JP2004112086A - Method and apparatus for accessing, and streaming media storage server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make the contents of streaming media registered as a bookmark surely understood from the display of the bookmark. <P>SOLUTION: A method for accessing includes steps of holding data of a moving image constituted of partial data of its streaming video media or similar data together with an address and a file name which can be acquired by its streaming video media as the data for an icon by a client when the video media is acquired from a server and reproduced by the client, displaying the moving image as the icon on a screen based on the held data, acquiring a corresponding file of the address held together with the data when the displayed icon is selected by a user, and reproducing the video media constituted of the acquired file. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an access method and an access device for obtaining streaming video data via the Internet or the like, and a streaming media storage server that stores the streaming video data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
By using a personal computer device or the like to access a predetermined server via the Internet, it is possible to receive various data accumulated by the server. The data to be distributed includes streaming data such as music data and video data in addition to file data such as documents and still images.
[0003]
A device that accesses a server is referred to as a client when viewed from the relationship with the server. A device used as a client is generally a personal computer device, but is not limited to a computer device as long as it can access a server via communication means such as the Internet.
[0004]
On the other hand, when accessing the Internet with a computer device or the like, it is possible to register the address of the server in advance in the accessing device. This address registration process is called a bookmark management function, and obtains text information such as the title and creator of the media provided by each server from the server, and stores the text information on the computer device side.
[0005]
Then, when the user selects to display a bookmark, a list of the stored text information for the bookmark is displayed on the monitor screen. The user operates the mouse or the like to select the text to be accessed from the text (characters) such as the title name displayed in the list, and the process of accessing the server that has acquired the selected text information is performed. It is executed and the required media can be obtained from the server.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional bookmark processing simply displays characters such as a title name, and is insufficient as information for selecting streaming media. For example, if a bookmark name of a certain streaming media is presented and the user does not remember what the streaming media indicated by the bookmark name is, the streaming media is downloaded, played, and viewed. There was a problem whose content was unknown.
[0007]
Also, when there are a plurality of streaming media registered with the same bookmark name, there are cases where the streaming media actually has different contents. Conversely, a plurality of streaming media registered with different bookmark names may actually be the same streaming media.
[0008]
In addition, users can add their own comments to bookmarks, but such comments are not sufficient or require an operation to open another window to actually display the comment And so on.
[0009]
In order for the user to accurately identify the streaming media distributed on the Internet or the like, text information alone is not sufficient, and a process for easily knowing the content is required.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to ensure that the contents of streaming media registered as a bookmark can be recognized from the display of the bookmark.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, when a client acquires streaming video media from a server and reproduces the streaming video media, moving image data composed of a part of the streaming video media or similar data is used as the icon data as the streaming video media. The client holds the media together with the address and file name that can be obtained, displays a moving image based on the stored data on the screen as an icon, and when the displayed icon is selected by a user operation, holds the data together with the data. Then, a file corresponding to the obtained address is obtained, and the streaming video media composed of the obtained file is reproduced.
[0012]
By doing so, an icon with a moving image is displayed as a list display of the bookmarks, and the outline of the streaming video media can be understood from the moving image display.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a system configuration according to the present embodiment. In this example, the streaming media playback device configured as a client accesses the streaming media storage device configured as a server via communication means such as the Internet, and the streaming media stored in the streaming media storage device is played back. The transfer is performed.
[0015]
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a server 1 is connected to the Internet 2 and an arbitrary number of clients 3, 4, 5,... Can access the server 1 by designating the address of the server 1. There is. The server 1 includes, for example, a computer functioning as a server, and a large-capacity data storage device connected to the computer. In order for each client to connect to the Internet, it is necessary to go through an access point (not shown).
[0016]
Here, the streaming media stored by the server 1 is a streaming video media including video data of a moving image. In this case, the server 1 may prepare and store data for displaying a moving image icon described later in advance. The data for displaying the moving image icon is data for displaying a part or all of the video displayed on the streaming video media on the display of the terminal on the client side as a reduced icon. When there are a plurality of types of streaming video media stored by the server 1, data for displaying moving image icons may be prepared for each streaming video media (or for each type of video media).
