JP2004336310A - Method, system and controller for continuing viewing and listening and terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service for continuing viewing and listening a content seamlessly even if a place and a terminal are changed. <P>SOLUTION: A viewing/listening continuation control server 100 acquires terminal information from a presence server when an access is made from a switching destination terminal 200 in switching the terminal, and displays a user-possessed terminal list on the terminal 200. When a user selects a TV terminal 10 as a switching source terminal, for example, the control server 100 asks about the identifier and a breakpoint of the content viewed/listened by using the TV terminal to a viewing/listening history management server, retrieves the location of the matching content from a location interpretation server on the basis of the contents identifier and terminal information on the switching destination terminal, and sends the location and breakpoint to the switching destination terminal 200. The terminal 200 accesses the contents sever and receives a stream video at the sent location and reproduces the video from the breakpoint. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a viewing continuation method, a viewing continuation system, a viewing continuation control device, and a terminal device for realizing a service (content handover service) in which content can be continuously viewed in real time even when the location or terminal is changed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been a so-called TV-Anytime system in which a user can view a favorite program with a desired content when a user wants to watch by combining broadcasting and the Internet (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2). . In the TV-Anytime system, metadata is added to content, and broadcast content stored in a large-capacity server can be searched for and viewed using the metadata. Technically, the content is identified from the program attributes and the location of the content is found, and is realized using the metadata of the content and the content identifier (Content Reference ID: CRID).
[0003]
If a TV-Anytime system is used, a broadcast program can be accessed from a network (Internet), but content cannot be handed over. For example, when trying to continuously watch a program watched on a television on a portable terminal such as a PDA when going out, or continuously viewing a content watched on a PDA or the like on a large screen using a personal computer or the like in a hot spot. When trying to view, it is necessary to log in again from the terminal of the switching destination and access the target content again.
[0004]
On the other hand, methods for adapting content to terminal capabilities have already been proposed (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4). This allows the server to adapt the content to the terminal capability by describing the terminal capability in a Resource Description Framework (RDF) / XML and adding it to the content request and sending it to the server. However, the present invention adapts only to the static attributes (such as terminal capabilities) of the terminal and cannot adapt to the dynamic attributes (presence). Further, at the time of terminal switching, the content cannot be taken over in a form suitable for the terminal to be switched to.
[0005]
[Non-patent document 1]
TV-Anytime Forum specification: SP003 "Metadata", June 2000 [Non-Patent Document 2]
TV-Anytime Forum specification: SP004 "Content Referencing", June 2002 [Non-Patent Document 3]
W3C Working Draft (Published) "Composite Capabilities / Preference Profiles (CC / PP)", Structure and Vocabularies, Jan. 2001
[Non-patent document 4]
http: // www. wapforum. org / profiles / UAPROF / ccppschema-20020710
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the related art, and has as its object, when switching terminals, without logging in again from the terminal of the switching destination, the content that was being viewed at the switching source terminal is switched at the switching destination terminal. The purpose is to enable seamless and continuous viewing.
[0007]
It is another object of the present invention to allow a content that has been viewed on a switching source terminal to be seamlessly taken over in a mode suitable for a switching destination terminal when switching terminals.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a system for seamlessly handing over content (MetaPORT) is realized in cooperation with a viewing history management server, a content meta server, a location resolution server, a presence management server compliant with the IETF standard, and the like compliant with the TV-Anytime Forum standard. I do. The MetaPORT is a view continuation control server (MetaPORT) that implements a Suspend and Resume function as a network service, in which the network takes over the context of the content that the user was viewing at the switching source terminal, and distributes and plays the content in conformity with the presence of the switching destination terminal. Server). The user selects a switching source / switching destination terminal on the screen of the terminal (MetaPORT terminal), provides a user interface for instructing a handover, and accesses a presence server and a location resolution server according to an input from the user. Thus, a seamless handover function to the switching destination terminal is realized.
[0009]
Specifically, the present invention is realized by the following means.
(1) When handing over the content watched on the TV to a network terminal (PDA, PC, mobile phone, etc.), the network refers to the access log of the TV-Anytime viewing history management server (log server), The information about the identifier (CRID) of the content that the user has watched on the television and the viewing interruption point is obtained and held. The interruption point uses the elapsed time from the start of viewing or the segment metadata of the content including the interruption point.
