JP2006217470A - Method for managing large scale stream distribution quality, and device and program for managing viewing and listening quality - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce maintenance and operation cost and to quickly specify a degradation cause of viewing and listening quality and a degradation place by unitarily managing user viewing and listening quality in a large scale stream distribution service. <P>SOLUTION: An integrated management device 6 in this quality management method receives viewing and listening quality information of users who receive content distribution from an information management device 4 arranged at each base and hierarchically accumulates contents (encoder) 9, stream distribution servers 1 distributing the contents, the number of respective viewing and listening users of a user area to which users receiving distribution belong and the number of degradation users on the basis of the viewing and listening quality information of the users. Then, the integrated management device 6 calculates the ratio of the degradation users to the whole viewing and listening users, compares degradation ratios of contents, distribution servers and user areas with prescribed thresholds in order of large degradation influence, determines a degradation causes and specifies degradation places. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to viewing quality management technology in a large-scale stream distribution service, and in particular, the viewing quality of all users is centrally managed in a hierarchical structure, the degradation area is specified and the degradation user area is narrowed down, and degradation occurs. The present invention relates to a quality management method for large-scale stream delivery, a viewing quality management device, and a viewing quality management program for extracting information for delivering a failure telop to viewing users.

As conventional or existing viewing quality management techniques, there are a “stream quality management device” and a “stream quality management program”, which are described on page 6 and subsequent pages of Patent Document 1 below. Further, as a technology for dealing with viewing quality degradation, there is a “distribution service quality degradation estimation method and apparatus”, which is described on and after page 6 of Patent Document 2 below.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-258885 JP 2003-304285 A

  The conventional technology has a limit to the number of users who can manage the viewing quality of stream distribution. Therefore, in large-scale stream distribution services such as terrestrial television broadcasting where the number of users who manage viewing quality is enormous, It is necessary to install an information management device for managing viewing quality at each distribution base. When an information management device is installed at each distribution base, a maintenance operator needs to be deployed at each distribution base, and the maintenance operation cost becomes enormous.

  In addition, when a complaint is filed from a user, the information management device that manages the viewing quality of the complaint user cannot be grasped, so it is necessary to search the viewing quality information of the complaint user for all information management devices. , It takes a long time to handle complaints.

  In a large-scale stream distribution service, one content can be distributed to multiple distribution bases, one distribution server can distribute multiple contents, and users can watch across multiple distribution bases. The form becomes complicated. Due to the complexity of the operation mode, a plurality of pieces of statistical information such as viewing quality information of one user, the number of deteriorated users who are viewing the same content, and the number of deteriorated users who are viewing within a user area in a specific area are managed by a plurality of information. Distributedly managed by the device.

  Therefore, it takes time to identify the encoder failure and distribution server failure that cause the viewing quality to deteriorate, and to narrow down the user area in which the deterioration has occurred. The failure information such as the cause of deterioration of the quality and the degree of deterioration cannot be notified as a telop to the viewing user whose viewing quality has deteriorated.

  Since there is no method or device for centrally managing the information of these distributed information management devices, it is possible to centrally manage viewing users of all information management devices, identify the cause of degradation of viewing quality, and narrow down the degradation points , It is not possible to provide a service that notifies the cause of failure and the degree of deterioration to the area where the failure occurs.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, to centrally manage the viewing quality for each user in a large-scale stream distribution service, to identify the cause of deterioration and to narrow down the user area that has deteriorated. And

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides statistical information on viewing quality information of users distributed and managed by an integrated management apparatus by an information management apparatus, in units of contents (encoders), distribution servers, and user areas in a distribution base. Centrally managed in units, the cause of viewing quality degradation is identified, the user area where viewing quality is degraded is narrowed down, and information for notifying the viewing user of the degradation information is extracted. Here, the user area is a regional management unit of the network to which the user belongs.

  When the user makes a viewing start request to the distribution server, the information management device includes connection request information such as a connected user ID, a content ID to be viewed, a user area to which the user belongs, a connected distribution server IP address, When a user makes a viewing disconnect request to the distribution server, the disconnect request information such as the disconnected user ID can be managed, and the user's degradation, degradation sign, and degradation recovery viewing quality are managed. Assuming The user ID is user identification information that uniquely identifies the user, and may be a user name if unique. The content ID is content identification information for uniquely identifying the content, and may be a content name if unique.

  Degradation of user viewing quality and signs of deterioration in information management devices are determined by, for example, tracing bandwidth change requests from users, counting the number of stream data retransmission requests, and measuring the amount of stream data held in the buffer in the user terminal. can do.

  The information management apparatus notifies the integrated management apparatus of a user ID and a content ID as user viewing start information when the user makes a request to start viewing to the distribution server. Further, when the user makes a request for disconnection of viewing to the distribution server, the user ID is notified to the integrated management apparatus as user viewing disconnection information.

  When receiving the user viewing start information from the information management device, the integrated management device stores the received time, the user ID, the content ID, and the notified IP address of the information management device in the user management database. When the user viewing disconnect information is received from the information management device, the received time, the user ID, and the notified IP address of the information management device are stored in the user management database.

