JP4768792B2 - Content management server, content distribution processing unit, and content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution technique, and more particularly to a content distribution technique that can be flexibly incorporated into a dedicated device having various restrictions and can flexibly provide services to a plurality of types of dedicated devices.

  In recent years, the use of communication networks has expanded, and personal computers (PCs) can use various services using communication networks.

  For example, in a VOD (video on demand) service, a user can receive and view a video transmitted via a network. In the GOD (game on demand) service, a user can download a game application program and use the game.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of a content distribution server that enables a user of a video on demand service to use a game on demand service without imposing an excessive burden on the user.
JP 2008-012220 A

  By the way, it is not limited to the general-purpose information processing apparatus such as the personal computer (PC) described above, but is a dedicated device specialized for each function, such as a car navigator, a game machine, a digital home appliance, and other special purpose processing terminals If the video on demand service (content distribution service) can be used flexibly, users can be expanded and spread.

  However, there are still problems to be solved.

  In other words, the content distribution service needs to be configured so that it can be flexibly added and incorporated even in a dedicated device that has a processing function shortage compared to a general-purpose device and has various restrictions. In addition, this content distribution service must be configured to be applicable even when there are a plurality of providers that provide services to dedicated devices. On the contrary, it is desirable that a provider who provides a content distribution service can provide services not only for one type of dedicated device but also for a plurality of types of dedicated devices.

  Then, while satisfying these requirements, it is possible to establish a billing processing method for the user, a content distribution service management method for the user, a copyright protection method for the content itself, a content distribution method corresponding to the dedicated device, etc. is necessary.

  However, Patent Document 1 does not describe the content that solves this problem, nor does it describe the solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when providing a content distribution service to a dedicated device having a display function, it can be flexibly incorporated into a dedicated device having various restrictions. The purpose is to provide a content distribution technology that can flexibly provide services to various types of dedicated devices.

  In order to solve the above problems, a content distribution system according to the present invention includes a content management server, at least one content distribution server, and a user terminal that is at least one processing device for a specific application via a communication line. The content distribution processing unit installed in the user terminal includes purchase information including terminal information for identifying the user terminal in response to a content distribution service purchase operation from the user. A purchase information transmitting unit to be transmitted to the content management server, content specifying information for specifying desired content in response to a request from a user, a purchase certificate for verifying that a content distribution service has been purchased, and the terminal information A content request for transmitting a content request signal including the content request signal to the content management server A signal transmission unit, a viewing ticket acquisition unit that receives and decrypts a viewing ticket including an encrypted content key transmitted from the content management server in response to the content request signal, and decryption has been executed normally A re-request signal transmitting unit that transmits a re-request signal for requesting the content to the content management server again, and specifying the content distribution server transmitted from the content management server in response to the re-request signal A transmission request signal transmitting unit for receiving a signal to be transmitted and transmitting a transmission request signal including the viewing ticket to the identified content distribution server, and using the content key for the encrypted content transmitted from the content distribution server The content management server from the user terminal. Based on the purchase information and the content specifying information, a management information processing unit that processes the content distribution available period and the number of content distribution possible as information to be managed, and the content request signal from the user terminal If there is a remaining number of content that can be transmitted by authenticating the user terminal to be transmitted, a viewing ticket transmitting unit that transmits a viewing ticket including an encrypted content key to the user terminal, and the user terminal from the user terminal A distribution server specifying unit that transmits information specifying a content distribution server that distributes content based on a type of the user terminal when the re-request signal is received, the content distribution server from the user terminal A content distribution unit for transmitting the encrypted content to the user terminal in response to the transmission request signal to be transmitted; Have.

  According to the content distribution technology of the present invention, when a content distribution service is provided to a dedicated device having a display function, it can be flexibly incorporated into a dedicated device having various restrictions, and can be incorporated into a plurality of types of dedicated devices. The service can be flexibly provided.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This content distribution system is a system related to a service for distributing video content such as moving images and still images to users.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system is configured by connecting a content management system 1, a plurality of user terminals 2, and a plurality of user terminal management servers 3 to a communication line 4. The content management system 1 includes a content management server 5 and a content distribution server 6.
Here, the communication line is a path widely used for transmitting and receiving information, and is not limited to communication using a wire such as a conductive wire or an optical fiber, but also includes wireless communication using light, sound waves, radio waves, and the like.

