JP2008288667A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optimum receiving buffer control method in a thin client, in a system comprising the thin client and a host. <P>SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises a generating means of generating video data to be transmitted to a terminal, on the basis of a command received from the terminal; a deciding means of deciding which of image quality and display of the video data is given priority on the terminal on the basis of the command; and a buffer control means of transmitting a command for allowing a buffer provided to the terminal and receiving the video data to have first capacity to the terminal, when the deciding means decides that the image quality of the video data is given priority or transmitting a command for allowing the buffer to have second capacity smaller than the first capacity to the terminal, when it is decided that the display is given priority. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a data distribution system and method for distributing video / audio data via a network, and a data receiving apparatus and a data receiving method for receiving video / audio data via a network.

  In recent years, a “home network” that allows users to easily enjoy high-quality and high-quality movies and television broadcast programs in the home has attracted attention, and systems that realize this have started to be marketed. One of the features of this system is that video / audio data from a content providing device such as a DVD playback device or a hard disk drive is transmitted to a receiving terminal installed in each room via a network connecting each room in the home. The transmitted video / audio data is reproduced in a receiving terminal installed in a room different from the room in which the content providing apparatus is placed.

That is, the user can view the content while in a different room from the content providing apparatus.
More specifically, the distribution device that receives the video / audio data from the content providing device that stores the content compresses and encodes the data and transmits the data to a network such as a home LAN (Local Area Network). A receiving apparatus that receives compression-coded data via a network decodes the data and outputs the decoded data to a television monitor or a speaker. The home LAN used here is, for example, an Ethernet (registered trademark) LAN using a network connection of 100BASE-TX, a wireless LAN conforming to a standard such as IEEE802.11b or IEEE802.11g.

  When viewing the content, it is important that the streaming data is reproduced smoothly. Therefore, a streaming data reception buffer is provided in front of the decoder in the receiving apparatus for decoding the streaming data.

  As such a buffer, for example, a FIFO (First-In First-Out) type memory having a ring buffer configuration can be used. Streaming data is accumulated in order from the previously received data and decoded. In this case, the decoding process is performed in order from the first received data stored in the buffer. The buffer capacity for receiving streaming data is usually determined so as to have a certain margin in consideration of the network transmission delay, the processing capability of the distribution device and the receiving device, and the like. A playback method and apparatus for receiving and playing back content by providing a reception buffer on the receiving apparatus side as described above is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1. In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the reception buffer is controlled on the receiving device side.

JP 2004-356695 A

  Recently, an information terminal called a thin client has been proposed. In a system composed of a thin client and a host, image (video) data and audio data to be displayed on the thin client are transmitted from the host. The thin client transmits a command to the host, and the host that receives the command executes various processes based on the command. Of course, depending on the execution result of the command, the image data and audio data to be transmitted to the thin client may change.

  Here, when reproducing (decoding) image data and audio data transmitted from the host on the thin client side, the following differences occur depending on the capacity of the reception buffer of the thin client. If the reception buffer of the thin client is increased, the time (delay time) from when image data or audio data is transmitted from the host until the video or audio data can be viewed by the user on the thin client side increases. Therefore, the real-time property in operation is impaired. However, even if there is a problem with communication traffic and there is a time when data from the host cannot be sent, the effect can be absorbed by the reception buffer, so if the user wants to view the content The screen movement is difficult to interrupt and is suitable for streaming data playback and viewing. However, even if the user performs an input operation on the thin client side and instructs the host to change the screen, until the changed image data or audio data is sent from the host until it can be viewed on the screen Takes time. On the other hand, if the reception buffer of the thin client is small, the real-time switching of the screen on the thin client side will be improved contrary to the previous case, but when the data from the host cannot be received due to a network transmission error etc. Since the movement is easily interrupted, it is not suitable for playback and viewing of streaming data.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optimum reception buffer control method in a thin client.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configuration.

  An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes: a generating unit that generates video data to be transmitted to a terminal that has transmitted the command based on a command received from the terminal; and the video data has priority on image quality or display on the terminal. A determination means for determining whether the video data is prioritized by the determination means; and a buffer for receiving the video data provided in the terminal when the determination means determines that the video data has priority on image quality. When a command for setting the first capacity is transmitted to the terminal and it is determined that display priority is given, a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity is set to the terminal. And a buffer control means for transmitting data.

