JP5455677B2 - Service server, content distribution method and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a service server, a content distribution method, and a program, and more particularly, to a service server, a content distribution method, and a program for distributing in-home content to devices outside the home.

  In recent years, with the spread of digital cameras, digital recorders, and the like, a large amount of content (digital data) such as photographs, movies, and recorded programs is stored in a home server in the home, and the number of users who watch at home is increased. It is coming. The home server is installed in the user's home and connected to the home network. The user can view the content at home using a user device that can be connected to the home network. On the other hand, a user device connected to an external network such as the Internet cannot directly access the home server.

  Therefore, for example, access information for accessing the home server is obtained using a DAP (Direct Access Platform) server, and the access information obtained from the DAP server is sent to the home server in response to a request from a user device outside the home. A system for enabling access and controlling the accessed home server has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). According to such a system, even when the user forgets to make a recording reservation for a program he / she wants to watch and goes out, the user can request the recording reservation from the destination to the home server.

JP 2008-301265 A

  However, in the above system, although the recording reservation from the outside is possible, the content stored in the home server is distributed via the network outside the home and played on the user device outside the home (outside the home). I couldn't. Therefore, the user cannot view the content stored in the home server when he / she is out of the office, but lacks convenience.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved service server capable of viewing the content stored in the home server outside the home, It is to provide a content distribution method and program.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to an aspect of the present invention, a service server connectable to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server. An access information acquisition unit that acquires access information from the access information providing server to a predetermined home server in response to a viewing request from a user device located outside the home, and a viewing request from the user device In accordance with the distribution information specifying unit for specifying the identification information of the content requested to be viewed and the user device connection information for connecting to the user device, and the access information acquired by the access information acquiring unit. The user equipment connection information and content identification information specified by the distribution information specifying unit Is transmitted from the predetermined home server to the content that is identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server. There is provided a service server, comprising: a content distribution control unit that controls the predetermined home server so as to be distributed to the user device specified by the transmitted user device connection information.

  According to this configuration, the service server accesses the predetermined home server using the access information, and transmits the user device connection information and the content identification information to the accessed home server. As a result, the user identified by the transmitted user device connection information from the predetermined home server, the content identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server The predetermined home server can be controlled to be distributed to the device. In response to this, the home server distributes the content identified by the content identification information to the user device specified by the user device connection information. As a result, the user can view the content stored in the home server, which is his content, on the go.

  The distribution information specifying unit obtains information indicating whether or not the content stored in the predetermined home server is available and sets the flag, and the content distribution control unit sets the flag set by the distribution information specifying unit. Based on this, the predetermined home server may be controlled so that only distributable content is distributed from the predetermined home server to the user device.

  When the content requested to be viewed by the user device is a moving image content, the content distribution control unit displays the moving image content distributed from the predetermined home server in order to follow and reproduce the moving image content on the user device. The predetermined home server may be controlled so as to be copied by the user device.

  The content management unit, when the reproduction of the content is interrupted after the content distributed from the predetermined home server is started to be reproduced on the user device, shows the interruption information indicating the reproduction interruption status of the content. The predetermined home server may be controlled such that the content is transmitted to the home server and the content reflecting the interruption is performed by the predetermined home server based on the transmitted interruption information.

  After the content distributed from the predetermined home server is copied to the storage area of the user device, when the content is deleted from the storage area, among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server The predetermined home server may be controlled to delete the deleted content.

  The distribution information specifying unit specifies image quality information indicating an image quality of a content requested to be viewed by the user device, and the content distribution control unit selects a content having a predetermined image quality according to the image quality information of the content. The predetermined home server may be controlled to be distributed from the home server to the user equipment.

  A message generation unit configured to generate a message output when the content is played on the user device; and the content distribution control unit is generated by the message generation unit when distributing the content to the user device. The predetermined home server may be controlled to transmit the transmitted message.

  The message generation unit may generate the message based on at least one of character information and voice information.

