JP2011232622A - Karaoke network system and karaoke device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To not have a failure occur in an executing content service and to smoothly carry out transmission/reception of the contents between karaoke devices when transmission/reception of contents is carried out in the background of an executing contents service.SOLUTION: A karaoke device 4b (requesting side) with contents not acquired acquires a service domain value regarding processing load of the content service individually in execution from other karaoke devices 4a, 4c, 4d (requested side) and calculates communication speed according to the respective service domain values. The karaoke device 4b on the requesting side selects as a distribution source the karaoke device 4c with the distribution state as "already acquired" and having the communication speed which is proximal to the communication speed of own karaoke device 4b from among respective karaoke devices 4a, 4c, 4d on the requested side and makes a distribution request for the contents to the selected karaoke device 4c on the requested side. Accordingly, distribution of the contents is started from the karaoke device 4c on the requested side to the karaoke device 4b on the requesting side.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting and receiving content between a plurality of karaoke apparatuses connected to each other via a network.

  In recent years, karaoke apparatuses that provide karaoke services have been combined with a variety of content services to cope with the diversification of user hobbies and preferences. Specifically, sound playback services such as MIDI sound sources and sampling sound sources (so-called live music songs), video playback services such as background videos, CM videos, and promotional videos, scoring services for customers and production services such as games, A display service such as a so-called “avatar” that gives a pseudo-form in the network space to the user can be cited.

  Furthermore, according to the frequency and popularity of each content service, high-quality (high bit rate) content is prepared, and parts and items for the avatar service are enriched so that many of them can be displayed. For example, there is a large content size depending on the service content, and there is an increase in content with a large calculation processing load during service execution.

  In addition, the content used in the karaoke apparatus has become enormous due to the diversification and high quality of the content as described above and the dedicated use for each user. These contents are generally distributed from a content distribution host server to a specific karaoke apparatus (master machine) in each karaoke store using a broadband line (this process is referred to as primary distribution). Next, a karaoke apparatus (slave machine) other than the master machine in the karaoke store can be accessed via the LAN in the store from the master machine or another slave machine that has acquired content equivalent to the master machine by acquiring the content. By receiving the content, the content equivalent to that of the master machine is held (this process is called an equivalent process). Thus, the distribution of content to the karaoke apparatuses in all the markets is realized through the primary distribution from the host server to the master machine of each karaoke store and the equivalent process in the karaoke store.

  In addition, as a suitable technique for transmitting and receiving a large amount of content between karaoke apparatuses connected to each other via a network, a technique for exchanging peer-to-peer type files has also been devised (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-197400 A

  By the way, the processing related to the transmission / reception of contents such as the above-mentioned primary distribution and equivalent processing is not a function controlled by the operation from the user, but operates in the background, for example, once a day regardless of the usage status of the karaoke service. It is processing to do. However, under the circumstances where the degree of processing load due to content service execution is high due to the diversification and combination of content, if the primary distribution or equivalent processing is performed in the background, the content being executed is affected by the communication load. Service failure may occur.

  Problems include, for example, sound skipping during the performance of karaoke music, delays in the display of moving images and avatars, and dropped frames. These phenomena are caused by a lack of CUP processing capability of the karaoke device, and the processing load of the primary distribution or equivalent processing is added to the processing load of the content service, so that the CPU processing capability is constant. This occurs when the calculation amount required for time cannot be satisfied.

  If content such as content provided by a karaoke service is required to have a high entertainment value, if the above-mentioned problems occur during the execution, the entertainment property itself is significantly lowered, which is not preferable. In order to solve such a problem, when the customer uses the content service, the primary delivery and the equivalent processing are not performed, and only when the customer is not using the content service, Control was performed so as to perform primary distribution and equivalent processing so as not to hinder the execution of the content service.

  However, in recent years, the amount of content data to be distributed to each karaoke device has increased dramatically, and the primary distribution / equivalent processing was limited to the period when the user is not using the content service. The time required to deliver all content is becoming insufficient. For this reason, another problem has arisen that some contents are not distributed to all karaoke devices by the time when they are required. Under such circumstances, even when the karaoke service is being executed, primary distribution of content and equivalent processing must be performed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and does not cause a problem in the content service being executed when the content is transmitted and received in the background of the content service being executed, and the karaoke apparatus It is an object to provide a technique for smoothly transmitting and receiving content between.

  The karaoke network system according to claim 1, wherein the karaoke network system according to claim 1 is configured so that a plurality of karaoke apparatuses are communicably connected via the network, and transmits and receives contents between the karaoke apparatuses during execution of the content service. Is.