(2) Presence definitions (online / offline, etc.) of CC / PP and IETF are extended and integrated, and static / dynamic attributes of terminals (terminal type, terminal capability, network connection status, software activation status, location, etc.) Is converted into metadata and managed by the presence server as terminal environment metadata. The reproducibility of the content viewed at the switching source at the switching destination terminal and a list of terminals reproducible at the switching location can be referred to in the terminal environment metadata.
(3) When a content is selected, the location resolution function of TV-Anytime that returns its location using a content identifier as a key is extended to return the location of the content that matches the terminal type using the content identifier and the terminal type as keys. I do.
(4) When the user instructs the handover, the network starts up the video software of the switching destination terminal, accesses the content server at the resolved location, receives the stream distribution, and reproduces the content from the interruption point.
[0010]
According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to continuously watch a broadcast program watched on a television at home when going out on a PDA or the like. (PC) enables continuous viewing. When the user wants to switch from the television to the PDA, the user simply selects the television terminal of the switching source and presses the switching button, and the continuation of the video of the television program watched on the PDA screen is automatically reproduced. Furthermore, when the user enters the hot spot while watching the video on the PDA, the network recognizes the hot spot and displays the hot spot entry on the PDA screen, and displays a group of terminals capable of reproducing the video on the PC in the store. If you select the PC you want to switch to and press the switch button, the continuation of the video is reproduced on the screen of the PC.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram as one embodiment of a viewing continuation system to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 10 is a television terminal (STB), 20 is a viewing history management server, 30 is a content meta server, 40 is a location resolution server, 50 is a content server, 60 is a presence server, 70 is an RF-IP management server, and 100 is A viewing continuation control server (hereinafter, referred to as a MetaPORT server) as a viewing continuation control device, and a terminal 200 such as a personal computer or a PDA (hereinafter, referred to as a MetaPORT terminal) are connected via a network. Here, the viewing history management server 20, the content meta server 30, and the location solution server 40 are TV-Anytime servers, and are assumed to be basically realized by a known configuration proposed in the TV-Anytime Forum.
[0012]
The television terminal 10 has various functions for enjoying the TV-Anytime service, and can arbitrarily view not only broadcasting by a television station or CATV, but also broadcasting contents stored in the content server 50 by program navigation or the like. It is a general term for devices (such as STB).
[0013]
The viewing history management server 20 is a server (log server) that constantly manages the viewing history of broadcasts and broadcast contents (hereinafter collectively referred to as contents) that the user is viewing on a television terminal or the like. The viewing history management server 20 is for monitoring the viewing of contents from an unregistered user, charging for the use of paid contents, and the like, and is also referred to as a rights management server. The content meta server 30 manages metadata (electronic program guide, outline of contents, usage conditions, etc.) used for searching and guiding contents, and a content reference identifier (content identifier: CRID) for the location of the content. Server. The content meta server 30 and the viewing history management server 20 may be integrally configured.
[0014]
The location solution server 40 is a server that manages the temporal and spatial location of the content (for example, the broadcast channel number and broadcast date and time in television broadcasting, the URL in the Internet, and the like). Here, the location resolution server 40 uses the content reference identifier (CRID) as a key to extend the location resolution function of TV-Anytime that returns the location of the content, and uses the content reference identifier and the terminal type as a key. Is provided with a function (for example, a correspondence table or the like) for returning the location of the content corresponding to the terminal type.
[0015]
The content server 50 is a server that edits and accumulates contents (broadcast contents) in various formats (for example, MPEG) and distributes the contents via the Internet. It should be noted that the content server may include a television station that broadcasts a content (program) by CATV or broadcast waves.
[0016]
The presence server 60 is a server that manages attributes (presence) of terminals. Here, the presence server 60 determines the presence definition of the CC / PP and the IETF (for example, IETF RFC 2778, "A Model for Presence and Instant Messaging", Feb. 2000, IETF RFC 2779, "Instant Message Registry". , Feb. 2000, etc.) to convert the static and dynamic attributes of the terminal (terminal type, terminal capability, network connection state, software activation state, location, etc.) into metadata, and to create terminal environment metadata Suppose you manage as
[0017]
The RF-ID management server 70 is a server that manages an RFID (Radio Frequency ID) of a terminal such as a PDA that has entered a hot spot. The RF-ID antenna 80 is installed in a hot spot, receives data (RF-ID) of a wireless chip (RF-ID tag) of a terminal that has entered the hot spot, and notifies the RF-ID management server 70 of the data.
