JP4597924B2 - Data distribution device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data distribution apparatus, and more particularly to a data distribution apparatus that distributes data in response to a user request.

  A data distribution apparatus that allows a user to specify desired content and request transmission of this data has been put into practical use. In the field of such data distribution apparatuses, various inventions have been made for the purpose of responding to transmission data and user requests. Of these, for example, JP-A-8-265722 and JP-A-10-164552 transmit data after compressing data at a compression rate according to the image quality or monitor performance required by the user, and charge according to the compression rate. It is an invention to determine.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-224407 is an invention that analyzes the type and size of data to be transmitted and determines a radio interface to be used based on the analysis result. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-280058 is an invention that adjusts so that a transmission bandwidth can be used according to a user's request.

JP-A-8-265722 JP-A-10-164552 JP-A-10-224407 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-280058

  By the way, the data transmission time by the data distribution apparatus is shortened by compressing the data. However, the higher the compression rate, the lower the data reproducibility. For this reason, the selection of the compression rate is particularly important in a data distribution apparatus that uses images such as still images and videos as data. However, in any of the above-described inventions, the time required for data transmission is not taken into consideration. For example, as in the invention described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-164552, data is compressed according to the image quality requested by the user. In some cases, since a high-quality image is requested, it is possible to wait for a long time when downloading data.

  The data transmission time also varies depending on the congestion status of the line used. In particular, when the data is to transmit a moving image such as a movie or a sports broadcast, the speed at which the image is rewritten (frame rate) decreases due to congestion of the line. For this reason, not only can the user wait for a long time when downloading data, but the frame rate may change during viewing, which may cause the viewer to feel uncomfortable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution apparatus capable of processing data in consideration of a waiting time (allowable waiting time) that a user can allow. . A second object of the present invention is to provide a data distribution apparatus capable of setting a frame rate that can be stably obtained.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a data distribution apparatus for transmitting accumulated content data to a user in response to a request, and an acceptable standby by the user. An allowable standby time input means for inputting time, a compression ratio setting means for setting a compression ratio for compressing data to be transmitted according to the standby time input to the allowable standby time input means, and a test file are transmitted The transfer time of the test file is obtained, and when the transfer time is within a predetermined time determined based on the waiting time, the compression rate set by the compression rate setting means is set as the final compression rate, and the transfer If the time is longer than the predetermined time, the compression rate correction unit corrects the compression rate set by the compression rate setting unit so as to increase to a final compression rate, and the compression rate The data compression means for compressing the data to be transmitted at the final compression rate set by the correct means, and the data transmission means for transmitting the data compressed by the data compression means to the user Is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data distribution apparatus for transmitting accumulated content data to a user upon request, and at least one of an allowable waiting time and a desired image quality is input by the user. The user setting input means, the mode selection means for the user to select one of the standby time priority mode for giving priority to the allowable standby time and the image quality priority mode for giving priority to the image quality of the data when transmitting data, and the mode selection means, When the standby time priority mode is selected, a test file is transmitted by obtaining a test file, and when the transfer time is within a predetermined time determined based on the standby time, the user setting input is performed. The compression rate is set according to the waiting time input to the means, and the transfer time is longer than the predetermined time. A compression rate higher than the compression rate according to the time input to the machine time input means is set, and the data is compressed according to the set compression rate. On the other hand, when the image quality priority mode is selected, the user setting It is characterized by comprising data compression processing means for compressing data in accordance with the image quality input to the input means, and data transmission means for transmitting data compressed by the data compression means to the user.

  The present invention described above has the following effects. That is, the invention according to claim 1 can provide a data distribution apparatus capable of setting the compression rate in consideration of the allowable standby time. For this reason, not only can the operability of the data distribution apparatus be improved, but also the reliability that the data is not in time for the required timing can be eliminated.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the user can select which of the allowable standby time and the image quality is important. For this reason, image data can be compressed in consideration of the contents and the purpose of viewing, and the operability of the data distribution apparatus can be further enhanced.

Hereinafter, Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention will be described.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the data distribution apparatus of the present invention, and is a diagram common to the first to third embodiments. The illustrated data distribution apparatus is a data distribution apparatus that transmits stored content data to a user in response to a request. The data server 1 and a personal computer (personal computer) connected to the server 1 wirelessly or by wire. The monitor unit 3 as shown in FIG. In the first to third embodiments, such a data distribution apparatus is configured as an image data distribution apparatus that accumulates a plurality of contents including image data and supplies the contents to the monitor unit 3. The configuration as described above may be either a set box (STB) type in which the monitor unit 3 is incorporated in the server 1 or a type in which the user side has a communication processing STB different from the server 1. In the first to third embodiments, image data is downloaded from the server 1 and viewed.

