JP2007036830A - Moving picture management system, moving picture managing method, client, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a moving picture management system capable of permitting contribution from general public users to at least a part of moving picture contents scattered on a network by a BBS or the like and allowing each user to retrieve the moving contents on the basis of the contributed contents. <P>SOLUTION: When a user inputs a contribution to a specified range of moving picture contents 70, a client 40 transmits positional information expressing the specified range and the contributed contents to an AP server 20. The AP server 20 records the specified range and the contributed contents which are received from the client 40 in a recording means as metadata 75 in relation to specific information for specifying the place of corresponding moving picture contents 70. The contributed contents of the recorded metadata 75 are allowed to be retrieved, and when contributed contents satisfying a retrieving condition exist, the client 40 displays the contributed contents and generates a metafile so that the contribution target part of the moving picture contents 70 may be reproduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a moving image management system that reproduces moving image content scattered on a network and enables posting to the moving image content and a scene of the moving image content.

  In the last few years, many corporate and home computers have been connected to broadband networks that can send and receive large amounts of data in a short time. On the other hand, the processing capability of computers has been improving year by year, and the storage capacity of external storage devices has also increased, enabling a large amount of data to be recorded. Such changes in the network environment and the development of technology are accelerating the growing need for reproducing and distributing large volumes of moving image data.

  Currently, a computer user can easily reproduce not only the moving image content stored in the computer (that is, local) but also the moving image content stored in a server on a network such as the Internet.

  A user searches for desired video content stored in a server on the Internet using an Internet search service or the like, and downloads the video content by streaming playback or downloads the video content to a local disk of a computer. You can watch it by playing it.

  In addition, as the use of moving image content becomes easier, many systems combining moving image content and existing systems have been provided. For example, several systems for associating and providing moving image content to users in an electronic bulletin board system (BBS: Bulletin Board System) provided using a network have been proposed.

Patent Document 1 discloses an electronic bulletin board providing system capable of editing video content recorded on a predetermined server and adding the edited content to the posted comment when posting on the electronic bulletin board. ing.
JP 2004-46620 A

  However, the electronic bulletin board providing system of Patent Document 1 cannot be used for receiving post comments from an unspecified number of users and collecting them as metadata for a scene of moving image content scattered on a network.

  The electronic bulletin board providing system of Patent Document 1 does not provide a mechanism that allows a plurality of users to post a single video content, and can simply “attach” video content data when each user posts. Absent.

  Also, in this system, it is possible to edit a part of the video content so that it is cut out and attach the edited video content data to the post. However, the original video content is limited to that recorded on a predetermined server. . Furthermore, in editing the moving image content, the original moving image content must be downloaded from the server to the user terminal and edited, and then the edited moving image content must be uploaded to the server.

  Until now, some services utilizing scene search of moving image content have been studied, but many of them have not actually provided services due to the huge number of tagging man-hours.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a moving image management system, a moving image management method, a client, and a program for accepting posted comments from an unspecified number of users and collecting them as metadata with respect to scenes of moving image content scattered on a network. It is to provide. Content posted by one or more users on at least a portion of the video content is associated with the video content portion, and posts from the user are posted in a bulletin board format (posts in which multiple users interact) It may be a post in the form of a comment (a post in the form of an individual user commenting individually). Such a moving image management system according to the present invention is used for a completely different application from the electronic bulletin board providing system of Patent Document 1 described above.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to maintain video content that is posted by a user for video content as metadata related to the video content, and to search for the video content by searching the metadata. A system, a moving image management method, a client, and a program are provided.

  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a moving image management system, a moving image management method, a client, and a program that collect information on moving image content scattered on a network as metadata by posting to the moving image content by a user. is there.

  Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a moving image management system, a moving image management method, a client, and a program capable of reproducing, posting, and searching for moving image content stored in an arbitrary place on a network.

  A further object of the present invention is to provide a video management system having a GUI that allows a user to specify the position of a video part to be posted and to post to the video part when viewing the video content, To provide a video management method, a client, and a program.

  A first embodiment of the present invention is a moving image management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network. Here, the client accesses the moving image content on the network and reproduces the moving image content. Video playback control means, position information representing the range of the video content, and post control means for accepting from the user the post content input regarding the range of the video content and transmitting the position information and post content to the server The server includes post management means for receiving position information and post content from the client, position information and post content received from the client, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related to these on the network. Metadata that includes the metadata and records the metadata in a predetermined recording means. Having a data generation means.

  With such a configuration of the present invention, it is possible to accept post comments from an unspecified number of users and collect them as metadata for scenes (ranges) of moving image content scattered on the network.

  A second embodiment of the present invention is a moving image management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network. Here, the client receives a search condition for moving image content from a user, and sets the search condition. The server has search control means for transmitting to the server, and the server specifies on the network the position information indicating the range of the moving image content, the posted content inputted for the range of the moving image content, and the location of the related moving image content. If there is a posting content that satisfies the search conditions by determining whether each of the recording means that records metadata including specific information for the content and the posting content in the metadata satisfy the search conditions received from the client Search management that sends specific information of video content corresponding to the posted content to the client And a stage.

  With such a configuration of the present invention, it is possible to search for posted comments given by an unspecified number of users with respect to scenes (ranges) of video content scattered on the network and specify video content that satisfies the search condition. It becomes possible.

  The third embodiment of the present invention is a moving image management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network, and the server inputs position information indicating the range of the moving image content and the moving image content range. Recording means for recording metadata including the posted content and specific information for specifying the location of the related video content on the network, and the specified video content in response to a request from the client Moving image reproduction management means for transmitting specific information, position information, and posted information to the client, the client accessing the moving image content using the moving image content specifying information received from the server, and the position information received from the server Movie playback control means for playing movie content in the range represented by Has the video reproduction control unit, whenever a range of video content represented by the respective position information is reproduced, it received from the server, and a post control means for displaying the posted content corresponding to the position information.

  With this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to display posted comments given by an unspecified number of users for scenes (ranges) of video content scattered on the network when the video content is played back. .

  A fourth embodiment of the present invention is a moving image management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network. The client uses a metafile used when playing moving image content on the network, and It has video playback control means for acquiring at least one of profile information of video content via a network, and the server acquires information when the client acquires at least one of metafile and profile information. To metadata generating means for generating metadata. Further, the metadata includes specific information for specifying the location of the moving image content on the network.

  With this configuration of the present invention, when accessing moving image content, metadata can be generated from the metafile or profile information related to the moving image content.

  The moving image management system, the moving image management method, the client, and the program according to the present invention provide a GUI that allows one or a plurality of users to post at least a part of the moving image content. Associated. In addition, the contents posted by the user with respect to the moving image content are held on the server as metadata and are searched, so that the moving image content can be searched extensively and in detail.

  Furthermore, the moving image content to be reproduced, posted, and searched is not limited to a local disk or a predetermined server, and may be in any accessible location on the network.

  In addition, the client is provided with a GUI that can designate a part of the moving image content and perform posting related to the part.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the man-hours required to generate metadata necessary for scene search by widely disclosing a tagging interface to the WEB and granting tagging authority to many viewers. it can. A mechanism like BBS gives many video viewers the motivation to add metadata to the video. BBS is just one of these motivational services.

  Therefore, the metadata synchronized with the scene of the moving image according to the present invention includes the positional information by GPS or the like at the time of moving image shooting, the sensing information of the sensor operating for the shooting target, and the characteristics of the voice of the speaker of the video conference Anything can be added as long as it can be stored as a numerical value or document, such as a quantity or a speech recognition result.