  When the content distribution control unit determines that the user device is a device owned by a user of the predetermined home server or a third party device pre-authorized by the user, the content distribution control unit receives the user from the predetermined home server. The predetermined home server may be controlled so as to distribute the content requested by the device for viewing.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to connect to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server. A content distribution method for distributing desired content by a service server, the step of acquiring access information from the access information providing server to a predetermined home server in response to a viewing request from a user device located outside the house And, in response to a viewing request from the user device, identifying identification information of the content requested to be viewed and user device connection information for connecting to the user device, and the acquired access information To the predetermined home server, and the specified user device connection information and content identification information By transmitting to the home server, the content identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server is connected to the user equipment connection transmitted from the predetermined home server. And a step of controlling the predetermined home server so as to be distributed to the user equipment specified by the information.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to connect to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server. A program for causing a computer to realize the functions of the service server, and obtaining access information from the access information providing server to a predetermined home server in response to a viewing request from a user device located outside the house In response to a viewing request from the user device, processing for identifying identification information of the content requested to be viewed and user device connection information for connecting to the user device, and the acquired access Information is used to access the predetermined home server, and the specified user device connection information and content identification information are forwarded. The content identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server by transmitting to the home server, the user device connection information transmitted from the predetermined home server A program for causing a computer to execute the process of controlling the predetermined home server so as to be distributed to the user device specified by the computer is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the content stored in the home server can be viewed outside the home.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an overview of a content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a service server according to the embodiment. It is the sequence diagram which showed the content delivery method which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content list screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content delivery condition setting screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content viewing screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. It is the figure which showed another example of the content delivery condition setting screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content deletion confirmation screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the whole block diagram which showed the outline | summary of the content delivery system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a functional configuration diagram of a service server according to the embodiment. It is the sequence diagram which showed the content delivery method which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content list screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content delivery condition setting screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the same embodiment. It is the figure which showed an example of the content browsing screen of the user apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the service server which concerns on the 1st and 2nd embodiment of this invention.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, in this specification and drawing, about the component which has the substantially same function structure, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol.

<First Embodiment>
[Overall configuration of content distribution system]
First, a content distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an overview of a content distribution system according to the present embodiment.

  The content distribution system 10 includes a service server 100, a user device 200, an access information providing server 300, and a home server 400. Each of the service server 100, the user device 200, the access information providing server 300, and the home server 400 can be connected to an external network such as the Internet.

  Specifically, the service server 100 can be connected to the user device 200 and the access information providing server 300 via a network outside the house. On the other hand, connection from the service server 100 to the home server 400 is possible by acquiring access information from the access information providing server 300 to the home server. That is, the service server 100 accesses the home server 400 using the access information acquired from the access information providing server 300.

  The service server 100 refers to a list of a plurality of contents stored in the home server 400 via the network outside the home by the user device 200, and receives the content requested to be viewed from the user device 200 from the home server 400 to the user. It is a device that controls the home server 400 so as to be distributed to the device 200.

  In the present embodiment, the home server 400 will be described by taking a recorder having a function of recording a television program. The home server 400 stores recorded program content, images such as pictures or movies taken by the user, and audio content such as music. Other examples of the home server include a personal computer, a television, a recorder, an audio device, and a digital photo frame.

  The user device 200 is located outside the home and requests the service server 100 to view any content stored in the home server 400. The user device 200 is a device owned by the user of the home server 400 or a third-party device that is permitted in advance by the user of the home server 400. Specifically, the user device 200 may be a device owned by any of the families residing in the home where the home server 400 is installed, and is related to the family and is permitted to use the home server 400 in advance. It may be a third party device.

  The user device 200 has a function of connecting to a network outside the home, and when content stored in the home server 400 is distributed from the home server 400 to the user device 200, the content is played back. Since the user device 200 is located outside the home, the user device 200 cannot be directly connected to the home server 400 unlike a home device that can be directly connected to the home server 400 via a home network. In the present embodiment, a mobile phone owned by a user of the home server 400 is described as an example of the user device 200, but the present invention is not limited to this. The user device 200 may be, for example, a PC, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a game device, a television, or the like.

  Access information providing server 300 has a constant session established with home server 400. The access information providing server 300 provides access information for accessing the home server 400. The user needs to register information on the user device 200 in the access information providing server 300 in advance. The access information providing server 300 includes information on the registered user device 200, information on the home server 400 that stores content that the user device 200 requests to view, and services provided by the service server 100 used by the user device 200. Information is managed in association with each other.

  The home server 400 is a server that is arranged in a user's home and has a storage device that stores a plurality of contents. As described above, the home server 400 has a constant session established with the access information providing server 300, and in response to a request from the access information providing server 300, the home server 400 sends access information to the home server 400 to the access information providing server 300. Notice. When a viewing request is notified from the service server 100 accessed using the access information, the home server 400 transmits a list of contents stored in the home server 400 to the service server 100. Furthermore, the home server 400 delivers desired content to the user device 200 according to the control of the service server 100.

[Service Server Functional Configuration]
Next, the functional configuration of the service server will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the service server 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The service server 100 has the functions shown by the communication unit 102, the access information acquisition unit 104, the content list acquisition unit 106, the distribution information identification unit 108, the content distribution control unit 110, and the content management unit 112.

  The communication unit 102 is a communication interface that connects to a home network using a network outside the home and access information. As a result, the communication unit 102 can connect not only to the user device 200 and the access information acquisition server 300 but also to the home server 400 accessed using the access information.

  The access information acquisition unit 104 acquires access information from the access information providing server 300 to the home server 400 in response to a viewing request from the user device 200 located outside the home.

