JP3981313B2 - Virtual content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

ｎ＝３のバイト位置についてのオフセットは、

である。
【００９１】
インデックス情報６２６から、フレーム番号「１８７００」に対応するバイト位置の値「７４８００１１２」から、コンテンツ構成表４１０のｎ＝３の開始フレーム番号「１８００１」に対応するバイト位置の値「（Ａ₃＝）７２０００５１２」を差し引き、
Ｃ＝２７９９６０である。
【００９２】
よって、求める値Ｘは、

である。
【００９３】
最後に、タイミングは各フレームに固有の値であるため、元の送出タイミング情報６２７及び送出タイミング情報６３７等から、コンテンツ構成表４１０により指定されるフレームのタイミングを書き出す（ステップＳ６１１）。
なお、Ｂ_nについて、対応するフレームの次のフレームが存在しない場合、フレーム番号については、当該フレーム番号に「１」を加算した値をＢ_nとして用いる。バイト位置については、元のヘッダ情報に含まれるファイルサイズの値をＢ_nとして用いる。
【００９４】
＜第２の実施の形態＞
本発明に係る第２の実施の形態として、仮想コンテンツ配信システム２について説明する。仮想コンテンツ配信システム２は、クライアント１０ａ、インターネット２０、Ｗｅｂサーバ３０ａ、エージェント４０ａ、ＤＢサーバ５０ａ、仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０ａ及び配信サーバ７０ａから構成される。なお、仮想コンテンツ配信システム２は図示していない。クライアント１０ａ、Ｗｅｂサーバ３０ａ、エージェント４０ａ、ＤＢサーバ５０ａ及び配信サーバ７０ａは、それぞれ、第１の実施の形態で説明した仮想コンテンツ配信システム１のクライアント１０、Ｗｅｂサーバ３０、エージェント４０、ＤＢサーバ５０及び配信サーバ７０と同様の構成及び機能を有するため、説明を省略する。
【００９５】
仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０ａは、第１の実施の形態における仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０と同様に、コンテンツ記憶部６０１ａ及び仮想コンテンツ生成部６０２ａから構成され、仮想コンテンツ生成部６０２ａは、更に、コンテンツ構成表受付部６０３ａ、コンテンツ構成表解釈部６０４ａ、警告部６０５ａ、コンテンツ構成表記憶部６０６ａ、コンテンツ情報読出部６０７ａ、ヘッダ情報読出部６０８ａ、付加情報読出部６０９ａ、コンテンツ情報加工部６１０ａ、仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報生成部６１１ａ、仮想コンテンツ付加情報生成部６１２ａ及び仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａから構成される。
【００９６】
仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報生成部６１１ａは、コンテンツ構成表に基づき仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報を生成し、生成した仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報を仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａへ出力する。
仮想コンテンツ付加情報生成部６１２ａは、コンテンツ構成表に基づき仮想コンテンツ付加情報として、仮想コンテンツインデックス情報と、仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報とを生成し、生成した仮想コンテンツインデックス情報と仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報とを仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａへ出力する。
【００９７】
コンテンツ情報読出部６０７ａは、コンテンツ構成表に従い、コンテンツ記憶部６０１ａが記憶しているコンテンツのコンテンツ情報から複数のフレームを読み出しコンテンツ情報加工部６１０ａに出力する。
コンテンツ情報加工部６１０ａは、受け取った複数のフレームに処理を施して、仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａへ出力する。
【００９８】
仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａは、仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報、仮想コンテンツインデックス情報、仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報及び複数のフレームを受け取る。仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａは、仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報を配信サーバ７０ａ及びインターネット２０を介してクライアント１０ａへ送信する。仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａは、複数のフレームを、仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報のタイミングに従い、１フレームずつ順に配信サーバ７０ａ及びインターネット２０を介してクライアント１０ａへ送信する。仮想コンテンツ出力部６１３ａは、仮想コンテンツインデックス情報と仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報とを配信サーバ７０ａ及びインターネット２０を介してクライアント１０ａへ送信する。
【００９９】
＜まとめ＞
以上説明した様に、本発明に係る第１の実施の形態である仮想コンテンツ配信システム１及び第２に実施の形態である仮想コンテンツ配信システム２は、ユーザの指定したジャンル及びキーワードを基に、データベースを検索し、キーワードに一致したシーンを読み出して、言わば、「ユーザ専用番組」を配信するサービスシステムである。また、仮想コンテンツ配信システム１は、上記の「ユーザ専用番組」に、ユーザの性別、年齢などの属性に応じて、ユーザ毎に異なるＣＭを挿入したコンテンツを配信する。
第１の実施の形態である仮想コンテンツ配信システム１は、仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が、元のコンテンツファイルの一部分を読み出して、新たに生成した仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報と仮想コンテンツ付加情報と共にクライアント１０に送信することにより、クライアント１０は、あたかも新たに生成されたコンテンツファイルが存在しているかのように、コンテンツをダウンロードすることが出来る。
第２の実施の形態である仮想コンテンツ配信システム２は、仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０ａが、元のコンテンツファイルの一部分を読み出し、１フレーム毎に、新たに生成した仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報に基づきクライアント１０ａに送信することにより、仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０ａは、あたかも新たに生成したコンテンツファイルが存在しているかのように、コンテンツをストリーミング配信することができる。
【０１００】
＜その他の変形例＞
なお、本発明を上記実施の形態に基づいて説明してきたが、本発明は、上記実施の形態に限定されず、以下の様な場合も本発明に含まれる。
（１）上記実施の形態において、インデックス情報６２６、インデックス情報６３６及び仮想コンテンツインデックス情報６６１は、フレーム番号とバイト位置とから構成されているが、フレームの、コンテンツ内における位置を指定できるものであれば、バイト位置に限定されずそれ以外の情報でもよい。例えば、オーディオサンプル数、秒数、フィールド数などとしてもよい。
【０１０１】
また、上記実施の形態において生成されるコンテンツ構成表は、再生番号、コンテンツＩＤ、開始フレーム番号及び終了フレーム番号により構成されているが、開始フレーム番号及び終了フレーム番号は、これに限定されず、コンテンツの先頭からのバイト数など、コンテンツ内の部分を特定することができる情報であれば何でもよい。
【０１０２】
（２）上記実施の形態において、ＣＭ情報を検索するためにユーザのプロファイルとして受け付ける情報は、「性別」、「年齢」及び「趣味」であるが、受け付ける情報は、これらに限定されないのは勿論である。ＣＭ情報と対応した項目であれば、「職業」や「地域」などを含む構成としてもよい。
（３）番組情報を検索する為に用いるジャンル及びキーワードが、ユーザにより任意に入力できる構成も本発明に含まれる。また、キーワードを複数個指定し、検索結果として各キーワードの論理積（ＡＮＤ）を出力するか、或いは論理和（ＯＲ）を出力するかの何れかを選択可能な構成も本発明に含まれる。
【０１０３】
（４）本発明において、エージェント４０が生成するコンテンツ構成表を仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０に送信する方法としては、ＬＡＮ経由による送信に限定されず、フレキシブルディスク、ＭＯ、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭなどの記録媒体を用いて送信する構成としてもよい。
（５）上記実施の形態において、Ｗｅｂサーバ３０、エージェント４０、ＤＢサーバ５０、仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０及び配信サーバ７０は、ＬＡＮ経由で相互に接続されて構成されるとしているが、これらが、インターネット経由で相互に接続される構成も本発明に含まれる。
【０１０４】
また、上記実施の形態においては、上記各装置はそれぞれが独立したコンピュータシステムであるが、上記各装置の幾つか、又は、全てが一つのコンピュータシステムに含まれる構成であってもよい。
（６）上記実施の形態における仮想コンテンツは、番組とＣＭとが交互に構成されるが、ＣＭの挿入方法はこれに限定されないのは勿論である。例えば、番組に対するＣＭの頻度をユーザの希望により決定したり、番組の最初或いは番組の最後にＣＭをまとめて挿入するなど、様々なＣＭ挿入パターンが本発明に含まれる。
【０１０５】
（７）上記実施の形態では、付加情報は、インデックス情報及び送出タイミング情報であるが、本発明における付加情報はこれに限定されない。例えば、図２７に示す様に、シーン内の出演者ついてのメタデータであってもよい。出演者情報８０１は、出演者毎にシーンに登場する登場開始フレーム及びシーンから居なくなる登場終了フレームを記述したもので、８１１は、出演者Ａが１フレームから１００フレームまで登場することを示している。
【０１０６】
（８）ユーザが指定するキーワードに一致した全シーンを繋げて配信することに限定されず、その内の幾つかのシーンを繋げて配信する場合も本発明に含まれる。
（９）また、ＣＭシーンを選択するために用いるプロファイル情報は、ユーザが入力することに限定されず、配信側が、過去の履歴から自動作成及び自動更新する構成であってもよい。
【０１０７】
（１０）各コンテンツに配信可能な期間を設けて、配信可能な期間を参照することによってコンテンツ構成表を生成する構成としてもよい。
（１１）本発明は、上記に示す方法であるとしてもよい。また、これらの方法をコンピュータにより実現するコンピュータプログラムであるとしてもよいし、前記コンピュータプログラムからなるデジタル信号であるとしてもよい。
また、本発明は、前記コンピュータプログラム又は前記デジタル信号をコンピュータ読み取り可能な記録媒体、例えば、フレキシブルディスク、ハードディスク、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭ、ＭＯ、ＤＶＤ−ＲＯＭ、ＤＶＤ−ＲＡＭ、半導体メモリ等に記録したものとしてもよい。また、これらの記録媒体に記録されている前記コンピュータプログラム又は、前記デジタル信号を電気通信回路、無線又は有線通信回路、インターネット等のネットワークを経由して伝送するものとしてもよい。
また、本発明は、マイクロプロセッサとメモリとを備えたコンピュータシステムであって、前記メモリは、前記コンピュータプログラムを記憶しており、前記マイクロプロセッサが前記コンピュータプログラムに従って動作するとしてもよい。
また、前記プログラム又は前記デジタル信号を前記記録媒体に記録して移送することにより、又は、前記プログラム又は前記デジタル信号をネットワーク等を経由して移送することにより、独立した他のコンピュータシステムにより実施するとしてもよい。
（１２）上記実施の形態及び上記変形例を組み合わせるとしてもよい。
【０１０８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明した様に、本発明は、利用者の要求に応じて映像シーンを選択して配信するサーバ装置と前記サーバ装置から映像シーンを受信する端末装置とから構成されるコンテンツ配信システムである。
前記サーバ装置は、複数個のコンテンツファイルを記憶しており、各コンテンツファイルは、複数個のシーン情報と当該複数個のシーン情報の再生に係るシーン付加情報とから構成される。前記サーバ装置は、前記コンテンツファイルに含まれるシーン情報から、利用者の要求に合致する複数個のシーン情報を選択し、選択した複数個のシーン情報のそれぞれに対応するシーン付加情報を読み出し、当該複数個のシーン情報の再生に係る仮想シーン付加情報を生成する。更に、前記サーバ装置は、選択した複数個のシーン情報と生成した前記仮想シーン付加情報とを対応付けて端末装置へ送信する。
【０１０９】
前記端末装置は、前記サーバ装置から前記複数個のシーン情報と前記仮想シーン付加情報とを受信し、受信した複数個のシーン情報と前記仮想シーン付加情報とを記憶する。
この構成によると、コンテンツ配信システムにおいて、サーバ装置は、端末装置から受信する要求に応じて複数個のシーン情報を選択することにより、利用者毎に利用者の希望に添ったコンテンツを生成することができる。更に、選択した複数個のシーン情報の再生に係る仮想シーン付加情報を生成して前記複数個のシーン情報と対応付けて端末装置へ送信することにより、端末装置は、複数個のシーン情報を受信して、記憶しておき、仮想シーン付加情報を用いて後で再生するタイムシフト視聴が出来る。
【０１１０】
また、本発明は、利用者が有する端末装置から受信する要求に応じて、映像シーンを選択して送信するサーバ装置である。
前記サーバ装置は、複数個のコンテンツファイルを記憶しており、各コンテンツファイルは、複数個のシーン情報と当該複数個のシーン情報の再生に係るシーン付加情報とから構成される。前記サーバ装置は、記憶しているコンテンツファイルに含まれるシーン情報から、利用者の要求に合致する複数個のシーン情報を選択する。前記サーバ装置は、選択した複数個のシーン情報のそれぞれに対応するシーン付加情報を読み出し、当該複数個のシーン情報の再生に係る仮想シーン付加情報を生成する。前記サーバ装置は、選択した複数個のシーン情報と生成した前記仮想シーン付加情報とを対応付けて前記端末装置へ送信する。
【０１１１】
この構成によると、サーバ装置は、端末装置から受信する要求に応じて複数個のシーン情報を選択することにより、利用者毎に利用者の希望に添ったコンテンツを生成することができる。更に、選択した複数個のシーン情報の再生に係る仮想シーン付加情報を生成して前記複数個のシーン情報と対応付けて端末装置へ送信することにより、端末装置は、複数個のシーン情報を受信して、記憶しておき、仮想シーン付加情報を用いて後で再生するタイムシフト視聴が出来る。
【０１１２】
ここで、前記サーバ装置は、シーン付加情報として、各シーン情報に含まれるフレーム毎に、フレーム番号と当該フレームのコンテンツファイル内における位置とを対応付けたインデックス情報を記憶しており、仮想シーン付加情報として、前記選択された複数個のシーン情報のそれぞれに含まれるフレーム毎に、当該複数個のシーン情報内におけるフレーム番号と当該フレームの位置とを対応付けた仮想インデックス情報を生成する様に構成してもよい。
