JP2004144817A - Station opening method for video and audio reproducing device, video and audio reproducing device, and station opening server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system which can distribute video and audio data from a distributing server to a video and audio reproducing device through a network. <P>SOLUTION: In the Karaoke distribution system having a plurality of center-side routers 14 and 24, a plurality of distributing servers 12 and 22, a station opening server 1, a plurality of Karaoke devices 32 and 42, and store-side routers 33 and 43, the station opening server 1 determines the distributing server 12 in charge and the center-side router 14 to be used for a route of distribution according to the private IP address of the Karaoke device 32 having made a request to open a station to the station opening server 1. The Karaoke devices 32 is informed of the private IP address of the distributing server and the global IP address of the center-side router 14 and the store-side router 33 is set to configure a VPN tunnel. Then musical piece data are distributed from the specified distributing server through the VPN tunnel 81. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video / audio data distribution system of a video / audio playback apparatus that downloads video / audio data via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many of the karaoke apparatuses that are currently popular are communication karaoke apparatuses that receive distribution of karaoke music data from a server apparatus. A conventional communication karaoke apparatus receives distribution of music data by communicating with a distribution server apparatus via a public telephone line (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
Also, in video and audio distribution systems such as video on demand (VOD) and news on demand that interactively distribute video and audio, the server side and terminal (client) are used to stream video and audio content. Make up side.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-127964 (page 3, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a conventional karaoke device, communication via a public telephone line is inefficient because the distribution server device must communicate with each karaoke device on a one-to-one basis, and a telephone fee is charged for each communication with each karaoke device. Therefore, if music data is distributed to each of a large number of installed karaoke apparatuses, a considerable communication fee is required.
[0006]
In a video / audio distribution system such as video on demand or news on demand, a new terminal (client) receives a content from a server, so which server is used for which route. The opening process for performing the initial setting is complicated.
[0007]
Therefore, the present invention provides a video / audio reproduction device opening method and video in a video / audio data distribution system capable of distributing video / audio data from a server device to a video / audio reproduction device using a network communication procedure via the network. An object of the present invention is to provide an audio playback device and an opening server.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention of claim 1 is a station opening method of a video / audio reproduction apparatus in a video / audio data distribution system having a plurality of distribution servers connected to a network via a plurality of center side routers and a station opening server. The video / audio playback device connected to the network via the network makes a request for opening the station to the opening server, and the opening server that receives the opening request from the video / audio playback device is in charge of distribution to the video / audio playback device. A distribution server and a center-side router to be assigned, a procedure for notifying the global address of the center-side router to the video / audio reproduction device that has made the opening request, and the video / audio reproduction device that has made the opening request A temporary router that includes a router on the device side and a router on the center side and tunnels between the distribution server and the video / audio reproduction device A global address of the connection destination router for configuring the network, is characterized by having, a step of setting the video and audio reproduction apparatus router global address of the notified center side router.
[0009]
In the video / audio reproduction device which receives the distribution of the video / audio data from the distribution server provided in the center, the invention of claim 2 stores storage means for storing the global address of the opening server, and communication means for communicating with the opening server; Means for acquiring identification information for identifying itself; and transmitting the identification information to the opening server to acquire a global address of the center side router notified from the opening station server; And the center side router as a global address of the connection destination router for forming a virtual network for tunneling between the distribution server and the video / audio playback device, And a means for setting in the router on the playback device side.
[0010]
The station opening server according to the invention of claim 3 has received the communication means for communicating with the plurality of video / audio reproduction devices and the plurality of distribution servers provided in the center, and the identification information of the video / audio reproduction device from the video / audio reproduction device At the time, based on the identification information, among the plurality of center side routers provided in the center, a distribution server in charge of distribution to the video / audio reproduction device and the center side router are allocated, and the global address of the center side router And a control means for notifying the allocated distribution server of the video / audio data distribution destination as the distribution destination of the video / audio data. It is a feature.
[0011]
In the present invention, distribution of video / audio data to a plurality of video / audio reproduction devices is shared by using a plurality of distribution servers provided on the center side and a plurality of routers on the center side.
The allocation server determines which distribution server and the center side router are in charge of the distribution of the video / audio data for each video / audio reproduction device.
As a result, the video / audio reproduction device can centralize the video / audio reproduction device so that the opening server can perform the opening processing of the video / audio data, regardless of which center-side router receives the distribution of the video / audio data. The opening process becomes easy.
