JP5625840B2 - COMMUNICATION METHOD, SERVER, INFORMATION TERMINAL DEVICE, AND CONTENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication method in a content distribution system in which content is distributed from a server to an information terminal device, and relates to a server, an information terminal device, and a content distribution system including the same in which this communication method is used.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the enhancement of functions of information terminals and the increase in communication speed of communication networks, a communication environment has been established in which even large amounts of data such as video contents can be easily transmitted / received via the network. Then, using such a communication environment, for example, a service for distributing video content from a content server in a network to an information terminal or a broadcast content recorded by a recording device such as a home DVD recorder is transferred to the information terminal. Various content distribution services such as a service to be performed have been realized.

  For example, Patent Document 1 provides content information related to information about viewers of broadcast content, information about viewer devices, information indicating the interest of viewers with respect to information related to broadcast content, from a content providing server. Have been described.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses channel information including a channel instruction of a viewer and terminal identification information from a mobile phone having a channel remote control function in a broadcasting system that broadcasts a broadcast program to a TV receiver in the home by ground waves or the like. Is transmitted to a server, which is a viewing information providing apparatus, and the viewing status of each channel is counted by the server, and then viewing information indicating the counting result is transmitted from the server to the portable terminal.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, in a thin client system including a server having a function of receiving a program broadcast from a television broadcasting station and a mobile terminal, the server is based on a result of analyzing a mail transmission history of the mobile phone. And presenting a broadcast program recommended to the user.

  As described above, according to the conventional technology, the user can play and view the video content transferred from the server or the home AV device to the information terminal on the information terminal regardless of the time or place. Furthermore, as in Patent Documents 1 to 3, the user can receive provision of related content based on information provided from the information terminal, information indicating the user's interest, and the like.

JP 2002-209204 A JP 2005-333368 A JP 2009-232350 A

  However, in the conventional technology, there is no method for dynamically editing and updating the content transferred to the information terminal held by the user while associating the content before update with the content after update.

  The present invention relates to a communication method, server, and information in which content provided to an information terminal device possessed by a user is dynamically edited based on a user's viewing history or a user's instruction in content distribution via a network. It is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal device and a content distribution system including them.

  In order to achieve the above object, a communication method of the present invention is a communication method in a content distribution system for distributing content having a chapter structure from a server having a plurality of contents to an information terminal device. A viewing history transmission step in which viewing history information indicating a viewing history of content viewed by the user is transmitted to the server, and a second of content related to the first chapter included in the viewing history information in the server. A chapter extraction step in which a chapter is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server, and a transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the second chapter extracted by the server The chapter editing step in which the content is generated, and the transfer content generated from the server to the information terminal device Having, and edited content transmission step to be sent.

  According to the communication method having the above configuration, the second chapter of the content related to the first chapter included in the content viewing history is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server based on the user's content viewing history. Then, a transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Accordingly, when the viewing history information is transmitted to the server, the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device is dynamically updated automatically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  In the communication method configured as described above, the viewing history transmission step includes a content distribution step in which a first transfer content including a part of each chapter is distributed from the server to the information terminal device; When user request information indicating the first chapter that the user wishes to view is input to the input unit of the information terminal device by the user who has viewed the transfer content, the information request from the information terminal device to the server A desired information transmitting step in which information is transmitted; a subsequent data transmitting step in which the remaining portion of the first chapter is transmitted from the server that has received the user desired information to the information terminal device; and the information terminal device A subsequent data reproduction step in which the remaining part of the first chapter is reproduced in a streaming manner, and the information terminal A history information transmission step in which the viewing history information indicating the first chapter from which the remaining portion has been reproduced is transmitted from the device to the server, and in the edited content transmission step, The second transfer content generated in the chapter editing step may be transmitted to the information terminal device.

  Alternatively, in order to achieve the above object, a communication method of the present invention is a communication method in a content distribution system that distributes content having a chapter structure from a server having a plurality of contents to an information terminal device. A content distribution step in which a first transfer content consisting of a part of each chapter is distributed to the information terminal device, and a first chapter that is interested by a user who has watched the first transfer content is shown. When the user interest information is input to the input unit of the information terminal device, the user interest information is transmitted from the information terminal device to the server, and the user interest information is transmitted from the server. The second chapter of the content related to the first chapter shown is from the plurality of contents that the server has An extracted chapter extraction step, and a chapter editing step in which a second transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is generated in the server; An edited content transmission step in which the generated second transfer content is transmitted from the server to the information terminal device.

  According to the communication method having the above-described configuration, the second chapter of the related content from the plurality of contents of the server is based on the user interest information indicating the first chapter designated as the chapter that the user wants to watch with interest. While being extracted, transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, based on an instruction input by the user to the information terminal device, the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device is dynamically updated automatically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  Further, in the communication method configured as described above, each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server to the information terminal device has a normalization in which the entire reproduction time length is a predetermined first fixed value. And the normalized chapter includes a prefetch section that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus part which is a data part from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter, and the playback time length of the prefetch part is a predetermined second time. It is a fixed value, and the first transfer content consists of a prefetch part of each normalized chapter, and the second transfer content. Ntsu, said a first prefetch portion of a chapter, the extracted may consist said prefetch portions of the second chapter.

  By adopting such a configuration, the playback time of each normalized chapter chapter constituting the transfer content and the playback time of the prefetch unit thereof are set to predetermined fixed lengths. When reconfiguring with replacement of the generalized chapters, when the normalization chapter of the transfer content is switched from the playback of the prefetch unit to the playback of the streaming unit, or when selecting any normalization chapter in the transfer content The calculation process of the reproduction time can be simplified. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of transfer content can be performed more easily.

  In the communication method having the above-described configuration, each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter whose data size is a first fixed value determined in advance. The normalized chapter is a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position after the predetermined reproduction position. A streaming portion and a surplus portion that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter, and the data size of the prefetch portion is a predetermined second value. It is a fixed value, and the first transfer content consists of a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter, and the second transfer content. Ceiling, said a first prefetch portion of a chapter, the extracted may consist said prefetch portions of the second chapter.

  By adopting such a configuration, each normalized chapter chapter constituting the transfer content and the size of the data of its prefetch section have a predetermined fixed length. Therefore, each normalization constituting the transfer content Playback when replacing chapters and reconfiguring, when playback of normalized chapters for transfer content switches from playback of the prefetch unit to playback of the streaming unit, or when selecting any normalized chapter in the transfer content Data calculation processing can be simplified. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of transfer content can be performed more easily.

  Further, in the communication method configured as described above, when selection information indicating the third chapter desired to be viewed is input to the input unit of the information terminal device by the user who has viewed the second transfer content, A selection information transmission step in which the selection information is transmitted from the information terminal device to the server, and a streaming unit streams the remaining portion of the third chapter from the server that has received the selection information to the information terminal device. The information processing apparatus may include a streaming transfer step that is transferred by a method, and a streaming reproduction step in which the remaining portion of the third chapter is played by a streaming method in the information terminal device.

  With this configuration, the data size of the transfer content distributed in advance to the information terminal device is only the data size of each prefetch unit constituting the transfer content, so transfer from the server to the information terminal device is possible. Communication data amount and communication time required for distribution of content for use can be greatly reduced. In addition, the user can easily select a normalized chapter that he / she is interested in or wants to view from the entire content for transfer by viewing each prefetch unit delivered in advance to the information terminal device while zapping. can do. Furthermore, when the user selects a desired normalized chapter, the remaining data portion (that is, the streaming unit) of the normalized chapter is transferred from the server to the information terminal device in a streaming manner. You can continue to watch the streaming part without interruption. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a feeling of carrying the entire selected normalized chapter.

  In the communication method having the above-described configuration, the extra length portion may be zero stuff. With this configuration, the extra length portion of each normalized chapter is filled with data of 0 stuff, that is, “0”, so that, for example, the transfer content is the moving picture standard MPEG4 AVC / H. If the content conforms to H.264, the zero-stuffed data portion is skipped by the decoder, and the effective data located closest is seeked, so that the processing can be started from the data position after the seek. . Therefore, even if the apparent playback time length or data length is increased by converting the original chapter into a fixed-length normalized content, the data portion of the extra length portion is actually skipped for playback. As a result of the processing, problems such as an actual playback time becoming longer and a playback operation being performed without playback of anything will not occur. Therefore, the user can reproduce the content without stress.

  In the communication method configured as described above, the server and the information terminal device perform communication conforming to XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol), and content having the chapter structure is transmitted from the server to the information terminal device. , XMPP XEP-0166 (Jingle), XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions), and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) may be used.

  With such a configuration, the information terminal device can feed back viewing history information and user interest information to the server as a payload of real-time event communication of XMPP, so that the transfer content can be edited dynamically in real time. Can do. Furthermore, according to at least one of XMPP XEP-166, XEP-0167, and XEP-0234, which are XMPP application protocols, transmission content is blocked by NAT (Network Address Translation) or a firewall. It is possible to distribute transfer content from an AV device such as a DVD player, a video player, a hard disk recorder having a recording function, a DVD recorder, or a video recorder installed in a general home to an information terminal device.

  XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) is based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), which is being standardized and standardized by XSF (XMPP Standards Foundation) independent of the XMPP working group of IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). Protocol (communication protocol). Use XMPP to dynamically control a wide range of applications, including instant messaging, presence ("what the other person is now"), multi-user chat, voice or videophone, collaborative work, content syndication, etc. In addition, real-time communication can be performed in a communication system such as the Internet. In XMPP, a plurality of extension protocols (XEP: XMPP Extension Protocol) according to each purpose are standardized.

  XMPP XEP-0166 (Jingle) is an XMPP protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function for establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving data between two communicable terminal apparatuses. XMPP XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions) and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) are XMPP protocols (communication rules) related to XEP-0166 (Jingle). XEP-0167 is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function for establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving audio data, moving image data, and the like in a streaming format using RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a file transfer method.

  In the communication method having the above-described configuration, the server and the information terminal device perform XMPP-compliant communication, and the server and the information terminal device are distributed from the server to the information terminal device. It is also possible to manage content having a content according to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) rules.

  With this configuration, the server can manage the content having a chapter structure in association with the information terminal device that distributes the content in accordance with the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol. it can. In addition, the information terminal device can associate with content having a chapter structure stored in the server, and can receive distribution of the content. Further, according to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) convention, the information terminal device makes a contract for distribution of predetermined content in advance with the server (that is, subscribes). When an event such as new reception or generation of the content or update of the content delivered to the information terminal device occurs, the information terminal device to which the content is to be delivered notifies that the event has occurred. Can be received from the server in real time. Therefore, the information terminal device can know in real time whether or not an event has occurred in the content without inquiring of the server. Furthermore, the information terminal device performs an operation such as requesting the server to transmit the newly received or generated content or the updated content or its chapter in response to the occurrence of the event as described above. It can be carried out. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device can view the content that has been newly received or generated, the content that has been updated, etc. dynamically, that is, in real time in response to the occurrence of an event on the server.

  In addition, XEPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) indicates that when a change is made to the information in the terminal device on the information transmission side, the terminal device on the reception side sends the change to the terminal device on the information transmission side. In the function of preliminarily signing a contract (that is, to subscribe) that the notification that the information has been changed is transmitted from the terminal device on the transmission side to the terminal device on the reception side, and in the terminal device on the transmission side When a change is made to the subscribed information from the receiving terminal device, the originating terminal device sends the information to all receiving terminal devices that have subscribed to the changed information. This is an XMPP protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function for transmitting a notification that a change has been made (ie, publishing).

  In the communication method configured as described above, a plurality of servers may be provided. With such a configuration, the user of the information terminal device can view a wider variety of contents distributed from various servers. Therefore, the user can have a more comfortable and advanced content viewing experience.

  In order to achieve the above object, a server of the present invention is a server that has a plurality of contents and distributes content having a chapter structure to an information terminal device, and a communication unit that communicates with the information terminal device; A subscriber content pool for managing the content to be distributed to the information terminal device, and viewing history information indicating a content viewing history of a user of the information terminal device from the information terminal device, the plurality of contents, The second chapter of the content related to the first chapter included in the viewing history information is extracted, and the transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter A server content editing unit that creates the subscriber content pool Content, transmitted from the communication unit to the information terminal device.

  According to the server configured as described above, based on the user's content viewing history, the second chapter of the related content is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server, and one of the first chapters included in the content viewing history is extracted. Content for transfer and a part of the extracted second chapter are created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, the server can dynamically update the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device based on the received viewing history information. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device that has received the automatically updated transfer content can easily view the personalized content composed of chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  In the server configured as described above, the subscriber content pool transmits the first transfer content including a part of each chapter from the communication unit to the information terminal device, and further the first transfer content. When the user request information indicating the first chapter that the user who has viewed is received from the information terminal device, the remaining portion of the first chapter is transmitted from the communication unit to the information terminal device. When the server history editing unit receives the viewing history information indicating the first chapter from which the remaining portion has been reproduced from the information terminal device, the server content editing unit includes the first chapter included in the viewing history information. And extracting a second chapter having a content related to, a part of the first chapter, and a part of the extracted second chapter Second to create a transfer content Ranaru, the subscriber content pool the second transfer content created, transmitted from the communication unit to the information terminal device.

  Alternatively, in order to achieve the above object, the server of the present invention is a server that has a plurality of contents and distributes the contents having a chapter structure to the information terminal device, and a communication unit that communicates with the information terminal device; , A subscriber content pool for transmitting the first transfer content consisting of a part of each chapter from the communication unit to the information terminal device, and a first user interested in viewing the first transfer content. When the user interest information indicating the chapter of the user is received from the information terminal device, the second chapter of the content related to the first chapter indicated by the user interest information is extracted from the plurality of contents, and the first A server component for creating a second transfer content comprising a part of one chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter Comprising a Ntsu editing unit, wherein the subscriber content pool the second transfer content created, transmitted from the communication unit to the information terminal device.

