JP2014060684A - Content providing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content providing apparatus and a program, by which, when reproduction of a content acquired by streaming from a general purpose server device is interrupted, the content can be reproduced from the interrupted position by a general purpose content reproduction device without copying the content.SOLUTION: A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition section acquires a second streaming distribution request indicating a request of streaming distribution of a first subsequent content which is a content from a first starting time position in a first reproduction time length in a first content. The content distribution request section transmits a first streaming distribution request indicating the request for streaming distribution of the first content, that is the first streaming distribution request containing a first time position in a first reproduction time length to a content server device. The subsequent content distribution section distributes streaming data received from the content server device on the basis of the first streaming distribution request to a client device.

Description

  The present invention relates to a content providing apparatus and a program.

A technique is known in which when playback of content such as a moving image is interrupted, playback is started from the interrupt position (interruption time). For example, when a recorded television program or movie is interrupted on a recordable digital television or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) player, it can be reproduced from the interruption position.
Further, in relation to the reproduction from the interruption position of the content, the content server described in Patent Literature 1 identifies the content for each interruption position (resume point) where reproduction of the stored content is interrupted by the reproduction device. A virtual content creation unit that creates virtual content including information and interruption position information; a thumbnail creation unit that creates thumbnail information including interruption position information and device information indicating a device that has performed reproduction for each virtual content; A thumbnail output unit that outputs thumbnail information related to the virtual content for display when a virtual content selection request is made based on the displayed content list including the virtual content list;
As a result, even when content can be played back on a plurality of playback devices via a network, the content server can easily find and play back the content and resume point desired by the user from a large number of content and resume points. Can be performed by a general-purpose content reproduction apparatus.

JP 2012-23593 A

If the content server described in Patent Document 1 is used, when the reproduction of the content stored in the content server is interrupted, the content can be reproduced from the interruption position by a general-purpose content reproduction device.
More specifically, according to the technique described in Patent Document 1, the content server has a function of playing back the content stored in the content server itself from the interruption position with a general-purpose content playback device. it can. On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for reproducing content placed on a general-purpose server device that does not have the function of reproducing the content from the interruption position from the interruption position using the general-purpose content reproduction device. Was not shown.

A large number of such general-purpose server devices are provided on the Internet or the like, and an enormous number of contents are provided (distributed) from such general-purpose server devices. Therefore, if the content provided from such a general-purpose server device can be reproduced from the interruption position using the general-purpose content reproduction device, the convenience for the user can be further improved.
Here, if the server device having the function of reproducing the content shown in Patent Document 1 from the interruption position copies the content provided by the general-purpose server device to itself in advance, The content can be reproduced from the interruption position by the content reproduction device. However, it is generally not realistic to copy in advance all the content that the user may view. Further, if content copying is started after receiving a content viewing request from the user, it takes time to copy the content.
In particular, in the case of content provided by streaming, it can be considered that the time required for copying the content is long. Therefore, in order to be able to reproduce from the interruption position while responding to the user's content viewing request in real time, it is necessary to reproduce the content from the interruption position without copying, but Patent Document 1 shows such technology. Was not.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. The purpose of the present invention is general-purpose without copying the content when the reproduction of the content acquired by streaming from the general-purpose server device is interrupted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content providing apparatus and program that can be reproduced from an interrupted position by a simple content reproducing apparatus.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a first content that is a content after a first start time position in a first playback time length of the first content. A content providing apparatus that provides subsequent content, a first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit that acquires a second streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content, and a streaming distribution of the first content A first streaming distribution request indicating a request, wherein the first streaming distribution request includes a first streaming distribution request including a first time position in the first reproduction time length to a content server device; and the first streaming The first content received from the content server device based on the distribution request A first subsequent content distribution unit that distributes the streaming data after the first time position in the first playback time length as streaming data of the first subsequent content to the client device that transmitted the second streaming distribution request; It is characterized by comprising.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the above-described content providing apparatus, wherein the content providing apparatus includes a time position calculation unit, and the first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit includes the first The second streaming distribution request including the second time position in the second playback time length in the subsequent content is acquired, and the time position calculation unit is included in the second streaming distribution request based on the first start time position. The second time position is converted into a first time position in the first playback time length, and the first content distribution request unit includes a first streaming distribution request including the first time position converted by the time position calculation unit. Is transmitted to the content server device.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the above-described content providing apparatus, wherein the first content distribution request unit has the first quality according to a communication status between the own apparatus and the content server apparatus. A first streaming distribution request indicating a content distribution request is transmitted to the content server apparatus.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the above-described content providing apparatus, wherein the first content distribution request unit is configured to distribute the first content with a quality corresponding to a setting related to display of the client apparatus. A first streaming distribution request indicating a request is transmitted to the content server device.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the above-described content providing apparatus, including a content reproduction unit that reproduces the first content, wherein the content reproduction unit is configured to perform the reproduction when the reproduction is interrupted. The time position in the first reproduction time length is the first start time position.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the above-described content providing apparatus, wherein the first content received from the content server apparatus based on the first streaming distribution request is in the first reproduction time length. An encryption unit that encrypts streaming data after the first time position is provided, and the first subsequent content distribution unit uses the streaming data encrypted by the encryption unit as streaming data of the first subsequent content, The second streaming distribution request is distributed to the client device that transmitted the second streaming distribution request.

