JP2009237738A - Content distribution device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content distribution device capable of easily acquiring a content satisfying desired conditions. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of conditions included in retrieval instructions from external equipment are divided into conditions which are achievable according to content conversion by a conversion means and a condition other than the achievable conditions, and the retrieval of a pertinent content is performed separately from a retrieval instruction from the external equipment according to a condition other than the achievable conditions, and the retrieved content is presented. Also, when the distribution request of a content presented according to the retrieval following a condition other than the achievable conditions is made, the pertinent content is converted according to the achievable conditions, and the converted content is distributed. Thus, even if any content matched with one or more conditions desired by a user is not preliminarily prepared, it is possible for the user to acquire the content following the desired conditions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention presents content searched according to a search condition to a user via a communication network such as a home LAN or the Internet, and distributes content arbitrarily selected by the user from the presented content The present invention relates to an apparatus and a program. In particular, even if content that matches all of one or more conditions desired by the user is not prepared (stored) in advance, the content distribution apparatus can easily acquire content that meets the desired conditions. And programs.

Recently, with the spread of communication networks such as home LAN (Local Area Network) and the Internet, for example, from a content distribution device called a media server that stores a large number of contents such as music and video, via the communication network. By receiving the content distribution, the user can easily acquire and enjoy the desired content anytime and anywhere. As an example related to such a technique, for example, the invention described in Patent Document 1 shown below is an example. In a conventionally known apparatus, the user can search conditions (for example, “condition 1 (genre): classic”, “condition 2 (song name): spring”, “ By specifying "Condition 3 (Artist name): Ichiro Yamanami" etc.), it is possible to search for music content according to the user's wishes from a large number of music content. The search conditions for music content are not limited to the song name, genre, artist name, etc., but the musical characteristics that characterize the musical tone such as the key and tempo of the song, the data characteristics such as minus one data that does not have a specific part, or The data format such as the audio format or MIDI format can be arbitrarily combined and specified. Then, the user can acquire music content that meets the desired conditions by selecting any music content from the searched one or more music contents.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-15665

  By the way, if there is no music content that matches all of the one or more conditions input by the user and no music content is presented to the user from the media server (content distribution device), the user may Since it takes time to search for and acquire desired music content, it is inconvenient. In such a case, the user himself / herself inputs only a part of one or more conditions to respecify the search condition to be looser, so that a part of the condition originally desired by the user can be stored in the media server. It is preferable to present music contents that only match as candidates. By doing this, even if there is no music content that matches all of the originally desired conditions, the user tentatively searches for music content that only matches some of the conditions, and the desired music content from among them Can be obtained. However, in such a case, the media server only delivers music content that matches only a part of the conditions desired by the user as it is, and naturally the music content that matches all of one or more conditions originally desired by the user. However, there are disadvantages to this point. In particular, when the user is conditional on musical elements and data characteristics, music content that matches other conditions such as song titles but does not match conditions such as musical elements and data characteristics. Even if it is acquired (for example, a D-tone song with the song name “Spring” is searched but there is no corresponding music content (not shown), and the search is performed again using only the song name “Spring” as a result) The C-tone music content is presented and the user acquires it), and the acquired music content is not the content intended by the user. Therefore, the user can use the acquired music content as needed. There is a problem that it is very troublesome because it must be converted or processed by itself (in the above example, data processing related to transposition from D-tone to C-tone). In addition, the user needs to input a looser search condition that is closer to the original search condition in order to save as much trouble as possible. However, it is difficult for a beginner to input such a loose search condition well.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even when there is no content that matches all of one or more conditions desired by the user, the user can easily acquire content that meets the desired conditions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution apparatus and program that can be configured.

  A content distribution apparatus according to the present invention is a content distribution apparatus that distributes content to a predetermined external device connected via a communication network, and includes a conversion unit that converts the content and one or more conditions. Searching for content that satisfies all of the above conditions based on a search instruction, search means for transmitting attribute information of the searched content to the external device, and a plurality of conditions included in the search instruction from the external device, Dividing into conditions that can be achieved according to content conversion by the conversion means and conditions other than the conditions that can be achieved, and instructing the search means to search for content that meets all the conditions other than the conditions that can be achieved Corresponding to the condition change instruction means and the distribution request for the content searched according to the search instruction by the condition change instruction means Comprising a conversion instruction means for instructing to the converting means to convert the combined content to the achievable conditions, and a delivery control means for delivering the contents of the converted.

