JP2008098708A - Content distributing server, content provision server, content distribution system, content distributing method, content provision method and control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To materialize a gateway device for preventing content which do not desire to be viewed from being reproduced. <P>SOLUTION: A falling gateway 305 according to the present invention manages content which are managed by a home gateway 304 outside a network to which the gateway belongs to, by itself and then distributes the content to a renderer 306 reproducing them. A content list processing section permits the content to be distributed to the renderer 306 when content information as information regarding the above content satisfies a predetermined access control rule, and then notifies a user of the renderer 306 about the content information regarding the content permitted to be distributed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution server, a content distribution server, a content distribution system, a content distribution method, a content provision method, and a content distribution server for distributing content under the management of the content providing server to a content reproduction device under the management of the device itself. And a control program.

  It is fundamental to home network technology to make it possible to watch programs taken with an HDD recorder at home or digital camera photos stored on a PC (Personal Computer) from any TV in the home. It is an achievement target. In addition, standards such as DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) are being prepared, and DLNA compatible terminals are also being sold by various companies.

  In DLNA, a desired content is specified by a controller called DMC (Digital Media Controller) from contents consisting of moving images, still images, and audio stored in a media server called DMS (Digital Media Server), and further, By designating a renderer called DMR (Digital Media Renderer), it is possible to play the designated content with the designated renderer. As the DMC, a DLNA dedicated remote controller or a mobile phone is used. As the DMR, a television, a PC, an audio device, etc. are usually selected. Some devices include a plurality of elements among DMS, DMR, and DMC. For example, a device having both a DMR function and a DMC function is called a player, DMP (Digital Media Player).

  FIG. 19 is a network configuration diagram of a home network using DLNA. As shown in FIG. 19, a home network (hereinafter abbreviated as HNW) 1001 includes a media server (hereinafter abbreviated as DMS) 1002, a renderer (hereinafter abbreviated as DMR) 1003, and a controller (hereinafter referred to as “DMS”). 1004 (abbreviated as DMC). In FIG. 19, only one DMS 1002, DMR 1003, and DMC 1004 are depicted, but there may be a plurality of them.

  FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram showing a conventional content reproduction procedure based on DLNA.

  The DMS 1002, DMR 1003, and DMC 1004 are connected to each other via a home network, and discover each other according to the UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) protocol (S1001). On the display on the DMC 1004, the discovered DMR 1003 and DMS 1002 can be confirmed. When the user selects the DMS 1002 to be used (S1002), the DMC 1004 requests the specified DMS 1002 for the content list managed by the DMS 1002 (S1003), and receives the supply of the content list from the DMS 1002 (S1004). The content list request and the content list supply are performed in conformity with the UPnP protocol.

  The content list in the DMS is displayed on the display on the DMC 1004 that has received the content list. In the content list, the content is usually displayed by being classified into folders for each type of media. The user selects the content to be viewed on the DMC 1004 and the DMR 1003 to be used (S1005, S1006), and notifies the selected DMR 1003 of the content to be reproduced (S1007). This notification is also performed in conformity with the UPnP protocol.

  Receiving the reproduction request, the DMR 1003 requests the DMS 1002 to distribute the designated content (S1008), receives the content distribution from the DMS 1002 (S1009), and reproduces the content (S1010). When the content is a large size such as a moving image, streaming playback is usually performed while receiving the content from the DMS 1002.

  In this way, by using a device compliant with the DLNA standard, it is possible to view content stored in any DMS in the home on any DMR in the home.

  However, DLNA is just a standard for home networks configured in the home, and for example, content stored in a DMS at home cannot be viewed on a DMR at another home. Techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known as techniques that can be used to improve this point and view content stored in a media server at home outside the home.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a content distribution system that allows a user to view content stored in a home server at home on a mobile terminal outside the home.

  FIG. 21 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of the content distribution system 1101 described in Patent Document 1. In the content distribution system 1001 shown in FIG. 21, the user receives the broadcast content by the home server 1109 and stores it in the storage unit 1107. When the user desires to distribute the stored content to the mobile terminal 1110, the mobile terminal 1110 transmits authentication data to the home server 1109, and confirms that the mobile terminal 1110 is registered by the user. The home server 1109 confirms. When this confirmation is performed, the home server 1109 distributes the target content specified by the user from the content stored in the storage unit 1107 to the mobile terminal 1110.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a content distribution system that can construct the same environment as a program viewing environment at home even in an accommodation facility such as a hotel at a destination. The technique described in Patent Document 2 transmits key information from a portable terminal in a distribution system in which scramble is released by collating key information and content can be viewed. As a result, as long as you have a portable terminal, you can scramble and view content while staying at your own house as well as at a hotel or other accommodation.

  As a device and user authentication technology when a user receives a service in a home network, a technology described in Patent Document 3 is known.

FIG. 22 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of the access control system 1201 described in Patent Document 3. In the access control system 1201 shown in FIG. 22, a guest device 1204 that wants to receive a service from the video device 1205 accesses the home server 1202 and performs authentication and network setting. Thereafter, when the guest device 1204 intends to receive a service, the guest device 1204 makes a service provision request to the home server 1202. The home server 1202 inquires of the permission server 1203 whether the service is permitted. If the service is permitted, the service is performed.
JP 2003-37802 (release date: February 7, 2003) JP 2001-345766 (release date: December 14, 2001) JP 2006-178976 (release date: July 6, 2006)

  However, with the above-described conventional configuration, it is impossible to view content stored in a server at home on a playback terminal such as a television set in another home.

  The above problem will be described in more detail. First, according to the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is only possible to view content at home on a mobile terminal, and cannot be viewed on a television at another home. In other words, even if a large-screen TV is in a different house, it cannot be used to play content, and the user can only view the content on a small screen of the mobile phone.

  According to the technique described in Patent Literature 2, if a television is available in an accommodation facility such as a hotel, the content can be viewed using the television. However, the content targeted by the technology is limited to content delivered directly from a specific content provider, and is not intended for delivery of content once stored in a home server in the home. Even if a user wants to watch a TV program recorded at home on a remote TV, the user cannot view the program unless the program to be viewed is distributed from a specific content provider.

  Furthermore, in the situation of viewing content at home in a separate house, there is a possibility that content that the owner of the separate house does not want to play or that it is played using a renderer that is not desired to be used. is there. Further, when the guest tries to view the content at home, the content that the guest does not want to show can be viewed and becomes a problem.

  This problem will be described in more detail as follows. In the technique described in Patent Document 3, it is possible to control access to devices and contents existing in a separate home from the beginning through a home server that performs access control. However, with the technique described in Patent Document 3, content and devices in the home network are only subject to access control, and viewing of external content cannot be restricted. That is, the home server that performs access control in a separate home does not know the information about the content at home, and therefore cannot restrict access to content at home. Therefore, the owner and guest (home owner) of the separate home cannot restrict viewing of the content at the home of the guest at the separate home. That is, when viewing content stored on a server at home on a playback terminal such as a TV in another home, setting viewing conditions so that both the home owner and the home owner satisfy the desired conditions. Was impossible.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to allow content stored at home to be viewed outside a home when viewing content stored on a server in the home on a playback terminal in a separate home. Content distribution server, content providing server, content distribution system, content distribution method, content providing method, and control for realizing a mechanism capable of reproducing only the content permitted for transmission and distribution of the content at another home To provide a program.

  The content distribution server according to the present invention is a content distribution server that manages the content managed by the content providing server outside the network to which the own device belongs and distributes the content to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content. When the content information that is information related to the content satisfies a predetermined distribution permission condition, a distribution permission unit that permits distribution of the content to the content reproduction device, and a distribution permission unit Content information notifying means for notifying the user of the content reproduction apparatus of the content information about the permitted content is provided.

  According to the above configuration, the content distribution server according to the present invention distributes the content under the management of the content providing server to the content reproduction device under the management of the own device. The content managed by the content distribution server is a variety of content such as moving images, music, and images that are stored in a device connected to the network to which the content providing server belongs and can be viewed by the user, and is not particularly limited. . Examples of the content reproduction apparatus include a television, a PC, and an audio device, but are various devices for reproducing the various contents described above, and are not particularly limited.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the distribution permission unit determines whether to permit distribution of the content to the content reproduction device using the content information. The content information is a code or name for identifying the device or content in which the content is stored, an address indicating the storage location of the content on the network, a creator of the content data, a genre indicating the classification of the content In addition, various information related to the content such as the performers of each content is included, and there is no particular limitation. Then, the distribution permission unit determines whether or not a predetermined distribution permission condition is satisfied for the various types of content information. Here, the distribution permission condition is, for example, “Don't allow distribution of adult content”, and may be any condition defined for determining whether or not to permit distribution of content. Not done. Further, the distribution permission condition may be fixedly held in the distribution permission unit, or may be separately held in a state where the distribution permission unit can be read, and is not particularly limited. Further, the configuration may be such that the user can arbitrarily change the distribution permission condition, and is not particularly limited.

  Moreover, according to said structure, a content information notification means notifies a user of content information about the content determined to permit distribution by a distribution permission means. Here, the notification of the content information to the user is performed via various devices that can present the content information to the user as text information or voice information, and the content distribution server such as a mobile phone or a personal computer notifies the user. There is no particular limitation.

