the information of the storage device 31. The “storage area” represents the location where the home router 5 (storage device 31) exists, from among locations classified on the network from access points and the like. Details will be described later. The "downlink connection speed" is the communication speed at which the home router 5 receives information via the Internet 1 (unit: kilobits /
Indicates the second (kbps). The “uplink connection speed” indicates the communication speed (unit is kilobits / second (kbps)) when the home router 5 transmits information via the Internet 1.

In the table of FIG. 9, the information corresponding to each item in the first line is shown in the second and subsequent lines for each user registered in the service. That is, in the table of FIG.
The second line from the top shows the initial registration information registered when a certain user subscribes to this service. That is, in the second row from the top of the table, from left to right, in order,
The user ID is "CDN-000002", the registrant name is "Taro Yamada", the storage ID is "STR09329", and the storage IP
Is "11.22.33.44" and the storage capacity is "60000 (MB)"
The initial registration information of the user whose storage area is "A003", downlink connection speed is "1536 (kbps)", and uplink connection speed is "512 (kbps)" is shown.

Similarly, in the table of FIG. 9, the third row from the top shows the initial registration information registered when a user different from the user from the second row from the top subscribes to this service. That is, in the third row from the top of the table, from left to right, in order, the user ID is "CDN-000005", the registrant name is "Hanako Sato", the storage ID is "STR93298", and the storage is IP is "33.45.23.144", storage capacity is "30000 (MB)", storage area is "A023", downlink connection speed is "8192 (kbps)", and uplink connection speed is "1024."
(kbps) ”, the user's initial registration information is shown.

Similarly, in the table of FIG. 9, the 4th line from the top shows the initial registration information registered when a user different from the users of the 2nd and 3rd lines from the top subscribes to this service. Has been done. That is, in the fourth row from the top of the table, the user IDs are "CDN-001209" in order from left to right.
The registered name is "Ichiro Tanaka" and the storage ID is "STR9".
9023 ", storage IP is" 134.43.29.11 ", storage capacity is" 120000 (MB) ", storage area is" A2 ".
21 ”indicates initial registration information of a user whose downlink connection speed is“ 30720 (kbps) ”and whose uplink connection speed is“ 10240 (kbps) ”.

In the table of FIG. 9, the initial registration information of the users who have subscribed to this service is recorded in the fifth and subsequent rows as well, as described above. Storage unit 189 of database server 14
In the table, as shown in the table of FIG. 9, initial registration information of the user is stored.

The database server 14 stores the data in the storage device 31 after the service is started by the advance acquisition or the like.
Information of each storage device 31, such as what kind of content is stored, is always stored and managed in the storage unit 189. FIG. 10 shows an example of a database that describes these pieces of information. 1 of the table shown in FIG.
In the top row, the storage unit 189 of the database server 14
Storage device information stored in (the storage device 3 owned by the user registered in this service
1) is shown. That is,
In the table of FIG. 10, in the top row, items of “storage ID”, “possessed content ID”, “free space (MB)”, and “number of transmitted contents” are shown from left to right. ing.

The item “storage ID” on the first line from the top of the table in FIG. 10 is the same as the “storage ID” shown in FIG. 9, and is a device ID unique to the storage device 31.
“Holding content ID” indicates a list of contents stored in the storage device. The content supplied from the content server 4 or another home router 5 has a unique ID for each content, and a list of the contents is recorded in the “held content ID” column by this content ID. ing. “Free space (MB)” indicates the free storage capacity (unit is MB) of the storage device 31. "Number of transmitted contents" is
This indicates the number of contents currently being sent, such as when the data is sent to another storage device 31 (home router 5).

In the table of FIG. 10, the information corresponding to each item on the first line is shown in the second and subsequent lines for each storage device 31 identified by the storage ID. That is, in the table of FIG. 10, the second row from the top shows information about a certain one storage device 31. The second row from the top of the table in FIG.
The ID is "STR09329" and the owned content ID is "CNT02848".
2 ”and“ CNT398292 ”, free space is“ 48029 (MB) ”
And the storage device 3 whose number of transmitted contents is "0"
1 is shown. In other words, in the second line from the top of the table in FIG. 10, “The storage device 31 with the storage ID“ STR09329 ”is currently holding the content ID“ CNT02848 ”.
2 ”and“ CNT398292 ”are stored, the free capacity is“ 48029 (MB) ”, and 0 contents are transmitted”.

Similarly, in the third row from the top of the table of FIG.
"Storage device 3 with storage ID" STR93298 "
No. 1 currently stores two contents with owned content IDs “CNT0283491” and “CNT929182”, and has a free capacity of “21993 (MB)” and is sending one content ”. ing.

Further, in the fourth row from the top of the table of FIG.
"Storage device 3 with storage ID" STR99023 "
1 is currently owned content ID "CNT281129", "CNT29
It stores three contents of "3811" and "CNT283842", has a free capacity of "98332 (MB)", and sends one content ".

Next, FIG. 11 shows the equipment constituting the present invention.
It represents the modules and the flow of messages and data between them. In the present embodiment, HTTP is used as an access protocol for a service from a browser such as the mobile terminal 3, SIP is used as a signaling protocol for the storage device 31 and contents, and LDAP (Lightweight Dir) is used as an access protocol for the database server 14.
(ectory Access Protocol) as the data transfer protocol
An example of using TP (File Transfer Protocol) is shown below.

In the upper half of FIG. 11, the service platform 2 is indicated by a dotted line. Further, in the figure, the mobile terminal 3, the home router 5-1, and the home router 5-2 are shown from the lower side toward the right side.
Each device corresponds to the device having the same reference numeral and the same name shown in FIG. It should be noted that in the following description, the home router 5-1 is also referred to as the home router A. The home router 5-2 is also referred to as home router B.

In the service platform 2, the WEB
A server 11, a SIP proxy server 12, a C / S management engine 13, and a database server 14 are shown. Each device corresponds to the device having the same reference numeral and the same name shown in FIG.

The SIP user agent 401-1 in the home router A is an application that executes SIP communication processing between the home router A and the SIP proxy server 12. The FTP server / client 402-1 in the home router A is
Communication processing by FTP is executed with another home router (home router B in this example). Further, the home router A has a built-in storage device 31-1.

Similarly, the SIP user agent 401-2 in the home router B is an application that executes SIP communication processing between the home router B and the SIP proxy server 12. FTP in home router B
Server / client 402-2 is home router B
And the other home router (home router A in this example) by FTP. Further, the home router B has a built-in storage device 31-2.

The user who owns the home router A (hereinafter referred to as user A) downloads some content in advance to the storage device 31 of the home router A while carrying the portable terminal 3 and going out. When it is desired to store the content, the advance acquisition request for the content can be registered in the home router A via the mobile terminal 3. Therefore, in step S1 of FIG. 11, in response to the operation from the user A who wants to issue the content advance acquisition request, the CPU 331 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the communication unit 341 to cause the WEB server 1
Access 1. The mobile terminal 3 is the WEB server 11
You need a user ID and password to access. Therefore, the mobile terminal 3 accepts the input of the user ID and the password from the user via the touch panel 337 before accessing the WEB server 11.

