JP2003233552A - Server, data distribution system, data distribution method, program and medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein, for example, a personal computer having low processor performance cannot use sometimes distribution service of picture data as high bit rate picture contents. <P>SOLUTION: A connecting server 120 transmits data at a rate on the basis of receiving performance to the personal computer 110 for receiving the data by using the connection to the Internet 1, and preregisters information on the receiving performance to a database 121 associated with an IP address of the personal computer 110. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a server, a data distribution system, a data distribution method, a program, and a medium used for distributing video data stored in a video server on the Internet, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Video data stored in a video server on the Internet, for example, is distributed as low bit rate video content having a relatively low bit rate. Such video data is sent from the video server to the ISP.
(Internet Service Provide
It is usually installed on the public network via a connection server of r (also referred to as a provider) and downloaded to a personal computer of a general user who is connected to the Internet using a dial-up IP connection or the like. It was

The processor performance of the personal computer is sufficient to receive the above low bit rate video contents, and the user was able to use the video data distribution service.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, ADS
L (Asymmetric Digital Subs)
Criber Line, asymmetric digital subscriber line)
Explosive spread and FTTH (Fiber To The
With the development of optical communication networks such as (Home), distribution of video data as high bit rate video content has started. Therefore, there is a problem that the processor performance of the personal computer cannot cope with the speeding up of the network and the user may not be able to comfortably use the video data distribution service.

In consideration of the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention provides a server, a data distribution system, and a data distribution method in which even a personal computer having a low processor performance can use a video data distribution service as high bit rate video contents. , Programs, and media.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The first invention (Claim 1)
Is a server for transmitting the data to a data receiving device for receiving the data using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance, and the information on the reception performance is , A server that is registered in advance in association with the ID of the data receiving device.

In a second aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 2), the predetermined network is the Internet, and the connection is a connection to which an IP address is fixedly assigned.
The ID of the data receiving device is the server of the first aspect of the present invention registered as the fixedly assigned IP address.

In a third aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 3), the predetermined network is the Internet, and the connection is a connection to which an IP address is given each time.
The ID of the data receiving device is the server according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is registered as predetermined data to be used for the connection.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 4), transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on the receiving performance means that the data receiving device takes into consideration the receiving performance of the data receiving device. It is a server according to the first aspect of the present invention, which is to control a packet transmission interval of data to be transmitted to a device.

A fifth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 5) is the server of the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the packet transmission interval is controlled in consideration of the type of data to be transmitted.

A sixth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 6) is a data receiving device for receiving data by utilizing a connection to a predetermined network, and a rate based on the receiving performance of the data receiving device. And a server for transmitting the data, and the information regarding the reception performance is a data distribution system that is registered in advance in association with the ID of the data receiving device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 7), a step of transmitting the data to a data receiving device for receiving the data using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance thereof. The information about the reception performance is a data distribution method registered in advance in association with the ID of the data receiving device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 8), the step of registering the information on the receiving performance from the data receiving device side, and the step of registering the information on the receiving performance on the data receiving device side. To provide the predetermined information from the device, all or part of the service charge for transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on its reception performance uses the provided predetermined information. It is the data distribution method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, which is borne by the user.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 9), the step of providing predetermined information from the data receiving device side and the information about the reception performance from the side using the provided predetermined information are provided. A step of registering, and all or part of the service fee for transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on its reception performance is borne by the side using the provided predetermined information. It is a data distribution method of the seventh invention.

The tenth aspect of the present invention (corresponding to claim 10) is the data delivery method of the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein a data receiving device for receiving data by utilizing a connection to a predetermined network receives the data. A program for causing a computer to execute the step of transmitting the data at a rate based on performance.

The eleventh invention (corresponding to claim 11) is
A medium carrying the program according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the medium being computer-processable.

[0017]

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

(Embodiment 1) First, the configuration of a data delivery system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference mainly to FIG. 1 which is a configuration diagram of the data delivery system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The data distribution system according to the present embodiment uses the constant connection to the Internet 1 via the ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) 2 and the video server 1
The personal computer 1 includes a personal computer 110 for receiving the video data from the personal computer 110, and a connection server 120 for transmitting the video data to the personal computer 110 at a rate based on the reception performance.
The information on the reception performance of the personal computer 10 is associated with the IP address of the personal computer 110 and stored in the database 12
1 is a data distribution system that is registered online in advance.