  A content providing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is the content providing apparatus described above, wherein the first start time position is set based on a third time position in a second reproduction time length in the first subsequent content. A second start time position conversion unit for converting into a second start time position, wherein the first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit is content after the second start time position in the first playback time length of the first content. A third streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the second subsequent content is acquired, and the first content distribution request unit includes a first streaming distribution request including a fourth time position corresponding to the second start time position. The content server device transmits the content to the content server device, and the first subsequent content delivery unit sends the content server device based on the first streaming delivery request. The streaming data after the fourth time position in the first playback time length of the first content received from the first content is distributed as streaming data of the second subsequent content to the client device that has transmitted the third streaming distribution request. It is characterized by that.

  In addition, a content playback system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a content server device that delivers first content by streaming, and a first subsequent content that is a content after a first start time position in a first playback time length of the first content. A content providing device that provides content; and a client device that requests the content providing device for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content, wherein the content providing device indicates a request for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content. A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit that acquires a second streaming distribution request from the client device; a first streaming distribution request that indicates a request for streaming distribution of the first content; 1st stream including 1 hour position A first content distribution requesting unit that transmits a ming distribution request to the content server device, and a first playback time length of the first content received from the content server device based on the first streaming distribution request. And a first subsequent content distribution unit that distributes the streaming data after the time position as streaming data of the first subsequent content to the client device that has transmitted the second streaming distribution request.

  A content providing method according to an aspect of the present invention is a content providing method for a content providing apparatus that provides a first subsequent content that is a content after a first start time position in a first reproduction time length of the first content. A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition step for acquiring a second streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content, and a first streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first content. A first content distribution request step for transmitting a first streaming distribution request including the first time position in the first reproduction time length to the content server apparatus; and from the content server apparatus based on the first streaming distribution request. The first reproduction of the received first content A first subsequent content distribution step of distributing the streaming data after the first time position in the intermediate length as the streaming data of the first subsequent content to the client device that has transmitted the second streaming distribution request. Features.

  In addition, a program according to an aspect of the present invention provides a computer as a content providing apparatus that provides a first subsequent content that is a content after a first start time position in a first playback time length of a first content. A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition step for acquiring a second streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the subsequent content; and a first streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first content, wherein the first A first content distribution request step for transmitting a first streaming distribution request including a first time position in the reproduction time length to the content server device, and the first content received from the content server device based on the first streaming distribution request In the first playback time length of the content 1 hour position after the streaming data, as streaming data of the first subsequent content is a program for executing a first subsequent content distribution step of distributing to the client device that sent the second streaming delivery request.

  According to the present invention, when reproduction of content acquired by streaming from a general-purpose server device is interrupted, the content is reproduced from the interruption position by the general-purpose content reproduction device without copying the content. be able to.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the usage condition of the portable terminal device in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function structure of the content reproduction system in the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the content after interruption in the same embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the content list information which the content directory service part in the embodiment produces | generates. In the embodiment, it is a sequence diagram showing an example of a processing procedure of the content reproduction system when reproducing the content after interruption. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function structure of the content reproduction system in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function structure of the content reproduction system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the function structure of the content reproduction system in the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the reference | standard of the quality selection which the content information re-registration part in the embodiment performs.

<First Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a case where the content providing device is a mobile terminal device (a mobile phone or a smartphone) will be described as an example, but the content providing device in the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the mobile terminal device. For example, various devices capable of transmitting and receiving content by streaming, such as a gateway device, can be used as the content providing device.
In the following, a case where a mobile terminal device as a content providing device communicates with a client device such as a television receiver in accordance with a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard will be described. Communication between the content providing device and the client device As a standard, not only DLNA but also various standards capable of transmitting / receiving content by streaming can be used.

The content here refers to what is perceived by humans, such as images, sounds, and combinations thereof. In the following description, content data (data indicating content) is simply referred to as “content” unless there is a particular need for distinction.
In addition, streaming is a content transmission / reception method in which a content on the receiving side is played back simultaneously with reception of the content. Streaming transmission refers to transmitting content by streaming, and streaming reception refers to receiving content by streaming. Streaming transmission is also referred to as streaming distribution. Streaming data is data in a format that is transmitted and received by streaming.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a usage mode of the mobile terminal device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A illustrates an example in which a mobile terminal device receives content from a content server device (a server device that transmits content) by streaming and displays the content. In the example of the figure, the mobile terminal device 100 wirelessly receives content from either the content server device 800-1 on the network 900 or the content server device 800-2 provided on the home network. Reproduce. Hereinafter, content server apparatuses 800-1 and 800-2 are collectively referred to as “content server apparatus 800”.

Here, the installation position of the content server device 800 and the communication standard between the content server device 800 and the mobile terminal device 100 in the embodiment of the present invention are not limited to a specific installation position or communication standard. It suffices if the content can be streamed to the mobile terminal device 100.
In particular, a general-purpose server device can be used as the content server device 800. In particular, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the content server device 800 and the mobile terminal device 100 for reproduction from a content interruption position, which will be described later.
In the following, a case will be described as an example where the content server device 800 and the mobile terminal device 100 communicate according to the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) standard.

FIG. 1B shows an example in which the mobile terminal device receives streaming content from the content server device and performs streaming delivery to the DLNA client device. In the example of the figure, the mobile terminal device 100 wirelessly receives the content from either the content server device 800-1 or 800-2, and the received content is the DLNA client device 200-1 or 200-2. Stream to any of the above by wireless.
Hereinafter, the DLNA client devices 200-1 and 200-2 are collectively referred to as “DLNA client device 200”. The DLNA client device 200 may be configured as a single device like the DLNA client device 200-1, or the set top box 200-2-1 and the television receiver like the DLNA client device 200-2. You may be comprised by the combination of several apparatuses, such as a combination of 200-2-2.

