JP2012243239A - Service provision system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service provision system capable of improving reaction to operation input of a user and smoothly providing a service.SOLUTION: A server comprises command prediction means for, when a control command for instructing a prescribed instruction transmitted from a client device is received, determining a prediction command which is a control command corresponding to the received control command, and distribution data generation means for generating distribution data corresponding to the received control command and prediction distribution data corresponding to the prediction command. The client device includes service provision means for providing a service using the prediction distribution data when new operation input related to the prediction command is performed after the transmission of the control command.

Description

  The present invention relates to a service providing system that provides a predetermined service, and more particularly, to a service providing system configured by connecting a server and a client device to a network.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a service providing system that provides a predetermined service by connecting a server and a client device through a network is known. In this service providing system, the host server records data related to the service, and when the client device transmits a control command for distributing this data to the host server, the host server transmits the data to the client device. Distribution is performed (for example, refer to Patent Documents 1-3).

  Some service providing systems having the above-described configuration include a host server (so-called cloud type) that performs all processing related to services on the host server side. For example, when the user performs an operation input for switching the currently distributed data by operating the remote control device, the client device generates a control command and transmits the control command to the host server via the network. Upon receiving this control command, the host server internally generates data corresponding to the switching and distributes it to the client device via the network.

JP 2007-37038 A JP 2007-124080 A JP 2008-33407 A

  In the service providing system including the cloud type host server as described above, each time an operation input is performed, the host server needs to perform processing according to the operation input, which causes a delay time for the operation input by the user. Let For this reason, there are cases where this delay time hinders the provision of a smooth service.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a service providing system capable of improving a response to a user's operation input and providing a smooth service.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, in a service providing system for providing a service using the distribution data, the server includes a server for generating distribution data and a client device connected to the server through a network. The server, when receiving a control command for instructing a predetermined command transmitted from the client device, command prediction means for determining a prediction command that is a control command associated with the received control command; Distribution data generation means for generating distribution data corresponding to the received control command and predicted distribution data corresponding to the prediction command, and the client device relates to the prediction command after transmitting the control command When a new operation input is made, the predicted delivery data is It is constituted with a service providing means for providing the service are.

  In the invention configured as described above, when the server receives a control command for instructing a predetermined command transmitted from the client device by the command prediction unit, the control associated with the received control command. A prediction command that is a command is determined, and distribution data generation means generates distribution data corresponding to the received control command and predicted distribution data corresponding to the prediction command. On the other hand, in the client device, when a new operation input related to the prediction command is performed after the transmission of the control command, the service providing unit provides the service using the predicted distribution data.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the operation input is predicted in advance, the client device provides the service using the predicted distribution data generated in advance. The response to the operation input can be improved, and a smooth service can be provided.

1 is a block configuration diagram of a service providing system 10. FIG. It is a block block diagram of a host server. It is a block block diagram of a client apparatus. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by a client device 30. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by a host server 20. It is a figure explaining the correlation of the control command in the prediction command reference table T2. It is a figure explaining the delivery data delivered from the host server. 3 is a flowchart showing processing in the service providing system 10; It is a flowchart which shows the process which the client apparatus 30 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process which the host server 20 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment performs. It is a figure explaining the delivery data which concern on 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
1. First embodiment:
2. Second embodiment:
3. Other embodiments:

1. First embodiment:
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a service providing system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of the service providing system 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the host server. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the client device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the service providing system 10 is configured by connecting a host server 20 and a client device 30 through a network N. The client device 30 includes a remote control device 38 that receives an operation input from a user, and the user operates the remote control device 38 to receive a service from the host server 20. The host server 20 is realized by a so-called cloud type server that executes processing related to a service therein. Therefore, distribution data is generated or processed according to a predetermined control command transmitted from the client device 30 and provided to the client device 30. In the present embodiment, an example of a service provided by the host server 20 will be described based on video distribution via the network N.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the host server 20 is configured by a PC, for example, and includes a communication control unit 21, a demodulation unit 22, a recording unit 23, a modulation unit 24, and a control unit 25. Yes. In addition, each unit constituting the host server 20 is connected via a bus and is subjected to integrated control by the control unit 25.