  The present invention can also realize groupware that shares moving images on a WEB service, which has been difficult in the past. For example, if it is a manufacturing industry, it can write about the improvement of a process with respect to the animation of a production line, and can have a discussion. It is also possible to write by specifying a scene for the result of the video conference. Research institutions can also make experimental videos widely available on the WEB, allowing researchers from various countries to write on specific scenes in the video.

  In content production companies such as anime and CG, the division of labor has progressed in recent years, but each production manager shares the rush video uploaded to the WEB, reduces the retake by redlining and communicating the production policy. Can measure.

  In these business and educational sites, without adding special equipment, simply adding an application server defined in the present invention to an existing streaming server, WEB server, or WEB client and connecting it to a DB server, It can provide services based on a three-layer structure, and can also be used for corporate strategy analysis and academic analysis by video search based on writing.

  Application fields include, for example, video portal systems, search functions for IPTV, video-compatible groupware, content management systems, marketing research using video, and platforms for providing video to mobile communication systems. , E-learning, moving image manual, CRM using moving image, EC based on moving image search log, etc. can be considered.

  First, a system overview of a moving image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The moving image management system of the present invention includes a WEB server 10, an AP (application) server 20, a file server 30, a client 40, a streaming server (video server) 50, and a network 60 that interconnects them. As will be described later, the AP server 20 forms the core of the present invention.

  In the client 40, an existing moving image player and a WEB browser are executed, and the operation of the moving image player and the display contents by the WEB browser are controlled by the HTML page and metafile provided from the AP server 20 via the WEB server 10. The video player performs streaming playback of the video content 70 recorded in the streaming server 50 in accordance with the content of the metafile or the user's instruction. The streaming server 50 can be configured as a business video server or as a function including a function of a business video server.

  The WEB browser of the client 40 reads and operates an HTML page in which a predetermined tag is described, for example, thereby displaying and operating the video player in the WEB browser. The client 40 acquires information on the moving image content 70 to be reproduced, information on the reproduction procedure of the moving image content, and the like from the metafile.

  The HTML page and the metafile are dynamically generated by the AP server 20 according to the user operation of the client 40, sent to the WEB server 10, and then provided to the client 40 via the network 60.

  The moving image player of the client 40 can not only play the streaming, but also play it after downloading the moving image content 70 once, or play it by pseudo streaming. Therefore, the moving image content 70 to be reproduced in the present invention does not necessarily have to be recorded on the streaming server 50 having the streaming function.

  The metafile according to the present invention is generated from the metadata 75 recorded in the file server 30. The metadata 75 of the present invention includes specification information for specifying the moving image content 70 on the network 60, basic information related to the moving image content 70, and posting information related to postings made on portions of the moving image content 70. Here, the portion of the moving image content 70 means a partial range of the moving image content 70, but may be the entire range. The range means a range (reproduction range) along the time axis of the moving image content 70.

  The metafile here is a file of a moving image to be played back or a file having minimum information for specifying a playback scene. For example, it refers to a meta file corresponding to a standard streaming server such as a Windows (registered trademark) meta file or SMIL, or a meta file that is standard on a VOD distribution or broadcast video server for mobile phones or broadband.

  The AP server 20 of the present invention automatically generates a unique metafile that can be read by various players or video servers based on the determination of the media type and the search result of common metadata managed by the AP server 20. It is widely applicable for both business and consumer use.

  The metadata 75 in the above-described embodiment is described by, for example, an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) script. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the metadata 75 in the present invention, for example, the moving image content 70 is specified using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and this information is used as a part of the metafile. Therefore, the metadata 75 is recorded on any computer connected to the network 60. It is possible to access and reproduce the moving image content 70 that has been recorded.

  When the video player of the client 40 is streaming and playing back the video content 70, if there is a post from the user of the client 40 for a predetermined range of the video content 70, the position information indicating the range and the content of the post are included. Post information is transmitted to the AP server 20, where the information is incorporated into the metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70. The metadata 75 is then transmitted to the file server 30 where it is accumulated.

  When the keyword search for the moving image content 70 is performed by the client 40, the AP server 20 checks whether or not the keyword exists in the character information (basic information and post information described above) of the metadata 75 in the file server 30. .

  When the keyword is found from the posting information of the metadata 75, the AP server 20 generates a metafile so that the posting information related to the posting in which the keyword is found is displayed on the client 40. By this processing, the client 40 can display only the posting information related to the posting satisfying the search condition by the WEB browser, and further, the part of the moving image content 70 related to the posting is automatically or by the user's instruction. It can be easily regenerated.

  Various methods are conceivable for the AP server 20 to display predetermined posting information in the metadata 75 on the client 40. For example, a marker for calling post information can be described in a meta file, and a thread corresponding to a corresponding scene (part) can be called from there by ActiveX (registered trademark) or the like. However, in the following description, in order to simplify the description, the post information to be displayed on the client 40 is described for convenience so as to be included in the metafile and transmitted from the AP server 20 to the client 40.

  Although the metadata 75 and the metafile may have the same format, they have different uses. The metadata 75 is used to manage all information in the database, but the metafile is limited to the information required by the video player at the time of video playback, and in order to speed up the processing. Metafiles are often designed not to contain a large amount of text. The text to be presented and the BBS are linked and synchronized with the URL of the document to be synchronized or the script for starting the corresponding BBS in the metafile.

  The posted information in the metadata 75 is used for searching the moving image content 70. However, as described above, the posted information that satisfies the search condition is not necessarily displayed to the user of the client 40. It is also possible to use the posted information of the metadata 75 only for searching.

  On the other hand, when the keyword is found from other than the posting information of the metadata 75, the AP server 20 generates a metafile so that all the posting information is displayed on the client 40, and the video player reproduces the video content 70. When posting, the posted content is controlled to be displayed sequentially at the start position of the posted video portion.

  The user's posting may be a bulletin board type posting by a plurality of users as in a conventional electronic bulletin board system, or may be a comment type posting by one user. In the case of the posting in the bulletin board format, several postings are linked to one posting, and in the case of the posting in the comment format, the comment is unilaterally assigned to the moving image content 70 portion.

  In addition, as a form of posting in the bulletin board format, a configuration like a blog is also conceivable. In this case, another user gives a comment to a user's post or a trackback (for the post) And the operation of associating posts of other users). Further, bulletin boards linked with such moving images include Wiki and XOOPS (eXtensible Object Oriented Portal System). Wiki is a web content management system that allows viewers to easily create and edit web pages using a web browser, and XOOPS makes it easy for individuals to set up portal sites (community sites). It is a tool that can be used.

  In this embodiment, the metadata 75 is described in XML and is generated for each moving image content 70. Further, the specific information, the basic information, and the posting information are configured to be included in the metadata 75, but other expression methods and other data configurations may be employed. For example, the metadata 75 can be made into a database or can be composed of a plurality of files and tables.

  In the moving image management system of the present invention, postings to the portion of the moving image content 70 by the user at the client 40 are managed as metadata 75, while the posted contents are used as a keyword search target. Therefore, as the user posts, the character information for the moving image content 70 is enriched, and more portions of the moving image content 70 can be searched in more detail.

  Here, the WEB server 10, the AP server 20, and the file server 30 are arranged and set according to the conventional basic configuration in order to clarify their roles. It may be configured by function sharing. Further, it may be configured by one computer or more than three computers.