  The karaoke apparatus constituting the karaoke network system of the present invention includes processing occupancy acquisition means for acquiring a processing occupancy indicating the degree of occupancy of the arithmetic processing capability by the content service currently being executed by the karaoke apparatus. As a method of acquiring the processing occupancy here, for example, the processing occupancy preset for the content held by the own karaoke device is stored in a storage device or the like in association with each content, and read from there. Such a method can be considered. In the case of this method, the processing occupancy corresponding to each content is set based on a physical quantity such as the bit rate of the content and the amount of memory used. It is possible to decide the height. Also, as a method for the karaoke device to acquire these processing occupancy levels, at the time of content distribution, the processing occupancy level is distributed together with the content data from the distribution side device, or each karaoke device is individually received from an external management server or the like. A method of acquiring is conceivable. As another acquisition method, the usage rate of the CPU of the own karaoke apparatus may be measured during execution of the content service, and the measurement result may be used as the processing occupancy.

  In addition, the karaoke apparatus has a request-side acquisition means, a selection means, a calculation means, and a content acquisition means as a configuration related to processing executed as a request-side karaoke apparatus that acquires content from another requested karaoke apparatus. With.

  Among these, the request side acquisition means acquires their own occupation level related information from a plurality of other requested karaoke apparatuses. Based on the predetermined occupancy related information related to the processing occupancy of the own karaoke apparatus acquired by the processing occupancy acquiring means and the occupancy related information acquired by the request side acquiring means, the selecting means A karaoke device whose degree of a predetermined communication condition specified based on the occupancy-related information of each device is closest to that of the own karaoke device is selected as a content acquisition request destination. The calculation means calculates the communication speed as the communication speed correlated with the current processing occupancy of the own karaoke apparatus so that the communication speed increases as the processing occupancy decreases, and the communication speed decreases as the processing occupancy increases. . The content acquisition unit acquires the content from the karaoke apparatus requested to acquire the content selected by the selection unit at the communication speed calculated by the calculation unit.

  Further, the karaoke apparatus includes a requested-side transmission unit and a content transmission unit as a configuration relating to processing executed as a requested-side karaoke apparatus that responds to a request from another requesting karaoke apparatus.

  Among these, the requested side transmission means, when there is a request for acquisition of occupancy related information from the requesting karaoke apparatus, predetermined occupancy related information regarding the processing occupancy of the own karaoke apparatus acquired by the processing occupancy acquisition means Is transmitted to the requesting karaoke apparatus. When there is a content acquisition request from the requesting karaoke device, the content transmitting means transmits the content at the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke device.

  According to the karaoke network system configured in this manner, the communication speed corresponding to the degree of processing occupancy by the currently executing content service is calculated in the requesting karaoke device that requests content acquisition from another karaoke device. The content can be acquired at the communication speed. It is important that the “communication speed according to the processing occupancy” mentioned here is a communication speed that can be exhibited with a processing load that does not adversely affect the content service being executed. Inevitably, there is a correlation that the communication speed increases as the processing occupancy by the content service decreases, and the communication speed decreases as the processing occupancy increases. By doing in this way, when the karaoke apparatus which is executing the content service acquires the content in the background, it is possible to efficiently transmit and receive the content between the karaoke apparatuses without hindering the execution of the content service.

  In order to acquire the content satisfying the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke apparatus, it is important to select the requested karaoke apparatus as the acquisition destination. If it is sufficient to simply satisfy the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke device, the karaoke device has better communication conditions than the own karaoke device, that is, the processing occupancy is relatively small, and the content service What is necessary is just to select the karaoke apparatus which can exhibit high communication speed in the range which does not interfere with execution.

  However, if the communication speed that can be exhibited by the requested karaoke device is too high compared to the communication speed that can be exhibited by the requesting karaoke device, no matter how much the requested karaoke device has power, the requesting side The content is transmitted and received at a communication speed that can be exhibited by the karaoke apparatus. In such a case, the surplus power in the requested karaoke device is not used for transmitting contents to other karaoke devices, and is wasted.

  In other words, the requesting karaoke device with a low communication speed selects the requested karaoke device with a disproportionately high communication speed as the content acquisition destination, so that other requests with a higher communication speed are originally required. The karaoke device on the side that should have been able to be selected as the content acquisition destination is unnecessarily occupied. Such a situation is inefficient from the viewpoint of promptly distributing content throughout the network.

  Therefore, in order not to cause such waste, the requesting karaoke device stores the requested karaoke device whose communication conditions in the plurality of requested karaoke devices are closest to those of the own karaoke device. Select the acquisition request destination. Here, the degree of communication condition may indicate a communication speed that the karaoke device can exhibit according to the processing occupancy, or an analogy of a communication speed that the karaoke device can exhibit according to the processing occupancy. Another possible index (for example, the processing occupancy level itself) may be used.

  With this configuration, the requesting karaoke device selects the requested karaoke device having communication conditions almost equal to the communication conditions (for example, processing occupancy and communication speed) of the own karaoke device as the content acquisition source. it can. By doing so, the content can be acquired without causing unnecessary waste in the communication capability that can be exhibited according to the degree of processing occupancy while satisfying the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke apparatus. Therefore, it is also efficient from the viewpoint of quickly distributing content throughout the network.

  Next, in the karaoke network system according to claim 2, the content of the occupancy related information transmitted from the requested karaoke device to the requesting karaoke device is more specifically limited.

