JP4165249B2 - Content distribution method and program - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution method and program for searching and distributing content desired by a user via a communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to a content distribution method and program for sequentially distributing content to a user according to a content search result even if the user does not explicitly issue a distribution request for specific content after content search.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-042866
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-036423 A
Recently, due to the spread of wired and wireless communication networks represented by the Internet, movies for displaying song data and video consisting of MIDI performance information for playing songs whenever you want in response to client distribution requests Content delivery services are available that allow content such as data to be streamed from a server via the Internet and play music or video on a terminal (client) such as a user-owned personal computer or mobile phone . A server that provides such a content distribution service stores a large number of pieces of content such as song data and movie data in advance, and a user who accesses the server satisfies a desired condition from among the stored many pieces of content Is configured to be searchable. Conventionally, when a user-desired content is streamed and reproduced by a client, the following procedure has been used. First, in order to search for a content desired by the user, a search condition including a keyword such as a song title or an artist name is input to a predetermined search form, and the search result is received from the server and displayed. When a distribution request for specific content is explicitly made to the server by pressing a “play” button corresponding to the target content from the search results, the specific content corresponding to the distribution request Is distributed from the server, the client receives and reproduces the content distributed from the server.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when a user-desired content is searched for and reproduced from a large number of contents stored in a server, conventionally, whenever a user performs a search, “content displayed as a search result list by a character string or the like” In order to select the desired content from “,” another operation different from the search operation such as pressing the “play” button corresponding to the content has to be performed. That is, unless a new operation such as pressing the “play” button is performed, no content distribution request is made to the server, and therefore no content is distributed from the server to the client. However, if the information for identifying the desired content by the user himself (for example, the song title) is ambiguous, the user repeatedly presses the play button for each content while viewing the search result list, and actually The user-desired content has to be specified by sequentially reproducing the content distributed from the server one by one. Repeating these operations is very troublesome, and it takes a very long time to specify the desired content, which is inconvenient.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described points, and allows the content extracted as a search result to be sequentially distributed and played back even if the user does not explicitly request distribution for specific content after content search. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution method and program that enable a user to efficiently specify a desired content without waste and realize a simpler search / playback method compared to conventional methods.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A content distribution program according to the present invention is transmitted via a communication network. For connected clients On the server computer that provides the content, From the client in response to the search instruction A procedure for receiving a content search condition; a procedure for generating a content search result list by searching for a content satisfying the content search condition from a plurality of contents; and the generated content search result list To the client The procedure to distribute and the searched One or more Content in order according to the generated content search result list client For each of the searched contents, and the individual distribution by the user for the searched contents Instructions Even without Distribution of content in response to the user receiving the content search result list; Search by user Instructions Obtained by searching according to One or more Content Play and The client Is a program for automatically performing
[0006]
According to the present invention, after a content search, a user explicitly distributes specific content. Instructions Even if the search is not performed, the searched contents are sequentially distributed from the server. By reproducing the contents, the user can efficiently specify the desired contents without waste. That is, the user at the server Search instructions by When a content search condition corresponding to the content search condition is received, content corresponding to the content search condition is searched from a plurality of contents to generate a content search result list. And based on the generated content search result list, not only inform the user of the search results by display, One or more obtained by searching without individual distribution instructions by the user Content , Sequential distribution to users via a communication network. In this way, explicit delivery to the server by the user, such as specifying individual content based on the displayed search results Instructions Even if the search is not performed, in response to the specification of content search conditions by the user, in addition to the content search result list, the searched content is automatically sent to the user in the order according to the content search result list from the server. Delivered sequentially Played Therefore, the user can not only view the distributed content search result list but also identify the desired content efficiently after confirming it efficiently by actually listening to the sequentially distributed content. It will be easy.
[0007]
The present invention can be constructed and implemented not only as a method invention but also as an apparatus invention. In addition, the present invention can be implemented in the form of a program of a processor such as a computer or a DSP, and can also be implemented in the form of a recording medium storing such a program.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing the overall system configuration of an embodiment of a content distribution system. The content distribution system shown in this embodiment is a system in which a distribution server MS that distributes content and a user terminal (client) that uses the content are connected via a communication network X so that bidirectional communication is possible. The communication network X is not limited to a wired line, and may include a wireless line such as a mobile phone line or a satellite communication line. Further, it is not limited to a public telephone line network or the Internet, and may include a LAN or the like. The distribution server MS, which is a WWW (World Wide Web) server for content distribution that constitutes a part of the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, is not limited to one, and there may be a plurality of distribution servers MS. It may be possible to provide the content that has been made. The distribution server MS uses display data and various screens as a basis for generating various screens described using a page description language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) according to access to the URL. (E.g., return of image data that is incidentally displayed, execution of designated CGI application, etc.) and various processing such as content distribution according to the search result. Of course, each distribution server MS includes a server computer on which a necessary program is installed so that processing according to the present invention can be executed, a database storing a large number of contents, and the like.
