JP2011050103A - Storage system and method, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage for contents to be utilized individually, to a number of users while saving on a storage capacitance. <P>SOLUTION: A user management server 3 is equipped with: a request storage file storage means consisting of a personal storage region assigned to each user; and a common storage region. A storage file of video or audio contents storage-requested from a client terminal 2 is read from a storage server 1 and written into the personal storage region of a corresponding user, and use storage region information indicating the storage region is stored. When it is detected that the same storage file is stored in personal storage regions of a plurality of users, the user management server 3 deletes this storage file, writes it into the common storage region and updates the use storage region information so as to refer to the storage file in the common storage region. When a request to distribute contents is received from the client terminal 2, the storage file is read from the personal storage region or the common storage region, and is distributed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage system and method, and a computer program.

  As a conventional technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a third party independent from each user or content data distributor side, rather than placing a content storage device such as a video device on the television or radio side in each home. It is described to be assigned to the storage system. Specifically, an information storage device for storing information and a number of tuners in various forms capable of receiving content data distributed by the content data distributor are provided between the content data distributor side and each user's client. Set up a content data storage proxy server. Then, reservation registration such as recording and recording of TV programs, movies, radio, etc. is accepted, and contents to be distributed are stored in a storage area assigned to the user in the information storage device. Thereafter, when the user wants to use the content, it is transmitted to the client as needed.

JP 2003-223425 A

In Patent Document 1 described above, since the content data of a user is stored in a storage area assigned to the user, the required storage capacity increases when the number of users increases. There's a problem.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a storage system and method, and a computer program capable of providing storage of personal use contents to a large number of users while saving storage capacity. For the purpose.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is a storage file storage means for storing a storage file of video and audio content,
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Means,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Request storage file writing means for writing use storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing by the requested storage file writing means;
When the detection means detects that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from the personal storage area of each of the plurality of users, and the same A storage area management means for writing a storage file to the common storage area and updating used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area;
Distribution means for receiving storage request information that is a content distribution request from a user's client terminal, and reading and distributing the storage file from the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content. Storage system.

The invention of claim 2 is the storage system of claim 1,
The storage file storage means is provided in a plurality of storage servers installed in a broadcasting area,
The storage server comprises a tuner for receiving broadcasts in the broadcast area;
The content is data received by a tuner,
When the storage request information is received, if there is no storage file in the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content, the broadcast that has received the content distribution request among the plurality of storage servers A storage system that requests a storage file that has received the content distribution request from a storage server corresponding to a region, obtains the storage file, and writes the storage file to the personal storage area of the user in the user data storage means. is there.

  In the invention of claim 3, the detecting means determines whether or not the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users, and the request storage file writing means determines the storage file of the content as the individual user's personal storage area. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is detected every time data is written to the storage area or every predetermined time.

The invention of claim 4 is a storage method used in a storage system for storing a storage file of content requested by a user,
Storage file storage means for storing storage files of video and audio content;
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Prepare the means,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Write used storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means,
Detecting whether or not the storage file of the content is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing;
When it is detected that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from the personal storage area of each of the plurality of users, and the same storage file is used as the common storage file. Write to the storage area and update the used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area,
A storage method characterized by receiving storage request information that is a content distribution request from a user's client terminal, and reading and distributing a storage file from a storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content .

The invention of claim 5 is a storage file storage means for storing a storage file of video or audio content;
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Means and
A computer program used in a storage system for storing a storage file of content requested by a user,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Writing used storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means;
Detecting whether the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing for the storage file of the content;
In the step of detecting, when it is detected that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from each of the personal storage areas of the plurality of users, Writing the same storage file to the common storage area, and updating used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area;
Receiving storage request information, which is a content distribution request, from a user's client terminal, reading the storage file from the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content, and distributing the storage file. It is a computer program characterized.

  According to the above-described invention, it is possible to provide a storage service for personal use contents to each user while saving a storage area. Further, when the content requested by the user for storage is not held in the storage service provider, this content can be acquired from the client terminals of other users who have distributed in the past. In addition, by collecting information on the content actually viewed by the user and information indicating interest from the client terminal, the user's attributes can be specified, and the content expected to be viewed by the user can be distributed in advance. it can. In addition, content distributed to the client terminal or other content related to the content viewed on the client terminal can be distributed in advance. Also, advertisements according to user attributes, delivery date and the like can be inserted into the content.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the storage server by the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the client terminal by the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the user management server by the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the community server by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the storage file by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the user data by the embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the community data by the embodiment. It is an operation | movement flow of the user management server by the embodiment. It is an operation | movement flow of the user management server by the embodiment. It is an operation | movement flow of the user management server by the embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the storage system according to the present embodiment, a storage server 1, a user management server 3, a community server 4 and a client terminal 2 held by a storage service provider company are transferred to an Internet network, a fixed telephone network, a mobile phone. It is connected via a network N composed of a body telephone network or the like. The storage server 1 is installed in each broadcasting area in Japan and overseas.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the storage server 1, and only functional blocks related to the present invention are extracted and shown. The storage server 1 includes a tuner 11, a content reception unit 12, a storage file storage unit 13, a storage file storage unit 14, a communication unit 15, a storage file transmission unit 16, and a compression unit 17.
A plurality of tuners 11 are provided in the storage server 1 and receive television broadcasts and radio broadcasts such as analog, BS, and CS, respectively. The content receiving unit 12 delivers content data obtained by converting content (program) such as a television broadcast program, a radio broadcast program such as AM, FM, and shortwave received by the tuner 11 to the storage file storage unit 13. The storage file storage unit 13 adds program information and program-related information to the content data received from the content reception unit 12 to generate a storage file and stores it in the storage file storage unit 14. The storage file transmission unit 16 transmits the storage file to the user management server 3 in response to a request via the communication unit 15 that controls connection with the network N. The compression means 17 compresses the content data in the storage file of the program with less viewing.

