JP2006033057A - Moving video content distribution apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving video content distribution apparatus in which useless power consumption is suppressed and dissatisfaction is eliminated at the time of starting. <P>SOLUTION: When an energy saving mode means 55 constituting a control section 50 makes a transition to energy saving mode for stopping power supply from a power supply section 65 to a moving video content processing section 60 or suppressing power consumption by stopping function at the moving video content processing section 60, power consumption of the entire apparatus can be controlled to a minimum necessary level. Since the moving video content processing section 60 is generally operating normally in a time zone when a user utilizes the apparatus, dissatisfaction of the user can be minimized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving image content distribution apparatus capable of viewing moving image content such as a movie, for example, at home or in various facilities (hotels, hospitals, etc.) for a fee.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called set-top box is known as a moving image content distribution apparatus that can be easily connected to a home television and enjoyed moving image content. This is widely used as an apparatus for providing video on demand (VOD) for distributing moving image content selected by each user to each user. In particular, facilities such as hotels and hospitals are frequently used, and as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a device provided with a separate charging means such as a prepaid card is used.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional moving image content distribution apparatus.

  Reference numeral 1 denotes a server in which moving image content 2 such as a movie is stored in advance, and is installed at an arbitrary place in a facility such as a hotel or a hospital. On the other hand, 10 is a set-top box installed in each private room where the user stays. The set-top box 10 and the server 1 enable broadband communication such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or optical fiber via the modem 3 in order to smoothly transmit the large-capacity video content 2. The communication line 4 is always connected. The moving image content 2 is compressed using a moving image compression technique such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group), for example, and is sent from the server 1 to the set top box 10 via the communication line 4.

  This set-top box 10 is connected to the TV 20 as a display device for the moving image content 2 using a video input terminal or the like, and a prepaid card 15 for storing the remaining number corresponding to the balance is inserted. A card reader 16 that reads and writes frequencies is also connected. The set-top box 10 receives the card reader control means 11 for controlling the reading / writing of the prepaid card 15 by the card reader 16 and the moving image content 2 from the server 1, converts it into a video input signal, and sends it to the television 20 (distribution) ) Video content display control means 12 is provided. The set-top box 10 does not include a storage unit for moving image content distributed from the server 1 and converts the moving image content 2 into a video input signal as it is and displays it on the television 20.

  Reference numeral 22 denotes a remote control device that can remotely control both the set top box 10 and the television 20, and includes various switches 21 that are operation units. The set-top box 10 and the television 20 are provided with a light receiving unit (not shown) of the remote controller 22 so that the remote controller 22 can be operated remotely.

  Since the TV 20 is connected to the TV common line 23, the TV broadcast can be received. By operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22 and switching the channel to the video input screen or the like, the set top is set. The moving image content 2 distributed from the box 10 can be displayed.

When the user inserts a prepaid card 15 purchased in advance into the card reader 16 and instructs a favorite pay viewing such as a movie by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22, the video content 2 corresponding to the video content 2 from the server 1 is displayed. It is distributed to the set-top box 10 via the communication line 4, converted into a video input signal by the moving image content display control means 12, and then displayed on the television 20. At this time, the card reader control means 11 subtracts the remaining frequency read from the prepaid card 15 in accordance with the contents of the moving image content 2 and writes and updates the prepaid card 15. In this way, the user can view the moving image content 2 that matches the remaining number of prepaid cards whenever he / she wants to see it.
JP 2003-333565 A

  However, in the above-described conventional video content distribution apparatus, since the power is turned on for 24 hours so that the user can use it at any time, the electricity usage fee is increased due to wasted power consumption during a period of no use. There was a problem. Once the set-top box 10 is turned off, it takes several tens of seconds until it can be used after being restarted. During this time, the user waits. In addition, meaningless characters that are not useful to the user are displayed on the screen of the TV 20 when the set-top box 10 is started up. There is a risk of dissatisfaction with the user because it is unknown. Therefore, the set-top box 10 is always turned on so that the user can watch the video content 2 immediately at any time.

