JP2012222478A - Content receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow switching reproduction of a 2D image and a 3D image without disturbing a screen in a receiver for downloading a content with the mixture of the 2D image and the 3D image and reproducing the content.SOLUTION: A receiver for downloading and reproducing an image content acquires picture position information of each picture in the image content and also 3D identification information which indicates whether each picture is a 3D image or not, from a server via a network. When the image content is reproduced, the receiver displays the image content in 3D based on the picture position information when the 3D identification information of the picture whose reproduction is started is in 3D in performing special reproduction processing.

Description

  The present invention relates to a receiver that receives 3D video content distributed from a distribution system via a network, a reception method thereof, and a content distribution method in a content transmission / reception system including the distribution system and the receiver.

As a background art in this technical field, there is International Publication No. 2004/100549 (Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 describes an embodiment that realizes a distribution system including a server that distributes content and a receiver that downloads and reproduces content from the server via the Internet.

  In this embodiment, the Internet browser obtains a download control file (referred to as a download control metafile in the present invention) describing the content download execution contents from the server, and this file is interpreted by the download agent and downloaded. An example of performing is shown.

International Publication No. 2004/100549

  An object of the present invention is to enable a content receiver to receive video content distributed from various networks and reproduce the received content based on a user operation.

  In order to solve the above problems, for example, the configuration described in the claims is adopted.

The present application includes a plurality of means for solving the above problems.
Download describing at least each acquisition destination information of video content, metadata describing content attribute information, stream playback control information describing each picture position on the content file, and video content playback control information Download control unit that receives control information via a network, downloads the video content, the metadata, the stream playback control information, and the playback control information according to the description of the download control information, and stores them in a storage medium And an ECG processing unit that searches for content stored in the storage medium based on the metadata, and a normal playback of the content selected by the ECG processing unit based on the playback control information and the stream playback control information , Fast forward, fast reverse, skip playback A content receiver including a playback control unit that performs special playback, and when the content is stereoscopic video content, reads acquisition source information of stereoscopic video stream identification information further described in the download control information Acquiring the stream reproduction control information according to the download control information, and acquiring the stereoscopic video stream identification information from the network according to the acquisition source information of the read stereoscopic video stream identification information. .

  According to the present invention, when the content receiver performs special playback of the distributed video content including 3D and 2D, the screen can be displayed without being disturbed.

It is an example of a structure of a content transmission / reception system. It is a structural example of a delivery system. It is a structural example of a receiver. It is a 1st example which shows the relationship between a receiver and a delivery system. It is a 2nd example which shows the relationship between a receiver and a delivery system. It is a 3rd example which shows the relationship between a receiver and a delivery system. It is a correlation diagram of ECG metadata. It is a structural example of package metadata. It is a structural example of download control information. It is an example of a structure of a reproduction | regeneration control metafile. It is a structural example of a license. It is an example of the content search screen of a receiver. It is an example of the search result screen of a receiver. It is an example of the content purchase screen of a receiver. It is an example of the content detail display screen of a receiver. It is an example of the content reproduction screen of a receiver. It is an example of the export screen of a receiver. It is an example of a transition of the Web content shown with the browser of a receiver. It is an example of the local navigation screen of a receiver. It is an example of a structure of the interface part of a receiver and a removable medium. It is an example of a structure of the interface part of a receiver and a network connection apparatus. It is an example of the processing flowchart in an ECG process part. It is an example of the export processing flow figure to a removable medium in a stream output process part. It is an example of the export processing flow figure to a network connection apparatus in a stream output process part. It is an example of the processing flow figure in local navigation. It is another example of a structure of the interface part of a receiver and a removable medium. It is another example of a structure of the interface part of a receiver and a removable medium. It is an example of a structure of 3D corresponding | compatible download control information in a 2nd Example. It is a structural example of the stream reproduction | regeneration control information in a 2nd Example. It is a structural example of the video content in a 2nd Example. It is a structural example of 3D corresponding | compatible stream reproduction | regeneration control information in a 2nd Example. It is a structural example of 3D stream identification information in a 3rd Example.

  Hereinafter, examples will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, an example of a receiver 50 that receives content and a distribution system 60 will be described.
FIG. 1 is an example of a configuration of a content transmission / reception system to which the present embodiment is applied. The distribution network includes a content distribution network 40 that is connected to a home via the router 43 and guarantees network quality within the network, and an external Internet network 45 that is connected from the content distribution network 40. The distribution system 60 may be connected to the content distribution network 40 via the network switch 42 or may be connected to the Internet network 45 via the router 44 with emphasis on versatility.

Various network communication paths 46 such as coaxial cable, optical fiber, ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), and wireless communication are assumed for home network connection, and modulation / demodulation suitable for each path is performed by the transmission line modem 45. And converted to an IP network.
In the home, the IP network demodulated by the transmission path modulator / demodulator 46 and converted into a network interface is connected to a device in the home via the router 48.
As home devices, a receiver 50, a storage device (Network Attached Storage) 32 corresponding to an IP network, a personal computer 33, an AV device that can be connected to a network, and the like are assumed. The receiver 50 may have a function of playing back and storing broadcasts received from the antenna 35.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the content distribution system 40.

  The content distribution system 60 is a meta server that distributes a Web server 61 that distributes a Web document 71, ECG metadata 400 that describes attribute information of the content to be distributed, and reproduction control information 200 that describes information necessary for reproducing the content. Manages data server 62, content server 63 that distributes content body 75, DRM server 64 that distributes license 300 including information on the right to use content and the key necessary for decrypting the content, and customer information of the distribution service A customer management server 65, and a billing / settlement server 63 for billing and settlement of contents by the customer.

The servers are connected to each other by the IP network 67 and are connected to the Internet network 45 or the content distribution network 40 of FIG.
A part or all of each server may be directly connected to the Internet network 45 or the content distribution network 40 without going through the IP network 67 to communicate with each other.

  Each server included in the distribution system 60 is merely a convenient model, and an actual distribution system may have a configuration in which a plurality of types of servers are integrated, and there are no servers. It may be okay. In addition, a server used for distributing a plurality of data such as the metadata server 62 may be configured by dividing the actual server for each type of data. Each server is connected by a network such as the Internet.

FIG. 3 is a configuration example of the receiver 50.
The receiver 50 has a storage 550 that can reproduce the received content, output it to a removable medium or a network, and store the content. In the figure, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control.

  The receiver 50 is physically connected to the IP network, and transmits and receives IP (Internet Protocol) data packets. The communication I / F (Interface) 510 and the communication I / F 510 are used to transmit TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and UDP. The communication processing unit 511 performs processing of various IP communication protocols such as (User Datagram Protocol), DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol), DNS (domain name server), and HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

  The downloader 55 is a processing unit that performs processing for acquiring content and information related to the content. The DRM client 54 manages the copyright of the content and provides a function for controlling viewing and copying of the content according to the content purchase conditions. The decryptor 514 decrypts the content to be downloaded based on an instruction from the DRM client 54. The stream output processing unit 57 outputs the content to the removable medium 560 connected to the receiver 50. Alternatively, the stream output processing unit 57 outputs content to the network connection device 570 connected via the communication processing unit 511 and the communication I / F 510.

The removable medium 560 is a removable storage medium that can be accessed via the removable medium I / F 534 connected to the stream output processing unit 541.
The receiver 50 includes a remote control I / F 533 for operation, and is operated by the user according to the received remote control signal.
Further, the receiver 50 may have a function of receiving a streaming delivery service for on-demand video / audio content. In this case, a streaming reception processing unit 512 that processes real-time reception of video / audio content via the communication processing 511 is provided.

