JP2004310326A - System, device and method of contents distribution, and computer-readable data composition program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for compositing contents in various data formats into one file, and for satisfactorily displaying such file even with a small amount of resources such as the function or the storage area of a device on a user side which displays the file. <P>SOLUTION: A contents distributing device 14 is provided with an automatic compositing means 30 for executing a step for selecting and extracting several contents data 9 from a plurality of contents data 9 stored in a data storage means 20 and a step for arranging the extracted several contents data 9 on the basis of layout specification data 46 where the arrangement positions of the respective contents data 9 are preliminarily set when the contents data are displayed at the display means 38 of a client computer 15, and for compositing those several contents data into one data file 6. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution system, a content distribution device, a content distribution method, and a computer-readable data synthesizing program for performing a content distribution service via a network or the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A service for distributing various contents such as character data, image data (including still images and moving images), and audio data over a network such as the Internet is conventionally known (for example, see Patent Document 1). .
According to Patent Document 1, when a content including news or other information is distributed to a user, a BGM is associated with the content and distributed, and the user can perform BGM reproduction simultaneously with reproduction of the content. ing.
[0003]
On the other hand, there is a need to combine contents collected on a network such as the Internet (for example, see Patent Document 2).
That is, according to Patent Literature 2, when content is collected from a plurality of web pages, a request to upload the collected plurality of contents as one web page should be issued. A technique for combining them into one has been proposed.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-313497 A ((0002) to (0004) and the like)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2002-183116 ((0014) to (0020) and the like)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a system as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a server that distributes content collects content such as news and other various information, and distributes each content to a user terminal in data file units or packetized.
However, in such a system, each time content is exchanged between both the server side and the user side, the content must be downloaded and searched, and both the server side and the user side must be downloaded. It is necessary for the device to have a download function and a search function, and there has been a problem that the specifications of each device are limited.
[0006]
Further, when distributing the content, the content may be subjected to an encryption process so that other users cannot see the content. However, in the conventional system, when encrypting each time when distributing a plurality of contents, the load on the server is too high, so that all the contents may not be able to be encrypted. There was also.
[0007]
Furthermore, when the content includes image data and audio data, it is necessary to separately distribute specification data for synchronizing the image and audio. On the server side that creates such specification data, However, there is a problem in that the function of analyzing the specification data sent from the server side is also required on the user side.
[0008]
Further, the user cannot display the content distributed by the server unless all character fonts included in the content distributed from the server are aligned, so that there is a problem that the burden on the user is large.
[0009]
Although a system as described in Patent Literature 2 describes a means for synthesizing HTML documents for combining a plurality of data into one data, the content in various data formats is synthesized as one file. Is not described at all, and means for distributing various contents as one file has been desired.
Further, the system disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a problem in that the insertion position and the like at the time of combining must be designated each time, so that the combining takes time.
[0010]
Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a user-side device which can combine contents in various data formats into one file and displays such a file. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system, a content distribution device, a content distribution method, and a computer-readable data synthesizing program that can perform good display even when resources such as functions and storage areas are small.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the content distribution system according to the present invention, a content distribution device having a data storage unit in which a plurality of content data such as documents, images, and sounds are stored, and the content distribution device is connected to the content distribution device via a communication line, A client computer having a display unit for displaying the distributed content, wherein the content distribution device selects a plurality of content data from a plurality of content data stored in the data storage unit And extracting the plurality of pieces of content data, and arranging the arrangement positions of the respective pieces of content data when displaying the plurality of pieces of content data on the display means of the client computer based on preset layout specification data. To synthesize It is characterized in that it comprises an automated synthesizer means for performing an-up.
By adopting this configuration, the content distribution apparatus automatically synthesizes a plurality of contents into one file with a preset layout, so that the contents distribution side specifies the arrangement position for each contents data. It is not necessary. In addition, since contents in various data formats are combined into one file, the client only needs to have a display function corresponding to the data format of the combined file, and does not need to increase the functions of the device on the client side. .
[0012]
The automatic synthesizing means, when synthesizing a plurality of content data into one data file, adds the additional data to the data file based on the data other than the content data, the additional data being added as a background or a fixed phrase. It may be characterized in that the step of combining is performed.
According to this configuration, in addition to the specific content data to be distributed, data added to the content data is automatically added.
[0013]
In addition, the content distribution apparatus may include an encryption unit that encrypts the file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit based on a predetermined rule.
According to this configuration, since a plurality of contents to be distributed can be encrypted as one file, it is not necessary to encrypt each content data, and it is possible to save time and effort for encryption.
