JP6854194B2 - Content provision system, multimedia distribution device, terminal device and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a content providing system, a multimedia distribution device, a terminal device and a program.

Conventionally, a broadcast program in television broadcasting has been content that is received by a television receiver and is viewed and enjoyed on the screen of the television receiver.
However, with the development of the Internet, in addition to new Internet terminals such as smartphones and tablet computers, television receivers that can connect to the Internet have also appeared. Therefore, the contents of the broadcast program can be viewed on various terminals through services such as VOD (Video On Demand).

On the other hand, the field of Internet usage patterns, which is a concept called IoT (Internet of Things), is attracting attention. This IoT can be used to connect devices such as home appliances, which have existed individually in the past and have not been related to each other, to the Internet / cloud by introducing an internet connection function and the communication function of an inexpensive one-board microcomputer. It is a technical field that establishes relationships by connecting via and exchanging information with each other. With the advent of home appliances called smart home appliances that are connected to the Internet in this technical field, the usage patterns of home appliances will also change. For example, small devices such as light bulbs and large devices such as refrigerators are expected to have the ability to connect to the Internet and have a mutual relationship.

As a result, the user can control the operation of the light bulb having a function of connecting to the Wi-Fi network (wireless LAN (Local Area Network)) from the smartphone. For example, the interface of a smartphone makes it possible to equip a light bulb with more complicated functions and operate the functions, in addition to simply controlling the on / off of the light bulb via a network. For example, when an e-mail arrives at a smartphone, the smartphone blinks a light bulb via an interface to notify the user who does not have the smartphone of the incoming e-mail.

And also in the field of content distribution, a new service for distributing content using IoT is provided.
For example, there is also a technique of processing the distributed content by a device other than the television receiver, for example, a home electric appliance, and presenting the distributed content to the user. For example, in an environment where the contents of a large number of cooking recipes are delivered to the refrigerator, a refrigerator having a function of selecting (filtering) the delivered contents according to the ingredients stored inside the refrigerator has been proposed. (See, for example, Patent Document 1).

Further, a technique for converting the format of the delivered content into a format suitable for the function of the content receiving side has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). For example, in Patent Document 2, a transcoding server that converts the format of the content distributed from the multimedia distribution server into a format that can be reproduced by the receiving device is used in correspondence with the content reproduction function of the receiving device. There is. As a result, even if the content is distributed in a different format that is not playable, the content can be played back by the receiving side device by being converted into a playable format of the receiving side device.
As described above, it is expected that the applicable range of IoT services will be expanded by technologies such as filtering of delivered contents and format conversion of contents.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-039846 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-102339

However, the above-mentioned VOD technology is configured on the assumption that the video is transmitted as content to another device and reproduced by the other device. Therefore, since it is necessary for the other device to reproduce the video that is the transmitted content, a display function of the video such as a display is required. Therefore, it is impossible to use the content transmitted by VOD as a device for playing a radio instead of a television receiver because the media for delivering the content is different. In this way, the types of devices that can play the delivered content are limited only by the service framework in which the content is simply delivered from the distribution side and the delivered content is played back on the receiving side.

Further, the technique of Patent Document 1 is content limited to cooking recipes, and is configured to process and reproduce the content according to a data format of a preset medium and format. Therefore, Patent Document 1 needs to have a data format of media and format in which a playable device is set, as in the VOD technology described above, and the types of devices capable of playing the delivered content are limited. It ends up. Furthermore, since the delivered content is a cooking recipe, the devices that can be played and used are limited.

Further, the technique of Patent Document 2 converts the format of the content and reproduces the content on a device having a reproduction function having a different format, but converts the data format of the moving image into a format. Therefore, in Patent Document 2, since each content before and after format conversion is reproduced, a display function of an image such as a display is required, and a device capable of reproducing the content distributed in the same manner as Patent Document 1 can be reproduced. The types are limited.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is a content distribution system in which a receiving device can play back content distributed to an unspecified number of devices according to the function of the device itself. , Provides multimedia distribution devices, terminal devices and programs.

[1] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the content distribution system according to one aspect of the present invention is a content including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia content and the type of the content. A multimedia distribution device (for example, the multimedia distribution server 1 in the embodiment) that adds and distributes structured data to the content, and acquisition that is the multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself and the multimedia element that can be acquired. A terminal device (for example, user devices 2, 2_1, 2_2, 2_n in the embodiment) in which device-structured data indicating a possible multimedia element is set, and the multimedia element and the multimedia for each type of the content. An information element indicating the type of information constituting the media element, a common knowledge database in which the correspondence between the information constituting the information element and a rule for the terminal device to reproduce multimedia contents is defined. When the terminal device reproduces the content in response to the device-structured data, the terminal device refers to the common knowledge database and processes the reproduction of the content according to the rule corresponding to the type of the content. It is characterized by.

