JP2005286798A - Image contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image contents distribution system for simply displaying image contents to a distribution destination even when a user terminal and the distribution destination of image contents are connected via a network and located apart from each other. <P>SOLUTION: The user terminal 130 makes a searching request to a directory server 110. An application processing section 112 of the directory server 110 searches an index table 113 in response to the searching request to return a list of thumbnails to the user terminal 130. When the user terminal 130 designates one particular scene from the thumbnail list and returns the result to the directory server 110, the application processing section 112 puts the index information of the designated particular scene into a list box 115a of a redirect section 115, and the redirect section 115 allows an image server 120 to distribute the designated contents to a display apparatus 140 and allows the display apparatus 140 to display the contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image content distribution system for distributing image content via a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image content distribution system configured via a network is configured by connecting one or more image servers, a directory server, and one or more user terminals to each network (for example, Patent Document 1).

  The directory server provides information on where and in what form the requested image content is stored in response to a distribution / display request sent from the user terminal. The image server accumulates a plurality of target image contents such as MPEG2 and data related to the video information, and distributes the obtained image contents to the user terminal as necessary. As a result, content can be displayed on the user terminal.

  The user terminal includes a man-machine interface (MMI) including a display unit, displays intermediate results and final results of search, and controls the image server and the directory server. When a search result of extracting a desired video scene, for example, a pitching scene of a baseball game, is sent from the user terminal to the directory server, the directory server returns a list including the desired pitching scene together with the thumbnail to the user terminal. The user terminal can observe the video stream by MMI.

  When the user selects a desired pitching scene on the MMI of the user terminal and sends an answer to the directory server, the user acquires information including sample images for distributing the desired video stream from the image server. When the user terminal sends a distribution request to the image server based on the sample image information, the image server distributes the requested video stream to the user terminal. When the user terminal receives the distribution request, it immediately displays it on the display device.

For this reason, the conventional image content distribution system has a restriction that a user terminal having a communication / control unit and a display device must be integrated and connected to a network.
JP 2001-14333 A

  However, in the conventional image content distribution system, there is a restriction that a user terminal having a communication / control unit and a display device must be integrated and connected to a network. When each is individually connected to a network, there has been a problem that image content cannot be efficiently distributed to a designated display device.

  In addition, since the directory server and the image server are configured by individual hardware and installed at different locations via the network, the user terminal requests distribution of image content to the display device as a distribution destination. There has been a problem that it is necessary to send a distribution request to both the directory server and the image server for communication, and it is impossible to efficiently distribute the image content to the designated display device.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even when a delivery destination such as a user terminal and a display device, a directory server, and an image server are provided apart from each other via a network, the delivery destination such as a display device can be easily provided. An object is to provide an image content distribution system capable of distributing image content.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image content distribution system according to the present invention includes an image server that stores and distributes image content, and a directory server that stores storage information of the image content in the image server. When receiving a distribution request for the image content designating the distribution destination from the user terminal, the image processing apparatus includes redirection means for transmitting the distribution request to the image server, and the image server is based on the distribution request from the redirection means. And having a distribution processing means for distributing the image content to the distribution destination.

  With this configuration, when the directory server receives a distribution request for image content from the user terminal, the distribution request is transmitted to the image server, and the image server distributes the image content to the distribution destination based on the distribution request from the directory server. Therefore, even when the delivery destination of the user terminal, the display device, etc., the directory server, and the image server are provided apart from each other via the network, the image content can be easily delivered to the delivery destination of the display device, etc. .

  In the image content distribution system according to the present invention, in the configuration described above, when the directory server further receives an image content distribution request from the user terminal, the thumbnail of each scene constituting the image content is stored in the user terminal. The configuration has an application processing unit that replies to.

  With this configuration, when a distribution request for image content is received from the user terminal, the thumbnail of each scene that forms the image content is returned to the user terminal. Each scene can be selected.

  In the image content distribution system according to the present invention, in the configuration described above, when the application processing unit receives a distribution request for image content from the user terminal, the image processing apparatus returns a list of the image content. When content is selected, a configuration is adopted in which thumbnails of scenes constituting the image content are returned to the user terminal.

  With this configuration, when an image content distribution request is received from the user terminal, first, the list of the image content is returned to the user terminal, so the user terminal refers to the list of the image content and selects the image content. You can choose.

  The image content distribution system according to the present invention employs a configuration in which the application processing unit is activated by a URL request from a user terminal and executes a search only for the requested content in the index table. .

  With this configuration, the application processing unit is activated by a URL request from the user terminal and executes a search only for the requested content in the index table. Since transmission / reception is not performed between the server and the user terminal, the burden on the network can be increased.