  According to the present invention, the plurality of conditions included in the search instruction from the external device are divided into a condition that can be achieved according to content conversion by the conversion means and a condition other than the achievable condition. According to the conditions, the corresponding content is searched separately from the search instruction from the external device. As a result, even if content that matches all of the plurality of conditions included in the search instruction is not searched, if conversion is performed and content that matches all of the plurality of conditions is searched, the content is sent to the user. Presented. When a distribution request for content presented in response to a search according to the new search condition (a condition other than the achievable condition) is made, the corresponding content is matched with the achievable condition. The content is converted and the converted content is distributed. As a result, even if content that matches all of one or more conditions is not prepared (stored) in advance, the user can satisfy the desired conditions without having to input a looser search condition close to the original search condition. When the user selects a content to be distributed, the user does not need to convert or process the distributed content.

  The present invention can be constructed and implemented not only as a device invention but also as a method invention. Further, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program of a processor such as a computer or a DSP, or can be implemented in the form of a storage medium storing such a program.

  According to the present invention, if conversion according to a predetermined conversion function is performed, content that matches all of the plurality of conditions is searched and presented, and when the content is requested for distribution, data conversion is performed by the predetermined conversion function. Since the content is distributed, the user can easily acquire the content that meets the desired condition even if the content that matches all of the plurality of conditions input by the user is not prepared (stored) in advance. The effect of becoming.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of the overall configuration of a content distribution system using a content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. The content distribution system shown in this embodiment is a network system that implements a series of processes related to a plurality of devices such as search, distribution, and reproduction of content desired by a user, using an existing communication network X. In the drawing, various information such as search conditions and search results and the flow of contents are indicated by arrows for convenience. Note that the contents to be searched and distributed include music contents such as MIDI data and audio data, but are not limited thereto. The content distribution system may have hardware other than that shown in the figure, but here, a case where the minimum necessary resources are used will be described. That is, a plurality of control devices A, a plurality of other media servers (conventional device B or distribution device C), or a plurality of processing devices D may be connected to the communication network X.

  The content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 includes, for example, a personal computer terminal, a game-dedicated machine or a karaoke device, a portable terminal such as a PDA or a mobile phone, and a control device A such as other multimedia equipment (for example, a television) and a large number of contents. Content distribution apparatus B such as a server computer or a recorder that stores information (a conventionally known apparatus having a network communication function, in order to distinguish it from the content distribution apparatus C according to the present invention, in the following description, for convenience sake, Unlike the conventional device B, the content distribution device C according to the present invention such as a computer or a dedicated set-top box (STB) that is different from the conventional device B (to distinguish from the conventional device B described below) In the explanation, it is called a distribution device for convenience) and content such as electronic musical instruments and personal computer terminals. Playable content processing apparatus D (hereinafter simply referred to as a processor) and constituted by a communication network X, such as a home LAN (so-called home network) or the Internet. As will be described in detail later, each of the above devices (control device A, conventional device B, distribution device C, and processing device D) constituting the content distribution system is a processing unit or a communication unit each composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like. Or the like, as long as it is configured by an independent computer (see FIG. 2 to be described later).

  The user simply connects each of the above devices (the control device A, the conventional device B, the distribution device C, and the processing device D) to a dedicated network or a communication network X such as a radio as appropriate. Content and the like can be transmitted / received to / from each other via the communication network X. That is, each device connected to the communication network X automatically obtains an appropriate IP address, and the devices in all similar devices connected on the communication network X by obtaining the IP address. Recognizing information, current device status, etc., it is possible to provide each device with the functions of each device. As an example of such a device, for example, a known UPnP (Universal Plug and Play (trademark)) technology and a UPnP AV compatible device corresponding to the UPnP technology can be cited. Of course, it goes without saying that this is not a limitation.

  In addition to the network communication function for connecting the device to the communication network X, the control device A shown in this embodiment displays, for example, a search condition input operation screen (not shown) and content attribute information as a search result. In addition to having a user interface function including, for example, a display, an input operator, and a circuit for controlling the display, a media server It does not have a content reproduction function for reproducing content stream-distributed from (conventional device B or distribution device C). That is, the control device A inputs a search condition (search condition specification) by a user, transmits a search instruction (search instruction) accompanying a search start operation, receives a search result from the media server (acquisition of attribute information), and a search result And content selection (presentation / selection of content) by the user according to the search result display, content distribution request (distribution request) to the media server, etc., but the content distributed from the media server is received. You can't do it until you play it. However, it is possible to instruct the external processing device D connected to the communication network X to execute acquisition / reproduction of content distributed from the media server. That is, the control device A has a control function as a so-called controller that causes the external processing device D to reproduce the content. The search condition input by the user in the control device A includes, for example, a song name, genre, artist name, etc., musical elements that characterize a musical tone such as the key and tempo of the song, data characteristics such as minus one data, and the like. May be an appropriate combination of one or more data formats such as audio format or MIDI format.

