JP2011048510A - Content file information management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content file information management device suitable for use of content files having identical or similar contents. <P>SOLUTION: The content file information management device 30 includes: a content file information obtaining part 31 obtaining content file information; a content file information management part 32 imparting identical content identification information to the content files having the identical or similar contents, and managing the content identification information and the content file information; a content file use request obtaining part 33 obtaining a content file use request including the content identification information; a content file selection part 34 selecting the content file to be transmitted from the content files imparted with the same content identification information as the content identification information included in the content file use request; and a selection result transmission part 35 transmitting a selection result to a content file holding device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content file information management apparatus that is communicably connected to a content file holding apparatus that holds a content file and a content file use apparatus that uses the content file via a network.

  A technology for remotely using content files held in a content file holding device has been proposed in accordance with the improvement of terminal performance such as a broadband network, a mobile phone, and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). In Patent Document 1, a list of contents stored in a plurality of devices is acquired and displayed on a terminal, a UI for using the content selected by the user is displayed on the terminal, and a user interface (UI) by the user A technique for transferring content from a device to a terminal in response to an operation of the above is disclosed.

JP 2005-031804 A

  However, if there are multiple content files with the same or similar content on multiple devices, each content file is handled as an independent content file, so which content file is used from these. Is left to conscious operation by the user. Thus, when there are a plurality of content files having the same or similar contents, there has been a problem that the user's operation becomes complicated.

  The present invention has been developed to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a content file information management apparatus suitable for using content files having the same or similar contents.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides content file information that is communicably connected to a content file holding device that holds a content file and a content file using device that uses the content file via a network. A content file information acquisition unit that is a management device and acquires content file information related to attributes of a content file held by the content file holding device, transmitted from the content file holding device, and the acquired content file A content file information management unit that assigns the same content identification information to content files having the same or similar contents based on the information, and manages the content identification information and the content file information; A content file usage request acquisition unit for acquiring a content file usage request including the content identification information transmitted from the content file usage device, and the same content identification information as the content identification information included in the content file usage request A content file selection unit that selects a content file to be transmitted to the content using device from among the content files that have been performed; a selection result transmission unit that transmits a selection result by the content file selection unit to the content file holding device; It is characterized by providing.

  The content file information includes content file holder identification information, the content file use request includes user identification information, and the content file selection unit indicates that the user identification information and the content file holder identification information are the same. The content file to be transmitted to the content file using device may be selected from the content files.

  And a content file sharing request acquisition unit that acquires a content file sharing request including the content identification information of the content file to be shared and the content identification information of the content file to be shared. The sharer identification information included in the request is managed together with the content file holder identification information included in the content file information, and the content file selection unit is configured to manage the user identification information and the content file holder identification information or the share The content file to be transmitted to the content file using apparatus may be selected from content files having the same person identification information.

  In addition, the content file use request includes information related to the use condition of the content file in the content file using device, and the content file selection unit is configured to use the content file based on the information related to the use condition and the content file information. The configuration may be such that a content file to be transmitted to the using device is selected.

  The content file use request includes information on the content file using device, and the content file selection unit transmits the information on the content file using device and the content file information to the content file using device. The content file to be selected may be selected.

  The content file use request includes information related to an application that can be used by the content file using device, and the content file selection unit should transmit to the content using device based on the information related to the application and the content file information. It may be configured to select a content file.

  The content file selection unit may be configured to select a content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device based on an available communication speed of the network.

  The content file information management device further includes a content file transfer unit that acquires a content file transmitted from the content file holding device according to the selection result and transfers the content file to the content file using device. Also good.

  The content file information management apparatus further includes a cache generation unit that generates a cache of the content file transferred by the content file transfer unit, and the content file transfer unit includes the content generated by the cache generation unit. If a file cache exists, the cache may be transmitted to the content file using device.

