JP5322094B2 - VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals, and in particular, allows a mobile terminal to control a video communication terminal such as a viewing PC (personal computer) via a Web server to view content such as video content. The present invention relates to a VoD (video on demand) system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system or service has been known in which a moving image distribution server connected to the Internet is accessed using a moving image viewing application provided in a communication terminal such as a PC to receive distribution of desired moving image content. ing.

For example, Patent Document 1 below describes the following VoD system. In a system comprising a television device having a terminal control device, a route information center connected to the Internet, and a content distribution server, a user can use a user interface device (for example, a voice recognition remote controller, a remote controller with a pointing device, a mobile phone remote controller). When a predetermined channel of the television apparatus is selected with the remote control button, the information is sent to the terminal control apparatus, and the terminal control apparatus then routes the user's STB-ID (unique identifier) and the selected channel information. The information is sent to the information center, and the URL of the selected channel is acquired from the route information center. Subsequently, the terminal control device connects to the content distribution server using the acquired URL or the like, receives the content distribution from the content distribution server, and displays the distributed content on the screen of the television device. In this way, the user can view desired content.
JP 2007-201742 A

  However, in the above-described system, it is possible to view content distributed only on a specific television device having a terminal control device to which an STB-ID is assigned, which is highly terminal-dependent and difficult to cooperate with different services. There is a problem of being.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal that solves the above-described problems of the prior art, has low terminal dependency, and is easy to charge.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention has a browser function, a program selected by the operation screen displayed on the browser, rated video communication terminals deliver video content, and any and selecting an operation instruction Mobile phone to be sent out, and to send operation screen information based on the display request from the mobile phone to display the operation screen on the browser of the mobile phone, and to operate the mobile phone based on the operation screen From a Web server having a function of generating a control command based on the operation instruction, a video distribution server for transmitting video content selected by program selection from the mobile phone, and a browser of the mobile phone A video player that operates according to a control command received via the transmitted web server, and that receives a video from the video distribution server; Only in accordance with the operation of the content from the mobile phone, play operation, the pause operation, and become a termination operation and a moving image communication terminal capable of at least performing the video communication terminal, which was arbitrarily designated from the mobile phone , and the there is a first feature in that it provides a client-controlled video communication terminal for VoD system, characterized in that it is inhibited the operation from other than the mobile phone. .

  A second feature is that the video communication terminal is capable of receiving a command from the Web server and obtains a control command transmitted from the browser of the mobile phone by a command from the Web server.

  Further, the moving image communication terminal has a third feature in that a control command transmitted from the browser of the mobile phone and created by the Web server is requested and acquired from the Web server.

  Further, the moving image communication terminal is a moving image communication terminal that is arbitrarily designated by a mail address from a browser of the mobile phone.

  According to the present invention, since the moving image content selected from the mobile phone is displayed on an arbitrary moving image communication terminal and the mobile phone is used like a remote controller via the network, the terminal dependency is low and charging is performed. An easy VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals can be provided.

  In addition, user convenience is improved. That is, since the terminal dependency is low as described above, the user can have his / her mobile phone as well as the video communication terminal that he / she owns, for example, a travel destination hotel, workplace, school, coffee shop, etc. Video content can be distributed to any video communication terminal installed in the network and received, and the video distribution service can be enjoyed regardless of location, that is, without being tied to the video communication terminal. become.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a configuration example of a VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to the present invention.

  As shown in the drawing, a video communication terminal 2 (for example, a viewing terminal 2 having a viewing PC, a Web browser, a mail receiving function, and a moving image player) is connected to the Internet 1 via an access line. A telephone network 3 (for example, a mobile phone network) is connected to the Internet 1 via a gateway server (GW server), and a video player operation tool 4 (for example, a mobile phone) is wirelessly connected to the telephone network 3. Has been. In addition, a Web server 6 and a moving image distribution server 7 are connected to the Internet 1 via an Internet connection router 5. A content storage unit 8 is connected to the moving image distribution server 7, and the moving image distribution server 7 can access and read any content stored in the content storage unit 8. In the following description, the video communication terminal 2 or the viewing terminal 2 is replaced with the viewing PC 2 and the video player operation tool 4 is replaced with the mobile phone 4 for easy understanding.

