JP4924389B2 - TERMINAL DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD USED FOR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for a P2P (Peer to Peer) information distribution system, and more specifically, a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in multiple layers in a hierarchical structure on a network with the information distribution device at the top. Information distribution system in which content information to be transmitted is sequentially distributed from the upstream terminal device of the hierarchical structure to the downstream terminal device by the relay function of the terminal device, and the content information can be reproduced by a plurality of terminal devices, and the terminal used in the system The present invention relates to an apparatus, an information processing program, and an information processing method.

  In recent years, with the spread of broadband, information distribution services that distribute content information have become popular. For example, in addition to a service that distributes content information in response to a user request such as VOD (video on demand), a service that distributes content information in a broadcast format such as Internet broadcasting is known.

  In this type of information distribution service, the distribution form by the server client system has been the mainstream, but recently, a tree-type topology distribution form, which is a P2P type distribution form, has attracted attention as a new distribution form to replace this form. Yes.

  This tree topology format is content distributed from an information distribution device in which a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a tree-like hierarchical structure with an information distribution device distributing content information via a network such as the Internet as a vertex. This is a distribution mode in which information is sequentially relayed to a lower-layer terminal device by a relay function of the terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this tree topology distribution form, when a terminal device newly connects (participates) to a tree-like hierarchical structure, the terminal device makes an inquiry to the connection management device that manages this hierarchical structure, and the connection destination terminal device or information Tell him the distribution device (hereinafter also called “connection destination candidate”). When the connection management device receives an inquiry from a terminal device that intends to newly participate in the hierarchical structure in this way, the connection management device newly considers the state of the tree-shaped hierarchical structure (for example, the balance of the entire hierarchical structure, etc.). A connection destination candidate to be notified to the terminal device to participate is determined.

Then, a tree-like hierarchical structure is constructed by connecting a plurality of terminal devices one after another to connection destination candidates notified from the connection management device.
JP 2006-33514 A

  By the way, in the information distribution system described above, when content information is distributed through a plurality of broadcast channels (hereinafter also simply referred to as “channels”), the hierarchical structure with the information distribution device at the top is configured for each channel. It will be.

  Therefore, when the user of the terminal device performs a channel switching operation (hereinafter, also referred to as “zapping”) in order to reproduce and view content information of a channel different from the channel being viewed, viewing is performed. It connects to the hierarchical structure different from the hierarchical structure corresponding to the channel.

  However, at this time, other terminal devices connected downstream of the terminal device for which the switching operation has been performed will also leave the hierarchical structure of the channel. You must reconnect to the hierarchy to maintain playback.

  If such zapping is frequently performed, reconnection processing of the terminal device connected downstream of the terminal device that performed zapping becomes frequent, and the stability of the hierarchical structure is impaired. Become.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress departure from a hierarchical structure in an information distribution system that distributes content information using a hierarchical structure including a plurality of terminal devices. An information distribution system capable of improving the stability of the hierarchical structure, a terminal device and program used in the system, and an information processing method are provided.

One aspect of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on a network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is an upstream terminal in the hierarchical structure In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed from the device to the downstream terminal device by the relay function of the terminal device, the terminal device that is downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure is acquired. Downstream information acquisition processing means, and downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, wherein the downstream information display processing means uses the hierarchical structure as the downstream information. The number of terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the device is displayed.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure Downstream information acquisition processing means, and downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, the downstream information display processing means as the downstream information, The identification information of the terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure Downstream information acquisition processing means, and downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, the downstream information display processing means as the downstream information, A user name of a terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information, downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, and content reception processing for receiving content information transmitted from a device connected upstream and means, the said downstream information display processing means, the content information received by the content reception processing unit Displayed on a predetermined display area, further characterized by displaying said downstream information to the predetermined display area.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information, downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, and content reception processing for receiving content information transmitted from a device connected upstream and means, the said downstream information display processing means, the content information received by the content reception processing unit Displayed on a predetermined display area, further characterized by displaying said downstream information in a different display area with the predetermined display area.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring the downstream information acquisition processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, the downstream information display processing means for the downstream hierarchical structure The downstream information is displayed when the state changes.

One of the selective aspects of the present invention is that a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device has the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal device from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure And a downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means, and the hierarchical structure formed with the information distribution apparatus as a vertex, A plurality of channels are formed for each channel, and the downstream information display processing means selects display of a channel selection screen for selecting the channel. When to display the downstream information.

One alternative embodiment of the present invention is an information processing program for causing a computer to function as each means in the above-described terminal apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a multilayer structure on a network with an information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is an upstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure In the information processing method for the terminal device in the information distribution system that is sequentially distributed from the terminal device to the downstream terminal device by the relay function of the terminal device, information on the terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure And the step of displaying the acquired downstream information, and in the downstream information display processing step, as the downstream information, the terminal device constituting the hierarchical structure of the terminal device constituting the hierarchical structure The number of terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure is displayed .

According to the first, eighth, and twelfth aspects of the invention, since the terminal device displays the number of terminal devices existing downstream of the own device, how many terminals the user of the terminal device is downstream of the own device. It is possible to grasp whether or not a device exists, thereby further suppressing the departure from the hierarchical structure and improving the stability of the hierarchical structure.

In addition, according to the inventions of the second, ninth, and thirteenth aspects , since the identification information of the terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed, a particularly relevant person is a user of the downstream terminal device. Sometimes, the departure from the hierarchical structure can be further suppressed, and the stability of the hierarchical structure can be improved.

In addition, according to the third , tenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention, since the user name of the terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed, a particularly relevant person is a user of the downstream terminal device. At some point, the departure from the hierarchical structure can be further suppressed, and the stability of the hierarchical structure can be improved.

According to the fourth , eleventh and fifteenth aspects of the present invention, the downstream information is displayed in the content information display area, so that the downstream information can be effectively displayed even when the display area is limited. it can.

According to the fifth and 16th aspects of the present invention, content information is displayed in a predetermined display area, and further downstream information is displayed in a display area different from the predetermined display area. The downstream information can be displayed without disturbing.

According to the inventions of claims 6 and 17 , since downstream information is displayed when there is a change in the state of the downstream hierarchical structure, downstream information is always displayed as compared with downstream information. The change can be emphasized more and the user can recognize the downstream state. As a result, the departure from the hierarchical structure can be further suppressed and the stability of the hierarchical structure can be improved.

According to the seventh and 18th aspects of the invention, when the display of the channel selection screen for selecting the channel is selected, the downstream information is displayed. Therefore, when the channel selection is not necessary, the downstream is displayed. It is not necessary to display this information, and the processing can be reduced. Moreover, it does not interfere with viewing of content information.

[1. First Embodiment]
[1.1. Configuration of information distribution system]
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration example of an information distribution system S in the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an operation when a participating terminal device participates in the information distribution system S.