For example, when the user of the mobile terminal device 100 goes out, the mobile terminal device 100 receives and listens to content such as a movie by streaming as in the example of FIG. After that, the user who has returned to his / her home suspends viewing of the content on the mobile terminal device 100 and receives the streaming content on the DLNA client device 200 such as a home television receiver as in the example of FIG. And watch.
At that time, the DLNA client device 200 receives the content via the mobile terminal device 100 in a streaming manner. As described below, the DLNA client device 200 uses a general-purpose content playback device as the DLNA client device 200, and the user can It is possible to cause the DLNA client device 200 to play back the content that was viewed using 100 using the interrupt position. In particular, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the mobile terminal device 100 and the DLNA client device 200 for reproduction from the interruption position of the content.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the content reproduction system 1. In FIG. 1, the content reproduction system 1 includes a mobile terminal device 100, a DLNA client device 200, and a content server device 800. The portable terminal device 100 includes a server communication unit 111, a client communication unit 112, a player unit 120, an intermediate server unit 130, and a digital media server unit 140. The intermediate server unit 130 includes a buffer unit 131. The digital media server unit 140 includes a content directory service unit 141 and an HTTP server unit 142. The HTTP server unit 142 includes a first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143, a time position calculation unit 144, a first content distribution request unit 145, and a first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146. The DLNA client device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a reception buffer unit 220, a parser unit 230, a decoder unit 240, and a player unit 250.
In FIG. 2, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control data.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1A, the mobile terminal device 100 receives content from the content server device 800 and reproduces it. Further, as described with reference to FIG. 1B, the mobile terminal device 100 receives the content from the content server device 800 by streaming and receives the content as a DMS (Digital Media Server, a server that provides content in DLNA). Is distributed (transferred) to the DLNA client device 200 in a streaming manner.

The server communication unit 111 communicates with the content server 800 to transmit / receive various data. In particular, the server-to-server communication unit 111 transmits a content transmission request (HTTP GET request) from the player unit 120 or the digital media server unit 140 to the content server device 800 and receives the content from the content server device 800 by streaming.
The client device communication unit 112 communicates with the DLNA client device 200 to transmit / receive various data. In particular, when the mobile terminal device 100 performs streaming distribution of content to the DLNA client device 200, the client device communication unit 112 displays content list information generated by the digital media server unit 140 according to a request from the DLNA client device 200. The content is transmitted to the client device 200, and the transmission request for the content selected by the user is received from the DLNA client device 200. Then, the client device communication unit 112 performs streaming distribution of the streaming data of the content output from the intermediate server unit 130 via the digital media server unit 140 to the DLNA client device 200.

The player unit 120 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Organic Electroluminescence) panel, and displays various images such as moving images, still images, and text (characters). Further, the player unit 120 has a speaker or headphones and outputs sound. In particular, the player unit 120 reproduces content to be streamed using a display screen or a speaker. Here, the content to be streamed is content that can be streamed. Examples of content to be streamed include moving images, audio, and combinations thereof.
Further, the player unit 120 corresponds to an example of a content reproduction unit, and when the reproduction of the original content is interrupted based on a user operation, the time position in the reproduction time length of the original content when the reproduction is interrupted is defined as a resume point. To do.

The intermediate server unit 130 relays between the content server device 800 and the digital media server unit 140 when the mobile terminal device 100 receives streaming content from the content server device 800 and transfers it to the DLNA client device 200. Specifically, the intermediate server unit 130 outputs streaming data from the content server device 800 to the digital media server unit 140.
The buffer unit 131 temporarily stores streaming data from the content server device 800.

The digital media server unit 140 performs various processes related to communication with the DLNA client device 200 as a DMS (Digital Media Server, DLNA content providing server).
The content directory service unit 141 generates list information of contents that the mobile terminal device 100 can perform streaming delivery to the DLNA client device 200 and publishes to the DLNA client device 200. Content that can be streamed by the mobile terminal device 100 to the DLNA client device 200 may include post-interruption content. Here, the content after interruption is a portion after the resume point of the content to be streamed. The resume point is a time position at which reproduction is resumed in the content for which reproduction has been interrupted. For example, the resume point is set at a time position at which the reproduction is interrupted or at a time position several seconds before the reproduction is interrupted.
The post-interruption content corresponds to an example of the first subsequent content in the present invention. The resume point corresponds to an example of a first start time position in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the content after interruption. In the figure, the post-interruption content C102 and the original content C101 of the post-interruption content C102 are shown on the time axis with the start of the content as a reference (time “0:00: 00”).
Here, the original content is the content to be streamed that is the source of the content after interruption. The original content corresponds to an example of the first content in the present invention.

The post-interruption content is a portion of the original content after a certain time (that is, a portion excluding a certain amount of time from the beginning of the original content). For example, the post-interruption content C102 is a portion after 44 seconds (time “0:00:44”) of the original content C101. Therefore, the playback time length of the original content C101 is 1 minute 44 seconds (time “0:01:44”), whereas the playback time length of the content C102 after the interruption is 1 minute (time “0:01:00”). ). Here, the content reproduction time length is the time required to reproduce the entire content when the content is reproduced at a predetermined standard reproduction speed. The reproduction time length of the original content corresponds to an example of the first reproduction time length in the present invention. Further, the playback time length of the content after interruption corresponds to an example of the second playback time length in the present invention.
In the example of FIG. 3, the position of 44 seconds in C101 is the resume point.