  That is, according to the content distribution server according to the present invention, only the content information about the content permitted to be distributed by the content distribution server among the content managed by the content providing server is notified to the user. . Therefore, when the above distribution permission condition is set so that distribution is not permitted for content that is not desirably viewed through a content reproduction device managed by the content distribution server, the content information regarding the content is stored in the user. I don't know.

  As a result, among the contents that can be provided by the content providing server, it is possible to give the user an opportunity to view the contents that are not preferably viewed through the content playback device managed by the content distribution server. It can be prevented from being regenerated.

The content distribution method according to the present invention is a content distribution method in which content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs is distributed to a content reproduction device that manages the content and reproduces the content. A distribution permission step for permitting distribution of the content to the content reproduction device when the content information, which is information related to the content, satisfies a predetermined distribution permission condition; and the distribution permission means A content information notification step of notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content information about the permitted content. According to the above configuration, the content distribution server according to the present invention The same effect is obtained.

  In the content distribution server according to the present invention, the distribution permission means includes at least one content information of the content data type, the content data creator, and the content genre satisfying the distribution permission condition. It is preferable to permit the content to be distributed to the content reproduction device when the content is satisfied.

  According to the above configuration, the distribution permission unit determines whether or not the above-described distribution permission condition is satisfied for at least one of the content data type, the content data creator, and the content genre. It is determined whether or not it is permitted to distribute the content to the content reproduction apparatus.

  As a result, the content that is not preferably viewed on the content reproduction device managed by the content distribution server is reproduced based on at least one of the content data type, the content data creator, and the content genre. Can be limited.

  In the content distribution server according to the present invention, it is preferable that the content information notification unit notifies a user of the content reproduction device of a list of the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission unit.

  According to said structure, a content information notification means notifies a user of the list of the content information about the content determined to permit distribution by the said distribution permission means.

  As a result, the user can check the content information related to the viewable content in a list, and therefore, when there are a plurality of viewable content, that is, reproducible content, efficiently check the content information. Can do.

  In the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention, the content information notification means is a terminal that the user of the content reproduction apparatus possesses the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission means in accordance with a universal plug and play protocol. It is preferable to transmit to the device and notify the user through the terminal device.

  According to the above configuration, the content information notifying unit possesses the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission unit according to the universal plug and play protocol (UPnP protocol). To the terminal device, and notifies the user through the terminal device.

  As a result, communication can be performed according to the UPnP protocol used to provide each other's functions without being restricted by differences between manufacturers or types of devices, so that it is necessary to separately implement new functions for transmitting content information to the terminal device. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize a mechanism for notifying the user of only information of viewable content using the content distribution server according to the present invention.

  The content distribution server according to the present invention is a content distribution server that manages the content managed by the content providing server outside the network to which the own device belongs and distributes the content to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content. When the content playback device information, which is information related to the content playback device, satisfies a predetermined usage permission condition, a usage permission unit that permits the use of the content playback device, and the usage permission unit Content reproduction device information notifying means for notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the above-mentioned content reproduction device.

  According to the above configuration, the content distribution server according to the present invention distributes the content under the management of the content providing server to the content reproduction device under the management of the own device.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the use permission unit determines whether to permit the use of the content reproduction device using the content reproduction device information. The content playback device information includes various information related to the content playback device such as information for identifying the content playback device and the address of the content playback device on the network, and is not particularly limited. Then, the use permission means determines whether or not the use permission condition is satisfied with respect to the various content reproduction apparatus information. Here, the use permission condition includes, for example, “no use is permitted for a content playback apparatus in a bedroom”, and any use conditions set for determining whether or not to permit use of the content playback apparatus. Conditions may be used and are not particularly limited. Further, the use permission condition may be fixedly held in the use permission means, or may be separately held in a state where the use permission means can be read, and is not particularly limited. Moreover, the structure which a user can change utilization permission conditions arbitrarily may be sufficient, and it does not specifically limit.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the content reproduction device information notifying unit notifies the user of the content reproduction device information regarding the content reproduction device that has been determined to be permitted to be used by the use permission unit. Here, the notification of the content playback device information to the user is performed via various devices that can present the content playback device information to the user as text information, voice information, etc. Notification may be performed and is not particularly limited.

  In other words, according to the content distribution server according to the present invention, only the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted to be used by the utilization permission unit among the content distribution devices under the control of the own device is transmitted to the user. To be notified. Therefore, when the use permission condition is set so as not to permit the use of a content reproduction device that is not desirably used for viewing the content under the management of the content providing server, the content distribution device The user cannot know the content distribution apparatus information regarding.

  As a result, the content playback apparatus that is not preferably used for viewing the content does not give the user an opportunity to use the content playback apparatus, and can be prevented from being used for playback of the content.

  The content distribution method according to the present invention is a content distribution method in which content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs is distributed to a content reproduction device that manages the content and reproduces the content. A use permission step for permitting the use of the content reproduction device when the content reproduction device information, which is information relating to the content reproduction device, satisfies a predetermined use permission condition; and the use permission means. A content playback device information notifying step of notifying a user of the content playback device of the content playback device information about the content playback device permitted by

  According to said structure, there exists an effect similar to the content delivery server which concerns on this invention.

  The content distribution server according to the present invention includes a content reproduction device information request transmitting means for transmitting a content reproduction device information request for requesting the content reproduction device information to the content reproduction device, and responding to the content reproduction device information request. It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further includes content reproduction device information acquisition means for acquiring content reproduction device information transmitted from the content reproduction device.

  According to said structure, the said content reproduction apparatus information request | requirement means transmits the content reproduction apparatus information request | requirement which requests | requires content reproduction apparatus information with respect to the content reproduction apparatus under management of an own machine. Then, the content reproduction device information transmitted from the content reproduction device as a response to the transmitted content reproduction device information request is acquired. Therefore, for example, for a content playback device disconnected from the network, a response to the content playback device information request cannot be obtained, and thus content playback device information cannot be acquired.

  Thereby, since the content reproduction device information about the currently available content reproduction device can be acquired, accurate content reproduction device information according to the current state of the content reproduction device can be provided to the user.

  In the content distribution server according to the present invention, the usage permission means permits the content playback device to be used when the content playback device information for the name of the content playback device satisfies the usage permission condition. It is preferable to do.

  According to the above configuration, does the usage permission means satisfy the above-described usage permission condition for content playback device information including information on the name of the content playback device (for example, a living room renderer or a child room renderer)? It is determined whether or not the use of the content reproduction apparatus is permitted.

  Thereby, about the content reproduction apparatus which is not preferably used for viewing the content, the use can be restricted based on the name of the content reproduction apparatus.

  In the content distribution server according to the present invention, the content reproduction device information notifying unit notifies a user of the content reproduction device of a list of the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the use permission unit. It is preferable.

  According to said structure, a content reproduction apparatus information notification means notifies a user of the list | wrist of the content reproduction apparatus information regarding the content reproduction apparatus determined to permit using by the said use permission means.

  Accordingly, since the user can check the content playback device information regarding the available content playback devices in a list, when there are a plurality of usable content playback devices, the user can efficiently check the content playback device information. be able to.

  In the content distribution server according to the present invention, the content reproduction device information notifying unit uses the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the use permission unit according to a universal plug and play protocol. It is preferable to transmit to the terminal device possessed by the user and notify the user through the terminal device.

  According to the above configuration, the content information notifying unit converts the content distribution device information on the content distribution device permitted by the use permission unit according to the universal plug and play protocol (UPnP protocol). Is transmitted to the terminal device possessed by the user, and the user is notified through the terminal device.

  As a result, communication can be performed according to the UPnP protocol used to provide functions to each other without being restricted by manufacturer differences or device types, so that a new function is separately implemented for transmission of the content playback apparatus information. There is no need, and it is possible to easily realize a mechanism for notifying the user of only information of an available content reproduction apparatus using the content distribution server according to the present invention.

  The content providing server according to the present invention is outside the network to which the own device belongs, manages the content reproducing device that reproduces the content, and distributes the content to the content reproducing device. A content providing server that provides the content to be managed and provides the content to the content distribution server when content information that is information related to the content satisfies a predetermined provision permission condition. It is characterized by comprising provision permitting means for permitting and content information transmitting means for transmitting the content information about the content permitted by the provision permitting means to the content distribution apparatus.

  According to said structure, the content provision server which concerns on this invention provides the con content under management of an own machine to a content delivery server. The content distribution server distributes the content provided from the content providing server to a content reproduction apparatus that is outside the network to which the content providing server belongs and is under management.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the provision permitting unit determines whether to permit transmission of the content to the content reproduction device using the content information data. The content information is a code or name for identifying the device or content in which the content is stored, an address indicating the storage location of the content on the network, a creator of the content data, a genre indicating the classification of the content In addition, various information related to the content such as the performers of each content is included, and there is no particular limitation. The provision permission unit determines whether the provision permission condition is satisfied for the various types of content information. Here, the provision permission condition includes, for example, “Don't allow provision of adult content” and is defined to determine whether or not to permit the provision of content outside the network to which the content provision server belongs. Any conditions may be used, and there is no particular limitation. Further, the provision permission condition may be fixedly held in the provision permission unit, or may be separately held in a state where the provision permission unit is readable, and is not particularly limited. Moreover, the structure which can change a provision permission condition arbitrarily may be sufficient, and it does not specifically limit.