  A typical example of the network 60 is the Internet, but is not limited thereto. For example, the network 60 can be configured by a LAN, a WAN (Wide Area Network) including a LAN and a dedicated line, an intranet, an extranet, various other topologies, and combinations thereof. Further, the WEB server 10, the AP server 20, and the file server 30 are normally connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network) in one site, and the LAN is connected to an external network such as the Internet. However, here, for convenience, each computer is described as being directly connected to the network 60. Further, the streaming server 50 may be arranged on the LAN.

  Next, an example of the data structure of the metadata 75 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. For example, one piece of metadata 75 is provided for each moving image content 70, and includes specific information 75A, basic information 75B, and post information 75C, respectively. One specific information 75 </ b> A and one basic information 75 </ b> B are arranged for each metadata 75, and a plurality of pieces of post information 75 </ b> C can exist for one metadata 75. If there is no post from the user, it may not exist. In this example, one metadata 75 is provided for each moving image content 70, but the present invention is not limited to this. Considering search efficiency, it is possible to manage a large amount of moving image content 70 with a huge document tree, and conversely, it can be further subdivided or managed in another viewpoint / unit.

  The identification information 75A is information for identifying the location of the corresponding moving image content 70 on a network such as the Internet or a LAN, and is, for example, the URL of the file of the moving image content 70. The URL is a character string that specifies the distribution (or transmission) protocol of the moving image content 70, an identifier (for example, an IP address) for identifying the server that distributes the moving image content 70 such as the streaming server 50, and the moving image. An identifier (for example, a file name) for identifying the file of the content 70 is included.

  In addition to existing video players (for example, Windows Media Player ("Windows" and "Windows Media" are registered trademarks) and Helix Player) and various video servers that can read and push metafiles, video can be used using URLs. Content 70 can be identified and accessed. In the present invention, the moving image management system is realized in the client 40 using such a moving image player.

  As described above, the metafile can be used not only for pull-type distribution by a video player but also for push-type distribution from a video server. Therefore, the streaming server 50 of the present invention can be configured as the various video servers described above.

  The basic information 75B includes information on the entire moving image content 70. For example, the file name, the image size, the playback time, the playback display area, the title, the summary, the producer, the copyright information including the copyright holder, and the like of the moving image content 70. There are various other information regarding the moving image content 70, and the basic information 75B is not limited to the information shown here.

  The post information 75C includes position information that identifies the portion of the video content 70 that has been posted and information related to the posted content. The position information includes, for example, information such as playback start time and playback end time, playback start time and playback duration time. Such time information can be given by, for example, an SMPTE time code. In addition, in order to specify the position of the moving image content 70, information other than time, such as a frame, can be used.

  Post contents include a post title, a post text, a contributor, and the like. This posting content includes a series of postings by a plurality of users in a bulletin board format posting. Also, the posted content includes the name of the attached file specified by the user of the client 40 at the time of posting, and if the file content or profile information can be searched such as character information, these are also included in the posted content. It is.

  When the metadata 75 is described in XML, the posting information is described as, for example, repeated elements each surrounded by a tag with a predetermined element name. In each of these elements, position information and information about the posting contents are included. Defined. Further, by describing a post made for a certain post as a child element of an element describing the original post, it is possible to manage a hierarchical relationship regarding the post.

  By managing the hierarchical structure of such posts by tagging and grasping the level of posts, for example, it is possible to give a certain control to the search accuracy of posts. In general, the higher the level of posting, the more likely it is that there is a writing that is directly related to the video scene, and the lower the level of the posting, the more the topic shifts from the video scene. You can search and execute high-precision searches, or you can expand the posting hierarchy to the lower level and search for wider information.

  In addition, by providing an original post identifier or the like as information relating to the post content, the mutual relationship between posts can be managed without a nested description of the post as described above.

  Next, each component of the moving image management system of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the functional block diagram of FIG.

  The WEB server 10 includes a WEB access control unit 10A and a network I / F unit 10B. The WEB access control unit 10 </ b> A transmits the HTML page generated by the AP server 20 to the client 40 by HTTP, and transmits the data received by HTTP from the client 40 to the AP server 20. Thus, the WEB server 10 has a conventional function of relaying HTTP-based data transmission / reception between the client 40 and the AP server 20. Hereinafter, data transmission / reception between the client 40 and the AP server 20 will be described with relaying by the WEB server 10 omitted.

  The network I / F unit 10B controls data error check, transmission / reception timing, and the like when transmitting / receiving data to / from other computers on the network 60. For example, data transmission / reception between the client 40 and the AP server 20 is also performed via the network I / F unit 10B. These functions are basically set in a computer that connects to the network 60 and transmits and receives data. Other than the WEB server 10, the network I / F unit 40D of the client 40 and the network I / F unit of the AP server 20 are used. 20E, the network I / F unit 30A of the file server 30, and the network I / F unit 50B of the streaming server 50 correspond to this. Since these are similar functions, their respective descriptions are omitted below.

  The client 40 includes a search control unit 40A, a posting control unit 40B, a moving image reproduction control unit 40C, and a network I / F unit 40D, and further includes a display device 41, an audio output device 42, and an input device 43.

  In this example, the functions of the search control unit 40A and the posting control unit 40B are substantially performed by the WEB browser, and the operation / display contents are controlled by the HTML page provided from the AP server 20. Moreover, the function of the moving image reproduction control unit 40C is substantially performed by a WEB browser and a moving image player, and the operation is controlled by a metafile and an HTML page provided from the AP server 20.

  The search control unit 40A receives the HTML page from the AP server 20, and displays a screen (for example, a portal site display screen shown in FIG. 7) for specifying the search condition of the moving image content 70 on the display device 41 of the client 40. To do. When the user inputs a search keyword on the search condition designation screen, the client 40 transmits this search condition to the AP server 20.

  In addition, the search control unit 40A receives the search results based on the above search conditions from the AP server 20 and displays a list on the display device 41 of the client 40 (for example, the search result display screen shown in FIG. 8). Here, when the user gives an instruction to reproduce a predetermined moving image, the instruction is transmitted to the AP server 20, where a metafile used for reproducing the moving image is generated.

  The moving image player (moving image reproduction control unit 40C) of the client 40 is activated when the extension of the metafile can be viewed and reproduced. The AP server 20 generates an HTML page at an arbitrary timing.

  When the user performs a predetermined operation using the input device 43 while the moving image content 70 is being played back, the posting control unit 40B displays a posting input screen (for example, FIG. 11 is displayed. Furthermore, when the user of the client 40 inputs a posting from the screen, the posting control unit 40B transmits the posting content to the AP server 20 together with the position information of the moving image content 70.

  In addition, when the moving image content 70 selected from the search result list display is reproduced, the posting control unit 40B automatically displays a screen (for example, as shown in FIG. Post display screen). The user of the client 40 can further input a post for each post shown here.

  In addition, when the entire range of the moving image content 70 is reproduced, the posting control unit 40B automatically displays the posting content every time reproduction of the posted position is started. Such an operation of the posting control unit 40B is also substantially based on designation of a metafile and an HTML page. In this case, the metafile is generated so that the client 40 displays all post information relating to the moving image content 70 to be reproduced. By displaying in this way, the user can continuously recognize what kind of posting is made in which scene of the moving image content 70. Of course, the user pauses the playback of the video by performing a predetermined operation with the input device 43, displays the posted content displayed at that time for a desired time, and inputs a new post there. be able to.