[0018]
The MetaPORT server (viewing continuation control server) 100 includes a viewing information collection function 110, a handover trigger reception function 120, a terminal information collection function 130, various screen generation functions 140, a context handover function 150, and the like. The viewing information collecting function 110 inquires of the viewing history management server 20 about the identifier and interruption time of the content (program) watched on the television terminal 10, and the handover trigger accepting function 120 changes the location of the portable terminal 200 from the presence server 60. The terminal information acquisition function 130 is a function for inquiring the presence server 60 for terminal information. The screen generation function 140 is a function for generating various display screens such as a terminal list and a handover confirmation and providing them to the MetaPORT client, and a context handover function. 150 accesses the content meta server 30 and the location solution server 40, controls the operations of these functions 110 to 140, and performs seamless viewing / listening of content (content handover) when switching terminals. That is a function (main controller).
[0019]
The MetaPORT terminal 200 has a MetaPORT controller (main control function 210) and a MetaPORT client function 221 as a part of the browser OS 220. These are the same for personal computers (PCs), PDAs, and the like. The MetaPORT controller 210 is a program that always operates on the terminal. The MetaPORT controller 210 notifies the presence server 60 of the presence information of the terminal and, at the start of handover, the player function 222, and terminates the video playback screen in the case of the switching source terminal. In the case of the switching destination terminal, control is performed so as to display the video reproduction screen. The MetaPORT client function 221 is a Web page displayed on a browser, and is generated by the JSP and servlet of the MetaPORT server 110.
[0020]
FIG. 2 shows the software configuration and protocol of MetaPORT in this system. As a communication protocol, a location resolution server and a content meta server, which are TV-Anytime servers, are implemented as a SOAP service (for example, TV-Anytime Specification SP007 "Bi-directional Metadata Delivery Protection", RT, February 2003). For communication with the server, SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) bound to HTTP is used ((1)). Since the presence server uses SIP / SIMPLE for communication in the session layer and HTTP for communication in the application layer, the communication with the MetaPORT server uses HTTP, and performs inquiry / notification of terminal information, notification of terminal location change, and the like ([2] ▼, ▲ 3 ▼). The MetaPORT controller is a resident process on the MetaPORT terminal. The MetaPORT controller periodically notifies the presence server of the status of the MetaPORT terminal by HTTP ([4]), and inquires / notifies the terminal status with the MetaPORT server ([5]). ▼). The MetaPORT client operates on the browser OS and accesses the video screen generation function of the MetaPORT server by HTTP to acquire various display screen information ([6]). The browser function of the MetaPORT terminal accesses the content server according to the MMS protocol to receive and reproduce the video stream ((7)). The RF-ID management server notifies the presence server of entry of the terminal into the hot spot by SIP / SIMPLE ([8]).
[0021]
FIG. 3 shows the operation environment of MetaPORT. In the MetaPORT server machine, various programs operate on the J2SDK runtime of the Java platform using Linux as the OS. The MetaPORT server program is implemented as a servlet described in Java or a JSP. The MetaPORT client is a Web page displayed by a browser and is described in HTML and JavaScript. This Web page may be a static HTML file placed on the MetaPORT server, or may be dynamically generated by a servlet / JSP. The MetaPORT controller is an application program that runs on the OS, and is described in Visual C ++.
[0022]
Next, a specific operation example of the present viewing continuation system will be described.
<Operation example 1>
This is a case where the user continuously watches a TV program watched on the television terminal 10 at home at a portable terminal such as a PDA (metaport terminal 200) when going out. FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure in this case, and FIG. 5 shows an operation sequence thereof.
[0023]
The viewing history of the TV program that the user has been watching on the television terminal 10 at home is recorded in the viewing history management server 20. In addition, the terminal 200 such as a PDA periodically notifies the presence server 60 of the static / dynamic attribute (presence) of the terminal after the power is turned on, so that the presence server 60 manages the information as terminal environment metadata. .
(1) When going out, the user accesses the top screen of the MetaPORT server 100 using the terminal (PDA) 200 and presses, for example, a "handover from TV" button (a). At this time, the SIP-ID of the terminal 200 is transmitted using a cookie. It is assumed that the user ID and the terminal (SIP-ID) have been registered in the MetaPORT server 100 in advance. The MetaPORT server 100 accesses the presence server 60 with the SIP-ID, and obtains terminal information of the terminal 200 to be switched to (b, c).
(2) The MetaPORT server 100 sends the user ID to the presence server 60, and acquires a group of TV terminals held by the user (d, e). Then, a terminal list screen is generated and sent to the MetaPORT client of the terminal 200 to be displayed on the PDA screen (f).