  According to the server configured as described above, based on the user interest information indicating the first chapter designated as the chapter that the user wants to watch with interest, the second chapter of the related content is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server. At the same time, a transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, the server can dynamically update the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device based on the received user interest information. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device that has received the automatically updated transfer content can easily view the personalized transfer content composed of chapters of interest or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the delivered transfer content without stress, and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  Further, in the server configured as described above, each chapter of the content having the chapter structure to be distributed to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter whose overall playback time length is a predetermined first fixed value, The normalized chapter includes a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming unit that is a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus length portion that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter, and the playback time length of the prefetch section is a predetermined second fixed value. The first transfer content includes a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter, and the second transfer content includes the first transfer content. A prefetch portion of a chapter of the extracted may consist said prefetch portions of the second chapter.

  By adopting such a configuration, the playback time length of each normalized chapter chapter constituting the transfer content and the playback time of the prefetch unit thereof are set to predetermined fixed lengths. When reconfiguring with replacement of the generalized chapters, when the normalization chapter of the transfer content is switched from the playback of the prefetch unit to the playback of the streaming unit, or when selecting any normalization chapter in the transfer content The calculation process of the reproduction time can be simplified. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of transfer content can be performed more easily.

  In the server configured as described above, each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter whose data size is a first fixed value that is predetermined. The normalized chapter includes a prefetch section that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming section that is a data section from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. , And a surplus part which is a data part from the reproduction end position of the chapter to the reproduction end position of the normalized chapter, and the data size of the prefetch part is a predetermined second fixed value. , The first transfer content includes a prefetch unit of each normalized chapter, and the second transfer content includes A prefetch portion of a chapter, the extracted may consist said prefetch portions of the second chapter.

  By adopting such a configuration, each normalized chapter chapter constituting the transfer content and the size of the data of the prefetch portion thereof are predetermined fixed values. Therefore, each normalization constituting the transfer content Playback when replacing chapters and reconfiguring, when playback of normalized chapters for transfer content switches from playback of the prefetch unit to playback of the streaming unit, or when selecting any normalized chapter in the transfer content Data calculation processing can be simplified. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of transfer content can be performed more easily.

  In the server configured as described above, the surplus portion is zero staffed, and the subscriber content pool is the third content that the communication unit has watched the second transfer content desired by the user who has watched. When selection information indicating a chapter is received from the information terminal device, the streaming unit and the extra length portion may be transferred from the communication unit to the information terminal device in a streaming manner as the remaining part of the third chapter. .

  With this configuration, the data size of the transfer content that the server distributes to the information terminal device in advance only needs to be the data size of each prefetch unit that constitutes the transfer content. The amount of communication data and communication time required for distributing the transfer content can be greatly reduced. In addition, when the user selects a normalized chapter that the user wants to watch with interest, the remaining data portion of the normalized chapter (that is, the streaming portion and the extra length portion) is transferred from the server to the information terminal device in a streaming manner. Therefore, the user can view the streaming unit without interruption after the prefetch unit. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a feeling of carrying the entire selected normalized chapter.

  Further, since the extra length part of each normalized chapter is filled with data of 0 stuff, that is, “0”, for example, the transfer content is the moving picture standard MPEG4 AVC / H. If the content conforms to H.264, the zero-stuffed data portion is skipped by the decoder, and the effective data located closest is seeked, so that the processing can be started from the data position after the seek. . Therefore, even if the apparent playback time length or data length is increased by converting the original chapter into a fixed-length normalized content, the data portion of the extra length portion is actually skipped for playback. As a result of the processing, problems such as an actual playback time becoming longer and a playback operation being performed without playback of anything will not occur. Therefore, the user can reproduce the content without stress.

  Further, the server configured as described above performs XMPP-compliant communication with the information terminal device, and the content having the chapter structure is transmitted to the information terminal device according to XEPP XEP-0166 (Jingle), XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP). Sessions) and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) may be distributed according to at least one of the rules.

  By adopting such a configuration, the server can dynamically edit transfer content in real time based on viewing history information and user interest information fed back as a payload of XMPP real-time event communication. Further, the server transmits the transfer content to the information terminal device in accordance with at least one of XMPP XEP-166, XEP-0167, and XEP-0234, which is an XMPP application protocol, so that NAT (Network Address Translation ) And AV devices such as DVD players, video players, hard disk recorders with a recording function, DVD recorders, video recorders, etc. installed in general households that are blocked by firewalls. can do.

  In addition, the server having the above-described configuration performs communication conforming to XMPP with the information terminal device, and has the chapter structure that is distributed to the information terminal device in accordance with the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol. It is good also as what manages.

  With this configuration, the server can manage the content having a chapter structure in association with the information terminal device that distributes the content in accordance with the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol. it can. In addition, the server makes a contract for distribution of predetermined content with the information terminal device in advance according to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol (that is, subscribed from the information terminal device). Thus, when an event such as new reception or generation of content or update of the content to be distributed to the information terminal device occurs, the information terminal device to which the content has been notified and notification that the event has occurred Can be sent in real time. Therefore, an information terminal device that has received a notification that an event has occurred can quickly and reliably receive or generate newly updated content or its chapter in response to the occurrence of an event as described above. Operations such as requesting transmission from the server can be performed. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device can view the content that has been newly received or generated, the content that has been updated, etc. dynamically, that is, in real time in response to the occurrence of an event on the server.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information terminal device according to the present invention is an information terminal device that reproduces content having a chapter structure distributed from a server, the terminal communication unit communicating with the server, and the server A content reproduction unit that reproduces content distributed from the server, a content pool that manages content distributed from the server, and a first transfer content including a partial chapter that is a part of each chapter of content from the server. A terminal content editing unit that generates a first viewing content having a chapter structure corresponding to the first transfer content when distributed, wherein the content pool is a viewing history of the content viewed by the user Is transmitted from the terminal communication unit to the server, and the terminal content is transmitted. The collection unit is a first partial chapter that is a part of the first chapter included in the viewing history information and a part of a second chapter that is related to the first chapter from the server. When the second transfer content including the second partial chapter is distributed, the first viewing content is converted into the first viewing chapter including the first partial chapter, and the second partial chapter. Is edited into a second viewing content including a second viewing chapter including.

  According to the communication method having the above-described configuration, when the content viewing history of the user is transmitted from the information terminal device to the server, the first transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device is dynamically updated automatically at the server, A second transfer content including a part of the first chapter included in the content viewing history and a part of the second chapter of the content related to the first chapter is distributed from the server. The information terminal device can dynamically edit the viewing content for the user to view the content distributed from the server based on the second transfer content. Therefore, the user can easily view the personalized transfer content composed of chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the delivered transfer content without stress, and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  Further, the information terminal device having the above configuration includes an input unit to which information indicating a chapter that the user desires to view is input, and the first transfer including the partial chapter that is a part of each chapter of the content from the server User content information indicating the first chapter that the user who has viewed the first viewing content desires to view is input to the input unit, and the content pool includes the user request Information is transmitted from the terminal communication unit to the server, and when the remaining part other than the first partial chapter of the first chapter indicated by the user desired information is distributed from the server, the content reproduction unit Plays the remaining portion, and the content pool shows the viewing history indicating the first chapter from which the remaining portion has been played. Information may be used as those to be transmitted to the server from the terminal communication unit.

  Or in order to achieve the said objective, the information terminal device of this invention is an information terminal device which reproduces | regenerates the content which has the chapter structure delivered from the server which has several content, Comprising: Terminal communication which communicates with the said server A content reproduction unit that reproduces content distributed from the server, a content pool that manages content distributed from the server, and a first transfer content that includes a partial chapter of each chapter of content from the server Is distributed, a terminal content editing unit that generates a first viewing content having a chapter structure corresponding to the first transfer content, and a viewing content in which a user who has viewed the viewing content is interested An input unit for inputting user interest information indicating a first chapter corresponding to the chapter; The content pool transmits the user interest information from the terminal communication unit to the server, and the terminal content editing unit is a part of the first chapter indicated by the user interest information from the server. When the second transfer content including the first partial chapter and the second partial chapter that is a part of the second chapter related to the first chapter is distributed, the first viewing / listening is performed. The content for editing is edited into a second viewing content including a first viewing chapter including the first partial chapter and a second viewing chapter including the second partial chapter.

  According to the communication method having the above configuration, when the user interest information indicating the first chapter designated as a chapter that the user wants to watch with interest is transmitted from the information terminal device to the server, the information provided to the user of the information terminal device is provided. The first transfer content is automatically and dynamically updated by the server, and is composed of a part of the first chapter indicated by the user interest information and a part of the second chapter of the content related to the first chapter. Two transfer contents are distributed from the server. The information terminal device can dynamically edit the viewing content for the user to view the content distributed from the server based on the second transfer content. Therefore, the user can easily view the personalized transfer content composed of chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the delivered transfer content without stress, and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  Further, in the information terminal device configured as described above, each chapter of the transfer content distributed from the server and each viewing chapter of the viewing content are each from the playback start position of the chapter to a predetermined playback position. A prefetch part that is a data part of the data, a streaming part that is a data part from the predetermined reproduction position to the reproduction end position of the chapter, and data from the reproduction end position of the chapter to the reproduction end position of the viewing chapter And the total playback time length of each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content is unified to a predetermined first fixed value. And prefetching each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content The reproduction time length is unified to a predetermined second fixed value, the first transfer content has a prefetch section of the first chapter, and the second transfer content is The prefetch unit of the first chapter and the prefetch unit of the second chapter may be included.

  By adopting such a configuration, the playback time of each chapter for viewing and the playback time of the prefetch unit thereof that constitute the viewing content have a predetermined fixed length. Therefore, each viewing that constitutes the viewing content When the chapter for viewing is replaced and reconfigured, when the playback of the viewing chapter of the viewing content is switched from the playback of the prefetch section to the playback of the streaming section, or when any viewing chapter in the viewing content is selected The calculation process of the reproduction time can be simplified. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of viewing content viewed by the user can be performed more easily.

  Further, in the information terminal device configured as described above, each chapter of the transfer content distributed from the server and each viewing chapter of the viewing content are each from the playback start position of the chapter to a predetermined playback position. A prefetch part that is a data part of the data, a streaming part that is a data part from the predetermined reproduction position to the reproduction end position of the chapter, and data from the reproduction end position of the chapter to the reproduction end position of the viewing chapter And the entire data size of each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content is unified to a predetermined first fixed value. Each of the transfer content chapters and each of the viewing content chapters of the viewing content. The data size of the first part is unified to a predetermined second fixed value, and the first transfer content includes a prefetch part of the first chapter, and the second transfer The content for use may include a prefetch unit for the first chapter and a prefetch unit for the second chapter.

  With such a configuration, the size of the data of each chapter for viewing and the size of the data of the prefetch section that constitute the content for viewing have a predetermined fixed length. When viewing chapters for viewing are replaced and reconfigured, when playback of the viewing chapters of the viewing content is switched from playback of the prefetch unit to playback of the streaming unit, or any viewing chapter in the viewing content is selected It is possible to simplify the calculation processing of the reproduction time when performing. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of viewing content viewed by the user can be performed more easily.

  In the information terminal device having the above-described configuration, the streaming unit and the extra length unit are zero-stuffed, and the selection indicating the third chapter that the user who has viewed the second viewing content desires to view is selected. When the information is input to the input unit, the content pool transmits the selection information from the terminal communication unit to the server, and the streaming data of the third chapter distributed from the server, The content may be stored in a second viewing content streaming unit, and the content reproduction unit may reproduce the streaming unit of the third chapter in a streaming manner.

  With this configuration, the data size of the transfer content distributed in advance to the information terminal device is only the data size of each prefetch unit constituting the transfer content, so transfer from the server to the information terminal device is possible. Communication data amount and communication time required for distribution of content for use can be greatly reduced. Also, the user can easily select a viewing chapter that is interested or desired to be viewed by zapping and viewing each prefetch unit distributed in advance to the information terminal device. Furthermore, when the user selects a desired viewing chapter, the remaining data portion of the viewing chapter (that is, the streaming unit) is transferred from the server to the information terminal device in a streaming manner. You can continue to watch the streaming part without interruption. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a sense of use as if the entire selected chapter is being carried.

  Further, in each viewing chapter, the extra length part and the streaming part before the data is stream-transferred are filled with 0 stuff, that is, data “0”, so that the transfer content is, for example, the moving picture standard MPEG4 AVC / H. If the content conforms to H.264, the zero-stuffed data portion is skipped by the decoder, and the effective data located closest is seeked, so that the processing can be started from the data position after the seek. . Therefore, even if the apparent playback time length or data length is longer than the original chapter corresponding to the viewing chapter, the data portion of the extra length part is actually skipped and played back. Problems such as a longer playback time or a playback operation without being played back. Therefore, the user can reproduce the content without stress.

  Further, in the information terminal device configured as described above, communication with the server conforming to XMPP is performed, and the content having the chapter structure is transmitted from the server to XMPP XEP-0166 (Jingle), XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions). , XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) may be distributed in accordance with at least one rule.

