JP2011199708A - Content distribution apparatus and content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a content distribution apparatus and content distribution system, in which a user is allowed to browse not only contents in the past provided from broadcasting stations but also current contents or contents to be started from now by creating and using a program guide meeting preference of the user.SOLUTION: A content distribution apparatus 1 for distributing contents to a client by forming a server of a home network includes: a tuner unit 24 for receiving contents distributed from broadcasting stations; a communication unit 10 for receiving contents distributed on the Internet; and a storage unit 25 for storing contents received by the tuner unit 24 and the communication unit 10. A program guide for a plurality of distribution channels classified for each predetermined category is formed by time-serially arranging contents received by the tuner unit and contents stored in the storage unit, and transmitted to the client, and contents of a distribution channel selected by a user are then distributed to a client 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution apparatus and a content distribution system.

  In recent years, home servers that record content such as multimedia that meets user preferences on a large-capacity DVD or hard disk have come to be used. In such a home server, as shown in FIG. 5, contents are stored in units of programs based on a published program table provided from a broadcasting station.

  However, the user does not necessarily have a variety of channel contents (program contents) in an open program guide, for example, EPG (electronic program guide), and the user's preference such as a desired sports channel or news channel. It is not released in a matching form. For this reason, in order to obtain desired content suitable for palatability, the channel is changed with time, and the content is stored in the home server. And the content which a user memorize | stores in a home server will be distributed in detail and time.

  Techniques for managing such contents are disclosed (Patent Documents 1 to 3).

JP 2007-215170 A JP 2007-181192 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-37802

  However, although the technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 can manage distributed contents, it is necessary to use a program table provided from a broadcasting station as it is. Further, although the distributed contents are collected, it is necessary to search again on the user side. Furthermore, the above-mentioned patent document is intended for past contents broadcast. For this reason, there is a problem that not only the past content stored but also the content that starts or will be displayed can be represented by the user's preference and cannot be browsed using this.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In addition to stored past contents, the present or starting contents are represented as programs suitable for the user's preference, and the user can use them. An object of the present invention is to obtain a content distribution device and a content distribution system that can be browsed.

  In order to solve the above problems, a content distribution apparatus according to the present invention includes a tuner unit that receives a content distributed from a broadcasting station in a content distribution apparatus that forms a server of a home network and distributes content to a client. A program table of a plurality of distribution channels classified by a predetermined genre, comprising: a communication unit that receives content distributed on the Internet; and a storage unit that stores the content received by the tuner unit and the communication unit. The content received by the tuner unit and the content stored in the storage unit are arranged in time series and transmitted to the client, and the content of the distribution channel selected by the user is distributed to the client. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, the content distribution device includes a tuner unit that receives content distributed from a broadcasting station, a communication unit that receives content distributed over the Internet, and a storage unit that stores the content received by the tuner unit And comprising. Then, a program table of a plurality of distribution channels classified according to a predetermined genre desired by the user is formed by arranging the content received by the tuner unit and the content stored in the storage unit in time series.

  Further, the present invention provides the content distribution apparatus having the above-described configuration, comprising a plurality of the tuner units, storing contents distributed by the broadcasting station in the same time zone in the storage unit at the same time, and distributing them by the broadcasting station in the same time zone A program guide for a distribution channel is created based on the content to be distributed.

  According to this configuration, since the content distribution apparatus includes the plurality of tuner units, the content distributed by the broadcasting station in the same time zone is stored in the storage unit at the same time. Then, a program guide for the distribution channel is created based on the content distributed by the broadcasting station in the same time zone.

  The content distribution system according to the present invention includes the content distribution device, and a client that receives the program guide and the content based on the program guide from the content distribution device.

  The content distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that the program guide is set from the client.

  According to the present invention, the content distribution apparatus and the content distribution system can efficiently determine a plurality of distribution channels desired by the user. Therefore, it is possible to provide a convenient content distribution apparatus and content distribution system.

It is explanatory drawing of the content delivery system using the content delivery apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a functional block diagram of a content distribution apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which creates a program schedule from the content delivery apparatus and client which concern on this invention. It is an example of the program guide of the channel for a delivery created from the content delivery apparatus and client concerning this invention. It is an example of the program schedule provided by the conventional broadcasting station.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

  First, a usage form of the content distribution apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a content distribution system using the content distribution apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.