The WEB server 11 recognizes the user A based on the user ID and password received from the mobile terminal 3. Based on the request from the mobile terminal 3, the WEB server 11 transmits to the mobile terminal 3 a list of content data and application software that can be acquired in advance from a page within the site. When the CPU 331 of the mobile terminal 3 receives the list of pre-acquirable content data and application software via the communication unit 341, the CPU 331 displays the list on the LCD 304. FIG. 12 shows L of the mobile terminal 3.
It is an example of a list of content data displayed on the CD 304.

The user ID 421 "Us" shown in FIG.
The user ID is displayed in the "XXX" part of "er XXX". Directly below the user ID 421, a guide 422 "Please s
electContents You want to Pre-Deposit ”is displayed. Also, in the lower half of the LCD 304, the content list 4
23 is displayed. Content items 423a to 423d are displayed in the content list 423. “Content A” of items 423a to 423d,
"Content B", "Content C", and "Content D"
In reality, the title of the content (for example, the title of a movie) is displayed.

The user can select a desired content (or application software) from the content list 423 displayed on the LCD 304. When the selection of the desired content is input by the user via the jog dial 305 or the touch panel 337, the CPU 331 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the communication unit 341 to previously acquire the selected content from the WEB server 11. Submit your request.

When the advance acquisition request for the content is received from the mobile terminal 3, the WEB server 1 receives the request in step S2.
1 uses a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) (SIP user agent 11a in FIG. 1) to enable the SIP proxy server 12
Then, the SIP proxy server 12 is requested to transmit a SIP message to the home router A of the user A so as to convey the data pre-acquisition request. SIP proxy server 12
The CPU 101 receives the SIP message from the WEB server 11 via the communication unit 110.

In step S3, the SIP proxy server 12 transmits the user ID of the user A from the communication unit 110 to the C / S management engine 13 and, at the same time, the home router 5-corresponding to the user ID of the user A. 1
Request to retrieve the IP address of (storage device 31-1). CPU1 of C / S management engine 13
When the request 41 is received from the SIP proxy server 12 via the communication unit 150, the request 41 is sent to the database server 14 via the communication unit 150 and the LDAP user ID is sent.
Home router 5-1 (storage device 3
Inquire the IP address of 1-1). The database server 14 receives this LDAP inquiry via the communication unit 190 and refers to the table of FIG. 9 to refer to the home router 5-1 (storage device 31-
The IP address of 1) is searched, and the search result, that is, the IP address of the home router 5-1 (storage device 31-1) corresponding to the user ID of the user A is sent from the communication unit 190 by LDAP to C / S management. Send to the engine 13. The CPU 101 of the C / S management engine 13 receives the IP address of the search result from the database server 14 via the communication unit 110, and transmits this from the communication unit 110 to the SIP proxy server 12.

The CPU 101 of the SIP proxy server 12 receives the storage device 3 corresponding to the user ID of the user A from the C / S management engine 13 via the communication unit 110.
When the IP address of 1-1 is received, in step S4, the communication unit 110 transmits a content pre-acquisition request of the user A by a SIP message to the home router A. The home router A uses the SIP proxy server 12 to
Upon receiving the content pre-acquisition request of the user A, the received content pre-acquisition request of the user A is registered in the storage device 31-1. In this way, the storage device 31-1 creates and stores a list of contents for which advance acquisition requests have been made, as shown in the table of FIG.

The top row of the table in FIG. 13 shows each item of the pre-acquisition request content list stored in the storage device 31-1. That is, in FIG.
In the table above, in the top row, from left to right, "requester user ID", "request content ID", "content capacity (MB)", "request date and time", "status", and " The item of "reception rate (kbps)" is shown.

The item "request user ID" on the first line from the top of the table in FIG. 13 represents the user ID of the user who has requested the advance acquisition of the content. By setting the requesting user ID, it is possible to determine which user has made the content pre-acquisition request even when there are a plurality of users who use one home router. "Request content ID" is the ID of the content that is requested to be acquired in advance.
Is represented. An ID unique to the content is recorded in the “requested content ID”. "Content capacity (MB)"
Indicates the content information amount (unit is MB). The “request date and time” represents the date and time when the content advance acquisition request was registered in the storage device 31-1. "St
"atus" indicates whether pre-acquisition of content data is already being executed or is still waiting before pre-acquisition. That is, if content is being acquired, "statu
“Downloading” is written in the column corresponding to “s”, and in the state before the content is acquired, “waiting” is written in the column corresponding to “status”. "Reception rate (kbps)"
Indicates the communication speed at the time of receiving the content.

In the table of FIG. 13, information corresponding to each item on the first line is shown in each of the second and subsequent lines for each content for which advance acquisition is requested. That is, in the table of FIG. 13, the second row from the top shows information about a certain content for which pre-acquisition is requested.
In the second line from the top of the table in FIG. 13, the requested user ID is "CDN
-000002 ", the requested content ID is" CNT827392 ",
The content capacity is "4129 (MB)" and the requested date and time is "2001/1
1/14 10:10 ”, the status is“ waiting ”, and the reception rate is“ 0 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the third row from the top in the table of FIG. 13, the request user ID is “CDN-000002”, the request content ID is “CNT992048”, and the content capacity is “3982”.
(MB) ", the requested date and time is" 2001/11/14 12:23 ", and status
Indicates "waiting" and the reception rate is "0 (kbps)".

Further, similarly, in the table of FIG. 13, in the fourth line from the top, the requesting user ID is "CDN-000323",
The requested content ID is "CNT003829", the content capacity is "6642 (MB)", and the requested date and time is "2001/11/14 19:12".
Then, the status is "waiting" and the reception rate is "0 (kbp
s) ”prior acquisition request content is shown.

In addition, to the pre-acquisition request content list,
Immediately after registering new content, status is waiting
And the reception rate is set to 0.

Here, with reference to FIG. 14, an outline of the processing from the registration of the user in the present information providing system to the registration of the advance acquisition request of the content in the home router 5 will be described.

In step S101 of FIG. 14, the user obtains a user ID and a password in advance by subscribing to this service, for example, by a postcard. The CPU 221 of the client computer 6 inputs the user ID and password via the input unit 226 by the user,
If you accept the input of the initial registration instruction for this service,
From the communication unit 230, information necessary for initial registration is stored in the WEB server 11 on the home router 5 having the storage device 31 built therein, that is, the item "user" shown in the table of FIG.
"ID", "registrant name", "storage ID", "storage"
"IP", "storage capacity", "storage area",
Send "downlink connection speed" and "uplink connection speed",
Request initial registration processing. Client computer 6
Therefore, the WEB server 11 that has received the initial registration processing request
The user is registered in the database server 14 by executing a predetermined process designated in advance. Registered users are added to the list of initial registration information databases shown in the table of FIG.

In step S 102, the SIP proxy server 12 accepts the advance acquisition request from the user via the WEB server 11. This process is the same as step S2 in FIG.