  The access information acquisition unit 104 transmits user device connection information and service identification information provided by the service server 100 to the access information providing server 300. Since the access information for accessing the home server 400 is registered in the access information providing server 300 in association with the user device connection information and the service identification information, the access information providing server 300 has a distribution information specifying unit. The access information registered in association with the user device connection information specified by 108 and the service identification information is selected. Here, when there are a plurality of home servers 400 registered in association with the user device connection information and the service identification information, the access information acquisition unit 104 also matches the identification information of the home server selected by the user. Transmit and obtain access information for accessing the desired home server.

  The content list acquisition unit 106 acquires a list indicating the content contents stored in the home server 400. Specifically, the content list acquisition unit 106 requests a content list. In response to the request, the communication unit 102 accesses the home server 400 using the access information acquired by the access information acquisition unit 104 and acquires a content list from the home server 400. The content list acquisition unit 106 generates a content list screen from the content list acquired from the home server 400 via the communication unit 102 and outputs the content list screen to the user device 200. When the user selects one content from the content list based on the information on the content list screen displayed on the user device 200, the distribution information specifying unit 108 is requested to view the identification information of the selected content. It is specified as content identification information.

  In response to a viewing request from the user device 200 that has accessed the site provided by the service server 100, the distribution information specifying unit 108 connects to the identification information of the content requested to be viewed and the user device 200. Specify user equipment connection information.

  The distribution information specifying unit 108 sets content distribution conditions including identification information of content to be distributed to the user device 200 located outside the home among the contents stored in the home server 400. The distribution information specifying unit 108 acquires detailed information on the content selected by the user from the home server 400 and outputs a content distribution condition setting screen including the detailed information to the user device 200. Specifically, the distribution information specifying unit 108 transmits the specified content identification information to the home server 400, and obtains detailed content information corresponding to the content identification information from the home server 400. The distribution information specifying unit 108 outputs a content distribution condition setting screen including detailed information of the acquired content to the user device 200 via the communication unit 102, and accepts input of the content distribution condition.

  The content distribution conditions set on the content distribution condition setting screen can include, for example, the image quality of the image to be distributed and the content distribution method (for example, copy, copy & chase reproduction, streaming reproduction). Then, the distribution information specifying unit 108 sets a content distribution condition including at least the identification information of the specified content.

  The content distribution control unit 110 accesses the home server 400 using the access information acquired by the access information acquisition unit 104, and accesses the user device connection information and content identification information specified by the distribution information specifying unit 108. Transmit to home server 400. Accordingly, the content distribution control unit 110 identifies the content identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the home server 400 by the user device connection information transmitted from the home server 400. The home server 400 is controlled so as to be distributed to the user device 200 to be distributed. The user device connection information transmitted by the content distribution control unit 110 is acquired when the user device 200 accesses the service server 100. The content distribution control unit 110 distributes the content identified by the content identification information included in the content distribution condition from the home server 400 to the user device 200.

  When the content distribution condition includes image quality information, the content distribution control unit 110 controls the home server 400 to distribute content of a predetermined image quality from the home server 400 to the user device 200 according to the content image quality information. To do. The image quality information of the content indicates the image quality of the content requested to be viewed by the user device 200, and is specified by the distribution information specifying unit 108.

  Further, in the present embodiment in which the content requested to be viewed by the user device is a moving image content, the content distribution control unit 110, when the content distribution condition includes “copy & chase playback” as the content distribution method, The home server 400 is controlled to copy the content from the server 400 to the user device 200, and the content copied to the user device 200 is chased and reproduced. Here, “copy & chase reproduction” reproduces the content data itself while copying it, so the chapter information of the content can also be used. That is, compared with streaming playback, “copy & chase playback” has an advantage that rewind, fast forward, and skip playback can be used.

  When copy or copy & chase playback is selected as the distribution method of the content distribution condition, the content distribution control unit 110 has an agreement that dubbing from the home server 400 to the user device 200 is allowed only 10 times. Alternatively, the content may be distributed by counting one copy of the content.

  When the content distributed from the home server 400 is copied to the storage area of the user device 200 and then the content is deleted from the storage area, the content management unit 112 stores a plurality of contents stored in the home server 400. The home server 400 is controlled to delete the deleted content.

  In addition, when the content distributed from the home server 400 is started to be played back by the user device 200 and the playback of the content is interrupted, the content management unit 112 displays the interrupt information indicating the playback interrupt status of the content. And the home server 400 is controlled so that the home server 400 reproduces the content reflecting the interruption based on the transmitted interruption information. As a result, the home server 400 can start playback from the middle of the content reflecting the time when the content is interrupted. For this reason, for example, even when the user has watched the content distributed on the go and cannot view the content on the way or has arrived at the home while watching the content, the user can continue at home. The viewing of the content can be resumed.

