JP2004054448A - Stream server using portal server, method of selecting content, portal server for stream distribution, and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select appropriate contents to match a user's attributes; to select an appropriate stream server according to the operating conditions of stream servers. <P>SOLUTION: A portal server 1 acquires the user's attribute information upon a request for portal pages from a stream client 4 and acquires the operating condition of each stream server 2. Based on the information acquired, the portal server selects an appropriate variation of contents from a plurality of previously registered variations of the contents. Based on the condition of load and the condition of distribution, the portal server then selects the most appropriate stream server 2 to which the stream client 4 should be connected, from among the stream servers 2 having the selected variations of the contents. A portal page with embedded links to the selected contents is created and transmitted to the stream client 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a stream server / content selection method using a portal server, and more particularly to a stream client according to the situation in a stream system including a plurality of stream servers that distribute stream data and a plurality of stream clients that receive the stream data. Is a technology relating to server load distribution and content distribution for switching stream servers to be connected and content.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a stream system, when a large number of stream clients are connected to a specific stream server, data delays, delay fluctuations, or data loss due to packet loss occur due to limitations on the processing capacity of the stream server and the communication speed of the network interface. there's a possibility that. In this case, the data required for stream reproduction in the stream client is insufficient, and the viewing quality is degraded such as skipping of frames of a moving image, temporary stop, and communication disconnection.
[0003]
Conventionally, in order to avoid viewing quality deterioration as described above, a plurality of stream servers are prepared, a device called a load balancer (load balancer) is installed, connection to a stream server under a high load condition is avoided, and processing is performed. A load balancing technique for guiding a stream client to a stream server having sufficient capacity is used.
[0004]
In addition, regarding content selection, when multiple variations are provided for one original content such as multiple encoding formats and multiple quality grades, in the conventional method, various variations of the content are listed on the portal page. In many cases, the user is allowed to make free choice.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, it has been necessary to install an expensive load balancing device for server load balancing. All stream traffic transmitted from the stream client is delivered to the stream server after performing server selection processing via this load distribution device, so the number of connectable stream clients depends on the server selection processing speed.
[0006]
As for the content selection, the user usually wants to view the content with the highest possible variation. However, depending on the bandwidth of the access network and the usage rate of the stream server, it may be better to select the low quality variation. In the case of paid content, there is a need to select whether or not to insert an advertisement into the content due to the passing network, and to perform authentication and charging before connection.
[0007]
In other words, even when a plurality of contents are prepared, it is necessary to select and provide appropriate contents according to the user attributes. Many different variations are shown for one content, and you have to choose which one is right for you, which reduces usability.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the stream server selection method according to the present invention, immediately before a portal page is generated by a portal server, the load state / delivery state of each stream server is examined, and the stream server with the lightest load is selected.
[0009]
The portal server generates a portal page using the IP address of the selected stream server, and returns the portal page to the stream client. When the user follows the link on the portal page, the stream client is directly connected to the lightly loaded stream server.
[0010]
According to this method, server load distribution can be realized by simply expanding the already installed portal server by software, and the actual stream communication is performed directly between the stream server and the client without passing through the portal server. Therefore, load balancing with excellent scalability can be realized without depending on the performance of the conventional load balancing device.
[0011]
Further, in a similar manner, the present invention can be applied to network control according to the performance of a stream server, such as restricting access according to the number of connected stream clients.
[0012]
In the content selection method according to the present invention, the portal server examines the attributes of the accessing user immediately before generating the portal page, and selects from among a plurality of variations of the content derived from one content, the content is inappropriate for the user's environment. This prevents the user from connecting to a variation of the content, and selects an optimal variation for the user.
[0013]
Specific selection criteria are, for example, as follows. An encoding format according to the stream client application is selected, an encoding band according to the available bandwidth of the access network is selected, and presence or absence of advertisement insertion is selected according to the provider used.
