JP4856450B2 - Information processing apparatus and method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program, and more particularly, to an information processing apparatus, method, and program that can acquire content.

  The mainstream of the current content distribution method is a streaming format. Streaming has an advantage that even a large file can be played immediately by sequentially flowing data necessary for browsing.

  There is one that selects and records content based on personal preference information (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, there is also a technique that allows the content to be played back without waiting by downloading the first file portion of the content from the content server in advance based on personal preference information (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-72396

JP 2005-135008 A

  However, since the connection time to the server becomes very long and the load on the server becomes large, the scalability is low. In addition, since the video is interrupted when the data is interrupted, it is necessary to prepare a communication path that can secure a stable band such as an optical line, or reduce the resolution of the content and reduce the amount of data.

  Currently, since the amount of data is reduced, the image quality of content provided via the Internet is extremely low.

  If you try to distribute HD-class high-definition video content, it is very difficult with the current system.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and makes it possible to acquire content with a larger amount of data.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is connected to a providing apparatus that provides content via a network and supplies the content to a terminal apparatus, and is transmitted from the providing apparatus via the network And a reception control means for controlling reception of the content ID for specifying the content and the genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID, and the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device. From the received genre information, a calculation means for calculating a possibility that the user specified by the received content ID can view the content specified by the user of the terminal device, and a user of the terminal device received If the possibility of viewing the content specified by the content ID is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, From the information and pre-recorded data indicating the genre of the community constituted by a plurality of information processing devices, the selection means for selecting the community and the other information processing devices constituting the selected community receive An inquiry means for inquiring through the network whether the content specified by the content ID is recorded, and a response from another information processing apparatus that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded Acquisition of acquiring the content specified by the received content ID via the network from another information processing apparatus that has responded that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded. Means and recording control means for controlling recording of the acquired content

  Recording means for recording a history indicating other contents supplied to the terminal device can be further provided.

  In the calculation means, the user of the terminal device is specified by the content ID from the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device and the received genre information recorded in the recording means. It is possible to calculate a possibility that the user of the terminal device views the content, which is a degree of preference for the content.

  For each of the communities, there is further provided recording means for recording addresses and genre data of a plurality of information processing devices constituting the community, and for the inquiry means, the community selected based on the recorded addresses is displayed. It is possible to make an inquiry as to whether or not the content specified by the content ID is recorded in another information processing apparatus.

  An information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing apparatus that is connected to a providing apparatus that provides content via a network and supplies the content to a terminal apparatus. Other than the content ID specifying the content and the genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID, which are transmitted via the information processing device and supplied to the terminal device From the history indicating the content of the content and the received genre information, the user of the terminal device calculates the possibility that the content specified by the received content ID is viewed, and the user of the terminal device If the possibility of viewing the content specified by the received content ID is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, Content received from other information processing devices constituting the selected community by selecting the community from the channel information and pre-recorded data indicating the genre of the community composed of a plurality of information processing devices. Inquires through the network whether the content specified by the ID is recorded, and when another information processing apparatus responds that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded. The content specified by the received content ID is acquired via the network from another information processing apparatus that has responded that the content specified by the specified content ID has been recorded. Controlling the recording.

  A program according to an aspect of the present invention is connected to a providing device that provides content via a network, and is transmitted from the providing device to the computer of an information processing device that supplies the content to a terminal device. And a history indicating other content supplied to the terminal device by the information processing apparatus, which controls reception of a content ID for specifying the content and genre information indicating a genre of the content specified by the content ID. Based on the received genre information, the user of the terminal device calculates the possibility of viewing the content specified by the received content ID, and the user of the terminal device specifies the received content ID. If the possibility of viewing the content is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the genre information And a pre-recorded data indicating the genre of the community constituted by a plurality of information processing devices, and select the community and send the received content ID to the other information processing devices constituting the selected community. Inquires through the network whether the specified content is recorded, and when another information processing apparatus responds that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the received content The content specified by the received content ID is acquired via the network from another information processing apparatus that has responded that the content specified by the ID is recorded, and the acquired content is recorded. The control step is executed.

  The network is a mechanism in which at least two devices are connected and information can be transmitted from one device to another device. The devices that communicate via the network may be independent devices, or may be internal blocks that constitute one device.

  The communication is not only wireless communication and wired communication, but also communication in which wireless communication and wired communication are mixed, that is, wireless communication is performed in a certain section and wired communication is performed in another section. May be. Further, communication from one device to another device may be performed by wired communication, and communication from another device to one device may be performed by wireless communication.

  In one aspect of the present invention, reception of a content ID specifying content and genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID, which is transmitted from the providing device via the network, is controlled, There is a possibility that the content specified by the received content ID may be viewed by the user of the terminal device from the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device by the information processing device and the received genre information. When the possibility that the user of the terminal device is calculated and views the content specified by the received content ID is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the genre information and the community configured by a plurality of information processing devices A community is selected from pre-recorded data indicating the genre, and the selected community It is inquired via the network whether the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in another information processing device constituting Niti, and is specified by the received content ID from the other information processing device. When it is returned that the content is recorded, the other information processing apparatus that has responded that the content specified by the received content ID has been recorded is specified by the received content ID. Content is acquired via the network, and recording of the acquired content is controlled.

  As described above, according to one aspect of the present invention, content can be acquired.

  Also, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to acquire content with a larger amount of data.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the specification or the drawings are exemplified as follows. This description is intended to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the specification or the drawings. Therefore, even if there is an embodiment which is described in the specification or the drawings but is not described here as an embodiment corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, that is not the case. It does not mean that the form does not correspond to the constituent requirements. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. It's not something to do.

  An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing apparatus that is connected to a providing apparatus that provides content via a network and supplies the content to a terminal apparatus, and is transmitted from the providing apparatus via the network A reception control means (for example, the reception control unit 201 in FIG. 12) that controls reception of the content ID that specifies the content and the genre information that indicates the genre of the content specified by the content ID; Calculation means for calculating a possibility that the user specified by the received content ID will view the content from a history indicating other content supplied to the terminal device and the received genre information ( For example, the preference analysis unit 187) in FIG. 12 and the user of the terminal device use the received content ID to If the possibility of viewing the content is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a community is selected from the genre information and pre-recorded data indicating the genre of the community composed of a plurality of information processing devices Via the network, whether the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in the selection means (for example, the community selection unit 192 in FIG. 12) and the other information processing apparatus constituting the selected community. When the inquiry means (for example, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 in FIG. 12) and another information processing apparatus reply that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the received content ID Other information processing that has responded that the content specified by is recorded The acquisition unit (for example, the content reception control unit 208 in FIG. 12) that acquires the content specified by the received content ID via the network, and the recording control unit that controls the recording of the acquired content ( For example, the content read / write control unit 183) of FIG.

  Recording means (for example, a browsing history database in FIG. 12) for recording a history indicating other content supplied to the terminal device may be further provided.

  For each community, recording means (for example, the community database 196 in FIG. 12) for recording addresses and genre data of a plurality of information processing devices constituting the community is further provided, and recorded in the inquiry means. Based on the address, it is possible to make an inquiry about whether or not the content specified by the content ID is recorded in another information processing device that constitutes the selected community.

  An information processing method according to an aspect of the present invention is an information processing method for an information processing apparatus that is connected to a providing apparatus that provides content via a network and supplies the content to a terminal apparatus. Receiving the content ID specifying the content and the genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID (for example, step S1302 in FIG. 33) and transmitting the information. From the history indicating the other content supplied by the device to the terminal device and the received genre information, the user of the terminal device calculates the possibility of viewing the content specified by the received content ID. (For example, step S1304 in FIG. 34), the content received by the user of the terminal device If the possibility of viewing the content specified by D is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a community is obtained from the genre information and prerecorded data indicating a genre of a community composed of a plurality of information processing devices. (For example, step S1308 in FIG. 33) and inquires, via the network, whether or not the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in another information processing apparatus constituting the selected community ( For example, in step S1311 in FIG. 33, when another information processing apparatus responds that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the content specified by the received content ID is recorded. Specified by the content ID received from another information processing device that has responded It acquires the content via the network (e.g., step S1316 in FIG. 33), for controlling recording of the acquired content (e.g., step S1317 in FIG. 33) includes the step.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 includes a content server 11, a network 12-1 and a network 12-2, a client 13-1 to a client 13-4, a proxy 14-1 to a proxy 14-4, a mirror server 15-1, and A mirror server 15-2, a key server 16, and a content ID management server 17 are included.

  The content server 11 provides content via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2. Here, the content is moving image data, still image data, audio data, or the like, and is significant data for the user.

  The network 12-1 and the network 12-2 are a content server 11, a proxy 14-1 to a proxy 14-4, a mirror server 15-1, and a mirror server 15-2 by using electromagnetic or light as a medium by wire or wireless. Various data are transmitted between the key server 16 and the content ID management server 17.

  The clients 13-1 to 13-4 present the provided content to their respective users. For example, when content that is moving image data or still image data is provided, the clients 13-1 to 13-4 display a moving image or a still image displayed with the provided content. For example, when content that is audio data is provided, the clients 13-1 to 13-4 output audio according to the provided content.

  Each of the clients 13-1 to 13-4 acquires content from the content server 11 via the proxy 14-1 to proxy 14-4, or acquires content from the proxy 14-1 to proxy 14-4, respectively. .

  In addition, the clients 13-1 to 13-4 receive Web (World-Wide Web) page data that provides information related to the content provided from the content server 11 on the network 12-1 or the network 12-2 and the proxy 14. -1 to proxy 14-4, it is acquired from the content server 11.

  Each of the proxies 14-1 to 14-4 acquires Web page data providing information related to the content provided from the content server 11 from the content server 11 via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2. To do. The proxy 14-1 supplies the acquired web page data to the client 13-1. Similarly, the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 supply the acquired web page data to the client 13-2 to the client 13-4, respectively.

  The proxy 14-1 acquires content from the content server 11 via the network 12-1. Alternatively, the proxy 14-1 receives content from the mirror server 15-1, the mirror server 15-2, or the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2. get.

  When the proxy 14-1 acquires the content, the proxy 14-1 provides the content to the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2.

  Similarly, each of the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 acquires content from the content server 11 via the network 12-1. Alternatively, the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 acquire content from the mirror server 15-1 or the mirror server 15-2 via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2, respectively. In addition, the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 respectively receive contents from any one of the proxy 14-1 to the proxy 14-4 other than itself through the network 12-1 or the network 12-2. get.

  When the proxy 14-2 to the proxy 14-4 obtains the content, the content is sent to any one of the proxies 14-1 to 14-4 other than itself through the network 12-1 or the network 12-2. I will provide a.

  The mirror server 15-1 and the mirror server 15-2 provide contents to the proxy 14-1 to the proxy 14-4 via the network 12-1 or the network 12-2, respectively.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the client 13-1 is provided from the content server 11 based on HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) in response to an operation by the user 31-1 of the client 13-1. A request for data of a Web page that provides information about content is transmitted to the proxy 14-1. Based on HTTP, the proxy 14-1 transfers a request for data of a Web page that provides information about the content provided from the content server 11 to the content server 11 via the network 12-1.

