JP4060243B2 - Mobile device and content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution system for distributing content between a content server and a mobile device through a communication line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a technique for distributing content such as a video clip (content composed of music and video) between a content server and a mobile device, there is stream distribution in which playback is performed at the same time that the mobile device starts receiving the content. This stream distribution is particularly effective when the response to the user is fast and the storage capacity on the mobile device side is small because there is no need to wait for all contents to be downloaded (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-075251
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in stream distribution, content reproduction may be interrupted due to packet delay. This is a major obstacle in the reproduction of music content for the following reasons. That is, music resonates comfortably by being played continuously according to a defined tempo, but if the tempo is shifted or the music itself is interrupted, the sound remarkably becomes uncomfortable and the music cannot be enjoyed.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system that can perform satisfactory distribution of audio and video content without interruption of audio.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a packet receiving video data streamed from a server via a packet communication network in a mobile device that receives content including video data and audio data from the server. Receiving means; delay means for delaying and outputting the video data received by the packet receiving means; audio signal receiving means for receiving an audio signal distributed from the server via a circuit switched network; and the delay means And a reproducing means for reproducing the audio signal received by the audio signal receiving means.
[0007]
The present invention also provides a content distribution system for distributing content including video data and audio data from a server to a mobile device, wherein the mobile device receives video data stream-distributed from the server via a packet communication network. A packet receiving means for receiving, a delay means for delaying and outputting the video data received by the packet receiving means, an audio signal receiving means for receiving an audio signal distributed from the server via a circuit switched network, A reproduction unit that reproduces the video data output from the delay unit and the audio signal received by the audio signal reception unit, and the server distributes the content including the video data and the audio signal. Video data distribution means for streaming the video data to the mobile device over the packet communication network; The audio signal of the content to provide a content distribution system characterized by comprising an audio signal distribution means for distributing to the mobile station by the circuit switched network.
[0008]
When a content distribution request is transmitted from the mobile device to the server, the server transmits video data to the mobile device via the packet communication network. The mobile device starts storing video data and requests the server to transmit an audio signal. The server transmits an audio signal to the mobile device via the circuit switching network, and when the mobile device receives the audio signal from the server, it starts to reproduce the video data.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
(1. Configuration)
(1-1. Overall system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the entire system according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this system includes a content server 100, a mobile packet communication network 200, a circuit switching network 300, a mobile device 400 and a base station 500.
[0011]
The content server 100 stores content data representing content (video clip or the like) provided to the user of the mobile device 400. The content server 100 has a function of communicating with the mobile device 400 through the mobile packet communication network 200 and the circuit switching network 300. In this system, it is possible to use a multi-call function that can perform a plurality of communications in parallel with one mobile device. By using this multicall function, data communication and voice call can be performed in parallel. Actually, there are a plurality of content servers, a plurality of mobile devices, and a plurality of base stations. However, for the sake of simplicity, only one content server 100, one mobile device 400, and one base station 500 are included here. Illustrated.
[0012]
(1-2. Configuration of content server)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content server 100. In the figure, the ROM 103 stores a control program for controlling each part of the content server 100, and the CPU 102 executes the control program read from the ROM 103 using the RAM 104 as a work area. The storage unit 105 stores a plurality of content data composed of audio data and video data, and also stores menu data indicating menus of these contents. The decoder 106 has a function of expanding audio data compressed by a data compression method such as MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 4 format and converting it into an audio signal. The signal generation circuit 107 has a function of generating a video reproduction start signal that can be detected by the mobile device 400. The communication unit 108 is connected to the mobile packet communication network 200 and the circuit switching network 300, and communicates with the mobile device 400 through both networks. The communication unit 108 has a function of performing a plurality of communications in parallel, thereby supporting the multicall.