Next, the configuration of the data distribution system in this embodiment will be described in more detail.

The personal computer 110 is a computer to which the IP address "123.45.67.89" is fixedly attached, and is always connectable to the Internet 1 via the ADSL2. The personal computer 110 is a user-side computer in which a program for downloading video data stored in the video server 130 via the connection server 120 is installed.

The connection server 120 appropriately controls the packet transmission interval of the video data to be transmitted to the personal computer 110 in consideration of the reception performance of the personal computer 110 according to the threshold value provided for the rate (FIG. 7). (A)-(b)) server. The connection server 120 writes the user information including the name, the electronic mail address, the IP address, the model, the maker, and the reception performance item in the table T1 (see FIG. 5), so that the personal computer 110 is stored in the database 121. An IS that registers in advance and transmits the name, electronic mail address, and model as part of the user information to the information server 140 via the Internet 1.
It is a server on the P side.

The video server 130 is a server for transmitting video data designated by the personal computer 110 to the connection server 120 via the Internet 1 at high bit rate packet transmission intervals.

The information server 140 is a server on the manufacturer side of the personal computer 110 that receives a part of the above-mentioned user information from the connection server 120. The manufacturer pays the consideration to the ISP (substantially part of the fee for the user of the personal computer 110 to connect to the Internet 1 via the ADSL 2).
In return, a part of the user information that can be used for advertising activities to the user side is provided.

The personal computer 110 corresponds to the data receiving device of the present invention, and the connection server 120 corresponds to the server of the present invention. In addition, the Internet 1
It corresponds to a predetermined network of the present invention. Further, the IP address in this embodiment corresponds to the ID of the data receiving device of the present invention.

Next, referring mainly to FIG. 2 which is an operation flowchart of the data distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the data distribution system according to the present embodiment (personal computer 110)
Is not registered in the database 121)
Will be described. While describing the operation of the data distribution system in the present embodiment, an embodiment of the data distribution method of the present invention will also be described (the same applies to the following embodiments).

Step 1: Personal computer 11
0 (see FIG. 1) is A for downloading the video data stored in the video server 130 (see FIG. 1).
The connection server 120 (see FIG. 1) is accessed via the DSL2 (see FIG. 1).

Step 2; the connection server 120 accepts the access, connects the personal computer 110 to the Internet 1 (see FIG. 1), and determines whether the personal computer 110 is registered in the database 121 (see FIG. 1). To investigate. Then, when the connection server 120 recognizes that the personal computer 110 is not registered in the database 121,
The command is transmitted to cause the personal computer 110 to display the screen S1 as shown in FIG. Note that FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (before user registration setting) S1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Step 3: Personal computer 11
0 receives the command and displays the screen S1 on the display. Then, the personal computer 110
UI (Graphical User Interface)
(c)), the input of the user information by the user is accepted, and the screen S2 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display. 4. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the screen (after user registration) S2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The contents of the user information input here are as follows:
Your name is "Taro Osaka" and your e-mail address is "abc12345@pop06.obn.ne.j".
p ”and the IP address is“ 123.45.67.8.
9 ”and the model is“ DESKSTAR C / 123
, The manufacturer is “Fujishiba”, and the reception performance is “300 Kbps or less”. As a matter of course, as the receiving performance, the one matching the processor performance of the personal computer 110 is input.

The personal computer 110 uses the pointer P (see FIG. 4) of the confirmation button B1 (see FIG. 4) by the user.
The user information described above is accepted, and the above-mentioned user information is transmitted to the connection server 120.