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration example of the storage file. The storage file includes a storage file ID, which is information for identifying the storage file, content data, program information, and related information. The content data includes program content data that is video and audio data of a program and advertising content data that is video and audio data of an advertisement inserted into the program. The program information includes information on the program name, the broadcast date / time of the program, the broadcast channel, and the broadcast content. The related information includes related program information indicating a program related to this program. For example, other series of the same drama for a continuous drama, other series of the same series program for a series program, storage file IDs of other programs introduced in the program, and the like. The program-related information may be store access information introduced in the program, a mail-order telephone number, a URL (Universal Resource Locator), or the like.

The client terminal 2 is, for example, a television 2a, a personal computer 2b, a mobile phone 2c, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants: information portable terminal) 2d (see FIG. 1), which includes a home server, an STB (set top box), and the like. It is.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the client terminal 2, and only functional blocks related to the present invention are extracted and shown. The client terminal 2 includes a communication unit 21, an input unit 22, an output control unit 23, an information transmission unit 24, a storage file writing unit 25, and a storage file storage unit 26. In addition, when the client terminal 2 is portable, such as a mobile phone 2c or a PDA 2d, a location information acquisition unit 27 is further provided.

  The input means 22 receives input from buttons, a keyboard, a touch panel, a remote controller, an input pen, and the like. The storage file writing unit 25 writes the storage file and advertisement content data acquired via the communication unit 21 that controls connection with the network N to the storage file storage unit 26. The output control unit 23 outputs the storage file read from the storage file writing unit 25, the advertisement content data, and the information acquired from the user management server 3 to a screen, a speaker, or the like. The information transmission unit 24 transmits information regarding viewing of programs and advertisements and information input by the user to the user management server 3 via the communication unit 21. The position information acquisition unit 27 is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System), and acquires the position information of the client terminal 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the user management server 3, and only functional blocks related to the present invention are extracted and shown. The user management server 3 includes a communication unit 31, a user data management unit 32, a user data storage unit 33, a request storage file writing unit 34, a request storage file storage unit 35, a distributed storage file acquisition unit 36, a distribution unit 37, and The storage area management means 38.
The communication unit 31 controls connection with the network N. The user data management unit 32 reads and writes user data in the user data storage unit 33. The request storage file storage means 35 is composed of a personal storage area and a common storage area assigned to each user. The personal storage area stores a storage file requested by the user. The common storage area is a storage area for storing the substance of the storage file when a plurality of users are storing the same storage file. The requested storage file writing unit 34 stores the storage file acquired from the storage server 1 or the client terminal 2 of another user in the personal storage area in the requested storage file storage unit 35. When the storage file of the program requested by the user is not stored in the storage server 1, the distributed storage file acquisition means 36 is a client terminal of another user who has previously distributed the storage file of the program from the community server 4. 2 is read, and the storage file is obtained from the client terminal 2 of the other user.