  Further, according to the above configuration, the content information transmission unit transmits the content information to the content distribution server with respect to the content that is determined to be permitted to be provided by the provision permission unit.

  That is, according to the content providing server according to the present invention, only content information about content permitted to be provided to an external network is transmitted to the content distribution server. To do. Therefore, the above-mentioned provision is made so as not to permit transmission of content that is not desirably transmitted to the content distribution server, that is, content that is not desirably distributed to a content distribution device on the network to which the content distribution server belongs. When permission conditions are set, the user cannot know content information regarding the content.

  As a result, for the content under the management of the content providing server, it is possible to prevent the user of the content reproduction apparatus from viewing the content that is not desirably viewed and can be prevented from being reproduced.

  A content providing method according to the present invention is provided outside a network to which the own device belongs, manages a content reproducing device that reproduces content, and distributes the content to the content reproducing device. A content providing method for providing the content to be managed, wherein the content information, which is information related to the content, satisfies the predetermined provision permission condition, and provides the content to the content distribution server. A provision permission step of permitting, and a content information provision step of providing the content distribution device with the content information of the content permitted by the provision permission means.

  According to said structure, there exists an effect similar to the content provision server apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  The content providing server according to the present invention includes a content information request transmitting means for transmitting a content information request for requesting the content information to a media server under the management of the device and storing the content. It is preferable to further include content information acquisition means for acquiring content information transmitted from the media server in response to a content information request.

  According to said structure, the said content information request | requirement transmission means transmits the content information request | requirement which requests | requires content information with respect to the media server under management of an own machine. And the content information transmitted from the said media server as a response with respect to the transmitted content information request | requirement is acquired. Therefore, for example, for a media server that is disconnected from the network, a response to the content information request cannot be obtained, and thus content information data cannot be acquired.

  Thereby, since the content information about the content stored in the currently available media server can be acquired, accurate content information can be provided to the content distribution server.

  In the content providing server according to the present invention, the providing permission means includes at least one piece of content information of the content data type, the content data creator, and the content genre satisfying the providing permission condition. It is preferable to allow the content to be transmitted to the content distribution server when the content is satisfied.

  According to the above configuration, the provision permission unit determines whether or not the provision permission condition described above is satisfied for at least one of the content data type, the content data creator, and the content genre. It is determined, and it is determined whether or not it is permitted to provide the content to the content distribution server.

  As a result, based on at least one information of the type of content data, the creator of the content data, and the genre of the content for content that is not preferably provided to the content distribution server outside the network to which the content providing server belongs. , Can limit the offer.

In the content providing server according to the present invention, the content information transmitting means includes:
13. The content providing server according to claim 12, wherein a list of content information related to the content that is determined to be permitted to be provided by the providing permission unit is transmitted to the content distribution server.

  According to said structure, a content information transmission means transmits the list | wrist of the content information regarding the content in which the determination which permits the provision by the said provision permission means was made to a content delivery server.

  As a result, the content providing server can collectively acquire content information relating to the usable content. Therefore, when there are a plurality of usable contents, the content information can be efficiently processed.

  A content distribution system according to the present invention includes a content distribution server, the content providing server, a content reproduction device that reproduces the content distributed by the content distribution server, and a content under the management of the content providing server. And a mobile terminal that is a controller of the content distribution server, and the content distribution server responds to an acquisition request for content information transmitted from the mobile terminal by a user operation. Content information is acquired from a content providing server, and the user is notified of the content information via the portable terminal.

  According to said structure, the content delivery system contains the said content delivery server, the said content provision server, the said content reproduction apparatus, the said media server, and the said portable terminal. The content reproduction device is under the management of the content distribution server and reproduces the content. The media server is managed by the content providing server and stores content.

  And according to said structure, the said content delivery server notifies a user of content information via this portable terminal using the content information acquired from the said content provision server according to the request | requirement from the said portable terminal. It is characterized by doing.

  In other words, the content distribution server receives only content information about the content that is permitted to be transmitted to the outside of the network to which the content providing server belongs, among the contents under the management of the content providing server. Then, the content distribution server notifies the user only of the content information related to the content permitted to be distributed to the managed content reproduction apparatus.

  Accordingly, it is possible to realize a mechanism for notifying the user of only the content information about the content permitted to be provided by the content providing server and permitted to be distributed by the content distribution server. That is, the user can view only the permitted content on both the content providing server and the content distribution server.

  The content distribution server may be realized by a computer. In this case, an information processing program for realizing the content distribution server in the computer by operating the computer as each of the above means and a computer-readable recording medium on which the information processing program is recorded also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  The content providing server may be realized by a computer. In this case, an information processing program for realizing the content providing server in the computer by operating the computer as each of the above means and a computer-readable recording medium on which the information processing program is recorded also fall within the scope of the present invention.

  The content distribution server according to the present invention is a content distribution server that manages the content managed by the content providing server outside the network to which the own device belongs and distributes the content to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content. When the content information that is information related to the content satisfies a predetermined distribution permission condition, a distribution permission unit that permits distribution of the content to the content reproduction device, and a distribution permission unit Content information notifying means for notifying the user of the content reproduction apparatus of the content information about the permitted content.

  Therefore, according to the content distribution server according to the present invention, only the content information about the content permitted to be distributed by the content distribution server among the contents under the management of the content providing server is notified to the user. The Therefore, among the contents that can be provided by the container providing server, it is not desirable to view and contents that are not permitted to be distributed can be prevented from being reproduced because the user cannot acquire content information and is not given an opportunity to view. .

  The content distribution server according to the present invention is a content distribution server that manages the content managed by the content providing server outside the network to which the own device belongs and distributes the content to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content. When the content playback device information, which is information related to the content playback device, satisfies a predetermined usage permission condition, a usage permission unit that permits the use of the content playback device, and the usage permission unit Content reproduction apparatus information notifying means for notifying the user of the content reproduction apparatus of the content reproduction apparatus information about the content reproduction apparatus permitted by the user.

  Therefore, according to the content distribution server of the present invention, only the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted to be used is notified to the user of the content reproduction device. Therefore, it is not desirable to use the content reproduction device that is not permitted to be used, and the user cannot acquire the content reproduction device information and is not given an opportunity to use the content reproduction device.

  The content providing server according to the present invention is outside the network to which the own device belongs, manages the content reproducing device that reproduces the content, and distributes the content to the content reproducing device. A content providing server that provides the content to be managed and provides the content to the content distribution server when content information that is information related to the content satisfies a predetermined provision permission condition. Providing provision permitting means, and content information transmitting means for transmitting the content information about the content permitted by the provision permitting means to the content distribution apparatus.

  Therefore, according to the content providing server according to the present invention, only the content information about the content permitted to be transmitted to the external network is provided to the content distribution server. Therefore, content information that is not desirably distributed to a content playback device on the network to which the content distribution server belongs is not transmitted to the content distribution server, and the user cannot obtain the content information and view it. Since no opportunity is given, regeneration can be prevented.

Embodiment 1
First, the configuration of a content distribution system including a gateway device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content distribution system. The content distribution system includes a home network (hereinafter abbreviated as HNW) 301 configured in a user's home and a foreign network (hereinafter abbreviated as FNW) 302 configured in a separate home visited by the user. Contains. A home gateway (hereinafter abbreviated as HGW) 304 for managing devices in the HNW 301 is disposed in the HNW 301, and a foreign gateway (hereinafter abbreviated as FGW) 305 for managing the devices in the FNW 302 is disposed in the HNW 301. Yes.

  Note that, here, the HNW 301 configured in the user's home and the FNW 302 configured in another home are described for convenience, but these are relative names. In other words, since the relationship between the home network and the foreign network and between the home gateway and the foreign gateway may be interchanged, it is desirable that both networks and gateways have both functions in implementation.

  A media server 303 is arranged in the HNW 301. The media server 303 is configured by a device having a storage such as an HDD recorder or a PC, for example, and accumulates various contents such as moving images, still images, sounds, and office documents. A device that distributes real-time media such as a camera is also a kind of media server 303. Although only one is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity, usually, there are many media servers 303 in the HNW 301. On the other hand, at least one HGW 304 is installed in the HNW 301, but a plurality of HGWs 304 may be provided.

  A renderer 306 is arranged in the FNW 302. The renderer 306 is configured by a content playback device such as a television or an audio device, and performs playback of moving images, still images, sounds, and presentation of office documents. The type of content that can be handled depends on the type of renderer. For example, a moving image cannot be played back on an audio device. Although only one renderer 306 is shown in FIG. 1 for simplicity, there are many renderers 306 in the FNW 302 in many cases. On the other hand, at least one FGW 305 is installed in the FNW 302, but a plurality of FGWs 305 may be provided.