  The content server 11 that has received the request transmits, via the network 12-1, data of a Web page that provides information related to the content provided from the content server 11 based on HTTP. Receive the data for that web page. The proxy 14-1 supplies the received web page data to the client 13-1 based on HTTP.

  For example, the IP (Internet) of a device that can provide content such as the content server 11, the mirror server 15-1, or the proxy 14-2 is included in the data of the Web page that provides information about the content transmitted from the content server 11. Protocol) address is included.

  When the proxy 14-1 receives data of a web page (for example, a top page) that provides information about the content provided from the content server 11, the proxy 14-1 is a device that can provide the content included in the data of the web page. For example, content is acquired from the content server 11, the mirror server 15-1, or the proxy 14-2 using the IP address of the content server 11, the mirror server 15-1, or the proxy 14-2.

  In this case, the proxy 14-1 can acquire content using a protocol different from HTTP, which is a protocol for acquiring Web page data. For example, the proxy 14-1 acquires content from the content server 11 based on FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Further, for example, the proxy 14-1 acquires content from the content server 11 based on the bulk transfer protocol.

  Further, for example, the proxy 14-1 selects the mirror server 15-1 as a partner from which the content is acquired, and acquires the content from the mirror server 15-1.

  Further, for example, the proxy 14-1 acquires content from the proxy 14-2 or the like based on a P2P (Peer to Peer) protocol such as the BitTorrent protocol.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the proxy 14-1 acquires the data of the Web page from the content server 11 via the network 12-1, and the content server 11 and the mirror server via the network 12-2. The content is acquired from 15-1, the proxy 14-2, or the proxy 14-3. In this case, for example, the network 12-2 transmits content by optical bulk transfer.

  In this way, it is not necessary to request the user to perform an operation for acquiring the content, and as a result, the user can communicate the content at high speed without being aware of the protocol for acquiring the content. can do.

  When the transmission of content is interrupted for some reason, it is preferable that the content can be transmitted again from the interrupted portion.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the content 51 includes a part # 0 which is the first part, a part # 1 which is the next part of the part # 0, and a part # 2 which is the next part of the part # 1. And the part # 3 which is the part next to the part # 2, the part # 0 of the content 51 is provided from the proxy 14-2 of the user 31-2, and the part # 1 of the content 51 is The part # 2 of the content 51 is provided from the proxy 14-4 of the user 31-4, and the part # 3 of the content 51 is provided from the proxy 14-3 of the user 31-3. When the proxy 14-1 is provided by the proxy 14-5 of 31-5, the proxy 14-1 sends the part # 0 of the content 51 to the proxy 14− via the network 12-1 or the network 12-1 based on the BitTorrent protocol. 2 and part # 1 of content 51 Obtained from proxy 14-4 acquires part # 2 content 51 from the proxy 14-3 acquires part # 3 content 51 from the proxy 14-5.

  Returning to FIG. 1, when the content is encrypted, the key server 16 provides a key for decrypting the content.

  In addition, while providing the encrypted content, you may make it provide the server 41 which provides the key for decoding the encrypted content.

  In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the proxy 14-1 is notified of the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the proxy 14-1, the server 41 transfers the encrypted content 61 to the MAC. The IP address specified from the address is transmitted to the proxy 14-1. In addition, the proxy 14-1 acquires a key 62 for decrypting the encrypted content 61 from the server 41.

  Furthermore, when the MAC address of the proxy 14-2 is notified from the proxy 14-2, the server 41 transmits the IP address of the proxy 14-1 that has received the encrypted content 61 to the proxy 14-2. Therefore, the proxy 14-2 acquires the encrypted content 61 (a copy thereof) from the proxy 14-1. The proxy 14-2 acquires a key 62 for decrypting the encrypted content 61 from the server 41.

  For example, when the proxy 14-1 notifies the MAC address of the proxy 14-1, the server 41 encrypts the content 61 with the MAC address and the encryption key, and stores the content 61 encrypted in this way. You may make it transmit to the proxy 14-1. In this case, if the proxy 14-1 acquires the key 62 for decrypting the encrypted content 61 from the server 41, the proxy 14-1 can decrypt the content with its own MAC address and the key 62. However, even if the proxy 14-2 acquires the content 61 and acquires the key 62, the content cannot be decrypted.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the content ID management server 17 can provide the content specified by the content ID among the mirror server 15-1, the mirror server 15-2, and the proxy 14-1 to the proxy 14-4. The IP address is supplied to the proxy 14-1 to the proxy 14-4.

  As described above, in the content providing system illustrated in FIG. 1, the proxy 14-1 to proxy 14-4 are not limited to the content server 11, but the mirror server 15-1 or the mirror server 15-2, or the proxy 14-1 to 14-1. The content is acquired from any one of the proxies 14-4 other than itself, and the acquired content is provided to the clients 13-1 to 13-4.

  By doing in this way, the proxy 14-1 thru | or the proxy 14-4 can acquire a content more rapidly by faster transmission, without being restrict | limited by the capability of the content server 11. FIG.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the network 12-1 or the network 12-2, they are simply referred to as the network 12.

  Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish each of the clients 13-1 to 13-4, they are simply referred to as clients 13.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the proxies 14-1 to 14-4, they are simply referred to as proxies 14.

  Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to individually distinguish the mirror server 15-1 or the mirror server 15-2, they are simply referred to as the mirror server 15.

  Next, the configuration of the content server 11, the proxy 14, and the content ID management server 17 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the content server 11. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102 or a storage unit 108. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 103 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and data. These CPU 101, ROM 102, and RAM 103 are connected to each other by a bus 104.

  An input / output interface 105 is also connected to the CPU 101 via the bus 104. Connected to the input / output interface 105 are an input unit 106 made up of a keyboard, mouse, microphone, and the like, and an output unit 107 made up of a display, a speaker, and the like. The CPU 101 executes various processes in response to commands input from the input unit 106. Then, the CPU 101 outputs the processing result to the output unit 107.

  The storage unit 108 connected to the input / output interface 105 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 101 and various data. The communication unit 109 communicates with an external device via the network 12 such as the Internet or a local area network.

  A program may be acquired via the communication unit 109 and stored in the storage unit 108.

  The drive 110 connected to the input / output interface 105 drives a removable medium 111 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives programs and data recorded there. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 108 as necessary.

  Note that the content ID management server 17 has the same configuration as the content server 11, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the proxy 14. The CPU 121 executes various processes according to programs stored in the ROM 122 or the storage unit 128. The RAM 123 appropriately stores programs executed by the CPU 121 and data. These CPU 121, ROM 122, and RAM 123 are connected to each other by a bus 124.

  An input / output interface 125 is also connected to the CPU 121 via the bus 124. Connected to the input / output interface 125 are an input unit 126 such as a button switch and a dip switch, and an output unit 127 such as a display, a speaker, and a lamp. The CPU 121 executes various processes in response to a command input from the input unit 126. Then, the CPU 121 outputs the processing result to the output unit 127.

  The storage unit 128 connected to the input / output interface 125 includes, for example, a hard disk, and stores programs executed by the CPU 121 and various data. The communication unit 129 communicates with an external device via a network 12-1 such as the Internet or a local area network. The communication unit 130 communicates with an external device via a network 12-2 such as a local area network. For example, the communication unit 129 can be an interface for communication using an electrical signal as a transmission medium, and the communication unit 130 can be an interface for communication using light as a transmission medium.

  Further, the program may be acquired via the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 and stored in the storage unit 128.

  Note that either the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 may not be provided. For example, in the proxy 14-1 and the proxy 14-2, both the communication unit 129 and the communication unit 130 are provided, in the proxy 14-3, only the communication unit 130 is provided, and in the proxy 14-4, the communication is performed. Only the part 129 may be provided.

  In this case, for example, the proxy 14-1 and the proxy 14-2 acquire the data of the Web page from the content server 11 via the network 12-1, which is the Internet, and the network 12 configured as a local optical network. -2 acquires content from the content server 11, the mirror server 15-1, the proxy 14-2, or the proxy 14-3.

  The drive 131 connected to the input / output interface 125 drives a removable medium 132 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and drives the programs and data recorded therein. Get etc. The acquired program and data are transferred to and stored in the storage unit 128 as necessary.

  Next, a configuration of functions realized by executing the program of the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the content ID management server 17 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of functions realized by the CPU 101 of the content server 11 that executes the program. By executing the program of the CPU 101, the web server 151, the content information generation unit 152, the proxy information recording control unit 153, the content database 154, and the download database 155 are realized in the content server 11.

  The web server 151 controls the communication unit 109 to transmit web page data to the proxy 14 via the network 12. Further, the Web server 151 transmits the content information generated by the content information generation unit 152 to the proxy 14 via the network 12. That is, the Web server 151 controls transmission of content information to the proxy 14 via the network 12. Further, the Web server 151 controls transmission of data generated by the content information generation unit 152 to the proxy 14 via the network 12.

  The content information generation unit 152 generates content information to be transmitted to the proxy 14 via the network 12.

  That is, for example, the content information generation unit 152 is the data for page generation requested from the proxy 14-1, which is an example of the second information processing device among the information processing devices, and the first information that has acquired the content. The data in which the address of the proxy 14-2 which is an example of the information processing apparatus is arranged is generated.

  The content information includes the IP address of the content server 11, the IP address of the mirror server 15, or the IP address of the proxy 14 that has already acquired the content.

  Here, a specific example of content information described in an XML (eXtensible Mark-up Language) method will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

  The tag described with <? Xml version = “1.0” encoding = “euc-jp”?> At the beginning of the content information shown in FIG. 9 is an XML declaration, and the content information is described in XML format. Indicates that encoding = “euc-jp” describes the character code.

  The tag described as <? xml-stylesheet type = "text / xsl" href = "index.xsl"?> is a so-called stylesheet element, which is a stylesheet that describes the conversion process of content information and data structure And The value of the type attribute that is “text / xsl” indicates that a style sheet that is an xsl style sheet is linked, and the value of the href attribute indicates a URI (Universal Resource Identifier) to be referenced.

  Information arranged between <page> and </ page> constitutes one page. Information related to one or a plurality of contents is arranged between <contents> and </ contents>.

  Between <video> and </ video>, information related to the content of one moving image that is one content is arranged. Information arranged between <name> and </ name> indicates the name of the content of the moving image.

  Between <exp> and </ exp>, description of the content of the moving image is described. Information arranged between <genru> and </ genru> indicates the genre of moving image content.

  Between <fname> and </ fname>, the name of a file that stores image data of an image that is displayed on the page and that represents the content of the moving image is described. Between <img> and </ img>, the name of a file storing image data of an image displayed on the page is described.

  Between <icon> and </ icon>, the name of a file storing icon image data for instructing downloading of moving image content is described.

  between <url1> and </ url1>, between <url2> and </ url2>, between <url3> and </ url3>, and between <url4> and </ url4> Each of the IP addresses of the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 that provides the content is described.