  The communication control unit 21 establishes a connection through the network N with an external device (for example, a client device). Specifically, the communication control unit 21 performs various processes for communicating various data (delivery data, control commands) transmitted / received to / from the client device 30 via the network. Therefore, various data output from the communication control unit 21 are demodulated by the demodulation unit 22 and recorded in the recording unit 23. On the other hand, when various types of data are output to the network N, the modulation unit 24 modulates the data and then outputs the data from the communication control unit 21 to the network N.

  The control unit 25 includes a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM, and performs integrated control in the host server 20. The ROM stores a program for the CPU to perform various processes, and the CPU expands and executes the program on the RAM, whereby a predetermined process in the control unit 25 is executed. As an example, the control unit 25 analyzes a control command, and generates and edits distribution data according to the control command. The ROM stores a command table T1 for the control unit 25 to execute a process associated with the control command, and a prediction command reference table T2 for referring to a prediction command associated with the control command. .

  The recording unit 23 is a large-capacity recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), for example, and records various data for executing services performed by the host server 20. For example, the recording unit 23 records distribution data distributed to the client device 30 at the time of service provision and original data that is the source of the distribution data. The distribution data is configured, for example, in a data format conforming to the MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) standard.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the client device 30 is realized by a display device such as a television receiver, and includes a communication control unit 31, a demodulation unit 32, a modulation unit 33, a control unit 34, a main memory 35, A back end portion 36 and a display panel 37 are provided. Each unit other than the display panel 37 is connected via a bus and receives integrated control from the control unit 34.

  The communication control unit 31, the demodulation unit 32, and the modulation unit 33 have the same functions as the communication control unit 21, the demodulation unit 22, and the modulation unit 24 in the host server 20. Therefore, the client device 30 includes the communication control unit 31, the demodulation unit 32, and the modulation unit 33, thereby enabling communication of data and the like via the network N with the host server 20.

  The main memory 35 is realized by a volatile memory such as a RAM, for example. In the present embodiment, in particular, distribution data distributed from the host server 20 is recorded in the main memory 35 and sequentially output to the back-end unit 36.

  The control unit 34 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a remote control reception unit. The remote control receiver converts the infrared signal transmitted from the remote control device 38 into an operation input signal and outputs it to the CPU. Similarly to the host server 20, the ROM stores a command table T1 and a predicted command reference table T2, and the control unit 34 determines a control command and a predicted command associated with the control command from an operation input. be able to.

  The back end unit 36 performs a drawing process for driving the display panel 37 based on the distribution data input via the network N. As an example of the drawing process, the back end unit 36 performs predetermined image quality adjustment on the video data extracted from the distribution data. The back-end unit 36 is connected to the display panel 37 on the output side, and outputs the processed video data to the display panel 37 to display the video.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by the client device 30. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing executed by the host server 20. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining association of control commands in the prediction command reference table T2. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining distribution data distributed from the host server 20. Hereinafter, processing related to video distribution in the service providing system 10 will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 4, when the user operates the remote control device 38 and performs an operation input for receiving the provision of service, in the client device 30, the control unit 34 receives an infrared signal corresponding to the operation input (step (S10: YES), the control command corresponding to this operation input is analyzed. At this time, the control unit 34 refers to the command table T1 and the predicted command reference table T2, and determines a control command and a predicted command corresponding to the operation input (step S11).

  When the input operation input is not a control command related to the predicted distribution data that has already been received (step S11: NO), the control unit 34 generates a control command and transmits it to the host server 20 (step S12). Hereinafter, a case where the control command generated by the client device 30 requests the host server 20 to distribute video will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 5, when receiving a control command through the network N (step S20: YES), the host server 20 analyzes this control command (step S21). In the present embodiment, the control unit 25 of the host server 20 analyzes the received control command with reference to the command table T1.

  When the analyzed control command does not request service stop (step S22: NO), the control unit 25 refers to the predicted command reference table T2 and determines the predicted command associated with the analyzed control command. (Step S23). When the control command is a request for stopping the service (step S22: YES), the control unit 25 stops the service (step S26).

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the predicted command reference table T2, a predetermined control command and a control command that the user will subsequently input when this control command is generated are recorded in association with each other as a predicted command. ing. For example, when the control command received by the host server 20 is a video distribution request (hereinafter also simply referred to as “playback”), the control command for instructing “fast-forward” of the video in the prediction command reference table T2. And a control command for instructing “rewinding” and a control command for instructing “pause” are recorded in association with each other. Each control command shown here is an example. As described above, the command predicting means according to the present invention is realized by the processing of step S23.