  The conventional apparatus B is a server device, a recorder, or the like (so-called media server) that can distribute content, and distributes user-desired content from a large number of stored content via the communication network X. Such a conventional device B may be a known device. That is, based on the search condition input in the control device A, the conventional device B follows the predetermined search engine (software program) prepared in advance, and the content that matches the search condition from among many stored contents And the search result is presented to the control device A. Further, in response to an arbitrary content distribution request from the control device A, content stream distribution corresponding to the distribution request is started. However, as described above, in this embodiment, the content is not distributed to the control device A that has issued a distribution request, but the control device A distributes the content to the processing device D functioning as a controller.

  As shown in the figure, the conventional apparatus B is roughly composed of a media server control unit B1, a content storage unit B2, and a sequencer unit B3. The media server control unit B1 receives various information such as search conditions and distribution requests with each device and controls transmission of contents (MIDI stream distribution), and also based on content search and distribution requests based on the search conditions. File management control for the content storage unit B2, such as reading of content (file) or content writing by the user, and content reproduction control for the sequencer unit B2, etc. are performed. The content storage unit B2 stores a large number of contents in a database. The content storage unit B2 may be configured such that content can be written from an external device (for example, control means A) connected via the communication network X. The sequencer unit B3 outputs a MIDI stream according to the content read from the content storage unit B2. The media server control unit B1 packetizes the output MIDI stream (the destination is the processing device D designated by the control device A) and sends it to the communication network X. That is, the content is distributed to the processing device D. In addition, the conventional apparatus B can perform content search and content distribution to the processing apparatus D via the distribution apparatus C based on an instruction from the distribution apparatus C (see FIG. 3 described later). .

  On the other hand, the distribution device C is the same as the conventional device B described above in that it is a device (media server) that distributes content in response to a distribution request from the control device A, but does not have a content storage unit B2. Unlike the conventional device B, the content is not stored (cannot be stored). The distribution device C that does not store such content searches and presents content that satisfies the search condition from among a large number of content stored in other external media servers (here, the conventional device B). In addition, when the distribution device C distributes the content, the distribution device C receives the distribution of the content corresponding to the distribution request from among many contents stored in the other external media server (conventional device B), and needs the content. The data is converted in accordance with the information and distributed to the processing device D (see FIG. 3 described later). That is, the distribution device C also searches for content according to the search condition input from the control device A and presents the search result to the control device A. In response to the content distribution request from the control device A, the content corresponding to the request is processed by the processing device. It is a device that executes processing such as distribution to D. However, the distribution device C uses only the content stored in its own device because the content stored in another external media server (conventional device B) is used as the content to be searched and distributed. Different from the conventional device B.

  As shown in the figure, the distribution device C can be roughly divided into a conversion device control unit C1 including a rendering device control unit C2 and a media server control unit C3, and a performance information conversion unit C4. The conversion device control unit C1 performs various information reception and content transmission control with each device, and also performs content search based on search conditions and content read based on a distribution request (actual control is based on media By the server controller C3). When searching for content, the search is performed according to a search condition in which one or more conditions specified by the control device A are combined. However, there is no content that matches all of the plurality of conditions included in the search condition. In this case, a search condition that does not include a predetermined condition corresponding to the data conversion (processing) function of the performance information conversion unit C4 among the plurality of conditions is automatically created, and the created partial condition is removed. The content is searched according to a more lenient search condition (see FIG. 3 described later in detail). This point is also different from the conventional apparatus B. Further, the conversion device control unit C1 instructs the other external media server (conventional device B) to distribute the content. When the rendering device control unit C2 receives the content from the conventional apparatus B, the rendering device control unit C2 sends the received content to the performance information conversion unit C4 in time order. When receiving the conversion instruction control (processing control) so as to convert the content from the conversion device control unit C1, the performance information conversion unit C4 analyzes the content and performs data conversion according to the instruction. In this case, the media server control unit C3 streams the data-converted content to the processing device D.

  The processing device D is a content reproduction device that can reproduce the content distributed by the MIDI stream from either the conventional device B or the distribution device C, and has a reproduction function corresponding to the data format of the distributed content. As shown in the figure, the processing device D can be broadly divided into a rendering device control unit D1, a tone generation unit D2, and a tone processing unit D3. The rendering device control unit D1 receives the content (MIDI stream) distributed from either the conventional device B or the distribution device C, and sends the received content to the musical sound generation unit D2 in time order. The tone generation unit D2 reproduces the content sent from the rendering device control unit D1 and generates an audio stream. The musical sound processing unit D3 generates a musical sound based on the audio stream generated by the musical sound generation unit D2 under processing control by the rendering device control unit D1.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the content distribution apparatus C according to the present invention, which is one of the apparatuses constituting the content distribution system described above, will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the content distribution apparatus C. As shown in FIG. The hardware configuration example of the distribution apparatus C shown here is configured using a personal computer, and the computer executes a predetermined control program (see FIG. 3 described later) for processing for executing content search and content distribution. It is implemented by executing. Of course, this processing is not limited to the form of computer software, but can also be implemented in the form of a microprogram processed by a DSP (digital signal processor), and is not limited to this form of program, but a discrete circuit or an integrated circuit. You may implement in the form of the hardware device for exclusive use comprised including a circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