  The content file information management device, based on the selection result, a usage history management unit that manages the usage history of the content file in association with the content identification information of the content file, and based on the usage history, A content file request transmitting unit that determines whether to generate a cache of the content file, and transmits a content file request for requesting the content file determined to be cached to the content holding device; The generation unit may be configured to acquire the content file transmitted by the content file holding device in response to the content file request and generate a cache of the acquired content file.

  The cache generation unit may be configured to perform data conversion of the content file based on the usage history and generate a cache of the content file subjected to data conversion.

  The content file information management device, based on the selection result, a usage history management unit that manages the usage history of the content file in association with the content identification information of the content file, and based on the usage history, A configuration further comprising: a content file information request transmission unit that determines whether or not to acquire the content file information and transmits a content file information request for transmitting the content file information determined to be acquired to the content holding device It may be.

  The content file information management apparatus may further include a network setting unit that transmits a request signal for enabling data transmission of the selected content file to the network.

  The network setting unit may be configured to transmit a bandwidth securing request corresponding to the selected content file to the network.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to favorably use content files having the same or similar contents.

It is a figure which shows typically the content file utilization system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the content file holding | maintenance apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the content file utilization apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows typically the content file information management apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the content identification information which concerns on embodiment of this invention, content holder identification information, and several content file information.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  First, a content file utilization system provided with a content file information management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a content file utilization system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the content file holding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the content file utilization apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the content file information management apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining content identification information, content holder identification information, and a plurality of content file information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a content file utilization system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of content file holding devices 10, 10,... That hold content files and a plurality of content files that use content files. , And a content file information management device 30 that manages content file information. The plurality of content file holding devices 10, 10,... The devices 20, 20,... And the content file information management device 30 are communicably connected via a network NW.

<Content File Holding Device 10>
The content file holding device 10 is a personal computer, a content file holding server, and the like, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an input / output circuit, and the like. . As shown in FIG. 2, the content file holding device 10 includes a content file storage unit 11, a content file information management unit 12, a content file information transmission unit 13, a selection result acquisition unit 14, and a content file as functional units. And a transmission unit 15.

<< Content File Storage Unit 11 >>
The content file storage unit 11 stores a plurality of content files.

<< Content File Information Management Unit 12 >>
The content file information management unit 12 includes, as information about content file attributes (content file information) held by the own device (content file information), access information to the content file (URL, etc.), content file creator identification information (content in this embodiment). File owner identification information), creation date / time, last update date / time, title, file format, image size (vertical / horizontal), compression / non-compression, data capacity, etc. Use to extract and manage.

<< Content File Information Transmitter 13 >>
The content file information transmission unit 13 transmits the content file information extracted and managed by the content file information management unit 12 to the content file information acquisition unit 31 of the content file information management device 30.

≪Selection result acquisition unit 14≫
The selection result acquisition unit 14 acquires the selection result transmitted by the selection result transmission unit 35 of the content file information management device 30. The acquired selection result is output to the content file transmission unit 15.

≪Content file transmission unit 15≫
The content file transmission unit 15 reads a content file corresponding to the selection result from the content file storage unit 11 based on the selection result acquired by the selection result acquisition unit 14, and the content file transfer unit 37 of the content file information management device 30. Or it transmits to the content file acquisition part 23b of the content file utilization apparatus 20. FIG.

<Content File Utilizing Device 20>
The content file utilization device 20 is a terminal such as a computer, a mobile phone, or a PDA. And a control unit 23 that communicates with the other devices 10 and 30 via the network NW.

  The control unit 23 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an input / output circuit, and the like. As shown in FIG. A usage request transmission unit 23a, a content file acquisition unit 23b, a content file playback unit 23c, and a content file sharing request transmission unit 23d are provided.

<< Content File Usage Request Transmitter 23a >>
Based on the operation of the input unit 21 by the user, the content file usage request transmission unit 23a generates a content file usage request including content identification information of the content file that the user desires to use, and generates the generated content file usage request. It is transmitted to the content file information management device 30.