The AV player 53 decodes the downloaded content, the content distributed by streaming, or the content received by broadcasting, and converts it into video and audio signals.
The AV player 53 has a demultiplexer 521 inside, and the processing unit separates the content decoded by the decryptor 514 into video, audio, and subtitle packets, and each packet is divided into a video decoder 522, an audio decoder 523, Send to subtitle decoder 524. These decoders 522, 523, and 524 decode the video, audio, and subtitle information, respectively, and the video / audio output process 530 converts them into integrated video / audio signals. This video / audio signal is output from the receiver 50 to the outside via the video / audio output I / F 531.

For this reason, by connecting a television or the like to the video / audio output I / F 531, the user can view content composed of video / audio.
The video / audio output processing 530 and the video / audio output I / F 531 may be HDMI (registered trademark) standard interfaces that process and output video and audio in an integrated manner. Examples such as video composite signal output and analog audio output that are processed and output to the outside are also possible.

  Further, the receiver 50 may have a function of receiving and recording a digital broadcast. In this case, the receiver 50 receives a broadcast I / F 501 for inputting broadcast radio waves, a digital broadcast reception processing unit 502 that decodes a digital broadcast signal and converts it into a video / audio stream, and a copyright protection unit when decoding the digital broadcast signal. It has CAS (Conditional Access System) 503 for processing.

The receiver 50 can output the downloaded content directly to the stream output processing unit 57 and output it to the removable medium 560 or the like.
The receiver 50 can also temporarily store the downloaded content in the storage 550. In this case, thereafter, the stream output processing unit 57 outputs the content acquired from the storage 550 to the removable medium 560 or the like by the operation of the receiver.

  Even in the configuration having the storage 550, either the export process without storing the content in the storage 550 or the process of exporting the content once stored in the storage 550 may be performed.

In this case, even when the receiver has a storage 550 such as an HDD, the downloaded content can be exported to the removable medium 560 via the stream output processing unit 57, so the content is stored in the storage 550. There is also an advantage that downloading is possible even when there is not enough free space in the storage capacity of the storage.
In addition, when the receiver 50 of FIG. 3 performs only the service of directly exporting 560 to a removable medium without going through the storage 550, a cheaper receiver without the storage 550 can be realized. It becomes.
Further, the downloaded content is temporarily stored in the storage 550 without being decrypted, and the DRM client 54 receives a license from the DRM server 64 when the content stored in the storage 550 is reproduced or exported to the removable media 560 or the like. 300, and the decrypter 514 can decrypt the content stored in the storage 550 based on the content key 311 described in the license 300.

  In the case of content reproduction, the decryptor 514 decodes the content, and the demultiplexer 521 separates the video, audio, and caption data packets. The video decoder 522, the audio decoder 523, and the caption decoder 524 decode the separated video packets, audio packets, and caption data packets. The video / audio output processing unit 530 outputs the decoded video / audio to the outside via the video / audio output I / F 531. Through these processes, the user can view the content.

  In the case of content export, the decryptor 514 decrypts the content, and the stream output processing unit 541 outputs the combined content to the removable medium 560 or the like.

  Note that the digital broadcast reception processing unit 502, CAS 503, communication processing unit 511, streaming reception processing unit 512, decryptor 514, demultiplexer 521, video decoder 522, audio decoder 523, subtitle decoder 524, video The audio output processing unit 530, the storage 550, the browser 51, the ECG processing unit 52, the AV player 53, the DRM client 54, the downloader 55, the local navigation 56, and the stream output processing unit 57 are processes that perform all or part of each process. It can be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit as a unit.

  In addition, a digital broadcast reception processing program 502, a CAS program 503, a communication processing program 511, a streaming reception processing program 512, a decryptor program 514, a demultiplexer program 521, which are stored in a storage device such as a storage 550 or a memory (not shown). Video decoder program 522, audio decoder program 523, subtitle decoder program 524, video / audio output processing program 530, storage 550, browser program 51, ECG processing program 52, AV player program 53, DRM client program 54, downloader program 55, local The navigation program 56, the stream output processing program 57, etc. are processed by an arithmetic processor such as a central control unit (not shown). By, it can be implemented by software processes of all or part.

  In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

  Next, the data transfer relationship in the content distribution service between the receiver 50 having the system configuration in FIG. 3 and the content distribution system 60 in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. 4 to 5 show only a part of the blocks used in the processing flow from the receiver 50 of FIG. 3, each having other processing units of the receiver 50 of FIG. The configuration described in FIGS. 4 to 5 is not always necessary. Some may be omitted.

The receiver 581 in FIG. 4 is a subset obtained by extracting blocks for exchanging data with the streaming distribution system from the receiver 50 in FIG. 3.
The content distribution system 60 distributes a Web server 61 that distributes a Web document 71, ECG metadata 400 that describes attribute information of the content to be distributed, and a reproduction control metafile 200 that describes information necessary for reproducing the content. The metadata server 62, the content server 63 that distributes the content body 75, the DRM server 64 that distributes the license 300 including the right to use the content and the key information necessary for the decryption of the content necessary for use, and customer information of the distribution service A customer management server 65 to be managed, a billing / settlement server 63 for performing billing and settlement processing of contents by the customer, and the like.
A transmission path 67 for data communication between the receiver 581 and the distribution system 60 assumes the distribution network of FIG.

  In the case of FIG. 4, the browser 51 presents the Web 71 received from the Web server 61 and operates the operation device such as a remote controller to search and search for the content 75 that the user wants to see. As another method, the ECG (Electric Content Guide) processing unit 52 of the receiver application presents the ECG metadata 400 acquired from the metadata server 62 to the user in the form of ECG, and the content the user wants to see from the ECG. A method for searching and searching for 75 may be provided.

  When the content to be viewed is selected and the user issues a content playback instruction on the Web document 71, the browser 51 acquires the playback control metafile 200 in which the reference destination is described in the Web document 71 from the metadata server 62, and A reproduction request is made to the AV player 53. Alternatively, when the user issues a content playback instruction on the ECG displayed by the ECG processing unit 52, the ECG processing unit 52 transmits the playback control metafile 200 in which the reference destination is described in the ECG metadata 400 from the metadata server 62. Obtaining and making a playback request to the AV player 53.

  The AV player 53 acquires the content key described in the content license 300 and the signal output restriction / copy control information called RMPI (Right. Management and Protection Information) from the DRM client 54 in accordance with the content of the playback control metafile 200. Then, the content key is set in the decryptor 514, the output conditions such as video and audio are set in the video / audio output I / F 531 in accordance with RMPI, and the content 75 distributed from the content server 63 is streamed.

  The DRM client 54 holds a valid license 300 and, if requested by the AV player 53 or the stream output control unit 57, provides a content key or RMPI from the corresponding license 300. If the requested license 300 has not been acquired, the license 300 necessary for content reproduction is acquired from the DRM server 64.

The receiver 582 in FIG. 5 is a subset obtained by extracting blocks for exchanging data with the download distribution system from the receiver 50 in FIG. 3.
Also in the case of FIG. 5, the browser 51 presents the Web 71 received from the Web server 61 and operates the operation device such as a remote controller to search and search for the content 75 that the user wants to see. As another means, the ECG processing unit 52 of the receiver application presents the ECG metadata 400 acquired from the metadata server 62 to the user in the form of an ECG, and searches the content 75 that the user wants to see from the ECG. A means of finding out may be provided.

  When the content to be viewed is selected and the user issues a content download instruction on the Web document 71, the browser 51 acquires the download control information 100 in which the reference destination is described in the Web document 71 from the metadata server 62, and the downloader. A download execution request is issued to 55. Alternatively, when the user issues a content download instruction on the ECG displayed by the ECG processing unit 52, the ECG processing unit 52 acquires the download control information 100 in which the reference destination is described in the ECG metadata 400 from the metadata server 62. Then, a download execution request is made to the downloader 55.