  A directory server according to the present invention is a directory server that is connected to an image server that stores and distributes image content via a network and stores image storage information in the image server, and that requests image distribution from a user terminal. Is received, a redirection means for transmitting the distribution request to the image server is employed.

  With this configuration, when a distribution request for image content is received from a user terminal, the distribution request is transmitted to the image server. Therefore, the distribution destination of the user terminal, display device, etc., the directory server, and the image server are separated via the network. Even if it is provided, the image content can be easily distributed to a distribution destination such as a display device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when a delivery destination such as a user terminal and a display device, a directory server, and an image server are provided apart from each other via a network, an image can be easily displayed on the delivery destination such as a display device. Content can be distributed.

(Embodiment 1)
Next, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image content distribution system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image content distribution system 100 includes a directory server 110 that stores information indicating a storage location of image content in the image server 120, an image server 120 that stores image content, a user terminal 130, and a display device 140. Are connected at a remote location via a network 150 such as the Internet.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of elements constituting the image content distribution system 100, a data flow, and the like.

  In FIG. 2, a directory server 110 includes a web processing unit 111 such as Apache that operates on a UNIX (R) OS or Windows (R) OS, an application processing unit 112 such as Tomcat that processes a JAVA (R) servlet, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3, an index table 113 in which thumbnails of image contents and addresses in the image server 120 are stored in association with each other, and a distribution destination table 114 in which addresses of distribution destinations such as the display device 140 are registered in advance. And a redirect unit 115 having a list box 115a.

  The image server 120 is a web processing unit 121 such as Apache that runs on a UNIX (R) OS or Windows (R) OS, an application processing unit 122 such as Tomcat that processes a JAVA (R) servlet, and image content. It has an MPEG2 moving image database 123 that stores MPEG2 moving images in advance. The image content includes not only MPEG2 moving images but also various image contents such as still images and videos encoded by various encoding methods such as MPEG4 and MOTION-JPEG.

  The image server 120 stores a large amount of image content such as MPEG2 video data for several hours or more in the MPEG2 moving image database 123, and has the following features.

  First, a specific code is assigned to a frame constituting the image content. A structure is employed in which a frame specifying code such as a frame number is assigned to a video stream composed of continuous moving image scenes, video data composed of a plurality of characteristic scenes, and the like. Prior to recording, the video stream is compressed in the MPEG2 format in which one frame is composed of, for example, 480 × 720 pixels. When the start frame number and end frame number, which are feature scene indexes (see index 113b in FIG. 3 described later), are specified, the distribution processing unit 122a of the image server 120 displays a series of frames in the specified range as video. The stream is sent to the display device 140 as a stream.

  The second is an image content distribution method. Since the redirect unit 115 passes the image content distribution request from the list box 115a to the image server 120, the distribution processing unit 122a of the image server 120 uses the specified display device according to the image distribution request. The designated image content is distributed to 140.

  Here, if the image content is distributed only to the MPEG2 decode board, it can be dealt with by creating a dedicated application on the MPEG2 decode board. However, if a display device such as an HDTV is selected and displayed on the display device, it is necessary to distribute the image content with the application of the distribution processing unit 122a for each display device. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a plurality of display devices 140 are supported, and each display device 140 includes an application of the distribution processing unit 122a.

  The user terminal 130 includes a browser 131 and an OS (operating system) 132 as software. Although not shown, the user terminal 130 also includes hardware such as a CPU, a memory, and a keyboard. Since the user terminal 130 is not intended for viewing image content, the display device 140 is provided at a remote location via the network 150, but thumbnail selection and thumbnail display are provided in the user terminal 130. For example, a display device is provided. The user terminal 130 communicates with the directory server 110 to distribute and display the MPEG2 image of the image server 120 on the display device 140.

  The display device 140 is provided at a location distant from the user terminal 130 via the network 150. The display device 140 is an MPEG2 decoder 141 that decodes MPEG2 moving image content encoded by MPEG2, and a display such as an HDTV that displays the MPEG2 moving image content. 142.

  The network 150 includes the Internet connected by a coaxial cable, an optical fiber, or the like, and connects the image server 120, the directory server 110, the user terminal 130, and the display device 140 to each other.

  Next, features of the directory server 110 of this embodiment will be briefly described.

  The first is the adoption of the index table 113. That is, in the directory server 110 according to the present embodiment, representative or characteristic scene thumbnails that are indexes for each of a series of characteristic scenes constituting the image content and their storage locations in the image server 120. The system is registered in the index table 113 and stored in the directory server 110. In this method, thumbnails are added corresponding to the respective characteristic scenes, and are provided for specifying the characteristic scenes requested by the user.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of the index table 113 in the directory server 110.