  When the integrated management device receives a complaint report from the user, the integrated management device searches the IP address of the information management device from the user management database using the user ID of the complaint report, the content ID being viewed and the viewing time zone as keys. Since the past viewing quality information of the complaint user is remotely retrieved from the retrieved information management device and the complaint is dealt with, the complaint handling time can be shortened. In addition, since all complaints can be reported at the site where the integrated management device is installed, the maintenance operator deployed at each distribution site is unnecessary, and the maintenance operation cost can be reduced.

  Possible causes of user viewing quality degradation include encoder failure, distribution server failure, network failure and congestion, user machine failure, access line failure and congestion. When the encoder breaks down, even if the distribution server, network, user machine, and access line are normal, the viewing quality of the user is degraded. If the distribution server fails, the viewing quality of the user is degraded even if the network, user machine, and access line are normal. Since the network is composed of individual user areas, the degree of deterioration influence is in the order of content, distribution server, and user area.

  In order to identify the cause of deterioration, in the present invention, the content belongs to the first layer, the distribution server that distributes the content to the second layer, and the user to whom the distribution server distributes the third layer. The number of viewing users and the number of degraded users in each area are totaled and managed in a hierarchical structure.

  When the user makes a viewing start request to the distribution server, the information management device searches the content ID of the user viewing start information from the first layer of the managed hierarchical structure, and the content is displayed in the first layer of the hierarchical structure. If no ID exists, the content ID of the viewing start information is added to the first layer of the hierarchical structure, the distribution server IP address is added to the second layer, and the user area is added to the third layer.

  If the content ID exists in the first layer of the hierarchical structure, the distribution server IP address of the user viewing start information is searched from the second layer of the managed hierarchical structure and distributed to the second layer of the hierarchical structure. When the server IP address does not exist, a distribution server IP address for viewing start information is added to the second layer of the hierarchical structure, and a user area is added to the third layer.

  If the distribution server IP address exists in the second layer of the hierarchical structure, the user area of the user viewing start information is searched from the third layer of the managed hierarchical structure, and the user is searched in the third layer of the hierarchical structure. If the area does not exist, the user area of the viewing start information is added to the third layer of the hierarchical structure.

  When the user starts viewing, the information management apparatus adds 1 to the number of viewing users for the hierarchical content, the distribution server, and the user area. When the viewing quality state of the user changes from good to deteriorated, the number of deteriorated users is incremented by 1 for each of the hierarchical content, the distribution server, and the user area. When the viewing quality state of the user changes favorably from deterioration, the number of deteriorated users is subtracted by 1 for each of the hierarchical content, distribution server, and user area.

  The information management apparatus notifies the integrated management apparatus of the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users regarding the hierarchical information, the hierarchical content, the distribution server, and the user area. The integrated management device receives the hierarchical structure information from each information management device, and merges and reconstructs the hierarchical structure. The number of viewing users and the number of degraded users are totaled for the reconstructed content, distribution server, and user area.

  In order to determine the deterioration, the integrated management device calculates the deterioration degree by dividing the number of deteriorated users from the number of viewing users for all contents in the first layer of the hierarchical structure, and determines the deterioration degree and the threshold value set by the user. If the degree of content degradation exceeds a threshold, the content (encoder) is identified as the cause of degradation. Further, the distribution server and user area under the hierarchical structure of the content identified as the cause of deterioration are excluded from the deterioration determination process.

  The number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users are totaled for those having the same distribution server IP address in the second layer of the hierarchical structure to be subjected to the deterioration determination process.

  For the distribution server IP address in the second layer of the hierarchical structure that is subject to degradation determination processing, the degradation degree is calculated by dividing the number of degradation users from the number of viewing users, and the degradation degree is compared with the threshold set by the user. If the degree of deterioration of the distribution server IP address exceeds the threshold, the distribution server of the distribution server IP address is identified as the cause of deterioration. Also, the user area under the hierarchical structure of the distribution server identified as the cause of deterioration is excluded from the deterioration determination process.

  The number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users are totaled for those in which the user areas in the third layer of the hierarchical structure targeted for the deterioration determination process match.

  For the third-tier user area of the hierarchy structure that is subject to degradation judgment processing, the degradation degree is calculated by dividing the number of degradation users from the number of viewing users, and the degradation degree is compared with the threshold set by the user. If the degree of deterioration of the user area exceeds the threshold value, the user area is identified as a deteriorated area. Note that the user area may coincide with the range of the area distributed by one distribution server, and in this case, the processing of the third layer can be omitted.

  As described above, in the present invention, in the large-scale stream distribution service, the number of viewing users in each of the content, the distribution server that distributes the content, and the user area to which the user who is distributing the distribution server belongs And the ratio of the number of deteriorated users to all viewing users is calculated, and the calculated deterioration ratio of the content, distribution server, and user area is compared with the deterioration ratio threshold in descending order of the degree of deterioration influence to determine the cause of deterioration. Judgment is made and the deterioration part is specified.

