JP2006343938A - Content delivery system, content delivery server, content receiving device, and content delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content delivery system, capable of performing content delivery while flexibly changing the data quality even in the same content in response to a user's request, and a content delivery server, a content receiving device, and a content delivery method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: An image/voice content delivery server 100 and a user terminal 200 are mutually communicably connected through a network 30. An image/voice quality setting part 203 accepts a setting change of the quality of image or voice from a user while receiving and reproducing a packet from the content delivery server 10. The changed set information is transmitted to the content delivery server 100 through a setting information transmission part 204. In the content delivery server 100, based on the received setting information, a reproduction control part 104 changes the reproduction state, and a content conversion part 103 changes the compression or resolution of content or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system and a content distribution method for distributing content from a content distribution server to a content receiving device via a communication line.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a content distribution system such as a video on demand system for providing content including video and audio to a terminal via the Internet or an intranet has been proposed.

In such a content distribution system, even if special playback such as pause or fast-forward is performed, the content is charged for the purpose of valid charging and ensuring the fairness of charge burden among users. In the distribution apparatus, there is a charging control method for measuring the amount of transfer packets and controlling the amount of charges from the measured amount of transfer packets (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-207936 A

  Here, the amount of content packets increases as the data quality of content from the content distribution side to the reception side increases. Therefore, when charging is performed as described above, the higher the data quality, the greater the amount charged.

  However, since all scenes are distributed with the same data quality in the same content, charging is performed on scenes that are not important for the user in the same manner as scenes that are important for the user, and appropriate charging for the user is not performed. There was a situation that there was a case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional circumstances, and a content distribution system, a content distribution server, and a content reception capable of flexibly changing content within the same content in response to a user request An object is to provide an apparatus and a content distribution method.

  The content distribution server of the present invention is a content distribution server that distributes content to a content receiving device via a communication line, and receives setting information including a data quality level of the content to be distributed from the content receiving device. Receiving means, content converting means for converting content data distributed to the content receiving apparatus according to a data quality level included in the setting information, and transmitting the converted content data to the content receiving apparatus Content data transmission means, and when the content conversion means receives the setting information for changing the data quality level when the content data is being transmitted to the content receiving device, the content conversion means has the changed data quality level. Convert accordingly.

  With this configuration, it is possible to change the data quality during content transmission, so that the user can flexibly respond to the user's request such as playing the content and changing the data quality for each scene. Can do.

  In the content distribution server of the present invention, the setting information received from the content receiving device includes a reproduction status in the content receiving device, and charging control means for controlling a charging amount related to the content distribution based on the setting information Is further provided. With this configuration, it is possible to charge according to the quality of the distributed content data.

  In the content distribution server of the present invention, the charging control means transmits to the content receiving device from the reproduction status of the content data in the content receiving device, the playback section, and the data quality based on the setting information. The calculated data amount is obtained, and the charge amount is calculated from the data amount. With this configuration, the amount of data transmitted is calculated in accordance with the playback status, its section, and data quality, so that it is possible to charge appropriately for the provided service.

  The content receiving apparatus of the present invention is a content receiving apparatus that receives content from a content distribution server via a communication line, and that receives data from the content distribution server and data receiving means for receiving content data from the content distribution server. A setting information specifying means for specifying setting information including the data quality level of the content; and a setting information transmitting means for transmitting the specified setting information to a content distribution server. During the content data reception by the data receiving means, When the change of the setting information is specified by the setting information specifying unit, the changed setting information is transmitted from the setting information transmitting unit.

  This configuration makes it possible to change the data quality during content reception (playback). Therefore, content that flexibly responds to user requests, such as the user playing back content and changing the data quality for each scene. Distribution can be performed.

  The content receiving apparatus of the present invention further includes display means for displaying a user interface for changing video quality and audio quality on a display screen for content reproduction display. With this configuration, the user can easily specify a change in video or audio quality.

  The content distribution system of the present invention includes the content distribution server and the content receiving device. This system makes it possible to change the data quality during content distribution, so that the user can flexibly respond to the user's request such as playing the content and changing the data quality for each scene. Can do.

  The content distribution method of the present invention is a content distribution method for distributing content to a content receiving device via a communication line, and receiving setting information including a data quality level of the content to be distributed from the content receiving device; Converting content data to be distributed to the content receiving device according to a data quality level included in the setting information, transmitting the converted content data to the content receiving device, and the content A step of converting according to the changed data quality level when setting information for changing the data quality level is received during transmission of the content data to the receiving device.