  For example, when the mobile terminal device 100 (player unit 120) plays the original content C101 for 44 seconds and stops, the mobile terminal device 100 transfers the post-interruption content C102 to the DLNA client device in response to a request from the DLNA client device 200. Stream to 200. The DLNA client device 200 can reproduce the original content C101 from the interruption position by reproducing the content C102 after the interruption.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of content list information generated by the content directory service unit 141. The list information D101 in FIG. 4 is an example of the list information of the original content C101 (FIG. 3), and the list information D102 is an example of the list information of the post-interruption content C102.
In the example of FIG. 4, the content directory service unit 141 includes, as content list information, a title name (name of the content) and a title creation date and time (date and time when the content (original content in the case of content after interruption) was created). And the resolution of the image of the content, the playback time length of the content, the bit rate (data transfer amount per second) in streaming, and the address (URL: Uniform Resource Locator) assigned to the content, An ID set as an identification number of the content is stored as a key.

The content directory service unit 141 automatically generates content list information. For example, the content directory service unit 141 sets, for the original content, a name obtained by adding “(from the beginning)” to the title name acquired from the content server device as the title name of the content. On the other hand, the content directory service unit 141 sets a name with “(continuation)” added to the title name acquired from the content server device for the content after interruption.
The content directory service unit 141 publishes the content list information to the DLNA client device 200, and the DLNA client device 200 displays the content list information, so that the user can select the content to browse based on the list information.

Returning to FIG. 2, when the HTTP server unit 142 receives a streaming distribution request for content from the DLNA client device 200, the HTTP server unit 142 performs streaming distribution of the requested content to the DLNA client device 200 via the client device communication unit 112.
The first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit 143 receives a content streaming delivery request from the DLNA client device 200 via the client device communication unit 112. In particular, the first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit 143 accepts a content delivery request for interrupted content from the DLNA client device 200. This interrupted content streaming distribution request corresponds to an example of the second streaming distribution request in the present invention.
In addition, the streaming distribution request for the post-interruption content acquired by the first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143 includes a time position indicating the streaming distribution request portion in the post-interruption content. The time position indicating the streaming distribution request portion in the post-interruption content corresponds to an example of the second time position in the present invention.

  For example, when the player unit 120 interrupts playback of the content to be streamed, the first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit 143 uses the portion after the resume point corresponding to the interrupt position as the post-interruption content. A request for streaming distribution of content after interruption is accepted. Specifically, when the player unit 120 interrupts playback of the content, the content directory service unit 141 generates post-interruption content list information corresponding to a portion after the interrupt position of the content and publishes it to the DLNA client device 200. To do. When the DLNA client device 200 requests streaming distribution of the interrupted content based on a user operation, the first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143 acquires the request via the client device communication unit 112.

Based on the resume point of the original content, the time position calculation unit 144 converts the time position included in the post-interruption content distribution request into a time position in the reproduction time length of the original content. Here, the time position included in the post-interruption content distribution request indicates a portion of the post-interruption content that is requested for streaming distribution.
More specifically, the time position calculating unit 144 calculates the time in the original content by adding the time corresponding to the resume point to the time indicating the portion requested to be transmitted in the streaming distribution request for the content after interruption. To do. For example, in the case of the example in FIG. 3, the time position calculation unit 144 adds the time for the resume point of 44 seconds to the time in the content C102 after interruption, and converts the time into the time in the original content C101.

Specifically, when the streaming delivery request from the head of the post-interruption content C102 is received from the DLNA client device 200, the time position calculation unit 144 sets the time 44 for the resume point at time 0 seconds at the head of the post-interruption content C102. Seconds are added and converted to 44 seconds in the original content C101.
Further, when the streaming delivery request from the 30-second position is received from the DLNA client device 200 when moving (seek) from the beginning of the content C102 after the interruption to the playback position, the time-position calculating unit 144 The time for the resume point is added to the time of 30 seconds in the content C102, and converted to the time of 1 minute and 14 seconds in the original content C101.
As for the time corresponding to the resume point, for example, when the player unit 120 receives a content reproduction interruption operation, the reproduction position at the interruption is detected as the time corresponding to the resume point. Then, the content directory service unit 141 stores the time corresponding to the resume point together with the content list information.

The first content distribution request unit 145 includes the first streaming distribution request including the time position converted by the time position calculation unit 144 in the streaming distribution request for the original content, and transmits the request to the content server device 800.
For example, when the time position calculation unit 144 calculates the time 44 seconds in the original content C101 in response to the streaming distribution request from the head of the post-interruption content C102, the first content distribution request unit 145 determines the 44 seconds of the original content C101. The content server device 800 is requested to perform streaming distribution of the portion from
Further, when the time position calculation unit 144 calculates the time of 1 minute 14 seconds in the original content C101 in response to the streaming distribution request from the 30-second position of the post-interruption content C102, the first content distribution request unit 145 The content server apparatus 800 is requested to stream the content C101 from 1 minute 14 seconds.

  In this way, the time position calculation unit 144 converts the position on the post-interruption content indicated by the streaming delivery request from the DLNA client device 200 to the position on the original content. Then, the first content distribution request unit 145 requests the content server device 800 to perform streaming distribution of the original content from the position calculated by the time position calculation unit 144. As a result, the DLNA client device 200 does not need to transmit / receive information about the resume point to the mobile terminal device 100 when performing resume playback (reproduction of content from the resume point), and is interrupted in the normal streaming distribution request format. What is necessary is just to request the streaming distribution of the after contents. Therefore, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the mobile terminal device 100 and the DLNA client device 200 for reproduction from the interruption position of the content.