  In addition, if the distribution of the video content 2 is interrupted due to a disconnection of the communication line 4 or a trouble on the server 1 side, it is not known how far the video content 2 has been distributed. I could not.

  In addition, there is what is equipped with a so-called preview function that allows a digest version of video content to be viewed for free, but if the dedicated preview content is not stored in the server 1, sample viewing (free viewing) could not be performed. .

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the first object of the present invention is to provide a moving image content distribution apparatus capable of suppressing wasteful power consumption and solving dissatisfaction during startup.

  A second object of the present invention is to provide a moving image content distribution apparatus that can be viewed from the continuation even when the viewing of the moving image content is interrupted for some reason.

  It is a third object of the present invention to provide a moving image content distribution apparatus that allows a sample viewing of moving image content without a dedicated preview content.

  In the moving image content distribution device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the moving image content processing unit that distributes moving image content, and the power supply to the moving image content processing unit are stopped at an arbitrary time zone, or the moving image content processing unit is set to be low. And a control unit for setting the power consumption state.

  In this way, the control unit stops the power supply to the video content processing unit or puts the power consumption state of the video content processing unit into a low power consumption state to stop the function of the video content processing unit. The amount can be suppressed. Since the moving image content processing unit operates normally during the time period when the user uses the device, the user's dissatisfaction can be suppressed as much as possible.

  In the moving image content distribution device according to claim 2 of the present invention, the moving image content distribution device includes a timer unit that measures an elapsed time of distributing the moving image content, and when the distribution of the moving image content is interrupted, based on the elapsed time, A control unit is provided that re-distributes video content that has been interrupted.

  In this way, even if the distribution of the moving image content is interrupted, the elapsed time until the interruption is timed by the timer means, so that the moving image content can be redistributed from the continuation.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video content distribution apparatus comprising preview distribution means for selecting and distributing only predetermined portions of the video content.

  In this way, even if no dedicated preview content is prepared, it is possible to select and distribute only a predetermined portion such as a highlight scene from the video content by the video content distribution means. Viewing can be provided.

  According to claim 1 of the present invention, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed, and dissatisfaction at the time of startup can be eliminated.

  According to claim 2 of the present invention, even if the viewing of the moving image content is interrupted for some reason, it can be viewed from the continuation.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the moving image content can be sampled and viewed without the dedicated preview content.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a moving image content distribution apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same location as a prior art example, and since description of a common part overlaps, it abbreviate | omits as much as possible.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a video on demand system using a moving image content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where the video on demand system is introduced into a hotel will be described. The video on demand system mainly includes a management server 31 that receives a distribution request (distribution request for moving image content 2) from the (guest room) terminal device 14 and instructs the distribution server 32 to distribute the moving image content 2, a movie, and the like The moving image content 2 is stored in advance, a distribution server 32 as a first moving image content distribution device, a terminal device 14 as a second moving image content distribution device, and a television 20 as a display device. Although a plurality of distribution servers 32 are installed, since these are mirror servers, all the moving image contents stored therein are the same.

  In the video on demand system in the present embodiment, the distribution request from the terminal device 14 is once transmitted to the management server 31. Thereafter, when the distribution instruction is issued again from the management server 31 to the distribution server 32, the moving image content 2 is distributed from the distribution server 32 to the terminal device 14.

  The management server 31 is connected to a front PC 30 which is a personal computer installed at the front of a hotel, for example, with a LAN cable. The management server 31, the distribution server 32, and the DSL device 35 are connected to each other via a HUB (not shown), and the DSL device 35 and the modem 3 installed in the guest room 46 are distributed in the hotel. The in-house LAN 40 is constructed by being connected to each other via the established telephone lines.