【０１１３】
この構成によると、サーバ装置は、仮想インデックス情報を生成して、選択した複数個のシーン情報と対応付けて端末装置へ送信することにより、端末装置は、複数個のシーン情報と仮想インデックス情報とを受信すると、シーン情報の再生に伴いシーン情報の早送り、頭出し等ができる。
ここで、前記サーバ装置が記憶している各シーン情報はシーン識別子により識別され、前記サーバ装置は、各シーン情報について、各シーン情報を識別するシーン識別子と各シーン情報に関連するシーン関連情報とを対応付けて記憶している。前記サーバ装置は、前記端末装置から、前記要求として、シーン情報を選択するための選択条件を受信する。前記サーバ装置は、前記選択条件を満たすシーン関連情報に対応するシーン識別子を抽出し、抽出したシーン識別子により識別されるシーン情報を取得する様に構成してもよい。
【０１１４】
この構成によると、サーバ装置はデータベース部を有し、データベース部がシーン情報毎にシーンに関する情報を記憶していることにより、端末装置から受信する要求に応じたシーン情報を取得することができる。
ここで、前記サーバ装置は、抽出したシーン識別子に再生順序を付加して、再生番号及びシーン識別子から成る構成表を生成し、生成した構成表を用いて前記記憶手段からシーン情報を取得する様に構成してもよい。
【０１１５】
この構成によると、サーバ装置は、端末装置から受信する要求に応じたシーン情報のシーン識別子を再生順序と対応付けて構成表を生成することにより、再生順序に従いシーン情報を取得することができる。
ここで、前記サーバ装置は、シーン付加情報として、各シーン情報に含まれるフレーム毎に、フレーム番号と当該フレームのコンテンツファイル内における位置とを対応付けたインデックス情報と、フレーム番号と当該フレームの送出タイミングとを対応付けたタイミング情報とを記憶しており、仮想シーン付加情報として、前記選択された複数個のシーン情報のそれぞれに含まれるフレーム毎に、当該複数個のシーン情報内におけるフレーム番号と当該フレームの位置とを対応付けた仮想インデックスと、当該複数個のシーン情報内におけるフレーム番号と当該フレームの送出タイミングとを対応付けた仮想タイミング情報を生成し、前記選択された複数個のシーン情報と前記仮想インデックス情報とを前記端末装置へ送信する、このとき、前記複数個のシーン情報については、前記仮想タイミング情報に従い、１フレームずつ順次前記端末装置へ送信する様に構成してもよい。
【０１１６】
この構成によると、サーバ装置は、選択した複数個のシーン情報をストリーミング型で端末装置へ配信し、且つ、生成した前記仮想インデックス情報を端末装置へ送信することにより、端末装置はストリーミング型で受信した複数個のシーン情報を、仮想インデックス情報を用いて、受信した時刻より遅れた時刻にシーン情報を再生することができ、且つシーン情報の早送り、頭だし等ができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】仮想コンテンツ配信システム１の構成を示す構成図である。
【図２】クライアント１０の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図３】クライアント１０に表示されるプロファイル入力画面１１０の図である。
【図４】クライアント１０に表示されるジャンル一覧画面１３０の図である。
【図５】クライアント１０に表示されるキーワード選択画面１５０の図である。
【図６】エージェント４０の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図７】エージェント４０が生成するコンテンツ構成表４１０のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図８】ＤＢサーバ５０の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図９】ＤＢサーバ５０が記憶している番組テーブル５１１のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図１０】ＤＢサーバ５０が記憶しているＣＭテーブル５１２のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図１１】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０の構成を示すブロック図である。
【図１２】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が記憶しているコンテンツ６２１のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図１３】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が記憶しているコンテンツ６３１のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図１４】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が生成する仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報７５１の図である。
【図１５】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が生成する仮想コンテンツインデックス情報６６１のデータ構造を示す図である。
【図１６】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０が生成する仮想コンテンツ送出タイミング情報６７１のデータ構想を示す図である。
【図１７】仮想コンテンツ配信システム１全体の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図１８に続く。
【図１８】仮想コンテンツ配信システム１全体の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図１７から続く。
【図１９】ＤＢサーバ５０における検索処理の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図２０に続く。
【図２０】ＤＢサーバ５０における検索処理の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図１９から続く。
【図２１】エージェント４０におけるコンテンツ構成表生成処理の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図２２】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０における、仮想コンテンツ全体の生成処理の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図２３】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０における、仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報生成処理の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図２４】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０における、仮想コンテンツ付加情報生成処理の動作を示すフローチャートである。
【図２５】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０における、仮想コンテンツのフレーム番号、バイト位置及びタイミングの算出処理の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図２６に続く。
【図２６】仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ６０における、仮想コンテンツのフレーム番号、バイト位置及びタイミングの算出処理の動作を示すフローチャートであり、図２５から続く。
【図２７】出演者情報８０１のデータ構造を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１ ，２ 仮想コンテンツ配信システム
１０ ，１０ａ，１１ クライアント
２０ インターネット
３０ ，３０ａ サーバ
４０ ，４０ａ エージェント
５０ ，５０ａ ＤＢサーバ
６０ ，６０ａ 仮想コンテンツ出力サーバ
７０ ，７０ａ 配信サーバ
１０１ 送受信部
１０２ 制御部
１０３ 表示部
１０４ 入力部
１０５ 記憶部
４０１ サーバ入出力部
４０２ 情報制御部
４０３ ＤＢサーバ入出力部
４０４ コンテンツ構成表生成部
４０５ コンテンツ構成表出力部
４１０ コンテンツ構成表
５０１ ＤＢ部
５０２ クエリー部
５０３ コンテンツ構成表受付部
５０３ 一覧情報出力部
５２１ 検索情報受付部
５２２ 検索部
５２３ 検索結果出力部
５２４ ＣＭ検索情報
６０１ ，６０１ａ コンテンツ記憶部
６０２ ，６０２ａ 仮想コンテンツ生成部
６０３ ，６０３ａ コンテンツ構成表受付部
６０４ ，６０４ａ コンテンツ構成表解釈部
６０５ ，６０５ａ 警告部
６０６ ，６０６ａ コンテンツ構成表記憶部
６０７ ，６０７ａ コンテンツ情報読出部
６０８ ，６０８ａ ヘッダ情報読出部
６０９ ，６０９ａ 付加情報読出部
６１０ ，６１０ａ コンテンツ情報加工部
６１１ ，６１１ａ 仮想コンテンツヘッダ情報生成部
６１２ ，６１２ａ 仮想コンテンツ付加情報生成部
６１３ ，６１３ａ 仮想コンテンツ出力部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution technique for distributing content in response to a user request.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Content distribution that distributes content in response to a user request from a server device to a terminal device via a network has been studied. The server device stores a plurality of content files, and each content file includes a plurality of content data. The server device receives a keyword specified by the user as a user request from the terminal device, selects content data from the content file according to the keyword, and distributes the content data to the terminal device.
[0003]
There are a streaming type and a download type as a method of distributing content data.
In the streaming type, only content data that matches a keyword is sequentially transmitted from a plurality of content files stored in the server device to the terminal device via the network, and the terminal device reproduces the received content data in the order received. Technology. In the streaming type, the received content data is not stored in the terminal device, so it is necessary to receive the content data from the server device every time it is viewed.
[0004]
In the download type, since the content data transmitted from the server device is stored inside the terminal device, the content data can be reproduced at a time delayed from the received time. In the download type, when there are a plurality of pieces of content data received by the terminal device, it is necessary to manage the reproduction order of the plurality of pieces of content data, and the user is required to perform complicated work. In addition, even if the content data matching the keyword is a part of the content file, the server device needs to transmit in units of content files, and as a result, content data not requested by the user is also transmitted.
[0005]
In order to avoid these problems, it is conceivable that the server device regenerates the content data to be transmitted to the terminal device as one file, and transmits the regenerated one file to the terminal device. In this case, the server device However, it is not practical in a network type server device having a large number of terminal devices and a large number of terminal devices.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, the present invention transmits content data to each terminal device in response to a request received from a plurality of terminal devices connected via a network, and the terminal device receiving the content data It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual content distribution system and server device that can reproduce content data at a delayed time.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a content distribution system comprising a server device that selects and distributes a video scene according to a user's request, and a terminal device that receives the video scene from the server device. is there.
