JP2017224975A - Relay device, server device, and terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To receive a data file distributed by broadcast wave by using a web standard browser or an application program that does not have an extended function to receive a data file distributed by broadcast.SOLUTION: A separation unit separates a distribution file and control information on reception of the distribution file from a reception signal received by broadcast. A control information analysis unit obtains host information on a transmission unit transmitting the distribution file by communication by analyzing the control information, and stores the host information and an address in association. A host information notification unit gives notice of the host information and address of the transmission unit in association to a name resolution unit that outputs, in response to an address request, an address corresponding to host information indicated by the address request.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay device, a server device, and a terminal device.

  The present invention receives a data file distributed using a broadcast transmission path, and provides the received data file to a terminal device connected to the same or lower network as its own device, a server device, and a terminal device About.

  As a new media transport system that replaces the MPEG-2 TS (Transport Stream) system conventionally used in digital broadcasting, the MMT (MPEG Media Transport) system described in Non-Patent Document 1 has been defined. The standard ARIB STD-B60 described in Non-Patent Document 2 was defined for the method of using MMT in next-generation digital broadcasting. In next-generation digital broadcasting using MMT, content data and control information related to content provision are multiplexed and transmitted. In addition to conventional video and audio data, the content is transmitted by storing a data file having an arbitrary data format in an IP (Internet Protocol) packet. In the control information, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the location of each distribution file can be described.

  On the other hand, the Internet is not limited to information terminal devices such as personal computers, multifunctional mobile phones, and tablet terminal devices, but various devices such as various sensors and home appliances are connected. These devices are also called IoT device (Internet of Things) devices, and are expected to become increasingly popular in the future. As a feature of the IoT device, when data files are periodically acquired from a specific device connected to the Internet and an update of the data file is detected, information transmitted in the updated data file is used. It is possible to perform processing. As an example, an IoT device applied to an air conditioner periodically receives weather information such as weather and temperature for each time from a weather information providing server connected to the Internet, and changes the set temperature based on the received weather information And switching operation modes.

  As IoT devices that continuously transmit and receive data rapidly spread in the future, the traffic transmitted over the network will also increase rapidly. This may lead to frequent congestion in the network and a decrease in chronic user experience quality (QoE: Quality of Experience). Also, the shorter the data file acquisition cycle in each IoT device, the higher the immediateness of the operation, while the higher the load on the network that transmits the data file and the server device that provides the data file.

  Another feature of the IoT device is that many of them execute processing indicated by instructions described in a web application program (hereinafter referred to as a web application) because of easy implementation. Such a web application is typically written in a standardized language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) as a modeling language and JavaScript (registered trademark) as a scripting language. Processing related to the commands described in these web applications is executed on the web browser. The web standard uses only functions that have been internationally standardized by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) in the browser, and uses extended functions for application programs (hereinafter referred to as applications) for specific services. Means not.

ISO / IEC 23008-1, Information technology-High efficiency coding and media delivery in heterogeneous environmentals-, Part 1, MPEG media transport (MMT), 14. Radio Industry Association, Media Transport System by MMT in Digital Broadcasting, STD-B60 1.6 Edition, 2016.6.35 Radio Industry Association, Data Broadcast Coding and Transmission Systems in Digital Broadcasting, STD-B24, Volume 2 (1/2), 6.2 Edition, 2015.12.3 IPTV Forum, HTML5 Browser Specification, IPTVFJ STD-0011 2.1 Edition, 2014.12.15

  Conventionally, terminal devices that receive data files distributed by broadcast waves and use the received data files, such as data broadcast compatible receivers and broadcast communication cooperative service compatible receivers, have been proposed. However, such a terminal device is required to have a dedicated API (Application Programming Interface) function as an extended function of the browser. The dedicated API includes, for example, an API for data broadcasting described in Non-Patent Document 3 and an API for broadcasting / communication cooperation service described in Non-Patent Document 4. The browser of the corresponding receiver is required to have an API according to these specifications and a dedicated API function for operating hardware or software having a broadcast wave reception function when called from the API. Is done. This makes it possible to receive and use the distributed data file. The reception function includes, for example, demodulation of a received signal and multiplexing / demultiplexing of a signal obtained by demodulation. In general, the hardware or software control of a receiver executed at a lower layer than the browser depends on the implementation of each receiver, and the interface is not standardized or standardized.

  A browser that is normally installed on an OS (Operating System) of an information terminal device such as a personal computer, a multi-function mobile phone, or a tablet terminal device is usually a web standard browser that does not have a dedicated API dedicated to broadcasting. . Even if a terminal device has a function of receiving broadcast waves, a web application executed on a web standard browser that does not have a dedicated API is used to acquire and use data files distributed via broadcast waves. I can't do it.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and broadcast using a web standard browser or an application program that does not have an extended function such as a dedicated API function for receiving a data file distributed by broadcast. An object is to receive a file distributed by wave.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. [1] One aspect of the present invention separates a data file and control information related to reception of the data file from a received signal received by broadcasting. Host information of a separation unit, a transmission unit that transmits the data file by communication, a control information analysis unit that analyzes and acquires the control information, a host information and an address are stored in association with each other, and in response to an address request And a host information notifying unit that notifies the name resolution unit that outputs the address corresponding to the host information indicated by the address request in association with the host information and the address of the transmission unit.
According to the configuration of [1], a terminal device having predetermined host information acquires an address corresponding to the host information from the name resolution unit, and data transmitted by broadcast from the transmission unit identified by the acquired address Can receive files. Accordingly, the terminal device can receive the data file using a web standard browser or an application program that does not have a dedicated extended function.