  Also, information on the content (encoder) being delivered to the delivery server in failure or the content (encoder) being viewed in the deteriorated user area is extracted, and a telop that informs the user screen of the failure state is sent.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the cost of maintenance and operation of a large-scale stream distribution service and shorten the time required for complaint reporting by unifying the management of viewing quality.

  In addition, it is possible to identify the cause of degradation in viewing quality due to encoder failure or distribution server failure, and to narrow down the users who are experiencing degradation, and to provide the viewing user with failure information such as failure cause and failure area. Is possible.

  FIG. 1 is a connection configuration diagram of a stream distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the system to which the present invention is applied includes a plurality of stream distribution servers 1 that distribute stream contents, a plurality of client terminals 2 that reproduce stream contents, and stream data that flows from the stream distribution server 1. And a plurality of information collection devices 3 that collect distribution quality from the stream control message, a plurality of information management devices 4 that collect viewing quality deteriorated user information from the information collection device 3, and a viewing that stores information held by the information management device 4 A quality information database (DB) 5, an integrated management device 6 that collects viewing quality degradation information from a plurality of information management devices 4, a viewing quality information database (DB) 7 that stores information held by the integrated management device 6, and a stream Content supply source for distributing content to the distribution server 1 (hereinafter referred to as content (encoding 9) and the stream distribution provider terminal 8 that receives the notification data of the user area, the distribution server, the content degradation point and the degree of degradation, which are transmitted by the integrated management device 6 and have deteriorated quality. The network equipment includes lines 20 to 24, a router 10, and a TAP device (network distribution device) 11.

  The user area indicates a network management unit in the base, and there are a plurality of areas in the base for each region. The content (encoder) 9 is, for example, content encoded stream data, a content server that distributes the content, a storage medium that stores specific content to be distributed, an encoder that generates content encoded stream data, and the like. Any implementation may be used in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which there are a large number of stream distribution servers 1 and client terminals 2, the number may be one or more. Further, only one information management device 4 is required for each distribution base. Moreover, although the example which has one each of the integrated management apparatus 6 and the stream delivery provider terminal 8 is shown, the number may each be one or more. Moreover, although the case where there are two contents (encoders) 9 is shown, one or more is sufficient. The network lines 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 include, but are not limited to, telephone lines, ADSL lines, and optical fiber lines.

  The first feature of this system is that user information distributed and managed by the information management device 4 can be centrally managed by the integrated management device 6. That is, in this system, the stream quality management of the viewing user is performed using the information management apparatus 4 based on the existing stream quality management program (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-258885) as shown in Patent Document 1, The integrated management device 6 records and manages the user viewing information sent from the information management device 4 at the start of viewing by the viewing user in the user management database 604 (FIG. 2). By searching with the viewing user ID and content ID as keys in the integrated management device 6, it is possible to know which information management device 4 the viewing user belongs to, and to extract the quality information of the viewing user from the information management device 4. As a result, the integrated management device 6 can realize centralized management of user viewing information distributed and managed.

  The second feature of this system is that user viewing information distributed and managed by the information management device 4 is collected in the integrated management device 6, and the dependency relationship between the content (encoder) 9, the stream distribution server 1 and the user area is hierarchically structured ( (Hereinafter referred to as a hierarchical structure), the total number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers are counted, and content (encoder) 9, stream distribution server 1, user area By seeing whether the deterioration ratio exceeds the threshold in order, it is possible to specify which one of the content 9, the stream distribution server 1, and the user area is deteriorated, and to know how much the deterioration is.

  The third feature of this system is that the fault telop is inserted into the user screen only for users who have failed when degradation or failure occurs. In addition, the content (encoder) 9 into which the telop is to be inserted can be specified by tracing the hierarchical structure to the upstream layer.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information management device 4 and the integrated management device 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The viewing user's stream quality management is performed using an existing stream quality management program (for example, see Patent Document 1), and the user viewing information of the viewing user is sent from the information collection device 3 to the receiving unit 401 of the information management device 4. It is assumed that viewing information for each user is stored in the database storage unit 403 so that the viewing status of a specific user can be referred to. The database storage unit 403 and the hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 411 correspond to the viewing quality information DB 5 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of the database structure of the database storage unit 403 that is an existing part. Information collected when the user starts viewing is [CONNECT], [OPEN], and [START] in FIGS. 3A to 3C. Information collected when the viewing quality transitions is shown in FIG. [CHANGE] and information collected at the end of viewing (at the time of disconnection) are [STOP], [CLOSE], [DOWN], and [SHUTDOWN] in FIGS. Among these pieces of information, items indicated by ● are DB fields that are reused in the present embodiment.

  The information shown in FIG. 3 is obtained by tracing the packet flowing between the stream distribution server 1 and the client terminal (PC) 2 by the information collection device 3 via the TAP device 11 and transferring the traced information to the information management device 4. To be collected.

  The unified management method of viewing user information distributed and managed by the information management device 4 is as follows. When a certain user starts viewing a stream, the transmission unit 408 of the information management device 4 notifies the reception unit 601 of the integrated management device 6 of the user ID and the content ID as viewing start information. Also, when the user makes a request for disconnection of viewing to the stream distribution server 1, the user ID is notified to the receiving unit 601 as user viewing disconnection information. These notifications are made by the transmission unit 408 toward the reception unit 601 of the integrated management apparatus 6.

