JP5864131B2 - Broadcast communication system, server and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcasting / communication cooperation system, a server, and a program having a function of promoting cooperation between broadcasting and communication.

  In recent years, with the progress of digitalization of broadcasting and broadbandization of communication, research and development for realizing a broadcasting / communication cooperation service has been performed.

  In this broadcasting / communication cooperation service, it is assumed that a plurality of contents are distributed using different transmission paths of broadcasting and communication, and the plurality of distributed contents are integrated and presented in a receiver such as a digital television. Is done.

  By the way, at present, in data broadcasting, various languages used for the broadcasting service called BML (Broadcast Markup Language) developed for multimedia encoding based on XML (extensible Markup Language) are used. Content is provided (see Patent Document 1).

  For example, according to Patent Document 2, it is possible to provide contents broadcast in the past by video on demand (hereinafter referred to as VOD). As a content transmission method in this case, a method compliant with FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is used.

JP 2003-60931 A JP 2009-246815 A

"Application Execution Environment for Digital Broadcasting Standard ARIB STD-B23 Version 1.2" Part II 10.16, July 29, 2009, Japan Radio Industry Association

  By the way, in data broadcasting, since it is necessary to multiplex all information on a broadcast wave, there is a certain limitation on the data capacity that can be transmitted on the broadcast wave.

  Under such circumstances, there is a demand for the realization of a system that links communication with unlimited transmission data capacity with broadcasting.

  In such a system, it is assumed that the receiving side, such as a receiver, requests content that has undergone some processing, not the content itself of the storage source. However, even if the above-described FTP is adopted, the content of the storage source itself is simply transmitted, and such a request cannot be met.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to realize content transmission in a form required on the receiving side in a system that links broadcasting and communication.

  The broadcasting / communication cooperation system according to the present invention communicates with a broadcasting station, a first server managed by the broadcasting station, a second server communicating with the first server, and the second server, and from the broadcasting station. A broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising: a receiver that receives a broadcast signal that has been broadcast, wherein the receiver requests content from the second server, and the second server receives data from the receiver. In response to the request, the first server requests the first server to process and transmit the content to the own device using a Web API, and the first server performs the content according to the request using the Web API. And the processed content is transmitted to the second server, and the second server receives the content transmitted from the first server. The content is transmitted to the receiver, and the receiver receives the content transmitted from the second server group.

  According to such a configuration, in the second server, the content is processed in accordance with the Web API request from the first server, and the processed content is transmitted to the first server. Content transmission can be realized.

  In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system, the second server may further process the content received from the first server, and transmit the processed content to the receiver.

  According to such a configuration, since the content is further processed by the second server in addition to the first server, it is possible to easily meet a higher level request on the receiving side.

  A first server according to the present invention is a broadcasting / communication cooperation system including a broadcasting station, a server group, and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station. A request to another server managed by the broadcast station according to the request received by the first communication means, and a first communication means for receiving a content request from the receiver; A generating unit configured to generate a request for processing the content and transmitting it to the own device by using a Web API; and a second communication unit configured to transmit the request generated by the generating unit using the Web API to the another server. In the separate server, the content is processed and transmitted according to the request by the Web API. Case, the second communication means receives the content, the first communication means and configured to transmit the content to the receiver.

  With this configuration, when the first server makes a Web API request to another server, the other server processes the content according to the Web API request from the first server, Since the content is transmitted to the first server, the content can be transmitted in a form required on the receiver side.

  The first server further includes processing means for processing the content received from the other server, and the first communication means transmits the content processed by the processing means to the receiver. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, since the content is further processed by the first server in addition to the other server, it is possible to easily meet a higher level request on the receiving side.

  A first program according to the present invention is a broadcasting / communication cooperation system including a broadcasting station, a server group, and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station. According to the request received by the server under the control of the first communication control means, the control of the first communication control means, a computer for controlling the server, the first communication control means for executing control for causing the server to receive a request for content from the receiver A request for another server managed by the broadcasting station, which generates a request for processing the content and sending it to its own device using a Web API, and the request generated by the Web API using the Web API As a second communication control means for executing control for transmission from the server to the other server, When the content is processed and transmitted in the separate server according to the request by the Web API, the computer functioning as the second communication control unit executes control to cause the server to receive the content. The computer functioning as the first communication control unit is configured to execute control for transmitting the content from the server to the receiver.

  According to such a configuration, according to such a configuration, when a server makes a Web API request to another server, the content is processed according to the Web API request from the server, and the post-processing is performed. Since the content is transmitted to the server, it is possible to realize content transmission in a form required on the receiver side.