  More specifically, the viewing PC 2 includes a moving image player 2b, a general-purpose mail user agent (e-mail receiving function), and an HTML viewer (browser). As will become clear from the following description, the viewing PC 2 A player control program 2a is added. The telephone network 3 includes a GW server, a telephone network, and a radio base station. The mobile phone 4 is a normal one, and has an HTML viewer (browser).

  Next, the Web server 6 includes an authentication program 6a, a Web service program 6b, and a Web program 6c. The Web program 6c includes a content selection control program, a Web screen control program, a moving picture player control unit control program, an e-mail transmission control program, and a general-purpose transfer agent (mail transfer function). The moving image distribution server 7 includes a moving image service program, a Web service program, a moving image distribution control program, and a Web screen control program. Further, the content storage unit 8 includes a content management program and content storage means such as a hard disk.

  According to the present invention, the user can distribute the moving image content distributed from the moving image distribution server to any viewing PC 2 using the mobile phone 4, and the operation unit displayed on the browser of the mobile phone 4. The video content can be used for operations such as playing, pausing, and ending the video content. Hereinafter, the user operation procedure and the operation procedure of the VoD system will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. . 2 is a transition diagram of screen display of the cellular phone 4 and viewing PC 2, and FIG. 3 is an operation sequence diagram. In addition, the code | symbol (2, 4, 6a-6c, 7) in FIG. 3 shows the same or equivalent thing of the same code | symbol of FIG. In addition, the display contents of the screens of the mobile phone 4 and the viewing PC 2 in FIG. 2 are not limited to this.

  Since the Web service program 6b in the Web server 6 has a control function for mobile phones and PCs, communication with the mobile phone 4 is performed with the viewing PC 2 via the control function for mobile phones. Communication is performed via a control function for the PC.

  When the user wants to receive a video distribution service, first, the mobile phone 4 is operated to display a “member-oriented program” such as an archive, a drama, or a trip on the screen (browser) of the mobile phone ( T1). Therefore, when the user selects any program, a program selection screen is sent from the Web service program 6b to the mobile phone 4, and a “program list” is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 4 (T2). . Next, when a program such as “city trip” is selected, a message “Do you want to watch the program name“ city trip ”” is displayed (T3). Here, if an operation of “Yes” is performed (T3), “Member registration confirmation in progress” is displayed and this operation signal is transmitted to the Web service program 6b. Subsequently, the Web service program 6b notifies the Web program 6c, and the authentication program 6a is activated to authenticate the membership (T4).

  If this authentication is OK, the fact is notified from the web program 6c to the web service program 6b, and a mail address input screen is sent from the web service program 6b to the mobile phone 4. Then, on the screen of the mobile phone 4, a message that “playback is started because the member confirmation has been completed” is displayed, and further, “Please enter the email address of the PC to be viewed” is displayed (T 5). Therefore, when the user inputs the mail address of the viewing PC for which the distribution content is to be displayed and presses the send button, the send button on signal is sent to the web program 6c via the web service program 6b, and the web program 6c A time URL is generated. The one-time URL means a URL generated only once. If there is an error in the input e-mail address, re-input is requested (T'5).

  This one-time URL is sent to the viewing PC 2. Therefore, when a “Mailer” screen (general-purpose Mail User Agent) for viewing received mail on a viewing PC that has already been opened is opened, a URL (one-time URL) that is a connection destination of the PC-VoD is displayed on the screen. ) Is displayed (T6). In addition, the e-mail transmission completion screen is sent to the mobile phone 4, and for example, the message “Send an e-mail to the PC to be watched” is displayed on the mobile phone screen and “When the PC is ready, press the ready button. "Is displayed (T7, T'7).