  The downloader 55 acquires the playback control metafile 200, and in accordance with the contents, downloader 55 controls the content key described in the content license 300 and signal output restriction / copy control called RMPI (Right. Management and Protection Information) from the DRM client 54. Information acquired, content key set in decryptor 514, output conditions such as video and audio for export destination removable media 560 and network connection device 570 in accordance with RMPI, content distributed from content server 63 75 is downloaded, the content decrypted by the decryptor 514 is output to the stream output control unit 57, and the export process is performed. In addition to the content 75, the stream reproduction control information 710 may be downloaded and used as reference information when output to the stream output control unit 57.

The receiver 583 in FIG. 6 has extracted and described blocks for exchanging data with the download distribution system via the storage 550 from the receiver 50 in FIG.
In the case of FIG. 6, the browser 51 presents the Web 71 received from the Web server 61 and operates the operation device such as a remote controller to search and search for the content 75 that the user wants to see. Although not shown in the figure, as in FIG. 5, the ECG processing unit 52 of the receiver application presents the ECG metadata 400 acquired from the metadata server 62 to the user, and searches for the content 75 that the user wants to view. May provide a means of finding out.

When the selection of the content to be viewed from the user is received and the user issues a content download instruction on the Web document 71, the browser 51 receives the download control information 100 in which the reference destination is described in the Web document 71 from the metadata server 62. Obtain the download and make a download execution request to the downloader 55.
The downloader 55 acquires the ECG metadata 400, the playback control metafile 200, the stream playback control information 710, and the content 75 of the content to be downloaded, and accumulates them in the storage 550.

The stored content 75 can be searched, selected, played, and exported by an application called local navigation 56 of the receiver.
When content reproduction is instructed by the local navigation 56, the AV player 53 is activated to request reproduction, and when content export is instructed, the stream output control unit 57 is activated to perform export processing. Request.

Next, the contents of information processed by the receiver will be described in detail.
FIG. 7 is a correlation diagram of ECG metadata 400 presented for content search by the ECG processing unit 52 as an ECG. The ECG metadata 400 is described in the XML format.

  ECG metadata 400 is content metadata 430 that describes attribute information such as the name and description of each distributed program, video, audio, genre, etc., and each program can be managed by grouping a series of series. Series metadata 410, license metadata 470 describing the purchase license of the program, and package metadata 450 describing the purchase conditions of the program or grouped program. The content metadata 430 can describe a group ID that uniquely identifies the group metadata 410 to which the program belongs, and the group metadata 410 describes the group ID of the group metadata 410 to which the program belongs. By doing so, a hierarchical group structure can be defined.

  The license metadata 470 has a content ID that uniquely identifies content metadata 430 of a program that can be used with the license, and a purchase ID that uniquely identifies package metadata 450 that can be used as a purchase condition. The package metadata 450 has a purchase ID and a content ID corresponding to each other. The content metadata 430 is the reference information for acquiring the playback control information 200 for streaming playback and the download control information 100 for downloading content when the content can be played back by streaming and / or downloaded. Can have.

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the package metadata 470 in the ECG metadata 400.
The package metadata 450 includes a billing validity period 451 describing the start date / time and end date / time of billing, a purchase ID 452 for uniquely identifying the package metadata 450, and a target content ID 453 for identifying the content to be purchased of the package metadata 450. Hold.
The package metadata 450 can describe a plurality of packages in one package metadata, and has the following information for each package.

The package name 461, the package price 462, and the description 465 are information for presenting the package contents to the user. The purchase type 463 is information for identifying the purchase form of the package, such as whether the package is a single content purchase, a series batch purchase, or a monthly contract purchase. The distribution type 464 is a content distribution type. Is information for identifying a distribution form such as whether it is streaming distribution, download distribution, or both.
The purchase request URL 466 is information describing an access destination of a server that requests a purchase transaction based on a user's purchase operation.

  That is, the ECG processing unit 52 refers to the content media data 430 or the group metadata 410, presents a search screen, finds the content to be used, and refers to the license metadata 470 of the content. The purchase condition of the content is presented to the user, and the purchase operation is performed according to the package metadata 450. When content streaming playback is instructed on the ECG presented by the ECG processing unit 52, the playback control information 200 is acquired according to the URL described in the content metadata 430, and the AV player 53 plays back the playback control information 200. Streaming playback is performed according to the description content.

  When content download is instructed on the ECG presented by the ECG processing unit 52, the download control information 100 is acquired according to the URL described in the content metadata 430, and the downloader 55 downloads the download control information 100. Download the content according to the description.

FIG. 9 is a configuration example of the download control information 100. The download control information 100 includes download control attribute information 110 describing the contents of the metafile itself, and download execution unit information 150 used to download one or more contents.
The download control information 100 is described by RSS (RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication), for example. The download control information can be created (prepared) for a plurality of arbitrary contents in a certain package, but does not extend over a plurality of packages.

  It is also possible to prepare a plurality of packages for a certain package. However, download control information should be prepared so that all contents in the package can be downloaded. The download control information 100 may be updated, and the receiver checks at regular intervals and updates the difference. In the case of RSS, each content is uniquely identified by an enclosure url.

  The download control information 100 includes a download control information name 111 indicating the name of the corresponding download control information 100 (eg, download reservation name, file name, ID, etc.), and the location of the corresponding download control information 100 (eg, download reservation). The URL on the Internet of the website providing the URL, but not limited to the URL, it may be another address. The same applies to the following. The explanation of the download control information location 112 and the corresponding download control information 100 ( For example, it has information such as a description 113 of download control information indicating a download reservation, a language type, an update check flag 114, an update deadline date 115, and the like.

  The update check flag 114 is a flag for determining whether or not the contents of the download control information 100 on the metadata server 62 have been changed, and whether or not to check periodically. After acquisition, it takes a “single” value that is not periodically checked. The update deadline date and time 115 is valid when the update check flag 114 is “update”, and describes the date and time of the deadline to continue checking the update of the download control information 100.

  The update deadline date 115 indicates a deadline for monitoring content updates. The unit of time limit (day unit, hour unit, minute unit, etc.) is arbitrary. It is also possible to take a value indicating "no expiration", i.e. semi-permanent checking. Further, as another implementation method, a configuration in which the update check flag 114 is omitted by handling a special value (for example, all 0) of the update deadline date and time 115 as a value indicating the update check flag 114 “single” can be realized. .

  A plurality of download execution unit information 150 can be described in the download control information 100. For each content to be downloaded, the title 151 of the distribution content indicating the title of the content (may be a program name or the like, or a file name or ID), description of the content (features, remarks, etc.) A description 152 of the distribution content indicating the distribution date, a distribution date 153 indicating the date and time of distribution (may be in units of days or minutes), a content ID 154 of the distribution content uniquely identifying the content on the Internet, and distribution Content type 155, location 156 of content indicating the acquisition destination URL of distribution content, location 157 of ECG metadata indicating the acquisition destination URL of ECG metadata corresponding to the content, acquisition destination of reproduction control information corresponding to the content Location 158 of reproduction control information indicating URL, distribution The size of the content 159, storage of information such as location 160 of stream reproduction control information indicating the acquisition destination of the URL of the stream reproduction control information 710 for providing such picture playback position information of the content.

  For example, the content ID identifier 154 is described by a character string defined by the schema “CRID: // authority / content_id”, and the authority part is a keyword that uniquely identifies the content distributor on the network. is there. In this embodiment, a domain name managed as a unique name on the Internet is used as authority.