Step 4; The connection server 120 receives the transmitted user information, writes the received user information in the table T1 as shown in FIG. 5, and stores the personal computer 110 in the database 121. register. Note that FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the table T1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Step 5: The connection server 120 looks at the table T1 of the database 121 (see FIG. 5) and recognizes that the maker in the above user information is "Fujishiba". Then, the connection server 120 uses the table T1.
Which is a part of the user information written in (see FIG. 5),
Your name is "Taro Osaka" and your e-mail address is "abc12"
345 @ pop06. obn. ne. jp ”and the model“ DESKSTARC / 123 ”to the information server 140 (see FIG. 1) on the corresponding manufacturer (“ Fujishiba ”) side via the Internet 1, and the information server 140
Receives the transmitted user information.

Subsequently, the connection server 120 sends a command to cause the personal computer 110 to display the screen S3 as shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the screen (after completion of user registration) S3 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

Step 6; personal computer 11
After accepting the click of the confirmation button B2 (see FIG. 6) by the user, 0 executes the access to the video server 130 via the connection server 120 by a normal method to specify the video data to be downloaded.

The video server 130 connects the designated video data to the connection server 1 at packet transmission intervals of high bit rate (1.2 Mbps) as shown in FIG. 7A.
Send to 20. Note that FIG. 7A shows the high bit rate (1.2 Mbp) in the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is explanatory drawing of the packet transmission interval of s).

Step 7: The connection server 120 looks at the table T1 of the database 121 and recognizes that the reception performance in the above user information is "300 Kbps or less". Then, the connection server 120 shapes the packet transmission interval from 1.2 Mbps to 300 Kbps (waveform shaping), and transmits the above-mentioned video data as a packet at a low bit rate (300 Kbps) as shown in FIG. 7B. It transmits to the personal computer 110 at intervals. Note that FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of packet transmission intervals of the low bit rate (300 Kbps) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The personal computer 110 receives the video data transmitted from the connection server 120.

In this way, the user can receive the video data at the packet transmission intervals commensurate with the processor performance, so that the video data distribution service can be comfortably used by the inexpensive device and the content bit rate can be increased. It is not necessary to frequently repurchase devices such as personal computers in accordance with the rapid progress of. In addition, the user side can provide the service charge (all or part of the connection charge to the Internet) to the maker side of the personal computer by providing the user information having somewhat private contents.

Further, the ISP side uses the unique data distribution service that appropriately controls the packet transmission interval, so that
Not only can it be differentiated from the SP, but by providing the user information to the maker side, it is possible to obtain a secondary income from the maker side (income other than the service charge that the user should originally bear). .

Further, the manufacturer side uses the user information provided from the ISP side by paying the price, and distributes the model information (version upgrade information) of the personal computer to the user side as part of the advertising / promotion activity. be able to. Of course, distribution of such model information may be carried out directly by the manufacturer using an electronic mail address included in the user information, or IS
The P side may act on its behalf (in the latter case, the user side does not know the electronic mail address even to the maker side, and the security is improved).

Of course, a personal computer or ST
The registration of the information on the reception performance of the data receiving device such as B may be performed not from the user side of the device but from the manufacturer side or the ISP side that received the user information. More specifically, for example, the user side writes the manufacturer name and model name of the data receiving device as a part of the user information, and the maker side or the ISP side uses the entered contents to receive the reception performance of the data receiving device. Alternatively, the information regarding the reception performance may be registered after the index is calculated.

(Second Embodiment) Next, the configuration of the data delivery system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 which is a configuration diagram of the data delivery system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. .

The data distribution system in this embodiment uses a personal computer 210 for receiving video data from a video server 230 using a dial-up IP connection to the Internet 1 via ADSL2.
And a connection server 2 for transmitting video data to the personal computer 210 at a rate based on its reception performance.
20 and 20 are provided.

The data distribution system of the present embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the data distribution system of the first embodiment described above, but the information regarding the reception performance of the personal computer 210 is changed every time the IP address changes. The data distribution system is characterized in that it is registered in the database 121 in advance in association with a telephone number to be used for dial-up IP connection that is specifically added.

Next, the configuration of the data distribution system in this embodiment will be described in more detail.

The personal computer 210 is an ADS
It is a computer capable of dial-up IP connection to the Internet 1 via L2.