  The monitor unit 3 is provided with a keyboard 30 which is an allowable standby time input means for inputting an allowable standby time by the user. On the other hand, the server 1 includes an image data storage unit 11 that stores image data of a plurality of contents, a data processing unit 12 that compresses data to be transmitted according to a time input from the keyboard 30, and a data processing unit 12. And an image transmission unit 13 for transmitting the data compressed in step 1 through the user interface 14. The image transmission unit 13 is configured to be able to arbitrarily set the image frame rate. In addition, the user interface 14 performs a display process for an inquiry from the user and the inquiry.

The data distribution apparatus configured as described above operates as follows.
When requesting the server 1 to transfer image data, the user inputs this request using the keyboard 30. At this time, the user interface 14 displays the content stored in the image data storage unit 11 on the monitor unit 3 in the form of a list or the like, and allows the user to select desired content. Furthermore, the user interface 14 requests the user to input an allowable waiting time t _W that can be waited until this data is transmitted. The image processing unit 12 sets the data compression rate according to the waiting request time t _W and compresses the data of the selected content to the set compression rate. The compressed image data is transmitted from the image transmission unit 13 to the monitor unit 3.

Next, such a series of operations will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.
The illustrated flowchart starts with a data transfer request. Then, the server 1 performs a process (input allowable standby time t _W ) to display on the monitor unit 3 a screen on which the allowable standby time t _W can be input along with the content name via the user interface 14 (S1). At this time, for example, two stages of time t _A and t _B (t _A <t _B ) are set in the server 1 in advance, and the input allowable waiting time t _W is set as the time t _A and t _B. Compare.

When the allowable standby time t _W is input, the server 1 compares the allowable standby time t _W with the time t _A (S2). As a result, when the allowable standby time t _W is shorter than the time t _A (S2: Yes), a preset compression rate A is set corresponding to the allowable standby time t _W equal to or less than the time t _A ( S7). Further, in the determination of step S2, if the allowable waiting time t _W is longer than the time t _A (S2: No), further the allowable waiting time t _W is compared with the time t _B (S3). As a result, when the allowable standby time t _W is shorter than the time t _B (S3: Yes), a preset compression rate B is set corresponding to the allowable standby time t _W equal to or less than the time t _B ( S8). If it is determined in step S3 that the allowable standby time t _W is longer than the time t _B (S3: No), a compression rate set in advance corresponding to the allowable standby time t _{W not} less than the time t _B is set. C is set (S4).

In the above processing, the relationship between the compression ratio A, the compression ratio B, and the compression ratio C is compression ratio A> compression ratio B> compression ratio C. Such times t _A , t _B , compression rate A, compression rate B, and compression rate C may be stored in a memory portion (not shown) of the image data processing unit 12.

  Next, the server 1 uses the image data processing unit 12 to execute compression of the image data at the compression rate set in the processing of steps S1 to S4 (S5). Then, the image data compressed in step S5 is transmitted from the image transmission unit 13 to the monitor unit 3 (S6).

The data distribution apparatus shown in FIG. 1 can also operate as follows.
That is, when the content specified by the user is a movie such as a movie or sports broadcast, the image data processing unit sets the data frame rate according to the allowable waiting time t _W input by the user and is selected. The content data is transmitted from the image transmission unit 13 to the monitor unit 3 at the set frame rate.

Such an operation is shown as a flowchart in FIG. 3 and will be described below.
The illustrated flowchart starts with a data transfer request. Then, the server 1 processes the allowable standby time t _W via the user interface 14 (S11). At this time, for example, two stages of time t _A and t _B (t _A <t _B ) are preset in the server 1, and the input allowable standby time t _W is set as the allowable standby time t _A and t Compare with _B.