  As in the physical connection form shown in FIG. 1, the information distribution device 1, the plurality of terminal devices 2, and the connection management device 3 constituting the information distribution system S are distributed and arranged on a network 6 represented by the Internet. These devices are assigned an IP (Internet Protocol) address as information for identifying each device, and can communicate with the network 6 via the router 10 or the like. That is, communication connection between devices is possible by transmitting a packet including a header in which the IP address of the target connection destination device is the destination IP address and the IP address of the own device is the source IP address. In the example shown in FIG. 1, devices not directly related to the information distribution system S are also connected to the network 6, but are omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 1 as a logical connection form, the information distribution system S in this embodiment includes an information distribution apparatus 1 that distributes content information through a plurality of broadcast channels (hereinafter simply referred to as “channels”). A plurality of terminal devices 2 (2a1, 2a2, 2b1 to 2b4, 2c1 to 2c8,...) As apexes are connected by the connection management device 3 so as to be logically connected in multiple layers in a tree-like hierarchical structure for each channel on the network. The content information managed and transmitted from the information distribution apparatus 1 is sequentially distributed by the relay function of the terminal apparatus 2 from the upstream terminal apparatus 2 to the downstream terminal apparatus 2 in a tree-like hierarchical structure for each channel.

  That is, the information distribution apparatus 1 is provided with distribution means for distributing content information for each channel via the network 6, and the information distribution apparatus 1 to the terminal devices 2a1, 2a2 (the first one) as shown in FIG. When the content information is transmitted to the first layer terminal device and the terminal devices 2a1 and 2a2 receive the content information by the content reception processing means, the downstream terminal devices 2b1 to 2b4 (second level terminal devices) are received by the content transfer processing means. The received content information is relayed sequentially. When the content information is received by the content reception processing means, the terminal devices 2b1 to 2b4 sequentially relay the received content information to the downstream terminal devices 2c1 to 2c8 (third-layer terminal devices) by the content transfer processing means. Note that only the terminal device 2 constituting the tree-like hierarchical structure of the channel ch1 is shown here, but the tree-like hierarchical structure is similarly constituted by a plurality of terminal devices 2 for the other channels. In addition, although the information distribution apparatus 1 is described as having a function of distributing content information of a plurality of channels, the information distribution apparatus 1 may be provided for each channel. In the present embodiment, a tree-like hierarchical structure is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of terminal devices 2 may be logically connected in multiple layers in a chain-like hierarchical structure.

  As described above, in the information distribution system S, the content information distributed from the information distribution apparatus 1 for each distribution channel is relayed to the lower terminal apparatus 2 by the relay function of the terminal apparatus 2 and participates in the information distribution system S. Content information is distributed to all the terminal devices 2 constituting the tree-like hierarchical structure. The distributed content information includes content data such as music and movies, as well as playback time information (hereinafter referred to as “playback time data”). Then, the plurality of terminal devices 2 that have received the content information perform reproduction of the content information that is sequentially transmitted based on the reproduction time data. In this way, the information distribution system S can distribute the content information transmitted from the information distribution device 1 to the plurality of terminal devices 2 and reproduce the content information at the same time in the plurality of terminal devices 2. In other words, broadcast format distribution to a plurality of terminal devices 2 is realized using P2P.

[1.2. Connection to each terminal device hierarchy]
In this information distribution system S, as described above, a tree-like hierarchical structure for each channel (hereinafter also simply referred to as “hierarchical structure”) is managed by the connection management device 3. When the connection management device 3 receives a connection status information storage unit that stores connection status information of the terminal device 2 that forms a hierarchical structure for each channel and a connection destination introduction request from the terminal device 2 via the network 6, A connection destination candidate selecting unit that selects a connection destination candidate from the connection state information stored in the state information storage unit, and a terminal that has transmitted the connection destination introduction request to the connection destination candidate information selected by the connection destination candidate selecting unit Notification means for notifying the apparatus 2 via the network 6. The connection destination candidate means a device candidate to be connected as an upstream device of the hierarchical structure when the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the connection destination introduction request connects to the hierarchical structure of the channel. The device 1 or the terminal device 2 is indicated.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the connection management device 3 receives a connection destination introduction request from the terminal device 2 (see FIG. 2 (1)), the terminal device 2 is instructed by the content of the hierarchical structure and the like. A connection destination candidate to be connected as an upstream apparatus for receiving information distribution is selected. Then, the connection management device 3 notifies the terminal device 2 of the location information (such as the IP address of the connection destination candidate) of the connection destination candidate thus selected (see FIG. 2 (2)). The connection destination introduction request is transmitted from the terminal device 2 when the terminal device 2 switches channels.

  Upon receiving the location information of the connection destination candidate from the connection management device 3, the terminal device 2 requests connection to the connection destination candidate using the location information as a destination, establishes a session with the connection destination candidate, and thereby The terminal device 2 is incorporated into the hierarchical structure of each channel (see FIG. 2 (3)). That is, when the terminal device 2 participates in each channel one after another, a plurality of terminal devices 2 are logically connected in multiple layers in a tree-like hierarchical structure with the information distribution device 1 as a vertex.

  By the way, the terminal device 2 is the terminal device 2 or the information distribution device 1 connected upstream of its own device in the incorporated hierarchical structure (for example, in the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 2, the device connected to the upstream of the terminal device 2a1). In the case of the terminal device 2a1, the information distribution device 1 is connected upstream, the location information of the upstream device), and the terminal connected downstream of its own device in the embedded hierarchical structure. The location information of the device 2 (in the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 2, the terminal device 2c1 and the terminal device 2c2 are connected downstream, hereinafter also referred to as “downstream device”) is stored in the storage unit 12 described later. Based on the stored location information, content information is received and relayed.

[1.3. Display of downstream status in terminal device]
Each terminal device 2 of the information distribution system S in the present embodiment includes downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of the terminal device 2 downstream of the terminal device 2 constituting the hierarchical structure via the network 6. And downstream information display processing means for displaying downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means on the display unit 16 to be described later.

  Thus, by displaying downstream information in each terminal device 2, it is possible to notify the user that the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, thereby suppressing separation from the hierarchical structure. Thus, the stability of the hierarchical structure can be improved. That is, the user of each terminal device 2 must continue to connect to the hierarchical structure so that the other terminal device 2 is not affected when the other terminal device 2 exists downstream of the own device. Since consciousness works, this suppresses withdrawal of each terminal device 2 from the hierarchical structure.

  Here, each terminal device 2 has (a) the number of terminal devices 2 downstream of the terminal device 2 constituting the hierarchical structure (hereinafter referred to as “downstream number”) as the “downstream information”. (B) Identification information of the terminal device 2 connected downstream of the own device (hereinafter, also referred to as “downstream device identification information”), (c) Connected downstream of the own device. The user (user) name of the terminal device 2 (hereinafter also referred to as “user name of downstream device”) is displayed. By displaying the downstream number, the user of the terminal device 2 can be made to know how much the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, and the identification information and user name of the downstream device can be displayed. Thus, when a related person is a user of the downstream terminal device 2, this can be grasped. As a result, the departure from the hierarchical structure can be further suppressed, and the stability of the hierarchical structure can be improved. Here, the “identification information” is unique information of the terminal device 2, and includes, for example, an ID necessary for participating in the information distribution system S in addition to a MAC address or the like. The “user name” may be a nickname or the like in addition to the real name and first name of the user of the terminal device 2.

  FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are diagrams illustrating display examples of downstream information in each terminal device 2. The user of each terminal device 2 can select and display one of the displays shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the display screen 22 of the display unit 16 to be described later of the terminal device 2 includes a display area 23 for displaying content information received from the upstream apparatus, and a display area different from the display area 23. A display area 24 for displaying downstream information is formed. The display area 24 displays that the number of downstream devices is 5, the identification information of the downstream devices is 2c1 and 2c2, and the user names of the downstream devices are Bob and Tom, respectively. In this way, in the display example shown in FIG. 3, since the downstream information is displayed in the display area 24 different from the display area 23 for displaying the content information, the downstream information can be displayed without disturbing the viewing of the content. Can do.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, downstream information may be superimposed on the display area 23 for displaying the content information. By displaying the downstream information in the content information display area 23 in this way, it is possible to effectively display the downstream information even when the display area is limited. In particular, the display area on the display screen of the display unit 16 This is effective when the occupancy of 23 is to be increased.

  By the way, each terminal device 2 includes message reception processing means for receiving a notification message including downstream information from another terminal device 2 connected downstream via the network 6, and the downstream information acquisition processing means Information downstream of the device itself is acquired from the notification message received by the message reception processing means.

  By receiving a notification message including downstream information from another terminal device 2 connected downstream in this manner, a notification message including downstream information is transmitted through a connection path having a tree-like hierarchical structure that has already been formed. Since it can be received, there is no need to newly perform a connection process (a process for establishing a session) between the terminal apparatuses 2, and the processing load on the terminal apparatus 2 when acquiring downstream information can be suppressed. it can.

  Hereinafter, the transmission / reception route and contents of the notification message will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of a notification message, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an overview of information included in the notification message, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method for transferring the notification message.

  The terminal device 2 of this embodiment is connected to the downstream connection determination processing means for determining whether or not the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, and the downstream connection determination processing means is connected to the terminal device 2 downstream of the own device. And a message transmission processing means for transmitting a notification message including information of the own device to the terminal device 2 connected upstream when it is determined that the notification message is not received, and starts transmitting the notification message from the terminal device 2 at the most downstream side. Like to do.

  When the terminal device 2 further receives a notification message transmitted from each terminal device 2 connected downstream, the terminal device 2 adds a notification message generated by adding the information of the own device to the information included in the notification message upstream. Message transfer processing means for transmitting to the connected terminal device 2 is provided.

  Since each terminal device 2 is configured in this way, the notification message is transmitted from the most downstream terminal device 2 as shown in FIG. 5, and the downstream terminal device is routed through a tree-like hierarchical path. 2 is sequentially transferred to the upstream terminal device 2 and sent to the most upstream terminal device 2.

  As described above, in the information distribution system S of the present embodiment, since the notification message is transmitted and received using the constructed tree-shaped hierarchical connection path, a communication connection for transmitting and receiving the notification message is newly established. There is no need to do this, and the processing load is reduced. Further, since downstream information is transmitted by a notification message from the terminal device 2 in the downstream to the upstream in order, the number of transmission / reception of the notification message can be minimized, thereby reducing the load on the network. be able to.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the information included in the notification message includes header information 31, downstream device identification information 32, downstream device user name information 33, and downstream number information 34.

  The header information includes, in addition to the information indicating that it is a notification message, the IP address and port number of the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the notification message.

  The downstream device identification information 32 and the user name information 33 are the identification information (for example, the MAC address) of the downstream terminal device 2 (for example, the terminal devices 2b1 and 2b2 in the terminal device 2a1 of FIG. 5) connected directly. Information) and user name information 33 (user's real name, nickname, etc.), but the terminal device 2 existing downstream (for example, in the terminal device 2a1 in FIG. 5, only the terminal devices 2b1 and 2b2). Instead, the identification information 32 and the user name information 33 of the terminal devices 2c1 to 2c4) may be included.

  Here, the operation of the message transfer processing means of the terminal device 2 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the terminal device 2c1 has one terminal device 2 downstream, and the terminal device 2c2 has two terminal devices 2 downstream. The identification information of the terminal devices 2b1, 2c1, and 2c2 is 2b1, 2c1, and 2c2, respectively, and the user names are Jim, Bob, and Tom.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the terminal device 2c1 determines that one terminal device 2 exists downstream from the terminal device 2 based on the notification message received from the terminal device 2 existing downstream, ) Is added to the number of own devices (1), the downstream number information 34 is set to (2), and a notification message is generated by adding the identification information (2c1) of the own device and user name information (Bob). Then, the data is transferred to the terminal device 2b1 connected upstream. Similarly, the terminal device 2c2 also adds the number of own devices (one device) to the downstream number (two devices) of the own device based on the notification message received from the terminal device 2 existing downstream. 34 is set to (3 units), a notification message including the identification information (2c2) of the own device and the user name information (Tom) is generated and transferred to the terminal device 2b1 connected upstream.

  When receiving the notification message from the terminal devices 2c1 and 2c2 connected downstream, the terminal device 2b1 adds the downstream numbers (2) and (3) included in each notification message, and further adds the number of own devices (1 The terminal device 2 connected upstream is generated by adding the information 34 of the downstream number to (6) and generating the notification message including the identification information (2b1) of the own device and the user name information (Jim). Forward to.

  As described above, the content of the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2 at the most downstream side is changed and transferred to the terminal device 2 at the upstream side.

  Here, the notification message of the most downstream terminal device 2 is periodically (for example, once every 10 minutes), whereby each terminal device 2 periodically updates the downstream information. Can do.

  As described above, in the information distribution system S according to the present embodiment, downstream information is notified by a notification message in order from the most downstream terminal device 2 to the upstream, thereby minimizing the number of notification messages transmitted and received. Network load can be reduced.

[1.4. Specific Configuration and Operation of Terminal Device]
Next, the configuration and operation of the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Configuration of terminal device)
First, the configuration of the terminal device 2 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the terminal device 2 in the information distribution system S according to the present embodiment.

  The terminal device 2 can be a general personal computer in addition to a dedicated computer, and is acquired from the control unit 11, the information distribution device 1, another terminal device 2 or the connection management device 3 as shown in FIG. Obtained from the rewritable storage unit 12 and the information distribution device 1 or other terminal device 2 for storing the information and the like in a storage region (for example, a storage region such as a downstream information storage region or a downstream information history storage region described later) A buffer memory 13 that temporarily stores content information, a decoder unit 14 that sequentially extracts and decodes the content information stored in the buffer memory 13, and video information (document information) of the content information decoded by the decoder unit 14 The video processing unit 15 that converts the information into information that can be displayed on the display unit 16 to be described later, and the video processing unit 15 Of the content information decoded by the display unit 16 such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD) that displays an image based on the output from the decoder and the decoder unit 14 into information that can be output as sound waves by a speaker 18 described later. The audio processing unit 17, the speaker 18 that outputs sound waves based on the output from the audio processing unit 17, the input unit 19 that includes a mouse and a keyboard, and the network 6. A communication unit 20 for communicating with the terminal device 2 or the connection management device 3 is provided. Note that the control unit 11, the storage unit 12, the buffer memory 13, the decoder unit 14, and the communication unit 20 are connected to each other via a system bus 21.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). This nonvolatile memory stores an information processing program for participating in the information distribution system S to process content information and various messages, and the CPU reads the information processing program stored in the nonvolatile memory. Connection destination introduction request processing means, connection processing means, downstream information acquisition processing means, downstream information display processing means, message reception processing means, downstream connection determination processing means, message transmission processing means, message transfer processing means, It functions as content reception processing means, content transfer processing means, and the like.