  The DSL device 35 realizes DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), which is a technology that enables high-speed digital data communication using a telephone line. In other words, by dividing the frequency band of voice communication and data communication, it is possible to use the telephone and data communication simultaneously. The voice of the telephone is sent to the telephone exchange 36, while it is transmitted and received between the video content 2 and each device. Data to be sent to the LAN 40 in the building.

  A modem 3, a telephone set 45, a terminal device 14, and a television 20 are installed in the guest room 46. The modem 3 is connected to the telephone set 45 by a telephone cable, and connected to the terminal device 14 by a LAN cable, for example, and performs both voice communication and data communication through a telephone line constituting the LAN 40 in the hall. The terminal device 14 is configured such that the TV 20 and the TV concert line 23 are connected, and the TV 20 can display the moving image content 2 and the TV broadcast.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal device 14. A video input capable of receiving the video content 2 distributed from the distribution server 32 and displaying it on the TV 20 from, for example, MPEG4 format compressed data, and a control unit 50 that organically controls each unit to perform a series of video content distribution processing Video content processing unit 60 that converts (decodes) signals (video / audio signals) and AC power supplied from the AC power supply 66 into DC power, and each component such as the control unit 50 and the video content processing unit 60 And a card reader 16 capable of reading and writing the prepaid card 15.

  The control unit 50 controls a TV broadcast receiving unit 51 that receives a TV broadcast from the TV common line 23, a card reader control unit 11 that controls reading and writing of the prepaid card 15 by the card reader 16, and a moving image content processing unit 60. Then, a distribution request to the management server 31, a moving image content processing control means 52 for converting and reading out the moving image content 2 into a video input signal, and a TV broadcast and moving image content 2, for example, a menu screen, Video switching means 53 for switching from in-house independent broadcast, other information video such as start-up video to be described later, timer means 54 for measuring the distribution elapsed time of moving picture content 2 and the like, and controlling power supply unit 65 to each part Energy saving mode means 55 is provided as power consumption suppression means for adjusting the power supply amount. The energy saving mode means 55 will be described later together with the power supply unit 65.

  The moving image content processing control unit 52 includes a preview distribution instruction unit 56 that makes a preview distribution request to the management server 31 in accordance with the sample viewing operation of the user. In the preview distribution, only the highlight scene of the video content 2 specified by the user is distributed, and the preview position associated with the time data of the highlight scene is registered in the management server 31 or the distribution server 32. Yes. Of course, it may be registered in advance in the terminal device 14, and may be downloaded from the management server 31 together with data such as the total broadcast time of the moving image content when the moving image content menu screen is displayed. The preview distribution processing by the preview distribution instruction means 56 will be described later together with the distribution server 32. The moving image content processing unit 60 is controlled by the moving image content processing control unit 52 and then the control unit 50, and the NET communication control unit 61 that transmits / receives control data, moving image content 2 and the like to / from the management server 31 or the distribution server 32, and the MPEG4 system Media player means 62 having an MPEG decoder function for converting the compressed data into a video input signal.

  In the normal mode, the power supply unit 65 supplies power to all of the control unit 50, the moving image content processing unit 60, and the like. Shift to energy-saving mode to reduce power consumption at 14 to the minimum necessary amount. Specifically, all the power supply to the high power consumption devices such as the media player means 62 constituting the moving image content processing unit 60 is stopped. On the other hand, when returning from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, the energy saving mode means 55 outputs a power ON signal to the power supply unit 65 when receiving an operation from the remote control device 22 or power control data from the front PC 30, for example. To do.

  Since the terminal device 14 is connected to the in-house LAN 40 via the modem 3, a remote power operation can be performed from the front PC 30. That is, by sending power control data from the front PC 30 to the NET communication control means 61 constituting the terminal device 14 via the in-house LAN 40, the energy saving mode means 55 supplies power to the power supply unit 65 based on the power control data. In order to output a control signal (power ON signal or power OFF signal), the power supply unit 65 and thus the terminal device 14 can be shifted to the energy saving mode / normal mode. For example, the front desk staff of the hotel turns on the power supply of the terminal device 14 from the front PC 30 at the time of check-in (normal mode) and turns off at the time of check-out (energy saving mode). In this way, the amount of power consumption of the terminal device 14 is minimized except when the cabin 46 is used, and therefore wasteful power consumption can be suppressed while the cabin 46 is not being used.

