JP2004343779A - Information providing system and method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system in which information addressed to a number of users can be efficiently provided effectively utilizing the resources of digital broadcasting and networks. <P>SOLUTION: The information providing system includes a server station 2 for individual communications to terminals 1 via a network 4, and a host station 3 for sending the same information to all the terminals through digital broadcasting simultaneously and in real time. Individual information or light-load information is transmitted/received by the server station 2, and information of a network load or the like to be commonly known by the terminals 1 is transmitted/received by the host station. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention fuses an individual communication mode using a network such as the Internet with a global distribution mode such as digital broadcast to provide useful information to users in real time. Related to information provision technology.

  Digital broadcasting using cable, artificial satellites, and terrestrial waves has become widespread. In digital broadcasting, in addition to the form of distributing program information to an unspecified number of people (hereinafter referred to as "normal distribution"), contents (Contents) such as pay movies and games to specific persons are distributed (Hereinafter referred to as “content distribution”).

  In the case of normal distribution, the broadcasting side includes a broadcasting station (hereinafter, “host station”) that broadcasts program information. The user is provided with an antenna, a digital receiving device, a display device, and a sound generating device, receives program information distributed from the host station by the antenna, and reproduces a predetermined image or sound with the digital receiving device based on the received information. I do. The image is displayed on a display device, and the sound is generated from a sound generator.

In the case of content distribution, the distribution side includes a server station that manages users to be distributed, in addition to the host station described above. On the user side, an STB (Set Top Box) that can be connected to a network such as the Internet is provided in addition to an antenna, a digital receiving device, a display device, and a sound generating device. In the present specification, these devices provided on the user side are referred to as “terminals”. The server station and the terminal exchange information via a network.
When a user places an order for content with a server station via a terminal and a network, the server station authenticates the user who ordered the content, and the user receives the encrypted or scrambled content and key information used for restoring the content. Send to terminal. It also instructs the host station that performs digital broadcasting to distribute the ordered content (encrypted or scrambled).
The host station distributes the ordered content according to the instruction of the server station.
The terminal receives the distributed content and restores the content using the key information transmitted from the server station. Of the restored contents, images are displayed on the display device, and sounds are sounded from the sounding device.
With such a procedure, the user can enjoy the paid content.

  In conventional content distribution, digital broadcasting from the host station is used only for distribution of encrypted or scrambled content, and the network connecting the server station and the terminal is used only for ordering content and sending and receiving key information. It's being used. As described above, the roles of the resources for digital broadcasting and the resources of the network are determined respectively, and no organic use is performed in which the resources are interconnected in real time. Therefore, these resources cannot be used effectively.

  A main object of the present invention is to provide an information providing technique for effectively providing multifaceted information to a user by effectively using resources for distributing digital information.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals, and a method for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals in communication with the first device. An information providing system including a second device that performs transmission is provided.
A part of the information to be provided is transmitted from one of the first device and the second device to all the terminals in a communicable state. The remainder of the information to be provided is transmitted from the other of the first device and the second device. In this way, the information to be provided is reproduced on each terminal in real time.
The terminal and the first device are connected via a network. The first device may be configured to transmit individual information according to a request from any terminal. In this case, the second device is configured to provide, in real time, common information including the operating status of the network that changes as needed according to the load on the first device to all terminals. With this configuration, the user can know the operation status of the network from the second device before attempting to access the first device by the terminal, and the load on the network due to unnecessary access to the first device. Can be prevented from increasing.

When a plurality of first devices are provided, the second device simultaneously transmits operating status information indicating the operating status of the network, which changes at any time according to the load of each individual first device, to all terminals in real time. When the load on a part or all of the plurality of first devices exceeds a predetermined value, information to be transmitted by the first devices is transmitted by proxy. Thus, even when the load on the network is heavy and it is impossible to access the first device, the user can know desired information using the second device. That is, in this information providing system, desired information can be provided to the user while preventing an increase in network load.
At least one of the first devices is configured to generate load information indicating a load state of the own device that changes at any time in response to accesses from a plurality of terminals, and to transmit the generated load information to the second device in real time. Sending means. The second device generates the operation status information based on the load information received from any one of the first devices.