  As described above, the moving image reproduction control unit 40C is realized by an existing WEB browser and a moving image player. In the HTML page transmitted from the AP server 20, a metafile used by the moving image player for reproduction of the moving image content 70 is designated. With such a designation, the client 40 incorporates a video player in the page displayed on the WEB browser, and the video and audio of the video content 70 specified by the metafile are displayed on the display device 41 and the audio output device 42. Each is output. The moving image content 70 is, for example, data stored in the moving image content storage area 51A of the streaming server 50. In this case, the moving image player of the client 40 performs cooperative control with a streaming control unit 50A of the streaming server 50 described later. Thus, the moving image content 70 is streamed.

  The metafile specified here is dynamically generated by the AP server 20. This metafile includes the specific information of the metadata 75 recorded in the recording device 31 of the file server 30 and basic information, and further, posting information in a predetermined range is added as necessary. If the video content 70 is selected as a result of the search, the post information is only related to posts that satisfy the search condition, and the video content 70 corresponding to the post is determined according to the position information included in the post information. Only the part is played. The post information regarding the post that satisfies the search condition includes a single comment by one user if the post is a comment type post, and if the post is a bulletin board type post, the post content of the original post is included. , The post content of a series of posts related to the original post.

  The display device 41 of the client 40 is a display means such as a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display or an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and the audio output device 42 is a means for outputting sound such as a speaker. The device 43 is input means such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a joystick.

  The user views the moving image content 70 using the moving image displayed on the display device 41 and the sound output from the sound output device 42, and also looks at the information including the posted content displayed on the display device 41, as necessary. Enter various instructions and posts accordingly. This instruction or input is performed by the user operating the input device 43.

  The AP server 20 includes a search management unit 20A, a post management unit 20B, a moving image reproduction management unit 20C, a metadata generation unit 20D, and a network I / F unit 20E.

  When the search management unit 20A receives the search condition from the client 40, the search management unit 20A checks whether the character information included in the metadata 75 recorded in the metadata storage area 31A of the file server 30 is the same as the specified keyword. To do. When searching for the metadata 75 described in XML, for example, DOM (Document Object Model) is used for the interface, and a language called XPath is used for the search.

  If there is metadata 75 that satisfies the search condition, a search result list is generated (as an HTML page) based on the basic information 75 B of the metadata 75 and transmitted to the client 40.

  After that, when a playback instruction is received from the client 40, the video playback management unit 20C generates a metafile from the metadata 75 corresponding to the video content 70 to be played back and places it in a predetermined part of the HTML page, thus The generated HTML page is transmitted to the client 40.

  The metafile is generated so that only the posting information 75C corresponding to the posting is included when the posting keyword of the metadata 75 includes the search keyword, and when the search keyword exists in the other part, for example, It is generated so as to include post information 75C regarding all posts. The posting information 75C includes position information indicating the portion of the moving image content 70 that is the subject of the posting.

  When a search keyword exists in the posted content of the metadata 75, the posting thread is a display target on the client 40, but when a search keyword is found in a plurality of threads of the same video content 70, All threads containing the search keyword may be displayed sequentially (with playback), or only posts related to a specific thread or threads may be displayed.

  Further, the posting information 75C of the metadata 75 can be used only for searching. In this case, the posting information 75C is not included in the metafile.

  The metafile is thus generated from the metadata 75 described in XML. For such processing, for example, DOM or XSLT (eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) is used. XSLT is a type of scripting language that can be used to describe rules for converting XML documents into HTML documents, XML documents, plain text, and the like.

  When the video content 70 is played back by the metafile generated so as to include the post information 75C regarding all or a plurality of posts, the playback is started from the top portion of the video content 70, and each post is associated with each other. When the start position of the portion of the moving image content 70 is reached, the content of the corresponding post is displayed (for example, in a pop-up window) at that time.

  When the search management unit 20 </ b> A cannot find a keyword in the metadata 75, the search management unit 20 </ b> A generates an HTML page for displaying that fact and transmits it to the client 40.

  In the keyword search by the search management unit 20A, not only the keyword matching described above but also those determined to be similar by a certain rule may be taken out. Such similarity determination can be made based on various known techniques.

  Post management unit 20 </ b> B manages post information input by the user of client 40. The post management unit 20B receives the post content input from the user of the client 40 and the position information indicating the portion of the moving image content 70 associated therewith, and then the metadata generation unit 20D uses this as post information. Are added to the metadata 75 of the corresponding moving image content 70 and stored in the metadata storage area 31 A of the file server 30.

  The posting contents input from the user of the client 40 include postings in a bulletin board format that a plurality of users input in an interactive format. In this case, the posting management unit 20B determines which of the postings is for each posting. Corresponding to a post to a post. If the metadata 75 is described in XML, this association can be realized by placing a child element post on a parent element post. For example, DOM is used as an input / output interface for XML.

  Further, when the metadata 75 is managed by a database or the like, usually, each post is provided with an identifier such as an ID code, and further, an item indicating which post each post belongs to is provided.

  The metadata generation unit 20D can also create new metadata 75 from, for example, metafile data related to the moving image content 70 acquired by the existing moving image player, property information of the moving image content 70 file, or the like. For example, the location of the moving image content 70 can be automatically acquired by visiting the network, and then the moving image content 70 can be accessed by a moving image player to collect metafile and property data. From the metafile data, data relating to the specific information 75A of the metadata 75 and the basic information 75B is obtained. At this time, it is not necessary for the video player to reproduce the video content 70.

  The metadata generation unit 20D can also create the metadata 75 when the user reproduces the moving image content 70 with the moving image player. When the user of the client 40 gives a predetermined instruction while viewing the video content 70 with the video player, the metadata generation unit 20D acquires the metafile and property data from the video player, and the data The metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70 being viewed is created based on the above.

  The file server 30 includes a network I / F unit 30A and a recording device 31, and the recording device 31 is provided with a metadata storage area 31A in which a plurality of metadata 75 is recorded and a thumbnail image storage area 31B. . The thumbnail image is an image (scene) at a predetermined position (for example, a start position of the part or a position after a predetermined time has elapsed from the part) in the part of the moving image content 70 associated with the posting information 75C of each metadata 75. ), And is generated when the search management unit 20A of the AP server 20 generates an HTML page or when the post management unit 20B adds post information 75C to the metadata 75, and is a metadata storage area. Stored in 31A.

  In this embodiment, the file server 30 records the metadata 75 as a flat file described in XML, but uses a database management system such as RDBRMS (Relational DataBase Management System) or NXDB (Native XML DataBase). You can also. In that case, each AP server 20 needs to have a database interface function so that the database management system of the file server 30 can be accessed.

  The streaming server 50 includes a streaming control unit 50A and a network I / F unit 50B, and the recording device 51 has a moving image content storage area 51A for recording the moving image content 70.

  The streaming control unit 50A cooperates with the moving image reproduction control unit 40C of the client 40 to perform streaming reproduction of the moving image content 70 using a predetermined protocol. Such a function of the streaming control unit 50A has been conventionally provided.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it has been described that each function of the client 40 is realized by an existing WEB server and a moving image player. However, an original application may be created and operated on the client 40. In this case, the AP server 20 can perform the same HTTP-based data transmission / reception as described above, but realizes the same processing by transmitting / receiving data having a different structure with a different protocol and timing. You can also

  Further, the AP server 20 may be configured to grant authority to each user of the client 40 as necessary, confirm the user ID with a password or the like, and permit the use of the system.