  Further, in relation to the content server device 800, the mobile terminal device 100 does not need to transmit / receive information regarding the content after the interruption to / from the content server device 800, and requests the streaming distribution of the original content in the normal streaming distribution request format. do it. Therefore, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the content server device 800 and the mobile terminal device 100 for reproduction from the interruption position of the content.

The first subsequent content delivery processing unit 146 performs processing for streaming delivery of content from the content server device 800 to the DLNA client device 200. In particular, the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 interrupts the streaming data after the first time position in the first reproduction time length of the original content received from the content server device 800 based on the streaming distribution request for the original content. The post-content streaming data is distributed to the DLNA client device 200 that has transmitted the post-interrupt content streaming distribution request via the client device communication unit 112. That is, the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 performs streaming distribution in the normal streaming distribution format in response to the streaming distribution request for the interrupted content from the DLNA client device 200.
The combination of the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 and the client device communication unit 112 corresponds to an example of the first subsequent content distribution unit, and the content server device is based on the streaming distribution request from the content distribution request unit 145. The streaming data of the original content received from 800 is distributed as streaming data of the suspended content to the DLNA client device 200 that has transmitted the streaming distribution request for the suspended content.

The DLNA client device 200 receives and reproduces content from the mobile terminal device 100 as a DMP (Digital Media Player, a client that receives content provided by DLNA). In particular, the DLNA client device 200 receives and plays back the content starting from the resume point.
Here, as the DLNA client device 200, various devices capable of reproducing content distributed in a streaming manner can be used. For example, the DLNA client device 200 may be a television receiver or a personal computer (PC). In addition, as described with reference to FIG. 1, the DLNA client device 200 may be configured as a single device or may be configured by a combination of a plurality of devices. Further, as described above, a general-purpose content playback device can be used as the DLNA client device 200.

The communication unit 210 communicates with the mobile terminal device 100 to transmit / receive various data. In particular, the communication unit 210 transmits a streaming distribution request for content generated by the player unit 250 to the mobile terminal device 100 and receives the content from the mobile terminal device 100 in a streaming manner.
The reception buffer unit 220 temporarily stores streaming data of content received by the communication unit 210.
The parser unit 230 performs syntax analysis on the streaming data received by the communication unit 210.

Based on the analysis result of the parser unit 230, the decoder unit 240 decodes the streaming data and generates image data and audio data.
The player unit 250 has a display screen such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Organic Electroluminescence) panel, and displays various images such as moving images, still images, and text (characters). Further, the player unit 250 has a speaker and outputs sound. In particular, the player unit 250 corresponds to an example of a content reproduction unit, and reproduces the content received by the communication unit 210 in a streaming manner. Specifically, the player unit 250 displays an image on the display screen based on the image data generated by the decoder unit 240, and outputs sound from a speaker based on the audio data generated by the decoder unit 240.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the content server device 800 responds to a request from the mobile terminal device 100 by streaming content (that is, content that can be transmitted / received through streaming such as moving images, audio, and combinations thereof). ) To the mobile terminal device 100.

Next, the operation of the content reproduction system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the content reproduction system 1 when reproducing content after interruption.
First, in the portable terminal device 100, when the player unit 120 interrupts the reproduction of the content from the content server device 800, the content directory service unit 141 starts disclosing the list information of the interrupted content based on the content (sequence S101). . For example, when the playback of content is interrupted in response to a user operation, the player unit 120 inquires of the user whether or not to open the continuation to another device. When the user selects publication, the content directory service unit 141 lists the list information of the original content (that is, the entire content) and the content after the interruption (that is, the portion after the interruption position) for the content for which reproduction has been interrupted. And information.

Next, in the DLNA client device 200, when the player unit 250 detects a user operation requesting resume playback (playback of content from the interruption position) (sequence S102), the player unit 250 causes the mobile terminal device 100 to communicate with the mobile terminal device 100 via the communication unit 210. Content list information is requested (sequence S103).
Then, the content directory service unit 141 of the mobile terminal device 100 transmits content list information to the DLNA client device 200 via the client device communication unit 112 in response to a request from the DLNA client device 200 (sequence S104). In the DLNA client device 200, the player unit 250 displays the content list information from the mobile terminal device 100 and waits for a user operation to select content (sequence S105).

  When the player unit 250 detects a user operation for selecting content (sequence S111), the player unit 250 transmits a streaming distribution request for the selected content to the mobile terminal device 100 via the communication unit 210 as an HTTP request (sequence). S112). For example, when the user selects the content after interruption shown in the list information D102 of FIG. 4, the player unit 250 generates an HTTP request “GET http://192.168.11.8:34567/data/id2” and performs communication. The data is transmitted to the mobile terminal device 100 via the unit 210.

  In the mobile terminal device 100 that has received the streaming distribution request from the DLNA client device 200, the time position calculation unit 144 sets the time position on the content for which streaming distribution is requested to the content server device 800 (sequence S113). For example, as described above, the time position calculation unit 144 adds the time 44 seconds corresponding to the resume point to the streaming distribution request from the position of 30 seconds after the interruption content C102 in FIG. Convert to time 1 minute 14 seconds.

Then, the first content distribution request unit 145 generates a content streaming distribution request as an HTTP request based on the time position set by the time position calculation unit 144, and the content server device via the server device communication unit 111. It transmits to 800 (sequence S114).
Then, the content server device 800 transmits the streaming data to the mobile terminal device 100 in response to the streaming distribution request (sequence S115).