  The table generation DB storage unit 603 of the integrated management apparatus 6 adds the reception time and records it in the user management DB 604 as reproduction start information together with the user ID, content ID, and information management apparatus IP address received from the information management apparatus 4. A form of recording in the user management DB 604 is shown in FIG.

  Also, when the user stops viewing, the transmission unit 408 of the information management device 4 sends the user ID to the reception unit 601 of the integrated management device 6, and the table generation DB storage unit 603 performs user management using the user ID as a key. The DB 604 is searched and recorded in the user management DB 604 with the reception time as the end time.

  When receiving the inquiry, the contact person 81 of the stream distribution company searches for the user ID, viewing time, and content of the customer, searches the user management DB 604 using the user ID, viewing time, and content as a key, With reference to the information management device IP address of the information management device 4 managed by the viewing user, the inquiry unit 605 remotely accesses the database storage unit 403 of the information management device 4 at the base using the IP address. Then, the quality information of the viewing user is extracted. The contact person 81 can handle the user based on the extracted information. The user information distributed and managed in this way can be centrally managed by the integrated management device 6.

  Next, a method for identifying a deteriorated part and a method for estimating the deterioration degree will be described. As a premise, there are a plurality of stream distribution servers 1 and a plurality of user areas for each distribution base (base A, base B, other base), a plurality of viewing users are accommodated in each user area, and the content (encoder) 9 is other Distribution is also performed to the distribution base, the stream distribution server 1 can handle one or more contents, and the viewing user can access the stream distribution server 1 managed in the distribution base and can view a plurality of contents. The viewing quality of the viewing user is estimated for each distribution base by the information management apparatus 4, and the management information of the information management apparatus 4 at these distribution bases is collected and managed centrally by the integrated management apparatus 6. And

  When the viewing of the user is started or when the viewing quality is deteriorated due to a retransmission request or a band change request, the user quality monitoring unit 404 receives the user information from the information collecting device 3 via the receiving unit 401 and the command determining unit 402. When viewing information is received, the user viewing management table 405 is updated.

  FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of the user viewing management table 405 managed by the information management apparatus 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the user viewing management table 405 records the user ID, user IP address, user area, content name, distribution server IP address, and viewing quality of the user receiving the stream distribution.

  Also, the user quality monitoring unit 404 notifies the user viewing information to the hierarchical structure search unit 406. The hierarchical structure search unit 406 determines which content (encoder) 9 the user is viewing the stream that has passed through the stream distribution server 1 and which user area it belongs to by referring to the received user viewing information, The data is recorded in the deterioration rate table 411 of the hierarchical structure by the hierarchical structure table generation unit 407.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 411 managed by the information management apparatus 4. As shown in FIG. 6, the information management apparatus 4 manages information indicating the state of deterioration in stream distribution in a hierarchical structure with the content (encoder) 9 as a root, by using a hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 411. (Encoder) 9, While recognizing the dependency relationship between the stream distribution server 1 and the user area, the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers of each part are updated. By managing these information in a hierarchical structure, to which stream distribution server 1 the specific content (encoder) 9 distributes, to which user area the specific stream distribution server 1 distributes And the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers can be calculated.

  When the viewing user starts viewing, the receiving unit 401 receives the user viewing quality information of the user reproduction start and determines that the user viewing is started. User information is recorded as a database in the existing database storage unit 403 at the start of user viewing, and includes a user IP address, a user ID, a user area in use, and a distribution server IP of the stream distribution server 1 receiving the distribution. Since the address and the content ID being viewed are recorded, the user quality monitoring unit 404 receives the user IP address, the user ID, the user area in use, the stream distribution server 1 receiving the distribution in the hierarchical structure search unit 406 The content (encoder) 9 being viewed and the viewing status are determined and registered in the user viewing management table 405 for management.

  Further, in order to manage the number of deteriorated users and the number of predictive users by the hierarchical structure table generation unit 407, a hierarchical ratio deterioration ratio table 411 is generated, and the dependency relationship between contents, distribution servers, and user areas is constructed. While managing in a hierarchical structure. For this purpose, the hierarchical structure search unit 406 first checks whether the content (encoder) 9 to be registered in the hierarchical structure already exists in the hierarchical structure. If it exists, the hierarchical structure table generation unit 407 adds 1 to the counter of the number of content viewers. If it does not exist, it is newly registered in the hierarchical structure, the content ID is registered, and the counter of the number of viewers of the content is set to 1.

  Further, in order to register the stream distribution server 1 in a hierarchical structure, it is searched whether the stream distribution server 1 to which the user is receiving is registered from the subordinates of the content that the user is viewing. For example, 1 is added to the counter of the number of viewers of the stream distribution server 1. If not registered, new registration is performed, the distribution server IP address is registered, and the number of viewers is set to 1.

  Further, in order to register the user area in the hierarchical structure, it is searched whether or not the user area to which the user belongs is registered from the subordinates of the stream distribution server 1 that the user is viewing. 1 is added to the counter of the number of viewers in the area. If it is not registered, it is newly registered, a user area is registered, and the count of the number of viewers in the user area is set to 1.