The present invention also provides an information providing system for providing information through a logical space that can be referred to by a terminal. The information providing system includes a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to a network, and a second device capable of simultaneously transmitting the same information to a plurality of terminals. And
The plurality of terminals and the first device can form a common logical space. The first device is configured to detect a request for changing the logical space by at least one terminal through individual communication, and to change the logical space based on the detected situation. The second device provides the status of the changed logical space in the first device to the plurality of terminals in real time.
When a plurality of first devices are used, a logical space accessible to a plurality of terminals is formed in each of the first devices in a mutually dispersed manner. The second device is configured to, when the status of the logical space changes in any one of the first devices, provide the status of all the changed logical spaces to the plurality of terminals in real time. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide high-level information while reducing the load on the individual first devices (the load when operating the logical space). In addition, since the second device can also know the status of the other first device that is not accessing, the user can simultaneously obtain information of the entire logical space while obtaining information from the logical space.
At least one of the plurality of terminals forms a logical space having the same configuration as the logical space formed in the first device accessed by the terminal in the terminal itself, and means for changing a state of the formed logical space; Means for transmitting, in real time, information indicating the change status to the first device accessed by the own device when the status of the logical space in the own device changes.

The first device is a dedicated information providing device capable of performing individual communication with a plurality of terminals and communication with the second device, respectively, and the second device is connected to the first device. May be configured by a dedicated information providing device capable of performing individual communication and simultaneous transmission to a plurality of terminals, each computer having a communication function and being read and executed by the computer. You may comprise by cooperating with a computer program.
The computer program referred to here causes a computer to form functions required to operate as corresponding information providing devices.

The present invention also proposes a plurality of types of information providing methods performed through a network.
The method according to the first embodiment is configured to distribute a part of the provision target information to be provided to a plurality of terminals connected to a network to a first device capable of individually communicating with each of the plurality of terminals, By allocating the rest of the information to be provided to a second device that simultaneously transmits information to a plurality of terminals and transmitting the information allocated to the first device and the second device at the same time, each terminal The method is characterized in that the information to be provided is reproduced in real time. This method allows for organic use of broadcasting and networks.

  The method according to the second embodiment is configured to distribute individual information to be provided to a requesting terminal among a plurality of terminals connected to a network to a first device capable of individually communicating with the terminal. Distributing information indicating the load status of the first device or the network to a second device for simultaneously transmitting information to the plurality of terminals, and transmitting the information distributed to the second device to the first device. A method of presenting the load status of the first device or the network when accessing a terminal scheduled to access the first device by preceding the transmission of the information allocated to the first device. According to this method, since the load status is known in advance, unnecessary access is not attempted from the terminal.

  A method according to a third aspect is to form a common logical space between a plurality of terminals connected to a network and a first device capable of individually communicating with each of these terminals, When the status of the logical space changes according to the access status, the status of the changed logical space is simultaneously broadcast to all terminals in real time. By appearing, changing, or deleting objects in the logical space, common information can be provided visually.

  According to the present invention, broadcast and network resources can be effectively used, and a user can obtain desired information more efficiently than in the past.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information providing system to which the present invention is applied will be described.
The information providing system according to this embodiment can provide information to a large number of users. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of server stations 2 serving as an example of an information providing device as a first device are provided. And a host station 3 which is an example of an information providing apparatus which is a second apparatus, connected via a network, and each server station 2 and a terminal 1 operated by a user are connected via a network 4. Is done. Digital broadcasting is performed from the host station 3 through the satellite BC.
As the networks 4 and 5, the Internet can be used. When it is necessary to secure communication between the server station 2 and the host station 3 even when communication with the server station 2 becomes difficult due to simultaneous start of a plurality of terminals 1 It is desirable that the networks 4 and 5 be independent networks instead of the Internet.
The server station 2, the host station 3, and the terminal 1 are configured as follows.

<Server station>
The server station 2 transmits / receives individual information to / from the terminal device 1 and requests the host station 3 to transmit common information common to all the terminal devices 1. If necessary, information is provided to the terminal 1 via a virtual reality space, which is an example of a logical space.

The server station used as described above is realized by a computer having a central processing unit (CPU), a communication mechanism, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and a storage device. The CPU reads and executes predetermined computer programs and data to configure functional blocks and data files for realizing processing operations to be described later, which are executed by the server station 2.
The computer program or the like is stored in a storage device that can be read by the CPU, or distributed through a network. The communication mechanism is a known mechanism for transmitting / receiving information to / from the terminal 1 or the host station 3 via the networks 4 and 5. In particular, it has a part for transmitting and receiving information to and from the terminal device 1 and a part for transmitting and receiving information to and from the host station 3, and each part independently transmits and receives information. The RAM temporarily stores data generated during various processes. In addition, information from the terminal 1 and the host station 3 sent via the communication mechanism is temporarily stored. The ROM records basic computer programs and data necessary for the operation of the server station 2. The storage device is a so-called hard disk device having a built-in magnetic storage medium, and stores an operating system, application programs, large-capacity data, and the like.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a functional configuration formed by the CPU. As shown in the figure, the server station 2 includes, in addition to the communication control unit 210 and the main control unit 211, a user information storage unit D1, a history information storage unit D2, a parts storage unit D3, a global information storage unit D4, an individual information storage unit. A section D5 and various sites (sites: server stations and other Web servers; the same applies hereinafter) has various data files of an information storage section D6.
The main control unit 211 includes the user management unit 212, the load analysis unit 213, the virtual reality space generation unit 214, the provided information management unit 215, and the site management unit 216 as executable modules that are activated at the time of required processing. I have.