  That is, in the configuration as the requested karaoke apparatus, the requested transmission means transmits the current processing occupancy of the own karaoke apparatus to the requesting karaoke apparatus as the occupancy related information. On the other hand, for the configuration as the requesting karaoke device, the selection means is based on the processing occupancy obtained from the plurality of requested karaoke devices, and the communication speed correlates with the processing occupancy of these requested karaoke devices. The communication speed of each requested karaoke device is calculated so that the communication speed increases as the processing occupancy decreases and the communication speed decreases as the processing occupancy increases. Then, the karaoke device whose communication speed is closest to the communication speed of the own karaoke device is selected as the content acquisition request destination. According to such a configuration, the requesting karaoke device can select a karaoke device having the same communication speed according to the degree of processing occupancy as the content acquisition destination.

  On the other hand, in the karaoke network system described in claim 3, the content of the occupancy related information transmitted from the requested karaoke device to the requesting karaoke device is different from the content described in claim 2. More specifically, it is limited.

  That is, for the configuration as the requested karaoke apparatus, the requested transmission means transmits the communication speed of the own karaoke apparatus calculated by the calculation means to the requesting karaoke apparatus as occupancy related information. On the other hand, as for the configuration as the requesting karaoke device, the selecting means is based on the communication speed acquired from the plurality of requesting karaoke devices, and the communication speed of each of the requested karaoke devices is the own karaoke device. The karaoke device closest to the communication speed is selected as the content acquisition request destination. In this way, even if the requested karaoke device notifies the requesting karaoke device of the communication speed according to the respective processing occupancy, the communication speed according to the respective processing occupancy at the requesting karaoke device. Can be selected as the content acquisition source.

  By the way, when selecting the requested karaoke device that can exhibit the communication speed that can be exhibited by the requesting karaoke device and the most recent communication speed as the acquisition destination of the content, the best condition is that the mutual communication speed is the same acquisition source Is to select. In this case, the content can be transmitted and received without causing any wasteful communication capacity that can be exhibited according to the degree of processing occupancy while satisfying the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke apparatus. However, if there is no requested karaoke device whose communication speed is the same as that of the requesting karaoke device, as the next best measure, the karaoke device having the highest communication speed than the requesting karaoke device has the lowest communication speed. It is conceivable to select a karaoke apparatus as a content acquisition request destination (claim 4).

  If there is no requested karaoke device whose communication speed is the same as that of the requesting karaoke device, in order to acquire content in a state where the communication speed of the requesting karaoke device is satisfied, the requesting side What is necessary is just to select the karaoke apparatus by the side of a request | requirement whose communication speed is higher than other karaoke apparatuses as an acquisition destination. In addition to this, the communication speed of the requesting karaoke device is selected by selecting the karaoke device having the lowest communication speed among the requested karaoke devices having a communication speed higher than that of the requesting karaoke apparatus. While satisfying, it is possible to prevent generation of useless surplus as much as possible.

  Next, a karaoke apparatus according to claim 5 is a karaoke apparatus constituting the karaoke network system according to claim 1. According to this karaoke apparatus, the karaoke network system can be constructed, and thereby the above-described effects can be obtained.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke network system 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content service implementation condition in each karaoke apparatus. It is a ladder chart which shows the procedure of communication by karaoke apparatuses 4. It is explanatory drawing which shows the calculation method etc. of the communication speed according to a service occupation value. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a service status transmission request process and a service status reply process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a delivery source selection process.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Description of configuration of karaoke network system 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the karaoke network system 1, a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, and 4 d installed in karaoke rooms in a karaoke store that provides karaoke services to users are connected via a LAN 100. The in-store network is formed by being connected to the host server 2 via the Internet 200 which is a wide area network. 1 shows a configuration in which four karaoke devices are connected to the karaoke network system 1 in one karaoke store for convenience of explanation, but more karaoke devices 4 are connected in the same store. It may be. A plurality of in-store networks may be connected to the host server 2. In the following description, the karaoke devices 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are simply referred to as the karaoke device 4 unless otherwise distinguished.

  The host server 2 provides a voice playback service such as karaoke to a specific karaoke device 4 (called a master machine) in the karaoke store, a video playback service such as a background video, a CM video and a promotion video, a display service such as an avatar, etc. The server device for karaoke service that regularly distributes various contents for users. Note that content distribution (primary distribution) from the host server 2 to the master device of the karaoke store is performed periodically (for example, once a day). The host server 2 is composed of an information processing apparatus having an appropriate processing capability, and always holds all contents that can be provided as a service for users in a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) as an external storage device. is doing. The host server 2 is connected to the LAN 100 on the karaoke store side via the Internet 200 and the router device 120 on the karaoke store side.

  The router device 120 is a communication device that interconnects different networks. The router device 120 is installed at a connection point between the Internet 200 which is an external network and the LAN 100 which is an internal network. The router device 120 transmits communication from the LAN 100 side to the Internet 200 side, and transmits communication from the Internet 200 side to the LAN 100. To the side.

