JP2004159025A - System of managing number of video distribution connections and method of managing number of video distribution connections used therefor, and program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system of managing the number of video distribution connections capable of strictly managing the number of connections of video distribution. <P>SOLUTION: When each of players 41-43 accesses a connection management system 1, each connection is reserved by using a connection reservation table 121 in the system 1, a load balance and the number of licenses are checked on the basis of the reservation information, and video distribution servers 31, 32 are selected. The selected servers 31, 32 are provided as information to each of the players 41-43, and each of the players 41-43 accesses the servers 31, 32 on the basis of the provided information. In this way, since the number of video distribution connections can be strictly managed and the number of connections of video distributions can be exactly determined even when a lot of viewing requests of distributed videos are received, an accurate load balance function can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video distribution connection number management system, a video distribution connection number management method used therefor, and a program therefor, and more particularly to the management of the number of connections of clients (players) to which a video distribution server distributes video information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a distribution server, there is a system for distributing content according to a distribution reservation from a client. In this system, when a reservation for content distribution is received from each client in advance, based on the content distribution capability of the own system. There has been proposed a method of determining whether or not a reservation for the above-mentioned content distribution is possible, managing the reservation of the content distribution determined to be possible to distribute, and distributing the content based on the reservation for the content distribution. 1).
[0003]
In another distribution server, a copy of the video is stored in a plurality of video servers, and the load distribution control means of the video management device managing the video determines the storage status of the video copy and the load on the video server. Manages and checks if there is a copy of the desired video title when there is a delivery request from the client, if there is a copy, checks the load on the video server, selects an appropriate video server and notifies the server of the delivery request (For example, see Patent Document 2).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-223425 (pages 6 to 10, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-041587 (pages 4 to 7, FIG. 1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional video distribution system described above, when managing the number of connections, the number of video distributions actually flowing at that time is counted. Not taken into account. Since there is generally a time lag that cannot be ignored from the reproduction request to the start of the reproduction, no consideration is given to the video distribution in which the reproduction will start.
[0006]
Furthermore, in the case of the video distribution function that often creates a sales system based on the number of licenses, the exact number of licenses is not counted, so the strict regulation of the number of licenses can not be observed and a license violation occurs unconsciously Is causing.
[0007]
Also, video distribution is a technology field that has finally come into the limelight and has come into practical use, and it has recently been necessary to consider a load balancing function.
[0008]
On the other hand, in the techniques described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, since the above-mentioned considerations are not taken, the number of connected clients (players) cannot be accurately counted.
[0009]
It is important to manage the number of connections when constructing a video distribution system, and this is effective for performing a load balancing function and for complying with licenses based on strict management of the number of connections. However, if the number of connections is simply managed, a deviation from an actual value occurs, and accurate management is difficult.
[0010]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a video distribution connection number management system, a video distribution connection number management method used therefor, and a program therefor, which can solve the above problems and can strictly manage the number of video distribution connections. It is in.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A video distribution connection number management system according to the present invention is a video distribution connection number management system that manages the number of connections when distributing video from a video distribution server in response to a distribution reservation from a client, wherein the client accesses the video distribution connection number management system. Means for receiving a connection reservation from the client, means for reserving the received connection reservation using a connection reservation table, and means for managing the number of connections based on information reserved using the connection reservation table. And
[0012]
A video distribution connection number management method according to the present invention is a video distribution connection number management method for managing the number of connections when distributing video from a video distribution server in accordance with a distribution reservation from a client, wherein the client is accessed. Receiving a connection reservation from the client, using the connection reservation table to reserve the received connection reservation, and managing the number of connections based on information reserved using the connection reservation table. And
[0013]
The program of the video distribution connection number management method according to the present invention is a video distribution connection number management method program for managing the number of connections when distributing video from a video distribution server in accordance with a distribution reservation from a client. A process of receiving a connection reservation from the client at the time of access by the client, a process of reserving the received connection reservation using a connection reservation table, and processing based on information reserved using the connection reservation table. And a process of managing the number of connections.
[0014]
That is, the video distribution connection number management system of the present invention is intended to realize accurate management of the number of connections by making a connection reservation at a previous stage without exceeding the number of licenses.
[0015]
More specifically, in the video distribution connection number management system of the present invention, when a player (client) accesses the connection management system, each connection is reserved using a connection reservation table in the connection management system. The load distribution and the number of licenses are checked based on the reserved information, and a video distribution server is selected. The selected server is provided as information to each player, and each player accesses the video distribution server based on this information.
[0016]
This makes it possible for the video distribution connection number management system of the present invention to strictly manage the number of video distribution connections, and to reduce the number of video distribution connections even when a large amount of video distribution viewing requests are received in a short time. Since accurate judgment can be made, an accurate load balance function can be realized.