(3) When the user selects the switching source TV terminal 10 from the terminal list (g), the MetaPORT server 100 inquires the viewing history management server 20 and the ID (CRID) of the program that the user was viewing on the TV terminal 10 And a break point (elapsed time from the start of the program) (h, i).
(4) The MetaPORT server 10 accesses the content meta server 30 (j), acquires metadata (title, outline, etc.) of the program viewed on the TV terminal 10 using the CRID as a key (k), and displays the screen of the terminal 200 (k). The viewing status is displayed above (l).
(5) When the user checks the viewing status and requests a handover (continuation of viewing) (m), the MetaPORT server 100 sends the CRID and terminal information (terminal type = PDA) to the location resolution server 40 (n). A location suitable for the terminal (PDA) 200 (eg, TV program content converted into MPEG-4) is acquired (o).
(6) When the MetaPORT server 100 sends the location (for example, URL) obtained from the location solution server 40 to the MetaPORT client of the terminal 200 (p), the MetaPORT client accesses the corresponding content server 50 (q), and performs stream distribution. Receiving and automatic reproduction from the designated interruption point (r).
[0024]
<Operation example 2>
This is a case where a program watched on a terminal such as a PDA (referred to as terminal A) while away from home is continuously viewed on a terminal (referred to as terminal B) such as a personal computer installed at a hot spot. FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure in this case, and FIG. 7 shows an operation sequence thereof.
(1) When the terminal A (PDA) enters the hot spot, the data of the RF-ID tag of the terminal A is received by the RF-ID antenna 80 of the hot spot, so that the RF-ID management server 70 enters the terminal A. The store is automatically detected and notified to the presence server 60 (a). The presence server 60 notifies the handover trigger receiving function of the MetaPORT server 100 of the entry into the terminal A (b).
(2) The MetaPORT server 100 accesses the presence server 60 to obtain terminal information of terminals located in the hot spot (c, d), and further obtains presence information of these terminals (e, f). Then, the MetaPORT server 100 generates a terminal list screen capable of reproducing the video in the hot spot at that time, and displays the terminal list screen on the MetaPORT client of the terminal A (PDA) (g).
(3) When the user specifies the terminal B (PC) to be switched from the terminal list screen of the terminal A (h), the handover is started. The MetaPORT client of the terminal A accesses the Media Player (MB) and obtains the ID (CRID) and the reproduction position (the interruption point) of the video content that the user was viewing on the terminal A (PDA). (I, j). Then, the acquired CRID and the interruption point are sent to the MetaPORT server 100 (k).
(4) The MetaPORT server 100 transfers the user ID, CRID, and interruption point to the MetaPORT controller of the switching destination terminal B (PC) (l).
(5) The MetaPORT controller of the terminal B starts the browser, accesses the video reproduction screen of the MetaPORT server 100, and requests a handover (m).
(6) When the MetaPORT server 100 notifies the MetaPORT controller of the switching source terminal A (PDA) of the start of the handover (n), the MetaPORT controller of the PDA terminates the operation of the browser.
(7) On the other hand, the MetaPORT server 100 accesses the location resolution server 40 using the CRID and the terminal type (= PC) as parameters (o), and obtains the location of the content suitable for the terminal B (PC). (P).
(8) When the MetaPORT server 100 sends the location acquired from the location solution server 40 to the terminal B (q), the MetaPORT client of the terminal B notifies the Media Player (MP) of the location and playback position of the video content. , And instructs video reproduction (r). Further, the MetaPORT client accesses the content server 50 (s), receives the stream distribution, and automatically reproduces the stream from the designated interruption point (t).
[0025]
The operation example of the present invention has been described above, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this.
[0026]
The processing function of the MetaPORT server or the MetaPORT terminal in the system shown in FIG. 1 is configured by a computer program, and the program can be executed using a computer to realize the present invention, or the processing procedure is described. It goes without saying that the program can be constituted by a computer program and the program can be executed by the computer. Further, a program for realizing the processing function by the computer or a program for causing the computer to execute the processing procedure is stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as an FD, an MO, a ROM, a memory card, and a CD. , A DVD, a removable disk, or the like, and can be stored or provided, and the program can be distributed through a network such as the Internet.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, for example, when a user watches a TV at home and suddenly needs to go out, the user can continuously view the content on a portable terminal such as a PDA. Furthermore, if you enter a hot spot while you are away, you can continue watching on a slightly larger screen with a terminal such as a PC installed there. Since there is no need to log in at the switching destination terminal, it is also convenient for users who are unfamiliar with IT. The ability to seamlessly watch broadcast programs in a ubiquitous environment as a fusion of communication and broadcasting enables One Source Multi-Use for content providers and universal access for users, thereby contributing to the development of the content distribution business.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a viewing continuation system as one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of a software configuration and a protocol of the present viewing continuation system.