  This method makes it possible to change the data quality during content distribution, so that the user can flexibly respond to the user's request, such as playing the content and changing the data quality for each scene. Can do.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a content distribution system, a content distribution server, a content receiving apparatus, and a content distribution method that can perform content distribution with flexible data quality even within the same content in response to a user request.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a video / audio distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the video / audio distribution system of this embodiment includes a video / audio content distribution server 100 and a user terminal 200 connected via a communication line such as a network 30.

  The video / audio content distribution server 100 receives the file 101 storing the high-quality uncompressed video / audio content, the video / audio quality setting information and the reproduction status transmitted from the user terminal 200, and receives the received information. Content setting unit 103, charging control unit 108, user setting information reception / notification unit 102 passed to playback control unit 104, and content playback for realizing special playback requests such as fast forward and rewind notified from user terminal 200 A playback control unit 104 that controls the content, a content reading unit 105 that passes the uncompressed video / audio content file 101 to the content conversion unit 103, and a video compression format and angle of view of the video / audio content file 101 read by the content reading unit 105 The content conversion unit 103 for converting the network 30 and the network 30 A packet transmission unit 106 that transmits data converted by the content conversion unit 103 to a specific user terminal, a charging information file 107 that records quality setting information, a playback section, and a playback status, and a charging information file 107 are output. The charging control unit 108 calculates the amount of data transmitted to the user terminal 200 based on the charging information file 107.

  The user terminal 200 that receives content data from the video / audio content server 100 is, for example, a set-top box having a function of decoding the received compressed video / audio and outputting the video to a television screen or the like. The user terminal 200 receives the video / audio data transmitted from the video / audio content distribution server 100, decodes the received video / audio data, and the packet receiving unit 201 to be passed to the content reproduction unit 202, and displays it on the screen of the display device. Or a content reproduction unit 202 that outputs audio from the audio output device, a video / audio quality setting unit 203 that accepts a user's determination of the quality setting of the video / audio content being viewed, and a video / audio quality setting unit 203 A setting information transmission unit 204 for transmitting the quality setting information and the reproduction status to the video / audio content distribution server 100;

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed by the video / audio quality setting unit included in the user terminal 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention. A user who is a content viewer performs appropriate quality settings of video and audio by selecting and specifying display items on the screen G20.

  While viewing the content, the quality of the video quality 22 such as the compression format, compression rate, resolution, number of colors, etc. of the user terminal 200 on the viewing screen G20 of the user terminal 200, the compression format, the compression rate, After the user interface information for changing the quality of the voice quality G24 such as the number of channels is displayed, the user can freely change the setting by performing a selection operation on the screen G20.

  The screen G20 includes button displays for a rewind button B24, a play button B26, and a fast forward button B28 that are buttons that are selected and pressed to execute the video / audio rewind, playback, and fast forward functions.

  In this example, among the selection information for setting the quality of the video quality G22, the compression format is, for example, “MPEG-2” (Moving Picture Experts Group-2), the compression rate is, for example, “normal”, and the resolution is, for example, “Hi-vision” and the number of colors indicate that information such as “color (medium)” is selected. The compression format for setting the quality of the audio quality G24 is, for example, “AC-3” (Audio Code number 3), the compression rate is, for example, “normal”, and the number of channels is, for example, “5.1ch”. Indicates that information has been selected.

  As shown in an example of the screen G20, the screen displayed by the video / audio quality setting unit 203 has a means for allowing the user to perform playback status such as playback, fast forward, and rewind in addition to performing appropriate quality settings. As such, the user presses the play and / or fast forward or rewind button after making the appropriate quality settings. Therefore, the user can simultaneously make settings with reduced quality when fast-forwarding or rewinding.

  Next, the operation of the video / audio distribution system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. First, on the user terminal 200, information for selecting a title prepared in advance by the content provider is displayed on the screen, and a title to be viewed on the display screen is selected. Next, the video / audio quality setting unit 203 of the user terminal 200 displays the screen G20 on the user terminal 200.

  The importance of each scene in one title is different for each user. The user changes the quality level of the video / audio on the screen G20 of the user terminal 200 based on the importance of each scene while the user is viewing the content. The changed video / audio information is transmitted to the video / audio content distribution server 100 as quality level information, and the video / audio content distribution server 100 receives the video / audio quality level information transmitted from the user terminal 200. The video / audio content distribution server 100 performs resolution change, video compression, sound quality change, and audio compression according to the received quality level information. Next, the video / audio content distribution server 100 transmits the generated video / audio data to the user terminal 200.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the video / audio management information set in the user terminal, and FIG. 3 (A) is a diagram showing the entire video / audio management information and is a video / audio management record. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the breakdown.