The content management server 5 and the content distribution server 6 are information processing terminals such as computers owned by service providers that provide content distribution services. The content management server 5 stores the content to be distributed and supervises and executes management related to content distribution. The content distribution server 6 executes a content distribution operation.
The user terminal 2 is an information processing terminal owned by a user who receives the content distribution service. The user terminal 2 can be a car navigator, a game machine, a digital home appliance, or other information processing terminal (dedicated device) for a specific purpose. The user terminal 2 includes a display device (not shown) for displaying video or is configured to be connected to the display device.

  The user terminal management server 3 is an information processing terminal such as a computer owned by a specific service provider that performs various pay services on the user terminal 2 using the communication line 4. For example, when the user terminal 2 is a game machine, the user terminal management server 3 executes a service for downloading a game program in response to a request from the user terminal 2. Accordingly, a certain user terminal 2 can receive a predetermined service only from a specific user terminal management server 3 via the communication line.

  Note that the user terminal 2 need not always be connected to the communication line 4, and may be connected only when information is exchanged with the content management system 1 or the user terminal management server 3.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the distribution operation of the content distribution system.
[Preparation steps]
The user terminal 2 is installed with a content distribution processing program 10 that executes a procedure process related to content distribution and a reproduction operation. In principle, a plurality of types of content distribution processing programs 10 are prepared for each type of user terminal 2.

  The user applies for purchase of the content distribution service from the menu of the user terminal 2. At this time, the user is informed of the conditions for receiving the content distribution service. For example, conditions such as how many contents can be viewed are presented.

  Subsequently, when the user activates the user terminal 2 and displays a usable menu, an icon menu representing the content distribution service is displayed on a display unit (not shown). When the user selects this icon, the content distribution processing program 10 is activated. Operations related to content distribution after activation are executed based on exchange information between the content distribution processing program 10 and the content management system 1.

[First step]
The content distribution processing program 10 exchanges information with the content management server 5 and receives usable content. Then, the content distribution processing program 10 displays a content selection screen on the display unit 7. The content selection screen includes a function for searching for content, a function for displaying popular content, and a function for presenting information such as a history of content used by the user as well as displaying content with images. It is.

[Second step]
When the user selects desired content using these assist functions, the content distribution processing program 10 displays a content purchase screen. On this content purchase screen, information on the usage status of the content distribution service, such as the period during which the content distribution service can be received and the number of remaining contents, is displayed along with detailed information on the selected content.

[Third step]
When the user confirms the purchase of the selected content, an authentication process is performed between the content distribution processing program 10 and the content management server 5, and when the distribution is permitted, the content distribution server 6 sends the content to the user terminal 2. Deliver content. In the user terminal 2, the content distribution processing program 10 reproduces the content that is stream-distributed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a signal exchange procedure related to content distribution. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of the user terminal 2 related to content distribution. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of the content management server 5 related to content distribution. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a schematic procedure of the content distribution server 6 related to content distribution.
Next, the content distribution operation described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

  [Procedure 1] When the user purchases (updates) the content distribution service at the user terminal 2, the user terminal 2 purchases the content distribution service from the user terminal management server 3 at step S01 in FIG. Send a notification to the effect that As a result, the user terminal management server 3 executes billing processing with the user.

On the other hand, the content distribution processing program 10 generates purchase information and transmits it to the content management server 5. This purchase information includes user identification information, period information, and the like. The user identification information is information for specifying the user terminal 2 and includes the type and model of the user terminal 2. These pieces of information may not be acquired from the user terminal 2 but may be written in the downloaded content distribution processing program 10 in advance. The period information includes a period during which the content distribution service can be received. The information regarding this period is information that the user has accepted through the content distribution processing program 10 in the user terminal 2. The content management server 5 manages this period.
In step T01 of FIG. 5, the content management server 5 receives purchase information and registers user identification information and period information in the management DB 8c.

  [Procedure 2] In the user terminal 2, when the user selects a desired content from the content menu, the content distribution processing program 10 manages the purchase certificate, content ID, and user identification information in step S02 of FIG. Send to server 5. The purchase certificate is information proving that the program has been purchased. The content ID is information for specifying the content selected by the user.

  In step T02 of FIG. 5, the content management server 5 performs authentication based on the user identification information and the purchase certificate. In step T03, it is checked whether or not the user terminal 2 is registered in the management DB 8c as valid. If Yes in step T03, that is, if the user authentication is OK, it is checked in step T04 whether the viewing period and the number of viewings are valid. Here, the viewing period and the number of viewings are information uniquely managed by the content management server 5. This is to prevent the user terminal 2 from having management information related to the content distribution service, thereby avoiding the user terminal 2 from being burdened with a complicated processing load related to content distribution.