  The communication control unit 210 transmits and receives information to and from the host station 3, the terminal 1, and other sites. When transmitting / receiving individual information to / from the terminal 1, the terminal 1 receives instruction information from the terminal 1 as a communication partner, and transmits information as a response to the instruction information to the terminal 1 receiving the instruction. Reply to

  The user management unit 212 authenticates the user at the time of access based on the user's personal information and password stored in the user information storage unit D1, and sends an encryption key to the terminal 1 if necessary. A function similar to that performed by a server station in conventional digital broadcasting is realized. The load analysis unit 213 determines the current load of the own station based on the number of accesses from the terminal 1 to the own station, the past analysis result recorded in the history information storage unit D2, and the same type of processing content addressed to the terminal 1. Analyze (estimate) the situation.

  The virtual reality space generation unit 214 can be shared with each terminal 1 by using a component of the virtual reality space recorded in the component storage unit D3, for example, a background image or an object image represented by component data, material data, or the like. A virtual reality space is generated in a predetermined area such as an external storage device or an auxiliary storage device readable by the CPU. The virtual reality space is a world space formed virtually, such as a normal Internet homepage or a network game using the Internet. The virtual reality space can provide common information to the user through the terminal 1.

  The provided information management unit 215 specifies individual information to be provided to the terminal 1 according to an instruction from the terminal 1 and global information to be provided via the host station 3. The global information is, for example, load information indicating the congestion state of the own station or the congestion state of the network 4 to the own station, or the change state of the virtual reality space when an instruction from the terminal 1 is reflected in the virtual reality space. And is normally stored in the global information storage unit D4. The individual information is information addressed to the individual user stored in the individual information storage unit D5. Note that the individual information may be obtained from an external system each time the information is distributed.

  The site management unit 216 manages information exchanged with other sites related to information provision. Specifically, the identification information of the other site and the information received from the site are stored in the other site information storage unit D6, and the information is appropriately provided in response to a request from the terminal 1.

<Host station>
The host station 3 distributes contents and various information received from the server station 2 and the like to each terminal 1 by digital broadcasting. In this embodiment, the digital broadcast is based on the satellite BC, but may take other forms as long as information can be transmitted to an unspecified number of terminals 1 at the same time, such as by terrestrial wave or cable. Information to be distributed is provided from each server station 2 in real time.

  The host station 3 is a kind of computer having a CPU, a communication mechanism, a RAM, a ROM, and a digital broadcasting mechanism. The CPU forms a function for operating as the host station 3 by reading and executing computer programs and data stored in the ROM. The communication mechanism transmits and receives information to and from a plurality of server stations 2 and other sites via the network 5. The RAM temporarily stores data generated during various processes. The ROM records basic computer programs and data necessary for the operation of the host station 3. The digital broadcast mechanism distributes information to be distributed to each terminal 1 as common information in addition to the normal contents using the satellite BC.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional configuration example of the host station 3. The host station 3 includes an execution format module read at the time of startup, such as a communication control unit 310, a broadcast control unit 311, a site management unit 312, and a provided information management unit 313, a site usage status storage unit D11, and site information storage. It has data files such as a unit D12, a map information storage unit D13, and a parts etc. storage unit D14.

The communication control unit 310 sends information received from each server station 2 to the site management unit 312. If necessary, individual information is transmitted / received to / from each server station 2 and the same information is simultaneously transmitted to each server station 2 simultaneously.
The broadcast control unit 311 controls digital broadcasting performed via the satellite BC, that is, simultaneous transmission of the same information to all the terminals 1.

  The site management unit 312 appropriately stores and manages the identification information of each server station 2 in the site information storage unit D12, monitors and analyzes the load information sent from each server station 2, and divides the result for each server station. It is stored and managed in the site usage status storage unit D11. Normally, the load information is notified from each server station 2, but can be analyzed autonomously. The site management unit 312 also manages a reference value defined for each site, and when the load on a certain server station 2 is equal to or greater than the reference value for the site, the server station 2 is in a congested state. And instructs the server station 2 to send necessary information in order to substitute the information provided from the server station 2 to the terminal 1.

