KR20060090566A - Contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a content delivery system in which content is delivered from an edge server to a viewing terminal in accordance with a user's request, the user can use all the contents provided by the service provider and specify the user of the viewing terminal. The terminal specific device ID is transmitted from the viewing terminal to the home server, the home server transmits the device ID and the server ID unique to the home server to the data center, and the data center receives a certain viewing based on the information transmitted from the home server. Specifies in which living room the terminal is being used (by the user). When the user selects the content in the edge server, the edge server performs streaming distribution. When the user selects the content not in the edge server, the edge server transmits the content from the service provider server to the edge server by the instruction from the data center. Thereafter, streaming distribution is performed.

Content, viewing terminal, edge server, home server, data center, service provider server, device ID, server ID

Description

Content Distribution System {CONTENTS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM}

1 is a functional block diagram of a content delivery system.

2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a home server 60 and a data center server 10 in a content delivery system.

3 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the room information table 100;

4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the personal authentication information table 110.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the device registration information table 120.

6 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the cash content table 130;

7 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the service registrar management table 140;

8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the content metafile 150.

9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service portal screen;

10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content detail screen;

Fig. 11 is a sequence diagram of a process of registering user's entrance / exit information in a content delivery system.

12 is a sequence diagram of a process from the start of the viewing terminal 50 to the display of the service portal screen in the content delivery system.

Fig. 13 is a view for explaining the flow of processing in which the home server 60 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal and returns the portal screen to the user.

Fig. 14 is a view for explaining the flow of processing from the data center server 10 to receiving the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 and returning the portal screen.

Fig. 15 is a sequence diagram in the case of creating a service portal screen in the service provider server 30;

Fig. 16 is a sequence diagram of processing in a content delivery system until a content detail screen is displayed after a user selects content on a service portal screen.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining the flow of processing from the data center server 10 to receiving the device ID, the HSID, and the content ID from the home server 60 and returning the content detail screen.

Fig. 18 is a sequence diagram of a process from a user pressing a watch button on a content detail screen to watching the content in the content delivery system.

Fig. 19 is a sequence diagram of a process in a content delivery system from when a user presses a viewing reservation button on a content detail screen to a viewing button on a content detail screen becomes valid.

Fig. 20 is a sequence diagram of a process in a content delivery system from when a user presses a purchase button on a content detail screen to a view reservation button or a view button on the content detail screen becomes effective.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: data center server

11: service screen generation unit

12: metafile generator

13: authentication

14: room management department

15: cache content management unit

16: DB management unit

17: room management DB

18: service management DB

20: mansion

21: Mansion Living Room

30: service provider server

40: network

50: viewing terminal

60: home server

61: device certification unit

62: room management department

70: Edge Server

101: EPROM

102: CPU

103: main memory

104: bus

105: peripheral control device

106: nonvolatile memory

107: LAN I / F

601: EPROM

602 CPU

603: main memory

604: the bus

605: Peripheral Control

606 nonvolatile memory device

607: LAN I / F

608: Card Reader I / F

609: electronic tablet I / F

610: Card Reader

611: electronic tablet

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-265397

The present invention relates to a content delivery system for distributing digital content to terminal devices in a building such as an apartment or building via a network.

In recent years, as high-speed data communication networks such as ADSL and optical cables have been established, a content distribution service that distributes digital content (hereinafter, content) such as electronic movies, television programs, and music to a user's viewing terminal using the Internet. Was noticed. The content delivery service is divided into two types: a streaming type in which the user watches on the spot while continuing to distribute content data to the viewing terminal, and a download type in which the user starts watching after all content data has been delivered to the viewing terminal. There are two forms. In the case of streaming type, there is an advantage that real-time viewing, which is a viewing start soon after the viewing request is made possible, is used, but there is a drawback that it is difficult to guarantee the quality of the content when using a network that is unstable to secure the bandwidth of the Internet. On the other hand, in the case of the download type, there is an advantage that the content can be viewed with stable quality without being influenced by the network environment, but there is a drawback that a large waiting time is generated because a large amount of content data has to be downloaded in order to watch.

Therefore, in order to make up for the drawbacks of the two forms described above, Patent Literature 1 constructs a system using a distribution server (hereinafter, referred to as an "edge server") installed in an apartment house such as an apartment. The edge server is connected to the viewing terminal owned by the user through an internal network that can secure a stable band, and stores a part of the contents provided by the service provider in the edge server in advance. The edge server streams and distributes the content in the edge server to the viewing terminal in response to a viewing request from the user. For this reason, in the above system, the content delivery service which can guarantee the quality of the content to be delivered to the user and can watch in real time can be realized.