When Yes in step T04, that is, when it is confirmed by searching the management DB 8c that the current viewing period is still within the viewing period and there is a remaining number (1 or more) that can be viewed, the processing in step T06 is performed. move on. The number is counted for different contents viewed within the same period. Therefore, if the content is the same, the number is counted as one no matter how many times it is viewed within the period.
If No in step T03 or No in step T04, a notification that service cannot be received is returned to the user terminal 2 in step T05.
[Procedure 3] In step T06, the content management server 5 generates a viewing ticket that enables viewing of the content, and transmits the viewing ticket to the user terminal 2. The viewing ticket includes an encrypted content key and content ID for decrypting the distributed content.

  [Procedure 4] The user terminal 2 decrypts the encrypted content key of the transmitted viewing ticket in step S03 of FIG. If the decrypted content ID is the same as the requested content ID, the viewing ticket is determined to be correct, the content key is stored, and a reproduction request is transmitted to the content management server 5 in step S04. To do. The reproduction request includes a viewing ticket and user identification information.

  [Procedure 5] In step T07 in FIG. 5, the content management server 5 determines whether or not the reproduction request is correct from the viewing ticket and the user identification information. . In specifying the distribution server 6, the type (capability) of the user terminal 2 and the load on the content distribution server 6 are taken into consideration. And the information which specifies the content delivery server 6 which performs content delivery is transmitted to the user terminal 2 as redirect information.

  [Procedure 6] The user terminal 2 transmits the viewing ticket and user identification information to the address of the content distribution server 6 described in the redirect information in step S05 of FIG.

  [Procedure 7] In step P01 of FIG. 6, the content distribution server 6 transmits the viewing ticket and user identification information received from the user terminal 2 to the content management server 5 to request provision of the content.

  [Procedure 8] The content management server 5 is provided with a DRM (Digital Right Management) function that is a technology for blocking unauthorized copying of digital content. In step T08 of FIG. 5, the content management server 5 determines whether or not viewing is possible using the DRM function based on the viewing ticket and the user identification information from the content distribution server 6. In step T09, an instruction to permit viewing is transmitted to the content distribution server 6.

  [Procedure 9] Upon receiving an instruction to permit viewing from the content management server 5, the content distribution server 6 searches the encrypted content DB 8b, retrieves the specified encrypted content, and transmits it to the user terminal. At this time, the content to be transmitted is previously extracted from the original content DB 8a, the resolution is converted according to the specifications of the display unit 7 of the user terminal 2, and then encrypted and stored in the encrypted content DB 8b. ing. Therefore, the content distribution server 6 does not need to perform resolution change and encryption processing at the time of distribution, so that the processing load can be reduced.

  [Procedure 10] In the user terminal 2, the content distribution processing program 10 executes data reception from the content distribution server 6, decryption using a video / audio content key, and video reproduction in parallel. The content distribution processing program 10 starts the video reproduction process as soon as the head portion of the data arrives, and erases the reproduced data. Therefore, no content data remains in the user terminal 2.

  [Procedure 11] After executing the content distribution, the content management server 5 makes an approval for the content distribution service to the specific service provider. For example, it is possible to output an amount for each user terminal 2 and prompt the service provider to make a decision. Further, the decision information can be transmitted to the user terminal management server 3 via the direct communication line 4 for processing.

  In the present embodiment, not all the information to be communicated is encrypted, but the minimum necessary information is encrypted. In the structure of moving image data, video and audio data are transmitted in a state of being subdivided into TS packets in the MPEG2-TS container format. Here, the MPEG2-TS container is an international standard specification defined by ISO / IEC13818-1, and the minimum unit of data defined by the specification is referred to as a TS packet.

  According to this standard, video data does not transmit all information for each frame, but transmits one reference frame called a key frame and difference information for the key frame.

  A key frame is an image that is compressed without the need for information from the preceding and following images (frames) that are periodically introduced in the compressed video, and a still image can be restored by itself. An image element constituting an image of one frame is called a slice. The slice includes an I slice that can restore an image element by itself, and a P slice and a B slice that cannot be restored without previous and subsequent image information.

Conventionally, all TS packets are encrypted, but in the present invention, encryption is performed for key frames and I slices. As a result, a significant load reduction of the decryption process can be realized on the user terminal 2 side.
On the other hand, the content management server 5 requires a complicated encryption process as compared with the conventional method of uniformly encrypting. That is, the original data structure when subdivided into TS packets is H.264. An ES (Elementary Stream) of H.264 video is reconstructed, and the data structure of the ES is parsed to specify the position of the key frame and I slice data to be encrypted. Furthermore, it identifies which TS packet the position corresponds to and encrypts the minimum necessary TS packet.