The distribution unit 37 includes a storage file reading unit 371, an information addition unit 372, and a format conversion unit 373. The storage file reading means 371 reads the storage file of the program requested by the user for distribution. The information adding means 372 acquires a storage file to be distributed simultaneously with the program requested by the user for distribution. The format conversion means 373 converts the format of the storage file in a format that can be played back by the client terminal 2 and delivers it.
When the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users in the requested storage file storage means 35, the storage area management means 38 deletes this storage file from each user's personal storage area, and the common storage area Write to. Then, the user writes the user data of the user who has stored the same storage file so that each user refers to the substance of the same storage file stored in the common storage area.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of user data stored in the user data storage unit 33. The user data includes information such as a user ID, user authority information, user personal attribute information, usage status information, and user behavior history information.
The user authority information indicates a stored program stored in the requested storage file storage unit 35 by the user, a use storage area in which a storage file of the stored program is stored, and a storable program that can be stored by the user. The stored program includes, for example, information such as a storage file ID, a broadcast area, a broadcast channel, a broadcast date and time, and a program title. The savable program includes a broadcast area of the program, a contracted pay broadcast channel or program, a distribution format such as a download format or a streaming format. User personal attribute information is based on information such as the user's age, gender, residential area, current location, interested program, interested genre, interested advertisement, interested talent, and interested product. Become. The usage status information includes information on whether or not automatic transfer is performed, automatic transfer date and time and transfer destination, whether or not advertisement cut is performed, whether or not related program is distributed, service usage frequency of storage service, and billing information. The user action history information is based on information such as a reserved program reserved for storage, a viewing program actually viewed by the user on the client terminal 2, each program viewing time, each advertisement viewing time, distribution program, overall viewing time, viewing time zone, and the like. Become.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the community server 4, and only functional blocks related to the present invention are extracted and shown. The community server 4 includes a communication unit 41, a search unit 42, a program related information storage unit 43, a program related information management unit 44, an advertisement content acquisition unit 45, an advertisement content storage unit 46, and a compression instruction unit 47.
The program related information storage means 43 stores community data and a program guide. Community data indicates information added to a program based on the user's personal attributes, usage status, and action history. The program guide shows programs (including information such as subtitles and program advertisements) broadcast in all broadcast regions and broadcast channels by day, broadcast time zone information, and program codes. For example, an electronic automatic TV program guide (Electronic TV program guide (Electronic Program Guide) can be used. This program code is used as a storage file ID.
The advertisement content storage means 46 stores distribution advertisement data corresponding to advertisement selection conditions. The advertisement selection conditions are, for example, distribution time, storage file ID, user age, gender, residential area, current location, interested program, interested talent, interested advertisement, interested genre, interest There were any of the commodities that were or any combination of these. The distribution advertisement data includes an advertisement ID, advertisement content data including advertisement video and audio, and advertisement additional information such as products, manufacturers, and appearance talents.

  The communication unit 41 controls connection with the network N. The search means 42 reads out the program table from the program related information storage means 43 and transmits it, or refers to the community data in the program related information storage means 43 to read out and notify the program list according to the program search conditions. . The program related information management means 44 is based on the information of the client terminal 2 that delivered the storage file, the user action history information, the user personal attribute information, the user action history information, etc. in all user data read from the user management server 3. Update the community data with the statistical information. The advertisement content acquisition unit 45 reads out the distributed advertisement data corresponding to the advertisement selection condition received from the user management server 3 from the advertisement content storage unit 46 and returns it. The compression instructing unit 47 refers to the community data in the program related information storage unit 43 and instructs the storage server 1 to compress the storage file of the program when the number of accesses or the viewing time is less than a predetermined number. To do.

  FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of community data stored in the program related information storage unit 43. Community data includes program additional information, association information, and file distribution information. The program additional information is additional information of the program generated from information collected from the user by the user management server 3, and the number of accesses from the user for each program, the user average or the viewing time, the time viewed in the program, the popularity It consists of information such as the popularity ranking of each program in the scene and all or the same genre. The association information indicates a viewer viewing tendency for each program. For example, the statistical information about each information in the user personal attribute information of the user who watched the program and user action history information is shown. The file distribution information includes the address (IP address or the like) of the client terminal 2 that has distributed the storage file, and information on the distribution program and reserved program. In each information, a program is identified by a storage file ID or a combination of broadcast area, broadcast channel, and broadcast date and time.

Next, the operation of the storage system will be described. Here, distribution by download format is assumed.
The storage server 1 installed in each broadcasting area receives all television broadcast programs / radio broadcast programs broadcast in that area by the tuner 11 every day for 24 hours. The content receiving means 12 stores in advance the program table data and information on the time zone in which the advertisement is broadcasted among the broadcast time zones of each program, so that the program content data of the program received by the tuner 11 and Advertisement content data is generated, and content data is generated from these. The storage file storage unit 13 generates program information and program-related information, and further generates a storage file together with the content data generated by the content receiving unit 12 and stores it in the storage file storage unit 14. The broadcast date / time and program name of the program information are set with reference to a program table stored in advance, and the broadcast channel is set according to the broadcast channel received by the tuner 11. Also, the broadcast content information of the program information and the related program information of the program related information are set from the content when the program is a data broadcast or set by a storage service provider.

FIG. 9 shows a storage procedure in the user management server 3.
A user who requests storage of a program accesses the user management server 3 in which his / her user data is registered from his / her client terminal 2 and requests a program guide. At this time, if the client terminal 2 is portable, the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 27 is also transmitted. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes the received location information as the current location in the user data of the user in the user data storage means 33, and further requests the television program guide from the community server 4. The search means 42 of the community server 4 reads out the program guide from the program related information storage means 43 and returns it to the user management server 3. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 stores the received television program guide in the client terminal 2. Return to When the program guide received by the output control means 23 of the client terminal 2 is displayed on the screen, the user selects a program for which storage is requested from the displayed program guide, designates distribution in the download format, and presses the storage request button. Push. Here, it is assumed that a program broadcast in the past is selected. Thereby, the information transmission unit 24 of the client terminal 2 stores the storage request information including the distribution format indicating the download format, the storage file ID (program ID) of the selected program, the broadcast area, the broadcast channel, and the broadcast date and time. Is transmitted to the user management server 3.