[Operation example of content distribution system]
Next, a content distribution method of the content distribution system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining the content distribution method according to the present embodiment.

  In the following description, an example of the content list screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the content distribution condition setting screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the content viewing screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user device 200 connects to the service server 100 and accesses a site provided by the service server 100 (S102). At this time, the distribution information specifying unit 108 of the service server 100 acquires user device connection information from the user device 200. When the access information acquisition unit 104 of the service server 100 receives operation information that the user device 200 requests access information on the site, the access information providing server 300 identifies the user device connection information and the service provided by the service server 100. Information is transmitted and access information is requested (S104). At this time, when there are a plurality of home servers 400 registered in association with the user device connection information and the service identification information, the access information acquisition unit 104 of the service server 100 determines the identification information of the home server selected by the user. Also send.

  Based on the received user device connection information and the service identification information provided by the service server 100, the access information providing server 300 is associated with the user device connection information and the service identification information from pre-registered information. The home server 400 is identified. If there are a plurality of home servers 400 associated with each other, the target home server 400 is specified from the registered devices based on the received home server identification information. The access information providing server 300 requests access information from the identified home server 400 (S106).

  When receiving a request for access information from the access information providing server 300, the home server 400 transmits access information for connecting to the home server 400 to the access information providing server 300 (S108). The access information providing server 300 transmits the received access information to the service server 100 (S110).

  The content list acquisition unit 106 of the service server 100 connects to the home server 400 based on the received access information, and requests the content list from the home server 400 (S112). In response to a request from the content list acquisition unit 106, the home server 400 transmits a list of contents stored in the home server 400 to the service server 100 (S114).

  When the content list acquisition unit 106 of the service server 100 receives the content list from the home server 400, the content list acquisition unit 106 generates a content list screen including the received content list and outputs the content list screen to be displayed on the screen of the user device 200. (S116). The content list screen 210 of FIG. 4 mainly shows a home server selection area 212, a home server selection button 214, a content list 216, and a status display 218 indicating the status of the content. The content list 216 is displayed so that each content can be selected by the user.

  When the user designates one content from the content list 216 displayed on the screen of the user device 200 (S118), the distribution information identification unit 108 of the service server 100 acquires identification information for identifying the designated content. To do. The distribution information specifying unit 108 transmits a content detail information request including content identification information to the home server 400 (S120). In response to the request from the distribution information specifying unit 108, the home server 400 transmits the detailed content information identified by the received content identification information to the service server 100 (S122).

  When receiving the detailed content information from the home server 400, the distribution information specifying unit 108 of the service server 100 displays a content distribution condition setting screen including the detailed information of the received content on the screen of the user device 200 (S124).

  An example of the content distribution condition setting screen displayed here is shown in FIG. The content distribution condition setting screen 220a mainly includes a content title 221, detailed content information (program information) 222, an image quality selection area 224, a viewing method selection area 226, and a viewing start button 228. Here, it is assumed that the content of “title A” is selected on the content list screen of FIG. The detailed content information 222 displays detailed content information acquired from the home server 400, for example, program information such as program content, performers, and broadcast time. In the image quality selection area 224, the user can select either high image quality or low image quality. In the viewing method selection area 226, the user can select any one of copy & chase playback, streaming playback, and copy.

  The user selects one of the image quality and viewing method from the content distribution condition setting screen displayed on the user device 200 and presses the viewing start button 228. Then, the distribution information specifying unit 108 of the service server 100 acquires the content distribution condition input by the user device 200 (S126). The distribution information specifying unit 108 inputs the acquired content distribution condition to the content distribution control unit 110. Then, the content distribution control unit 110 transmits a content distribution request including user device connection information for connecting to the user device 200 and the set content distribution conditions to the home server 400 (S128).

  In response to the content distribution request, the home server 400 connects to the user device 200 using the received user device connection information, and distributes the content to the user device 200. Here, if the viewing method is set to “copy & chase playback” as the content distribution condition, the home server 400 copies the selected content to the user device 200 (S130). The user device 200 stores the copied content in a storage device (not shown) built-in, and follows the stored content for playback.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a viewing screen displayed on the screen of the user device 200. The viewing screen 230 may display a video of the received content and may display a content operation button 232. Here, since the content is copied and chased playback that is copied and played back, fast forward and rewind are possible, and skip playback is also possible. In addition, when chapter information is also copied, viewing can be started from a desired scene using the chapter information.

  Next, the operation of deleting the content stored in the home server 400 when the content distributed by the user device 200 is viewed and then deleted will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 shows an example of a content distribution condition setting screen of the user device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 8 shows an example of a content deletion confirmation screen of the user device according to this embodiment.