  The information processing program may be downloaded from a server (for example, connection management device 3) connected to the network 6 to the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 11 via the communication unit 20. Alternatively, after being recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R or a DVD-R, it may be read into a nonvolatile memory of the control unit 11 via a recording medium drive (not shown).

(Operation of terminal equipment)
The operation of the terminal device 2 configured as described above will be specifically described. 9 to 12 are flowcharts showing the operation content of the terminal device 2, and FIGS. The following processes are executed by the control unit 11 of the terminal device 2 functioning as the above-described units. Further, description of content information processing (content information reception processing, reproduction processing, and transfer processing) in the terminal device 2 is omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when a main power switch (not shown) is turned on or a reset switch (not shown) is operated in the terminal device 2, the CPU of the control unit 11 accesses the storage unit 12. Execute initial setting operations such as permitting and securing the work area of the internal RAM, read the information processing program stored in the internal nonvolatile memory, and set the function as the control unit 11 to the operating state (step S10). An initial screen for participating in the distribution system S is displayed on the display unit 16, and the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the control unit 11 performs a connection process for connecting the own apparatus to a predetermined hierarchical structure. This connection process is a process of steps S20 to S23 shown in FIG. 10, and will be described in detail later.

  Next, the control unit 11 performs downstream information acquisition / notification processing for acquiring and notifying downstream information (step S12). This downstream information acquisition / notification process is a process of steps S30 to S37 shown in FIG. 11, and will be described in detail later.

  Thereafter, the control unit 11 performs a downstream information display process for displaying the downstream information acquired in step S12 (step S13). This downstream information display process is a process of steps S40 to S46 shown in FIG. 12, and will be described in detail later.

  Next, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a channel switching operation has been performed (step S14). Specifically, when a channel selection screen (to be described later) is displayed on the display unit 16, if it is determined that a channel different from the channel currently being viewed is selected by an operation on the input unit 19 by the user, the control unit 11 determines that a channel switching operation has been performed.

  In this process, if it is determined that a channel switching operation has been performed (step S14: Yes), the control unit 11 withdraws from the hierarchical structure of the channel currently being viewed, and the connection management device 3 starts from the channel being viewed. A withdrawal report is made from the communication unit 20 via the network 6 (step S15). The channel is separated from the hierarchical structure by disconnecting the connection (session) with the terminal device 2 connected upstream and further disconnecting the terminal device 2 connected downstream.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the channel switching operation has not been performed (step S14: No), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the connection with the upstream terminal device 2 has been disconnected (step S16). ). In this process, if it is determined that the connection with the upstream terminal device 2 has been disconnected (step S16: Yes), the communication unit 20 reports the disconnection from the viewing channel to the connection management device 3 via the network 6 ( Along with step S15), in order to connect to the channel again, the process proceeds to step S11.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S16 that the connection with the upstream terminal device 2 is not disconnected (step S16: No), the control unit 11 proceeds to step S17.

  In step S17, the control unit 11 determines whether an end instruction is detected. This end instruction is notified by an external interrupt or the like when the reset switch is pressed or the power switch is turned off.

  In this process, when an end instruction is detected (step S17: Yes), the control unit 11 ends the present process. When no end instruction is detected (step S17: No), the control unit 11 returns the process to step S11.

  Next, the connection process of step S11 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the connection process of the terminal device 2 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 11 first makes a connection destination introduction request to the connection management device 3 (step S20). This connection destination introduction request is made by transmitting a connection destination introduction request message from the communication unit 20 to the connection management apparatus 3 via the network 6. In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a connection destination request processing unit that makes a connection destination introduction request to the connection management apparatus 3 from the communication unit 20 via the network 6.

  Thereafter, in response to the connection destination introduction request, the control unit 11 acquires connection candidate information transmitted from the connection management apparatus 3 via the network 6 via the communication unit 20 (step S21). When the connection destination candidate information is acquired in this way, the control unit 11 establishes a logical connection with the acquired connection destination candidate (step S22). In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a connection processing unit that connects to the connection destination candidate via the network 6 by the communication unit 20.

  When the connection with the connection destination candidate is completed in this way, the control unit 11 issues a participation report to the connection management device 3 (step S23), and ends the connection process. The participation report is performed by transmitting a participation report message from the communication unit 20 to the connection management device 3 via the network 6.

  Next, the downstream information acquisition / notification processing in step S12 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of downstream information acquisition / notification processing of the terminal device 2 in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 11 first determines whether or not the terminal device 2 is connected downstream (step S30). In this process, if it is determined that the terminal device 2 is not connected downstream (step S30: No), the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined opportunity has been reached (step S31). Here, the predetermined trigger is generated every predetermined period (for example, once every 10 minutes).

  If it is determined in step S31 that a predetermined trigger has been reached (step S31: Yes), the control unit 11 transmits a notification message from the communication unit 20 to the upstream device via the network 6 (step S32), and acquires downstream information. -The notification process is terminated. The broadcast information transmitted at this time includes the identification information of the own device, the user name, and the downstream number (one). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S31 that the predetermined trigger has not been reached (step S31: No), the control unit 11 ends the downstream information acquisition / notification process. As described above, the control unit 11 functions as a downstream connection determination processing unit that determines whether or not the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, and further determines that the terminal device 2 is not connected downstream of the own device. It functions as a message transmission processing means for periodically transmitting a message including its own information to the terminal device 2 connected upstream.

  When it is determined in step S30 that there is a downstream device (step S30: Yes), the control unit 11 determines whether or not a notification message is received by the communication unit 20 via the network 6 (step S33). In this process, when it is determined that the notification message has been received (step S33: Yes), the control unit 11 stores the information included in the notification message in the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12 (step S34) and performs the process. The process proceeds to S35. In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a message reception processing unit that receives a message including downstream information from the terminal device 2 connected downstream, and serves as a downstream information acquisition processing unit from the received message downstream of the own device. Get information.

  In step S35, the control unit 11 determines whether a notification message has been received from all downstream devices. For example, in the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 7, when the notification message is received from the terminal device 2c1 and the terminal device 2c2, it is determined that the notification message has been received from all downstream devices.

  In this process, when it is determined that the notification message has been received from all the downstream devices (step S35: Yes), the control unit 11 generates the notification message based on the downstream information stored in the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12. Then, the data is transmitted from the communication unit 20 to the upstream device via the network 6 (step S36). Here, as described above, the notification message includes identification information of the own device, user name information, and downstream number information. In this way, the control unit 11 transmits a notification message generated by adding the information of its own device to the information included in the notification message transmitted from each terminal device 2 connected downstream to the terminal device 2 connected upstream. It functions as a transfer processing means.

