JP4845673B2 - COMMUNICATION TERMINAL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND CONTENT FILE DOWNLOAD METHOD - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a data reception technique, and more particularly to a technique for efficiently downloading content data.

  In recent years, content data is generally downloaded to a mobile terminal device from a content server connected to the Internet. The user can effectively use the time by viewing the content downloaded to the mobile terminal device, for example, during commuting or between work.

  Content download is executed by connecting the mobile terminal device to the content server on the spot in response to an explicit request from the user. As a result, the user can acquire the content at any time, but on the other hand, if the download takes time, the user has to wait during that time. In particular, it takes a considerable amount of time to download content having a relatively large data size such as an audio file or an image file.

  In addition, it is preferable that the content server can be accessed anywhere, such as a mobile phone. However, for example, in a wireless LAN terminal device, a place where an access point exists is limited to a place where the wireless LAN terminal device can be connected. , You can not always download the desired content. Therefore, when the user wants to view the content, it is preferable that the content has already been downloaded.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for efficiently downloading content data.

  In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention includes a wireless communication terminal device, a relay device connected to the wireless communication terminal device via a wireless LAN, and an information providing server connected to the relay device via a network. A communication system is provided. In this communication system, the wireless communication terminal device can be connected to the information providing server via the relay device. The wireless communication terminal device includes a communication unit that connects to the information providing server via the relay device, an acquisition unit that acquires a content file provided by the information providing server from the communication unit, and the communication unit connects the information providing server. A connection start time registration unit that registers start time information indicating a start time, and the communication unit connects to the information providing server based on the start time information registered by the connection start time registration unit, Download the file.

  Another aspect of the present invention is a portable communication terminal device, which is connected to a relay device via a wireless LAN and connected to an information providing server connected to the relay device via a network via a relay device; A communication unit comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires a content file provided by an information providing server from a communication unit; and a connection start time registration unit that registers start time information indicating a time at which the communication unit starts a connection with the information providing server. A terminal device is provided. The communication unit connects to the information providing server based on the start time information registered by the connection start time registration unit, and downloads the content file.

  Still another aspect of the present invention is a communication terminal device, a communication unit connected to an information providing server, an acquisition unit for acquiring a content file provided by the information providing server from the communication unit, and downloading of the content file A completion time registration unit for registering completion time information indicating a completion time, a connection start time determination unit for determining a time for starting a connection with the information providing server based on the completion time information, and a connection start time determination unit A communication terminal device is provided that includes a connection start time registration unit that registers start time information determined by. The communication unit connects to the information providing server based on the start time information registered by the connection start time registration unit, and downloads the content file.

  Still another embodiment of the present invention is a portable communication terminal device, which is connected to a relay device via a wireless LAN and connected to an information providing server connected to the relay device via a network via the relay device. An acquisition unit that acquires a content file provided by the information providing server from the communication unit, a connection start time registration unit that registers start time information indicating a time at which the communication unit starts connection with the information providing server, and content And a communication terminal device including a display unit for displaying a graphical user interface and the like. The wireless communication terminal device enters a suspended state by a predetermined operation by the user, and at this time, power supply to the display unit is stopped.

  Still another aspect of the present invention is a method for downloading a content file, comprising: connecting via a relay device to an information providing server connected to the relay device via a wireless LAN and connected to the relay device via a network; The method includes a step of acquiring a content file provided by the information providing server, and a step of registering start time information indicating a time at which connection with the information providing server is started. In the step of connecting to the information providing server, the content file is downloaded by connecting to the information providing server based on the registered start time information.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, a technology for efficiently downloading content data can be provided.

  The communication system according to the embodiment realizes an environment in which a communication terminal device is connected to an information providing server on a network such as the Internet. The information providing server includes, for example, an RSS server that provides RSS (RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) data describing the address information and update time of the content file, and the content file described in the RSS data. Includes distribution server. The RSS server that provides the accompanying information of the content and the distribution server that provides the content itself may be configured as different servers, but may be the same server. The communication terminal device can acquire RSS data from the RSS server and download the latest content file described in the RSS data from the distribution server. At this time, the connection timing to the information providing server, that is, the connection timing to the RSS server or the distribution server is registered in advance in the communication terminal device, thereby completing the download processing of the content file at the timing desired by the user. Can do.

  In the communication system of the embodiment, a plurality of content distributors prepare RSS data describing various content files such as news content and language learning content and link information to the content files, and the user desires to download the content. URL which can acquire RSS data of a file is registered in the communication terminal device in advance. For example, by letting the communication terminal device execute the download of the content file before going to work, for example, when the user leaves the house, the download of the desired content file is completed, and the user can view the content while commuting. be able to. Also, even if you are at work, if you have a connection environment to the information providing server, you can download the desired content file and watch it while you go home before leaving the office. When the user makes a predetermined setting in the communication terminal device, the communication terminal device downloads the content file at a predetermined timing. In particular, when the communication terminal device is a wireless LAN terminal device, by setting the communication terminal device to start downloading content files in an environment where wireless LAN communication is possible, the user can make more than necessary. Desired content can be acquired without bothering hands.