  For example, the IP address of the mirror server 15-1 is described between <url1> and </ url1>, and the IP address of the mirror server 15-2 is described between <url2> and </ url2>. Between the <url3> and </ url3>, the IP address of the proxy 14-2 that has already acquired the content is described, and between the <url4> and </ url4>, the content server 11 IP addresses are described.

  Hereinafter, the IP address of the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 that provides the content is also referred to as link information.

  The information arranged between <date> and </ date> indicates the date when the moving image content was registered. Specifically, the date when the content is registered is, for example, the date when the provision of the content is started or the date when the use (reproduction) of the content is permitted.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of content information of encrypted content. In the content information of FIG. 10, XML declaration, stylesheet element, <page> and </ page>, <contents> and </ contents>, <video> and </ video>, <name> and </ name>, < exp> and </ exp>, <genru> and </ genru>, <fname> and </ fname>, <img> and </ img>, <icon> and </ icon>, and <url1> and < Descriptions of / url1> to <url4> and </ url4> are the same as in the case of the content information in FIG.

  Further, <key> and </ key> and <key_con> and </ key_con> are arranged in the content information of FIG.

  Between <key> and </ key>, a URL for obtaining (obtaining) a key for decrypting the encrypted content, that is, the address of the key server 16 is described. Between <key_con> and </ key_con>, the name of a file storing icon image data for instructing acquisition of a key for decrypting content is described.

  The content information can describe the specification of the content acquisition protocol.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 11, between <url1> and </ url1> and between <url2> and </ url2>, <protocol> and </ protocol> and < src> and </ src> are placed.

  Between <protocol> and </ protocol>, the specified protocol used when acquiring content is described, and between <src> and </ src>, content that provides content An IP address of the server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 is described.

  For example, http described between <protocol> and </ protocol> between <url1> and </ url1> specifies http as a content acquisition protocol. Also, ftp described between <protocol> and </ protocol> between <url2> and </ url2> specifies ftp as a content acquisition protocol.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the content information generation unit 152 generates data for generating a page requested by the proxy 14, which is an example of an information processing apparatus, in which a content ID for specifying the content is arranged. .

  The proxy information recording control unit 153 causes the download database 155 to store the proxy information included in the download information transmitted from the proxy 14 that acquired the content and indicating that the content has been acquired. That is, the proxy information recording control unit 153 controls the recording of proxy information in the download database 155.

  The proxy information includes an IP address of the proxy 14 that acquired the content, a content ID that identifies the acquired content, and information indicating a protocol that can be used in the proxy 14 that acquired the content. Here, the protocol that can be used in the proxy 14 is a protocol in which the proxy 14 that has acquired the content transmits the content, in other words, a protocol that receives the content from the proxy 14 that has acquired the content.

  The content database 154 stores content and metadata indicating the content name, content description, content genre, and the like.

  The download database 155 stores proxy information under the control of the proxy information recording control unit 153.

  For example, the content database 154 and the download database 155 are constructed in the storage unit 108.

  The content information generation unit 152 includes a metadata acquisition unit 161, a proxy information acquisition unit 162, and a proxy information selection unit 163.

  The metadata acquisition unit 161 acquires metadata indicating the content name, content description, content genre, and the like from the content database 154. The proxy information acquisition unit 162 acquires, from the download database 155, proxy information indicating the IP address of the proxy 14 that acquired the content, the content ID that identifies the content, and the protocol that can be used in the proxy 14 that acquired the content.

  The proxy information selection unit 163 selects proxy information stored in the content information to be generated from the proxy information acquired by the proxy information acquisition unit 162.

  The proxy information recording control unit 153 includes a download information reception control unit 164 and a proxy information extraction unit 165.

  The download information reception control unit 164 controls the communication unit 109 to control the reception of download information indicating that the content has been acquired, which is transmitted from the proxy 14 that has acquired the content via the network 12.

  That is, the download information reception control unit 164 transmits information via the network 12 from the proxy 14 that has acquired the content of the proxy 14 that is an example of the information processing apparatus, and stores information on the address of the proxy 14. Then, reception of download information, which is information indicating that content has been acquired, is controlled.

  The proxy information extraction unit 165 extracts proxy information from the received download information.

  In this way, the download information reception control unit 164 controls the recording of the address of the proxy 14 that is an example of the first information processing apparatus that has acquired the content.

  Next, the function of the proxy 14 will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of functions implemented by the CPU 121 of the proxy 14 that executes a program. By executing the program of the CPU 121, in the proxy 14, the proxy server 181, the prefetch processing unit 182, the content read / write control unit 183, the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184, the download information transmission control unit 185, the browsing history update unit 186, the preference analysis unit 187, content transmission control unit 188, content information acquisition unit 189, community information read / write control unit 190, preference level determination unit 191, community selection unit 192, content database 193, neighborhood proxy database 194, browsing history database 195, and community database 196 Is realized.

  The proxy server 181 controls the communication unit 129 to request web page data from the content server 11 via the network 12 in response to a request from the client 13. The proxy server 181 acquires content information transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12 when requesting Web page data.

  The proxy server 181 supplies the link information included in the acquired content information to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  When the link information is not included in the content information and the content ID is included, the proxy server 181 supplies the content ID included in the acquired content information to the content information acquisition unit 189.

  The proxy server 181 supplies the acquired content information to the client 13 as it is, or removes link information from the content information to generate Web page data, and supplies the generated Web page data to the client 13.

  In addition, the proxy server 181 supplies the acquired content to the client 13.

  The prefetch processing unit 182 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130, and from the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 based on the link information included in the content information supplied from the proxy server 181. The content is prefetched via the network 12. Alternatively, the prefetch processing unit 182 receives content from the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 via the network 12 based on the link information included in the content information supplied from the content ID management server 17. Prefetch.

  That is, the prefetch processing unit 182 acquires content from the content server 11, the proxy 14, or the mirror server 15 via the network 12 based on the link information supplied from the proxy server 181 or the content ID management server 17.

  The content read / write control unit 183 stores the content in the content database 193 when the prefetch processing unit 182 prefetches the content. When supplying content to the client 13, the content read / write control unit 183 reads the content from the content database 193. That is, the content read / write control unit 183 controls the writing of content to the content database 193 and also controls the reading of content from the content database 193. In other words, the content read / write control unit 183 controls the recording of the content and the reading of the content.

  When the prefetch processing unit 182 prefetches content from another proxy 14, the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 uses the IP address of the proxy 14 that is the partner from which the content was acquired as the address of the neighborhood proxy that is the neighborhood proxy 14. And stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194. When the prefetch processing unit 182 inquires whether the content is recorded in the neighborhood proxy, the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 reads the neighborhood proxy address from the neighborhood proxy database 194 and supplies it to the prefetch processing unit 182. In this manner, the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 controls writing of the neighborhood proxy address to the neighborhood proxy database 194 and also controls reading of the neighborhood proxy address from the neighborhood proxy database 194.

  In addition, the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 stores, in the neighborhood proxy database 194, information indicating a protocol that can be used by the other party, along with the IP address of the proxy 14 that has obtained the content.

  The download information transmission control unit 185 controls the communication unit 129 to control transmission of download information. In other words, when the content is acquired, the download information transmission control unit 185 is download information indicating that the content has been acquired. The download information transmission control unit 185 is an IP address of the proxy 14 that is the download information, a content ID that specifies the acquired content, and The content transmission control unit 188 controls transmission of download information including proxy information including information indicating available protocols to the content server 11 or the content ID management server 17 via the network 12.

  In other words, the download information transmission control unit 185 is a network of download information that is an example of information that stores the address of the proxy 14 that is an example of the information processing apparatus and that indicates that the content has been acquired. The transmission to the content server 11 which is an example of the providing apparatus via the server is controlled.

  When the proxy server 181 supplies content to the client 13, the browsing history update unit 186 updates the browsing history of content in the client 13 so that the content information of the content supplied to the client 13 is stored in the browsing history database 195. To do. The content information stored in the browsing history database 195 indicates, for example, a content ID and a content genre.

  The preference analysis unit 187 may allow the user to view the content to be acquired based on the content information of the content supplied to the client 13 and the genre of the content to be acquired, which are stored in the browsing history database 195. Calculate gender. That is, the preference analysis unit 187 determines the content specified by the received content ID by the user of the client 13 from the history indicating the other content supplied to the client 13 which is an example of the terminal device and the received genre information. Calculate the likelihood of viewing.

  The content transmission control unit 188 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130, and when content is requested from another client 14, the content stored in the content database 193 is transmitted via the network 12. Controls the transmission to the requested other client 14.

  The content information acquisition unit 189 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 to transmit the content ID supplied from the proxy server 181 to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12. When the content ID is transmitted, the content ID management server 17 transmits content information including link information via the network 12, so that the content information acquisition unit 189 receives the content transmitted from the content ID management server 17. Content information is acquired by receiving the information. The content information acquisition unit 189 supplies the link information included in the content information to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  The community information read / write control unit 190 controls reading / writing of information related to the community to the community database 196. More specifically, the community information read / write control unit 190 stores the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the community and information indicating the genre of the community in the community database 196. The community information read / write control unit 190 reads the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the community and information indicating the genre of the community from the community database 196. The community information read / write control unit 190 supplies the read IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the community and information indicating the genre of the community to the community selection unit 192.

  The preference level determination unit 191 determines whether or not the value calculated by the preference analysis unit 187 and indicating the possibility of being viewed by the user of the client 13 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

  When the preference level determination unit 191 determines that the value indicating the possibility of being viewed by the user of the client 13 is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the community level read / write control unit The community is selected from the information indicating the genre of the community supplied from 190 and the genre of the predetermined content.

  When the possibility that the user of the client 13 that is an example of the terminal device views the content specified by the received content ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the community selection unit 192 includes genre information and a plurality of information processing devices. A community is selected from prerecorded data indicating the genre of the community configured by the proxy 14 as an example.

  The community selection unit 192 supplies the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  The content database 193 stores the content prefetched by the prefetch processing unit 182 or the content acquired from the content server 11 by the proxy server 181.

  The neighborhood proxy database 194 stores, in the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184, the IP address of the proxy 14 that is the partner from which the content has been acquired as the address of the neighborhood proxy that is the neighborhood proxy 14. The neighborhood proxy database 194 stores information indicating a protocol that can be used in the neighborhood proxy together with the address of the neighborhood proxy.

  The browsing history database 195 stores content information of the content supplied to the client 13 as a browsing history.

  The community database 196 stores the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the community and information indicating the genre of the community.

  For example, the content database 193 to the community database 196 are constructed in the storage unit 128.

  The proxy server 181 includes a reception control unit 201, a transmission control unit 202, a link information extraction unit 203, a content ID extraction unit 204, and a genre information extraction unit 205.

  The reception control unit 201 controls the communication unit 129 to control reception of content information transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12. That is, the reception control unit 201 is data for generating a page transmitted from the content server 11 which is an example of a providing device via the network 12 and is an example of another information processing device that has acquired the content. The reception of content information which is an example of data in which the address of the proxy 14 is arranged is controlled.

  Alternatively, the reception control unit 201 is data for generating a page that is transmitted from the content server 11 that is an example of the first providing device via the network, and has data IDs that specify the content arranged therein. The reception of top page data, which is an example, is controlled.