  For example, in the case of the terminal device 2b1 illustrated in FIG. 7, the control unit 11 sets the identification information to (2b1) and the user name information to (Jim), and notifies each of the notifications transmitted from the terminal devices 2c1 and 2c2 that are downstream devices. By adding 1 to the added value of the downstream number included in the message, a notification message having the downstream number (six) is generated and transmitted to the upstream device. In the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 7, the information stored in the downstream information storage area is the identification information (2c1) of the device included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c1, which is the downstream device, and the user. Name information (Bob) and downstream number (2), identification information (2c2) of the device included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c2, which is a downstream device, user name information (Tom), and downstream number ( 3). Here, the downstream number is obtained by adding the downstream number included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c1 and the downstream number included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c2 to obtain the downstream number as five downstream numbers. Stored in the storage area.

  After transmitting the notification message in this way, the control unit 11 moves the information in the downstream information storage area stored in the storage unit 12 to the downstream information history storage area, and clears the information in the downstream information storage area (step S37). ), Downstream information acquisition / notification processing is terminated.

  In step S33, when the notification message is not received (step S33: No), or when the notification message is not received from all the downstream devices (step S35: No), the control unit 11 acquires the downstream information. -The notification process is terminated.

  Next, the downstream information display process in step S13 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of downstream information display processing of the terminal device 2 in the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a channel selection screen has been selected by a predetermined operation on the input unit 19 by the user (step S40). In this process, if it is determined that the channel selection screen has been selected (step S40: Yes), the control unit 11 displays the channel selection screen in the display area of the display unit 16 (step S41). 13 and 14 show an example of a channel selection screen displayed on the display screen 22 of the display unit 16, and selection buttons 25a to 25c for selecting the channels Ch1 to Ch3 are provided by a GUI (graphical user interface). ) Format. 13 is a display example of a display screen when selection is made so that downstream information is displayed in a display area 23 that displays content information and another display area 24. FIG. 14 shows the same display area 23 as the content information. It is a display example of a display screen when it is made to display downstream information.

  Next, the control unit 11 extracts downstream information from the downstream information history storage area of the storage unit 12 (step S42), and the process proceeds to step S43. For example, in the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 7, the identification of the device included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal devices 2c1 and 2c2, which are downstream devices, as the latest downstream information in the downstream information history storage area as described above. Information (2c1, 2c2), user name information (Bob, Tom), and the number of downstreams (5) are included, and these pieces of information are extracted as downstream information. This downstream number is a number obtained by adding the downstream number (2) included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c1 and the downstream number (3) included in the notification message transmitted from the terminal device 2c2. Stand).

  In step S43, the control unit 11 displays the downstream information extracted in step S42 in the display area of the display unit 16 for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) in a display form as shown in FIGS. Then, the downstream information display process is terminated. As described above, the control unit 11 functions as a downstream information display processing unit that displays the downstream information acquired from the downstream device when the display of the channel selection screen for selecting a channel is selected.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that the channel selection screen is not selected (step S40: No), the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a change in the downstream state (step S44). Here, the “downstream state” means the state of the downstream hierarchical structure, that is, the state of the terminal device 2 existing in the downstream of the own device and the connection position thereof. Whether there is a change in the downstream state is determined by whether there is a difference between the latest downstream information stored in the downstream information history storage area and the previous downstream information.

  When it is determined that there is a change in the downstream state (step S44: Yes), the control unit 11 extracts the latest downstream information from the downstream information history storage area of the storage unit 12 (step S45), and this downstream information is stored for a predetermined time. Only (for example, 30 seconds) is displayed in the display area of the display unit 16 (step S46). Thus, the control unit 11 functions as a downstream information display processing unit that displays downstream information when there is a change in the downstream information acquired from the downstream device.

  When the processes of steps S43 and S46 are completed, or when it is determined that there is no change in the downstream state (step S44: No), the control unit 11 ends the downstream information display process.

  As described above, the terminal device 2 includes downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired from the downstream device, and displays the downstream information when the display of the channel selection screen for selecting the channel is selected. When there is no possibility of channel selection, there is no need to display downstream information. Therefore, viewing of content information is not disturbed, and display processing can be reduced. In addition, since downstream information is displayed when there is a change in the downstream state, downstream changes can be more emphasized than when downstream information is always displayed. It is possible to further suppress and improve the stability of the hierarchical structure.

  As described above, the terminal device 2 in the present embodiment acquires information on the terminal device 2 downstream of the terminal device 2 constituting the hierarchical structure of the channel being viewed, and displays this downstream information. By doing so, it is possible to notify the user that the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, thereby suppressing the departure from the hierarchical structure and improving the stability of the hierarchical structure. .

[2. Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating downstream information acquisition / notification processing in the terminal device 2 according to the second embodiment. In the first embodiment described above, the notification message is periodically transmitted from the terminal device 2 on the most downstream side. However, in the second embodiment, when each terminal device 2 is connected to the channel hierarchical structure, and When leaving the connected hierarchical structure, a notification message is transmitted at that timing. In addition, since the structure of the terminal device 2 in 2nd Embodiment is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, and downstream information acquisition / notification processing differs, only downstream information acquisition / notification processing is demonstrated below. However, in the downstream state display process, the control unit 11 determines whether or not there is a change in the downstream state as a change in the downstream state when the notification message is received.

  As illustrated in FIG. 15, when the downstream information acquisition / notification process is started, the control unit 11 determines whether or not it is timing to connect to the channel hierarchical structure, or whether or not it is time to leave the hierarchical structure. Is determined (step S50). In addition to connecting to and leaving the hierarchical structure, not only when the user connects and disconnects by channel selection etc., but also when the connection with the upstream device is disconnected, the user disconnects from the hierarchical structure and again This includes the case of connecting to a hierarchical structure.

  When it is determined that it is time to connect to the hierarchical structure of the channel, or when it is determined that it is time to leave the hierarchical structure (step S50: Yes), the control unit 11 transmits information from the communication unit 20 to the network 6. A notification message is transmitted to the upstream device via (step S51). The broadcast information transmitted at this time includes the identification information of the own device, the user name, and the downstream number. In this way, the control unit 11 provides information on connection and disconnection to the hierarchical structure to the terminal device 2 connected upstream when connecting to and disconnecting from the hierarchical structure of the channel being viewed as message transmission processing means. An informing message is transmitted.

  The notification message transmitted in step S51 is, for example, a notification in which the identification information and user name information of the own device and the downstream number are set to (1) in addition to the information of “connection” when connecting to the channel hierarchical structure. In the case of leaving from the hierarchical structure of the channel, in addition to the information of “leave”, the number of own devices is added to the latest downstream number information stored in the downstream information storage area in the same way as in the case of normal message transfer. This is a notification message including information on the added downstream number.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S50 that it is not the timing to connect to the hierarchical structure of the channel but the timing to leave the hierarchical structure (step S50: No), the control unit 11 transmits the communication unit 20 via the network. To determine whether or not a notification message has been received (step S52). In this process, when it is determined that the notification message has been received (step S52: Yes), the control unit 11 stores the information (including connection and disconnection information) included in the notification message in the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12. (Step S53). In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a message reception processing unit that receives a message including downstream information from the terminal device 2 connected downstream, and serves as a downstream information acquisition processing unit from the received message downstream of the own device. Get information.