  When receiving the storage request information, the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 reads the user data of the user from the user data storage means 33 (Step S110). The user can store the program indicated by the broadcast region, the broadcast channel, and the broadcast date and time indicated by the received storage request information with reference to the storable program indicated by the user authority information in the user data. Is determined (step S115). If storage is not permitted, the user data management means 32 returns that storage is not possible and the reason (step S120).

  For example, a user who is not allowed to use storage in download format requests storage in download format, or a user who is not allowed to use storage in streaming format but requests storage in streaming format. is there. Further, storage of programs in a broadcasting area different from the residential area or the current position indicated by the user data may not be permitted. Alternatively, if the user cannot store because the pay broadcast has not been subscribed to by the user, the screen information including a button for inquiring whether or not to apply for a pay broadcast contract is transmitted when the pay broadcast is not subscribed and cannot be stored. To do. When the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 receives from the client terminal 2 that a contract application is to be made, a contract is applied as a savable program in the user data of the user in the user data management means 32 The pay broadcast information may be written, and the processing after step S125 shown below may be performed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S115 that storage is permitted, the requested storage file writing unit 34 stores the storage file identified by the storage file ID indicated by the storage request information in the requested storage file storage unit 35. It is determined whether it is stored in the common storage area (step S125). At this time, a check is made until the presence or absence of the advertisement cut indicated by the user data matches the presence or absence of the advertisement content data in the content data of the storage file stored in the common storage area.

  If the requested storage file writing unit 34 determines that the requested storage file is not stored in the common storage area (step S125: No), the storage installed in the broadcast area indicated by the received storage request information The storage file ID is transferred to the server 1 and a transmission of the storage file is requested (step S130). The storage file transmission unit 16 of the storage server 1 reads the storage file specified by the storage file ID received from the user management server 3 from the storage file storage unit 14 and returns it to the user management server 3. If it is not stored in the storage file storage means 14, it notifies the user management server 3 to that effect.

  When the requested storage file writing unit 34 of the user management server 3 receives the storage file from the storage server 1 (step S135: Yes), the requested storage file writing unit 34 writes it into the personal storage area of the user in the requested storage file storage unit 35 (step S140). . At this time, when the presence of advertisement cut is set in the user data, the advertisement content data is deleted from the content data of the received storage file, and a tag indicating the advertisement insertion position at the position where the advertisement content data was inserted Is inserted into the user data storage means 33. Subsequently, the stored program and the use storage area are written in the user data of the user in the user data storage means 33 (step S145). A saved program of user data is set with reference to storage file ID, program name, broadcast date and time, broadcast channel, and broadcast area information specified in the storage request information in the storage file. In the use storage area, information indicating the storage area of the storage file in the personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means 35 is written.

  In step S135, when it is received that the requested storage file does not exist, the distributed storage file acquisition means 36 notifies the community server 4 of the storage file ID of the program whose storage is requested, and the storage file has been distributed. Queries the address of the client terminal 2 of another user. The search means 42 of the community server 4 searches the community data in the program related information storage means 43 by the received storage file ID, reads out the address of the client terminal 2 that has delivered the storage file in the past, and returns it (step S150). . The distributed storage file acquisition means 36 of the user management server 3 notifies the storage file ID to the client terminal 2 of another user using the acquired address, and requests transmission of the storage file (step S155). The client terminal 2 returns to the user management server 3 when the storage file specified by the received storage file ID is stored therein, and notifies the user management server 3 when it is not stored.

  When the requested storage file writing means 34 of the user management server 3 receives a storage file from the client terminal 2 of another user (step S160: Yes), the individual of the user who requested the storage in the requested storage file storage means 35 The received storage file is written to the storage area (step S140), and the stored program and the information of the used storage area are written to the user data in the user data storage means 33 (step S145).

  When it is received in step S160 that the requested storage file has not been saved from the client terminal 2 of another user (step S160: No), the requested storage file writing unit 34 receives the client terminal address received in step S150. If there is another client terminal 2 that has not yet been accessed (step S165: Yes), it accesses to request a storage file (step S155). If all the addresses received in step S150 are accessed (step S165: No), the storage is notified to the user (step S170).

  If it is determined in step S125 that the storage file of the program whose storage is requested is stored in the common storage area in the requested storage file storage unit 35, the user data management unit 32 stores the user data storage unit 33 in the user data storage unit 33. The stored program and information on the used storage area that refers to the common storage area storing the storage file are written in the user data (step S145).

  The distributed storage file acquisition means 36 of the user management server 3 requests the storage file from the other client terminals 2 and uses the storage address obtained in step S150 as the storage instead of performing the processing from step S155. It may be notified to the client terminal 2 of the requesting user. In this case, the user accesses the client terminal 2 of another user using the notified address, and directly acquires the storage file.

  If the broadcast area is not specified in the storage request information received in step S110, the user data management unit 32 may specify that the residential area or the current location indicated by the user data in the user data storage unit 33 is specified. Good.