  The karaoke device 4 is a device that stores the content for the customers distributed from the host server 2 in its own HDD 44 and reproduces the stored content. In the present embodiment, each karaoke device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is assigned serial number X00001, X00002, X00003, X00004, which is unique identification information.

The karaoke apparatus 4 includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, an HDD 44, a display unit 45, a playback unit 46, an input unit 47, a LAN communication unit 48, and the like as hardware configurations.
The CPU 41 is a device that executes control and various calculations for each part of the karaoke device 4 in accordance with programs and data stored in the RAM 42 and the ROM 43. Various processes described below for selecting the content distribution source karaoke device 4 are performed by the CPU 41. Executed by. The RAM 42 is a storage device used as a main memory or the like that is directly accessed from the CPU 41. A service status table described later is also stored and managed here. The ROM 43 is a nonvolatile storage device, and stores BIOS, read-only data that is not normally updated, and the like. The HDD 44 is an apparatus for storing various data such as content data and programs for users such as an audio reproduction service, a video reproduction service, and an avatar display service.

  The display unit 45 is a monitor device for displaying karaoke lyrics tickers, background images, various videos, and the like. The playback unit 46 is a MIDI sound source that performs performance playback based on performance data, an audio control unit that outputs an audio signal generated from the MIDI sound source and an audio signal input from the input unit 47 to a speaker, and video playback based on image data A video playback unit for controlling the video. The input unit 47 is for converting a singer's singing voice into an audio signal by a microphone and inputting the voice signal to the reproduction unit 46. The LAN communication unit 48 is a communication interface for connecting the karaoke apparatus 4 to the LAN 100 to communicate with the outside.

  The procedure for distributing the content held by each karaoke apparatus 4 is as follows. First, content is distributed from the host server 2 to the master machine that has communication authority with the host server 2 among the plurality of karaoke apparatuses 4 in the karaoke store (primary distribution). When the primary distribution from the host server 2 to the master machine is performed, an instruction is given to cause each karaoke apparatus 4 in the karaoke store to acquire the newly distributed content. Subsequently, the content is distributed from the master machine to the karaoke apparatus 4 (slave machine) other than the master machine (equivalent process). In addition, an equivalent process is performed on another slave machine that has not yet acquired content from the slave machine that has reached the same content as the master machine by the equivalent process. The distribution of the content between the karaoke apparatuses 4 is established when a distribution request is made from the karaoke apparatus 4 on the content request side to the karaoke apparatus 4 as the distribution source. The equivalence process is completed when all slave machines in the karaoke store have the same content as the master machine by the equivalence process performed between the karaoke apparatuses 4.

  The equivalent process is a process that operates in the background even when the karaoke apparatus 4 is executing a content service for users. Therefore, in the karaoke apparatus 4 of the present embodiment, measures are taken to prevent the processing load due to communication performed in the equivalent process from adversely affecting the content service being executed for the user.

  Specifically, each karaoke device 4 manages the processing load status of the content service being executed by the karaoke device 4 as an index called a service occupancy value (corresponding to the processing occupancy in the claims). Yes. The service occupancy value here is a value obtained by adding up the degree of occupancy (referred to as the content occupancy value) of the arithmetic processing capability when executing each piece of content for all the content services being executed.

  As the content occupancy value necessary for managing the status of the service occupancy value, it is conceivable to use a value set in advance for each piece of content. In this case, the content occupancy value corresponding to the content held by the karaoke apparatus 4 may be stored in the HDD 44 and read from there if necessary.

  The content occupancy value may be set based on a physical quantity such as a content bit rate or memory usage. Further, in addition to these physical quantities, artificial factors such as the popularity, demand, and importance of the content may be taken into account to determine the degree of elevation. The content occupancy value may be set, for example, at a stage before the content is distributed to the karaoke network system 1. In this case, as a method of distributing the content occupancy value to each karaoke device 4, the content occupancy value together with the content data is distributed from the distribution side device during the primary distribution from the host server 2 or the equivalence processing between the karaoke devices 4. It is conceivable that each karaoke device 4 is distributed or acquired individually from the host server 2.

  Alternatively, as an acquisition method different from using the above-described predetermined value as the content occupation value, the CPU usage rate of the own karaoke apparatus 4 during execution of the content service is measured, and the measurement result is used as the content occupation value. It may be used as

  The requesting karaoke device 4 that requests the karaoke device 4 that has already acquired the content to be acquired in the equivalent process to request the content acquisition depends on the service occupation value of the content service currently being executed by the karaoke device 4. The communication speed is calculated, and the content is acquired from the requested karaoke apparatus 4 at the communication speed. The “communication speed according to the service occupancy value” here is a communication speed that can be exhibited with a processing load that does not adversely affect the content service being executed, and based on a predetermined calculation method (described later), The smaller the occupation value, the higher the communication speed, and the larger the service occupation value, the lower the communication speed. Furthermore, the karaoke device 4 on the requesting side specifies the karaoke device 4 that can exhibit a communication speed as close as possible to the communication speed of the karaoke device 4 when acquiring content from the other karaoke devices 4, and uses the karaoke device 4 as the content. Select as the delivery source for. The detailed contents of these processes will be described later.