In the above-mentioned content delivery system, since the edge server is provided in each collective house, it is necessary to limit the disk capacity of the edge server in order to reduce the cost, and the number of contents that can be accumulated in the edge server is limited. For this reason, the user can use only some of the contents accumulated in the service provider server, which may have been originally available, but only some contents determined by the service provider and distributed to the edge server in advance.

In addition, in the conventional content delivery service such as Patent Document 1, authentication of the viewing terminal itself when distributing content prevents the use of a service by an illegal terminal. However, since the location and user of the viewing terminal cannot be specified, even if an unauthorized third party other than the service contractor is used, the service is used due to theft or rental of a valid viewing terminal, and the validity of the billing according to the service usage situation is guaranteed. Will not be. For this reason, the problem arises that the billing opportunity originally obtained by a service provider is lost, for example by sharing a viewing terminal between residents in an apartment.

According to the present invention, the user can use all contents provided by the service provider as well as the contents in the edge server in a condominium such as a mansion, and also prevent the illegal use of the service by specifying the use place and user of the viewing terminal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content delivery system.

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the content delivery system includes a viewing terminal in a living room, an authentication server (hereinafter referred to as a "home server") in a living room, and a distribution server (hereinafter referred to as a home server) in the same building. , An "edge server", a content server owned by a service provider (hereinafter referred to as a "service provider server"), and a management server (hereinafter referred to as a "data center server"). The building is connected through an internal network. Buildings, service provider servers, and data center servers are connected via the Internet.

The viewing terminal reproduces means for storing terminal-specific authentication information for authenticating itself, communication means for communicating with a home server, a service provider server, or an edge server, and content data streamed and distributed from the edge server. It has a reproducing means for.

The home server further includes means for storing authentication information unique to the home server for authenticating itself, means for managing entry and exit information of a user, means for authenticating a viewing terminal in a living room, and communication with a data center. Has a communication means.

Further, the data center server manages entrance / exit management means for managing entrance / exit information of each living room, service management means for managing users registered with the service and viewing terminals available to the user, and contents in the edge server. Has content management measures.

Here, the home server transmits the authentication information received from the viewing terminal and its own authentication information to the data center server, so that the data center server can specify the living room in which the viewing terminal is used. And based on the specific terminal and the living room, by confirming the user in both the entrance / exit room management means and the service management means, it becomes possible to authenticate whether the user currently occupied is a user who can use the service.

The edge server further includes means for managing content in an edge server that a user can immediately watch, and means for downloading content data instructed from a data center from a service provider server.

The service provider server further includes means for managing all content that can be provided to the user, means for transmitting content data to the edge server in response to a request from the edge server, and a viewing license for viewing the managed content. Have a means to manage

Here, when the user selects the content to be viewed, if the content is not in the edge server, the content is transmitted from the service provider to the edge server and registered in the edge server. After the registration is completed, the viewing license is transmitted from the service provider server to the viewing terminal, and streaming distribution of the content is performed from the edge server. Accordingly, the user can watch arbitrary content.

<Example>

Hereinafter, a content delivery system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although it demonstrates using the application example to a mansion below, it is not limited to a mansion and can apply to a hotel, an office, etc., for example.

1 is a functional block diagram of a content delivery system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown, the content delivery system has a data center server 10, an apartment 20, and a service provider server 30, and is connected to each other via a network 40. The living room 21 and the edge server 70 are located in the apartment 20, and the viewing terminal 50 and the home server 60 are provided in the living room 21. In addition, the number of the apartment 20, the service provider server 30, and the living room 21 is not specifically limited.

The data center server 10 includes a service screen generation unit 11, a metafile generation unit 12, an authentication unit 13, an entrance / exit management unit 14, a cache content management unit 15, a database management unit (hereinafter referred to as "DB"). Management unit ") 16, a room management database (hereinafter referred to as" room management DB ") 17, and a service management database (hereinafter referred to as" service management DB ") (18).

The service screen generation unit 11 generates various display screens for content services, such as a service portal screen and a content detail screen, which will be described later. At the time of generating each screen, the information stored in various databases is acquired via the DB management part 16 as needed.

The metafile generation unit 12 generates a content metafile (Fig. 8) for returning to the home server 60 when a content viewing request from the home server 60 is requested. The content meta file will be described in detail later.

The authentication unit 13 determines whether various requests from the home server 60 are valid from the authentication information transmitted from the home server 60 and the entrance and exit room information managed by the entrance / exit room management unit 14 when the service is used. Authenticate

The entrance and exit room management unit 14 manages entrance and exit room information transmitted from the home server 60 and accesses various databases through the DB management unit 16 as appropriate.

