JP6552001B2 - Distribution apparatus, distribution system, distribution method, and distribution program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution apparatus, a distribution system, a distribution method, and a distribution program, and more particularly to a distribution apparatus that distributes content, a distribution system, a distribution method, and a distribution program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, video distribution systems for distributing video content to information terminals (hereinafter referred to as communication terminals) such as tablets and smartphones in educational institutions etc. are widely used.
The "push type distribution method" refers to the "pull type distribution method" which acquires video content by connecting from the communication terminal side to a video distribution apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a distribution apparatus) such as an IP encoder or a video distribution server. Differently, it refers to a delivery method for delivering video content unilaterally from the delivery device to the communication terminal. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known as related technologies.

  Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a streaming distribution system that reproduces video content to be distributed as an example of a distribution system that uses a push-type distribution method.

  Moreover, the content provision system using the network in a long distance train is disclosed by patent document 3 as an example of the delivery system which used the push type delivery system. The content providing system is a content providing system that uniformly transmits the same information to all communication terminals connected to the network.

JP 2008-42790 A JP 2013-21585 A JP, 2004-173179, A JP, 2015-106899, A

In Patent Document 3, after the communication terminal is connected to a wireless local area network (LAN) and an IP (Internet Protocol) address is automatically assigned from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, communication of the assigned IP address is performed. Distributes content to the terminal. However, in the technology described in Patent Document 3, since the IP address of the communication terminal is assigned by the DHCP server at the time of connection, it is not possible to identify a specific communication terminal only from the assigned IP address. If it does so, the content according to each communication terminal cannot be delivered. For this reason, the content providing system is configured to transmit the same information uniformly to all communication terminals connected to the network.
As described above, in the related technology, there is a problem that it is difficult to distribute the content according to the communication terminal when the address information of the communication terminal changes due to DHCP or the like.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a distribution apparatus, distribution system, distribution method, and distribution program capable of distributing content according to a communication terminal. .

  The distribution device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores a content management table that registers content information of content distributed to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal in association with each other, and the communication Based on the receiving means for receiving the content distribution request including the user information of the communication terminal and the address information of the communication terminal from the terminal, and the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request Registration means for associating and registering the address information with the content information and the user information in the content management table; and a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table, and the address information associated with the address information And distribution means for distributing the content of the content information It is.

  A distribution system according to the present invention is a distribution system including a communication terminal and a distribution apparatus that distributes content, and the distribution apparatus uses content information of content to be distributed to the communication terminal and the communication terminal. Storing means for storing a content management table for registering user information of the user in association with each other, and receiving from the communication terminal a content distribution request including the user information of the communication terminal and the address information of the communication terminal A registration unit that associates the address information with the content information and the user information in the content management table based on the receiving unit, the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request, and registers the address information. And to the communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table, Those having a delivery means for delivering the contents of the content information associated with the address information.

  A distribution method according to the present invention is a distribution method of a distribution apparatus that distributes content, and registers content information of content distributed to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal in association with each other. A content management table to be stored; a step of receiving a content distribution request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal from the communication terminal; and the received content distribution request Registering the address information in association with the content information and the user information of the content management table based on the user information and the address information; and a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table And the content information associated with the address information Those comprising the steps of distributing the content.

  A distribution program according to the present invention is a distribution program executed by a distribution apparatus for distributing content, and associates content information of content to be distributed to a communication terminal with user information of a user who uses the communication terminal. Storing a content management table to be registered, receiving a content distribution request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal from the communication terminal, and receiving the received content distribution request Registering the address information in association with the content information and the user information of the content management table on the basis of the user information and the address information contained; and of the address information registered in the content management table To the communication terminal, the address information is associated A step of delivering the contents of the content information, but with a.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the delivery apparatus, the delivery system, the delivery method, and delivery program which can deliver the content according to a communication terminal can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary structure of the delivery system concerning embodiment. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a distribution system according to a first exemplary embodiment; 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication packet indicating a “distribution connection request” according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication packet indicating “registration completion notification” according to the first exemplary embodiment; FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an authentication code according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of authentication contents according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of the distribution system according to the first exemplary embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the delivery system concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication packet indicating a “connection permission response” according to the second exemplary embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a communication packet indicating “reconnection completion notification” according to the second exemplary embodiment; It is a figure which shows an example of the connection destination designation | designated management table concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the delivery system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the distribution system according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the distribution system according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the distribution system according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation of the distribution system according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram illustrating a configuration example of a distribution system according to a third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the distribution system according to the third embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the communication terminal concerning other embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a setting in the case of setting manually the IP address and communication terminal information of a communication terminal. FIG. 10 is a diagram for describing a problem in the second embodiment.

(Overview of the embodiment)
Hereinafter, an outline of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a distribution system 1 according to the embodiment. The delivery system 1 of FIG. 1 includes a communication terminal 20 and a delivery apparatus 10 for delivering content to the communication terminal.

  The distribution apparatus 10 includes a reception unit 11, a storage unit 12, a registration unit 13, and a distribution unit 14. The storage unit 12 stores a content management table 12 a that registers content information of content to be distributed to the communication terminal 20 and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal 20 in association with each other. The receiving unit 11 receives a content distribution request including user information of the communication terminal 20 and address information (such as an IP address) of the communication terminal 20 from the communication terminal 20. Based on the user information of the communication terminal 20 and the address information of the communication terminal 20 included in the received content distribution request, the registration unit 13 adds the address information of the communication terminal 20 to the content information and user information of the content management table 12a. Associate and register. The distribution unit 14 distributes the content information content associated with the registered address information to the communication terminal 20 of the address information registered in the content management table 12a.

  Thus, in the embodiment, when the distribution device 10 receives a content distribution request from the communication terminal 20, the address information of the communication terminal 20 is added to the content information distributed to the communication terminal 20 and the user information of the communication terminal 20. Since registration is performed in association with each other, the content to be distributed to the communication terminal of the user who has requested the content distribution can be specified. Therefore, according to the embodiment, it is possible to identify the communication terminal 20 of the user and distribute the content according to the communication terminal 20.

Embodiment 1
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment. The distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a distribution device 10, a communication terminal 20, an access point 30, a network device 40, and a DHCP server 50.
The distribution device 10 is a device that distributes video content stored therein in advance to a user's communication terminal by a push-type distribution method. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 distributes the content B to all the students, or "distributes the content B to all the students," by the operation of the operator operating the distribution apparatus such as a teaching staff, for example, in the educational institution. Also, the content C is distributed to the participant C. ”and the like, and the like, although it is an apparatus capable of arbitrarily distributing video content, the content to be distributed is not limited to video content.
The communication terminal 20 is a device for the user to view the video content distributed by the operation of the operator, and can be connected to a wireless LAN such as a smartphone and a notebook computer as well as a tablet terminal, and can view the content Any device may be used.

The access point 30 is, for example, an apparatus (relay apparatus) that mediates between a wired LAN to which the DHCP server 50 and the distribution apparatus 10 belong and a wireless LAN to which the communication terminal 20 belongs, and is responsible for converting a physical communication medium. The connection between the access point 30 and the distribution device 10 is not limited to wired connection, and may be connected wirelessly. The access point 30 can apply various communication standards without depending on the communication standards of the wired LAN and the wireless LAN.
The network device 40 is a network device such as a switching hub. The DHCP server 50 is a device for aggregating the distribution device 10 and the access point 30. The connection between the DHCP server 50, the distribution apparatus 10, and the access point 30 is not limited to a LAN cable, and may be connected via a wired / wireless network.
The DHCP server 50 is a device that automatically assigns an IP address to the communication terminal 20 connected to the wireless LAN.