  Normally, the home gateway function and the foreign gateway function are realized by a single device, so that it is not necessary to install the home gateway and the foreign gateway separately (two in total) in each home.

  As described above, the distinction between the home gateway and the foreign gateway is relative, and is omitted here for the sake of simplicity. Usually, however, there are renderers in the HNW 301, and in the FNW 302. There is also a media server. The devices in the HNW 301 are connected to each other via a wired or wireless home LAN, and recognize the presence of each other. The same applies to each device in the FNW 302.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the content distribution server described in the claims is the FGW 305, the content providing server described in the claims is the HGW 304, and the content playback device described in the claims is the renderer 306. Further, the terminal device described in the claims is described in association with the portable terminal 307.

(1. Establishing connection between HGW and FGW)
Here, the owner of the HNW 301 who lives in the house where the HNW 301 is configured moves to the house where the FNW 302 is configured with the portable terminal 307, and is stored in the media server 303 belonging to the HNW 301 by the renderer 306 belonging to the FNW 302. Consider the situation of viewing content.

  FIG. 2 shows a procedure until the FGW 305 and the HGW 304 are connected when the portable terminal 307 plays back the content stored in the media server 303 in the home by the renderer 306 via the FGW 305 and the HGW 304. FIG.

  The connection procedure between the FGW 305 and the HGW 304 will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, the mobile terminal 307 applies to the FGW 305 for permission to use resources belonging to the FNW 302 (S401). The FGW 305 grants the resource use permission to the portable terminal 307 in accordance with a use permission policy predetermined in the FNW 302 (S402) (S403). As a usage permission policy, there are policies that accept all requests, and policies that sequentially ask for confirmation by the owner of the FNW 302. It is also conceivable to perform billing settlement using a credit card or the like. Here, as an example, a policy is adopted in which the use permission is granted to all resources belonging to the FNW 302 only to the mobile terminal 307 that is physically close to the FGW 305. Whether or not the mobile terminal 307 is physically located close to the FGW 305 can be verified by various methods. For example, there are the following methods.

  (1) Use permission is given only when physical contact is confirmed, such as when the portable terminal 307 and the FGW 305 are connected with a sufficiently short cable.

(2) The communication between the portable terminal 307 and the FGW 305 is performed by near field communication such as infrared communication, and only use application through it is permitted. (Grant usage permission only when a usage application is made by proximity communication.)
(3) After the specific physical operation is directly applied to the FGW 305, the use permission is given only when the use application is received within a predetermined specific time. Specifically, for example, a physical button or the like is arranged on the FGW 305, and only usage applications received within a sufficiently short predetermined time after the button is pressed are allowed.

  (4) A pass code is displayed on the display panel of the FGW 305, and use permission is given only when the pass code (need to be confirmed from a physically close position) is input. It is also possible to send a passcode to the surroundings of the FGW 305 by proximity communication (for example, proximity wireless communication).

  In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305 perform infrared communication. The FGW 305 verifies that the mobile terminal 307 exists in the physical vicinity of the FGW 305 by receiving infrared communication from the mobile terminal 307. The FGW 305 permits use of resources belonging to the FNW 305 to the mobile terminal 307 in which the mobile terminal 307 is physically located in this sense. As described above, by configuring the FGW 305 to accept only near field communication, when limiting the mobile terminals that can communicate with the FGW 305, the steps from S401 to S403 surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 2 can be omitted. . This is because the notification of the address of the HGW 304, the ID for connection, and the password transmitted from the portable terminal 307 in S410 is accepted only by infrared communication, and the portable terminal 307 that has transmitted them is received. Is automatically present in the physical vicinity of the FGW 305.

  Authentication information for logging in to the HGW 304 via the network in the portable terminal 307 possessed by the owner of the HNW 301 (a client certificate that proves that it is a client of the HGW 304 and a password for logging in to the HGW 304) Is stored in advance. The portable terminal 307 attempts to log in to the HGW 304 via the network using these authentication information (S404). For security reasons, it is desirable that the communication path between the portable terminal 307 and the HGW 304 is appropriately encrypted to prevent eavesdropping or tampering by a third party.

  The HGW 304 authenticates the portable terminal 307 using confirmation of the client certificate of the portable terminal 307, password authentication, etc. (S405), and permits login (S406). Next, the portable terminal 307 requests the HGW 304 to generate a password for the FGW 305 to connect to the HGW 304 (S407). The HGW 304 generates a password (S408), and transmits the generated password to the portable terminal 307 (S409). This password has an expiration date, and is preferably a one-time password (One Time Password (OTP)) that cannot be used after the expiration date.

  The portable terminal 307 notifies the FGW 305 of the connection destination ID and password via the short-range infrared communication (S410). The connection ID is set in advance between the mobile terminal 307 and the HGW 304 (or dynamically generated based on a rule agreed in advance by both), for example, the mobile terminal in S409 Even if the password is leaked to the outside in the password notification to 307, it cannot be used unless this ID is known, so the risk can be reduced.

  The FGW 305 makes a connection request to the HGW 304 using the address, ID, and password given from the portable terminal 307 in S410 (S411). The HGW 304 confirms the validity of the ID and password, and establishes a connection with the FGW 305 if there is no problem. At this time, the FGW 305 and the HGW 304 perform SIP connection via the SIP server provided by the service provider 308. The service provider 308 can perform authentication of each gateway, security evaluation, etc. as needed, and can present the obtained information to each gateway. Each gateway refers to the information presented by the service provider 308 to allow connection only to gateways registered in advance in the service, or to refuse connection to a gateway with a low evaluation. Measures can be adopted. Note that the communication path between the HGW 304 and the FGW 305 is a path through which the content list and contents of the media server 303 managed by the HGW 304 are subsequently distributed, so it is desirable that the communication path be appropriately encrypted.

  In order to establish communication between the HGW and the FGW more securely, the portable terminal 307 may be configured to check the network address of the FGW 305 in S401 to S403 and notify the HGW 304 of the network address of the FGW 305 in S407. . At this time, by configuring the HGW 304 to accept access only from the address corresponding to the notified address, communication between the HGW and the FGW can be made more secure.

(2. Acquisition of content list)
In order to reproduce the content in the media server 303 belonging to the HNW 301, it is necessary to specify which content is to be reproduced. For this purpose, it is necessary to obtain a list of some or all of the contents stored in the media server 303 and select from the list.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a means for the portable terminal 307 to acquire the content list. In order to acquire the content list, the mobile terminal 307 requests the FGW 305 to acquire the content list (S501). In response to this, the FGW 305 transfers a content list request to the HGW 304 (S502).

  When the HGW 304 receives the content list request from the FGW 305, the HGW 304 requests the media server 302 in the HNW 301 to acquire a list of stored contents (S503). When there are a plurality of media servers in the HNW 301, this content list request is made to each media server. Upon receiving the content list request, the media server 302 transmits a list of content stored in the media server 302 to the HGW 304 (S504).

  The HGW 304 that has received the content list from the media server 302 checks whether or not access control is set for transmitting the content to the outside before transmitting the received content list to the FGW 305 (S505). . Here, the access control setting is not limited to a setting for restricting direct access to content stored in the media server 303. That is, the access control setting is a setting for restricting viewing of content stored in the media server 303 via a content playback device outside the HNW 301, and is stored in the media server 303. When the content is transmitted to the FGW 305 or the like, the content is viewed via an external content reproduction device, and therefore the setting regarding whether or not the content can be transmitted to the outside is also included in the access control setting. If access control is set (YES in step S505), whether or not content can be transmitted to the FGW 305 according to the set access control rule (providing permission condition) for each content included in the received content list. Judging. Specific examples of setting access control and applying access control rules will be described later. At this time, the content that is determined to be prohibited from transmission is deleted from the content list, thereby creating a content list consisting of only transmittable content (S506). Thereafter, the content list is transmitted to the FGW 305 (S507).

  That is, the HGW 304 determines whether or not the content stored in the media server 303 is permitted to be transmitted to the FGW 305 belonging to the network outside the HNW 301, and the content permitted to be transmitted to the FGW 305. A content list (a list of content information) including only information (content information) is transmitted. In the present embodiment, an example of transmitting as a list has been described, but each content information may be transmitted individually, and is not particularly limited.

  The FGW 305 that has received the content list from the HGW 304 checks whether access control has been set for the content received from the outside before transmitting the received content list to the mobile terminal 307 (S508). Here, as described above, the access control setting is a setting for restricting the content stored in the media server 303 from being viewed via a content playback device external to the HNW 301. When the content stored in 303 is transmitted to the FGW 305 or the like and distributed to a renderer belonging to the FNW 302, the content is viewed through those renderers, so that the content can be distributed to the renderer belonging to the FNW 302. Settings are also included in access control settings. When access control is set (YES in S508), content viewing in the FNW 302 is performed for each content included in the received content list in accordance with the set access control rule (distribution permission condition). Judgment is made. Specific examples of setting access control and applying access control rules will be described later. At this time, content that is determined to be prohibited from being viewed is deleted from the content list, thereby creating a content list that includes only viewable content (S509). Thereafter, the content list is transmitted to the portable terminal 307 (S510).