  Next, referring to the screen transition of FIG. 4, the flow of search, video playback, and posting by the video management system according to the present invention will be described.

  The user of the client 40 who has logged in to the video management system of the present invention, for example, displays the portal site display screen 101 and inputs the video content search condition and clicks the search button, or as a new video. Click the video content link displayed in the list.

  When the search condition is entered and the search button is clicked, the screen transitions to the search result display screen 102. The search result display screen 102 displays a list of thumbnails and character information related to moving images that satisfy the search conditions. This search is to search whether the search keyword input by the user on the portal site display screen 101 exists in the metadata 75 of the moving image content 70.

  When the user selects the moving image content to be reproduced from the list, the screen changes to the moving image reproduction screen 103. At this time, a meta file is generated from the metadata 75 and is passed to the moving image player of the client 40. When the search keyword is found in the post information 75C of the metadata 75, the meta file includes only the post information 75C corresponding to the post (in the case of a post in the bulletin board format, all posts related to the original post (that is, When all search posts in the thread are incorporated), on the other hand, when a search keyword is found other than the post information 75C, post information relating to all posts is incorporated into the meta file, for example.

  In addition, when the moving image content 70 displayed in the new arrival information is selected on the portal site display screen 101, the moving image reproduction screen 103 is displayed, and the metafile at this time includes, for example, posting information 75C regarding all posts. It will be.

  When transitioning to the video playback screen 103, playback of the video content 70 is started automatically or after waiting for a user instruction. When the metafile is configured to display only specific posting information 75C, only the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the posting is reproduced.

  When the meta file is configured to display post information 75 </ b> C for one post, the post display screen 104 is displayed together with the video playback screen 103. If this posting is in the bulletin board format, all posts in the thread are displayed. If the posting is in the comment format, the comment is displayed alone.

  When a bulletin board-type post is displayed on the post display screen 104, the user can further post an opinion or the like on the post therein.

  When the “BBS” button or the “comment” button is pressed after the “IN” button and the “OUT” button are pressed on the moving image playback screen 103, the thread registration screen 105A or the comment registration screen 105B is displayed in a separate window, for example. The user inputs the posted content. The period from when the “IN” button is pressed to when the “OUT” button is pressed is the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the input post.

  When the user wants to post in the bulletin board format (that is, when posting for the first part of the corresponding video content 70 (so-called “set up a thread”)), the user presses the “BBS” button to display the thread registration screen. 105A is displayed. On the other hand, when posting in the comment format, the “comment” button is pressed to display the comment registration screen 105B. When the “Register” button is pressed on the thread registration screen 105A or the comment registration screen 105B, the input of the posted content is completed.

  When the “play from the beginning” button is pressed on the video playback screen 103, playback starts from the first part of the video content 70, and as the playback progresses, the posted content starting at the playback point is displayed. The post display screen 106 sequentially displays them. At this time, if the “pause” button or the like on the video playback screen 103 is pressed, the playback is temporarily stopped. If the post displayed on the post display screen 106 is in the bulletin board format, You can post opinions.

  In the video playback screen 103, in addition to the “play from the beginning” button, other than the portion of the video content 70 that is scheduled to be played back by moving the slide bar to a predetermined position and then pressing the “play” button. The post display screen 106 can be sequentially displayed according to the progress of the reproduction.

  Next, with reference to the screen transition of FIG. 5, another search, movie playback, and posting flow by the movie management system according to the present invention will be described.

  When the WEB browser of the client 40 clicks a link to the video content 70 on the search result display screen 111 of the general search site or the display screen 112 of the general site, the video player is activated and the video playback screen 113 is displayed. Therefore, the clicked moving image content 70 is reproduced. At this time, in order to reproduce the moving image content 70, the moving image player acquires a metafile describing the URL, title, and the like of the moving image content 70.

  When the “BBS” button or the “comment” button is pressed after the “IN” button and the “OUT” button are pressed on the moving image playback screen 113, the thread registration screen 114A or the comment registration screen 114B is displayed in a separate window, for example. The user inputs the posted content. The period from when the “IN” button is pressed to when the “OUT” button is pressed is the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the input post.

  When the user wants to post in the bulletin board format (that is, when the first posting is made for the portion of the corresponding video content 70 (so-called “set up a thread”)), the user presses the “BBS” button, When a single comment is to be added to the content 70 portion, the “comment” button is pressed. When the “Register” button is pressed on the thread registration screen 114A or the comment registration screen 114B, the input of the posted content is completed.

  Here, the AP server 20 newly generates metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70 and stores it in the metadata storage area 31 </ b> A of the file server 30. Each item of the specific information and basic information is acquired from the metafile acquired by the video player of the client 40, and the post information is the content of the post entered on the post registration screen 114 and the push of the “IN” button and “OUT” button. It consists of position information obtained based on the determined timing.

  Next, the moving image playback screen 103 will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the moving image playback screen 113 is substantially the same.

  The video playback screen 103 is a screen displayed on the display device 41 of the client 40 by the WEB browser, and includes a video player display area 130 and a posting instruction area 150. In the moving picture player display area 130, a moving picture player incorporated in the HTML page is displayed. On the other hand, the posting instruction area 150 is provided with a link button for an instruction by a user who makes a posting, and each is constituted by anchor text, for example.

  The moving image player display area 130 includes a moving image display area 131, a basic information display area 132, a seek bar 133, a time code display area 134, a playback control button 135, an audio control bar 136, an “IN” button 137, and a start position time code display area. 138, an “OUT” button 139, and an end position time code display area 140 are arranged. The components and arrangement of the video player shown here are merely examples, and are not limited to such a configuration.

  In the video display area 131, the video of the video content 70 to be reproduced is displayed. In addition, the video player also controls the audio output device 42 of the client 40 when the video content 70 is reproduced, and outputs audio associated with the video. The basic information display area 132 is an area for displaying basic information stored in a metafile used for reproducing the moving image content 70. The basic information is acquired from the basic information of the metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70 by the AP server 20. If there is no corresponding metadata 75, it is acquired from the original metafile. In this case, various types of information are also acquired from the file properties of the moving image content 70, and unique metadata 75 is automatically generated.

  The seek bar 133 displays the playback position of the moving image content 70 according to the relative position of the slider. The user can freely change the playback position by moving the slider with an input device such as a mouse. The time code display area 134 displays a time code related to the current reproduction position.

  The playback control button 135 includes buttons for instructing playback, pause, fast-forwarding, etc. of the moving image, and the symbol is generally used. The “−” button and the “+” button are buttons for instructing frame advance.

  The sound control bar 136 controls the sound volume by moving the slider. The “IN” button 137 is pressed when the user designates the start position of the portion of the moving image content 70 to be posted, and in response to pressing of the “IN” button 137, the start position time code display area 138 is displayed. The time code at that time is displayed. On the other hand, the “OUT” button 139 is pressed when the user designates the end position of the portion of the moving image content 70 to be posted, and the end position time code display area 140 is displayed in response to the pressing of the “OUT” button 139. The time code at that time is displayed.

  In the posting instruction area 150, a “BBS” button 151 and a “comment” button 152 are arranged. The operation by pressing each button is as described in the screen transition.