Example 1
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a communication system 1 according to the embodiment. The communication system 1 includes a communication terminal device 10, an access point 12 connected to the communication terminal device 10 via a wireless LAN (Local Area Network), and RSS servers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d connected to the access point 12 via a network 14. Hereinafter, when collectively referred to as "RSS server 20") and distribution servers 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d (hereinafter collectively referred to as "distribution server 30").

  The communication terminal device 10 is configured to have a wireless communication function, and in the embodiment, has a communication function based on a wireless LAN system. Note that the communication terminal apparatus 10 may have a communication function using another wireless communication method, or may have a communication function for connecting to an external apparatus using a wired cable such as a USB cable.

  The access point 12 connects the communication terminal devices 10 to each other via a wireless LAN, connects the communication terminal device 10 to another access point via a wireless LAN, and further connects the communication terminal device 10 to a network such as the Internet or a wired LAN. 14 functions as a relay device connected to the network. In the communication system 1, the communication terminal device 10 can be connected to the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 via the access point 12. When the communication terminal device 10 has a wired communication function, the communication terminal device 10 can be connected to the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 using, for example, a PC (personal computer) connected to the network 14 as a relay device.

  The RSS server 20 provides RSS data describing the accompanying information of the updated content. For example, RSS data is configured to include content title, update date and time, and address information (URL: Uniform Resource Locator) indicating the storage location of the content. The distribution server 30 stores content files, and when a distribution request is received from the communication terminal device 10, distributes the content file to the communication terminal device 10.

  In the embodiment, the communication terminal apparatus 10 holds a URL address linked to a desired RSS server 20, and acquires the latest RSS data by accessing the URL address. The communication terminal device 10 accesses the distribution server 30 based on the address information described in the RSS data, and downloads the content files in a batch or in a selected manner. Note that the communication terminal apparatus 10 can reduce the amount of data to be downloaded by ignoring previously downloaded contents and selecting only unexecuted contents.

  Note that the communication terminal device 10 may visit the distribution server 30 that distributes content using a web browser or the like, search for the link URL of the content, and directly download the content file using the web browser. This is a download method that does not use RSS data. At this time, the distribution server 30 functions as an information providing server alone.

  In the communication system 1 shown in FIG. 1, the RSS server 20a and the distribution server 30a, the RSS server 20b and the distribution server 30b, the RSS server 20c and the distribution server 30c, the RSS server 20d and the distribution server 30d are in one-to-one correspondence for each type of content. Are associated with each other. The RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 may be constructed as a single server, or a plurality of distribution servers 30 may be associated with a single RSS server 20, and a plurality of distribution servers 30 may be associated with a single distribution server 30. RSS server 20 may be associated. Generally, the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 are considered to be managed for each content distributor. In the embodiment, the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 in charge of the same content function as an information providing server that cooperates to provide content information. Hereinafter, for the purpose of facilitating understanding, specific examples of the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 will be shown.

  The distribution server 30a is a server that distributes economic news audio files, and updates the audio files every hour at 00 minutes. For example, an audio file is provided in MP3 format. Simultaneously with the file update by the distribution server 30a, the RSS server 20a generates RSS data describing the link URL of the updated audio file.

  The distribution server 30b is a server that distributes an audio file of sports news, and updates the audio file at 5 am. Simultaneously with the file update by the distribution server 30b, the RSS server 20b generates an RSS that describes the link URL of the updated audio file.

  The distribution server 30c is a server that distributes audio files of entertainment news, and updates the audio files at 6 am. Simultaneously with the file update by the distribution server 30c, the RSS server 20c generates an RSS describing the link URL of the updated audio file.

  The distribution server 30d is a server that distributes social news audio files, and updates the audio files at 7 am and 7 pm. Simultaneously with the file update by the distribution server 30d, the RSS server 20d generates an RSS that describes the link URL of the updated audio file.

  Although FIG. 1 shows four types of information providing servers that provide news, an information providing server that provides other contents may exist. For example, the information providing server may provide language learning content, serial novel content, or the like. By providing content of various genres, the attractiveness of the communication system 1 can be enhanced.

  FIG. 2 shows an external configuration of the communication terminal device 10. The communication terminal device 10 includes a display unit 40 for displaying image data as a content, a graphical user interface, and the like, an audio output unit 42 that outputs audio data, and an operation unit 44 that receives an operation input from a user. . The display unit 40 may be a liquid crystal display, and the audio output unit 42 may be a speaker. The operation unit 44 includes a cross key and four types of buttons (◯ button, X button, □ button, and Δ button) provided on the surface of the casing, and also includes buttons provided on the side of the casing.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the communication terminal device 10. The communication terminal device 10 includes a display unit 40, an audio output unit 42, and an operation unit 44, and further includes a registration unit 100, a state control unit 110, a communication control unit 112, a content determination unit 114, a communication unit 120, an acquisition unit 130, and a storage. Unit 140 and output processing unit 150. The registration unit 100 includes a URL registration unit 102 and a connection start time registration unit 104, and the acquisition unit 130 includes an RSS acquisition unit 132 and a content acquisition unit 134. The content download function of the communication terminal device 10 is realized by a CPU, a memory, a program loaded in the memory, and the like, and here, functional blocks realized by their cooperation are depicted. The program may be built in the communication terminal device 10. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms by hardware only, software only, or a combination thereof.

