JP2004206013A - Video and audio data downloading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a musical piece data downloading system for a karaoke machine that makes it possible to update musical piece data in a karaoke machine even in case of abnormality of a communication path by enabling downloading of musical piece data from a downloading server to the karaoke machine by using a communication procedure of a network through the network. <P>SOLUTION: The karaoke machine periodically downloads musical piece data from a downloading server normally through a VPN 8 provided on the Internet 7 by using a router 5 on the side of the downloading server 2 and a router 6 on the side of the karaoke machine 3. If the communication path becomes abnormal, the karaoke machine reports that to an open station server 1, which inquires a connection dial number to a downloading-server side router 13; and the karaoke machine 3 is connected to the downloading server by the dial connection through a switching line 14 and musical piece data are downloaded through the switching line 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a music data distribution system for a karaoke apparatus that downloads music data via a network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many of the karaoke devices that are currently widely used are communication karaoke devices that receive distribution of karaoke music data from a distribution server. A conventional communication karaoke apparatus receives distribution of music data by communicating with a distribution server via a switching line (public telephone line) (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-127964 (Page 3, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the communication via the public telephone line, the distribution server must communicate with each karaoke device one-to-one, which is inefficient. Distributing music data to each of the installed karaoke devices requires a considerable communication fee.
[0005]
The distribution of the music data is performed at a predetermined cycle, and the music data stored in the karaoke apparatus is updated. However, when the music data cannot be downloaded from the distribution server due to a line failure or the like, there is a problem that the music data of the karaoke apparatus is not updated.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable distribution of video and audio data such as karaoke music data from a distribution server to a terminal device such as a karaoke device using a communication procedure of the network via a network, and to provide an abnormal communication path. It is an object of the present invention to provide a video / audio data distribution system that can update video / audio data of a terminal device at times.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a distribution server that distributes video and audio data via a communication path, a terminal device that receives the distribution of the video and audio data from the distribution server, and an opening server that allocates a distribution server to the terminal device. In the video / audio data distribution system having the terminal device, a receiving unit for the terminal device to receive video / audio data from the distribution server via a communication path, and a communication path via the Internet is normally selected as the communication path. And selecting means for selecting a communication path via the switching line when the communication path via the Internet is abnormal.
[0008]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the terminal device is provided with a means for reporting the content of the abnormal state to the start-up server via a communication path via a switching line when the communication path via the Internet is abnormal.
[0009]
As described above, the communication path via the Internet is normally selected as the communication path, and the communication path via the switching line is selected when the communication path via the Internet is abnormal. The distribution can be performed efficiently and the communication cost can be suppressed, and the distribution can be received via the exchange line (public telephone line) even when the communication path is abnormal.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is characterized in that the video and audio data is karaoke music data, and the terminal device is a karaoke device. As a result, the karaoke apparatus can receive the karaoke music data efficiently and at a reduced communication cost during normal times, and can also receive the data via the exchange line (public telephone line) when the communication path is abnormal. Can receive distribution.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a music data distribution system of a karaoke apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The start server 1 is connected to the Internet 7 via a router 4. The plurality of distribution servers 2 (2-1 to 2-n) are connected to the Internet 7 via the router 5. The plurality of distribution servers 2 are connected to a local area network (LAN) 11 downstream of the router 5. The station opening server 1, the router 4, the plurality of distribution servers 2, and the router 5 are installed in a center facility that distributes music data. The station opening server 1 and the plurality of distribution servers 2 are connected to each other via a LAN 10 separated from the Internet so that they can communicate with each other. The station opening server 1 includes a communication unit 20 for communicating via the Internet 7, a control unit 21 for performing station opening processing and processing when a communication path is abnormal, and a storage unit having a database for registering the opened karaoke apparatus. 22.
[0012]
On the client side of a karaoke store or the like, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3 (3-1 to 3-m) are connected to the Internet 7 via a router 6. The plurality of karaoke apparatuses 3 are connected to the LAN 12 on the downstream side of the router 6. The karaoke apparatus 3 has communication means 23 for communicating via the LAN 12 and the Internet 7, control means 24 for executing station opening processing, processing when a communication path is abnormal, performance processing of karaoke music, and storage means 25. ing. In this figure, for simplicity of description, only one client including the router 6 and the karaoke apparatus 3 is described, but the embodiment actually implemented generally includes a plurality of clients. It is a target.