  First, a configuration example of the distribution device 10 will be described. The distribution apparatus 10 includes a transmission unit 101, a reception unit 102, a storage unit 103, an authentication unit 104, a registration unit 105, and a distribution unit 106. The transmission unit 101, the reception unit 102, the authentication unit 104, and the distribution unit 106 may be installed as an application (program) that performs each control.

  The transmission unit 101 and the reception unit 102 transmit and receive communication packets with the communication terminal 20. It can be said that the transmission unit 101 is provided with a registration completion notification transmission unit (registration completion notification transmission unit) in order to transmit “registration completion notification” described later to the communication terminal 20. The receiving unit 102 can also be said to include distribution connection request receiving means (distribution connection request receiving unit) in order to receive a “distribution connection request” described later from the communication terminal 20.

  Here, the communication packet transmitted and received in the communication between the distribution device 10 and the communication terminal 20 is, for example, a packet format as shown in FIG. Specifically, the communication packet includes an Ether (Ethernet) header or wireless LAN header setting unit P1, an IP header setting unit P2, a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) header setting unit P3, and a data setting unit P4. The Ether header or wireless LAN header setting unit P1, the IP header setting unit P2, and the TCP header setting unit P3 are header areas used in each network layer (data link layer, network layer, transport layer). A transmission source address and a destination address used in each network layer are set in each header setting unit. The Ether header includes a source MAC address and a destination MAC address, the IP header includes a source IP address and a destination MAC address, and the TCP header includes a source port number and a destination port number. The data setting unit P4 is a data area for setting data to be transmitted and received between the distribution device 10 and the communication terminal 20. In addition, although the example of a structure of the communication packet used by communication with the delivery apparatus 10 and the communication terminal 20 is shown below, it is not restricted to this, Necessary information may be added suitably.

  Next, as a specific example of the communication packet, a “distribution connection request (content distribution request)” for requesting content distribution from the communication terminal 20 to the distribution device 10 and a content distribution required from the distribution device 10 to the communication terminal 20 are necessary. A configuration of “registration completion notification” for notifying completion of information registration will be described. FIG. 3 shows an example of the data configuration of the “distribution connection request”. Since the “distribution connection request” is transmitted from the communication terminal 20 to the distribution apparatus 10, for example, the IP address setting unit P2 of the “distribution connection request” sets the IP address of the communication terminal 20 as the transmission source IP address. The IP address of the distribution device 10 is set as the destination IP address. In the case of “distribution connection request”, the data setting unit P4 includes a control code setting unit P5, an authentication code setting unit P6, a user identification number setting unit P7, and a user name setting unit P8. A control code for identifying each signal (communication packet) is set in the control code setting unit P5. In the case of the "delivery connection request", for example, the control code is a fixed number "1". In the authentication code setting unit P6, an authentication code for the distribution device 10 to authenticate the communication terminal 20 is set. The authentication code will be described later. The user identification number setting unit P7 sets a user identification number for identifying a user who uses the communication terminal 20, for example, with alphanumeric characters. The user identification number is an identification number that can specify a user, such as a student ID number of a student in an educational institution, a teacher number of a faculty member, or a user ID commonly used in an educational institution. A user name of a user who uses the communication terminal 20 is set in the user name setting unit P8. For example, the user name is information that can identify the user name, such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and romaji.

  FIG. 4 shows a data configuration example of “registration completion notification”. Since the “registration completion notification” is transmitted from the distribution apparatus 10 to the communication terminal 20, for example, the IP address setting unit P2 of the “registration completion notification” sets the IP address of the distribution apparatus 10 as a transmission source IP address. The IP address of the communication terminal 20 is set as the destination IP address. In the case of “registration completion notification”, the data setting unit P4 includes a control code setting unit P5, an authentication code setting unit P6, and a user identification number setting unit P7. In the control code setting unit P5, 4 corresponding to “registration completion notification” is set. The authentication code setting unit P6 and the user identification number setting unit P7 are the same as the “distribution connection request”.

  Next, an authentication code set in “distribution connection request” and “registration completion notification” will be described. An example of the authentication code is shown in FIG. The authentication code is any alphanumeric character and the number of digits is fixed. The authentication code includes a common code and a lecture code. For example, the first half of the authentication code is a common code and the second half is a lecture code. In the example of FIG. 5, the authentication code is a 14-digit alphanumeric character, but may be an arbitrary number of digits as long as the number of digits can be authenticated.

  The common code is a common code of the organization to which the user belongs. For example, taking an educational institution as an example, it is an alphanumeric code commonly used in one institution unit or undergraduate unit. The common code is a code used to authenticate that a user who uses the communication terminal 20 belongs to the institution or the department. In this embodiment, the common code is composed of 6-digit alphanumeric characters, but the number of digits is not limited to 6 digits, and may be changed as appropriate.

  The lecture code is a lecture authentication code for a lecture that the user attends. For example, an alphanumeric code set in a lecture unit (one frame of a lecture according to a lecture timetable) that a user takes in an educational institution. The lecture code is a code used to authenticate that the user of the communication terminal 20 is the user who takes the lecture. In the present embodiment, the common code is composed of 8-digit alphanumeric characters, but the number of digits is not limited to 8 digits, and may be changed as appropriate.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration of the distribution apparatus 10 will be continued. The storage unit (storage means) 103 stores the common code table T1, the lecture code table T2, and the content management table T3 in addition to storing the content to be distributed to the communication terminal 20. An example of the common code table T1, the lecture code table T2, and the content management table T3 is shown in FIG. The common code table T1 and the lecture code table T2 are tables used when the distribution apparatus 10 authenticates the communication terminal 20. The common code table T1 is a table for setting a common code for the distribution apparatus 10 to authenticate the communication terminal 20. For example, the common code set in the common code table T1 is registered in advance by the system administrator. The lecture code table T2 is a table in which a lecture code for authenticating the communication terminal 20 by the distribution apparatus 10 is set. In the lecture code table T2, a lecture code, a lecture name corresponding to the lecture code, and a lecture time including a lecture start time and an end time are set. For example, the lecture time, lecture name and lecture code set in the lecture code table T2 are registered in advance by the system administrator.

The content management table T3 is a table used for distributing specific content to the communication terminal 20 used by the user. In the content management table T3, content information of content to be distributed to the communication terminal 20, user information of a user who uses the communication terminal 20, and an IP address of the communication terminal 20 are registered in association with each other. The content information is the name (content identification information) of the content distributed by the distribution device 10 for each user. The user information is user information of the user of the communication terminal 20 that delivers the content. The user information is information including a user identification number and a user name. The user information registered in the content management table T3 may be only the user identification number or may be both the user identification number and the user name. The IP address registered in the content management table T3 is the IP address of the communication terminal 20 that distributes the content.
The content information and the user information registered in the content management table T3 may be registered in advance by the system administrator. In addition, when not registered in advance by the system administrator, the distribution device 10 may authenticate the communication terminal 20 and may register after the authentication is normally completed. Specifically, the storage unit 103 associates and stores the lecture code and the content information of the content for the lecture corresponding to the lecture code, and is used when the distribution device 10 authenticates the communication terminal 20. The content information of the content for the lecture associated with the lecture code, the user information of the communication terminal 20 included in the “distribution connection request”, and the IP address of the communication terminal 20 included in the “distribution connection request” are associated Is registered in the content management table T3.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration of the distribution apparatus 10 will be continued. The authentication unit (authentication unit) 104 authenticates the communication terminal 20 based on the authentication code included in the “distribution connection request” received from the communication terminal 20. Specifically, the authentication unit 104 performs authentication using a common code and a lecture code among the authentication codes included in the “distribution connection request”. If the common code matches the common code registered in the common code table T1 and the lecture code matches the lecture code registered in the lecture code table T2, the authentication unit 104 normally authenticates the communication terminal 20. Completed (judged as authentication success). On the other hand, when the common code does not match the common code registered in the common code table T1, or when the lecture code does not match the lecture code registered in the lecture code table T2, the authentication unit 104 authenticates the communication terminal 20. Does not complete successfully (determine authentication failure). The authentication unit 104 may authenticate the communication terminal 20 using the time when the “distribution connection request” is received in addition to the common code and the lecture code. For example, when the time when the “distribution connection request” is received is included within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture time registered in association with the lecture code included in the “distribution connection request”, the authentication unit 104 The authentication of the communication terminal 20 may be completed normally.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the communication terminal 20 of the user U1 transmits a “distribution connection request” to the distribution device 10. It is assumed that the authentication code included in the “distribution connection request” has the common code “ABC 123” and the lecture code “XXYY 123 B”. In FIG. 6, “ABC 123” that matches the common code included in the “distribution connection request” is registered in the common code table T1. Furthermore, “XXYY123B” that matches the lecture code included in the “distribution connection request” is registered in the lecture code table T2. Therefore, the authentication unit 104 normally completes the authentication of the communication terminal 20.