  The communication terminal device 10 is configured to have a content file download function, but may further include other functions. For example, the communication terminal device 10 may have a function of executing a game application, and may be configured with a schedule management function, a calculation processing function, and the like. The communication terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment has a function of downloading a content file at a registered time, that is, a so-called “timer storage” function. As a result, the user does not need to operate the communication terminal device 10 at the time of downloading the content, and the communication terminal device 10 automatically downloads the content at a predetermined time if a predetermined timer storage is set. To do. When the timer saving process is set by the user, the communication terminal apparatus 10 enters the suspend state, autonomously returns from the suspend state at the time set by the timer, and executes the download process. As described above, the communication terminal apparatus 10 has a timer resume function, so that battery waste can be effectively suppressed.

  The URL registration unit 102 registers a link URL to RSS data by an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user. In the present embodiment, the communication terminal device 10 accesses the link URL to the RSS data, acquires the RSS data, and downloads the latest content file described in the RSS data from the distribution server 30. As described above, the link URL to the RSS data serves as a route for downloading the content. Therefore, the link URL may be referred to as an “RSS channel” for convenience. The term “channel” is used in TV broadcasts and radio broadcasts, and is a word familiar to the user for viewing audio, video, etc. In this embodiment, the display screen ( Used in FIG. 6 described later). When the URL is registered in the RSS data, the display unit 40 displays a GUI (graphical user interface) that lists information (for example, content name) that reminds the user of the URL in the RSS data as a channel. However, the URL registration unit 102 registers the URL to the RSS data by selecting a desired content name using the operation unit 44. There may be a plurality of URL registrations. The registered link URL is stored in the registry, and at the next registration of the URL, the previously registered URL continues to be registered, and the previously registered URL is displayed in the selected state on the GUI. Become.

  The connection start time registration unit 104 registers time information related to a time at which the communication unit 120 starts a connection with the information providing server (hereinafter referred to as “connection start time”) by an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user. . In the first embodiment, “time information related to the connection start time” indicates the time at which the connection is started, but may be other information for uniquely determining the connection start time. In the first embodiment, when “8:00 am” is set as time information by the user, the communication terminal device 10 starts to connect to the RSS server 20 at 8:00 am. The connection start time registration unit 104 can register a plurality of time information. At this time, the communication terminal device 10 connects to the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 a plurality of times according to the registered time information.

  The state control unit 110 controls the state of the communication terminal device 10. When the power is turned on, the state control unit 110 activates the communication terminal device 10, and when the URL and time information to the RSS data are registered in the registration unit 100, the state control unit 110 suspends the communication terminal device 10 from “waiting for timer storage” And When the operation unit 44 is operated in the suspend state, the state control unit 110 may activate the communication terminal device 10 by the resume function and display, for example, the display unit 40 on the “waiting for timer storage” state. When the connection start time specified by the time information registered in the registration unit 100 arrives, the state control unit 110 returns the communication terminal device 10 from the suspended state. Note that the state control unit 110 may place the communication terminal device 10 in a suspended state upon receiving a predetermined operation of the operation unit 44 by the user.

  The communication unit 120 has a function of connecting to the access point 12 by wireless LAN communication using IEEE802.11. The communication control unit 112 holds the SSID (Service Set ID) of the access point 12 in advance, and when the connection start time registered by the connection start time registration unit 104 arrives, the BSS (Basic Service) existing around the communication control unit 112 Search for (Set). The communication control unit 112 recognizes the time by a clock unit (not shown). The communication control unit 112 may hold the SSIDs of a plurality of access points 12 registered in advance, whereby a wireless network can be established at a plurality of locations. The communication control unit 112 establishes a wireless network with the access point 12 when the SSID included in the beacon transmitted from the surrounding access point 12 is the same as the held SSID. The communication control unit 112 sets the access destination to the URL to the RSS data registered by the URL registration unit 102, that is, the link URL of the RSS server 20, and connects the communication unit 120 to the RSS server 20.

  The communication unit 120 connects to the RSS server 20 and receives RSS data. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 120 connects to the four RSS servers 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d and receives RSS data from each of them. The RSS acquisition unit 132 acquires the RSS data received by the communication unit 120.

  FIG. 4A shows RSS data distributed by the RSS server 20a. In RSS data, an “item” tag indicates one content, a “title” tag indicates a content heading, a “pubDate” tag indicates a content update date, and an “enclosure url” tag indicates a link to a content file Indicates the URL. The link URL to the content file corresponds to the address on the distribution server 30 uploaded to the distribution server 30. Since the distribution server 30a distributes economic news every hour at 00 minutes, the RSS data from the RSS server 20a describes the content header, update date and time, and link URL for each hour.

  FIG. 4B shows RSS data distributed by the RSS server 20b. Since the distribution server 30b distributes the sports news for the previous day at 5:00 am, the RSS data from the RSS server 20b includes a daily content headline, an update date and time, and a link URL.