  The content distribution apparatus C shown in the present embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer including a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2, and a random access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls the operation of the entire distribution apparatus. A ROM 2, RAM 3, detection circuit 4, display circuit 5, communication interface (I / F) 6, and external storage device 7 are connected to the CPU 1 via a communication bus 1D (for example, a data and address bus). . Further, the CPU 1 is connected to a timer 1A for measuring the interrupt time and various times in the timer interrupt process (interrupt process). For example, the timer 1A generates a clock pulse, and gives the generated clock pulse to the CPU 1 as a processing timing command or to the CPU 1 as an interrupt command. The CPU 1 executes various processes according to these instructions.

  The ROM 2 stores a control program executed by or referred to by the CPU 1, various data, and the like. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a predetermined program, or as a memory for temporarily storing a currently executing program and related data. The A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, flag, table, memory, or the like.

  The operation element 4A is a mouse, a keyboard, a switch, or the like connected to the apparatus main body, and may be anything as long as it can be used as an operation element. For example, a numeric keypad for inputting numeric data, a keyboard for inputting character data, a mouse, a panel switch, or the like. The detection circuit 4 detects the operation state of the operation element 4A, and outputs switch information or the like corresponding to the operation state to the CPU 1 via the data and address bus 1D. The display circuit 5 presents, for example, another external media server connected to the present apparatus via the communication network X, although not shown, on a display 5A composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) or a CRT. Various screens such as a list screen to be displayed, an information screen for introducing content stored in the connected media server, or a control state of the CPU 1 is displayed.

  The communication interface (I / F) 6 is an interface for connecting to a wired or wireless communication network X such as a LAN, the Internet, a telephone line, etc., and is connected to the external device 6A (for example, FIG. 1 is connected to the external device 6A, and various information is mutually exchanged between the external device 6A and the external device 6A. The control device A, the conventional device B, the processing device D shown in FIG. And can send and receive content. Such a communication interface 6 may be both wired and wireless, and may include both. When no control program or various data is stored in the ROM 2 or the external storage device 7 (for example, hard disk) provided in the apparatus, the control program and various data are appropriately externally supplied according to a request from the apparatus. It may be possible to download from the device 6A.

  The external storage device 7 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 1. When no control program is stored in the ROM 2 described above, the control program is stored in the external storage device 7 (for example, a hard disk) and read into the RAM 3 to store the control program in the ROM 2. The CPU 1 can be operated in the same manner as in the case. In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded. The external storage device 7 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), etc. Any storage device may be used as long as the storage device uses various external storage media. Alternatively, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory may be used.

Note that the distribution device C described above is not limited to one in which the operation element 4A, the display 5A, the external storage device 7 and the like are built in one apparatus body, and each is configured separately, and communication means such as a MIDI interface and various networks. Needless to say, the apparatus may be configured to connect each device using the.
In addition, each apparatus (the control apparatus A, the conventional apparatus B, and the processing apparatus D) other than the distribution apparatus C configuring the content distribution system described above will be described as using the same hardware configuration as the distribution apparatus C described above. The explanation is omitted because it is possible. However, in addition to the above-described configuration, each device other than the distribution device C has a performance operator 8A such as a keyboard provided with a plurality of keys, for example, for selecting a pitch of a musical tone, which is represented by a dotted line in FIG. A performance operation detection circuit 8 that detects pressing and release of each key of the operator 8A, a tone generator circuit 9 that can simultaneously generate a musical sound signal in a plurality of channels and generates a musical sound signal based on the inputted performance information , An effect circuit 10 for applying an effect to the generated musical sound signal, an amplifier or a speaker for generating the generated musical sound signal, and transmission / reception of MIDI data between the sound system 10A and the external MIDI device 11A A MIDI interface 11 or the like may be provided.

  Next, a series of processing outlines from the start of media server access to the end of content distribution performed in the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by each of the devices A to D constituting the content distribution system. The control device A performs the processing from steps S1 to S8 shown in FIG. 3, the processing device D performs the processing from steps S11 to S13, the distribution device C performs the processing from steps S21 to S301, and the processing from steps S31 to S37. The processing is performed by each of the conventional apparatuses B. Each of the devices A to D executes the above-described range of processing independently, but here, in order to facilitate understanding of the explanation, along the flow of a series of processing from the start of media server access to the end of content distribution, Processing in the above-described range executed by each of the devices A to D will be described. That is, since each process is performed in parallel while transmitting and receiving predetermined information between the devices A to D, each process will be described along the flow of transmitting and receiving this information.