The provided information management unit 313 selects and integrates global information sent from each server station 2, prepares useful information to be provided to each user, and transmits this to the broadcast control unit 311. The useful information is, for example, information indicating the load of each server station 2 and the load status of the network 4, and is provided by being mapped to predetermined map information stored in the map information storage unit D13. Examples of the map information include a congestion map (RealTime congestion map) that visually expresses the degree of congestion for each site that changes in real time. In addition, information on crowded sites and popular sites is provided in a menu format.
These pieces of useful information are common information for notifying each user in common, and are generated based on information sent from each server station 2. When providing useful information in the form of a virtual reality space, a virtual reality space is formed using a background image or an object image based on component data, material data, or the like stored in the component storage unit D14.

<Terminal>
As shown in FIG. 4, the terminal 1 includes a receiving device 101 that receives a digital broadcast distributed from the host station 3, and an information processing device 110. The information processing device 110 individually transmits and receives information to and from the server station 2 via the network 4, and displays an image obtained from the information received by the receiving device 101 and the information from the server station on a display device. To display. As long as it has a communication mechanism with the Internet and an interface with the receiving device 101, an entertainment device or a home terminal can be used as the information processing device 110.

  The receiving apparatus 101 includes an antenna ANT, a receiving section 102 having a tuner for selecting a broadcast channel, and an interface section 103 interposed between the receiving section 102 and the information processing apparatus 110.

The receiving unit 102 receives information on a channel set by a tuner by an external operation through the antenna ANT. Further, it decodes the received information and sends it to the interface unit 103. In the present embodiment, information distributed by aerial transmission is received using the antenna ANT, but in the case of a cable broadcast such as CATV, information transmitted by an optical fiber or the like instead of the antenna ANT is taken in. Is also good.
The interface unit 103 includes an interface for sending the information decrypted by the receiving unit 102 to the information processing device 110. As the interface, a high-speed interface such as USB (universal serial bus) or IEEE1394 is used. Such a high-speed interface is convenient for transmitting a large amount of information such as image information.

The information processing device 110 is as follows.
The information processing device 110 has a main bus B1 and a sub bus B2. These buses B1 and B2 are connected or disconnected from each other via a bus interface INT. On the main bus B1, a first vector processing unit (VPU) 0 (hereinafter, referred to as "first VPU") 20, which is tightly coupled to the CPU core, and a second vector processing unit (VPU1, hereinafter referred to as "VPU1") which exists alone. A "second VPU") 21, a main CPU 10 including a GIF (graphical synthesizer interface) 30 functioning as an arbiter of the first VPU 20 and the second VPU 21, a main memory 11 including a RAM, and a main DMAC (direct memory access). The controller 12 is connected to a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) decoder (MDEC) 13, and is further connected to a graphic synthesizer (hereinafter, “GS”) 31 via a GIF 30. The GS 31 is connected to a CRTC (CRT controller) 33 that generates a video output signal.

  When the information processing apparatus 110 is started, the main CPU 10 reads a start program from the ROM 17 on the sub-bus B2 via the bus interface INT, executes the start program, and operates the operating system. In addition to controlling the media drive 60, it reads application programs and data from the media 61 mounted on the media drive 60 and stores them in the main memory 11. In addition, various data read from the medium, for example, three-dimensional object data (coordinate values of vertices (representative points) of polygons) composed of a plurality of basic figures (polygons) are subjected to geometry processing in cooperation with the first VPU 20. I do.

The first VPU 20 has a plurality of arithmetic elements for calculating a floating-point real number, and performs floating-point arithmetic in parallel by these arithmetic elements. That is, the main CPU 10 and the first VPU 20 perform an arithmetic process that requires a fine operation in units of polygons in the geometry process. Then, a display list containing the polygon definition information such as the vertex coordinate sequence and the shading mode information obtained by the arithmetic processing is generated.
The second VPU 21 performs a floating-point operation in parallel, like the first VPU 20. An image that can be generated by the operation of the operation device 81 and the operation of the matrix, for example, can be relatively generated by processing such as perspective transformation, parallel light source calculation, and two-dimensional curved surface generation for a simple-shaped object such as a building or a car. Generate a display list whose contents are simple two-dimensional polygon definition information.
The display list generated by the first VPU 20 and the second VPU 21 is transferred to the GS 31 via the GIF 30.