The cache content management unit 15 manages the content in the edge server 70, and instructs the edge server to download the content when content that is not in the edge server is requested from the user. In addition, various databases are accessed via the DB management unit 16 as appropriate.

The DB manager 16 controls the input / output of data stored in each of the entrance / exit management DB 17 and the service management DB 18.

The entrance / exit management DB 17 stores information about entrance / exit in the living room of each apartment, and has an entrance / exit information table 100 (FIG. 3) and a personal authentication information table 110 (FIG. 4). The data structure of each table is described in detail later.

The service management DB 18 stores information about the content service and stores the device registration information table 120 (FIG. 5), the cache content table 130 (FIG. 6), and the service registrant table 140 (FIG. 7). Has The data structure of each table is described in detail later.

The service provider server 30 includes means for managing all content that can be provided to the user and a viewing license for viewing each content, and means for distributing the content requested for downloading from the edge server 70 to the edge server 70; And means for transmitting the viewing license requested from the viewing terminal 50 to the viewing terminal 50.

The viewing terminal 50 includes communication means such as an HTTP client for transmitting and receiving data to and from the home server 60, the service provider server 30, or the edge server 70, and various types of data received from the home server 60. Display means such as a browser for displaying the display screen to the user, reproduction means for reproducing the content data streamed from the edge server 70, and authentication information unique to the terminal used for authentication of the user (hereinafter referred to as "device ID"). ”).

The home server 60 has a device authentication unit 61 and a room entering / exiting management unit 62.

The device authentication unit 61 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal 50 and performs authentication processing on the viewing terminal. In addition, the device authentication unit 61 transmits to the data center server 10 the authentication information unique to the home server (hereinafter, referred to as "home server ID") used for its own authentication and the device ID received from the viewing terminal 50. .

The room entering / exiting management unit 62 receives the personal authentication information input by the resident at the time of entering and leaving the room, authenticates the resident, and transmits the result to the data center server 10. An authentication device (for example, a card reader) is connected to the entrance / exit management unit 62, and authenticates the occupants using the authentication device.

The edge server 70 includes means for managing contents in the apartment that the residents of the mansion 20 can watch immediately, means for streaming and distributing the content that has been requested to be distributed from the viewing terminal 50 to the viewing terminal 50, It has a communication means such as an HTTP client or an FTP client for downloading the content instructed to download from the data center server 70 from the service provider server 30.

Next, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described.

2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the home server 60 and the data center server 10 in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

First, the hardware configuration of the home server 60 will be described.

The home server 60 includes an EPROM 601, a CPU 602, a main memory 603, a bus 604, a peripheral control device 605, a nonvolatile memory device 606, a LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as “LAN I”). / F ") 607, a card reader interface (hereinafter referred to as" card reader I / F ") 608, and an electronic tablet interface (hereinafter referred to as" electrostatic I / F ") 609. The LAN I / F 607 controls the transmission and reception of data performed through the network 40. The EPROM 601, the CPU 602, the main memory 603, and the peripheral control device 605 are connected to each other via a bus 604. The nonvolatile memory device 605, the LAN I / F 607, the card reader I / F 608, and the digital I / F 609 are connected to the peripheral control device 605, respectively. The nonvolatile memory device 605 is composed of a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like.

The card reader 610 and the electronic tablet 611 are connected to the card reader I / F 608 and the electronic tablet I / F 609, respectively.

In the EPROM 601, a boot program is stored. The nonvolatile memory device 605 stores various programs for realizing the functions of the device authentication unit 61 and the room entering / exiting management unit 62 described above. When the home server 60 starts up, the CPU 602 operates according to this boot program. The CPU 602 loads the various programs from the nonvolatile memory device 605 into the main memory 603 by a boot program. The CPU 602 executes various programs loaded into the main memory 603 to execute the LAN I / F 607, the card reader I / F 608, and the electronic I / F through the peripheral control device 605. Signals are transmitted and received to 609 to communicate with the data center server 10 and the viewing terminal 50 and to control the card reader 610 and the electronic tablet 611.

In addition, although a card reader is assumed as an authentication device here, it is not limited to this. For example, a biometric authentication device such as a fingerprint authentication device or a vein authentication device may be used. Although the card reader I / F 608 and the electronic tablet I / F 609 are described as interfaces, other interfaces can be added and deleted as appropriate depending on the authentication device or the device to be controlled.

Next, the hardware configuration of the data center server 10 will be described.

The data center 10 includes an EPROM 101, a CPU 102, a main memory 103, a bus 104, a peripheral control device 105, a nonvolatile memory device 106, and a LAN interface (hereinafter referred to as “ LAN I / F ") 107.