  A second server according to the present invention is a broadcasting / communication cooperation system including a broadcasting station, a server group, and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station. In a separate server, in accordance with a request for content from the receiver, a request for processing the content and sending it to the separate server is generated and transmitted by the Web API in accordance with the content request from the receiver. In this case, the API that analyzes and processes the request, the processing unit that processes the content according to the request analyzed by the API, and the processing unit that processes the content according to the request analyzed by the API. Distribution management for distributing the content to the different server via the API It was configured with a stage, a.

  According to such a configuration, in the second server, the content is processed in accordance with a Web API request from another server, and the processed content is transmitted to another server. Can be transmitted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a broadcast communication cooperation system including a broadcast station, a server group, and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcast station. A computer that controls the server, in a separate server, in accordance with a request for content from the receiver, a request to the own device that is processed by the content and transmitted to the separate server is generated by the Web API, When transmitted, API means for executing control for analyzing and processing the request, processing means for processing the content according to the request analyzed by the API, and according to the request analyzed by the API, The API processed by the content processed by the processing means And configured to function as a delivery management means, for executing a control to be delivered to said other server to.

  According to such a configuration, in the server, the content is processed in accordance with the Web API request from another server, and the processed content is transmitted to another server. Transmission can be realized.

  According to the present invention, desired content can be obtained in a receiver.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a broadcasting / communication cooperation system. It is a figure which shows the stack | stuck of the transmission protocol of the broadcast signal which concerns on digital broadcasting. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a receiver. It is a figure which shows an example of AIT described in the XML format. It is a block diagram which shows the function structure of a broadcast communication cooperation system in the case of distinguishing a server group into a broadcast station server group and a service provider server group. It is a functional block diagram which shows the functional structure of the server group for performing a content delivery process. It is an arrow chart which shows the flow of a content delivery process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 includes a broadcasting station 1, a broadcasting antenna 2, a server group 3, and a receiver 4.
In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100, a receiver 4 uses a broadcasting service provided from a broadcasting station 1 by an ISDB (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting) system and a communication network N configured by the Internet or the like. A communication service provided from the server 3 is linked. Thereby, the broadcasting / communication cooperation service is provided to the user of the receiver 4.
In the present embodiment, the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 is a Hybridcast (registered trademark) system. Hybridcast is a mechanism for constructing a system that takes advantage of broadcast characteristics such as broadcastability, high quality, and high reliability and communication characteristics that can meet the individual demands of viewers. The Hybridcast system can realize a hybrid service of broadcasting and communication from the viewpoint of strengthening the service by utilizing communication while placing the broadcasting service at the center.

The broadcasting station 1 includes a general digital broadcasting broadcasting facility (not shown) configured to include a program organization facility, a program transmission facility, and a transmission facility.
The broadcasting station 1 produces contents, event information (Event Information Table: EIT), AIT (hereinafter also referred to as application management information as appropriate), and the like, using broadcasting equipment. Then, the broadcast station 1 generates a broadcast signal in which these contents, event information, AIT, and the like are multiplexed by a broadcast facility, modulates the broadcast signal into a broadcast wave, and transmits the broadcast signal from the broadcast antenna 2.

  Content included in such broadcast waves is generated asynchronously with program content in addition to content including video and audio data constituting a program broadcast according to a broadcast schedule (hereinafter referred to as program content). There is content (hereinafter referred to as emergency content) including content, for example, earthquake early warning.

The event information includes meta information related to the content such as the name of the program content, the broadcast date and time of the program content, and the description of the program content. Hereinafter, the event information in the table format is referred to as EIT.
The AIT (application management information) is information for managing one or more applications that can be executed by the receiver 4. The AIT includes individual management information corresponding to each of the one or more applications and managing each of the one or more applications. The individual management information includes an application ID for identifying the application to be managed, life cycle control information for controlling the life cycle of the application, location information indicating the location of the application (see FIG. 4 described later), and the like. .

  The content provided to the receiver 4 by the application includes content linked to the program content and content not linked to the program content. Hereinafter, content provided by an application is referred to as application content.

  The broadcast signal is the same as the broadcast signal of the conventional digital broadcast, and is defined by ARIB (registered trademark) (Association of Radio Industries and Broadcast) standard.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a stack of broadcast signal transmission protocols related to digital broadcasting. As shown in FIG. 2, various types of data such as video and audio provided by digital broadcasting are stored in TS packets (transport stream packets) defined by the international standard MPEG-2 Systems and multiplexed in a time division manner. Is transmitted.

  In the TS packet, as shown in FIG. 2, PSI (Program Specific Information) / SI (Service Information) is defined for a section (Section). PSI / SI includes information indicating the type of data stored in the TS packet and information indicating the type of content. The above-mentioned EIT is included in SI.

  Data transmission using TS packets is classified into a method of transmitting data using sections and a method of transmitting data using PES (Packetized Elementary Stream) packets (data stream transmission method).

  Methods for transmitting data using sections include a data carousel transmission method and an event message transmission method.