The server device stores a plurality of content files, and each content file includes a plurality of scene information and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device selects a plurality of scene information that matches a user's request from the scene information included in the content file, reads the scene additional information corresponding to each of the selected plurality of scene information, and Virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of a plurality of scene information is generated. Further, the server device associates the selected plurality of scene information with the generated virtual scene additional information and transmits the information to the terminal device.
[0008]
The terminal device receives the plurality of scene information and the virtual scene additional information from the server device, and stores the received plurality of scene information and the virtual scene additional information.
Further, the present invention is a server device that selects and transmits a video scene in response to a request received from a terminal device possessed by a user.
[0009]
The server device stores a plurality of content files, and each content file includes a plurality of scene information and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device selects a plurality of scene information that matches the user's request from the scene information included in the stored content file. The server device reads scene additional information corresponding to each of the selected plurality of scene information, and generates virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device associates the plurality of selected scene information with the generated virtual scene additional information and transmits the information to the terminal device.
[0010]
Here, the server device stores, as scene addition information, for each frame included in each scene information, index information in which a frame number and a position in the content file of the frame are associated with each other. As information, for each frame included in each of the selected plurality of scene information, virtual index information in which frame numbers in the plurality of scene information are associated with the positions of the frames is generated. May be.
[0011]
Here, each scene information stored in the server device is identified by a scene identifier, and for each scene information, the server device includes a scene identifier for identifying each scene information and scene related information related to each scene information. Are stored in association with each other. The server device receives a selection condition for selecting scene information as the request from the terminal device. The server device may be configured to extract a scene identifier corresponding to scene-related information that satisfies the selection condition, and to acquire scene information identified by the extracted scene identifier.
[0012]
Here, the server device adds a playback order to the extracted scene identifier, generates a configuration table including a playback number and a scene identifier, and acquires scene information from the storage unit using the generated configuration table. You may comprise.
Here, the server device, as scene additional information, for each frame included in each scene information, index information that associates a frame number with a position in the content file of the frame, a frame number, and transmission of the frame Timing information in which timing is associated, and as virtual scene additional information, for each frame included in each of the selected plurality of scene information, a frame number in the plurality of scene information and Generating virtual timing information in which the virtual index in which the position of the frame is associated, the frame number in the plurality of scene information and the transmission timing of the frame are associated, and the plurality of selected scene information And the virtual index information are transmitted to the terminal device, at this time Wherein for the plurality of scene information in accordance with the virtual timing information, it may be configured so as to sequentially transmitted to the terminal device one frame.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
<First Embodiment>
As a first embodiment according to the present invention, a virtual content distribution system 1 will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the virtual content distribution system 1, the server stores a plurality of programs and a plurality of CMs composed of moving image data and audio data as contents. Each program is composed of a plurality of program scenes, and each CM is composed of a plurality of CM scenes. Each of the program scene and the CM scene is a series of frames that are semantically connected. Each program scene has a genre and a keyword for distributing the program scene according to the user's desire, and each CM scene has profile information for distributing the CM scene according to the user's attribute.
[0014]
In response to a user request, the server selects a plurality of scenes from a plurality of contents and transmits the selected plurality of scenes to the client.
Hereinafter, the details of the virtual content distribution system 1 will be described.
<Configuration>
Here, the configuration of the virtual content distribution system 1 will be described.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 1, the virtual content distribution system 1 includes a client 10, a client 11, the Internet 20, a Web server 30, an agent 40, a DB server 50, a virtual content output server 60, and a distribution server 70.
The client 10 and the client 11 are terminal devices possessed by the user of the virtual content distribution system 1, and are connected to the Web server 30 and the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20, respectively. The Web server 30, the agent 40, the DB server 50, the virtual content output server 60, and the distribution server 70 are devices owned by the service provider of the virtual content distribution system 1, and are connected to each other via a LAN (Local Area Network). Yes.
[0016]
1. Client 10
Here, the configuration of the client 10 will be described. The client 10 receives input information by a user operation, and transmits the received input information to the Web server 30 via the Internet 20. Further, the client 10 downloads virtual content from the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the client 10. As shown in the figure, the client 10 includes a transmission / reception unit 101, a control unit 102, a display unit 103, an input unit 104, and a storage unit 105. Specifically, the client 10 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and a personal computer is particularly assumed here.
(1) Transmission / reception unit 101
The transmission / reception unit 101 transmits / receives information between the control unit 102 and the Web server 30 and between the control unit 102 and the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20. Specifically, the transmission / reception unit 101 receives screen control information from the Web server 30 and outputs the received screen control information to the control unit 102. Here, the screen control information received by the transmission / reception unit 101 from the Web server 30 is profile input screen control information, genre list screen control information, and keyword selection screen control information. The transmission / reception unit 101 also receives input information from the control unit 102 and transmits the received input information to the Web server 30. Further, the transmission / reception unit 101 receives virtual content from the distribution server 70 and outputs the received virtual content to the control unit 102. The transmission / reception unit 101 receives virtual content from the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20 and outputs the received virtual content to the control unit 102.
(2) Control unit 102
Specifically, the control unit 102 includes a microprocessor and a RAM. A control computer program is stored in the RAM, and the control unit 102 controls the client 10 when the microprocessor executes the control computer program.
The control unit 102 receives screen control information from the transmission / reception unit 101, generates a screen based on the received screen control information, and outputs the generated screen to the display unit 103. Here, the screens generated by the control unit 102 are a profile input screen, a genre list screen, and a keyword selection screen. In addition, the control unit 102 receives input information received by a user operation from the input unit 104, and outputs the received input information to the transmission / reception unit 101. In addition, the control unit 102 receives virtual content from the transmission / reception unit 101 and writes the received virtual content in the storage unit 105.
(3) Display unit 103
The display unit 103 includes a display unit, receives a screen generated by the control unit 102, and displays the received screen on the display. Further, the display unit 103 displays the content corresponding to the operation received by the input unit 104 on the display.
Screens displayed by the display unit 103 are a profile input screen 110, a genre list screen 130, and a keyword selection screen 150.
(Profile input screen 110)
The profile input screen 110 is a screen used for receiving a user's profile input, and items to be received are “sex”, “age”, and “hobby”. The user profile received here is information used to generate virtual content including CMs according to the user's attributes when generating virtual content.
Here, “virtual content” represents information indicating a plurality of scene information selected from a plurality of different content files, a reproduction order of the plurality of scene information, and the like. “Generate virtual content” does not generate a single content file by connecting a plurality of pieces of scene information, but extracts a plurality of pieces of scene information from a plurality of different content files, This means that information indicating the reproduction order or the like of a plurality of extracted scene information is generated, and the generated information is associated with the extracted plurality of scene information. In the following, these terms are used with the same meaning.
As shown in FIG. 3, the profile input screen 110 has check buttons used for selecting either “male” or “female” for gender, “10 to 30”, “20 to 30”, “ Check button used to select one of “40-50s” and “60s-”, “Hobby”, “Movie / Event”, “Food / Liquor”, “Music”, “Internet” ”And“ Shopping ”. A check button, an OK button, and a cancel button used for selecting one of“ Shopping ”are provided. When receiving an input for selecting each check button via the input unit 104, the display unit 103 displays a check indicating the selection on each check button. When one check button is selected for each item, the other is deselected. The profile input screen 110 of FIG. 3 shows a case where selection of “male” for gender, “20-30s” for age, and “car” for hobby is accepted.
[0017]
(Genre list screen 130)
The genre list screen 130 is a screen used for accepting selection of a genre of a program that the user desires to distribute. Depending on the content of the program, “news”, “sports”, “music program”, “movie”, “drama”, “variety”, “documentary”, “education”, “cooking program”, “travel program” ”,“ Shopping ”and“ information program ”, and these are called genres. As shown in FIG. 4, the genre list screen 130 includes a genre, a set of check buttons used for selecting the genre, an OK button, and a cancel button. When receiving an input for selecting each check button via the input unit 104, the display unit 103 displays a check indicating the selection on each check button. When one check button is selected, the other is deselected. The genre list screen 130 of FIG. 4 shows a case where selection of “sports” is accepted.
[0018]
(Keyword selection screen 150)
The keyword selection screen 150 is a screen that is displayed when an input of “sports” is received from the user in the genre list screen 130, and is a screen that is used to select a program that the user wants to distribute in more detail. is there. The genre of “sports” includes keywords such as “professional baseball”, “major league”, “soccer”, “tennis”. As shown in FIG. 5, the keyword selection screen 150 includes a set of a keyword and a radio button used to select the keyword, an OK button, a cancel button, and a scroll bar. The screen is displayed by operating the scroll bar. Scroll. When receiving an input for selecting each radio button via the input unit 104, the display unit 103 displays a mark indicating the selection on each radio button. The keyword selection screen 150 shown in FIG. 5 indicates that “professional baseball” and “major league” are selected. Note that a plurality of radio buttons can be selected at the same time.
[0019]
Here, the keyword selection screen 150 is a keyword selection screen corresponding to the genre of “sports”, but there is a keyword selection screen corresponding to each of the 12 genres included in the genre list screen 130 of FIG. The unit 103 displays a keyword selection screen corresponding to the genre selected in FIG. 3 on the display.
[0020]
(4) Input unit 104
The input unit 104 is specifically a keyboard, mouse, and the like. When the keyboard and mouse are operated by the user, the input unit 104 outputs an operation instruction corresponding to the operation to the display unit 103. Furthermore, the input unit 104 generates input information corresponding to the operation, and outputs the generated input information to the control unit 102.
[0021]
(5) Storage unit 105
The storage unit 105 is a hard disk unit, and stores virtual content received by the control unit 102 from the distribution server 70 via the transmission / reception unit 101 and the Internet 20. Specifically, the virtual content is a file in which a plurality of frames, virtual content header information, and virtual content additional information are associated with each other.
[0022]
The client 11 is a device owned by a user different from the user having the client 10 described above, and is connected to the Web server 30 and the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20. The client 11 receives input from the user, and transmits input information received via the Internet 20 to the Web server 30. Further, the client 11 receives and stores virtual content from the distribution server 70 via the Internet 20. Since the client 11 has the same configuration as that of the client 10, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0023]
2. Web server 30
Here, the configuration of the Web server 30 will be described.
Specifically, the Web server 30 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a LAN connection unit, and the like, connected to the client 10 and the client 11 via the Internet 20, and The agent 40 is connected via a LAN. The configuration of the Web server 30 is not shown.
[0024]
The Web server 30 transmits / receives information to / from the client 10 via the Internet 20, and further transfers information to / from the agent 40 via the LAN. Specifically, the Web server 30 receives genre list information and keyword list information from the agent 40 via the LAN, and embeds the received genre list information and keyword list information in an HTML format to generate screen control information. The Web server 30 transmits the generated screen control information to the client 10 via the Internet 20. Further, the Web server 30 receives input information including a profile, a genre, a keyword, and the like from the client 10. As an example, the Web server 30 receives “male / 20-30s / car” as a profile, “sports” as a genre, and “professional baseball / major league” as a keyword. The Web server 30 outputs the received input information to the agent 40 via the LAN.