  The content_id after authority / is an ID that uniquely identifies the content within authority, and the format of the character string may be freely operated with authority. Through such operations, it becomes possible to uniquely identify content on the Internet by the content identifier 154, and by accessing the content identifier 154 as a URL on the Internet, the target content and related metadata are acquired. It becomes possible to do.

  The distribution date and time 153 normally describes the date and time when the content is stored in the content server 63 and published. However, when the download control information 100 is distributed, the content is not yet released, and the distribution date and time 153 is scheduled to be distributed. Future date and time may be listed. In addition, once the content of the distributed content is updated, the updated date / time is described in the distribution date / time 153.

  The distribution content type 155 describes the type of video, photo, music, program, multimedia data distributed from the server, for example. The video may be further subdivided into movies, news, sports, etc., and the music may be further subdivided into classical, rock, jazz, etc. types.

  Distribution content metadata is auxiliary information necessary for content playback and execution. Examples include content search genre and keyword information, and, if the content is video information, its thumbnail and chapter information. .

  FIG. 10 shows an example of the configuration of the playback control metafile 200. A configuration of the reproduction control metafile 200 acquired by referring to the download control information 100 will be described.

  The playback control metafile 200 is decrypted by accessing the copyright management server in order to decrypt the content-specific attribute information 210, which is the AV stream information of the content necessary for content playback, and the encrypted content. 3 XML documents including license acquisition information 220 necessary for acquiring a content key and the like, and network control information 230 necessary for reproduction control in the case of streaming VOD. The network control information 230 is not necessary in the case of download distribution.

  The content unique attribute information 210 includes the file name and reference destination 211 of the content main body file, the identification information 212 indicating whether the content is encrypted, the time length 213 of the content, the video encoding method, the resolution / scanning / aspect ratio, etc. It provides video signal attribute information 214, audio signal attribute information 215 such as stereo / mono / multi-channel distinction, and the like.

  The content license acquisition information 220 includes copyright management server address information 221 as a license acquisition destination of the target content, copyright management method type information 223, a license ID 224 indicating the type of copyright protection range attached to the content, copyright Information such as the value 222 of the element to be signed and the reference destination 226, the license usage condition information 225, and the public key certificate 227 necessary for verifying a certain signature for performing server authentication between the management server and the client receiver. I will provide a.

  The network control information 230 includes various streaming server function information such as information 231 on the available streaming protocol method, special playback and content cueing method 232, whether paused playback can be resumed from the middle, In the case where the function allows variable-speed playback in a plurality of stages, information 233 indicating the magnification for each stage and information 234 on the playback method are described.

  As a playback method, a method that prepares and distributes a stream dedicated to variable-speed playback on the server side, a method that realizes pseudo high-speed playback by skipping and playing back still images included in the normal-speed playback stream, etc. Is done.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of the license 300. A configuration of the license 300 that is acquired by referring to the download control information 100, or acquired at the start of content reproduction or export starts will be described.
The license includes a reproduction license 310 that describes a right to view a program and an export license 320 that describes a right to output to an external medium or network.

The license holds the encryption keys 311 and 321 of the contents necessary for combining the contents. In the case of the reproduction license 310, the use start date and time and the use end date 312, the signal output restriction at the time of reproduction and the copy control information 313 are stored. have.
The use start date / time and use end date / time 312 can be designated indefinitely.
In the export license 320, for each exportable medium (or network), use condition information 322 such as copy restriction and analog output restriction when outputting to each medium can be designated.

  The export license 320 can be exported once with one license, and N export licenses 320 are distributed from the DRM server 64 to the receiver 50 so that one content can be exported N times.

Next, an example of a user interface of a receiver application realized based on the above system configuration and data configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 12 is an example of a content search screen 1000 realized by the ECG processing unit 52.
Remote control On this screen activated on this screen, options such as keyword 1001, genre 1002, delivery date 1003, price 1004, provision form 1005, etc. and input fields are prepared. In response, the ECG metadata 400 is searched.

  FIG. 13 is a display example of the search result screen 1100 displayed by the ECG processing unit 52. In this example, a list of search results is displayed, and purchase or details 1104, VOD viewing 1105, and DL related buttons 1106 are displayed as title 1101, provision form 1102, purchase status 1103, and operation buttons for content.

In the provision form column 1102, if the content is provided in the package metadata 450 only by VOD distribution (streaming distribution), “DL” if it is provided only by download distribution, if “DL” is provided by both. It is assumed that “VOD / DL” is displayed. VOD stands for Video On Demand.
In the purchase status column 1103, information managed by the receiver, such as whether the content has been purchased by the user, not purchased, or free content, is presented.

The purchase or detail button 1104 displays a “purchase” button if the content has not been purchased, and displays a “detail” button if the content has been purchased or purchase is not required for free.
The “VOD viewing” button 1105 is displayed only when the content can be viewed by VOD (streaming). When this button is selected, VOD viewing is started.

  The DL-related button 1106 is displayed only for downloadable content, and according to the state, download is instructed, but for content that has not yet been downloaded, a “DL waiting” button that cannot be operated is displayed, and download starts. When the download is completed, “DL viewing” is displayed. When the “DL viewing” button is selected, the downloaded content can be viewed. Even in “in DL”, there may be a receiver that enables viewing of content as long as it is buffered to some extent.

FIG. 14 is an example of a content purchase screen 1200 displayed by the ECG processing unit 52. The content purchase screen 1200 is displayed when the “Purchase” button is selected on the search result screen 1100. Title 1201, content 1202, director 1203, performer 1204, genre 1205, viewing deadline 1206, playback necessary for content purchase When the time and video / audio information 1207, the number of times of export and the output destination information 1208, the provision form option 1209, the price 1210, etc. are presented based on the ECG metadata 400, and the provision form 1209 is selectable, You can choose VOD, download, or both.

In the example of FIG. 14, “VOD” is displayed as being invalid due to a strike-through line, and “Download” is displayed as valid. A check mark indicates that the user has selected “download”.
After the selection, by selecting a “Purchase” button 1223, a content purchase transaction occurs with the distribution system.
When the “Return” button 1224 is selected, the screen returns to the search result screen 1100.

FIG. 15 is an example of a content detail screen 1250 displayed by the ECG processing unit 52. After purchasing the content, the content detail screen 1250 is presented by selecting the “detail” button on the search result screen 1100.
In this screen, the displayed information is almost the same as the content purchase screen 1200, but since it has already been purchased, there is no “Purchase” button 1223. Instead, “VOD viewing” 1220, “download viewing” 1221, “export” 1222 Buttons are displayed, and the buttons are enabled and can be operated for the contents for which the respective functions are effective.
In addition, the provision form 1209 column cannot be selected because it has already been purchased, and only the provision form of the purchased content is displayed. For the contents that can be downloaded and viewed, the download progress status 1211 may be displayed. is there.

  FIG. 16 is an example of a content playback screen 1300 displayed by the ECG processing unit 52. When VOD viewing or download viewing is selected on the content search result screen 1100 or the content detail screen 1250, a content playback screen 1300 is presented.

  On the content playback screen 1300, based on the playback control information 200, the title banner 1302 displays the title of the content 1303, the playback time 1304, and detailed video / audio information 1305. In addition, some receivers 1406 display the current reproduction position in the entire reproduction time depending on the receiver.

FIG. 17 is an example of an export screen 1400 displayed by the ECG processing unit 52. When export is instructed on the content details screen 1250, an export screen 1400 is presented.
On this screen, the content title 1401, capacity 1402, and the like are displayed based on the ECG metadata 400, and allowed output destination options 1403 and the remaining number of exports 1404 managed by the receiver are displayed.
When the user selects an output destination and selects an “export destination check” button 1405, the content to be exported is checked whether it can be recorded on the export destination medium. The cause is displayed in the status column 1407.