  The video / audio quality setting unit 203 of the user terminal 200 generates a video / audio management record including the playback status information 300 including a playback request and the video / audio quality setting information 302 including quality information regarding video and audio. The playback status information 300 is information on playback status contents including special playback requests such as fast forward and rewind set in the user terminal 200, and the video / audio quality setting information 302 is a video / audio quality setting section of the user terminal 200. A change flag indicating quality information and change information related to the video 306 and audio 310 set in 203 is included.

  When changing the quality of the video / audio, the change flag 304 of the video / audio quality setting information 302 is turned on, and the video parameter 308 and the audio parameter 312 to be set are written.

  Also, when only the playback status information 300 is changed using a user interface such as a remote controller, the format is the same as the format shown in FIG. In this case, the change flag 304 of the video / audio quality setting information 302 is set to OFF, and the video parameter 308 and the audio parameter 312 are empty data.

  The video / audio management record data shown in the data format of FIG. 3 is transmitted from the setting information transmitting unit 204 of the user terminal 200, received by the user setting information receiving / notifying unit 102 of the video / audio content distribution server 100, and converted into content. Unit 103, charging control unit 108, and reproduction control unit 104.

  The playback control unit 104 positions data to be read from the uncompressed video / audio content file 101 in order to generate video / audio data corresponding to the playback status information 300 such as playback, fast forward, and rewind notified by the user terminal 200. And the position information is notified to the content reading unit 105.

  The content reading unit 105 sequentially reads data from the uncompressed video / audio content file 101 in accordance with the position information notified from the reproduction control unit 104 and passes the data to the content conversion unit 103.

  The content conversion unit 103 converts the data received from the content reading unit 105 using the conversion parameters according to the quality setting information, and converts the data passed from the content reading unit 105 such as bit rate, resolution, etc. Send it up.

  The charging control unit 108 outputs the notified video / audio quality setting information 302, the reproduction status information 300, and the like to the charging information file 107.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the accounting information file. The billing information file 104 includes information such as the playback status 42, time 44, video 46, audio 48, transmission data amount 49, and the like. The section number 40 represents the number of the section in which playback is performed with the same quality setting and playback status, and the video / audio quality setting information 302 has been changed from the start time when the user has viewed the content, or the playback status information 300 has been changed. At the time, it is given sequentially by the charging control unit 103. The playback status 42 is a playback status of the section, and is either playback and / or fast forward or rewind. In the case of fast forward or rewind, the function with the stage is realized. The time 44 includes a start time and an end time, and indicates a start time and an end time of the section, respectively. The parameters of the video 46 applied in each section include a compression format, a compression rate, a resolution, and the number of colors. The parameters of the audio 48 include a compression format, a compression rate, and the number of channels. The transmission data amount 49 calculated in this section is recorded in the category of section number 40.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure in which the charging control unit writes the charging information to the charging information file. The charging control unit 108 receives user setting information by setting information reception processing from the user terminal 200 (step S1). Next, it is determined whether or not the received user setting information is quality setting information (step S2). If it is quality setting information (YES in step S2), it is then determined whether or not a billing information file exists (step S2). S3).

  If the billing information file 107 does not exist at the time of viewing the content (NO in step S3), the billing information file 107 is created and written in the billing information file 107 with the section number as 1 (step S4). Further, the current time is acquired and written in the billing information file 107 as the start time of section number 1 (step S5). Thereafter, the video / audio quality setting information 302 and the reproduction status information 300 notified as described above are written in the billing information file 107 (step S10).

  On the other hand, if the charging information file 107 exists in the determination of step S3 (YES), the current time is acquired and written in the charging information file 107 as the end time of the previous section (step S6). Thereafter, the transmission data amount of the previous section is calculated from the start time, end time, playback status, and video / audio parameters of the section, and is written as the transmission data amount of the previous section (step S7). Next, the section number is incremented by +1 and a new section number is written in the billing information file 107 (step S8). The end time of the previous section is written as the start time of the new section number (step S9), and the quality setting information 302 and the reproduction status information 300 of the new section number are written (step S10).

  If the quality setting information is not determined in step S2 (NO), the current time is acquired and written in the billing information file 107 as the end time of the previous section (step S11). Thereafter, the transmission data amount of the previous section is calculated from the start time, end time, playback status, and video / audio parameters of the section, and is written as the transmission data amount of the previous section (step S12). Next, the section number is incremented by +1 and a new section number is written in the billing information file 107 (step S13). The end time of the previous section is written as the start time of the new section number (step S14), and the notified reproduction status information and the quality setting information of the previous section are duplicated and written in the billing information file 107 (step S15). When a series of processing steps are completed, the process ends at the end.

  As described above, after the content reproduction is started, the user can freely change the quality setting and the reproduction status while viewing the content. When these change requests are made, the user terminal 200 sends the change to the audiovisual content distribution server 100. The reproduction control unit 104, the content conversion unit 103, and the billing control unit 108 perform the above operations.