[Description of service status table managed by karaoke device 4]
Next, an outline of data managed by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIG.
Each karaoke device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d is a service status table that displays the execution status of the content for users being executed by the own karaoke device 4, the service occupancy value, and real-time information of the communication speed according to the service occupancy value. Is stored in the RAM. The table shown in FIG. 2 is an example of a service status table in each karaoke device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d.

  For example, for the karaoke apparatus 4a (X00001), it is assumed that no content service such as voice, video, or other content is being executed, and the service occupation value at this point is zero. The communication speed corresponding to this service occupation value is calculated as 100. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the maximum communication speed is 100. Then, the communication speed value corresponding to the service occupation value is calculated as a value obtained by subtracting the current service occupation value from the maximum communication speed value 100. That is, when the service occupation value is 0, the communication speed in the equivalent process can be exhibited up to a maximum of 100.

  For the karaoke apparatus 4b (X00002), CM No. 3 (sound reproduction service, content occupation value 18), CM video A (video reproduction service, content occupation value 25), and avatar β (other service, content occupation value 27) Assume that one piece of content is running at the same time. The service occupation value at this time is 70 in total of the content occupation values. The communication speed corresponding to this service occupation value is 30.

  As for the karaoke apparatus 4c (X00003), the music selection number 7 MIDI (audio reproduction service, content occupation value 5), the music selection number 7 raw sound (audio reproduction service, content occupation value 15), the song selection number 7 lyrics telop It is assumed that four contents (video playback service, content occupancy value 3) and PV clip 7 (video playback service, content occupancy value 45) are simultaneously executed. The service occupation value at this time is 68 in total of the content occupation values. The communication speed corresponding to this service occupation value is 32.

  For the karaoke apparatus 4d (X00004), two contents of the music selection number 17 raw sound (audio reproduction service, content occupation value 15) and CM video B (video reproduction service, content occupation value 20) are simultaneously executed. Assume the situation. The service occupation value at this time is 35 in total of the content occupation values. The communication speed corresponding to this service occupation value is 65.

[Description of contents distribution procedure performed between karaoke devices 4]
Next, a flow of a series of processes related to content distribution performed between the karaoke apparatuses 4 will be described based on a ladder chart of FIG.

  In FIG. 3, it is assumed that the karaoke apparatuses 4a and 4c have already acquired the content to be distributed and the karaoke apparatuses 4b and 4d have not acquired the content to be distributed. In addition, the implementation state of the content service in each karaoke apparatus 4 at this time shall be based on the content of FIG. 2 mentioned above.

  Here, it is assumed that content acquisition starts from the karaoke apparatus 4b from which content has not been acquired. The karaoke apparatus 4b first requests the transmission of their own service occupancy values from all the other karaoke apparatuses 4a, 4c, 4d connected to the LAN 100. In response to this request, each karaoke device 4a, 4c, 4d returns information including its serial number, service occupation value, and distribution status to the requesting karaoke device 4b.

  When the karaoke device 4b obtains the service occupation value from each requested karaoke device 4a, 4c, 4d, the karaoke device 4b calculates a communication speed corresponding to the service occupancy value for each karaoke device 4a, 4c, 4d. Note that the communication speed in this embodiment is calculated by subtracting the service occupation value from 100 (Mbps), as shown in the equation shown in FIG. FIG. 4B shows a list of distribution statuses, service occupation values, and communication speeds of the karaoke apparatuses 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d at this time.

  Returning to the description of the ladder chart of FIG. The karaoke device 4b on the request side has a distribution status of “acquired” from the karaoke devices 4a, 4c, and 4d on the request side, and has a communication speed closest to the communication speed of the own karaoke apparatus 4b. 4 is selected as the distribution source. However, in the karaoke apparatus 4 having a higher communication speed than the communication speed of the own karaoke apparatus 4b and the karaoke apparatus 4 having a lower communication speed, the faster karaoke apparatus 4 is preferentially selected as the distribution source. Here, the karaoke apparatus 4c that can communicate at the communication speed 32 immediately above the communication speed 30 of the karaoke apparatus 4b is selected as the distribution source.

  The requesting karaoke device 4b makes a content distribution request to the requested karaoke device 4c selected as the distribution source. In response to this, content distribution is started from the requested karaoke device 4c to the karaoke device 4b on the request side. When content distribution is started, the karaoke apparatuses 4b and 4c change their distribution status to “in communication”. While the distribution status is in communication, the content is not distributed to other karaoke apparatuses 4. When the distribution of Kong is completed, the distribution status of the requesting karaoke device 4b is already acquired, and the distribution status of the karaoke device 4c that is the distribution source is returned to acquired.

  Subsequently, it is assumed that the other karaoke device 4d that has not acquired the content starts acquiring the content while the content is being distributed between the karaoke devices 4b and 4c. The karaoke apparatus 4d requests all other karaoke apparatuses 4a, 4b, and 4c to transmit their own service occupation values. In response to this request, each karaoke device 4a, 4b, 4c transmits information including its serial number, service occupation value, and distribution status to the requesting karaoke device 4d.