  That is, the FGW 305 determines whether or not the content stored in the media server 302 is permitted to be distributed to the renderer 306 belonging to the FNW 302, and the content about the content permitted to be distributed to the renderer 306 is determined. A content list (a list of content information) including only information (content information) is transmitted. In the present embodiment, an example of transmitting as a list has been described, but each content information may be transmitted individually, and is not particularly limited.

  By doing in this way, the content list which the portable terminal 307 receives can acquire the content list which consists only of the content permitted by both the access control rules set to each of HGW304 and FGW305. When the access control is set in the HGW 304, the content list transmitted to the FGW 305 does not include information related to the content for which the transmission to the external network is restricted by the access control setting. The existence of the content cannot be known from the devices in the FNW 302 including the FGW 305. In addition, when access control is set in the FGW 305, information regarding the corresponding content is included in the content list transmitted to the mobile terminal 307 for content whose distribution in the FNW 302 is restricted by the access control setting. Therefore, the mobile terminal 307 cannot know the existence of the content. It is possible that all contents are deleted from the contents list due to these access control settings, and no one content is visible to the mobile terminal 307.

  In this way, the mobile terminal 307 can receive a content list consisting only of content that matches the setting details of access control simply by making a content list acquisition request. The FGW 305 makes a response to the portable terminal 307 that it is a media server that conforms to DLNA in advance using the UPnP protocol, so that the portable terminal 307 has the UPnP protocol function defined by DLNA. The content list reflecting the access control settings can be received.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when the mobile terminal 307 acquires a content list in which access control settings are reflected. In the example of FIG. 4, a case is shown in which there are two media servers, the media server 303 and the media server 309, in the HNW 301.

  A content list acquisition request is transmitted from the portable terminal 307 to the FGW 305 (S501), and a content list acquisition request is transmitted from the FGW 305 to the HGW 304 (S502). The HGW 304 transmits a content list acquisition request to all media servers under management (S503).

  The media server 303 transmits its own content list to the HGW 304 (S504). Further, another media server 309 also transmits its own content list to the HGW 304 (S504). The HGW 304 determines whether each content in the content list received from these media servers can be transmitted to the outside based on the access control rule, and creates a content list including only transmittable content (S506). A content list limited to the FGW 305 is transmitted (S507).

  The FGW 305 determines whether or not the content in the content list received from the HGW 304 can be reproduced in the FNW 302 based on the access control rule, and creates a content list including only the reproducible content (S509). A content list limited to 307 is transmitted (S510).

  Next, a specific example of application of the access control rule to the content list will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing content information under the management of the HGW 304. The content information shown in FIG. 5 includes “media server name”, “content ID”, “content name”, “content address”, “creator”, and “genre”.

  “Media server name” is the name of the media server in which the content is stored. In the example shown in FIG. 5, two DVD recorders and a personal computer are shown. That is, in the HNW 301, two devices, a DVD recorder and a personal computer, store contents. In addition, the DVD recorder has three video contents, and the personal computer has two music contents and one image content. “Content ID” is an ID assigned to identify each content. The “content name” is the name of the content, and the user can understand the content by the content name. “Content address” indicates the storage location of the content in the HNW 301. “Creator” is information indicating a user who created data (content data) of each content such as moving image data, music data, and image data. “Genre” indicates the classification of the content.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the setting details of access control for content in the HGW 304. In the example of FIG. 6, “The content that the creator is the son is not shown”, “The content that the creator is the user is not shown unless the mobile terminal connected to the accessed FGW is other than the own mobile terminal. ”And“ Show in other cases ”indicate that the access control rule is set.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the setting details of access control for content in the FGW 305. In the example of FIG. 7, there are access control rules such as “Do not show content whose genre is adult”, “Do not show content whose content type is music and genre is Rock”, and “Show otherwise”. Indicates that it is set. The type of content (music, video, image, etc.) can be distinguished based on the content data attribute (MPG, MP3, JPG, etc.) indicated in the “content address”. Further, the content ID may be determined so that the type of content can be distinguished, and is not particularly limited.

  When a content list request is made to the HGW 304 from the FGW 305 connected to its own mobile terminal 307, the HGW 304 acquires the content list shown in FIG. Then, the HGW 304 applies the access control rule shown in FIG. 6 to each content in FIG. As a result, No. 5 in FIG. The content of content 2 (content name: anime xx) is the son of the creator. It is not allowed because it applies to the rule 1 “Do not show content whose creator is son”. The other contents are permitted according to the rules in FIG. 6, so that the HGW 304 to the FGW 305 receive No. 1 shown in FIG. A content list including five contents other than the second content (animation OO) is transmitted.

  On the other hand, in the FGW 305, each content included in the content list transmitted from the HGW 304, that is, No. 1 shown in FIG. The access control rule of FIG. 7 is applied to five contents other than the content of 2 (animation OO). As a result, No. 5 in FIG. 3 (content name: late-night program XX) is No. 3 in FIG. It is not allowed because it applies to the rule 1 “Do not show content whose genre is adult”. If the rules in FIG. 7 are followed, other contents are permitted, so the FGW 305 sends the mobile phone 307 a No. 2 (anime XX) and No. 2 A content list made up of four contents other than 3 (midnight program OO) is transmitted.

(3. Acquisition of renderer list)
In order to reproduce the content in the media server 303 in the FNW 302, it is necessary to determine which renderer in the FNW 302 is to reproduce the content. For this purpose, it is necessary to acquire a list of renderers existing in the FNW 302 and select a renderer for reproduction from the list.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a means for the portable terminal 307 to obtain a list of renderer information existing in the FNW 302. In order to acquire a list of renderers, the mobile terminal 307 transmits a device search message defined by UPnP (S601).

  Since only the FGW 305 is directly connected to the portable terminal 307, only the FGW 305 receives this device search message. When the FGW 305 receives the device search message from the portable terminal 307, the FGW 305 transmits a device search message defined by UPnP to all devices in the FNW 302 (S602). When the renderer 306 in the FNW 302 receives the device search message from the FGW 305, the renderer 306 transmits its device information as renderer information to the FGW 305 in accordance with a protocol defined by UPnP (S603).

  When the FGW 305 receives the renderer information from the renderer 306, the FGW 305 checks whether access control is set for the device in the FNW 302 (S604). Here, the access control setting is not limited to the setting for restricting the use when there is an access request to the renderer in the FNW 302, and the setting for restricting the disclosure of the renderer information is also the access control setting. included. If the access control is set (YES in S604), it is determined whether or not the renderer 306 can be used from the portable terminal 307 according to the access control rule (S605). When the use is permitted (YES in S605) or when there is no access control rule (NO in S604), the renderer information received from the renderer 306 is transmitted to the portable terminal 307 (S606). That is, the FGW 305 determines whether or not the renderer belonging to the FNW 302 is permitted to be used, and the renderer list including only information (contents playback apparatus information) about the renderer permitted to be used. (List of content reproduction device information) is transmitted. In the present embodiment, an example of transmitting as a list of renderer information has been described. However, each renderer information may be transmitted individually, and is not particularly limited. On the other hand, when the use of the renderer 306 is prohibited by the access control rule (use permission condition) (NO in S605), the information regarding the renderer 306 is not transmitted to the portable terminal 307 (S607). Specific examples of setting access control and applying access control rules will be described later.

  In this way, the portable terminal 307 can receive a list of renderer information for only renderers permitted by the access control rule set in the FGW 305. When the access control is set in the FGW 305, regarding the renderer whose use is restricted by the access control setting, the portable terminal 307 cannot know the presence of the renderer. Due to these access control settings, access to all renderers in the FNW 302 may be denied, and one renderer may not be visible to the mobile terminal 307.

  In this way, the mobile terminal 307 can receive renderer information only from a renderer that matches the access control setting contents by simply transmitting a device search message to the renderer. That is, the portable terminal 307 can configure a renderer list that includes only renderers that reflect the access control setting contents, using only the UPnP protocol function defined by DLNA.

  Further, by using a mechanism similar to the access control related to the renderer, when a media server exists in the FNW 302, it is possible to restrict access to the media server. In this case, the access control is set for the media server in the FGW 305, and the media server information is transmitted to the portable terminal 307 only when the use of the media server is permitted. It is also possible to prevent the presence from the terminal 307.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a data flow when the mobile terminal 307 acquires a list of renderer information in which the access control settings are reflected. In the example of FIG. 9, a case where two renderers, a renderer 306 and a renderer 310, exist in the FNW 302 is shown.

  When a device search message is transmitted from the portable terminal 307 to the FGW 305 (S601), the FGW 305 transmits a device search message to the devices in the FNW 302 (S602). As a result, the renderer 306 and the renderer 310 receive the device search message from the FGW 305.

  When the renderer 306 transmits the renderer information to the FGW 305 (S603), the FGW 305 performs use permission determination based on the access control rule for the renderer information (S605). When the use is permitted, the FGW 305 transmits renderer information to the portable terminal 307 (S606). For this reason, the portable terminal 307 can know the presence of the renderer 306, and can make a playback request to the renderer 306 when playing back the content.