  Then, the control part 11 produces | generates an alerting message based on the downstream information memorize | stored in the downstream information storage area of the memory | storage part 12, and transmits to an upstream apparatus via the network 6 from the communication part 20 (step S54). This notification message includes identification information of the own device, user name information, and the downstream number. In this way, the control unit 11 transmits a notification message generated by adding the information of its own device to the information included in the notification message transmitted from each terminal device 2 connected downstream to the terminal device 2 connected upstream. It functions as a transfer processing means.

  Here, the information included in the notification message is processed in the same manner as in the first embodiment when a notification message including “connection” information is received from a downstream device. On the other hand, when a notification message including “leaving” information is received from a downstream device, the downstream number included in the notification message including “leaving” information is subtracted from the downstream number stored in the downstream information storage area. For example, in the case of the terminal device 2b1 shown in FIG. 7, the information stored in the downstream information storage area includes the identification information (2c1) and user name information (Bob) of the terminal device 2c1, which is the downstream device, and the downstream device. The identification information (2c2) and user name information (Tom) of a certain terminal device 2c2 and the downstream number (5) are received. When a notification message is received when the terminal device 2c1 leaves in this state, The control unit 11 of the terminal device 2b1 deletes the identification information (2c1) and user name information (Bob) of the terminal device 2c1 included in the notification message from the downstream information storage area, and further includes the downstream information included in the notification message. The number (2 units) of information is subtracted from the downstream number (5 units) stored in the downstream information storage area, and the downstream number stored in the downstream information storage area is changed to (3 units).

  When the processes of steps S51 and S54 are completed, or when it is determined that the notification message has not been received (step S52: No), the control unit 11 ends the downstream information acquisition / notification process. In the second embodiment, the downstream information displayed in the display area of the display unit 16 is extracted from the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12 unlike the first embodiment.

  As described above, in each terminal device 2, the hierarchical structure is changed by transmitting a message to the terminal device 2 connected upstream when connecting to and leaving the hierarchical structure of the channel being viewed. Sometimes downstream information can be updated, and when there is little change in the hierarchical structure, the load on the network and the processing load on the terminal device 2 can be reduced.

[3. Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, a notification message is transmitted from the terminal device 2 at the most downstream position, or a notification message is transmitted from the terminal device 2 when connecting to the hierarchical structure or leaving the hierarchical structure. However, in the terminal device 2 according to the third embodiment, each terminal device 2 connected in a hierarchical structure transmits a notification message. The configuration of the terminal device 2 in the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the downstream information acquisition / notification process is different. Therefore, only the downstream information acquisition / notification process will be described below.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the notification message in the third embodiment. Using this figure, the notification message of the hierarchical terminal devices 2b1, 2c1, and 2c2 configured as shown in FIG. Transmission / reception will be described.

  FIG. 16A shows a state in which the terminal device 2c1 transmits a notification message to the terminal device 2b1 that is the upstream device, and the terminal device 2b1 that has received this notification message transmits the notification message to the terminal device that is the upstream device. 2a1. FIG. 16B shows a state in which the terminal device 2c2 transmits a notification message to the terminal device 2b1 that is an upstream device. Similarly to the case of FIG. 16A, the terminal that has received this notification message. The device 2b1 transfers the notification message to the terminal device 2a1 that is the upstream device. FIG. 16C shows a state in which the terminal device 2b1 transmits the notification message generated by itself to the terminal device 2a1 that is the upstream device.

  Thus, each terminal device 2 generates a notification message and transmits it to the upstream device. The terminal device 2 that has received this notification message is further forwarded to the upstream device, and the notification message is directed upstream in the hierarchical structure. It is sequentially transferred to the route. Thereby, each terminal device 2 can receive the notification message from all the terminal devices 2 existing downstream, and can acquire the downstream number by counting the number.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating downstream information acquisition / notification processing of the terminal device 2 according to the third embodiment.

  As shown in this figure, when the downstream information acquisition / notification process is started, the control unit 11 determines whether or not a predetermined transmission trigger has been reached (step S60). Here, the predetermined transmission trigger occurs every predetermined period (for example, once every 10 minutes). In this process, when it is determined that a predetermined transmission trigger has been reached (step S60: Yes), the control unit 11 transmits a notification message from the communication unit 20 to the upstream device via the network 6 (step S61). ), Downstream information acquisition / notification processing is terminated. In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a message transmission processing unit that periodically transmits a message including information on the own device to the terminal device 2 connected upstream.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S60 that the predetermined transmission trigger has not been reached (step S60: No), the control unit 11 determines whether or not the notification message has been received by the communication unit 20 via the network (step S60). S62). In this process, when it is determined that the notification message has been received (step S62: Yes), the control unit 11 stores the information included in the notification message in the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12 (step S63), and in step S62. The received notification message is transferred from the communication unit 20 to the upstream device via the network (step S64). In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a message reception processing unit that receives a message including downstream information from the terminal device 2 connected downstream, and serves as a downstream information acquisition processing unit from the received message downstream of the own device. Get information.

  When the processes of steps S61 and S64 are completed or when it is determined in step S62 that the notification message has not been received (step S62: No), the control unit 11 ends the downstream information acquisition process / notification process.

  Thus, in each terminal device 2, since each terminal device 2 transmits a message to the terminal device 2 connected upstream, as in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the own device is the most downstream terminal device. Since it is not necessary to determine whether or not the number is 2, the configuration is not complicated.

  In the third embodiment, the downstream information displayed in the display area of the display unit 16 is extracted from the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12 unlike the first embodiment. In this downstream information storage area, information of the notification message transmitted from each terminal device 2 existing downstream of the own device is stored, and the predetermined period (the interval at which the notification message is transmitted in step S60). The downstream number can be acquired by counting the number of acquisitions of the latest notification message transmitted to and displayed as downstream information. For example, when a notification message is transmitted from each terminal device 2 every 10 minutes, the downstream number can be obtained by counting the number of notification messages received in the latest 10 minutes.

  Further, in addition to periodically transmitting the notification message, when each terminal device 2 is connected to the hierarchical structure of the channel as in the second embodiment, and when leaving the connected hierarchical structure, at that timing A notification message may be transmitted. However, when the control unit 11 leaves the hierarchical structure, the control unit 11 adds the downstream number information stored in the downstream information storage area of the storage unit 12 to the downstream number information and the information indicating “withdrawal”. Is included in the notification message, so that the terminal device 2 that has received it can subtract the downstream number and store it in the downstream information storage area. Then, the control unit 11 downstream the number obtained by subtracting the downstream number included in the notification message having the withdrawal information from the number of latest notification messages transmitted in a predetermined period (the interval at which the notification message is transmitted in step S60). Obtained as a number and displayed as downstream information. Moreover, when connecting to a hierarchical structure, the control part 11 transmits a notification message at the timing. By doing in this way, each terminal device 2 can subtract the number of downstreams that have withdrawn and can grasp and add connected downstream devices in real time, so when the periodic transmission interval of notification messages is long Even if it exists, an accurate downstream number can be acquired and displayed.