The connection server 220 is a server that appropriately controls the packet transmission interval of video data to be transmitted to the personal computer 210. The connection server 22
0 is a table T2 (FIG. 11A) showing user information including items such as name, telephone number, OS used, and reception performance.
IS) that pre-registers the personal computer 210 in the database 221 by writing
It is a server on the P side.

In this embodiment, the service is provided as a part of the contents of the contract with the provider. Therefore, the user information does not include items such as an electronic mail address and a model, which are highly useful to the manufacturer who substantially paid the service charge in the first embodiment described above (here, The user information includes items of the OS used for user services such as provision of freeware and shareware).

Further, in the present embodiment, the connection to the Internet 1 is made by dial-up IP connection. Therefore, the user information does not include the IP address that is dynamically given each time. Instead of this, the user information includes a telephone number item.

The video server 230 is a server for transmitting the video data designated by the personal computer 210 to the connection server 220 via the Internet 1 at high bit rate packet transmission intervals.

The personal computer 210 corresponds to the data receiving device of the present invention, and the connection server 220 corresponds to the server of the present invention. Further, the telephone number in this embodiment corresponds to the ID of the data receiving device of the present invention.

Next, with reference mainly to FIG. 9 which is an operation flowchart of the data distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation of the data distribution system according to the present embodiment (personal computer 210
Is not registered in the database 221)
Will be described.

Step 1: Personal computer 21
0 (see FIG. 8) is A for downloading the video data stored in the video server 230 (see FIG. 8).
The dial-up access to the connection server 220 (see FIG. 8) is executed via the DSL2 (see FIG. 8).

Step 2: The connection server 220 accepts the access and sends the IP to the personal computer 210.
The personal computer 210 is connected to the Internet 1 (see FIG. 8) by giving the address "234.56.78.91" (this is the so-called DHCP (Dyna).
mic Host Configuration Pr
is a behavior of the connection server 220 as a server).

Step 3; the connection server 220 checks whether or not the personal computer 210 is registered in the database 221 (see FIG. 8). Then, when the connection server 220 recognizes that the personal computer 210 is not registered in the database 221,
Similar to the case of the above-described first embodiment, the command is transmitted to cause the personal computer 210 to display the screen for performing the user registration setting.

Step 4; personal computer 21
0 accepts the input of the user information by the user, and
The screen S4 as shown in 0 is displayed on the display. Note that FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (after user registration) S4 in the second embodiment according to the present invention.

The contents of the input user information are as follows.
His name is "Hanako Naniwa" and his phone number is "06-12
34-5678 "and the OS used is" Windows
(Registered trademark) X ”and has a reception performance of“ 300 Kbp ”
s or less ”.

The personal computer 210 accepts the user's click on the confirmation button B3 (see FIG. 10) with the pointer P (see FIG. 4) and transmits the above user information to the connection server 220.

Step 5: The connection server 220 receives the transmitted user information and, as shown in FIG.
The received user information is written in the table T2 as shown in FIG. 1 to register the personal computer 210 in the database 221. Note that FIG.
Is the table T2 in the second embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG.

The contents of the user information written here are the same as the contents of the above-mentioned input user information (FIG. 1).
0) but the IP address “234.5” given to the table T2 when the dial-up IP connection was established.
6.78.91 ”is also written. Transmission of video data, which will be described later, is performed using this IP address.

Step 6; the connection server 220 sends a command to the personal computer 210 to notify it of user registration completion. Then, the personal computer 210
Performs the access to the video server 230 via the connection server 220 in the usual way and specifies the video data to be downloaded.

The video server 230 transmits the designated video data to the connection server 220 at a packet transmission interval of a high bit rate (1.2 Mbps), as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

Step 7: The connection server 220 looks at the table T2 of the database 221 (FIG. 11A),
The reception performance in the above user information is "300 Kbps.
The following is recognized. And the connection server 12
0 is the packet transmission interval from 1.2 Mbps to 300K
The data is shaped into bps and transmitted to the personal computer 210 at a packet transmission interval of a low bit rate (300 Kbps) as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

The personal computer 210 receives the video data transmitted from the connection server 220.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the connection to the Internet 1 is made by the dial-up IP connection.

