JP3688982B2 - Content delivery control system and method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution control system and method for controlling from which content server a content is distributed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional content distribution control system. In this example, content servers 102A and 102B are connected to two electronic networks 101A and 101B that are connected to each other (for example, a network with a communication speed of 1.5 Mbps and a network with 64 Kbps, respectively). To do. The content servers 102A and 102B store many digital contents (hereinafter referred to as contents) such as music and video. These content servers 102A and 102B deliver corresponding content in response to content transmission requests transmitted from the client, that is, the content player 103 via the networks 101A and 101B.
[0003]
Here, it is assumed that the content player 103 accesses the content server 102B connected to the network 101B via the network 101A.
Upon receiving the content transmission request, the content server 102B first detects the position on the network of the content player 103 that is the transmission source. Next, with reference to a table indicating the positions of all the servers 102A and 102B including the self, the server at the shortest distance from the content player 103 is specified.
[0004]
When the content server 102B is at the shortest distance, the content server 102B delivers the content. In this case, since the server at the shortest distance is the content server 102A, the content server 102B gives the content server 103 the address of the content server 102A. Send.
Upon receiving the address of the content server 102A, the content player 103 automatically transmits a content transmission request to the content server 102A. In response to this, the content server 102A distributes content corresponding to the content player 103.
As a result, the content can be distributed from the content server at the shortest distance from the content player 103.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the environments such as the communication speed, communication quality, and communication cost are different between the networks 101A and 101B, this difference affects the time and cost required for downloading from the content servers 102A and 102B. . For example, when the network 101B is faster and less expensive than the network 101A, it is possible to download desired content in a shorter time and at a lower cost by using the content server 102B connected to the network 101B. Some users want to complete the content download in a short time, while others want to keep costs low. That is, the conventional content distribution control method has a problem that it does not always meet the user's request.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to be able to distribute content from an optimal content server when there are a plurality of content servers respectively connected to networks having different environments. Is to make it.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, a content distribution control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of electronic networks, a content distribution control device that transmits and receives information to and from each other via these networks, an address server, and a plurality of contents. It consists of a server. Then, the content distribution control apparatus receives a content acquisition request including information for specifying the content from the client, and transmits a condition regarding distribution of the content including the information to the address server, and is returned from the address server. Receiving the address of the content server, transmitting a content transmission request for requesting transmission of the content specified by the information to the content server at the address; and receiving the content returned from the content server; Means for transferring to the client. In addition, the address server includes at least information for specifying the content, an address of the content server that stores the content, and a recording unit that records the network environment of the content server in association with each other, and the condition transmitted from the content distribution control device And a content server that meets the conditions for the network environment among the content servers that store the content specified by the information included in the conditions based on the conditions received by the receiving means Search means for searching the address, and transmission means for returning the address searched by the search means to the content distribution control apparatus. Each of the content servers returns a content storage unit that stores the content, a reception unit that receives the content transmission request transmitted from the content distribution control device, and a content requested by the content transmission request to the content distribution control device. Transmitting means.
[0008]
Here, the content distribution control device further includes means for generating a condition related to content distribution from a condition preset in the content distribution control device and a condition specified every time the client makes a content acquisition request. You may do it. The content distribution control apparatus may further include means for setting a condition specified every time the client makes a content acquisition request as a condition regarding content distribution.
[0009]
Further, the recording unit of the address server may record the information specifying the content, the content attribute, and the content target person or target purpose attribute in association with each other.
In addition, a table in which information for identifying content, an address of the content server, and a network environment of the content server is described may be provided for each client in the recording unit of the address server.
In addition, the content distribution control device may be connected to a plurality of networks.
[0010]
In the content delivery control method of the present invention, based on a content acquisition request including information specifying content transmitted from a client, the content delivery control device transmits a condition relating to delivery of the content including the information to an address server. 1 step, a second step of searching for the address of the content server that meets this condition, and returning the searched address from the address server to the content distribution control device, and a content server at the address from the content distribution control device A third step of transmitting a content transmission request for requesting transmission of the content specified by the information, and a content server that has received the content transmission request returns the content requested by the content transmission request to the content distribution control device 4th to do A method, characterized by comprising a fifth step of transferring the contents transmitted from the content server from the content distribution control device to the client.
[0011]
Here, the condition relating to the content distribution may be generated based on at least one of a condition preset in the content distribution control device and a condition specified by the client together with the content acquisition request. Alternatively, the condition specified by the client together with the content acquisition request may be set as a condition regarding content distribution.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of a content distribution control system of the present invention. The content distribution control system shown in this figure includes two electronic networks 1A and 1B connected to each other in different environments such as communication speed, communication quality and communication cost, and contents connected to these networks 1A and 1B, respectively. Servers 2A and 2B, content distribution control devices 4A and 4B, and address servers 5A and 5B are configured.