In step S103, the C / S management engine 13 receives the request from the SIP proxy server 12 and determines the IP address of the storage device 31 built in the home router 5 from the user ID. This process corresponds to the process of step S3 in FIG.

In step S104, the SIP proxy server 12 transmits the user's content pre-acquisition request to the home router 5 (storage device 31) determined by the C / S management engine 13. This process corresponds to the process of step S4 of FIG.

In step S105, the home router 5 receives the content pre-acquisition request transmitted from the SIP proxy server 12 in 104, and selects the content for which pre-acquisition is requested from the pre-acquisition request content list (see FIG. 1).
(Refer to 3). Then, the process is step S1.
Returning to 02, the processing from step S102 is repeated.

As described above, the processing from the registration of the user's service to the registration of the pre-acquisition request content in the home router 5 is executed.

Returning to FIG. 11, the home router 5 starts pre-acquisition of content based on the pre-acquisition request content list. In the pre-acquisition request content list shown in FIG. 13, it is checked whether or not the content capacity is smaller than the free capacity of the storage device 31-1 for the status with waiting and the earliest requested date and time. Start getting the content. If the free capacity of the storage device 31-1 is smaller than the content capacity, the storage device 31-1 sequentially checks the oldest requested date and time, and starts pre-acquisition of content having a smaller content capacity than the free capacity of the storage device 31-1. . The process for actually starting pre-acquisition based on the pre-acquisition request content list in the home router 5-1 will be described later with reference to FIG.

When the content to start pre-acquisition is determined, the home router 5-1 determines in step S5 that the SI
A SIP message indicating that the content is to be acquired is transmitted to the P proxy server 12.

The CPU 101 of the SIP proxy server 12 receives, via the communication unit 110, the SIP message from the home router 5-1 to the effect that the content will be acquired. Then, in step S6, C of the SIP proxy server 12
The PU 101 inquires of the C / S management engine 13 about an appropriate source of content. The CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 sends an S
The inquiry message of the content supplier is received from the IP proxy server 12, and the LDAP is sent from the communication unit 150.
9 and 1 for the database server 14.
0 to request the data shown in the database server 14
Based on the supplied data, the process of determining the content supply source is executed. Details of the process (preliminary supply source determination algorithm) in which the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 determines the content supply source will be described later with reference to FIG. 16. CPU of C / S management engine 13
The communication unit 150 notifies the SIP proxy server 12 of the determined supplier (home router B in this example) 141.

When the CPU 101 of the SIP proxy server 12 receives the notification of the supply source from the C / S management engine 13 via the communication unit 110, the home router determined as the supply source by the communication unit 110 in step S7. A SIP message indicating an acquisition request is sent to B. The SIP user agent 401-2 of the home router B is transmitted from the SIP proxy server 12 in step S7,
Upon receiving the SIP message indicating the acquisition request, the CPU 261 of the home router B determines the storage device 31-2.
First, it is determined whether or not the requested content is stored.

As a result, the CPU 261 of the home router B
If the SIP user agent 401-2 determines that the requested content is stored in the storage device 31-2, the SIP user agent 401-2 returns ACK to the SIP proxy server 12, and in step S8, the SIP user agent 401 is returned. -2 establishes a session with the SIP user agent 401-1 of home router A. The SIP user agent 401-2 of the home router A issues a temporary ID and password for FTP login to the SIP user agent 401-1 of the home router B.

If the requested content has been erased from the storage device 31-2, the SI
The P user agent 401-2 returns NOT FOUND to the SIP proxy server 12, and the SIP proxy server 12
Except for the home router B, executes the process of inquiring the supply source to the C / S management engine 13 and searches for another storage device 31 (home router 5) in the same manner as described above.

In step S8, after the session is established between the SIP user agent 401-2 and the SIP user agent 401-1, the FTP of the home router B is executed.
Server / client 402-2 is F of home router A
Step S for TP server / client 402-1
In step 8, the temporary ID and password issued from the home router A are used for FTP login, and transfer of the requested content is started.

When the content transfer by FTP is completed,
The home router B notifies the SIP proxy server 12 that the content transfer is completed. The CPU 101 of the SIP proxy server 12 uses the SIP user agent 401-
2, and requests the C / S management engine 13 to update the data of the database server 14 based on the notification. The CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 receives the data update request of the database server 14 from the SIP proxy server 12, and sets the content ID of the home router A in the table of FIG. Now, the home router A adds the content ID of the content X acquired from the home router B, and subtracts 1 from the number of transmitted contents of the home router B.

Further, the home router A deletes the item of the acquired content X from the pre-acquisition request content list shown in FIG. Home router A is shown in Figure 1.
If the item of status 3 of “waiting” still remains, the above-described processing is repeated to acquire the content recorded in the pre-acquisition request content list of FIG.

As described above, in the information providing system, the user downloads the content or application software desired by the user to the storage device 31 in the home router 5 in advance, so that the user can download the content. When it is necessary, the content does not need to be acquired from the content server 4 or the storage device 31 in another home router 5 via the Internet 1.

Next, the processing for the home router A to start the advance acquisition will be described with reference to FIG. In step S121, the CPU 261 of the home router A
Refers to the column corresponding to “status” in the pre-acquisition request content list shown in FIG. 13 to search for content whose “status” is “waitng”.

In step S122, the CPU 261 of the home router A finds "statu" retrieved in step S121.
From the contents in which "s" is "waitng", the oldest contents in the column corresponding to "request date" in the table of FIG. 13 are selected.

In step S123, the CPU 261 of the home router A determines whether or not the content capacity of the content selected in step S122 is smaller than the free capacity of the built-in storage device 31-1 and is selected in step S122. If the content capacity of the stored content is smaller than the free space of the built-in storage device 31-1, the process proceeds to step S124, and the CPU 261 of the home router A transmits a content acquisition request to the SIP proxy server 12 (FIG. 11). The same process as the process of step S5). In step S123, the CPU 261 of the home router A determines that the content capacity of the content selected in step S122 is not smaller (larger) than the free capacity of the built-in storage device 31-1.
If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S127.

In step S125, the home router A receives a notification from the SIP proxy server 12 as to whether or not the home router A can acquire the content at the same time.

[0110] In step S126, the CPU 261 of the home router A determines whether the notification received in step S125 is a notification that the home router A can acquire the content at the same time, and further acquires the content at the same time. If it is determined that the notification is possible, the process proceeds to step S127.

When the CPU 261 of the home router A determines in step S126 that the notification received in step S125 is not the notification that the home router A can acquire the content at the same time, the CPU 261 of step S125 proceeds to step S126.
Proceed to 129.

In step S127, the CPU 261 of the home router A finds "statu" retrieved in step S121.
If "s" is "waitng", it is determined whether the next oldest content exists, and if it is determined that the next oldest content exists, the process proceeds to step S128.

In step S127, the CPU 261 of the home router A searches for "statu" found in step S121.
If it is determined that the next oldest content whose “s” is “waitng” does not exist, the process proceeds to step S129.