  The video / audio data distribution device of the present invention is a video / audio data distribution device for distributing video / audio data, and the video data distributed from the video / audio data distribution device in response to a command from a reception device Determination means for determining based on the display, the determination means determines which of the smooth movement display and the display with operation response is prioritized, and the video data is moved by the determination means. When the display priority is determined to be smooth display priority, a command for setting the buffer for receiving the video data provided in the receiving device to the first capacity is transmitted to the receiving device, and the operation responsiveness is transmitted. A buffer for transmitting a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity to the receiving apparatus. Characterized in that a control means.

The information processing system according to the present invention is an information system in which a first terminal and a second terminal are connected via a network, and the first terminal is based on a command transmitted from the second terminal. And generating means for generating video data to be transmitted to the second terminal, and determining whether the video data has priority for image quality or display for the second terminal based on the command. When the video data is determined to have priority on image quality by the determination means and the determination means, a command for setting a buffer for receiving the video data of the second terminal to the first capacity is provided. Buffer control means for transmitting to the terminal a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity when it is determined that display priority is transmitted to the terminal. It said second terminal, and changes the capacity of the buffer on the basis of the command transmitted from the first terminal.
The buffer control method of the present invention includes a step of generating video data to be transmitted to a terminal that has transmitted the command based on a command by a generation unit, and a determination unit is configured such that the video data is image quality and display for the terminal. A determination step for determining which one is prioritized based on the command; and when the buffer control means determines in the determination step that the video data is prioritized for image quality, it is provided in the terminal. When a command for setting the buffer for receiving the received video data to the first capacity is transmitted to the terminal and it is determined that display priority is given, the buffer is set to the second capacity smaller than the first capacity. And a buffer control step of transmitting a command for setting the capacity to the terminal.

  According to the present invention, buffer control suitable for a thin client can be performed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a system including a data distribution apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the data distribution device corresponds to a video / audio distribution device 1 that distributes content, and encodes and distributes the content. The receiving device receives the distributed content, displays the video on the output device 18, and reproduces the sound on the audio output device 19. The input device 17 performs operations such as selection of content to be viewed, video / audio display, output adjustment, and the like, and is operated by the user.

  The video / audio distribution device 1 is a device that distributes content to the reception device 2, and includes a command analysis unit 3, a determination unit 4, a display control unit 5, a buffer control unit 6, a storage unit 8, and an encoding unit. 9, a transmission unit 10, and a reception unit 11. The command analysis means 3 analyzes the processing content to be executed in the video / audio distribution device 1 by a command transmitted from the reception device 2 to the video / audio distribution device 1. The output information generation means 5 is based on the processing contents to be executed by the video / audio distribution apparatus 1 analyzed by the command analysis means 3, and the video / audio distribution apparatus 1 transmits video / audio to be transmitted to the reception apparatus 2. Generate audio data. The determination unit 4 refers to the processing contents to be executed by the video / audio distribution device 1 analyzed by the command analysis unit 3 and the table information stored in the storage unit 8, thereby distributing the video / audio. It is determined whether the video data transmitted from the device 1 to the receiving device 2 has priority on image quality or display. The video data with priority on image quality is a video that is desirably viewed as an uninterrupted display of smooth motion on the output device 18 of the receiving device 2, for example, a video of content data.

  Next, the display-priority video data is a video that is preferably viewed on the output device 18 of the receiving device 2 as a display that reflects the user's operation input from the input device 17 with good response. A video is mentioned.

  Based on the determination result of the determination unit 4, the buffer control unit 6 transmits a command for increasing the capacity of the buffer 15 in the case of image quality priority, and a command for decreasing the capacity of the buffer 15 in the case of display priority. To do. The storage unit 8 stores content information from the content providing apparatus and table information referred to by the determination unit 4. The table information is associated with which of the image quality or the display has priority for the event executed in the video / audio distribution device 1 that has received the command transmitted by the reception device 2. The encoding unit 9 compresses the audio / video data generated by the output information generating unit 5 by a predetermined compression method. The predetermined compression method is, for example, MPEG-2 (Moving Picture Experts Group-2). In this embodiment, video data and audio data are described as being compressed and encoded by MPEG-2. However, the present invention is not limited to this compression method, and a system is constructed using another compression method. You can also

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, the content is provided to the encoding unit 9 by means for providing content including video data and audio data. For example, a DVD playback device (DVD player), a video tape recorder, A video server, an analog television receiver, a digital television receiver, and the like correspond to this. If the content is already provided with compressed data such as MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream) format, the encoding unit 9 can be omitted and the provided compression rate However, if it is not suitable for distribution, it can be decoded once and then compressed by the encoding unit 9 with a predetermined compression rate and compression method.