[0012]
In the present invention, since the distribution server and the video / audio reproduction device are connected by VPN, the video / audio data can be distributed with the same simplicity as that of the LAN, and the video / audio data via the Internet can be distributed. Data security can be maintained even with the distribution of data.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a music data distribution system for a karaoke apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 100 and 101 are centers for distributing karaoke music data, and 201 and 202 are karaoke stores. In the center 100, reference numerals 10 and 11 are center side LANs. The LAN 10 includes a distribution server 12 (12-1 to 12-n) and a station opening server 1. A router 13 is connected to the open server 1. The LAN 11 includes a distribution server 12 (12-1 to 12-n) and a center side router 14. In the center 101, 21 is a center LAN. The LAN 21 includes a distribution server 22 (22-1 and 22-2) and a center side router 24.
[0014]
The opening station server 1 includes a communication unit 1a for communicating via the LAN 10, the router 13, and the Internet 7, a control unit 1b for performing a station opening process, and a storage unit 1c constituting a database for registering the opened karaoke apparatus. Have.
[0015]
In the karaoke shop 201, 31 is a LAN on the karaoke shop side. The LAN 31 includes a karaoke device 32 (32-1 to 32-m) and a store side router 33.
In the karaoke store 202, 41 is a LAN on the karaoke store side, and includes a karaoke device 42 (42-1 to 42-n) and a store side router 43.
[0016]
The karaoke device 32-1 includes a communication means 32 a for communicating via the LAN 31 or the store-side router 33, a control means 32 b for performing an opening process, a process for receiving distribution of karaoke song data, a performance process for karaoke songs, Storage means 32c for storing music data and the like is provided. This configuration is the same for other karaoke apparatuses.
[0017]
Private IP addresses of the store-side routers 33 and 43 of each karaoke store are set to different addresses at the time of factory shipment. The store side routers 33, 43, etc. set private IP addresses to the respective karaoke devices by using a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) function. Therefore, the LAN network address is different for each karaoke store. As will be described later, the station opening server 1 determines the network address of the karaoke shop side LAN from the private IP address of the karaoke apparatus requested to open the station during the station opening process. This network address is information for identifying the karaoke shop.
[0018]
FIG. 2 shows the stored contents of the storage unit 32c of the karaoke apparatus. In this way, the karaoke apparatus includes the global IP address of the router 13 of the opening server, the global IP address of the center side router (14, 24, etc.), the private IP address of the distribution server, the global IP address of the store side router, the opening data ( The private IP address of the karaoke apparatus (self), the store code of the karaoke store, the password, the identification code, the distribution time zone), the music data, the performance program, and the like are stored.
Among these data, the global IP address of the router 13 on the open server side is preset at the time of factory shipment. The private IP address of the karaoke device is given from the store side router (33, 43) when the karaoke device is connected to the LAN (31, 41) of the karaoke store. The global IP address of the center router (14, 24) and the private IP address of the distribution server (12, 22) are acquired by a station opening process described later.
[0019]
The store code and the password are numbers given to the karaoke apparatus by a contract with the center operator, and access to the open station server 1 becomes possible by authentication of the store code and password. The identification code is a code arbitrarily attached to the karaoke apparatus by the attendant. For example, a room number in which the karaoke apparatus is installed is attached as an identification code.
[0020]
The delivery time zone is a preferred time zone for delivering music data to the karaoke apparatus. The store code, password, identification code, and delivery time zone are input by a staff member when the karaoke apparatus is installed.
[0021]
Each of the center side router 14 and the store side router 33 has a VPN function based on IPSec (IP Security protocol). The LAN 11 on the distribution server 12 side and the LAN 31 on the karaoke apparatus 32 side constitute a VPN tunnel 81 by the VPN function of the routers 14 and 33. As a result, communication using the TCP / IP protocol is possible from any distribution server 12 on the LAN 11 to any karaoke apparatus 32 on the LAN 31 while maintaining security on the Internet 7.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows the stored contents of the storage means 1 c of the station opening server 1. The table shown in (A) stores the relationship between the global IP address of the center side router and the private IP address of the distribution server. This table determines which router on the center side is used when receiving distribution from the distribution server in charge.
[0023]
The table shown in (B) stores the relationship between the LAN network address of the karaoke store and the private IP address of the distribution server. This table determines which distribution server is in charge of the karaoke apparatus of which karaoke store.