When the “Export start” button 1406 is selected, a pre-check is performed in the same manner as when the “Export destination check” button 1405 is selected. If there is a problem, the cause is displayed in the status column 1407. In the case of the “start” button 1406, the export is started if it is normal.
The progress of the export is displayed as a progress status 1406. When the export is completed, an export screen 1400 in which the remaining number of times 1404 is reduced by one is displayed.
If it is desired to cancel the export before the completion of the export and return to the content detail screen 1250, the “Cancel” button 1409 is selected.

As described above, the ECG screen generated by the ECG processing unit 52 is configured.
As another example, the Web document 71 acquired from the Web server 61 can be presented by the browser 51 instead of the ECG processing unit 52, so that content search and reproduction can be performed.

FIG. 18 shows a transition example of the Web document 71 presented on the browser 51.
The browser 51 first displays the content sales portal page 1501 by accepting selection of a home page or bookmark when the browser 51 is activated. Here, when content search is instructed, the browser 51 displays a content list page 1502 of search results, and when content is selected from the search results, a content purchase page 1503 is displayed.

In the content purchase screen 1503, when purchase by the VOD is selected according to the distribution mode in which the distribution mode is selected and the content is purchased, the browser 51 displays the VOD playback start page 1504 and VOD playback is instructed. Then, the playback control metafile 200 is referred to, and the content playback screen of FIG. 16 is displayed.
In addition, when purchase by download is selected on the content purchase screen 1503, the browser 51 displays a download start page 1505. When the download start instruction is issued, the content is downloaded in the background based on the download control information 100. Start.

FIG. 19 shows a local navigation screen 1600 displayed by the browser 51. The status of the content that is downloaded and distributed is displayed on the local navigation screen 1600.
On this screen, a list of contents that have been instructed to be downloaded or contents that have been downloaded are displayed, and a “Purchase” or “Details” button 1604 is displayed as an operation button for the content title 1601, download state 1602, purchase state 1603, and content. Then, a “view” button 1605 is displayed for contents that can be viewed as purchase conditions, and an “export” button 1606 is displayed for contents that can be exported.

  In the download status column 1602, “DL waiting” indicating that the download has been instructed but the download status has been displayed, “DL in progress” in which download is started and the progress status is displayed, “DL completed” in which the download has been completed, and an error has occurred during the download Then, a status display such as “DL error” is displayed.

In the purchase state column 1603, states such as unpurchased, purchased, and free are displayed.
As for the buttons, a “purchase” button is displayed for unpurchased content, and a “details” button is displayed for purchased content. The viewing button becomes valid and can be selected when buffering has progressed to the extent that downloading is complete or playback is possible even during downloading. When the content is ready for export, an “export” button 1606 is displayed as valid and can be selected.

When the “view” button 1605 is selected, the screen transitions to the content viewing screen 1300, and when the “export” button 1606 is selected, the screen transitions to the export screen 1400.
As described above, from the content search to the content reproduction can be performed on the Web site.

Next, the export process will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 20 is a configuration example of an interface portion between the receiver and the removable medium. As the removable medium, for example, a removable HDD such as iVDR (registered trademark) is assumed. However, it is not limited to iVDR.
In the figure, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control.

FIG. 20 shows a configuration example of the stream output processing unit 57 that performs export processing to a removable medium 560 having a copyright protection function. The stream output control unit 57 of the receiver 50 includes a media authentication processing unit 541 that authenticates with removable media, a content key generation unit 543 that generates an encryption key for encrypting content to be transferred to the media, and encrypts content based on the content key. Content encryption processing unit 542, and a key encryption processing unit 544 that encrypts and transfers the generated content key to a removable medium.
The content input to the content encryption processing unit 542 is input from the decryptor 514 or the demultiplexer 521 of the receiver 50.

Note that the media authentication processing unit 541, the content key generation unit 543, the content encryption processing unit 542, and the key encryption processing unit 544 illustrated in FIG. 20 are all or partly integrated as a processing unit that performs each process. It can be realized by hardware by making it into a circuit. In addition, the media authentication processing program 541, the content key generation program 543, the content encryption processing program 542, the key encryption processing program 544 and the like stored in the storage 550 or a storage device such as a memory (not shown) are controlled by a central control (not shown). By processing with an arithmetic processor such as a unit, all or a part of each processing can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

  The removable media 560 connected via the removable I / F 534 receives and decrypts the encrypted content key, the media authentication processing unit 561 that mutually authenticates with the media authentication processing unit 541 of the receiver 50. The key decryption processing unit 563 for extracting the content key and the protected storage area 564 that can be read and written only by the mutually-reliable and reliable receiver 50 indicate the received content key and the usage conditions (the number of copies, the expiration date for use) of the content. Information is stored in association with content.

Here, the number of times of copying indicates the number of recorded contents that can be further copied. If this number is M, M + 1 contents can be used in addition to the original contents body. The use time limit indicates the use time limit of the content on the removable medium, and the following description method is possible.
(1) Relative time from when content is written to removable media, etc. (2) Relative time from first access to content on removable media (3) Absolute use start date / time, use end date / time (any Can also be omitted, and the omitted start date and time and end date and time are considered to be unlimited)
Note that the media authentication processing unit 561 and the key decryption processing unit 563 described in FIG. 20 are realized by hardware by integrating all or part of them as a processing unit for performing each process. Can do. Further, the media authentication processing program 561, the key decryption processing program 563, etc. stored in the data storage area 562, the protected storage area 564, a memory area (not shown), and the like are processed by an arithmetic processor such as a central control unit (not shown). Thus, all or a part of each process can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

The content encrypted by the media encryption processing unit 542 is stored in the data storage area 562 through the removable I / F 534.
It is conceivable that the media authentication processing unit 541 authenticates the reliability of the removable media 560 and authenticates the reliability of both the removable media 560 and the receiver 50 including the removable I / F 534.

  When the mutually authenticated receiver 50 reads the content stored in the removable medium 560, the content key of the content is read from the protected storage area 564, and the encrypted content read from the data storage area 562 is received. It can be used by decrypting the content key using the device 50.

  FIG. 21 is a configuration example of an interface portion between the receiver and the network connection device. FIG. 21 shows a configuration example of the stream output processing unit 57 that performs export processing via a network having a copyright protection function. In this case, the stream output control unit 57 of the receiver 50 generates a communication key for encrypting content based on the communication authentication processing unit 545 that performs mutual authentication with the network connection device and the common key exchanged at the time of authentication. The key generation unit 547 includes a communication encryption processing unit 546 that encrypts content based on the generated communication key and sends out the content via the communication I / F 510.

Note that the communication authentication processing unit 545, the communication encryption processing unit 546, and the communication key generation unit 547 described in FIG. 21 are all integrated into a circuit as a processing unit that performs each processing. It can be realized with wear. Further, the communication authentication processing program 545, the communication encryption processing program 546, the communication key generation program 547, etc. stored in the storage device 550 or a storage device such as a memory (not shown) are processed by an arithmetic processor such as a central control unit (not shown). Thus, all or a part of each processing can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

The network connection device is connected to the network 580 via the communication I / F 571 and communicates with the receiver 50.
The communication authentication processing unit 572 performs mutual authentication with the communication authentication processing unit 545 of the receiver. The communication key generation unit 574 generates a communication key for decrypting the content based on the common key exchanged at the time of authentication. The communication decryption processing unit 573 decrypts the content received via the communication I / F 510 based on the generated communication key.