  Furthermore, in addition to the common code and the lecture code, when authentication is performed based on the time when the “distribution connection request” is received, the time when the “distribution connection request” is received is 15:00 in FIG. The start time of the lecture time associated with the lecture code included in is 15:00, and the time of receiving the “delivery connection request” is before or after the lecture start time associated with the lecture code included in the “delivery connection request” Since it is within the predetermined time, the authentication of the communication terminal 20 may be completed normally.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration of the distribution device 10 will be continued. The registration unit (registration unit) 105 registers information in the content management table T3 after the authentication unit 104 has successfully completed authentication of the communication terminal 20. After registering information in the content management table T3, the registration unit 105 transmits a “registration completion notification” to the communication terminal 20 via the transmission unit 101.

  When the system administrator registers content information and user information in the content management table T3 in advance, the registration unit 105 matches the user identification number (which matches the user identification number included in the “distribution connection request”) ( User information) is retrieved from the content management table T3, and the retrieved user identification number and the IP address of the communication terminal 20 included in the “distribution connection request” are registered in association with each other. Specifically, the IP address set as the transmission source IP address of the IP header setting unit P2 of the “distribution connection request” is associated and registered. In the example of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the communication terminal 20 of the user U1 has set “192.168.0.1” in the “distribution connection request”. The registration unit 105 searches the content management table T3 for a user identification number that matches the user identification number of the “distribution connection request”, and sets “192.168.8.0” to the matching user identification number (user U1). .1 ”is associated and registered. The registration unit 105 may further register the user name included in the “distribution connection request” in association with the user identification number of the content management table T3.

  When the system administrator has not previously registered content information and user information in the content management table T3, the registration unit 105 associates the distribution content of the content management table T3 with the lecture code included in the “distribution connection request”. The content information of the lecture content to be registered is registered, and the user information included in the “distribution connection request” is registered in the user information of the content management table T3. The user information to be registered may be only the user identification number, or the user identification number and the user name may be registered. Further, the registration unit 105 registers the IP address included in the “distribution connection request” in the IP address of the content management table T3.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the registration unit 105 registers content information (content A corresponding to the physiology A) of content for lecture associated with the lecture code “XXYY123B” in the distribution content of the content management table T3. Furthermore, the registration unit 105 registers the user information of the user U1 of the communication terminal that transmits the “distribution connection request” in the user information of the content management table T3. The user information to be registered may be only the user identification number of the user U1, or the user identification number and the user name of the user U1 may be registered. Furthermore, the registration unit 105 registers “192.168.0.1”, which is an IP address included in the “distribution connection request”, in the IP address of the content management table T3 in association with the content A and the user U1. .

  Also, when the system administrator has not registered content information and user information in the content management table T3 in advance, for example, an operator such as a professor or a teacher in charge of the lecture has successfully completed the authentication after the lecture has started. The user information of the communication terminal can be referred to on the screen, and the content to be distributed can be specified and distributed to the specified user information. Specifically, when the authentication unit 104 completes authentication of the communication terminal 20 normally, the registration unit 105 registers the user information included in the “distribution connection request” in the user information of the content management table T3. The user information to be registered may be only the user identification number, or the user identification number and the user name may be registered. Further, the registration unit 105 registers the IP address included in the “distribution connection request” in the IP address of the content management table T3. Thereafter, the operator refers to a screen or the like on which user information registered in the content management table T3 is displayed, and specifies user information for distributing content and content to be distributed. Then, the registration unit 105 registers the content information of the content designated by the operator in the delivery content of the content management table T3 associated with the designated user information.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration of the distribution apparatus 10 will be continued. The distribution unit (distribution means) 106 distributes the content designated to the communication terminal 20. After the transmitting unit 101 transmits the “registration completion notification”, the distributing unit 106 acquires the content information and the IP address from the content management table T3. The distribution unit 106 acquires the content corresponding to the acquired content information from the storage unit 103. Then, the acquired content is distributed by the push-type distribution method with the acquired IP address as a destination.

  Next, a configuration example of the communication terminal 20 will be described. The communication terminal 20 includes a transmission unit 201, a reception unit 202, a storage unit 203, and a reproduction unit 204. The transmitting unit 201 and the receiving unit 202 communicate with the distribution device 10, the access point 30, the network device 40 and the DHCP server 50. The transmission unit 201 and the reception unit 202 may be mounted as an application (program) that performs communication. It can be said that the transmission unit 201 includes a distribution connection request transmission unit (distribution connection request transmission unit) in order to transmit a “distribution connection request” to the distribution apparatus 10. It can be said that the receiving unit 202 includes a registration completion notification receiving unit (registration completion notification receiving unit) in order to receive a “registration completion notification” from the distribution apparatus 10.

  The storage unit 203 stores at least the authentication code, the IP address of the communication terminal 20 assigned (set) from the DHCP server 50, and the user information of the communication terminal 20. The playback unit 204 has a function of playing back content acquired from the distribution device 10. The playback unit 204 may be installed as a video playback application necessary for viewing video content.

Next, an operation example of the delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described using FIG. First, the communication terminal 20 requests the access point 30 to connect for wireless communication (step S1), and the access point 30 completes the connection for wireless communication with the communication terminal 20 (step S2).
Subsequently, the communication terminal 20 requests the DHCP server 50 to pay out the IP address used by the communication terminal 20 (step S3), and the DHCP server 50 assigns an IP address to the communication terminal 20 (step S4). When the communication terminal 20 normally receives the IP address assigned from the DHCP server 50 (step S5), the communication terminal 20 transmits an acknowledgment to the DHCP server 50 (step S6), and the DHCP server 50 notifies the communication terminal 20 of consent. (Step S7).
When the communication terminal 20 receives the notification of consent from the DHCP server 50, the communication terminal 20 sets the assigned IP address in the transmission unit 201 and the reception unit 202, and stores the IP address in the storage unit 203 (step S8). The procedure up to this point is a procedure for automatically assigning an IP address to the communication terminal 20 of the user from the DHCP server 50 and setting the IP address given to the communication terminal 20. When the communication terminal 20 is a mobile device such as a tablet terminal or a smartphone, and performs communication in a wireless LAN, the method of IP address assignment using the DHCP server 50 as described above is used. The above procedure is a procedure defined in RFC (Request for Comments) 2131, which is a technical specification standardized by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force), but is not limited to this, and the DHCP server 50 is connected to the communication terminal 20. However, another procedure may be used as long as it is a procedure for assigning an IP address to the communication terminal 20 and setting the assigned IP address.