  With this configuration, the information terminal device can feed back viewing history information and user interest information to the server as a payload of real-time event communication of XMPP, so the server dynamically edits transfer content in real time. It can be carried out. Further, the information terminal device transmits a transfer content in accordance with at least one of XMPP XEP-166, XEP-0167, and XEP-0234, which is an XMPP application protocol, so that the information terminal device can perform NAT (Network Address Translation) or Transfer content can be received from AV equipment such as a DVD player, a video player, a hard disk recorder having a recording function, a DVD recorder, and a video recorder installed in a general household blocked by a firewall.

  In the information terminal device configured as described above, communication with the server conforming to XMPP is performed, and the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server conforms to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) rules. It may be managed.

  By adopting such a configuration, according to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol, the information terminal device can be associated with content having a chapter structure stored in the server, The content can be distributed. In addition, the information terminal device, in accordance with the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) protocol, makes a contract for distribution of predetermined content in advance with the server (that is, subscribes) to the server. When an event such as new reception or generation of the content or update of the content content occurs, a notification that the event has occurred can be received from the server in real time. Therefore, the information terminal device can know in real time whether or not an event has occurred in the content without inquiring of the server. Furthermore, the information terminal device performs an operation such as requesting the server to transmit the newly received or generated content or the updated content or its chapter in response to the occurrence of the event as described above. It can be carried out. Therefore, the user of the information terminal device can view the content that has been newly received or generated, the content that has been updated, etc. dynamically, that is, in real time in response to the occurrence of an event on the server.

  In the information terminal device configured as described above, a plurality of servers may be provided. With such a configuration, the user of the information terminal device can view a wider variety of contents distributed from various servers. Therefore, the user can have a more comfortable and advanced content viewing experience.

  In order to achieve the above object, the content distribution system of the present invention distributes content having a chapter structure from a server having a plurality of contents to an information terminal device by the communication method described above.

  With such a configuration, the content viewing history includes a plurality of contents of the server based on the user's content viewing history and user interest information indicating a chapter that is specified as a chapter that the user is interested in viewing. And a second chapter of the content related to the first chapter which is the chapter indicated by the user interest information is extracted, and from a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter The transfer content is created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, when viewing history information or user interest information is transmitted to the server, the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device is dynamically updated automatically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  In the content distribution system having the above configuration, the server may be the above-described server, and the information terminal device may be the above-described information terminal device.

  In the content distribution system having the above-described configuration, a plurality of servers may be provided. With such a configuration, the user of the information terminal device can view a wider variety of contents distributed from various servers. Therefore, the user can have a more comfortable and advanced content viewing experience.

  According to the present invention, based on the user's content viewing history and user interest information indicating a chapter specified as a chapter that the user wants to watch with interest, a chapter or user included in the content viewing history is selected from a plurality of contents of the server. The second chapter of the content related to the first chapter which is the chapter indicated by the interest information is extracted, and the transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter Is created and transmitted to the information terminal device. Therefore, when viewing history information or user interest information is transmitted to the server, the transfer content provided to the user of the information terminal device is dynamically updated automatically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of the content delivery system of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content delivery system in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content server in this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of a content delivery system. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of a content server. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the portable terminal in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the normalization process of the content in the content server in this embodiment, and the production process of the content for transfer. It is a figure which shows an example of the dynamic edit of the content in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the other example of the dynamic edit of the content in this embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation process and reverse normalization process of the content for viewing in the portable terminal in this embodiment. It is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure of creation of the master content pool in the content server in this embodiment, and its initialization process. It is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure of creation of the subscriber content pool in the content server in this embodiment, and those initialization processes. It is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure of creation of the content pool in a portable terminal in this embodiment, and those initialization processes. It is an operation | movement figure for demonstrating the procedure in which the portable terminal subscribes to a content server in the content delivery system of this embodiment. In the content distribution system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a content server performs the initialization process to new content. In the content delivery system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a content server sets an attribute to the XMPP collection node information corresponding to a normalized content. In the content distribution system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a content server produces the XMPP list information corresponding to each normalization chapter. FIG. 6 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure for setting access rights to each subscriber content pool in the content distribution system of the present embodiment. In the content distribution system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a content server transmits the normalization content for transfer to a portable terminal. In the content delivery system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a streaming part is transferred from a content server to a portable terminal. It is an operation | movement figure for demonstrating the procedure in which the content server acquires the viewing history of the user of a portable terminal in the content delivery system of this embodiment. In the content distribution system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which a content server performs dynamic editing of the normalized content. In the content distribution system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure by which the edit filter by the side of a portable terminal is reconfigure | reconstructed based on the updated normalized content. In the content delivery system of this embodiment, it is an operation | movement diagram for demonstrating the procedure in which the streaming part after dynamic editing is transferred from a content server to a portable terminal.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a content distribution system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, in a content distribution system 1 in which content having a chapter structure is distributed from a content server 2 (server) to a mobile terminal 3 (information terminal device) possessed by a user, a chapter is transferred from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3. The outline of the procedure by which the content which has a structure is distributed is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content distributed from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 is composed of one or a plurality of chapters. Each chapter includes a prefetch section that is a data portion of a playback section from the chapter playback start position to a predetermined playback position, and a playback section other than the playback section of the prefetch section (that is, a chapter from the playback position at which the prefetch section playback ends). And a streaming section which is a data portion of a playback section up to the playback end position). Each streaming unit is composed of a partial streaming unit that is a data portion of each playback section divided into one or a plurality of playback sections. Here, each playback section may be based on the playback time, or may be based on the data size between the playback positions.

  In the content distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, when the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 are connected, first, only the prefetch unit of each chapter constituting the content distributed from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3 is transmitted. . Then, the user can reproduce the prefetch portion of each chapter received in advance in this way on the mobile terminal 3 and view it while zapping. Here, zapping means that the user sequentially changes the prefetch units to be reproduced on the portable terminal 3 in an arbitrary order.

  If there is a chapter that the user desires to view as a result of viewing while pre-zapping each prefetch section, the user selects that chapter and transfers the remaining portion (streaming section) of the chapter from the content server 2 in a streaming manner. be able to. As described above, in the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, since the content is transferred in the streaming method, the streaming part is reproduced without interruption following the reproduction of the prefetch part at the same time when the chapter streaming part is received. The user can watch it as if the entire chapter was distributed without hesitation. Details of the procedure for distributing content in the content distribution system 1 will be described later.

  Next, a specific configuration of the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the content distribution system in the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, in the content distribution system 1, a content server 2 and a mobile terminal 3 are connected via a network 4. Note that there may be one content server 2 or a plurality of content servers 2. If there are a plurality of content servers 2, the user of the mobile terminal 3 can view a wider variety of content distributed from various content servers 2. Therefore, the user can have a more comfortable and advanced content viewing experience. Further, there may be one portable terminal 3 or a plurality of portable terminals 3. Further, a communicable terminal device other than the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 may be connected to the content distribution system 1.

  The network 4 connecting the content server 2 and the portable terminal 3 may be any communication medium that can communicate with each other, such as a wireless communication network such as a mobile wireless using a wireless LAN or a Femto base station. It is done.

  The content distribution system 1 is a communication system constructed using XMPP (eXtensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) described later. That is, communication conforming to XMPP is performed between the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 via the network 4. Therefore, the content distribution system 1 can communicate in real time between the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 as will be described later. Therefore, the content is distributed from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3 in real time. The

  Here, XMPP used in the content distribution system 1 will be described. XMPP is an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) -based protocol (communication protocol) that is being standardized and standardized by XSF (XMPP Standards Foundation) independent of the XMPP working group of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Use XMPP to dynamically control a wide range of applications, including instant messaging, presence ("what the other person is now"), multi-user chat, voice or videophone, collaborative work, content syndication, etc. In addition, real-time communication can be performed in a communication system such as the Internet. In XMPP, a plurality of extension protocols (XEP: XMPP Extension Protocol) according to each purpose are standardized.

  In the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, various protocols (communication rules) defined in XMPP are used. Here, XEP-0030 (Service Discovery), XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe), and XEP-0166 (Jingle), which are particularly important protocols in understanding the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, will be described. deep.

  XEP-0030 (Service Discovery) is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function for detecting information. Hereinafter, it will be referred to as DISCO.

  In addition, XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) indicates that when information is changed in a terminal device on the information transmission side, the terminal device on the reception side sends the information to the terminal device on the information transmission side. A function for preliminarily signing (ie, subscribing to) a notification that a change has been made from the calling terminal device to the receiving terminal device, and the receiving terminal device at the receiving terminal device When a change is made to subscribed information from a terminal device, the originating terminal device changes the information to all receiving terminal devices that subscribe to the changed information. Is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function of transmitting a notification that a message has been added (that is, publishing). Hereinafter, it is referred to as “pubsub”.

  In the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, the content server 2 uses a function conforming to the pubsub (hereinafter referred to as a “pubsub function”), so that the content server 2 distributes content having a chapter structure to the mobile terminal. 3 can be managed in association with each other. In addition, the mobile terminal 3 can perform association with content having a chapter structure stored in the content server 2 and can receive distribution of the content. Further, in accordance with the pubsub rules, the mobile terminal 3 makes a contract for distribution of predetermined content with the content server 2 in advance (that is, subscribes), so that the content server 2 can create a new content. When an event such as reception or generation of the content or update of the content to be distributed to the mobile terminal 3 occurs, the mobile terminal 3 to which the content is to be distributed notifies the content server 2 that the event has occurred. Can be received in real time. Therefore, the mobile terminal 3 can know in real time whether or not an event has occurred in the content without inquiring the content server 2. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 3 requests the content server 2 to transmit the newly received or generated or updated content or its chapter in response to the occurrence of the event as described above. The action can be performed. Therefore, the user of the mobile terminal 3 can view the newly received or generated content, the content whose content has been updated, etc. dynamically, that is, in real time in response to the occurrence of an event in the content server 2. it can.

  XEP-0166 (Jingle) is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function of establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving data between two communicable terminal devices. Further, there are XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions) and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) as protocols related to this Jingle. XEP-0167 is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a function for establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving audio data, moving image data, and the like in a streaming format using RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol). XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) is a protocol (communication protocol) that defines a file transfer method. Hereinafter, XEP-0166 (Jingle) is referred to as Jingle, XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions) is referred to as Jingle-rtp, and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer) is referred to as Jingle-ft.

  Next, a specific configuration of the content server 2 in the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The content server 2 has a plurality of contents, communicates with the mobile terminal 3 via the network 4, and distributes the content to the mobile terminal 3, and can perform communication conforming to XMPP. The content server 2 can also communicate with the outside of the content distribution system 1 via the network 4 and can also acquire content from the outside.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the content server in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the content server 2 includes a communication unit 22, a storage unit 23, a control unit 24, and a master content pool 26.

  The communication unit 22 communicates with the mobile terminal 3. The storage unit 23 stores content and information transmitted and received by the communication unit 22. The control unit 24 controls information transmission / reception operations in the communication unit 22, information storage / reading operations in the storage unit 23, and the like.

  In addition, the control unit 24 provides a content receiving unit 25 that performs normalization processing, which will be described later, on content acquired from the outside, and a mobile terminal 3 (subscriber) that provides a pubsub function to the content distribution system 1 and subscribes to the content. The event management unit 28 for notifying the occurrence of a new content reception event or content update event, and the content to be transmitted to the mobile terminal 3 (subscriber) (normalized content or transfer normalized content) dynamically, In other words, the server content editing unit 29 performs editing that flexibly corresponds to the situation.

  The content reception unit 25 performs a normalization process for performing normalization processing for unifying the length of the playback time of each chapter to a predetermined fixed length, for example, for content having a newly arrived chapter structure such as content acquired from the outside. 251. In addition, the normalization filter 251 performs normalization processing so that each chapter of the content is a prefetch unit that is a data portion from the reproduction start position of the chapter to a predetermined reproduction position, and the predetermined reproduction position of the chapter. After that, the data is converted into a normalized chapter including a streaming portion that is a data portion from the playback end position to a playback end position and a surplus portion that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter. In addition, a process for unifying the length of the reproduction time of the prefetch unit of each normalized chapter to a predetermined fixed length is also performed. The specific contents of this normalization process will be described later.

  In addition, the content reception unit 25, for the normalized content (normalized content), the number of chapters, the playback time length of each chapter before the normalization processing, the playback time length of each chapter after the normalization processing And structured information indicating the playback time length of the prefetch section, etc., converted into XML format data, etc., and normalized content together with meta information that is information (attribute information etc.) related to the normalized content Append to

  The master content pool 26 manages each piece of content stored in the content server 2 in a one-to-one correspondence with meta information and structured information described later. In addition, when the content is stored in the content server 2, the master content pool 26 assigns an ID for individually identifying the stored content and its chapter. Hereinafter, an ID for identifying each content stored in the content server 2 is referred to as a content ID, and an ID for identifying each chapter is referred to as a chapter ID. In addition, the master content pool 26 guarantees the identity of the data contents of each content and each chapter on the transmission side and the reception side (for example, the content server 2 and the portable terminal 3) when transmitting and receiving each content and each chapter. Is assigned to each content or chapter. These ID (content ID, chapter ID) and hash value are added to each content as meta information of each content.

  In addition, the master content pool 26 includes a subscriber content pool 27 that manages each content managed by the master content pool 26 as a collection for each mobile terminal 3 (subscriber) that subscribes to the content. Yes. The collection means a collection of objects having a structural correlation with each other (here, contents distributed to the mobile terminal 3 that subscribes to the contents).

  The subscriber content pool 27 is a subset of the master content pool 26, and is provided in one-to-one correspondence with the mobile terminals 3 (ie, subscribers) that subscribe to each content. Therefore, the master content pool 26 includes the same number of subscriber content pools 27 as the mobile terminals 3 that subscribe to the content stored in the content server 2.