[0010]
The client that constitutes the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 together with the distribution server MS described above may be an ordinary personal computer (PC terminal PC), and is not limited to a general-purpose computer, but may be a portable terminal MT such as a PDA or a cellular phone, or Any processing can be used as long as the processing according to the present invention can be executed by a microcomputer or a processor incorporated in a device having a special function such as a game device or an electronic musical instrument. Of course, in the user terminal (client), a well-known network browser (WWW browser) and dedicated application software are installed so that the processing according to the present invention as will be described below as an embodiment can be executed. . As described above, each device (that is, client and server) constituting the content distribution system is configured by independent computers each including processing means including CPU, ROM, RAM, storage means, communication means, and the like. Thus, each device can transmit and receive various information and contents via the communication network X.
[0011]
A mobile terminal MT such as a mobile phone or PDA used as a client is a small device capable of wireless communication, and has a display function for displaying a site and a content playback function for playing back content in addition to the original communication function. Of course, a well-known network browser (WWW browser) and dedicated application software are installed on the portable terminal in the same manner as a personal computer terminal or the like so that the processing according to the present invention can be executed. However, when such a portable terminal is connected to the distribution server MS for bidirectional communication, it is necessary to pass through the relay server TS. That is, the relay server TS relays signal transmission and reception between the mobile terminal MT and the distribution server MS, so that the mobile terminal MT can access the distribution server MS.
[0012]
Next, an embodiment of any one of the hardware configurations of the personal computer terminal PC, the mobile terminal MT, the server MS, and the relay server TS constituting the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly described. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration block diagram showing an embodiment of one overall configuration of each of the above devices. However, since each of the above devices can be described as using a similar hardware configuration, only one figure of the personal computer terminal PC will be described as a representative.
[0013]
The personal computer terminal PC shown in this embodiment is controlled by a microcomputer comprising a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read only memory (ROM) 2 and a random access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls the operation of the entire apparatus. A read only memory (ROM) 2, a random access memory (RAM) 3, a detection circuit 4, a display circuit 5, a sound source circuit 6, a communication interface 7, and an external storage device 8 are connected to the CPU 1 via a bus 1D. Has been. The ROM 2 stores various programs executed by the CPU 1 and various data. The RAM 3 is a reception data buffer that temporarily stores display data received from the distribution server MS or contents such as music data and movie data. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated when the CPU 1 executes a program, or as a memory for storing a program currently being executed and related data. A predetermined address area of the RAM 3 is assigned to each function and used as a register, flag, table, memory, or the like.
[0014]
The operation element 4A includes various operation elements such as a numeric keypad for inputting numeric data, a keyboard for inputting character data, and a mouse and a tablet used for operating a predetermined pointing device displayed on the display device 5A. Anything can be used as long as it can be used. The detection circuit 4 detects an operation state of each operation element of the operation element 4A, and outputs switch information corresponding to the operation state to the CPU 1 via the communication bus 1D (for example, a data and address bus). Based on the display data received from the distribution server MS, the display circuit 5 displays a “search condition input screen” (see FIG. 4 described later), a “search result display screen” (see FIG. 7 described later), etc. In addition to displaying on a display device 5A (that is, a display) composed of an LCD) or CRT, the control state of the CPU 1 is displayed on the display device 5A. The tone generator circuit 6 can simultaneously generate musical tone signals in a plurality of channels, inputs music data given via the bus 1D, and generates musical tone signals based on this data. The musical tone signal generated from the sound source circuit 6 is generated through a sound system 6A including an amplifier and a speaker. That is, by providing the tone generator circuit 6, the personal computer terminal PC can be used as a performance device (music data reproduction device). The music data format may be digitally encoded as in the MIDI standard, or may be a waveform sample data system such as PCM, DPCM, or ADPCM. Further, any conventional configuration may be used for the configuration of the tone generator circuit 6 and the sound system 6A.