  Even when the stream distribution server 1 handles a plurality of contents (encoders) 9, the counter is updated only for the part where the corresponding content is viewed, and the counter is not updated for the part where the corresponding content is not viewed. Even if the user area receives distribution from a plurality of stream distribution servers 1, the counter is updated only for the portion receiving distribution from the corresponding stream distribution server 1. Do not update. This rule is also applied when there is a change in viewing conditions or when viewing is stopped.

  When there is a change in the viewing status, the user quality monitoring unit 404 searches the user viewing management table 405 using the user ID in the received user information information as a key, and confirms and rewrites the viewing status of the user. At this time, the viewing situation before the rewriting is compared with the viewing situation after the rewriting, and then the counter increasing / decreasing method executed by the hierarchical structure table generating unit 407 is determined.

  The counter increase / decrease method adds 1 to the number of deteriorated users when the user's viewing status transitions from good to deteriorated, and adds 1 to the number of predictive deterioration users when transitions from good to deteriorated sign. When the transition is made, 1 is subtracted from the number of deteriorated users. When the transition is made from deterioration to the sign of deterioration, 1 is subtracted from the number of deteriorated users and 1 is added to the number of predictive users of deterioration. When 1 is subtracted from the number of users and transition is made from deterioration sign to deterioration, 1 is subtracted from the number of deterioration sign users and 1 is added to the number of deteriorated users. In this way, the number of deteriorated users and the number of predictive users of the content, stream distribution server, and user area are increased or decreased. At this time, the hierarchical structure table generation unit 407 traces the hierarchical structure of the content, stream distribution server, and user area in order to increase or decrease the counter in the deterioration ratio table 411 of the hierarchical structure, and the corresponding content and stream distribution. Increase / decrease the number of users with signs of deterioration and deterioration in each server and user area.

  When the viewing is stopped, the user quality monitoring unit 404 of the information management device 4 searches the user viewing management table 405 using the user ID of the received viewing status information as a key, and obtains the viewing information of the user. The user information is deleted from the user viewing management table 405.

  In addition, the hierarchical structure table generation unit 407 includes a content, a stream distribution server, a counter for subtracting the number of viewers, the number of deteriorated users, and the number of predictive users in each hierarchical structure in the deterioration ratio table 411 of the hierarchical structure. Following the hierarchical structure of the user area, the corresponding content, the stream distribution server, the deterioration of the user area, the sign of deterioration, and the counter of the number of viewers are subtracted according to the viewing quality of the user who stopped viewing. At this time, if the viewer becomes 0, the corresponding content, stream distribution server, user area and the respective counters are deleted from the hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 411 from the hierarchical structure. In this way, the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive deterioration users, and the number of viewers can be managed for each content, stream distribution server, and user area in the distribution base while grasping the viewing dependency.

  Next, in the integrated management device 6, the total content at each site, the stream distribution server, the number of deteriorated users for each user area, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers are totaled, In order to be able to calculate the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers for each stream distribution server and user area, from the transmission unit 408 of the information management device 4 to the reception unit 601 of the integrated management device 6 at each site. A counter for the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers is sent together with the hierarchical information. In other words, the information in the deterioration ratio table 411 of the hierarchical structure is transmitted as it is or processed from the information management device 4 at each base to the integrated management device 6.

  Transmission of information in the deterioration ratio table 411 in the hierarchical structure is periodically performed at a time interval determined in advance by the period determination unit 410 when the information management device 4 receives a timer from the timer generation unit 409, for example.

  When the integrated management device 6 receives the deterioration ratio table 411 of the hierarchical structure of all the information management devices 4 via the reception unit 601 and the message determination unit 602, the integrated management device 6 passes through the hierarchical structure generation unit 606 and receives the content deterioration determination unit 607. In accordance with the hierarchical structure, the distribution server deterioration determination unit 608 and the user area deterioration determination unit 609 aggregate the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers with respect to the deterioration ratio table 612 in the hierarchical structure on the integrated management device 6. Do it.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 612 managed by the integrated management apparatus 6. The hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 612 basically has the same configuration as the hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 411 managed by each information management device 4.

  The method of counting the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers in the deterioration ratio table 612 in the hierarchical structure is as follows. Based on the information in one hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 411 received from the information management apparatus 4, the hierarchically structured deterioration ratio table 612 is searched in the order of content, stream distribution server, and user area. Register with the structure.

  First, the hierarchical structure generation unit 606 searches for content to be registered, and if the content already exists in the hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 612, the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers of the existing content. In addition, the total number of degraded users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers of the content to be registered are recorded. If there is no content, new registration is performed, and the content that is the root of the hierarchical structure is registered. The number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers are those sent from the information management device 4 at each site. Record as is.