  Subsequently, the communication terminal 20 transmits a “distribution connection request” to the distribution device 10 (step S9). Specifically, the transmission unit 201 acquires the IP address, authentication code, user identification number, and user name of the communication terminal 20 from the storage unit 203 and transmits a “distribution connection request” in which each information is set. When receiving the “distribution connection request”, the distribution device 10 authenticates the communication terminal 20 (step S10). Specifically, the receiving unit 102 receives a “distribution connection request”. The authentication unit 104 acquires the authentication code included in the “distribution connection request”, and authenticates the communication terminal 20 as described above.

  Subsequently, when the authentication of the communication terminal 20 is normally completed, the distribution apparatus 10 registers information in the content management table T3 (Step S11). Specifically, as described above, the registration unit 105 registers the user identification number (and content information) in association with the IP address of the communication terminal 20 included in the “distribution connection request”.

The distribution apparatus 10 registers each information in the content management table T3, and then transmits a “registration completion notification” to the communication terminal 20 (step S12). Specifically, the transmission unit 101 transmits “registration completion notification” in which the IP address of the communication terminal 20 that has been authenticated and registered, the authentication code, and the user identification number are set.
After receiving the “registration completion notification”, the communication terminal 20 transitions to a state of waiting for the content to be distributed from the distribution device 10 by the push distribution method (step S13). Specifically, after the receiving unit 202 receives the “registration completion notification”, the reproducing unit 204 transitions to a state of waiting for content (standby state).
Subsequently, the distribution device 10 distributes the content to the communication terminal 20 by a push type distribution method (step S14). Specifically, the distribution unit 106 distributes the content of the content information registered in the content management table T3 by the push-type distribution method, using the IP address associated with the content as the destination IP address. Thereafter, the communication terminal 20 causes the reproduction unit 204 to reproduce the content distributed from the distribution device 10.

  Next, the effect in this Embodiment is demonstrated. The first effect is that the user information for identifying the user such as the user identification number and the user name of the communication terminal 20 is associated with the IP address of the communication terminal 20 and is a distribution destination of the content. The communication terminal 20 can be easily identified by the distribution apparatus 10. Therefore, the distribution device 10 can easily identify the communication terminal of the user individually, and can distribute the content designated to the specific communication terminal.

  The second effect is that not only the user of the communication terminal 20 but also the administrator of the distribution system 1 can save the operational effort and easily distribute the specified video content from the distribution device to any communication terminal. It is possible to provide an environment that does this. Here, a case is considered in which registration is performed by associating the IP address set in the communication terminal with the communication terminal without using the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment. Since the management information of the communication terminal uniquely associated with the IP address set by the communication terminal is only a MAC (Media Access Control) address, the IP address set by the communication terminal and information for identifying the communication terminal are displayed. It is not easy to associate. The MAC address is an address inherently included in the communication terminal, and the user of the communication terminal can visually recognize the MAC address. Therefore, it is possible to associate the IP address set by the communication terminal with the MAC address which is information for identifying the communication terminal using the MAC address. However, it is complicated to associate the MAC address with the IP address set by the communication terminal using the MAC address. It is not easy because the MAC address varies depending on the model of the communication terminal.

  If the MAC address of the communication terminal used by the user can be confirmed and the confirmed MAC address can be notified to the system administrator, the system administrator can communicate the user name, student ID number, etc. It is also possible to associate and set information for identifying a terminal and a MAC address. However, setting the information for identifying the communication terminal in association with the MAC address by the system administrator is very laborious in operation.

A setting example in which the MAC address of the communication terminal used by the user of the communication terminal is confirmed, and the system administrator associates and sets the MAC address with the information for identifying the communication terminal is described in FIG.
First, the user connects the communication terminal to the network (step S1001), and the DHCP server automatically assigns an IP address to the user's communication terminal (step S1002). Next, the user displays the network setting screen of the communication terminal (step S1003), and the user confirms information (IP address, MAC address (hardware address)) for identifying the communication terminal from the network setting screen (step S1003) S1004). Thereafter, the user reports the user name and the identification information of the communication terminal to the system administrator (step S1005). Subsequently, the system administrator registers the user name and the identification information of the communication terminal on the distribution device (step S1006). Then, the IP address and the identification information (user) of the communication terminal are uniquely associated on the distribution apparatus, and the communication terminal can be managed (step S1007).

  As described above, the system administrator registers information for one user according to the procedure from step S1001 to step S1007. Therefore, not only the user but also the labor and effort of the system administrator become considerable. That is, it is not easy to associate the IP address set in the communication terminal with the information for identifying the communication terminal.

  On the other hand, by using the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, the communication terminal 20 transmits the IP address set by itself and the user information of the user of the communication terminal 20 to the distribution apparatus, and the distribution apparatus 10 transmits these. Register in association. Therefore, not only the user of the communication terminal 20 but also the operational effort required by the administrator of the distribution system 1 is omitted, and an environment for easily distributing the specified video content from the distribution device 10 to any communication terminal is provided. It becomes possible to offer.

  The third effect is that the system administrator or the system operator can perform an operation of transmitting video content to a designated partner using information such as a user identification number and a user name that can easily identify the user with the distribution device 10. It is to become. The reason is that the distribution apparatus 10 registers the information identifying the user such as the user identification number and the user name in association with the IP address of the communication terminal 20.

  A fourth effect is that video distribution to unintended users can be suppressed. Consider the case where the delivery system in this embodiment is not used. For example, in a wireless LAN environment in an educational institution, students and staff in the university often use a common access point connection identifier (SSID (Service Set Identifier)) and password. Therefore, the students and staff in the university obtain the connection identifier (SSID) and password of the common access point, receive the IP address from the DHCP server, and use their own communication terminal to use the wireless LAN in the educational institution and Communication is possible. On the other hand, students and non-teachers within the university could connect to the university's wireless LAN by acquiring the connection identifier (SSID) and password of the common access point, and they were further connected to the university's wireless LAN. There is also a problem that the communication terminal can view and listen to the video distribution of unregistered lectures.

  On the other hand, by using the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, when connecting to the wireless LAN, the communication terminal 20 transmits the "distribution connection request" including the authentication code stored in advance in the communication terminal for distribution. The device 10 authenticates the communication terminal 20 using the authentication code. As a result, it is possible to prevent in advance that unintended communication terminals are registered in the content management table and video distribution is performed. Further, since the authentication code of the present invention is composed of two code systems, a common code and a lecture code, for example, the user does not register a student outside the specific educational institution or undergraduate with the distribution apparatus. Even if you are not a lecturer, you can refuse registration and provide a more secure system.

Second Embodiment
Then, the subject which becomes a premise in Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated using FIG. For example, when receiving a lecture in a specific room, such as a classroom of an educational institution, the distribution apparatus distributes the content to be distributed to a communication terminal connected to the access point in the room. Generally, a plurality of access points are arranged in a classroom or the like of an educational institution. In this figure, it is assumed that six access points 300_1 to 300_6 are installed. It is assumed that the areas covered by each access point are the areas 301_1 to 301_6, and there is one entrance to the room such as the classroom. Each user, when entering the room, is connected to the access point 300_1 located closest to the entrance / exit.