<< Content File Acquisition Unit 23b >>
The content file acquisition unit 23b acquires the content file transmitted from the content file holding device 10 or the content file information management device 30.

<< Content File Playback Unit 23c >>
The content file playback unit 23c causes the output unit 22 to play back the acquired content file.

<< Content File Sharing Request Transmitter 23d >>
The content file sharing request transmission unit 23d includes a content file sharing request including content identification information of a content file that the user desires to share and user identification information that is unique to the user based on an operation of the input unit 21 by the user. And the generated content file is transmitted to the content file information management device 30.

<Content File Information Management Device 30>
The content file information management apparatus 30 is a server or the like, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read-Only Memory), an input / output circuit, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the content file information management apparatus 30 includes, as function units, a content file information acquisition unit 31, a content file information management unit 32, a content file use request acquisition unit 33, and a content file selection unit 34. The selection result transmission unit 35, the content file sharing request acquisition unit 36, the content file transfer unit 37, the usage history management unit 38, the cache generation unit 39, the content file request transmission unit 40, and the content file information request transmission A unit 41 and a network setting unit 42.

≪Content file information acquisition unit 31≫
The content file information acquisition unit 31 acquires the content file information transmitted by the content file information transmission unit 11 of the content file holding device 10. The acquired content file information is output to the content file information management unit 32.

<< Content File Information Management Unit 32 >>
Based on the content file information acquired by the content file information acquisition unit 31, the content file information management unit 32 assigns the same content identification information to content files having the same or similar contents. Manages content identification information and content file information.

  Here, as a method for determining the identity / similarity of content files, if the content file is text, an image (still image), a video (moving image), etc., the identity is automatically determined. The content file information management unit 32 can determine the identity / similarity between a plurality of content files using the technology. In addition, the user holding the content file inputs the identity / similarity by operating the content file holding device 10, and the content file information management unit 32 is based on the input identity / similarity. It is also possible to determine the identity / similarity between a plurality of content files. Further, the content file information management unit 32 can also determine the identity / similarity between a plurality of content files based on the content file information (creation date, title, etc.). In this embodiment, it is possible to arbitrarily set a method for determining the identity / similarity between a plurality of content files. In addition to the method described above, an external content identity / similarity determination service is used. It may be a configuration.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the content file information management unit 32 performs a plurality of content file information (5) corresponding to the same content identification information (second line) and content holder identification information (third line). Lines 14 to 14 are the first content files, and Lines 15 to 24 are the second content files). Here, the 6th line (15th line) is the content file access information (URL), the 7th line (17th line) is the file format, the 8th line (18th line) is the file capacity, and the 9th line (line 18). The 19th line is the image width (horizontal size), the 10th line (20th line) is the image height (vertical size), the 11th line (21st line) is the creation date, and the 12th line (22) (Line) represents the creation location, and line 13 (line 23) represents the last update date and time.

<< Content File Usage Request Acquisition Unit 33 >>
The content file usage request acquisition unit 33 acquires the content file usage request transmitted by the content file usage request transmission unit 23a of the content file usage device 20. The acquired content file use request is output to the content file selection unit 34.

<< Content File Selection Unit 34 >>
The content file selection unit 34 selects a content file to be transmitted to the content usage device 20 based on the content file usage request acquired by the content file usage request acquisition unit 33, and includes access information (URL) of the content file. Generate a selection result. The selection result may include information on the content file utilization device 20. The selection result by the content file selection unit 34 is output to the selection result transmission unit 35, the content file transfer unit 37, the usage history management unit 38, and the network design unit 42.

  In the present embodiment, the content file selection unit 34 selects a content file using at least one of the following methods.