  First, the control device A detects all media servers connected on the communication network X (step S1). The distribution device C, which is one of many media servers connected on the communication network X, responds to the control device A in response to the server detection (step S21). Further, the distribution apparatus C detects other media servers connected on the communication network X (step S22). The conventional device B, which is one of many media servers connected on the communication network X, responds to the control device A and the distribution device C that have detected the media server, respectively (step S31). The media server is detected by sending, for example, a packet indicating that the control device A (or distribution device C) is searching for a device corresponding to the media server to the multicast address, and a response packet corresponding to the packet. Is received by the control device A (or distribution device C). That is, when a device corresponding to a media server receives a packet sent from the control device A (or distribution device C), the media server communicates a response packet addressed to the control device A (or distribution device C). Since it is transmitted to the network X (a response packet is not transmitted from a device other than the media server), the control means A (or distribution device C) can detect the media server by receiving the response packet. It has become.

  The control device A detects the response by sending a packet for inquiring device information to the communication network X in which the media server (distribution device C and conventional device B) that has responded is designated by unicast. The process of acquiring device information from each of the distribution device C and the conventional device B is executed (step S2). As the device information that the media server has, for example, “device name” unique to each device, “vendor name” that manufactured each device, and “URL (Uniform Resource Locator)” unique to each device used when inquiring about content Etc. The distribution device C sends device information in response to the control device A (step S23). Also, the distribution apparatus C uniquely makes an inquiry about the device information to the conventional device B detected in step S22, and acquires the device information from the conventional device B (step S24). Therefore, the conventional apparatus B sends device information to each of the control apparatus A and the distribution apparatus C (step S32).

  The control device A that has acquired the device information acquires a search condition that is a combination of one or more conditions that are input according to the operation of the operator 4A by the user (step S3). For example, the user inputs “condition 1 (genre): classic”, “condition 2 (song title): spring”, “condition 3 (key): D key”, “condition 4 (data format): MIDI”. The control device A acquires a search condition that is a combination of these conditions. Then, based on the acquired “URL” (see step S2), the distribution device C and the conventional device B that have made the response are inquired about the content that matches the search condition (step S4). Specifically, XML data (corresponding to a search instruction) including a predetermined search command and search conditions is searched according to the HTTP protocol so that each device that has responded searches for content based on the search conditions. send. In response to the search instruction including the search condition from the control apparatus A, the distribution apparatus C further matches the search condition for the conventional apparatus B that has responded based on the acquired “URL” (see step S24). A content inquiry is made (step S25).

  The conventional device B performs a content search according to a search engine prepared in advance in response to a search instruction from the control device A and the distribution device C, and content attributes regarding content that matches all of one or more conditions included in the search condition Information is sent to each device (step S33). However, since content attribute information cannot naturally be sent when content that matches the search condition is not searched, information indicating “no corresponding content” is sent instead. For example, when the conventional device B stores only “C-tone MIDI data”, the above-described search conditions (“condition 1: classic”, “condition 2: spring”, “condition 3: D-tone”, “ Since there is no content corresponding to “condition 4: MIDI”), in such a case, information indicating “no corresponding content” is sent. In addition, what is necessary is just to send these content attribute information and the information showing that "there is no corresponding content" as XML format data according to HTTP protocol, for example.

  When the distribution device C receives information indicating that “there is no corresponding content” from the conventional device B, that is, when the content matching the search condition is not stored in the conventional device B, the distribution device C has “Conditions according to conversion characteristics” that can be automatically converted by a predetermined conversion function (that is, conditions under which content after conversion can be achieved by converting content by the conversion function) and the distribution device C The search condition is divided into the “other conditions” of the type that cannot be converted with the specified conversion function of, and only “other conditions” except “conditions according to conversion characteristics” are newly searched. As a condition, the content is inquired to the conventional apparatus B that has responded again (step S26). For example, a well-known automatic transposition function (not shown) by the distribution apparatus C, that is, the MIDI data of a song that is automatically transposed to a predetermined key by automatically analyzing the MIDI data and automatically transposing the key represented by the MIDI data into a predetermined key. When the conversion function is provided, the search conditions input by the user include “condition 1: classic”, “condition 2: spring”, “condition 3: D tone”, and “condition 4: MIDI”. Then, “Condition 3: D-tone” corresponds to “Condition according to conversion characteristics”, and “Condition 1: Classic”, “Condition 2: Spring” and “Condition 4: MIDI” become “Other conditions”. Applicable. Therefore, in this case, the content search is performed again according to the new search conditions including “Condition 1: Classic”, “Condition 2: Spring” and “Condition 4: MIDI” excluding “Condition 3: D-tone”. Will be instructed. The distribution device C stores in advance a correspondence relationship between a predetermined conversion function of the distribution device C and a type of “condition according to conversion characteristics” that can be automatically converted by the conversion function. Based on this, a loose search condition consisting only of “other conditions” excluding “conditions according to conversion characteristics” is created.