  For example, referring to the status display 218 in FIG. 4, it can be seen that the content identified by the title D is the content that has been viewed. When the content of the title D is selected from the content list screen 210, a content distribution condition setting screen 220d shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. The content distribution condition setting screen 220d is different from the content distribution condition setting screen 220a in that it includes a content deletion button 229. Here, the delete button 229 is displayed only on the content distribution condition setting screen 220d of the viewed content, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the delete button 229 may also be displayed on the content distribution condition setting screen 220a for content before viewing or content being viewed.

  When the user determines that the content identified by the title D has been viewed on the content distribution condition setting screen 220d and is unnecessary, and presses the delete button 229, the content deletion confirmation screen 240 shown in FIG. Is displayed. On the content deletion confirmation screen 240, a content deletion confirmation message 242, a delete execution button 244, and a cancel button 246 are displayed. When the user presses the delete execution button 244 on the content deletion confirmation screen 240, the user device 200 deletes the content of the title D in the user device 200 and sends a deletion request including identification information of the content of the title D to the service server. To 100. When the service server 100 receives the deletion request, the service server 100 transmits a deletion request including the identification information of the content of the title D to the home server 400 so that the home server 400 deletes the content identified by the content identification information. To control.

  Although not shown, not only the deletion information is synchronized between the user device 200 and the home server 400, but also when the playback of the content is interrupted after the content playback is started at the user device 200, the playback of the content is interrupted. The interruption information indicating the situation is transmitted to the home server 400, and the home server 400 is controlled so that the home server 400 reproduces the content reflecting the interruption based on the transmitted interruption information. Good.

[Example of effects]
As described above, according to the content distribution system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the user can view the content stored in the home server 400 at home from the outside. At this time, since the service server 100 controls the home server 400 so as to distribute the requested content only to the user device 200 registered in advance, the system safety can be kept high.

  Further, the service server 100 performs control so as to distribute the content having the image quality selected by the user to the user device 200. As a result, the user can view content with image quality that matches the connection environment such as the performance of the user device 200 or the bandwidth of the connected network. Further, the service server 100 controls copy & chase reproduction in which the home server 400 copies content to the user device 200 and the user device 200 follows the copied content. Since the content itself is stored in the user device 200, the user device 200 can perform operations such as rewind, fast-forward, and frame-by-frame playback on the user device 200. Such an operation is an effect that cannot be realized in the case of streaming playback, for example.

<Second Embodiment>
[Overall configuration of content distribution system]
Next, a content distribution system 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is an overall configuration diagram of a content distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The content distribution system 10 mainly includes a service server 100, a user device 200a, a user device 200b, an access information providing server 300, and a home server 400.

  Compared with the first embodiment, the content distribution system 10 distributes content to a user device 200a that requests distribution of content, in that the content to be distributed is an image captured by an individual instead of a television program. The main difference is that the destination is another user device 200b, only the permitted content is distributed using a flag indicating whether distribution is possible, and the message can be distributed together with the content distribution. Therefore, in the following description, it demonstrates centering on the above difference, and abbreviate | omits description about the same point as 1st Embodiment.

  In the content distribution system 10 according to the present embodiment, the user of the user device 200b that is a content distribution destination may be different from the user of the user device 200a. For example, a configuration in which a couple with children wants to show their parents a picture of their grandchildren is effective. In this case, the couple becomes the owner of the user device 200a and the home user 400, and the parents of the couple become the owner of the user device 200b.

  The service server 100 controls the home server 400 to distribute content to the user device 200b in response to an operation of the user device 200a. The service server 100 can be connected to the user device 200a and the access information providing server 300, respectively. The service server 100 can connect to the home server 400 using the acquired access information by acquiring the access information from the access information providing server 300.

  The user device 200 a is a device that a user of the home server 400 or a user related to the user of the home server 400 has. For example, it may be a device possessed by any of the families residing in the home where the home server 400 is installed.

  The user device 200b is a portable device that can be taken out of the home where the home server 400 is installed, or a device placed in a home different from the home where the home server 400 is installed. In the present embodiment, the user device 200b is a digital photo frame arranged in the parents of the user of the home server 400, but is not limited thereto. For example, the user device 200b may be a mobile phone owned by the father of the user of the home server 400. Further, the user device 200b may be a PC owned by the mother of the user of the home server 400. The user device 200b is a device that is permitted to distribute content in advance by the user and registered to receive the distribution from the home server 400, and may be any device that has a function of connecting to a network outside and inside the home.

[Service Server Functional Configuration]
Next, the functional configuration of the service server 100 of the content distribution system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of the service server according to the present embodiment.

  The service server 100 includes a communication unit 102, an access information acquisition unit 104, a content list acquisition unit 106, a distribution information identification unit 108, a message generation unit 109, and a content distribution control unit 110.