  FIG. 5A shows RSS data distributed by the RSS server 20c. Since the distribution server 30c distributes the entertainment news for the previous day at 6:00 am, the RSS data from the RSS server 20c describes a daily content headline, an update date and time, and a link URL.

  FIG. 5B shows RSS data distributed by the RSS server 20d. Since the distribution server 30d distributes half a day worth of social news at 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, the RSS data from the RSS server 20 d describes a content headline, an update date and time, and a link URL every half day.

  The content determination unit 114 extracts an item from the RSS data acquired by the RSS acquisition unit 132, and determines whether the content of the item has already been downloaded. If it has already been downloaded, there is no need to download it again, so the content determination unit 114 determines content that has not yet been downloaded as an acquisition target. Whether or not it has already been downloaded may be determined from the content heading and update date / time in the RSS data, or may be determined based on the link URL. In order to avoid duplicate downloads, the content determination unit 114 preferably retains RSS information of content downloaded in the past for a predetermined period.

  When the content determination unit 114 determines the content to be acquired, the communication control unit 112 notifies the communication control unit 112. The communication control unit 112 sets the access destination to the link URL of the content, and connects the communication unit 120 to the distribution server 30. The communication unit 120 connects to the distribution server 30 and receives a content file. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 120 connects to the four distribution servers 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d, and receives the latest content file from each distribution server. The content acquisition unit 134 acquires the content file received by the communication unit 120. The storage unit 140 stores the acquired content file. The storage unit 140 may be a detachable memory device, or may be a mounted memory device such as a hard disk.

  The output processing unit 150 reads out the content file stored in the storage unit 140 and outputs the content file to the display unit 40 and / or the audio output unit 42 in response to an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user. Since the content is downloaded by the timer process, the user sets the connection start time to the sleeping time, so that the desired content is stored in the communication terminal device 10 when getting up. As a result, the content can be viewed during commuting and the time can be effectively utilized.

The timer setting screen in the first embodiment is shown below.
FIG. 6 shows an initial screen of the timer setting screen. For example, when the user selects the “save timer” command from the menu screen, a URL selection screen for RSS data shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. In this selection screen, a link URL to RSS data is presented to the user as a “channel”, and “content name” that makes the program name of the broadcast program appear as information that reminds the channel.

  FIG. 7 shows a state where economic news, sports news, entertainment news, and social news are selected from a plurality of RSS channels. When the user presses the right arrow key after selection, the screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  FIG. 8 shows a setting screen for the timer activation time. Multiple timers can be set. Since the update timing differs depending on the type of content, it is also efficient to set a plurality of timers in order to obtain the latest content file at different locations.

  FIG. 9 shows a state where one timer is set. After the setting, when the user presses the right arrow key, the screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

  FIG. 10 shows a screen for confirming the timer storage setting. When the user presses the ○ button, the communication terminal device 10 enters a suspended state. The communication terminal device 10 according to the present embodiment enters a suspended state when the timer is saved, and prevents other applications from being executed.

  FIG. 11 shows a screen during suspension. While the timer is on standby, the screen display is stopped to prevent battery waste. FIG. 12 shows a screen displayed when the operation unit 44 or the like is operated during suspension. In FIG. 12, it is informed that it is waiting for download by the timer process. In the present embodiment, the timer storage function may be executed on condition that the communication terminal device 10 is in the suspended state. In this case, since the timer cannot be saved if the communication terminal device 10 is restored from the suspended state, the user is forced to set the suspended state by performing a predetermined operation on the operation unit 44 if the user wants to continue the timer saving. Also good. When the user wants to cancel the timer storage function and use the communication terminal device 10 normally, the timer storage function can be canceled by pressing the “x” button.

  FIG. 13 is a modification of the screen displayed when the operation unit 44 or the like is operated during suspension. By displaying the timer activation status, the user can check the download status. In FIG. 13, it is notified that the download has not been executed yet. FIG. 14 shows a screen for notifying that the download has been executed.

(Example 2)
In the second embodiment, the timer processing is provided with a learning function so that the communication terminal device 10 autonomously determines the connection start time to the information providing server. As a comparative example, a timer function of a recording device when recording a TV broadcast sets a time at which a user starts recording and a time at which recording ends, and recording processing is performed according to the set time. The timer function in electric devices such as a washing machine, a rice cooker, and an air conditioner is the same. When the user sets the start time of the process, each process is executed according to the set time.

  On the other hand, the content download process assumed in the second embodiment is executed while the user is sleeping, for example, and may be completed before the user goes out with the communication terminal device 10. Furthermore, since the content is updated at a timing determined by the information provider, in order for the communication terminal device 10 to download the latest content file, the download must be completed immediately before the user goes out. There is also a circumstance that is preferable. In other words, if the download timing is too early, content that cannot be downloaded will occur. In addition, when the network is congested at the time set by the user, there is a situation that the download time becomes longer.

  In consideration of such circumstances, the communication terminal device 10 according to the second embodiment receives a desired time for completing the download from the user, and starts a connection with the information providing server so that the download is completed by the desired time. Is determined by learning.