  The top page is one of the web pages.

  Furthermore, the reception control unit 201 transmits a content ID that identifies content and a genre that indicates the genre of the content identified by the content ID, which is transmitted from the content server 11, which is an example of a providing device, via the network 12. Control reception with information.

  The transmission control unit 202 controls transmission of the received content information to the client 13. Alternatively, the transmission control unit 202 controls transmission of Web page data obtained by removing link information from the received content information to the client 13. Further, the transmission control unit 202 controls the transmission of the received content or the content stored in the content database 193 to the client 13.

  That is, the transmission control unit 202 controls transmission of content information, which is an example of received data, or a client 13, which is an example of a terminal device, of recorded content.

  The link information extraction unit 203 extracts link information from the received content information. The content ID extraction unit 204 extracts a content ID from the received content information.

  The genre information extraction unit 205 extracts genre information indicating the genre of content from the received content information.

  The prefetch processing unit 182 includes a transmission characteristic measurement unit 206, a download destination selection unit 207, a content reception control unit 208, and another proxy inquiry unit 209.

  The transmission characteristic measurement unit 206 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 to indicate the IP address and mirror of the content server 11 that provides the content indicated by the link information extracted by the proxy server 181 or the link information acquisition unit 189. Based on the IP address of the server 15 or the IP address of the other proxy 14 that has already acquired the content, the proxy 14 and the content server 11, the mirror server 15, or other content that has already acquired the content in the network 12. Measure the characteristics of data transmission with each of the proxies 14.

  The download destination selection unit 207 determines whether the proxy 14 that is itself in the network 12 and the content server 11, the mirror server 15, or another proxy 14 that has already acquired the content, measured by the transmission characteristic measurement unit 206. From the data transmission characteristics, the content download destination (the partner in the case of acquiring the content from the partner) is selected from the content server 11, the mirror server 15, or another proxy 14 that has already acquired the content.

  The content reception control unit 208 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 to transmit the content transmitted from the content server 11, the mirror server 15, or another proxy 14 that has already acquired the content via the network 12. Control reception. That is, the content reception control unit 208 makes a request to another proxy 14 that is an example of another information processing apparatus based on an address arranged in the content information that is an example of received data. Controls the reception of incoming content.

  The other proxy inquiry unit 209 records the content in the nearby proxy 14 by controlling the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 based on the IP address of the other proxy 14 stored in the nearby proxy database 194. Inquire.

  Further, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 controls the communication unit 129 or the communication unit 130 based on the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community supplied from the community selection unit 192, and the proxy belonging to the selected community. 14 inquires whether the content is recorded.

  If the prefetch processing unit 182 replies that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded from another proxy 14, which is an example of another information processing apparatus, the prefetch processing unit 182 specifies the received content ID. The content specified by the received content ID is acquired via the network 12 from another proxy 14 that has responded that the content to be recorded is recorded.

  The content information acquisition unit 189 includes a transmission control unit 210, a reception control unit 211, and a link information extraction unit 212. The transmission control unit 210 controls the transmission of the content ID to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12. The reception control unit 211 controls reception of content information transmitted via the network 12 from the content ID management server 17 that has received the content ID. In other words, the reception control unit 211 is an example of another information processing apparatus that has acquired the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the content ID management server 17 that is an example of the second providing apparatus via the network 12. The reception of the address of the other proxy 14 is controlled.

  The link information extraction unit 212 extracts link information from the received content information.

  Next, functions of the content ID management server 17 will be described. FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of functions realized by the CPU 101 of the content ID management server 17 that executes a program. By executing the program of the CPU 101, the content information communication control unit 231, the content information generation unit 232, the proxy information recording control unit 233, and the download database 234 are realized in the content ID management server 17.

  The content information communication control unit 231 controls communication of content information via the network 12. That is, when the content information communication control unit 231 controls reception of the content ID transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12, the content information of the content specified by the received content ID is transmitted via the network 12. The transmission to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the content ID is controlled.

  The content information generation unit 232 generates content information to be transmitted to the proxy 14 via the network 12.

  The proxy information recording control unit 233 controls the recording of the proxy information included in the download information transmitted from the proxy 14 that has acquired the content and indicating that the content has been acquired, into the download database 234. That is, the proxy information recording control unit 233 controls the recording of the address of the proxy 14 that is an example of the first information processing apparatus and the content ID that identifies the content acquired by the proxy 14.

  The download database 234 stores proxy information under the control of the proxy information recording control unit 233.

  The content information communication control unit 231 includes a transmission control unit 251 and a reception control unit 252. The transmission control unit 251 controls transmission of the content information of the content specified by the content ID to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the content ID via the network 12. For example, the transmission control unit 251 acquires the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the proxy 14-1 that is an example of the second information processing device among the information processing devices. The transmission of the address of the proxy 14-2 as an example to the proxy 14-1 via the network 12 is controlled.

  The reception control unit 252 controls reception of the content ID transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12.

  The content information generation unit 232 includes a proxy information acquisition unit 253 and a proxy information selection unit 254. The proxy information acquisition unit 253 acquires, from the download database 234, proxy information indicating the IP address of the proxy 14 that acquired the content, the content ID that identifies the content, and the protocol that can be used in the proxy 14 that acquired the content.

  The proxy information selection unit 254 selects proxy information to be stored in the generated content information from the proxy information acquired by the proxy information acquisition unit 253.

  The proxy information recording control unit 233 includes a download information reception control unit 255 and a proxy information extraction unit 256.

  The download information reception control unit 255 controls reception of download information transmitted from the proxy 14 that has acquired the content and indicating that the content has been acquired. That is, the download information reception control unit 255 indicates that the content transmitted from the proxy 14 which is an example of the first information processing apparatus that has acquired the content of the information processing apparatuses via the network 12 has been acquired. The reception of download information which is an example of information in which the address of the proxy 14 and the content ID for specifying the acquired content are stored is controlled.

  The proxy information extraction unit 256 extracts proxy information from the received download information.

  Next, an outline of content provision by the content provision system will be described with reference to FIG. The client 13-1 accesses the top page, which is a page related to content provision, among the pages provided from the content server 11 via the proxy 14-1 and the network 12. Then, the content server 11 transmits content information to the proxy 14-1 as top page data via the network 12. The proxy 14-1 receives the content information and supplies the received content information to the client 13-1. Since the client 13-1 displays the top page based on the content information as the top page data, the user 31-1 can view the top page. The top page displayed on the client 13-1 is not different from the case where the top page data not including the link information is received.

  When the proxy 14-1 receives the content information, the proxy 14-1 selects the prefetched content based on the metadata included in the content information. The prefetching referred to here is so-called prefetching, which means reading the content before the content is requested from the client 13.

  For example, the proxy 14-1 selects content presumed to be browsed by the user 31-1 based on the browsing history of the content of the user 31-1 as prefetched content, The contents included in the top 10 of this week are selected in this order (for example, the popularity order given by the content provider).

  Based on the link information included in the content information, the proxy 14-1 transmits a Ping to a partner that can provide the selected content, and receives an acknowledgment (ACK: Acknowledgment) after transmitting the Ping. Measure RTT (Round Trip Time) which is the time until. In the example shown in FIG. 14, since the content information includes the IP address of the content server 11 and the IP address of the proxy 14-2 as the link information, the proxy 14-1 determines the content based on the IP address. Ping is transmitted to each of the content server 11 and the proxy 14-2 that can provide the content, and the RTT that is the time from when the Ping is transmitted until the confirmation response is received is measured.

  The proxy 14-1 compares the RTT and selects a partner from which content is acquired based on the result. For example, when the RTT with the proxy 14-2 is shorter than the RTT with the content server 11, it is assumed that the content can be acquired from the proxy 14-2 more quickly than the content server 11, so the proxy 14-1 Selects the proxy 14-2 as the partner from whom the content is acquired.

  The proxy 14-1 transmits a content prefetch request to the selected partner, in this case, for example, the proxy 14-2, and the content transmitted from the proxy 14-2 via the network 12 in response thereto. By receiving, the content is prefetched.

  In this case, when the content information describes that the content to be prefetched is provided by the P2P protocol, the proxy 14-1 acquires the content by the P2P protocol.

  Further, in this case, the proxy 14-1 dynamically transmits light to the network 12-2 that is an optical network using a protocol such as GMPLS (Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching) by the communication unit 130 that is an optical interface. A path may be constructed so that content can be received at high speed. Note that the content providing side may dynamically construct an optical path.

  When the content is prefetched, the proxy 14-1 transmits download information indicating that the content has been downloaded to the content server 11 via the network 12.

  Thus, since the proxy 14-1 prefetches the content, when the client 13-1 accesses the content, the content can be immediately provided to the client 13-1.

  When the content is encrypted, the client 13-1 acquires a key for decrypting the content from the key server 16 via the proxy 14-1 and the network 12, and uses the acquired key to store the content. Decrypt. That is, when the content is encrypted, the proxy 14-1 acquires a key for decrypting the content from the key server 16 via the network 12, and supplies the acquired key to the client 13-1.

  When paying content is distributed, it may be charged in exchange for providing the key.

  The details of the process of providing content will be described below.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining content information provision processing by the content server 11. In step S <b> 11, the web server 151 receives the top page request transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12. The web server 151 supplies the received request to the content information generation unit 152.

  In step S12, the metadata acquisition unit 161 of the content information generation unit 152 acquires the content ID of the content provided to the user and the metadata of the content described in the top page from the content database 154. The content metadata indicates the name of the content, the description of the content, the genre of the content, the date when the content was registered, and the like.

  In step S13, the content information generation unit 152 describes the metadata of the content acquired in step S12 in the content information described in the XML format, as described with reference to FIG. 9 or FIG.

  In step S14, the proxy information acquisition unit 162 of the content information generation unit 152 can use the IP address of the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content. Proxy information indicating an appropriate protocol is acquired from the download database 155 for each content based on the content ID. In other words, when one content is described in the top page, the proxy information acquisition unit 162 of the content information generation unit 152 acquires proxy information for the one content from the download database 155, and a plurality of contents in the top page. Is described, the proxy information for each of the plurality of contents is acquired from the download database 155.

  In step S15, the proxy information selection unit 163 of the content information generation unit 152 determines whether there is a proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID, based on the proxy information acquired in the process of step S13. To do.

  If it is determined in step S15 that there is a proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID, the process proceeds to step S16, where the proxy information selection unit 163 of the content information generation unit 152 provides the proxy information to be presented to the proxy 14 The proxy information about the proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content is selected.

  For example, the proxy information selection unit 163 randomly selects proxy information regarding the proxy 14 that has been downloaded in step S13 and has already been downloaded. In addition, for example, the proxy information selection unit 163 selects proxy information about the proxy 14 that has been downloaded and is recently downloaded by the sliding window.

  Further, for example, the proxy information selection unit 163 selects proxy information about the proxy 14 that has already been downloaded, which is proxy information presented to the proxy 14 based on the domain or address. For example, the proxy information selection unit 163 selects proxy information about the proxy 14 having a domain or address closer to the proxy 14 that is to transmit content information, such as the same subnet.