[0013]
(1-3. Configuration of mobile device)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of mobile device 400. In the figure, a ROM 403 stores a control program for controlling each unit of the mobile device 400 and a browser program for browsing content, and the CPU 402 executes the program read from the ROM 403 using the RAM 404 as a work area. A storage unit 405 stores menu data and video data transmitted from the content server 100. The video data is compressed by a data compression method such as MPEG4 format, and the video data is expanded by the decoder 406 and then reproduced as video on the display unit 408. The signal detection circuit 407 has a function of detecting the video reproduction start signal generated by the signal generation circuit 107 of the content server 100. The sound is reproduced by the sound output unit 409. The communication unit 410 includes an antenna (not shown) and performs wireless communication with the base station 500. Further, the communication unit 410 has a function of performing a plurality of communications in parallel, thereby supporting the multicall. The user operates the operation unit 411 to input various instructions.
[0014]
(2. Operation)
The operation of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing the overall operation of the system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, solid arrows indicate communication performed through the mobile packet communication network 200. A broken line arrow indicates communication performed through the circuit switching network 300.
[0015]
When the user inputs an instruction to start the browser by operating the operation unit 411 of the mobile device 400, the CPU 402 executes the browser program and displays the browser screen on the display unit 408 (step S11).
[0016]
After the browser is activated, the user transmits a content distribution request from the mobile device 400 to the content server 100 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S12). At this time, the telephone number of the mobile device 400 is transmitted from the mobile device 400 to the content server 100 together with the content distribution request. When the content server 100 receives the content distribution request, the CPU 102 reads content menu data from the storage unit 105 (step S13), and transmits the menu data to the mobile device 400 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S14).
[0017]
When the mobile device 400 receives the menu data, a menu screen based on the menu data is displayed on the display unit 408 by the browser function. The user selects desired content from the menu displayed on the display unit 408, and operates the operation unit 411 to input a content selection instruction (step S15). Content selection information is generated by this input operation, and the content selection information is transmitted from the mobile device 400 to the content server 100 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S16).
[0018]
When the content server 100 receives the content selection information, the content server 100 calls the mobile device 400 via the circuit switching network 300 using the telephone number of the mobile device 400 acquired previously, and the content server 100 and the mobile device 400 A call is connected between the two (step S17). After the CPU 102 confirms that the call is connected between the content server 100 and the mobile device 400 via the circuit switching network 300, the CPU 102 stores the video data of the content selected by the user based on the content selection information. The video data is read from 105 (step S18), and the video data is transmitted to the mobile device 400 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S19).
[0019]
When the mobile device 400 receives the video data transmitted from the content server 100, the storage unit 405 starts storing video data (step S20). When the storage of the video data is started, the mobile device 400 transmits an audio transmission request to the content server 100 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S21). This storage process is intended to temporarily store the video data for a predetermined time after the mobile device 400 receives the video data. Therefore, the storage capacity of the storage unit 405 may be smaller than the total capacity of the video data.
[0020]
On the other hand, when the content server 100 receives an audio transmission request, the signal generation circuit 107 of the content server 100 outputs a video reproduction start signal using a tone signal of a specific frequency within an audio frequency band used in a mobile phone for a certain time (for example, 1 second) and transmitted to the mobile device 400. Subsequently, the decoder 106 starts decompressing the audio data of the content (step S22), and transmits the decompressed audio to the mobile device 400 through the circuit switching network 300. (Step S23).
[0021]
After the mobile device 400 receives the video playback start signal, the signal detection circuit 407 detects the video playback start signal (step S24). The video data stored in the storage unit 405 is sent to the decoder 406 after a predetermined time (in this example, 1 second) after detecting the video playback start signal. The video data is decompressed by the decoder 406, sent to the display unit 408, and video playback is started (step S25).
[0022]
In the above operation example, the video reproduction start signal is generated for 1 second and then the expansion of the audio data is started. However, the length of time for generating the video reproduction start signal is arbitrary. However, in the mobile device 400, the time from when the signal detection circuit 407 detects the video playback start signal to when the video data starts to be sent to the decoder 406 is the length of time that the content server 100 generates the video playback start signal. Make equal.