[2] One aspect of the present invention is the relay device described above, further including the transmission unit, wherein the transmission unit transmits the data file to the terminal device in response to a transmission request from the terminal device. It is characterized by.
According to the configuration of [2], the transmission unit that transmits the received data file and the host information notification unit that associates the host information with the address and notifies the DNS server 30 are integrated. Therefore, the host information and address of the transmission unit can be managed more easily than when the transmission unit is a separate body.

[3] One aspect of the present invention is the relay device described above, wherein the transmission unit transmits the data file to the terminal device when detecting an update of the data file.
According to the configuration of [3], the data file is transmitted from the transmission unit in response to the update. Therefore, the terminal device can acquire the latest data file at that time. Further, it is possible to avoid an increase in the load on the network for performing an update inquiry from the terminal device.

[4] One aspect of the present invention is the relay device described above, further including an inter-network relay unit that relays signals transmitted between a plurality of networks connected to the own device.
According to the configuration [4], it is possible to reduce the amount of communication related to name resolution across networks, so that the load on the network is reduced.

[5] One aspect of the present invention includes the relay device described above and the name resolution unit, and the name resolution unit transmits an address corresponding to host information received from the terminal device to the terminal device. This is a featured server device.
According to the configuration of [5], the host information and the address from the host information notification unit included in the own device are stored in association with each other, and the address of the transmission unit corresponding to the host information from the terminal device is stored in the terminal device 20. Sent. Therefore, the management of the host information and the address by the broadcaster or the content provider is reduced as compared with the case where the relay device and the name resolution unit are separate.

[6] According to one aspect of the present invention, an address corresponding to the relay device, the relay device, the name resolution unit, and the host information is acquired from the name resolution unit, and the transmission unit having the address A receiving unit that receives the data file.
According to the configuration of [6], the reception unit can identify a transmission unit having an address acquired from the name resolution unit of the device itself, and can receive a data file transmitted by broadcast from the transmission unit. Since communication between devices related to name resolution is not required, the load on the network is reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the data file delivered by a broadcast wave can be received using the web standard browser and application program which do not have the extended function for receiving the data file delivered by broadcast.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the broadcast communication cooperation system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of operation | movement of the WebSocket client part in the conventional communication system. It is explanatory drawing of operation | movement of the WebSocket client part in the broadcast communication system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning on the network of the relay apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the terminal device which concerns on the other modification of 2nd Embodiment.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the broadcast communication cooperative system B1 according to the present embodiment. Broadcast communication cooperation system B1 is comprised including the relay apparatus 10, the terminal device 20, the DNS server 30, the high-order DNS server 40, and the broadcast installation 50. FIG. The relay device 10, the terminal device 20, the DNS server 30, and the upper DNS server 40 are connected via a network NW. The network NW is a communication transmission path capable of bidirectionally transmitting various data to each other wirelessly or by wire. The network NW is, for example, one of a high-frequency communication network such as the Internet and a public wireless communication network, a local area network (LAN), a dedicated line, or an arbitrary combination thereof. In the following description, transmitting (or transmitting, receiving, transporting) various data via the network NW is referred to as transmitting (or transmitting, receiving, transporting) by communication. In the example shown in FIG. The number of the relay device 10, the terminal device 20, the DNS server 30, the upper DNS server 40, and the broadcasting facility 50 is one each, but generally there are a plurality.

  The broadcast facility 50 acquires distribution data and control information used for controlling the distribution data reception service. The broadcasting facility 50 modulates multiplexed data obtained by multiplexing the distribution data and control information using a predetermined modulation method. The broadcast facility 50 transmits a broadcast signal obtained by modulation to the broadcast transmission path BT. The broadcast transmission path BT is a transmission path capable of transmitting various types of data to a large number of receiving devices simultaneously in one direction mainly by radio. The broadcast transmission path BT is a broadcast wave having a component in a predetermined frequency band, for example. A part of the broadcast transmission path BT may include a wired or wireless network such as a dedicated line or a LAN. In the following description, transmission (or transmission, reception, conveyance) of various data via the broadcast transmission path BT is referred to as transmission (or transmission, reception, conveyance) by broadcasting.

  The distribution data includes part or all of data of various contents that are components of the broadcast service. As a component of distribution data, for example, a data file storing distribution data separate from video data and audio data of the main program is included. The separate distribution data may be distribution data accompanying the program, or distribution data provided independently of the program. As distribution data provided independently of the program, for example, information required by all users or information having interest such as disaster information, traffic information, weather information, and administrative information is used. Hereinafter, this data file is referred to as a distribution file. For example, an application is stored in the distribution file.