[0014]
Further, when the content data includes moving image data, the automatic synthesizing means executes a step of describing display area information and reproduction time information of the moving image data in association with the synthesized file. It may be a feature.
According to this, even when the file including the moving image is synthesized as one file, the client can obtain the information of the moving image and reliably reproduce the moving image.
[0015]
Note that, when the content data includes audio data, the automatic synthesizing unit executes a step of describing the data format information and the reproduction time information of the audio data in association with the synthesized file. It may be a feature.
According to this, even in the case of synthesizing as one file including the sound, the client side can reliably reproduce the sound by obtaining the information of the sound.
[0016]
Further, the content distribution device may include a deletion unit that deletes original content data constituting the file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit.
According to this configuration, if a file for distribution is created, the original data is no longer necessary. Therefore, by deleting these, the storage area can be easily secured.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, an overall outline of the content distribution system 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
The content distribution system 10 includes a content distribution device 14 that distributes content such as news and various information, and one or more client computers 15 connected to the content distribution device 14 via a network 12 such as the Internet. ing.
The client computer 15 can display the distributed contents on a display means 38 such as a liquid crystal monitor or a CRT monitor.
[0018]
First, the configuration of the content distribution device will be described.
Specifically, the content distribution apparatus 14 connected to the Internet 12 transmits the content data 9a, 9b, 9c in various formats including documents, images (including both still images and moving images), audio, and the like to the news. Alternatively, it is a web server having a function of delivering various information to the client computer 15.
The content distribution apparatus 14 is characterized in that content data in various data formats is automatically synthesized and distributed as one data file 6 to the client computer 15.
[0019]
A specific configuration of the content distribution device 14 will be described with reference to FIG.
The content distribution device 14 is connected to a content data storage unit 20 such as a hard disk in which a plurality of pieces of content data are stored, a control unit 22 including a CPU and a memory, and a communication network such as the Internet 12 to transmit and receive data. A display unit 24 such as a monitor device, an input unit 26 such as a keyboard and a pointing device, and the like.
[0020]
The content distribution device 14 has an automatic synthesizing unit 30 that extracts a plurality of pieces of content data from the storage unit and synthesizes them as one data file.
The automatic synthesizing unit 30 is realized by the control unit 22 executing a data synthesizing program stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) such as a hard disk.
The automatic synthesizing unit 30 extracts the plurality of pieces of content data 9 from the content data storage unit 20 and creates the synthesized data file 6, and then stores the synthesized data file 6 in the synthesized data storage unit 31.
[0021]
Note that the content distribution device 14 needs to collect the content data 9 for distribution to the client computer 15. The content data 9 is manually input to the content distribution device 14 (that is, content data recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disk is input to the content distribution device 14), or the content distribution device 14 is Can be obtained by downloading from another server computer or the like connected via the communication line.
The control unit 22 of the content distribution device 14 stores the content data 9 input or obtained by downloading in the content data storage unit 20.
[0022]
Next, the configuration of the client computer will be described with reference to FIG.
The client computer 15 includes a control unit 32 including a CPU and a memory, a storage unit 34 such as a hard disk drive, a communication unit 36 connected to a communication network such as the Internet to transmit and receive data, and a display unit 38 such as a monitor device. And a general personal computer (general-purpose computer) including input means 39 such as a keyboard and a pointing device.
[0023]
Hereinafter, an outline of an operation of automatically synthesizing content data in the content distribution system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The content distribution device 14 has a function of synthesizing a plurality of types of content data 9 such as still image data, document data, and moving image data as one synthesized data file 6 by the operation of the automatic synthesizing unit 30.
First, when creating the synthesized data file 6, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 determines which content data among the content data 9 stored in the content data storage unit 20 is to be used.
[0024]
Which content data 9 is used is determined based on the mapping specification data 40. The mapping specification data 40 is stored in the specification data storage unit 43 in advance. The mapping specification data 40 describes the type of content data necessary for creating one combined data file.
The automatic synthesizing unit 30 extracts necessary content data 9 from the content data storage unit 20 based on the mapping specification data 40 and combines the extracted content data 9 to create combined data 42.
Here, the combined data 42 is simply obtained by combining content data having different data formats.
[0025]
Further, when creating the combined data 42 based on the mapping specification data 40, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 includes, when the moving image is included in the content data 9, the display area information 60 of the moving image and the reproduction time information of the moving image. 61 to the combined data 42.