  Next, the receiving device 2 includes a receiving unit 12, a switching unit 13, a buffer 15, a decoding unit 16, and a transmitting unit 14, and receives streaming data from the video / audio distribution device 1. The video data is received and decoded, the video data is displayed and output on the output device 18 such as a television monitor, and the audio data is output as audio to the output device 18 such as a speaker. The receiving unit 12 has a network interface function, and receives streaming data compressed by the encoding unit 9 from the video / audio distribution apparatus 1. The switching unit 13 extracts a command transmitted together with the video / audio data from the video / audio distribution device 1 to the reception device 2 and switches whether the capacity of the buffer 15 is increased or decreased. The buffer 15 temporarily stores streaming data (video / audio data compressed and encoded in the MPEG-2 format) from the receiving unit 12. The buffer 15 is, for example, a FIFO (First-In First-Out) type memory having a ring buffer configuration, and receives the streaming data and stores them. The streaming data in the buffer 15 is provided to the decoding unit 16 in order from the first received data, and the reproduction process including the decoding process of the streaming data is performed there. The decoding unit 16 separates and decodes MPEG-2 format data into video data and audio data.

Next, operations of the video / audio distribution device 1 and the reception device 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.
First, an operation in which video data to be transmitted from the video / audio distribution apparatus 1 to the receiving apparatus 2 is determined to be image quality priority based on a command received from the receiving apparatus 2 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 2, a first screen 32 is displayed on the screen of the output device 18 of the receiving device 2. When the user gives an instruction to maximize the video screen window 35 on the first screen 32 using the input device 17, the input device 17 generates a command. The instruction to maximize is performed, for example, when the user positions the mouse cursor in the area of the video screen window 35 and double-clicks the mouse as the input device 19. The command generated by the input device 17 is transmitted from the transmission unit 14 to the video / audio distribution device 1.

  In FIG. 3, the command analysis means 3 determines that an event executed by the control unit 7 according to a command received from the receiving device 2 is an event that hides the menu screen window 34 from the display, and the video screen window 35 is the maximum area of the screen. Is analyzed (step S1). The output information generation means 5 reads the content information from the storage unit 8 (step S3), generates the second display screen in FIG. 2, and transmits it to the receiving device 2 (step S5).

  Here, the table information stored in the storage unit 8 includes an event of hiding the menu screen window 34 from display and a phenomenon of displaying the video screen window 35 in the maximum area of the screen by a command received from the receiving device 2. Assume that the image quality is prioritized so as to be determined. The determination unit 4 compares the analysis result of the command analysis unit 3 with reference to the table information (step S2), and the video data transmitted from the output information generation unit 5 to the reception device 2 is video data with priority on image quality. Determine (step 4). The buffer control means 6 generates a control signal for increasing the buffer capacity and transmits it to the receiving device 2 (step S7).

  Next, the receiving device 2 detects a command transmitted together with the video / audio data from the video / audio distribution device 1 by the switching means 13 (step 10), and determines that the control is to increase the capacity of the buffer 15 ( In step S11, switching is performed to increase the capacity of the buffer 15 (step S12). At this time, the data stored in the buffer 15 does not need to be cleared so that it can be viewed continuously.

  Next, an operation in which video data to be transmitted from the video / audio distribution apparatus 1 to the receiving apparatus 2 is determined to be display priority based on a command received from the receiving apparatus 2 will be described.

  Referring to FIG. 2, on the display screen of the output device 18 of the receiving device 2, the second screen 33 is displayed in the maximum area of the screen, and the user displays the second screen 33 with the input device 17. By giving an instruction to return to the screen 32, the input device 17 generates a command. The instruction to return is performed, for example, when the user displays the menu screen window 34 with the mouse as the input device 17 and selects an instruction to return the screen. In response to an instruction to restore the screen, the menu screen window 34 is displayed again, and the video screen window 33 is reduced and displayed at 35.