(1) Selection Based on User Identification Information The content file information managed by the content file information management unit 32 can include content file holder identification information as information unique to the content file holder. The content file usage request transmitted by the content file usage request transmission unit 23a of the content file usage device 20 and acquired by the content file usage request acquisition unit 31 of the content file information management device 30 is the user of the content file usage device 20. User identification information can be included as information unique to the. The content file selection unit 34 refers to the content file information held by the content file information management unit 32, and the user identification information included in the content file use request is the same as the content file holder identification information included in the content file information. The content file to be transmitted to the content using device 20 is selected from the content files. According to this method, the content file selection unit 34 performs user authentication based on the user identification information and does not select a content file corresponding to content file holder identification information different from the user identification information. Use of content files can be prevented.

(2) Selection Based on Information on Usage Conditions The content file usage request can include information on usage conditions of content files in the content file usage device 20. Such usage conditions are generated based on the operation of the input unit 21 by the user (for example, when a portable terminal having a maximum display width of 480 px is used as the content file usage apparatus 20, the conditional expression max_width = 480). The content file selection unit 34 refers to the content file information held by the content file information management unit 32, and determines the content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device 20 based on the information regarding the utilization conditions included in the content file utilization request. select. For example, when the content file use request includes information on the image size as information on the use condition, the content file selection unit 34 selects a content file suitable for the image size.

(3) Selection Based on Information Regarding Content File Utilizing Device 20 The content file utilization request can include information regarding the content file utilizing device 20. The content file selection unit 34 refers to the content file information held by the content file information management unit 32 and selects a content file to be transmitted to the content use device 20 based on information about the content file use device 20. For example, when the content file usage request includes the name of the content file usage device 20 as information regarding the content file usage device 20, the content file selection unit 34 selects the content file suitable for the content file usage device 20 with the name. Select. Here, the content file selection unit 34 stores in advance a relationship between information regarding the content file utilization device 20 and information regarding the performance of the content file utilization device 20, and uses this relationship for content file selection. Can do.

(4) Selection Based on Information Related to Application The content file use request can include information related to an application that can be used by the content file using device. The content file selection unit 34 refers to the content file information held by the content file information management unit 32, and selects a content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device 20 based on the information related to the application. For example, when the content file use request includes the browser type described in the user-argent information of the http-request message of the browser as information related to the application, the content file selection unit 34 is a browser of the mobile terminal. Or a browser of a personal computer, and a content file suitable for the determination result is selected. Here, the content file selection unit 34 can store in advance a relationship between information related to the application and a content file condition (image size or the like) suitable for the application, and the relationship can be used for content file selection. .

(5) Selection Based on Available Speed of Network NW The content file selection unit 34 selects a content file to be transmitted to the content file using device 20 based on the available communication speed of the network NW. Here, the content file selection unit 34 may store in advance the maximum communication speed of the network NW with respect to the content file utilization device 20 by the operation of the input unit 21 of the content file utilization device 20 by the user. You may acquire the communication speed which can be utilized using a function. Further, the content file selection unit 34 can extract the status of the network NW and select a content file to be transmitted to the content file using device 20 based on the extracted status of the network NW. For example, the content file selection unit 34 selects a content file with a large data capacity when the available speed of the network NW is large, and content with a small data capacity when the available speed of the network NW is small. Select a file.

≪Selection result transmission unit 35≫
The selection result transmission unit 35 transmits the selection result by the content file 34 to the content file holding device 10.

<< Content File Sharing Request Acquisition Unit 36 >>
The content file sharing request acquisition unit 36 acquires the content file usage request transmitted by the content file sharing request transmission unit 23d of the content file usage device 20. The acquired content file use request is output to the content file information management unit 32. The content file information management unit 32 manages the sharer identification information included in the content file sharing request together with the content file holder identification information included in the content file information, and the content file selection unit 34 includes the user identification information and the content file. A content file to be transmitted to the content file using device is selected from content files having the same holder identification information or sharer identification information. In addition to this, when the “(1) selection based on user identification information” is adopted, the content file information management apparatus 30 uses the user (sharer) and content file holder corresponding to the sharer identification information. Only the user (content file holder) corresponding to the identification information is allowed to use the content file, and the sharer can share the content file.