  On the other hand, when the renderer 310 transmits the renderer information to the FGW 305 (S603), the FGW 305 performs use permission determination based on the access control rule for the renderer information (S605). If the use is not permitted, the FGW 305 does not transmit the renderer information to the portable terminal 307 (S607). For this reason, the portable terminal 307 cannot know the presence of the renderer 310 and cannot make a playback request to the renderer 310 when playing back the content.

  Next, a specific example of the application of the access control rule to the renderer information will be shown using FIG. 10 and FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing renderer information under the management of the FGW 305. The renderer information shown in FIG. 10 includes “Renderer Name” and “Address” as items.

  “Renderer name” is the name of the renderer, which allows the user to identify the renderer. “Address” is an address for identifying a renderer belonging to the FNW 302. In the example shown in FIG. 10, a living room renderer, a bedroom renderer, and a children's room renderer are shown. That is, there are three renderers in the living room, bedroom, and child room in the FNW 302.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the setting contents of access control for the renderer in the FGW 305. In the example of FIG. 11, it is confirmed that access control rules are set such that “the child room renderer is not shown unless accessed from a child's mobile terminal”, “the bedroom renderer is not shown”, and “the living room renderer is shown”. Show.

  When the portable terminal 307 owned by the owner of the HGW 304 transmits a device search message to the FGW 305, the FGW 305 issues a device search message in the FNW 302. Thereafter, the access control rule shown in FIG. 11 is applied to the renderer information sent from each renderer. As a result, since the living room renderer is permitted, the renderer information of the living room renderer is transferred to the portable terminal 307. However, the bedroom renderer and the child room renderer correspond to the access control rules shown in FIG. 11 “Do not show the bedroom renderer” and “Children room renderer must be accessed only from a child's mobile terminal”, respectively. It becomes permission. For this reason, the renderer information transmitted from these renderers is not transmitted from the FGW 305 to the portable terminal 307.

(4. Content playback)
FIG. 12 uses the portable terminal 307 that has acquired the content list and the renderer list using the above-described means, specifies the renderer for reproducing the content to be reproduced from the content list, and reproduces the content. It is the sequence diagram which showed the means to perform.

  Using the mobile terminal 307, the user selects a renderer to be used from the acquired renderer list (S701), and further selects content to be played back by the renderer from the acquired content list (S702).

  By designating the renderer and content, the portable terminal 307 requests the designated renderer address to play the designated content (S703). Since only the FGW 305 is directly connected to the portable terminal 307, this content reproduction request is first received by the FGW 305. The FGW 305 analyzes the received content reproduction request and obtains information regarding the selected renderer and the selected content (S704).

  The FGW 305 notifies the selected renderer 306 of the content to be played (S705). When the content to be reproduced is content in the HNW 301, the address of the content included in the notification from the FGW 305 is FGW 305. Receiving the reproduction request, the renderer 306 requests distribution of the designated content. (S706). At this time, if the designated content is stored in the media server in the FNW 302, distribution of the content is requested to the media server in which the content exists, but the designated content is in the HNW 301. In the case of content, the FGW 305 is requested to distribute the content.

  Receiving the content distribution request, the FGW 305 requests the HGW 304 to distribute the requested content (S707). The HGW 304 acquires the requested content from the media server 303 with the corresponding content in the HNW 301 (S708), and distributes it to the FGW 305 (S709). Upon receiving the content distribution, the FGW 305 distributes the content to the renderer 306 that requested the content distribution (S710), and the renderer 306 reproduces the content sent from the FGW 305 (S711). When the content is a large size such as a moving image, streaming playback is usually performed while delivering the content from the media server 303 to the renderer 306.

  Since communication between the portable terminal 307 and the FGW 305 uses the UPnP protocol defined by DLNA, the FGW 305 appears as DMS and DMR to the portable terminal 307. Therefore, the portable terminal 307 only needs to have a DMC function defined by DLNA. Further, since the communication between the FGW 305 and the renderer 306 uses the UPnP protocol defined by DLNA, the renderer 306 can see the FGW 305 as a DMC and a DMS. Therefore, the renderer 306 only needs to have the DMR function defined by DLNA.

  Here, the mobile terminal 307 selects the content after selecting the renderer, but the order may be reversed. If the renderer is determined, the content that can be played back by that renderer is narrowed down. If the content is determined, the renderer that can play back the content is also narrowed down. If the renderer is uniquely determined, it is possible to omit the renderer selection.

(5. Configuration of each device)
Next, the configuration of each device that implements the processing described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 18.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the FGW 305.

  As illustrated in FIG. 13, the FGW 305 includes the elements listed below.

  A communication unit 401 that is a communication interface with a mobile terminal.

  A communication unit 408 that is a communication interface with an external gateway.

  A communication unit 409 that is a communication interface with the renderer in the FNW 302.

  An authentication unit 402 that manages communication involving authentication.

  A connection request receiving unit 403 receives a connection request (use application) from the portable terminal 307 (S401).

  A portable terminal that has an address (external gateway designation information) for uniquely designating a connection destination HGW 304 and a connection ID and password (authentication information) for establishing an authenticated communication path with the HGW 304 The access authority acquiring unit 404 acquires from 307 (S410).

  The connection ID and password acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 404 are transmitted to the HGW 304 designated by the address acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 404 (S411), and an authenticated communication path is established (S413). ), A connection establishment unit (communication path establishment means) 405.

  A content list request processing unit 421 that receives a content list request for requesting a content list from the portable terminal 307 (S501) and transfers the received content list request to the HGW 304 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 410. .

  A content list is received from the HGW 304 (S507), an access control rule is applied to each content in the received content list, and a content list including only permitted content is created (S509), and the created content list Is transmitted to the portable terminal 307 (S510), a content list processing unit (distribution permission means, content information notification means) 422.

  A renderer information request processing unit 423 receives a device search message for the renderer from the portable terminal 307 (S601), and transmits a device search message for the renderer to the renderer in the FNW 302 (S602).

  The renderer information is received from the renderer (S603), the access control rule is applied to the received renderer information to determine whether the renderer can be used (S605), and the renderer information determined to be usable is stored in the mobile terminal. (S606), a renderer information processing unit (usage permitting means, content playback apparatus information notifying means, content playback apparatus information request transmitting means, content playback apparatus information acquiring means) 424.

  The conditions relating to the content that can be played back in the FNW 302 and the conditions of available renderers are stored, and the access control rules are provided when the access control rules are applied by the content list processing unit 422 and the renderer information processing unit 424. Access control rule management unit 425.

  A content playback request is received from the portable terminal 307 (S703), a content playback request is made to the renderer 306 designated by the content playback request (S705), and a content distribution request from the renderer 306 is received ( In step S706, the content reproduction request processing unit 406 transmits a content distribution request to the HGW 304 (S707).

  A content distribution processing unit 407 receives content distribution from the HGW 304 (S709), distributes content to the renderer 306 (S710).

  The FGW 305 is connected to a network via communication units 401, 408, and 409. When the FGW 305 communicates with the outside of the FNW 302 such as the portable terminal 307 or the HGW 304, the authentication unit 402 is used. When the connection request reception unit 403 receives a connection request from the mobile terminal 307, the access authority acquisition unit 404 receives information such as an address, ID, and password necessary for connection to the HGW 304 from the mobile terminal 307, and connects based on the information. The establishing unit 405 establishes a connection with the HGW 304.

  The content list request processing unit 421 receives the content list request from the portable terminal 307 and transfers it to the HGW 304. After acquiring the content list from the HGW 304, the content list processing unit 422 creates a list consisting only of content that matches the access control conditions stored in the access control rule management unit 425, and stores the content list in the portable terminal 307. provide.

  The renderer information request processing unit 423 receives a message for searching for a renderer from the portable terminal 307 and transfers it to the FNW 302. After obtaining the renderer information from the renderer 306, the renderer information processing unit 424 provides only the renderer information related to the renderer that matches the access control condition stored in the access control rule management unit 425 to the portable terminal 307.

  When the content reproduction request processing unit 406 receives a content reproduction request from the portable terminal 307, the content reproduction request processing unit 406 requests the designated renderer 306 to reproduce the content. When the content is in the HNW 301, the content distribution request is made from the renderer 306. Therefore, the content distribution request is transferred to the HGW 304, and the requested content is acquired based on the connection with the HGW 304 established by the connection establishment unit 405. To do. The acquired content is transmitted to the renderer 306 by the content distribution processing unit 407.

  FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the HGW 304.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the HGW 304 includes the elements listed below.

  A communication unit 501 that is a communication interface with an external gateway.

  A communication unit 510 that is a communication interface with a media server in the HNW 301.

  An access authority request receiving unit 503 that receives an access authority request for requesting acquisition of a password used for establishing an authenticated communication path between the FGW 305 and the HGW 304 from the portable terminal 305 (S407).

  In response to the access authority request, a password (for example, one-time password) generated by a password generation unit (not shown) is transmitted to the mobile terminal 307 (S409), and the access authority transmission unit 504.

  A connection request receiving unit 505 receives a connection request including an ID and a password from the FGW 305 (S411).