  In the first embodiment, examples of screen transitions when the timer function is set are shown in FIGS. 6 to 14. In the second embodiment, the screen displays shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively. The screen display is changed to

  FIG. 15 shows a time setting screen for completing the download. Multiple timers can be set. Since the update timing differs depending on the type of content, it is also efficient to set a plurality of timers in order to obtain the latest content file at different locations.

  FIG. 16 shows a state in which one timer is set. After the setting, when the user presses the right arrow key, the screen shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.

  FIG. 17 shows the configuration of the communication terminal apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment. The communication terminal device 10 is obtained by adding a DL completion time registration unit 106, a communication analysis unit 160, and a connection start time determination unit 162 to the components of the communication terminal device 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 and 17 realize substantially the same operation and operation as the configuration described with reference to FIG. 3, but the connection start time registered in the connection start time registration unit 104. With respect to, the input from the user is not employed, but the connection start time determined by the connection start time determination unit 162 is employed.

  Also in the second embodiment, the communication terminal apparatus 10 is configured to have a content download function, but may further include other functions. For example, the communication terminal device 10 may have a function of executing a game application, and may be configured with a schedule management function, a calculation processing function, and the like. The communication terminal apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment has a function of downloading a content file at a time determined by the connection start time determination unit 162, that is, a so-called “timer storage” function. As a result, the user does not need to operate the communication terminal device 10 at the time of downloading the content, and if the predetermined setting for timer storage is set, the communication terminal device 10 automatically creates the content file by the desired time. to download.

  The URL registration unit 102 registers a link URL to RSS data by an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user. The RSS channel registration screen shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be employed.

  The DL completion time registration unit 106 registers time information related to a time at which the communication unit 120 completes downloading from the information providing server (hereinafter referred to as “DL completion time”) by an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user. . In the second embodiment, “time information related to the DL completion time” indicates the time itself desired to complete the download, but may be other information for uniquely determining the DL completion time. When “8:00 am” is set as the time information by the user, the communication terminal apparatus 10 connects to the RSS server 20 and the distribution server 30 at a time before 8 am, and sets a desired content file to 8 am Try to download by time. For example, when there is no change in the registered RSS channel and the same DL completion time is registered over a plurality of days, the communication terminal device 10 starts the connection with the information providing server in order to download a desired content file. Is obtained by learning. The DL completion time registration unit 106 can register a plurality of pieces of time information. The DL completion time registration screen shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 may be employed.

  When the DL completion time is registered in the DL completion time registration unit 106, the connection start time determination unit 162 determines the connection start time from the time information, past communication status, and the like. When there is no data regarding the past communication status, the connection start time determination unit 162 determines the connection start time as a predetermined time, such as 10 minutes before the DL completion time of “8:00 am”, for example. Also good. At this time, the connection start time may be set according to the number of RSS channels registered in the URL registration unit 102. For example, if the estimated download time for one RSS channel is 3 minutes, and if four RSS channels are registered, 12 minutes before the DL completion time may be set as the connection start time. When the timer processing function is used for the first time or when the registration time of the DL completion time registration unit 106 is changed, since there is no material for determining the connection start time by learning, the connection start time determination unit 162 The connection start time is determined according to the predetermined calculation method as described above. On the other hand, when there is analysis data regarding the past communication status, the connection start time determination unit 162 determines the connection start time based on the analysis data. The connection start time registration unit 104 registers the connection start time determined by the connection start time determination unit 162.

  The state control unit 110 controls the state of the communication terminal device 10. When the state control unit 110 activates the communication terminal device 10 by turning on the power, the URL and DL completion time information to the RSS data are registered by the registration unit 100, and the determined connection start time is registered. The communication terminal apparatus 10 is set to the “waiting for timer storage” suspend state.

  The communication unit 120 has a function of connecting to the access point 12 by wireless LAN communication using IEEE802.11. The communication control unit 112 holds the SSID (Service Set ID) of the access point 12 in advance, and when the connection start time registered by the connection start time registration unit 104 arrives, the BSS (Basic Service) existing around the communication control unit 112 (Set) is searched (scanned), and a wireless network is established with the access point 12 that is transmitting a beacon including a predetermined SSID.

  The communication unit 120 connects to the RSS server 20 at the connection start time and receives RSS data. The RSS acquisition unit 132 acquires the RSS data received by the communication unit 120. The content determination unit 114 extracts an item from the RSS data acquired by the RSS acquisition unit 132 and determines content that has not yet been downloaded as an acquisition target. The content determination unit 114 notifies the communication control unit 112 of the content determined to be acquired, and the communication control unit 112 sets the access destination to the link URL of the content and connects the communication unit 120 to the distribution server 30. .

  The communication unit 120 circulates and connects to the distribution server 30 and receives a content file. The content acquisition unit 134 acquires the content file received by the communication unit 120, and the storage unit 140 stores the acquired content file. The output processing unit 150 reads out the content file stored in the storage unit 140 and outputs the content file to the display unit 40 and / or the audio output unit 42 in response to an operation input from the operation unit 44 by the user.