[0017]
Further, in the video distribution connection number management system of the present invention, since it is easy to comply with the number of licenses, a large server management is required when a sales system in which sales are performed by setting an upper limit of the number of connections is formed. Side benefits.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a video distribution connection number management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a video distribution connection number management system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a player 4i (i = 1, 2, 3,...) (Client) and a plurality of video distribution servers (# 1, # 2) 31. , 32, a connection management system 1, and an authentication program 2.
[0019]
Each player 4i is a device for viewing the delivered video distribution, and makes a viewing request for the video distribution to the connection management system 1 when necessary. The video distribution servers 31 and 32 are devices that provide a function for distributing moving image information to the player 4i.
[0020]
The connection management system 1 is a system for managing connections for video distribution, and includes an input reception program memory 11, a database 12, and a CPU (central processing unit) 13. The input reception program memory 11 has a connection number management program 111 for managing connection information stored in the database 12, an external service request program 112 for controlling execution of the authentication program 2, and connections from the video distribution servers 31 and 32. A connection event reception program 113 for managing information is stored.
[0021]
The database 12 has a connection reservation table 121 for managing reservations of viewing requests communicated with the connection management system 1, a connection number table 122 for managing the current number of video distribution connections of the video distribution servers 31, 32, and a video distribution table. A license count table 123 in which the number of connections to be permitted in the servers 31 and 32 is stored.
[0022]
The CPU 13 provides a function of controlling access to the input reception program memory 11 and the database 12 and execution of a program stored in the input reception program memory 11.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a sequence chart showing an operation example when the video distribution connection number management system according to one embodiment of the present invention operates effectively. An operation example when the video distribution connection number management system according to the embodiment of the present invention effectively operates will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
When reproduction requests are issued from the two players 41 and 42 to the connection management system 1 at extremely short intervals (see a1 and a3 in FIG. 2), the connection management system 1 returns a reproduction request response for each request (see FIG. 2). a2, a4). However, at this stage, the video distribution server 31 does not recognize that video distribution will be performed. That is, the video distribution server 31 recognizes its own connection number as "0" at the stage where the reproduction request response a4 exists, unless there is another player.
[0025]
Since the connection management system 1 actually responds with two reproduction request responses a2 and a4, it is considered that there are two reservation reproduction requests. Upon receiving the reproduction start (see a5 in FIG. 2), the video distribution server 31 updates its own connection number to “1”, and upon receiving the second reproduction start (see a7 in FIG. 2). , And updates its own connection count to “2”. The actual start of the video distribution is the start of the transmission of the video information in FIG. 2 (see a6 and a8 in FIG. 2).
[0026]
The function according to the present embodiment is mainly realized by the connection management system 1, but the actual main operation is realized by the simultaneous execution of two of the connection number management program 111 and the connection event reception program 113. These are described below.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the connection number management program 111 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the connection event receiving program 113 of FIG. The operation of each of the connection number management program 111 and the connection event reception program 113 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0028]
When the CPU 13 executes the connection number management program 111, the CPU 13 first checks whether there is a connection request from the player 4i (step S1 in FIG. 3), and if there is no connection request (step S2 in FIG. 3), there is a connection. Continue this decision loop until
[0029]
If there is a connection request (step S2 in FIG. 3), the CPU 13 refers to the connection number table 122 (step S3 in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 6, the connection number table 122 is assigned to the IP (Internet Protocol) addresses “10.12.14.16” and “10.12.14.18” of the video distribution servers 31 and 32, respectively. The number of connected video distributions is represented by a set of “154” and “168”.
[0030]
If the video distribution server is not normally registered in the connection count table 122 (step S4 in FIG. 3), the CPU 13 does not accept the video distribution, deletes the video distribution ID information added to the connection reservation table 121, The number of connections of the corresponding video distribution server is reduced by “1” from the number-of-connections table 122, and the connection reservation table 121 and the number-of-connections table 122 are returned to the original state (step S8 in FIG. 3).
[0031]
If the video distribution server is normally registered in the connection count table 122 (step S4 in FIG. 3), the CPU 13 determines the maximum connection count based on the information obtained from the connection count table 122 in order to realize the load balancing function. The video distribution is allocated to the video distribution server with less number (Step S5 in FIG. 3).
[0032]
At this time, the CPU 13 increases the number of connections in the connection count table 122 for the relevant video distribution server by “1”, and adds ID information that can specify each video distribution to the connection reservation table 121. The connection reservation table 121 includes, for example, video distribution IDs “00000000017” and “00000000018” as shown in FIG. The video distribution ID is information that is always added to communication for controlling the video.
[0033]
Next, the CPU 13 compares the current number of connections with the license number table 123 to check whether the number is within the license (step S6 in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 7, the license number table 123 includes the IP addresses “10.12.14.16” and “10.12.14.18” of the video distribution server and the number of connections permitted by the server. Are stored as a set of the upper limits “180” and “200”.