  The conventional device B searches for the content in response to the search instruction from the distribution device C again, and sends content attribute information to the distribution device C regarding the content that matches the “other conditions” (step S34). Of course, when there is no content that matches the new search condition, it is needless to say that information indicating that “no corresponding content” is sent. The distribution device C sends the content attribute information (or information indicating that “no corresponding content”) sent from the conventional device B to the control device A (step S27). When the control device A acquires the content attribute information from the conventional device B and the distribution device C, the control device A presents the content to the user based on the acquired content attribute information (step S5).

  When the control device A acquires the content attribute information from the distribution device C, that is, among the large number of contents stored in the conventional device B that is another media server, the above-mentioned 1 to When there is content that can be automatically converted as content that matches all of the plurality of conditions, the control device A presents the content to the user. At this time, the content information stored in the conventional device B is not presented as it is, but the content information related to the converted content is presented. That is, the distribution apparatus C does not store content in itself, and the conventional apparatus B, which is another media server that can be referred to via the communication network X, has only “C-tone MIDI data”, for example. Even though it is not stored, even if “condition 1: classic”, “condition 2: spring”, “condition 3: D-tone”, and “condition 4: MIDI” are input as search conditions, From the distribution device C, the “generic MIDI data” of which the genre is classic and the song title is spring is presented to the user as content that can be stored and distributed by the own device (conventional device). B stores “C-tone MIDI data” instead of “D-tone MIDI data”, but is presented to the user as “D-tone MIDI data” from the distribution apparatus C).

  Upon receiving the content search result, the control device A causes the user to select content to be distributed from the presented content (step S6). In response to the user's selection of content, the processing device D is instructed to start communication related to content distribution (step S7). In response to the communication start instruction from the control device A, the processing device D instructs the conventional device B or the distribution device C to start communication related to content distribution (step S11). The distribution apparatus C receives the communication start instruction from the processing apparatus D and performs setting related to the conversion function (step S28). For example, parameters used for the conversion function are set so that “C-tone MIDI data” is converted to “D-tone MIDI data”. Thereafter, the distribution apparatus C instructs the conventional apparatus B to start communication related to content distribution (step S29). The conventional device B receives a communication start instruction from the processing device D or the distribution device C, starts communication related to content distribution with the distribution device C (step S35), and distributes the selected content (step S36). . The content distributed to the distribution device C is subjected to data conversion according to a predetermined conversion function of the distribution device C, and then sent to the processing device D (step S30). The processing device D executes predetermined content processing (for example, musical tone generation processing) based on the received content (step S12). Note that the content distribution between the devices may be unilateral distribution from the conventional device B according to RTP, or may be distribution for each distribution request from the control device A or the distribution device C according to HTTP.

  When the processing end instruction is issued by the user in the control device A, the control device A instructs the processing device D to end the predetermined processing based on the content (step S8). In response to the end instruction, the processing device D ends the predetermined content processing and instructs the distribution device C to end communication related to content distribution (step S13). The distribution apparatus C receives a communication end instruction from the processing apparatus D and instructs the conventional apparatus B to end communication related to content distribution (step S301). The conventional apparatus B receives the communication end instruction from the distribution apparatus C and ends the communication related to the content distribution (step S37).

  As described above, even if the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention does not store the content at all (that is, there is no content that matches the search condition), the external media server stores it. If content that can be distributed as content that matches the search condition is stored in the referenced media server by performing data conversion according to a predetermined conversion function of the own device, Present content to the user. When the user selects the content stored in the media server, the content distribution device requests the media server to distribute the corresponding content, and the content distributed (acquired) from the media server is the predetermined content. The data was converted by the conversion function before being sent to the processor. Thus, even if the content that matches the search condition input by the user is not prepared (stored) in any media server connected to the communication network, the user can select the desired content closer to the original search condition. Even if the user does not input a loose search condition by himself / herself, the user can acquire the search condition without having to process the data.

  In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 described above, a dedicated distribution device C, which is an independent device, is prepared separately from the conventional device B, and content matching the search condition is not stored in the conventional device B. In this case, the distribution apparatus C has shown the content that matches the looser search condition from the conventional apparatus B and presents it as the content that matches the search condition. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the distribution device C and the conventional device B may be integrated. That is, when the content distribution apparatus C itself according to the present invention stores a large number of contents like the conventional apparatus B, and there is no content that matches the input search condition in the stored large number of contents, You may make it automatically search and present the content which matches the looser conditions except the conditions corresponding to the predetermined conversion function of the own device.

  Further, in the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, the example in which the MIDI data stored in the conventional device B is distributed as it is is shown, but the stored raw MIDI data is not distributed as it is. Audio data generated in response to reproduction of MIDI data may be distributed. That is, the content distribution apparatus C itself according to the present invention may store a large number of contents similarly to the conventional apparatus B, and may have a content reproduction function. One embodiment of a content distribution system having a configuration different from that of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

  FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content distribution system including another embodiment of the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. The content distribution system shown in FIG. 4 includes a control device A, a content distribution device C ′ such as a server computer that stores a large number of contents, a content processing device D, and a communication network X. Since the control device A and the content processing device D are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, their description is omitted here.