[2] In the content distribution system according to one aspect of the present invention, the terminal device has a rule analysis unit that analyzes the processing content in the rule, and the multi that can reproduce itself in the content according to the processing content of the rule. It is characterized by including a content reproduction control unit for reproducing the contents of a media element.

[3] In the content distribution system according to one aspect of the present invention, when the terminal device performs processing according to the rule, the information of the information element of the multimedia element is converted into a multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself. It is characterized by further including a multimedia element conversion unit for conversion.

[4] The multimedia distribution device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with device-structured data indicating a reproducible multimedia element and an acquireable multimedia element that is an acquireable multimedia element in its own function. For each type of terminal device and multimedia content, the multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the multimedia element. It is a multimedia distribution device used in a content distribution system having a common knowledge database in which a correspondence relationship with a rule for playing multimedia content distributed by a terminal device is defined. It is characterized in that content structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the content and the type of the content is added to the content and distributed to an unspecified number of terminal devices.

[5] The terminal device according to one aspect of the present invention is a multimedia distribution device that adds and distributes content-structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia content and the type of the content to the content. And, for each type of the content, the multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the multimedia using the multimedia element. It is a terminal device used in a content distribution system having a common knowledge database in which a correspondence relationship with a rule for playing media contents is defined, and can be acquired with the multimedia element that can be played by its own function. Device-structured data indicating the acquireable multimedia element, which is a multimedia element, is assigned, and when playing the content, the common knowledge database is referred to, and the content is described according to the rule corresponding to the type of the content. It is characterized by performing a reproduction process.

[6] The program according to one aspect of the present invention is a terminal device to which device-structured data indicating a reproducible multimedia element and an acquireable multimedia element which is an acquireable multimedia element in its own function is added. And, for each type of multimedia content, the multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the multimedia element are used. , A program that causes a computer to execute the processing of the multimedia distribution device used in the content distribution system, which has a common knowledge database that defines the correspondence with the rules for playing the multimedia content distributed by the terminal device. The computer is made to function as a means for adding content-structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia contents and the types of the contents to the contents and distributing them to the terminal device. It is a program for.

[7] The program according to one aspect of the present invention is a multimedia distribution device that adds and distributes content-structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia content and the type of the content to the content. For each type of content, the multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the multimedia using the multimedia element. A program that causes a computer to execute the processing of a terminal device used in a content distribution system that has a common knowledge database that defines the correspondence with the rules for playing the content of the above. Device-structured data indicating the reproducible multimedia element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is the reproducible multimedia element, is attached, and when the content is reproduced, the common knowledge database is referred to and the content is replayed. This is a program for functioning as a means for processing the reproduction of the content according to the above-mentioned rule corresponding to the type of the content.

The present invention can provide a content distribution system, a multimedia distribution device, a terminal device, and a program in which a receiving device can play back content distributed to an unspecified number of devices according to the function of the device itself. ..

It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the content distribution system by embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the content structured data by the same embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structural example of the device structure data by the same embodiment. It is a figure explaining each correspondence of the definition information of the content and the rule given to the content in the common knowledge database 3 by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the description example of the rule set corresponding to the content class in the common knowledge database 3 by the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the multimedia distribution server 1 of the content distribution system in the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the user device 2 of the content distribution system in the same embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the content distribution system by the same embodiment, and shows the processing procedure on the multimedia distribution server side. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the content distribution system by the same embodiment, and shows the processing procedure on the user device side.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, in the content distribution system of the present embodiment, the multimedia distribution server 1, the user devices 2_1, 2_2, ..., 2_n, the common knowledge database 3 and the like are each connected via the network 100. The network 100 is a wired or wireless information communication network, and is composed of the Internet and the like.

The multimedia distribution server 1 is a server owned by a content provider such as a broadcasting station, and has multimedia contents by network 100 or digital broadcasting (BS (Broadcasting Satellite) digital broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting) via antenna 1_A. (Hereinafter, simply referred to as content) is being distributed.
Further, the multimedia distribution server 1 uses content structured data including each of the multimedia elements indicating the individual elements constituting the contents and the content types indicating the contents of the contents as the content metadata for each of the contents to be distributed. Deliver in addition to the content. Here, the multimedia distribution server 1 may use either a configuration in which the content-structured data is distributed together with the content, or a configuration in which the content-structured data is distributed before or after the content.