In step S128, the CPU 261 of the home router A finds "statu" retrieved in step S121.
From the contents in which "s" is "waitng", select the next oldest content. Then, the process is step S12.
Returning to step 3, the CPU 261 of the home router A makes a step S
It is determined whether or not the content capacity of the content selected in 128 is smaller than the free capacity of the built-in storage device 31-1, and the above-described processing from step S123 is repeated.

In step S129, the CPU 261 of the home router A interrupts the pre-acquisition start processing and waits for a preset predetermined time. After that, step S
Returning to step 121, the above-described processing from step S121 is repeated.

The pre-acquisition start processing is executed as described above, and the home router A determines the content to be acquired first from the pre-acquisition request content list as shown in FIG.

Next, referring to FIG. 16, the preliminary supply source determination processing (supply source determination algorithm) of the C / S management engine 13 will be described.

In step S151, the C / S management engine 13 receives from the SIP proxy server 12 the storage ID of the storage device 31 in the home router 5 that issued the advance acquisition request and the content ID of the acquisition request content. In the following explanation, SIP
The storage ID of the storage device 31 in the home router 5 that has issued the advance acquisition request and is received from the proxy server 12 is also referred to as a storage ID (A). The acquisition request content received from the SIP proxy server 12 is also referred to as content X.

In step S152, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 transmits the content ID of the content X to the database server 14 and stores the content having the same content ID as that content ID in the storage device 31. Request the list from the database server 14.

The database server 14 creates and manages the content-based storage device list as shown in the table of FIG. 17 based on FIGS. 9 and 10.

The top row of the table in FIG. 17 shows each item of the content-based storage device list stored in the storage unit 189 of the database server 14. That is, in the top row of the table of FIG. 17, from the left to the right, "content ID", "storage ID", "storage IP", "storage area", "uplink connection speed (kbp
s) ”,“ the number of transmitted contents ”, and“ estimated average transmission rate (kbps) ”.

The item "content ID" on the first line from the top of the table in FIG. 17 represents an ID unique to the content. The “storage ID” is the “storage ID” in the tables of FIGS.
The ID is the same as the “ID” and is an ID for identifying each storage device 31. The “storage IP” is the same as the “storage IP” in the table of FIG. 9, and represents the IP address of the home router 5 (storage device 31). The “storage area” is the same as the “storage area” in the table of FIG.
This indicates the location on the network where the (storage device 31) is installed. Details will be described later.

The "uplink connection speed (kbps)" represents the communication speed when the home router 5 (storage device 31) transmits the content. The “number of transmitted contents” represents the number of contents that the home router 5 (storage device 31) is transmitting. `` Expected average transmission rate (k
bps) ”is the home router 5 (storage device 31)
Shows the expected value of the average communication speed when the content is transmitted at that time. The expected average transmission rate is an expected value of the average transmission rate per content when another transmission of content is started from the home router 5 (storage device 31),
It is calculated by (uplink connection speed) / (number of transmitted contents + 1).

In the table of FIG. 17, information corresponding to each item in the first row is shown in the second and subsequent rows for each content for which advance acquisition is requested. That is, in the table of FIG. 17, the second to eighth lines from the top indicate the contents.
Information about the home router 5 (storage device 31) in which the content with the ID “CNT003212” is stored is shown. In the 10th to 14th lines from the top,
Information about the home router 5 (storage device 31) in which the content having the content ID “CNT002319” is stored is shown.

In the second line from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content ID is "CNT003212" and the storage ID is "STR09329".
So, the storage IP is "11.22.33.44", the storage area is "A012", the upstream connection speed is "512 (kbps)",
The storage device 31 that stores the content is shown in which the number of transmitted content is “1” and the predicted average transmission rate is “256 (kbps)”. That is, in the second line from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR09329”, and the storage device 31 (home router 5) is , The storage IP is "11.22.3
3.44 ”, storage area is“ A012 ”, uplink connection speed is“ 512 (kbps) ”, the number of transmitted contents is“ 1 ”, and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 256 (kbps) ”. Has been done.

Similarly, in the third line from the top of the table of FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR09382”, and the storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “32.243.22.11” and the storage area “ "A032", uplink connection speed is "1024 (kbps)"
It is shown that the number of transmitted contents is “1” and the predicted average transmission rate is “512 (kbps)”.

Similarly, in the fourth row from the top of the table of FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR72821”, and the storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “93.23.221.32” and the storage area “ A002 ", the upstream connection speed is" 56 (kbps) "
It is shown that the number of transmitted contents is “0” and the predicted average transmission rate is “56 (kbps)”.

Similarly, in the fifth line from the top of the table of FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR98321”. The storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “43.11.124.11” and the storage area “ With A002, the upstream connection speed is 10240 (kbp
s) ”, the number of transmitted contents is“ 2 ”and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 3413.333333 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the sixth line from the top of the table of FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR48291”. The storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “45.23.221.189” and the storage area “ A321 "with an upstream connection speed of" 3072 (kbps) "
It is shown that the number of transmitted contents is “1” and the predicted average transmission rate is “1536 (kbps)”.

Similarly, in the seventh line from the top of the table of FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR02938”, and the storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “74.211.3.22” and the storage area “ A839 "with an upstream connection speed of" 1024 (kbps) "
It is shown that the number of transmitted contents is "0" and the predicted average transmission rate is "1024 (kbps)".

Similarly, in the 8th row from the top of the table in FIG.
The content with the content ID “CNT003212” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR48392”, and the storage device 31 (home router 5) has the storage IP “103.23.34.21” and the storage area “ "A332" with an upstream connection speed of "1024 (kbps)"
It is shown that the number of transmitted contents is “2” and the predicted average transmission rate is “341.3333333 (kbps)”.

Similarly, in the tenth row from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with the content ID “CNT002319” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR30012”. Router 5) has a storage IP of "33.21.98.21", a storage area of "A483", and an upstream connection speed of "1024 (kbp
s) ”, the number of transmitted contents is“ 0 ”, and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 1024 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the 11th row from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with content ID “CNT002319” is stored in the storage device 31 with storage ID “STR98321”. Router 5) has a storage IP of "43.11.124.11", a storage area of "A002", and an upstream connection speed of "10240 (kb
ps) ”indicates that the number of transmitted contents is“ 2 ”and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 3413.333333 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the twelfth row from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with the content ID “CNT002319” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR09001”. The router 5) has a storage IP of “29.29.12.47”, a storage area of “A442”, and an upstream connection speed of “3072 (kbp
s) ”indicates that the number of transmitted contents is“ 1 ”and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 1536 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the 13th row from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with content ID “CNT002319” is stored in the storage device 31 with storage ID “STR38222”, and the storage device 31 (home Router 5) has a storage IP of "89.99.120.123", a storage area of "A219", and an upstream connection speed of "512 (kbp
s) ”indicates that the number of transmitted contents is“ 1 ”and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 256 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, in the 14th row from the top of the table in FIG. 17, the content with the content ID “CNT002319” is stored in the storage device 31 with the storage ID “STR55429”. The router 5) has a storage IP of "90.231.33.23", a storage area of "A112", and an upstream connection speed of "1024 (kbp
s) ”, the number of transmitted contents is“ 2 ”, and the predicted average transmission rate is“ 341.3333333 (kbps) ”.