[0034]
If the number of licenses is exceeded, the CPU 13 does not accept the connection, deletes the ID information of the video distribution added to the connection reservation table 121, and sets the number of connections of the corresponding video distribution server from the connection number table 122 to “1”. It is reduced and returned to the original state (step S8 in FIG. 3).
[0035]
If there is no problem with the number of licenses, the CPU 13 returns a reproduction request response to the player who made the connection request (step S7 in FIG. 3). At this time, the information of the video distribution ID shown in FIG. 5 is also sent to the player side. Also, if necessary in the preceding stage, the authentication program 2 is called from the external service request program 112 to obtain authentication information.
[0036]
The connection event receiving program 113 is a program for removing a reservation from the connection reservation table 121 when the connection is completed. When the CPU 13 executes the connection event reception program 113, the video distribution servers 31, 32 send an event to the connection management system 1 when the video distribution distribution ends, so that the CPU 13 receives the video distribution distribution end event from the video distribution servers 31, 32. It is checked whether or not it is (step S11 in FIG. 4). If the video distribution end event has not arrived (step S12 in FIG. 4), the CPU 13 repeats the loop of the determination process.
[0037]
If the video distribution end event has arrived (step S12 in FIG. 4), the CPU 13 should extract the video distribution ID for specifying the video distribution as shown in FIG. The corresponding item is deleted from the connection reservation table 121, the number of connections of the corresponding video distribution server is reduced by “1” from the connection number table 122, and the connection reservation table 121 and the connection number table 122 are returned to the original state (FIG. 4 steps S13).
[0038]
As a result, in this embodiment, the number of connections for video distribution can be strictly managed. In the present embodiment, the number of video distribution connections can be accurately determined even when a large amount of video distribution viewing requests are received in a short time, so that an accurate load balance function can be realized.
[0039]
Further, in this embodiment, since the compliance with the number of licenses can be easily performed, a large server is used in a case where a sales system is formed in which the sales are performed by setting the upper limit of the number of connections by complying with the number of licenses. This can be an advantage on the management side.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention provides a video distribution connection number management system that manages the number of connections when a video is distributed from a video distribution server in response to a distribution reservation from a client. Strictly manage the number of connections for video distribution by accepting connection reservations, reserving the received connection reservations using the connection reservation table, and managing the number of connections based on the information reserved using the connection reservation table The effect is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a video distribution connection number management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sequence chart showing an operation example when the video distribution connection number management system according to one embodiment of the present invention operates effectively.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation by the connection number management program of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the connection event receiving program of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection reservation table of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection number table of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license number table of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Connection Management System 2 Authentication Programs 4-1 to 4-3 Player 11 Input Receiving Program Memory 12 Database 13 CPU
31, 32 Video distribution server 111 Connection number management program 112 External service request program 113 Connection event reception program 121 Connection reservation table 122 Connection number table 123 License number table

Claims (7)

A video distribution connection number management system that manages the number of connections when distributing video from a video distribution server in accordance with a distribution reservation from a client, and a unit that receives a connection reservation from the client at the time of access by the client. Video distribution connection, comprising: means for reserving the received connection reservation using a connection reservation table; and means for managing the number of connections based on information reserved using the connection reservation table. Number management system. Means for selecting a video distribution server that distributes the video based on the information reserved using the connection reservation table, and by transmitting the information of the selected video distribution server to the client, the client The video distribution connection number management system according to claim 1, wherein the video distribution server is accessed based on the information. Including a connection number table storing the connection number for each video distribution server,
The video distribution connection number management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for managing the number of connections manages the number of connections using the connection reservation table and the connection number table. A video distribution connection number management method for managing the number of connections when distributing video from a video distribution server according to a distribution reservation from a client, the method comprising: receiving a connection reservation from the client when the client accesses the video distribution connection number management method; Reserving the received connection reservation using a connection reservation table; and managing the number of connections based on the information reserved using the connection reservation table. Number management method. Including selecting a video distribution server that distributes the video based on the information reserved using the connection reservation table, by transmitting the information of the selected video distribution server to the client, The video distribution connection number management method according to claim 4, wherein the video distribution server is accessed based on the information. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of managing the number of connections includes managing the number of connections using a connection number table storing the number of connections for each of the video distribution servers and the connection reservation table. Item 5. The video distribution connection number management method according to Item 5. A program of a video distribution connection number management method for managing the number of connections when video is distributed from a video distribution server in accordance with a distribution reservation from a client, the computer comprising: A process for receiving a reservation, a process for reserving the received connection reservation using a connection reservation table, and a process for managing the number of connections based on information reserved using the connection reservation table. program.

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