Further, the multimedia distribution server 1 may distribute the content and each of the content structured data corresponding to the content from either the network 100 or the antenna 1_A. For example, the content may be distributed by broadcasting from the antenna 1_A, synchronized with the distribution of the content, and the content structured data may be transmitted via the network 100.
Further, the content in the present embodiment is not distributed by specifying the type of the user device such as a television receiver, a radio receiver, or a home electric appliance as a receiving terminal, and is distributed to all types of terminals. Only one is delivered in common.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of content structured data in the present embodiment. Content-structured data is data that is distributed in association with content and defines the content of the content. Content structured data is described in Content Presentation Language (CPL). As shown in the figure, the content structured data includes information on the content element (CE) and information on the content class (CC). In the illustrated example, the content element represents including text, image, video, audio, and data. In addition, this data includes information indicating that the seismic intensity at position P is 5, and information indicating that the evacuation center at position P is "XX gymnasium". Further, in the illustrated example, it is shown that the content class is "emergency disaster information". The content class is information representing the type of content, and may represent a class such as "sports game video" or "latest news" in addition to "emergency disaster information".

Returning to FIG. 1, each of the user devices 2_1, 2_2, ..., 2_n is a television receiver, a radio receiver, white goods (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.), etc., and is a multimedia that can be reproduced by its own function. Device-structured data indicating the media element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is the retrievable multimedia element, is attached. Hereinafter, each of the user devices 2_1, 2_2, ..., 2_n may be collectively referred to as the user device 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of device structured data in this embodiment. Device-structured data is data that defines the functionality of a device that receives content. The device structured data represents a multimedia element that can be reproduced by the user device 2 and an acquireable multimedia element that is an acquireable multimedia element. The device structured data is described in the Function Description Language (FDL). More specifically, the device structured data includes information on playable element (PE) and information on available (obtainable) content (UC). The playable content element indicates the type of content element that the device can play. For example, elements such as text, image, video, audio, and data can be defined as playable content elements. In the illustrated example, audio is defined as a playable content element. Available content indicates the type of data that the device can acquire. As the usable contents, for example, GPS position information, voice information, altitude information, temperature information, image information and the like can be defined. In the illustrated example, GPS location information is defined as available content. The device structured data may be stored in the storage unit of the user device 2, or may be configured to access and refer to a preset URL.

The common knowledge database 3 shows information on each of the class definitions and rules, and each of the user devices 2_1 to 2_n can be accessed via the network 100. The class definition includes each of the content class, the multimedia element class, the information element, and the value schema, and is set corresponding to the content class information of the content. Here, the content class corresponds to the content class information and indicates the type of content. The multimedia element class corresponds to multimedia element information and indicates the type of multimedia element that constitutes each content. The information element indicates the type of information that the content notifies by each multimedia element. The value schema represents a dataset that is a combination of data reported by an information element. In the common knowledge database 3, the correspondence between the above-mentioned content class, multimedia element class, information element, and value schema is shown as definition information for each type of content. That is, in the common knowledge database 3, the multimedia element, the information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the user device 2 are multimedia for each type of content. It stores the correspondence with the rules for playing the contents of.

The user device 2 refers to the above-mentioned common knowledge database 3 when reproducing the content in accordance with the device-structured data, and performs the reproduction processing of the content according to the rules corresponding to the type of the content.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the correspondence between the definition information of the content in the common knowledge database 3 and the rules given to the content. Note that FIG. 4A shows the definition of the content class. Further, FIG. 4B shows a rule.
In FIG. 4, as the content class, each type of content of "emergency disaster information" and "sports match result" is shown as an example. This content class is a definition corresponding to the content class information of the content structured data (content presentation information), and indicates the information of the type of the content.

In the content class "emergency disaster information", as a definition of the multimedia element class constituting the content, it is shown that the multimedia element is each of "video" and "data". In the multimedia element class "video", it is shown that the information element is each of the "subject" and the "video URL" as the definition of the multimedia element constituting the content. This multimedia element class shows the definition of the information notified by the multimedia element as well as the multimedia element information of the content presentation information and the reproducible multimedia element information of the device function information.