In the above description, storage and distribution of programs broadcast in the past have been described, but storage in the download format of programs broadcast from now on is performed as follows.
When the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 determines in step S110 of FIG. 9 that the program is to be broadcast from the broadcast date and time in the received storage request information, the process up to step S125 is performed. Thereafter, the storage file ID of the reserved program is written in the reserved program of the user data in the user data storage means 33 and the storage file ID is notified to the community server 4. The program related information management means 44 of the community server 4 writes in the reserved program of the community data identified by the received community server ID. When the broadcast date and time of this reserved program comes, the requested storage file writing means 34 of the user management server 3 performs the processing after step S130 for reading the storage file of the requested program from the storage server 1.

FIG. 10 shows a program distribution procedure in the user management server 3.
The user accesses the user management server 3 in which his / her user data is registered from his / her client terminal 2 and requests a list of programs stored in his / her own. At this time, if the client terminal 2 is portable, the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 27 is also transmitted. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes the current location information in the user data of the user in the user data storage means 33. Further, a list of saved programs of the user is read from the user authority information of the user data and returned to the client terminal 2. When the list of stored programs received by the client terminal 2 of the user is displayed, the user selects a program for which distribution is requested from the displayed list of stored programs. The client terminal 2 transmits the storage file ID of the selected program and requests distribution.

  The distribution unit 37 of the user management server 3 receives the storage file ID of the program for which distribution is requested from the client terminal 2 (step S210). The storage file reading unit 371 reads the storage area of the storage file identified by the received storage file ID from the user data of the user in the user data storage unit 33. Furthermore, the storage file in the personal storage area or common storage area of the user in the requested storage file storage means 35 indicated by the read use storage area is read (step S215).

  Next, the information adding means 372 refers to the user data in the user data storage means 33 and reads the presence / absence of related program distribution. When the related program is distributed (step S220: Yes), the user authority information of the user data is referred to, and when the user stores the storage file of the program indicated by the related program information in the read storage file. Then, it is read from the requested storage file storage means 35 (step S225).

  Then, the information adding unit 372 allows the user to distribute the program by the advertisement cut by matching with a predetermined condition, for example, a distribution time slot or a contract with the advertisement provider in the case of a predetermined program. If it is determined that it has not been performed (step S230: No), it is then determined whether or not advertisement replacement is performed (step S235). When it is determined that the advertisement replacement is performed (step S235: Yes), the distribution advertisement data is read from the community server 4. That is, the information adding means 372 includes the current time (distribution time), storage file ID, user age, gender, residential area, current location, interested program, interested talent, interested advertisement, interest. The community server 4 is notified of an advertisement selection condition based on any one of these genres, merchandise in which they are interested, or any combination thereof. The advertisement content acquisition unit 45 of the community server 4 reads out the distributed advertisement data corresponding to the received advertisement selection condition from the advertisement content storage unit 46 and returns it. If there is advertisement content data in the content data of the storage file to be distributed, the information adding means 372 deletes the advertisement content data and inserts a tag indicating the advertisement insertion position. Then, the advertisement ID of the read delivery advertisement data is inserted into the tag portion indicating the advertisement insertion position in the content data of the storage file (step S240).

  Subsequently, when the user wants to forcibly view the advertisement (step S245: Yes), it generates an encryption key and a decryption key, encrypts the program content data in the storage file to be distributed using the generated encryption key, Then, a decryption key is added to the advertisement content data so that it can be acquired when the advertisement is reproduced on the client terminal 2 (step S250).

  The format conversion means 373 converts the storage file to be distributed and the advertisement content data of the replaced advertisement when the advertisement is replaced, the model of the client terminal 2 serving as the distribution destination, the display capability, the size of the screen, The data format and data size are converted in accordance with the supported data format and the like (step S255, step S260). Then, the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes the distribution program in the user action history information of the user data in the user data storage means 33. Also, a billing amount corresponding to the download size and distribution time zone is calculated, and billing information is written in the usage status information of the user data. Further, the program related information management means 44 of the community server 4 writes the address information of the distribution destination client terminal 2 in correspondence with the storage file ID of the distributed program in the file download information of the community data (step S265). .

Even if it is determined in step S235 that the advertisement replacement is not performed (step S235: No), if the advertisement content data is deleted from the content data of the storage file (step S270: Yes), The process after step S240 is performed.
In step S255, for example, if it is determined that the display capacity is low or the client terminal 2 with a small screen cannot display the content data because the data size of the content data in the original storage file is too large, the distribution is not possible. Notice.

  In step S225, if the user does not store the storage file of the program indicated by the related program information in the read storage file, the storage file is read from the storage server 1 and combined with the requested storage file. It may be delivered. When the user tries to output a storage file that is not a program stored by the user at the client terminal 2, the client terminal 2 notifies the user management server 3 of the storage file ID of the program. Then, the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 notifies the client terminal 2 of the reproduction permission when the program specified by the storage file ID is free of charge. If the program is a paid program, screen information indicating that the program is a paid program, its amount, and an inquiry button as to whether or not to purchase the program is transmitted. When the user presses the purchase button of the client terminal 2 and the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 receives the purchase application, the client terminal 2 is notified of the reproduction permission, and further accompanying the purchase of the program. The charging information is written in the charging information of the user data.