  The data carousel transmission system is a transmission system that repeatedly transmits one or more data at a constant period. Each piece of data (module) transmitted by the data carousel transmission method is attached with identification information for uniquely identifying them. The data carousel transmission method is used for causing the receiver 4 to acquire individual data at an arbitrary timing.

  The event message transmission method is a method for sending a trigger signal from the broadcast station 1 to the receiver 4. The event message transmission method is used when a message with a small amount of data is transmitted from the broadcasting station 1 to the receiver 4.

  The data stream transmission method is a transmission method in which data to be transmitted is contained in a PES packet and transmitted as a stream. The data stream transmission method is used for transmitting real-time data such as video, audio, and caption data, and data that needs to be synchronized with other streams.

Here, AIT can be transmitted by various methods using TS packets.
That is, the AIT can be transmitted by describing the EIT included in the SI of the TS packet.

  The AIT can be transmitted by a data carousel transmission system using sections. When the AIT is transmitted by the data carousel transmission method, identification information is attached to the module so that the receiver 4 can recognize the AIT.

  The AIT can be transmitted as PES multiplexed with content video and audio.

The AIT can be described in binary representation or text representation by XML (Extensible Markup Language) and stored in the TS packet.
In this embodiment, the AIT transmission method is defined in advance in at least one of the above transmission methods.

  BML developed for multimedia coding based on XML is based on xHTML defined by W3C (Registered Trademark) (World Wide Web Consortium), and Java Script (Registered Trademark) is used as a procedural language. This is a standard defined in consideration of consistency with international standards using ECMAScript based on it.

  The server group 3 can transmit and receive various types of information to and from other servers, the receiver 4 and the like by communication via a network such as the Internet. Details of the server group will be described later with reference to FIG.

The receiver 4 performs predetermined processing on the program content received via the broadcast from the broadcast station 1 or communication with the server group 3, thereby outputting the video and audio constituting the program content synchronously. . Further, the receiver 4 appropriately acquires an application based on the AIT, and activates and executes the acquired application. Further, for example, the receiver 4 can also acquire application content from the server group 3 by an application being executed, and output it in cooperation with program content. Note that the output of application content does not necessarily have to be linked to program content.
Hereinafter, the function of the receiver 4 will be described in detail.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the receiver 4.
The receiver 4 includes a broadcast wave reception unit 11, a first separation unit 12, a broadcast AIT acquisition unit 13, a communication unit 14, a second separation unit 15, a communication AIT acquisition unit 16, and an application execution control unit 17. A voice control unit 18, a display control unit 19, a speaker 20, a display 21, a memory 22, and an AIT storage unit 23.

  The broadcast wave receiving unit 11 receives a broadcast wave transmitted from the broadcast station 1 via the broadcast antenna 2.

  The first separation unit 12 extracts a broadcast signal, that is, a TS packet, by demodulating the broadcast wave received by the broadcast wave reception unit 11. Then, the first separation unit 12 refers to the PSI / SI of the TS packet, determines the type of data included in the TS packet, and separates and extracts various data such as video, audio, and EIT. Further, the first separation unit 12 separates and extracts the AIT by referring to the section and the PES according to a predetermined AIT transmission method.

  Subsequently, when the data included in the PES of the TS packet is audio data, the first separation unit 12 outputs the audio data to the audio control unit 18. In addition, when the data included in the PES of the TS packet is video data, the first separation unit 12 outputs the video data to the display control unit 19.

  Further, the first separation unit 12 stores the extracted EIT and other various data in the memory 22. Further, when the first separation unit 12 extracts the AIT, the first separation unit 12 outputs the extracted AIT to the broadcast AIT acquisition unit 13.

  The broadcast AIT acquisition unit 13 acquires the AIT output from the first separation unit 12 and stores it in the AIT storage unit 23.

  The communication unit 14 transmits / receives various information to / from the server group 3 via the communication network N, and receives an operation signal from a remote controller R (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller R).

  The second separation unit 15 determines the type of data transmitted from the server group 3 via the communication network N and received by the communication unit 14, and separates the data output destination based on the determination result. For example, if the second separation unit 15 determines that the received data is an AIT, the second separation unit 15 outputs the AIT to the communication AIT acquisition unit 16. When the second separation unit 15 determines that the received data is an application, the second separation unit 15 outputs the application to the application execution control unit 17.

  In addition, when the second separation unit 15 determines that the received data is a TS packet, the second separation unit 15 separates and extracts various data such as video, audio, and AIT from the TS packet. The second separation unit 15 outputs this AIT to the communication AIT acquisition unit 16 when the AIT is extracted, and outputs this data to the application execution control unit 17 when data other than the AIT is extracted.

  The communication AIT acquisition unit 16 acquires the AIT output from the second separation unit 15 and stores it in the AIT storage unit 23.