[0015]
The communication interface 7 is a modem or an Ethernet (registered trademark) interface for connecting the terminal to a communication network X such as a LAN, the Internet, or a telephone network. The terminal is connected to a predetermined distribution server MS or the like via the communication network X, so that the terminal transmits a URL or a search condition to the distribution server MS from the terminal, The terminal can receive music data as a search result. The communication interface 7 and the communication network X are not limited to wired ones and may be wireless ones. Moreover, you may have both. The external storage device 8 stores various control programs executed by the CPU 1 (for example, a known network browser (WWW browser) capable of executing the processing according to the present invention, dedicated application software, etc.). When the control program is not stored in the ROM 2, the control program is stored in the external storage device 8 (for example, a hard disk) and read into the RAM 3 to store the control program in the ROM 2. A similar operation can be performed by the CPU 1. In this way, control programs can be easily added and upgraded.
[0016]
The external storage device 8 is not limited to a hard disk (HD), but a flexible disk (FD), a compact disk (CD-ROM / CD-RAM), a magneto-optical disk (MO), a DVD (abbreviation of Digital Versatile Disk), etc. Any storage device that uses external storage media in various forms that can be freely attached and detached may be used. Alternatively, a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory may be used.
The RAM 3 and the external storage device 8 may be physically the same device.
Note that each device of the server MS and the relay server TS may not be equipped with the sound source circuit 6 or the sound system 6A. Further, in the portable terminal MT, the operation element 4A and the display device 5A are various switches and a liquid crystal display that are equipped (or built in) in the portable terminal MT main body. The sound source circuit 6 and the sound system 6A are preferably provided (or built in) in the mobile terminal MT main body. The communication interface 7 in the portable terminal MT is a device for wireless communication and can communicate with the relay server TS. Needless to say, an interface for performing wired communication may be provided in the same manner as the personal computer terminal PC. The external storage device 8 may be either a device built in the portable terminal MT main body or a device that can be externally connected using a cable or the like. In the case of a built-in main body, a drive for driving a small semiconductor memory having a small device configuration, for example, a stick shape or a card shape is preferable.
[0017]
In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, the distribution server MS searches for content according to the search condition transmitted from the client. Then, the server MS transmits display data for displaying the search result to the client that has requested execution of the search, and also transmits the content searched sequentially according to the search result. The client displays the search result on the screen according to the display data and reproduces the content. A “content distribution process” for executing the above-described process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of content distribution processing according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the content distribution process is shown as a series of processes performed between the client such as the personal computer terminal PC or the portable terminal MT and the distribution server MS. Hereinafter, the operation of the processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, in this embodiment, an example in which music data is distributed as content will be described.
[0018]
First, the client starts a WWW browser, and the following steps S1 to S7 are executed by the started WWW browser. In step S1, when a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) input by the user is received from the activated WWW browser and the URL of the search condition input screen is input by the user, a plurality of distribution servers MS connected on the communication network X are received. Access to the distribution server MS that stores display data for a search condition input screen (see FIG. 4 described later) corresponding to the URL input from among the URLs is started. On the basis of the received URL, the distribution server MS that has started access reads out display data that is a basis for generating a search condition input screen from among the stored many screens and returns it to the client (step S11). That is, the client accesses the distribution server MS in accordance with the URL designation by the user, that is, the access request, and any one of the screens corresponding to the URL received from the various screens stored in the accessed distribution server MS Can be read and displayed on the client side. Various screens stored in the distribution server MS on the communication network X are managed as display data described in HTML or the like as a basis for generating the screen, and each display data indicates a location on the communication network X. It is defined so that it can be specified by the URL shown. That is, the URL is address information used for designating display data stored in a specific distribution server MS, and is composed of, for example, character string information. The user can read the display data from the distribution server MS by designating this URL, and can display a screen corresponding to the URL designated on the client side based on the display data. Since the process of displaying various screens based on the display data is a well-known technique, the description thereof is omitted here.