When the allowable standby time t _W is input, the server 1 compares the allowable standby time t _W with the time t _A (S12). As a result, when the allowable waiting time t _W is shorter than the time t _A (S12: Yes), sets the frame rate A which is set in advance corresponding to the time t _A following permissible waiting time t _W ( S16). If it is determined in step S12 that the allowable standby time t _W is longer than the time t _A (S12: No), the allowable standby time t _W is further compared with the time t _B (S13). As a result, the allowable if the waiting time t _W is shorter than the time t _B is (S13: Yes), sets the frame rate B that is set in advance corresponding to the following allowable waiting time t _W time t _B ( S17). If it is determined in step S3 that the allowable standby time t _W is longer than the time t _B (S13: No), the frame rate set in advance corresponding to the allowable standby time t _W equal to or greater than the time t _B is set. C is set (S14). Next, the image data processing unit 12 transmits the image data to the monitor unit 3 at the frame rate set in the processes of steps S11 to S14 (S15).

In the above processing, the relationship between the frame rate A, the frame rate B, and the frame rate C is such that the frame rate A <the frame rate B <the frame rate C. Such times t _A , t _B , frame rate A, frame rate B, and frame rate C may be stored in a memory portion (not shown) of the image data processing unit 12.

  According to the data distribution apparatus of the first embodiment described above, the user is directly input the allowable standby time, and the data compression rate or frame rate is set according to this time. For this reason, the user can acquire data reliably within the time required to acquire the data. In the data distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment, image data is transmitted at a compression rate or a frame rate corresponding to the maximum allowable standby time. For this reason, the user can obtain an image with the highest image quality that can be supplied within the time that can be waited.

  Further, in the first embodiment, after a request for content is made, the compression rate is set and the compression is executed. For this reason, it is possible to make the storage device more compact than a conventional server that prepares a plurality of different contents with the same compression rate and supplies them in response to a user request. Further, even in the data distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment, image data can be compressed in a few seconds by executing data compression by real-time compression, and the processing time of the data distribution apparatus is not substantially affected. .

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the second embodiment, the image transmission unit 13 shown in FIG. 1 transmits a test file prior to transmitting image data of designated content. Then, the congestion state of the line is determined from the transmission result of the test file, and the determination result is sent to the image data processing unit 12 as a processing condition for processing the image data of the content.

Hereinafter, the process of the second embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. Note that the processing of the second embodiment is often the same as the processing of the first embodiment described above, and a part thereof is omitted here.
First, in the second embodiment, the server 1 performs the process of inputting the allowable standby time t _W (S21). When the allowable standby time t _W is input, the input allowable standby time t _W is compared with the times t _A and t _B, and the compression rate of the image data corresponding to the allowable standby time t _W is set ( S22, S23, S24, S29, S30).

After setting the compression ratio of the image data, the image transmission unit 13 transmits a test header stored in advance as a test file to the monitor unit 3 through a line used to transfer the image data (S25). Then, when receiving a signal notifying that the test header has arrived from the monitor unit 3, the server 1 obtains the transfer time t _F and compares it with a predetermined time t _D (S26). The predetermined time t _D may be stored in advance in the image data processing unit 12 or the like. Also, it may be stored only function for obtaining the time t _D, or may be determined by substituting the allowable waiting time t _W in this function.

Step a result of the comparison of S26, the transfer time t _F is, if longer than the predetermined time period t _D (S26: No), modified to increase the compression ratio set previously (S31), modified compression ratio After the image data is compressed in (S27), it is transmitted to the monitor unit 3 (S28). On the other hand, if the transfer time t _F is within the predetermined time t _D (S26: Yes), the image data is compressed at the set compression rate (S27) and transmitted to the monitor unit 3 (S28). ).

Further, the data distribution apparatus according to the second embodiment can perform the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. In other words, the server 1 performs an input of the allowable standby time t _W (S41). When the allowable standby time t _W is input, the input allowable standby time t _W is compared with the times t _A and t _B to set the frame rate of the image data according to the allowable standby time t _W ( S42, S43, S44, S48, S49).

After setting the compression rate of the image data, the image transmission unit 13 transmits a test header to the monitor unit 3 (S45). The server 1 compares the transfer time t _F with the predetermined time t _D (S46), and when the transfer time t _F is longer than the predetermined time t _D (S46: No), it is set first. The frame rate is corrected to be lowered (S50), and the image data is transmitted to the monitor unit 3 at the corrected frame rate (S47). On the other hand, if the transfer time t _F is within the predetermined time t _D (S46: Yes), the image data is transmitted to the monitor unit 3 at the set frame rate (S47).

  In the second embodiment described above, a test header is transmitted prior to data transmission, and the congestion state of the line is investigated. Then, the previously set compression rate and frame rate are corrected based on the result of this investigation, so that data can be transmitted within the allowable waiting time under the condition of the line. According to the second embodiment, the user can reliably obtain data within the allowable waiting time regardless of whether the line is congested or free.