  It is assumed that the user U1 takes the action of entering the room from Point A and heads for Point B. In Point A, when the communication terminal of the user U1 is in a state capable of receiving the radio wave of the access point, the communication terminal is connected to the access point 300_1. Thereafter, the user U1 passes through an area 301_1 (hereinafter, an area covered by each access point is referred to as a cell) where the radio wave of the access point 300_1 reaches, and heads for Point B, which is a destination. Usually, in Point B, the communication terminal of the user U1 is connected to an access point 300_6 that outputs a radio wave to the cell 301_6. In this case, no problem occurs because the communication terminal of the user U1 is connected to an appropriate access point covering the position where the user U1 is present. When there are multiple users in the room and each user is equally positioned, when all the user's communication terminals connect to the appropriate access point, the load on the specific access point is not biased and appropriate The load will be distributed.

  However, actually, even when the communication terminal of the user U1 is located at Point B, there are cases where the communication terminal is connected to another access point without being connected to the access point 300_6. Therefore, even when a plurality of users are equally located indoors, the number of communication terminals connected to each access point is not equalized, and the number of communication terminals connected per access point is biased. Occurs. As a result, in the communication terminal connected to the access point, there arises a problem that the distributed video is disturbed.

  The reason for this is that in wireless LAN communication, it may be difficult to connect a specific communication terminal to a specific access point due to the difference in radio wave reception sensitivity of the communication terminal and the influence of the setting of the roaming frequency of the communication terminal. Because there is. Furthermore, deciding which of the access points 300_1 to 300_6 to communicate with depends on the hardware characteristics of the communication terminal and the operation of the driver. The radio wave strength (electric field strength) of each access point is not equalized as designed because it is affected by radio wave shielding by indoor obstacles and reflection by walls and the like. Furthermore, since the load distribution function at the access point operates based on traffic such as traffic, it cannot automatically determine which access point accommodates the area where cells overlap, and the load depends on the number of communication terminals accommodated. It is because dispersion can not be performed. Therefore, even if there are multiple access points in the room and the users are evenly located, the number of communication terminals connected to a specific access point is biased, and the load of wireless LAN access is not equalized. Problems arise. That is, there arises a problem that appropriate load distribution is not performed.

  Therefore, the distribution system according to the present embodiment aims to equalize the number of devices connected to each access point and appropriately disperse the load.

  A configuration example of the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment. The distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of access points in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, and the communication terminal 20 can communicate with the distribution device 10 via any one of the access points. In FIG. 8, in the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, for convenience, two access points are provided, and the access point 30 and the access point 31 are provided. However, the number of access points is not limited to this.

  Next, a configuration example of the distribution apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. In addition to the configuration of the distribution apparatus according to the first embodiment, the distribution apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment further includes a search unit 107. The storage unit 103 further stores a connection destination designation management table T4 described later. Hereinafter, with respect to the configuration example of the distribution device 10, the difference from the first embodiment will be described.

  In addition to the configuration example of the first embodiment, the transmitting unit 101 can be said to include connection identifier transmitting means for transmitting a “connection permission response” described later to the communication terminal 20. In addition to the configuration example of the first embodiment, the receiving unit 102 receives, from the communication terminal 20, a “reconnection completion notification” described later in addition to the configuration example of the first embodiment.

Here, as a specific example of the communication packet, a notification of permitting the distribution device 10 to connect to the distribution device 10 from the distribution device 10 and a “connection permission response” of notifying the access point for specifying the connection to the communication terminal 20; A configuration of “reconnection completion notification” for notifying connection completion to the access point designated by the distribution device 10 from the distribution device 10 will be described.
FIG. 9 shows a data configuration example of the “connection permission response”. Since the “connection permission response” is transmitted from the distribution device 10 to the communication terminal 20, for example, the IP address of the distribution device 10 is set as the transmission source IP address in the IP header setting section P2 of the “connection permission response”. The IP address of the communication terminal 20 is set as the destination IP address. In the case of "connection permission response", the data setting unit P4 includes a control code setting unit P5, an authentication code setting unit P6, a user identification number setting unit P7, and a designated AP (reconnecting destination) SSID setting unit P9. In the control code setting unit P5, 2 corresponding to the "connection permission response" is set. The authentication code setting unit P6 and the user identification number setting unit P7 are the same as the “distribution connection request”. In the designated AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9, the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point registered in the connection destination designation management table T4 described later is set.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a data configuration example of “reconnection completion notification”. Since the “reconnection completion notification” is transmitted from the communication terminal 20 to the distribution apparatus 10, the IP header setting unit P2 of the “reconnection completion notification” has, for example, the IP address of the communication terminal 20 as the transmission source IP address. It sets, and sets the IP address of the delivery apparatus 10 as a destination IP address. In the case of "reconnection completion notification", the data setting unit P4 includes a control code setting unit P5, an authentication code setting unit P6, and a user identification number setting unit P7. In the control code setting unit P5, 3 corresponding to “reconnection completion notification” is set. The authentication code setting unit P6 and the user identification number setting unit P7 are the same as the “distribution connection request”.

  In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the storage unit 103 further stores a connection destination designation management table T4. An example of the connection destination designation management table T4 is described in FIG. The connection destination designation management table T4 is a table for associating and registering user information of a user who distributes content, and an access point for specifying a connection for each user. The connection destination designation management table T4 includes user information of a user who distributes content, an access point name designated as the connection destination for the user, and a connection identifier (SSID) of the access point designated as the connection destination for the user. ) Are registered in association with each other. As the user information in the connection destination designation management table T4, user information of a user who distributes content is registered. The information to be registered may be only a user identification number, or may be a user identification number and a user name. As the access point name in the connection destination designation management table T4, the name of the access point of the connection destination designated for each user is registered. As the connection identifier (SSID) of the connection destination designation management table T4, the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point of the connection destination designated for each user is registered. The system administrator registers each piece of information in the connection destination designation management table T4 in advance.

  Returning to FIG. 8, the explanation will be continued. The registration unit 105 registers information in the content management table T3 as in the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the registration timing is performed after receiving the “reconnection completion notification”. The information to be registered is the same as in the first embodiment.

  When the authentication unit 104 normally completes the authentication of the communication terminal 20, the search unit 107 searches the connection destination designation management table T4 for a user identification number that matches the user identification number included in the “distribution connection request”. The connection identifier (SSID) registered in association with the matching user identification number is acquired. The search unit 107 sets the acquired connection identifier (SSID) in the designated AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9 of the “connection permission response”, and transmits it to the communication terminal 20 via the transmission unit 101.

  Next, returning to FIG. 8, a configuration example of the communication terminal 20 will be described. The communication terminal 20 further includes a connection switching unit 205 in addition to the configuration of the communication terminal 20 of the first embodiment. The connection switching unit 205 may be installed as a communication control application (program) that switches connection to an access point. Hereinafter, regarding the configuration example of the communication terminal 20, the difference from the first embodiment will be described.

The receiving unit 202 receives a “connection permission response” from the distribution apparatus 10 in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment. Further, a “reconnection completion notification” to be described later is received.
The connection switching unit 205 acquires a connection identifier (SSID) from the designated AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9 of the “connection permission response”. Then, the connection is switched to the access point with the connection identifier (SSID) acquired from the connected access point. When connection switching of the access point is completed, the connection switching unit 205 transmits a “reconnection completion notification”, which is a signal notifying that connection switching of the access point is completed, to the distribution apparatus 10 via the transmission unit 201.

  For example, the communication terminal 20 is currently connected to the access point 30. The connection switching unit 205 acquires the connection identifier (SSID) from the designated AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9 of the “connection permission response”. When the acquired connection identifier (SSID) is a connection identifier (SSID) corresponding to the access point 31, the connection switching unit 205 performs connection switching from the access point 30 to the access point 31. Thereafter, the connection switching unit 205 transmits a “reconnection completion notification” to the distribution apparatus 10 via the transmission unit 201.