In the information element "subject", as a definition of the value schema constituting this information element, it is shown that the value schema is the "subject name" which is the name of the subject. For example, if the "subject" is an announcer for a broadcasting station, it is defined that the name of the announcer is shown. Further, in the information element "video URL", as a definition of the value schema of the information element, it is shown that the value schema is the data of the "URL (Uniform Resource Locator)" for accessing the video.

In the multimedia element class "data", as the definition of the information element in the multimedia element, it is shown that the content by the multimedia element is each of "seismic intensity information" and "evacuation place information".
In the information element "seismic intensity information", as a definition of the value schema that constitutes the information element, it is shown that the value schema is a set of a character string representing "location" and a numerical value such as "seismic intensity". In the information element "evacuation place information", as a definition of the information element, it is shown that the value schema is the data of the URL for accessing the "evacuation place information".

In the content class "sports match result", as the definition of the content class, it is shown that the multimedia element class constituting the content is each of "video" and "data".
In the multimedia element class "video", as the definition of the information element in the multimedia element, it is shown that the content by the multimedia element is each of "subject" and "video URL". In the information element "subject", it is shown that the value schema is the "subject name" which is the name of the subject as the definition of the value schema constituting the information element. For example, if the "subject" is a pitcher of a baseball team, it is defined that the pitcher's name is shown.

Further, in the information element "video URL", as a definition of the value schema constituting the information element, it is shown that the value schema is the data of the "URL" for accessing the video. In the multimedia element class "data", it is shown that the value schema is "score" as the definition of the value schema that constitutes the information element. In the information element "score", as a definition of the value schema that constitutes the information element, it is shown that the value schema is a set of a character string representing "team" and a numerical value such as "score".

FIG. 4B shows the rules stored in the common knowledge database 3. Rules include rules associated with a particular content class and rules common to all content classes. In the illustrated example, rule 1 and rule 2 are rules common to all content classes. Further, rule 3 and rule 4 are rules associated with the content class "emergency disaster information". Further, rule 5 and rule 6 are rules associated with the content class "sports match result".

As described above, the definition information described in the common knowledge database 3 is used when a content provider such as a broadcasting station that distributes content and a device maker that provides user device 2 generate content presentation information and device function information. Information that is published as a common language. Based on the definition information of the common knowledge database 3, each of the content provider and the device maker can perform the processing of generating the content corresponding to the rule and the processing of playing the content in cooperation with each other based on the same interpretation.
In FIG. 1, the user device 2 refers to the common knowledge database 3 via the network 100, but the user device 2 may be configured in which the definition information in the common knowledge database 3 is written and stored in advance. ..

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of a rule set corresponding to the content class in the common knowledge database 3.
In the description example of FIG. 5, the rules given to the contents of the content class “emergency disaster information” in FIG. 4 are shown. FIG. 5 (a) shows the first rule, and FIG. 5 (b) shows the second rule. Each of the rules of FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) is described in the format of [conclusion part] ← [condition part J1], [condition part J2], .... That is, it is described in a form in which the processing of the conclusion part of the rule is executed when all the conditions shown in each condition part in the rule are satisfied.

In FIG. 5A, the condition unit J1 is “EmgEarthquakeInfo (c)” and shows the condition whether the content c is the emergency earthquake information. That is, the condition unit J1 is a condition indicating whether or not the content is information of a specific type. The condition units J2 and J3 are "hasElement (c, e1) and IntensityInfo (e1)", respectively, and indicate the condition whether the content c includes the seismic intensity information e1. That is, the condition unit J2 is a condition indicating whether or not the content has a specific element. Further, the condition unit J3 is a condition indicating whether or not the element is specific information (here, seismic intensity information). The condition unit J4 is “intensity (e1, p)> = 5” and indicates a condition as to whether the seismic intensity information e1 at the current position p is “5” or more. That is, the condition unit J4 has a condition regarding a specific numerical value (here, seismic intensity) obtained from the content element and the position information. The condition units J5 and J6 are "hasElement (c, e2) and ShelterInfo (e2)", respectively, and indicate the condition whether the content c includes the evacuation shelter information e2. That is, the condition unit J5 is a condition indicating whether or not the content has a specific element, like the condition unit J2. Further, the condition unit J6 is a condition indicating whether or not the element of the content is specific information (here, information on the shelter). The conclusion part is "display (d, nearShelterInfo (e2, p))", and indicates the processing to be executed when all the conditions of the condition part J1 to the condition part J6 are satisfied. The conclusion part of this first rule determines the evacuation center closest to the current position p in the evacuation center information e2 presented in the content when all the conditions from the condition part J1 to the condition part J6 are satisfied. The process to be displayed on the display d is shown.