  In addition, when the line is relatively congested, the frame rate does not change during data transmission by setting a shorter allowable standby time in advance and lowering the frame rate. Can be.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the third embodiment, a user inputs at least one of an allowable standby time and a desired image quality to the monitor unit 3, and in data transmission, a standby time priority mode that prioritizes the allowable standby time, and the data image quality One of the image quality priority modes in which priority is given can be selected.

The processing performed in the third embodiment will be described below with reference to flowcharts shown in FIGS.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a main routine of the processing according to the third embodiment. In the illustrated flowchart, the server 1 causes the monitor 3 to display a screen for selecting either a mode that prioritizes the allowable standby time (standby time priority mode) or a mode that prioritizes the image quality of data (image quality priority mode). Processing (mode selection input) is performed (S61). When the selection mode is input on this screen, it is determined whether or not the input mode is the standby time priority mode (S62). If the input mode is the standby time priority mode (S62: Yes), the standby time priority subroutine is entered. Enter and process (S64). If it is not in the standby time priority mode (S62: No), the image quality priority subroutine is entered for processing (S63), and all processing is terminated after processing.

  7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining the image quality priority subroutine among the processes described above. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the image quality is adjusted by the compression rate, and FIG. 8 shows an example in which the image quality is adjusted by the frame rate. It is. Note that the waiting time priority subroutine uses the flowcharts of FIG. 2 (example in which image quality is adjusted by the compression rate) and FIG. 3 (example in which image quality is adjusted by the frame rate), and will not be described here.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the server 1 performs processing so that a screen on which a desired image quality can be selected is displayed on the monitor unit 3 to the user. In the third embodiment, this screen allows the user to select a desired image quality from three types of image quality, image quality A, image quality B, and image quality C. Note that the three types of image quality are image quality C, image quality B, and image quality A in descending order of image quality.

  When the image quality is selected, the server 1 determines whether or not the selected image quality is the image quality A (S71). As a result, when the image quality is not A (S71: No), it is determined whether or not the image quality is the image quality B next. When the image quality B is not (S72: No), the image quality C is determined as the image quality C. A preset compression rate C is set as the corresponding compression rate (S73). If the image quality A is selected in step S71 (S71: Yes), the compression rate A set in advance as the compression rate corresponding to the image quality A is set (S76), and the determination in step S72. When the image quality B is selected (S72: Yes), a preset compression rate B is set as the compression rate corresponding to the image quality B (S77). The image data is compressed at the compression rate set in this way (S74), and further transmitted from the image transmission unit 13 (S75), and the process is terminated. In the above processing, the compression rate A, compression rate B, and compression rate C are the compression rate A, compression rate B, and compression rate C from the higher compression rate.

  On the other hand, in the flowchart of FIG. 8, as in the flowchart of FIG. 7, the monitor unit 3 displays a screen on which the image quality can be selected by selecting the image quality priority mode. Then, the image data processing unit 12 determines whether or not the selected image quality is the image quality A (S81). When the image quality is not the image quality A (S81: No), it is next determined whether or not the image quality is the image quality B. Judgment is made (S82). As a result, if the image quality is not B (S82: No), the frame rate C set in advance as the frame rate corresponding to the image quality C is set as the image quality C (S83).

  If the image quality A is selected in step S81 (S81: Yes), a preset frame rate A is set as the compression rate corresponding to the image quality A (S85), and the determination in step S82. When the image quality B is selected (S82: Yes), a frame rate B set in advance as a compression rate corresponding to the image quality B is set (S86). When the frame rate is set by the above processing, the image transmission unit 13 transmits an image to the monitor unit 3 at the set frame rate (S84). In the above process, the frame rate A, the frame rate B, and the frame rate C are set to the frame rate A, the frame rate B, and the frame rate C from the lowest.

  In the third embodiment described above, the user can arbitrarily select the image quality priority mode and the standby time priority mode. Therefore, according to the use of data, the standby time priority mode can be selected when the standby time is important, and the image quality priority mode can be selected when the image quality is important, thereby further improving the operability of the data distribution apparatus. be able to.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above first to third embodiments. For example, it is conceivable to perform processing so as to adjust the compression rate and the frame rate according to the content designated by the user. In such a configuration, for example, image data is classified as news or conference contents, and entertainment for personal enjoyment and stored in the image data storage unit 11, and a compression rate and a frame rate are set for each classification. It can be realized by memorizing it. Then, when the user designates the content, the server side determines which category the content belongs to, and the processing may be performed at a compression rate or a frame rate according to the category.