  Furthermore, for example, the proxy information selection unit 163 cyclically selects the proxy information presented to the proxy 14 and the proxy information about the proxy 14 whose content has already been downloaded.

  Further, for example, the proxy information selection unit 163 obtains a hash value by applying a hash function to the proxy information acquired from the download database 155, and selects the proxy information based on the obtained hash value. By using the hash value, it is possible to reduce the bias of the proxy information to be selected. More specifically, the proxy information selection unit 163 selects proxy information whose hash value is more than a predetermined value, selects proxy information in descending order of hash values, or selects proxy information in ascending order of hash values. Or select.

  In step S17, the content information generation unit 152 describes the proxy information selected in step S16 in the content information, and proceeds to step S18.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S15 that there is no proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID, it is not necessary to describe proxy information about the proxy 14 in the content information, so steps S16 and S17 are performed. Skipped, the procedure proceeds to step S18.

  In step S <b> 18, the content information generation unit 152 describes proxy information indicating the IP address of the content server 11 and a protocol that can be used in the content server 11 in the content information.

  As described above, by executing Step S13 and Step S18 or Step S17, the content information described with reference to FIG. 9 is generated, for example.

  In step S19, the Web server 151 transmits the generated content information to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the request for the top page via the network 12, and the process ends.

  As described above, content information including link information is transmitted to the proxy 14.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining proxy information recording processing by the content server 11. In step S31, the download information reception control unit 164 of the proxy information recording control unit 153 is the information transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12 and the download information that is information indicating that the content has been downloaded. Control reception. In step S32, the proxy information extraction unit 165 of the proxy information recording control unit 153, from the download information received in step S31, information indicating the content ID, the IP address of the proxy 14 that has transmitted the download information, and an available protocol. To extract.

  In step S33, the proxy information recording control unit 153 causes the extracted content ID, the IP address of the proxy 14 that has transmitted the download information, and information indicating an available protocol to be written in the download database 155 as proxy information, The process ends.

  In this way, the proxy information about the proxy 14 that acquired the content is stored in the download database 155.

  Next, content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S 51, the proxy server 181 receives a top page request from the client 13. In step S <b> 52, the proxy server 181 transfers the top page request to the content server 11 via the network 12.

  When the request for the top page is transferred to the content server 11, the content information is transmitted from the content server 11 that executes the content information providing process described with reference to FIG. 15. In step S 53, the proxy server 181 The content information transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12 is received.

  In step S54, the link information extraction unit 203 of the proxy server 181 extracts link information from the received content information. For example, the link information extracted in step S54 is the content information described with reference to FIG. 9, between <url1> and </ url1>, between <url2> and </ url2>, <url3 > And </ url3> and <url4> and </ url4>. The link information extraction unit 203 supplies the extracted link information to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  In step S55, the prefetch processing unit 182 determines whether the content has already been downloaded. If it is determined in step S55 that the content has not yet been downloaded, the process proceeds to step S56, where the transmission characteristic measurement unit 206 of the prefetch processing unit 182 determines the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the content based on the link information. Measure the characteristics of transmission with each of the other proxies 14 that have already downloaded.

  For example, the transmission characteristic measuring unit 206, based on the IP address that is the link information, the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and other proxies that have already downloaded the content, whose IP address is described as the link information Ping is transmitted to each of 14. Then, the transmission characteristic measuring unit 206 is the RTT that is the time from when the Ping is transmitted until the confirmation response is received for each of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content. Measure.

  In addition, for example, the transmission characteristic measurement unit 206, based on the IP address that is link information, the content server 11 that has the IP address described as link information, the mirror server 15, and the content that has already been downloaded The cost by Netselect is measured for each proxy 14. That is, the transmission characteristic measurement unit 206 obtains an average value of RTT when the Ping is transmitted a predetermined number of times for each of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content.

  Note that the transmission characteristic measurement unit 206 uses the trace route to each of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content in which the IP address is described as link information. The number of hops (number of routers) may be obtained.

  In step S57, the download destination selection unit 207 selects the optimum one of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content from the transmission characteristics measured in step S56. To do. The optimal thing here means what is estimated that content can be acquired most rapidly, for example.

  More specifically, for example, in step S57, the download destination selection unit 207 selects the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content, the one having the smallest RTT. .

  Further, for example, in step S57, the download destination selection unit 207 selects the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content, the one having the smallest RTT average value. .

  Further, for example, the download destination selection unit 207 selects the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content, that has the smallest number of hops.

  The transmission characteristic measuring unit 206 transmits and receives a predetermined amount of data for each of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content, in which the IP address is described as link information. The transmission destination selection unit 207 measures the other transmission characteristics such as turnaround time or delay time required for the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content. You may make it select the optimal thing in it.

  Further, a plurality of transmission characteristics may be measured, and an optimum one may be selected from the plurality of transmission characteristics.

  In step S58, the prefetch processing unit 58 prefetches content from the partner selected in step S57. At this time, the content reception control unit 208 of the prefetch processing unit 58 requests the content from the selected partner via the network 12 based on the available protocol described in the link information, and the content is transmitted from the partner. Is transmitted via the network 12, the content reception control unit 208 of the prefetch processing unit 58 controls reception of the transmitted content. The prefetch processing unit 58 supplies the prefetched content, that is, the received content to the content read / write control unit 183.

  In step S59, the content read / write control unit 183 records the content in the content database 193.

  In step S60, the neighboring proxy address read / write control unit 184 acquires the IP address of the partner that prefetched the content in step S58 from the prefetch processing unit 182, and if the IP address is the IP address of another proxy 14, Add the IP address to the neighborhood proxy database 194. The neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 does not add the IP address to the neighborhood proxy database 194 when the IP address is the IP address of the content server 11 or the mirror server 15.

  In step S57, since the optimum one of the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content is selected from the measured transmission characteristics, the neighborhood is selected in step S60. The proxy database 194 stores the IP addresses of proximate proxies 14 that are estimated to be able to acquire content more quickly.

  In step S61, the download information transmission control unit 185 specifies download information indicating that the content has been acquired to the content server 11 via the network 12, and identifies the IP address of the proxy 14 that is itself and the acquired content. Download information including proxy information including content IDs to be transmitted and information indicating protocols that can be used in the content transmission control unit 188, and the process proceeds to step S62. That is, the download information transmission control unit 185 controls transmission of download information to the content server 11 via the network 12.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S55 that the content has already been downloaded, it is not necessary to download the content further, so steps S56 to S61 are skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S62.

  In step S62, the transmission control unit 202 of the proxy server 202 controls transmission of top page data obtained by removing link information from the received content information to the client 13, and the process ends.

  In step S62, the transmission control unit 202 may control the transmission so that the content information is transmitted as it is to the client 13 as the data of the top page.

  As described above, when the proxy 14 requests the content server 11 for the top page, the proxy 14 acquires the content based on the link information included in the content information transmitted from the content server 11.

  In addition, the proxy 14 acquires content from a partner that is estimated to be able to acquire the content more quickly among the content server 11, the mirror server 15, and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content.

  Note that the proxy 14 may transmit top page data to the client 13 before prefetching the content.

  Next, processing for providing content to the client 13 by the proxy 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S <b> 81, the proxy server 181 receives a content request from the client 13.

  In step S82, the proxy server 181 compares the content ID of the content stored in the content database 193 with the content ID of the requested content, and determines whether or not the requested content has already been downloaded. . If it is determined in step S82 that the requested content has already been downloaded, the process proceeds to step S83, where the proxy server 181 causes the content read / write control unit 183 to read the content from the content database 193, and then proceeds to step S86. move on. The content database 193 supplies the read content to the proxy server 181.

  If it is determined in step S82 that the requested content has not yet been downloaded, the process proceeds to step S84, and the proxy server 181 acquires the content from the content server 11. In other words, the proxy server 181 requests the content server 11 to transmit content via the network 12 and receives content transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12 in response to the request.

  In step S85, the proxy server 181 causes the content read / write control unit 183 to record the received content in the content database 193, and proceeds to step S86.

  In step S86, the transmission control unit 202 of the proxy server 181 controls transmission of the content received from the content server 11 in step S84 or the content read from the content database 193 in step S83 to the client 13.

  Usually, since the content is prefetched by the processing referring to FIG. 17, the proxy 14 can immediately provide the content to the client.

  In step S <b> 87, the browsing history update unit 186 stores the content information of the content transmitted to the client 13 in the browsing history database 195. In step S88, the preference analysis unit 187 analyzes the user's preference of the client 13 from the content information of the content browsed by the user of the client 13 stored in the browsing history database 195, and the user's preference. Is updated, and the process ends. For example, the preference information is a value indicating the frequency of browsing the content for each genre of the browsed content.

  As described above, the content is quickly provided to the client 13.

  When the content is provided to the client 13, the content information of the content is stored in the browsing history database 195 as a browsing history. From the browsing history stored in the browsing history database 195, the user's preferences such as the genre of the content that the user likes can be known.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining processing of providing content to another proxy 14 by the proxy 14. In step S101, the content transmission control unit 188 receives a content request from another proxy 14 transmitted via the network 12 based on an available protocol. The content request includes a content ID that identifies the requested content.

  In step S102, the content read / write control unit 183 reads the requested content from the content database 193. That is, the content transmission control unit 188 requests the content read / write control unit 183 to read the content specified by the content ID. Then, the content read / write control unit 183 causes the content database 193 to read the content specified by the content ID, and causes the content transmission control unit 188 to supply the read content.

  In step S103, the content transmission control unit 188 causes the other proxy 14 that has transmitted the request to transmit the content specified by the content ID via the network 12 based on the available protocol, and the processing ends. To do.

  In this way, the proxy 14 that has acquired the content provides the content to the other proxy 14 in response to a request from the other proxy 14.

  As shown in FIG. 20, for example, the transmission speed of the transmission path connecting the proxy 14-2 of the user 31-2 and the network 12 is low, and the transmission path transmits content from the proxy 14-2. In this case, it is preferable to provide a cache server 281 corresponding to the proxy 14-2 in the network 12 separately from the proxy 14-2. In this case, when the content 51 is recorded in the cache server 281 and the content 51 is requested from the proxy 14-1 of the user 31-1, the cache server 281 replaces the proxy 14-2 with the content via the network 12. 51 is transmitted to the proxy 14-1. In this way, the content 51 can be provided to the proxy 14-1 more quickly without being affected by the bottleneck.

  Next, a case where the content server 11 provides a content ID without providing link information will be described.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 21, in response to the request for the top page from the proxy 14-1 of the user 31-1, the content server 11 determines the content ID for specifying the content via the network 12. Supply to proxy 14-1. When the proxy 14-1 acquires the content ID, the proxy 14-1 transmits the content ID to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12.

  The content ID management server 17 that has received the content ID transmits the content information of the content specified by the received content ID to the proxy 14-1 that has transmitted the content ID via the network 12. Since the link information is included in the content information transmitted from the content ID management server 17, the proxy 14-1 has already downloaded the content server 11, the mirror server 15, or the content based on the link information. For example, the content is downloaded from the proxy 14-2.