  In the example of FIG. 21, the content decrypted by the communication decryption processing unit 573 is encrypted by the local encryption processing unit 575 according to the encryption method of the network connection device 570 and stored in the data storage area 578 of the network connection device 570. Saved. The encryption key at this time is generated by the local key generation unit 576, and information indicating the local key corresponding to the content and the usage condition (number of copies, expiration date for use) of the content can be accessed only by a trusted device or software. It is stored in the protected storage area 577.

Note that the communication decryption processing unit 573, the communication key generation unit 574, the local encryption processing unit 575, and the local key generation unit 576 described in FIG. 21 are all or partly integrated as a processing unit that performs each process. It can be realized by hardware by making it into a circuit. Further, a communication decryption processing program 573, a communication key generation program 574, a local encryption processing program 575, a local key generation program 576, etc. stored in the data storage area 578, the protected storage area 577, a memory area (not shown), etc. By performing processing with an arithmetic processor such as a central control unit (not shown), all or part of each processing can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

  In the example of FIG. 21, the network connection device 570 has a device-specific data storage area 578. However, the network connection device 570 has a removable I / F 534 as the receiver 50 of FIG. The content may be transferred to the removable medium 560 via the removable I / F 534. In this case, the configuration of the network connection device 570 conforms to the configuration of the receiver 50 in FIG.

With respect to the example of the receiver corresponding to the content distribution as described above, examples of processing performed by the receiver will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 22 is an example of a processing flow diagram 2000 of the ECG processing unit 52.
The ECG processing unit 52 acquires ECG metadata from the metadata server (2001), converts the acquired ECG metadata into a database that can be easily processed, stores it in the storage (2002), and displays the content search screen 1000. Present (2003).

  Here, search conditions are input and set (2004), and when search execution is instructed, a search result screen 1100 is presented. When an operation for the content is accepted on this screen (2006) and the “purchase button” is selected, the ECG processing unit 52 displays the content purchase screen 1200 (2007). When the user selects purchase conditions and selects a purchase button on this screen (2008), the ECG processing unit 52 displays a content detail display screen 1250 (2009). The content detail display screen 1250 is also displayed by selecting the “detail” button from the search result screen 1100.

  When the user selects the “VOD viewing” button from the search result screen 1100, the AV player is activated and VOD viewing is started (2011). When the “DL viewing” button is selected, the AV player is activated and download viewing is started (2012).

  On the content detail display screen 1250, when the “VOD viewing” button is selected by a user operation, the AV player is activated and VOD viewing is started (2011). When the “DL viewing” button is selected, the AV player is activated and download viewing is started (2012). When the “export” button is selected, the screen transitions to the export screen 1400 (2013).

FIG. 23 is an example of a processing flow of the stream output processing unit 57 when exporting content to the removable medium 560 on the export screen 1400.
After the export screen 1400 is presented (2101), when the user selects an output destination by an operation on the screen (2102) and selects an “export destination check” button, the stream output processing unit 57 sets the output destination. It is checked whether the removable medium 560 is connected (2103). If not connected, an error message indicating unconnected is presented (2110).

  If connected, the media authentication processing unit 541 confirms authentication with the output destination removable medium 560 (2104), and performs a detailed check of the removable medium 560 (2105). If there is no abnormality for writing the content, a result indicating normality is presented (2106). If there is an abnormality, the cause of the error is presented (2110), and the operation returns to the operation accepting state on the export screen (2102). .

  The errors at this time include an authentication error caused by the cause of the removable medium 560 or the receiver 50, an error of insufficient remaining capacity necessary for writing the content, and a speed error of the removable media 560 that does not satisfy the speed necessary for reproducing the content. Various factors are conceivable, such as a storage format error when the file format specified by the removable medium 560 is not suitable for content storage, and a reading / writing error of the removable medium 560.

  When the “start export” button is selected on the export screen 1400, the stream output processing unit 57 checks whether the removable medium 560 is connected to the output destination (2107). If not connected, an error message indicating unconnected is presented (2110). If it is connected, the stream output processing unit 57 next confirms authentication with the output destination removable medium 560 (2108), and performs a detailed check of the output destination removable medium 560 (2109). Here, if there is an abnormality in writing the content, the cause of the error is presented (2110), and the operation reception state of the export screen is returned (2102). If there are no abnormalities, proceed to export processing.

  In the export process, first, the DRM client 54 acquires the export license 320 from the DRM server 64 (2118), and then the content key generation unit 543 generates a content key (2111). The key encryption processing unit 544 encrypts the key and exchanges the key with the output destination removable medium 560 (2112). Also, the content key generation unit 543 sets a content key in the content encryption processing unit 542 (2113). The content encryption processing unit 542 executes export processing to the removable medium 560 (2114).

  When the export is completed (2115), in the export end process (2116), the media authentication processing unit 561 performs processing such as saving the content key and content usage condition information to the removable medium 560, and updating the file management information. In other receivers and the like, the removable medium 560 can be read and written. Before the export is completed, if the user's cancel instruction or the removable media 560 is abnormal and the export is not completed normally, the cause of abnormal termination is presented (2117), and the export screen is displayed again ( 2101).

FIG. 24 is an example of a processing flow of the stream output processing unit 57 when exporting to the network connection device 570 on the export screen 1400.
After presenting the export screen 1400 (2201), when an output destination is selected by an operation on the screen (2202) and the “export destination check” button is selected, the communication authentication processing unit 545 connects to the output destination via a network. It is checked whether or not the device 570 is connected (2203). If not connected, an error message indicating unconnected is displayed (2210). If connected, the communication authentication processing unit 545 next confirms authentication with the network connection device 570 that is the output destination (2204), and performs a detailed check of the network connection device 570 (2105). If there is no abnormality for writing the content, a normal result is presented (2106). If there is an abnormality, the cause of the error is presented (2110), and the operation returns to the operation accepting state on the export screen (2102).

  Similar to the export to the removable medium 560, the error in this case is also an authentication error caused by the cause on the network connection device 570 or the receiver 50 side, an error of insufficient remaining capacity on the network connection device 570 side necessary for storing the content, Various errors such as a speed error of the network connection device 570 that does not satisfy the speed required for playback, a storage format error when the file format specified by the network connection device 570 is not suitable for storing contents, a device abnormality of the network connection device 570, etc. There are various factors.

  When the “start export” button is selected on the export screen 1400, the communication authentication processing unit 545 checks whether the removable medium 560 is connected to the output destination (2207). If not connected, an error message indicating unconnected is displayed (2210). If connected, next, the communication authentication processing unit 545 confirms the authentication with the output destination network connection device 570 (2208), and performs a detailed check of the output destination network connection device 570 (2209). Here, if there is an abnormality in writing the content, the cause of the error is presented (2210), and the operation reception state of the export screen is returned (2202). If there is no abnormality, the process proceeds to the export process.

  In the export process, first, the DRM client 54 acquires the export license 320 from the DRM server 64 (2218), and the communication key generated based on the key exchanged at the time of mutual authentication by the communication authentication processing unit 545 is converted into the communication encryption processing unit. The communication encryption processing unit 546 executes export processing to the network connection device 570 (2214).

  When the export is completed (2215), processing such as closing the communication session is performed in the export end processing (2216). Before the export is completed, if a user cancel instruction or an abnormality of the network connection device 570 occurs and the export is not completed normally, the cause of the abnormal termination is presented (2217), and the display returns to the export screen presentation. (2201).

FIG. 25 is an example of a processing flow diagram of the ECG processing unit 52 on the local navigation screen 1600 of FIG.
In the local navigation screen 1600, the ECG processing unit 52 reads the ECG metadata of the content of download distribution stored in a storage unit (not shown) (2301), and presents the local navigation screen 1600 based on the information (2302).