The LAN I / F 107 controls transmission and reception of data performed through the network 40. The EPROM 101, the CPU 102, the main memory 103, and the peripheral control device 105 are connected to each other via the bus 104. The nonvolatile memory device 106 and the LAN I / F 107 are connected to the peripheral control device 105, respectively. The nonvolatile memory device 106 also includes a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like.

The boot program is stored in the EPROM 101. The nonvolatile memory device 106 realizes the functions of the service screen generation unit 11, the metafile generation unit 12, the authentication unit 13, the entrance / exit management unit 14, and the DB management unit 16 described above. Various programs for doing so are stored. When the data center 10 starts up, the CPU 102 operates in accordance with this boot program. The CPU 102 loads the various programs from the nonvolatile memory device 106 into the main memory 103 by a boot program. The CPU 102 executes various programs loaded in the main memory 103 to execute the above-described service screen generation unit 11, metafile generation unit 12, authentication unit 13, entrance / exit management unit 14, And the DB management unit 16 are realized. The entrance / exit management DB 17 and the service management DB 18 described above are also stored in the main memory 103 and the nonvolatile memory device 106.

Next, the data structure of the table stored in each database of the data center server 10 of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIGS.

3 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the room information table 100 of the present embodiment. The entrance / exit room information table 100 is a table indicating which user is currently present in each living room.

As shown in the figure, the entrance / exit information table 100 includes a field 101 for registering a "home server ID" and a field 102 for registering a "personal ID", and one record is configured. The "home server ID" is a character string uniquely determined for the home server installed in each apartment living room. The "personal ID" is a string uniquely determined for each user in order to identify the user.

4 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the personal authentication information table 110 of the present embodiment. The personal authentication information table 110 is a table for managing a user and authentication information for authenticating the user in association.

As shown in the figure, the personal authentication information table 110 includes a field 111 for registering "personal ID" and a field 112 for registering "authentication information" and constitutes one record. The "personal ID" is the same as the personal ID of the entrance / exit information table 100 mentioned above. "Authentication information" is data for authenticating a user, for example, a card ID of an IC card, or biometric information such as a fingerprint or a vein. In addition, although the number of fields of the authentication information in the figure is one, when there are a plurality of authentication means such as card authentication or biometric authentication, a field of authentication information corresponding to each authentication means may be added.

5 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the device registration information table 120 of the present embodiment. The device registration information table 120 is a table for managing each living room and the viewing terminals available in the living room in association with each other. The data center server 10 is used in the living room with reference to the device registration information table 120. A list of device IDs (hereinafter, "device ID list") of possible viewing terminals is registered in each home server.

As shown in the figure, the device registration information table 120 includes a field 121 for registering a "home server ID" and a field 122 for registering a "device ID". The "home server ID" is the same as the home server ID of the entrance information table 100 mentioned above. "Device ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each viewing terminal to identify the viewing terminal.

6 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the cache content table 130 of the present embodiment. The cache content table 130 is a table for managing the content accumulated in the edge server of each mansion. It is assumed here that there is only one type of content distribution service. However, when a plurality of services are provided, a cache content table is created for each service.

As shown, the cache content table 130 includes a field 131 for registering an "edge server ID" and a field 132 for registering a "content ID" ("CID"). It is composed. The "edge server ID" is a string uniquely determined for each edge server in order to identify the edge server installed in each apartment. "Content ID" is a character string uniquely determined for each content to identify each content.

7 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the service registrant management table 140 of the present embodiment. The service registrant management table 140 is a table for managing a user who can use a service and a viewing terminal that can be used by the user. It is assumed here that there is only one type of content distribution service. However, when a plurality of services are provided, a cache content table is created for each service.

As shown, the service registrant management table 140 includes a field 141 for registering "device ID", a field 142 for registering "personal ID", and a field 143 for registering "age". With one record is configured. The "device ID" is the same as the device ID of the device registration information table 120 mentioned above, and the "personal ID" is the same as the personal ID of the room information table 100 mentioned above. "Age" is the age of the user, which is required when the content has an age restriction. In addition, although the user information displayed here is only age, a field such as "gender" may be increased in accordance with the use condition of the content. Further, the user information may be managed in another table.

Next, in the content distribution system of the present embodiment, details of the content metafile 150 that the viewing terminal 10 acquires from the data center server 10 via the home server 60 at the time of viewing of the content are shown in FIG. It demonstrates using 8. The content metafile 150 describes information necessary for the user to watch the content.

8 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the content metafile 150 of the present embodiment.