In FIG. 5B, the condition units J1 and J2 are "display (d, e1), ¬hasPreviewFunction (d, contentType (e1))", respectively, and display the text content e1 of the seismic intensity information on the device d. However, the condition that the device d does not have the function of reproducing the text content e1 is shown. Note that "¬" is an operator that negates the boolean value. That is, the condition unit J1 is a condition indicating whether or not the device d is instructed to display the content element e1. Further, the condition unit J2 is a condition indicating whether or not the device has a function of reproducing a specific content type. The condition unit J3 is "hasPreviewFunction (d, contentType (e2))" and indicates a condition that the device d has a function of reproducing the audio content e2. That is, the condition unit J3 is a condition indicating whether or not the device has a function of reproducing a specific content type. The condition unit J4 is "canTranslate (contentType (e1), contentType (e2))" and indicates a condition that the text content e1 can be converted into the audio content e2. That is, the condition unit J4 is a condition indicating whether or not a specific content type can be converted (translated) into another specific content type. The conclusion part is "translate (e1, e2), display (d, e2)", and indicates the processing to be executed when all the conditions from the condition part J1 to the condition part J4 are satisfied. When all the conditions from the condition unit J1 to the condition unit J4 are satisfied, the conclusion unit of the second rule converts the text content e1 into the audio content e2 and reproduces the converted audio content e2.
In FIG. 5, an example in which the rule is provided corresponding to the content class is shown, but there is a case where the rule is set independently of the content class, that is, as a rule common to all contents. .. In this case, regardless of the content class, when any of the contents is delivered, the rule analysis unit 24 executes the analysis processing of the set rule corresponding to the delivered contents. That is, the rule analysis unit 24 analyzes the processing content in the rule.
Further, the content reproduction control unit 29 included in the user device 2 reproduces the information element of the reproducible multimedia element of the user device 2 itself according to the processing content of the above rule.
Further, when the user device 2 performs the process according to the above rule, the user device 2 performs a process of converting the information of the information element of the multimedia element into the reproducible multimedia element of the user device 2 itself.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the multimedia distribution server 1 of the content distribution system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, the multimedia distribution server 1 includes a content generation unit 11, a structured data addition unit 12, a content distribution unit 13, and a storage unit 14.
The content generation unit 11 generates content from a plurality of different multimedia elements supplied from the storage unit 14 or an external device.
The structured data addition unit 12 presents content including content class information indicating the type of content and multimedia element information indicating multimedia elements included in the content, which are described in the content presentation language for each content to be distributed. Generate information.
When transmitting the content, the content distribution unit 13 broadcasts the content presentation information corresponding to the content via the network 100 (see FIG. 1) or via the antenna 1_A (see FIG. 1) to an unspecified number of people. It is delivered to the user device 2 (see FIG. 1).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the user device 2 of the content distribution system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, the user device 2 includes a device control unit 21, a reception unit 22, a definition information acquisition unit 23, a rule analysis unit 24, a data acquisition unit 25, a multimedia element conversion unit 26, an output control unit 27, and a storage unit 28. And each of the content reproduction control unit 29 are provided.
The device control unit 21 controls each unit in the user device 2 in order to perform the processing described in the above-mentioned rule.
The receiving unit 22 receives each of the content and the content presentation information distributed from the multimedia distribution server 1 via the network 100 or via an antenna (not shown), and each of the content and the content presentation information.

The definition information acquisition unit 23 extracts the content class information from the content presentation information. Then, the definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to the common knowledge database 3 via the network 100, and is assigned to the definition information defined for the content class corresponding to the extracted content class information and the content class. Get the rule. The definition information includes a multimedia element class, an information element, a value schema, and the like that each content class has. The definition information acquisition unit 23 outputs the definition information, rules, etc. acquired corresponding to the content class to the rule analysis unit 24.

The rule analysis unit 24 analyzes the rules assigned to the content class of the common knowledge database 3 based on the content presentation information and the device function information. The rule analysis unit 24 determines whether or not the conditions described in the above rules are satisfied by each of the content presentation information and the device function information, and reproduces the content in response to the determination result. Instruct the control unit 21. For example, the rule analysis unit 24 refers to the reproducible multimedia element information in the user device 2 if there is a description of the reproducible multimedia element under the conditions. Then, it is determined whether or not the content matches the multimedia element of the content to be reproduced.