  The GIF 30 arbitrates (arbiters) the display lists generated by the first VPU 20 and the second VPU 21 so as not to collide when transferring the display lists to the GS 31. The GS 31 holds a drawing context, reads out the corresponding drawing context based on the identification information of the image context included in the display list notified from the GIF 30, performs a rendering process using this, and stores the polygon in the frame memory 32. To draw. Since the frame memory 32 can also be used as a texture memory, a pixel image in the frame memory can be pasted as a texture to a polygon to be drawn.

  The main DMAC 12 performs DMA transfer control for each circuit connected to the main bus B1, and performs DMA transfer control for each circuit connected to the sub-bus B2 in accordance with the state of the bus interface INT. . The MDEC 13 operates in parallel with the main CPU 10 and decompresses data compressed by the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) method or the JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) method.

The sub bus B2 reads out sub-CPU 14, which is composed of a microprocessor or the like, sub-memory 15, which is composed of RAM, sub-DMAC 16, ROM 17 in which programs such as an operating system are stored, and sound data stored in sound memory 41. (SPU (sound processing unit)) 40 for outputting as an audio output, a communication control unit (ATM) 50 for transmitting and receiving information to and from the server station 2 via the network 4, such as a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM. A media drive for mounting media and an input unit 70 are connected.
The input unit 70 is an interface of the same standard as the interface unit 103 of the receiving device 101, and receives information received by the receiving device 101.

Next, an example of an operation mode of the information providing system of the present embodiment will be described.
(First operation mode)
First, an example will be described in which congestion of the server station 2 and the network 4 caused by the terminal 1 accessing a large number of server stations 2 at one time, such as electronic commerce and content distribution, is prevented.
FIG. 5 shows an outline of the operation mode in this case. Here, among the plurality of terminals 1, the individual information to be provided to the terminal that has issued the information provision request is distributed to the server station 2 which can individually communicate with the terminal 1, and the host station 3 An example is shown in which common information indicating the load status of the server station 2 or the network 4 is sorted, and transmission of the common information precedes transmission of the individual information, thereby presenting a status when the terminal 1 to be accessed is accessed. ing.
The individual information includes order information at the time of electronic commerce, authentication information, and menu information of digital broadcasting. Examples of the information indicating the load information include a real-time traffic congestion map, a congested site menu, a popular site menu, and the like. Of course, these information are examples.

FIG. 7 is an operation procedure diagram by the server station 2 and the host station 3 in this case.
The server station 2 counts the number of accesses each time there is an access from the terminal 1 (steps S101 and S102). The count number is handled as load information indicating a load situation in the server station 2. The load information is sent to the host station 3 via the transmission / reception unit 202 (Step S103).

The host station 3 receives the load information sent from the server station 2 (step S104), and compares the load information with a reference value of the load condition set in advance by the information analysis unit 311. When the number of accesses indicated by the load information is larger than the reference value, it is determined that the server station 2 is in a congestion state. When the number of accesses indicated by the load information is smaller than the reference value, the server station 2 determines that it is not in a congestion state, and proceeds to step S109 (step S105: No).
When the host station 3 is in a congestion state, the host station 3 requests necessary information from the corresponding server station 2 in order to provide the information supplied from the server station 2 to the terminal 1 on behalf of the host station 3 (step S105: Yes, S106).
When there is a request for information to be provided on behalf of the host station 3, the server station 2 transmits the requested information and other necessary information to the host station 3 (step S107). Such information provided on behalf of the user is, for example, a top page of an Internet homepage.

The host station 3 creates the common information for broadcasting from the load information for each server station 2 and the information for providing substitutes obtained in this way (step S109). The created common information is distributed simultaneously to all the terminals 1 in real time (step S110). The user receives the common information broadcast from the host station 3 through the terminal 1 and displays the same.
By adopting such an operation mode, it is possible to know the congestion status of each server station 2 before attempting to access the server station 2 and to give up access to the congested server station 2 in advance. it can. Thereby, congestion is avoided, and an efficient communication mode with less waste is realized. Since the information from the server station 2 is included in the common information distributed from the host station 3, the user can obtain desired information without accessing the server station 2.