Further, when creating the combined data 42 based on the mapping specification data 40, the automatic synthesizing means 30 includes, when the content data 9 includes audio data, audio playback time information 62 and audio data format. The information 63 is added to the combined data 42.
[0026]
After the combined data 42 is formed, the original content data 9 formed as the combined data is deleted from the content data storage unit 20.
The deletion of the content data 9 is performed by the deletion unit 29. The deleting unit 29 is realized by the control unit 22 reading and executing an operation program written to automatically delete the content data forming the combined data 42 after the combined data 42 is combined. Such an operation program is stored in any of the storage units in advance.
[0027]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 performs an image synthesizing process 44 on the combined data 42.
In the image synthesizing process 44, a synthesizing process is performed based on the layout specification data 46 and the decoration specification data 48.
In the synthesizing process, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 automatically converts each content data 9 based on the layout specification data 46 in which the arrangement of each content data 9 when displayed on the display unit 38 of the client computer 15 is determined in advance as a specification. It can be arranged in a way.
[0028]
Further, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 determines the arrangement of the illustrations and photographs displayed as the background instead of the content data 9 or the fixed sentence such as the greeting of the weather as the specification in advance as the decoration specification data 48 (in the claims). Based on the additional data, the corresponding background, fixed phrase, and the like can be extracted from the decoration data storage unit 45 and automatically arranged.
[0029]
In the example of FIG. 6, the image synthesizing processing step 44 will be specifically described. In the layout specification data 46, two still images are arranged on the left and right of the uppermost row. Among the data 9, the still image data A and the still image data B are arranged on the left and right of the uppermost row of the combined data file 6, respectively.
Further, in the layout specification data 46, the document data is arranged on the left and right of the second row and the left side of the third row. The data C, D, and E are respectively arranged on the left side of the second row, the right side of the second row, and the left side of the third row.
In the layout specification data 46, the moving image data is arranged on the right side of the third row, slightly displaced from the document data on the left side. On the right side of the third row, it is arranged slightly below the document data on the left side.
[0030]
Further, in the decoration specification data 48, it is instructed that background data is arranged behind the respective content data, and further, fixed-form sentences (for example, seasonal greetings and advertisements) are arranged on the lower left side. Is instructed.
Then, based on the decoration specification data 48, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 extracts the corresponding background image data 50 and the fixed form data 51 from the decoration data storage unit 45 and arranges them in the synthesized data file 6.
[0031]
The layout specification data 46 and the decoration specification data 48 are stored in advance in the specification data storage unit 43, and are read out when the automatic synthesizing unit 30 creates the synthesized data file 6.
In this way, the content distribution system 10 does not manually determine the location of the content data 9 on the distribution side, but automatically determines the location based on the preset specifications, and stores the combined data file 6 in the content data 9. Since it is automatically created, the creation of the combined data file 6 to be delivered can be performed in a very short time.
[0032]
It is preferable that a plurality of types of layout specification data 46 and decoration specification data 48 are provided in accordance with the distribution time of the synthesized data file 6 to be created, and the specification adapted to the season is adopted.
For example, as the summer decoration specification data 48, an image of the sea is placed on the background in the background, or a fixed sentence with a summer greeting is added. Preliminarily created data including the greetings of autumn-like weather as arrangements and fixed sentences, and the summer decoration specification data 48 for summer was taken out as the decoration specification data 48 until the current date and time is September. When the date and time is September, the decoration specification data 48 for autumn is taken out and adopted.
[0033]
In the image synthesizing process 44, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 arranges each piece of content data and decoration data in the corresponding position based on the layout specification data 46 and the decoration specification data 48, and then stores Data conversion as one image file.
Here, the image file specifically refers to an image format such as BMP or TIFF. As described above, by converting a composite data file including data such as a document into an image file such as BMP or TIFF, a plurality of content data in various data formats can be converted without requiring a special application as much as possible. Even if there is no special character font, it is possible to display content data in various data formats.
[0034]
In the image synthesizing processing step 44, what is converted as one image file is the content data 9 combined as the combined data 42 as described above. Therefore, the display area information 60 of the moving image data, the data format information 62 of the audio data, and the like formed other than the combined data 42 are not combined as one combined data file 6.
However, as described later (FIG. 8), the automatic combining means 30 packages data that is not combined together in the same file as the combined data file 6.
[0035]
In the image synthesizing process 44, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 converts the synthesized data file 6 synthesized as one image file into a horizontally long image, a vertically long image according to the specification of the client of the distribution destination, or It may be operated to perform processing such as rotation by 90 degrees.