<< Content File Transfer Unit 37 >>
The content file transfer unit 37 acquires the content file transmitted from the content file transmission unit 15 of the content file holding device 10 according to the selection result transmitted by the selection result transmission unit 35, and the content file of the content file utilization device 20 Transfer to the acquisition unit 23b.

≪Usage history management unit 38≫
The usage history management unit 38 generates and manages the usage history of the content file based on the selection result by the content file selection unit 34. In this usage history, for each content identification information, at least a part of the content file information of the used content file (content file access information and the like) and the usage date and time of the content file are stored in association with each other. . In the present embodiment, the usage history management unit 38 generates and manages a usage history for each piece of content identification information, so that the usage history of the same or similar content file group can be grasped.

<< cache generation unit 39 >>
The cache generation unit 39 generates a cache of the content file transferred by the content file transfer unit 37, and holds and manages the generated cache. In the present embodiment, the cache generation unit 39 generates a cache of content files with a high usage frequency (greater than a threshold) based on the usage history managed by the usage history management unit 38.

<< Content File Request Transmitter 40 >>
The content file request transmission unit 40 determines whether or not to generate a cache of the content file based on the usage history managed by the usage history management unit 38, and requests the content file determined to generate the cache. A content file request is transmitted to the content holding device 10. In the present embodiment, the content file request transmitting unit 40 holds a content file request for requesting a content file having a high usage frequency (above a threshold) based on the usage history managed by the usage history management unit 38. The content is transmitted to the content file transmission unit 15 of the device 10. When the content file transmission unit 15 of the content file holding device 10 acquires the content file request, the content file transmission unit 15 reads the content file corresponding to the acquired content file request from the content file storage unit 11 and generates the cache of the content file information management device 30. To the unit 39.

  In the present embodiment, the cache generation unit 39 transmits the content file transmitted by the content file transmission unit 15 of the content file management device 10 in response to the content file request based on the usage history managed by the usage history management unit 38. It is also possible to generate a cache of the content file after the data conversion. For example, based on the usage history, the cache generation unit 39 performs usage prediction such as “There is a high possibility that mail data is used from the mobile terminal in this time zone”, and the content is the same in the cache generation unit 39. If the content holding device 10 has only a content file that is not suitable for transmission to the portable terminal, the content file request is transmitted to the content file request transmission unit 40 and then the content is received. By acquiring a file, performing data conversion of the acquired content file and generating a cache of the content-converted content file, a cache suitable for transmission to the mobile terminal can be held in advance.

<< Content File Information Request Transmitter 41 >>
The content file information request transmission unit 41 is configured to request transmission of content file information of a content file having a high priority to the content file management device 30 based on the usage history managed by the usage history management unit 38. The content file information request is transmitted to the content file information transmission unit 13 of the content file holding device 10. Also, the content file information request transmission unit 41, when the content file selection unit 34 determines that the content file information management unit 32 has no content file information related to the content file to be transmitted, the content file of the content file to be transmitted A content file information request for requesting transmission of information to the content file management device 30 is transmitted to the content file information transmission unit 13 of the content file holding device 10. The content file information transmission unit 13 acquires the content file information request and transmits content file information corresponding to the request to the content file information acquisition unit 31 of the content file information management device 30.

  Here, as a method for determining the priority, based on the usage status (day of week, time zone, etc.) of the content file included in the usage history, the priority of what is estimated to be high at the present time is set high. can do.

  The content file information management unit 32 holds the content identification information once given, and holds the content file information with high priority in association with the content identification information. Content file In this way, only the content file information with high priority is managed by the content file information management unit 32 of the content file information management device 30, and the content file information with low priority is managed by the content file information management unit of the content holding device 10. 12, the content file information held by the content file information management device 30 can be reduced, the search efficiency can be improved, and the data transmission associated with the change of the content file information can be reduced.