  Each subscriber content pool 27 manages content subscribed by the corresponding mobile terminal 3 (that is, content distributed to the mobile terminal 3) as a collection. In addition, the subscriber content pool 27 accesses the access right (that is, distribution of the content or for each user using the mobile terminal 3) for each content managed by the master content pool 26. Whether to allow playback, editing, etc.). The access right set for each content is described in the structured information added as meta information of the content as access right information.

  Further, the subscriber content pool 27 creates normalized content for transfer (transfer content) from the normalized content created by the content accepting unit 25, and XMPP XEP-166 (Jingle), XEP- The normalized content for transfer is transmitted to the portable terminal 3 in accordance with at least one of the rules of 0167 (Jingle-rtp) and XEP-0234 (Jingle-ft).

  The event management unit 28 activates the pubsub function when an event such as acquisition of new content, update of content, or change of content access right (for example, access to the content) occurs in the content server 2. The notification of the event occurrence is transmitted from the communication unit 22 to the mobile terminal 3 (subscriber) that subscribes the content. In addition, the event management unit 28 uses an XML file (XMPP collection node information or XMPP list node information described later) for transmitting content or the like from the communication unit 22 to the mobile terminal 3 serving as a subscriber, for example, the content server 2. It is created in the volatile memory (not shown), the storage unit 23, and the like.

  The server content editing unit 29 has an editing filter 291 that performs dynamic editing of content managed by the subscriber content pool 27. Further, the server content editing unit 29 checks whether or not new content is accepted into the subscriber content pool 27 for each portable terminal 3.

  The editing filter 291 included in the server content editing unit 29 dynamically changes content (normalized content or normalized content for transfer) according to a user's viewing history on the mobile terminal 3 or an instruction from the user, that is, Edit flexibly according to the situation. Note that the editing filter 291 is set for each mobile terminal 3 that subscribes to the content to be dynamically edited.

  Examples of the content server 2 include AV devices such as a hard disk recorder, DVD recorder, and video recorder having a home recording function, a server in a content distribution system provided by a service provider, and the like.

  Note that the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 has a function as an XMPP server in the content distribution system 1. At this time, the master content pool 26 and the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 and the content pool 37 of the portable terminal 3 to be described later are XMPP clients. As described above, in the present embodiment, the content server 2 also serves as the XMPP server by including the event management unit 28. However, the XMPP server having the event management unit 28 is installed in the Internet or the like connected by a network. You can also

  FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a modification of the content distribution system. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a modification of the content server. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the thing of the same structure, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. In the content distribution system 1A, a content server 2A (server), a portable terminal 3 (information terminal device), and an XMPP server 8 having an event management unit 28 are connected via a network 4A. The content distribution system 1A has the same configuration as the content distribution system 1 except that the XMPP server 8 installed in the Internet 81 connected to the network 4A includes the event management unit 28A. The content server 2A has the same configuration as the content server 2 of FIG. 3 except that the control unit 24A does not have an event management unit. The XMPP server 8 includes an event management unit 28A that functions as an XMPP server for XMPP clients such as a master content pool 26, a subscriber content pool 27, and a content pool 37 of the portable terminal 3 to be described later. It is installed on the Internet 81 connected via the Internet. The XMPP server 8 is not limited to this modification, and may be any server that has the event management unit 28A and performs communication conforming to the content server 2A and the portable terminal 3 in accordance with XMPP.

  Next, a specific configuration of the mobile terminal 3 in the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The mobile terminal 3 is an information terminal device that communicates with the content server 2 via the network 4 and reproduces the content distributed from the content server 2, and can perform communication conforming to XMPP. Further, as will be described later, the mobile terminal 3 has a structured content added to the transfer content (normalized content for transfer) consisting of only the prefetch part of each chapter constituting the original original content 5 and the transfer content. Based on the information, viewing content having a chapter structure is generated, and reproduction unique to the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment is performed. Specifically, a prefetch unit (or a viewing chapter having the prefetch unit) that the user who viewed while pre-zapping each prefetch unit of the viewing content desires to watch the prefetch unit or the entire viewing chapter that is interested. Is input to the terminal input unit 35, the remaining portion (that is, the remaining streaming unit) of the viewing chapter other than the prefetch unit is transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 by the streaming method. . Therefore, the portable terminal 3 can receive the streaming unit and reproduce the received streaming unit so that there is no interruption following the reproduction of the prefetch unit.

  FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the mobile terminal in the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the mobile terminal 3 includes a terminal communication unit 32, a terminal storage unit 33, a terminal control unit 34, a terminal input unit 35, a content reproduction unit 36, and a content pool 37. Yes. Examples of the portable terminal 3 include portable terminal devices such as a cellular phone and a PDA. However, the portable terminal 3 is not limited to these as long as it is an information terminal device having a wireless communication function.

  The terminal communication unit 32 communicates with the content server 2. The terminal storage unit 33 stores content distributed from the content server 2 and information transmitted and received by the terminal communication unit 32. The terminal control unit 34 controls information transmission / reception operations in the terminal communication unit 32, information storage and reading operations in the terminal storage unit 33, and the like. The terminal input unit 35 is for a user to input information.

  The content reproduction unit 36 reproduces content distributed from the content server 2. In addition, the content reproduction unit 36 includes a denormalization filter 361 that performs a process of storing the normalized chapter streaming unit transmitted from the content server 2 in the corresponding viewing chapter streaming unit. More specifically, as described later, when information indicating a viewing chapter that the user desires to view is transmitted from the mobile terminal 3 to the content server 2, the normalized content streaming unit corresponding to the viewing chapter Is transmitted from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3. At this time, the denormalization filter 361 of the content reproduction unit 36 stores the transmitted streaming unit in the streaming unit of the corresponding viewing chapter.

  The content pool 37 manages each content stored in the mobile terminal 3 as a collection. Further, each content, its meta information and structured information are associated with each other one by one and managed in the content pool 37. In addition, when an event such as arrival of new content or update of content occurs in the mobile terminal 3, the content pool 37 uses the pubsub function to notify the occurrence of those events. Notify the pool 37.

The terminal control unit 34 also includes a terminal content editing unit 38 that dynamically edits the content managed by the content pool 37 with respect to the updated content received from the content server 2. The terminal content editing unit 38 includes an editing filter 381 that performs dynamic editing of content managed by the content pool 37 based on the normalized content for transfer distributed from the content server 2. The editing filter 381 generates and edits viewing content to be played back by the content playback unit 36 based on the transfer normalized content distributed from the content server 2.
<1: Processing on the content server side>

Next, main processes performed on the content server 2 side will be described.
<1-1: Content Normalization Processing>

  First, the normalization process performed in the content server 2 will be specifically described. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining content normalization processing and transfer content creation processing in the content server in the present embodiment. Here, for example, the content server 2 is a recording device having a function of automatically recording broadcast content such as a DVD recorder at home. In FIG. 7, the recording device (content server 2) performs normalization processing on original content 5 (recorded broadcast content) such as a news program broadcast by a broadcasting station. The original content 5 has a chapter structure divided into chapters for each topic. In FIG. 7, the original content 5 is news content with a total playback time length of 27 minutes, a chapter 51a with a playback time length of 6 minutes with a topic of political news, and a playback time length of 5 with a topic of economic news. Minute chapter 51b, chapter 51c with a duration of 6 minutes with social news as a topic, chapter 51d with a duration of 6 minutes with animal news as a topic, and a duration with a weather forecast as a topic 4 minutes chapter 51e.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the original content 5 is converted into normalized content 6 composed of normalized chapters 61 a to 61 e by a normalization process performed by a normalization filter 251 of the content reception unit 25 of the content server 2. The normalized chapters 61 a to 61 e correspond to the chapters 51 a to 51 e of the original content 5. Further, the length of the reproduction time of each normalized chapter 61a to 61e is unified to the first fixed value. For example, in FIG. 7, the original content 5 has been normalized by a normalization chapter 61 a with political news as a topic, a normalization chapter 61 b with economic news as a topic, and a normalization chapter 61 c with social news as a topic. The total playback time length composed of the normalized chapter 61d with the topic of animal news and the normalized chapter 61e with the topic of weather forecast is converted into the normalized content 6 of 35 minutes. Also, the length of the reproduction time of each of the normalized chapters 61a to 61e is unified to 7 minutes.

  Further, the normalized chapter 61 includes a prefetch unit 611 that is a data portion of the reproduction section 511 from the reproduction start position of the original chapter 51 to an arbitrary reproduction position, and a reproduction section 512 other than the reproduction section of the prefetch unit 611 (that is, The streaming section 612, which is the data portion of the playback section from the playback position where playback of the prefetch section 611 ends to the playback end position of the original chapter 51, and the playback end of the normalized chapter 61 from the playback end position of the original chapter 51 And a surplus portion 613 that is a data portion up to the position.

  In addition, the length of the reproduction time of each of the prefetch units 611a to 611e is unified to the second fixed value. For example, in FIG. 7, the length of the reproduction time of each of the prefetch units 611a to 611e is unified to 1 minute.

  Each of the streaming units 612a to 612e includes a plurality of partial streaming units that are data portions obtained by dividing the playback section into a plurality of pieces. Note that the method for setting the partial streaming unit is not particularly limited. In FIG. 7, the data portion obtained by dividing the streaming unit 612 every minute is a partial streaming unit.

  The extra length portion 613 is a reproduction section that does not have data generated when the reproduction time length of the original chapter 51 is different from the reproduction time length of the normalized chapter 61. In the present embodiment, the extra length portions 613a to 613e are filled with 0 stuff, that is, “0” data. In this way, by setting the extra length portion 613 to 0 stuff, for example, the original content 5 is converted into the moving picture standard MPEG4 AVC / H. In the case of the moving image content conforming to H.264, the data portion subjected to 0 stuffing is skipped by the decoder, the effective data located closest is sought (searched), and the processing is started from the data position. Therefore, even if the apparent playback time length is increased by the normalization process, the extra length portion 613 is actually skipped and played back, so that the actual playback time becomes longer or nothing is played back. There will be no problems such as playback being performed without being performed. Therefore, the user can reproduce the content without stress.

  In the present embodiment, the extra length portion 613 is zero stuff, but is not limited to this configuration, and may be embedded with other data. For example, the extra length part 613 may be used as a data part for storing meta information, or may be used as a data part for storing data such as an eye catch or a logo.

  Further, when the original content 5 is normalized, the number of chapters 51 included in the original content 5, the playback time length of each chapter 51a to 51e of the original content 5, and the prefetch sections 511a to 511e of each chapter 51a to 51e ( Structured information indicating the length of the playback time of the playback sections 511a to 511e) from the playback start position of each chapter 51a to 51e to an arbitrary playback position is created, converted into XML format data, and the like. It is added to the normalized content 6 together with meta information which is information (attribute information etc.) related to the normalized content 6.

  The structured information includes topic information indicating the contents and topics of the normalized content 6 and each normalized chapter 61. The topic information includes, for example, an outline of the normalized content 6 and each normalized chapter 61, keywords related to the contents of the normalized content 6 and each normalized chapter 61, and the like. It is possible.

  Here, the length of the playback time of each of the normalized chapters 61a to 61e and the length of the playback time of each of the prefetch units 611a to 611e are not particularly limited, and may be set to arbitrary fixed values. For example, it may be arbitrarily set by the user. Further, the user may set the values by inputting those values from the operation input unit (not shown) of the content server 2 or the terminal input unit 35 of the portable terminal 3, and a plurality of selectable setting values are prepared in advance. The user may select a desired set value and input and set it from the operation input unit (not shown) of the content server 2 or the terminal input unit 35 of the portable terminal 3.

  In this embodiment, the length of the playback time of each normalized chapter 61 and each prefetch unit 611 is unified to a fixed value, but the playback section of each normalized chapter 61 and each prefetch unit 611 is the same. The size of the data portion may be unified to a fixed value. For example, each normalized chapter 61 and each prefetch unit 611 may be unified to an arbitrary number of bytes, or may be unified to a number of bytes that is a multiple of the memory block of the content pool 37. In this case as well, the number of bytes may be a fixed length or may be arbitrarily set by the user as described above. By doing in this way, in the content server 2 and the portable terminal 3, the use efficiency of the storage capacity can be increased, and operations such as content reproduction and normalization processing can be facilitated.

In this way, by performing normalization processing on the original content 5, the time length of each normalized chapter 61 constituting the normalized content 6 and the reproduction time of the prefetch unit 611 can be set to a fixed length. Therefore, when each normalized chapter 61 constituting the normalized content 6 is replaced, when the reproduction of the normalized chapter 61 is switched from the reproduction of the prefetch unit 611 to the reproduction of the streaming unit 612, or the normalized chapter 61 to be reproduced is arbitrary. It is possible to simplify the time calculation processing such as when selecting an item. Therefore, personalization and dynamic editing of the content reproduced by the mobile terminal 3 can be performed more easily.
<1-2: Transfer Content Creation Processing>

  Next, the process for creating normalized content for transfer performed in the content server 2 will be described in detail. In the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the prefetch units 611a to 611e of the normalized chapters 61a to 61e are obtained from the normalized content 6 by the editing filter 291 of the content editing unit 29 of the content server 2. After the transfer normalized content 6A (transfer content) is generated, the transfer normalized content 6A is distributed from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3. For example, in FIG. 7, based on the normalized content 6, the prefetch unit 611a of the normalized chapter 61a, the prefetch unit 611b of the normalized chapter 61b, the prefetch unit 611c of the normalized chapter 61c, and the prefetch of the normalized chapter 61d. A normalized content for transfer 6A having a total playback time length of 5 minutes, which is composed of the unit 611d and the prefetch unit 611e of the normalized chapter 61e, is generated.