  The control information is information representing a component of distribution data related to content reception. The control information includes acquisition destination information indicating an acquisition destination of distribution data. The control information is represented by, for example, MMT-SI (MMT-Signaling Information) indicating the configuration of distribution data. When an application is provided, an application information table (AIT: Application Information Table), a data directory management table ( DDMT: Data Directory Management Table (DAMT) and Data Asset Management Table (DAMT) are included. AIT is data representing information for controlling acquisition of an application and execution of processing described in the application. The AIT includes location information indicating the location of the application as acquisition destination information. As the location information, a URL of a file serving as an application entry point on the server device that transmits the application by communication is designated. The URL includes a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and a path name. The FQDN is host information representing the name of a device that stores a distribution file that stores the application. The FQDN is composed of a host name and a domain name. The path name is information indicating the file name of the data file storing the application and the storage destination directory in the device. DDMT includes information that lists path names of individual files that constitute an application, and DAMT includes information necessary for processing for separating these files from an MMTP (MPEG Media Transport Protocol) packet. The MMTP packet is a data packet defined by MMTP, which is one of media transport methods.

  The relay device 10 receives a broadcast signal carried via the broadcast transmission path BT as a reception signal. The relay device 10 separates the distribution file and the control information from the multiplexed data obtained by demodulating the received signal. The relay device 10 analyzes the separated control information and acquires host information of a device that transmits the distribution file by communication. The relay apparatus 10 transmits to the DNS server 30 DNS (Domain Name System) information in which the acquired host information is associated with the IP address of the device that transmits the separated distribution file. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the IP address is information for identifying the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay apparatus 10 in the network NW.

The terminal device 20 is a device having a web standard browser function for executing processing related to commands described in various applications. Web standard browser functions include name resolution and data transmission / reception using a predetermined protocol (for example, HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)) In the example shown in FIG. The terminal device 20 transmits an address request for the address corresponding to the host information indicating the acquisition destination of the distribution file to the predetermined DNS server 30. As a response, the terminal device 20 receives the IP address corresponding to the host information. As data reception, the terminal device 20 connects to the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay device 10 as an acquisition destination specified by the received IP address, and receives the distribution file from the WebSocket server unit 107.
The terminal device 20 is not limited to an information device such as a personal computer, a multi-function mobile phone, and a tablet terminal device, and may be a business device such as an air conditioner or a cooking device, or a home appliance, or a temperature or pressure. Various sensor devices may be used.

  The DNS server 30 accumulates DNS information received from the relay device 10 and forms a DNS record 301. The DNS server 30 refers to the DNS record 301 and identifies an IP address corresponding to the host information specified in the address request. The DNS server 30 transmits the identified IP address to the terminal device 20 that has transmitted the address request.

  The upper DNS server 40 is a DNS server located in a higher network than the network in which the DNS server 30 is located. For example, when the DNS server 30 is located in a local network in the company, the upper DNS server 40 is located in the network of the Internet service provider with which the company contracts. When the host information of the address request received from the terminal device 20 is not included in its own DNS record 301, the DNS server 30 transmits an address request to the upper DNS server 40, and as a result, the IP corresponding to the host information An address indicating the address is acquired, stored in its own DNS record 301, and the address information is returned to the terminal device 20.

(Configuration of relay device)
Next, the configuration of the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.
The relay device 10 includes a broadcast receiving unit 101, a demodulating unit 102, a demultiplexing unit 103, a file cache unit 104, a control information analyzing unit 105, a DNS interface unit 106, a WebSocket server unit 107, and a communication unit 108. And comprising.

  The broadcast receiving unit 101 receives a broadcast signal carried by a broadcast wave in a predetermined frequency band as the broadcast transmission path BT. The frequency band of the broadcast wave is associated with each channel number in advance, and can be specified (tuned) based on an operation signal corresponding to a user operation. Broadcast receiving unit 101 outputs the received broadcast signal to demodulating unit 102 as a received signal. The broadcast receiving unit 101 is a tuner, for example.

  The demodulation unit 102 performs demodulation processing on the reception signal input from the broadcast reception unit 101 and performs decoding processing on the encoded signal obtained by the demodulation processing. Demodulation section 102 outputs the multiplexed signal obtained by the decoding process to demultiplexing section 103.

The demultiplexing unit 103 separates control information and distribution data from the multiplexed signal input from the demodulation unit 102. The demultiplexing unit 103 outputs the separated control signal to the control information analyzing unit 105, and outputs a predetermined distribution file of the distribution data to the file cache unit 104.
The file cache unit 104 temporarily stores the distribution file input from the demultiplexing unit 103. The file cache unit 104 includes a file system in which storage areas are hierarchized. The distribution file is stored in a storage area indicated by a directory specified by a path name included in the URL. In the file cache unit 104, a distribution file having the same file name as the distribution file already stored may be newly input. In that case, the file cache unit 104 replaces the already stored distribution file with the newly input distribution file. When an expiration date is set for the distribution file, the file cache unit 104 deletes the distribution file when the expiration date has come.

The control information analysis unit 105 analyzes the control information input from the demultiplexing unit 103, acquires the URL of the distribution file transmission source, and extracts the FQDN represented by the URL as host information. The control information analysis unit 105 outputs the extracted host information to the DNS interface unit 106.
The DNS interface unit 106 generates DNS information by associating the host information input from the control information analysis unit 105 with the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 107 that is the transmission source of the distribution file. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the DNS interface unit 106 transmits the generated DNS information to the DNS server 30 via the communication unit 108. Any method can be used as a communication method between the DNS interface unit 106 and the DNS server 30. However, it is desirable that an existing DNS server can be used as the DNS server 30 without significant specification change, and security is ensured. For example, a predetermined protocol (for example, an SSH (Secure Shell) protocol) may be used in communication with the DNS server 30. Further, the DNS interface unit 106 may be directly connected to the DNS server 30 via a serial port or the like one-on-one without using the communication unit 108.