  Further, when the proxy 14-1 acquires the content ID, the proxy 14-1 can search for the nearby proxy 14 based on the IP address stored in the nearby proxy database 194.

  That is, when the proxy 14-1 acquires the content ID, the proxy 14-1 inquires of the nearby proxy 14 whether the content specified by the content ID is recorded based on the IP address stored in the nearby proxy database 194. For example, in the neighborhood proxy database 194, the IP address of the proxy 14-3 of the user 31-3, the IP address of the proxy 14-4 of the user 31-4, and the IP address of the proxy 14-5 of the user 31-5 Is stored in the proxy 14-1 based on the IP address stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194, the content ID is assigned to each of the proxy 14-3, the proxy 14-4, and the proxy 14-5. An inquiry is made as to whether the specified content 51 is recorded.

  For example, when the proxy 14-3 and the proxy 14-5 record the content 51 specified by the content ID, the proxy 14-3 and the proxy 14-5 specify the proxy 14-1 with the content ID. Therefore, the proxy 14-1 acquires the content 51 specified by the content ID from either the proxy 14-3 or the proxy 14-5.

  FIGS. 22 and 23 show processing for providing top page data by the content server 11, content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 when the content server 11 provides a content ID without providing link information, and 7 is a flowchart for explaining content information provision processing by the content ID management server 17;

  Steps S1001 and S1002 are the same as steps S51 and S52 in FIG.

  Steps S2001 and S2002 are the same as steps S11 and S12 of FIG.

  In step S2003, the content information generation unit 152 describes the content ID and metadata of the content acquired in step S2002 in the top page data described in the XML format. In step S2004, the Web server 151 transmits the top page data to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the top page request via the network 12, and the content server 11 provides the top page data. .

  24 and 25 are diagrams showing specific examples of content IDs.

  As shown in FIG. 24, the content ID includes a host address, a content number, and a version number. The host address indicates the address of the content server 11, for example, the IP address of the content server 11. The content number is a unique value assigned to the content on the content server 11. The version number indicates the version of the content.

  In addition, a value for specifying a content creator and a content production date may be included in the content ID.

  The content ID illustrated in FIG. 25 includes a producer ID, a content number, and a production date / time. The producer ID is a value that identifies the producer of the content. The production date and time indicates the date and time when the content was produced.

  In this way, for example, even when the content itself is altered, such as when the content version is upgraded, the content corresponding to the alteration can be specified by the content ID.

  Returning to FIG. 22, in step S <b> 1003, the proxy server 181 receives top page data transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12.

  In step S1004, the content ID extraction unit 204 of the proxy server 181 extracts the content ID from the received top page data. The content ID extraction unit 204 supplies the extracted content ID to the content information acquisition unit 189.

  In step S1005, the content information acquisition unit 189 inquires of the content ID management server 17 based on the content ID. That is, the transmission control unit 210 controls transmission of the content ID to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12.

  In step S3001, the content information communication control unit 231 of the content ID management server 17 receives an inquiry from the proxy 14 based on the content ID. That is, the reception control unit 252 of the content information communication control unit 231 controls reception of the content ID transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12.

  In step S3002, the proxy information acquisition unit 253 of the content information generation unit 232 can use the IP address of the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID and the other proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content. Proxy information indicating an appropriate protocol is acquired from the download database 234 for each content based on the content ID.

  In step S303, the proxy information selection unit 254 of the content information generation unit 232 determines whether there is a proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID, based on the proxy information acquired in the process of step S3002. To do.

  If it is determined in step S3003 that there is a proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content specified by the content ID, the process advances to step S3004, and the proxy information selection unit 254 of the content information generation unit 232 performs the same process as in step S16. The proxy information to be presented to the proxy 14 and the proxy information about the proxy 14 that has already downloaded the content is selected.

  In step S3005, the content information generation unit 232 describes the proxy information selected in step S3004 in the content information, and the process proceeds to step S3006.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3003 that there is no proxy 14 that has downloaded the content specified by the content ID, it is not necessary to describe the proxy information about the proxy 14 in the content information, so steps S3004 and S3005 are Skipped and the procedure proceeds to step S3006.

  In step S3006, the content information generation unit 232 describes, in the content information, proxy information indicating the IP address of the content server 11 and a protocol that can be used in the content server 11. The content information generation unit 232 supplies the content information generated in this way to the content information communication control unit 231.

  In step S3007, the content information communication control unit 231 transmits the generated content information to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the request for the top page via the network 12. That is, the transmission control unit 251 of the content information communication control unit 231 controls transmission of the content information of the content specified by the content ID to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the content ID via the network 12.

  In step S <b> 1006, the content information acquisition unit 189 of the proxy 14 receives content information transmitted from the content ID management server 17 via the network 12. That is, the reception control unit 211 of the content information acquisition unit 189 controls reception of content information transmitted from the content ID management server 17 that has received the content ID via the network 12.

  In step S1007, the link information extraction unit 212 of the content information acquisition unit 189 extracts link information from the content information received in step S1006. The link information extraction unit 212 supplies link information to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  Steps S1008 to S1013 are the same as steps S55 to S60 in FIG.

  In step S <b> 1004, the download information transmission control unit 185 is download information indicating that the content has been acquired to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12, and includes the IP address of the proxy 14, the acquired content. Download information including proxy information including a content ID for identifying the content and information indicating a protocol that can be used by the content transmission control unit 188, and the process proceeds to step S1015. That is, the download information transmission control unit 185 controls transmission of download information to the content ID management server 17 via the network 12.

  In step S1015, the transmission control unit 202 of the proxy server 202 controls transmission of the top page data to the client 13, and the content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 ends.

  In step S3008, the download information reception control unit 255 of the proxy information recording control unit 233 of the content ID management server 17 is information transmitted from the proxy 14 via the network 12 and indicates that the content has been downloaded. Controls reception of download information, which is information. In step S3009, the proxy information extraction unit 256 of the proxy information recording control unit 233, from the download information received in step S3008, information indicating the content ID, the IP address of the proxy 14 that has transmitted the download information, and an available protocol. To extract.

  In step S3010, the proxy information recording control unit 233 causes the extracted content ID, the IP address of the proxy 14 that has transmitted the download information, and the information indicating the available protocol to be written in the download database 234 as proxy information, The content information providing process by the content ID management server 17 ends.

  As described above, when the content server 11 provides the content ID without providing the link information, the content information including the link information is transmitted from the content ID management server 17 to the proxy 14 and the link included in the content information. Get content based on information. That is, the content ID management server 17 grasps and manages the distribution status of the content, the location (address) on the network 12 where the content can be provided, and the like.

  In addition, proxy information about the proxy 14 that acquired the content is stored in the download database 234 of the content ID management server 17.

  Note that the content ID management server 17 may obtain proxy information by inquiring of the recorded content to the proxy 14 in a predetermined range of addresses.

  Further, when the content server 11 provides the content ID without providing the link information, the content server 11 may not provide the content.

  Further, the proxy 14 can acquire content from other proxies 14 in the vicinity based on the IP address stored in the vicinity proxy database 194.

  FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 show provision of top page data by the content server 11 when the proxy 14 acquires content from other proxies 14 in the vicinity based on the IP address stored in the proximity proxy database 194. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the process of content acquisition by the proxy 14.

  Steps S1101 to S1104 are the same as steps S1001 to S1004 in FIG.

  Steps S2101 to S2104 are the same as steps S2001 to S2004 in FIG. 22, that is, the processing for providing the top page data by the content server 11 is the same as that shown in FIG. .

  In step S1105, the prefetch processing unit 182 determines whether the content has already been downloaded based on the content ID. If it is determined in step S1105 that the content has not yet been downloaded, the process advances to step S1106, and the other proxy inquiry unit 209 of the prefetch processing unit 182 sends the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 to the neighborhood proxy database 194. One IP address of the proxy 14 is read out. The read IP address is supplied to the other proxy inquiry unit 209.

  In step S1107, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 inquires of the proxy 14 of the read IP address whether or not the content specified by the content ID is recorded via the network 12. Since the proxy 14 in the vicinity that has received the inquiry transmits a response indicating whether or not the content specified by the content ID is recorded via the network 12, in step S1108, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 A response from the inquired proxy 14 is received.

  In step S1109, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 determines from the received response whether the inquired proxy 14 records the content specified by the content ID. If it is determined in step S1109 that the inquired proxy 14 has not recorded the content specified by the content ID, the process advances to step S1110, and the other proxy inquiry unit 209 has the next IP address stored in the nearby proxy database 194. It is determined whether it is stored. For example, in step S1110, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 causes the neighboring proxy address read / write control unit 184 to read out information on whether or not the next IP address is stored from the neighboring proxy database 194, or the neighboring proxy The number of IP addresses stored in the database 194 is read, and from the result, it is determined whether or not the next IP address is stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194.

  If it is determined in step S1110 that the next IP address is stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194, the process advances to step S1111 and the other proxy inquiry unit 209 sends the neighborhood proxy address read / write control unit 184 to the neighborhood proxy database 194. , One IP address of the neighboring proxy 14 is read out. As in the case of step S1106, the read IP address is supplied to the other proxy inquiry unit 209. The procedure returns to step S1107 after step S1111 and repeats the above-described processing based on the next IP address. That is, until the proxy 14 that records the content is found, the inquiry about whether the content is recorded to the nearby proxy 14 based on the IP address stored in the nearby proxy database 194 is repeated.

  In step S1109, when it is determined that the inquired proxy 14 records the content specified by the content ID, the process proceeds to step S1112, and the content reception control unit 208 of the prefetch processing unit 182 is specified by the content ID. The content is prefetched from the proxy 14 determined to record the content to be recorded. Note that if the neighborhood proxy database 194 stores information indicating a protocol that can be used in the neighborhood proxy together with the IP address as the address of the neighborhood proxy, the content reception control unit 208 uses the available protocol as a basis. When the content is transmitted to the proxy 14 determined to record the content via the network 12 and the content is transmitted from the other party via the network 12, the reception of the transmitted content is controlled. To do. The prefetch processing unit 58 supplies the prefetched content, that is, the received content to the content read / write control unit 183.

  In step S1113, the content read / write control unit 183 records the content in the content database 193, and proceeds to step S1114.

  If it is determined in step S1110 that the next IP address is not stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194, there is no partner to inquire about and there is no neighborhood proxy that records the content. Advances to step S1114.

  If it is determined in step S1105 that the content has already been downloaded, it is not necessary to pre-etch the content, so steps S1106 to S1113 are skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S1114.

  In step S <b> 1114, the transmission control unit 202 of the proxy server 202 controls transmission of top page data to the client 13, and the content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 ends.

  Thus, based on the IP address stored in the neighborhood proxy database 194, content can be acquired from other proxies 14 in the neighborhood.

  Moreover, you may make it acquire a content from the proxy 14 which belongs to the community comprised from the 1 or several proxy 14 used by the user who likes the content of a common genre.

  FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating an example of a community. The community 301-1 is composed of one or a plurality of proxies 14 used by a user who likes soccer content. The community 301-2 is composed of one or a plurality of proxies 14 used by users who prefer idle content, and the community 301-3 is used by users who prefer content that is a movie. Alternatively, it is composed of a plurality of proxies 14.