[0014]
Since the above-described control can be executed by the portal server, the user does not need to perform a complicated operation to select appropriate content, and the usability can be improved.
[0015]
As a method of realizing the present invention, the present invention displays only a variation capable of viewing streaming media with sufficient quality on a portal page by collating with a user's connection environment or the like. At this time, instead of displaying a plurality of variations, by displaying only the highest quality variation among the available variations, the highest quality can be automatically provided in the user's usage environment.
[0016]
The above method of using user attributes is an example. Other methods of using user attributes include various user attributes such as restricting access using user attribute information obtained from contract and authentication of stream distribution, billing and collection, etc. It can also be applied to network control using.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the stream distribution system to which the present invention is applied is composed of a portal server 1, a stream server 2, a distribution quality management device 3, and a stream client 4.
[0018]
The stream server 2 distributes stream data, and a plurality of stream servers 2 are installed. The type of the stream server 2 is not particularly defined here, and targets a commercially available product. However, it is assumed that the portal server 1 has an interface capable of disclosing the operation status such as the CPU usage rate and the distribution quality status of each stream client 4.
[0019]
The stream client 4 accesses the portal server 1 to acquire and display a portal page. After the user selects the content from the portal page, the user receives and reproduces the stream data. A plurality of stream clients 4 are installed. The type of the stream client 4 is not particularly specified here, and is intended for a commercially available product corresponding to the stream server 2.
[0020]
The portal server 1 generates a portal page displaying a link to the stream content, and returns the portal page to the stream client 4. The stream client 4 first accesses the portal server 1, obtains a portal page, follows a link to desired content, and connects to the actual stream server 2.
[0021]
The distribution quality management device 3 monitors the status of distribution of the stream server 2 to the stream clients 4 and grasps the reception quality status of each client 4 in real time. The distribution quality management device 3 has an interface for publishing distribution quality information to the portal server 1.
[0022]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the portal server 1 includes an access receiving unit 11, a throughput measuring unit 12, a user attribute processing unit 13, a content selecting unit 14, a stream server selecting unit 15, and a portal page generating unit 16. The content selection unit 14 has a variation list 140.
[0023]
The access receiving unit 11 receives a portal page request from a user. Network information such as a source IP address included in the request, client application information being used, and user information such as a user ID and password are cut out and sent to the user attribute processing unit 13 and the stream server selecting unit 15.
[0024]
The throughput measuring unit 12 measures the communication speed from the stream server 2 to the stream client 4 and sends it to the content selecting unit 14 as a part of the user attribute.
[0025]
The user attribute processing unit 13 collects connected user attributes based on the user information received from the access reception unit 11. For example, in cooperation with an authentication server or a billing system (not shown), a user profile and a fee collection status are acquired. The obtained user attributes are sent to the content selection unit 14 and the stream server selection unit 15.
[0026]
When preparing a plurality of variations, such as a plurality of encoding formats, a plurality of quality grades, and the presence or absence of an advertisement, for the content on the stream server 2, the content selection unit 14 registers the variation list 140 in advance in the content selection unit 14. Keep it.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the variation list 140. The contents of the list include items such as content name, variation, encoding format, quality grade, presence / absence of advertisement, storage server address, and the like. The content selection unit 14 refers to the variation list 140 and selects the most suitable content variation for the user who has requested the connection based on the user attributes acquired by the user attribute processing unit 13 and the throughput measurement unit 12. Then, the stream server 2 storing the content of the optimal variation is obtained. When the optimal variation is stored in a plurality of stream servers 2, the address list of the stream server 2 is sent to the next stream server selection unit 15.
[0028]
When the optimum content for the connection request is stored in the plurality of stream servers 2, the stream server selecting unit 15 determines a connection destination server from among the stream servers 2. In determining the connection destination server, in cooperation with the stream server 2, information such as the number of currently connected stream clients, their respective distribution quality states, and the load state of the stream server 2 itself (such as the CPU usage rate) is transmitted. The stream server 2 acquired from the management device 3 has, for example, the stream server 2 with the CPU usage rate of 50% or less, the quality of the connected stream client 4 is not deteriorated, and the stream server 2 with the smallest number of connected stream clients has priority. To choose. The address of the selected stream server 2 is sent to the next portal page generator 16.