The WebSocket server unit 107 acquires the distribution file specified by the path name included in the transmission request from the terminal device 20 from the file cache unit 104, and transmits the acquired distribution file to the terminal device 20 using the WebSocket protocol. More specifically, the WebSocket server unit 107 transmits an acknowledgment (ACK) to the terminal device 20 when receiving a connection request from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 108. Thereafter, when a confirmation response is received from the terminal device 20, a connection is established with the terminal device 20.
When the WebSocket server unit 107 receives a transmission request from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 108, the WebSocket server unit 107 reads the distribution file specified by the path name included in the transmission request from the file cache unit 104. The WebSocket server unit 107 transmits the read distribution file to the connected terminal device 20. Therefore, the WebSocket server unit 107 detects whether a part or all of the distribution file stored in the file cache unit 104 is updated at a predetermined cycle (for example, every 1 to 15 minutes) or immediately after the update. Update includes storing a new distribution file and replacing an existing distribution file with a new input distribution file having the same file name. The WebSocket server unit 107 reads the updated distribution file from the file cache unit 104 each time and transmits the read distribution file to the terminal device 20 (push distribution).

  The communication unit 108 transmits / receives various data to / from other devices connected to the network NW. The communication unit 108 is, for example, an IP communication interface.

(Configuration of terminal device)
Next, the configuration of the terminal device 20 will be described.
The terminal device 20 includes an application execution unit 201 and a communication unit 203. The application execution unit 201 acquires various applications and controls execution of processing instructed by an instruction described in the acquired application. The application execution unit 201 includes, for example, a control device that reads a recording medium web browser program stored in advance in a storage unit (not shown) of the terminal device 20 and performs processing instructed by the program. . A control device is a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit), for example. The web browser program includes a function for analyzing an application and an API function for realizing a function defined in an international standard. These functions include an analysis function that analyzes an application written in a predetermined modeling language (for example, HTML) and identifies an instruction instructed, a control function for processing related to the instruction, and a device connected to the network NW A transmission / reception function of various data using a predetermined protocol, a function of presenting acquired data, a function of receiving an operation signal according to a user operation, and the like. The transmission / reception function includes the function (described later) of the WebSocket client unit 202. The distribution file acquired by the WebSocket client unit 202 may include a file configuring an application and a data file storing data to be processed by the application. The application execution unit 201 analyzes the application and controls processing related to the instructed instruction. However, a distribution file separated from a received signal received by broadcasting, a control information acquisition function, and a control information analysis function are not included.

  The WebSocket client unit 202 transmits an address request indicating an IP address request corresponding to predetermined host information to the DNS server 30 via the communication unit 203 (name resolution). The host information is represented by an FQDN that constitutes a URL indicating distribution file acquisition destination information. The WebSocket client unit 202 receives an IP address from the DNS server 30 as a response to the address request. As the IP address of the DNS server 30, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) notification received at the time of connection to the network NW or an IP address acquired by a user's manual setting is stored in the storage unit of the terminal device 20 in advance. The WebSocket client unit 202 may extract the IP address from the setting information of the OS installed in the terminal device 20 in advance.

The WebSocket client unit 202 uses the WebSocket protocol from the relay device 10 specified by the received IP address, and receives a distribution file specified by a path name constituting the URL. More specifically, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection request via the communication unit 203 to the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay apparatus 10 specified by the received IP address. When the WebSocket client unit 202 receives a confirmation response to the connection request from the WebSocket server unit 107, the WebSocket client unit 202 further transmits a confirmation response to the confirmation response to the WebSocket server unit 107. After that, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits the above-described delivery file transmission request to the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay apparatus 10 via the communication unit 203 using the HTTP GET method. At this time, when the WebSocket server unit 107 describes one line of Upgrade: websocket in the request message of the GET method and transmits it, and the response message from the WebSocket server unit 107 also includes Upgrade: websocket, the WebSocket client A WebSocket session is established by the unit 202 and the WebSocket server unit 107. After the WebSocket session is established, the WebSocket client unit 202 receives the distribution file specified by the path name included in the URL of the transmission request from the WebSocket server unit 107.
These series of procedures are realized by calling an API function described in the application, for example, new WebSocket (“ws: //www.example.com/dir1/file1.json”);

  The communication unit 203 transmits / receives various data to / from other devices connected to the network NW. The communication unit 203 is, for example, a communication interface.