  FIG. 7 shows the portal site display screen 101 in detail. The portal site display screen 101 is, for example, a screen provided by a person who operates the moving image management system of the present invention.

  The portal site display screen 101 includes a search instruction area 170 and a new arrival video display area 180. In the search instruction area 170, a search keyword input field 171, a search execution instruction button 172, and a search option instruction button 173 are displayed. The user of the client 40 inputs one or a plurality of keywords to be searched in the search keyword input field 171 and presses the search execution instruction button 172. Here, as a search option, narrowing down by file format and playback time is possible, but these displays are merely examples. It may take a simpler form or may have other options. Here, a search keyword is input as a search condition, but a user may set and input a search condition such as a search query.

  In addition, if a predetermined classification keyword is set at the time of posting input, the target can be efficiently narrowed down by specifying the classification keyword in addition to the search keyword at the time of search. Such a classification keyword can be used efficiently when, for example, an XPath search or the like is performed by using it as an element (XML element) when the posted content is recorded in the metadata.

  In addition, by displaying the list of moving image contents 70 obtained as a result of such a search together with the search instruction area 170 again, it is possible to further perform a search so that the search results can be narrowed down. is there.

  In the newly arrived moving image display area 180, information related to newly arrived moving image content 70 is displayed. Each includes a thumbnail image 181 and video content information 182. The thumbnail image 181 is, for example, a reduced image of the start position of the video content 70 corresponding to the thread. Obtained from the thumbnail image storage area 31B. The moving image content information 182 displays a file name, a screen size, a reproduction time, a thread title, the number of posts, and the latest posting date. By viewing this list, the user can roughly grasp what kind of posting is made in what scene of the moving image content 70. The moving image content information 182 shown here is merely an example, and various other items can be displayed.

  When the moving image content 70 in the new moving image display area 180 cannot be displayed on one page, the page designation 183 can be displayed and the new moving image content 70 can be displayed using a plurality of pages. In addition, a scroll bar may be displayed without displaying the page designation 183 so that all newly arrived moving image content 70 is displayed on one page.

  FIG. 8 shows the search result display screen 102 in detail. The search result display screen 102 displays information related to the moving image content 70 that satisfies the search conditions. Each includes a thumbnail image 201 and moving image content information 202. The thumbnail image 201 is, for example, a reduced image of the start position of the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the thread. Obtained from the thumbnail image storage area 31B. In the moving image content information 202, a file name, a screen size, a reproduction time, a thread title, the number of posts, and the latest posting date are displayed.

  Further, when the searched moving image content 70 cannot be displayed on one page, the page designation 203 is displayed, and the newly arrived moving image content 70 can be displayed using a plurality of pages. In addition, a scroll bar may be displayed without displaying the page designation 203, and all the searched moving image contents 70 may be displayed on one page.

  The moving image content 70 shown as the search result in FIG. 8 is a case where the keyword is included in the posting information 75 </ b> C of the metadata 75. As a result of including the keyword in the basic information 75B of the metadata 75, the moving image content 70 displayed on the search result display screen 102 is not related to a specific thread. A reduced version of the first image of the content 70 is shown, and for the thread title, number of posts, and latest posting date, for example, information about the thread corresponding to the position closest to the top of the video content 70 is displayed. If there is no thread, all items are displayed blank.

  FIG. 9 shows another form of the search result display screen 102, a search result display screen 220. In addition to the items displayed on the search result display screen 102, a playback designation box 221, a slider bar 224, and a “play” button 225 are newly provided. The “play” button 225 is, for example, a link button.

  The user views the moving image content 70 displayed as a list as a search result, and checks the reproduction designation box 221 corresponding to the moving image content 70 to be reproduced. In this example, by entering a number in the reproduction designation box 221, it is possible to designate a reproduction order when reproducing a plurality of moving image contents 70.

  By operating the slider bar 224, it is possible to designate playback of the moving image content 70 that cannot be displayed at one time. When input to the reproduction designation box 221 is completed, a “reproduction” button 225 is clicked. By such an operation, the user can select desired moving image content 70 from the search result, and continuously reproduce these contents in an arbitrary order.

  FIG. 10 shows the posting display screen 104. The posting display screen 106 shown in FIG. 4 has a substantially similar screen configuration.

  The post display screen 104 has a moving image display / title display area 240 and a post display area 260. A video player 241 is embedded on the left side of the video display / title display area 240, and a thread or comment title 242, a thread or comment contributor 243, and an original post are made on the right side of the video display / title display area 240. Or the text (posted article) 244 of the contributor who gave the comment.

  The moving image player 241 is controlled by a metafile or the like from the AP server 20 so as to reproduce only the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the displayed thread or comment.

  In the post display area 260, if this post is in the bulletin board format, a list of posts for the original post displayed in the moving image display / title display area 240 is displayed. These postings are basically made by users other than the poster who made the original posting, but may be made by the poster who made the original posting in the form of posting to the posting. Posts in the moving image display / title display area 240 and these posts displayed in the post display area 260 form a series of posts in the thread.

  If the post is in the comment format, there is no post from another user, and therefore the post display area 260 is not displayed.

  For each post displayed in the post display area 260, for example, items such as post NO, title, contributor, and post date are displayed. Posts with post NO = 24-27 are posts for the original post, and posts with post NO = 28 are posts for post NO = 27, and are made by the contributor of the original post.

  As shown in the figure, in this example, a post (post NO = 24 to 27) for the original post (the first post of the contributor who created the thread) and a post for the post (post NO = 28) are displayed. However, only the post for the original post may be accepted. Moreover, it can also be comprised so that it can contribute with respect to all the postings.

  For example, the user can display a screen including an area for displaying the text of the post and an area for inputting a post for the post by clicking the title item.

  In the post display area 260, a page movement instruction 261 is displayed as necessary, and it is possible to browse posts placed on the previous page or the next page.

  FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the thread registration screen 105 </ b> A displayed when the “BBS” button is pressed on the moving image playback screen 103. When a thread is set up in a bulletin board form, the user makes an initial posting on a predetermined portion of the moving image content 70 on this screen. A thread registration screen 114A shown in FIG. 5 has the same screen configuration.

  The thread registration screen 105 </ b> A has a moving image display / thread posting area 280 and a moving image information display area 300. A video player 281 is embedded on the left side of the video display / thread posting area 280, and on the right side thereof, a thread title input area 282, a thread poster input area 283, and a contributor who sets up a thread inputs a text. A text input area 284 is displayed.

  The moving image player 281 is controlled by a metafile or the like from the AP server 20 so that only the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the posting thread can be reproduced.

  In the video information display area 300, in addition to the video file name and metafile name, an IN point (start time of the video content 70 corresponding to the thread) and an OUT point (start of the video content 70 corresponding to the thread) Time) and time (reproduction time of the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the thread) are shown, but it is not essential to display these.

  When the user inputs in the thread title input area 282, the thread contributor input area 283, and the text input area 284, the user presses the “Register” button 301 to register the post and establish a new thread. At this time, these posting contents are incorporated by the AP server 20 into the metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70 (along with the position information specifying the portion of the moving image content 70), and the metadata storage area 31A of the file server 30 is stored. Stored in

  FIG. 12 shows the configuration of the comment registration screen 105B used when posting in the comment format. This screen is displayed when the “comment” button is pressed on the moving image playback screen 103. The comment registration screen 114B shown in FIG. 5 has the same screen configuration.