[0029]
The portal page generation unit 16 selects the most suitable content variation for the user by the processing up to this point, and also selects the stream server 2 that can distribute the content variation. Is generated and sent to the user. Note that the authentication server and the billing system cooperate with the user attribute processing unit 13 to acquire a user profile.
[0030]
In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which a user attribute is acquired from outside the stream distribution network, but it is not always necessary to acquire a user attribute from outside the stream distribution network.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a flow server content selection processing flow by the portal server 1. When the portal server 1 receives a request for a portal page from the stream client 4 (step S1), the portal server 1 cuts out user information from the received request, collects attribute information about the user, and performs throughput from the stream server 2 to the stream client 4. Is measured (step S2). Next, an optimum content is selected from the variation list 140 in FIG. 3 based on the acquired attribute information and the throughput information relating to the user (step S3).
[0032]
Next, the load status of the stream server 2 storing the selected content is checked (step S4), and the distribution status to each stream client 4 is obtained. The stream server 2 that does not deteriorate the quality of the client 4 and has a small number of connected stream clients is selected (step S5).
[0033]
Next, using the IP address of the selected stream server 2 and the content name and file name of the selected content, a link to the content to be connected is generated and embedded in the portal page (step S6). The data is transmitted to the stream client 4 (step S7), and the process ends.
[0034]
Details of the procedure until the stream client 4 acquires the portal page and connects to the optimal variation of the content will be described with reference to FIG.
[0035]
When the stream client 4 requests a portal page from the portal server 1, the request is received by the access receiving unit 11.
[0036]
The access receiving unit 11 cuts out client application information and user information such as a user ID and a password from the portal page request message, and sends them to the user attribute processing unit 13 and the stream server selecting unit 15.
[0037]
At the same time, the throughput measuring unit 12 measures the throughput up to the stream client 4. Since this measurement can be performed using a general tool, no particular measurement method is specified here. The obtained throughput is sent to the content selection unit 14.
[0038]
The user attribute processing unit 13 specifies a user based on the user information sent from the access reception unit 11. It also collects attribute information on the user in cooperation with various external servers (authentication server, billing system, etc.). The information is also sent to the content selection unit 14 and the stream server selection unit 15 together.
[0039]
Based on the information sent from the throughput measuring unit 12 and the information sent from the user attribute processing unit 13, the content selecting unit 14 uses the variation list 140 shown in FIG. Select For example, from the user attribute and the throughput information, a bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps can be used, and when trying to connect with an application A, an encoding format corresponding to A from various content variations is 1.5 Mbps or less. Choose a variation. If there are a plurality of variations, one variation is determined according to the operation policy, such as selecting the one encoded with the highest quality grade among them.
[0040]
When there are a plurality of storage servers for the content of the determined variation, the information (eg, address list) of the set of the storage stream servers 2 is sent to the stream server selection unit 15. Information displayed on the portal page such as the content name is sent to the portal page generation unit 16.
[0041]
The stream server selector 15 first checks the load status of the stream server 2 that has been sent. For this investigation, a request is made to the distribution quality management device 3 to examine the load status of the selected stream server 2.
[0042]
The distribution quality management device 3 receiving the request monitors the status of the stream server 2. Here, the monitoring method is not particularly specified, but it is assumed that the following states can be acquired.
(1) CPU usage rate of each stream server 2 (2) Network usage rate of each stream server 2 (3) Reception quality of each stream client 4 connected to each stream server 2 The distribution status of the stream server 2 to each stream client 4 received from the distribution quality management device 3 is acquired, and a server in which quality degradation has not occurred or a degree of quality degradation is smaller at present is selected. When one stream server 2 is selected, its IP address is sent to the portal page generator 16.