(Operation of WebSocket client unit)
Next, the operation of the WebSocket client unit 202 will be described by taking as an example the case where the URL of the distribution file is ws: //www.example.com/dir1/file1.json. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional communication system B2. In the communication system B2, the terminal device 20, the DNS server 30, and the Web server 60 are connected to each other via a network NW to form the communication system B2. The Web server 60 includes a WebSocket server unit (not shown) that transmits a distribution file. In the DNS server 30, the FQDN of the Web server 60 and the IP address are registered in advance in association with each other. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the FQDN and IP address of the Web server 60 are www.example.com and address A, respectively. The WebSocket server unit is configured to transmit a distribution file in the same manner as the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay apparatus 10. The Web server 60 is a server device managed by a service provider, a content provider, and the like. However, in the communication system B2, it is assumed that the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment is not connected to the network NW or a higher-level network (not shown). Hereinafter, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the host information of www.example.com has already been cached in the DNS server 30 and an address request to the upper DNS server 40 does not occur.

  In name resolution, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits an address request corresponding to www.example.com as host information to the DNS server 30 and receives an address A from the DNS server 30 as a response. The WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a connection request to the Web server 60 specified by the received address A. After establishing the TCP connection with the Web server 60, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a transmission request for the distribution file file1.json specified by the path name dir1 / file1.json to the Web server 60. The WebSocket client unit 202 receives data of the distribution file file1.json from the Web server 60. Since the WebSocket client unit 202 has only a web standard function and does not have a function necessary for broadcast reception, it cannot acquire various data based on a received signal received by broadcasting.

  In order to acquire a distribution file transmitted via the broadcast transmission path BT, the WebSocket client unit 202 accesses the relay apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The operation of the WebSocket client unit 202 will be described with reference to an example in which the terminal device 20 is connected via the network NW via the relay device 10 as shown in FIG. By this connection, a broadcasting / communication cooperation system B1 is formed. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 107 is address B.

  The control information analysis unit 105 of the relay apparatus 10 analyzes the control information separated from the multiplexed signal carried on the broadcast transmission path BT, and uses ws: //www.example.com/ as the URL of the distribution file transmission source. Get dir1 / file1.json. The control information analysis unit 105 extracts www.example.com as host information from the URL. The DNS interface unit 106 registers in the DNS server 30 DNS information in which the host information www.example.com is associated with the address B, which is the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 107 of the distribution file. Also, the file cache unit 104 stores the distribution file file1.json separated from the multiplexed signal in the public directory / dir1.

  In name resolution, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits an address request corresponding to www.example.com as host information to the DNS server 30 and receives an address B from the DNS server 30 as a response. The WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a connection request to the WebSocket server unit 107 of the relay apparatus 10 specified by the received address B. After the connection with the WebSocket server unit 107 is established, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a transmission request for the distribution file file1.json specified by the path name /dir1/file1.json to the WebSocket server unit 107. The WebSocket client unit 202 receives the data stored in the distribution file file1.json from the WebSocket server unit 107. Thereafter, each time the distribution file file1.json is updated, the WebSocket client unit 202 receives the updated distribution file file1.json. Therefore, even the WebSocket client unit 202 having the Web standard function can acquire the distribution file file1.json transmitted by broadcasting.

(Example of network placement)
The relay apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment may be arranged in various forms of networks. The relay device 10 can provide the distribution file received by broadcasting to the terminal device 20 connected to the arranged network or a lower-layer network. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating exemplary arrangements of the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment on various networks. In the example shown in FIG. 4, five relay apparatuses 10-1 to 10-4 and 10-6 are connected to the networks NW1 to 4 and NW6, respectively. The network NW1 is the Internet that connects the networks NW2 to 4 and NW5 to each other. A broadcast cooperative communication system BX is formed by these connections.

  The terminal devices 20-2a and 20-2b are connected to the network NW2, the terminal devices 20-3a and 20-3b are connected to the network NW3, and the terminal devices 20-4a, 20-4b, and 20-4c are connected to the network NW4. The terminal 20-5 is connected to the network NW5, and the terminal device 20-6 is connected to the network NW6. The configurations of the relay devices 10-1 to 10-4 and 10-6 are the same as those of the relay device 10, and their FQDN, www.example.com and IP address are DNS servers accessible from the respective networks. 30 (not shown). Therefore, the URLs of the terminal devices 20-2a, 20-2b, 20-3a, 20-3b, 20-4a, 20-4b, 20-4c, 20-5, and 20-6 are www.example.com/dir1. The distribution file /file1.json can be acquired from the nearest relay device of each terminal device.

  For example, the terminal devices 20-2a and 20-2b connected to the network NW2 perform name resolution for FQDNDN.example.com, respectively. The terminal devices 20-2a and 20-2b are assigned the IP address of the relay device 10-2 connected to the network NW2 by name resolution, and the path name is /dir1/file1.json from the relay device 10-2. A distribution file file1.json can be obtained. Even if the network is not the same as the connected network, if the relay device is connected to a network higher than the network, the terminal device can acquire the distribution file specified by the URL from the relay device. it can. For example, the terminal device 20-5 connected to the network NW5 can acquire the distribution file file1.json from the relay device 10-1 connected to the network NW1 in a higher hierarchy than the network NW5. The network NW6 is a private network that is not connected to the Internet, but the terminal device 20-6 can acquire the distribution file file1.json from the relay device 10-6.