  Examples of the content distribution apparatus 1 include a digital TV as a home server, a personal computer, a hard disk recorder (PVR), a TV tuner, a set top box (STB), a mobile phone, and a portable information terminal. (PDA; Personal Digital Assistants), game machines, portable music devices, printers, or content distribution devices such as information appliances. Of course, the content distribution apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is not limited to these forms, and includes any content distribution apparatus having an information processing function.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a remote controller 5 for remote operation of the content distribution apparatus 1 (home server) is installed. Further, the content distribution apparatus 1 and the television receiver 6 (client) are installed in a wired connection with the hub 7. The example in FIG. 1 assumes a home network.

  The devices provided in the home network comply with, for example, DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) guidelines, and can transmit and receive information to and from each other via a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The hub 7 includes an antenna 8 and can perform wireless communication. The hub 7 is connected to a wide area communication network NET such as an external Internet communication network or a telephone line network.

  The television receiver 6 (client) attached to a wall surface or the like includes a speaker and performs video display / audio output. Further, the television receiver 6 (client) receives a program guide of the distribution channel and receives the content of the selected distribution channel from the content distribution apparatus 1 by the user performing a predetermined operation. Further, as will be described later, the television receiver 6 (client) can set and change the distribution channel program table for the content distribution apparatus 1.

  The content distribution device 1 includes a communication unit 10. Furthermore, as will be described later, the content distribution apparatus 1 is wirelessly transmitted from the remote controller 5 and the setting is changed. In addition, the content distribution apparatus 1 is equipped with a digital media player (for example, a DLNA client) for capturing video / audio data.

  In addition, the content distribution device 1 is detachable from a memory card 11 such as an SD (Secure Digital) memory card, an MMC (Multimedia Card), and a memory stick.

  The content distribution apparatus 1 includes a LAN (Local Area Network) terminal 12, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) terminal 13, and an i. A LINK terminal 14 is provided.

  The LAN terminal 12 is used as a general LAN-compatible port using Ethernet (registered trademark). For example, a device such as the television receiver 6 is connected via the hub 7 to transmit information to and from these devices. Used to do. Information transmission can be performed by wired communication or wireless communication.

  The USB terminal 13 is used as a general USB compatible port for data transfer. i. The LINK terminal 14 is used, for example, to serially connect a hard disk recorder (not shown) or the like and transmit information with these devices.

  The remote controller 5 can turn on / off the power of the content distribution apparatus 1 and can set and change a program guide for a plurality of distribution channels to be described later. In addition, IP address setting and voice volume increase / decrease are performed.

  The remote controller 5 includes a signal processing unit, a memory, an operation unit including a plurality of operation switches, a display unit capable of displaying characters and other images using a liquid crystal panel, an infrared communication unit, a wireless communication unit, and Has a microphone.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the content distribution device 1. The content distribution apparatus 1 includes a control unit 23, a communication unit 10, a tuner 24, a storage unit 25, a memory 26, a remote control reception unit 27, an MPEG decoder 28, and a graphic unit 29. . The tuner 24 includes a plurality of tuners A24A, a tuner B24B, and a tuner C24C.

  The control unit 23 has a CPU (not shown), and the OS operates on the CPU. When the control unit 23 controls hardware such as the communication unit 10 and the graphic unit 29, a device driver included in the OS is used.

  The tuner 24 selects a signal having a predetermined bandwidth (channel) from a television signal received by a tuner antenna (not shown), and outputs a bit stream encoded according to a standard such as MPEG. The MPEG decoder 28 decodes the bit stream into image data.

  The MPEG decoder 28 performs multiplexing corresponding to the MPEG standard. For example, it functions as a PCR or SCR serving as a decoding and output (display) timing reference, a PTS indicating the output timing of each frame after decoding, and a DTS indicating the decoding timing.

  The remote control receiving unit 27 receives a request signal from the remote controller 5.

  The graphic unit 29 includes a graphic card and a display controller, converts the decoded image data into an analog signal, and sends it to a display (not shown). Note that MPEG is an example, and the image is, for example, H.264. It may be encoded according to a standard such as H.264.

  The tuner 24 includes a plurality of tuners A24A, tuner B24b, and tuner C24C, and can simultaneously receive signals of a plurality of channels in the same time zone distributed from a broadcasting station. That is, different contents can be acquired simultaneously in the same time zone. The number of tuners is merely an example, and is not limited to this.