  Next, when the user clicks on the URL displayed on the “Mailer” screen of the viewing PC 2, the click is sent to the Web service in the Web server 6 via the HTML Viewer (browser) in the viewing PC 2. The video player control program 2a is added to the viewing PC 2 from the Web service program 6b. The browser of the viewing PC 2 is activated by this added program, the display relating to the moving image player operation unit (play / pause operation unit etc.) in the viewing PC 2 is invalidated, and the start screen is displayed. For example, a program name “city trip” is displayed, and “clicking the program name to start. Operate the start / stop of the program with a mobile phone” is displayed. In addition, an operation screen of the mobile phone is displayed (T8). It is one of the points of the present invention that the “start / stop of the program is operated with a mobile phone”.

  Next, when the user clicks the program name in the browser screen with a mouse or the like, the moving image player is activated and, for example, a solid black viewing screen is displayed on the viewing PC 2 screen (T9). In addition, a connection request is sent from the viewing PC 2 to the moving image distribution server 7. Subsequently, when the user turns on the “ready” button (T7) displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 4, the “ready” signal is sent to the web program 6c via the web service program 6b. Then, the operation screen data is sent from the Web program 6c to the mobile phone 4 (T10). Thereby, an operation unit (for example, play button p, pause button q, etc.) is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone (T10).

  Therefore, when the user selects the play button p on the screen of the mobile phone, operation screen correction data is generated by the functions of the Web service program 6b and the Web program 6c, and the operation screen correction data is sent to the mobile phone 4. Thus, the play button on the screen of the mobile phone 4 is changed to gray, for example. When a video player control command is sent from the Web program 6c to the viewing PC 2 in response to turning on the play button p on the screen of the mobile phone (T11), the viewing PC 2 sends the control command to the video player. Convert to control command. By this conversion, the operation unit command from the mobile phone 4 is validated. In addition, a moving image start request is issued from the viewing PC 2 to the moving image distribution server 7 in accordance with the moving image player control command. In response to this, the distribution of the moving image is started from the moving image distribution server 7, and the moving image is displayed on the viewing screen.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the screen of the viewing PC 2 can be controlled only from the operation unit on the screen of the mobile phone 4. That is, the user can perform operations such as play operation, pause operation, and termination of the distributed video content from the operation unit displayed on the screen of the mobile phone, but from the screen of the viewing PC 2, These operations cannot be performed.

  Next, functions of the moving picture player control program 2a and the moving picture player 2b will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S1, the operation unit of the viewing PC related to the distribution video is invalidated. In step S2, a moving image distribution start screen is displayed (T8). In step S3, it is determined whether or not the program name in the start screen has been clicked. If this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S4, the moving image player is activated, a solid black viewing screen is displayed (T9), and a connection request is made to the moving image distribution server 7 in step S5. Proceeding to step S6, the operation command from the mobile phone 4 is validated.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not a “play” instruction has been issued from the mobile phone 4. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S8, where the video player control command is converted into a video player control command. A video start request is sent to the video distribution server 7. In step S9, a moving image is displayed. In step S10, it is determined whether or not an “end” instruction has been issued from the mobile phone 4. If this determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S11 to determine whether or not the “pause” instruction has been issued from the mobile phone 4. Make a decision. If this determination is negative, the process returns to step S9 to continue the display of the moving image, while if this determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S12 to temporarily stop the display of the moving image. In step S13, it is determined whether or not a “play” instruction has been issued. If this determination is affirmative, the process returns to step S9 to resume the display of the moving image. If the determination in step S10 is affirmative, the display of the moving image ends.

  As is clear from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the user who possesses the mobile phone 4 that has been authenticated for membership registration at T4 and T5 can receive the video distribution service. Those who are not able to receive the video distribution service. In addition, since the moving image is distributed from the moving image distribution server 7 to the PC of the mail address input in T5, anyone who owns the viewing PC may be used. Even if it is a PC possessed by the user who possesses the mobile phone 4 or another person's PC, such as a travel destination hotel's PC, etc., if the PC's e-mail address is input at T5, the distribution video Can be watched.