  When a plurality of relay apparatuses 10 are installed between mutually connected networks NW as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of IP addresses may be set for one URL in the DNS record. . In such a case, the DNS server 30 may transmit a plurality of IP addresses to the terminal device 20. The WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20 may perform a known route search process and specify any one IP address among the plurality of IP addresses from the DNS server 30. For example, the WebSocket client unit 202 acquires a predetermined distance index with the WebSocket server unit 107 specified by each IP address, and selects the WebSocket server unit 107 having the smallest acquired distance index. As a distance index, the number of hops indicating the number of routers that have passed, a response time, or the like, or a combination thereof can be used.

(Modification)
The relay apparatus 10 according to the above-described embodiment is exemplified as being configured as a single relay apparatus. The relay device 10 may be configured as a DNS server having the configuration of the DNS server 30. This DNS server forms a DNS record from the DNS information from the DNS interface unit 106 provided in the own device, and the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 107 as an IP address corresponding to the host information specified by the address request from the terminal device 20 Respond. Therefore, the load related to the management of DNS information is reduced.

  The relay device 10 may be configured as a router device that further includes an inter-network relay unit that relays data transmitted and received between a plurality of different networks. Like the DNS server 30, this router device may have a DNS server function, a DNS cache function, and a DNS relay function. This router device forms a DNS record based on the DNS information from the DNS interface unit 106 provided in the router device. The router device responds with an IP address corresponding to the host information specified by the address request from the terminal device 20 on the network to which the router device is connected. Therefore, the load related to the management of DNS information is reduced, and requests and responses across multiple networks can be suppressed in name resolution. As a result, the network load is reduced, and network congestion can be avoided.

As described above, the relay device 10 according to the present embodiment includes the demultiplexing unit 103 that separates the data file and the control information related to the reception of the data file from the received signal received by broadcasting. The relay device 10 includes a control information analysis unit 105 that analyzes and acquires the host information of a transmission unit (for example, the WebSocket server unit 107) that transmits the received data file by communication. Further, the relay device 10 stores the host information and the address in association with each other, and in response to the address request, outputs the address corresponding to the host information indicated by the address request to the DNS server 30 that transmits the host information and the address of the transmission unit. And a host information notification unit (for example, DNS interface unit 106).
With this configuration, the terminal device 20 can acquire an address corresponding to predetermined host information, and can receive a data file transmitted by broadcasting from a transmission unit identified by the acquired address. Therefore, the terminal device 20 can receive the data file using a web standard browser or an application program that does not have a dedicated extended function.

The relay device 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a transmission unit that transmits a data file received by broadcasting, and the transmission unit transmits the data file to the terminal device 20 in response to a transmission request from the terminal device 20.
In this configuration, a transmission unit that transmits the received data file and a host information notification unit that associates the host information with the address and notifies the DNS server 30 are integrated. Therefore, the host information and address of the transmission unit can be managed more easily than when the transmission unit is a separate body.

Moreover, the transmission part of the relay apparatus 10 which concerns on this embodiment transmits the data file to the terminal device 20, when detecting the update of the data file received by broadcast.
According to this configuration, the data file is transmitted from the transmission unit in response to the update. Therefore, the terminal device 20 can acquire the latest data file at that time. Further, it is possible to avoid an increase in the load on the network for performing an update inquiry from the terminal device.

The relay device 10 according to the present embodiment is further configured as a router device by further including an inter-network relay unit that relays signals transmitted between a plurality of networks connected to the own device.
With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of communication related to name resolution across networks, so that the load on the network is reduced.

The relay device 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a name resolution unit (for example, the DNS server 30) that transmits an address corresponding to the host information received from the terminal device 20 to the terminal device 20, and is configured as a server device. Is done.
With this configuration, the host information from the host information notification unit included in the own device and the IP address are stored in association with each other, and the address of the transmission unit corresponding to the host information from the terminal device 20 is transmitted to the terminal device 20. . Therefore, the management of the host information and the IP address by the broadcaster or content provider is reduced as compared with the case where the relay device 10 and the name resolution unit are separate.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. About the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is used.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal device 21 according to the present embodiment. Similar to the terminal device 20 shown in FIG. 1, the terminal device 21 includes an application execution unit 201, a communication unit 203, a DNS cache unit 204, a broadcast reception unit 211, a demodulation unit 212, a demultiplexing unit 213, and a file cache unit. 214, a control information analysis unit 215, a DNS interface unit 216, and a WebSocket server unit 217.
The configuration of the broadcast receiving unit 211, demodulating unit 212, demultiplexing unit 213, file cache unit 214, control information analyzing unit 215, DNS interface unit 216, and WebSocket server unit 217 is the same as the broadcast receiving unit 101, demodulating unit 102, The same as the demultiplexing unit 103, the file cache unit 104, the control information analysis unit 105, the DNS interface unit 106, and the WebSocket server unit 107.

  However, the DNS interface unit 216 generates DNS information by associating localhost and host information as the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 217, and outputs the DNS information to the DNS cache unit 204. The localhost is information indicating the own device as a data transmission / reception destination. The localhost is, for example, 127.0.0.1 for IPv4 and :: 1 for IPv6.

The DNS cache unit 204 performs the same processing as that of the DNS server 30. The DNS cache unit 204 stores the DNS information input from the DNS interface unit 216 and forms a DNS record 205. In this modification, the WebSocket client unit 202 outputs an address request to the DNS cache unit 204 in name resolution.
The DNS cache unit 204 refers to the DNS record 205 and specifies an IP address (local host) corresponding to the host information specified by the address request input from the WebSocket client unit 202. The DNS cache unit 204 outputs the identified IP address to the requesting WebSocket client unit 202.