Similarly, the storage device 31 (home router 5) storing the contents arranged on the basis of the contents ID in the 15th line onward from the top of the table of FIG.
The list of is managed.

Here, the item "storage area" in the table of FIG. 17 will be described. The storage area is a location on the network where the storage device 31 is installed, which is divided into predetermined areas in advance and an area code is given to each area.

When transmitting / receiving contents, etc., C / S
The management engine 13 sets the home router 5 (storage device 31), which can complete the transmission and reception of the content in a shorter time, as the content supply source. If there is no suitable home router 5 (storage device 31) as a content supply source in the same area, the C / S management engine 13 determines whether the home router 5 (storage device 31) installed in a different area. Search the content supplier from the inside.

In this case, it is necessary to consider the communication time required for transmitting / receiving contents between different areas. The communication time between a certain area A and area B is the geographical distance between area A and area B, and the WA used.
It depends on the conditions of the N (Wide Area Network) backbone. Therefore, in this information providing system, the communication time when communication is performed between different storage areas is recorded in advance in the database server 14 for each area combination as shown in the table of FIG. .

In the table of FIG. 18, the communication time required for transmitting / receiving a certain content within the same area is 10
When 0 is set, the communication time when content is transmitted and received between different areas is shown. In the table on the left side of the table of FIG. 18, the storage areas in which the home router 5 on the content receiving side exists are shown in the second to eighth rows A001 to A007. Figure 1
In the table of No. 8, the top row is the sender of the content.
The storage areas in which the (source) home router 5 exists are shown in the second to eighth columns from the left, A001 to A007.

That is, in the table of FIG. 18, 2 from the top.
In the line, the home router 5 existing in the area of A001,
If you become the receiving side of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from another home router 5 existing in the area A001 within the same area is "100", and the storage The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the area A002 is “110”, and the storage area A003
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in 004 is "150", and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005 is "150". The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A006 is “180”, and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007 is “210”. It is shown that.

In the table of FIG. 18, in the third line from the top,
When the home router 5 existing in the area of A002 becomes a receiver of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is “110. "so,
Other home routers 5 existing in storage area A002
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home is “100”, and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 present in the storage area A003 is “110” and the home present in the storage area A004 is present. The communication time required to receive the content A from the router 5 is “150”, and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005 is “140” and the storage area A006 exists. The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 is “180”, and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007 is “180”. It is shown.

In the table of FIG. 18, in the fourth row from the top,
When the home router 5 existing in the area of A003 becomes the receiving side of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is "130. "so,
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A002 is “110”.
Then, the communication time required to receive the content A from another home router 5 existing in the storage area A003 is “100”, and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A004. Is "140" and the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005 is "150", and it is required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A006. It is shown that the communication time is “150” and the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007 is “160”.

In the table of FIG. 18, in the fifth line from the top,
When the home router 5 existing in the area A004 becomes a receiver of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is “150”. "so,
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A002 is "150".
Therefore, the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A003 is "14.
The communication time required for receiving the content A from another home router 5 existing in the storage area A004 is "0", and the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005. When the communication time is “105” and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A006, the communication time required is “110” and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007. It is shown that the communication time required for is "140".

In the table of FIG. 18, in the sixth row from the top,
When the home router 5 existing in the area of A005 becomes the receiving side of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is “150”. "so,
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A002 is “140”.
Then, the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A003 is "15.
The communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A004 is "0", and the communication time required when receiving the content A from another home router 5 existing in the storage area A005. When the communication time is “100” and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A006, the communication time required is “135” and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007. It is shown that the communication time required for is "145".

In the table of FIG. 18, the 7th row from the top indicates
When the home router 5 existing in the area of A006 becomes a receiver of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is “180 "so,
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A002 is “180”
Then, the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A003 is "15.
The communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A004 is “0”, and the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005 is “110”. Is "135" and the communication time required for receiving the content A from another home router 5 existing in the storage area A006 is "100" and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007. It is shown that the communication time required for is 130.

In the table of FIG. 18, in the 8th row from the top,
When the home router 5 existing in the area of A007 becomes the receiving side of a certain content (referred to as content A), the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A001 is “210”. "so,
The communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A002 is “180”
Then, the communication time required to receive the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A003 is "16
The communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A004 is "0", and the communication time required for receiving the content A from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A005. When the content time is “145” and the communication time required for receiving the content A from another home router 5 existing in the storage area A006 is “130” and the content A is received from the home router 5 existing in the storage area A007. It is shown that the communication time required for is "100".

The value of the above-mentioned communication time is the measured value,
It is prepared based on the expected value or the intention of the administrator. In the following description, the index of the distance between areas based on the communication time described above is also referred to as the inter-area network distance.

Returning to FIG. 16, in step S152, the database server 14 selects the C / S management engine 1 from the content-based storage device list of FIG.
The data related to the content X requested by No. 3 is supplied to the C / S management engine 13. Further, the database server 14 supplies the data shown in the table of FIG. 18 to the C / S management engine 13 as needed.

The C / S management engine 13 determines the content supply source from the content storage device list shown in FIG. 17 and the communication time list shown in FIG. 18 supplied from the database server 14. To do.

First, in step S153, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 searches the data shown in the table of FIG.
It is determined whether or not there is a content having the same content ID as the ID and in the same storage area as the home router 5 which issued the content acquisition request. If it exists, the process proceeds to step S154.

In step S153, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 has no content having the same content ID as the content ID of the content X and the same storage area as the home router 5 which issued the content acquisition request. If it is determined, the process proceeds to step S156.

At step S154, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 confirms the presence at step S153 of the home router 5 (storage device 3
In 1), the number of transmitted contents is N or less (N is a constant: about 3 to 5), and the expected average transmission speed is the downlink connection speed of home router A x C (C is a constant: 0 or more and 1 or less) It is determined whether or not the above items exist, and if they exist, step S
Proceed to 155.

In step S154, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 determines that the number of transmitted contents is N.
Below (N is a constant: about 3 to 5), and the expected average transmission speed is the downlink connection speed of the home router A x C (C is a constant: 0
If it is determined that the above does not exist,
It proceeds to step S156.

In step S155, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 determines the selected storage device 31 as the supply source, and sets the number of contents sent from the supply source home router 5 (storage device 31) to 1
to add.

In step S156, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 determines that the inter-area network distance (communication time in FIG. 18) is 100 or more and L (L is a constant: eg 200) or less. It is determined whether or not it exists, and if it exists, the process proceeds to step S157, and if it does not exist, the process proceeds to step S159.