  The distribution information specifying unit 108 sets a flag indicating whether distribution is possible for the content stored in the home server 400. The distribution information specifying unit 108 acquires detailed information of the content selected by the user from the home server 400 and displays a content distribution condition setting screen including the detailed information on the user device 200a. The user device 200a can set a content distribution method (for example, streaming reproduction or copy) and necessity of adding a message on the content distribution condition setting screen. The content list acquisition unit 106 includes information related to content distribution settings as information included in the content list.

  When the distribution information specifying unit 108 is set to add a message, the message generation unit 109 generates a desired message and inputs it to the content distribution control unit 110. Here, the message generation unit 109 may generate a message based on at least one of character information and voice information. If the content owner and the content distribution destination user are different as in the present embodiment, the message is sent together with the content to the distribution destination user to explain the content details in an easy-to-understand manner, The effect which raises mutual affinity can be show | played. For example, even if a photo can be distributed by the content distribution system 10, the enjoyment of the photo may be halved if there is no information on what scene the distributed photo is. In particular, when sending a photo to a physically distant partner, it is difficult to explain while viewing the photo. Therefore, the service server 100 according to the present embodiment adds a message to content such as a photo and delivers it. For this reason, the user of the distribution destination can understand the content more by the message output when the content is reproduced. Thereby, it is possible to provide the user with a new way of enjoying images different from the conventional one.

  The content distribution control unit 110 controls the distribution of content from the home server 400 to the user device 200b in accordance with the content distribution conditions set by the distribution information specifying unit 108. Specifically, the content distribution control unit 110 connects to the home server 400 via the communication unit 102 using the access information acquired by the access information acquisition unit 104, and the user device is connected to the connected home server 400. The user device connection information for connecting to 200b, the content distribution condition specified by the distribution information specifying unit 108, and the message generated by the message generating unit 109 are transmitted. The user device connection information transmitted here may be acquired from the user device 200a, for example, or may be registered in advance. Then, the content distribution control unit 110 distributes the content identified by the identification information included in the content distribution condition from the home server 400 to the user device 200b.

  Based on the flag set by the distribution information specifying unit 108, the content distribution control unit 110 distributes only distributable content from the home server 400 to the user device 200b. When a message is added to the content, the content distribution control unit 110 outputs the message together with the content so that the message added to the content to be distributed is output together with the content distributed to the user device 200b. The home server 400 transmits the user device 200b.

[Operation example of content distribution system]
Next, a content distribution method of the content distribution system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram for explaining the content distribution method according to the present embodiment.

  In the following description, an example of the content list screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the content distribution condition setting screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the content browsing screen of the user device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the operation from step S202 to step S214 in FIG. 11 is the same as the operation from step S102 to step S114 in FIG. When the processing up to step S214 is completed, the content list acquisition unit 106 of the service server 100 generates a content list screen including the content list received from the home server 400, and displays the content list screen on the screen of the user device 200a. Is output (S216). On the content list screen 250 shown in FIG. 12, a home server selection area 252, a home server selection button 254, a content list 256 and a distribution setting 258 are displayed. The content list 256 is displayed so that each content can be selected. Also, the distribution setting 258 is displayed so that the distribution desired state can be set for each content. The distribution setting 258 may be set from the screen provided by the service server 100 as shown here. Further, it may be set as a function of the home server 400.

  When the user designates one content from the content list 256 via the user device 200a (S218), the distribution information identification unit 108 of the service server 100 acquires identification information for identifying the designated content. The distribution information specifying unit 108 transmits a content detail information request including identification information of the designated content to the home server 400 (S220). In response to the request from the distribution information specifying unit 108, the home server 400 transmits detailed information on the content identified by the received content identification information to the service server 100 (S222).

  When the detailed content information of the service server 100 is received from the home server 400, the distribution information specifying unit 108 displays a content distribution condition setting screen including the received detailed content information on the user device 200a (S224).

  In the content distribution condition setting screen 260 shown in FIG. 13, a content title 261, shooting information 262 that is detailed content information, a message addition necessity selection region 264, a distribution method selection region 266, and a registration button 268 are displayed. Yes.

  The user can set the content distribution conditions via the content distribution condition setting screen displayed on the user device 200a (S226). The content distribution conditions to be set may include, for example, the necessity of message addition and the distribution method shown in FIG.

  In addition, the user inputs a message distributed together with the content via the user device 200a (S228). For example, when “add” is selected in the message addition necessity selection area 264 of FIG. 13, a message input screen (not shown) may be displayed and the message may be input. The message generation unit 109 of the service server 100 generates a message associated with the content based on this input and inputs the message to the content distribution control unit 110.

  When the settings related to content distribution are made as described above, the content distribution control unit 110 of the service server 100 sets the user device connection information for connecting to the user device 200b to the home server 400 and the content to be distributed. A content distribution request including the identification information, the set content distribution condition, and a message associated with the content to be distributed is transmitted (S230).