  Note that the storage file can be distributed at a predetermined time. That is, in step S110 of FIG. 9, in addition to the storage request information, the address of the destination client terminal 2 and the delivery date / time are received from the client terminal 2. The user data management unit 32 of the user management server 3 sets the presence / absence of automatic transfer to the presence / absence of automatic transfer of user data in the user data storage unit 33. In addition, the address and distribution date and time of the distribution destination client terminal 2 received from the client terminal 2 are registered in association with the storage file ID in each of the transfer destination and automatic transfer date and time. As a result, the distribution unit 37 performs the same processing as that after step S215 in FIG. 10 for the storage file ID to be automatically transferred when the distribution date / time is reached. Further, the distribution may be started at the time when the writing of the storage file requested by the user to the user data storage unit 33 is completed by designation from the client terminal 2, or the distribution may be started in the middle of the writing.

  In the above description, storage file distribution in the download format has been described. However, a broadcast program can be distributed in real time by streaming. That is, in step S110 in FIG. 9, when the storage request in which the streaming format is designated as the distribution format is received from the client terminal 2, the user management server 3 stores the program requested by the user for storage through the process shown in FIG. While the file is read from the storage server 1 and stored in the user data storage unit 33, the storage file whose data format and data size have been converted by the format conversion unit 373 is distributed in real time.

Next, a procedure for collecting additional information accompanying viewing of a program will be described.
The user selects a program to be viewed and a viewing start point of the program from among the programs distributed to the client terminal 2. Then, the output control means 23 of the client terminal 2 reads the storage file distributed from the storage file storage means 26, and outputs the content data in this storage file from the screen or speaker from the designated start point. If the advertisement content data is embedded in the content data in the storage file, the embedded advertisement content data is reproduced. If the advertisement ID is embedded in the content data, the advertisement ID is used. The specified advertisement content data is read from the storage file storage means 26 and reproduced. If a decryption key is added to the advertisement content data, the decryption key is acquired when the advertisement content data has been reproduced, and the program content data in the content data is decrypted with the acquired decryption key. To play.

  When the output of the storage file is started at the client terminal 2, the information transmission unit 24 immediately notifies the user management server 3 of the storage file ID of the viewed storage file. The storage file reading means 371 of the user management server 3 reads related program information from the storage file indicated by the received storage file ID. Then, for the storage file ID of the related program indicated by the related program information, the processing from step S215 in the distribution procedure of FIG. 10 is performed, and the storage file of the related program is distributed to the client terminal 2.

  Further, when the user is watching a program or advertisement, the user presses a button indicating that he / she is interested in the program or advertisement. Then, the client terminal 2 transmits interest notification information indicating the storage file ID and advertisement ID of the program being viewed. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes a program or advertisement in which the user is interested in the user action history information of the user data storage means 33 based on the received interest notification information. The community server 4 stores in advance the program ID and advertisement ID and appearance talent, musicians who provide theme songs and insertion songs, program genres, etc., and advertisements and manufacturers, products, and appearance talents in association with each other. In addition, information related to the program or advertisement that is notified of interest is read from the community server 4 and information such as the talent or product that is interested is written. Or you may write with reference to the advertisement additional information in delivery advertisement data.

  When the viewing ends, the information transmission unit 24 includes information such as the storage file ID of the output storage file, the viewed scene (viewing start point and viewing end point information), the viewing start time, and the viewing end time. Viewing information is transmitted to the user management server 3. When receiving the viewing information, the user data management unit 32 of the user management server 3 adds the viewing program, the program viewing time, the viewing time zone, and the entire viewing to the user action history information of the user data storage unit 33 based on the viewing information. Write time and update service usage frequency.

  The program related information management means 44 of the community server 4 refers to the user personal attribute information, user action history information, and user action history information of the user data in the user data storage means 33 of the user management server 3 every predetermined time. And write statistical information. For example, program additional information such as the number of accesses for each program and advertisement, the total viewing time, popular scene, popularity ranking based on the number of accesses and usage time is written. In addition, the age, sex, residential area, viewing time zone configuration of the user who views each program or advertisement, ranking of programs, advertisements, talents, genres, etc. of interest are calculated and written in the viewer viewing tendency.

  Further, when the user is watching a broadcast program capable of two-way communication on the client terminal 2, the client terminal 2 provides notification information to the program distributor such as a questionnaire, present application, or product purchase. And press the send button. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes the received notification information to the program distributor into the user data storage means 33. Then, the storage service provider delivers the notification information received in real time to the program distributor or transmits the notification information of each program received from a plurality of users at a predetermined time to the program distributor. .