As shown, the content metafile 150 includes the "CONTENT_ID" 151, the "ENCODE_ID" 152, the "LICENSE_URL" 153, the "LICENSE_ID" 154, the "SERVER_URL" 155, and the "SERVER_TYPE". (156). "CONTENT_ID" 151 is a content ID for identifying each content, which is the same as the content ID of the cache content table 130 (FIG. 6) described above. "ENCODE_ID" 151 is an ID for identifying the encryption format of the encrypted and distributed content data. "LICENSE_URL" 153 indicates the URL of the license server accessed by the viewing terminal 50 when acquiring the viewing license including the decryption key of the encrypted content data, the viewing conditions, and the like. "LICENSE_ID" 154 is an ID for identifying a viewing license. "SERVER_URL" 155 represents the URL of the edge server that distributes the content data to the viewing terminal 50. "SERVER_TYPE" 156 indicates whether the delivery type of the content of the edge server is either a streaming type or a download type. In addition, this data structure is an example to the last, You may increase or decrease an item as needed.

Next, the service portal screen and the content detail screen generated by the service screen generation unit 11 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 10.

9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the service portal screen of the present embodiment. The service portal screen is a screen displayed when the user activates the viewing terminal 50, and a list of contents that can be viewed by the user is displayed.

As shown in the figure, the service portal screen is composed of a list of all contents 201, a list of contents in a mansion 202, and a list of purchased contents 203. In the all contents list 201, a list of all contents that the service provider can provide to the user is displayed. In the content list 202 in the apartment, a list of contents accumulated in the edge server 70 of the apartment and immediately available for viewing is displayed. The purchase completed content list 203 displays a list of content that the user has purchased. For example, when the user wants to purchase the content that the user can watch immediately, the content may be selected from the content list 202 in the apartment.

10 is an example of the content details screen of this embodiment. The content detail screen is a screen displayed when the user selects content on the service portal screen of FIG. 9, and detailed information of each content is displayed.

As shown in the drawing, the content detail screen includes a title 211, a playback time 212, a price 213, a content introduction 214, a purchase button 215, a viewing reservation button 216, and a viewing button 217. Consists of. The title 211 is a title of the content. The playback time 212 is the playback time of the content. The price 213 is the price of the content. The content introduction 214 is a content introduction of the content. The purchase button 215 is a button displayed when the content is not purchased, and when pressed, the content purchase process is performed. The viewing reservation button 216 is a button displayed when content has been purchased and is not accumulated in the edge server 70. When viewed, the viewing reservation button 216 transmits content data from the service provider server 30 to the edge server 70. The process starts. The viewing button 217 is a button displayed when the content has been purchased and accumulated in the edge server. When the viewing button 217 is pressed, viewing processing is started. In addition, each button may be displayed or not displayed depending on a situation, and all buttons may be displayed, and may be enabled or disabled for every button.

Next, the flow of a series of processes from the user entering the living room to viewing the content on the viewing terminal in the content delivery system of the present embodiment will be described. In the following, largely until the user enters the living room and the entrance / exit information is registered, until the user starts the viewing terminal to display the service portal screen, and the user selects the content from the service portal screen, the content The description will be divided into four stages until the detailed screen is displayed and from when the user presses a button on the content detail screen to viewing of the content. In this example, a home server ID (hereinafter referred to as "HSID") is used as authentication information unique to the home server used for authentication of the home server, and a device ID is used as authentication information unique to the device used for authentication of the device.

First, the flow of registration processing of entrance / exit room information performed when a user enters a living room in the content delivery system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

11 is a sequence diagram of a process of registering user's entrance / exit information in the content delivery system of the present embodiment. Reference numeral 80 in the drawing denotes a user.

First, the user 80 transmits personal authentication information such as a card ID to a home server through an authentication device such as a card reader when entering the living room (S1001).

Subsequently, the home server 60 specifies an individual from the received personal authentication information (S1002). Here, the home server 60 registers a table (hereinafter referred to as "personal ID table") that associates personal authentication information such as a personal ID and a card ID of a user who can enter the living room. The home server 60 specifies a personal ID corresponding to the received personal authentication information with reference to the personal ID table. Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the specified personal ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1003).

Subsequently, the data center server 10 adds the received personal ID and HSID to the room information table 100 (S1004), and returns a normal termination message to the home server 60 (S1005).

Subsequently, the home server 60 performs the revision process of the electronic tablet 611 (S1006), and presents a normal end message to the user 80 (S1007).

Next, the process from the user 80 starting the viewing terminal 50 to displaying the service portal screen in the content delivery system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14.