  In the second embodiment, the communication analysis unit 160 analyzes the communication status between the communication terminal device 10 and the information providing server based on the RSS data and content file acquisition status by the acquisition unit 130. Hereinafter, the operations of the communication analysis unit 160 and the connection start time determination unit 162 will be described by taking a specific date as an example, but this is merely for ease of understanding, and the date has no particular meaning. Also, it is assumed that there is no change in the link URL (RSS channel) to the registered RSS data and the DL completion time over a plurality of days described below.

(1) On the night of July 31, the user selects four RSS channels, and the URL registration unit 102 registers link URLs to the four RSS data. Further, the user inputs the DL completion time as 8:00 am, and the DL completion time registration unit 106 registers the DL completion time at 8:00 am. Thereby, the communication terminal device 10 operates to download four types of content files by 8:00 am on the next day (August 1). The connection start time determination unit 162 determines the connection start time 10 minutes before the DL completion time, that is, 7:50 am, and the connection start time registration unit 104 registers the connection start time. When the connection start time is registered, the state control unit 110 sets the communication terminal device 10 to the suspended state, and stops the power supply to the display unit 40.

(2) At 7:50 am on August 1, the communication unit 120 connects to the information providing server. The communication unit 120 first accesses link URLs to the four RSS data, receives RSS data from the RSS servers 20a to 20d, and the RSS acquisition unit 132 acquires the respective RSS data. Subsequently, the communication unit 120 accesses the link URL described in each RSS data, receives content files from the distribution servers 30a to 30d, and the content acquisition unit 134 acquires each content file. In addition, after acquiring one RSS data, you may access link URL described in the RSS data immediately. The communication analysis unit 160 analyzes the communication status between the communication terminal device 10 and the information providing server from the RSS data and the content file acquisition status.

  The communication analysis unit 160 determines whether or not the current download processing has been completed by 8 am from the time when the last content file was acquired by the content acquisition unit 134. If the completion time of the current download process is 8:10, the communication analysis unit 160 determines that the download process has not been completed by the desired time.

  Further, the communication analysis unit 160 grasps the time interval at which the content file corresponding to each RSS data is updated from the RSS data obtained by the RSS obtaining unit 132, and also grasps the time required for downloading each content file. . Further, the communication analysis unit 160 grasps the latest update date and time of the latest content when the download process is completed at 8:00 am from the update time interval of each content. The time required for the download is measured as the total time required when the communication control unit 112 accesses the RSS server 20 and the corresponding distribution server 30 and finally downloads the content file. The time required for downloading may be derived for each content file or may be derived as the time required for the entire download process.

The communication analysis result when connection to the information providing server is started from 7:50 am on August 1 is illustrated below.
<Download result from distribution server 30a>
1) File update time interval Updated every hour at 00 minutes (every hour)
2) Last update time of the file August 1st, 7:03 am 3) Download time 2 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30b>
1) File update time interval 5:00 am (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of the file: August 1st, 5 am 3) Download time: 10 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30c>
1) File update time interval Update at 6:00 AM (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of the file August 1st, 6: 3 am 3) Download time 5 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30d>
1) File update time interval 7:00 pm, 7:00 am (every 12 hours)
2) Last update time of the file August 1st, 7: 3 am 3) Download time 3 minutes

  The connection start time determination unit 162 receives the analysis result of the communication analysis unit 160 and executes a connection start time determination process for the next download process. First, the connection start time determination unit 162 extracts the latest time from the last update times of the four types of content files. In the above example, since 7:00 am is the latest last update time, the connection start time determination unit 162 must set the connection start time after 7:00 am in order to download this content file. Recognize

  In addition, the connection start time determination unit 162 recognizes that it has taken up to 8:10 am when the download process is started at 7:50 am, so that the connection start time is set before 7:50 am. Recognize that it must be set to. From the above, the connection start time determination unit 162 determines an arbitrary time between 7 am and 7:50 am as the connection start time of the next download process. For example, the connection start time determination unit 162 sets the next connection start time to 7:10 am.

The communication analysis result when connection to the information providing server is started from 7:10 am on August 2 is illustrated below.
<Download result from distribution server 30a>
1) File update time interval Updated every hour at 00 minutes (every hour)
2) Time of last update of the file August 2, 7: 3 am 3) Download time 7 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30b>
1) File update time interval 5:00 am (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of file: August 2, 5: 3 AM 3) Download time 15 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30c>
1) File update time interval Update at 6:00 AM (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of the file August 2, 6: 3am) Download time 10 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30d>
1) File update time interval 7:00 pm, 7:00 am (every 12 hours)
2) Time of last update of the file August 2, 7: 3 am 3) Download time 8 minutes

  The connection start time determination unit 162 receives the analysis result of the communication analysis unit 160 and executes a connection start time determination process for the next download process. It is assumed that there is no substantial change in the last update time and update time interval of each content file.

  The connection start time determination unit 162 recognizes that it took 40 minutes to 7:50 am when the download process was started at 7:10 am. Thus, if the connection start time is set to 7:10 am, it can be seen that the download is completed over 40 minutes by 8 am. In order to complete the download at 8:00 am by such a learning function, the connection start time determination unit 162 again needs to set the connection start time after 7 am and before 7:50 am. recognize.