  In response to the content distribution request, the home server 400 connects to the user device 200b using the received user device connection information, and distributes the content and message to the user device 200b (S232). Here, the content may be distributed at the timing when the distribution setting is made via the user device 200a. Further, the home server 400 may periodically check the distribution setting and distribute the content.

  The content browsing screen illustrated in FIG. 14 is an example of a screen display of the user device 200b, and the distributed content and a message 274 added to the content are displayed.

  In addition, when there is new arrival information, the presence of newly distributed content may be notified by displaying a new arrival mark 272. In addition, when there are a plurality of distributed contents, the user device 200b may display the contents distributed in the slide show.

[Example of effects]
As described above, according to the content distribution system 10 according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, for example, content such as photographs and videos can be distributed to a family living apart. At that time, based on a flag indicating whether or not distribution is possible for each content, the content can be distributed from the home server to the user device only for the content to which the distribution flag is added, so that the user can adjust the security level. it can. Further, by adding a message to the content, for example, when the content owner in the home server is different from the user of the delivery destination, the message can be delivered together with the content such as a photo or a moving image. For example, if an explanation about the content to be distributed is added to the message, the user who has received the distribution can know in more detail the situation in which the content such as a photo or a moving image has been taken. In this way, content distribution using messages in addition to photos and videos can be realized.

<Hardware configuration example>
The hardware configuration of the service server 100 according to the first and second embodiments described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  The service server 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 801, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 802, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 803, a host bus 804, a bridge 805, an external bus 806, an interface 807, a storage device 808, and a communication device 809. , Drive 810, input device 811, and output device 812.

  The CPU 801 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device. The CPU 801 controls the overall operation in the service server 100 according to various programs. The CPU 801 may be a microprocessor. The ROM 802 stores, for example, programs used by the CPU 801 and calculation parameters. The RAM 803 temporarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 801, parameters that change as appropriate in the execution, and the like. The CPU 801, the ROM 802, and the RAM 803 are connected to each other by a host bus 804 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 804 is connected to an external bus 806 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 805. Note that the host bus 804, the bridge 805, and the external bus 806 are not necessarily configured separately. These functions may be mounted on one bus.

  The storage device 808 is a device for storing data, such as a storage medium, a recording device that records data on the storage medium, a reading device that reads data from the recording medium, and a deletion device that deletes data recorded on the storage medium. Can be included. Here, the storage medium is, for example, a magnetic recording medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an EEPROM (Electronically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an MRAM (Magnetoretic Memory Random RAM). ) And non-volatile memories such as PRAM (Phase change Random Access Memory), but are not limited thereto.

  The communication device 809 is a communication interface configured with, for example, a communication device for connecting to the network 50. The communication device 809 transmits / receives various data to / from the user device 200, the access information providing server 300, and the home server 400 via the network 50 in accordance with control from the CPU 801.

  The drive 810 is a storage medium reader / writer, and is built in or externally attached to the service server 100. The drive 810 reads information recorded on a mounted removable storage medium 60 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and outputs the information to the RAM 803.

  The input device 811 includes an input unit for a user to input information, and an input control circuit that generates an input signal based on the input and outputs the input signal to the CPU 801. The input unit is, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, a button, a microphone, a switch, and a lever.

  The output device 812 includes, for example, a display device and an audio output device. Examples of the display device include a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display device, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) device, and a lamp.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. Of course, it is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the content to be distributed is the program content, but the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, it may be image content (including moving images and still images) and music content that are taken personally.

  Further, for example, in the second embodiment, the configuration in which the user device 200a that requests distribution is different from the user device 200b that is the distribution destination has been described, but the configuration is not limited thereto. For example, as in the first embodiment, the user device 200 that requested distribution and the user device 200a that is the distribution destination may have the same configuration.

  In this specification, the steps described in the flowcharts are executed in parallel or individually even if they are not necessarily processed in time series, as well as processes performed in time series in the described order. Including processing to be performed. Further, it goes without saying that the order can be appropriately changed even in the steps processed in time series.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Service server 102 Communication part 104 Access information acquisition part 106 Content list acquisition part 108 Delivery information specification part 109 Message generation part 110 Content delivery control part 112 Content management part 200, 200a, 200b User apparatus 300 Access information provision server 400 Home server

Claims (11)