  Here, the following two patterns are accepted as examples of the change request. The first example is a case in which only the playback state is changed without changing the quality setting of the video and audio from the currently viewed one. In the change request in this case, the video / audio content distribution server 100 is notified of the changed reproduction status. The second example is a case in which the video / audio quality setting is changed. In the change request in this case, the video / audio content distribution server 100 is notified of the video / audio setting information 302 and the reproduction status 300 specified by the video / audio quality setting unit 203.

  Thereafter, the operation is performed as described above until the selected title ends or content viewing is stopped by a user operation. When the selected title ends or the content viewing is stopped by a user operation, the charging control unit 108 determines the viewing fee based on the sum of transmission data amounts calculated for all sections from the charging information file 107, and the user terminal 200 is notified. The user terminal 200 displays this fee, and the user confirms the viewing fee.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, the video / audio quality setting unit 203 in the user terminal 200, the reproduction control unit 104 and the content conversion unit 103 according to the video / audio quality information set in the user terminal 200, By providing the charging control unit 108 in the video / audio content distribution server 100, it is possible to perform video / audio content distribution according to the user's preference, and to perform charging that is advantageous to the user.

  As described above, the video / audio content distribution system according to the present invention can provide video / audio quality according to the user's preference when viewing the video / audio content, and only a scene having high importance for the user is expensive. It is possible to make an advantageous billing and deliver the video and audio quality of the less important part for the user, thereby reducing the network bandwidth and reducing the content storage area of the server. There is an advantage that content distribution, charge control, and the like can be performed in a content distribution system such as video and audio with charge using an interactive network represented by the Internet.

  The content distribution system, content distribution server, content receiving apparatus, and content distribution method of the present invention have the effect of enabling content distribution with flexible data quality even within the same content in response to a user's request. Useful for systems and the like.

A block diagram showing an example of a basic configuration of a video and audio distribution system of the present embodiment The figure which shows an example of the screen displayed by the audio-video quality setting part which the user terminal in embodiment of this invention has The figure which shows an example of the audio-video management information set with the user terminal The figure which shows an example of the contents of an accounting information file A flowchart showing a processing procedure for the charging control unit to write charging information to a charging information file

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Video / audio content delivery server 101 Uncompressed video / audio content file 102 User setting information reception / notification unit 103 Content conversion unit 104 Playback control unit 105 Content reading unit 106 Packet transmission unit 107 Accounting information file 108 Accounting control unit 200 User terminal 201 Packet Reception unit 202 Content reproduction unit 203 Video / audio quality setting unit 204 Setting information transmission unit

Claims (7)

A content distribution server for distributing content to a content receiving device via a communication line,
Setting information receiving means for receiving setting information including the data quality level of the content to be distributed from the content receiving device;
Content conversion means for converting content data distributed to the content receiving device according to a data quality level included in the setting information;
Content data transmitting means for transmitting the converted content data to the content receiving device;
With
A content distribution server for converting the setting according to the changed data quality level when the content conversion means receives setting information for changing the data quality level when transmitting the content data to the content receiving device. The content distribution server according to claim 1,
The setting information received from the content receiving device includes a reproduction status in the content receiving device, and further includes a charging control means for controlling a charging amount related to the content distribution based on the setting information. The content distribution server according to claim 2,
The charging control means obtains the data amount transmitted to the content receiving device from the reproduction status of the content data in the content receiving device, the playback section, and the data quality based on the setting information, and from the data amount A content receiving device that calculates a charge amount. A content receiving device for receiving content from a content distribution server via a communication line,
Data receiving means for receiving content data from the content distribution server;
Setting information specifying means for specifying setting information including a data quality level of content received from the content distribution server;
Setting information transmitting means for transmitting the specified setting information to a content distribution server;
With
A content receiving apparatus that transmits the changed setting information from the setting information transmitting means when the setting information specifying means is designated to change the setting information while the data receiving means is receiving content data. The content receiving device according to claim 4,
A content receiving apparatus further comprising display means for displaying a user interface for changing video quality and audio quality on a display screen for content reproduction display.   A content distribution system comprising the content distribution server according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and the content receiving device according to claim 4 or 5. A content distribution method for distributing content to a content receiving device via a communication line,
Receiving setting information including a data quality level of content to be distributed from the content receiving device;
Converting content data to be distributed to the content receiving device according to a data quality level included in the setting information;
Transmitting the converted content data to the content receiving device;
When setting information for changing a data quality level is received when content data is being transmitted to the content receiving device, the step of converting according to the changed data quality level;
A content distribution method comprising:

Images