  When the karaoke device 4d acquires the service occupation value from each of the requested karaoke devices 4a, 4b, and 4c, the karaoke device 4d calculates a communication speed corresponding to each service occupancy value for each of the karaoke devices 4a, 4b, and 4c. Then, the karaoke device 4 whose distribution status is “acquired” and whose communication speed is closest to the communication speed of the own karaoke device 4d is selected as the distribution source. Although the karaoke apparatus 4c has already acquired the content, it is in communication with the karaoke apparatus 4b at this time, and thus is excluded from candidates for the content distribution source for the karaoke apparatus 4d.

  Here, the karaoke apparatus 4a that can communicate at the communication speed 100 of the nearest higher level than the communication speed 65 of the karaoke apparatus 4d is selected as the distribution source. The requesting karaoke device 4d makes a content distribution request to the requested karaoke device 4a selected as the distribution source. In response to this, content distribution is started from the requested karaoke apparatus 4a to the requesting karaoke apparatus 4d.

[Description of processing executed by request side / requested side karaoke devices 4]
Next, a procedure of processing executed by each karaoke apparatus 4 as a function on the request side and the requested side will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 5A is a flowchart of the service status transmission request process, and FIG. 5B is a flowchart of the service status reply process. These processes are executed in parallel in the background of the process related to the content service in each karaoke apparatus 4.

  First, the service status transmission request process will be described. As shown to Fig.5 (a), CPU41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 determines whether the delivery status of the content in the own karaoke apparatus 4 is unacquired (S101). If the distribution status has not been acquired (S101: YES), the process proceeds to S102. If the distribution status has not been acquired (S101: NO), this processing ends.

  When the distribution status has not been acquired, in S102, all other karaoke apparatuses 4 (requestees) that can communicate via the LAN 100 are requested to transmit their own service occupation values. Then, it is determined whether a reply to the transmission request is received from the requested karaoke apparatus 4 (S103). When a reply is received (S103: YES), the reply content is saved in the RAM 42 (S104), and the process returns to S103. On the other hand, when a reply has not been received (S103: NO), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time for waiting for a reply has elapsed since the transmission request was made to the requested karaoke apparatus 4 (105). ). When the predetermined time has not elapsed (S105: NO), the process returns to the process of S103 and further waits for a reply. If the predetermined time has elapsed (S105: YES), this process ends.

  Next, service status reply processing will be described. As shown in FIG. 5B, the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 calculates a service occupation value related to the content service currently being executed by the karaoke apparatus 4 and records it in a predetermined area of the RAM 42 (see the service status table, FIG. 2). (S201). At this time, the communication speed corresponding to the service occupation value of the own karaoke apparatus 4 may also be calculated.

  Next, it is determined whether a service occupancy value transmission request (S102 in FIG. 5A) has been received from the other requesting karaoke apparatus 4 (S202). If a service occupancy value transmission request has not been received (S202: NO), the process returns to S201. On the other hand, when a service occupancy value transmission request is received from the request side karaoke apparatus 4 (S202: YES), the request side karaoke is combined with the current service occupancy value, serial number, and distribution status stored in the RAM 42. A reply is made to the apparatus 4 (S203), and the process returns to S201.

[Description of Distribution Source Selection Process Performed by Requesting Karaoke Apparatus 4]
Next, the procedure of the distribution source selection process in which the requesting karaoke device 4 selects the karaoke device 4 that is the content distribution source from the requested karaoke devices 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. .

  The CPU 41 of the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 reads the service occupation values of all the requested karaoke apparatuses 4 acquired in the service status transmission request process (see FIG. 5A) (S301). Subsequently, the communication speed corresponding to each service occupancy value is calculated for all requested karaoke apparatuses 4 from the read service occupancy value (S302).

  Next, the distribution status received from each requested karaoke device 4 is referred to and it is determined whether or not there is a karaoke device 4 whose distribution status has already been acquired (S303). If there is a karaoke apparatus 4 whose distribution status has already been acquired (S303: YES), the process proceeds to S304, and if it does not exist (S303: NO), this process ends.

  If there is a karaoke device 4 whose distribution status has been acquired, in S304, it is determined whether or not there is a device having a communication speed equal to that of the karaoke device 4 in the acquired karaoke device 4. judge. When there is an acquired karaoke apparatus 4 having the same communication speed as that of the own karaoke apparatus 4 (S304: YES), the apparatus having the same communication speed is determined as the karaoke apparatus 4 as the distribution source (S305), and this process is terminated. .

  On the other hand, when there is no acquired karaoke apparatus 4 having the same communication speed as that of the own karaoke apparatus 4 (S304: NO), there is an apparatus having a higher communication speed than the own karaoke apparatus 4 in the acquired karaoke apparatus 4. It is determined whether or not (S306). If there is an acquired karaoke device 4 having a communication speed faster than that of the own karaoke device 4 (S306: YES), the device having the lowest (slowest) communication speed among the karaoke devices 4 having a communication speed faster than the own karaoke device 4 is selected. The distribution-source karaoke apparatus 4 is determined (S307), and this process is terminated.