  Further, the energy saving mode means 55 may be configured to shift to the energy saving mode / normal mode in a preset time pattern. For example, the power of the terminal device 14 is turned on at 6:00 pm during the check-in time, and the power of the terminal device 14 is turned off at 10:00 am during the check-out time. In addition, since the terminal device 14 is relatively rarely used at the time when many users go to bed, such as from 3:00 am to 6:00 am, the configuration is configured to shift to the energy saving mode during such bedtime. May be. In particular, in hospitals and the like, for example, in many cases, for example, 9:00 pm to 7:00 am, the turn-off time is determined, so if the terminal devices 14 in all hospital rooms are turned off during the turn-off time, hospital equipment As a whole, the power consumption can be greatly reduced. As described above, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed by setting the time zone in which the terminal device 14 is not used 1 to n times and stopping the power supply. The power supply may be adjusted in conjunction with the power source of the television 20.

  To return from the energy saving mode to the normal mode, it takes a startup time of several tens of seconds. If the user specifies paid viewing by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22 during that time, the video content distribution function is It displays on the screen of the TV 20 how long it will take to become available. Specifically, the timer means 54 counts down the activation time (counting down), and the video switching means 53 displays a countdown result as a startup waiting video together with a message such as “Please wait for a while”. By displaying on the TV 20 screen how many seconds it will take for the video content distribution function to become available, the user will not be mistaken for a malfunction, but will be able to confirm when it can be used. , Users' dissatisfaction can be minimized. Also, if the start-up waiting video is a commercial video such as the latest distribution information of the video content instead of a message such as “Please wait for a while”, the user does not feel waiting and is more effective. It is.

  FIG. 3 shows a modification of the terminal device 14 in the present invention. In this modification, the energy saving mode means 55 does not output a power control signal to the power supply unit 65, but outputs a sleep signal to the video content processing unit 60, and the function of the video content processing unit 60 stops. That is, it is configured to shift to the energy saving mode. In the modified example, the power consumption of each unit is made use of a low power consumption mode that a device (element) such as a CPU used in each component unit of the terminal device 14 such as the moving image content processing unit 60 has in advance. It suppresses itself.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the distribution server 32. The distribution server 32 receives the moving image content distribution means 70 for distributing the moving image content 2 to the terminal device 14 in response to a distribution instruction from the management server 31, and transmits / receives data such as control data and moving image content 2 to / from the management server 31 or the terminal device 14. And a NET communication control means 72. The moving image content 2 is compressed by a compression technique such as MPEG4 and stored in a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk.

  In addition to the function of distributing the moving image content 2 as it is, the moving image content distribution means 70 has a preview distribution function of distributing a digest version in which a highlight scene is picked up from the moving image content 2 to the terminal device 14.

  Hereinafter, the flow of preview distribution will be described. When the user performs a sample viewing operation by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22, the preview instruction means 56 of the terminal device 14 transmits a preview distribution request to the management server 31 via the NET communication control means 61. The management server 31 selects the distribution server 32 with a light load and issues a preview distribution instruction. In the distribution server 32, the moving image content distribution means 70 distributes only the highlight scene to the terminal device 14 along the preview position. At this time, if the preview position is registered other than the distribution server 32, the preview position is transmitted to the distribution server 32 on the distribution request or distribution instruction data. In this way, the preview content can be distributed even if no dedicated preview content is prepared, so that the user can view samples of all the moving image content 2.

  Next, a series of flow until the user views the moving image content 2 in the video on demand system will be described.