[0025]
3. Agent 40
Here, the configuration of the agent 40 will be described. The agent 40 is a device that generates a content configuration table indicating a configuration of virtual content distributed to the client based on a request from the client 10 and outputs the generated content configuration table to the virtual content output server 60.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 6, the agent 40 includes a Web server input / output unit 401, an information control unit 402, a DB server input / output unit 403, a content configuration table generation unit 404, and a content configuration table output unit 405. Specifically, the agent 40 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a LAN connection unit, and the like, and via the LAN, the Web server 30, the DB server 50, and the virtual content output server 60. Connected with.
[0027]
(1) Web server input / output unit 401
The Web server input / output unit 401 includes a LAN connection unit, and exchanges information between the Web server 30 and the information control unit 402 via the LAN. Specifically, the Web server input / output unit 401 receives genre list information and keyword list information from the information control unit 402, and outputs the received genre list information and keyword list information to the Web server 30. The Web server input / output unit 401 receives input information including a profile, a genre, and a keyword from the Web server 30 and outputs the received input information to the information control unit 402. An example of the input information is “male / 20-30s / car” as a profile, “sports” as a genre, and “professional baseball / major league” as a keyword.
[0028]
(2) Information control unit 402
The information control unit 402 receives information from the Web server input / output unit 401 and the DB server input / output unit 403, identifies the received information, and performs processing according to the information. Specifically, the information control unit 402 receives genre list information and keyword list information from the DB server input / output unit 403, and outputs the received genre list information and keyword list information to the Web server input / output unit 401. Further, the information control unit 402 receives input information from the Web server input / output unit 401 and outputs the received input information to the DB server input / output unit 403. Further, the information control unit 402 receives a plurality of sets of content IDs and frame numbers from the DB server input / output unit 403, and outputs the received plurality of sets of content IDs and frame numbers to the content configuration table generation unit 404. The set of content ID and frame number is information for specifying the position of the scene, and is used for generating the content configuration table. The content configuration table will be described later.
[0029]
(3) DB server input / output unit 403
The DB server input / output unit 403 includes a LAN connection unit, and exchanges information between the DB server 50 and the information control unit 402 via the LAN. Specifically, the DB server input / output unit 403 receives genre list information and keyword list information output from the DB server 50, and outputs the received genre list information and keyword list information to the information control unit 402. Further, the DB server input / output unit 403 receives the set of content ID and frame number output from the DB server 50 and outputs the received set of content ID and frame number to the information control unit 402. The DB server input / output unit 403 receives input information from the information control unit 402, generates search information from the received input information, and outputs the generated search information to the DB server 50. As a specific example, when the DB server input / output unit 403 receives input information in which the profile is “male / 20-30s / car”, the genre is “sports”, and the keyword is “professional baseball / major league”, the profile “ A command indicating that CM information is searched based on “male / 20-30s / car” is added, and further, program information is searched based on the genre “sports” and the keyword “professional baseball / major league”. Generate search information by adding commands. Program information and CM information will be described later.
[0030]
(4) Content configuration table generation unit 404
The content configuration table generation unit 404 includes a microprocessor, a RAM, and the like. The content configuration table generation unit 404 receives a plurality of sets of content IDs and frame numbers from the information control unit 402, and generates a content configuration table as shown below. The content configuration table generation unit 404 selects one content ID including the character string “Program” from the received plurality of content IDs, and writes the content ID. Subsequently, the start frame number is written after the content ID from the frame number corresponding to the content ID. Subsequently, the end frame number is written after the start frame number from the frame number. Next, the content configuration table generation unit 404 selects one content ID including the character string “CM” from the remaining one or more content IDs, and similarly starts frame corresponding to the content ID. A set of number and end frame number is written after the previously written set of content ID, start frame number and end frame number. Next, the content configuration table generation unit 404 selects one content ID including the character string “Program” from the remaining one or more content IDs, and the start frame number and end frame corresponding to the content ID. Write the set with the number in succession to the two sets written earlier. In this way, for all sets of received content IDs, start frame numbers, and end frame numbers, content IDs including “Program” and content including “CM” are alternately written. When a set of all content IDs, start frame numbers, and end frame numbers is written, playback numbers are assigned in order from the first set. Here, an example of the content configuration table generated by the content configuration table generation unit 404 is shown in FIG. The content configuration table 410 shown in the figure is composed of a set of six content IDs, start frame numbers, and end frame numbers. The content configuration table generation unit 404 outputs the generated content configuration table 410 to the content configuration table output unit 405.
[0031]
(5) Content configuration table output unit 405
The content configuration table output unit 405 includes a LAN connection unit, receives the content configuration table from the content configuration table generation unit 404, and outputs the received content configuration table to the virtual content output server 60 via the LAN.
4). DB server 50
Here, the configuration of the DB server 50 will be described. The DB server 50 is a device that stores information necessary for generating virtual content including a program desired by the user and a CM corresponding to the user's profile in response to a request from the client.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 8, the DB server 50 includes a DB unit 501, a query unit 502, and a list information output unit 503. The query unit 502 further includes a search information receiving unit 521, a search unit 522, and a search result output unit. 523. Specifically, the DB server 50 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a LAN connection unit, and the like, and is connected to the agent 40 via the LAN.
[0033]
(1) DB unit 501
The DB unit 501 is a hard disk unit, and stores a program table 511, a CM table 512, genre list information 513, and keyword list information 514 as shown in FIG.
The data structure of the program table 511 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the program table 511 includes a plurality of program search information. Each program search information includes a content ID, a frame number, a genre, and a keyword. The data structure of the CM table 512 is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the CM table 512 is composed of a plurality of CM search information. Each CM search information includes a content ID, a frame number, sex, age, and hobby. The frame numbers of each program search information and each CM search information are described by two frame numbers of “start frame number to end frame number”.
[0034]
First, content will be described here. The virtual content output server 60 stores a plurality of contents, and each content is classified into “program” and “CM”. The program is composed of a plurality of program scenes, and the CM is composed of a plurality of CM scenes. Each of the program scene and the CM scene includes a plurality of frames.
[0035]
Hereinafter, the program scene and the CM scene will be described.
Each program scene has one genre and one keyword that are information for selecting a program scene according to a request from the client. The genres of the program scene are “news”, “sports”, “music program”, “movie”, “drama”, “variety”, “documentary”, “education”, “cooking program”, “travel program”, One of “shopping” and “information program”. The keyword is a detailed classification of each genre. For example, the “sports” genre includes keywords such as “professional baseball” and “major league”, and the “cooking program” genre includes “cooking class (basic Japanese food)”, “food and drinks” Keywords such as “Store” are included. The program scene includes one of a plurality of keywords corresponding to the genre as described above. A database of these is program search information. As an example of the program search information, the program search information 515 shown in FIG. 9 has a content ID “Program01.mp4”, a frame number “1-18000”, a genre “sports”, and a keyword “professional baseball”. The content ID is a symbol for uniquely identifying the content among the plurality of contents stored in the virtual content output server 60. The content ID for identifying the program starts with “Program”. The frame number is described by a frame number counted from the top of the content of the first frame and a frame number counted from the top of the content of the last frame among a plurality of frames included in the program scene. Genres and keywords are as described above.
[0036]
Each CM scene has information for selecting a CM scene suitable for the user attribute in response to a request from the client indicating the user attribute. Specifically, each CM scene has one gender of a user suitable for distribution, one age of a user suitable for distribution, and one user hobby suitable for distribution. The sex that the CM scene has is either “male” or “female”. The age is any one of “10s to 10s”, “20s to 30s”, “40s to 50s”, and “60s to”. The hobby is any one of “car”, “movie / event”, “food / sake”, “music”, “Internet”, and “shopping”. A database of these is CM search information. As an example of CM search information, the CM search information 524 shown in FIG. 10 has a content ID “CM01.mp4”, a frame number “1 to 300”, a gender “male”, and an age “20 to 30s”. My hobby is "car". The content ID is a symbol for uniquely identifying the content among the plurality of contents stored in the virtual content output server 60. The content ID for identifying the CM starts with “CM”. The frame number is described by a frame number counted from the beginning of the content of the first frame and a frame number counted from the beginning of the content of the last frame among a plurality of frames included in the CM scene. Gender, age and hobbies are as described above.
[0037]
The genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 are lists of genres and keywords included in the program table 511 of the DB unit 501, respectively. Note that the data structures of the genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 are not shown.
(2) List information output unit 503
The list information output unit 503 reads the genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 from the DB unit 501, and outputs the read genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 to the Web server 30 via the LAN and the agent 40. To do. The genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 are used to generate the genre list screen 130 shown in FIG. 4 and the keyword selection screen 150 shown in FIG.
[0038]
(3) Search information receiving unit 521
The search information receiving unit 521 includes a LAN connection unit and the like, receives search information from the DB server input / output unit 403 via the LAN, and outputs the received search information to the search unit 522.
(4) Search unit 522
The search unit 522 includes a microprocessor, a RAM, and the like, receives the search information from the search information reception unit 521, and searches the DB unit 501 based on the received search information. This will be described using a specific example. When the search unit 522 receives the profile “male / 20-30s / car”, the genre “sports”, and the keyword “professional baseball / major league” as the search information from the search information reception unit 521, the search unit 522 The gender column of the CM table 512 of 501 is read, and only the CM search information whose gender is “male” is selected. Next, the search unit 522 reads the age column of all the selected CM search information, and selects only the CM search information whose age is “20-30s”. Finally, the search unit 522 reads the hobby column of all the selected CM search information, and selects only the CM search information whose hobby is “car”. The search unit 522 selects CM search information that matches the profile in this way, reads the content ID and frame number from all the selected CM search information, and uses the read content ID and frame number as the search result output unit 523. Output to. The search unit 522 reads the genre column of the program table 511 of the DB unit 501 and selects only program search information whose genre is “sports”. Next, the search unit 522 reads the keyword column of all the selected program search information, and selects only the program search information whose keyword is “professional baseball” or “major league”. In this way, the program search information matching the genre and keyword selected by the user is selected, the content ID and frame number are read out from all the selected program search information, and the read content ID and frame number are output as a search result output unit. To 523.
[0039]
(5) Search result output unit 523
The search result output unit 523 receives the content ID and frame number from the search unit 522, and outputs the received content ID and frame number to the DB server input / output unit 403 via the LAN.
5. Virtual content output server 60
Here, the virtual content output server 60 will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, the virtual content output server 60 includes a content storage unit 601 and a virtual content generation unit 602. The virtual content generation unit 602 further includes a content configuration table reception unit 603, a content configuration table interpretation unit 604, Warning unit 605, content configuration table storage unit 606, content information reading unit 607, header information reading unit 608, additional information reading unit 609, content information processing unit 610, virtual content header information generation unit 611, virtual content additional information generation unit 612 And a virtual content output unit 613. The virtual content output server 60 is connected to the agent 40 and the distribution server 70 via the LAN, receives the content configuration table from the agent 40, generates virtual content based on the received content configuration table, and generates the generated virtual content. Output to the distribution server 70.