12 is a sequence diagram of a process from the user 80 starting up the viewing terminal 50 to displaying the service portal screen in the content delivery system of the present embodiment.

First, the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID unique to the viewing terminal 50 to the home server 60 by describing it in an HTTP header or an HTTP body (S1101).

Subsequently, the home server 60 refers to the device ID list registered in the home server 60 and authenticates whether the received device ID is the ID of a legitimate device available in the living room (S1102). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the authenticated device ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1103).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires the user ID which can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and, from the acquired user ID and the received HSID, whether the user 80 who is in the living room can use the viewing terminal 50 can be authenticated. (S1104).

Next, the data center server 10 transmits a request for a list of all contents to the service provider server 30 (S1105). Then, the service provider server 30 returns the list of all contents requested by the data center server 10 to the data center server 10 (S1106).

Subsequently, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID of the viewing terminal 50 to the service provider server 30 (S1107). Then, the service provider server 30 obtains a list of contents purchased by the viewing terminal 30 from the received device ID (S1108). After that, the service provider server 30 returns the acquired list of purchased contents to the data center server 10 (S1109).

Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1110). Thereafter, the data center server 10 creates a service portal screen from the above-described various contents list (S1111) and returns to the home server 60 (S1112).

Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the service portal screen received from the data center 10 to the viewing terminal 50.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the flow of processing in which the home server 60 of the present embodiment receives the device ID from the viewing terminal and returns the portal screen to the user.

First, the home server 60 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal 50 (S1201). Subsequently, the home server 60 refers to the device ID list registered in the home server 60 and authenticates whether or not the received device ID is registered (S1202). In the case of an unregistered device ID, the home server 60 returns an error page to the viewing terminal 50 (S1203) and ends the processing. In the case of the registered device ID, the home server 60 obtains the HSID unique to the home server 60 (S1204). Subsequently, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and the HSID to the data center server 10 (S1205), and receives a portal screen returned from the data center server 10 (S1206). Finally, the home server 60 returns the received portal screen to the viewing terminal (S1207), and ends the processing.

14 is a view for explaining the flow of processing from the data center server 10 of this embodiment to receiving the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 and returning the portal screen to the home server 60.

First, the data center server 10 receives the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 (S1301). Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140, and acquires the user ID which can use a service using the device from the received device ID (S1302). Next, the data center server 10 references the entrance / exit information table 100, and acquires the user ID of the user who lives in the living room from the received HSID (S1303). Next, the data center server 10 confirms whether the user ID acquired in S1302 is included in the user ID acquired in S1303, and authenticates whether a user who can use the service is in the living room (S1304). If not, the data center server 10 returns an error page to the home server 60 (S1305) and ends the processing. In the case of rehabilitation, the data center server 10 obtains a list of all contents that the user can watch from the service provider server 30 (S1306).

Next, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30, and acquires a list of purchased contents (S1307). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1308). Subsequently, the data center server 10 creates a service portal screen for displaying to the user from the list of various contents acquired in S1306 to S1307 (S1309). Finally, the data center server 10 returns the created service portal screen to the home server 60 (S1310), and ends the processing.

In addition, although the service portal screen was created in the data center server 10 here, you may create in the service provider server 30. FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram when the service portal screen is created in the service provider server 30, and will be described below. In addition, since S1401-S1404 are the same as S1101-1104 of FIG. 12, description is abbreviate | omitted and it demonstrates from S1405.

The data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1405). Thereafter, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID and the content ID list of the content in the apartment to the service provider server 30 (S1406).

Subsequently, the service provider server 30 obtains a list of purchased contents from the received device ID, and creates a service portal screen from the list of received content IDs, the list of all contents, and the list of purchased contents (S1407). Thereafter, the service provider server 30 returns the service portal screen to the data center server 10 (Sl408).

Subsequently, the data center server 10 returns the service portal screen received from the service provider server 30 to the home server 60 (S1409).

Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the service portal screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1410).

Next, the process from the user selecting content on the service portal screen to displaying the content detail screen in the content delivery system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 17.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of processing from the content distribution system of the present embodiment until the content detail screen is displayed after the user selects the content on the service portal screen.

First, when the content on the service portal screen is selected by the user (S1501), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1502).

Next, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1503). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and content ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1504).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires the user ID which can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and, from the acquired user ID and the received HSID, whether the user 80 who is in the living room can use the viewing terminal 50 can be authenticated. (S1505). Thereafter, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1506).

Next, the service provider server 30 returns the content information of the content to the data center server 10 from the content ID received from the data center server 10 (S1507). Here, the content information includes content detailed information such as the title and content introduction of the content, usage conditions of the content such as age restriction, and the like.