  In addition, in the case of a control command for instructing display of a predetermined OSD image, the predicted command reference table T2 is associated with a control command related to the changed OSD image corresponding to the operation of the remote control device 38 by the user. It is recorded.

  The control unit 25 of the host server 20 creates distribution data from the original data based on the analyzed control command and each prediction command associated with the control command (step S24). That is, when the control command is related to “playback”, video data to be played back is generated from the original data, and further, “fast forward”, “rewind”, “pause” associated with the prediction command reference table T2. Is generated from the original data corresponding to each prediction command. Hereinafter, data generated according to the prediction command is also referred to as predicted distribution data.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 25 divides the distribution data and the predicted distribution data for each packet, and synthesizes these packets to generate stream data. For example, the distribution data corresponding to the control command received by the host server 20 is stored in the packet P1, and the predicted distribution data corresponding to the prediction command is stored in the packets P2 to P4. It is assumed that which distribution data (predicted distribution data) is stored in which packet between the client device 30 and the host server. For example, the host server 20 may create a table that defines the relationship with the predicted delivery data, and record this table in the first packet of the stream data. As described above, the distribution data generation means according to the present invention is realized by the processing of step S24.

  When each data corresponds to the MPEG system, a plurality of frames of data are stored in the packet. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the data stored in the packet may be stored in a data division other than a frame unit. Further, the predicted distribution data does not necessarily need to be stored in the same stream data as the distribution data related to the associated control command, but is sequentially stored and transmitted in packets of stream data distributed at predetermined intervals. It may be.

  And the control part 25 transmits the stream data created by controlling the communication control part 21 to the client apparatus 30 via the network N at any time (step S25). That is, the host server 20 transmits stream data in which distribution data corresponding to the analyzed control command and predicted distribution data associated with the control command are stored in a predetermined cycle. The stream data is configured with the same packet configuration until a new control command is transmitted from the client device 30. For example, when transmitting distribution data related to “playback”, each packet changes in time series “playback” and “fast forward” until the host server receives a new control command and changes the distribution data. , “Rewind” and “Pause” distribution data (predicted distribution data) are stored and transmitted. Needless to say, in the predicted delivery data related to “fast forward” and “rewind”, it goes without saying that the combination of frames and the direction of time series are different.

  When the client device 30 receives the stream data to the main memory 35 via the network N (step S13: YES), the client device 30 demodulates the stream data and extracts the distribution data corresponding to the control data transmitted from the predetermined packet (step S14). . Here, since the client device 30 has transmitted a control command related to “playback” in step S12, distribution data corresponding to this control command is extracted from the packet P1.

  Then, the client device 30 performs a drawing process to display the extracted distribution data (step S15). In the drawing process, the distribution data is subjected to image quality adjustment by the back-end unit 36, and then digital-to-analog conversion is performed by the display panel 37 to display an image. Since the stream data is updated to a new one every time the next stream data is recorded in the main memory 35, the distribution data related to “fast forward”, “rewind”, and “pause” that was not used at this stage. Will be disposed of. Hereinafter, in the processing from step S12 to step S15, an operation input relating to “stop” is input to the client device 30 (step S19: YES) or a new operation input other than the stop is present (step S10: YES). Repeated.

  On the other hand, when the user operates the remote control device 38 in a state where video distribution is being performed from the host server 20 and performs a new operation input indicating “fast forward” of the distribution video (step S10: YES), the client The device 30 analyzes this operation input and determines whether or not this operation input (control command) is associated with the previously generated control command (step S11). For example, the control unit 34 makes this determination with reference to the prediction command reference table T2.

  As described above, since the predicted delivery data related to “fast forward” is associated with the delivery data related to “playback” (step S11: YES), the corresponding predicted delivery data is sequentially recorded in the main memory 35. Yes. Therefore, the control unit 34 extracts the predicted distribution data corresponding to “fast forward” from the stream data packet recorded in the main memory 35 (step S16).