Further, the rule analysis unit 24 refers to the acquireable multimedia element if there is a description of information used for determination in the condition. Then, the rule analysis unit 24 determines whether or not the acquireable data that can be acquired by the user device 2 matches the information used for determining the above conditions. As a result, the rule analysis unit 24 determines whether or not the condition of the rule is satisfied, and if all the conditions in the rule are satisfied, the device control of the execution of the processing of the conclusion unit set in the rule. Instruct unit 21.

The data acquisition unit 25 performs the acquisition process of the acquireable data by the information instructing the acquisition of the acquireable data corresponding to the acquireable multimedia element supplied from the device control unit 21. For example, when the data acquisition unit 25 has a function of acquiring the position information of the user device 2 as the acquireable data, the data acquisition unit 25 acquires the position information as the acquireable data and outputs the position information to the device control unit 21. At this time, when the user device 2 is provided with GPS (Global Positioning System) as a means for acquiring the position information, the position information of the user device 2 can be acquired as the acquireable data, and the position information of the user device 2 can be read from the outside. If it is in the environment, it can be acquired as acquireable data by reading the location information.

The multimedia element conversion unit 26 performs element conversion processing for converting the multimedia element data supplied from the device control unit 21 into data of different types of multimedia elements. In the present embodiment, the multimedia element conversion unit 26 performs element conversion processing for converting data of a type of multimedia element that the user device 2 itself cannot reproduce into data of a type of multimedia element that the user device 2 itself can reproduce. For example, the multimedia element conversion unit 26 performs element conversion from text content in which the multimedia element is text data to audio content in which the multimedia element is audio data content.
The output control unit 27 outputs the content of the multimedia element whose element has been converted by the multimedia element conversion unit 26 from the output unit (not shown). For example, if the converted multimedia element is voice, the output control unit 27 outputs the content of the text by voice from the output unit which is a speaker.

In the storage unit 28, the reproducible multimedia element information and the device function information including the acquireable multimedia element, which defines the function of the user device 2, are described in the function description language, and are written and stored in advance. .. In the reproducible multimedia element information, a multimedia element reproducible by the reproduction function of the user device 2 is written and stored in advance. Acquirable data that can be acquired by the user device 2 is written and stored in the acquireable multimedia element in advance. Both the playable multimedia element information and the acquireable multimedia element can be used to determine the conditions in the rule when the content is played according to the rule.

The content reproduction control unit 29 reproduces the multimedia element of the content that can be reproduced by itself according to the processing content of the rule analyzed by the rule analysis unit 24.

8 and 9 are flowcharts showing an operation example of the content distribution system according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the distribution server. Further, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the user device that receives the content.
Using these flowcharts, the operation of content distribution in the content distribution system according to the present embodiment and the operation of content reproduction in the user device 2 will be described. Hereinafter, as an example, the content class of the delivered content is "emergency disaster information", and the user device 2 will be described as a car stereo. Therefore, in the reproducible multimedia element information, the reproducible multimedia element is voice, and the reproducible multimedia element is the position information of the user device 2 that the reproducible data is acquired from GPS.

First, the operation on the distribution server side will be described with reference to FIG.
Step S11: The content generation unit 11 determines whether or not there is content to be distributed. If there is content, the process proceeds to the next step S12. If there is no content, the processing of the entire flowchart ends.
Step S12: The structured data addition unit 12 sets the content class information and the multimedia element information (content element information) according to the content presentation language based on each of the content types and multimedia elements generated by the content generation unit 11. To generate. Collectively, this information is called content presentation information or content structured data. Then, the structured data addition unit 12 describes the content presentation information including the content class information and the multimedia element information. Here, the content class information is "emergency disaster information", and the multimedia element information is each of "video", "audio", "image", and "text".

Step S13: The content distribution unit 13 distributes the content and the content presentation information.
Then, when the process of step S13 is completed, the process returns to the process of step S11.

Next, the operation on the user device side will be described with reference to FIG.
Step S21: The receiving unit 22 attempts to receive the content distributed by the content distribution unit 13 and the content presentation information. Then, the receiving unit 22 determines whether or not there is reception. If the content or the like is received, the process proceeds to the next step S22. If no content or the like is received, the processing of the entire flowchart is terminated.
Step S22: The receiving unit 22 acquires the content and the content presentation information from the received data.

Step S23: The definition information acquisition unit 23 extracts the content class information and the multimedia element information from the content presentation information.