In this transfer normalized content 6A, there is a difference in the compression size by the encoding of each prefetch unit 611, but the reproduction time length of each prefetch unit 611 obtained by decoding is equal. Therefore, calculation processing of reproduction time when each prefetch unit 611 is reproduced while zapping and calculation processing of time calculation for performing seamless switching without interruption when reproduction is transferred to the streaming unit 612 are easily performed. be able to.
<1-3: Dynamic editing processing of content>

  Next, in the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment, the configuration of the normalized content 6 distributed from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3 is dynamically edited based on the user's viewing history or the user's instruction. Here, content dynamic editing processing will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of dynamic editing of content in the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 8, the broadcasting station A that broadcasts the original content 5 (broadcast content 5A) having the chapter 51 that the user is interested in has broadcast each of the broadcast content 5A to 5C broadcasted in the time series of morning, noon, and night. A chapter 51 having a related topic is extracted with reference to meta information of the broadcast contents 5A to 5C. Each extracted chapter 51 is subjected to normalization processing and dynamic editing processing. Further, the normalized content 6 is reconfigured so that these normalized chapters 61 are arranged in time series.

  Further, the content sources may be different from each other. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of dynamic editing of content in the present embodiment. In FIG. 9, each of the broadcast contents 5D to 5F is selected from the broadcast contents 5E and 5F broadcast from each broadcast station in the same time zone as the original content 5 (broadcast content 5D) having the chapter 51 that the user is interested in. A chapter 51 having a related topic is extracted with reference to meta information or the like. Each extracted chapter 51 is subjected to normalization processing and dynamic editing processing. Further, the normalized content 6 is reconfigured so that these normalized chapters 61 are arranged for each broadcasting station that is a transmission source.

As described above, in the content distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, the normalized content 6 is dynamically edited by feeding back the viewing history and explicit instructions of the mobile terminal 3 that is a subscriber. In the normalized content 6 after dynamic editing, each chapter 51 is replaced with one having a favorite topic of the user of the mobile terminal 3. That is, the chapter 51 that the user of the mobile terminal 3 is interested in remains, but the chapter 51 that is not interested is replaced with a chapter 51 having a favorite topic extracted from the other broadcast content 5. Thus, the normalized content 6 is personalized according to the preference of the user of the mobile terminal 3.
<2: Processing on mobile terminal>

Next, main processes performed on the mobile terminal 3 side will be described.
<2-1: Processing for creating content for viewing>

  First, viewing content generation processing performed on the mobile terminal 3 will be described in detail. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a content creation process and a denormalization process for viewing on a mobile terminal according to the present embodiment. As described above, the normalization content 6A for transfer is generated by connecting the prefetch units 611 of the normalization chapters 61 constituting the normalization content 6. The content server 2 of the portable terminal 3 stores transfer normalized content 6A. The editing filter 381 included in the terminal content editing unit 38 of the mobile terminal 3 is based on the transfer normalization content 6A and the structured information included in the meta information of the transfer normalization content 6A as shown in FIG. Processing for generating the viewing content 7 including the viewing chapter 71 is performed.

  The generated viewing content 7 includes the same number of viewing chapters 71a to 71e as the normalized chapters 61a to 61e included in the normalized content 6 on the content server 2 side. The viewing chapters 71a to 71e correspond to the normalized chapters 61a to 61e of the normalized content 6 on the content server 2 side. In addition, the length of the playback section of the viewing chapter 71 (the length of playback time, the size of data, etc.) is the same as that of the corresponding normalized chapter 61. That is, the length of the playback section of each viewing chapter 71a to 71e is unified to the same fixed value as each normalized chapter 61a to 61e of the normalized content 6 on the content server 2 side.

  Each viewing chapter 71 includes a prefetch unit 711 for the normalized content for transfer 6A, a streaming unit 712 corresponding to the streaming unit 612 of the normalized chapter 61 for the normalized content 6 on the content server 2 side, and the content server 2. A surplus length portion 713 corresponding to the surplus length portion 613 of the normalized chapter 61 of the normalized content 6 on the side. In addition, the streaming unit 712 of each viewing chapter 71 includes a plurality of partial streaming units divided into a plurality of parts, like the streaming unit 512 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61.

Here, the normalized content for transfer 6A distributed from the content server 2 does not include the data of the streaming unit 612 and the extra length unit 613 of the normalized content 6 on the content server 2 side. Therefore, when the viewing content 7 is generated, actual data is not stored in the streaming unit 712 and the extra length unit 713. Therefore, at this time, the streaming unit 712 and the extra length unit 713 are filled with 0 stuff, that is, “0” data.
<2-2: Denormalization processing of content>

  Next, the content denormalization processing performed in the mobile terminal 3 will be described in detail. The denormalization filter 361 included in the content reproduction unit 36 of the mobile terminal 3 allows the data of the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalization chapter 61 to be transferred from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3 based on the user's viewing history or the user's instruction. When the data has been transferred, a denormalization process for storing the data in the streaming unit 712 is performed. For example, in FIG. 10, when the streaming unit 612 of the normalized chapter 61 corresponding to the content server 2 is transferred from the mobile terminal 3 based on the user's viewing history or the user's instruction, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 is The denormalization filter 361 has data stored in the streaming unit 712 of the viewing chapter 71 by the streaming method as indicated by an arrow A. Even at this time, there is no data to be newly stored in the extra length part 713, so that the staff is 0 stuffed.

In the present embodiment, the extra length portion 713 is zero stuff, but is not limited to this configuration, and may be embedded with other data. For example, the extra length part 713 may be used as a data part for storing meta information, or may be used as a data part for storing data such as an eye catch or a logo.
<3: Description of operation of content distribution system>

  Next, a specific operation of the content distribution system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. When distributing content from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3, the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 first perform an initialization operation.

  Here, the procedure of the initialization operation of the master content pool 26 in which the content server 2 manages a plurality of contents stored in the content server 2 as a collection will be described as the initialization operation for content distribution. FIG. 11 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure for creating and initializing a master content pool in the content server in the present embodiment.

  First, in step S101, the content server 2 creates a master content pool 26 for managing the content stored in the content server 2 as a collection (a collection of content having a structural correlation with each other). . Only one master content pool 26 is created in the content server 2.

  In step 102, the master content pool 26 of the content server 2 manages the collection managed by the master content pool 26 (a collection of contents accumulated in the content server 2 and having a structural correlation with each other). A request to create the XMPP collection node information is transmitted to the event management unit 28.

  In step 103, the event management unit 28 creates the XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 in association with the collection managed by the master content pool 26. Note that the XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 is created in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) or the storage unit 23 included in the content server 2.

  In step S <b> 104, the event management unit 28 transmits to the master content pool 26 that XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 has been created. Note that, at the time of initialization of the master content pool 26, the master content pool 26 contains no content to be managed. Therefore, at this point, the XMPP collection node information is associated with an empty collection.

  Next, the content server 2 sets attribute information for the created XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26. In step S105, the master content pool 26 transmits to the event management unit 28 that attribute information is set in the XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 created in S103.

  In step S <b> 106, the event management unit 28 transmits data form information for creating attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 to the master content pool 26.

  In step S107, the master content pool 26 creates setting information for setting attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the master content pool 26 based on the data form information received from the event management unit 28, and the created setting. Information is transmitted to the event management unit 28.

  In step S108, the event management unit 28 transmits to the master content pool 26 that the setting information has been received.

  As described above, the master content pool 26 is generated in the content server 2 and the initialization process is completed.

  Next, the content server 2 creates the same number of subscriber content pools 27 as the subscribers (portable terminals 3 that deliver content) in the master content pool 26 that has undergone initialization processing, and sets attributes for them. FIG. 12 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure for creating a subscriber content pool and initializing them in the content server in the present embodiment.

  First, in step 201, the master content pool 26 creates a subscriber content pool 27 that manages the content distributed to the subscriber (mobile terminal 3) as a collection for each subscriber (mobile terminal 3). Note that as many subscriber content pools 27 as the number of mobile terminals 3 to which the content server 2 distributes content are created in the master content pool 26.

  In step 202, the subscriber content pool 27 transmits to the event management unit 28 a request to create XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 for managing the collection managed by the subscriber content pool 27 itself. .

  In step 203, the event management unit 28 creates the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 in association with the collection managed by the subscriber content pool 27. Note that the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 is created in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) or the storage unit 23 included in the content server 2.

  In step S <b> 204, the event management unit 28 transmits to the subscriber content pool 27 that XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 has been created. At the time of initialization of the master content pool 26, the subscriber content pool 27 does not include content to be managed. Therefore, at this point, the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 is associated with an empty collection.

  In step S205, the subscriber content pool 27 transmits to the master content pool 26 information indicating that the generation processing for the subscriber content pool 27 itself has been completed.

  In step S <b> 206, the master content pool 26 transmits to the subscriber content pool 27 an instruction to set attribute to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S207, the subscriber content pool 27 transmits to the event management unit 28 that attribute information is set in the XMPP collection node information created in S203.

  In step S <b> 208, the event management unit 28 transmits data form information for creating attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S209, the subscriber content pool 27 creates setting information for setting attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 based on the data form information received from the event management unit 28, and the created setting. Information is transmitted to the event management unit 28.

  In step S210, the event management unit 28 transmits to the subscriber content pool 27 that the setting information has been received.

  In step S211, the subscriber content pool 27 transmits to the master content pool 26 that the attribute setting has been completed.

  Then, the content server 2 repeats steps S201 to 211 as many times as the number of mobile terminals 3 (subscribers) that distribute the content. By doing so, attribute information is set for each XMPP collection node information corresponding to each subscriber content pool 27. Thus, the initialization process in the content server 2 is completed.

  Next, a procedure in which the mobile terminal 3 performs an initialization process for receiving content distributed from the content server 2 will be described. FIG. 13 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure for creating a content pool and initializing the content pool in the mobile terminal according to the present embodiment.

  First, in step S <b> 301, the mobile terminal 3 creates a content pool 37 for managing meta information and structured information in a one-to-one correspondence with each content stored in the mobile terminal 3. Note that only one content pool 37 is created in the mobile terminal 3.

  Next, the mobile terminal 3 searches the content server 2 that distributes the content by using DISCO (XMPP XEP-0030 (Service Discovery)). In step S302, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 sends the XMPP collection node information associated with the subscriber content pool 27 corresponding to the mobile terminal 3 to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2, that is, the step of FIG. A request is sent to request retrieval of XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 created and attributed in S203 to S210.

  In step S <b> 303, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 transmits to the portable terminal 3 that the corresponding XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 has been identified. As a result, the mobile terminal 3 finds XMPP collection node information for the corresponding subscriber content pool 27.

  Next, the mobile terminal 3 sets attribute information for the content pool 37. In step S <b> 304, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 transmits an inquiry to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 for attribute information setting information.

  In step S 305, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 transmits attribute information setting information for the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 to the mobile terminal 3.

  In step S306, the search for the XMPP collection node information for the subscriber content pool 27 corresponding to the mobile terminal 3 ends. In this way, the generation of the content pool 37 and the initialization process thereof on the portable terminal 3 are completed.

  Next, when an event such as arrival of new content or update of the content occurs in the content server 2, notification of the event occurrence is transmitted from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3. A procedure for the mobile terminal 3 to subscribe to the content server 2 will be described. FIG. 14 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the mobile terminal subscribes to the content server in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S401, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 starts subscribing to the content server 2.

  In step S <b> 402, the content pool 37 of the portable terminal 3 notifies the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 that the content server 2 subscribes to the content server 2.

  In step S403, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 notifies the subscriber content pool 27 that the subscriber content pool 27 corresponding to the mobile terminal 3 has been received from the mobile terminal 3.

  In step S404, the subscriber content pool 27 notifies the master content pool 26 that the edit filter 291 of the server content editing unit 29 is to be registered.

  In step S405, the master content pool 26 notifies the server content editing unit 29 that the setting of the editing filter 291 corresponding to the subscriber content pool 27 is instructed.

  In step S <b> 406, the server content editing unit 29 sets the editing filter 291 corresponding to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S407, the master content pool 26 transmits an instruction to set the attribute to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S <b> 408, the subscriber content pool 27 notifies the event management unit 28 that the mobile terminal 3 has definitely subscribed.

  In step 409, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 transmits to the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 that the mobile terminal 3 has definitely subscribed.

  In step 410, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 receives the fact that the subscription process to the content server 2 has been completed, thereby completing the initialization process in the mobile terminal 3.

  Next, the procedure in which the content server 2 performs the new content initialization process will be described. FIG. 15 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server performs initialization processing on new content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S501, the content reception unit 25 of the content server 2 newly receives content having a chapter structure from the outside. For example, when the content server 2 is an AV device having a function of automatic recording such as a DVD recorder at home, the received broadcast content is recorded and stored as the original content 5.

  In step S502, the content reception unit 25 performs normalization processing on the received original content 5 using the normalization filter 251, and generates the normalization content 6 including the normalization chapter 61 having a predetermined fixed reproduction time length. . The normalized chapter 61 constituting the generated normalized content 6 is a prefetch unit 611 that is a data portion of a playback section from the playback start position of the chapter 51 of the original content 5 to a playback position having a predetermined length. And the streaming unit 612 that is the data portion of the playback section from the playback position where playback of the prefetch unit 611 ends to the playback end position of the chapter 51 before normalization processing, and the playback end of the chapter 51 before normalization processing And a surplus portion 613 that is a data portion of a reproduction section from the position to the reproduction end position of the normalized chapter 61. Each streaming unit 612 includes one or a plurality of partial streaming units divided for each playback section having an arbitrary length.