  The authentication unit 502 checks whether the password received by the connection request receiving unit 505 is a valid password generated by the password generation unit (S412).

  When the validity of the password received by the connection request reception unit 505 is confirmed by the authentication unit 502, a communication path is established with the FGW 305 (S413), and the connection establishment unit 506.

  A content list request is received from the FGW 305 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 506 (S502), and the media server is used to acquire a list of contents stored in the media server under the management of the HGW 304. The content list request processing unit 521 transmits a content list request to the content list (S503).

  A content list is received from a media server under the management of the HGW 304 (S504), and an access control rule is applied to each content in the received content list to create a content list consisting only of permitted content ( S506), the created content list is transmitted to the FGW 305 (S507), a content list processing unit (providing permission unit, content information transmitting unit, content information request transmitting unit, content information acquiring unit) 522.

  An access control rule management unit 523 that stores conditions for content that can be played outside the HNW 301 and provides an access control rule when the content list processing unit 522 applies an access control rule to the content list.

  A content distribution request including content designation information for designating content selected by the user from content belonging to the content list in the mobile terminal 307 is received from the FGW 305 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 506. (S707) Content designation receiving unit 507.

  The content acquisition unit 508 acquires the content specified by the content specification information included in the content distribution request from the media server 303 (S708).

  The content transmission unit 509 transmits the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 509 to the FGW 305 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 506 (S709).

  The HGW 304 is connected to the network via the communication unit 501. When the HGW 304 communicates with the outside of the HNW 301 such as the portable terminal 307 or the FGW 305, the authentication unit 502 is used. When the access authority request receiving unit 503 receives an access authority request from the mobile terminal 307, the access authority request receiving unit 503 generates a password, and the access authority transmitting unit 504 sends the password to the mobile terminal 307.

  When the connection request reception unit 505 receives a connection request from the FGW 305, the connection establishment unit 506 establishes a connection with the FGW 305 (the authentication unit 502 checks whether the password is a valid password transmitted by the access authority transmission unit 504). ). The content list request processing unit 521 transmits a content list request to the content media server in the HNW 301 based on the request from the FGW 305. After acquiring the content list from the media server, the content list processing unit 522 creates a list that includes only the content that matches the access control conditions stored in the access control rule management unit 523, and provides the content list to the FGW 305. To do.

  When the content designation receiving unit 507 receives the content distribution request, the content acquisition unit 508 communicates with the media server 303 via the communication unit 510 to acquire the requested content. Thereafter, the content transmission unit 509 transmits the content via the communication unit 501.

  FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the renderer 306.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the renderer 306 makes a content distribution request when receiving a content reproduction request (S705) with a communication unit 601 that is a communication interface for communicating with other devices in the FNW 302 (S705). S706), content distribution is received from the FGW 305 (S710), and a content acquisition unit 602 and a content reproduction unit 603 that reproduces the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 602 (S711).

  FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the media server 303.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the media server 303 transmits to the HGW 304 a communication unit 701 that is a communication interface for communicating with other devices in the HNW 301 and a list of contents managed by the media server 303. A content management unit 703 that transmits content to the HGW 304, and a content transmission unit 702 that transmits content to the HGW 304.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a main configuration of the mobile terminal 307.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the mobile terminal 307 includes the following elements.

  A communication unit 801 that is a communication interface with various external devices.

  A resource discovery unit 802 for discovering a gateway device in the FNW 302.

  A connection request unit 803 sends a use application to the FGW 305 discovered by the resource discovery unit 802 and makes a connection request (S401).

  An authentication information management unit 810 that manages authentication information necessary for connecting to the FGW 305 and authentication information necessary for logging in to the HGW 304 (S404).

  Authentication information necessary for connection with the FGW 305 is acquired from the authentication information management unit 812 and transmitted to the FGW 305 (S401), and authentication information necessary for logging in to the HGW 304 is received from the authentication information management unit 812. The authentication information transmitting unit 804 acquires and transmits the acquired information to the HGW 304 (S404).

  The FGW 305 requests the HGW 304 for a password (authentication information) necessary for establishing an authenticated communication path with the HGW 304 (S407), and acquires the password generated by the HGW 304 (S409). Access authority acquisition unit 805.

  A password (authentication information) acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 805 and a connection ID (authentication information) and an address (external gateway specification information) that specify the HGW 304, which are stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown), The access authority transmission unit 806 transmits to the FGW 305 (S410).

  A content management unit 807 transmits a content list request for requesting a content list to the FGW 305 (S501), and receives a content list acquired by the FGW 305 from the HGW 304 (S511).

  A renderer information request for creating a renderer list is transmitted to the FGW 305 (S601), and renderer information of available renderers under the management of the FGW 305 is received from the FGW 305 (S606), and an available renderer list is created. , Renderer management unit 808.

  A UI unit 811 that presents a content list or renderer list to the user and receives designation of the content to be played back and the renderer used for playback.

  Based on the user operation detected by the UI unit 811, the content to be reproduced and the renderer to be used for reproduction are specified from the content list and the renderer list, information specifying the renderer to be used for reproduction and the content to be reproduced The content selection unit 809 transmits a content reproduction request including information designating to the FGW 305 (S703).

  The portable terminal 307 communicates with other devices via the communication unit 801. The communication unit 307 is often composed of a plurality of networks such as the Internet and a mobile network. The mobile terminal 307 that has entered the FNW uses the resource discovery unit 802 to find the FGW 305 in the network, and the connection request unit 803 makes a connection request to the FGW. At that time, necessary authentication information is transmitted from the authentication information management unit 810 via the authentication information transmission unit 804.

  On the other hand, the portable terminal 307 also connects to the HGW via the communication unit 801 (same as for authentication). The access authority acquisition unit 805 acquires the access authority necessary for the FGW 305 to access the HGW 304 from the HGW 304, and the access authority transmission unit transmits it to the FGW 305. The content management unit 807 acquires the content list from the HGW 304 via the network, and the renderer management unit 808 acquires the available renderer list by acquiring the renderer information via the FGW 305. The content selection unit 809 connected to the UI unit 811 selects the content and the renderer, transmits them to the FGW 305, and playback is performed by the renderer.

  FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the SIP server provided by the service provider 308.

  The SIP server is a conventional SIP server, and includes a communication unit 901, a registration reception unit 902, a registered device management unit 903, a connection request reception unit 904, a terminal authentication unit 905, a connection establishment unit 906, and an authentication information management unit 907. It is configured to include.

  Here, since SIP is used to establish a session between two points between HGW and FGW, a SIP server is required. However, the communication path between HGW and FGW may be realized by other means such as direct connection. Yes, in this case no SIP server is required.

(Other configurations)
The present invention can also be expressed as follows.

(First configuration)
A gateway device for distributing content stored in a media server under the management of an external gateway to a renderer under management of the own device, and acquiring a content list under the management of the external gateway A content list request accepting unit that accepts a requested content list request from a mobile terminal, a content list request forwarding unit that forwards the content list request to the external gateway, and the external gateway in response to the content list request. Content list receiving means for receiving a content list, access control rule management means for managing an access control rule for restricting access to the content list, and the content list based on the access control rule. A content list restriction means restrict access to the content list have, to the portable terminal that transmitted the content list request, the gateway device and a content list transmitting means for transmitting a content list described above limits.

(Second configuration)
The gateway device according to the first configuration, wherein the access control rule specifies a permission condition related to content when the content is played back by a renderer managed by the device itself.

(Third configuration)
The content list restricting means determines whether or not each of the contents included in the received content list satisfies the permission condition, and creates a content list including only the contents that satisfy the permission condition. The gateway device according to the second configuration, which is characterized.

(Fourth configuration)
The content list request received from the portable terminal by the content list request accepting unit and the content list transmitted by the content list sending unit conform to the UPnP protocol, from the first configuration to the third configuration The gateway device described.

(Fifth configuration)
A gateway device for distributing content stored on a media server under the management of an external gateway to a renderer under the control of its own device, and requesting to obtain renderer information that is management information related to the renderer. In response to the renderer information request, a renderer information request accepting unit that accepts a renderer information request from a mobile terminal, an access control rule managing unit that manages an access control rule for restricting access to the renderer information, Renderer information restricting means for restricting access to the renderer information based on the access control rule, and renderer information transmitting means for transmitting the restricted renderer information to the mobile terminal that has transmitted the renderer information request. Gateway device.

(Sixth configuration)
In response to the renderer information request received by the renderer information request receiving means, a renderer information request transmitting means for transmitting a renderer information request to a renderer under the control of the own apparatus, and the renderer in response to the renderer information request. The gateway device according to the fifth configuration, further comprising: renderer information receiving means for receiving renderer information transmitted from the renderer and providing the renderer information restricting means with the renderer information.

(Seventh configuration)
The gateway device according to the fifth configuration or the sixth configuration, wherein the access control rule specifies a permission condition for the renderer when using the renderer under the control of the own device.

(Eighth configuration)
In the seventh configuration, the renderer information restriction unit checks whether the renderer information satisfies the permission condition, and deletes renderer information related to a renderer that does not meet the permission condition. Gateway device.