<< Network Setting Unit 42 >>
The network setting unit 42 transmits a request signal for enabling data transmission of the selected content file to the network after the content file is selected and before the content file is transmitted to the content file using device 20. Send. For example, when the gateway device provided in the network NW prohibits the transmission of the content file by the content holding device 10, the content file using device 20 and the content file information management device by the content holding device 10 are used in the gateway device. 30 is required to allow access to 30 (cancel access prohibition). In addition, when the gateway device prohibits the content using device 20 from acquiring the content file transmitted by any external device, the content file holding device 10 and the content file information management device 30 in the gateway device. Settings for permitting access to the content file utilization device 20 are required. The network setting unit 42 transmits a request signal for permitting such access to the gateway device. When acquiring the request signal, the gateway device permits transmission of data (content file or the like) among the content file holding device 10, the content file using device 20, and the content file information management device 30.

  In addition, the network setting unit 42 transmits a bandwidth securing request corresponding to the selected content file to the network NW.

<First operation example>
A first operation example of the content file utilization system 1 of the present invention will be described. First, the content file information management device 30 transmits selection screen data including content identification information to the content file utilization device 20, and the control unit 23 of the content file utilization device 20 displays the selection screen on the output unit 22.

  Subsequently, when the user who viewed the selection screen operates the input unit 21 and selects a content file to be used, the content file use request transmission unit 23a issues a content file use request including the content identification information of the selected content file. It transmits to the content file information acquisition part 33 of the content file information management apparatus 30.

  Subsequently, the content file selection unit 34 uses the at least one method (1) to (5) described above, and the content file to which the same content identification information is assigned based on the acquired content file use request The content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device 20 is selected from the above, and the selection result transmission unit 35 transmits the selection result to the selection result acquisition unit 14 of the content file holding device 10.

  Subsequently, the content file transmission unit 15 transmits a content file corresponding to the acquired selection result to the content file transfer unit 37 of the content file information management device 30.

  Subsequently, the content file transfer unit 37 transmits the content file transmitted by the content file transmission unit 15 to the content file acquisition unit 23 b of the content file utilization device 20.

  When the cache of the content file to be transmitted to the content file using device 20 is generated and managed by the cache generation unit 39, the selection result transmission unit 35 does not transmit the selection result, and the content file transfer unit 37 Can transmit the cache of the content file managed by the cache generation unit 39 to the content file acquisition unit 23b of the content file utilization apparatus 20.

  Subsequently, the content file reproduction unit 23c causes the output unit 22 to reproduce the content file, and the user of the content file utilization device 20 uses the content file.

<Second operation example>
A second operation example of the content file utilization system 1 of the present invention will be described. First, the content file information management device 30 transmits selection screen data including content identification information to the content file utilization device 20, and the control unit 23 of the content file utilization device 20 displays the selection screen on the output unit 22.

  Subsequently, when the user who viewed the selection screen operates the input unit 21 and selects a content file to be used, the content file use request transmission unit 23a issues a content file use request including the content identification information of the selected content file. It transmits to the content file information acquisition part 33 of the content file information management apparatus 30.

  Subsequently, the content file selection unit 34 uses the at least one method (1) to (5) described above, and the content file to which the same content identification information is assigned based on the acquired content file use request The content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device 20 is selected from the above, and the selection result transmission unit 35 transmits the selection result to the selection result acquisition unit 14 of the content file holding device 10.

  Subsequently, the content file transmission unit 15 transmits a content file corresponding to the acquired selection result to the content file acquisition unit 23b of the content file utilization device 20.

  Subsequently, the content file reproduction unit 23c causes the output unit 22 to reproduce the content file, and the user of the content file utilization device 20 uses the content file.

  The content file utilization system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention provides a plurality of content files to which the same content identification information is assigned by managing the same or similar content files with the same content identification information. Since a suitable content file is automatically selected and output to the content file utilization device 30, the performance of the content file utilization device 30 (display size, resolution, etc.), network NW environment (communication speed, etc.) It is possible to provide a content file corresponding to

  In addition, the content file utilization system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention assigns and manages the same content identification information to the same or similar content files, and the content file is transmitted to the user based on the content identification information. Therefore, the user is freed from the trouble of selecting a content file suitable for the content file utilization device 20 from a plurality of identical or similar content files.