[0017]
The streaming media playback device that functions as each of the clients 3, 4, and 5 is configured as, for example, a personal computer device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a streaming media playback device 10 using a personal computer device that can be used as each of the clients 3, 4, and 5. 2 will be described. The streaming media reproducing apparatus 10 includes a central control unit (CPU) 11 as control means, and a RAM 12 and a ROM 13 as memories used for data processing in the central control unit 11. Prepare. Under the control of the central control unit 11, an access process to a server from which streaming media is obtained, a playback process of streaming media transferred from the server, and the like are executed. A hard disk drive 14 as data storage means and a disk drive 15 for reading data from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM are provided. The central control unit 11 also stores and reproduces data using these drives 14 and 15. Performed by control.
[0018]
Also, an external interface unit 16 for connecting to an external network such as the Internet via a telephone line or the like, an interface unit 17 for connecting a display 21, a keyboard 22 and a pointing device (such as a mouse) 23 are connected. And an interface unit 18. Further, an interface unit for connecting audio output means such as a speaker may be provided.
[0019]
When the streaming media playback device 10 downloads and plays streaming video media including, for example, video data of a moving image via the Internet, the streaming media playback device 10 is connected to the Internet 2 via the external interface 16 and requires the user The server 1 having the address where the streaming media stored is accessed, and the streaming media stored in the accessed server 1 is transferred via the Internet or the like.
[0020]
The streaming media transferred to the streaming media playback device 10 is stored on, for example, a hard disk mounted on the hard disk drive 14. When the transferred medium is a medium including a video, it is displayed on the connected display 21 under the control of the central control unit 11. If the media includes audio, the media is output from a connected audio output unit (not shown).
[0021]
When accessing the server, the server can be easily accessed by performing a bookmark registration process. In the bookmark registration process, the address of the server to be accessed is stored and registered in a storage unit (for example, a hard disk or a RAM) in the playback device 10 under the control of the central control unit 11. The registered bookmarks are displayed in a list on the display 21 so that the registered bookmarks can be recognized by the user.
[0022]
Here, in this example, when the registered bookmark is a bookmark for obtaining streaming media of a moving image, the moving image is displayed as an icon when a list of bookmark names is displayed. Hereinafter, processing for displaying the moving image icon will be described.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the bookmark registration process of the present embodiment. First, the user accesses the server by designating the address of the server from which the desired streaming video media is obtained, transfers the streaming video media data from the server, and plays the streaming video media on the client (playback). Device) (step S11). Thereafter, during this playback (or while accessing the server), the central control unit 11 of the playback device performs an operation of pressing the bookmark registration button prepared on the screen of the display 22 by operating the pointing device 23 or the like. It is determined whether or not there is (step S12).
[0024]
When the bookmark registration button is pressed, it is determined whether or not the data for displaying the moving image icon is obtained from the server side (step S13). It is determined whether the data has been transferred from the server and acquisition has been completed (step S14). When the acquisition is completed, the acquired data for displaying a moving image icon is registered as bookmark data (step S16). At the time of this registration, not only the data for displaying the moving picture icon but also the file name such as the title of the video data reproduced at the address and the address at which the streaming video data is obtained are stored in the storage unit ( It is stored in a hard disk or a memory under the control of the central control unit 11.
[0025]
If the data for displaying the moving image icon cannot be obtained from the server in step S13, and if the data for displaying the moving image icon has failed to be obtained from the server in step S14, the streaming transferred and reproduced from the server at that time. Using the video data of the media, data for displaying a moving image icon is created in the playback device (step S15).
[0026]
That is, part or all of the data of the streaming video media transferred from the server is captured under the control of the central control unit 11, and video data for displaying a moving image to be displayed on a small screen on the display 21 is created. The created video data for displaying a moving image is stored as data for displaying a moving image icon. For example, in the case of a video medium having a length of about several tens of minutes, data for displaying a moving image icon may be created from only the video data for the first few minutes. If the storage device such as a hard disk provided in the playback device 10 has a sufficient storage capacity, data for displaying a moving image icon can be created from video data of almost all sections even for a long video medium. May be. Further, in addition to the case where the entire screen of the video media is reduced to create the data for displaying the moving image icon, for example, a partial range (for example, only the center portion) of the one screen is used to display the moving image icon. Data may be created.
[0027]
In this way, even when the data for displaying a moving image icon is created in the playback device 10, the process proceeds to step S16, and the created data for displaying the moving image icon is registered as bookmark data. At the time of the registration, not only the data for displaying the moving image icon but also the file name such as the title of the video data reproduced at the address and the address at which the streaming video data can be obtained are stored in the storage means in the reproducing device 10. (A hard disk or a memory) under the control of the central control unit 11.