  The application execution control unit 17 acquires an application based on the AIT, and controls activation and execution of the acquired application.

Here, an example of the structure of an AIT for managing applications whose execution is controlled by the application execution control unit 17 will be described in detail.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the AIT described in the XML format.
As described above, the AIT includes individual management information corresponding to each of one or more applications and managing each of the one or more applications.
Specifically, the codes described from the <mhp: Application> tag to the </ mhp: Application> tag shown in FIG. 4 correspond to individual management information for managing one application. In the AIT, a plurality of pieces of individual management information can be described by newly describing individual management information of other applications after the </ mhp: Application> tag.

Of the codes corresponding to the individual management information, for example, the code corresponding to the <mhp: appId> tag indicates the application ID (identification information). The code corresponding to the <mhp: controlCode mhp: type = “ARIB-J”> tag indicates the life cycle control information of this application, and “AUTOSTART” shown in FIG. This is life cycle control information to be automatically executed. A code corresponding to the <mhp: location> tag indicates location information indicating the location of the application. In the example of FIG. 4, the address of the service server 3 is described in the location information as the location of the application.
In the location information, the receiver 4 can be designated as the location of the application.

  The application execution control unit 17 monitors the AIT storage unit 23 and refers to control information related to the life cycle described in the AIT when a new AIT is stored. Then, when the control information related to the life cycle indicates “automatic execution”, the application execution control unit 17 recognizes the location information described in the AIT as an application acquisition destination. For example, when the acquisition destination is the server group 3, the application execution control unit 17 acquires the application from the server group 3 via the communication unit 14 and the second separation unit 15, and starts and executes the acquired application. To do. In this case, the application is automatically executed without receiving an explicit operation instruction from the user of the receiver 4.

  The application execution control unit 17 receives an application execution instruction from the user of the receiver 4 via the remote controller R. For example, the remote control R is provided with a Hybridcast (registered trademark) button, and the application execution control unit 17 accepts selection of an application to be executed when the user of the receiver 4 presses the Hybridcast button. An instruction to execute a menu screen is received. In response to receiving the menu screen execution instruction, the application execution control unit 17 refers to the AIT storage unit 23 and identifies the AIT of the executable application. Then, the application execution control unit 17 generates image data of a menu capable of selecting an application corresponding to the identified AIT, and outputs the image data to the display control unit 19, thereby displaying the menu on the display 21. Let When an application selection operation is received from the user of the receiver 4 via the remote controller R, the application execution control unit 17 refers to the location information of the application described in the AIT, acquires the application, and starts the application And execute.

  The application execution control unit 17 acquires application content related to the application being executed from the service server 3 as necessary. Then, the application execution control unit 17 outputs the audio data of the application content to the audio control unit 18 and the video data to the display control unit 19. If the application being executed is an application that provides application content linked to program content, the video data and audio data of the application content are output in conjunction with the video data and audio data of the program content. Is done.

  Further, the application execution control unit 17 determines the life of the application being executed based on the AIT stored in the AIT storage unit 23, specifically, based on the life cycle control information included in the individual management information in the AIT. Control the cycle. For example, the application execution control unit 17 ends the application when the life cycle control information of the application indicates “end”.

  The audio control unit 18 outputs the audio data output from the first separation unit 12 to the speaker 20 while synchronizing with the video data whose display is controlled by the display control unit 19. In addition, when the audio data output from the application execution control unit 17 can be synchronized with the video data whose display is controlled by the display control unit 19, the audio control unit 18 is synchronized with the video data. Audio data is output to the speaker 20.

  The display control unit 19 displays the video corresponding to the data output from the first separation unit 12 on the display 21 while synchronizing with the audio data output controlled by the audio control unit 18. Further, when the video data output from the application execution control unit 17 can be synchronized with the audio data that is output-controlled by the audio control unit 18, the display control unit 19 synchronizes with the audio data. An image is displayed on the display 21.

  The speaker 20 outputs a sound corresponding to the data based on the data output from the sound control unit 18. The display 21 displays a video corresponding to the data based on the data output from the display control unit 19.

The memory 22 stores various other information such as meta information of program contents such as EIT and emergency earthquake warnings included in emergency contents.
The AIT storage unit 23 stores various AITs acquired by the broadcast AIT acquisition unit 13 or the communication AIT acquisition unit 16.

Further, the functional configuration of the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 including details of the server group 3 will be described below.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 when the server group 3 is divided into the broadcasting station server group 31 and the service provider server group 32.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the server group 3 in FIG. 1 is roughly divided into a broadcasting station server group 31 managed by a broadcasting station and a service provider server group 32 managed by a service provider providing various services. Is done.

  The broadcast station server group 31 includes a content management / distribution server 311, a broadcast station service server 312, and an API 313.