[0040]
Specifically, the virtual content output server 60 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a LAN connection unit, a medium input / output unit, an internal bus, and the like. Various computer programs for generating virtual content are stored in the hard disk unit or the RAM, and the virtual content output server 60 achieves its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the various computer programs. .
[0041]
Hereinafter, the virtual content output server 60 will be described using a specific example in which the content configuration table 410 illustrated in FIG. 7 is received from the agent and virtual content is generated based on the content configuration table 410.
(1) Content storage unit 601
The content storage unit 601 is a hard disk unit and stores content. The content includes a content ID, header information, content information, and additional information. The content ID is a symbol for uniquely identifying the content. The header information consists of a compression format, a screen size, the number of frames, and a file size. The compression format of the content information, the screen size of the image when the content information is expanded, the number of frames of the content information, and the file size of the content information, respectively. Represents. The content information is digital data obtained by compressing and encoding a multimedia in which moving images and audio are multiplexed in the compression format. The additional information includes index information describing the byte position from the beginning of the content of each frame constituting the content information and transmission timing information of each frame constituting the content information.
[0042]
Specific examples of contents are shown in FIGS. 11 includes a content ID 622, additional information 623, content information 624, and additional information 625. The content 621 is identified by the content ID “Program01.mp4”. The header information 623 is content information 624 compressed by “MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 4”. The expanded screen size is “width 352 × height 288 pixels” and the number of frames is “36000 frames”. ”Indicates that the file size is“ 144000512 bytes ”. The additional information 625 includes index information 626 and transmission timing information 627. The index information 626 includes a frame number and a byte position. For each of all the frames included in the content information 624, the frame number and the byte position from the head of the content 621 of the frame are described in association with each other. The transmission timing information 627 is information used when the content information 624 is distributed in a streaming type, and includes a frame number and a timing for transmitting the frame.
[0043]
(2) Content configuration table receiving unit 603
The content configuration table receiving unit 603 includes a LAN connection unit and the like, and is connected to the agent 40 via the LAN. The content configuration table reception unit 603 receives the content configuration table 410 from the agent 40 and outputs the received content configuration table 410 to the content configuration table interpretation unit 604.
[0044]
(3) Content configuration table interpretation unit 604
Specifically, the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 includes a microprocessor and a RAM. The content configuration table interpretation unit 604 receives the content configuration table 410 from the content configuration table reception unit 603 and writes the received content configuration table 410 into the content configuration table storage unit 606. Further, the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 determines whether or not the combination of content information included in the content configuration table 410 is appropriate as shown below. Step 604 generates a warning signal and outputs the generated warning signal to the warning unit 605.
[0045]
The content configuration table interpretation unit 604 is from the content configuration table storage unit 606. The content IDs “Program01.mp4”, “CM01.mp4”, “CM03.mp4”, “Program05.mp4”, and “CM09.mp4” included in the content configuration table 410 are read. Next, the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 searches the content storage unit 601 for content including the same content ID as each of the read five content IDs, and acquires the respective header information from the searched five content items. To do. Next, the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 determines whether or not the start frame number and the end frame number corresponding to each content ID included in the content configuration table 410 are included in the number of frames of the header information of the corresponding content. to decide. Next, the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 reads the compression format of each header information and determines whether or not all the compression formats match.
[0046]
(4) Content configuration table storage unit 606
The content configuration table storage unit 606 is composed of a hard disk unit or the like, and stores the content configuration table 410 received from the content configuration table reception unit 603.
(5) Content information reading unit 607
The content information reading unit 607 reads the content configuration table 410 stored in the content configuration table storage unit 606, and reads a frame from the content information stored in the content storage unit 601 according to the content configuration table 410.
[0047]
The content information reading unit 607 reads the frames from the frame number 1 to the frame number 18000 from the content information 624 of the content 621 identified by the content ID “Program01.mp4” from the content storage unit 601, and the read frame is the content. The information is output to the information processing unit 610. Next, the content information reading unit 607 reads and reads frames from the frame number 1 to the frame number 300 from the content information 634 of the content 631 identified by the content ID “CM01.mp4” from the content storage unit 601. The frame is output to the content information processing unit 610. Next, the content information reading unit 607 reads frames from the frame number 18001 to the frame number 36000 from the content information 624 of the content 621 identified by the content ID “Program01.mp4”, and processes the read frames to the content information processing. To the unit 610. Similarly, the content information reading unit 607 determines from the content identified by the content ID “CM03.mp4” to the frame from frame number 501 to frame number 750 and the content identified by the content ID “Program05.mp4”. Frames with frame numbers 1201 to 25800 and frames with frame numbers 901 to 1400 are read from the content identified by the content ID “CM09.mp4” and output to the content information processing unit 610.
[0048]
(6) Header information reading unit 608
The header information reading unit 608 reads the content configuration table 410 stored in the content configuration table storage unit 606, and reads header information from the content storage unit 601 based on the content ID included in the content configuration table 410.
The header information reading unit 608 reads all content IDs included in the content configuration table 410 from the content configuration table storage unit 606. The header information reading unit 608 reads out the header information of the content identified by each content ID for all the read content IDs from the content storage unit 601, and sends all the read header information to the virtual content header information generation unit 611. Output.
[0049]
(7) Additional information reading unit 609
The additional information reading unit 609 reads all content IDs included in the content configuration table 410 from the content configuration table storage unit 606. The additional information reading unit 609 reads, from the content storage unit 601, content additional information identified by each content ID for all the read content IDs. Next, the additional information reading unit 609 outputs the index information included in the read additional information to the virtual content header information generation unit 611 and the virtual content additional information generation unit 612, and the transmission timing information included in the read additional information. The data is output to the virtual content additional information generation unit 612.
[0050]
(8) Content information processing unit 610
The content information processing unit 610 receives frames from the frame number 1 to the frame number 18000 of the content identified by the content ID “Program01.mp4” from the content information reading unit 607, and in the plurality of received frames, A process of rewriting the frame number, TimeStamp (reproduction time), etc. is performed. The content information processing unit 610 outputs each frame subjected to the processing to the virtual content output unit 613.
[0051]
Further, the content information processing unit 610 receives frames from the frame number 1 to the frame number 300 of the content identified by the content ID “CM01.mp4” from the content information reading unit 607, and in the received plurality of frames, A process of rewriting the frame number and TimeStamp (reproduction time) in the virtual content is performed. The content information processing unit 610 outputs each frame subjected to the processing to the virtual content output unit 613.
[0052]
Similarly, the content information processing unit 610 performs a process of rewriting the frame number and TimeStamp (reproduction time) in the virtual content received from the content information reading unit 607, and each frame subjected to the above process is processed. And output to the virtual content output unit 613.
(9) Virtual content header information generation unit 611
Specifically, the virtual content header information generation unit 611 includes a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ROM stores a virtual content header information generation program, and the virtual content header information generation unit 611 achieves its function when the microprocessor executes the virtual content header information generation program.
[0053]
The virtual content header information generation unit 611 is based on the plurality of header information received from the header information reading unit 608, the plurality of index information received from the additional information reading unit 609, and the content configuration table 410 read from the content configuration table storage unit 606. As shown below, virtual content header information including a compression format, a screen size, the number of frames, and a file size is generated.
[0054]
First, a compression format “MPEG4” and a screen size “width 352 × height 288 pixels” that do not change before and after the virtual content generation are read from each header information and written in a predetermined area. Next, the number of frames and the file size that change before and after the virtual content generation are calculated using the content configuration table 410, a plurality of header information, and a plurality of index information, and the calculated number of frames and file size are predetermined. Write to the area. The calculation method is shown below.
[0055]
(Method for calculating the number of virtual content frames)
The number of frames of virtual content is calculated using the content configuration table 410. The number of frames of the program scene corresponding to the reproduction number “1” in the content configuration table 410 is 18000 frames from the start frame number and the end frame number. The number of frames of the CM scene corresponding to the reproduction number “2” is 300 based on the start frame number and the end frame number. Finally, the number of frames of the program scene corresponding to the reproduction number “3” is 18000. The number of frames of the CM scene corresponding to the reproduction number “4” is 250 based on the start frame number and the end frame number. The number of frames of the program scene corresponding to the reproduction number “5” is 24600 from the start frame number and the end frame number. The number of frames of the CM scene corresponding to the reproduction number “6” is 500 from the start frame number and the end frame number. Finally, by adding these together, the total number of frames of the virtual content is calculated as 61750 frames.
[0056]
(Virtual content file size calculation method)
The file size of the virtual content is calculated using the content configuration table 410, a plurality of index information, and a plurality of header information.
The virtual content header information generation unit 611, for the program scene corresponding to the reproduction number “1” in the content configuration table 410, the byte position “512” of the start frame number and the byte position “720000612” of the frame number next to the end frame number Are obtained from the index information 626, and the byte position “512” of the start frame number is subtracted from the byte position “720000512” of the frame number next to the acquired end frame number, so that the file size of the program scene is 72 million bytes. Get.
[0057]
Next, the virtual content header information generation unit 611 sets the byte position “312” of the start frame number and the byte position “1200512” of the frame number next to the end frame number for the CM scene corresponding to the reproduction number “2”. The file size of the program scene is obtained by subtracting the byte position “512” of the start frame number from the byte position “1200512” of the frame number next to the acquired end frame number, obtained from the index information 636. .
[0058]
Further, the virtual content header information generation unit 611 acquires the byte position “720000512” of the start frame number from the index information 626 for the program scene corresponding to the reproduction number “3” of the content configuration table 410, and next to the end frame number. The frame position byte position “144000512” is acquired from the file size of the header information 623, and the start frame number byte position “720000512” is subtracted from the byte position “144000512” of the frame number next to the acquired end frame number. Thus, the file size of the program scene is 72 million bytes.
[0059]
The virtual content header information generation unit 611 calculates the file size of each scene in the same manner for each scene corresponding to the playback number “4”, the playback number “5”, and the playback number “6”.
The file size of the virtual content is obtained by adding the file sizes of the respective scenes from the reproduction number “1” to the reproduction number “6” calculated above and adding the file size of 512 bytes of the virtual content header information to the total file size. Is calculated. Here, the file size of the virtual content is 334800512 bytes. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a data structure of the virtual content header information 651 generated as described above.
[0060]
(10) Virtual content additional information generation unit 612
Specifically, the virtual content additional information generation unit 612 includes a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The ROM stores a virtual content additional information generation program, and the virtual content additional information generation unit 612 achieves its function when the microprocessor executes the virtual content additional information generation program.
[0061]
The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 receives a plurality of additional information from the additional information reading unit 609 and reads the content configuration table 410 from the content configuration table storage unit 606. The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 calculates the frame number, byte position, and timing of each frame constituting the virtual content from the received additional information and the content configuration table 410. Next, the virtual content additional information generation unit 612 associates the calculated frame number with the calculated byte position, generates virtual content index information 661 shown in FIG. 15, and calculates the calculated frame number and the calculated timing. In association therewith, virtual content transmission timing information 671 shown in FIG. 16 is generated.