[0013]
Further, the content players 3A and 3B as clients can be freely connected to the content distribution control devices 4A and 4B. The content players 3A and 3B may be connected to the content distribution control devices 4A and 4B via a communication line, or when the content distribution control devices 4A and 4B are installed in a store such as a convenience store. The user may go to the store with the content players 3A and 3B and connect the content players 3A and 3B directly to the content distribution control devices 4A and 4B.
[0014]
In the above configuration, the content servers 2A and 2B, the content players 3A and 3B, the content distribution control devices 4A and 4B, and the address servers 5A and 5B have the same configuration. Therefore, in the following, the content server 2A, the content player 3A, Only the configuration of the content distribution control device 4A and the address server 5A will be described.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the content server 2A includes a content storage unit 21, a search unit 22, and a transmission / reception unit 23.
The content storage unit 21 is means for storing various types of content such as music and video, such as movies, still images, and newspaper articles.
The search unit 22 is means for searching the content specified by a content transmission request, which will be described later, in the storage unit 21 using an identifier that is information for specifying the content as a key.
The transmission / reception unit 23 is means for connecting to the network 1A, receiving a content transmission request, and returning the content searched by the search unit 22.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the address server 5A includes an address recording unit 51, a search unit 52, and a transmission / reception unit 53.
The address recording unit 51 is a means for recording the identifier of each content in association with the addresses of the content servers 2A and 2B that store the content. Specifically, the content identifier and the address of the content server that stores the content are recorded in a table. This table is called a content location table. In this content location table, in addition to the server address, attributes relating to the content such as the network environment such as the communication speed, communication quality and communication cost of the networks 1A and 1B to which the content servers 2A and 2B are connected, the type of media, And attributes related to the target person and the target purpose of the content.
[0017]
The search unit 52 uses, as a key, a content identifier included in an address transmission request, which will be described later, out of the content servers 2A and 2B that store the content specified by the content identifier, This is means for searching for a server address that meets the conditions using the content location table of the address recording unit 51.
The transmission / reception unit 53 is means for connecting to the network 1A, receiving an address transmission request, and returning the address of the content server searched by the search unit 22. This server address may be described in a domain-based notation such as a URL, or may be an actual network address such as an IP address.
[0018]
The content player 3A has a function of transmitting a content acquisition request to the content distribution control device 4A and downloading the content, and a function of reproducing the downloaded content. In the content acquisition request, the content player 3A can specify a desired condition together with the identifier of the content to be acquired. For example, it is possible to specify restrictions relating to contents such as the type of media that can be reproduced by the content player 3A, the network performance requested by the user of the content player 3A, and the cost required for reproduction. A combination of these conditions and the content identifier is called a condition c.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 2C, the content distribution control device 4A includes a profile recording unit 31, a calculation unit 32, and a transmission / reception unit 33.
The profile recording unit 31 is a means for recording the profile of the user of the content distribution control system shown in FIG. This user profile may be created for each identification number assigned to the content player by giving an identification number (ID) to each user of the system. Good.
In the user profile, default conditions p such as network performance and cost defined by the user, user age, and the like are recorded. The condition p may include a matter defined by a person other than the user. Moreover, this condition p does not necessarily have to be defined.
[0020]
The calculation unit 32 is a unit that calculates the condition c specified in the content acquisition request and the condition p recorded in the profile recording unit 31 to generate a condition s related to content distribution. Specifically, the condition s is generated by taking the logical product of the condition c and the condition p. When the condition c includes all of the conditions p, when the condition p is not defined, and when no user definition is added, the condition c becomes the condition s as it is.
[0021]
The transmission / reception unit 33 is means for transmitting / receiving predetermined information by connecting to the content player 3A and the network 1A. More specifically, a function for receiving a content acquisition request from the content player 3A and transmitting an address acquisition request including the condition s generated by the calculation unit 32 to the address server 5A, and a content returned from the address server 5A A function of receiving a server address and transmitting a content transmission request including a content identifier to a content server at the received address, and a content returned from the content server, and receiving the received content as a content player And a function of transferring to 3A.
[0022]
In this system, it is sufficient that there are two or more networks. Further, it is not necessary to connect one content distribution control device and one address server to each network, and it is sufficient that at least one content distribution control device and one address server exist in the entire system.
[0023]
Next, the operation of the content distribution control system shown in FIG. 1 will be described. Here, content 01 (content identifier: Id01) and content 02 (content identifier: Id02) are stored in the content server 2A, and content 01 (content identifier: Id01) and content 03 (content identifier: Id03) are stored in the content server 2B. A case where the user requests acquisition of the content 01 from the content player 3A during the accumulation will be described. The content location table in this case is shown in FIG.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, the user profile in the content distribution control device 3A is “select the one with the fastest communication speed (hope for the shortest time)”, “cost is 15 yen / second or less It is assumed that a condition p that “selects” is defined.