  The content management / distribution server 311 manages various program contents and metadata related to these program contents, and distributes them to the service provider server group 32 as necessary. Here, the metadata includes various information such as a program title, a program ID, a program outline, a program performer, a broadcast date and time, a script, a caption, and a commentary.

  The broadcast station service server 312 is a server that provides service providers with various services such as a social network service operated by the broadcast station 1 and a blog service for each broadcast program operated by the broadcast station 1.

  The API 313 is an API (Application Program Interface) for providing data from the broadcast station server group 31 in response to a request from the service provider server group 32. The API data format is determined by agreement between the broadcasting station and the service provider (B to B). In the present embodiment, a Web API described later is used as the API data format.

  The service provider server group 32 includes a server 321 and a management / distribution server 322 for each service.

  The server 321 for each service is a server provided for each service provider to provide various services to the receiver 4 (its user) as the name suggests. The server 321 for each service provides content necessary for the service (application content on the receiver 4 side) to the receiver 4 through communication.

  The management / distribution server 322 manages various applications necessary for the service, and provides applications to the receiver 4 through communication in response to requests from the receiver 4 through communication.

The receiver 4 includes an API. The API is defined so that the operation of the application is the same without depending on the receiver. In addition, the application has a specification in which the unique function of the receiver 4 cannot be accessed without using the API.
The receiver 4 has a Hybridcast function and a basic function.
The Hybridcast function is a function necessary for realizing the Hybridcast service. The Hybridcast function includes various functions such as application control by AIT, drawing control, synchronization control, security, and the like.
The basic functions include a function capable of receiving and displaying current broadcasting (terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, and data broadcasting) and a function capable of connecting to the Internet.

In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100 configured as described above, when a request for content distribution is made from the receiver 4, the server 321 for each service distributes the content to the receiver 4 according to the request. Here, when the requested content exists in the broadcast station server group 31, the server 321 for each service makes a request for content distribution to the broadcast station server group 31. In this case, the broadcast station server group 31 distributes the content to the server 321 for each service according to the request. The server 321 for each service receives the content distributed from the broadcasting station server group 31 and distributes the content to the receiver 4.
Thus, in the receiver 4, the server 321 for each service, and the broadcast station server group 31, a series of processes until content is distributed to the receiver 4 is executed in response to a request from the receiver 4. Such a series of processing is hereinafter referred to as content distribution processing.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration of a server group for executing such content distribution processing.

  In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100, when content distribution processing is executed, the receiver 4, the server group 321 for each service, the content management / distribution server 311 and the API 313 in the broadcasting station server group 31 function.

  The receiver 4 makes a request for distribution of predetermined content (hereinafter referred to as a content request) to the server 321 for each service, and then receives the content transmitted from the server 321 for each service.

  In the server 321 for each service, when content distribution processing is executed, the first communication unit 3211, the content storage unit 3212, the content distribution management unit 3213, the content request generation unit 3214, and the second communication unit 3215 The processing unit 3216 functions.

  The first communication unit 3211 transmits and receives various types of information through communication with the receiver 4. For example, the first communication unit 3211 receives a content request from the receiver 4.

  The content storage unit 3212 stores content generated on the service provider side as second content.

  The content distribution management unit 3213 manages processing until content is distributed to the receiver 4 based on the content request received by the first communication unit 3211.

  For example, when all of the content requested by the content request is stored in the content storage unit 3212 in the own device, the content distribution management unit 3213 acquires the content from the content storage unit 3212 and stores the content. Distribution is made to the receiver 4 via the first communication unit 3211.

On the other hand, for example, when at least a part of the content requested by the content request is stored in the broadcast station server group 31, the content distribution management unit 3213 generates a content request for the broadcast station server group 31. An instruction is given to a content request generation unit 3214 described later.
In response to this instruction, a content request is generated by the content request generation unit 3214 and transmitted from the second communication unit 3215 described later to the broadcast station server group 31. When the content request is received and the content is transmitted from the broadcast station server group 31, the content distribution management unit 3213 receives the content via the second communication unit 3215.
Then, the content distribution management unit 3213 distributes the content to the receiver 4 via the first communication unit 3211.

Hereinafter, the content stored in the broadcast station server group 31 is referred to as first content, and the content stored in the content storage unit 3212 of the server 32 for each server is referred to as second content.
Here, there is a case where the composition of the first content and the second content (including simple addition and combination) is requested by a content request from the receiver 4.
In such a case, the content distribution management unit 3213 obtains each of the first content and the second content individually, and then combines the first content and the second content. Hereinafter, the synthesized content is referred to as synthesized content.
Then, the content distribution management unit 3213 distributes the composite content to the receiver 4 via the first communication unit 3211.