  On the other hand, if the access concentrates on the information providing server, the connection time to the network 14 becomes long, and the connection fee increases. Therefore, it is preferable that the connection time is short. The connection start time determination unit 162 is optimal for shortening the connection time of 40 minutes on the assumption that the connection time on August 1 is 20 minutes and the connection time on August 2 is 40 minutes. Search for the correct connection start time. The connection start time determination unit 162 determines, for example, any time between 7:10 am and 7:50 am as the connection start time, and sets the connection start time to 7:30 am, for example.

The communication analysis result when connection to the information providing server is started from 7:30 am on August 3 is illustrated below.
<Download result from distribution server 30a>
1) File update time interval Updated every hour at 00 minutes (every hour)
2) Last update time of the file August 3rd 7:03 am 3) Download time 2 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30b>
1) File update time interval 5:00 am (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of the file: August 3rd, 5: 3am) Download time: 10 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30c>
1) File update time interval Update at 6:00 AM (every 24 hours)
2) Last update time of the file August 3rd, 6: 3 am 3) Download time 5 minutes

<Download result from distribution server 30d>
1) File update time interval 7:00 pm, 7:00 am (every 12 hours)
2) Last update time of the file August 3rd, 7: 3am) Download time: 3 minutes

  The connection start time determination unit 162 receives the analysis result of the communication analysis unit 160 and executes a connection start time determination process for the next download process. There is no change in the last update time and update time interval of each content file.

  The connection start time determination unit 162 recognizes that it took 20 minutes to 7:50 am when the download process was started at 7:30 am. As a result, it can be seen that the connection time can be shortened compared to when the download process was started at 7:10 am on August 2. Based on the above analysis results, the connection start time determination unit 162 does not start the download process from 7:10 am but download process from 7:30 am in order to complete the download process by 8 am. Determine that it is more efficient to start. As described above, the connection start time determination unit 162 has a function of searching for and determining a connection start time that can complete the download process before the DL completion time and can minimize the connection time.

  The connection start time determination unit 162 may perform the connection start time determination process every time the download process is executed. In addition, the optimal time may be determined as the connection start time among the processes for determining the connection start time multiple times. Further, the connection start time determination process may be executed immediately after the download is completed, or may be executed when the next timer storage setting is performed. In the case of executing immediately after the end of the download, the connection start time determination unit 162 holds the determined connection start time, and the connection is held on condition that the next RSS channel and DL start time are not changed. The start time is notified to the connection start time registration unit 104. When it is executed when the next timer storage is set, the connection start time determination unit 162 determines the connection start time on the condition that the RSS channel and the DL start time are not changed, and starts the connection. The time registration unit 104 is notified.

  Further, the traffic of the network 14 such as the Internet has some tendency for each day of the week, for example. For example, Monday morning traffic tends to be higher than average, but Tuesday to Thursday is average, and Friday afternoon is higher than average. Since such a day-of-week dependency exists in the traffic of the network 14, the connection start time determination unit 162 may determine an optimal connection start time for each day of the week.

  In the above example, it is assumed that there is no change in the last update time and the update time interval of each content file. However, the update timing of the content file by the information provider may actually vary. It is done. Therefore, the connection start time determination unit 162 calculates the standard deviation σ of the acquired last update times for a plurality of days, and sets the time obtained by adding a predetermined multiple of the standard deviation σ to the average final update time as the final update time. May be handled. Thereby, the error of the update time by an information provider can be absorbed in the communication terminal device 10 side, and it becomes possible to determine a connection start time efficiently. Further, the latest update time of a plurality of days may be set as the latest update time of the content file.

  In the above-described example, it is assumed that the communication terminal apparatus 10 is in an environment where it can communicate with the access point 12 at the registered connection start time. However, depending on the set connection start time, it is not always possible to communicate. If the connection start time determination unit 162 is in a state where communication is not possible at the determined connection start time, the connection start time determination unit 162 does not adopt the connection start time in the subsequent connection start time determination process. As a result, the connection start time can be determined efficiently.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each processing process, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. .