(Ninth configuration)
The renderer information request received by the renderer information request accepting unit and the renderer information transmitted by the renderer information transmitting unit comply with the UPnP protocol. apparatus.

(Tenth configuration)
A gateway device for distributing content stored on a media server under the control of its own device to a renderer under the control of an external gateway, and acquiring a content list from the media server under the management of the gateway device A content list request receiving unit that receives a content list request for requesting from the external gateway, an access control rule management unit that manages an access control rule for restricting access to the content list, and the content Content list restriction means for restricting access to the content list based on the access control rule for the list;
A gateway device comprising: content list transmission means for transmitting the restricted content list to an external gateway that has transmitted the content list request.

(Eleventh configuration)
In response to the content list request received by the external content list request receiving means, a content list request transmitting means for transmitting a content list request to a media server under the control of its own device, and in response to the content list request The content list receiving means for receiving the content list transmitted from the media server and providing the content list to the content list changing means, further comprising: a content list receiving means, Gateway device.

(Twelfth configuration)
The tenth configuration or the eleventh configuration, wherein the access control rule specifies a permission condition for the content when the content in the media server under management of the device is externally reproduced. The gateway device described in 1.

(13th configuration)
The content list restriction means checks whether or not each of the contents included in the received content list meets the permission condition, and creates a content list including only the contents that meet the permission condition. The gateway device according to the twelfth configuration.

(14th configuration)
The first gateway device according to any one of the first configuration to the ninth configuration, the second gateway device according to any one of the tenth configuration to the thirteenth configuration, and the first gateway device. Connected to the portable terminal that transmits the content list request and the renderer information request and the second gateway device, connected to the media server that transmits the content list in response to the content list request, and connected to the first gateway device, And a renderer for transmitting renderer information in response to a renderer information request.

  Finally, each block included in the foreign gateway (FGW) 305 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

  That is, the foreign gateway 305 includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of an image display program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, and a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program. And a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium on which a program code (an execution format program, an intermediate code program, a source program) of an image display program of a foreign gateway 305 that is software that realizes the above-described functions is recorded so as to be readable by a computer. This can also be achieved by supplying to the foreign gateway 305 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

  Examples of the recording medium include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R. Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.

  The foreign gateway 305 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication. A net or the like is available. Also, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited. For example, even in the case of wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc., infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth ( (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used. The present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.

  Each block included in the home gateway (HGW) 304 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU, as described above for the foreign gateway 305.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used as a content distribution server for distributing content under the management of a content providing server to a content reproduction device under management of the own device. In particular, it can be used as a gateway device that restricts distribution of content that is not desired to be viewed.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content distribution system in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the procedure until a foreign gateway and a home gateway establish a connection in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure in which a portable terminal acquires the content list in which the setting content of access control was reflected in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the flow of data when a portable terminal acquires the content list in which the setting content of access control was reflected in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the information of the content under management of the home gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting content of the access control about the content in a home gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting content of the access control about the content in a foreign gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure in which a portable terminal acquires the list | wrist of the renderer information in which the setting content of access control was reflected in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the data flow when a portable terminal acquires the list | wrist of the renderer information in which the setting content of the access restriction was reflected in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the information of the renderer under management of a foreign gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the setting content of the access control about the renderer in a foreign gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence figure which showed the procedure which reproduces the designated contents in the execution form of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a foreign gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a home gateway in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of a renderer in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the media server in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the portable terminal in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the SIP server which a service provider provides in embodiment of this invention. It is a network block diagram which shows the prior art and shows the conventional home network using DLNA. It is a sequence diagram which shows a prior art and shows the conventional content reproduction | regeneration procedure based on DLNA. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a content distribution system described in Patent Document 1 according to a conventional technique. FIG. 9 is a system configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of an access control system described in Patent Document 3 according to the related art.

Explanation of symbols

301 Home Network (HNW)
302 Foreign Network (FNW)
303/309 Media Server (DMS)
304 Home gateway (HGW, content provision server)
305 Foreign gateway (FGW, content distribution server)
306/310 Renderer (DMR)
307 mobile terminal 308 service provider 421 content list request processing unit 422 content list processing unit (distribution permission means, content information notification means)
423 renderer information request processing unit 424 renderer information processing unit (use permission unit, content playback device information notification unit, content playback device information request transmission unit, content playback device information acquisition unit)
425 Access control rule management unit 521 Content list request processing unit 522 Content list processing unit (providing permission unit, content information transmission unit, content information request transmission unit, content information acquisition unit)
523 Access Control Rule Management Department

Claims (19)

A content distribution server that manages content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs, and distributes the content to a content playback device that manages the content and reproduces the content,
Distribution permission means for permitting distribution of the content to the content reproduction device when content information that is information about the content satisfies a predetermined distribution permission condition;
A content distribution server comprising: content information notification means for notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission means. The delivery permission means is
When the content data type, the creator of the content data, and the genre of the content satisfy at least the distribution permission condition, the content is distributed to the content reproduction device. The content distribution server according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution server is allowed to perform. The content information notification means includes
The content distribution server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a list of the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission unit is notified to a user of the content reproduction device. The content information notification means includes
Transmitting the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission means to a terminal device possessed by a user of the content reproduction device according to a universal plug and play protocol, and notifying the user through the terminal device; The content distribution server according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution server is a content distribution server. A content distribution server that manages content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs and distributes the content to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content,
Use permission means for permitting use of the content reproduction device when content reproduction device information, which is information about the content reproduction device, satisfies a predetermined use permission condition;
A content distribution server comprising: content reproduction device information notifying means for notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the use permission means. A content playback device information request transmitting means for transmitting a content playback device information request for requesting the content playback device information to the content playback device;
6. The content distribution server according to claim 5, further comprising content reproduction device information acquisition means for acquiring content reproduction device information transmitted from the content reproduction device in response to the content reproduction device information request. . The use permission means is
The content distribution according to claim 5 or 6, wherein when the content reproduction device information for the name of the content reproduction device satisfies the use permission condition, permission to use the content reproduction device is permitted. server. The content playback device information notifying means includes:
The list of the said content reproduction apparatus information about the said content reproduction apparatus permitted by the said use permission means is notified to the user of the said content reproduction apparatus, The any one of Claims 5-7 characterized by the above-mentioned. Content distribution server. The content playback device information notifying means includes:
The content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the use permission means is transmitted to a terminal device possessed by the user of the content reproduction device according to a universal plug and play protocol, and is transmitted to the user through the terminal device. The content distribution server according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein notification is made. Providing content that is outside the network to which the own device belongs, manages the content reproducing device that reproduces the content, and provides the content managed by the own device to a content distribution server that delivers the content to the content reproducing device A server,
Provision permission means for permitting provision of the content to the content distribution server when content information that is information about the content satisfies a predetermined provision permission condition;
A content providing server comprising: content information transmitting means for transmitting the content information about the content permitted by the provision permitting means to the content distribution device. Content information request transmitting means for transmitting a content information request for requesting the content information to a media server under management of the device and storing the content;
11. The content providing server according to claim 10, further comprising content information acquisition means for acquiring content information transmitted from the media server in response to the content information request. The provision permission means is
The content is transmitted to the content distribution server when at least one content information of the content data type, the creator of the content data, and the genre of the content satisfies the provision permission condition. 12. The content providing server according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the content providing server is allowed to perform. The content information transmitting means includes
13. The content providing server according to claim 12, wherein a list of content information related to the content that is determined to be permitted to be provided by the providing permission unit is transmitted to the content distribution server. The content distribution server according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The content providing server according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
A content reproduction device for reproducing the content distributed by the content distribution server;
A media server under the management of the content providing server and storing the content;
Including a portable terminal that is a controller of the content distribution server,
The content distribution server
Content that acquires content information from the content providing server in response to an acquisition request for content information transmitted from the mobile terminal by a user operation, and notifies the user of the content information through the mobile terminal Distribution system. A content distribution method in which content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs is managed by the device and distributed to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content,
A distribution permission step for permitting distribution of the content to the content reproduction device when content information that is information about the content satisfies a predetermined distribution permission condition;
A content distribution method comprising: a content information notification step of notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content information about the content permitted by the distribution permission unit. A content distribution method in which content managed by a content providing server outside the network to which the device belongs is managed by the device and distributed to a content reproduction device that reproduces the content,
A use permission step for permitting use of the content reproduction device when content reproduction device information, which is information relating to the content reproduction device, satisfies a predetermined use permission condition;
A content distribution method comprising: a content reproduction device information notifying step of notifying a user of the content reproduction device of the content reproduction device information about the content reproduction device permitted by the use permission means. Providing content that is outside the network to which the own device belongs, manages the content reproducing device that reproduces the content, and provides the content managed by the own device to a content distribution server that distributes the content to the content reproducing device A method,
A provision permission step for permitting provision of the content to the content distribution server when content information, which is information relating to the content, satisfies a predetermined provision permission condition;
A content providing method comprising: providing the content information about the content permitted by the provision permission means to the content distribution device.   A control program for operating the content distribution server according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control program causes a computer to function as each of the means.   A control program for operating the content providing server according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the control program causes a computer to function as each of the above means.

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