When the connection is terminated, the database 2
The above-mentioned table T2 in FIG. 21 (see FIG. 11A)
Is a table T2 ′ as shown in FIG. 11 (b).
(When no connection is made, the IP address column is blank). Note that FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram of the table T2 in the second embodiment according to the present invention.

Of course, your name, telephone number, OS used,
Since other user information such as the reception performance is stored, the personal computer 210 stores the database 22 in the database 22.
Once registered in 1, the user can comfortably download the video data without performing the above-mentioned registration setting each time.

Further, in the present embodiment, the data distribution service is provided as a part of the contents of the contract with the provider without any additional charge. However, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, the user information is provided electronically. Needless to say, by including items such as the mail address and the manufacturer, it is possible to provide a service in which the manufacturer bears all or part of the connection fee to the Internet, for example (user's It is possible to select either self-pay (without providing private user information) or maker-side payment, as desired.) Therefore, even when the dial-up IP connection is used, it is possible to provide the same service as when the constant connection is used as in the first embodiment described above.

In the above, the first and second embodiments have been described in detail.

Although the predetermined network of the present invention is the Internet in the above-mentioned embodiment, the predetermined network is not limited to this. For example, a LAN (Local)
Area Network) or the like.

Further, the connection to which the IP address of the present invention is fixedly assigned is the same as in the first embodiment described above.
The connection was always made using ADSL, but it is not limited to this. For example, a leased line or a CATV (Cabl
e Television, cable television) networks and so-called FTTH (Fiber To The Home)
e) Optical communication network, conventional public line, ISDN
(Integrated Services Digit
Al network, integrated service digital network) or the like may be used for the connection.

The connection to which the IP address of the present invention is given each time is the same as in the second embodiment described above.
The dial-up IP connection was made by using ADSL, but the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be a connection made by using a TV network, an optical communication network by so-called FTTH, a conventional public line, ISDN or the like.

However, the communication band of the conventional public line or ISDN is often lower than the receiving performance of the data receiving apparatus.

Further, although the predetermined data to be used for the connection of the present invention is the telephone number in the above-mentioned second embodiment, it is not limited to this, and, for example,
It may be a user registration ID of a user who uses the dial-up IP connection.

Further, the data of the present invention is video data stored in a video server on the Internet in the above-mentioned embodiment, but the data is not limited to this, and for example, VIP (Video Information) is used.
It may be non-real-time data that does not require real-time property such as real-time data that requires real-time property such as video data and text data that is stored in the Provider server.

Further, although the packet transmission interval control of the present invention is performed only in accordance with the threshold value provided for the rate in the above-mentioned embodiment, the type of data to be transmitted is also taken into consideration. May be done. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, an item I that can be set as a user option when registering information about reception performance is shown.
May be provided so that it is possible to select whether to shape only video data or both video data and text data (for non-real-time data such as text data, recovery by resending etc. You don't have to shape it because it is possible). Note that FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the item I that can be set as a user option when registering the information on the reception performance of the present invention.

Further, the registration of the information on the reception performance of the present invention is performed online in the above-mentioned embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, telephone, mail, or service shop counter may be used. It may be done using an application.

Further, the data receiving apparatus of the present invention is a personal computer in the above-mentioned present embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, STB (Set).
It may be a TV to which a Top Box, a home receiving device) is connected, or the like. In short, the data receiving device of the present invention may be any data receiving device for receiving data by utilizing the connection to a predetermined network.

Further, although the server of the present invention is the connection server in the above-described present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an ADSL station unit for performing ADSL communication or optical communication. HDT (Host D
digital terminal) or the like. In short, the server of the present invention is a server for transmitting data to a data receiving device for receiving data using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance thereof, and information on the reception performance. Is a server that is registered in advance in association with the ID of the data receiving device.

The invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of all or some of the means (or devices, elements, circuits, units, etc.) of the server and data distribution system of the present invention described above. Therefore, it includes a program that operates in cooperation with a computer.
Of course, the computer is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, but may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

Further, the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute all or some of the steps (or steps, operations, actions, etc.) of the above-described data distribution method of the present invention. Includes programs that work together with.