  In the present embodiment, encryption is performed for content that needs to be protected by copyright, but distribution is executed without encryption for content that does not require protection.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

  In this content distribution system, a content distribution operation is executed by exchanging information between the content distribution processing program 10 installed on the user terminal 2 side and the content management system 1. Therefore, since it is not necessary to change the system configuration of the user terminal 2, the content distribution service can be easily incorporated. Further, since the system configuration is not changed, other additional functions are not hindered, and the user of the user terminal 2 can further use a system other than the content distribution system.

  The billing process for the content distribution service uses a billing processing system provided in the user terminal management server 3. Therefore, since there is no difference from the conventional payment method for the user, the handling is unified and the convenience is high.

  Data exchange related to the content distribution procedure between the user terminal 2 and the content distribution processing program 10 is only a purchase certificate. Therefore, the processing load due to the management work related to the content distribution service is not given to the user terminal.

  Also, not all information to be communicated is encrypted, but the minimum necessary information is encrypted. By reducing the amount of encrypted data, the load on the user terminal 2 is reduced.

  In the content management system, the resolution of the content data is converted into a resolution corresponding to the user terminal 2 that is the delivery destination, and encrypted and stored in advance. When delivering content, regardless of whether the content is encrypted or not, smooth processing can be realized by transmitting in the order of request.

  Each function described in the above embodiment may be configured using hardware, or may be realized by reading a program describing each function into a computer using software. Each function may be configured by appropriately selecting either software or hardware.

  Furthermore, each function can be realized by causing a computer to read a program stored in a recording medium (not shown). Here, as long as the recording medium in the present embodiment can record a program and can be read by a computer, the recording format may be any form.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

The figure which shows the structure of the content delivery system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Schematic for demonstrating delivery operation | movement of a content delivery system. The figure which shows the signal transfer procedure concerning content delivery. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of the user terminal which concerns on content delivery. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of the content management server which concerns on content delivery. The flowchart which shows the general | schematic procedure of the content delivery server which concerns on content delivery.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content management system, 2 ... User terminal, 3 ... User terminal management server, 4 ... Communication line, 5 ... Content management server, 6 ... Content distribution server, 7 ... Display part, 8c ... Management DB, 8b ... Encryption Content DB, 8a. Original content DB.

Claims (3)

In a content distribution system including a content management server, at least one content distribution server, and a user terminal that is at least one processing device for a specific application via a communication line,
The content distribution processing unit installed in the user terminal is
A purchase information transmission unit that transmits purchase information including terminal information for identifying the user terminal to the content management server in response to a content distribution service purchase operation from the user;
In response to a request from a user, a content request signal including content specifying information for specifying desired content, a purchase certificate for certifying that a content distribution service has been purchased, and the terminal information is transmitted to the content management server. A content request signal transmission unit to perform,
A viewing ticket acquisition unit that receives and decrypts a viewing ticket including an encrypted content key transmitted from the content management server in response to the content request signal;
When the decryption is normally executed, a re-request signal transmitting unit that transmits a re-request signal for requesting the content again to the content management server;
A transmission request signal for receiving the signal specifying the content distribution server transmitted from the content management server in response to the re-request signal and transmitting the transmission request signal including the viewing ticket to the specified content distribution server A transmission unit;
A playback unit that decrypts and plays back the encrypted content transmitted from the content distribution server using the content key;
The content management server
A management information processing unit that processes the content distribution available period and the number of content deliverable as information to be managed based on the purchase information and the content specifying information from the user terminal;
If the user terminal specified by the content request signal from the user terminal is authenticated and there is a remaining number of content that can be transmitted, a viewing ticket including the encrypted content key is transmitted to the user terminal A viewing ticket transmission unit;
When receiving the re-request signal from the user terminal, a distribution server specifying unit that transmits information for specifying a content distribution server that distributes content based on the type of the user terminal,
The content distribution system, wherein the content distribution server includes a content distribution unit that transmits the encrypted content to the user terminal in response to the transmission request signal transmitted from the user terminal. It further has a DRM function that is a technology for blocking unauthorized copying of the content,
The content management server according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution server distributes content obtained by encrypting a part of a TS packet.   3. The content according to claim 2, wherein data reception from the content distribution server, video / audio decoding using the content key, and video reproduction are executed in parallel, and the reproduced data is deleted. Delivery processing unit.

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