  After the user inserts the prepaid card 15 purchased in advance into the card reader 16 and instructs the pay viewing of a favorite video content such as a movie by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22, the video content processing control means 52 The NET communication control means 61 transmits a distribution request to the management server 31. When the management server 31 receives the distribution request, the management server 31 returns the movie number and the total broadcast time corresponding to the moving image content designated by the user to the terminal device 14 and transmits a distribution instruction to the distribution server 32. At this time, the management server 31 selects a light load from the plurality of distribution servers 32 and issues a distribution instruction.

  In the distribution server 32, the moving image content distribution unit 70 reads out the moving image content 2 corresponding to the distribution instruction, and distributes the moving image content 2 to the terminal device 14 by the NET communication control unit 72. The moving image content 2 distributed to the terminal device 14 is converted into a video input signal by the media player means 62 and read out by the moving image content processing control means 52 to be distributed and displayed on the television 20 via the control unit 50. The At this time, the timer means 54 counts the broadcast elapsed time (delivery elapsed time to the television 20), and the card reader control means 11 determines the remaining frequency read from the prepaid card 15 according to the contents of the moving image content 2. Subtract and update the prepaid card 15 for writing. In this way, the user can view the moving image content 2 corresponding to the remaining number of prepaid cards whenever he / she wants to see it.

  If the distribution of the moving image content 2 is interrupted during viewing of the moving image content 2 due to, for example, disconnection of the LAN cable or an abnormality of the distribution server 32, the NET communication control means 61 of the terminal device 14 detects a communication error, An abnormal signal is output to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 switches to a message screen such as “Please wait for a while” by the video switching means 53, stops the time counting of the timer means 54, and stores the elapsed broadcast time. If it does not recover even after a predetermined time has elapsed, it may be switched to TV broadcasting once. Meanwhile, the control unit 50 calls the management server 31 from the NET communication control means 61, and confirms whether communication in the in-house LAN 40 is possible and whether redistribution of the moving image content 2 is possible. After that, when the video is restored, the video switching means 53 displays a selection screen such as “view from the beginning” or “view from the beginning”, and the moving image content processing control means 52 stores it in the control unit 50. The movie number and broadcast resumption time are transmitted as a redistribution request. The broadcast resumption time may be the elapsed broadcast time counted by the timer means 54 in the case of “viewing from the continuation”, and the elapsed broadcast time being zero reset in the case of “viewing from the beginning”. When the moving image content 2 is redistributed from the distribution server 32 to the terminal device 14, it is similarly converted into a video input signal by the media player means 62, and airing on the television 20 is resumed via the control unit 50. At this time, the timer means 54 starts counting from the continuation of the stored broadcast elapsed time (0 from the beginning).

  The distribution elapsed time of the video content 2 may be monitored on the distribution server 32 side. However, if the distribution server 32 fails, the distribution of the video content 2 is not resumed unless the distribution server 32 is restored. It takes a considerable amount of time to resume. On the other hand, when the broadcast elapsed time is monitored on the terminal device 14 side as in the present embodiment, even if the distribution server 32 being distributed fails, it can be restarted using another distribution server 32. In addition, the number of terminal devices 14 is very large compared to the number of distribution servers 32, and monitoring from the terminal device 14 side is preferable from the viewpoint of failure probability.

  The redistribution request can also be used when the user wants to stop the movie (moving image content 2) during the broadcast. When the user wants to stop the movie, the user performs a stop operation by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22. The control unit 50 of the terminal device 14 switches to the stop message screen by the video switching unit 53, and at the same time stops the timing of the timer unit 54 and stores the elapsed broadcast time. Thereafter, the moving image content processing control means 52 transmits a stop request to the management server 31 to stop the distribution of the moving image content 2 from the distribution server 32. When the user performs a resuming operation by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22, a redistribution request is transmitted from the terminal device 14 to the management server 31, and broadcasting is resumed in the same manner as described above.