  In FIG. 3, the index table 113 stores thumbnails 113a, indexes 113b, and image server addresses 113c in association with each other.

  In the index table 113 shown in FIG. 3, for example, for a scene extracted from a moving image of a baseball broadcast, for example, for a pitching scene, the average value and standard deviation of the motion vectors are calculated for the entire target frame, and parameters are generated. The scene is automatically extracted by comparing with the parameter.

  The thumbnail 113a selects a representative frame in a series of frames within a certain range specified by the start frame number and end frame number as the index 113b, for example, one frame of a pitching scene, and stores it in the directory server 110 as a JPEG still image or the like. This is generated in association with each pitching scene.

  In the case of a pitching scene, the index 113b represents a start frame and an end frame of the pitching scene by frame numbers, and designates a series of frames within a certain range from the start frame number and the end frame number. Are associated with the pitching scene storage location in the MPEG2 moving image database 123 of the above.

  The image server internal address 113 c indicates the storage location of the image content of each scene in the MPEG2 moving image database 123 of the image server 120.

  A second feature of the directory server 110 according to the present embodiment is search activation. That is, the activation interface of the application processing unit 112a mounted on the directory server 110 is activated by a URL request from the user terminal 130. Therefore, an HTTP request is sent to the directory server 110 for each URL request from the user terminal 130. At this time, an answer to the HTTP request is sent from the directory server 110 to the user terminal 130, but only the requested content in the index table 113 is searched. In this case, since the high-definition and large-capacity video is not directly transmitted / received between the directory server 110 and the user terminal 130 in the search operation, the burden on the network 150 can be significantly reduced.

  A third feature of the directory server 110 according to the present embodiment is the installation of the redirect unit 115 having a list box 115a. The redirect unit 115 is a means for delivering a display request from the user terminal 130 to the image server 120. By mounting the redirect unit 115 having the list box 115a, the user terminal 130 and the display device 140 are individually provided. Even in a state of being connected to the network 150, it is possible to distribute and display image content such as MPEG2 on the display device 140 as requested by the user terminal 130.

  Next, the operation of the image content distribution system 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation sequence in the image content distribution system 100.

(Search thumbnails)
First, by the processing in step S1000, the user terminal 130 sends an image content search request as an HTTP request to the directory server 110 via the network 150 (see (1) in FIG. 2).

  Then, the directory server 110 receives the search request from the user terminal 130, searches the index table 113 for the thumbnail 113a corresponding to the search request, the searched thumbnail 113a, the index 113b, the image server internal address 113c, etc. Is returned to the user terminal 130 as an HTTP response (see (2) in FIG. 2). When the index table 115 is updated, the user terminal 130 reloads the index table 115.

  Then, the user terminal 130 searches a list of thumbnails 113a of scenes representing the respective games for all the image content defined in the index table 115, for example, all files of the game content, and is provided in the user terminal 130. Displayed on a display (not shown).

  When the user selects an anchor of a specific file name in the game content that is the image content on the user terminal 130, a list of characteristic scenes of the selected specific game (specific file) using the management number of the corresponding thumbnail 113a as an argument. Transition to frame.

(Delivery destination selection)
Next, in step S1100, the user terminal 130 transmits an HTTP request to the directory server 110 via the network 150, and selects a delivery destination.

  That is, for the selected specific game (specific file), the user terminal 130 searches the thumbnail 113a of all feature scenes in the index table 115 using the management number of the thumbnail 113a as an argument as a key, and lists the feature scenes. Is displayed.

  When the user terminal 130 selects an anchor of the file name for a specific desired feature scene, the delivery destination address of the display device 140 that is a delivery destination using the corresponding thumbnail 113a, its management number, and scene number as arguments. And the index 113b of the frame selected by the thumbnail 113a is sent to the directory server 110 as a distribution request (see (3) in FIG. 2).

(Redirect process)
Next, by the process of step S1200, the redirect unit 115 performs a redirect process using the distribution destination list box 115a.

  That is, in the directory server 110, the redirect unit 115 searches for and selects the thumbnail 113a of the desired feature scene in the index table 113 using the management number and scene number of the thumbnail 113a as arguments from the feature scene list display screen as keys. The index 113b of the feature scene, the management number of the thumbnail 113a, and the image server address 113c are set in the list box 115a.

  In addition, the redirect unit 115 sets the address of the display device 140 of the distribution destination stored in the distribution destination table 114 selected by the user terminal 130 in the list box 115a.