[0028]
When the bookmark registration processing is completed in step S16, the registered bookmark is displayed at a predetermined position on the screen of the display 21 (step S17), and the process returns to the streaming media reproduction processing in step S11.
[0029]
Here, FIGS. 4 and 5 show an outline of a processing state in a case where data for displaying a moving image icon is obtained from the server at the time of bookmark registration and a case where data for displaying a moving image icon is created in the playback device. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the data is obtained from the server. When the data of the streaming video media and the data for displaying the moving picture icon are separately obtained from the server, the data of the streaming video media is used for display on the display. When the video is reproduced, the data for displaying the moving image icon transferred separately from the data for reproducing the video is registered as the data for the bookmark.
[0030]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing example in the case of creating moving image icon data in step S15 of the flowchart of FIG. When the data of the moving image icon is not transferred from the server side, part or all of the data of the stream video media being reproduced by the reproducing device 10 is captured, and the data for displaying the moving image icon is created in the reproducing device 10. Then, the created data for displaying a moving image icon is registered as data for a bookmark.
[0031]
As the video data for the moving image icon, various known moving image formats, such as moving image data in the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format or the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) format, are applicable.
[0032]
6 to 9 are diagrams illustrating display examples on the display 21 connected to the streaming media playback device 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen during playback of streaming video media transferred from the server, in which a playback video of the media and a title are displayed. In the display example of FIG. 6, a bookmark registration button is also displayed on the screen.
[0033]
In a state where the streaming video media is reproduced as shown in FIG. 6, a user operation of clicking a bookmark registration button on the screen by using the pointing device 23 or the like is performed, so that the streaming video media currently being reproduced is displayed. Data for displaying a moving image icon is acquired, and as shown in FIG. 7, a moving image icon based on the acquired data is displayed below the bookmark registration button. In this example, the reduced moving image of the medium, the title of the medium, and the name of the creator of the medium are displayed.
[0034]
If the video displayed as the video icon is a reduced video of the streaming video media being played, as shown in the example shown in FIG. It will be displayed as a movie icon. However, the timing at which the playback of the streaming video media is started does not always coincide with the timing at which the display of the moving image icon is started. Therefore, the moving image at the same timing is not necessarily displayed. A process may be performed to match the video to be reproduced with the reproduced video of the streaming video media. In the state where the moving image icon is continuously displayed, when the video in the moving image icon is displayed to the end of the moving image, the display is started from the beginning of the moving image, and the moving image based on the prepared data is displayed. Display repeatedly.
[0035]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example when a plurality of bookmarks are registered. In this example, two registered moving image icons are displayed below the position where the bookmark registration button is displayed. In the examples of FIGS. 7 and 8, the moving image icons are displayed in a relatively large size on the screen for the sake of explanation, but are displayed in a relatively small size so that a large number of icons can be displayed simultaneously. Is also good.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 8, when a plurality of bookmarks are registered and a plurality of moving image icons are displayed, any one of the displayed moving image icons is used by using the pointing device 23 or the like. When a user operation of selecting and clicking is performed, a server from which the streaming video media registered in the moving image icon is obtained is accessed, and the corresponding streaming video media is downloaded from the server, and shown in FIG. Is displayed as follows.
[0037]
In the display examples of FIGS. 6 to 9, for the sake of simplicity, the same video is displayed as the display mode of each video icon. However, since the video is actually a video, the displayed video is displayed every moment. And change.
[0038]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing example when selecting a medium to be reproduced from the registered bookmarks. First, the playback device determines whether any bookmark displayed as a moving image icon has been selected by a user operation with a mouse or the like while the streaming video media is being played back or is waiting for playback (step S21). Step S22). If not selected, the state is maintained, and if selected, the server accesses the server of the address (URI) registered as a bookmark for the selected moving image icon (step S23). Then, the streaming media indicated by the address is transferred, and the playback is started by the playback device (step S24).
[0039]
When the reproduction of the streaming video media based on the moving picture icon is started, the streaming video media may be reproduced from the head position. Alternatively, streaming video media may be played back from the position displayed when the user clicks on a moving image reduced and displayed as a moving image icon by a user operation.