[0013]
In FIG. 1, the station opening server 1 connects to the exchange line 14 as necessary through a terminal adapter (TA) and a line connection device (DSU) provided in the router 4. Further, the plurality of distribution servers 2 (2-1 to 2-n) are connected to a switching line 14 as necessary via a router (ISDN router) 13. The router 6 on the client side such as a karaoke shop has a built-in TA and DSU, and the karaoke apparatus 3 (3-1 to 3-m) is connected to the exchange line 14 via the router 6 as necessary.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2 (A), the storage means includes opening server connection information, router address, distribution server address, opening data (own private IP address, store code, password, identification code, distribution time zone), and , Music data, performance programs, and the like. Here, the start server connection information includes the IP address of the start server and a dial number for connecting to the start server via the exchange line. The IP address of this station opening server is preset at the time of factory shipment. Also, a dial number for connection via the exchange line is set by a staff member when the karaoke apparatus is installed.
[0015]
The router address and its own private IP address are given from the router 6 when the karaoke apparatus is connected to the LAN 12. The distribution server address is obtained by a station opening process described later. The store code and the password are numbers given by the client in contract with the person who operates the center facility, and the authentication of the store code and the password enables access to the station opening server 1. The identification code is a code for identifying the karaoke apparatus inside the client, and can be arbitrarily assigned by a staff member. In the case of a karaoke shop, the room number where the karaoke apparatus is installed is usually assigned. The distribution time period is a preferable time period for distributing music data to the karaoke apparatus. The store code, the password, the identification code, and the delivery time zone are input by a staff member when the karaoke apparatus is installed.
[0016]
The LAN 11 on the distribution server 2 side and the LAN 12 on the karaoke apparatus 3 side are connected by a router 5 and a router 6 via a virtual private network (VPN) 8 using IPsec (IP Security Protocol). Communication from the arbitrary distribution server 2 on the LAN 11 to any karaoke device 3 on the LAN 12 can be performed by TCP / IP protocol while maintaining security on the Internet 7.
[0017]
When the karaoke apparatus 3 is installed on the LAN 12, the karaoke apparatus 3 communicates with the station opening server 1 via the Internet 7 to perform the station opening processing described in FIGS. The protocol used for this communication is a protocol with secrecy.
[0018]
Here, the station opening process when a new karaoke apparatus 3 is installed in the LAN 12 (router 6) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the station opening processing operation of the karaoke apparatus 3. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the station opening processing operation of the station opening server 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication procedure of the karaoke apparatus 3, the station opening server 1, and the distribution server 2.
[0019]
3 and 6, when the karaoke apparatus 3 is connected to the LAN 12 and turned on, this processing operation is executed. When the power is turned on, the device starts up (s1), and the communication means 23 communicates with the router 6 to acquire a private IP address (s2). Here, it is assumed that the private IP address of the router 6 is (10.2.20.1) and the private IP address acquired by the karaoke apparatus 3 is (10.2.20.5). Then, the clerk inputs data necessary for the station opening process of the karaoke apparatus (s3). The data input here is the store code, password, identification code, distribution time zone, and the like described above. When these data are input and a predetermined access operation is performed by the attendant, the karaoke apparatus accesses the station opening server 1 via the Internet 7 (s4). In this access, the start-up data (store code, password, identification code, distribution time zone, private IP address) is transmitted to the start-up server 1.
[0020]
The start server 1 knows the karaoke device installed in which client based on the received private IP address, allocates the distribution server 2 in charge of the client, and returns the private IP address of the distribution server 2. That is, the start-up server 1 associates and registers the IP addresses (network addresses) of a plurality of clients and the distribution servers 2 (2-1 to 2-n) in charge of the clients, as shown in FIG. 2B. Such a table is stored. In this table, a client is identified by 16 bits (8 bits × 2) of the ninth to twenty-fourth bits of the private IP address, that is, “2” and “20” of 10.2.20.5.
[0021]
Upon receiving the private IP address of the distribution server 2 from the start server 1 (s5), the karaoke apparatus 3 disconnects from the start server 1 (s6). After that, a ping is transmitted to the private IP address (s7). If a response to this ping is received (s8), it is determined that the distribution server 2 has been connected to the assigned distribution server 2 via the VPN 8, and the connection to the start server 1 is made again (s9). (S10). By the transmission of the connection confirmation completed message, the station opening procedure is completed, and thereafter the assigned distribution server 2 periodically distributes the music data.