[0062]
Details of the calculation method of the frame number, byte position, and timing of each frame constituting the virtual content will be described later.
(11) Virtual content output unit 613
Specifically, the virtual content output unit 613 includes a LAN connection unit and the like, and is connected to the distribution server 70 via the LAN.
[0063]
The virtual content output unit 613 receives a plurality of frames from the content information reading unit 607, receives virtual content header information from the virtual content header information generation unit 611, and transmits virtual content index information and virtual content from the virtual content additional information generation unit 612. Receive timing information. Furthermore, the virtual content output unit 613 associates the received plurality of frames, virtual content header information, virtual content index information, and virtual content transmission timing information, and outputs virtual content that is a virtual content file.
[0064]
6). Distribution server 70
Here, the distribution server 70 will be described.
Specifically, the distribution server 70 is a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a LAN connection unit, and the like, and is connected to the client 10 and the client 11 via the Internet 20. The virtual content output server 60 is connected via a LAN. The configuration of the distribution server 70 is not shown.
[0065]
The distribution server 70 receives virtual content in which a plurality of frames, information virtual content header information, a virtual content index, and virtual content transmission timing information are associated from the virtual content output server 60 via the LAN. The distribution server 70 adds destination information that is information for specifying the client 10 to the received virtual content, and transmits the virtual content to the client 10 via the Internet 20.
[0066]
<Operation>
1. Overall behavior
Here, the operation of the virtual content distribution system 1 will be described.
The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 are flowcharts showing the overall operation of the virtual content distribution system 1.
[0067]
The list information output unit 503 of the DB server 50 reads the genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 from the DB unit 501 (step S101). The list information output unit 503 transmits the read genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 to the agent 40 via the LAN, and the agent 40 receives the genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 (step S102). ). Further, the agent 40 transmits the received genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 to the Web server 30 through the LAN, and the Web server 30 receives the genre list information 513 and the keyword list information 514 ( Step S103).
[0068]
The Web server 30 embeds the received genre list information 513 and keyword list information 514 in an HTML format, generates screen control information, and outputs it (step S104). The Web server 30 sends the generated screen control information to the client 10 via the Internet 20, and the client 10 receives the screen control information (Step S105).
[0069]
The control unit 102 of the client 10 generates a screen from the received screen control information, outputs the generated screen to the display unit 103, and the display unit 103 displays the screen (step S106). The input unit 104 receives an input by a user operation (step S107), and transmits the received input information to the Web server input / output unit 401 of the agent 40 by meeting the transmission / reception unit 101, the Internet 20, and the Web server 30 ( Step S108, Step S109). The Web server input / output unit 401 outputs input information to the information control unit 402, and the information control unit 402 generates search information from the input information. The DB server input / output unit 403 transmits search information to the DB server 50 via the LAN, and the DB server 50 receives the search information (step S110).
[0070]
Subsequently, the query unit 502 of the DB server 50 searches the DB unit 501 based on the search information (step S111), and transmits the content ID and the frame number as a search result to the agent 40 via the LAN. The content ID and the frame number are received (step S112). The content configuration table generation unit 404 of the agent 40 generates a content configuration table based on the received content ID and frame number (step S113), and the generated content configuration table is transmitted via the content configuration table output unit 405 and the LAN. The content configuration table receiving unit 603 transmits the content configuration table to the content configuration table receiving unit 603 of the virtual content output server 60, and receives the content configuration table (step S114).
[0071]
The virtual content generation unit 602 generates virtual content that is a virtual content file from the received content configuration table and the content stored in the content storage unit 601 (step S115). Virtual content output of the virtual content generation unit 602 The unit 613 transmits the generated virtual content to the distribution server 70 via the LAN, and the distribution server 70 receives the virtual content (step S116). The distribution server 70 adds distribution destination information indicating a distribution destination to the received virtual content (step S117), transmits the virtual content to the client 10 via the Internet 20, and the client 10 receives the virtual content (step S117). S118).
[0072]
The client 10 downloads virtual content (step S119).
2. Search processing behavior
Here, the operation of the search process in the DB server 50 will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The operation described here is the details of step S111 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0073]
The search information receiving unit 521 of the query unit 502 acquires profile information from the received search information (step S151), and outputs the profile information to the search unit 522. The search unit reads gender from the profile information (step S152). The search unit 522 reads the gender column of the CM table 512 of the DB unit 501 and extracts only the CM information that matches the gender of the profile information (step S153). Next, the search unit 522 reads the age from the profile information (step S154), reads the age column of all the extracted CM information, selects only the CM information that matches the age of the profile information, and does not match the CM information Is discarded (step S155). Next, the search unit 522 reads the hobby from the profile information (step S156), reads the hobby column of all the CM information selected earlier, selects only the CM information that matches the hobby of the profile information, and does not match The CM information is discarded (step S157). The CM information selected in this way is stored (step S158).
[0074]
Subsequently, the search information receiving unit 521 of the query unit 502 acquires a genre from the received search information (step S159), and outputs the genre to the search unit 522. The search unit 522 reads the genre column of the program table 511 of the DB unit 501 and extracts only the matching program information (step S160). Next, the search information receiving unit 521 acquires a keyword from the received search information (step S161), and outputs the acquired keyword to the search unit 522. The search unit 522 reads the keyword fields of all the program information extracted earlier, selects only the matching program information, and discards the mismatching program information (step S162).
[0075]
The search unit 522 reads the content ID and frame number from the previously stored CM information. Further, the search unit 522 reads the content ID and the frame number from the selected program information (step S163). The search unit 522 outputs the set of the read content ID and frame number to the search result output unit 523. The search result output unit 523 receives the combination of the content ID and the frame number, and transmits the received combination of the content ID and the frame number to the agent 40 via the LAN (step S164).
[0076]
3. Operation of content configuration table generation
Here, the operation of the content configuration table generation process in the agent 40 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The operation described here is the details of step S113 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
The DB server input / output unit 403 of the agent 40 outputs the set of the content ID and the frame number received from the DB server 50 to the content configuration table generation unit 404 via the information control unit 402.
[0077]
The content configuration table generating unit 404 receives a plurality of sets of content IDs and frame numbers, and selects one set of content IDs and frame numbers whose content IDs start with “Program” (step S201). The selected content ID is written (step S202). The start frame number is written from the frame number corresponding to the content ID (step S203), and the end frame number is further written (step S204).
[0078]
Next, the content configuration table generating unit 404 selects one set of a content ID and a frame number whose content ID starts with “CM” (step S205). The selected content ID is written (step S206). The start frame number is written from the frame number corresponding to the content ID (step S207), and the end frame number is further written (step S208). The content configuration table generation unit 404 determines whether or not the processing of all the combinations of content IDs and frame numbers has been completed. If the processing has been completed (YES in step S209), the content ID, start frame number, and end frame are determined. A reproduction number, which is a serial number, is added in order from the top of the set with the number (step S210). If not completed (NO in step S209), the process returns to step S201 to continue the processing.
[0079]
4). Operation of virtual content generation processing
Here, the operation of the virtual content generation processing in the virtual content output server 60 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation described here is the details of step S115 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0080]
The content configuration table receiving unit 503 of the virtual content output server 60 outputs the received content configuration table to the content configuration table interpreting unit 604. The content configuration table interpretation unit 604 writes the received content configuration table in the content configuration table storage unit 606, and the content configuration table storage unit 606 stores the content configuration table. The content configuration table interpretation unit 604 reads out the header information of all contents corresponding to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage unit 606 from the content storage unit 601. The content configuration table interpretation unit 604 determines whether the compression format of all the contents is the same for the compression format and screen size of the read header information, and whether the screen size is the same for all content. It is determined whether or not the combination is appropriate (step S301). If the combination of the content configuration tables is not appropriate (NO in step S302), the content configuration table interpretation unit 604 is. A warning signal is generated, and the generated warning signal is output to the warning unit 605 (step S303). If the combination of the content configuration tables is appropriate (YES in step S302), the content information reading unit 607 includes the program scene specified in the content configuration table among the content information of the content stored in the content storage unit 601. The CM scene is read (step S304).
[0081]
Next, the content information processing unit 610 performs processing on each frame constituting the program scene and the CM scene (step S305), and the virtual content header information generation unit 611 generates virtual content header information (step S306). The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 generates virtual content additional information (step S307).
[0082]
The virtual content output unit 613 includes program scenes and CM scenes processed by the content information processing unit 610, virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation unit 611, and virtual content generated by the virtual content additional information generation unit 612. The additional information is transmitted to the distribution server 70 via the LAN (step S308).
[0083]
(Virtual content header information generation process)
Here, the operation of the virtual content header information generation process will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation described here is the details of step S305 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
The virtual content header information generation unit 611 reads the content configuration table from the content configuration table storage unit 606 (step S401). Further, the virtual content header information generation unit 611 receives header information from the header information reading unit 608 (step S402), and receives index information from the additional information reading unit 609 (step S403).
[0084]
The virtual content header information generation unit 611 writes the compression format described in the acquired header information (step S404), and further writes the screen size described in the acquired header information (step S405). Next, the virtual content header information generating unit 611 calculates the number of frames of the virtual content using the acquired header information and index information, and writes the calculated number of frames (step S406). Subsequently, the virtual content header information generation unit 611 calculates the file size of the virtual content from the acquired content configuration table, header information, and index information, and writes the calculated file size (step S407).
[0085]
(Virtual content additional information generation processing)
Here, the operation of the virtual content additional information generation process will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. The operation described here is the details of step S306 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 reads the content configuration table from the content configuration table storage unit 606 (step S501). Further, the virtual content additional information generation unit 612 receives additional information from the additional information reading unit 609 (step S502). The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 calculates the frame number, byte position, and timing of each frame constituting the virtual content from the content configuration table and the additional information (step S503). The virtual content additional information generation unit 612 generates virtual content index information by associating the calculated frame number with the byte position (step S504). Further, the virtual content additional information generation unit 612 generates and writes virtual content transmission timing information in association with the calculated frame number and timing (step S505).
[0086]
(Calculation of frame number, byte position, timing)
The operation of the calculation process for the frame number, byte position, and timing of each frame constituting the virtual content will be described using the flowcharts shown in FIGS. The operation described here is the details of step S503 in the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0087]
Steps S601 to S610 are repeated for each frame number and byte position.
First, for the reproduction number n = 1, a value corresponding to the start frame number of n = 1 specified in the content configuration table 410 is acquired from the original index information 626, and the acquired value is K₁(Step S602). Specifically, from the content configuration table 410, since the starting frame number for n = 1 is “1”, the offset for the frame number is K₁= 1, offset for byte position is K₁= 512.
[0088]
Next, from reproduction number n = 2 to n = 6, for each reproduction number n, an offset K_nK_n= B_n-1-A_n-1+ K_n-1(Step S603). Specifically, the offset K for the byte position of n = 2₂The calculation method of will be described below.