  The WebSocket client unit 202 connects to the WebSocket server unit 217 of its own device specified by the IP address (localhost) input from the DNS cache unit 204. Thereafter, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a distribution file transmission request to the WebSocket server unit 217. The WebSocket client unit 202 receives a distribution file from the WebSocket server unit 217.

  As a modified example of the terminal device 21, the WebSocket server unit 217 is further connected to another terminal device 20 and may transmit a distribution file in response to a transmission request from the application execution unit 201 of the terminal device 20. Good. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the DNS interface unit 216 of the terminal device 21 generates DNS information by associating the address C and host information as the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 217, and stores the DNS information in the DNS cache unit 204. Output. The DNS interface unit 216 of the terminal device 21 registers DNS information in which the address C and host information are associated with the DNS server 30 connected via the network NW, in addition to its own DNS cache unit 204. May be.

The DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 21 stores the DNS information input from the DNS interface unit 216 and forms a DNS record 205. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20 outputs an address request to the DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 21 in name resolution.
The DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 21 refers to the DNS record 205 and specifies an IP address (address C) corresponding to the host information specified by the address request received from the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20. The DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 21 transmits the identified IP address to the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20.

  The WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20 is connected to the WebSocket server unit 217 of the terminal device 21 specified by the IP address (address C) received from the DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 21. Thereafter, the WebSocket server unit 217 of the terminal device 21 receives a distribution file transmission request from the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20 and transmits the distribution file to the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 20. Therefore, the terminal device 21 according to the present modification has a function of relaying a distribution file transmitted from the broadcasting facility 50 to another terminal device 20.

  Further, the terminal device 22 according to another modification may be configured by omitting the file cache unit 214 and the WebSocket server unit 217 from the terminal device 21 as shown in FIG. However, the terminal device 22 is connected to the Web server 61 via the network NW. The Web server 61 is a server device that includes a file cache unit 611, a WebSocket server unit 612, and a communication unit 613. The configurations of the file cache unit 611 and the WebSocket server unit 612 are the same as those of the file cache unit 214 and the WebSocket server unit 217, respectively.

Therefore, the DNS interface unit 216 of the terminal device 22 generates DNS information by associating the address D with the host information as the IP address of the WebSocket server unit 217, and outputs the DNS information to the DNS cache unit 204.
The DNS cache unit 204 of the terminal device 22 stores the DNS information input from the DNS interface unit 216 and forms a DNS record 205. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 22 outputs an address request to the DNS cache unit 204 in name resolution.
The DNS cache unit 204 refers to the DNS record 205 and specifies an IP address (address D) corresponding to the host information specified by the address request input from the WebSocket client unit 202. The DNS cache unit 204 outputs the specified IP address to the WebSocket client unit 202. Also, the DNS interface unit 216 of the terminal device 22 registers DNS information in which the address D and host information are associated with the DNS server 30 connected via the network NW, in addition to its own DNS cache unit 204. May be.

The demultiplexing unit 213 transmits the distribution file to the file cache unit 611 of the Web server 61 using a predetermined protocol (for example, FTP: File Transfer Protocol).
The WebSocket client unit 202 connects to the WebSocket server unit 612 of the Web server 61 specified by the IP address (address D) received from the DNS cache unit 204. Thereafter, the WebSocket server unit 612 of the Web server 61 receives the distribution file transmission request from the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 22, and has the file name specified from the directory specified by the path name included in the transmission request. Read the delivery file. The WebSocket server unit 612 transmits the read distribution file to the WebSocket client unit 202 of the terminal device 22. Therefore, when a plurality of terminal devices 20 (not shown) are connected to the network NW, the WebSocket client unit 202 of each terminal device is entrusted with processing to transmit the distribution file received by broadcasting to the Web server 61. Can do. Further, the terminal device 22 may be used as a relay device that transmits the distribution file exclusively received from the broadcast wave to the Web server 61 by further omitting the application execution unit 201 and the WebSocket client unit 202.

As described above, the terminal devices 21 and 22 according to the present embodiment acquire the address corresponding to the name resolution unit (for example, the DNS cache unit 204) and the host information from the name resolution unit, and have the address. The relay device includes a receiving unit (for example, WebSocket client unit 202) that receives a data file from the transmitting unit.
With this configuration, the reception unit can identify a transmission unit having an address acquired from the name resolution unit included in the own device, and can receive a data file transmitted by broadcast from the transmission unit.

  The embodiment and various modifications of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described one, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is possible to change the design.

For example, in the above-described embodiment and the modification, the case where the WebSocket protocol is mainly used for transmission / reception of the distribution file has been described as an example. However, other communication protocols such as the HTTP protocol may be used. A receiving unit 202 ′ (not shown) as a receiving unit replacing the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits a transmission request for a distribution file specified by a path name to a transmitting unit 107 ′ (not shown). The transmission unit 107 ′ is a transmission unit that replaces the WebSocket server units 107, 217, and 612. As a response, the transmission unit 107 ′ transmits the distribution file related to the transmission request to the reception unit 202 ′ (pull distribution). The transmission unit 107 ′ does not necessarily need to establish a connection with the reception unit 202 ′ before transmitting the distribution file.
Further, the reception unit 202 ′ may transmit the update confirmation of the distribution file to the transmission unit 107 ′ every predetermined time (for example, 1 to 10 minutes). The transmission unit 107 ′ detects whether or not the distribution file related to the update confirmation received from the reception unit 202 ′ is updated, and detects the difference between the distribution file detected before the update and the distribution file transmitted before the update. . Then, the transmission unit 107 ′ transmits a difference file indicating the detected difference to the reception unit 202 ′.