(Second operation form)
Next, an example in which information is provided to a user via a virtual reality space will be described. Here, an Internet game is assumed.
The information appearing in the virtual reality space includes not only information such as the position of the object image, but also behavior restriction information that restricts the operation of each object image.
The virtual reality space may be one that is common to the plurality of terminals 1 and the server station 2, but here, a partial space that is related to one virtual reality space is constructed. And When one virtual reality space is constructed as a whole as described above, each virtual reality space is referred to as a “subspace”. As an example of the subspace, there is a game space including a plurality of stages in which one stage is cleared to advance to another stage. In this case, one stage is formed in each subspace, and one game space is constructed by associating these stages.
From the viewpoint of reducing processing and information flowing through the network, in this example, the terminal device 1 and each server station 2 have in common basic component data, material data, and the like constituting a partial space, Calculation of the virtual reality space is also performed in parallel. The component data and material data of the terminal 1 are individually transmitted to and received from the server station 2, distributed by broadcast from the host station 3, or recorded on a medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM and distributed. You. It is assumed that component data, material data, and the like are also provided in the host station 3.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a process according to this operation mode.
In the server station 2, the proximity interaction between the subspaces of the users accessing the subspace managed by the own station through the terminal device 1 (excluding the side-by-side users) is described by the component data, material data, etc. Calculate based on the corresponding data sent from 3 and respond to the user. At the same time, the spatial situation data as the calculation result is uplinked to the host station 3. "Calculation of proximity interaction" refers to calculating a mutual positional relationship between a user and other object images and a situation change when a certain object image moves.
The host station 3 integrates the uplink of the subspace from each server station 2 and broadcasts it as data representing a common virtual reality space.

The terminal 1 calculates the virtual reality space using the component data and the material data in the same manner as the server station 2 based on the response from the server station 2 and the broadcast situation data. The low-latency proximity interaction calculates a response based on the response from the server station 2 and responds to the server station 2. The movement restriction between the subspaces is calculated based on data broadcasted from the host station 3 as a remote action. The user can observe the virtual reality space without accessing the server station 2 using only the data to be broadcast. In addition, the movement between the subspaces is smoothly restricted by calculating the situation of the destination server station (subspace) and calculating the remote action based on the broadcast data, thereby avoiding congestion due to unnecessary concentration. Will be able to
The number of users who actually perform the proximity interaction must be limited in the subspace, and it is more difficult to limit the remote inflow at once than the calculation of the proximity interaction. As such, the use of broadcast data facilitates that.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure performed by the terminal 1, the server station 2, and the host station 3 in the above operation mode.
First, a subspace is constructed (formed) in each of the plurality of server stations 2, and configuration information of each subspace and data representing the status are transmitted to the host station 3 (steps S201 and S202). The host station 3 integrates the configuration information received from all the server stations 2 to generate integrated configuration information, and distributes the integrated configuration information to all the terminals 1 (steps S203 and S204).
The terminal 1 extracts information of the server station 2 to be accessed from the received integrated configuration information. Then, based on this, a virtual reality space is constructed (formed) in the own device (steps S205, S206). This virtual reality space has the same configuration as the partial space in the server station 2 to be accessed.
The user performs operations such as appearance, movement, and disappearance of the object image on the virtual reality space in the own device until the object image is restricted by the predetermined behavior restriction information (step S207). A process corresponding to this operation is executed in the terminal device 1. The change in the situation of the virtual reality space formed in the terminal 1 caused by the operation is transmitted to the server station 2 in real time as behavior data (step S208).

The server station 2 analyzes the behavior data sent from each terminal 1 and reflects the result on the contents of the virtual reality space. Since the fluctuation of the virtual reality space that occurs in each terminal 1 follows the behavior restriction information, even if this is reflected in the virtual reality space within the server station 2, mutual fluctuations are consistent.
In addition, the operation performed on the virtual reality space in the server station 2 directly from the terminal 1 is also permitted, whereby the situation of the virtual reality space in the server station 2 can be changed (step S209). , S210). As described above, the change in the state of the virtual reality space in the server station 2 caused by the behavior data or by the direct operation is transmitted to the host station 3 in real time as change information indicating the state of the virtual reality space after the change. (Step S211).

  When receiving the fluctuation information from each server station 2, the host station 3 integrates the fluctuation information to create integrated fluctuation information. The integrated fluctuation information is distributed to all terminals 1 in real time. The data is also supplied to each server station 2 in real time (steps S212 and S213). The integrated change information includes change information of the virtual reality space in each server station 2, behavior restriction information that changes with the change of the virtual reality space, information on the load status of each server station 2, and the like. Further, when one virtual reality space is formed by a plurality of server stations 2 or the like, the information may include information on a global fluctuation state generated by the fluctuation state of each partial virtual reality space.

  The terminal device 1 receives the integrated fluctuation information and reflects it on the content of the virtual reality space in the terminal 1 (steps S214 and S215). The server station 2 receives the integrated fluctuation information and reflects it on the contents of the virtual reality space in the own station (steps S216 and S217).