  On the other hand, when there is no acquired karaoke device 4 having a higher communication speed than the own karaoke device 4 (S306: NO), the device with the highest (fastest) communication speed among the acquired karaoke devices 4 is the distribution source. The karaoke device 4 is determined (S308), and this process is terminated.

  Thereafter, the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 makes a content distribution request to the distribution-source karaoke apparatus 4 determined in any of steps S305, S307, and S308, and acquires the content.

[Correspondence with configuration described in claims]
The correspondence between the configuration of the karaoke network system 1 of the embodiment and the configuration described in the claims is as follows. The CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 that performs various arithmetic processes in accordance with a predetermined program includes a processing occupancy acquisition means, a request side acquisition means, a selection means, a calculation means, a content acquisition means, a requested side transmission means in the claims, And it corresponds to a content transmission means.

[effect]
According to the karaoke network system of the above embodiment, the karaoke device 4 on the request side that produces the following effects calculates the communication speed according to the service occupation value of the currently executing content service, and distributes at that communication speed. Content can be acquired from the original karaoke apparatus 4. Thereby, when the karaoke apparatus 4 that is executing the content service acquires the content in the background, the content can be efficiently transmitted and received between the karaoke apparatuses 4 without hindering the execution of the content service.

  Further, the requesting karaoke device 4 satisfies the communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke device 4 by selecting the karaoke device 4 having the communication speed closest to that of the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 as the content distribution source. On the other hand, it is possible to acquire content without causing wasteful communication capacity that can be exhibited according to the service occupation value. Therefore, it is also efficient from the viewpoint of quickly distributing content throughout the network.

  For example, consider the case of the content distribution procedure shown in FIG. The karaoke apparatus 4b (communication speed 30) that has started to acquire content first selects the karaoke apparatus 4c (communication speed 32) with the highest communication speed as the distribution source device. As a result, the karaoke device 4d (communication speed 65), which has started to acquire content after communication between the karaoke devices 4b and 4c, uses the karaoke device 4a (communication speed 100) with a higher communication speed as a content distribution source. I was able to choose. Therefore, in this case, both the request-side karaoke apparatuses 4b and 4d can acquire the content while satisfying the communication speed determined by themselves.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the karaoke device 4b (communication speed 30) that first started to acquire content has selected the karaoke device 4a (communication speed 100) instead of the karaoke device 4c (communication speed 32) as a distribution source. . In this case, the karaoke device 4d (communication speed 65) that acquires content with a delay is forced to acquire content from the karaoke device 4c that is slower than its own communication speed. Therefore, in this case, the karaoke device 4b can acquire the content while satisfying the communication speed determined by itself, but the karaoke device 4d cannot exhibit the communication speed determined by itself due to the communication speed of the distribution source. In the present embodiment, such a situation can be prevented when the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 selects a karaoke apparatus having communication conditions substantially equal to its own communication conditions as a content acquisition source.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when there is no requested karaoke device 4 having the same communication speed as that of the requesting karaoke device 4, the karaoke device having a communication speed higher than that of the requesting karaoke device 4 as the next best measure. The karaoke apparatus with the lowest communication speed among 4 is selected as a distribution source. In this way, even if there is no karaoke device 4 having the same communication speed as that of the requesting karaoke device 4, as much wasteful power as possible is satisfied while satisfying the communication speed of the requesting karaoke device 4. It can be prevented from generating.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said embodiment at all, It is possible to implement in various aspects.

  For example, in the above embodiment, in response to a request from the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 (S102 in FIG. 5A), the requested karaoke apparatus 4 transmits its own service occupation value (FIG. 5B). S203), and the requested karaoke device 4 calculates the communication speed of all the karaoke devices 4 based on the transmitted service occupation value (S302 in FIG. 6).

  On the other hand, the requested karaoke apparatus 4 is configured to transmit the communication speed calculated based on the service occupancy value to the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 instead of transmitting the service occupancy value of the requester. May be. In this case, in the above-mentioned distribution source selection process (FIG. 6), the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 does not have to calculate the communication speed other than the own karaoke apparatus 4. Then, the distribution source karaoke device 4 can be selected based on the respective communication speeds received from the requested karaoke devices 4.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Karaoke network system, 2 ... Host server, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d ... Karaoke apparatus, 41 ... CPU, 42 ... RAM, 43 ... ROM, 44 ... HDD, 45 ... Display part, 46 ... Playback part, 47 ... Input unit 48 ... LAN communication unit 100 ... LAN 120 ... Router device 200 ... Internet

Claims (5)