  By the way, in movies and the like, it is expected to stop without seeing the ending. Therefore, when the movie is stopped at the ending portion, it is handled as having finished watching all the movies. Specifically, when the total broadcast time returned from the management server 31 at the time of the distribution request is, for example, 126 minutes, and the ending portion is, for example, 3 minutes, after the broadcast elapsed time measured by the timer means 54 has passed 123 minutes, When the user performs a stop operation by operating the switch 21 of the remote control device 22, all the distribution processing of the moving image content 2 is ended.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the video content processing unit 60 that distributes the video content 2 and the power supply to the video content processing unit 60 are stopped at an arbitrary time period, or the video content processing unit 60 is made to consume less power. And a control unit 50 for setting the state.

  In this way, the control unit 50 stops the power supply to the video content processing unit 60 or sets the power consumption of the entire apparatus by reducing the power consumption state of stopping the function of the video content processing unit 60. It can be suppressed to the minimum necessary amount. Since the moving image content processing unit 60 operates normally during the time period when the user uses the device, the user's dissatisfaction can be suppressed as much as possible. As described above, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed and dissatisfaction during startup can be resolved.

  In this embodiment, the video content processing unit 60 is provided with video switching means 53 for switching the video distributed to the television 20 to the startup waiting video when the video content processing unit 60 is started.

  In this way, when the video content processing unit 60 is started up, it will take time for the video content distribution function to become available, for example, commercial video such as the latest distribution information of video content, etc. Since it can be displayed on 20 screens, the user will not misidentify it as a malfunction, but it can be confirmed specifically when it can be used, and a video useful to the user can be viewed. Can be suppressed as much as possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the timer means 54 for measuring the elapsed time when the moving image content 2 is distributed is provided, and when the distribution of the moving image content 2 is interrupted, the interrupted moving image content 2 is based on the elapsed time. Is provided with a control unit 50 for re-distribution.

  In this way, even if the distribution of the moving image content 2 is interrupted, the elapsed time until the interruption is timed by the timer means 54, so that the moving image content 2 can be redistributed from there. Therefore, even if the viewing of the moving image content 2 is interrupted for some reason, it can be viewed from the continuation.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a moving image content distribution means 70 for selecting and distributing only a predetermined part of the moving image content 2 is provided.

  In this way, even if no dedicated preview content is prepared, the moving image content distribution means 70 can select and distribute only a predetermined portion such as a highlight scene from the moving image content 2, so that all moving image contents can be distributed. Sample viewing can be provided for 2. Accordingly, the moving image content 2 can be sampled and viewed without a dedicated preview content.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention. The construction of the in-house LAN 40 can be variously changed according to the installation form, and it goes without saying that the distribution of the moving image content 2 can be performed in various procedures. The compression format of the moving image content 2 can be any compression format other than MPEG4.

It is explanatory drawing which showed schematic structure of the video-on-demand system using the moving image content delivery apparatus in 1st Example of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the 2nd moving image content delivery apparatus same as the above. It is the block diagram which showed the modification of the 2nd moving image content delivery apparatus same as the above. It is the block diagram which showed schematic structure of the 1st moving image content delivery apparatus same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which showed schematic structure of the video-on-demand system using the moving image content delivery apparatus in a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

2 Video content
10 Set-top box (video content distribution device)
32 Distribution server (video content distribution device)
50 Control unit
54 Timer means
60 Video content processing section
70 Video content distribution means

Claims (3)

A video content processing unit that distributes video content, and a control unit that stops power supply to the video content processing unit at an arbitrary time period or places the video content processing unit in a low power consumption state. A featured video content distribution apparatus. A control unit comprising timer means for measuring an elapsed time of distributing the video content, and redistributing from the continuation of the interrupted video content based on the elapsed time when the distribution of the video content is interrupted The moving image content distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The moving image content distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising moving image content distribution means for selecting and distributing only predetermined portions of the moving image content.

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