  Further, the transmission unit 107 ′ and the reception unit 202 ′ may further be able to use the WebSocket protocol together. Therefore, the transmission unit 107 ′ detects whether or not the distribution file has been updated every predetermined time, and transmits update information indicating the presence of the update to the reception unit 202 ′ using the WebSocket protocol. When receiving the update information from the transmission unit 107 ′, the reception unit 202 ′ transmits a distribution file transmission request to the transmission unit 107 ′ using the HTTP protocol, and transmits the updated distribution file as a response to the transmission unit 107 ′. Receive from.

  In the embodiment and the modification described above, the URL indicating the location of the distribution file is set in advance in the WebSocket client unit 202 and the receiving unit 202 '. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the WebSocket client unit 202 and the receiving unit 202 ′ may extract a URL from data received from another device connected to the network NW, or a URL indicated by an operation signal input in response to a user operation May be obtained.

Further, in the above-described example, the WebSocket client unit 202 uses the URL including both the host name and the path name of the distribution file when requesting connection to the WebSocket server unit 107, but uses the URL including only the host name. A connection request may be made. The WebSocket connection request in this case is realized by calling an API function described in the application, for example, new WebSocket (“ws: //www.example.com/”);
At this time, after the WebSocket connection is established, the WebSocket client unit 202 transmits the path name of the distribution file desired by the WebSocket client unit 202 to the WebSocket server unit 107 using a message of WebSocket communication, and the distribution file is returned as the response. You may make it receive.

  In addition, you may make it implement | achieve at least one part function of the relay apparatus 10, the terminal devices 20, 21, and 22 or the Web server 61 in embodiment mentioned above with a computer. In that case, a program for realizing this function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed. The “computer system” here is a computer system built in the relay device 10, the terminal devices 20, 21, 22 or the Web server 61, and includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. 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” is a medium that dynamically holds a program for a short time, such as 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 inside a computer system that serves as a server or a client may be included that holds a program for a certain period of time. 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.

  Moreover, you may implement | achieve part or all of the relay apparatus 10, the terminal devices 20, 21, and 22 or the Web server 61 in embodiment mentioned above as integrated circuits, such as LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each functional block of the relay device 10, the terminal devices 20, 21, 22 or the Web server 61 may be individually made into a processor, or a part or all of them may be integrated into a processor. Further, the method of circuit integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. In addition, when an integrated circuit technology that replaces LSI appears due to the advancement of semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on the technology may be used.

B1 ... broadcast communication cooperation system, BT ... broadcast transmission path, NW, NW1, NW2, NW3, NW4, NW5, NW6 ... network, 10, 10-1 to 10-4, 10-6 ... relay device, 101 ... broadcast reception , 102 ... Demodulator, 103 ... Demultiplexer, 104 ... File cache, 105 ... Control information analyzer, 106 ... DNS interface, 107 ... WebSocket server, 108 ... Communication, 20, 20-2a, 20 -2b, 20-3a, 20-3b, 20-4a, 20-4b, 20-4c, 20-5, 20-6, 21, 22 ... terminal device, 201 ... application execution unit, 202 ... WebSocket client unit, 203 ... Communication unit 204 ... DNS cache unit 205 ... DNS record 211 ... Broadcast reception unit 212 ... Demodulation unit 2 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Demultiplexing part, 214 ... File cache part, 215 ... Control information analysis part, 216 ... DNS interface part, 217 ... WebSocket server part, 30 ... DNS server, 301 ... DNS record, 40 ... High-order DNS server, 50 ... Broadcast Equipment, 60, 61 ... Web server, 611 ... File cache unit, 612 ... WebSocket server unit, 613 ... Communication unit

Claims (6)

A separation unit for separating a data file and control information related to reception of the data file from a reception signal received by broadcasting;
A control information analysis unit that analyzes and acquires the host information of the transmission unit that transmits the data file by communication; and
The host information and the address are stored in association with each other, and in response to the address request, the name resolution unit that outputs the address corresponding to the host information indicated by the address request is notified in association with the host information and the address of the transmission unit. A host information notification unit to perform,
A relay device comprising: The transmitter further comprising:
The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the data file to the terminal device in response to a transmission request from the terminal device. The relay device according to claim 2, wherein the transmission unit transmits the data file to the terminal device when detecting an update of the data file. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an inter-network relay unit that relays signals transmitted between a plurality of networks connected to the own device. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The server device, comprising: the name resolution unit, wherein the name resolution unit transmits an address corresponding to the host information received from the terminal device to the terminal device. The relay device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The name resolution unit;
Obtaining an address corresponding to the host information from the name resolution unit,
A receiver for receiving the data file from the transmitter having the address;
A terminal device comprising:

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