  The comment registration screen 105B includes a moving image display / comment posting region 320, a file association region 330, and a moving image information display region 340. A video player 321 is embedded on the left side of the video display / comment posting area 320, and on the right side thereof, a comment title input area 322, a comment poster input area 323, and a text input for a comment poster to input a text. Area 324 is displayed.

  The moving image player 321 is controlled by a metafile or the like from the AP server 20 so that only the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the posted comment can be reproduced.

  In the file association area 330, a file name input area 331, a “file reference” button 332, and a related file display area 333 are displayed. The file name input area 331 is used for attaching a related file when a user posts a comment. The file input here may be a file on a recording device (local disk) of the client 40 or a file on a network. When the “Browse Files” button 332 is pressed, a file / folder list is displayed, and the user can input a desired file name in the file name input area 331 by selecting the file or folder indicated there. it can.

  The related file display area 333 displays a list of files that the user has associated in this way.

  In the video information display area 340, in addition to the video file name and metafile name, an IN point (start time of the video content 70 corresponding to the thread) and an OUT point (start of the video content 70 corresponding to the thread) Time) and time (reproduction time of the portion of the moving image content 70 corresponding to the thread) are shown, but it is not essential to display these.

  When the user inputs in the comment title input area 322, the comment contributor input area 323, and the text input area 324, the user presses the “Register” button 341, registers the post, and selects a predetermined part of the moving image content 70. Give a comment to At this time, these posting contents are incorporated by the AP server 20 into the metadata 75 corresponding to the moving image content 70 (along with the position information specifying the portion of the moving image content 70), and the metadata storage area 31A of the file server 30 is stored. Stored in

  As shown in FIG. 12, in the comment registration screen 105B, a predetermined file can be associated with a comment. However, providing such a file association area 330 is not essential for the present invention. Further, an area such as the file association area 330 may be provided on the thread registration screen 105A, and such file association may be performed when posting. The name of the associated file and the content itself are added as metadata 75, and these can also be searched.

  Next, an example of a hardware configuration of a computer used as the client 40 of the moving image management system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. However, the computer 400 in FIG. 13 merely illustrates a typical configuration of a computer that functions as the client 40.

  The computer 400 includes a CPU 401, a memory 402, an audio output device 403, a network interface 404, a display controller 405, a display 406, an input device interface 407, a keyboard 408, a mouse 409, an external storage device 410, an external recording medium drive device 411, and these Including a bus 412 for connecting the above components to each other.

  The CPU 401 controls the operation of each component of the computer 400 and executes a WEB browser and a moving image player under the control of the OS to realize the moving image management system according to the present invention. As described above, another program other than the WEB browser and the video player is prepared and executed by each function of the client 40 (search control unit 40A, post control unit 40B, video playback control unit 40C, and network I / F unit 40D). Function).

  The memory 402 is generally composed of a ROM (Read Only Memory) that is a nonvolatile memory and a RAM (Random Access Memory) that is a volatile memory. The ROM stores a program executed when the computer 400 is activated. The RAM temporarily stores the above-described programs executed by the CPU 401 and data (for example, metafile and HTML page data) used during the execution of these programs.

  The audio output device 403 is a device such as a speaker, for example, and receives audio data from the video player and outputs audio when the video content 70 is reproduced by the video player. The audio output device 403 corresponds to the audio output device 42 shown in FIG.

  The network interface 404 is an interface for connecting to the network 420. The network 420 corresponds to the network 60 shown in FIG. 3, and more specifically is an interface to a network such as the Internet or an intranet.

  The display controller 405 is a dedicated controller for actually processing a drawing command issued by the CPU 401. The drawing data processed by the display controller 405 is once written in the graphic memory and then output to the display 406. The display 406 is a display device configured with, for example, an LCD or a CRT. The display 406 corresponds to the display device 41 shown in FIG.

  The input device interface 407 receives a signal input from the keyboard 408 or the mouse 409 and transmits a predetermined command to the CPU 401 according to the signal pattern. A keyboard 408 and a mouse 409 correspond to the input device 43 shown in FIG.

  The external storage device 410 is, for example, a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), in which the above-described programs and data are recorded, and loaded from there into the RAM of the memory 402 as necessary during execution. Is done.

  The external recording medium driving device 411 accesses the recording surface of a portable external recording medium 430 such as a CD (Compact Disc), an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and is recorded there. It is a device that reads data. The external recording medium 430 can also record a program for realizing the moving image management system according to the present invention. Data recorded in the external recording medium 430 is stored in the external storage device 410 via the external recording medium driving device 411. If it is a program, it is loaded into the RAM of the memory 402 at the time of execution.

  Further, as another distribution form of the program for realizing the moving picture management system according to the present invention, a route that is stored in the external storage device 410 via a network 420 and a network interface 404 from a predetermined server on the network. Can be considered. The program stored in this manner is loaded into the RAM of the memory 402 at the time of execution and executed in the same manner as described above.

  Regarding the AP server 20, the WEB server 10, the file server 30, and the streaming server 50 of the moving image management system of the present invention, the above-described audio output device 403 is basically unnecessary, and in some cases, the display controller 405, the display 406, the input device interface 407, the keyboard 408, and the mouse 409 are not essential components.

  The recording device 31 of the file server 30 and the recording device 51 of the streaming server 50 correspond to the external storage device 410.

1 is a system schematic diagram of a moving image management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the hierarchical structure of the metadata which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the video management system concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the screen transition of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows another screen transition of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the moving image reproduction screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the portal site display screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the search result display screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows another example of the search result display screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the posting display screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the thread | sled registration screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the comment registration screen of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a basic diagram which shows the example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which comprises the client of the moving image management system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... WEB server, 20 ... AP server, 30 ... File server, 31 ... Recording device, 40 ... Client, 41 ... Display device, 42 ... Audio output device, 43 ... Input device, 50 ... Streaming server, 51 ... Recording device, 400 ... Computer, 401 ... CPU, 402 ... Memory, 403 ... Audio output device, 404 ... Network interface, 405 ... Display controller, 406 ... Display, 407 ... Input device interface, 408 ... Keyboard, 409 ... Mouse, 410 ... External storage device, 411 ... External recording Medium drive device, 412 ... bus, 420 ... network, 430 ... external recording medium

Claims (20)