[0036]
Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the combined data file 6 created in the image combining process 44 is subjected to an encryption process in an encryption process 52 next.
The encryption processing step 52 operates when the control unit 22 reads out and starts the encryption program 55 stored in the encryption program storage unit 56 in advance.
Various methods such as a public key method are adopted as the encryption means, but any method may be used.
As described above, since the combined data file is encrypted, it is possible to encrypt a plurality of pieces of content data in a shorter time than when separately encrypting the content data.
The encrypted composite data file 7 is stored in the composite data storage unit 31.
[0037]
When distributing content that does not require encryption processing, the above-described encryption processing step 52 is not necessary, and the created combined data file 6 may be distributed as it is.
[0038]
In the above-described embodiment, all the contents extracted from the content data storage unit 20 are combined as one combined data file 6.
However, among the content data included in the mapping specification data 40, there may be a data file instructed not to be combined as one data file (hereinafter, referred to as non-combination target data).
[0039]
The handling of non-combination target data that is not combined as one data file will be described with reference to FIG.
First, based on the mapping specification data 40, when extracting the content data 9 from the content data storage unit 20 (see FIG. 4), the automatic synthesizing unit 30 outputs the non-synthesis target content data 67 instructed not to be synthesized. If there is, in the image synthesizing process 44, processing is performed so that the non-synthesis target data 67 is not synthesized as one image.
Then, the automatic synthesizing unit 30 packages the synthesized data file 6 synthesized in the image synthesis processing step 44 and the non-synthesis target data 67 into one file 66.
[0040]
At this time, as described above, when the content data 9 includes moving image data or audio data, the display area information 60 of the moving image, the reproduction time information 61 of the moving image, and the audio The reproduction time information 62 or the audio data format information 63 may be packaged in one file 66.
[0041]
As described above, various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the content distribution system, the content distribution device, the content distribution method, and the computer-readable data synthesizing program according to the present invention, the content distribution device automatically synthesizes a plurality of contents into one file with a preset layout. Therefore, it is not necessary for the content distribution side to specify the position of the arrangement for each piece of content data, and the trouble of creating distribution data can be saved.
Also, the client only needs to have a display function corresponding to the data format of the synthesized file. For this reason, it is not necessary to mount a special font or special display software on the device on the client side, and the cost can be reduced. On the client side, the memory capacity and the like do not need to be increased, and the performance of functions other than the display of contents can be improved.
In addition, since the client can cope with the display of the content in which at least the resource is distributed, the client can easily receive the content by using, for example, a mobile phone, a mobile terminal, or another information home appliance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an overall configuration of a content distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the content distribution device.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of a client computer.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation in which an automatic synthesizing unit creates combined data based on a mapping specification.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation in which an automatic combining unit creates a combined data file based on a layout specification and a decoration specification.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing a state of creating the combined data file shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a point of performing encryption processing on a combined data file.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing that a file not to be combined is packaged into a combined data file and one file.
[Explanation of symbols]
6 Synthesized data file 7 Encrypted synthesized data file 9 Content data 10 Content distribution system 12 Internet 14 Content distribution device 15 Client computer 20 Content data storage means 22, 32 Control units 24, 38 Display means 26, 39 Input means 28, 36 Communication Unit 29 Deletion means 30 Automatic synthesis means 31 Synthetic data storage means 34 Storage means 40 Mapping specification data 42 Combined data 43 Specification data storage means 44 Image synthesis processing step 45 Decoration data storage means 46 Layout specification data 48 Decoration specification data 50 Background image data 51 fixed form data 52 encryption processing step 55 encryption program 56 encryption program storage means 60 display area information 61, 62 playback time information 63 data format information 66 packaged file Yl 67 Synthesis excluded data

Claims (24)

A content distribution device having a data storage unit in which a plurality of content data such as documents, images, and audio are stored;
A content distribution system comprising: a client computer connected to the content distribution device via a communication line and having display means for displaying content distributed from the content distribution device;
The content distribution device,
Selecting and extracting a plurality of content data from the plurality of content data stored in the data storage means,
Arranging, based on layout specification data, a layout position of each piece of content data when displaying the plurality of pieces of extracted content data on the display unit of the client computer, and synthesizing them into one data file. A content distribution system comprising automatic synthesizing means for executing. The automatic combining means includes:
When combining a plurality of content data into one data file, a step of combining the additional data with the data file based on the additional data which is data other than the content data and which is added as a background or a fixed phrase is executed. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein: The content distribution device,
3. The content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising an encryption unit that encrypts the file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit based on a predetermined rule. The automatic combining means includes:
The method according to claim 1, wherein when the content data includes moving image data, a step of describing the display region information and the reproduction time information of the moving image data in association with a synthesized file is executed. Item 4. The content distribution system according to any one of items 3. The automatic combining means includes:
The method according to claim 1, wherein when the content data includes audio data, a step of describing the data format information and the reproduction time information of the audio data in association with a synthesized file is executed. Item 5. The content distribution system according to any one of items 4. The content distribution device,
The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a deletion unit configured to delete original content data forming a file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit. In a content distribution device that has a data storage unit in which a plurality of content data such as documents, images, and sounds are stored, and distributes the content to a client computer,
Selecting and retrieving an arbitrary plurality of content data from the plurality of content data stored in the data storage means,
A content distributing apparatus for arranging the arrangement positions of the plurality of pieces of extracted content data based on preset layout specification data and synthesizing them into one data file. . The automatic combining means includes:
When combining a plurality of content data into one data file, a step of combining the additional data with the data file based on the additional data which is data other than the content data and which is added as a background or a fixed phrase is executed. The content distribution device according to claim 7, wherein: 9. The content distribution device according to claim 7, further comprising an encryption unit that encrypts the file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit based on a predetermined rule. The automatic combining means includes:
The method according to claim 7, wherein when the content data includes moving image data, a step of describing the display region information and the reproduction time information of the moving image data in association with a synthesized file is executed. Item 10. The content distribution device according to any one of items 9. The automatic combining means includes:
The method according to claim 7, wherein when the content data includes audio data, a step of describing the data format information and the reproduction time information of the audio data in association with a synthesized file is executed. Item 11. The content distribution device according to any one of items 10. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a deletion unit configured to delete original content data included in the file synthesized by the automatic synthesis unit. A method for distributing content from a content distribution apparatus having data storage means in which a plurality of content data such as documents, images, and audio are stored to a client computer having display means for displaying the distributed content,
Selecting and retrieving an arbitrary plurality of content data from the plurality of content data stored in the data storage means,
Arranging the fetched plurality of pieces of content data based on layout specification data set in advance and arranging the location of each piece of content data when displayed on the display means of the client computer, and synthesizing the data into one data file;
Delivering the synthesized data file to a client computer. When combining a plurality of pieces of content data into one data file, the method includes a step of combining the additional data with the data file based on the additional data added as a background, a fixed phrase, or the like, other than the content data. The content distribution method according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The content distribution method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of encrypting the file synthesized by the automatic synthesizing unit based on a predetermined rule. 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising, when the content data includes moving image data, describing the display area information and the reproduction time information of the moving image data in association with a synthesized file. The content distribution method according to any one of Claims 15 to 15. 14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of, when the content data includes audio data, describing the data format information and reproduction time information of the audio data in association with a synthesized file. The content distribution method according to any one of Claims 16 to 16. 18. The content distribution method according to claim 13, further comprising a step of deleting original content data constituting a file synthesized by the automatic synthesizing unit. A data synthesizing program that has a data storage unit in which a plurality of content data such as documents, images, and sounds are stored, and is executed by a content distribution apparatus that distributes content to a client computer,
Selecting and retrieving any of a plurality of content data from the plurality of content data stored in the data storage means;
Computer-readable data characterized by causing the content distribution device to execute the steps of arranging the arrangement positions of the plurality of extracted content data based on preset layout specification data and combining them into one data file. Synthesis program. When combining a plurality of pieces of content data into one data file, the step of combining the additional data with the data file based on the data other than the content data and added as a background or fixed text is performed. The computer-readable data synthesizing program according to claim 19, wherein the program is executed by an apparatus. 21. The computer-readable data synthesizing program according to claim 19, further comprising causing a content distribution device to execute a step of encrypting the file synthesized by the automatic synthesizing unit based on a predetermined rule. When the content data includes moving image data, the content distribution device executes a step of describing the display area information and the reproduction time information of the moving image data in association with a synthesized file. A computer-readable data synthesizing program according to any one of claims 19 to 21. If the content data includes audio data, the content distribution device executes a step of describing the data format information and reproduction time information of the audio data in association with a synthesized file. A computer-readable data synthesizing program according to any one of claims 19 to 22. 23. The computer-readable medium according to claim 19, further comprising causing a content distribution device to execute a step of deleting original content data constituting the file synthesized by the automatic synthesizing unit. Possible data synthesis program.

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