FIG. 3 is an example of an operating environment of a MetaPORT server and a MetaPORT terminal in the present viewing continuation system.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of an operation example 1 of the viewing continuation system.
FIG. 5 is an operation sequence diagram of an operation example 1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing procedure of an operation example 2 of the viewing continuation system.
FIG. 7 is an operation sequence diagram of an operation example 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 TV terminal (STB)
20 Viewing history management server 30 Content meta server 40 Location resolution server 50 Content server 60 Presence server 70 RF-IP management server 80 RF-IP antenna 100 Viewing continuation control server (MetaPORT server)
110 Viewing Information Collection Function 120 Handover Trigger Acceptance Function 130 Terminal Information Collection Function 140 Screen Generation Function 150 Context Handover Function 200 Terminal Device (MetaPORT Terminal)
210 MetaPORT controller 220 Browser OS
221 MetaPORT client function 222 Player function

Claims (11)

A viewing continuation method in which the network and the terminal cooperate to seamlessly continue viewing the content between different terminals,
When switching the terminal, the network acquires the identifier and the break point of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal, searches for the location of the content based on the identifier of the content, and obtains the location information and the content of the content. Send the interruption point of the content that was being viewed on the switching source terminal to the switching destination terminal,
The switching destination terminal accesses the content source by the location information, receives the stream, and reproduces the content from the interruption point;
A viewing continuation method characterized in that: When switching the terminal, the network also obtains the terminal information of the switching destination, and searches for a location of a suitable content based on the identifier of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal and the terminal information of the switching destination. The viewing continuation method according to claim 1. Manage terminal content viewing history and user-owned terminals on the network,
At the time of terminal switching, the network displays a terminal list owned by the user on the terminal to which the user is switched, inquires the user of the switching source terminal, and uses the identifier of the switching source terminal designated by the user to send the terminal from the viewing history management source. 3. The viewing continuation method according to claim 1, wherein an identifier of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal and an interruption point are acquired. We manage content metadata on the network,
The network searches for the metadata of the content using the obtained identifier of the content that was being viewed on the switching source terminal as a key, and displays the metadata of the content that was being viewed on the switching source terminal on the switching destination terminal. 4. The viewing continuation method according to claim 3, wherein: Manages static and dynamic attributes of terminals on the network as terminal environment metadata,
When the switching source terminal of the user enters a specific location, a list of terminals capable of reproducing content at the location is displayed on the switching source terminal, and the terminal specified by the user is set as the switching destination terminal, and the switching destination terminal is 3. The viewing continuation method according to claim 1, wherein an identifier of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal and an interruption point are transmitted. 6. The viewing continuation method according to claim 5, wherein the network acquires, from the switching source terminal, an identifier of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal and an interruption point. A viewing continuation system in which the viewing continuation control server and the terminal cooperate to seamlessly continue viewing the content between different terminals,
The viewing continuation control server has a function of acquiring an identifier and a break point of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal from the viewing history management server on the network, a function of receiving a change in the location of the terminal from the presence server on the network, A function to query the server for terminal information, a query to the location resolution server on the network based on the identifier of the content being watched on the switching source terminal and the terminal information of the switching destination, and the location of the matching content along with the interruption point It has a function to send to the terminal and a function to generate various display screens and provide it to the terminal,
The terminal notifies the presence server on the network of the static and dynamic attributes of the terminal, receives various display screens from the viewing continuation control server, and selects a switching source / switching destination terminal and requests handover. A function of instructing the viewing continuation server and a function of accessing the content server at the location sent from the viewing continuation control server to receive the content distribution, and playing back the content from the interruption point,
A viewing continuation system characterized by the following. The view continuation control server has a function of acquiring metadata of the content from a content meta server based on an identifier of the content being viewed at the switching source terminal and displaying the metadata on a display screen of the terminal. 7. The viewing continuation system according to 7. 9. The viewing / listening according to claim 7, wherein the viewing continuation control server has a function of acquiring the identifier and the interruption point of the content being viewed on the switching source terminal from the switching source terminal and handing over to the switching destination terminal. Continuation system. A viewing continuation control device having a function of a viewing continuation control server in the viewing continuation system according to any one of claims 7 to 9. A terminal device comprising a terminal function in the viewing continuation system according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

Images