  In the above-described embodiment, when the connection start time is registered in the connection start time registration unit 104, the communication terminal apparatus 10 enters the suspend state. However, in the modified example, after the connection start time is registered, the suspend state You may make it not enter. Thereby, for example, when the communication terminal device 10 also has a game application execution function, the user can enjoy the game application even after setting the timer storage. When the registered connection start time arrives during the execution of the game, the communication terminal device 10 may forcibly end the game application and start the download process, and the connection start time arrives at the user. You may alert | report. If the game application is not forcibly terminated, the communication terminal device 10 may automatically start the download process when the user finishes executing the game application.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the communication system concerning an Example. It is a figure which shows the external appearance structure of a communication terminal device. It is a figure which shows the structure of a communication terminal device. It is a figure which shows the example of RSS data. It is a figure which shows the example of RSS data. It is a figure which shows the initial screen of a timer setting screen. It is a figure which shows the state which selected the RSS channel. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of a timer starting time. It is a figure which shows the state which set one timer. It is a figure which shows the confirmation screen of a timer preservation | save setting. It is a figure which shows the screen during suspension. It is a figure which shows a screen when there exists input during a suspend. It is a figure which shows a screen when there exists input during a suspend. It is a figure which shows a screen when there exists input during a suspend. It is a figure which shows the setting screen of download completion time. It is a figure which shows the state which set one timer. It is a figure which shows the modification of a structure of the communication terminal device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Communication system, 10 ... Communication terminal device, 12 ... Access point, 14 ... Network, 20a ... RSS server, 20b ... RSS server, 20c ... RSS server, 20d , RSS server, 20 ... RSS server, 30a ... distribution server, 30b ... distribution server, 30c ... distribution server, 30d ... distribution server, 30 ... distribution server, 40 ..Display unit 42... Audio output unit 44... Operation unit 100... Registration unit 102. URL Registration unit 104. Connection start time registration unit 106. Completion time registration unit, 110 ... Status control unit, 112 ... Communication control unit, 114 ... Content determination unit, 120 ... Communication unit, 130 ... Acquisition unit, 132 ... RSS acquisition unit 134 Content acquisition unit, 140 ... storage unit, 150 ... output processor, 160 ... communication analyzing unit, 162 ... connection start time determination unit.

Claims (8)

  A communication terminal device,
  A communication unit connected to the information providing server;
  An acquisition unit for acquiring a content file provided by the information providing server from the communication unit;
  A completion time registration unit for registering completion time information indicating a time for completing the download of the content file;
  Based on completion time information, a connection start time determination unit that determines a time to start connection with the information providing server;
  A connection start time registration unit for registering start time information determined by the connection start time determination unit;
  From the acquisition status of the content file by the acquisition unit, comprising a communication analysis unit that analyzes the communication status with the information providing server,
  The communication unit connects to the information providing server based on the start time information registered by the connection start time registration unit, downloads a content file, and the acquisition unit acquires the content file, The communication analysis unit determines whether or not the current download process is completed by the download completion time,
  When the current download process is not completed before the download completion time, the connection start time determination unit sets the connection start time in the next download process before the current connection start time. Communication terminal device.   The communication unit receives, from the information providing server, address information indicating the location of the content file on the network and information indicating the last update time of the content file, and then retrieves the content file from the location specified by the address information. The communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal device is downloaded.   The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection start time determination unit determines a connection start time in a next download process after the last update time of the content file.   When the current download process is not completed by the download completion time, the connection start time determination unit determines an arbitrary time between the last update time of the content file and the current connection start time in the next download process. The communication terminal apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the communication terminal apparatus is determined as a connection start time.   The connection start time determination unit has a function of searching for and determining a connection start time that can complete a download process by a download completion time and that can minimize a connection time. 5. The communication terminal device according to any one of 4.   A communication system comprising a communication terminal device and an information providing server,
  The communication terminal device
  A communication unit connected to the information providing server;
  An acquisition unit for acquiring a content file provided by the information providing server from the communication unit;
  A completion time registration unit for registering completion time information indicating a time for completing the download of the content file;
  Based on completion time information, a connection start time determination unit that determines a time to start connection with the information providing server;
  A connection start time registration unit for registering start time information determined by the connection start time determination unit;
  From the acquisition status of the content file by the acquisition unit, comprising a communication analysis unit that analyzes the communication status with the information providing server,
  The communication unit connects to the information providing server based on the start time information registered by the connection start time registration unit, downloads a content file, and the acquisition unit acquires the content file, The communication analysis unit determines whether or not the current download process is completed by the download completion time,
  When the current download process is not completed before the download completion time, the connection start time determination unit sets the connection start time in the next download process before the current connection start time. Communication system.   A method for downloading content files,
  Connecting to the information providing server;
  Obtaining a content file provided by the information providing server;
  Registering completion time information indicating the time to complete the download of the content file;
  Determining a time to start a connection with the information providing server based on completion time information;
  Registering the determined start time information;
  Analyzing the communication status with the information providing server from the acquisition status of the content file,
  The step of connecting to the information providing server connects to the information providing server based on the registered start time information, downloads a content file, and when the obtaining step obtains the content file, the communication status The analysis step determines whether or not the current download process has been completed by the download completion time,
  If the current download process is not completed before the download completion time, the step of determining the connection start time is to set the connection start time in the next download process before the current connection start time. A method for downloading a content file as a feature.   To the computer that downloads the content file,
  A function to connect to the information providing server;
  A function of acquiring a content file provided by the information providing server;
  A function for registering completion time information indicating the time to complete the download of the content file;
  A function for determining a time to start a connection with the information providing server based on completion time information;
  A function for registering the determined start time information;
  A function for analyzing the communication status with the information providing server from the acquisition status of the content file,
  When the function to connect to the information providing server connects to the information providing server based on the registered start time information, downloads the content file, and the acquiring function acquires the content file, the communication status The analysis function determines whether or not this download process has been completed by the download completion time,
  If the current download process is not completed by the download completion time, the function to determine the connection start time will set the connection start time in the next download process before the current connection start time. A featured program.

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