Step S24: The definition information acquisition unit 23 reads the URL of the common knowledge database 3 stored in the storage unit 28 and accesses the common knowledge database 3. Then, the definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to the common knowledge database 3 and acquires the definition information corresponding to the content class information and the multimedia element information. Here, the acquired content class information indicates "emergency disaster information", and the multimedia element information is each of "video", "audio", "image", "text", and "data".
Since the content class information is "emergency disaster information", the definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to "video" and "data" in the multimedia element class corresponding to the content class "emergency disaster information" as definition information. Then, the definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to the "subject" and the "video URL" as the information elements of the multimedia element class "video". The definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to the value schema of the information element "subject" and the value schema of the information element "video URL".

Further, the definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to "seismic intensity information" and "evacuation location information" as information elements of the multimedia element class "data". The definition information acquisition unit 23 refers to the value schema of the information element “seismic intensity information” and the value schema of the information element “evacuation site information”. As described above, the definition information acquiring unit 23, the definition information set in the content classes "emergency disaster information" corresponding to the indicated content class information "emergency disaster information" is acquired from a common knowledge database 3.

Step S25: The device control unit 21 acquires device structured data.

Step S26: The rule analysis unit 24 sequentially reads rules that match the current content class from the common knowledge database 3 and determines whether or not there are rules that match the conditions. If there is a rule that matches the conditions, the process proceeds to the next step S27. If there is no rule that matches the conditions, the process returns to step S21.

Step S27: When the process proceeds to this step, the rule analysis unit 24 applies a rule that matches the conditions. That is, the rule analysis unit 24 executes the processing of the conclusion unit of the condition.

Here, a specific operation of the rule analysis unit 24 will be described with reference to a specific example of the rule shown in FIG.

First, the first rule of FIG. 5A is referred to. The first rule has six condition parts J1 to J6.
The condition unit J1 represents a condition that the content class is emergency disaster information. If the content class is emergency disaster information, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J1 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J1 is not satisfied.
The condition unit J2 represents the condition that the content c has the content element e1. If the content c has the content element e1, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J2 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J2 is not satisfied.
The condition unit J3 represents a condition that the content element e1 is seismic intensity information. If the content element e1 is seismic intensity information, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J3 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J3 is not satisfied. The condition unit J4 represents a condition that the seismic intensity at the position P is 5 or more with respect to the data which is a content element. If the numerical value of the seismic intensity extracted as the content element is 5 or more, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J4 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J4 is not satisfied.
The condition unit J5 represents a condition that the content c has the content element e2. If the content c has the content element e2, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J5 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J5 is not satisfied.
The condition unit J6 represents a condition that the content element e2 is evacuation shelter information. If the content element e2 is evacuation shelter information, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J6 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J6 is not satisfied.
In this example, since all the conditions J1 to J6 in Fig. 5 (a) are satisfied, the conclusion part "display (d, nearShelterInfo (e2, p))" is applied.

Next, the second rule of FIG. 5B is referred to. The second rule has four condition parts J1 to J4.
The condition unit J1 is "display (d, e1)". Here, the device d is a car stereo, but the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J1 is satisfied because the conclusion unit of the rule of FIG. 5A is applied.
The condition unit J2 is a condition indicating whether or not the device d has a function of presenting the content type of e1 which is an element of the content received by the device d. In the condition unit J2, since the predicate "hasPreviewFunctions" has a negative operator, it is determined that the condition unit J2 is satisfied when the device d does not have the function of presenting the content type of the element e1.
The condition unit J3 is a condition indicating whether or not the content type of e2, which is an element of the content, has a function of being presented by the device d. When it has the function to present, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J3 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J3 is not satisfied.
The condition unit J4 is a condition indicating whether or not the content type of the content element e1 can be converted (translated) into the content type of the content element e2. When the conversion is possible, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J4 is satisfied. In other cases, the rule analysis unit 24 determines that the condition unit J4 is not satisfied.
Since the condition parts J1 to J4 are satisfied as described above, the conclusion part of FIG. 5B is applied. Further, since there are no more rules to be applied, the process returns to the process of step S21.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the content provider that distributes the content distributes the content presentation information together with the content, so that the user device refers to the common knowledge database 3 and the rules according to the content presentation information are set. By performing the process according to the description of the device function information of the user device itself, it is possible to obtain the content for notifying the information corresponding to the situation by the multimedia element suitable for the function of the user device.
Further, according to the present embodiment, since the multimedia element conversion unit 26 for converting the multimedia element is provided, the data of the multimedia element supplied from the device control unit 21 that cannot be reproduced by itself can be reproduced by itself. It can be converted into multimedia element data, emergency information and the like can be provided to the user, and each of the user devices can be used as a means of new content notification. Then, the content reproduction control unit 29 controls to reproduce the multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself.