First, for the previous playback number n = 1, a value “512” corresponding to the start frame number “1” specified in the content configuration table 410 is acquired from the original index information 626, and the acquired value is A₁And Next, for n = 1, the value “720000512” corresponding to the frame number “18001” next to the end frame number “18000” specified in the content configuration table 410 is acquired from the original index information 626 and acquired. Value B₁And Using these values,
K_n= B_n-1-A_n-1+ K_n-1
K₂= 72000512-512 + 512 = 72000000.
[0089]
Hereinafter, step S604 to step S609 are repeated for each reproduction number, and step S605 to step S608 are repeated for each frame.
For the frame to be calculated, the value of the frame is acquired from the original index information and the original transmission timing information, and A is calculated from the acquired value of the frame._nIs subtracted to calculate a value C (step S606). Using the value of C calculated here, the value X to be obtained is X = K_nCalculated from + C.
As a specific example, the byte position of the frame number 19000 of the virtual content corresponding to the content configuration table 410 is calculated. The frame number 19000 of the virtual content is the 18700th frame of the content identified by the content ID “Program01.mp4” with the reproduction number n = 3 from the content configuration table 410.
[0090]
The offset for n = 1 byte position is
K₁= 512,
The offset for n = 2 byte positions is

The offset for n = 3 byte positions is

It is.
[0091]
From the index information 626, from the byte position value “74800112” corresponding to the frame number “18700”, the byte position value “(A) corresponding to the start frame number“ 18001 ”of n = 3 in the content configuration table 410_Three=) 72000512 ",
C = 279960.
[0092]
Therefore, the desired value X is

It is.
[0093]
Finally, since the timing is a value unique to each frame, the timing of the frame specified by the content configuration table 410 is written from the original transmission timing information 627, transmission timing information 637, and the like (step S611).
B_nIf there is no frame next to the corresponding frame, the value obtained by adding “1” to the frame number is set to B._nUsed as For byte position, set the file size value included in the original header information to B_nUsed as
[0094]
<Second Embodiment>
A virtual content distribution system 2 will be described as a second embodiment according to the present invention. The virtual content distribution system 2 includes a client 10a, the Internet 20, a Web server 30a, an agent 40a, a DB server 50a, a virtual content output server 60a, and a distribution server 70a. The virtual content distribution system 2 is not shown. The client 10a, the Web server 30a, the agent 40a, the DB server 50a, and the distribution server 70a are respectively the client 10, the Web server 30, the agent 40, the DB server 50, and the virtual content distribution system 1 described in the first embodiment. Since the configuration and functions are the same as those of the distribution server 70, description thereof is omitted.
[0095]
Similar to the virtual content output server 60 in the first embodiment, the virtual content output server 60a includes a content storage unit 601a and a virtual content generation unit 602a. The virtual content generation unit 602a further receives a content configuration table. Unit 603a, content configuration table interpretation unit 604a, warning unit 605a, content configuration table storage unit 606a, content information reading unit 607a, header information reading unit 608a, additional information reading unit 609a, content information processing unit 610a, virtual content header information generation 611a, virtual content additional information generation unit 612a, and virtual content output unit 613a.
[0096]
The virtual content header information generation unit 611a generates virtual content header information based on the content configuration table, and outputs the generated virtual content header information to the virtual content output unit 613a.
The virtual content additional information generation unit 612a generates virtual content index information and virtual content transmission timing information as virtual content additional information based on the content configuration table, and generates the generated virtual content index information and virtual content transmission timing information. Output to the virtual content output unit 613a.
[0097]
The content information reading unit 607a reads a plurality of frames from the content information of the content stored in the content storage unit 601a according to the content configuration table, and outputs it to the content information processing unit 610a.
The content information processing unit 610a processes the received plurality of frames and outputs the processed frames to the virtual content output unit 613a.
[0098]
The virtual content output unit 613a receives virtual content header information, virtual content index information, virtual content transmission timing information, and a plurality of frames. The virtual content output unit 613a transmits the virtual content header information to the client 10a via the distribution server 70a and the Internet 20. The virtual content output unit 613a transmits a plurality of frames to the client 10a via the distribution server 70a and the Internet 20 sequentially in accordance with the timing of the virtual content transmission timing information. The virtual content output unit 613a transmits the virtual content index information and the virtual content transmission timing information to the client 10a via the distribution server 70a and the Internet 20.
[0099]
<Summary>
As described above, the virtual content distribution system 1 according to the first embodiment and the virtual content distribution system 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention are based on the genre and keywords specified by the user. This is a service system that searches a database, reads out a scene that matches a keyword, and so-called “user-dedicated program”. In addition, the virtual content distribution system 1 distributes content in which a different CM is inserted for each user according to attributes such as the gender and age of the user in the “user-dedicated program”.
In the virtual content distribution system 1 according to the first embodiment, the virtual content output server 60 reads a part of the original content file and transmits it to the client 10 together with the newly generated virtual content header information and virtual content additional information. As a result, the client 10 can download the content as if the newly generated content file exists.
In the virtual content distribution system 2 according to the second embodiment, the virtual content output server 60a reads out a part of the original content file and sends it to the client 10a based on the newly generated virtual content transmission timing information for each frame. By transmitting, the virtual content output server 60a can stream the content as if a newly generated content file exists.
[0100]
<Other variations>
Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following cases are also included in the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the index information 626, the index information 636, and the virtual content index information 661 are composed of a frame number and a byte position. For example, the information is not limited to the byte position but may be other information. For example, the number of audio samples, the number of seconds, the number of fields may be used.
[0101]
In addition, the content configuration table generated in the above embodiment is configured with a playback number, a content ID, a start frame number, and an end frame number. However, the start frame number and the end frame number are not limited to this, Any information can be used as long as it can specify a part in the content such as the number of bytes from the top of the content.
[0102]
(2) In the above embodiment, the information received as a user profile for searching for CM information is “sex”, “age”, and “hobby”, but the received information is of course not limited to these. It is. Any item corresponding to the CM information may include “occupation”, “region”, and the like.
(3) A configuration in which a genre and a keyword used for searching program information can be arbitrarily input by a user is also included in the present invention. Further, the present invention includes a configuration in which a plurality of keywords are designated and either a logical product (AND) of the keywords or a logical sum (OR) is output as a search result can be selected.
[0103]
(4) In the present invention, the method of transmitting the content configuration table generated by the agent 40 to the virtual content output server 60 is not limited to transmission via a LAN, and a recording medium such as a flexible disk, MO, CD-ROM or the like is used. It is good also as a structure which transmits using.
(5) In the above embodiment, the Web server 30, the agent 40, the DB server 50, the virtual content output server 60, and the distribution server 70 are configured to be connected to each other via a LAN. A configuration in which the components are connected to each other via is also included in the present invention.
[0104]
In the above-described embodiment, each of the above devices is an independent computer system. However, some or all of the above devices may be included in one computer system.
(6) The virtual content in the above embodiment is composed of programs and CMs alternately, but the CM insertion method is of course not limited to this. For example, various CM insertion patterns are included in the present invention, such as determining the frequency of CM for a program according to the user's request, and inserting CMs at the beginning of the program or at the end of the program.
[0105]
(7) In the above embodiment, the additional information is index information and transmission timing information, but the additional information in the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, metadata about performers in a scene may be used. The performer information 801 describes the appearance start frame that appears in the scene and the appearance end frame that disappears from the scene for each performer, and 811 indicates that performer A appears from 1 frame to 100 frames. Yes.
[0106]
(8) The present invention is not limited to connecting and distributing all scenes that match the keyword specified by the user, and includes cases where several scenes of the scenes are connected and distributed.
(9) The profile information used for selecting the CM scene is not limited to being input by the user, and the distribution side may be configured to automatically create and automatically update from the past history.
[0107]
(10) It is good also as a structure which provides the period which can deliver to each content, and produces | generates a content structure table | surface by referring the period which can be delivered.
(11) The present invention may be the method described above. Further, the present invention may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal composed of the computer program.
Further, the present invention assumes that the computer program or the digital signal is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, or a semiconductor memory. Also good. In addition, the computer program or the digital signal recorded in these recording media may be transmitted via a network such as an electric communication circuit, a wireless or wired communication circuit, or the Internet.
Further, the present invention may be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, the memory storing the computer program, and the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.
In addition, the program or the digital signal is recorded on the recording medium and transferred, or the program or the digital signal is transferred via a network or the like, and executed by another independent computer system. It is good.
(12) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.
[0108]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is a content distribution system including a server device that selects and distributes a video scene according to a user's request and a terminal device that receives the video scene from the server device.
The server device stores a plurality of content files, and each content file includes a plurality of scene information and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device selects a plurality of scene information that matches a user's request from the scene information included in the content file, reads the scene additional information corresponding to each of the selected plurality of scene information, and Virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of a plurality of scene information is generated. Further, the server device associates the selected plurality of scene information with the generated virtual scene additional information and transmits the information to the terminal device.
[0109]
The terminal device receives the plurality of scene information and the virtual scene additional information from the server device, and stores the received plurality of scene information and the virtual scene additional information.
According to this configuration, in the content distribution system, the server device selects a plurality of scene information in response to a request received from the terminal device, thereby generating content according to the user's wish for each user. Can do. Further, the terminal device receives the plurality of scene information by generating virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of the selected plurality of scene information and transmitting the virtual scene additional information in association with the plurality of scene information to the terminal device. Thus, the time-shift viewing can be performed and stored later using the virtual scene additional information.
[0110]
Further, the present invention is a server device that selects and transmits a video scene in response to a request received from a terminal device possessed by a user.
The server device stores a plurality of content files, and each content file includes a plurality of scene information and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device selects a plurality of scene information that matches the user's request from the scene information included in the stored content file. The server device reads scene additional information corresponding to each of the selected plurality of scene information, and generates virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information. The server device associates the plurality of selected scene information with the generated virtual scene additional information and transmits the information to the terminal device.
[0111]
According to this configuration, the server device can generate content according to the user's wish for each user by selecting a plurality of scene information in response to a request received from the terminal device. Further, the terminal device receives the plurality of scene information by generating virtual scene additional information related to reproduction of the selected plurality of scene information and transmitting the virtual scene additional information in association with the plurality of scene information to the terminal device. Thus, the time-shift viewing can be performed and stored later using the virtual scene additional information.
[0112]
Here, the server device stores, as scene addition information, for each frame included in each scene information, index information in which a frame number and a position in the content file of the frame are associated with each other. As information, for each frame included in each of the selected plurality of scene information, virtual index information in which frame numbers in the plurality of scene information are associated with the positions of the frames is generated. May be.
[0113]
According to this configuration, the server device generates virtual index information and associates the selected plurality of scene information with the selected plurality of scene information, and transmits the virtual index information to the terminal device. When the scene information is received, the scene information can be fast-forwarded, searched, etc. as the scene information is reproduced.