[0040]
As the display processing of the moving image icon, the moving image icon may be displayed by, for example, clicking a bookmark in a pull-down menu displayed on an upper portion of the screen of the display 21 or the like. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, by clicking the position where the bookmark is displayed at the top of the screen, a list of the moving image icons, title names, and creator names registered at that time is displayed. When the user selects a desired moving image icon in the state displayed as described above, the reproduction of the selected streaming video media is started.
[0041]
Next, an example of data transmission processing between the playback device (client) and the server will be described. First, a processing example in the case where data for a moving image icon is prepared in advance on the server side and the data for the moving image icon is transmitted as needed will be described with reference to FIG. Regarding data transfer between the client and the server, data transfer is performed using a protocol such as HTTP or RTP. When there is a reproduction operation 101 such as pressing of a reproduction button on the client side in a state where the client accesses a desired server, a reproduction request 102 is transmitted from the client to the server. For example, a reproduction request is transmitted by a play method conforming to the RTSP standard.
[0042]
FIGS. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing examples of the data structure of the command of the reproduction request. In the play method, a Range field is defined, and as shown in FIG. 13A, by describing “Range: npt = 20.0−”, reproduction of data from the 20th second is requested. Also, although not shown, by describing "Range: npt = 20.0-30.0", reproduction of data from the 20th to 30th seconds is required. For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, a request for data reproduction from the 20th second may be made by describing “00: 00: 20-” as the reproduction time in the transmission command (packet request). . Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 13C, “Packet # 025” indicating the packet number of the data may be described as the packet identifier.
[0043]
When the reproduction request reaches the server, the server starts transmitting the packetized streaming video media data and the moving image icon data to the client. That is, the transmission of the moving image icon data 103, 106,... And the transmission of the packet data 104, 107} are performed in packet units, and each time one packet is received on the client side, the received packet data is reproduced. 105, 108} are performed. If the bookmark registration process is not performed, the received data of the moving image icon is discarded.
[0044]
Then, in the state where the transmission has been performed in this way, after the transmission 109 of the moving image icon data of the packet number #n (n is an arbitrary integer) and the transmission 110 of the packet data, the client side sets the bookmark registration button. When there is a pressing operation 111, the reproduction 112 of the packet data at that time is performed, and the recording (storage) 113 of the moving image icon data of the packet number #n received at this time and information such as an address and a title name are performed. Register as a bookmark.
[0045]
Thereafter, as long as the streaming video media continues, transmission 114 of moving image icon data of packet number # n + 1 and transmission 115 of packet data are performed, and reproduction 116 of packet data is performed.
[0046]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of a moving image icon stored on the client side. FIG. 14A is an example of data of a moving image icon in the GIF format. The moving image icon data, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that is an address from which streaming video media can be obtained, and a reproduction start position are stored as a set. FIG. 14B is an example of data of a moving image icon in the MPEG format, and similarly stores moving image icon data, a URL, and a reproduction start position. The example of FIG. 14 is an example in which information on the reproduction start position is also stored. If there is no reproduction start position, the streaming video media may be reproduced.
[0047]
In the example of FIG. 12, only the moving image icon data of the packet number #n is recorded, but the moving image icon data transmitted together with other packet data may be recorded. Alternatively, the same moving image may be registered even when bookmark registration processing is performed at any time with the moving image icon data transmitted for each unit of packet data as the same data. In the case of the same moving image icon data, for example, moving image icon data may be created in advance from a video of a highlight scene of streaming video media. It is also possible to register a plurality of different moving image icon data in one streaming video medium as bookmarks. In this case, an identification number or the like may be added to the title name and displayed separately. good.
[0048]
FIG. 15 is another processing example in the case where data for a moving image icon is prepared in advance on the server side. In this example, the server prepares video icon data in the same way as the example of FIG. 12, but in this example, the video icon data is sent to the client only when requested by the client. It is intended to be sent.
[0049]
Hereinafter, the processing of the example of FIG. 15 will be described. When there is a reproduction operation 201 such as pressing of a reproduction button on the client side in a state where the client accesses a desired server, a reproduction request 202 is transmitted from the client to the server. You. In the server receiving the reproduction request, packet data transmission 203, 205 # is performed for each unit, and reproduction 204, 206 # is performed every time the packet data is received on the client side.