  Next, FIG. 12 shows an operation example of the distribution system according to the present embodiment. Steps S101 to S110 in FIG. 12 correspond to steps S1 to S9 in the first embodiment, and there is no difference in operation content. When the authentication of the communication terminal 20 is normally completed in step S110, the distribution apparatus 10 searches the connection destination designation management table T4 for the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point registered in association with the communication terminal 20 (step S111). ). Specifically, the search unit 107 searches the connection destination designation management table T4 for a user identification number that matches the user identification number of the communication terminal 20 included in the “distribution connection request”, and matches the user identification number. The connection identifier (SSID) to be registered in association with is acquired.

  The distribution apparatus 10 includes the acquired connection identifier (SSID) in the “connection permission response” and transmits it to the communication terminal 20 (step S112). Specifically, the search unit 107 sets the acquired connection identifier (SSID) in the designated connection (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9 of the “connection permission response”, and sends it to the communication terminal 20 via the transmission unit 101. Send. The communication terminal 20 sends a connection request to the access point in order to switch the connection destination to the access point of the designated connection identifier (SSID) (step S113). Specifically, the connection switching unit 205 acquires a connection identifier (SSID) from the “connection permission response”, and makes a connection request to the access point with the designated connection identifier (SSID).

After that, the communication terminal 20 connects to the access point of the designated connection identifier (SSID) (step S114), and the communication terminal 20 transmits a “reconnection completion notification” to the distribution apparatus 10 (step S115). Specifically, after connecting to the designated access point, the connection switching unit 205 transmits a “reconnection completion notification” to the distribution apparatus 10 via the transmission unit 201. The distribution device 10 registers each piece of information in the content management table T3 (step S116). Specifically, the registration unit 105 registers the content information, the user information of the communication terminal 20, and the IP address of the communication terminal 20 in the content management table T3 in association with each other.
The subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, and steps S12 to S14 of the first embodiment correspond to steps S117 to S119 of the present embodiment.

  A specific example of the operation in the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 shows the state before the three users UA, UB and UZ enter from the entrance. As a precondition to be exemplified, there are 26 users from user UA to user UZ. Further, the access points of the distribution system 1 are installed in the same room, and a total of four access points 30 to access points 33 are installed. The access point names of the wireless LA access points 30 to 33 are “AP1” to “AP4”, respectively. The connection identifiers (SSIDs) of the access points 30 to 33 are "ACCESS 1" to "ACCESS 4", respectively. Each user must be connected to the access point 30 when entering the room. Furthermore, the MAC addresses of the communication terminals 20_1 to 20_26 of the users UA to UZ are “AA: AA: AA: AA: AA: AA” to “ZZ: ZZ: ZZ: ZZ: ZZ: ZZ”, respectively. And A total of 26 IP addresses (IP addresses prepared for assignment) pooled by the DHCP server 50 exist, and are “192.168.0.1” to “192.168.0.26”. It is assumed that the DHCP server 50 holds an IP address assignment table T5 that associates the pooled IP address with the MAC address of the communication terminal. In the distribution apparatus 10, the system administrator registers information in the content management table T3 and the connection destination designation management table T4 in advance. It is assumed that content information and user information are registered in advance in the content management table T3, and user information, an access point name, and a connection identifier (SSID) are registered in advance in the connection destination designation management table T4. . This is an example in which the IP address of the content management table T3 and the MAC address of the communication terminal of the IP address assignment table T5 represent an unregistered state.

  Subsequently, in FIG. 14, three users UA, UB, and UZ enter the room, and the user UZ is set as the connection order 1, the user UB as the connection order 2, and the user UA as the connection order 3. It is the figure which showed the state after connecting each user's communication terminal to wireless LAN simultaneously with entrance. The communication terminal of each user connects to the access point 30. According to the order of connection, the DHCP server 50 assigns an IP address to the communication terminal, and associates and registers the IP address and the MAC address of the communication terminal in the IP address assignment table T5. In this figure, the DHCP server 50 assigns “192.168.0.1” to the communication terminal 20_26 of the user UZ whose connection order is the first. Assign "192.168.0.2" to the communication terminal 20_2 of the user UB in the next connection order. It shows that “192.168.0.3” is given to the communication terminal 20_1 of the user UA in the next connection order. Each communication terminal sets the IP address given from the DHCP server 50. At this time, if the DHCP server 50 assigns an IP address using, for example, the specification defined in RFC 2131, the DHCP server 50 can recognize the MAC address of the communication terminal, but obtains other information. It is not possible. Thereafter, each communication terminal transmits a “distribution connection request” to the distribution device 10. The distribution device 10 authenticates the communication terminals 20_1, 20_2, and 20_26 based on the authentication code (common code and lecture code) included in the “distribution connection request”.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state after the distribution apparatus 10 has successfully completed authentication of the communication terminals 20_1, 20_2, and 20_26. Upon successfully completing authentication of each communication terminal, distribution device 10 searches connection destination designation management table T4, and searches for connection identifiers (SSIDs) of users UA, UB, UZ of communication terminals 20_1, 20_2 and 20_26. . As the connection identifier (SSID) of the user UA, “ACCESS2” which is the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point 31 is designated. In the connection identifier (SSID) of the user UB, "ACCESS 2" which is the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point 31 is designated. In the connection identifier (SSID) of the user UZ, “ACCESS4” that is the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point 33 is specified. The distribution apparatus 10 sets the connection identifier (SSID) of each user in the designated AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit P9 of the “connection permission response”, and transmits it to each communication terminal. Each communication terminal switches the connection to the access point with the connection identifier (SSID) specified from the access point 30 when receiving the “connection permission response”.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a state after switching the access point to which each communication terminal is connected. Each communication terminal transmits a “reconnection completion notification” to the distribution apparatus 10. The distribution apparatus 10 searches for a user identification number that matches the user identification number of each communication terminal, and registers the IP address of each communication terminal in association with the user identification number that matches the content management table T3. Since the IP addresses of the communication terminals 20_1, 20_2, and 20_26 are “192.168.0.3”, “192.168.0.2”, and “192.168.0.1”, respectively, the content management table T3 Register the IP address in. As a result, the distribution device 10 associates the IP address of the communication terminals 20_1, 20_2 and 20_26 with the user information and the distribution content, and the distribution content specified for the three users UA, UB and UZ. It will be possible to deliver

  According to the distribution system according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the distribution system according to the first embodiment, the number of units connected to each access point serving as a content transmission path is equalized and the load is appropriately distributed. Can do.

  In general, when delivering content such as video, unlike mega traffic (traffic volume) such as web browsing and e-mail, large capacity traffic of several megabits per second (Mbps) class per session is constantly It becomes a flowing form. For this reason, if the number of terminals connected to a specific access point is biased, communication via the access point is congested, resulting in video disturbance.

  On the other hand, according to the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress communication congestion and consequently to suppress disturbance of contents such as video. The reason is that a connection identifier (SSID) of an access point to be connected to each user in advance is transmitted from the distribution apparatus 10 to the user's communication terminal 20, and the communication terminal 20 can reconnect to the designated access point. Because it can. Therefore, the distribution device 10 designates an access point connected to the user's communication terminal 20 in accordance with the design intention of the operator or the system administrator. In addition, the number of communication terminals connected to a plurality of access points installed in the room can be uniformly allocated. That is, it becomes possible to limit the number of terminal connections per access point, and it is possible to disperse the communication load. As a result, it is possible to avoid the congestion of wireless communication, to suppress the congestion of the communication via the access point, and to suppress the disturbance of the video.