  Here, the reproduction time length of each normalized chapter 61 is unified to a predetermined first fixed value. Similarly, the playback time length of each prefetch unit 611 is also unified to a predetermined second fixed value. In the present embodiment, the playback time length of each normalized chapter 61 and the playback time length of each prefetch unit 611 may be set to arbitrary fixed values by the user. For example, the user may set by inputting those values from the operation input unit (not shown) of the content server 2 or the terminal input unit 35 of the mobile terminal 3, or a plurality of selectable setting values are prepared in advance. The user may select a desired set value and input and set it from the operation input unit (not shown) of the content server 2 or the terminal input unit 35 of the portable terminal 3.

  In the present embodiment, each normalized chapter 61 and each prefetch unit 611 have the same reproduction time length, but the data portion size of the reproduction section may be unified. For example, each normalized chapter 61 and each prefetch unit 611 may be unified to an arbitrary number of bytes, or may be unified to a number of bytes that is a multiple of the memory block of the content pool 37. In this case as well, the number of bytes may be a fixed length or may be arbitrarily set by the user as described above. By doing in this way, in the content server 2 and the portable terminal 3, the use efficiency of the storage capacity can be increased, and operations such as content reproduction and normalization processing can be facilitated.

  Next, in step S503, the content reception unit 25 determines the number of normalized chapters 61, the reproduction time length of each chapter 51 before normalization processing, the reproduction time length of each normalized chapter 61 and their prefetch unit 511, and the like. Is converted into XML format data together with meta information which is information (attribute information or the like) related to the content, and added to the normalized content 6 as structured information.

  In step S504, the content reception unit 25 transfers the normalized content 6 to the master content pool 26.

  In step S505, the master content pool 26 assigns an identifier (content ID, chapter ID) that can be uniquely distinguished and identified as the meta information to the transferred normalized content 6 and each normalized chapter 61. .

  In step S506, the master content pool 26 notifies the event management unit 28 that the creation of XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 corresponding to the normalized content 6 is requested.

  In step S507, the event management unit 28 creates XMPP collection node information corresponding to the normalized content 6. Note that the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 is created in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) or the storage unit 23 included in the content server 2.

  In step S508, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 that the XMPP collection node information corresponding to the normalized content 6 has been created.

  This completes the content initialization process. In S501, new content is received from the outside, but content newly generated by the content server 2 may be new content.

  Next, a procedure for setting the attribute of the generated XMPP collection node information for normalized content 6 will be described. FIG. 16 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server performs attribute setting on the XMPP collection node information corresponding to the normalized content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S601, the master content pool 26 notifies the event management unit 28 that attribute information is set in the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 created in S507 of FIG.

  In step 602, the event management unit 28 transfers data form information for creating attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 to the master content pool 26.

  In step S603, the master content pool 26 creates setting information for setting attribute information in the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 based on the data form information received from the event management unit 28, and the created setting. The information is transferred to the event management unit 28.

  In step S604, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 that the setting information has been received.

  Next, a procedure in which the content server 2 creates XMPP list node information corresponding to each normalized chapter 61 constituting the normalized content 6 and sets attributes in the XMPP list node information will be described. FIG. 17 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server creates XMPP list node information corresponding to each normalized chapter in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S <b> 701, the master content pool 26 of the content server 2 notifies the event management unit 28 that the creation of XMPP list node information corresponding to the normalized chapter 61 is requested.

  In step 702, the event management unit 28 creates XMPP list node information in association with the normalized chapter 61. The XMPP list node information is created in, for example, a volatile memory (not shown) included in the content server 2 or the storage unit 23.

  In step S703, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 that the XMPP list node information has been created.

  In step S704, the master content pool 26 notifies the event management unit 28 that attribute information is set in the XMPP list node information created in step S702.

  In step S <b> 705, the event management unit 28 transfers data form information for creating attribute information in the XMPP list node information to the master content pool 26.

  In step S706, the master content pool 26 creates setting information for setting attribute information in the XMPP list node information based on the data form information received from the event management unit 28, and the created setting information is stored in the event management unit 28. Notify

  In step S707, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 that the setting information has been received.

  The content server 2 repeats the procedure of steps S701 to S707 as many times as the number of normalized chapters 61 constituting the normalized content 6, and creates XMPP list node information corresponding to each normalized chapter 61 and sets its attributes.

  At this time, the access right of the portable terminal 3 (or the user) for the normalized content 6 generated in step S502 of FIG. 15 is not set in the subscriber content pool 27. Therefore, the master content pool 26 needs to set an access right according to the corresponding subscriber (mobile terminal 3) in each subscriber content pool 27. Therefore, a procedure for setting an access right for the mobile terminal 3 (or its user) in each subscriber content pool 27 will be described. FIG. 18 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure for setting an access right to each subscriber content pool in the present embodiment.

  In step S <b> 801, the master content pool 26 checks access right information for the editing filter 291 of the server content editing unit 29.

  In step S <b> 802, the master content pool 26 receives the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 and the XMPP list node information for each normalized chapter 61 from the mobile terminal 3 (or its user) that is a corresponding subscriber. Access right information indicating access right is set as attribute information.

  In step S803, the master content pool 26 notifies the event management unit 28 that an access right to the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 and the XMPP list node information for each normalized chapter 61 is set.

  In step S804, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 of data form information for creating access rights to the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 and the XMPP list node information for each normalized chapter 61. To do.

  In step S805, the master content pool 26 sets access rights to the XMPP collection node information for the normalized content 6 and the XMPP list node information for each normalized chapter 61 based on the data form information received from the event management unit 28. Setting information is created, and the created setting information is transferred to the event management unit 28.

  In step S806, the event management unit 28 notifies the master content pool 26 that the setting information has been received.

  The procedure of steps S801 to S806 is repeated as many times as the number of subscribed mobile terminals 3, and each XMPP collection node information for normalized content 6 and XMPP list node information for each normalized chapter 61, each The access right of the mobile terminal 3 (or its user) as a corresponding subscriber is set for the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step 808, the master content pool 26 ends the access right setting process.

  Next, a procedure in which the content server 2 actually distributes content to the mobile terminal 3 and the content distributed by the mobile terminal 3 is reproduced will be described.

  First, the content server 2 transmits the transfer normalization content 6 </ b> A including only the prefetch unit 611 of each normalization chapter 61 to the mobile terminal 3. FIG. 19 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server transmits the transfer normalized content to the mobile terminal in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S <b> 901, when the subscriber content pool 27 receives new normalized content 6, the subscriber content pool 27 transmits to the event management unit 28 that there is new content to be distributed to the mobile terminal 3.

  In step S <b> 902, the event management unit 28 transmits to the subscriber content pool 27 that it has been surely received that there is new content to be distributed to the mobile terminal 3.

  In step S <b> 903, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 notifies the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 that there is new content to be distributed to the mobile terminal 3.

  In step S904, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 requests that transmission of new content in the subscriber content pool 27 corresponding to the mobile terminal 3 of the content server 2 is requested, and the corresponding subscriber content pool of the content server 2 27. Note that the procedure of step S904 is performed at an arbitrary timing after the procedure of step S903 is performed. For example, the procedure of step S904 may be performed immediately after the procedure of step S903 is performed, or the procedure of step S904 may be performed at a predetermined timing. Examples of the predetermined timing include a time when the content server 2 and the mobile terminal 3 can communicate with each other, and a predetermined time after the procedure of step S903 is performed.

  In step S905, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 generates the transfer normalized content 6A from the new normalized content 6 to be distributed to the mobile terminal 3. Specifically, the subscriber content pool 27 requests the server content editing unit 29 to generate the normalized content for transfer 6A based on the normalized content 6. In the server content editing unit 29, the editing filter 291 generates the normalized content for transfer 6 </ b> A based on the normalized content 6. Then, the server content editing unit 29 transfers the transfer normalized content 6A to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S906, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 conforms to the rules stipulated in Jingle and Jingle-ft, and transfers the normalized content for transfer 6A together with an XML file having its meta information, structured information, and the like. Transfer to the content pool 37 of the portable terminal 3. (Content distribution step: Part of viewing history transmission step)

  In this way, by transmitting the transfer content in accordance with the rules defined in XMPP Jingle (XEP-0166) and Jingle-ft (XEP-0234), which are XMPP application protocols, NAT and firewalls can be used. Distributing content from an AV device (content server 2) such as a hard disk recorder having a recording function installed in a blocked general home, a DVD recorder, or a video recorder to the information terminal device (mobile terminal 3) Can do.

  Further, since the data size of the normalization content for transfer 6A distributed in advance to the information terminal device is only the data size of each prefetch unit 611 constituting the normalization content for transfer 6A, transfer from the server to the information terminal device is possible. The amount of communication data and communication time required for distribution of the normalized content for use 6A can be greatly reduced.

  In step S907, the mobile terminal 3 generates the viewing content 7 from the transfer normalized content 6A. In this way, the portable terminal 3 is in a state where the viewing content 7 can be reproduced. Specifically, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 requests the terminal content editing unit 38 to generate the viewing content 7 based on the transfer normalized content 6A. In the terminal content editing unit 38, the editing filter 381 generates the viewing content 7 based on the transfer normalized content 6A. Then, the terminal content editing unit 38 transfers the generated viewing content 7 to the content pool 37.

  As described above, each prefetch unit of new content distributed from the content server 2 is reproduced on the mobile terminal 3, and the user can view the prefetch unit while zapping at any timing. Further, the user views the prefetch unit 711 of each viewing chapter 71 of the viewing content 7 generated from the transfer normalized content 6A distributed in advance to the mobile terminal 3 while zapping, thereby viewing the entire viewing content 7 It is possible to easily select a viewing chapter 71 that is interested or desired to be viewed.

  Next, data corresponding to the remaining portion (streaming unit 712) of the viewing chapter 71 of the prefetch unit 711 that the user viewing while zapping each prefetch unit 711 of the viewing content 7 desires to view (that is, the corresponding A procedure for transferring the streaming unit 612) of the normalized chapter 61 to be transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 and playing back on the portable terminal 3 will be described. FIG. 20 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the streaming unit is transferred from the content server to the mobile terminal in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S <b> 1001, the user who has watched while zapping each prefetch unit 711 of the viewing content 7 reproduced on the mobile terminal 3 is interested and wants to view the prefetch unit 711 that the user desires to view. Specify by.

  In step S1002, the content pool 37 reproduces the prefetch unit 711 designated by the user and corresponds to the remaining portion of the viewing chapter 71 corresponding to the prefetch unit 711 (streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711). The fact that the data (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61) is requested to be transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 as user desired information. . (Request information sending step)

  In step S1003, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 requests the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 to transfer the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61). Send a message to the effect that you have received.

  In step S1004, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 adds data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 specified by the user in S1001 to the subscriber content pool 27 to which the mobile terminal 3 is subscribed (that is, corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is notified that the transfer to the portable terminal 3 is requested.

  In step S1005, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 conforms to the rules defined in Jingle and Jingle-rtp, and the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 input by the user in S1001 (ie, the corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is transferred to the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 by the streaming method. (Subsequent data transmission step)

  In this way, by transmitting the transfer content in accordance with the rules stipulated in XMPP Jingle (XEP-0166) and Jingle-rtp (XEP-0167), which are XMPP application protocols, NAT and firewalls can be used. Distributes content from an AV device (content server 2) such as a hard disk recorder, DVD recorder, or video recorder installed in a blocked general home to an information terminal device (mobile terminal 3). be able to.

  When the user selects the desired viewing chapter 71 in step S1001, the remaining data portion (that is, the streaming unit 612) of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 is transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 by the streaming method. Therefore, the user can view the streaming unit 712 continuously after the prefetch unit 711. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a sense of use as if he / she carries the entire viewing chapter 71 specified.

  In step 1006, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the denormalization filter 361 to perform denormalization processing of the viewing content 7 while buffering the transferred streaming unit 612. That is, the transferred streaming unit 612 is stored in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Specifically, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 requests the content reproduction unit 36 to edit the viewing content 7. In the content reproduction unit 36, the denormalization filter 361 stores the transferred streaming unit 612 in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Then, the content reproduction unit 36 transfers the edited viewing content 7 to the content pool 37.

  In step S <b> 1007, the streaming unit 712 in which the transferred streaming unit 612 is stored is reproduced by the mobile terminal 3 by the denormalization process. (Subsequent data reproduction step)

  As described above, the user can watch the watching chapter 71 that is interested and desired to be watched without interruption. In step 1002, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 transfers the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 reproduced according to the user's instruction (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61). Is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2, but data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 that has been played over a predetermined playback section in accordance with a user instruction ( That is, it may be transmitted that the transfer of the streaming unit 612) of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 is requested. For example, data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, corresponding normalization) at the time when a half of the entire playback section of the prefetch unit 711 selected by the user is played back or after a predetermined playback time (30 seconds after the start of playback). It is good also as what transmits the request | requirement of transfer of the streaming part 612) of the chapter 61. FIG. By doing in this way, it is possible to more reliably reproduce the streaming unit 712 without interruption following the reproduction of the prefetch unit 711.

  Next, a procedure in which the content server 2 dynamically rearranges the contents provided to the user based on the user's viewing history or the user's instruction will be described. FIG. 21 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server acquires the viewing history of the user of the mobile terminal in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S1101, the user who views the prefetch unit 711 of the viewing content 7 reproduced on the mobile terminal 3 while zapping the user is interested and wants to view the prefetch unit 711 that the user desires to view. Specify by input.