  Next, the hierarchical structure generation unit 606 registers the stream delivery server in the hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 612. Since the information of which content belongs is added to the information of the stream delivery server to be registered, the stream delivery server located under the content is searched, and if it already exists, the existing stream The number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users and the number of viewers of the distribution server and the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users and the number of viewers of the stream distribution server to be registered are totaled and recorded. If the corresponding stream distribution server does not exist, new registration is performed, the stream distribution server is registered under the corresponding content, and the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers are obtained from the information management device 4 at each base. Record what has been sent.

  Next, the hierarchical structure generation unit 606 registers the user area in the hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 612. Information on which content and stream distribution server belongs is added to the information of the user area to be registered. Therefore, the user area located under the combination of the content and the stream distribution server is searched and already exists. If so, record the total number of degraded users, number of predictive users and viewers in the existing user area, and the number of degraded users, number of predictive users and viewers in the user area to be registered. To do. If the corresponding user area does not exist, it is newly registered, the user area is registered under the combination of the corresponding content and the stream distribution server, and the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers are Record what is sent from 4.

  By repeating this for the information management devices 4 at all bases, it is possible to know the contents of the entire stream distribution service facility, the number of deteriorated users, the number of predictive users, and the number of viewers of each stream distribution server and user area. it can.

  Next, the deterioration rate for each content, stream distribution server, and user area is calculated, and the deterioration location and the deterioration degree are calculated. The calculation method is as follows. In accordance with the hierarchical structure recorded in the hierarchical deterioration ratio table 612, the content deterioration determination unit 607, the distribution server deterioration determination unit 608, and the user area deterioration determination unit 609 perform deterioration in the order of content, stream distribution server, and user area. Make a decision. If it is determined that the content has deteriorated in this deterioration determination, it is clear that the subordinate stream distribution server or user area has deteriorated. Do not target. Similarly, when it is found that the stream distribution server has deteriorated, the user area under its control is also deteriorated, so that user area is not subject to deterioration determination.

  However, for example, when the number of viewers is less than a predetermined threshold, the credibility of the deterioration rate is low, such as a high deterioration rate even with a small number of deteriorations. Do not monitor the threshold unless the number of viewers exceeds a certain level. Do not perform deterioration judgment. The stream distribution server and user area located under the hierarchical structure also do not perform deterioration determination. If the number of viewers exceeds a certain number, the portion is subjected to deterioration determination.

  Since the signs of deterioration are somewhat less symptomatic than the states of deterioration, if the symptom (effect level) of the deterioration state is 1, the deterioration sign state is considered to be somewhat lower than 1. Therefore, when calculating the deterioration rate, instead of adding 1 to the number of deteriorated users, the number of deteriorated users is converted from the number of deteriorated users to the number of deteriorated users according to the ratio specified by the operator. , Calculate a more accurate deterioration rate. Therefore, when calculating the deterioration rate, the number of deteriorated users is added as it is, the number of predictive users is multiplied by a number less than 1, and the sum of the number of deteriorated users is divided by the number of viewers. Calculate the rate.

  However, if it is determined that the content has deteriorated, the subordinate stream distribution server and user area are not used for the deterioration determination. Further, when it is determined that the stream distribution server is deteriorated, the deterioration rate is calculated without using the user area under the stream distribution server for the deterioration determination. When the deterioration rate can be calculated, it is compared with a threshold value for determining deterioration.

  Degradation determination by the degradation specifying unit 610 is provided with a threshold value that can be judged as high degree of degradation, a threshold value that can be judged as moderate degree of deterioration, and a threshold value that can be judged as low degree of degradation. Do this by monitoring for any.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a table indicating the degree of deterioration. The table indicating the degree of deterioration stores correspondence information between the degree of deterioration and the degree of deterioration for determining that the degree of deterioration is “strong”, “medium”, “weak”, and “no deterioration”. If each threshold is exceeded, the part can be determined as a deteriorated part, and the degree of deterioration can be determined depending on which threshold is exceeded.

  When the threshold value for determining that the deterioration is high is exceeded, the portion can be determined as a deterioration portion, and the degree of deterioration is 1 (strong). When the threshold value for determining that the deterioration is moderate is exceeded, the portion can be determined as a deterioration portion, and the degree of deterioration is 2 (medium). When the threshold value for judging that the degradation is low is exceeded, the location can be judged as a degradation location, and the degree of degradation is 3 (weak). If neither threshold is exceeded, it is determined that the portion has not deteriorated.

  By doing so, it is possible to know the deteriorated part and the degree of deterioration. When the deterioration location and the deterioration level are found, the notification unit 611 notifies the stream distribution provider terminal 8 of the deterioration location and the deterioration level. By the method of grasping the number of viewers and the number of deteriorated users by this hierarchical structure, it is possible to determine whether or not the content (encoder) 9, the stream distribution server 1, and the user area are each deteriorated in quality.

  Finally, a method of specifying the content (encoder) 9 from the information on the deteriorated part in order to insert a telop and limit the content band is as follows. In this system, the content, stream distribution server, and user area are managed in a hierarchical structure by the hierarchical structure deterioration ratio table 612 of the integrated management apparatus 6, but after determining the deterioration location, the deterioration specifying unit 610 Uses the hierarchical structure to discriminate the content (encoder) 9 receiving the distribution by tracing the tree of the hierarchical structure from the determined degradation location to the upstream hierarchy. The notification unit 611 notifies the stream distributor terminal 8 of the deterioration location and the deterioration degree, and notifies the content (encoder) 9 that is a place where the telop is to be inserted.