[0050]
Then, in the state where the transmission is performed in this manner, there is a transmission 207 of the packet data of the packet number #n, and after the reproduction 208 of the data is performed, there is a pressing operation 209 of the bookmark registration button on the client side. Then, the icon request transmission 210 is performed from the client to the server. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a command configuration of an icon request. Here, an example is shown in which an icon request is transmitted using an APP packet of an RTCP packet, and FIG. 16A is a diagram showing a configuration example of an APP packet of an RTCP packet. In the APP packet, version, padding, subtype, packet type, data length, SSRC / CSRC (Synchronization Source / Contributing Sources), packet name, and application-specific data are arranged in this order.
[0051]
Here, when transmitting an icon request, an icon request method is embedded in a section of data specific to the application. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 16B, in the transmission command of the icon request, data specifying the current playback time corresponding to the desired moving image icon data, such as “00:12:23”, is described, Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 16C, “Packet # 123” may be described and the number of desired moving image icon data may be designated.
[0052]
Returning to the description of FIG. 15, when such an icon request reaches the server, the server performs transmission 211 of the specified moving image icon data, and the client transmits the transmitted moving image icon data to the streaming video medium. The bookmark registration 212 is performed by recording the information together with information such as an address and a title name. Thereafter, as long as the streaming video media continues, there is transmission 213 of packet data, and reproduction 214 of packet data is performed.
[0053]
FIG. 17 is a processing example in the case where data for a moving image icon is not prepared on the server side. In the following, the processing of the example of FIG. 17 will be described. When there is a reproduction operation 301 such as pressing of a reproduction button on the client side in a state where the client accesses a desired server, a reproduction request 302 is transmitted from the client to the server. You. In the server receiving the reproduction request, packet data transmission 303, 305 # is performed for each unit, and reproduction 304, 306 # is performed every time the packet data is received on the client side.
[0054]
Then, in the state where the transmission is performed in this manner, there is transmission 307 of the packet data of the packet number #n, and after the reproduction 308 of the data is performed, there is a pressing operation 309 of the bookmark registration button on the client side. Then, creation 310 of moving image icon data is performed in the playback device constituting the client at that time. As the creation processing at this time, for example, one frame of image data is captured every few seconds, and data for displaying a moving image is generated from the captured image data, and is used as moving image icon data.
[0055]
The moving image icon data thus created is recorded together with information such as the address and title of the streaming video media, and bookmark registration 311 is performed. Thereafter, as long as the streaming video media continues, the transmission 312 of the packet data is performed, and the reproduction 213 of the packet data is performed.
[0056]
In the case of independently creating the moving image icon data on the client side in this way, in the example of FIG. 17, the moving image icon data is created after the bookmark registration button is operated. The creation of video icon data is started from the start of receiving the data of the video icon, and the creation of video icon data is always performed in the client, regardless of the operation of the bookmark registration button. good.
[0057]
In the embodiment described so far, the bookmark registration processing when the server is accessed via the Internet using the personal computer device as the terminal on the client side has been described. It is also applicable to a case where the terminal device is prepared and bookmark registration is performed by a user operation or the like. For example, in a network-type game device that accesses a server to execute a video game, the present invention is also applicable to a case where a streaming video media as the video game to be accessed is registered as a bookmark. The present invention is also applicable to bookmark registration of streaming media including video in other devices. Alternatively, a program for executing the processing of the present example may be prepared, and a medium on which the program is recorded may be installed in a device such as a computer device accessible to the server, and the same processing may be executed.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, an icon of a moving image is displayed as a list of bookmarks, and the outline of the streaming video media can be understood from the moving image display. Therefore, when downloading streaming video media from the server, the user can easily find out which media is required from the icon list display, which is more convenient than the conventional display using only text characters. I do.
[0059]
In this case, the client prepares data for displaying the moving image icon in advance, and transfers the moving image icon data prepared in the server in response to a request to the server based on a predetermined operation on the client side. By doing so, the client side can easily obtain the data of the icon for displaying the moving image only by performing the process of acquiring the data for the icon from the server.
[0060]
In addition, when the icon data cannot be obtained from the server, by creating the icon data for displaying the moving image by using a part of the streaming video data obtained from the server, the moving image icon can be displayed on the server side. When the data is not prepared, the data of the moving image icon can be created by the processing in the terminal on the client side.