In step S157, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 refers to FIG.
A list of the storage devices 31 having the content X is created in order from the one with the shortest distance between storage areas, and in step S158, the number of transmitted contents is N.
A storage device 31 that is less than or equal to (N is a constant: about 3 to 5) and has an expected average transmission speed of the downlink connection speed of the home router A x C '(C' is C x (inter-area network distance) / 100) Is present. That is, the farther the inter-area network distance is, the faster the expected average transmission speed is required. If the storage device 31 satisfying this condition is found, the process proceeds to step S155, and it is determined as the supply source. If no storage device 31 satisfying this condition is found, the process proceeds to step S159.

In step S159, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 determines the origin server of the content provider as the supply source.

Here, the case where the home router B is determined as the content supply source will be described. When the content supply source is determined, the CPU 141 of the C / S management engine 13 executes step S15 as described above.
5, 5 is added to the "number of transmitted contents" of the home router B in the information stored in the database server 14 (FIGS. 10 and 17). Also, step S16
At 0, the C / S management engine 13 accesses the database server 14 and subtracts the capacity of the content X from the free capacity of the home router A in FIG. Also, C /
The S management engine 13 accesses the home router A via the SIP proxy server 12 and causes the status of the content X in FIG. 13 to be downloading.

Then, in step S161, C / S
The CPU 141 of the management engine 13 calculates the expected average transmission rate and the home router A's (downlink connection speed-list
The receiving rate of the content being downloaded) is compared, and if the former is larger, the process proceeds to step S162, and the home router A is notified that further simultaneous acquisition is impossible. Also, C / S management engine 1
If the CPU 141 of 3 determines that the latter is larger,
In step S163, the home router A is notified that further simultaneous acquisition is possible. Then, the expected average speed is entered in the "reception rate" column of the content shown in FIG.

The CPU of the C / S management engine 13
At the stage when the transmission of the content from the home router B to the home router A has been completed, the reference numeral 141 indicates the database server 1
4 is subtracted from the number of contents sent by the home router B in FIG. 10 according to these changes, and FIG.
To update.

Next, SIP message, LDAP message, F
FIG. 19 shows an implementation example of the TP transfer sequence.
20 to 34 show examples of SIP messages that actually flow as an example of a method of mapping user information, home router information, desired content information, etc. onto SIP.

In step S201, the portable terminal 3
Sends a content advance acquisition request to the WEB server 11 by HTTP. In step S221, the WEB server 11 receives the content advance acquisition request, and in step S222, transmits the notification of the reception to the mobile terminal 3. In step S202, the mobile terminal 3 determines in step S222 the WEB server 11
Receive notifications sent by more.

At step S223, the WEB server 1
1 sends the SIP message shown in FIG. 20 to the SIP proxy server 12. It should be noted that in FIG. 19, the display “[1] SIP RE attached to the arrow corresponding to this processing is displayed.
"S2" of "FFER (S2)" indicates that the process corresponds to step S2 of FIG.

In FIG. 20, the destination of the REFER message cdn.sony.co.jp is the service name, userA is the user ID of the requesting user A, and providerX@cdn.sony.co.jp is the pre-acquisition request. Is the ID of the content provider (content server 4) that issued the content, and contentX is the content ID.

In step S281, the SIP proxy server 12 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 20, and requests the C / S management engine 13 for home router search. The C / S management engine 13 transmits an LDAP message for home router search to the database server 14 in step S282. In step S301, the database server 14
The LDAP message is received, the home router is searched, and in step S302, the search result LDAP message is transmitted. It should be noted that in FIG. 19, “S3” in the display “LDAP search (S3)” attached to the arrow corresponding to this process.
Indicates that the process corresponds to step S3 of FIG.

[0168] In step S283, the C / S management engine 13 receives the LDAP message as the search result, and outputs the IP address of the home router A included in the LDAP message.
The address is notified to the SIP proxy server 12. In step S284, the SIP proxy server 12 transmits the SIP message shown in FIG. 21 to the home router A. Incidentally, in FIG. 19, "S4" of the display "SIP REFFER (S4)" attached to the arrow corresponding to this processing
Indicates that the process corresponds to step S4 in FIG.

The destination cdn.sony.co.jp in FIG.
, Home-storage-As representing home router A
It has been rewritten to ony.co.jp.

In step S241, home router A receives the SIP message shown in FIG.

At step S242, home router A transmits the SIP message shown in FIG. 22 to SIP proxy server 12. In step S285, SI
The P proxy server 12 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 22, and in step S286, the WEB server 1
23, the SIP message shown in FIG. 23 is transmitted. In step S224, the WEB server 11 receives the SIP message shown in FIG.

202 Acc of the SIP message shown in FIG.
epted represents a normal response to the REFER message in FIG. 202 Acc of the SIP message shown in FIG.
epted represents a normal response to the REFER message in FIG.

At step S243, the storage device (home-storage-A.sony.
co.jp)) to the SIP proxy server 12 as shown in FIG.
Send the SIP INVITE message shown in to request the establishment of a session for the content that requires pre-acquisition. In step S287, the SIP proxy server 1
2 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 19, "S5" of the display "SIP INVITE (S5)" attached to the arrow corresponding to this process indicates that the process corresponds to step S5 of FIG.

In step S288, in response to the request from the SIP proxy server 12, the C / S management engine 13 sends to the database server 14 an LDAP message requesting the data used for determining the content supplier. In step S303, the database server 14 receives the LDAP message transmitted from the C / S management engine 13 in step S288, and in step S304, transmits the LDAP message including the corresponding data to the C / S management engine 13. In addition, in FIG. 19, “S6” in the display “LDAP search (S6)” attached to the arrow corresponding to this process indicates that the process corresponds to step S6 in FIG. 11.

[0175] In step S289, the C / S management engine 13 receives the LDAP message transmitted by the database server 14 in step S304, and determines the content supply source based on the content supply source determination algorithm (Fig. 16). In step S290,
The SIP proxy server 12 transmits the INVITE message shown in FIG. 25 to the home router B (home-storage-B.sony.co.jp), which is the content supplier determined based on the supplier determination algorithm. To do. In FIG. 25, the destination of the SIP INVITE message is contentX @ home-
storage-B.sony.co.jp. It should be noted that in FIG. 19, the display "SIP INVITE (S
7) ”,“ S7 ”indicates that the process corresponds to step S7 in FIG.

In step S261, home router B receives the SIP INVITE message shown in FIG. 25, and in step S262, SIP proxy server 1
2, the SIP message shown in FIG. 26 is transmitted.

At step S291, the SIP proxy server 12 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 26, and at step S292, sends the SIP message shown in FIG. 27 to the home router A.

At step S244, home router A receives the SIP message shown in FIG.

The 180 Ringing in FIGS. 26 and 27 represents a response to the INVITE message shown in FIGS. 25 and 24, respectively. (In the case of a telephone for which SIP was originally used, it corresponds to the state where the doorbell has started to ring.)