  Upon receiving an instruction from the content distribution management unit 3213, the content request generation unit 3214 generates a content request based on the Web API based on the content request from the receiver 4.

Here, the Web API is a mechanism for executing a process over a network using HTTP and receiving a result. In the present embodiment, a software architecture style of REST (Representational State Transfer) is adopted in the Web API.
In REST, the following command format is provided in the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) format.
http: // XXXXX. org / {server name} / {parameter 1} / {parameter 2} / ...
In addition to the feature that the location of content such as a server can be specified by the top URL, various types of parameters can be specified by parameters 1, 2,. Have
It is possible to specify arbitrary parameters for these parameters 1, 2,..., Not only parameters that simply indicate content acquisition, but also parameters that instruct content processing and specify the processing method. Can be specified.
For example, when original content including a review of a large number of users for a certain drama program is stored in the broadcasting station server group 3, an actor who is one of the performers of the drama program is selected from the original content. It is possible to specify, with various parameters, the instruction content such that only a favorable review is extracted and distributed as the first content.
That is, the content request generation unit 3214 is a content request for the broadcast station server group 31, for example, according to the content request received by the first communication unit 3211, and processes the first content and transmits it to the own device. Can be generated by Web API.

  The second communication unit 3215 transmits the content request generated by the content request generation unit 3214 to the broadcast station server group 31 (specifically, API 313 to be described later). When the first content is transmitted from the broadcast station server group 31 in response to this content request, the second communication unit 3215 receives the first content and supplies it to the content distribution management unit 3213.

  The processing unit 3216 acquires and processes the second content from the content storage unit 3212 based on an instruction from the content distribution management unit 3213. Here, the processing is not only simple addition and merging, but also subtraction, extraction, editing, format and data format change, compression / decoding, encoding / decoding, and other data that is not at least partially identical to the original data. Means to generate

  When the content distribution process is executed for the server 321 for each service having such a functional configuration, the content management / distribution server 311 and the API 313 function in the service server group 3. Specifically, in the content management / distribution server 311, a content distribution management unit 3111, a content storage unit 3112, and a processing unit 3113 function.

When the API 313 receives a content request from the server 321 for each service, the API 313 analyzes the content request.
The API 313 makes various requests to the content management / distribution server 311 according to the analyzed content request, receives the first content transmitted from the content management / distribution server 311 as a response to these various requests, To the server 321.
For example, when the API 313 analyzes that a content processing request is included in the content request, the API 313 generates a content processing request and transmits the content processing request to the content management / distribution server 311. When the content management / distribution server 311 transmits the processed original first content, the API 313 receives the first content and transmits it to the server 321 for each service.

  The content distribution management unit 3111 of the content management / distribution server 311 manages processing until distribution of the first content to the server 321 for each service via the API 313 based on a request from the API 313.

  For example, when the request from the API 313 is to transmit the first content stored in the content storage unit 3112 without processing, the content distribution management unit 3111 receives the first content from the content storage unit 3112. It is acquired and distributed to the server 321 for each service via the API 313.

  On the other hand, for example, when the request from the API 313 is that the first content stored in the content storage unit 3112 is processed and transmitted, the content distribution management unit 3111 indicates that fact and processing method, etc. Is notified to the processing unit 3113 described later. Thereafter, when the processed first content is supplied from the processing unit 3113, the content distribution management unit 3111 acquires the processed first content and distributes it to the server 321 for each service via the API 313. .

The content storage unit 3112 stores content prepared by the broadcasting station 1 as first content. The content storage unit 3112 stores, for example, broadcast station provision information provided by the broadcast station and viewer information extracted from the viewer as the first content.
Here, the broadcast station provided information is information such as program performers and staff blogs provided by a blog service for each broadcast program, for example. The viewer information is, for example, information such as writing on a bulletin board provided in a social network service operated by a broadcasting station, writing in a comment column of a blog, and the like.

  The processing unit 3113 acquires the first content from the content storage unit 3112 and processes it based on an instruction from the content distribution management unit 3111. Here, since the interpretation of the processing is the same as that for the processing portion 3216 and has been described, the description thereof is omitted here.

FIG. 7 shows the flow of content distribution processing executed by the receiver 4, the server 3 for each server, and the content management / distribution server 311 and API 313 of the broadcasting station server group 31 having the functional configuration shown in FIG. It is an arrow chart which shows an example.
In other words, FIG. 7 shows the flow of content distribution processing when a content request is sent from the receiver 4 that favorable information regarding a specific actor has been acquired as content.

In step S1, the receiver 4 transmits a content request.
In step S2, the first communication unit 3211 of the server 321 for each service receives the content request.
In step S3, the content request generation unit 3214 of the server 321 for each service generates a content request based on the REST format of the Web API based on the content request. In this example, a content request in which various parameters such as {actor name} and {favorite information} are set is generated with the URL indicating the location of the broadcast station server group 31 as a transmission destination at the head.
Then, the second communication unit 3215 transmits such a content request to the API 313.