[0061]
In addition, when displaying a moving image using icon data, when the end of the moving image is reached, the moving image is displayed at the client terminal irrespective of the length of the streaming video media by returning to the beginning and repeatedly displaying the moving image. Images are displayed continuously as moving images.
[0062]
Further, the streaming video data is configured by streaming media including only video or streaming media including video, so that a moving image based on the video is displayed as an icon.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a system configuration example according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a streaming media playback device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a bookmark registration process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of acquiring moving image icon data (an example in which moving image icon data is obtained from a server) according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of obtaining moving image icon data (an example of obtaining moving image icon data in a terminal) according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen of the playback device according to the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen after bookmark registration of the playback device according to the embodiment;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen after registration of a plurality of bookmarks of the playback device according to the embodiment;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a playback screen based on bookmark selection of the playback device according to the embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a bookmark selection process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a screen (an example of a pull-down menu display) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a time series of an example (Example 1) of processing for acquiring data of a moving image icon according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a reproduction request command according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of moving image icon data stored according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a time series of an example (Example 2) of processing for acquiring data of a moving image icon according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a command at the time of an icon request according to the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a time series of an example (Example 3) of acquiring processing of moving image icon data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Server, 2 ... Internet, 3, 4, 5 ... Client (streaming media playback device), 10 ... Streaming media playback device, 11 ... Central control unit, 12 ... RAM, 13 ... ROM, 14 ... Hard disk drive, 15 ... Disk drive, 16: external interface unit, 17, 18: interface unit, 21: display, 22: keyboard, 23: pointing device

Claims (13)

An access method in which a client obtains and plays streaming video media from a server accessed via a predetermined network,
When the client accesses the server and acquires the streaming video media, the streaming video media acquires a portion of the streaming video media or moving image data composed of similar data as icon data. The client keeps it with the address and file name that can be
A video based on the stored data is displayed on the screen as an icon,
An access method in which, when a displayed icon is selected by a user operation, a file corresponding to an address held together with the data is acquired, and a streaming video medium composed of the acquired file is reproduced. The access method according to claim 1,
An access method in which, in response to a request to a server based on a predetermined operation on a client side, data for an icon of a moving image prepared in the server is obtained. The access method according to claim 1,
An access method for creating icon data for displaying a moving image by using a part of the streaming video data acquired from the server when the icon data cannot be obtained from the server. The access method according to claim 1,
An access method wherein the display of a moving image by the icon data returns to the beginning when the moving image reaches the end and is repeatedly displayed. The access method according to claim 1,
An access method, wherein the streaming video data is configured by streaming media including video-only streaming media or video streaming media. The access method according to claim 1,
When the user selects a moving image icon displayed by the icon data by a user operation and acquires streaming video data of the moving image from the server, the streaming video data is obtained from the moving image of the section displayed by the icon at that time. The access method to play. Communication means for accessing the server via a predetermined network;
Storage means for holding data necessary for accessing the server,
Controlling access in the communication means, when a predetermined streaming video media is obtained from the server, a part of the streaming video media or moving image data composed of similar data, as icon display data A control unit for storing the streaming video media in the storage unit together with an address and a file name from which the streaming video media can be obtained. The access device according to claim 7,
An access device, wherein the control unit is configured to transfer the icon display data from the server in response to a request to the server via the communication unit and acquire the icon display data. The access device according to claim 7,
The access device, wherein the control unit creates icon display data for displaying a moving image using a part of the streaming video data acquired from the server, and stores the icon display data in the storage unit. The access device according to claim 7,
The access device, wherein the control unit causes the display unit included in the access device or the display unit connected to the access device to repeatedly display the icon based on the moving image icon display data stored in the storage unit. The access device according to claim 7,
An access device, wherein the streaming video data acquired from the server by the communication unit is configured by streaming media including video only or streaming media including video streaming media. The access device according to claim 7,
The control means, when detecting that the icon displayed on the display means is selected based on the icon display data of the moving image, the streaming video data from the moving image of the section displayed at the detected timing An access device that controls display. A streaming media storage server for distributing the stored streaming video media when accessed by a client via a predetermined network;
A media storage unit for storing the streaming video media,
An icon data storage unit that stores icon data for displaying a part of the streaming video media stored in the media storage unit as a moving image,
A streaming media storage server, comprising: control means for delivering, to a client, icon data for displaying a moving image stored in the icon data storage unit in response to a request from the client.

Images