  9 and 10 are flowcharts for explaining such processing. FIG. 9 is an example in which the compression rate is set according to the classification, and FIG. 10 is an example in which the frame rate is set. In the flowchart of FIG. 9, it is assumed that contents are classified and stored in advance into three categories: classification A (news, meeting details), classification B (entertainment), and classification C (others). Then, the server 1 performs processing (content selection input) for causing the monitor unit 3 to display a content selection screen via the user interface 14 (S91). When the content is selected, the server 1 determines whether this content belongs to the classification A (S92). As a result, if the content does not belong to the category A (S92: No), it is determined whether or not the content belongs to the category B (S93). If the content does not belong to the category B, it belongs to the category C. .

  Then, the compression rate C set as the compression rate corresponding to the classification C is set (S94). If it is determined in step S92 that the selected content belongs to category A, the compression rate A set as the compression rate corresponding to category A is set (S97). Furthermore, if it is determined in step S93 that the selected content belongs to the category B, the compression rate B set as the compression rate corresponding to the category B is set (S98). When the compression rate is set by the above processing, the image data processing unit 12 compresses the image data at this compression rate (S95) and transmits it from the image transmission unit 13 (S96).

  On the other hand, the flowchart of FIG. 10 operates as follows. In the flowchart of FIG. 10, as in the float of FIG. 9, the contents are classified and stored in advance into three categories: classification A (news, meeting content), classification B (entertainment), and classification C (others). It shall be.

  First, the server 1 performs content selection input processing (S101). When an input for selecting content is made, the server 1 determines whether or not the selected content belongs to the category A (S102). As a result, if the content does not belong to the category A (S102: No), it is determined whether or not the content belongs to the category B (S103). If the content does not belong to the category B, it belongs to the category C. .

  Then, the frame rate C set as the frame rate corresponding to the classification C is set (S104). If it is determined in step S102 that the selected content belongs to category A, the frame rate A set as the frame rate corresponding to category A is set (S106). Further, if it is determined in step S103 that the selected content belongs to the category B, the frame rate B set as the frame rate corresponding to the category B is set (S107). When the frame rate is set by the above processing, the image transmission unit 13 transmits the image data at this frame rate (S105).

  According to such processing, data can be obtained at a compression rate or a frame rate suitable for the content only by selecting the content. For this reason, even if the user has no knowledge of what level of image quality can be obtained at what value the compression rate or frame rate, an image suitable for the nature of the content can be obtained. In addition, a compression rate or frame rate that is relatively advantageous for shortening the waiting time rather than the image quality is set for the category A, and a compression rate or frame that is advantageous for improving the image quality for the shortening of the waiting time is set for the category B. By setting the rate, it is possible to perform processing more appropriate to the nature of the content.

  The data distribution apparatus of the present invention can also set the compression rate or the frame rate according to the purpose of viewing the content. Such a configuration can be realized by previously storing a plurality of types of viewing purposes in the image data processing unit 12 and the like, and further storing a compression rate or a frame rate corresponding to this type. Then, the user inputs the viewing purpose together with the content, the server side determines which classification the viewing purpose belongs to, and the processing is performed at the compression rate or the frame rate according to the classification.

  11 and 12 are flowcharts for explaining such processing. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the compression rate is set according to the viewing purpose, and FIG. 12 shows an example in which the frame rate is set. In the flowchart of FIG. 11, it is assumed that contents are classified and stored in advance in three categories: classification A (digest viewing, urgent viewing), classification B (image collection and evaluation), and classification C (others). . Then, the server 1 performs processing (viewing purpose selection input) for causing the monitor unit 3 to display a screen for selecting the purpose of viewing by the user (S111). When the viewing purpose is input from this screen, the server 1 determines whether or not the selected content belongs to the category A (S112). As a result, if the content does not belong to category A (S112: No), it is determined whether or not the content belongs to category B (S113). If the content does not belong to category B, it belongs to category C. .