[0019]
When the display data is returned from the distribution server MS, the client displays a “search condition input screen” on the display screen based on the returned display data (step S2). Then, the input of the search condition by the user is accepted, and the input search condition is transmitted to the distribution server MS (step S3). Here, the “search condition input screen” displayed by the WWW browser on the client will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a “search condition input screen”. This “search condition input screen” is a screen for inputting a search condition for narrowing down user-desired music data from among a large number of music data stored in the server.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 4, the “search condition input screen” has a screen configuration including at least an area A1 for inputting a search item, an area A2 for inputting a search keyword, and a playback button A3. The search item input area A1 and the search keyword input area A2 are areas for designating search conditions for narrowing down user-desired song data. In the search item input area A1, a pull-down menu is displayed in response to an operation of an icon (indicated by a solid inverted triangle and a rectangle in FIG. 4) arranged on the right side of the area, and a category previously displayed in the pull-down menu is displayed. Arbitrary search conditions can be designated from the rough search conditions related to the types of songs classified for each. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which “song name” is designated out of the rough search conditions related to the types of songs that are classified in advance for each category. As a general search condition regarding the type of song, in addition to the above “song name”, for example, artist name, composer name, songwriter name, album name, music genre, lyrics, tempo, song release year (month), song data Registration date and time, tie-up information (for example, various information related to products, services, works, etc. in which songs are used, such as “CM of XX”, “Theme of TV program XX”, etc.).
[0021]
The search keyword input area A2 is an area for designating a detailed search condition for narrowing down user-desired song data by a keyword from the rough search conditions related to the kind of music as described above. Here, it is possible to input a plurality of keywords, and it is possible to set to perform a search using an AND condition, an OR condition, a NOT condition, or the like for the plurality of input keywords. That is, the search condition can be changed as appropriate. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which two keywords are searched as an OR condition as a search condition (keyword 1 + keyword 2: in this embodiment, however, the symbol “+ Is used). The playback button A3 is a button for instructing the distribution server MS to start searching according to the search conditions specified in the search item input area A1 and the search keyword input area A2. That is, a search condition is transmitted to the distribution server MS in accordance with the operation of the playback button A3, and the distribution server MS executes a search according to the search condition and returns the search result to the client as described later. The song data corresponding to is distributed sequentially.
[0022]
The search condition may be configured so that a plurality of search conditions can be selected at the same time. In this case, a set operation may be performed on each set of search conditions. For example, although not shown in the embodiment of the “search condition input screen” shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the rough search condition related to the type of song, as a rough search condition related to a predetermined data type, For example, data that can be played with both hands, data with a corresponding score, MIDI data type, data registration date and time, etc. may be specified at the same time. If such a data type can be specified, the search target can be narrowed down from a viewpoint different from the above-described conditions such as the song name and the song type, and the user-friendliness can be improved. In addition, music types that cannot be used by the client (for example, music data types that cannot be played back by the client) are excluded by the user in advance, and can be played back by the client owned by the user. This makes it possible to search only the music data of the data type as a search target.
[0023]
The “search condition input screen” shown in FIG. 4 shows an example in which the user designates the search condition one by one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the search condition may be defined in advance. That is, instead of the search item input area A1 to the play button A3, a plurality of predefined search conditions are displayed, and a search based on the conditions is executed when the user clicks on the search conditions. You can do it. For example, search conditions for each genre such as “Rock” and “Pops”, and search conditions such as “Song name starting with“ A ”” or “Song name starting with“ I ”” are displayed in a list in advance. When the user clicks, for example, “pops” display from the list display, “music genre” is input in the search item input area A1 and “pops” is input in the search keyword input area A2 in the embodiment shown in FIG. Then, the same search as when the playback button A3 is operated is executed. Further, when the user clicks, for example, “song title starting with“ a ”” from the list display, “song name” and search keyword input area A2 in the search item input area A1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. A search process similar to that in the case where “starts with“ a ”” is input and the play button A3 is operated is executed.
In the case where the contents that can be provided are displayed in a hierarchical manner, the music data included in the moved hierarchy may be searched every time the hierarchy is moved. For example, a search condition for each genre such as “Rock” or “Pops”, a search condition for each artist type such as male vocal (group), female vocal (group), etc. are displayed in advance as a list, and the user can display the list. For example, when the “pops” display is clicked from among them, it is possible to move to a lower hierarchy such as “J-POP”, “US”, “UK”, etc., and to search for a song that matches the moved hierarchy. Of course, such hierarchies may be gradual, and each time the user moves to a lower hierarchy, the search range is narrowed down to search for songs.
[0024]
In addition to inputting a search expression by partial matching, various matching conditions, for example, “starting with (input condition), ending with (input condition), matching with (input condition), or these NOTs” It is possible to select a condition such as
It should be noted that the display order of search results displayed on the “search result display screen” (see FIG. 7 to be described later) can be set on the “search condition input screen” so that the display order is displayed, for example, in the order of AIUEO. Also good.