  As shown in the figure, the content distribution apparatus C ′ shown in this embodiment is roughly composed of a media server control unit C3 ′, a content storage unit B2, a sequencer unit B3, and a performance information conversion unit C4. The media server control unit C3 ′ receives various information such as search conditions and distribution requests with each device, controls transmission of contents (MIDI stream distribution), searches contents based on the search conditions, and distributes contents based on distribution requests. In addition to file management control for the content storage unit B2 such as reading or content writing by the user and content reproduction control for the sequencer unit B2, content conversion instruction control (processing control) for the performance information conversion unit C4 is performed. The content storage unit B2 stores a large number of contents in a database. The sequencer unit B3 outputs a MIDI stream according to the content read from the content storage unit B2. When receiving the content conversion instruction control (processing control) from the media server controller C3 ′, the performance information converter C4 analyzes the MIDI stream (content) sent from the sequencer unit B3 and responds to the instruction. Perform data conversion. The media server control unit C3 ′ distributes the content to the processing device D by packetizing the data-converted or non-converted MIDI stream (content) and sending it to the communication network X.

  FIG. 5 is a system block diagram showing the overall configuration of a content distribution system including still another embodiment of the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. The content distribution system shown in FIG. 5 includes a control device A, a content distribution device C ′ such as a server computer that stores a large number of contents and has a content reproduction function, a content processing device D ′, and a communication network X. Consists of. Since the control device A is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the description thereof is omitted here.

  In addition to the media server control unit C3 ′, content storage unit B2, sequencer unit B3, and performance information conversion unit C4 included in the configuration shown in FIG. It consists of the structure containing the part D2. The content storage unit B2, the sequencer unit B3, and the performance information conversion unit C4 are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. The tone generation unit D2 generates an audio stream by playing back the MIDI stream (content) that has been converted or not converted from the performance information conversion unit C4. The media server control unit C3 ′ packetizes the generated audio stream and sends the packet to the communication network X, thereby delivering content made up of audio format data instead of MIDI format to the processing device D ′. The processing device D ′ reproduces the content distributed from the content distribution device C ′ as an audio stream. The rendering device control unit D1 ′ receives the content (audio stream) distributed from the content distribution device C ′, and sequentially sends the received content to the musical sound processing unit D3. The musical sound processing unit D3 generates a musical sound based on the audio stream under processing control by the rendering device control unit D1 ′.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by each device constituting the content distribution system shown in FIG. 4 or 5. Here, the processing executed mainly by each device constituting the content distribution system shown in FIG. 4 is shown here, but the processing executed by each device constituting the content distribution system shown in FIG. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted. In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 4, the content distributed from the distribution device to the processing device is MIDI data, whereas in the content distribution system shown in FIG. 5, the content distributed from the distribution device to the processing device is audio data. Needless to say.

  The processing from step S41 to step S48 executed by the control device A shown in this embodiment corresponds to the processing of steps S1 to S8 in FIG. However, it goes without saying that in the processing from step S41 to step S45, the partner device (media server) that transmits and receives various types of information is only the distribution device C ′. Further, the processing from step S51 to step S53 executed by the processing apparatus D shown in this embodiment corresponds to each processing of step S11 to step S13 in FIG. .

  The distribution device C ′, which is one of the many media servers connected on the communication network X, responds according to the server detection by the control device A (step S61). In step S62, device information is sent in response to the control device A. Step S63 is of a type that can be automatically converted by the predetermined conversion function of the distribution device C 'when the device does not store the content that matches the search condition and cannot present the search result as it is. The search conditions are divided into “conditions according to conversion characteristics” and “other conditions” of a type that cannot be converted by the predetermined conversion function of the distribution device C ′. The content search is executed again using only “other conditions” excluding “condition” as a new search condition. If the own device stores content that matches the search condition and can present the search result, the above processing is not performed. In step S64, the content attribute information (or information indicating that “no corresponding content”) related to the searched content is sent to the control device A. In step S65, upon receiving a communication start instruction from the processing device D, settings relating to the conversion function are performed.

  In step S66, communication related to content distribution with the processing apparatus D is started. In step S67, the selected content is read from the external storage device 7 or the like. Step S68 performs data conversion of the read content in accordance with a predetermined conversion function of the distribution apparatus C ′. Of course, in the case of content that does not need to be converted, data conversion is not performed. In step S69, the converted content (or unconverted content) is distributed to the processing device D. A step S70 decides whether or not a communication end instruction has been received from the processing device D. If it is determined that a communication end instruction has been received from the processing device D (step S70: yes), the communication relating to content distribution with the processing device D is ended (step S71). If it is determined that the communication end instruction has not been received from the processing device D (no in step S70), the processing device returns to the processing in step S67 and repeats the processing from step S67 to step S70. Content distribution with D is repeated.