Here, each scene information stored in the server device is identified by a scene identifier, and for each scene information, the server device includes a scene identifier for identifying each scene information and scene related information related to each scene information. Are stored in association with each other. The server device receives a selection condition for selecting scene information as the request from the terminal device. The server device may be configured to extract a scene identifier corresponding to scene-related information that satisfies the selection condition, and to acquire scene information identified by the extracted scene identifier.
[0114]
According to this configuration, the server device has the database unit, and the database unit stores the information about the scene for each scene information, so that the scene information corresponding to the request received from the terminal device can be acquired.
Here, the server device adds a playback order to the extracted scene identifier, generates a configuration table including a playback number and a scene identifier, and acquires scene information from the storage unit using the generated configuration table. You may comprise.
[0115]
According to this configuration, the server device can acquire the scene information according to the playback order by generating the configuration table by associating the scene identifier of the scene information corresponding to the request received from the terminal device with the playback order.
Here, the server device, as scene additional information, for each frame included in each scene information, index information that associates a frame number with a position in the content file of the frame, a frame number, and transmission of the frame Timing information in which timing is associated, and as virtual scene additional information, for each frame included in each of the selected plurality of scene information, a frame number in the plurality of scene information and Generating virtual timing information in which the virtual index in which the position of the frame is associated, the frame number in the plurality of scene information and the transmission timing of the frame are associated, and the plurality of selected scene information And the virtual index information are transmitted to the terminal device, at this time Wherein for the plurality of scene information in accordance with the virtual timing information, it may be configured so as to sequentially transmitted to the terminal device one frame.
[0116]
According to this configuration, the server device distributes the selected plurality of scene information to the terminal device in a streaming type, and transmits the generated virtual index information to the terminal device, whereby the terminal device receives the streaming type. Using the virtual index information, the scene information can be reproduced at a time later than the received time, and the scene information can be fast-forwarded, headed, etc.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a virtual content distribution system 1. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a client 10;
3 is a diagram of a profile input screen 110 displayed on the client 10. FIG.
4 is a diagram of a genre list screen 130 displayed on the client 10. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of a keyword selection screen 150 displayed on the client 10;
6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an agent 40. FIG.
7 is a diagram showing a data structure of a content configuration table 410 generated by an agent 40. FIG.
8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a DB server 50. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a data structure of a program table 511 stored in the DB server 50.
10 is a diagram showing a data structure of a CM table 512 stored in the DB server 50. FIG.
11 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a virtual content output server 60. FIG.
12 is a diagram showing a data structure of content 621 stored in a virtual content output server 60. FIG.
13 is a diagram showing a data structure of content 631 stored in a virtual content output server 60. FIG.
14 is a diagram of virtual content header information 751 generated by the virtual content output server 60. FIG.
15 is a diagram showing a data structure of virtual content index information 661 generated by the virtual content output server 60. FIG.
16 is a diagram illustrating a data concept of virtual content transmission timing information 671 generated by the virtual content output server 60. FIG.
FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the virtual content distribution system 1 and is continued from FIG.
18 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the virtual content distribution system 1, continued from FIG.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation of search processing in the DB server 50, continued from FIG.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the search processing operation in the DB server 50, continued from FIG. 19;
FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing an operation of content configuration table generation processing in the agent 40;
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation of generating the entire virtual content in the virtual content output server 60.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing an operation of virtual content header information generation processing in the virtual content output server 60;
24 is a flowchart showing an operation of virtual content additional information generation processing in the virtual content output server 60. FIG.
FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of calculating the frame number, byte position, and timing of virtual content in the virtual content output server 60, continued from FIG.
FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of calculating the frame number, byte position and timing of virtual content in the virtual content output server 60, continued from FIG.
27 shows the data structure of performer information 801. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 2 Virtual content distribution system
10, 10a, 11 clients
20 Internet
30, 30a server
40, 40a Agent
50, 50a DB server
60, 60a Virtual content output server
70, 70a distribution server
101 transceiver
102 Control unit
103 display
104 Input section
105 Storage unit
401 Server input / output unit
402 Information control unit
403 DB server input / output unit
404 Content configuration table generator
405 Content configuration table output unit
410 Content composition table
501 DB department
502 Query part
503 Content composition table reception part
503 List information output part
521 Search information reception part
522 Search part
523 Search result output part
524 CM search information
601, 601a Content storage unit
602, 602a Virtual content generation unit
603, 603a Content composition table reception unit
604, 604a Content composition table interpretation unit
605, 605a Warning section
606, 606a Content configuration table storage unit
607, 607a Content information reading unit
608, 608a Header information reading unit
609, 609a Additional information reading unit
610, 610a Content information processing unit
611, 611a Virtual content header information generation unit
612, 612a Virtual content additional information generation unit
613, 613a Virtual content output unit

Claims (6)

A virtual content output device that outputs a virtual content file according to a content configuration table that describes the playback order of a specific scene of a plurality of content files,
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content composition table accepting means for accepting input of the content composition table;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received by the content configuration table reception means;
Content data processing means for outputting an instruction to read content data to the content data reading means in accordance with the content structure table stored in the content structure table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading means;
Content data reading means for receiving an instruction from the content data processing means, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing means;
In accordance with the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, an instruction to read header information is output to the header information reading means, and a virtual content header for generating virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading means Information generating means;
A header information reading unit that receives an instruction from the virtual content header information generation unit, reads specific header information from the content storage unit, and outputs the header information to the virtual content header information generation unit;
Virtual content output means for associating and outputting the content data processed by the virtual content data processing means and the virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation means.
A virtual content output device. A virtual content output device that outputs one virtual content file according to a content configuration table that describes the playback order of a specific scene of a plurality of content files,
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content composition table accepting means for accepting input of the content composition table;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received by the content configuration table reception means;
Content data processing means for outputting an instruction to read content data to the content data reading means in accordance with the content structure table stored in the content structure table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading means;
Content data reading means for receiving an instruction from the content data processing means, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing means;
In accordance with the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, an instruction to read header information is output to the header information reading means, and a virtual content header for generating virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading means Information generating means;
A header information reading unit that receives an instruction from the virtual content header information generation unit, reads specific header information from the content storage unit, and outputs the header information to the virtual content header information generation unit;
In accordance with the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, an instruction to read additional information is output to the additional information reading means, and from the additional information read by the additional information reading means Virtual content additional information generating means for generating virtual content additional information;
An additional information reading unit that receives an instruction from the virtual content additional information generation unit, reads specific additional information from the content storage unit, and outputs the specific additional information to the virtual content additional information generation unit;
Associating content data processed by the virtual content data processing means, virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generating means, and virtual content additional information generated by the virtual content additional information generating means Virtual content output means for outputting
A virtual content output device. A virtual content output method used in a virtual content output apparatus that outputs a virtual content file in accordance with a content configuration table that describes the playback order of a specific scene of a plurality of content files,
The virtual content output device includes:
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received in the content configuration table reception step,
The virtual content output method includes:
A content composition table receiving step for receiving an input of the content composition table;
A content data processing step of outputting an instruction to read content data to a content data reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading step;
A content data reading step for receiving an instruction of the content data processing step, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing step;
A virtual content header that outputs an instruction to read header information to the header information reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and generates virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading step An information generation step;
A header information reading step of receiving specific instruction of the virtual content header information generation step, reading out specific header information from the content storage means, and outputting to the virtual content header information generation step;
A virtual content output step of associating and outputting the content data processed by the virtual content data processing step and the virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation step
A virtual content output method characterized by the above. A virtual content output method used in a virtual content output device that outputs a virtual content file in accordance with a content configuration table that describes the playback order of a specific scene of a plurality of content files,
The virtual content output device includes:
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received in the content configuration table reception step,
The virtual content output method includes:
A content composition table receiving step for receiving an input of the content composition table;
A content data processing step of outputting an instruction to read content data to a content data reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading step;
A content data reading step for receiving an instruction of the content data processing step, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing step;
A virtual content header that outputs an instruction to read header information to the header information reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and generates virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading step An information generation step;
A header information reading step of receiving specific instruction of the virtual content header information generation step, reading out specific header information from the content storage means, and outputting to the virtual content header information generation step;
In accordance with the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, an instruction to read additional information is output to the additional information reading step, and virtual content additional information is generated from the additional information read by the additional information reading step An information generation step;
An additional information reading step of receiving specific virtual information from the content storage means in response to an instruction of the virtual content additional information generation step, and outputting to the virtual content additional information generation step;
The content data processed by the virtual content data processing step, the virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation step, and the virtual content additional information generated by the virtual content additional information generation step are associated with each other. Output virtual content output step
A virtual content output method characterized by the above. A computer program used in a virtual content output device that outputs a single virtual content file in accordance with a content configuration table that describes the playback order of specific scenes of a plurality of content files,
The virtual content output device includes:
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received in the content configuration table reception step,
The computer program is
A content composition table receiving step for receiving an input of the content composition table;
A content data processing step of outputting an instruction to read content data to a content data reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading step;
A content data reading step for receiving an instruction of the content data processing step, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing step;
A virtual content header that outputs an instruction to read header information to the header information reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and generates virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading step An information generation step;
A header information reading step of receiving specific instruction of the virtual content header information generation step, reading out specific header information from the content storage means, and outputting to the virtual content header information generation step;
The content data processed by the virtual content data processing step and the temporary data A virtual content output step of outputting the virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation step in association with the virtual content header information.
A computer program characterized by the above. A computer program used in a virtual content output device that outputs a virtual content file according to a content configuration table that describes the playback order of a specific scene of a plurality of content files,
The virtual content output device includes:
Content storage means for storing a plurality of content files composed of a plurality of scene information including header information and a plurality of pieces of content data and scene additional information related to reproduction of the plurality of scene information;
Content configuration table storage means for storing the content configuration table received in the content configuration table reception step,
The computer program is
A content composition table receiving step for receiving an input of the content composition table;
A content data processing step of outputting an instruction to read content data to a content data reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and processing the content data read by the content reading step;
A content data reading step for receiving an instruction of the content data processing step, reading specific content data from the content storage means, and outputting the content data to the content processing step;
A virtual content header that outputs an instruction to read header information to the header information reading step according to the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, and generates virtual content header information from the header information read by the header information reading step An information generation step;
A header information reading step of receiving specific instruction of the virtual content header information generation step, reading out specific header information from the content storage means, and outputting to the virtual content header information generation step;
In accordance with the content configuration table stored in the content configuration table storage means, an instruction to read additional information is output to the additional information reading step, and virtual content additional information is generated from the additional information read by the additional information reading step An information generation step;
An additional information reading step of receiving specific virtual information from the content storage means in response to an instruction of the virtual content additional information generation step, and outputting to the virtual content additional information generation step;
The content data processed by the virtual content data processing step, the virtual content header information generated by the virtual content header information generation step, and the virtual content additional information generated by the virtual content additional information generation step are associated with each other. Output virtual content output step
A computer program characterized by the above.

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