In step S4, the API 313 receives the content request.
In step S5, the API 313 analyzes the content request. Specifically, the API 313 determines the favor of the actor with respect to the first content including at least the information of the actor with the name of the actor from the parameters {actor name} and {favorite information} included in the content request. It is analyzed that it is necessary to perform a process of extracting only information (processing called extraction).
In step S6, the API 313 sends a request to the content management / distribution server 311 to process and distribute the first content after processing the first content based on the content request analyzed in step S5. Against. Specifically, in this example, for the first content, a content processing request is made to extract only the favorable information of the actor (processing for extraction) and to distribute the first content after extraction. .

In step S7, the content distribution management unit 3111 of the content management / distribution server 311 acquires the first content from the content storage unit 3112 based on the content processing request. However, in this example, the acquired first content is supplied to the processing unit 3113.
In step S8, the process part 3113 processes the 1st content acquired by the process of step S7. Specifically, the processing unit 3113 further extracts (processes) information favorable to the actor from the information of the actor included in the first content.
In step S9, the content distribution management unit 3111 transmits the processed first content.
As a result, the content distribution processing in the content management / distribution server 311 ends.

  In step S10, the API 313 controls relay of transmission of the first content. That is, the processed first content transmitted from the content management / distribution server 311 in the process of step S9 is transmitted to the server 321 for each service via the API 313 in the process of step S10.

In step S11, the second communication unit 3215 of the server 321 for each service receives the first content.
In step S12, the content distribution management unit 3213 of the server 321 for each service acquires the second content from the content storage unit 3212. In this example, the content distribution management unit 3213 obtains, as the second content, the content of the information related to the actor that is independently collected by the service provider. However, in this example, the acquired second content is supplied to the processing unit 3216.
In step S13, the processing unit 3216 processes the second content acquired in the process of step S12. Specifically, the processing unit 3216 further extracts (processes) information favorable to the actor from the information of the actor included in the second content.
In step S14, the content distribution management unit 3213 generates composite content by combining the processed first content and the processed second content. Specifically, there is information that is favorable to the actors held by the broadcasting station (first content after processing) and information that is friendly to the actors that the service provider has independently collected (second content after processing). The sum is generated as composite content.
In step S <b> 15, the first communication unit 3211 transmits the composite content to the receiver 4.
Thereby, the content distribution process in the server 321 for each service is completed.

In step S16, the receiver 4 receives the composite content.
Thereby, the content distribution process in the receiver 4 is completed.
Thereafter, in the receiver 4, the acquired composite content is displayed or a process using the composite content is executed by a predetermined application.

According to this embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100, the content is processed according to the request and the processed content is received from the content management / distribution server 311. Therefore, the receiver 4 can obtain the desired content.

  (2) In the broadcasting / communication cooperation system 100, in addition to the content management / distribution server 311, the server 321 for each service further processes the content, so that it is possible to provide content corresponding to more advanced requests.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or can be executed by software.
In other words, the functional configuration of FIG. 6 is merely an example, and is not particularly limited. That is, it is sufficient that the receiver 4, the content management / distribution server 311, the server 321 for each service, and the like have a function capable of executing the above-described series of processing as a whole. The use of blocks is not particularly limited to the example of FIG.
In addition, one functional block may be constituted by hardware alone, software alone, or a combination thereof.

When a series of processing is executed by software, a program constituting the software is installed on a computer or the like from a network or a recording medium.
The computer may be a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. The computer may be a computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, for example, a general-purpose personal computer.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, etc. within a scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the processing of the content is configured such that the processing unit 3113 processes the first content and the processing unit 3216 processes the second content, but is not limited thereto, for example, the first content, Alternatively, either the second content may be processed, or the first content may be further processed by the processing unit 3216 after the processing unit 3113 processes the processing, or only the processing unit 3216 may be processed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the receiver 4 made broadcast request | requirement provision information and viewer information content as a request object, it is not restricted to this. For example, metadata may be a request target. The content includes bulletin board writing, video, subtitles, and audio. Further, the metadata includes information accompanying the content such as program title, program ID, program overview, performer, broadcast date and time, script, caption, and commentary.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the exchange between the service provider server group and the broadcast station server group is performed in the REST format of the Web API, but is not limited thereto. Various methods can be employed for the exchange between the service provider server group, the broadcast station server group, and the receiver as long as desired data can be acquired in response to a request.