In the mobile terminal device 100 that has received the streaming data, the intermediate server unit 130 buffers the streaming data in the buffer unit 131, and the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 sets the streaming data addressed to the DLNA client device 200 ( Sequence S116). Then, the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 transmits the streaming data to the DLNA client device 200 via the client device communication unit 112 (sequence S117).
In the DLNA client device 200 that has received the streaming data, the player unit 250 reproduces the content starting from the resume point based on the streaming data (sequence S118).

  As described above, in response to the streaming distribution request for the interrupted content from the DLNA client device 200, the time position calculation unit 144 converts the position on the interrupted content indicated by the streaming distribution request into the position on the original content. Then, the first content distribution request unit 145 requests the content server device 800 to perform streaming distribution of the original content from the position calculated by the time position calculation unit 144. As a result, the DLNA client device 200 does not need to transmit / receive information about the resume point to / from the mobile terminal device 100 when performing resume playback (content playback from the resume point), and is interrupted in the format of the normal streaming distribution request. What is necessary is just to request the streaming distribution of the after contents. Therefore, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the mobile terminal device 100 and the DLNA client device 200 for reproduction from the interruption position of the content. In this regard, the content reproduction system 1 can reproduce the content from the interruption position with a general-purpose content reproduction device.

  Further, in relation to the content server device 800, the mobile terminal device 100 does not need to transmit / receive information regarding the content after the interruption to / from the content server device 800, and requests the streaming distribution of the original content in the normal streaming distribution request format. do it. Therefore, it is not necessary to expand the communication standard between the content server device 800 and the mobile terminal device 100 for reproduction from the interruption position of the content. In this regard, in the content reproduction system 1, a general-purpose server device can be used as the content server device 800.

In addition, when the player unit 120 interrupts the reproduction of the content, the first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit 143 sets the portion after the resume point corresponding to the interruption position as the post-interruption content in the content. The streaming delivery request is accepted.
Thus, the DLNA client device 200 can resume the reproduction of the content from the interruption position by using the position where the reproduction of the content is interrupted by the player unit 120 as the resume point.

  In the above description, the case where the mobile terminal device 100 distributes the content after the interruption has been described. However, the content distributed by the mobile terminal device 100 is not limited to the content after the interruption. For example, the mobile terminal device 100 may distribute a portion of the original content after the time position designated by the user. As a specific example, when the user designates the start time of a game of a sports program, the mobile terminal device 100 may deliver a portion after the start of the game of the sport program.

<Second Embodiment>
Note that the mobile terminal device may encrypt the streaming data and transmit it to the DLNA client device. This point will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the content reproduction system 2 in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the content reproduction system 2 includes a mobile terminal device 100b, a DLNA client device 200b, and a content server device 800. The portable terminal device 100b includes a server communication unit 111, a client communication unit 112, a player unit 120, an intermediate server unit 130, and a digital media server unit 140b. The intermediate server unit 130 includes a buffer unit 131. The digital media server unit 140b includes a content directory service unit 141, an HTTP server unit 142, an mp4-ts conversion unit 147, and a DTCP-IP encryption unit 148. The HTTP server unit 142 includes a first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143, a time position calculation unit 144, a first content distribution request unit 145, and a first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146. The DLNA client device 200b includes a communication unit 210, a reception buffer unit 220, a ts parser unit 270, a decoder unit 240, a player unit 250, and a DTCP-IP decryption unit 260.
In FIG. 6, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control data. Further, in FIG. 6, the same reference numerals (111, 112, 120, 130, 131, 141 to 146, 210, 220, 240, 250, 800) are assigned to parts having the same functions corresponding to the respective parts in FIG. A description thereof will be omitted.

When the streaming data from the content server device 800 is MP4 data, the mp4-ts conversion unit 147 converts the data into streaming data of the mpeg2-ts container. On the other hand, when the streaming data from the content server device 800 is mpeg2-ts data, the mp4-ts conversion unit 147 outputs the streaming data as it is to the DTCP-IP encryption unit 148.
The DTCP-IP encryption unit 148 performs DTCP-IP encryption on the mpeg2-ts data from the mp4-ts conversion unit 147. Accordingly, the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 performs streaming distribution to the DLNA client device 200b using encrypted streaming data. The DTCP-IP encryption unit 148 corresponds to an example of the encryption unit in the present invention.
The DTCP-IP decryption unit 260 performs DTCP-IP decryption on the streaming data from the mobile terminal device 100. The ts parser unit 270 performs syntax analysis on the streaming data that has been subjected to DTCP-IP decryption.

As described above, the DTCP-IP encryption unit 148 encrypts the streaming data, and the first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 performs streaming distribution to the DLNA client device 200 using the encrypted streaming data.
This can prevent unauthorized use of content by a third party. That is, it is possible to protect the copyright of the content.
The DLNA client device 200b is an example of a DLNA client device capable of viewing broadcast content, and has functions necessary for viewing copyright-protected broadcast content such as a DTCP-IP decryption function and a ts parser. It has. As copyright protection of broadcast content progresses, DLNA client devices capable of viewing broadcast content are becoming more popular for viewing broadcast content. A user who already has such a DLNA client device can view the content in the content reproduction system 2 without having to acquire a new DLNA client device.