[0022]
Next, in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the karaoke apparatus 3 accesses the station opening process, the station opening server 1 includes a store code, a password, an identification code, a private IP address, a distribution time zone, and the like from the karaoke apparatus 3. The station opening data is received (s11). Then, based on the network address of the client, the distribution server 2 responsible for distributing the music data to the karaoke device is assigned (s12), and the private IP address of the distribution server 2 is returned to the karaoke device 3 (s13). . Thereafter, the process waits until a connection confirmation message is transmitted from the karaoke device 3 (s14). When the connection confirmation message is transmitted from the karaoke apparatus, the station opening processing of the karaoke apparatus is completed, and the received station opening data (store code, password, identification code, private IP address, distribution time zone, etc.) is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus. (S15), the private IP address of this karaoke apparatus and the distribution time zone are notified to the distribution server 2 in charge (s16), and regular karaoke music distribution is started. The notification from the station opening server 1 to the distribution server 2 is performed via the LAN 10.
[0023]
According to the above processing, the station opening process is performed online using the address (global IP address) of the station opening server 1 that is input in advance at the time of shipment from the factory, without the attendant manually setting the private IP address of the distribution server 2. By doing so, the private IP address of the distribution server 2 can be automatically set.
[0024]
If the communication path via the Internet becomes abnormal for some reason, such as a line failure or a router failure in the Internet path, the communication path is switched. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure. First, since the time zone for receiving the distribution of the music data from the distribution server 2 is known in advance from the “distribution time zone” data in the start-up data, whether the distribution server has normally received the distribution of the music data in that time zone It is determined whether or not it is (s21). If it is determined that the distribution has not been received due to an abnormality in the communication path, the abnormality is notified to the station opening server 1 and the connection information (dial number) to the router 13 on the distribution server side is inquired (s22 → s23). Thereafter, a dial connection is made to the connection destination, and a connection is made to the center via the exchange line 14. Subsequently, the latest music data is downloaded from the distribution server (any of 2-1 to 2-n) via the router 13, the switching line 14, and the router 6 (s24 → s25).
[0025]
In this embodiment, the station opening server 1 is connected to the router 4 different from the router 5 of the distribution server 2, but may be connected to the same router 5 as the distribution server 2.
[0026]
Further, in this embodiment, the VPN 8 is constructed by the router 5 of the distribution server 2 and the router 6 of the karaoke apparatus 3, but if data security does not matter, the VPN 8 is normally connected to the Internet 7. Communication using TCP / IP.
[0027]
Further, in the embodiment, when the communication path is abnormal, the karaoke apparatus inquires of the station opening server about the dial number to be connected to the distribution server side router 13, and dial connection is performed from the karaoke apparatus to the center. After receiving from the karaoke apparatus 3 an error report on the communication path via the Internet, the distribution server in charge dials the karaoke apparatus-side router 6 to distribute music data to the karaoke apparatus. May be instructed.
[0028]
In the embodiment described above, the music data distribution system of the karaoke apparatus is described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a general video / audio data distribution system. That is, for example, a personal computer or the like may be used as a terminal device instead of the karaoke device, and general video and audio data may be distributed instead of the music data of the karaoke device.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, a communication path via the Internet is normally selected as a communication path, and a communication path via a switching line is selected when the communication path via the Internet is abnormal. Data can be distributed efficiently and at a reduced communication cost, and can be received via a switching line (public telephone line) even when the communication path is abnormal.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a music data distribution system of a karaoke apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a storage unit of the karaoke apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a station opening processing operation of the karaoke apparatus. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing operation when a communication path of a karaoke device is abnormal. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication procedure of a karaoke device, a start server, and a distribution server.
1: Opening server, 2 (2-1 to 2-n): Distribution server, 3 (3-1 to 3-m): Karaoke device, 4, 5, 6: Router, 7: Internet, 8: VPN, 10 , 11, 12: LAN, 13: router, 14: switched line, 20: communication means, 21: control means, 22: storage means, 23: communication means, 24: control means, 25: storage means

Claims (3)

A distribution server that distributes video and audio data via a communication path, a terminal device that receives the distribution of the video and audio data from the distribution server, an opening server that allocates a distribution server to the terminal device, and the terminal device. In a video and audio data distribution system having
Receiving means for the terminal device to receive video and audio data from the distribution server via a communication path,
As the communication path, normally, a communication path via the Internet is selected, and when the communication path via the Internet is abnormal, a selection means for selecting a communication path via a switching line,
Video and audio data distribution system with 2. The video / audio data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device includes means for reporting the content of the abnormal state at the time of the abnormality to the start server via a communication path via the switching line. 3. The video / audio data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the video / audio data is karaoke music data, and the terminal device is a karaoke device.

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