[0024]
First, the user transmits a content acquisition request for requesting downloading of the content 01 from the content player 3A to the content distribution control device 4A (step S1 in FIG. 4). In this content acquisition request, it is assumed that a condition c consisting of Id01 which is a content identifier of the content 01 and “select a cost of 12 yen / second or less” is specified.
When the content distribution control device 4A receives the content acquisition request, the content distribution control device 4A calculates a logical product of the condition c specified in the content acquisition request and the condition p defined in the user profile, thereby obtaining the condition s regarding content distribution. Is generated (step S2 in FIG. 4). In this example, the condition s is “content identifier = Id01 and cost ≦ 12 yen / second and the fastest network (NW) performance”.
[0025]
Then, the content distribution control device 4A transmits an address transmission request including the condition s generated in this way to the address server (step S3 in FIG. 4). The transmission destination of the address transmission request at this time may be a broadcast packet sent over the networks 1A and 1B and an address server responding to the broadcast packet as a candidate or when the content distribution control device 4A is set. The address server to be used may be designated. Here, it is assumed that an address transmission request is transmitted to the address server 5A.
[0026]
Upon receiving the address transmission request, the address server 5A searches the content location table in the address recording unit 51 using the content identifier: Id01 as a key. According to this table, as shown in FIG. 3A, there are two content servers storing the content identifier: Id01, one of which is the content server 2A, the cost is 5 yen / second, and the NW performance is 64 Kbps, the other is the content server 2B, the cost is 10 yen / second, and the NW performance is 1.5 Mbps. Since the content server 2B matches the “cost ≦ 12 yen / second and the fastest network (NW) performance” in the condition s described above, the address server 5A acquires the address of the content server 2B (step S4 in FIG. 4). ) To the content distribution control device 4A (step S5 in FIG. 4).
[0027]
In response to this, the content distribution control device 4A transmits a content transmission request including the content identifier: Id01 to the content server 2B (step S6 in FIG. 4).
Upon receiving the content transmission request, the content server 2B searches the content storage unit 21 using the content identifier: Id01 as a key to acquire the content 01 (step S7 in FIG. 4), and returns it to the content distribution control device 4A (FIG. 4). Step S8). Subsequently, the content distribution control device 4A transfers the received content 01 to the content player 3A (step S9 in FIG. 4).
[0028]
Thus, the download of the content 01 to the content player 3A is completed, and the content 01 can be reproduced by the content player 3A (step S10 in FIG. 4).
As described above, the most favorable condition for the user is selected from the plurality of content servers 2A and 2B respectively connected to the plurality of networks 1A and 1B, and the content 01 is distributed from the selected content server 2B. By doing so, downloading according to the user's request becomes possible.
In step S4, if there is no content server that satisfies the condition s, that fact is transmitted to the content player 3A via the content distribution control device 4A.
[0029]
In the description of the operation of the content distribution control system using FIGS. 3 and 4, it is assumed that the condition p is defined in advance in the user profile. However, if the condition p is not defined, the condition c is left as it is. Condition s may be used. Therefore, even if the condition p is not defined, there is no problem in the operation of this system. In step S3, the content distribution control device 4A transmits an address transmission request to the address server 5A on the same network 1A, but to the address server 5B on the other network 1B. You may make it transmit. Therefore, the address server does not need to exist on the same network as the content distribution control device. Conversely, a plurality of address servers may exist on the same network.
[0030]
In the above description of the operation, the cost and the network performance are taken up as registration items of the content location table in the address server 5A. However, as described above, the attributes relating to the target person and the target purpose of the content are set as the registration items. Also good. As a result, it is possible to limit the target audience of the content. For example, in the case where the target person of the content 01 is restricted to those who are 18 years old or older, “18 years old or older” is described in the target person column of the content location table as shown in FIG. As shown in (b), the user's age may be described as the condition p in the user profile of the content distribution control device 4A. For example, if the user is 16 years old, the address server 5A cannot detect a content server that meets the condition s. In this case, a reply that “content cannot be distributed” should be returned. That's fine. Thereby, reproduction of the content 01 by a user under the age of 18 can be restricted.
[0031]
In addition, although “cost” which is a registered item of the content location table has been described as a fixed value of yen / second, the address server 5A calculates the cost from the content size, the communication speed of the networks 1 and 2, and the communication cost. Also good. Further, the content location table does not have to be fixed, and may be automatically or manually updated according to a time zone, a day, or a day of the week.