In each content distribution system described above, the processing device D (or E) may be configured integrally with the control device A. In such a case, the content (MIDI data or audio data) is streamed to the integrated control device (which is also a processing device), so that the content can be reproduced on the control device. . This is very convenient because the user can perform both content search and content playback using only the control device.
When the search conditions included in the search instruction from the control device A are divided into “conditions according to conversion characteristics” and “other conditions”, when the search conditions are composed of one sentence or the like ( For example, C-style up-tempo rock composed by Ichiro Yamanami), the sentence is automatically divided into a plurality of words or finer sentences, and each of the divided words or fine sentences is converted into a “conversion characteristic”. May be divided into “conditions according to” and “other conditions”.

The content is not limited to music content such as MIDI data or audio data, but may be any type of content known in the art including still images and moving images. However, if the content is a content that can automatically change the original content prepared in advance and change it to a new content, it does not correspond to the predetermined data conversion function of the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. It goes without saying that it doesn't happen.
The predetermined data conversion function of the content distribution apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to one that converts musical elements that characterize musical tones such as the key of a song or tempo (that processes data contents), but is also specified. Appropriate functions may be used, such as those that convert data characteristics such as minus one data excluding any part or content that consists of only a specific part, or those that convert the data recording format of content such as audio format or MIDI format. . Further, the data conversion function may simply rewrite a part of the original data (for example, rewrite the tempo value defined in the header part).

1 is a system block diagram showing an embodiment of an overall configuration of a content distribution system using a content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. It is a hardware configuration block diagram showing one example of the whole composition of a contents distribution device. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which each apparatus which comprises a content delivery system performs. It is a system block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content delivery system which comprises another Example of the content delivery apparatus based on this invention. It is a system block diagram which shows the whole structure of the content delivery system which contains another Example of the content delivery apparatus concerning this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process which each apparatus which comprises the content delivery system shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 1A ... Timer, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... Detection circuit, 4A ... Operator, 5 ... Display circuit, 5A ... Display, 6 ... Communication interface, 6A ... External device, 7 ... External storage device 8 ... Performance operation detection circuit, 8A ... Performance operator, 9 ... Sound source circuit, 10 ... Effect circuit, 10A ... Sound system, 11 ... MIDI interface, 11A ... MIDI device, 1D ... Communication bus, X ... Communication network, A ... control device (controller), B ... content distribution device (conventional device), B1 ... media server control unit, B2 ... content storage unit, B3 ... sequencer unit, C (C ') ... content distribution device (distribution device), C1 ... conversion device control unit, C2 (D1, D1 ') ... rendering device control unit, C3 (C3') ... media server control unit, C4 ... performance information conversion unit, D ( ') ... content processing apparatus (processing apparatus), D2 ... tone generating unit, D3 ... music sound processor unit

Claims (5)

A content distribution device that distributes content to a predetermined external device connected via a communication network,
Conversion means for converting content;
Search means for searching for content that satisfies all of the conditions based on a search instruction including one or more conditions, and transmitting attribute information of the searched content to the external device;
The plurality of conditions included in the search instruction from the external device are divided into conditions that can be achieved according to content conversion by the conversion means and conditions other than the conditions that can be achieved, and all the conditions other than the conditions that can be achieved Condition change instruction means for instructing the search means to search for relevant content;
A conversion instruction means for instructing the conversion means to convert the corresponding content in accordance with the achievable condition in response to a distribution request for the content searched according to the search instruction by the condition change instruction means;
A content distribution apparatus comprising distribution control means for distributing the converted content.   The search means searches for content stored in a predetermined content storage device connected to a communication network, and the conversion instruction means can achieve the content acquired from the searched content storage device. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution apparatus instructs the conversion unit to perform conversion according to a condition.   The content distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distribution control unit distributes content to a predetermined content processing device different from an external device that issues a search instruction and a distribution request.   The content distribution apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conversion unit analyzes the content and converts a musical characteristic, data characteristic, or data format of the content. On the computer,
A procedure for searching for content corresponding to all of a plurality of conditions included in the search instruction based on a search instruction from a predetermined external device connected via a communication network, and transmitting attribute information of the searched content; ,
Conditions that can be achieved according to a predetermined content conversion function and conditions other than the achievable conditions when the contents corresponding to all of the plurality of conditions included in the search instruction are not searched And searching for content that meets all conditions other than the achievable conditions; and
A procedure for converting the corresponding content according to the achievable condition by a predetermined content conversion function in response to a distribution request for the content corresponding to all the conditions other than the searched achievable condition;
A program for executing the procedure for distributing the converted content.

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