[4. Fourth Embodiment]
In the first to third embodiments described above, the downstream information is acquired from the downstream device. However, in the fourth embodiment, the topology information including the downstream information from the information distribution device 1 is obtained from the upstream device. To get. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the operation of the information distribution system S of the fourth embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the information distribution system S in the fourth embodiment receives information on the hierarchical structure of each channel from the connection management device 3 (identification information of each terminal device 2, user name information, location information, connection position, etc. (Hereinafter referred to as “topology information”) is transmitted to the information distribution apparatus 1 (see (1) shown in FIG. 18), and the information distribution apparatus 1 sends the topology information thus acquired downstream by the distribution means. It transmits to the connected terminal device 2. As described above, the topology information transmitted from the information distribution device 1 is sequentially distributed from the upstream terminal device 2 to the downstream terminal device 2 in a tree-like hierarchical structure for each channel by the relay function of the terminal device 2. Each terminal device 2 extracts and displays information downstream from the own device from the topology information acquired in this way.

  Here, the operation of each terminal apparatus 2 will be specifically described. The configuration of the terminal device 2 in the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the downstream information acquisition / notification processing and the downstream information display processing are different. Only the information display process will be described. FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing downstream information acquisition / notification processing of the terminal device 2 in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing downstream information display processing of the terminal device 2 in the fourth embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 19, when starting the downstream information acquisition / notification process, the terminal device 2 determines whether topology information has been received from the upstream device (step S80). In this process, when it is determined that the topology information is received from the upstream device (step S80: Yes), the control unit 11 stores the topology information in the topology storage area of the storage unit 12 (step S81). As described above, the control unit 11 receives the topology information (hierarchical structure information) transmitted from the upstream connected device, and the downstream information of the own device from the topology information transmitted from the upstream connected device. It functions as downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring.

  Next, the control part 11 determines whether a downstream apparatus exists (step S82). In this process, if it is determined that there is a downstream device (step S82: Yes), the control unit 11 transfers the received topology information to the downstream device (step S83). In this way, the control unit 11 functions as a transfer processing unit that transmits topology information (hierarchical structure information) to the downstream terminal device 2 when receiving the topology information.

  When the process of step S83 is completed, when it is determined in step S80 that topology information has not been received (step S80: No), and when it is determined in step S82 that no downstream device exists (step S82: No), control is performed. The unit 11 ends the downstream information acquisition / notification process.

  As described above, each terminal apparatus 2 in the fourth embodiment acquires topology information including information downstream of the own apparatus from the upstream apparatus of the hierarchical structure of the connected channel.

  Next, the downstream information display processing will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing in steps S90, S91, S93, S94, and S96 in FIG. 20 is the same as the processing in steps S40, 41, S43, S44, and S46 shown in FIG. The processes of S92 and S95 will be described.

  In step S <b> 92, the control unit 11 extracts downstream information from the topology information stored in the topology storage area of the storage unit 12. That is, the connection position of the terminal device 2 is determined based on the connection position information of each terminal device 2 included in the topology information, the number of terminal devices 2 downstream from the connection position is extracted as the downstream number, and Identification information and user name information of the terminal device 2 located immediately downstream of the device are extracted. The downstream information thus extracted is displayed in the display area of the display unit 16 for a predetermined time in the process of step S93.

  Also in step S95, downstream information is extracted from the topology information stored in the topology storage area of the storage unit 12 as in the process of step S92, and displayed in the display area of the display unit 16 for a predetermined time in the process of step S96. Will be.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the connection management device 3 in the fourth embodiment will be described.

  First, the configuration of the connection management device 3 will be described. FIG. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram of the connection management device 3 in the fourth embodiment.

  The connection management device 3 can be a general server computer in addition to a dedicated computer. As shown in FIG. 21, a control unit 41, a storage unit 42 for storing various setting information, and topology information are stored. A topology database 43 to be stored, an input unit 44 including a mouse and a keyboard, and a communication unit 45 for communicating with the information distribution device 1 and the terminal device 2 via the network 6 are provided. Note that the control unit 41, the storage unit 42, the topology database 43, and the communication unit 45 are connected to each other via a system bus 46.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a nonvolatile memory (for example, a flash memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). This nonvolatile memory stores an information processing program for managing the topology information of each channel and executing processing such as notifying the terminal device 2 of connection destination candidates. The CPU is stored in the nonvolatile memory. By reading out and executing the information processing program, it functions as a connection destination candidate request reception processing means, a connection destination candidate notification processing means, a topology information management means, a topology information notification processing means, and the like.

  The information processing program may be downloaded to the non-volatile memory of the control unit 41 from the server (for example, the connection management device 3) connected to the network 6 via the communication unit 45, for example. Alternatively, after being recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R or DVD-R, it may be read into the nonvolatile memory of the control unit 41 via a recording medium drive (not shown).

  The operation of the connection management device 3 configured as described above will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation content of the connection management apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 22, when the main power switch (not shown) is turned on or the reset switch (not shown) is operated in the connection management device 3, the CPU of the control unit 41 controls the storage unit 42. After performing initial setting operations such as access permission and securing the work area of the internal RAM, reading the information processing program stored in the internal nonvolatile memory and setting the function as the control unit 41 to the operating state (step S100), The process moves to step S101.

  In step S101, the control unit 41 determines whether or not a predetermined opportunity has occurred. Here, the predetermined trigger is generated every predetermined time (for example, once every 10 minutes), but it may be determined that the predetermined trigger is reached when there is a change in the topology information.

  In this process, if it is determined that a predetermined opportunity has been reached (step S101: Yes), the control unit 11 extracts the topology information stored in the topology database 43 and transmits it to the information distribution apparatus 1 (step S102). In this way, the control unit 41 functions as topology information notification processing means for transmitting the topology information stored in the topology database 43 from the communication unit 45 to the information distribution apparatus 1 via the network 6.

  When the process of step S102 is completed, or when it is determined in step S101 that the predetermined trigger has not been reached (step S101: No), the control unit 41 determines whether or not there is a request for connection destination candidate information from the terminal device 2. Is determined (step S103). In this process, if it is determined that there is a request for connection destination candidate information (step S103: Yes), the control unit 41 selects an appropriate connection destination candidate from the topology database 43 in consideration of the balance of the entire hierarchical structure and the like. The connection destination candidate information is transmitted from the communication unit 45 to the request source connection destination candidate via the network 6 (step S104). As described above, the control unit 41 functions as a connection destination candidate request reception processing unit that receives a request for information on connection destination candidates from the terminal device 2 via the network 6 by the communication unit 45 and also performs an appropriate connection from the topology database 43. It functions as a connection destination candidate notification processing unit that selects a destination candidate and transmits information of the connection destination candidate to the request destination connection destination candidate from the communication unit via the network 6.

  When the process of step S104 is completed or when it is determined in step S103 that there is no request for connection destination candidate information (step S103: No), the control unit 41 determines whether there is a participation report or a withdrawal report from the terminal device 2. Is determined (step S105). If it is determined in this process that there has been a participation report or a withdrawal report (step S105: Yes), the control unit 41 rewrites the topology information stored in the topology database 43 (step S106). For example, when there is a participation report from the terminal device 2, the topology information in the topology database 43 stores the identification information of the terminal device 2, user name information, location information, information on connection positions in the hierarchical structure, and the like. On the other hand, when there is a withdrawal report from the terminal device 2, the identification information of the terminal device 2, user name information, location information, information on the connection position in the hierarchical structure, etc. are deleted from the topology information in the topology database 43. As described above, the control unit 41 functions as topology information management means for managing the topology information stored in the topology database 43 based on the participation report, the withdrawal report, and the like from the terminal device 2.