  For this reason, the VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals of this embodiment is a system that is highly convenient for the user. In addition, since the mobile phone 4 that has been authenticated for the membership registration is charged, it can be charged reliably. Also, since operations such as starting, pausing, and ending play cannot be performed from the operation unit on the viewing PC screen, a user who has received member registration authentication is distributed to another person's PC that has not received member registration authentication. It is also possible to prevent a problem that a moving image is distributed and another person who has not been authenticated for membership registration views and enjoys the distributed moving image.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the first embodiment transmits a video player control command from the Web program 6c to the viewing PC 2 at T11 and notifies that the play button of the mobile phone 4 has been pressed. The viewing PC 2 itself is characterized in that it goes to the Web service program 6b to check whether or not the play button of the mobile phone 4 is pressed, that is, the viewing PC 2 performs a polling operation. . Since the difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 3 is only T12 to T14 in FIG. 5, only T12 to T14 will be described below.

  At T12, the viewing PC 2 accesses the Web service program 6b through a one-time URL connection and sees whether or not the play button of the mobile phone 4 has been pressed. And if not pushed yet, the operation | movement of going to see again after a predetermined time is repeated (polling). Among them, when a video player control command file is generated by the Web program 6c (T13), a video player control command is transmitted from the Web service program 6b to the viewing PC 2 at the timing of subsequent one-time URL connection. (T14). Upon receiving the video player control command, the viewing PC 2 issues a video start request to the video distribution server 7 and receives video distribution from the video distribution server 7.

  Also in this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the distribution video of the viewing PC 2 can be operated only from the operation unit on the browser of the mobile phone 4, and the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained. Can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, a mobile phone having an HTML viewer (browser) issues an operation instruction to the viewing PC 2, but the same can be applied to a mobile phone equipped with a dedicated application.

1 is a system diagram showing a configuration of a VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the screen transition of the mobile telephone and viewing PC of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement sequence of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of operation | movement of a moving image player control program and a moving image player. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement sequence of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Internet, 2 ... Movie communication terminal (viewing PC), 2a ... Movie player control program, 3 ... Mobile phone network, 4 ... Mobile phone, 5 ... Internet connection router , 6 ... Web server, 6b ... Web service program, 6c ... Web program, 7 ... Video distribution server, 8 ... Content storage unit.

Claims (9)

A mobile phone having a browser function, for selecting a program on an operation screen displayed on the browser, specifying a video communication terminal to which video content is distributed, and an operation instruction arbitrarily and selectively;
Based on the display request from the mobile phone, the operation screen information is transmitted to display the operation screen on the browser of the mobile phone, and the operation instruction based on the operation screen is received from the mobile phone. A web server having a function of creating a control command based on
A video distribution server for transmitting video content selected by program selection from the mobile phone;
A video player that operates in response to a control command received from the web server transmitted from the browser of the mobile phone, and the video content from the video distribution server is played only in accordance with an operation from the mobile phone; A video communication terminal capable of at least a pause operation and an end operation,
The VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals, wherein the video communication terminal is arbitrarily specified from the mobile phone and the operation from other than the mobile phone is suppressed.   The said moving image communication terminal prepares to receive the command from the said Web server, and acquires the operation instruction transmitted from the browser of the said mobile telephone by the command from the said Web server. VoD system for client-controlled video communication terminals. The video communication terminal is downloaded with a video player control program that can receive a command from the Web server,
The VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the video player operates in conjunction with the video player control program and operates according to a command transmitted by the Web server.   4. The VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to claim 3, wherein the video player control program converts a command transmitted from the Web server into the video player control command.   The client-controlled video communication according to claim 1, wherein the video communication terminal requests and acquires a control command transmitted from a browser of the mobile phone and created by the Web server. VoD system for terminals. The video communication terminal has a video player control program for executing a control command obtained by requesting the web server,
6. The VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to claim 5, wherein the video player operates in conjunction with the video player control program and operates according to a control command acquired from the Web server.   The VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the video player control program converts a control command acquired from the web server into the video player control command. The video communication terminal according to claim 1 to 7 client controlled video communication terminal for VoD system according to any one of wherein the browser of the mobile phone is moving communication terminal which is arbitrarily designated email address .   9. The VoD system for a client-controlled video communication terminal according to claim 8, wherein the video communication terminal is a viewing personal computer.