  In this state, the user's operation is accepted (2303), and when the “Purchase” button is selected, the ECG processing unit 52 displays the content purchase screen 1200 (2304). When the user selects purchase conditions on this screen and selects a purchase button (2305), the ECG processing unit 52 displays a content detail display screen 1250 (2306). The content detail display screen 1250 is also displayed by selecting a “detail” button from the local navigation screen 1600.

When the “view” button is selected from the local navigation screen 1600, the ECG processing unit 52 activates the AV player 53 to start downloading and viewing (2308). When the “export” button is selected, the export screen 1400 is displayed. (2309).
Even on the content detail display screen, when the “view” button is selected by the user's operation (2307), the AV player 53 is activated and download viewing is started (2308). When the “export” button is selected, the export screen is displayed. A transition is made to 1400 (2309).

  According to the above-described implementation, the receiver 50 can be connected from the distribution system 60 connected via the network via the ECG displayed on the ECG processing unit 52, the Web screen displayed on the browser 51, or the local navigation 1600. Content can be acquired and viewed.

  In FIGS. 22 and 25, the case where content is viewed or exported using the content search screen generated by the ECG processing unit 52 or the local navigation screen has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The browser 51 may generate a content search screen or a local navigation screen and perform similar processing, or the AV player 53 may generate a content search screen or a local navigation screen and perform similar processing. .

Another example of the removable medium used by the receiver 50 is shown in FIGS.
FIG. 26 shows an example in which the removable medium is an optical disk medium. A media drive 580 is connected to the removable medium I / F 534, and the removable medium 585 is inserted into the media drive 580, and the Can read and write.

The stream output processing unit 57 includes a drive authentication processing unit 551, a content key generation unit 548, a key read / write processing unit 548, and a content encryption processing unit 550.
When a removable medium 585 having a copyright protection function is inserted into a media drive 580 having a copyright protection function, it is possible to read and write the copyright-protected content, but the stream output control unit 57 of the receiver 50 Performs authentication processing between the authentication processing unit 581 of the media drive 580 and the drive authentication processing unit 551 as to whether or not the removable media 585 and the media drive 580 support copyright protection.

  After the authentication is established, the key generated by the content key generation unit 548 is set in the content encryption processing unit 550, the content is encrypted and written to the removable medium 585, and the key is encrypted to the removable medium 585 through the key read / write processing unit 549. Information indicating the media key used for conversion and content usage conditions (number of copies, expiration date for use) is written.

Note that the drive authentication processing unit 551, the content key generation unit 548, the content encryption processing unit 550, and the key read / write processing unit 549 illustrated in FIG. 26 are all or partly integrated as a processing unit that performs each process. It can be realized by hardware by making it into a circuit. Further, a central control (not shown) controls a drive authentication processing program 551, a content key generation program 548, a content encryption processing program 550, a key read / write processing program 549, etc. stored in a storage device such as the storage 550 or a memory (not shown). By processing with an arithmetic processor such as a unit, all or a part of each processing can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

Note that the media read / write unit 582 and the authentication processing unit 581 illustrated in FIG. 26 can be realized by hardware by integrating all or part of them as a processing unit that performs each processing. . Further, the media read / write program 582, the authentication processing program 581 and the like stored in a memory area (not shown) are processed by an arithmetic processor such as a central control unit (not shown) so that all or a part of each processing can be performed by software. Can also be realized.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

FIG. 27 shows an example in which the removable medium is a memory card. A removable medium 590 is directly connected to the removable medium I / F 534.
The stream output processing unit 57 includes a drive authentication processing unit 552, a content key generation unit 553, a key read / write processing unit 554, and a content encryption processing unit 555.

  The direct removable medium 590 includes a general data storage area 591 and a protected storage area 592 that holds a key for encrypting data, and the drive authentication processing unit 552 protects whether the removable medium 590 is copyright protection-compatible. Judgment is made based on the presence / absence of the storage area 592, and after the authentication is established, the key generated by the content key generation unit 553 is set in the content encryption processing unit 555, and the content is encrypted and written to the data storage area 591 of the removable medium 590 Then, through the key read / write processing unit 554, the media key used in the protected storage area 592 and information indicating the usage conditions (the number of copies and the expiration date for use) are stored.

Note that the media authentication processing unit 552, the content key generation unit 553, the content encryption processing unit 555, and the key read / write processing unit 554 illustrated in FIG. 27 are all or partly integrated as a processing unit that performs each process. It can be realized by hardware by making it into a circuit. Further, the media authentication processing program 552, the content key generation program 553, the content encryption processing program 555, the key read / write processing program 554, etc. stored in the storage 550 or a storage device such as a memory (not shown) are controlled by a central control (not shown). By processing with an arithmetic processor such as a unit, all or a part of each processing can be realized by software.
In order to simplify the description, each process realized by executing various programs by the central control unit or the like is described mainly with respect to each processing unit realized by the program. When each processing unit is realized by hardware, each processing unit mainly performs each process.

  According to the above embodiment, the receiver 50 can export the copyright-protected content of the received content 75 to various forms of removable media.

  In this embodiment, an example of a distribution system that downloads and distributes video content including 3D video and a receiver that receives and plays back the video content will be described.

  The present embodiment mainly describes a receiver and is suitable for implementation in a receiver, but does not hinder application to other than the receiver. Moreover, it is not necessary to employ all the configurations of the embodiment, and can be selected.

The configuration of the video content distribution system may be the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2 as in the first embodiment.
The configuration of the receiver may be the same as in FIG. 3 as in the first embodiment. However, if the input video content is 3D video, the video decoder 522 decodes the content and reproduces it as 3D video, and the video output I Must be able to output to / F.

  Operations such as video content search, detailed information browsing, purchase, and download instruction are performed by operating the Web document 71 acquired from the Web server 61 via the browser 51, or as shown in FIGS. The ECG metadata 400 is received, and the ECG processing unit 52 performs an operation.

  When a download instruction is issued from the Web document 71 or the ECG processing unit 52, the receiver acquires 3D-compatible download control information 700 from the metadata server 62.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the 3D-compatible download control information 700. The constituent elements of the 3D-compatible download control information 700 are obtained by adding the location 161 of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information to the download execution unit information 150 of the download control information 100 of FIG.
The location 160 of the stream playback control information describes the acquisition destination URL when acquiring the 2D video content stream playback control information 710 described later with reference to FIG. 29 via the Internet. On the other hand, the location 161 of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information describes the acquisition URL of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information described later with reference to FIG. 31 corresponding to the video content including the 3D video.

  The stream reproduction control information 710 will be described with reference to FIG. The stream reproduction control information 710 includes, as stream attribute information 510, reproduction time 511, reproduction bit rate 512, information of various information packet IDs 513 such as video, audio, and subtitles, and the number 514 of video, audio, and subtitle components included in the content. , Format identification 515 indicating video, audio, subtitle component data format, skip reproduction prohibition section information 516 for designating a time zone in which video can be prohibited from being skipped, and the head position of the stream as access unit position information 520 Time information position 521, time information value 522 at the start position of the stream, time information value 523 at the end position of the stream, and the total number of access units 524 included in the stream, each of the numbers specified by the total number of access units 524 Against the access unit , Access unit beginning of time information values 525, the access unit beginning of packet number 526, to hold the packet number 527 of the access unit.

  FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a video stream. Hereinafter, specific meanings indicated by the fields of the access unit position information 520 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in the figure, the video stream is composed of a combination of I, B, and P video pictures, and the I picture is a video picture that can be decoded as a single video. Is a picture format having the picture images before and after the I picture as difference information from the I picture, and cannot be decoded alone, but is decoded in combination with the information of the I picture.

  For this reason, when a video stream is reproduced from the middle, it cannot be reproduced from a B picture or a P picture, and is preferably reproduced from an I picture.