Further, each program for realizing each function of the multimedia distribution server 1 of FIG. 6 and the user device 2 of FIG. 7 is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium is recorded. You may perform processing related to multimedia distribution and multimedia reproduction by loading and executing it in a computer system. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices.

Further, the "computer system" includes a homepage providing environment (or a display environment) if a WWW system is used.
Further, the "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, or a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system.

Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" is a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short period of time. In that case, it also includes the one that holds the program for a certain period of time, such as the volatile memory inside the computer system that is the server or client. Further, the above program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and further, a so-called difference file which can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system. You may.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and the design and the like within a range not deviating from the gist of the present invention are also included.

1 ... Multimedia distribution server 2 ... User device 11 ... Content generation unit 12 ... Structured data addition unit 13 ... Content distribution unit 14, 28 ... Storage unit 21 ... Device control unit 22 ... Reception unit 23 ... Definition information acquisition unit 24 ... Rule analysis unit 25 ... Data acquisition unit 26 ... Multimedia element conversion unit 27 ... Output control unit 29 ... Content playback control unit

Claims (7)

A multimedia distribution device that adds and distributes content-structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia content and the type of the content to the content, and a multimedia distribution device.
A terminal device in which device structured data indicating the multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself and an acquireable multimedia element that is an acquireable multimedia element is set, and a terminal device.
For each type of content, the multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the terminal device play back the multimedia content. It has a common knowledge database that defines the correspondence with the rules to be performed.
When the terminal device reproduces the content corresponding to the device structured data, the terminal device refers to the common knowledge database and processes the reproduction of the content according to the rule corresponding to the type of the content. Content distribution system. The terminal device
A rule analysis unit that analyzes the processing content of the rule,
The content distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising a content reproduction control unit that reproduces the content of the multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself in accordance with the processing content of the rule. The terminal device
The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the multimedia element conversion unit for converting the information of the information element of the multimedia element into a multimedia element that can be reproduced by itself is further provided when the processing according to the rule is performed. Described content distribution system. The terminal device to which the device-structured data indicating the reproducible multimedia element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is the reproducible multimedia element in the function of the user, is attached, and the above-mentioned for each type of multimedia content. A multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and a multimedia content distributed by a terminal device using the multimedia element. It is a multimedia distribution device used in a content distribution system that has a common knowledge database that defines the correspondence with the rules for playback.
A multimedia distribution device characterized in that content structured data including each of the multimedia elements and the types of the contents constituting the multimedia contents is added to the contents and distributed to the terminal device. A multimedia distribution device that adds and distributes multimedia elements constituting multimedia contents and content structured data including each of the content types to the contents, and the multimedia elements for each type of the contents. And the correspondence relationship between the information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the rule for reproducing the multimedia content using the multimedia element. A terminal device used in a content distribution system equipped with a defined common knowledge database.
Device-structured data indicating the reproducible multimedia element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is a reproducible multimedia element, is added to the function of the user, and when the content is regenerated, the common knowledge database is used. A terminal device for which reference is made and processing for reproduction of the content is performed according to the rule corresponding to the type of the content. The terminal device to which the device-structured data indicating the reproducible multimedia element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is the reproducible multimedia element in the function of the user, is attached, and the above-mentioned for each type of multimedia content. A multimedia element, an information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and a multimedia content distributed by a terminal device using the multimedia element. A program that causes a computer to execute the processing of a multimedia distribution device used in a content distribution system that has a common knowledge database that defines the correspondence with the rules for playback.
The computer
A program for adding content-structured data including each of the multimedia elements constituting the multimedia contents and each of the types of the contents to the contents and functioning as a means for distributing the contents to the terminal device. A multimedia distribution device that adds and distributes multimedia elements constituting multimedia contents and content structured data including each of the content types to the contents, and the multimedia elements for each type of the contents. And the correspondence relationship between the information element indicating the type of information constituting the multimedia element, the information constituting the information element, and the rule for reproducing the multimedia content using the multimedia element. A program that causes a computer to execute processing of a terminal device used in a content distribution system equipped with a defined common knowledge database.
The computer
Device-structured data indicating the reproducible multimedia element and the retrievable multimedia element, which is the reproducible multimedia element, is added to the function of the user, and the common knowledge database is used when the content is regenerated. A program for referring to and functioning as a means for processing the reproduction of the content according to the rule corresponding to the type of the content.

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