  Furthermore, according to the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, the user operating the communication terminal 20 performs complicated terminal setting operation such as manually inputting the connection identifier (SSID) of the access point to be connected. Instead, connection to a specific access point, authentication, and transmission of a connection identifier (SSID) can be performed.

Third Embodiment
The third embodiment of the present invention is another example of the second embodiment. FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of the delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17, the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a content server 60 with respect to the configuration of the second embodiment. The content server 60 is a server in which the distribution device 10 stores distribution content. When the content server 60 receives the “distribution request” including the specified content and the IP address from the distribution device 10, the content server 60 distributes the specified content to the communication terminal 20.

  A configuration example of the distribution apparatus 10 in the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the storage unit 103 does not store distribution content distributed for each user, but stores it in the content server 60. In addition, after the transmission unit 101 transmits “registration completion notification” to the communication terminal 20, the distribution unit 106 searches the content management table T3 and acquires the distribution content and the distribution destination IP address. A distribution request including the name of the acquired distribution content and the distribution destination IP address is transmitted to the content server 60 via the transmission unit 101.

  Subsequently, an operation example of the delivery system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in FIG. An operation example in the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the second embodiment. The operations up to step S118 in this figure are the same as those in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the operations after step S118 are different. When transmitting the “registration completion notification” to the communication terminal 20, the distribution device 10 searches the content management table T3 and acquires content information and an IP address. The distribution apparatus 10 transmits a distribution request including the acquired content information and the IP address to the content server 60 (step S120). Specifically, the distribution unit 106 acquires content information and an IP address from the content management table T3. The distribution unit 106 transmits a distribution request including the acquired content information and IP address via the transmission unit 101. Upon receiving the distribution request, the content server 60 distributes the content of the specified content information to the specified IP address (step S121).

  According to the distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment, the data area of the storage unit that holds the content can be reduced, and the distribution system 1 can be easily constructed.

(Modification 1)
In the above description, it has been described that the distribution device 10 transmits a distribution request to the content server 60, and the content server 60 distributes the content designated by the communication terminal 20. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, after the content server 60 receives the distribution request, the content of the designated content information is transmitted to the distribution device 10, and the distribution device 10 distributes the content to the communication terminal 20 May be.

(Other embodiments)
In the above description, the distribution system 1 is an example of distributing contents such as lecture videos in an educational institution. However, for example, in elementary school, junior high school, high school, etc., it is also possible to create a group for each seat where students are seated, distribute different viewing materials for each group, and apply to exercises and discussions according to the contents. it can. That is, a group to which a user belongs may be further registered as user information in the content management table T3. Then, the distribution apparatus 10 may distribute the content of the content information registered in the content management table T3 in registered group units.

  Furthermore, for example, in a medical or pharmaceutical university, an image captured by a camera is transmitted from a microscope installed at each student's seat to a distribution apparatus, and the image is transmitted 1: 1 by a professor's operation (user's Deliver microscope images to the terminal of the person in question) or 1: N distribution (contribute microscope images of specific students to all terminals) or n: N delivery (in group units, microscope images of specific students in all groups) Distribution to the terminal). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, communication terminal 20 of Embodiments 1 to 3 further includes a shooting unit 206 that takes an image or video, and the image or video shot by shooting unit 206. And the like are stored in the storage unit 203. The stored content is transmitted from the transmission unit 201 to the distribution device 10. The distribution device 10 stores the received content in the storage unit 103. Then, the content may be registered in the content management table T3 and distributed to the students or professors of the lectures to be taken.

  Each configuration in the above embodiment may be configured by hardware, software, or both. For example, each processing in the above-described embodiment can be realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a computer program.

  In the above example, the program can be stored using various types of non-transitory computer readable media and supplied to the computer. Non-transitory computer readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (for example, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (for example, magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-R / W, semiconductor memory (for example, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM)), flash ROM, RAM (Random Access Memory) are included. Also, the programs may be supplied to the computer by various types of transitory computer readable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer readable medium can provide the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as electric wire and optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Some or all of the above embodiments may be described as in the following appendices, but is not limited to the following.
(Supplementary Note 1)
A storage unit that stores a content management table that associates and registers content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal;
A receiving unit configured to receive, from the communication terminal, a content distribution request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal;
Registration means for associating and registering the address information with the content information and the user information in the content management table based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request;
Distribution means for distributing the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
A distribution device having:
(Supplementary Note 2)
The registration means further comprises transmission means for transmitting to the communication terminal a registration completion notification for causing the communication terminal to transition to a content standby state after registering the address information.
The distribution device according to appendix 1.
(Supplementary Note 3)
The user information includes a user identification number and a user name,
The registration means associates and registers the address information received from the communication terminal with the user identification number in the content management table that matches the user identification number received from the communication terminal.
The distribution apparatus according to appendix 1 or 2.
(Supplementary Note 4)
The content distribution request further includes an authentication code for authenticating the communication terminal,
Further comprising authentication means for authenticating the communication terminal based on an authentication code included in the received content delivery request;
The registration means registers the address information of the communication terminal when the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed.
The distribution apparatus according to any one of appendices 1 to 3.
(Supplementary Note 5)
The authentication code includes a lecture authentication code for a lecture taken by the user,
The storage means further stores a lecture authentication code table in which a lecture authentication code is registered in advance;
The authentication unit normally completes authentication of the communication terminal when the lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request matches the lecture authentication code of the lecture authentication code table.
Appendix 4. The distribution device according to appendix 4.
(Supplementary Note 6)
The storage means associates and registers the lecture authentication code and content information of content for lectures,
If the user information included in the received content distribution request and the content information are associated with each other and not registered in the content management table, the registration unit may use the lecture authentication code included in the content distribution request. The associated content information, user information of the communication terminal, and address information of the communication terminal are associated and registered in the content management table.
The distribution device according to appendix 5.
(Appendix 7)
The communication terminal can communicate with the distribution device via any of a plurality of access points,
The storage means further stores a connection destination designation management table that registers the user information and the connection identifier of the access point of the connection destination in association with each other in advance,
Search means for searching the connection destination specification management table for the connection identifier associated with the user information received from the communication terminal;
Connection identifier transmitting means for transmitting a connection permission response including the retrieved connection identifier to the communication terminal;
Further having
The distribution device according to any one of appendices 1 to 6.
(Supplementary Note 8)
The authentication code further includes a common code of an organization to which the user belongs,
The authentication means is configured such that the common code included in the received content distribution request matches the common code registered in advance, and the lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request is the lecture authentication code table And the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed if it matches with the lecture authentication code of
The distribution device according to appendix 5.
(Appendix 9)
The storage means stores a lecture authentication code table in which the lecture authentication code and the start time of the lecture registered in advance in association with the lecture authentication code are additionally associated with each other;
The authentication means is configured such that the common code included in the received content distribution request matches the common code registered in advance, and the lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request is the lecture code table. If it matches with the lecture authentication code and the time to receive the content distribution request is within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture, the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed.
The distribution device according to appendix 8.
(Supplementary Note 10)
A distribution system having a communication terminal and a distribution device for distributing content,
The distribution device includes:
A storage unit that stores a content management table that associates and registers content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal;
A receiving unit configured to receive, from the communication terminal, a content distribution request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal;
Registration means for associating and registering the address information with the content information and the user information in the content management table based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request;
Distribution means for distributing the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
Having a delivery system.
(Supplementary Note 11)
The distribution system further comprising a plurality of access points capable of communicating with the communication terminal,
The storage means further stores a connection destination designation management table in which the user information and the connection identifier of the access point of the connection destination are associated in advance and registered.
The distribution device further searches the connection destination specification management table for the connection identifier associated with the user information received from the communication terminal.
Connection identifier transmitting means for transmitting a connection permission response including the searched connection identifier to the communication terminal,
The delivery system according to appendix 10.
(Supplementary Note 12)
A distribution method of a distribution device for distributing content,
Storing a content management table in which content information of content to be distributed to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal are associated with each other and registered;
Receiving a content delivery request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal from the communication terminal;
Registering the address information in association with the content information and the user information of the content management table based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request;
Delivering the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
A delivery method comprising:
(Supplementary Note 13)
A distribution program to be executed by a distribution device for distributing content,
Storing a content management table in which content information of content to be distributed to a communication terminal and user information of a user who uses the communication terminal are associated with each other and registered;
Receiving a content delivery request including user information of the communication terminal and address information of the communication terminal from the communication terminal;
Registering the address information in association with the content information and the user information of the content management table based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request;
Delivering the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
A distribution program comprising:
(Supplementary Note 14)
Storage means for storing an authentication code, its own IP address and user information;
Transmitting means for transmitting a content distribution request including the authentication code, the own IP address, and user information;
Receiving means for receiving a connection permission response including a connection identifier specified from the distribution device;
Connection switching means for switching a connection to an access point having a connection identifier included in the connection permission response;
A communication terminal.