  Specifically, the command analysis unit 3 analyzes that the event executed by the control unit 7 is an event that reduces the menu screen window 34 to 35 by the command received from the receiving device 2. The output information generation means 5 reads the menu screen and content data from the storage unit 8 (step S3), generates the first screen 32, and transmits it to the receiving device 2 (step S5). In the table information recorded in the storage unit 8, an event of redisplaying the menu screen window 34 and an event of reducing and displaying the video screen window are associated with each other so that display priority is determined. Shall. The determination unit 4 compares the analysis result of the command analysis unit 3 with reference to the table information, and determines that the video data transmitted from the output information generation unit 5 to the reception device 2 is display priority video data ( Step 4). The buffer control means 6 generates a command for reducing the buffer capacity and transmits it to the receiving device 2 (step S7).

  Next, the receiving device 2 detects the command transmitted together with the video / audio signal from the video / audio distribution device 1 by the switching means 13 (step 10), and determines that the command is not a command for increasing the buffer capacity (step S11). ), Switching to reduce the capacity of the buffer 15 (step S13). At this time, the data stored in the buffer 15 may be cleared and a new video may be stored quickly.

It is a block diagram which shows the delivery system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining operation of screen priority and display priority concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the delivery apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the receiver which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image | video audio | voice delivery apparatus 2 Reception apparatus 3 Command analysis means 4 Judgment means 5 Output information generation means 6 Buffer control means 7 Control part 8 Storage part 9 Encoding part 10, 14 Transmission part 11, 12 Reception part 13 Switching means 15, 30 , 31, 36, 37 Buffer 16 Decoding unit 17 Input device 18 Output device 20 Network 32 First screen 33 Second screen 34 Menu screen window 35 Video screen window

Claims (7)

Generating means for generating video data to be transmitted to the terminal that has transmitted the command based on the command received from the terminal;
Whether the video data has priority on image quality or display on the terminal,
Determining means for determining based on the command;
When it is determined by the determination means that the video data has priority on image quality,
Sending a command to the terminal to set a buffer for receiving the video data provided in the terminal to a first capacity;
And a buffer control means for transmitting, to the terminal, a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity when it is determined that display priority is given. Processing equipment. It is a video / audio data distribution device that distributes video / audio data,
Video data distributed from the video / audio data distribution device by a command from the reception device,
A determination means for determining based on the command;
The determination means determines which of the smooth display of movement and the display with operation response is prioritized,
When it is determined by the determination means that the video data is prioritized for smooth display,
A command for setting a buffer for receiving the video data provided in the receiving device to a first capacity is transmitted to the receiving device;
Buffer control means for transmitting a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity to the receiving apparatus when it is determined that the display priority is an operation responsiveness. A video / audio data distribution device characterized by that. The determination means includes an event executed by the information processing apparatus based on a command,
Refer to the table that associates whether to prioritize image quality or display,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein which of image quality and display is prioritized is determined. The determination means includes an event executed by the information processing apparatus based on a command,
Refer to the table that associates whether to give priority to smooth display of movement or display with operation responsiveness.
3. The video / audio data distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a priority is given to a smooth display of movement or a display with operation response. An information system in which a first terminal and a second terminal are connected via a network,
The first terminal is
Generating means for generating video data to be transmitted to the second terminal based on a command transmitted from the second terminal;
A determination means for determining, based on the command, whether the video data has priority for image quality or display for the second terminal;
When it is determined by the determination means that the video data has priority on image quality,
When a command for setting the buffer for receiving the video data of the second terminal to the first capacity is transmitted to the terminal and it is determined that display priority is given,
Buffer control means for transmitting a command for making the buffer a second capacity smaller than the first capacity to the terminal;
The information processing system, wherein the second terminal changes a capacity of the buffer based on a command transmitted from the first terminal. The second terminal is
5. The information processing system according to claim 4, further comprising switching means for extracting a command received from the first terminal together with the video data and performing buffer capacity switching control. Generating video data to be transmitted to a terminal that has transmitted the command based on the command by the generation unit;
A determination means is provided for the video data for the terminal.
A determination step of determining, based on the command, which of image quality and display is prioritized;
Buffer control means, in the determining step, the video data is
If it is determined that image quality is a priority,
Sending a command to the terminal to set a buffer for receiving the video data provided in the terminal to a first capacity;
If it is determined that display priority is given,
And a buffer control step of transmitting to the terminal a command for setting the buffer to a second capacity smaller than the first capacity.

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