A service server connectable to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server,
When a site provided by the service server is accessed from a user device located outside the home, and information set to request access information to a predetermined home server is received, the user device is connected to the user device. An access information request including user device connection information and identification information of a service provided by the service server is transmitted to the access information providing server, and as a response to the access information request, from the access information providing server, the user device connection information and the An access information acquisition unit that acquires the access information associated with service identification information ;
When acquiring the content specifying information including the identification information of the content from the user equipment to identify the identity of 該Ko content from the content specification information, when accessed by the user equipment to the site of the service server provides the user A distribution information specifying unit for specifying device connection information;
The access information acquired by the access information acquisition unit is used to access the predetermined home server, and the user equipment connection information and content identification information specified by the distribution information specifying unit are transmitted to the predetermined home server that has been accessed. By transmitting, the content identified by the transmitted content identification information among the plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server is specified by the user device connection information transmitted from the predetermined home server. A content distribution control unit that controls the predetermined home server so as to be distributed to the user device;
A service server comprising: The distribution information specifying unit acquires information indicating whether or not the content stored in the predetermined home server can be distributed from the predetermined home server and sets the information in a flag.
The content distribution control unit controls the predetermined home server so that only distributable content is distributed from the predetermined home server to the user device based on the flag set by the distribution information specifying unit. The service server according to claim 1. When the content identified by the content identification information is video content,
The content distribution control unit controls the predetermined home server to cause the user device to copy the moving image content distributed from the predetermined home server, in order to cause the user device to follow and reproduce the moving image content. The service server according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above. After the content distributed from the predetermined home server is started to be played back on the user device, when the user device is notified that the playback of the content is interrupted, information indicating the content playback interrupt is set. When interruption information is transmitted to the predetermined home server and the user device is notified that the reproduction of the content has been resumed, the interruption is reflected on the predetermined home server based on the transmitted interruption information. A content management unit that controls the predetermined home server by instructing the reproduction of the content so that the reproduced content is reproduced ;
The service server according to claim 1, further comprising: When the content management unit is notified from the user device that the content has been deleted from the storage area after the content distributed from the predetermined home server has been copied to the storage area of the user device , The service server according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined home server is controlled so as to delete the deleted content among a plurality of contents stored in the predetermined home server. The distribution information specifying unit specifies image quality information indicating an image quality of the content identified by the content identification information based on a user setting notified from the user device ;
The content distribution control unit controls the predetermined home server so as to distribute content of a predetermined image quality from the predetermined home server to the user device according to image quality information of the content. Item 6. The service server according to any one of Items 1 to 5. A message generation unit that generates a message that is output when the content is played on the user device;
The content delivery control unit controls the predetermined home server to transmit the message generated by the message generation unit together with the content distributed to the user device. The service server according to any one of the above.   The service server according to claim 7, wherein the message generation unit generates the message based on at least one of character information and voice information. User device connection information of a device owned by the user of the predetermined home server or a third party device pre-authorized by the user is registered in advance,
When the specified user device connection information matches the user device connection information registered in advance , the content distribution control unit is configured such that the user device is a device owned by a user of the predetermined home server or the user determining that previously authorized third party equipment by, and controls the predetermined home server to distribute content identified by the identification information of the content from the predetermined home server The service server according to any one of claims 1 to 8. A content distribution method of distributing desired content by a service server connectable to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server,
When a site provided by the service server is accessed from a user device located outside the home, and information set to request access information to a predetermined home server is received, the user device is connected to the user device. An access information request including user device connection information and identification information of a service provided by the service server is transmitted to the access information providing server, and as a response to the access information request, from the access information providing server, the user device connection information and the Obtaining the access information associated with service identification information ;
Said user equipment
When acquiring the content specifying information including the identification information of the content from, it identifies the identification information 該Ko content from the content specification information, when accessed by the user equipment to the site of the service server provides the user equipment connection information identifying a,
Using the acquired access information, the predetermined home server is accessed, and the specified user device connection information and content identification information are transmitted to the home server, thereby being stored in the predetermined home server. The predetermined home server is configured to deliver content identified by the transmitted content identification information from a plurality of contents to the user device specified by the transmitted user device connection information from the predetermined home server. Controlling step;
A content delivery method comprising: A program for causing a computer to realize a function of a service server connectable to a home server that stores a plurality of contents in a home and an access information providing server that provides access information to the home server,
When a site provided by the service server is accessed from a user device located outside the home, and information set to request access information to a predetermined home server is received, the user device is connected to the user device. An access information request including user device connection information and identification information of a service provided by the service server is transmitted to the access information providing server, and as a response to the access information request, from the access information providing server, the user device connection information and the Processing for obtaining the access information associated with the service identification information ;
When acquiring the content specifying information including the identification information of the content from the user equipment to identify the identity of 該Ko content from the content specification information, when accessed by the user equipment to the site of the service server provides the user Processing for identifying device connection information;
Using the acquired access information, the predetermined home server is accessed, and the specified user device connection information and content identification information are transmitted to the home server, thereby being stored in the predetermined home server. The predetermined home server is configured to deliver content identified by the transmitted content identification information from a plurality of contents to the user device specified by the transmitted user device connection information from the predetermined home server. Process to control,
A program that causes a computer to execute.

Images