Reference Signs List 1 distribution system 10 distribution device 11 reception unit 12 storage unit 12a content management table 13 registration unit 14 distribution unit 20 communication terminal 101 transmission unit 102 reception unit 103 storage unit 104 authentication unit 105 registration unit 106 distribution unit 107 search unit 201 transmission unit 202 Reception unit 203 Storage unit 204 Playback unit 205 Connection switching unit 206 Imaging unit 30 Access point 31 Access point 300_1 to 300_6 Access point 301_1 to 301_6 Area 40 Network device 50 DHCP server 60 Content server P1 Ether header or wireless LAN header setting unit P2 IP Header setting part P3 TCP header setting part P4 Data setting part P5 Control code setting part P6 Authentication code setting part P7 User identification number setting part P8 User Name setting unit P9 specified AP (reconnection destination) SSID setting unit U1 user UA~UZ user T1 common code table T2 lecture code table T3 content management table T4 connection destination specification management table T5 IP address assigned table

Claims (7)

A content management table in which content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user using the communication terminal are registered in association with each other, and a lecture authentication code used for authentication of a lecture attended by the user Storage means for storing a lecture authentication code table which is a table registered in advance and includes the lecture authentication code and a lecture start time corresponding to the lecture authentication code ;
Content distribution including, from the communication terminal, user information of the communication terminal, address information of the communication terminal, and an authentication code for authenticating the communication terminal including a lecture authentication code for a lecture attended by the user Receiving means for receiving the request;
The lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request matches the lecture authentication code registered in the lecture authentication code table, and the reception time of the received content distribution request is in the lecture authentication code table. An authentication unit that normally completes the authentication of the communication terminal if it is within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture corresponding to the matched lecture authentication code;
When the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed, the address and the user information of the content management table are based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request. A registration unit that associates and registers information;
Distribution means for distributing the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
Have
The distribution apparatus, the registration means further comprising transmission means for transmitting, to the communication terminal, a registration completion notification for causing the communication terminal to transition to a content standby state after registering the address information. The user information includes a user identification number and a user name,
The registration means associates and registers the address information received from the communication terminal with the user identification number in the content management table that matches the user identification number received from the communication terminal.
The delivery device according to claim 1. The storage means associates and registers the lecture authentication code and content information of content for lectures,
If the user information included in the received content distribution request and the content information are associated with each other and not registered in the content management table, the registration unit may use the lecture authentication code included in the content distribution request. The associated content information, user information of the communication terminal, and address information of the communication terminal are associated and registered in the content management table.
The distribution apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 . The communication terminal can communicate with the distribution device via any of a plurality of access points,
The storage means further stores a connection destination designation management table that registers the user information and the connection identifier of the access point of the connection destination in association with each other in advance,
Search means for searching the connection destination specification management table for the connection identifier associated with the user information received from the communication terminal;
Connection identifier transmitting means for transmitting a connection permission response including the retrieved connection identifier to the communication terminal;
Further having
The distribution apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . A distribution system having a communication terminal and a distribution device for distributing content,
The distribution device includes:
A content management table in which content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user using the communication terminal are registered in association with each other, and a lecture authentication code used for authentication of a lecture attended by the user Storage means for storing a lecture authentication code table which is a table registered in advance and includes the lecture authentication code and a lecture start time corresponding to the lecture authentication code ;
Content distribution including, from the communication terminal, user information of the communication terminal, address information of the communication terminal, and an authentication code for authenticating the communication terminal including a lecture authentication code for a lecture attended by the user Receiving means for receiving the request;
The lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request matches the lecture authentication code registered in the lecture authentication code table, and the reception time of the received content distribution request is in the lecture authentication code table. An authentication unit that normally completes the authentication of the communication terminal if it is within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture corresponding to the matched lecture authentication code;
When the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed, the address and the user information of the content management table are based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request. Registration means for associating and registering information;
Distribution means for distributing the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
Have
The registration means further comprises transmission means for transmitting to the communication terminal a registration completion notification for causing the communication terminal to transition to a content standby state after registering the address information.
Distribution system. A distribution method of a distribution device for distributing content,
A content management table in which content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user using the communication terminal are registered in association with each other, and a lecture authentication code used for authentication of a lecture attended by the user Storing a lecture authentication code table which is a table registered in advance and includes the lecture authentication code and a lecture start time corresponding to the lecture authentication code ;
Content distribution including, from the communication terminal, user information of the communication terminal, address information of the communication terminal, and an authentication code for authenticating the communication terminal including a lecture authentication code for a lecture attended by the user Receiving the request;
The lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request matches the lecture authentication code registered in the lecture authentication code table, and the reception time of the received content distribution request is in the lecture authentication code table. Authenticating the communication terminal to normally complete authentication if it is within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture corresponding to the matched lecture authentication code;
When the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed, the address and the user information of the content management table are based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request. Associating and registering information;
Transmitting to the communication terminal a registration completion notification for causing the communication terminal to transition to a content standby state after registering the address information;
Delivering the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
A delivery method comprising: A distribution program to be executed by a distribution device for distributing content,
A content management table in which content information of content to be delivered to a communication terminal and user information of a user using the communication terminal are registered in association with each other, and a lecture authentication code used for authentication of a lecture attended by the user Storing a lecture authentication code table which is a table registered in advance and includes the lecture authentication code and a lecture start time corresponding to the lecture authentication code ;
Content distribution including, from the communication terminal, user information of the communication terminal, address information of the communication terminal, and an authentication code for authenticating the communication terminal including a lecture authentication code for a lecture attended by the user Receiving the request;
The lecture authentication code included in the received content distribution request matches the lecture authentication code registered in the lecture authentication code table, and the reception time of the received content distribution request is in the lecture authentication code table. Authenticating the communication terminal to normally complete authentication if it is within a predetermined time before and after the start time of the lecture corresponding to the matched lecture authentication code;
When the authentication of the communication terminal is normally completed, the address and the user information of the content management table are based on the user information and the address information included in the received content distribution request. Associating and registering information;
Transmitting to the communication terminal a registration completion notification for causing the communication terminal to transition to a content standby state after registering the address information;
Delivering the content of the content information associated with the address information to a communication terminal of the address information registered in the content management table;
A distribution program comprising:

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