There is no guarantee that the information held by the service is always correct, and it may be possible that the actually resolved source content cannot be accessed due to a user deleting or modifying the content, a network or storage device trouble, or the like. . Therefore, step S263
Then, the home router B, which is the supplier, next judges whether or not the requested content is actually held and can be provided, and if it is possible, the SIP message (200 OK message) shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the SIP proxy server 12. In step S293, the SIP proxy server 12 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 28, and in step S294, transmits the SIP message (200 OK message) shown in FIG. 29 to the home router A.

The home router B, which is the supply source, returns 404 Not Foun if it cannot provide the requested content.
Returns an error message such as d. In this case, the SIP proxy server 12 interrupts the advance acquisition or searches for another supplier.

At step S245, home router A receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 29, and at step S246, home router B sends the SIP message shown in FIG.
The SIP message indicated by 0 is transmitted. Note that FIG.
Inside, the display "[1
1] "S8" of "SIP ACK (S8)" indicates that the process corresponds to step S8 of FIG.

At step S264, home router B receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 30, and at step S265, it sends FTP message to home router A.
To send the content. In step S247, home router A receives the content transmitted by home router B in step S265. Note that FIG.
Inside, the display "FTP that is attached to the arrow corresponding to this process
"S9" of "put (S9)" indicates that the process corresponds to step S9 of FIG.

The ACK message in FIG. 30 represents a response to 200 OK, and at this stage home-storage-A.sony.co.jp and h
A session was set up between ome-storage-B.sony.co.jp
FTP transfer starts.

When the content transmission is completed, in step S266, home router B determines home router A
In response, the SIP message shown in FIG. 31 is transmitted.

At step S248, home router A receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 31, and at step S249, home router B receives the SIP message shown in FIG.
Send the SIP message shown in 2. Step S2
At 67, the home router B sends the SI shown in FIG.
Receive P message.

BYE message of FIG. 31 and 200 OK of FIG.
The message indicates the end of the FTP transfer and the response to it.

In step S250, home router A sends the SIP message shown in FIG. 33 to WEB server 11. In step S225, the WEB server 11 receives the SIP message shown in FIG. 33, and in step S226, sends the SIP message shown in FIG. 34 to the home router A.

The NOTIFY message of FIG. 33 and 20 of FIG.
The 0 OK message represents the end notification of the REFER message and the response thereto.

In this way, the home router A obtains the contents in advance, so that the user A
When using desired data from the home terminal A, by using the data stored in the storage device 31-1 in the home router A, it is possible to access at high speed only via the home LAN without using the Internet. Is possible. For example, when the pre-acquired data is streaming content, the streaming server function in the home router can be used to directly stream and play the content in the storage device.

In the above example, the content advance acquisition request is stored in the home router 5-1 from the portable terminal 3 by the processing of steps S1 to S4 of FIG. It is also possible to directly input the advance acquisition request for the content in -1. Also,
It is also possible to input a content advance acquisition request from the client computer 6.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processes is executed by software, a program that constitutes the software executes a variety of functions by installing a computer in which dedicated hardware is installed or various programs. It is installed from a network or a recording medium into a general-purpose personal computer or the like capable of performing the above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, this recording medium is distributed in order to provide the program to the user separately from the apparatus main body. Included), 1
52, 192, 232, optical disk 113 (CD-ROM (Com
pact Disk-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile
Disk)), 153, 193, 233, magneto-optical disk 114 (including MD (Mini-Disk)), 154, 1
94, 234, or semiconductor memories 115, 155.
In addition to being constituted by a package medium such as 195, 235, etc., it stores a program which is provided to the user in a state of being pre-installed in the apparatus main body.
The ROM 102, 142, 182, 222, 262, the hard disk included in the storage unit 109, 149, 189, 229, and the like.

In this specification, the steps of writing a program are not limited to the processing performed in time series according to the order described, but may be performed in parallel or individually even if the processing is not necessarily performed in time series. It also includes the processing that is performed.

In this specification, the system means
It represents the entire apparatus composed of a plurality of devices.

[0196]

As described above, according to the information providing system of the present invention, the information providing apparatus manages the location of the information processing apparatus on the network and the content held by the information processing apparatus, and supplies the content to the destination. Content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus as described above, determines the information processing apparatus that is the source of the content for which the content acquisition request was received, and The information processing device, which is the supply destination of the content for which the acquisition request is accepted, is instructed to transmit the content, and the information processing device, which is the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is accepted, is the information that is the source of the content Notify the processor,
The information processing device stores a content pre-acquisition instruction from the user, and based on the stored content pre-acquisition instruction, transmits a content acquisition request to the information providing device, Based on the notification of the supplier of the content, the content is acquired from the information processing device as the content supplier, and the acquired content is stored, so that the required data is dramatically more comfortable than before. It becomes possible to access. In addition, the time required for downloading the download type data can be shortened, and the streaming type data can be streamed at a high bit rate. Furthermore, it is possible to effectively utilize network resources and improve the distribution efficiency of content data.

Further, the information providing apparatus and method of the present invention,
According to the recording medium and the program, the location of the information processing apparatus on the network and the content held by the information processing apparatus are managed, and the content acquisition request is received from the information processing apparatus as a content supply destination, and the content acquisition request is received. Determines the information processing device serving as the supply source of the accepted content, and determines the information processing device serving as the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request has been accepted to the information processing device serving as the determined content supply source. Since the information processing apparatus that is the source of the content is notified to the information processing apparatus that is the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is received, the information processing apparatus is required. Access to various types of data is much more comfortable than before. .

Further, according to the information processing apparatus and method, the storage medium, and the program of the present invention, the instruction for pre-acquisition of content from the user is stored, and based on the stored instruction for pre-acquisition of content, The content acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing device, and the content is acquired from the information processing device as the content supplier based on the notification of the content supplier from the information providing device,
Since the acquired content is stored, it is possible to access required data dramatically more comfortably than before.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a SIP proxy server.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a content / storage management engine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a database server.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a client computer.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a home router.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a mobile terminal.

8 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the mobile terminal of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of data managed by a database server.

FIG. 10 shows data managed by a database server,
It is a figure which shows another example.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining processing in the system of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD of a mobile terminal.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of data managed by a home router.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process from registration of a user to the service to registration of a pre-acquisition request to a home router.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a pre-acquisition start process of a home router.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a pre-supply source determination process of the content / storage management engine.

FIG. 17 shows data managed by a database server,
It is a figure which shows another example.

FIG. 18 shows data managed by a database server,
It is a figure which shows another example.

19 is a timing chart illustrating communication processing of the system of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the WEB server to the SIP proxy server.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the SIP proxy server to the home router A.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router A to a SIP proxy server.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the SIP proxy server to the WEB server.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router A to a SIP proxy server.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the SIP proxy server to home router B.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router B to a SIP proxy server.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the SIP proxy server to the home router A.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from the SIP proxy server to the WEB server.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router B to a SIP proxy server.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router A to home router B.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router B to home router A.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a SIP message transmitted from home router A to home router B.

FIG. 33: S sent from home router A to WEB server
It is a figure which shows the example of an IP message.