  In the content distribution route, by inserting a telop automatically or manually into the content (encoder) 9 portion, the telop is displayed on the stream distribution server 1 affected by the degradation or the user screen under the user area. It is possible to inform the deterioration location and the deterioration level.

The features of the present embodiment for performing quality control and identification of degradation points in the large-scale stream distribution described above are as follows.
(1) The integrated management device 6 receives from the information management device 4 the user name, the content name viewed by the user at the start of viewing, and the user name at the end of viewing, and holds it.
(2) The integrated management device 6 extracts the viewing content name, distribution server IP address, and user IP address at the start of user viewing, and distributes the content name to the first layer and the content to the second layer The IP address and the IP address of the user to which the user being distributed by the stream distribution server 1 belongs in the third layer is managed in a hierarchical structure.
(3) For users whose deterioration cause is not the content (encoder) 9, the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users for each stream distribution server 1 are totaled, the ratio of the number of deteriorated users to all viewing users is calculated, and the deterioration ratio threshold value is calculated. By comparing with the obtained value, the deteriorated stream delivery server 1 is specified, and the degree of deterioration is estimated.
(4) For users whose degradation causes are not the content (encoder) 9 and the stream distribution server 1, the number of viewing users and the number of degraded users for each user area are totaled, and the ratio of the number of degraded users to all viewing users is calculated. By comparing the threshold value with the calculated value, the user area that has deteriorated is specified, and the degree of deterioration is estimated.
(5) When the viewing quality is deteriorated due to a failure of a specific stream distribution server 1, a failure telop of information such as the degree of deterioration and the cause of deterioration is given to the user connected to the failed stream distribution server 1. In order to stream, the content (encoder) 9 being delivered to the stream delivery server 1 in failure is extracted in real time.
(6) When the viewing quality is deteriorated only in the specific user area, in order to send a failure telop such as the degree of deterioration and deteriorated user area information to the user who is viewing the deteriorated user area, The content (encoder) 9 inside is extracted.

  The processes performed by the information management device 4 and the integrated management device 6 can be realized by a computer and a software program, and the program can be provided by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. It is also possible.

It is a connection block diagram of the stream delivery system which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block block diagram of the information management apparatus and integrated management apparatus which are one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the database structure of a database preservation | save part. It is a figure which shows the example of the user management database managed with an integrated management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the user viewing management table managed with an information management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the deterioration ratio table of the hierarchical structure managed with an information management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the deterioration ratio table of the hierarchical structure managed with an integrated management apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of the table | surface which shows a deterioration degree.

Explanation of symbols

1 Stream distribution server 2 Client terminal (PC)
3 Information collection device 4 Information management device 5 Viewing quality information DB
6 Integrated management device 7 Viewing quality integrated DB
8 Stream distributor terminal 9 Content (encoder)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Router 11 TAP apparatus 20 Line between contents (encoder) and stream distribution server 21 Internet connection line of stream distribution server 22 Internet connection line of stream distribution server (in front of TAP apparatus)
23 Internet connection line of stream delivery server (after TAP device)
24 User area line 81 Contact person 401 Reception unit 402 Command determination unit 403 Database storage unit 404 User quality monitoring unit 405 User viewing management table 406 Hierarchical structure search unit 407 Hierarchical structure table generation unit 408 Transmission unit 409 Timer generation unit 410 Period determination Section 411 Degradation ratio table of hierarchical structure 601 Reception section 602 Message determination section 603 Table generation DB storage section 604 User management DB
605 Inquiry unit 606 Hierarchical structure generation unit 607 Content degradation determination unit 608 Distribution server degradation determination unit 609 User area degradation determination unit 610 Degradation specification unit 611 Notification unit 612 Degradation ratio table of hierarchical structure

Claims (10)