  When the process of step S106 is completed, or when it is determined in step S105 that no participation report or withdrawal report has been received (step S105: No), the control unit 41 determines whether an end instruction has been detected. (Step S107). This end instruction is notified by an external interrupt or the like when the reset switch is pressed or the power switch is turned off.

  In this process, when an end instruction is detected (step S107: Yes), the control unit 41 ends the process. When no end instruction is detected (step S107: No), the control unit 41 returns the process to step S101.

  As described above, in the connection management device 3 of the fourth embodiment, topology information including identification information, user name information, location information, connection position, and the like of each terminal device 2 constituting the hierarchical structure of the channel is sent to the information distribution device 1. The topology information is transmitted, and the topology information is transmitted from the information distribution apparatus 1 through a route for distributing the content information. Therefore, it is easier to acquire downstream information than when a message is transmitted from the downstream terminal device 2. Since the connection management device 3 manages topology information in order to select connection destination candidates in response to a request from the terminal device 2, in this embodiment, the topology information is used by using the topology information. The process of collecting new information is omitted. Although the location information of the terminal device 2 is included in the topology information distributed from the connection management device 3 to the information distribution device 1, the location information may not be included. That is, any topology information may be used as long as each terminal device 2 can acquire downstream device identification information, user name information, and downstream number information. In addition, if the data that needs to be acquired is topology information that can acquire only that information if it is downstream device identification information, and if the data that needs to be acquired is information on the number of downstream devices, only that information is acquired. Any topology information can be used.

  As described above, in the information distribution system S of the above-described embodiment, the terminal device 2 acquires the information of the terminal device 2 downstream of the own device among the terminal devices 2 constituting the hierarchical structure, and this downstream By displaying the information, it is possible to notify the user that the terminal device 2 is connected downstream, thereby suppressing the departure from the hierarchical structure and improving the stability of the hierarchical structure. be able to.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be implemented in other forms that are variously modified and improved based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It is possible to implement.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the distribution topology has been described as a tree-like hierarchical structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of terminal devices 2 may be logically connected in multiple layers in a chain-like hierarchical structure. .

  In the fourth embodiment, the connection management device transmits the topology information to the information distribution device. However, each terminal device 2 may acquire the topology information directly from the connection management device.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the information delivery system in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when a participating terminal device participates in an information delivery system. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the downstream information in a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the downstream information in a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the flow of an alerting | reporting message. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the information contained in an alerting | reporting message. It is a figure for demonstrating the transfer method of an alerting | reporting message. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the main process of a terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the connection process of a terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the downstream information acquisition and notification process of a terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the downstream information display process of a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the channel selection screen in a terminal device. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the channel selection screen in a terminal device. It is a flowchart of the downstream information acquisition / notification process in the terminal device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the alerting | reporting message in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart which shows the downstream information acquisition and notification process of the terminal device in 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement outline | summary of the information delivery system of 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the downstream information acquisition and notification process of the terminal device in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the downstream information display process of the terminal device in 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the connection management apparatus 3 in 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement content of the connection management apparatus in 4th Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

S Information distribution system 1 Information distribution device 2 Terminal device 3 Connection management device 11 Terminal device control unit 12 Terminal device storage unit 20 Terminal device communication unit 41 Connection management device control unit 43 Connection management device topology database 45 Connection management Communication part of the device

Claims (18)

A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means,
Said downstream information display processing means, as said downstream information, said downstream end terminal apparatus you and displaying a number of terminal apparatus constituting the hierarchical structure of the apparatus of the terminal apparatus constituting the hierarchical structure . A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means,
Said downstream information display processing means, as said downstream information, end terminal device you and displaying the identification information of the terminal device connected to the downstream of its own apparatus. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means,
Said downstream information display processing means, as said downstream information, end terminal device you and displaying the user name of the terminal device connected to the downstream of its own apparatus. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means;
Comprises a content reception processing means for receiving the content information transmitted from the device connected upstream, a,
Said downstream information display processing means, the content information received by the content reception processing unit to display a predetermined display area, further, said the Turkey to display the downstream information to the predetermined display region end terminal device. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means;
Comprises a content reception processing means for receiving the content information transmitted from the device connected upstream, a,
The downstream information display processing means displays the content information received by the content reception processing means in a predetermined display area, and further displays the downstream information in a display area different from the predetermined display area. and to that end terminal device. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means,
Said downstream information display processing means, when there is a change in state of the downstream of the hierarchical structure, the end terminal device means displays said downstream information. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
Downstream information acquisition processing means for acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
Downstream information display processing means for displaying the downstream information acquired by the downstream information acquisition processing means,
A plurality of hierarchical structures formed with the information distribution device as a vertex are formed for each channel,
Said downstream information display processing means, when the display of the channel selection screen for selecting the channel is selected, the end terminal device means displays said downstream information. A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the information processing method of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, as the downstream information, the number of terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure is displayed.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the information processing method of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, identification information of a terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed as the downstream information.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the information processing method of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, a user name of a terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed as the downstream information.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the information processing method of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step;
  A content reception processing step for receiving content information transmitted from a device connected upstream;
  In the downstream information display processing step, the content information received in the content reception processing step is displayed in a predetermined display area, and further, the downstream information is displayed in the predetermined display area. .   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, as the downstream information, the number of terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure is displayed. .   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, identification information of a terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed as the downstream information.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, a user name of a terminal device connected downstream of the own device is displayed as the downstream information.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step;
  A content reception processing step of receiving content information transmitted from a device connected upstream;
  In the downstream information display processing step, the content information received in the content reception processing step is displayed in a predetermined display area, and further, the downstream information is displayed in the predetermined display area. program.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step;
  A content reception processing step of receiving content information transmitted from a device connected upstream;
  In the downstream information display processing step, the content information received in the content reception processing step is displayed in a predetermined display area, and further, the downstream information is displayed in a display area different from the predetermined display area. A characteristic information processing program.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  In the downstream information display processing step, when the state of the downstream hierarchical structure is changed, the downstream information is displayed.   A plurality of terminal devices are logically connected in a hierarchical structure in a hierarchical structure on the network with the information distribution device at the top, and content information transmitted from the information distribution device is sequentially transmitted from the upstream terminal device to the downstream terminal device in the hierarchical structure. In the computer of the terminal device in the information distribution system distributed by the relay function of the terminal device,
  A downstream information acquisition processing step of acquiring information of a terminal device downstream of the own device among the terminal devices constituting the hierarchical structure;
  A downstream information display processing step for displaying the downstream information acquired in the downstream information acquisition processing step,
  A plurality of hierarchical structures formed with the information distribution device as a vertex are formed for each channel,
  In the downstream information display processing step, when the display of the channel selection screen for selecting the channel is selected, the downstream information is displayed.

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