  In step S1102, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 reproduces the prefetch unit 711 specified by the user and the remaining part of the viewing chapter 71 corresponding to the prefetch unit 711 (the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711). ) (That is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61) is requested to be transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3, and the event management unit of the content server 2 28. (Request information transmission step: Part of viewing history transmission step)

  In step S1103, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 requests the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 to transfer data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61). Send a message to the effect that you have received.

  In step S1104, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 adds data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 specified by the user in S1101 to the subscriber content pool 27 to which the mobile terminal 3 is subscribed (that is, corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is notified that the transfer to the portable terminal 3 is requested.

  In step S1105, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 conforms to the rules defined in Jingle and Jingle-rtp, and the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 input by the user in S1001 (ie, corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is transferred to the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 by the streaming method. (Subsequent data transmission step: part of viewing history transmission step)

  As described above, the transfer normalized content 6A is transmitted in accordance with the rules defined in XMPP Jingle (XEP-0166) and Jingle-rtp (XEP-0167), which are XMPP application protocols. Content from an AV device (content server 2) such as a hard disk recorder having a recording function, a DVD recorder, or a video recorder installed in a general household blocked by a firewall to an information terminal device (mobile terminal 3). Can be delivered.

  When the user selects the desired viewing chapter 71 in step S1101, the remaining data portion of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 (that is, the streaming unit 612) is transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 in a streaming manner. Therefore, the user can view the streaming unit 712 continuously after the prefetch unit 711. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a sense of use as if he / she carries the entire viewing chapter 71 specified.

  In step 1106, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the denormalization filter 361 to perform the denormalization processing of the viewing content 7 while buffering the transferred streaming unit 612. That is, the transferred streaming unit 612 is stored in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Specifically, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 requests the content reproduction unit 36 to edit the viewing content 7. In the content reproduction unit 36, the denormalization filter 361 stores the transferred streaming unit 612 in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Then, the content reproduction unit 36 transfers the edited viewing content 7 to the content pool 37.

  In step S <b> 1107, the streaming unit 712 in which the transferred streaming unit 612 is stored is reproduced by the mobile terminal 3 by the denormalization process. (Subsequent data playback step: part of viewing history transmission step)

  As described above, the user can watch the watching chapter 71 that is interested and desired to be watched without interruption. In step 1102, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 transfers the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 reproduced according to the user's instruction (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61). Is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2, but data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 that has been played over a predetermined playback section in accordance with a user instruction ( That is, it may be transmitted that the transfer of the streaming unit 612) of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 is requested. For example, data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, corresponding normalization) at the time when a half of the entire playback section of the prefetch unit 711 selected by the user is played back or after a predetermined playback time (30 seconds after the start of playback). It is good also as what transmits the request | requirement of transfer of the streaming part 612) of the chapter 61. FIG. By doing in this way, it is possible to more reliably reproduce the streaming unit 712 without interruption following the reproduction of the prefetch unit 711.

  Next, the content server 2 is notified as the viewing history of the user that the viewing chapter 71 has been reproduced according to the user's instruction.

  In step S1108, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 indicates that the streaming section 712 of the viewing chapter 71 has been reproduced, and the chapter ID for identifying the normalized chapter 61 corresponding to the viewing chapter 71 and the corresponding chapter ID. Along with the content ID for identifying the normalized content 6, it is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 as viewing history information indicating the history of the content viewed by the user. (History information transmission step: Part of viewing history transmission step)

  In step S1109, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 transmits to the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 that the viewing history information has been received.

  In step S1110, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 notifies the notification that the viewing chapter 71 has been reproduced according to a user instruction, a chapter ID for identifying the normalized chapter 61, and a corresponding normalization. Along with the content ID for identifying the content 6, the subscriber content pool 27 to which the mobile terminal 3 is subscribed is notified.

  As described above, the content server 2 displays the viewing history of the content by the user, that is, the viewing chapter 71 to which the streaming unit 612 has been reproduced and the viewing chapter 71 that has been reproduced. History information can be acquired. (Step S1111)

  Next, a procedure in which the content server 2 dynamically edits the normalized content 6 based on the acquired user viewing history will be described. FIG. 22 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the content server performs dynamic editing of normalized content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S1201, the subscriber content pool 27 requests the server to request dynamic editing of the normalized content 6 distributed to the mobile terminals 3 subscribed to the subscriber content pool 27 based on the user's viewing history. It transmits to the content editing part 29.

  In step S1202, the server content editing unit 29 uses the editing filter 291 corresponding to the subscriber content pool 27 to normalize content as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 based on the user's viewing history (viewing history information). 6 dynamic editing is performed. Specifically, the first normalized chapter 61 corresponding to the viewing chapter 71 included in the user's content viewing history (that is, the viewing chapter 71 reproduced in S1108) from a plurality of contents of the content server 2. The second normalized chapter 61 having the contents related to the normalized chapter 61) corresponding to is extracted. (Chapter Extraction Step) Then, editing is performed to create the normalized content 6 including the prefetch unit 611 of the first normalized chapter 61 and the prefetch unit 611 of the extracted second normalized chapter 61.

  In step S1203, the server content editing unit 29 transfers the normalized content 6 that has been dynamically edited in step S1202 to the subscriber content pool 27.

  Thus, the dynamic editing process of the normalized content 6 based on the user viewing history in the content server 2 ends. Next, the content server 2 edits the transfer normalized content 6 </ b> A based on the normalized content 6 that has been dynamically edited, and transmits the edited transfer normalized content 6 </ b> A to the mobile terminal 3.

  First, in step S1204, the subscriber content pool 27 notifies the event management unit 28 that there is a dynamically edited normalized content 6.

  In step S1205, the event management unit 28 notifies the subscriber content pool 27 that the normalized content 6 that has been dynamically edited is received.

  In step S1206, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 notifies the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 that the normalized content 6 has been updated (that is, dynamically edited) on the mobile terminal 3. To do.

  Next, the mobile terminal 3 requests the content server 2 to transmit the updated transfer normalized content 6A, and edits the viewing content 7 based on the transferred transfer normalized content 6A. The filter 381 is reconfigured. FIG. 23 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the editing filter on the mobile terminal side is reconfigured based on the updated normalized content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S1301, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 transmits a request for transmission of the updated normalized content 6 to the subscriber content pool 27 to which the mobile terminal 3 is subscribed. Note that the procedure of step S1301 is performed at an arbitrary timing after the procedure of step S1206 of FIG. 22 is performed. For example, the procedure of step 1301 may be performed immediately after the procedure of step S1206 in FIG. 22 is performed, or the procedure of step S1301 may be performed at a predetermined timing. Examples of the predetermined timing include a time when the content server 2 and the portable terminal 3 can communicate with each other, and a predetermined time after the procedure of step S1206 is performed.

  In step S1302, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 edits the transfer normalized content 6A based on the dynamically edited normalized content 6. Specifically, the subscriber content pool 27 requests the server content editing unit 29 to generate the transfer normalized content 6A based on the dynamically edited normalized content 6. In the server content editing unit 29, the editing filter 291 generates the normalized content for transfer 6A including the prefetch unit 611 of each normalized chapter 61 of the normalized content 6 after the dynamic editing process based on the normalized content 6. . That is, the server content editing unit 29 is extracted by the editing filter 291 in the prefetch unit 611 of the first normalized chapter 61 corresponding to the prefetch unit 711 of the viewing chapter 71 reproduced in S1108, and in S1202. Edit to create the transfer normalized content 6A composed of the prefetch unit 611 of the second normalized chapter 61 is performed. (Chapter Editing Step) Then, the server content editing unit 29 transfers the edited normalized content for transfer 6A to the subscriber content pool 27.

  In step S1303, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 conforms to the rules of Jingle and Jingle-ft, and transfers the normalized content for transfer 6A together with the XML file having its meta information, structured information, and the like. To the content pool 37. (Edited content transmission step)

  As described above, by transmitting the transfer normalized content 6A in accordance with the rules defined in XMPP Jingle (XEP-0166) and Jingle-ft (XEP-0234), which are XMPP application protocols, NAT or Distribution of contents from AV equipment (content server 2) such as a hard disk recorder having a recording function, a DVD recorder, and a video recorder installed in a general household blocked by a firewall to an information terminal device (mobile terminal 3) Can do.

  Further, since the data size of the transfer normalized content 6A distributed to the mobile terminal 3 is only the data size of each prefetch unit 511 constituting the transfer normalized content 6A, the content server 2 sends the data to the mobile terminal 3. The amount of communication data and the communication time required for distributing the transfer normalized content 6A can be greatly reduced. In addition, the user views the prefetch unit 711 of each viewing chapter 71 of the viewing content 7 generated from the transfer normalization content 6 </ b> A that is performed on the mobile terminal 3 while zapping the content, so that Thus, it is possible to easily select the viewing chapter 71 that is interested or desired to be viewed.

  In step S1304, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 transfers the normalized content for transfer 6A after the dynamic editing process based on the transferred normalized content 6A after the dynamic editing process and the XML format file. The editing filter 381 is reconfigured so that the viewing content 7 can be edited based on the transferred normalized content 6A after the dynamic editing that has been transferred. Request to part 38.

  In step S1305, the terminal content editing unit 38 performs dynamic editing from the transferred normalized content for dynamic editing 6A that has been transferred based on the normalized content for transfer 6A after dynamic editing and the XML file. The editing filter 381 is reconfigured so that the process of generating the normalized content 6 can be performed. Then, the editing filter 381 edits the viewing content 7 based on the transfer normalized content 6A. Then, the terminal content editing unit 38 transfers the edited viewing content 7 to the content pool 37.

  In step S1306, the mobile terminal 3 is in a state where the viewing content 7 corresponding to the transfer normalized content 6A after dynamic editing can be reproduced.

  As described above, based on the user's content viewing history, the second normalization of the contents related to the first normalization chapter 61 corresponding to the viewing chapter 71 viewed by the user from the plurality of contents of the content server 2. The chapter 61 is extracted, and the first transfer normalized content 6A includes a prefetch unit 611 of the first normalization chapter 61 and a prefetch unit 611 of the extracted second normalization chapter 61. Is transferred to the mobile terminal 3. Therefore, when the viewing history information is transmitted to the content server 2, the normalized content 6 and the transfer normalized content 6A provided to the user of the portable terminal 3 are dynamically updated automatically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  Next, each prefetch unit 711 of the dynamically edited viewing content 7 is reproduced on the mobile terminal 3 based on the transfer-normalized content 6A that has been dynamically edited. The user of the mobile terminal 3 can view each prefetch unit 711 of the viewing content 7 dynamically edited at an arbitrary timing while zapping. Then, the user who views each prefetch unit 711 while zapping the data corresponding to the remaining portion (streaming unit 712) of the viewing chapter 71 of the prefetch unit 711 desired to view (that is, the corresponding normalized chapter 61). The streaming unit 612) can be transferred from the content server 2 to the mobile terminal 3 and played back on the mobile terminal 3. These procedures are described below. FIG. 24 is an operation diagram for explaining a procedure in which the streaming unit after dynamic editing is transferred from the content server to the mobile terminal in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  In step S1401, the user who views the prefetch unit 711 of the viewing content 7 reproduced on the mobile terminal 3 while zapping the user is interested and wants to view the prefetch unit 711 that the user desires to view. Specify by.

  In step S1402, the content pool 37 reproduces the prefetch unit 711 designated by the user and corresponds to the remaining portion of the viewing chapter 71 corresponding to the prefetch unit 711 (streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711). Data (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61) is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 as selection information indicating that the transfer from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 is requested. (Selection information transmission step)

  In step S1403, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 requests the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 to transfer the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61). Send a message to the effect that you have received.

  In step S1404, the event management unit 28 of the content server 2 adds data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 specified by the user in S1101 to the subscriber content pool 27 to which the mobile terminal 3 is subscribed (that is, corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is notified that the transfer to the portable terminal 3 is requested.

  In step S1405, the subscriber content pool 27 of the content server 2 conforms to the rules defined in Jingle and Jingle-rtp, and the data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 input by the user in S1001 (that is, corresponding normalization). The streaming unit 612) of the chapter 61 is transferred to the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 by the streaming method. (Streaming transfer step)

  As described above, the transmission normalized content 6A is transmitted in accordance with the rules defined in XMPP Jingle (XEP-0166) and Jingle-rtp (XEP-0234), which are XMPP application protocols. Content from an AV device (content server 2) such as a hard disk recorder having a recording function, a DVD recorder, or a video recorder installed in a general household blocked by a firewall to an information terminal device (mobile terminal 3). Can be delivered.

  When the user selects the desired viewing chapter 71 in step S1401, the remaining data portion of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 (that is, the streaming unit 612) is transferred from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3 by the streaming method. Therefore, the user can view the streaming unit 712 continuously after the prefetch unit 711. Therefore, it is possible to give the user a sense of use as if he / she carries the entire viewing chapter 71 specified.

  In step 1406, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 causes the denormalization filter 361 to perform denormalization processing of the viewing content 7 while buffering the transferred streaming unit 612. That is, the transferred streaming unit 612 is stored in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Specifically, the content pool 37 of the mobile terminal 3 requests the content reproduction unit 36 to edit the viewing content 7. In the content reproduction unit 36, the denormalization filter 361 stores the transferred streaming unit 612 in the streaming unit 712 of the corresponding viewing content 7. Then, the content reproduction unit 36 transfers the edited viewing content 7 to the content pool 37.