  The client device 30 performs a drawing process on the extracted distribution data and displays it as a video (step S17). Therefore, when the user performs an operation input related to “fast forward”, the client device 30 performs a drawing process without generating and transmitting a control command to the host server 20 and performs “fast forward” on the display panel 37. The video concerning is displayed. As described above, the service providing means according to the present invention is realized.

  Thereafter, the control unit 34 of the client device 30 transmits to the host server 20 via the network N that the control command related to the operation input has been switched (step S18). Therefore, the host server 20 determines that the control command has been switched by receiving the control command (steps S20 and S21), and the stream data (“fast forward” control command for the new control command (in this case “fast forward”)) Is generated and transmitted (steps S22 to S25). Of course, since the received control command relates to “fast forward”, the host server 20 may create and transmit stream data without changing the current stream data.

  Hereinafter, the effects according to the present invention will be described by comparison with conventional processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing in the service providing system 10. Here, FIG. 8A shows processing in a conventional service providing system. FIG. 8B shows processing in the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In the process of the conventional service providing system, when a user inputs an operation, a control command is sequentially transmitted from the client device 30. The host server 20 analyzes the control command, analyzes the control command, and then distributes the distribution data. Had sent.

  On the other hand, in the service providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, when a control command is transmitted from the client device 30, a process related to the control command is predicted, and distribution data is also generated for the predicted process. . For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8B, when an input for instructing the client device 30 to switch video or the like is performed next time, if this input is predicted, the already generated distribution data is diverted. By performing the drawing process, the process of transmitting a control command from the client device 30 to the host server 20 until the drawing process is performed, the process of analyzing the control command by the host server 20, and the distribution data Can be omitted. Therefore, when the operation input is predicted in advance, it is possible to shorten the time from the user performing the operation input to performing the drawing process (providing the service) compared to the conventional one. Become

2. Second embodiment:
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the client device 30 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by the host server 20 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining distribution data according to the second embodiment. In the service providing system 10 according to the second embodiment, the host server 20 creates a file corresponding to the control command, and the client device 30 sequentially accesses the file, thereby providing the service to the user. The configuration differs from that of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 9, when the user operates the remote control device 38 and performs an operation input for receiving the provision of service, in the client device 30, the control unit 34 receives an infrared signal corresponding to the operation input (step If the input operation input is not a predicted command related to the control command that has already been received (step S111: NO), the control unit 34 generates a control command and transmits it to the host server 20 (S110: YES). Step S112).

  In FIG. 10, when receiving a control command through the network N (step S120: YES), the host server 20 analyzes this control command (step S121). When the analyzed control command does not request a service stop (step S122: NO), the control unit 25 refers to the predicted command reference table T2 and determines a predicted command associated with the analyzed control command. (Step S123).

  Like the first embodiment, the prediction command reference table T2 according to the second embodiment predicts a predetermined control command and a control command that the user will subsequently input when the control command is generated. It is recorded as a command.

  The control unit 25 of the host server 20 creates file data from the original data based on the analyzed control command and each prediction command associated with the control command (step S124). As shown in FIG. 11, the host server 20 according to the second embodiment creates distribution data in a file format and records it in the recording unit 23. That is, when the control command relates to “reproduction”, the distribution data to be reproduced is recorded in the recording unit 23 as the file F1. Similarly, distribution data corresponding to each of the “fast forward”, “rewind”, and “pause” prediction commands associated with the prediction command reference table T2 is also recorded in the recording unit 23 as prediction files F2, F3, and F4, respectively. The

  In FIG. 9, the client device 30 accesses the host server 20 via the network N, and downloads the file data corresponding to the transmitted control command among the created file data to the main memory 35 via the network N. (Step S113: YES). For example, in the second embodiment, the client device 30 downloads only the file F1 related to “playback” and does not download other predicted file data. Thereafter, the client device 30 demodulates the downloaded file data, and extracts distribution data included in the file data (here, the file F1) corresponding to the control command (step S114).

  Then, the client device 30 performs a drawing process to display the extracted distribution data (step S115). Hereinafter, in the processing from step S112 to S115, until the operation input related to “stop” is input to the client device 30 (step S119: YES) or there is a new operation input other than stop (step S110: YES). Repeated.