<Third Embodiment>
Note that even when content reproduction is interrupted by the DLNA client device, the mobile terminal device may perform streaming distribution of the content after the interruption. This point will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the content reproduction system 3 in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the content reproduction system 3 includes a portable terminal device 100c, a DLNA client device 200, and a content server device 800. The mobile terminal device 100c includes a server device communication unit 111, a client device communication unit 112, a player unit 120, an intermediate server unit 130, and a digital media server unit 140c. The intermediate server unit 130 includes a buffer unit 131. The digital media server unit 140 c includes a content directory service unit 141 c and an HTTP server unit 142. The HTTP server unit 142 includes a first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143, a time position calculation unit 144, a first content distribution request unit 145, and a first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146. The content directory service unit 141c includes a resume point update unit 149. The DLNA client device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a reception buffer unit 220, a parser unit 230, a decoder unit 240, and a player unit 250.
In FIG. 7, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control data. Further, in FIG. 7, parts having the same functions corresponding to the respective parts in FIG. 800), and the description thereof is omitted.

The resume point update unit 149 updates the resume point information of the post-interruption content when the DLNA client device 200 interrupts the playback of the post-interruption content.
For example, in the DLNA client device 200, when the player unit 250 receives a user operation for interrupting reproduction of content after interruption, the player unit 250 inquires of the user whether or not to resume the resume point. When receiving the resume point update instruction, the player unit 250 transmits the resume point update instruction and the interruption position in the content after interruption to the mobile terminal device 100c via the communication unit 210.
Then, the resume point updating unit 149 adds the time corresponding to the interruption position notified from the player unit 250 to the resume point stored in the content directory service unit 141c for the post-interruption content whose reproduction has been interrupted.

  The resume point update unit 149 corresponds to an example of a second start time position conversion unit in the present invention. That is, the resume point updating unit 149 converts the resume point in the reproduction interruption in the original content into the resume point in the reproduction interruption in the content after interruption based on the interruption position in the reproduction time length in the content after interruption. Here, the interruption position in the reproduction time length in the content after interruption corresponds to an example of the third time position. Further, the resume point in the reproduction interruption with the content after interruption corresponds to an example of the second start time position.

  In this way, when the resume point update unit 149 updates the resume point, the first subsequent content delivery request acquisition unit 143 sets the portion after the resume point according to the interruption position in the DLNA client device 200 as the content after interruption. And accepting the streaming distribution request for the content after the interruption. Here, the portion of the original content after the resume point corresponding to the interruption position in the DLNA client device 200 corresponds to an example of the second subsequent content. Further, the streaming distribution request after the resume point corresponding to the interruption position in the DLNA client device 200 corresponds to an example of a third streaming distribution request.

Here, in the streaming distribution request acquired by the first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143, the time position from the resume point according to the interruption position in the DLNA client device 200 is used as the time position indicating the portion that requests the streaming distribution. It is included.
Therefore, the time position calculation unit 144 converts the time position included in the streaming distribution request into a time position in the original content. Specifically, the time position calculation unit 144 adds the time corresponding to the resume point updated by the resume point update unit 149 to the time indicated by the streaming distribution request. Here, the time position converted by the time position calculation unit 144 corresponds to an example of a fourth time position.

  Then, the first content distribution request unit 145 includes the time position calculated by the time position calculation unit 144 in the streaming distribution request for the original content, and transmits the request to the content server device 800. The first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146 distributes the streaming data of the original content received from the content server device 800 to the DLNA client device 200. Here, the content server device 800 performs streaming delivery of the portion of the original content after the time position calculated by the time position calculation unit, and the first subsequent content delivery processing unit transfers the portion to the DLNA client device 200. . Accordingly, the first subsequent content distribution processing unit distributes the portion of the original content that has received the distribution request from the DLNA client device 200 to the DLNA client device 200 as the post-interruption content. The post-interruption content here corresponds to an example of the second subsequent content.

  As described above, the mobile terminal device 100c can perform streaming delivery of the content after interruption from the interruption position in the DLNA client device 200. At that time, the mobile terminal device 100c can perform streaming delivery to the DLNA client device 200, and can also perform streaming delivery to other DLNA client devices.

  Note that when the resume point update unit 149 updates the resume point, it may leave the original post-interruption content information and newly generate post-interruption content information. In addition, in the DLNA client device 200, when the reproduction of normal content (content that is not content after interruption) is interrupted, the resume point update unit 149 may newly generate content information after interruption.

In the above description, the case where the mobile terminal device 100 itself as the content distribution device after interruption also reproduces the content has been described. However, the content distribution device itself after interruption may not reproduce the content. Moreover, the portable terminal device 100 may take the form of a server device or the like that is installed at home. For example, a home server device as a content distribution device after interruption distributes a movie from a content server device on the Internet to a television set in a living room. When the user interrupts watching the movie in the living room and moves to the bedroom, and requests the continuation of the movie from the television in the bedroom, the home server device uses the portion after the interruption position of the movie as the post-interruption content as the bedroom. Stream to your TV. Thereby, the user can view the movie from the interrupted continuation.
<Fourth Embodiment>
Note that the mobile terminal device may select the quality (for example, image quality) of the content to be streamed according to the communication status with the content server device and the settings of the DLNA client device. This point will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram showing a functional configuration of the content reproduction system 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the content reproduction system 4 includes a portable terminal device 100d, a DLNA client device 200, and a content server device 800. The portable terminal device 100d includes a server communication unit 111, a client communication unit 112, a player unit 120, an intermediate server unit 130, and a digital media server unit 140d. The intermediate server unit 130 includes a buffer unit 131. The digital media server unit 140d includes a content directory service unit 141 and an HTTP server unit 142d. The HTTP server unit 142d includes a first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 143, a time position calculation unit 144, a first content distribution request unit 145, a first subsequent content distribution processing unit 146, and a network state / quality detection unit 151. And a content information re-registration unit 152. The DLNA client device 200 includes a communication unit 210, a reception buffer unit 220, a parser unit 230, a decoder unit 240, and a player unit 250.
In FIG. 8, solid arrows indicate the flow of content, and broken arrows indicate the flow of control data. Further, in FIG. 8, the same reference numerals (111, 112, 120, 130, 131, 141, 143 to 146, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240) are given to parts having the same functions corresponding to the respective parts in FIG. , 250, 800), and description thereof is omitted.