Subsequently, the data center server 10 checks the use condition of the content included in the received content information (S1508). Specifically, for example, when the use condition of the content is "the age of a user is 18 years old or more", the list of the occupants and their ages is acquired from the entrance / exit information table 100 and the service registrant table 140. do. If there is a user 18 years of age or older in the acquired list, the content is allowed to be delivered. If there is only a user who is less than 18 years old, the content is not allowed. Thereafter, the data center server 10 creates a content detail screen from the received content information (S1509), and returns the created content detail screen to the home server 60 (S1510). In addition, the detail of the creation process of a content detail screen is mentioned later.

Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content details screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1511).

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining the flow of processing from the data center server 10 of the present embodiment to receiving the device ID, the HSID, and the content ID from the home server 60 and returning the content detail screen to the home server 60. FIG. .

First, the data center server 10 receives the device ID, the HSID, and the content ID from the home server (S1601). Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140, and acquires the user ID which can use a service using the device from the received device ID (S1602). Next, the data center server 10 references the entrance / exit information table 100, and acquires the user ID of the user who lives in the living room from the received HSID (S1603). Next, the data center server 10 confirms whether or not the user ID acquired in S1602 is included in the user ID acquired in S1603, thereby authenticating whether the user who can use the service is in the living room (S1604).

If not, the data center server 10 returns an error page to the home server 60 (S1605), and ends the process. In the case of rehabilitation, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30, and acquires the content information including the detailed information of the content, the use condition, and the like (S1606). ). Subsequently, the data center server 10 checks whether the use condition of the content such as age restriction is satisfied (S1607). If it is not satisfied, the process proceeds to S1605. If the content is satisfied, a content detail screen is created from the detailed information of the received content (S1608). Next, the data center server 10 checks whether or not the received content ID has been purchased with reference to the list of purchased contents acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen (S1609). If not, the data center server 10 validates only the purchase button 215 (FIG. 10) of the content details screen (S1610), returns the content details screen to the home server (S1614), and ends the process. . When the purchase is completed, the data center server 10 checks whether the received content ID has been accumulated in the edge server by referring to the list of contents in the apartment acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen (S1611). If not, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing reservation button 216 (FIG. 10) of the content details screen (S1612), and proceeds to S1614. When the accumulation is completed, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing button 217 (FIG. 10) of the content details screen, and proceeds to S1614.

Next, the process from the user pressing a button on the content detail screen to viewing the content in the content delivery system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 20. As described above, there are three buttons displayed on the content detail screen, the purchase button, the viewing reservation button, and the viewing button, depending on the purchase or accumulation state of the content. Hereinafter, each case will be described. In addition, as described later, the message &quot; content registration &quot; is displayed instead of the button from pressing the viewing reservation button until the viewing button becomes valid.

First, the case where only the viewing button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 18.

18 is a sequence diagram of a process from the user pressing the watch button on the content detail screen to watching the content in the content delivery system of the present embodiment.

First, when the viewing button on the content details screen is pressed by the user (S1701), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1702).

Subsequently, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1703). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and content ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1704).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires the user ID which can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and, from the acquired user ID and the received HSID, whether the user 80 who is in the living room can use the viewing terminal 50 can be authenticated. Is performed (S1705). Thereafter, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID and the device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1706).

Subsequently, the service provider server 30 creates, from the received content ID and device ID, a content metafile 150 (FIG. 8) including license information required for viewing the content and the like in the data center server 10. Reply (S1707).

Next, the data center server 10 updates the content of the received content metafile 150 if necessary (S1708). Specifically, for example, the place information of the viewing terminal 50 is managed by the data center server 10, but the service provider server 30 knows which apartment the viewing terminal 50 is installed in. It may not be. In this case, since the service provider server cannot include the URL of the edge server 70, which is the distribution server, in the content metafile 150, the data center server 10 stores the URL of the edge server 70 in the content metafile ( 150). After updating the content metafile 150, the data center server 10 returns the content metafile 150 to the home server 60 (S1709).

Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content metafile 150 received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1710). Thereafter, the viewing terminal 50 refers to the content metafile 150 and requests the service provider server 30 to view the viewing license including the key of the encrypted content (S1711).

Next, the service provider server 30 returns the viewing license of the content to the viewing terminal 50 based on the request from the viewing terminal 50 (S1712). In this case, since the service provider server 30 manages the license ID and the device ID in association with each other, the viewing terminal 50 refers to the content metafile distributed to the other viewing terminals to illegally view the viewing license. Even if requested, since the combination of the license ID and the device ID is not made, the viewing terminal 50 cannot obtain the viewing license.