  On the other hand, when the user operates the remote control device 38 in a state where video distribution is being performed from the host server 20 and performs a new operation input indicating “fast forward” of the distribution video (step S110: YES), the client The device 30 analyzes this operation input and determines whether or not this operation input (control command) is associated with the previous control command (step S111). For example, the control unit 34 refers to the prediction command reference table T2 and determines whether the newly generated control command is associated with the previously generated control command.

  As described above, since the predicted distribution data related to “fast forward” is associated with the distribution data related to “playback” (step S111: YES), the control unit 34 accesses the host server 20 and records the recording unit 23. The prediction file F2 corresponding to “fast forward” is downloaded from the prediction files recorded in (Step S116).

  The client device 30 performs drawing processing on the distribution data included in the downloaded prediction file and displays it as a video (step S117). Therefore, when the user performs an operation input related to “fast forward”, the client device 30 downloads a prediction file to the host server 20 without generating and transmitting a control command related to “fast forward”, An image related to “fast forward” is displayed on the display panel 37.

  Thereafter, the control unit 34 of the client device 30 transmits to the host server 20 via the network N that the control command related to the operation input has been switched (step S118). Therefore, the host server 20 determines that the control command has been switched by receiving (steps S120 and S121), and is associated with the file (“fast forward”) related to the new control command (in this case “fast forward”). (Including predicted delivery data) is generated and recorded (steps S122 to S125).

  As described above, in the data distribution apparatus according to the second embodiment, the present invention can be applied to distribution data created in a file format by the host server 20.

3. Other embodiments:
There are various embodiments of the present invention.
The use of a display device as a client device is an example, and any other device that can be connected to the network N may be used. Here, the present invention only requires the client device to have a function according to the present embodiment. Therefore, if the client device is realized by a display device such as a television receiver, the present invention can be applied to an existing display device. The function of can be applied.

Moreover, using video data as the distribution data is an example, and may be audio data.
Furthermore, the host server may be constructed by a plurality of servers in addition to being constructed by a single device. When the host server is constructed by a plurality of servers, in the second embodiment, if each file data (predicted file) is generated by each individual server, the address of the server accessed by the client device is set as the file data. The present invention can be applied by switching every time (including the prediction file). In this case, the time required for creating file data can be shortened as compared with the case where it is created by a single server, and therefore the present invention can be applied even when transmission of control commands from the client device continues in a short period of time. Can be carried out.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. It goes without saying for those skilled in the art,
・ Applying mutually interchangeable members and configurations disclosed in the above embodiments by appropriately changing the combination thereof.− Although not disclosed in the above embodiments, it is a publicly known technique and the above embodiments. The members and configurations that can be mutually replaced with the members and configurations disclosed in the above are appropriately replaced, and the combination is changed and applied. It is an embodiment of the present invention that a person skilled in the art can appropriately replace the members and configurations that can be assumed as substitutes for the members and configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments, and change the combinations and apply them. It is disclosed as.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Service provision system, 20 ... Host server, 21 ... Communication control part, 22 ... Demodulation part, 23 ... Recording part, 24 ... Modulation part, 25 ... Control part, 30 ... Client apparatus, 31 ... Communication control part, 32 ... Demodulator 33 ... Modulator 34 ... Controller 35 ... Main memory 36 ... Back end 37 ... Display panel 38 ... Remote control device

Claims (6)

In a service providing system comprising a server for generating distribution data and a client device connected to the server through a network, and providing a service using the distribution data,
The server
Command prediction means for determining a prediction command that is a control command associated with the received control command when receiving a control command for instructing a predetermined command transmitted from the client device;
Distribution data generation means for generating distribution data according to the received control command and predicted distribution data according to the prediction command;
The client device is
A service providing system comprising service providing means for providing a service using the predicted distribution data when a new operation input related to the predicted command is performed after the transmission of the control command.   The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the server combines the generated distribution data and the predicted distribution data with stream data and transmits the combined data to the client device. The server manages the generated distribution data and the predicted distribution data as file data,
The service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the client device accesses the file data according to an operation input. The service is a video distribution service,
The service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distribution data and the predicted distribution data are video data that is switched in response to an operation input.   5. The client device according to claim 1, wherein after the service using the predicted distribution data is provided, the client device notifies the server of a control command related to a new operation input. The service providing system according to Item.   The service providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the client device is a display device.

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