  As described above, when starting the redirect process, the directory server 110 notifies the user terminal 130 that the redirect process is normally executed (see FIG. 2 (4)).

  Then, the redirect unit 115 notifies the image server 120 of the delivery destination address set in the delivery destination list box 115a, the index 113b of the selected desired feature scene, and the image server internal address 113c by the redirect function (FIG. 2 (5)).

(Distribution to display devices)
Next, the image server 120 distributes the image content to the display device 140 by the process of step S1300.

  That is, in the image server 120, the distribution processing unit 122a of the application processing unit 122 receives the distribution destination address set in the list box 115a, the index 113b of the selected desired feature scene, and the image server internal address 113c. The MPEG2 image content of the desired feature scene is read from the moving image database 123, and the read image content is distributed to the display device 140 indicated by the distribution destination address (see (6) in FIG. 2). When the image server 120 can specify the image content to be distributed only by the image server address 113c, the management number of the thumbnail 113a from the directory server 110 to the image server 120 and the redirect process of the index 113b are unnecessary. .

  In the display device 140, when the MPEG2 image content of the selected feature scene is downloaded from the image server 120 by the MPEG2 decoder 141, the MPEG2 decoder 141 decodes the downloaded MPEG2 image content. Then, the display 142 displays the decoded moving image.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the redirection unit 115 of the directory server 110 causes the user terminal 130 that sends a distribution request for image content and the display device 140 that displays the image content to be physically connected via the network 150. Even if it is provided at a separate location, the redirection unit 115 of the directory server 110 transfers the distribution request from the user terminal 130 to the image server 120 and transfers the image content to the display device 140 that is the designated distribution destination. As a result, high-definition image content can be efficiently distributed to the display device 140.

  As a result, even if the user terminal 130 and the display device 140 are separated via the network 150, no restriction is generated, and the user terminal 130 and the display device 140 can be effectively used for high-definition display on a large screen in a large hall for video.

  Even if the directory server 110 and the image server 120 are configured by individual hardware and installed at different locations via the network 150, the request from the user terminal 130 is received by the redirect unit 115 of the directory server 110. Since the communication control is performed in an integrated manner via the network 150, the directory server 110 and the image server 120 are free from restrictions on the installation location, and support large-capacity content such as moving images. Hardware with a recordable capacity can be easily used.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, an image content distribution system according to the second embodiment will be described.

  In the above-described first embodiment, it has been described that the user terminal 130 simply sends the distribution request of the desired image content and the distribution destination to the directory server 110. However, in the second embodiment, the user terminal 130 receives the image content. The desired image content is selected from the list, and the desired distribution destination is selected from the distribution destination list so that it can be transmitted to the directory server. Since the configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the reference numerals in the configuration diagram of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram specifically showing data exchanged in the image content distribution system 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention and its procedure.

  That is, in the case of the second embodiment, first, the user terminal 130 sends a request for starting distribution of image content to the directory server 110 via the network 150 (see FIG. 5 (1)).

  The directory server 110 receives an image content distribution start request from the user terminal 130 via the network 150, reads the representative still image thumbnail 113 a that is a list of image content from the index table 113, and uses the network as an HTTP response. It returns to the user terminal 130 via 150 (see FIG. 5 (2)).

  Then, the user terminal 130 receives a list of image contents from the directory server 110 and displays it on a display (not shown) by the browser 131. In FIG. 5, 131 a is an image content list displayed by the browser 131.

  The user terminal 130 selects the image content requested to be distributed to the display device 140 from the image content list 131a displayed by the browser 131, and transmits it as an HTTP request to the directory server 110 via the network 150 (FIG. 5 (3)). reference).

  The directory server 110 receives a distribution request for the selected image content from the user terminal 130 via the network 150, and refers to the index table 113 to list each scene (the thumbnail 113a for each scene) that constitutes the image content. 113a1 is returned as an HTTP response to the user terminal 130 via the network 150 (see FIG. 5 (4)).

  Then, the user terminal 130 receives a list 113a1 of each scene constituting the image content from the directory server 110, and displays a representative thumbnail 113a of each scene on a display (not shown) by the browser 131. In FIG. 5, 131 b is a display screen of a list 113 a 1 of each scene constituting the selected image content displayed by the browser 131.

  The user terminal 130 selects a thumbnail 113a of a scene to be distributed to the display device 140 from the display screen 131b of each scene list 113a1 constituting the image content displayed by the browser 131, and the directory server 110 via the network 150. As an HTTP request (see FIG. 5 (5)).