[0025]
Returning to the description of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, when the distribution server MS receives the search condition, it executes “song data search processing” for searching for song data that matches the search condition with reference to the song DB according to the search condition. (Step S12). The song DB is roughly related to the types of songs that are classified in advance for each category corresponding to each piece of song data with a unique identifier (song ID number) unique to each song stored in the distribution server MS. This database has a data field (for example, a field storing a song name, an artist name, a composer name, etc.) corresponding to various search conditions and records path information for referring to the substance of the song data. In the “music data search process”, the corresponding data field of the music DB is searched according to the received search condition, and the music data is sequentially read with reference to the path information of the data corresponding to the search condition. When the search by such “music data search processing” is completed, the distribution server MS transmits display data for the search result display screen to the client regardless of whether or not there is corresponding music data as a search result. Further, when there is corresponding music data as a search result, the read music data and background data for the background image defined so as to correspond to the music data are sequentially transmitted to the client in an appropriate order. The detailed description of the “music data search process” will be described later (see FIG. 5).
[0026]
The client displays the “search result display screen” (see FIG. 7) based on the received display data for the search result display screen (step S4). Further, if there is corresponding song data as a search result, reception of the song data and background data is started (step S5), and “playback processing” which is an application program for playing back the received song data is performed. Start (step S6). This “reproduction process” is a process that is activated in response to an activation command from the WWW browser (step S8), and operates in parallel with the WWW browser to execute the process. In the “reproduction process”, the music data stream-distributed from the distribution server MS is sequentially reproduced. Further, according to the reproduction of the song data (that is, in accordance with the progress of the song), the background image is displayed on the display device based on the background data distributed from the distribution server MS. A detailed description of “reproduction processing” for executing such processing will be described later (see FIG. 6).
[0027]
Next, in the “content distribution process” described above, the “music data search process” (see step S12 in FIG. 3) executed by the distribution server MS and the “reproduction process” executed in the client (see step S6 in FIG. 3). Will be described with reference to the drawings. First, “song data search processing” will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of “music data search processing”.
[0028]
In step S21, the search condition formula is analyzed. In step S22, music data that matches the search condition formula is searched from the music DB. In step S23, display data for a search result display screen (see FIG. 7) for displaying a search result corresponding to the search for the music data is generated, and the generated display data is transmitted to the client. In other words, music data that matches each keyword is searched from the music DB according to the search items and search keywords (also referred to as search condition formulas) entered using the “search condition input screen” at the client, and further set operation is performed according to the operator. The result of performing is used as a search result. The search result is handled by 0 to a plurality of song ID numbers, and information (for example, song name, artist name, etc.) related to the song defined in the song DB corresponding to each song ID number is displayed on the “search result display screen”. Display data to be displayed on the list. In step S24, it is determined whether there is next music data. If it is determined that there is next song data (YES in step S24), the corresponding song data and background data corresponding to the song data are transmitted to the client (step S25). That is, the song data corresponding to the song ID number is read in the order displayed on the “search result display screen” (or randomly), and sequentially stream-delivered to the client. If there is background data for displaying a background video in accordance with the progress of the music, the background data is transmitted simultaneously. The client temporarily stores the distributed music data and background data in the reception data buffer. Note that the range of song data to be streamed to the client may be the entire song data for one song, or only a partial range of song data such as several seconds to several tens of seconds from the beginning of the song. There may be.
[0029]
Next, “reproduction processing” will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of “reproduction processing”. The reproduction process is an application program that operates in parallel with the WWW browser, and is a process of reproducing music data received from the distribution server MS. The music data to be reproduced in the “reproduction process” is transferred from the reception data buffer to the process as necessary by the WWW browser.
[0030]
In step S31, initial settings and the like are executed. For example, initial settings such as acquisition of the operating environment of the client (for example, identification of an available sound source device) and display of an application window for displaying an execution result of the application program are executed. In step S32, other processing is executed. Other processes include, for example, a button operation by the user (for example, a playback control button such as fast forward / rewind / pause for song data playback, an end button for ending an application program, presence / absence of background display, and background to be displayed. Operation of a pull-down menu for selection), menu selection operation, update processing of window display contents, and the like. When pressing of the end button is detected in the “other processing”, processing for ending the application program is performed. In step S33, it is determined whether or not music data has been received from the distribution server MS. If song data has not been received (NO in step S33), the process returns to step S32 without reproducing the song data. That is, by performing “other processing” until the music data is received from the distribution server MS, the music data reproduction standby state is maintained. On the other hand, if the music data is received (YES in step S33), the music data is transferred from the reception data buffer as needed by the WWW browser to reproduce the music data (step S34), and step S32 Return to the process. In this case, the music data reproduction process is continued until reception of the music data (data transfer by the WWW browser) is completed or the end button is pressed (that is, the loop processing from step S32 to S34 is executed). To do).