As described above, in each terminal 1, a virtual reality space that is the same as the virtual reality space in the accessing server station 2 is formed, and various operations are performed. The processing load associated with the operation is reduced.
In addition, the load on the network 4 during access can be reduced.
Further, since the status of the virtual reality space in the other server station 2 can be known from the integrated fluctuation information from the host station 3, even when the terminal 1 accesses another virtual reality space, another virtual reality space is immediately obtained. The same world as the real space situation can be constructed. Further, even the terminal 1 that does not access any of the server stations 2 receives the integrated configuration information and the integrated variation information from the virtual reality space in each of the server stations 2 so that the virtual reality space can be stored in its own device. It can be formed and enjoyed.

  In the above example, the server station 2 provides individual information to the terminal 1, and information common to a plurality of terminals 1 is broadcast through the host station 3. However, the present invention By transmitting a part of the information to be provided from one of the server stations 2 and 3 and the remaining part of the information to be provided from the other of the server stations 2 and 3 to all the terminals 1 in a communicable state, respectively. The present invention can be applied to all modes in which the terminal device 1 reproduces the provision target information in real time.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information providing system of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a server station. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a host station. FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a host station. FIG. 3 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a first operation mode. FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a second operation mode. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure in the first operation mode. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure in a second operation mode.

Explanation of reference numerals

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal 101 Receiving device 110 Information processing device 2 Server station 210 Communication control unit 211 Main control unit 212 User management unit 213 Load analysis unit 214 Virtual reality space generation unit 215 Provided information management unit 216 Site management unit 3 Host station 310 Communication control Unit 311 Broadcast control unit 312 Site management unit 313 Provided information management unit 4, 5 Network

Claims (19)