  The network state / quality detection unit 151 detects a communication state between the mobile terminal device 100d and the content server device 800. For example, the network state / quality detection unit 151 analyzes the communication protocol between the mobile terminal device 100d and the content server device 800, and the quality (type) of the communication network that mediates communication between the mobile terminal device 100d and the content server device 800. ) Is detected. Further, the network state / quality detection unit 151 analyzes the reception state of communication data from the content server device 800 in the server communication unit 111 and detects the state of the communication network.

  The content information re-registration unit 152 selects the quality of content requested from the content server device 800 according to the communication status between the mobile terminal device 100d and the content server device 800 detected by the network state / quality detection unit 151. Specifically, the content server device 800 can perform streaming distribution of content with the same title in a plurality of qualities, and the content information re-registration unit 152 selects one of the plurality of qualities.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of quality selection criteria performed by the content information re-registration unit 152. In the example shown in the figure, the content server device 800 can perform streaming distribution of content with three qualities, high image quality, medium image quality, and low image quality. Therefore, the content information re-registration unit 152 selects one of the qualities according to the quality and state of the network. Then, the first content distribution request unit 145 requests the content server device 800 to distribute the content with the quality selected by the content information re-registration unit 152.

As described above, the first content distribution request unit 145 requests the content server device 800 to perform streaming distribution with quality according to the communication status between the mobile terminal device 100 and the content server device 800.
As a result, the mobile terminal device 100d can provide the DLNA client device 200 with quality content according to the communication status with the content server device 800 and the settings of the DLNA client device 200.

Note that the network state / quality detection unit 151 detects settings (for example, display screen size and data processing speed) of the DLNA client device 200 in addition to the communication status with the content server device 800 or instead of the communication status. The quality corresponding to the setting may be selected.
As described above, the first content delivery request unit 145 requests the content server device 800 to perform streaming delivery with quality according to the settings related to the display of the DLNA client device 200.
As a result, the mobile terminal device 100d can provide the DLNA client device 200 with quality content according to the communication status with the content server device 800 and the settings of the DLNA client device 200.

A program for realizing all or part of the functions of the mobile terminal devices 100, 100b, 100c, and 100d is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is read into a computer system. The processing of each unit may be performed by executing. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” dynamically holds a program for a short time like a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In this case, a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, and a program that holds a program for a certain period of time are also included. The program may be a program for realizing a part of the functions described above, and may be a program capable of realizing the functions described above in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design changes and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1-4 Content playback system 100, 100b, 100c, 100d Mobile terminal device 111: Server device communication unit 112: Client device communication unit 120 Player unit 130 Intermediate server unit 131 Buffer unit 140, 140b, 140c Digital media server unit 141, 141c , 140d Content directory service unit 142, 142d HTTP server unit 143 First subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit 144 Time position calculation unit 145 First content distribution request unit 146 First subsequent content distribution processing unit 147 mp4-ts conversion unit 148 DTCP- IP encryption unit 149 Resume point update unit 151 Network state / quality detection unit 152 Content information re-registration unit 200, 200b DLNA client device 210 Communication 220 reception buffer unit 230 parser 240 decoder unit 250 player section 260 DTCP-IP decryption unit 800 the content server

Claims (5)

A content providing apparatus that provides a first subsequent content that is a content after a first start time position in a first playback time length in a first content,
A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit for acquiring a second streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content;
A first content distribution request for transmitting a first streaming distribution request including a first time position in the first reproduction time length to a content server device, the first streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first content. A request section;
Streaming data after the first time position in the first reproduction time length of the first content received from the content server device based on the first streaming distribution request is used as streaming data of the first subsequent content as the second data. A first subsequent content distribution unit that distributes to the client device that has transmitted the streaming distribution request;
A content providing apparatus comprising: The content providing apparatus includes a time position calculation unit,
The first subsequent content distribution request acquisition unit acquires a second streaming distribution request including a second time position in a second reproduction time length in the first subsequent content;
The time position calculation unit converts a second time position included in the second streaming distribution request into a first time position in the first reproduction time length based on the first start time position,
The content providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first content distribution request unit transmits a first streaming distribution request including the first time position converted by the time position calculation unit to the content server apparatus. .   The first content distribution request unit transmits a first streaming distribution request indicating a request for distribution of the first content with a quality according to a communication state between the own device and the content server device to the content server device. The content providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: A content playback unit for playing back the first content;
The content according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the content reproduction unit sets a time position in the first reproduction time length when reproduction is interrupted as a first start time position. Providing device. In a computer as a content providing apparatus that provides a first subsequent content that is a content after the first start time position in the first reproduction time length in the first content,
A first subsequent content distribution request acquisition step of acquiring a second streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first subsequent content;
A first content distribution request for transmitting a first streaming distribution request including a first time position in the first reproduction time length to a content server device, the first streaming distribution request indicating a request for streaming distribution of the first content. A request step;
Streaming data after the first time position in the first reproduction time length of the first content received from the content server device based on the first streaming distribution request is used as streaming data of the first subsequent content as the first subsequent content streaming data. A first subsequent content distribution step of distributing to the client device that has transmitted the 2 streaming distribution request;
A program for running

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