[0031]
A “search result display screen” generated by executing the “music data search process” described above and displayed on the WWW browser on the client will be described. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a “search result display screen”. This “search result display screen” is a screen for informing the user of the search result by displaying information related to the song data that matches the search condition from among a large number of song data stored in the distribution server MS. . FIG. 7A shows a screen display when there is no corresponding song data as a search result, and FIG. 7B shows a screen display when there is one or more song data corresponding as a search result. Indicated.
[0032]
As can be understood from FIGS. 7A and 7B, the “search result display screen” displays the search condition and the search result under the search condition. In the display of the search condition, the search item set in the “search condition input screen” (music name in this embodiment) and the keyword input as the search keyword are displayed. If there is no corresponding song data as a result of the search process under the search condition, “no matching data” is displayed as in the embodiment shown in FIG. , A display indicating that there is no matching music data is displayed. On the other hand, when there is one or more corresponding song data as a result of the search processing under the search condition, information corresponding to the search item is displayed among the information related to the song data regarding the matching song data. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, an example in which “song name” is selected as a search item is shown, and “song name” is displayed as a search result. In addition, as described above, the song data is sequentially played back in accordance with the search results displayed on the “search result display screen”, so that information on the song data currently being played back on the “search result display screen” Is displayed to indicate that “playing”. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the information relating to the song data is displayed in reverse video (in the figure, a rectangle surrounded by diagonal lines) together with the “playing” display. Of course, when “Song Title” is selected as a search item as in the above embodiment, not only “Song Title” is displayed as a search result but also other information related to the song related to the “Song Name” (for example, artist It goes without saying that names may be displayed together.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the “search result display screen” is displayed by the WWW browser, but may be displayed by “reproduction processing”.
In the above-described embodiment, the WWW browser and the playback process are shown as separate programs, and each process is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the WWW browser and the playback process are integrally formed. It may be what has been done. In such a case, the “search result display screen” and the background image may be displayed simultaneously in one window.
[0034]
Note that the data to be searched and played is not limited to song data for playing songs, but still image data for displaying still images, movie data for displaying images, text data for displaying characters, etc. It may be.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the content extracted in accordance with the search condition designated by the user is sequentially distributed from the distribution server to the client and played back, so that the user can explicitly specify the content after the content search as in the prior art. There is an advantage that the content desired by the user can be specified without making a distribution request for the content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing an overall system configuration of an embodiment of a content distribution system.
2 is a block diagram of a hardware configuration showing an embodiment of one overall configuration of each device used in the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of content distribution processing according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a search condition input screen.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of music data search processing.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a reproduction process.
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a search result display screen. FIG. 7A shows a screen when there is no corresponding song data, and FIG. 7B shows a screen when there is one or more corresponding song data.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... detection circuit, 4A ... operator, 5 ... display circuit, 5A ... display device, 6 ... sound source circuit, 6A ... sound system, 7 ... communication interface, 8 ... external Storage device, 1D ... communication bus (data and address bus), X ... communication network, MS ... distribution server, TS ... relay server, PC ... computer terminal, MT ... mobile terminal

Claims (4)

In a server-side computer that provides content to clients connected via a communication network,
In response to a search instruction from a user, a procedure for receiving content search conditions from a client
A procedure for generating a content search result list by searching for content that satisfies the content search condition from a plurality of content,
Delivering the generated content search result list to the client ;
A step of sequentially delivering the searched one or more contents to the client in an order according to the generated contents search result list;
Even without a separate distribution instruction from the user with respect to the retrieved content, and distribution of content in accordance to receiving the content search result list on the user side, obtained by search according to the search instruction by the user 1 or program for automatically perform the reproduction of a plurality of content to the client.   2. The program according to claim 1, wherein each of the distributed contents is only a part of regular contents. In a client computer that obtains content from a server connected via a communication network,
Sending the content search criteria to the server;
A procedure for receiving a content search result list distributed from a server in response to transmission of the content search condition;
Displaying the received content search result list ;
Depending on the reception of the content retrieval result list, a step of receiving one or a plurality of contents to be delivered in the order in which instructions from the server to the content search result list sequentially,
A program for executing a procedure of continuously playing the received one or more contents in response to reception of the contents.   The content information being reproduced in the content search result list to be displayed is displayed in a manner different from the information of other content in response to reception or reproduction of the content. program.

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