[0032]
Further, a content location table may be provided for each identification number (ID) assigned to the user of the content distribution control system or for each identification number assigned to the content players 3A and 3B. In this case, by setting contents that cannot be distributed for each table, the use of contents can be restricted for each user or for each of the content players 3A and 3B. Therefore, an unauthorized user (a person on the black list) ) And the like can be controlled.
[0033]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a modification of the content distribution control system shown in FIG. In this figure, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted as appropriate.
In the content distribution control system shown in FIG. 6, the content distribution control device 4 is directly connected to a plurality of networks 1A and 1B. In this case as well, the address servers 5A and 5B select the content server most preferable for the user, pass the address to the content distribution control device 4, and based on the address received by the content distribution control device 4, the content server The distribution of content to the content player 3 is controlled.
[0034]
In the above description, the content players 3A and 3B have been described as examples of clients that download content from the content servers 2A and 2B. However, a device such as a personal computer that does not have a content playback function can be used as the client.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the most preferable condition for the user is selected from the plurality of content servers respectively connected to the plurality of networks, and the content is distributed from the selected content server. By doing so, downloading according to the user's request becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of a content distribution control system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a content server, an address server, and a content distribution control device.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a content location table and a user profile for explaining the operation of the content distribution control system shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations of the content distribution control system shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of a content location table and a user profile.
6 is a block diagram showing a modification of the content distribution control system shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a conventional content distribution control system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B ... Network, 2A, 2B ... Content server, 3, 3A, 3B ... Content player, 4, 4A, 4B ... Content distribution control apparatus, 5A, 5B ... Address server, 21 ... Content storage part, 22, 52 ... Search unit, 23, 33, 53... Transmission / reception unit, 31... Profile recording unit, 32.

Claims (10)

A plurality of electronic networks, a content distribution control device that transmits and receives information to and from each other through these networks, an address server, and a plurality of content servers,
The content distribution control device includes:
Means for receiving a content acquisition request including information for specifying content from a client and transmitting a condition relating to distribution of the content including the information to the address server;
Means for receiving a content server address returned from the address server and transmitting a content transmission request for requesting transmission of the content specified by the information to the content server at the address;
Means for receiving the content returned from the content server and transferring it to the client;
The address server is
Recording means for associating and recording at least information for identifying content, an address of a content server that stores the content, and a network environment of the content server;
Receiving means for receiving the condition transmitted from the content distribution control device;
Based on the condition received by the receiving means, a search for searching for a content server address that meets the conditions for the network environment from the content servers that store the content specified by the information included in the condition Means,
Transmission means for returning the address searched by the search means to the content distribution control device;
Each of the content servers
Content storage means for storing content;
Receiving means for receiving the content transmission request transmitted from the content distribution control device;
A content distribution control system comprising: a transmission unit that returns the content requested by the content transmission request to the content distribution control device. In the content delivery control system according to claim 1,
The content distribution control device further includes means for generating a condition relating to the content distribution from a condition preset in the content distribution control device and a condition specified every time the client makes the content acquisition request. A content distribution control system comprising: In the content delivery control system according to claim 1,
The content distribution control apparatus is characterized in that a condition specified every time the client makes a content acquisition request is a condition related to the distribution of the content. In the content delivery control system described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The content distribution control system characterized in that the recording means of the address server further records the content attributes in association with each other. In the content delivery control system as described in any one of Claims 1-4,
The content distribution control system according to claim 1, wherein the recording means of the address server further records the content in association with a target person or target purpose attribute of the content. In the content delivery control system described in any one of Claims 1-3,
The content distribution characterized in that the recording means of the address server is provided with a table in which information specifying the content, the address of the content server, and the network environment of the content server are described for each client Control system. In the content delivery control system described in any one of Claims 1-6,
The content distribution control apparatus is connected to a plurality of the networks. A first step of transmitting a condition relating to distribution of the content including the information from a content distribution control device to an address server based on a content acquisition request including information specifying the content transmitted from the client;
A second step of searching for an address of a content server that matches the condition and returning the address from the address server to the content distribution control device;
A third step of transmitting a content transmission request for requesting transmission of the content specified by the information from the content distribution control device to the content server at the address;
A fourth step of returning the content requested by the content transmission request from the content server that has received the content transmission request to the content distribution control device;
A content distribution control method comprising: a fifth step of transferring the content transmitted from the content server to the client from the content distribution control device. In the content delivery control method according to claim 8,
A content distribution control method, characterized in that a condition relating to the distribution of content is generated from a condition preset in the content distribution control device and a condition specified by the client together with the content acquisition request. In the content delivery control method according to claim 8,
A content distribution control method, wherein a condition specified by the client together with the content acquisition request is a condition related to the distribution of the content.

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