  The storage unit 25 is composed of, for example, a hard disk or a flash memory, and can be rewritten. The storage unit 25 stores content distributed from the broadcasting station and received from the tuner 24. Further, the content distributed on the Internet is received from the communication unit 10 and stored.

  The storage unit 25 may be stored by a method called a relational database. For example, if an ID is added to content and managed as a primary key, a plurality of data groups can be interconnected with a structure called a relation. By performing the relational logic operation, a desired result can be taken out at high speed, thereby realizing an efficient search method.

  The communication unit 10 may be connected to a wireless LAN antenna instead of wired communication. The communication unit 10 includes an embedded CPU and firmware not shown.

  In the configuration as described above, the content distribution device 1 is configured to receive a program table of a plurality of distribution channels classified by a predetermined genre such as news and sports by the tuner unit, and content stored in the storage unit Are arranged in time series and transmitted to the television receiver 6 (client). Then, the contents of the distribution channel selected by the user are distributed to the television receiver 6 (client).

  Next, control in which the content distribution apparatus 1 (home server) or the television receiver 6 (client) sets the program guide in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  In step S1, it is determined whether the content distribution apparatus 1 sets a program guide. When setting in the content distribution apparatus 1, it transfers to step S2. When setting is made on the television receiver 6, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S2, a program guide is set by the content distribution apparatus 1. Setting may be performed directly by the content distribution apparatus 1 or may be performed from the remote controller 5. The setting screen may be displayed from the graphic unit 29 of the content distribution apparatus 1 to a screen of a display (not shown) provided in the housing, or may be connected from the USB terminal 13 to another display.

  In step S3, a program guide is set by the content distribution apparatus 1 from the television receiver 6 (client). Setting may be performed directly on the television receiver 6 or may be performed from an attached remote controller (not shown).

  In step S4, the content distribution apparatus 1 switches to the setting mode in order to set the program guide of the distribution channel for the content distribution apparatus 1 to distribute to the television receiver 6.

  In step S5, the title of the program guide for the distribution channel is created. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a sports CH, NEWS CH, agricultural CH, and the like are created. The number of titles and title names are not limited to this, and can be freely increased or decreased. In the present embodiment, first, a sport CH is set.

  In step S6, the contents of the program guide and the broadcast time are set. For example, when the sports CH of FIG. 4 is set, the Olympics being broadcast on the 8 channels (8CH) of FIG. 5 are set until 14:00. From 14:00 to 15:00, Olympic content being broadcast on 4 channels (4CH) is selected as shown in the program table of FIG. In addition, from 15:00, an Internet swimming video is selected.

  In step S7, since the contents are set in time series in step S6, it is determined for each time zone whether the set contents need to be acquired. If it is necessary to acquire the content, the process proceeds to step S8. If it is not necessary to acquire the content, the process proceeds to step S12. If it is not necessary to acquire the content, the process proceeds to step S12. For example, in the case of Olympic content being broadcast on CH8 set in the sports CH of FIG. 4, the content is not currently stored in the storage unit 25 because it is currently being broadcast.

  In step S8, it is determined whether the content that needs to be acquired is a content of a broadcasting station. If the content is a broadcast station content, the process proceeds to step S9. If the content is distributed not on the broadcasting station but on the Internet, the process proceeds to step S10.

  In step S9, the content distributed from the tuner 24 by the broadcasting station is acquired. For example, in the sports CH of FIG. 4, Olympic content broadcast on 4 channels (4CH) is acquired. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the content distribution apparatus 1 includes a plurality of tuners 24, so that it is possible to acquire content distributed by a plurality of broadcast stations at the same time.

  In step S10, content distributed over the Internet is acquired from the communication unit 10. For example, the content is acquired from a general video sharing site such as “Youtube”.

  In step S11, the content acquired in step S9 or step S10 is stored in the storage unit 25. The content is stored in the storage unit 25. When storing, not only the content but also the broadcast channel, broadcast time, content data format, genre, etc. are stored. Once stored in the storage unit 25, the content distribution apparatus 1 does not need to acquire the same content. For this reason, if there is a distribution request for the stored content from the user, it can be distributed to the client.

  In step S12, it is determined whether there is the next content based on the content determined in step S6 by setting the content and the broadcast time. If there is a next content, the process proceeds to step S7. If there is no next content, the process proceeds to step S13.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, Olympic content being broadcast on 8CH from 13:00 to 14:00 on sports CH is set, but it is also necessary to provide content after 14:00. Therefore, if there is content after 14:00, the process proceeds to step S7, and it is determined again whether or not the content needs to be acquired. Similarly, in FIG. 4, since there is the next content after 15:00, the process proceeds to step S7 again to determine again whether or not the content needs to be acquired.