FIG. 34: S sent from the WEB server to home router A
It is a figure which shows the example of an IP message.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet, 2 service platforms, 3 mobile terminals, 4 content servers, 5 home routers, 6 client computers, 11
WEB server, 12 SIP proxy server, 13 content / storage management engine, 14
Database server, 31 storage device,
101 CPU, 102 ROM, 103 RAM, 10
4 buses, 105 input / output interfaces, 10
6 input unit, 107 audio output unit, 108 monitor, 109 storage unit, 110 communication unit, 111
Drive, 112 magnetic disk, 113 optical disk, 114 magneto-optical disk, 115 semiconductor memory

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information providing system comprising: an information providing device that manages the location of contents; and a plurality of information processing devices that provide or acquire information by intermediary of the information providing device, wherein the information providing device comprises: A management unit that manages the location of the information processing device on the network and the content held by the information processing device; and a reception unit that receives a content acquisition request from the information processing device as a destination of the content, A determining unit that determines the information processing apparatus that is a supply source of the content for which the content acquisition request is received by the receiving unit; and an information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content determined by the determining unit. On the other hand, before the content acquisition request is accepted by the acceptance means Instructing means for instructing the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply destination to transmit the content, and to the information processing apparatus serving as the content supply destination for which the content acquisition request is accepted by the acceptance means A first storage unit that stores a pre-acquisition instruction of the content from the user, and a notification unit that notifies the information processing device that is the supply source of the content. Transmitting means for transmitting the content acquisition request to the information providing device based on the pre-acquisition instruction of the content stored in one storage device; and the supply of the content from the information providing device. Acquiring the content from the information processing device as the supplier of the content based on the notification of the origin An information providing system, comprising: an acquisition unit; and a second storage unit that stores the content acquired by the acquisition unit. 2. The location of the information processing device on the network,
And a management unit that manages the content held by the information processing apparatus, a first reception unit that receives a content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus as a supply destination of the content, and the content by the first reception unit. The determining unit that determines the information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content for which the acquisition request is accepted, and the information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content determined by the determining unit To the information processing apparatus serving as the supply destination of the content, the content acquisition request being accepted by the acceptance unit of
Commanding means for instructing to transmit the content; and the information processing device serving as the supply destination of the content for which the content acquisition request is received by the first receiving means, serving as the supply source of the content. An information providing apparatus, comprising: a first notification unit that notifies the information processing apparatus. 3. The management unit manages information about at least one of identification information of a user who owns the information processing apparatus, a storage capacity of the information processing apparatus, and a communication speed of the information processing apparatus. The information providing device according to claim 2, characterized in that: 4. A second accepting unit, which accepts an instruction to pre-acquire the content from a user via a device that is connectable to a network and different from the information processing apparatus, and the second accepting unit. A search unit that searches the information processing device owned by the user based on the pre-acquisition instruction received by the user; The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second notifying unit which notifies the instruction of the advance acquisition of the content. 5. The location of the information processing device on the network,
And a management step of managing content held by the information processing apparatus, a reception step of receiving a content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus as a destination of the content, and a content acquisition request received by the processing of the reception step. A determination step of determining the information processing apparatus serving as a supply source of the acquired content, and a processing of the reception step for the information processing apparatus serving as the supply source of the content determined by the processing of the determination step The content acquisition request is accepted by the information processing apparatus, which is the supply destination of the content, and a command step for instructing to transmit the content, and the content acquisition request is accepted by the process of the accepting step. Be the source of the content And a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus that is the supply source of the content to the information processing apparatus. 6. The location of the information processing device on the network,
And a management step of managing content held by the information processing apparatus, a reception step of receiving a content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus as a destination of the content, and a content acquisition request received by the processing of the reception step. A determination step of determining the information processing apparatus serving as a supply source of the acquired content, and a processing of the reception step for the information processing apparatus serving as the supply source of the content determined by the processing of the determination step The content acquisition request is accepted by the information processing apparatus, which is the supply destination of the content, and a command step for instructing to transmit the content, and the content acquisition request is accepted by the process of the accepting step. Be the source of the content And a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus which is the source of the content, to the information processing apparatus. 7. The location of the information processing device on the network,
And a management step of managing content held by the information processing apparatus, a reception step of receiving a content acquisition request from the information processing apparatus as a destination of the content, and a content acquisition request received by the processing of the reception step. A determination step of determining the information processing apparatus serving as a supply source of the acquired content, and a processing of the reception step for the information processing apparatus serving as the supply source of the content determined by the processing of the determination step The content acquisition request is accepted by the information processing apparatus, which is the supply destination of the content, and a command step for instructing to transmit the content, and the content acquisition request is accepted by the process of the accepting step. Be the source of the content And a notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus, which is the source of the content, of the information processing apparatus. 8. Information provision based on first storage means for storing a pre-acquisition instruction of content from a user, and based on the pre-acquisition instruction of the content stored by the first storage means. On the device
Transmission means for transmitting a content acquisition request, acquisition means for acquiring the content from the information processing apparatus as the supply source of the content based on a notification of the supply source of the content from the information providing apparatus, An information processing device comprising: a second storage unit that stores the content acquired by the acquisition unit. 9. The apparatus further comprises a supply means for supplying the content to another information processing apparatus based on an instruction to supply the content to the other information processing apparatus from the information providing apparatus. The information processing device according to claim 8. 10. The determining unit further includes a determining unit that determines the content to be acquired based on the pre-acquisition instruction of the one or more contents stored in the first storage unit, and the transmitting unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the content acquisition request for the content determined by the determining unit is transmitted. 11. The content providing device further comprises a receiving unit that receives an instruction from the user for the advance acquisition of the content from the information providing apparatus, and the first storage unit includes the content received by the receiving unit. The information processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the pre-acquisition instruction of is stored. 12. A first storage step of storing a pre-acquisition instruction of content from a user, and based on the pre-acquisition instruction of the content stored by the processing of the first storage step, A transmitting step of transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing apparatus, and acquiring the content from the information processing apparatus as the source of the content based on a notification of the source of the content from the information providing apparatus An information processing method comprising: an acquisition step; and a second storage step of storing the content acquired by the processing of the acquisition step. 13. A first storage control step of controlling to store a pre-acquisition instruction of a content from a user, and the content of which storage is controlled by the processing of the first storage control step. A transmitting step of transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing device based on a pre-acquisition instruction; and the information as the source of the content, based on a notification of the source of the content from the information providing device. A computer-readable program including an acquisition step of acquiring the content from a processing device, and a second storage control step of controlling to store the content acquired by the processing of the acquisition step. A recording medium on which is recorded. 14. A first storage control step of controlling to store a pre-acquisition instruction of a content from a user, and the contents of the content whose storage is controlled by the processing of the first storage control step. A transmitting step of transmitting a content acquisition request to the information providing device based on a pre-acquisition instruction; and the information as the source of the content, based on a notification of the source of the content from the information providing device. A program that causes a computer to execute an acquisition step of acquiring the content from a processing device and a second storage control step of controlling to store the content acquired by the processing of the acquisition step.