A video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The client
Video playback control means for accessing video content on the network and playing back the video content;
Position information representing the range of the moving image content, and posting control means for receiving post content input from the user regarding the range of the video content, and transmitting the position information and the posted content to the server,
The server
Post management means for receiving the location information and the post content from the client;
Generating metadata including the location information and the posted content received from the client, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related thereto on the network, and storing the metadata in a predetermined recording A moving image management system comprising metadata generation means for recording in the means. A video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The client
Retrieving video content search conditions from a user, and having search control means for transmitting the search conditions to the server,
The server
Metadata including position information indicating the range of the moving image content, post content input for the range of the moving image content, and specifying information for specifying the location of the moving image content related thereto on the network Recording means for recording,
It is determined whether each of the posted contents in the metadata satisfies the search condition received from the client, and when there is the posted contents satisfying the search condition, the moving image corresponding to the posted contents A video management system comprising: search management means for transmitting the specific information of content to the client. In the moving image management system according to claim 2,
The client further includes a video playback control unit,
The video playback control unit accesses the video content using the specific information received from the server when instructed to play the video content corresponding to the posted content that satisfies the search condition, A video management system characterized by playback. In the moving image management system according to claim 3,
The search management means of the server, when there is the post content that satisfies the search condition, transmits the post content and the position information of the video content corresponding to the post content to the client,
The video playback control unit of the client displays the post content received from the server when instructed to play back the video content corresponding to the post content that satisfies the search condition, and the position A moving image management system that reproduces only the range of the moving image content represented by information. In the moving image management system according to claim 2,
The client further includes:
There is posting control means for receiving the position information representing the range of the moving image content and the posting content input with respect to the range of the moving image content from the user, and transmitting the position information and the posting content to the server. And
The server further includes:
Post management means for receiving the location information and the post content from the client;
The metadata is generated from the location information and the posted content received from the client and the specific information for specifying the location of the video content related to the location on the network, and the metadata is recorded. A moving image management system comprising metadata generation means for recording in the means. A video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The server
Metadata including position information representing the range of the video content, post content input for the range of the video content, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related to the location on the network Recorded recording means;
In response to a request from the client, the video information management means for transmitting the specific information related to the specified video content, the position information, and the posted information to the client,
The client
A moving image reproduction control means for accessing the moving image content using the specific information of the moving image content received from the server, and reproducing the moving image content for a range represented by the position information received from the server;
Each time the range of the moving image content represented by the position information is reproduced by the moving image reproduction control unit, the posting control unit displays the posted content corresponding to the position information received from the server. And a moving image management system. The moving image management system according to claim 6,
The posting control means of the client further accepts the position information representing the range of the moving image content and the posting content input with respect to the range of the moving image content from a user, and the position information and the posting content are received from the user. To the server,
The server further includes:
Post management means for receiving the location information and the post content from the client;
The metadata is generated from the location information and the posted content received from the client and the specific information for specifying the location of the video content related to the location on the network, and the metadata is recorded. A moving image management system comprising metadata generation means for recording in the means. In the moving image management system according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 6,
The moving image management system, wherein the posted content includes posts input by a plurality of users in a bulletin board format. A video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The client
A video reproduction control means for acquiring, via the network, at least one of a metafile used when reproducing the video content on the network and the profile information of the video content;
The server
Metadata acquisition means for generating metadata from the acquired information when the client acquires at least one of the metafile and the profile information;
The moving image management system according to claim 1, wherein the metadata includes specific information for specifying a location of the moving image content on the network. A video management method using a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
A video playback control step of accessing video content on the network and playing back the video content at the client;
In the client, position information representing the range of the moving image content, and a posting control step for accepting a posting content input regarding the range of the moving image content from a user, and transmitting the position information and the posting content to the server;
In the server, a post management step of receiving the position information and the post content from the client;
The server generates metadata including the location information and the posted content received from the client, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related thereto on the network, and the metadata And a metadata generation step of recording the information in a predetermined recording means. A video management method using a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The server includes position information indicating a range of the moving image content, post contents input for the range of the moving image content, and specifying information for specifying a location of the moving image content related thereto on the network. Including recording means for recording metadata including,
In the client, a search control step of receiving a search condition for the video content from a user and transmitting the search condition to the server;
The server determines whether each of the posted contents in the metadata satisfies the search condition received from the client, and if there is the posted contents satisfying the search condition, And a search management step of transmitting the specific information of the corresponding video content to the client. A video management method using a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
The server includes position information indicating a range of the moving image content, post contents input for the range of the moving image content, and specifying information for specifying a location of the moving image content related thereto on the network. Including recording means for recording metadata including,
In the server, in response to a request from the client, a moving image reproduction management step of transmitting the specific information related to the specified moving image content, the position information, and the posted information to the client;
Video playback control for accessing the video content using the specific information of the video content received from the server and playing the video content for the range represented by the position information received from the server at the client Steps,
The posted content corresponding to the position information received from the server is displayed every time the range of the moving image content represented by the position information is reproduced by the moving image reproduction control step in the client. And a posting control step. A video management method using a client and a server connected to the client via a network,
A video playback control step of acquiring, via the network, at least one of a metafile used when playing back video content on the network and profile information of the video content on the client;
A metadata generation step of generating metadata from the acquired information when the client acquires at least one of the metafile and the profile information in the server;
The video management method, wherein the metadata includes specific information for specifying a location of the video content on the network. Video playback control means for accessing video content on the network and playing back the video content;
Post that accepts position information representing the range of the moving image content and posted content input with respect to the range of the moving image content from the user, and transmits the position information and the posted content to a server connected via the network And a control means. Specific information for accepting a search condition for moving image content from a user, transmitting the search condition to a server connected via a network, and specifying the location of the moving image content satisfying the search condition on the network from the server Search control means for receiving,
A moving image reproduction control means for accessing and reproducing the moving image content using the specific information when instructed to reproduce the moving image content satisfying the search condition;
The specific information received by the search control means is the specific information of the video content corresponding to the post content that satisfies the search condition among the post content that is set by the server for the range of the video content. Client characterized by being determined. The location information indicating the range of the video content from the server connected via the network, the posted content input for the range of the video content, and the location of the video content related to these are specified on the network Moving image reproduction control means for accessing the moving image content using the specific information and reproducing the moving image content for the range represented by the position information received from the server when receiving the specific information for ,
Each time the range of the moving image content represented by the position information is reproduced by the moving image reproduction control unit, the posting control unit displays the posted content corresponding to the position information received from the server. And a client. A program for realizing a video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network on a computer,
To the client,
Video playback control means for accessing video content on the network and playing back the video content; and
The position information representing the range of the moving image content, and the posting content input regarding the range of the moving image content is received from the user, and the position information and the posting content are transmitted to the server, and function as posting control means.
To the server,
Post management means for receiving the location information and the post content from the client; and
Generating metadata including the location information and the posted content received from the client, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related thereto on the network, and storing the metadata in a predetermined recording A program that functions as metadata generation means for recording in the means. A program for realizing a video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network on a computer,
To the client,
Accept search conditions for video content from the user, and function as search control means for transmitting the search conditions to the server,
Metadata including position information indicating the range of the moving image content, post content input for the range of the moving image content, and specifying information for specifying the location of the moving image content related thereto on the network In the server comprising recording means for recording
It is determined whether each of the posted contents in the metadata satisfies the search condition received from the client, and when there is the posted contents satisfying the search condition, the moving image corresponding to the posted contents A program that causes the specific information of content to function as search management means for transmitting to the client. A program for realizing a moving image management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network on a computer,
Metadata including position information representing the range of the video content, post content input for the range of the video content, and specific information for specifying the location of the video content related to the location on the network In the server with the recording means that recorded,
In response to a request from the client, the specific information related to the specified video content, the position information, and the posting information are functioned as a video reproduction management unit that transmits to the client,
To the client,
A moving image reproduction control means for accessing the moving image content using the specific information of the moving image content received from the server, and reproducing the moving image content for a range represented by the position information received from the server; and
Each time the range of the moving image content represented by the position information is reproduced by the moving image reproduction control unit, the posting control unit displays the posted content corresponding to the position information received from the server. Program to function as. A program for realizing a video management system including a client and a server connected to the client via a network on a computer,
To the client,
Functioning as a video playback control means for acquiring at least one of a metafile used when playing video content on the network and profile information of the video content via the network;
To the server,
When the client acquires at least one of the metafile and the profile information, metadata including specific information for specifying the location of the video content on the network is generated from the acquired information. A program that functions as metadata generation means.