  When the directory server 110 receives a distribution request for selecting the thumbnail 113a from the user terminal 130 via the network 150, the directory server 110 subsequently reads a list of distribution destinations from the distribution destination table 114 and returns it as an HTTP response to the user terminal 130 via the network 150. (See FIG. 5 (6)).

  The user terminal 130 receives the delivery destination selection screen 131c from the directory server 110 and displays it on the display (not shown) by the browser 131 together with the selected thumbnail 113a. In FIG. And a selected thumbnail 113a.

  The user terminal 130 selects a distribution destination on the distribution destination selection screen 131c displayed by the browser 131, and transmits it as an HTTP request to the directory server 110 via the network 150 (see FIG. 5 (7)).

  When the directory server 110 receives the delivery destination from the user terminal 130 via the network 150, the redirect unit 115 switches between the communication destination and the delivery destination by the redirect function, and the scene 115a1 selected by the user terminal 130; The distribution destination address 115a2 is transmitted to the image server 120 (see FIG. 5 (8)).

  The image server 120 distributes the selected scene 115a1 to the display device 140 specified by the distribution destination address 115a2 transmitted by the redirect unit 115 of the directory server 110 (see FIG. 5 (9)).

  The display device 140 receives the selected scene 115a1 transmitted from the image server 120, the MPEG2 decoder 141 decodes it, and the display 142 displays the decoded selected scene.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. Further, in the second embodiment, the directory server 110 sends a list 131a of image contents to the user terminal 130, Since the distribution destination selection screen 131c is provided, the user terminal 130 selects the image content or distribution by selecting from the image content list 131a provided from the directory server 110 or the distribution destination selection screen 131c. The destination can be easily selected, and the selected image content can be displayed on the display device 140 of the delivery destination.

  In the above embodiment, the redirect unit 115 of the directory server 110 transfers the image content distribution request from the user terminal 130 and the switched distribution destination address to the image server 120, and the user terminal 130 directly Although it has been described that these requests are not sent to the image server 120, the present invention is not limited to this, and the redirect unit 115 of the directory server 110 puts the index information of the desired image content of the user terminal 130 in the list box 115a, and the user An OK reply is sent to the terminal 130. Then, the user terminal 130 transmits a content distribution request to the image server 120, the image server 120 looks at the contents of the list box 115a, reads out the requested image content from the MPEG2 moving image database 124, and the list box Depending on the content of 115a, the desired image content may be distributed via the network 150 to the display device 140 serving as a distribution destination.

In the image content distribution system according to the present invention, even if a connected display device such as a directory server, an image server, a user terminal, or an HDTV is connected to a remote location via a network such as the Internet, the redirection function of the directory server is used. Since the distribution request is transferred from the user terminal to the image server, the image retrieval, distribution and display system covering the wide area has the effect that the image content can be efficiently distributed from the image server to the display device. Therefore, it has the following specific industrial applicability.
(1) Lectures using large halls at lectures and academic conferences.
(2) A show for a large audience, such as movies and live TV broadcasts.
(3) Business demonstrations such as meetings and meetings.
(4) Other general uses to show high definition video to multiple people.

1 is an overall system diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image content distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the detailed structure of the element which comprises an image content delivery system, the flow of data, etc. Explanatory drawing showing the contents of the index table in the directory server Flowchart showing operation sequence in image content distribution system Explanatory drawing which shows the flow of various data in the image content delivery system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image content delivery system 110 Directory server 115 Redirection part (redirection means)
120 Image server 122a Distribution processing unit (distribution processing means)
130 User terminal 140 Display device

Claims (5)

An image server for storing and distributing image content;
A directory server having image content storage information in the image server,
The directory server is
When receiving a distribution request for image content specifying a distribution destination from a user terminal, the image processing apparatus includes a redirect unit that transmits the distribution request to the image server.
The image server
Distribution processing means for distributing the image content to the distribution destination based on a distribution request from the redirect means;
An image content distribution system characterized by the above. The directory server further includes:
When receiving a delivery request for image content from the user terminal, an application processing unit that returns a thumbnail of each scene constituting the image content to the user terminal.
The image content distribution system according to claim 1. The application processing unit
When a distribution request for image content is received from the user terminal, a list of the image content is returned, and when the user terminal selects the image content, a thumbnail of each scene constituting the image content is returned to the user terminal. To
The image content distribution system according to claim 2. The application processing unit
Start with a URL request from the user terminal and perform a search only for the requested content in the index table.
The image content distribution system according to claim 2. A directory server connected to an image server for storing and distributing image content via a network and storing image storage information in the image server,
When receiving an image distribution request from the user terminal, the image processing apparatus includes a redirect unit that transmits the distribution request to the image server.
A directory server characterized by that.