[0023]
In addition, it is desirable that the mobile device 400 mutes the audio output of the mobile device 400 by the length of the video playback start signal after detecting the video playback start signal transmitted from the content server 100. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voice other than the voice included in the content from reaching the user.
[0024]
With the above operation, it is possible to reproduce the content composed of video and audio without interruption of the audio. In addition, audio playback is started in synchronization with the start of video playback by the mobile device 400.
[0025]
(3. Modified examples)
The present invention is not limited to the form described above, and can be implemented in various forms. For example, the embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
[0026]
The telephone number of the mobile device 400 may be transmitted to the content server 100 together with the content selection information in step S16. According to this modification, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment.
[0027]
In the above operation, the audio signal is distributed using the call connected by calling the mobile device 400 from the content server 100 via the circuit switching network 300 in step S17. The call may be made using a call connected by calling the content server 100 via 300. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the entire system in this modification. This modification will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the difference from the operation shown by the sequence diagram of FIG. 4 will be described. Steps S12 ′, S14 ′, and S17 ′ with a dash (′) added to the step number in FIG. 5 are different from FIG.
In FIG. 5, solid arrows indicate communication performed through the mobile packet communication network 200. A broken line arrow indicates communication performed through the circuit switching network 300.
[0028]
In step S12 ′, only the content distribution request is transmitted from the mobile device 400 to the content server 100 through the mobile packet communication network 200. When the content server 100 receives the content distribution request, the CPU 102 reads the content menu data from the storage unit 105 (step S13), and transmits the menu data to the mobile device 400 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S14 '). At this time, the telephone number of the content server 100 is transmitted to the mobile device 400 through the mobile packet communication network 200 together with the menu data.
[0029]
When the mobile device 400 receives the menu data, a menu screen based on the menu data is displayed on the display unit 408. The user selects desired content from the menu displayed on the display unit 408 (step S15), and operates the operation unit 411 to transmit content selection information to the content server 100 through the mobile packet communication network 200 (step S16).
[0030]
Next, the mobile device 400 calls the content server 100 via the circuit switching network 300 using the telephone number of the content server 100 acquired previously, and the call is made between the mobile device 400 and the content server 100 by this call. Are connected (step S17 ′). The operations after step S18 are the same as those after step S18 in FIG. According to this modification, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to perform a good distribution of audio and video content without interruption of audio.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content server 100 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile device 400 according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the entire system according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of the entire system in a modified example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Content server, 200 ... Mobile packet communication network, 300 ... Circuit switching network, 400 ... Mobile station, 500 ... Base station

Claims (4)

In a mobile device that receives content including video data and audio data from a server,
Packet receiving means for receiving video data streamed from the server via a packet communication network;
Delay means for delaying and outputting the video data received by the packet receiving means;
Audio signal receiving means for receiving an audio signal distributed from the server via a circuit switched network;
A mobile device comprising: video data output by the delay means and playback means for playing back the audio signal received by the audio signal receiving means. In a content distribution system that distributes content including video data and audio data from a server to a mobile device,
The mobile device is
Packet receiving means for receiving video data streamed from the server via a packet communication network;
Delay means for delaying and outputting the video data received by the packet receiving means;
Audio signal receiving means for receiving an audio signal distributed from the server via a circuit switched network;
Reproducing means for reproducing the video data output from the delay means and the audio signal received by the audio signal receiving means,
The server
When delivering content that includes video data and audio signals,
For the video data of the content, video data delivery means for streaming delivery to the mobile device in the packet communication network,
An audio signal distribution means for distributing the audio signal of the content to the mobile device through the circuit switching network. The server acquires a telephone number of the mobile device via the packet communication network, calls the mobile device via the circuit switched network using the acquired telephone number, and is connected by this call 3. The content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the audio signal is distributed to the audio signal receiving unit using a call. The mobile device obtains the telephone number of the server via the packet communication network, calls the server via the circuit switched network using the obtained telephone number,
The content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the server distributes the audio signal to the audio signal receiving unit using a call connected by the call.

Images