  In step S <b> 1407, the streaming unit 712 storing the transferred streaming unit 612 is reproduced on the mobile terminal 3 by the denormalization process. (Streaming playback step)

  As described above, based on the user's content viewing history, the second chapter of the content related to the first normalized chapter corresponding to the viewing chapter 71 included in the content viewing history from the plurality of contents of the content server 2 51 is extracted and normalized, and a normalization content for transfer 6A including a prefetch part of the first normalization chapter and a prefetch part of the second normalization chapter extracted and normalized is created, It is transmitted to the terminal 3. Therefore, when the viewing history information is transmitted to the server, the normalized content for transfer 6A provided to the user of the mobile terminal 3 is dynamically and automatically updated. In the portable terminal 3, the viewing content 7 corresponding to the transfer normalized content 6A is also automatically updated dynamically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  In step S1002 in FIG. 20, step S1102 in FIG. 21, and step S1402 in FIG. 24, the content pool 37 of the portable terminal 3 is data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 reproduced according to the user's instruction. In other words, the fact that the request for transfer of the corresponding normalized chapter 61 (streaming unit 612) is transmitted to the event management unit 28 of the content server 2; It may be transmitted that a request for transfer of data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 following the prefetch unit 711 performed (that is, the streaming unit 612 of the corresponding normalized chapter 61) is requested. For example, data corresponding to the streaming unit 712 (that is, corresponding normalization) at the time when a half of the entire playback section of the prefetch unit 711 selected by the user is played back or after a predetermined playback time (30 seconds after the start of playback). It is good also as what transmits the request | requirement of transfer of the streaming part 612) of the chapter 61. FIG. By doing in this way, it is possible to more reliably reproduce the streaming unit 712 without interruption following the reproduction of the prefetch unit 711.

  In step S1108 in FIG. 21 to step S1303 in FIG. 23, the normalized content 6 and the transfer normalized content 6A are dynamically updated based on the user's content viewing history (viewing history information). However, when user interest information indicating the viewing chapter 71 with interest is input to the input unit of the information terminal device by a user who has viewed the normalized content for transfer 6A distributed in advance, the user interest information is stored in the portable terminal. 3 may be transmitted to the content server 2. (Interest information sending step)

  In this case, the content server 2 dynamically updates the normalized content 6 and the transfer normalized content 6A based on the received user interest information. More specifically, in the content server 2, the server content editing unit 29 relates to the first normalized chapter 61 corresponding to the viewing chapter 71 indicated by the user interest information from a plurality of contents of the content server 2. The second normalized chapter 61 having the content to be extracted is extracted. (Chapter Extraction Step) The server content editing unit 29 performs editing for generating the normalized content 6 including the first normalized chapter 61 and the extracted second normalized chapter 61, and the first normalized chapter. The editing is performed to create the transfer normalized content 6A including the prefetch unit 611 of 61 and the prefetch unit 611 of the extracted second normalization chapter 61. (Chapter Editing Step) Also, the dynamically normalized content for transfer 6A that has been edited is transmitted from the content server 2 to the portable terminal 3. (Edited content transmission step)

  In this way, based on an instruction input to the mobile terminal 3 by the user, the transfer normalized content 6A provided to the user of the mobile terminal 3 is automatically updated automatically. In the portable terminal 3, the viewing content 7 corresponding to the transfer normalized content 6A is also automatically updated dynamically. Therefore, the user can easily view personalized content including chapters of interesting content or desired content. Therefore, the user can comfortably view the distributed content without stress and can have an advanced content viewing experience.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented by changing the configuration without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the content server 2 and one or a plurality of portable terminals 3 perform communication conforming to XMPP. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Communication conforming to a protocol (communication protocol) similar to XMPP may be performed. The content distribution system 1 in the above-described embodiment may further include another XMPP communication server.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer of the normalization content for transfer 6A, the streaming unit 612, and the like is performed using XEPP protocol XEP-0166 (Jingle), XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions), or XEP-0234 (Jingle). Although it conforms to at least one of the rules of File Transfer), the present invention is not limited to this, and any communication protocol for establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving data between two communicable terminal devices can be used. it can.

  In addition, it is understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment described above is an exemplification, and that various modifications can be made to the combination of each component and each process, and it is within the scope of the present invention. .

1,1A content distribution system 2,2A content server (server)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Communication part 23 Memory | storage part 24,24A Control part 25 Content reception part 251 Normalization filter 26 Master content pool 27 Subscriber content pool 28, 28A Event management part 29 Server content edit part 291 Edit filter 3 Portable terminal (information terminal device)
32 Terminal communication unit 33 Terminal storage unit 34 Terminal control unit 35 Terminal input unit (input unit)
36 Content playback unit 361 Denormalization filter 37 Content pool 38 Terminal content editing unit 381 Edit filter 4, 4A Network 5, 5A to 5F Original content (broadcast content, etc.)
51 (51a to 51e) Chapter 511 (511a to 511e) Prefetch unit 512 (512a to 512e) Streaming unit 6 Normalized content 61 (61a to 61e) Normalized chapter 611 (611a to 611e) Prefetch unit 612 (612a to 612e) Streaming part 613 (613a to 613e) Extra length part 6A Normalized content for transfer (transfer content)
7 Viewing content 71 (71a to 71e) Viewing chapter 711 (711a to 711e) Prefetch section 712 (712a to 712e) Streaming section 713 (713a to 713e) Extra length section 8 XMPP server 81 Internet

Claims (14)

A communication method in a content distribution system for distributing content having a chapter structure from a server having a plurality of contents to an information terminal device,
A content distribution step in which a first transfer content including a part of each chapter is distributed from the server to the information terminal device;
An information transmission step in which information indicating the first chapter selected by the user who has viewed the first transfer content is transmitted to the server;
A chapter extraction step in which a second chapter of contents related to the first chapter is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server;
A chapter editing step in which a second transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is generated in the server;
An edited content transmission step in which the generated second transfer content is transmitted from the server to the information terminal device;
Have
Each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter whose overall playback time length is a predetermined first fixed value,
The normalized chapter includes a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming unit that is a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus part that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter,
The playback time length of the prefetch unit is a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content includes a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter,
The second transfer content is a communication method including a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the extracted second chapter. A communication method in a content distribution system for distributing content having a chapter structure from a server having a plurality of contents to an information terminal device,
A content distribution step in which a first transfer content including a part of each chapter is distributed from the server to the information terminal device;
An information transmission step in which information indicating the first chapter selected by the user who has viewed the first transfer content is transmitted to the server;
A chapter extraction step in which a second chapter of contents related to the first chapter is extracted from the plurality of contents of the server;
A chapter editing step in which a second transfer content including a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter is generated in the server;
An edited content transmission step in which the generated second transfer content is transmitted from the server to the information terminal device;
With
Each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter that is a first fixed value whose data size is predetermined,
The normalized chapter includes a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming unit that is a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus part that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter,
The data size of the prefetch unit is a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content includes a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter,
The second transfer content is a communication method including a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the extracted second chapter. A selection information transmission step in which selection information indicating a third chapter selected by a user who has viewed the second transfer content is transmitted from the information terminal device to the server;
A streaming transfer step in which a streaming unit is transferred in a streaming manner as the remaining part of the third chapter from the server that has received the selection information to the information terminal device;
In the information terminal device, a streaming playback step in which the remaining part of the third chapter is played back by a streaming method;
The communication method according to claim 1, comprising: The communication method according to claim 3, wherein the extra length portion is zero stuff. The server and the information terminal device perform communication based on XMPP,
The content having the chapter structure is transferred from the server to the information terminal device in accordance with at least one of the XMPP rules XEP-0166 (Jingle), XEP-0167 (Jingle RTP Sessions), and XEP-0234 (Jingle File Transfer). The communication method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communication method is distributed accordingly. The server and the information terminal device perform communication based on XMPP,
The server and the information terminal device manage the content having the chapter structure distributed from the server to the information terminal device according to the XMPP XEP-0060 (Publish-Subscribe) rules. Item 6. The communication method according to any one of Items5. A server that has a plurality of contents and distributes content having a chapter structure to an information terminal device,
A communication unit for communicating with the information terminal device;
A subscriber content pool for transmitting the first transfer content consisting of a part of each chapter from the communication unit to the information terminal device;
When information indicating the first chapter selected by the user who has viewed the first transfer content is received, a second chapter having contents related to the first chapter is extracted from the plurality of contents. A server content editing unit for creating a second transfer content comprising a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter;
With
The subscriber content pool transmits the created second transfer content from the communication unit to the information terminal device,
Each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter whose overall playback time length is a predetermined first fixed value,
The normalized chapter includes a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming unit that is a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus part that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter,
The playback time length of the prefetch unit is a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content includes a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter,
The second transfer content is a server including a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the extracted second chapter. A server that has a plurality of contents and distributes content having a chapter structure to an information terminal device,
A communication unit for communicating with the information terminal device;
A subscriber content pool for transmitting the first transfer content consisting of a part of each chapter from the communication unit to the information terminal device;
When information indicating the first chapter selected by the user who has viewed the first transfer content is received, a second chapter having contents related to the first chapter is extracted from the plurality of contents. A server content editing unit for creating a second transfer content comprising a part of the first chapter and a part of the extracted second chapter;
With
The subscriber content pool transmits the created second transfer content from the communication unit to the information terminal device,
Each chapter of the content having the chapter structure distributed to the information terminal device is a normalized chapter that is a first fixed value whose data size is predetermined,
The normalized chapter includes a prefetch unit that is a data portion from a chapter reproduction start position to a predetermined reproduction position, and a streaming unit that is a data portion from the chapter reproduction position to the reproduction end position. And a surplus part that is a data portion from the playback end position of the chapter to the playback end position of the normalized chapter,
The data size of the prefetch unit is a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content includes a prefetch portion of each normalized chapter,
The second transfer content is a server including a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the extracted second chapter. An information terminal device for reproducing content having a chapter structure distributed from a server,
A terminal communication unit for communicating with the server;
A content playback unit for playing back content distributed from the server;
A content pool for managing content distributed from the server;
When the first transfer content including a partial chapter that is a part of each chapter of the content is distributed from the server, a first viewing content having a chapter structure corresponding to the first transfer content is generated. A terminal content editing unit,
With
The content pool transmits viewing history information indicating a viewing history of content viewed by the user from the terminal communication unit to the server,
The terminal content editing unit receives, from the server, a first partial chapter that is a part of the first chapter included in the viewing history information, and a second chapter that is related to the first chapter. When the second transfer content comprising the second partial chapter, which is a part, is distributed, the first viewing content is converted into the first viewing chapter including the first partial chapter, and the second The information terminal device which edits to the 2nd content for viewing which consists of the 2nd viewing chapter containing the partial chapter of this. When the first transfer content including a partial chapter that is a part of each chapter of the content is distributed from the server, the content pool is selected by the user who has viewed the first viewing content. Information indicating one chapter is transmitted from the terminal communication unit to the server;
When the remaining part other than the first partial chapter of the first chapter is distributed from the server, the content reproduction unit reproduces the remaining part, and the content pool includes the remaining part. The information terminal device according to claim 9, wherein the viewing history information indicating the first chapter in which is reproduced is transmitted from the terminal communication unit to the server. An information terminal device for reproducing content having a chapter structure distributed from a server having a plurality of contents,
A terminal communication unit for communicating with the server;
A content playback unit for playing back content distributed from the server;
A content pool for managing content distributed from the server;
Terminal content editing for generating a first viewing content having a chapter structure corresponding to the first transfer content when the first transfer content including a partial chapter of each chapter of the content is distributed from the server And
An input unit for inputting information indicating a first chapter corresponding to a chapter for viewing selected by a user who viewed the first content for viewing;
With
The content pool transmits the information indicating the first chapter from the terminal communication unit to the server,
The terminal content editing unit receives, from the server, a first partial chapter that is a part of the first chapter and a second chapter that is a part of a second chapter related to the first chapter. When the second transfer content including the partial chapter is distributed, the first viewing content includes the first viewing chapter including the first partial chapter, and the second partial chapter including the second partial chapter. An information terminal device for editing to a second viewing content comprising two viewing chapters. Each chapter of the transfer content distributed from the server and each viewing chapter of the viewing content are a prefetch section that is a data portion from the playback start position of the chapter to a predetermined playback position, and a chapter A streaming portion that is a data portion from the predetermined reproduction position to the reproduction end position, and a surplus portion that is a data portion from the reproduction end position of the chapter to the reproduction end position of the viewing chapter.
The entire playback time length of each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content is unified to a predetermined first fixed value,
The playback time lengths of the prefetch sections of the chapters for transfer content and the chapters for viewing of the viewing content are unified to a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content has a prefetch section of the first chapter,
The information terminal device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the second transfer content includes a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the second chapter. Each chapter of the transfer content distributed from the server and each viewing chapter of the viewing content are a prefetch section that is a data portion from the playback start position of the chapter to a predetermined playback position, and a chapter A streaming portion that is a data portion from the predetermined reproduction position to the reproduction end position, and a surplus portion that is a data portion from the reproduction end position of the chapter to the reproduction end position of the viewing chapter.
The total data size of each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content is unified to a predetermined first fixed value,
The size of the prefetch portion of each chapter of the transfer content and each viewing chapter of the viewing content is unified to a predetermined second fixed value,
The first transfer content has a prefetch section of the first chapter,
The information terminal device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the second transfer content includes a prefetch unit of the first chapter and a prefetch unit of the second chapter. The streaming part and the extra length part are staffed by 0,
The content pool transmits selection information indicating a third chapter selected by a user who has viewed the second viewing content from the terminal communication unit to the server, and the third chapter distributed from the server. Is stored in the streaming part of the second viewing content,
The information terminal device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the content reproduction unit reproduces the streaming unit of the third chapter by a streaming method.

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