[0024]
The table shown in (C) stores the opening data received from the karaoke apparatus during the opening process.
[0025]
In this example, the private IP address of the karaoke apparatus installed at the karaoke store with the store code 101 is 10.2.20.0/24 (the netmask or address prefix is 255.255.255.0, and the IP address 10. Network address including 2.20.1-10.2.20.255). Also, the private IP address of the karaoke apparatus installed in the karaoke store of the store code 102 is 10.2.21.0/24 (the net mask or address prefix is 255.255.255.0, and the IP address 10.2. Network address including 21.1 to 10.2.21.255).
[0026]
When the karaoke device is installed in the LAN of the karaoke store, the karaoke device communicates with the opening server 1 via the Internet 7 for the opening processing described below. The protocol used for this communication is a confidential protocol.
[0027]
Next, the opening process will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the opening process of the karaoke apparatus (32, 42). FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the opening process of the opening server 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing communication procedures of the karaoke apparatus, the opening station server, and the distribution server. This process is executed when the karaoke device 32 is connected to the LAN 31 and the power is turned on.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the apparatus is first activated by turning on the power (s1), the communication means 32a communicates with the router 33, and the private IP address of the self (karaoke apparatus) by the DHCP function of the store side router 33 (S2). Then, the clerk inputs data necessary for the opening process of this karaoke device (s3). The data input here is the store code, password, identification code, delivery time zone, and the like described above. When these data are input and a predetermined access operation is performed by a staff member, the karaoke apparatus accesses the station opening server 1 via the route 80 of the Internet 7 and the router 13. With this access, the opening data (store code, password, identification code, distribution time zone, own private IP address) is transmitted to the opening server 1. (S4). The router 13 on the open server 1 side is set at the time of factory shipment so as to associate the global IP address of the router 13 with the private IP address of the open server 1 by the port forwarding (static IP masquerade) function. Therefore, the karaoke device that makes the opening request accesses the global IP address of the router 13 on the opening server side as the destination.
[0029]
Based on the private IP address of the karaoke device requested to open the station (based on the network address), the opening server 1 knows which client the karaoke device is installed as shown in FIG. Based on the table, the distribution server 12 in charge of the client and the center side router 14 used by the distribution server 12 in the distribution processing route are allocated. Then, the private IP address of the distribution server 12 and the global IP address of the center side router 14 are returned. The karaoke apparatus 32 receives the private IP address of the distribution server 12 and the global IP address of the center side router 14 from the opening station server 1 (s5).
[0030]
The karaoke device 32 sets the global IP address of the center side router 14 as information on the global IP address of the connection destination router necessary for the store side router 33 to communicate with the VPN (s6). This setting is performed by sending a command directly to the store side router 33 by telnet.
[0031]
Thereafter, a ping is transmitted to the private IP address of the distribution server (s7).
If a response to this ping is received (s8), it is determined that it is connected to the assigned distribution server 12 via the VPN tunnel 81, and a connection confirmed message is transmitted to the opening server 1 (s9). By transmitting this connection confirmed message, the opening procedure is completed, and thereafter, music data is periodically distributed from the allocated distribution server 12.
[0032]
FIG. 5 shows the procedure of the station opening process in the station opening server 1. When the karaoke device 32 is accessed for the station opening process, the station opening server 1 receives from the karaoke device 32 the opening data including a store code, a password, an identification code, a private IP address of the karaoke device, a distribution time zone, and the like (s11 ). As described above, based on the private IP address of the karaoke device, the distribution server 12 in charge of distributing music data to the karaoke device and the center side router 14 used for the distribution are allocated (s12). Then, the private IP address of the distribution server 12 and the global IP address of the center side router 14 are returned to the karaoke apparatus 32 (s13).
[0033]
Thereafter, if a connection confirmation completed message is transmitted from the karaoke device 32, it is determined that the karaoke device opening process has been normally completed, and the received opening data is registered in the database as shown in FIG. (S15). Then, the distribution server 12 in charge is notified of the private IP address and distribution time zone of the karaoke device 32 (s16), and distribution of karaoke music data is started periodically.
[0034]
Note that communication between the open server 1 and the store-side LAN 31 is performed via the Internet 7 using a confidential protocol via the routers 13 and 33. For example, the center server 24 and the router 13 on the open server side communicate with each other. A VPN tunnel 84 is configured between the distribution server 22 and the opening server 1 via the VPN tunnel 84. Therefore, the notification from the opening server 1 to the distribution server 12 is performed via the LAN 10, but when the distribution server 22 is in charge of distribution to the karaoke device 42, the opening server 1 notifies the distribution server 22 via the VPN 84. Notification.