A first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals, and a second device for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals in a state capable of communicating with the first device,
A part of the reproducible information to be provided is transmitted to one of the first device and the second device, and the remaining part of the information to be provided is transmitted from the other of the first device and the second device to all the terminals that can communicate with each other. Thereby, the provision target information is configured to be reproduced in real time by each terminal device,
Information provision system. A first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals respectively connected to a network, and a second device for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals in a state capable of communicating with the first device And
The first device is for sending individual information prepared in response to a request from any of the terminals to the terminal through the network,
The second device is a device for simultaneously transmitting information indicating the operating status of the network, which changes as needed according to the load of the first device, to all the terminals.
Information provision system. A plurality of first devices capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals respectively connected to the network, and a second device for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals that are in a communicable state with the first device. And two devices,
Each of the plurality of first devices transmits individual information prepared in response to a request from any of the terminals to the terminal through the network,
The second device simultaneously transmits, in real time, operating status information indicating the operating status of the network, which changes at any time in accordance with the load on each of the first devices, to all terminals. When the load in some or all exceeds a predetermined value, the information to be transmitted by the first device is transmitted by proxy.
Information provision system. At least one of the plurality of first devices is configured to generate load information indicating a load status of the own device that changes at any time in accordance with an access status from the plurality of terminals, and the generated load information is Means for transmitting to the second device in real time,
The second device includes a unit configured to generate the operation status information based on the load information received from any one of the first devices.
The information providing system according to claim 3. A first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network,
A second device for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals in communication with the first device,
The plurality of terminals and the first device can form a common logical space,
The first device is configured to detect a request to change the logical space by at least one terminal by individual communication, and to change the logical space based on a detected situation.
The second device is a device for simultaneously transmitting a changed state of the logical space in the first device to the plurality of terminals.
Information provision system. A plurality of first devices capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network,
A second device capable of simultaneously transmitting the same information to the plurality of terminals,
In each of the plurality of first devices, a logical space accessible by the plurality of terminals is formed in association with each other,
The second device, when the status of the logical space changes in any one of the first devices, changes the status of another logical space based on the changed status, and changes the status of all the logical spaces after the change. It is provided to multiple terminals in real time,
Information provision system. At least one of the plurality of terminals forms a logical space having the same configuration as the logical space formed in the first device accessed by the own device in the own device, and changes a state of the formed logical space. When,
7. The information providing system according to claim 6, further comprising: means for transmitting, when the status of the logical space in the own device changes, information indicating the change status to the first device accessed by the own device in real time. . A portion of the provision target information to be provided to a plurality of terminals connected to the network is distributed to a first device capable of individually communicating with each of the plurality of terminals, and the plurality of terminals are provided to the plurality of terminals. The remaining portion of the information to be provided is distributed to a second device that simultaneously transmits information to the terminal, and the information distributed to the first device and the second device is transmitted at the same time, thereby providing the information on each terminal. Characterized in that the target information is reproduced in real time,
A method of providing information through a network.   Individual information to be provided to the terminal that issued the request among the plurality of terminals connected to the network is distributed to the first device that can individually communicate with the terminal, and the plurality of terminals are transmitted to the plurality of terminals. The information indicating the load status of the first device or the network is distributed to the second device that performs simultaneous transmission of information to the second device, and the transmission of the information distributed to the second device is the transmission of the information distributed to the first device. A method of providing information through a network, wherein a load status of the first device or the network when a terminal that is to access the first device is accessed is presented. A plurality of terminals connected to the network, and a first device that can individually communicate with each of these terminals, form a common logical space, and according to an access situation from any of the terminals, When the state of the logical space changes, the changed state of the logical space is simultaneously broadcast to all terminals in real time,
A method of providing information through a network. First communication means for transmitting a part of reproducible information to be provided to a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals and transmitting the information to each terminal;
Second communication means for simultaneously transmitting the remainder of the provision target information to all terminals in communication with the first device,
Cooperating with the first device to cause all the terminals to construct an environment capable of reproducing the provision target information in real time,
Information providing device. First communication means for transmitting reproducible information to be provided to a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network and transmitting the information to each terminal;
Load detection means for detecting a load on the first device when individually transmitting the information to be provided to any terminal through the network;
Operating status information generating means for generating operating status information indicating the operating status of the network, which changes at any time according to the detected load on the first device;
Second communication means for simultaneously transmitting the generated operation status information to all the terminals in a state capable of communicating with the first device,
Cooperating with the first device to cause each of the plurality of terminals to construct an environment capable of reproducing the provision target information in real time,
Information providing device. When the load detected by the load detection means exceeds a predetermined value, the information processing apparatus further includes proxy transmission means for proxy transmission of the individual information to be transmitted by the first device.
The information providing device according to claim 12. First communication means for communicating with a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network,
Second communication means for simultaneously transmitting information to all the terminals in communication with the first device,
The plurality of terminals and the first device may form a common logical space,
The first device detects a request for changing the logical space by at least one terminal, and changes the logical space based on the detected situation.
The second communication means uses the status of the changed logical space in the first device obtained through the first communication means as the target information of the simultaneous transmission,
Information providing device. First communication means for communicating with a plurality of first devices capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network,
Second communication means for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals in communication with the plurality of first devices,
Each of the plurality of first devices forms a logical space accessible to the plurality of terminals in association with each other,
The second communication means obtains the changed situation through the first communication means when the situation of the logical space has changed in any one of the first devices, and obtains another changed situation based on the changed situation. A state of a logical space as information to be subjected to the simultaneous transmission.
Information providing device. Computer
A first communication means for transmitting a part of reproducible information to be provided to a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals and transmitting the information to each terminal; Second communication means for simultaneously transmitting the remainder of the provision target information to all terminals that are in a communicable state with the device, and the provision of the provision target information to all the terminals in cooperation with the first device. A computer program that operates as an information providing device that builds an environment that can reproduce information in real time. Computer
First communication means for transmitting reproducible information to be provided to a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network and transmitting the information to each terminal; Load detecting means for detecting a load on the first device when individually transmitting the information to be provided to any one of the terminals via the network; Operating status information generating means for generating operating status information representing the operating status, and second communication means for simultaneously transmitting the generated operating status information to all terminals in a communicable state with the first device, A computer for operating each of the plurality of terminals in cooperation with the first device as an information providing device configured to construct an environment capable of reproducing the provided information in real time. Program. Computer
First communication means for communicating with a first device capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network, and information addressed to all terminals in a communicable state with the first device; And a second communication means for performing simultaneous transmission of
The plurality of terminals and the first device may form a common logical space,
The first device detects a request for changing the logical space by at least one terminal, and changes the logical space based on the detected situation.
A computer program for causing the second communication unit to operate as an information providing device that uses the changed state of the logical space in the first device acquired through the first communication unit as the target information of the simultaneous transmission. A first communication unit configured to communicate the computer with a plurality of first devices capable of individually communicating with a plurality of terminals connected to the network, and being in a communicable state with the plurality of first devices; A second communication means for simultaneously transmitting information to all terminals,
Each of the plurality of first devices forms a logical space accessible to the plurality of terminals in association with each other,
The second communication means obtains the changed situation through the first communication means when the situation of the logical space is changed in any one of the first devices, and obtains another changed state based on the changed situation. A computer program for operating as an information providing device that makes a state of a logical space the target information of the simultaneous transmission.

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