  Then, the compression rate C set as the compression rate corresponding to the classification C is set (S114). If it is determined in step S112 that the selected content belongs to category A, the compression rate A set as the compression rate corresponding to category A is set (S117). Furthermore, if it is determined in step S113 that the selected content belongs to category B, the compression rate B set as the compression rate corresponding to category B is set (S118). When the compression rate is set by the above processing, the image data processing unit 12 compresses the image data at this compression rate (S115), and transmits it from the image transmission unit 13 (S116).

  On the other hand, the flowchart of FIG. 12 operates as follows. In the flowchart of FIG. 12, as in the float of FIG. 11, the content is classified in advance into three categories: classification A (digest viewing, urgent viewing), classification B (image collection, evaluation), and classification C (others). And it is memorized.

  First, the server 1 performs a viewing purpose selection input process via the user interface 14 (S121). When the viewing purpose is input, it is determined whether or not the selected content belongs to the category A (S122). As a result, if the content does not belong to the category A (S122: No), it is determined whether or not the content belongs to the category B (S123). If the content does not belong to the category B, it belongs to the category C. .

  Then, the frame rate C set as the frame rate corresponding to the classification C is set (S124). If it is determined in step S122 that the selected content belongs to category A, the frame rate A set as the frame rate corresponding to category A is set (S126). Furthermore, if it is determined in step S123 that the selected content belongs to the category B, the frame rate B set as the frame rate corresponding to the category B is set (S127). When the frame rate is set by the above processing, the server 1 transmits image data from the image transmission unit 13 at this frame rate (S125).

  According to such processing, it is possible to input a viewing purpose and obtain data of a compression rate or a frame rate suitable for the viewing purpose. For this reason, even if the user has no knowledge of what level of image quality can be obtained at what value the compression rate or frame rate, an image suitable for the nature of the content can be obtained. In addition, a compression rate or frame rate that is relatively advantageous for shortening the waiting time rather than the image quality is set for the category A, and a compression rate or frame that is advantageous for improving the image quality for the shortening of the waiting time is set for the category B. By setting the rate, it is possible to perform processing more appropriate to the nature of the content.

  The present invention can also be configured to directly input the compression rate and frame rate and set the compression rate and frame rate of the image data according to the contents. The flowchart of such an example is shown as FIG. 13 (compression rate) and FIG. 14 (frame rate). In the above embodiments and examples, the data distribution apparatus of the present invention is configured as an image data distribution apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and can be applied to, for example, an Internet server data distribution system.

It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the data delivery apparatus of this invention, and is a figure common to Embodiment 1-3. 3 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the first embodiment. 6 is another flowchart for explaining the processing of the first embodiment. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the second embodiment. 10 is another flowchart for explaining the processing of the second embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a main routine for explaining a process according to the third embodiment. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine for explaining processing of the third embodiment. 12 is another flowchart showing a subroutine for explaining the processing of the third embodiment. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the other process example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server 3 Monitor part 11 Image data memory | storage part 12 Image data processing part 13 Image transmission part 14 User interface

Claims (2)

A data distribution device that transmits stored content data to a user in response to a request,
An acceptable waiting time input means for allowing an acceptable waiting time to be input by the user;
A compression rate setting means for setting a compression rate for compressing data to be transmitted according to the standby time input to the allowable standby time input means;
A test file transfer time is obtained by transmitting a test file, and when the transfer time is within a predetermined time determined based on the waiting time, the compression rate set by the compression rate setting means is finally compressed. A compression rate correction unit that corrects the compression rate set by the compression rate setting unit to increase to a final compression rate when the transfer time is longer than the predetermined time;
Data compression means for compressing data to be transmitted at the final compression ratio set by the compression ratio correction means;
A data distribution apparatus comprising: data transmission means for transmitting data compressed by the data compression means to a user. A data distribution device that transmits stored content data to a user in response to a request,
User setting input means for inputting at least one of an acceptable standby time and a desired image quality by a user;
A mode selection unit that allows the user to select one of a standby time priority mode that prioritizes the allowable standby time and an image quality priority mode that prioritizes the image quality of the data when transmitting data;
When the waiting time priority mode is selected by the mode selection means, the test file is transmitted by obtaining the test file transfer time, and the transfer time is within a predetermined time determined based on the standby time. Sets the compression rate according to the standby time input to the user setting input means, and when the transfer time is longer than the predetermined time, it corresponds to the time input to the allowable standby time input means A compression rate higher than the compression rate is set, and the data is compressed according to the set compression rate. Data compression processing means for compressing;
A data distribution apparatus comprising: data transmission means for transmitting data compressed by the data compression means to a user.

Images