[0043]
The portal page generation unit 16 generates a link to the content to be connected using the content name and file name sent from the content selection unit 14 and the IP address of the stream server 2 sent from the stream server selection unit 15. , Embed in portal page. After that, the generated portal page is transmitted to the stream client 4.
[0044]
The processing performed by the portal server 1 can be realized by a computer and a software program, and the program is stored in an appropriate recording medium such as a computer-readable portable medium memory, a semiconductor memory, and a hard disk. , Can be executed by a computer by reading from there.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
By using the present invention, the server load can be distributed by the portal server without installing an expensive dedicated device. In addition, by using the user attribute, the optimal content variation is automatically displayed on the portal page, and the usability can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a stream distribution system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a detailed configuration of a portal server.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a variation list.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a stream server / content selection processing flow by a portal server.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a procedure leading to stream distribution.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portal server 11 Access reception part 12 Throughput measurement part 13 User attribute processing part 14 Content selection part 140 Variation list 15 Stream server selection part 16 Portal page generation part 2 Stream server 3 Delivery quality management device 4 Stream client

Claims (5)

A plurality of stream servers for distributing streaming data, wherein a plurality of variations created according to a plurality of encoding formats, a plurality of quality grades, or the presence or absence of advertisements for one original content are stored in a redundant manner. With multiple stream servers
A plurality of stream clients for receiving streaming data,
A stream server / content selection method by a portal server in a stream distribution system including a portal server that the stream client first accesses for content selection,
Said portal server,
In response to a portal page request from the stream client, immediately before generating a portal page to be returned to the requesting stream client, selecting the content in accordance with a user attribute using the stream client;
Selecting one stream server from the plurality of stream servers having the selected content according to the operation status of each stream server;
Reflecting the selected result on a portal page to be returned to the stream client. In the step of selecting the content according to the user attribute,
The communication speed from each stream server to the stream client is measured and compared with the measured communication speed for content encoded in several variations depending on some quality grade, encoding method or presence or absence of advertisement, and the user can check the communication speed. Select only available quality grade variants,
In the step of reflecting on the portal page,
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein only the selected variation is embedded in a portal page. In the step of selecting the stream server,
At least the load status and / or distribution status of the stream server possessing the selected content is examined, and a stream server to which the stream client is to be connected is determined based on the examination result, and a link destination in the portal page is determined. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the content is used as an address. A plurality of stream servers for distributing streaming data, wherein a plurality of variations created according to a plurality of encoding formats, a plurality of quality grades, or the presence or absence of advertisements for one original content are stored in a redundant manner. With multiple stream servers
A plurality of stream clients for receiving streaming data,
A portal server in a stream distribution system comprising: a portal server that the stream client first accesses for content selection;
Means for receiving a portal page request from the stream client;
Means for obtaining, in response to the portal page request, a user attribute of the stream client that has issued the request;
Means for selecting the optimal content variation based on the acquired user attributes;
Means for selecting a stream server having a variation of the selected content;
Means for generating a portal page in which a link to the content is embedded, based on a variation of the selected content and the selected stream server. A plurality of stream servers for distributing streaming data, wherein a plurality of variations created according to a plurality of encoding formats, a plurality of quality grades, or the presence or absence of advertisements for one original content are stored in a redundant manner. With multiple stream servers
A plurality of stream clients for receiving streaming data,
A portal server program in a stream distribution system including a portal server that the stream client first accesses for content selection,
Processing for receiving a portal page request from the stream client;
In response to the portal page request, obtaining a user attribute of the stream client that issued the request;
A process of selecting an optimal content variation based on the acquired user attributes;
A process of selecting a stream server having a variation of the selected content;
Generating a portal page in which a link to the content is embedded based on the selected content variation and the selected stream server;
A program for a portal server to be executed on a computer.

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