  In the above description, the client terminal 2 selects a program to be stored from the TV program guide. However, a program may be selected from a list of search results by keyword search or in-program information search. In the case of keyword search, the search keyword is transmitted from the client terminal 2 to the community server 4 via the user management server 3. Then, the search means 42 of the community server 4 reads out the program list including the storage file ID, broadcast area, broadcast channel, broadcast date and time, and program title of the matching program from the TV program guide and returns it using the received keyword as a search condition. To do. The client terminal 2 displays a program list received via the user management server 3, and the user selects a program from the program list.

In the case of searching for in-program information, the client terminal 2 sets a search condition based on program additional information, for example, a search condition such as a program with a lot of popular scenes, such as a popularity ranking of programs up to 100th and an access number ranking of 50th. Notice. The search means 42 of the community server 4 reads a list of programs that match the received search conditions from the program additional information of the community data in the program related information storage means 43 and returns it to the client terminal 2 via the user management server 3. To do.
Alternatively, the client terminal 2 may notify a search condition based on a viewer viewing tendency, for example, a search condition such as a popular program in the twenties and thirties and a popular program in a specific broadcasting region. The community server 4 refers to the viewer viewing tendency indicated by the association information of the community data in the program related information storage means 43 according to the search conditions designated by the user, reads out a list of programs that match the search conditions, and manages the user management server 3 to return to the client terminal 2.

  Next, a procedure for program distribution by digest will be described. The user accesses the user management server 3 from his / her client terminal 2 and requests a digest of the program stored in the user. The storage file reading unit 371 of the user management server 3 refers to the user authority information of the user in the user data storage unit 33 and reads the storage area used for the storage file of each stored program. Then, the storage file indicated by the use storage area is read, and the program content data and program information for a predetermined time such as a storage file ID and 10 seconds are extracted from the content data in each storage file, and the digest data Is generated. Then, the format conversion means 373 converts the data format and data size of the digest data according to the client terminal 2 and distributes it.

  The output control means 23 of the client terminal 2 outputs the digest data received from the user management server 3. Then, the user confirms the output video, selects a program that requires distribution, and presses a selection button. Then, the information transmission unit 24 of the client terminal 2 transmits the storage file ID of the program requested for distribution to the user management server 3. The subsequent processing is the same as the processing from step S215 in FIG.

  In the above description, the program digest is used, but the client terminal 2 may request a digest of the advertisement. For example, the client terminal 2 notifies advertisement search conditions such as the name of the talent, and requests an advertisement digest. The user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 writes the name of the talent in the information of the talent who is interested in the user data, and notifies the community server 4 of the name of the received talent. The advertisement content acquisition means 45 of the community server 4 reads out the distributed advertisement data having the received name of the talent in the advertisement additional information from the advertisement content storage means 46 and returns it to the user management server 3. The request storage file writing means 34 of the user management server 3 writes the distribution advertisement data in the personal storage area in the request storage file storage means 35, and uses the advertisement ID for the stored program of user data in the user data storage means 33. The storage area of the distribution advertisement data in the request storage file storage means 35 is written in the storage area. The distribution unit 37 extracts a predetermined time such as 10 seconds from the advertisement content data in each distribution advertisement data, and generates digest data. The subsequent processing is the same as the program digest. However, when the user data management means 32 of the user management server 3 receives the advertisement ID requesting distribution from the client terminal 2, it distributes the advertisement content data specified by this advertisement ID, and also distributes the advertisement of this advertisement. By referring to the additional information in the data, the information of the advertisement that interests the user personal attribute in the user data is written.

  Next, management of the personal storage area will be described. The storage area management means 38 of the user management server 3 refers to the personal storage area of each user in the user data storage means 33 and detects that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users ( Step S310: Yes). Then, the storage area management means 38 writes one storage file stored in the personal storage areas of the plurality of users in the common storage area (step S315). Further, the storage file is deleted from the personal storage area of each user who has stored the same storage file (step 320), and the storage file is written in the use storage area of the user authority information in each user data in step S315. Information that refers to the used storage area in the common storage area is written (step 325).

The timing for detecting that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users is arbitrary. For example, it may be performed every predetermined time or each time a storage file is written in the personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means 35.
Further, the user area management may be performed individually for each user management server 3 or may be performed for all the user management servers 3. When all the user management servers 3 are targeted, only the at least one user management server 3 is required to provide the storage area management means 38.
Further, in the above, a common storage area is provided in the requested storage file storage means 35 of the user management server 3, but a storage server having only the common storage area is provided, and a plurality of users can store in this storage server. It is also possible to write a storage file. In addition, a storage area management unit 38 of the user management server 3 may be provided in a storage server having only this common storage area.

Next, a procedure for compressing user storage information will be described.
The compression instructing means 47 of the community server 4 refers to the community data in the program related information storage means 43 periodically every predetermined time. Then, when a program whose number of accesses or viewing time in the program additional information is less than a predetermined time is detected, the storage file ID of this program is transmitted to the storage server 1 and a request is made to compress the storage file. The storage file transmission unit 16 of the storage server 1 compresses the storage file in the storage file storage unit 14 identified by the received storage file ID. Note that the compression rate is increased stepwise in accordance with the rate of decrease in the number of accesses or viewing time.