A plurality of information management devices that collect and manage user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to the user's terminal, and are connected to the plurality of information management devices via a network so that user viewing information is integrated. A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution in a system comprising an integrated management device for managing,
The integrated management device is
Receiving the user identification information and the content identification information viewed by the user from the information management device when starting the content viewing of the user;
Recording user viewing information including at least reception time, user identification information, content identification information, and address information of the information management device in a user management database based on information received from the information management device;
Receiving user identification information from the information management device at the end of user content viewing;
Updating the relevant user viewing information in the user management database based on the user identification information received at the end of content viewing of the user;
In response to an inquiry from a content viewing user, the user management database is searched using the user identification information of the user, and an information management device for managing the user viewing quality information of the user is specified. Quality control method for large-scale stream delivery. A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution in a system including a management device that collects and manages user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to a user terminal,
The management device is
The content being viewed, the stream distribution server that distributes the content, the user area to which the user being distributed belongs, as the user starts viewing the content, stops viewing the user's content, and changes the viewing quality of the user Generate or update hierarchically structured information that indicates the hierarchical relationship between the contents, and aggregate the number of viewing users and degraded users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area in the hierarchically structured information. Process,
Based on the total results of the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area, the deterioration ratio of the number of deteriorated users to the number of viewed users is calculated, and each deterioration ratio and a predetermined threshold value are calculated. By comparison, the process of determining the deterioration of the content, the deterioration of the stream distribution server or the deterioration of the user area,
A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution, comprising: a step of identifying a degradation location based on the degradation determination result. The quality control method for large-scale stream delivery according to claim 2,
The management device is
In addition to the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users in the hierarchically structured information, the number of predictive deterioration users who are highly likely to deteriorate the viewing quality of the users is tabulated, and the number of predictive deterioration users is calculated as 1 in the calculation of the deterioration ratio. A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution, wherein the deterioration ratio is calculated by converting the number of deteriorated users with the following predetermined weight value. In the quality control method of the large-scale stream delivery according to claim 2 or 3,
In the process of performing the deterioration determination, a plurality of types of predetermined threshold values to be compared with the respective deterioration ratios are used, and the magnitude comparison with each threshold value is performed.
A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution, wherein in the process of identifying the degradation location, a degradation degree indicating a degree of degradation is output by comparing with each threshold value. In the quality control method for large-scale stream delivery according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4,
When it is determined that the viewing quality has deteriorated due to a failure of a specific stream distribution server through the process of specifying the deterioration location, a failure telop is sent to the user terminal connected to the failed stream distribution server. A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution, comprising: a step of extracting the content being distributed to the stream distribution server in failure in real time from the hierarchically structured information. In the quality management method for large-scale stream delivery according to claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4,
In order to send a fault telop to the terminal of the user who is viewing in the deteriorated user area when it is determined that the viewing quality is deteriorated only in the specific user area by the process of specifying the deteriorated portion, the hierarchy A quality management method for large-scale stream distribution, characterized by having a process of extracting content being distributed to a deteriorated user area in real time from structured information. A large-scale stream distribution system that is connected via a network to a plurality of information management devices that collect and manage user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to the user's terminal, and centrally manages user viewing information A viewing quality management device in
Means for receiving user identification information and content identification information viewed by the user from the information management device at the start of content viewing by the user;
Means for recording user viewing information including at least reception time, user identification information, content identification information and address information of the information management device in a user management database based on the information received from the information management device;
Means for receiving user identification information from the information management device at the end of user content viewing;
Means for updating corresponding user viewing information in the user management database based on user identification information received at the end of content viewing of the user;
In response to an inquiry from a content viewing user, the user management database is searched using the user identification information of the user, and an information management device for managing the user viewing quality information of the user is specified. A viewing quality management device. A viewing quality management device in a large-scale stream distribution system that collects and manages user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to a user's terminal,
The content being viewed, the stream distribution server that distributes the content, the user area to which the user being distributed belongs, as the user starts viewing the content, stops viewing the user's content, and changes the viewing quality of the user Generate or update hierarchically structured information that indicates the hierarchical relationship between the contents, and aggregate the number of viewing users and degraded users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area in the hierarchically structured information. Means,
Based on the total results of the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area, the deterioration ratio of the number of deteriorated users to the number of viewed users is calculated, and each deterioration ratio and a predetermined threshold value are calculated. By means of comparison, means for determining deterioration of content, deterioration of stream distribution server or user area,
A viewing quality management apparatus comprising: means for identifying a deterioration location based on the deterioration determination result. A large-scale stream distribution system that is connected via a network to a plurality of information management devices that collect and manage user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to the user's terminal, and centrally manages user viewing information A program for causing a computer included in the viewing quality management device in FIG.
Said computer,
Means for receiving user identification information and content identification information viewed by the user from the information management device at the start of content viewing by the user;
Means for recording user viewing information including at least reception time, user identification information, content identification information and address information of the information management device in a user management database based on the information received from the information management device;
Means for receiving user identification information from the information management device at the end of user content viewing;
Means for updating corresponding user viewing information in the user management database based on user identification information received at the end of content viewing of the user;
In response to an inquiry from a content viewing user, means for searching the user management database using the user identification information of the user and identifying an information management device for managing the user viewing quality information of the user,
Viewing quality management program to function as. A program to be executed by a computer included in a viewing quality management device in a large-scale stream distribution system that collects and manages user viewing quality information of content distributed from each stream distribution server to a user terminal,
Said computer,
The content being viewed, the stream distribution server that distributes the content, the user area to which the user being distributed belongs, as the user starts viewing the content, stops viewing the user's content, and changes the viewing quality of the user Generate or update hierarchically structured information that indicates the hierarchical relationship between the contents, and aggregate the number of viewing users and degraded users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area in the hierarchically structured information. Means,
Based on the total results of the number of viewing users and the number of deteriorated users for each content, stream distribution server, and user area, the deterioration ratio of the number of deteriorated users to the number of viewed users is calculated, and each deterioration ratio and a predetermined threshold value are calculated. By means of comparison, means for determining deterioration of content, deterioration of stream distribution server or user area,
Means for identifying a deterioration location based on the deterioration determination result;
Viewing quality management program to function as.

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