  Moreover, since the content file utilization system 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention performs user authentication, it can permit utilization of a content file only to a content holder and a sharer.

  Further, the content file utilization system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention generates a cache of content files and causes the content file information holding device 30 to manage the cache based on the usage history. The load can be distributed, and the number of data transmissions between the content file holding device 10 and the content file information management device 30 can be reduced.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A design change is possible suitably in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, the cache generation unit 39 and the content file request transmission unit 40 are omitted, the content file transfer unit 37 is omitted, and the content file transmission path is changed from the content file 15 of the content file holding device 10 to the content of the content file using device 20. It may be limited to the file acquisition unit 23b.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content file utilization system 10 Content file holding | maintenance apparatus 20 Content file utilization apparatus 30 Content file information management apparatus 31 Content file information acquisition part 32 Content file information management part 33 Content file utilization request acquisition part 34 Content file selection part 35 Selection result transmission part 36 content file sharing request acquisition unit 37 content file transfer unit 38 usage history management unit 39 cache generation unit 40 content file request transmission unit 41 content file information request transmission unit 42 network setting unit

Claims (9)

A content file information management device that is communicably connected via a network to a content file holding device that holds a content file and a content file using device that uses the content file,
A content file information acquisition unit that acquires content file information related to attributes of the content file held by the content file holding device, transmitted from the content file holding device;
Content file information for managing the content identification information and the content file information by giving the same content identification information to content files having the same or similar contents based on the acquired content file information The management department,
A content file usage request acquisition unit that acquires a content file usage request including the content identification information transmitted from the content file usage device;
A content file selection unit for selecting a content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device from content files to which the same content identification information as the content identification information included in the content file utilization request is given;
A selection result transmission unit for transmitting a selection result by the content file selection unit to the content file holding device;
A content file information management apparatus comprising: The content file information includes content file holder identification information,
The content file use request includes user identification information,
The content file selection unit selects a content file to be transmitted to the content file using device from content files having the same user identification information and content file holder identification information. Item 4. The content file information management device according to Item 1. The content file usage request includes information on usage conditions of the content file in the content file usage device,
2. The content file information management according to claim 1, wherein the content file selection unit selects a content file to be transmitted to the content file utilization device based on the information on the use condition and the content file information. apparatus. The content file use request includes information on the content file use device,
2. The content file according to claim 1, wherein the content file selection unit selects a content file to be transmitted to the content file utilization device based on information on the content file utilization device and the content file information. Information management device. The content file information management device according to claim 1, wherein the content file selection unit selects a content file to be transmitted to the content utilization device based on an available communication speed of the network. The content file transfer part which acquires the content file transmitted from the said content file holding | maintenance apparatus according to the said selection result, and transfers to the said content file utilization apparatus is further provided. The any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The content file information management device according to claim 1. A cache generation unit that generates a cache of the content file transferred by the content file transfer unit;
The content file transfer unit, when there is a cache of the content file generated by the cache generation unit, transmits the cache to the content file using device. File information management device. A usage history management unit that manages the usage history of the content file in association with the content identification information of the content file based on the selection result;
A content file request transmission unit that determines whether to generate a cache of the content file based on the usage history, and transmits a content file request for requesting the content file determined to be cached to the content holding device; ,
Further comprising
The cache generation unit acquires the content file transmitted by the content file holding device in response to the content file request, and generates a cache of the acquired content file. Content file information management apparatus. A usage history management unit that manages the usage history of the content file in association with the content identification information of the content file based on the selection result;
Based on the usage history, it is determined whether to acquire the content file information, and a content file information request for transmitting the content file information request to transmit the content file information determined to be acquired is transmitted to the content holding device. And
The content file information management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:

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