A plurality of karaoke devices that hold content including at least karaoke music and execute a content service using the held content are communicatively connected via a network, and between the karaoke devices during execution of the content service In a karaoke network system that sends and receives content,
The karaoke device
A processing occupancy acquisition means for acquiring a processing occupancy indicating the degree of occupancy of arithmetic processing capability by the content service currently being executed by the own karaoke device,
Furthermore, as a configuration related to processing to be executed as a requesting karaoke device that acquires content from other requested karaoke devices,
Request side acquisition means for acquiring each occupancy related information from a plurality of other requested karaoke devices,
Based on the predetermined occupancy related information based on the processing occupancy of the own karaoke device acquired by the processing occupancy acquiring means and the occupancy related information acquired by the requesting acquiring means, these requested karaoke devices Selecting means for selecting a content acquisition request destination as a karaoke device whose degree of a predetermined communication condition specified based on each occupancy-related information is closest to that of the own karaoke device;
As the communication speed correlated with the current processing occupancy of the own karaoke device, the communication speed is calculated so that the communication speed increases as the processing occupancy decreases, and the communication speed decreases as the processing occupancy increases. Calculating means for
Content acquisition means for acquiring content from the karaoke device requested to acquire the content selected by the selection means at the communication speed calculated by the calculation means;
Furthermore, as a configuration related to processing to be executed as a requested karaoke device that responds to requests from other requesting karaoke devices,
If there is a request for acquisition of occupancy related information from the requesting karaoke device, the requesting karaoke device receives predetermined occupancy related information based on the processing occupancy of the own karaoke device acquired by the processing occupancy acquiring means. A requested transmission means for transmitting to
And a content transmission unit configured to transmit content at a communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke device when the requesting karaoke device requests content acquisition. The karaoke network system according to claim 1,
About the configuration as the requested karaoke device,
The requested transmission means transmits the current processing occupancy of the own karaoke device to the requesting karaoke device as the occupancy related information,
About the configuration as the requesting karaoke device,
Based on the processing occupancy obtained from the plurality of requested karaoke devices, the selection means has a communication speed correlated with the processing occupancy of the requested karaoke devices, and the communication occupancy decreases as the processing occupancy decreases. The communication speed of each requested karaoke device is calculated so that the communication speed decreases as the speed increases and the processing occupancy increases. 2. A karaoke network system, wherein a karaoke device whose speed is closest to the communication speed of the karaoke device is selected as a content acquisition request destination. The karaoke network system according to claim 1,
About the configuration as the requested karaoke device,
The requested transmission means transmits the communication speed of the own karaoke apparatus calculated by the calculation means to the requesting karaoke apparatus as the occupancy related information,
About the configuration as the requesting karaoke device,
Based on the communication speeds acquired from the plurality of requesting karaoke devices, the selecting means is a karaoke whose communication speed is closest to the communication speed of the own karaoke device among the requested karaoke devices. A karaoke network system, wherein a device is selected as a content acquisition request destination. In the karaoke network system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
About the configuration as the requesting karaoke device,
In the case where there is a karaoke device having the same communication speed as that of the own karaoke device among the plurality of requested karaoke devices, the selection means selects the karaoke device as a content acquisition request destination, and the karaoke device has the same communication speed. If there is not, the karaoke network system characterized in that the karaoke device having the lowest communication speed among the karaoke devices having a communication speed higher than that of the own karaoke apparatus is selected as the content acquisition request destination. A plurality of karaoke devices that hold content including at least karaoke music and execute a content service using the held content are communicatively connected via a network, and between the karaoke devices during execution of the content service The karaoke apparatus used in a karaoke network system for transmitting and receiving content,
A processing occupancy acquisition means for acquiring a processing occupancy indicating the degree of occupancy of arithmetic processing capability by the content service currently being executed by the own karaoke device,
The karaoke device
A processing occupancy acquisition means for acquiring a processing occupancy indicating the degree of occupancy of arithmetic processing capability by the content service currently being executed by the own karaoke device,
Furthermore, as a configuration related to processing to be executed as a requesting karaoke device that acquires content from other requested karaoke devices,
Request side acquisition means for acquiring each occupancy related information from a plurality of other requested karaoke devices,
Based on the predetermined occupancy related information based on the processing occupancy of the own karaoke device acquired by the processing occupancy acquiring means and the occupancy related information acquired by the requesting acquiring means, these requested karaoke devices A selection means for selecting a content acquisition request destination as a karaoke device that has a predetermined degree related to the communication condition specified based on each occupancy-related information from the karaoke device,
As the communication speed correlated with the current processing occupancy of the own karaoke device, the communication speed is calculated so that the communication speed increases as the processing occupancy decreases, and the communication speed decreases as the processing occupancy increases. Calculating means for
Content acquisition means for acquiring content from the karaoke device requested to acquire the content selected by the selection means at the communication speed calculated by the calculation means;
Furthermore, as a configuration related to processing to be executed as a requested karaoke device that responds to requests from other requesting karaoke devices,
If there is a request for acquisition of occupancy related information from the requesting karaoke device, the requesting karaoke device receives predetermined occupancy related information based on the processing occupancy of the own karaoke device acquired by the processing occupancy acquiring means. A requested transmission means for transmitting to
A karaoke apparatus, further comprising: a content transmission unit configured to transmit content at a communication speed determined by the requesting karaoke apparatus when the requesting karaoke apparatus receives a content acquisition request.

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