  For this reason, a group of an I picture most suitable for cueing a video and a B picture and a P picture of difference information between them is referred to as an access unit.

  The picture included in the access unit has time information for reproducing the video as time information value from the head of the stream as accompanying information, and on the basis of this time information, the video decoder 522 performs smooth synchronization synchronized with the time. Perform video playback.

  Such a video stream is transmitted as video packets after being divided into packets of a fixed length. Each video packet is assigned a packet number from the beginning of the stream in order, and the video packet is cued by the packet number. .

  Each field of the access unit position information 520 in FIG. 29 represents the information shown in FIG. 30 as the configuration of the video picture.

An example of the data structure of the 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720 will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration of the 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720 corresponding to video content including 3D video is as follows. The attribute information 510 of the stream playback control information 710 in FIG. 29 includes version management information 517 and 3D system information 518 indicating the 3D video encoding system. And 3D / 2D identification information 528 for each access unit is added to the access unit position information 520.
The 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720 holds the 3D / 2D identification information 528 for each access unit, thereby determining whether or not the picture is a 3D video even when playing back from any I picture in the stream. Is possible.

The flow from content download to playback will be described below.
The overall processing flow when downloading content and playing back the downloaded content at the receiver is the same as that in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment.

  When content download is instructed from the browser 51 or the ECG processing unit 52, the web document 71 and the link indicated by the ECG metadata 400 are traced to obtain the download control information 100, and the downloader 55 is downloaded according to the contents of the download control information 100. When the content includes 3D video, 3D-compatible download control information 700 is linked from the Web document 71 and ECG metadata 400 instead of the download control information 100, and the downloader 55 downloads the 3D-compatible download control information. Based on the contents of 700, the ECG metadata 400, the playback control metafile 200, the stream playback control information 710, and the content 75 of the content to be downloaded are acquired and stored in the storage 550.

  If the downloader 55 refers to the 3D-compatible download control information 700 and the location 161 of the 3D-compatible stream playback control information is described, the description of the location 160 of the stream playback control information is ignored, and the 3D-compatible stream playback control information The 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720 indicated by the location 161 is acquired.

  The processing flow of content reproduction and export stored in the storage 550 is the same as that in FIG. 25 of the first embodiment.

  The AV player 53 activated in block 2308 decodes the data read from the storage 550 and reproduces video, audio, and subtitles.

  For normal speed playback, the AV player 53 need only code the video stream data sequentially. For example, fast playback at fast speed, skip playback every few minutes, jump to a preset chapter position, etc. When special playback such as the above is instructed by the user, playback from the access unit in the middle of the video stream is required.

  In this case, the AV player 53 refers to the stream reproduction control information 710, acquires the position information of the access unit that needs to be reproduced by special reproduction, and starts decoding from the I picture of the access unit. As a result, complete video playback can be started promptly regardless of any special playback.

  When performing special playback of video content including 3D video, the AV player 53 refers to the 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720, and simultaneously acquires the position information of an access unit that needs to be played back by special playback. When the access unit 3D / 2D identification information 528 of the access unit is acquired and the identification information is 2D, decoding is started from the I picture of the access unit as 2D video, and the video output interface is also in the 2D output state. Set to. If the identification information is 3D, decoding is started from the I picture of the access unit as 3D video, and the video output interface is also set to the 3D output state.

  As a result, even if a special playback operation is performed, even a video content in which 2D and 3D are mixed can be played back without disturbing the screen display.

  In the present embodiment, another embodiment of a distribution system that downloads and distributes video content including 3D video and a receiver that receives and plays back the video content will be described.

Example 3 differs from Example 2 in the following points.
First, instead of the 3D-compatible stream playback control information 720 transmitted when distributing content including 3D video, the stream playback control information 710 and the 3D stream identification information 730 in FIG. 32 are combined.

  FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the 3D identification information 730. The 3D stream identification information 730 is a table that independently holds only the access unit 3D / 2D identification information 528 for each access unit, which is increased when the stream reproduction control information 710 is expanded to the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information 720. Yes, after the total number of access units 524, the access unit 3D / 2D identification information 528 is stored in order from the head of the access unit.

  The location 161 of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information of the 3D-compatible download control information 700 describes the acquisition destination URL of the 3D stream identification information 730 instead of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information 720, and the downloader 55 downloads the 3D-compatible download control information. With reference to the information 700, the stream reproduction control information 710 indicated by the location 160 of the stream reproduction control information is acquired, and the 3D stream identification information 730 indicated by the location 161 of the 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information is acquired.

  The playback process of the content stored in the storage 550 is basically the same as that of the second embodiment, but the AV player 53 refers to the stream playback control information 710 when special playback of video content including 3D video is performed. In addition, the position information of the access unit that needs to be played back by special playback is acquired, and the 3D stream identification information 730 is referenced to obtain the access unit 3D / 2D identification information 528 of the access unit. If it is 2D, decoding is started from the I picture of the access unit as 2D video, and the video output interface is also set to the 2D output state. If the identification information is 3D, decoding is started from the I picture of the access unit as 3D video, and the video output interface is also set to the 3D output state.

  As a result, as in the second embodiment, even if special reproduction operation is performed, even in the case of video content in which 2D and 3D are mixed, it is possible to perform reproduction without disturbing the screen display. Furthermore, even when distributing video content including 3D video, the data structure of the stream reproduction control information 710 can be reused without changing the difference information necessary for including 3D video as a separate file. There is an advantage that the malfunction of an existing receiver that does not support 3D can be suppressed, and the number of development steps can be reduced when a receiver that does not support 3D is upgraded to a receiver that supports 3D.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. In addition, a part of the configuration of a certain embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of a certain embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

  Each of the above-described configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, and the like may be realized by hardware by designing a part or all of them with, for example, an integrated circuit. Each of the above-described configurations, functions, and the like may be realized by software by interpreting and executing a program that realizes each function by the processor. Information such as programs, tables, and files for realizing each function can be stored in a recording device such as a memory, a hard disk, an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a recording medium such as an IC card, an SD card, or a DVD.

  Further, the control lines and information lines indicate what is considered necessary for the explanation, and not all the control lines and information lines on the product are necessarily shown. Actually, it may be considered that almost all the components are connected to each other.

50 receiver 51 browser 52 ECG processing unit 53 AV player 55 downloader 56 local navigation 57 stream output control unit 60 distribution system 100 download control information 200 reproduction control metafile 300 license 400 ECG metadata 510 storage 560 removable media 570 network connection device 700 3D-compatible download control information 710 Stream reproduction control information 720 3D-compatible stream reproduction control information 730 3D stream identification information

Claims (2)

Download describing at least each acquisition destination information of video content, metadata describing content attribute information, stream playback control information describing each picture position on the content file, and video content playback control information Download control unit that receives control information via a network, downloads the video content, the metadata, the stream playback control information, and the playback control information according to the description of the download control information, and stores them in a storage medium When,
An ECG processing unit that searches for content stored in the storage medium based on the metadata;
A content including a playback control unit that performs special playback such as normal playback, fast forward, fast reverse, and skip playback based on the playback control information and the stream playback control information, based on the content selected by the ECG processing unit. A receiver,
When the content is stereoscopic video content, read out acquisition destination information of the stereoscopic video stream identification information further described in the download control information,
Acquiring the stream reproduction control information according to the download control information, and acquiring the stereoscopic video stream identification information from the network according to the acquisition destination information of the read stereoscopic video stream identification information.
A content receiver. The content receiver of claim 1,
The video stream identification information further describes stereoscopic video information indicating whether each picture of the video content is a stereoscopic video,
The playback control unit displays the stereoscopic video of the picture when the stereoscopic video information for each picture is a stereoscopic video during the special playback.
A content receiver.

Images