  When the genre of the content to be acquired indicated by the genre information included in the metadata is soccer, the proxy 14 records the content in another proxy 14 belonging to the community 301-1. And the content is acquired from the proxy 14 that has replied that it is recorded.

  Similarly, when the genre of the content to be acquired indicated by the genre information included in the metadata is idle, the proxy 14 records the content in another proxy 14 belonging to the community 301-2. The content is acquired from the proxy 14 that has replied that it is recorded.

  In addition, when the genre of the content to be acquired indicated by the genre information included in the metadata is a movie, the proxy 14 records the content in another proxy 14 belonging to the community 301-3. The content is acquired from the proxy 14 which has inquired whether or not it has been recorded and has replied that it has been recorded.

  One community may be composed of one or a plurality of proxies 14 used by users who prefer content in a plurality of common genres.

  Next, referring to FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, when content is acquired from another proxy 14 belonging to the community, the content server 11 provides the top page data, and the proxy 14 acquires the content. Will be explained.

  Steps S1201 and S1202 are the same as steps S51 and S52 in FIG.

  Since step S2201 is the same as step S11 of FIG. 15, the description thereof is omitted.

  In step S2202, the metadata acquisition unit 161 of the content information generation unit 152 includes the metadata including the genre information indicating the genre of the content and the content of the content provided to the user of the client 13 described in the top page. The content ID is acquired from the content database 154.

  In step S2203, the content information generation unit 152 describes the metadata including the genre information acquired in step S2202 and the content ID of the content in the top page data described in the XML format. In step S2204, the Web server 151 transmits the top page data to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the top page request via the network 12, and the content server 11 provides the top page data. .

  In step S1203, the proxy server 181 receives top page data transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12.

  In step S1204, the content ID extraction unit 204 of the proxy server 181 extracts the content ID from the received top page data, and the genre information extraction unit 205 of the proxy server 181 extracts the genre information from the received top page data. To do. The content ID is supplied to the prefetch processing unit 182, and the genre information is supplied to the community selection unit 192.

  In step S1205, the prefetch processing unit 182 determines whether the content has already been downloaded. If it is determined in step S1205 that the content has not yet been downloaded, the process proceeds to step S1206, and the community information read / write control unit 190 reads information indicating each genre of the community from the community database 196. Information indicating each genre of the community is supplied to the community selection unit 192.

  Information indicating each genre of the community and the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the community are recorded in advance in the community database 196.

  In step S1207, the community selection unit 192 selects a community from the genre of the content to be prefetched and the genre of the community based on the information indicating the genre of the community and the genre information. In this case, the community selecting unit 192 selects a genre community that matches the genre of the content to be prefetched. Further, the community selection unit 192 may select a community of a genre that is similar to or related to the genre of the content to be prefetched. The community selection unit 192 supplies information specifying the selected community to the community information read / write control unit 190.

  In step S1208, the community information read / write control unit 190 reads the IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community from the community database 196 based on the information for specifying the selected community. The IP address of the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community is supplied to the prefetch processing unit 182.

  In step S1209, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 of the prefetch processing unit 182 selects one IP address among the read IP addresses.

  In step S1210, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 inquires of the proxy 14 of the read IP address via the network 12 whether the content specified by the content ID is recorded. When the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community receives the inquiry, it sends a response indicating whether or not the content specified by the content ID is recorded via the network 12, so that in step S 1211, the other proxy 14 The inquiry unit 209 receives a response from the inquired proxy 14.

  In step S <b> 1212, the other proxy inquiry unit 209 determines from the received response whether the inquired proxy 14 records the content specified by the content ID. If it is determined in step S1212 that the inquired proxy 14 has not recorded the content specified by the content ID, the process advances to step S1213, and the other proxy inquiry unit 209 determines that the next IP address is included in the read IP address. It is determined whether or not there is.

  If it is determined in step S1213 that the read IP address has the next IP address, the process advances to step S1214, and the other proxy inquiry unit 209 selects the next IP address from the read IP addresses, and the step Returning to S1210, the above-described processing is repeated based on the next IP address. That is, until the proxy 14 that records the content is found, the inquiry about whether the content is recorded to the proxy 14 that belongs to the selected community is repeated.

  If it is determined in step S1212 that the inquired proxy 14 records the content specified by the content ID, the process proceeds to step S1215, and the content reception control unit 208 of the prefetch processing unit 182 is specified by the content ID. The content is prefetched from the proxy 14 determined to record the content to be recorded.

  Note that when the community database 196 stores information indicating the protocols that can be used in the respective proxies together with the IP addresses of the proxies 14 belonging to the respective communities, the content reception control unit 208 may use the protocols that can be used. When the content is requested to the proxy 14 determined to record the content via the network 12 and the content is transmitted from the other party via the network 12, the content of the transmitted content is transmitted. Control reception.

  The prefetch processing unit 58 supplies the prefetched content, that is, the received content to the content read / write control unit 183.

  In step S1216, the content read / write control unit 183 records the content in the content database 193, and proceeds to step S1217.

  If it is determined in step S1213 that the read IP address does not have the next IP address, the proxy 14 belonging to the selected community does not have any content recorded therein, so the procedure is performed without prefetching the content. Advances to step S1217.

  If it is determined in step S1205 that the content has already been downloaded, it is not necessary to pre-etch the content, so steps S1206 to S1216 are skipped, and the procedure proceeds to step S1217.

  In step S <b> 1217, the transmission control unit 202 of the proxy server 202 controls transmission of top page data to the client 13, and the content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 ends.

  In this manner, a community can be selected from the genre, and content can be acquired from another proxy 14 belonging to the selected community. Since the community is selected from the genre, the community composed of the proxy 14 that has a high possibility of recording the content is selected, and the possibility that the content can be acquired becomes higher.

  Note that a peer may be created in advance based on the user's preference and the other party may be inquired. For example, the proxies 14 of users who like movies may be connected in advance.

  Furthermore, it is also possible for the proxy 14 to acquire content whose possibility of being viewed by the user is higher than a predetermined value without using a user operation as a trigger.

  As shown in FIG. 31, while the user 31-1 of the proxy 14-1 is sleeping, the content server 11 starts providing the content 51-1 and the content 51-1, and the proxy 14-2 When the content 51-1 is acquired, when the possibility that the content 51-1 is viewed by the user 31-1 is higher than a predetermined value, the proxy 14-1 acquires the content 51-1 from the proxy 14-2. To do.

  Furthermore, when the possibility that the content 51-1 is viewed by the user of the proxy 14-4 is higher than a predetermined value, the proxy 14-4 acquires the content 51-1 from the proxy 14-1. Furthermore, when the possibility that the content 51-1 is viewed by the user of the proxy 14-5 is higher than a predetermined value, the proxy 14-5 acquires the content 51-1 from the proxy 14-4.

  As shown in FIG. 32, content servers 11-1 to 11-4 are provided as the content servers 11, and the content servers 11-1 to 11-4 are respectively content 51-1 to content 51-. 4, the proxy 14-1 that has learned the preference of the user 31-1 accesses each of the content servers 11-1 to 11-4, for example, once every 30 minutes. The possibility that the contents 31-1 to 51-4 provided by each of the contents server 11-1 to 11-4 will be viewed by the user 31-1 is calculated, and the calculated possibility is a predetermined value. If it is higher, it is viewed by the user 31-1 among the contents 51-1 to 51-4. Potential to get a higher than a predetermined value.

  Similarly, the proxy 14-2 who has learned the preference of the user 31-2 accesses each of the content server 11-1 to the content server 11-4 once every 30 minutes, for example, and then accesses the content server 11-1. When the possibility that the contents 51-1 to 51-4 provided by each of the contents servers 11-4 are viewed by the user 31-2 is calculated and the calculated possibility is higher than a predetermined value, the contents Among the contents 51-1 to 51-4, the contents that are more likely to be viewed by the user 31-2 are acquired.

  Next, referring to FIG. 33 and FIG. 34, the content in the case where the proxy 14 acquires content with a higher possibility of being viewed by the user than a predetermined value without being triggered by the user's operation. Processing for providing top page data by the server 11 and content acquisition processing by the proxy 14 will be described.

  In step S <b> 1301, the proxy server 181 transmits a patrol top page request to the content server 11. In this case, for example, the proxy server 181 is configured as a so-called RSS (Rich Site Summary) reader, and automatically downloads RSS information of a designated site at regular intervals.

  Steps S2301 and S2302 are the same as steps S2201 and S2202 in FIG. 29, respectively, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  In step S2303, the content information generation unit 152 describes the metadata including the genre information acquired in step S2202 and the content ID of the content in the top page data described in the XML format.

  In step S2303, the content information generation unit 152 describes the metadata including the genre information and the content ID of the content in the top page data compliant with the RSS standard.

  FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example of top page data compliant with the RSS standard. The XML declaration in the data of the top page in FIG. 35 is the same as that in the content information in FIG.

  <Rdf: RDF xmlns ... / mvcb / "> and </ rdf: RDF> placed after the XML declaration are so-called <rdf: RDF> tags and conform to the RSS standard. Between <rdf: RDF> tags, channel elements enclosed by <channel rdf: about = ...> and </ channel> are arranged.

  The address of the top page is described after about = in the <channel rdf: about = ...> tag.

  The channel element consists of a title element enclosed by <title> and </ title>, a link element enclosed by <link> and </ link>, a description element enclosed by <description> and </ description>, < An image element enclosed between <image> and </ image>, an items element enclosed between <items> and </ items>, a GENRU element enclosed between <GENRU> and </ GENRU>, and <DATE> and < Described by a DATE element enclosed in / DATE>.

  The title element indicates the title of the channel to be summarized, and the link element indicates the URI of the site to be summarized in RSS. The description element describes the outline of the content and function of the summary target, and in this case, describes the content.

  The image element describes an image of content. In the image element, information indicating the title of the image is arranged between <title> and </ title>, and between <url> and </ url>, image data representing an image representing the content Is described.

  The items element corresponds to the table of contents of the resource, and the resource URI is indicated by the rdf: resource attribute of the rdf: li element.

  For example, the rdf: resource attribute of the first rdf: li element indicates the IP address of the content server 11, the rdf: resource attribute of the second rdf: li element indicates the IP address of the mirror server 15, The rdf: resource attribute of the third rdf: li element indicates the IP address of the proxy 14 that has already acquired the content.

  The GENRU element is genre information indicating the genre of the content, and the DATE element indicates the date when the content is registered.

  In this way, in step S2303, for example, top page data compliant with the RSS standard shown in FIG. 35 is generated.

  In step S2304, the Web server 151 transmits the top page data to the proxy 14 that has transmitted the top page request via the network 12, and the content server 11 provides the top page data. .

  In step S <b> 1302, the proxy server 181 receives top page data transmitted from the content server 11 via the network 12. In step S1303, the content ID extraction unit 204 of the proxy server 181 extracts the content ID from the received top page data, and the genre information extraction unit 205 of the proxy server 181 extracts the genre information from the received top page data. To do. The content ID is supplied to the prefetch processing unit 182 and the genre information is supplied to the preference analysis unit 187.