Incidentally, a part of the invention (or device,
Element, circuit, part, etc.), some steps (or steps, acts, acts, etc.) of the present invention means some means or steps among those plural means or steps, or It means some functions or some operations of means or steps.

In addition, a device (or element, part of the invention)
(Circuits, parts, etc.) means some of the plurality of devices, or means (or elements, circuits, parts, etc.) of some of the devices, or one of the devices. It means a part of the functions of the means.

A computer-readable recording medium in which the program of the present invention is recorded is also included in the present invention. Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be a mode in which the program is recorded in a computer-readable recording medium and operates in cooperation with the computer. Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be a mode in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer. The recording medium includes a ROM and the like, and the transmission medium includes a transmission medium such as the Internet and light, radio waves, sound waves and the like.

The configuration of the present invention may be realized by software or hardware.

The invention is also a medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute all or some of the functions of all or some of the means of the server and data distribution system of the present invention described above. Included is a medium readable by and in which the read program cooperates with the computer to perform the functions.

Further, the present invention is a medium carrying a program for causing a computer to execute all or some of the operations of all or some of the steps of the above-described data distribution method of the present invention, which is read by the computer. Included is a medium on which the readable and readable program cooperates with the computer to perform the operations.

[0089]

As is apparent from the above description,
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention has an advantage that a video data distribution service as high bit rate video content can be used even in a personal computer having low processor performance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data distribution system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation flowchart of the data distribution system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (before user registration setting) S1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (after user registration setting) S2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a table T1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (after completion of user registration) S3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of packet transmission intervals of high bit rate (1.2 Mbps) according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram of a low bit rate (300 Kbps) packet transmission interval according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a data distribution system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation flowchart of the data distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a screen (after user registration setting) S4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

11 (a); Embodiment 2 according to the present invention
6 is an explanatory diagram of a table T2 in FIG. FIG. 11B is an explanatory diagram of a table T2 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an item I that can be set as a user option when registering information about reception performance of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Internet 2 ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) 110 personal computer 120 connection server 121 database 130 video server

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tetsuyuki Toyofuku             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A server for transmitting the data to a data receiving device for receiving data using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance thereof, wherein the information on the reception performance is , I of the data receiving device
A server that is registered in advance in association with D. 2. The predetermined network is the Internet, the connection is a connection to which an IP address is fixedly assigned, and the ID of the data receiving device is the fixedly assigned IP address. The server according to claim 1, which is registered. 3. The predetermined network is the Internet, the connection is a connection to which an IP address is given each time, and the ID of the data receiving device is predetermined data to be used for the connection. The server according to claim 1, which is registered as. 4. Transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on its receiving performance means controlling a packet transmission interval of data to be transmitted to the data receiving device in consideration of the receiving performance of the data receiving device. The server according to claim 1, wherein 5. The server according to claim 4, wherein the packet transmission interval is controlled in consideration of the type of data to be transmitted. 6. A data receiving device for receiving data using a connection to a predetermined network, and a server for transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on its receiving performance, The information on the reception performance is I of the data receiving device.
A data distribution system that is registered in advance in association with D. 7. A method of transmitting the data to a data receiving device for receiving the data by using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance thereof, wherein the information about the reception performance is the data. I of receiver
A data distribution method that is registered in advance in association with D. 8. A step of registering information on the reception performance from the data receiving device side, and a step of providing predetermined information from the data receiving device side when registering the information on the reception performance, The data distribution according to claim 7, wherein all or part of the service charge for transmitting the data to the data receiving device at a rate based on its reception performance is borne by the side using the provided predetermined information. Method. 9. The data receiving device comprises: a step of providing predetermined information from the data receiving device side; and a step of registering information on the reception performance from a side using the provided predetermined information. The data distribution method according to claim 7, wherein all or part of the service charge for transmitting the data at a rate based on the reception performance is borne by the side using the provided predetermined information. 10. The method of transmitting data according to claim 7, wherein a step of transmitting the data to a data receiving device for receiving the data using a connection to a predetermined network at a rate based on the reception performance thereof is performed. Program to run on. 11. A medium carrying the program according to claim 10, which can be processed by a computer.