  According to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide each user with a storage service for broadcast programs for personal use while saving the storage area of the user data storage means 33 in the user management server 3. Further, when the program requested by the user for storage is not held by the storage service provider, this program can be acquired from the client terminal 2 of another user who has distributed the program in the past. In addition, by collecting information on the program that the user actually viewed and information indicating interest from the client terminal 2, the user's attributes are specified, and the program that the user is expected to view is distributed in advance. Can do. In addition, when the program is distributed to the client terminal 2 or other programs related to the program viewed on the client terminal 2, such as a series drama or a series program, the subsequent series, a program of the same series, Programs introduced in the program can be distributed in advance. Also, advertisements according to user attributes, delivery date and the like can be inserted into the program.

  Note that the above-described storage server 1, client terminal 2, user management server 3, and community server 4 have a computer system therein. The operation processes of the storage server 1, client terminal 2, user management server 3, and community server 4 described above are stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program. The above processing is performed by reading and executing. The computer system here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

  In addition to ROM, “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. That means. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a client or a system when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Storage server 2 ... Client terminal 3 ... User management server 4 ... Community server 11 ... Tuner 12 ... Content receiving means 13 ... Storage file storage means 14 ... Storage file storage means 15, 21, 31, 41 ... Communication means 16 ... Storage File transmission means 17 ... Compression means 22 ... Input means 23 ... Output control means 24 ... Information transmission means 25 ... Storage file writing means 26 ... Storage file storage means 27 ... Location information acquisition means 32 ... User data management means 33 ... User data Storage means 34 ... Request storage file writing means 35 ... Request storage file storage means 36 ... Distributed storage file acquisition means (notification means)
37 ... Distribution means 38 ... Storage area management means 42 ... Search means 43 ... Program related information storage means (content related information storage means)
44. Program related information management means (content related information management means)
45 ... Advertisement content acquisition means 46 ... Advertisement content storage means 47 ... Compression instruction means 371 ... Storage file reading means 372 ... Information addition means 373 ... Format conversion means

Claims (5)

Storage file storage means for storing storage files of video and audio content;
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Means,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Request storage file writing means for writing use storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing by the requested storage file writing means;
When the detection means detects that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from the personal storage area of each of the plurality of users, and the same A storage area management means for writing a storage file to the common storage area and updating used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area;
Distribution means for receiving storage request information that is a content distribution request from the user's client terminal, and reading and distributing the storage file from the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content;
A storage system comprising: The storage system according to claim 1,
The storage file storage means is provided in a plurality of storage servers installed in a broadcasting area,
The storage server comprises a tuner for receiving broadcasts in the broadcast area;
The content is data received by a tuner,
When the storage request information is received, if there is no storage file in the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content, the broadcast that has received the content distribution request among the plurality of storage servers A storage system that requests a storage server that has received a request for content distribution from a storage server corresponding to a region, acquires the storage file, and writes the storage file in the personal storage area of the user in the user data storage unit.   The detecting means determines whether or not the same storage file is stored in the personal storage areas of a plurality of users, each time the request storage file writing means writes the storage file of the content into the personal storage areas of the users, or The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the storage system is detected every predetermined time. A storage method used in a storage system for storing a storage file of content requested by a user,
Storage file storage means for storing storage files of video and audio content;
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Prepare the means,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Write used storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means,
Detecting whether or not the storage file of the content is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing;
When it is detected that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from the personal storage area of each of the plurality of users, and the same storage file is used as the common storage file. Write to the storage area and update the used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area,
Receiving storage request information that is a content distribution request from the user's client terminal, and reading and distributing the storage file from the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content;
A storage method characterized by the above. Storage file storage means for storing storage files of video and audio content;
User data storage means for storing use storage area information indicating an area in which a storage file of content requested by the user is stored;
Requested storage file storage, which is allocated for each user and includes a personal storage area for storing a storage file of contents requested by the user and a common storage area for storing storage files of contents requested by a plurality of users Means and
A computer program used in a storage system for storing a storage file of content requested by a user,
Upon receiving a content storage request from the user's client terminal, the storage file of the content is read from the storage file storage means and written to the user's personal storage area in the requested storage file storage means, and the storage file is written Writing used storage area information indicating the storage area to the user data storage means;
Detecting whether the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users at a predetermined timing for the storage file of the content;
In the step of detecting, when it is detected that the same storage file is stored in the personal storage area of a plurality of users, the same storage file is deleted from each of the personal storage areas of the plurality of users, Writing the same storage file to the common storage area, and updating used storage area information corresponding to the same storage file of the plurality of users to indicate the written storage area;
Receiving storage request information that is a content distribution request from the user's client terminal, and reading and distributing the storage file from the storage area indicated by the used storage area information of the requested content;
A computer program for causing a computer to execute.

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