  In step S1304, the preference analysis unit 187 calculates the number of preference levels indicating the degree to which the user likes the content from the preference information and the content genre. As described above, the preference information is obtained by analyzing the browsing history of content stored in the browsing history database 195 (content information of content browsed by the user of the client 13) by the preference analysis unit 187. It is obtained and shows the user's preference. The preference information dynamically changes as the user of the client 13 browses the content. Therefore, even if the content genre is the same, the number of preference degrees calculated in step S1304 dynamically changes.

  In other words, in step S1304, the preference analysis unit 187 uses the history of the other content supplied to the client 13 and the genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID by the user of the client 13. The possibility that the content specified by the content ID is viewed is calculated. The preference analysis unit 187 supplies the preference level number to the preference level determination unit 191.

  In step S1305, the preference level determination unit 191 determines whether the preference level number calculated in step S1304 is greater than a predetermined threshold. If it is determined in step S1305 that the number of preference degrees is larger than a predetermined threshold value, that is, if the possibility that the user of the client 13 views the content specified by the content ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the procedure is as follows. In step S1306, the content specified by the content ID is acquired.

  Steps S1306 through S1317 are the same as steps S1205 through S1216 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S1305 that the number of preference degrees is not greater than a predetermined threshold value, that is, if the possibility that the user of the client 13 will view the content specified by the content ID is less than a predetermined value, Therefore, the content acquisition process ends without acquiring the content.

  In this way, content that is more likely to be viewed by the user than a predetermined value is acquired without being triggered by the user's operation.

  Note that a predetermined number of contents may be acquired in descending order of possibility of viewing the contents.

  Further, based on the metadata indicating the popularity ranking, a predetermined number of contents in the order of popularity, for example, the top 10 contents (10 contents in the order of popularity) may be acquired in advance. .

  As described above, content with a large amount of data can be quickly acquired without requiring a troublesome operation from the user. Since the proxy 14 that has acquired the content automatically operates as a mirror server, the number of mirror servers automatically increases. As the number of proxies 14 that acquire content increases, the content can be acquired more quickly. In other words, it can be said that more popular content can be acquired more quickly.

  Further, even when the connection between the proxy 14 and the network 12 is through a line with a small bandwidth, content with a large amount of data can be viewed by always connecting. For example, if a key for decrypting encrypted content is provided on the publication date of the content, start the acquisition of the content before the publication date, for example, a few days ago, so that the day of the publication date In addition, content with a large amount of data can be browsed immediately.

  Therefore, the user can comfortably download a large amount of content. In addition, the content is dramatically improved so that the transmission speed of the content felt by the user is improved.

  Also, a content distribution network via the Internet can be realized.

  Since the mirror server 15 is optimally selected, the addition of content provision is distributed.

  If the content information is in XML format, the present invention can be applied without changing the page displayed on the client 13.

  In this way, when content is received, the content can be acquired. Further, the reception of the content ID specifying the content and the genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the providing device via the network is controlled, and the information processing device supplies the terminal device The possibility that the content specified by the received content ID is viewed by the user of the terminal device is calculated from the history indicating the other content and the received genre information, and the user of the terminal device receives When the possibility of viewing the content specified by the content ID is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the community is determined from the genre information and pre-recorded data indicating the genre of the community composed of a plurality of information processing devices. The selected content ID is sent to the other information processing devices constituting the selected community. Inquires through the network whether the specified content is recorded, and when another information processing apparatus replies that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, specifies by the received content ID When the content specified by the received content ID is acquired from another information processing apparatus that has responded that the content to be recorded is recorded via the network, and the recording of the acquired content is controlled. Can acquire content with a larger amount of data.

  Although the proxy 14 has been described as an independent device, the proxy 14 is not limited to this, and is provided as a function of the client 13 or a function of a device that can be connected to the network 12 such as a hard disk recorder, a set top box, or a router. May be.

  The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software executes various functions by installing a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware or various programs. For example, it is installed from a program recording medium in a general-purpose personal computer or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, a program recording medium that stores a program that is installed in a computer and can be executed by the computer is a magnetic disk (including a flexible disk), an optical disk (CD-ROM (Compact Disc -Read Only Memory) (including DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), magneto-optical disk), or removable media 111 or removable media 132, which is a package media made of semiconductor memory, or the program is temporary or permanent ROM 102 or ROM 122 stored in the memory, a hard disk constituting the storage unit 108 or storage unit 128, and the like. The program can be stored in the program recording medium via a wired network such as a local area network, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting via the communication unit 109, the communication unit 129, or the communication unit 130, which is an interface such as a router or a modem. Alternatively, it is performed using a wireless communication medium.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program stored in the program recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but is not necessarily performed in time series. Or the process performed separately is also included.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows the example of a structure of the content provision system of one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining acquisition of the content of a proxy. It is a figure explaining that the protocol of acquisition of the data of a web page differs from the protocol of acquisition of a content. It is a figure explaining acquisition of the content for every divided part. It is a figure explaining acquisition of the key for decrypting the encrypted content. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the hardware of a content server. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a hardware structure of a proxy. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the function of a content server. It is a figure explaining the specific example of content information. It is a figure explaining the specific example of content information. It is a figure explaining the specific example of content information. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a structure of the function of a proxy. It is a block diagram which shows the example of a function structure of a content ID management server. It is a figure explaining the outline of provision of a content. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a process of provision of content information. It is a flowchart explaining the example of a recording process of proxy information. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of acquisition of a content. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of provision of the content to a client. It is a flowchart explaining the example of the process of provision of the content to another proxy. It is a figure explaining a cache server. It is a figure explaining the process in case a content server provides content ID, without providing link information. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for providing top page data, processing for acquiring content, and processing for providing content information. 12 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing for providing top page data, processing for acquiring content, and processing for providing content information. It is a figure which shows the specific example of content ID. It is a figure which shows the specific example of content ID. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the process of providing the top page data and the process of acquiring the content. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the process of providing the top page data and the process of acquiring the content. It is a figure which shows the example of a community. 14 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of processing for providing top page data and content acquisition. 14 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of processing for providing top page data and content acquisition. It is a figure explaining acquisition of a content without using a user's operation as a trigger. It is a figure explaining the periodic access to a content server. 14 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of processing for providing top page data and content acquisition. 14 is a flowchart for explaining still another example of processing for providing top page data and content acquisition. It is a figure which shows the example of the data of a top page.

Explanation of symbols

  11-1 to 11-4, 11 content server, 12-1, 12-2, 12 network, 13-1 to 13-4, 13 client, 14-1 to 14-7, 14 proxy, 15-1 and 15 -2,15 Mirror server, 16 key server, 17 Content ID management server, 101 CPU, 102 ROM, 103 RAM, 108 storage unit, 109 communication unit, 111 Removable media, 121 CPU, 122 ROM, 123 RAM, 128 storage unit , 129 communication unit, 130 communication unit, 132 removable media, 151 Web server, 152 content information generation unit, 153 proxy information recording control unit, 154 content database, 155 download database, 161 meta Data acquisition unit, 162 proxy information acquisition unit, 163 proxy information selection unit, 164 download information reception control unit, 165 proxy information extraction unit, 181 proxy server, 182 prefetch processing unit, 183 content read / write control unit, 184 neighbor proxy address read / write Control unit, 185 download information transmission control unit, 186 browsing history update unit, 187 preference analysis unit, 188 content transmission control unit, 189 content information acquisition unit, 190 community information read / write control unit, 191 preference level determination unit, 192 community selection unit , 193 content database, 194 neighborhood proxy database, 195 browsing history database, 196 community database, 201 reception control unit, 202 Transmission control unit, 203 link information extraction unit, 204 content ID extraction unit, 205 genre information extraction unit, 206 transmission characteristic measurement unit, 207 download destination selection unit, 208 content reception control unit, 209 other proxy inquiry unit, 210 transmission control unit , 211 reception control unit, 212 link information extraction unit, 231 content information communication control unit, 232 content information generation unit, 233 proxy information recording control unit, 234 download database, 251 transmission control unit, 252 reception control unit, 253 proxy information acquisition Section, 254 proxy information selection section, 255 download information reception control section, 256 proxy information extraction section

Claims (6)

In an information processing apparatus that is connected to a providing device that provides content via a network and supplies the content to a terminal device,
Reception control means for controlling reception of a content ID specifying the content and genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the providing device via the network;
Calculation means for calculating the possibility that the content specified by the received content ID is viewed by the user of the terminal device from the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device and the received genre information When,
When the possibility that the user of the terminal device views the content specified by the received content ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the genre information and the genre of a community composed of a plurality of information processing devices are indicated. Selecting means for selecting a community from pre-recorded data;
Inquiry means for inquiring via the network whether or not the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in another information processing device constituting the selected community;
When another information processing apparatus replies that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the other responding that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded Acquisition means for acquiring the content specified by the received content ID from the information processing apparatus via the network;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a recording control unit that controls recording of the acquired content. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records a history indicating other content supplied to the terminal device. The calculating unit is configured to identify a user of the terminal device by a content ID from a history recorded in the recording unit and indicating other content supplied to the terminal device and received genre information. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a possibility of viewing the content by a user of the terminal device, which is a degree of preference for the content, is calculated. For each of the communities, it further comprises recording means for recording data indicating the address and genre of a plurality of information processing devices constituting the community,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inquiry means inquires of another information processing apparatus constituting the selected community whether the content specified by the content ID is recorded based on the recorded address. apparatus. In an information processing method for an information processing apparatus connected to a providing apparatus that provides content via a network and supplying the content to a terminal device,
Controlling reception of a content ID specifying the content and genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the providing device via the network;
The content specified by the received content ID may be viewed by the user of the terminal device from the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device by the information processing device and the received genre information. To calculate
When the possibility that the user of the terminal device views the content specified by the received content ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the genre information and the genre of a community composed of a plurality of information processing devices are indicated. Select a community from pre-recorded data,
Inquires, via the network, whether or not the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in another information processing device constituting the selected community.
When another information processing apparatus replies that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the other responding that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded The content specified by the received content ID is acquired from the information processing apparatus via the network,
An information processing method including a step of controlling recording of the acquired content. A computer of an information processing device connected to a providing device that provides content via a network and supplying the content to a terminal device,
Controlling reception of a content ID specifying the content and genre information indicating the genre of the content specified by the content ID transmitted from the providing device via the network;
The content specified by the received content ID may be viewed by the user of the terminal device from the history indicating the other content supplied to the terminal device by the information processing device and the received genre information. To calculate
When the possibility that the user of the terminal device views the content specified by the received content ID is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the genre information and the genre of a community composed of a plurality of information processing devices are indicated. Select a community from pre-recorded data,
Inquires, via the network, whether or not the content specified by the received content ID is recorded in another information processing device constituting the selected community.
When another information processing apparatus replies that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded, the other responding that the content specified by the received content ID is recorded The content specified by the received content ID is acquired from the information processing apparatus via the network,
A program for executing a step of controlling recording of the acquired content.

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