[0035]
With the above processing, it is not necessary for the staff to manually set the private IP addresses of the distribution servers 12 and 22 and the global IP address of the center side router 14. That is, the global IP address of the center side routers 14 and 24 is obtained by performing online station opening processing using the global IP address of the router 13 on the side of the opening server 1 that is set in advance at the time of shipment from the factory. On the other hand, it can be automatically set as the global IP address of the destination router for configuring the VPN. Further, the private IP addresses of the distribution servers 12 and 22 can be automatically set.
[0036]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, one router 14 is provided as the center router of the center 100, but a plurality of center routers may be provided in the same center. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the open server 1 is provided in the center 100, but an open server may be provided separately from the center provided with the distribution server.
[0037]
In the above example, the music data distribution system of the karaoke device has been described. However, in a video / audio distribution system such as video on demand or news on demand, a new terminal (client) distributes content from the server. The present invention can be similarly applied to the opening process when receiving. In other words, in this case, the center in the above embodiment may be replaced with a center that distributes video / audio data, and the karaoke apparatus may be replaced with a terminal that streams video / audio data.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when the video / audio reproduction device receives the distribution of the video / audio data from any of the plurality of distribution servers, the opening processing of the video / audio reproduction device is performed in the opening server. Centralization can be performed, and the station opening process can be facilitated. In addition, when a VPN via a predetermined router among a plurality of center side routers is constructed and received, the VPN can be automatically constructed, and the station opening process can be facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a music data distribution system for a karaoke device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of storage means of a karaoke device. [Fig. 5] Flow chart showing the opening process procedure of the karaoke apparatus. [Fig. 5] Flow chart showing the opening process procedure of the opening station server. [Figure 6] Diagram showing the communication procedure of the karaoke apparatus, the opening server, and the distribution server.
1-Opening server, 10, 11, 21, 31, 41-LAN, 12 (12-1 to 12-n), 22 (22-1, 22-2)-Distribution server, 32 (32-1 to 32-2) m), 42 (42-1 to 42-n) -karaoke device, 13-router, 33,43-store side router, 14,24-center side router, 7-Internet, 80-route, 81-84-VPN Tunnel, 100, 101-center, 201, 202-karaoke store

Claims (3)

An opening method of a video / audio reproduction device in a video / audio data distribution system having a plurality of distribution servers connected to a network via a plurality of center-side routers and a station opening server,
A procedure in which a video / audio reproduction device connected to the network via a router makes a station opening request to the station opening server;
The opening server that has received the opening request from the video / audio reproduction device assigns the distribution server and the center side router in charge of distribution to the video / audio reproduction device, and the global address of the center side router is assigned to the A procedure for notifying the audio player;
The video / audio reproduction device that has made the station opening request includes a router on the video / audio reproduction device side and a router on the center side, and a connection destination for configuring a virtual network that tunnels between the distribution server and the video / audio reproduction device As a global address of the router, a procedure for setting the notified global address of the center side router in the router on the video / audio reproduction device side;
A method for opening a video and audio playback apparatus having In a video / audio reproduction device that receives video / audio data from a distribution server provided in the center,
Storage means for storing the global address of the opening server;
Communication means for communicating with the station opening server;
Means for obtaining identification information for identifying itself;
The identification information is transmitted to the station opening server to obtain the global address of the center side router notified from the station opening server, and includes a router on the side of the video / audio reproduction device and a router on the center side. Means for setting the notified global address of the center side router in the router on the video / audio reproduction device side as a global address of a connection destination router for configuring a virtual network for tunneling with the reproduction device;
A video / audio playback device. A communication means for communicating with a plurality of video / audio reproduction devices and a plurality of distribution servers provided in the center;
When receiving the identification information of the video / audio reproduction device from the video / audio reproduction device, the distribution responsible for distribution to the video / audio reproduction device from a plurality of center side routers provided in the center based on the identification information Means for allocating a server and a center side router, and notifying the video / audio reproduction device of a global address of the center side router;
Control means for notifying the allocated distribution server of the private address of the video / audio reproduction device that has transmitted the identification information as the distribution destination of the video / audio data;
Opening server with

Images