  In step S13, the setting of the program guide is completed and the flowchart ends.

  When the setting of the program guide is completed as described above, the content of the distribution channel selected by the user can be distributed in response to a request from the client.

  As described above, in the content distribution apparatus 1 that forms a home network server and distributes content to clients, a tuner unit 24 that receives content distributed from a broadcasting station and content distributed over the Internet are received. A communication unit 10; a tuner unit 24; and a storage unit 25 that stores content received by the communication unit 10, and a program table of a plurality of distribution channels classified by a predetermined genre is provided by the tuner unit. Content distribution characterized in that content to be received and content stored in the storage unit are formed in time series and transmitted to the client, and the content of the distribution channel selected by the user is distributed to the client By installing the device, the user can select the desired distribution channels. It can be rate-determined. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user with a convenient content distribution apparatus while ensuring the palatability of the palatability.

  Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of tuner units 24 are provided, and content distributed by a broadcasting station in the same time zone is stored in the storage unit 25 at the same time, and is distributed based on content distributed by the broadcasting station in the same time zone. By creating a program guide for a general channel, broadcast contents can be acquired simultaneously in the same time zone. Therefore, the user can efficiently determine a plurality of distribution channels desired. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a user with a convenient content distribution apparatus while ensuring the palatability of the palatability.

  The content distribution system according to the present invention includes the content distribution device 1 and the client 6 that receives the program guide and the content based on the program guide from the content distribution device. It is possible to provide a system that can efficiently determine the distribution channels.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, since the program guide is set from the client 6, the convenience is further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. The specific configuration of each part of the content distribution apparatus 1 according to the present invention can be variously modified. For example, the content and the broadcast time are set in step S6, but the user can extract the content stored in the storage unit 25 using keywords. As a result, the content and broadcast time can be set efficiently.

  Furthermore, the content and broadcast time are set in step S6. However, if there is no desired content for the user, other content may be repeated.

  Further, the content stored in the storage unit 25 may be classified by genre such as drama, sports, and music. Further, by taking a directory structure in which sub-genres are provided in each genre, it may be easy for the user to find content.

  Furthermore, the home network communication may be not only a LAN environment but also a connection of an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) cable. In the case of a wireless LAN, IEEE802.11a / b / g or IEEE802.11n may be used, and WHDI (Wireless High-Definition Interface) capable of transmitting data without compression may be used. It may be ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) or Bluetooth.

  Further, in communication from the content distribution apparatus 1 (home server) to the television receiver 6 (client), for example, when the content is MPEG, PCR / PTS / DTS is not used in order to smoothly switch the content. You may change so that it may not become continuous. In addition, when delivering content with a high bit rate, the bit rate may be lowered after transcoding, or when delivering low-resolution content, the resolution may be increased using super-resolution technology. . Thereby, it is possible to consider the network load and the client environment.

1 Content distribution device (home server)
5 Remote controller 6 Television receiver (client)
7 Hub 10 Communication Unit 11 Memory Card 12 LAN (Local Area Network) Terminal 13 USB (Universal Serial Bus) Terminal 14 i / LINK Terminal 23 Controller 24 Tuner 25 Storage Unit 26 Memory 27 Remote Control Receiver 28 MPEG Decoder 29 Graphic Unit

Claims (4)

In a content distribution device that forms a home network server and distributes content to clients,
A tuner unit for receiving content distributed from a broadcasting station;
A communication unit for receiving content distributed over the Internet;
A storage unit for storing content received by the tuner unit and the communication unit;
A program table of a plurality of distribution channels classified according to a predetermined genre, the content received by the tuner unit and the content stored in the storage unit are arranged in time series and transmitted to the client, A content distribution apparatus for distributing contents of the distribution channel selected by a user to a client. A plurality of tuner units are provided, and contents distributed by a broadcasting station in the same time zone are simultaneously stored in the storage unit,
2. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a program guide for a distribution channel is created based on content distributed by a broadcasting station in the same time zone. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
A client for receiving the program guide and the content based on the program guide from the content distribution device;
A content distribution system comprising:   The content distribution system according to claim 3, wherein the program guide is set from the client.

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