1 Broadcasting Station 4 Receiver 100 Broadcast Communication Cooperation System 311 Content Management / Distribution Server 313 API
321 Server 3113 for each service

Claims (7)

A broadcast station, said managed by the broadcast station, first you are storing the first content that has been prepared by at least said containing viewer information sucked up from the broadcasting station provides information and viewer broadcast station provides the broadcast station 1 server, a second server storing second content, a second server communicating with the first server, and a receiver communicating with the second server and receiving a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station, A broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising:
The receiver requests content from the second server;
The second server receives the request from the receiver , specifies a processing method of the first content with a parameter of a command to the first server, and uses the Web API to transmit the first content. Request to process and send to your machine,
The first server processes the first content according to the request in the Web API, and transmits the processed first content to the second server,
The second server receives the first content transmitted from the first server and transmits the first content to the receiver, or transmits the first content further processed by the second server to the receiver. Or transmitting the second content and the first content processed by the second server to the receiver ,
The receiver receives the content transmitted from the second server;
Broadcast communication system. The second server further processes the first content received from the first server, and transmits the processed first content to the receiver.
The broadcasting / communication cooperation system according to claim 1. A server storing second content in a broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising: a broadcasting station; a server group; and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station. And
First communication means for receiving a request for content from the receiver;
According to the request received by the first communication means, prepared by the broadcasting station, including at least broadcasting station providing information provided by the broadcasting station and viewer information sucked from a viewer, managed by the broadcasting station a request for another server that has stored the first content, and specify a processing method of the first content parameter of the command, a request is sent to the machining to ship the first content Web API Generating means for generating;
Second communication means for transmitting the request generated by the Web API by the generating means to the another server;
A processing unit for processing content;
With
In the other server, when the first content is processed and transmitted according to the request by the Web API, the second communication means receives the first content,
The first communication unit transmits the first content received by the second communication unit to the receiver, transmits the first content further processed by the processing unit to the receiver, or The second content and the first content processed by the processing unit
Transmit to the receiver ;
server. Further comprising a processing means for processing the first content received from said another server, the first communication means, said first content after processing by said processing means, for transmitting to said receiver,
The server according to claim 3. Controlling a server storing second content in a broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising a broadcasting station, a server group, and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station. Computer
First communication control means for executing control for causing the server to receive a request for content from the receiver;
In accordance with the request received by the server under the control of the first communication control means, the broadcasting station provides at least broadcasting station provided information provided by the broadcasting station and viewer information sucked from a viewer, a request for another server that has stored the first content that is provided by the broadcast station, to specify the processing method of the first content parameter of the command, sends the processed to ship the first content Generating means for generating a request to be generated by Web API,
Second communication control means for executing control for transmitting the request generated by the Web API by the generation means from the server to the other server;
Processing means for processing content,
Function as
When the first content is processed and transmitted from the separate server according to the request by the Web API, the computer functioning as the second communication control unit performs control to cause the server to receive the first content. Run,
The computer functioning as the first communication control unit causes the receiver to transmit the first content received by the second communication control unit, or the receiver further receives the first content further processed by the processing unit. To transmit the second content and the first content processed by the processing means from the server to the receiver,
program. Managed by the broadcasting station in a broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising: a broadcasting station ; a server group; and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station , and at least the broadcasting station A server that stores the first content prepared by the broadcasting station, including the broadcasting station providing information provided by the viewer and the viewer information sucked from the viewer ,
In response to a content request from the receiver from another server storing the second content, the request to the own device is specified by a processing parameter of the first content by a command parameter, and the first content When a request for processing and sending to another server is generated and transmitted by the Web API, an API that analyzes and processes the request; and
Processing means for processing the first content in accordance with the request analyzed by the API;
In accordance with the request analyzed by the API, the first content processed by the processing means is transmitted to the receiver via the API, or the first server further transmits the first content. Distribution management means for processing the content and transmitting it to the receiver, or distributing the second content and the first content processed by the separate server to the separate server for transmitting to the receiver ;
A server comprising Managed by the broadcasting station in a broadcasting / communication cooperation system comprising: a broadcasting station ; a server group; and a receiver that communicates with the server group and receives a broadcast signal broadcast from the broadcasting station , and at least the broadcasting station A computer for controlling a server storing the first content prepared by the broadcasting station, including the broadcasting station providing information provided by the viewer and the viewer information sucked from the viewer ;
In response to a content request from the receiver from another server storing the second content, the request to the own device is specified by a processing parameter of the first content by a command parameter, and the first content An API means for executing a control to analyze and process the request when a request is generated and transmitted by the Web API to be processed and sent to the another server;
In accordance with the request analyzed by the API unit, processing means for processing the first content,
In accordance with the request analyzed by the API means, the first content processed by the processing means is transmitted to the receiver via the API means , or further by the separate server The first content is processed and transmitted to the receiver, or the second content and the first content processed by the separate server are distributed to the separate server that transmits to the receiver. Delivery management means,
Program to function as.

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