Subsequently, the viewing terminal 50 issues a content delivery request to the edge server 70 with reference to the content metafile 150 (S1713). Then, the content data distributed from the edge server 70 is decrypted by the decryption key included in the viewing license and viewed (S1714).

Next, the case where only the viewing reservation button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 19.

19 is a sequence diagram of a process in the content delivery system of the present embodiment after the user presses the viewing reservation button on the content detail screen until the content data is accumulated in the edge server and the viewing button on the content detail screen becomes valid. In addition, since S1801-S1805 are the same as S1701-Sl705 of FIG. 18, description is abbreviate | omitted. A description will be given below from S1806.

After S1805, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID to the edge server 70 (S1806).

Subsequently, the edge server 70 starts the process of downloading and registering the content of the content ID received from the data center server 10 from the service provider server 30 and returns a registration start message to the data center server 10. (S1807).

Next, the data center server 10 turns on the flag during registration of the content (S1808). Thereafter, the data center server 10 displays a message being registered on the content details screen (S1809), and returns the updated content details screen to the home server 60 (S1810).

Next, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1811).

On the other hand, the edge server 70 requests the content data from the service provider server 30 using the HTTP protocol, the FTP protocol, or the like after S1807 (S1812), and when the download of the content data is completed (S1813), registration is completed. The message is transmitted to the data center server 10 (S1814).

Subsequently, the data center server 10 turns the registration completion flag ON (S1815), and returns a flag processing completion message to the edge server 70 (S1816).

Subsequently, the viewing terminal 50 requests the data center 10 to check the registration status of the content via the home server 60 after S1811 (S1817 and S1818).

Next, the data center server 10 checks whether the registration completion flag is ON (S1819). Thereafter, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing button of the content detail screen (S1820), and returns the updated content detail screen to the viewing terminal 50 via the home server 60 (S1821, S1822). .

Next, the case where only the purchase button is enabled will be described with reference to FIG. 20.

20 is a sequence diagram of processing in the content delivery system of the present embodiment from when the user presses the purchase button on the content detail screen until the viewing reservation button or viewing button on the content detail screen becomes effective. In addition, since S1901-S1905 are the same as S1701-S1705 of FIG. 18, description is abbreviate | omitted. A description will be given from S1906 below.

After S1905, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID and the content ID to the service provider server 30 (S1906).

Subsequently, the service provider server 30 performs a process for purchasing the content of the received content ID to the viewing terminal 50 of the received device ID (S1907). After that, the purchase completion message is returned to the data center server 10 (S1908).

Next, the data center server 10 refers to the list of contents in the apartment acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen, and checks whether the purchased content is accumulated in the edge server (S1909). The data center server 10 updates the content details screen (S1910). Specifically, when the purchased content is accumulated in the edge server, only the viewing button is enabled, and when it is not stored in the edge server, only the viewing reservation button is enabled. After updating the content details screen, the data center server 10 returns the content details screen to the home server 60 (S1911).

Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1912).

In the above-described embodiment, the device is authenticated on the home server, but as another embodiment, it is conceivable that all authentication is performed on the data center server without authentication on the home server. Specifically, the home server immediately sends the device ID and the HSID to the data center server after receiving the device ID from the viewing terminal. Then, the data center server refers to the device registration information table to authenticate whether the received device ID and the HSID correspond to each other. As a result, since the device registration information is managed only in the data center, there is an advantage that the information can be easily updated.

In addition, although the above-mentioned embodiment assumes the content delivery service, in the present invention, regarding the system of "specifying the use place and user of a terminal", the application destination is not limited to the content delivery service, Applicable if the service is used as a terminal. Hereinafter, as an example of the embodiment of the system, a system for specifying the use place and the user of the PC will be briefly described when the PC is used in the living room of the office.

The system has a PC in the living room, a home server in the living room, and a data center server, and the PC has a means for transmitting a PC-specific device ID to the home server when the user uses the home server, when the user enters and leaves the room. Means for performing user authentication, means for transmitting the entrance / exit information to the data center server along with the home server ID unique to the home server, means for receiving and authenticating the device ID when the user uses the PC, and authentication of the PC. Means for transmitting information and authentication information of a home server to a data center server, said data center server having entrance and exit management means for performing entrance and exit management of a living room, and service management means for managing a user and a PC in association.

First, when a user enters the living room, user authentication is performed at the home server. After authentication, the home server transmits the user ID and home server ID of the entered user to the data center server, and the home server ID and user ID are managed by the room management means of the data center server.

Next, when the user uses the PC, the PC transmits the device ID to the home server, and device authentication is performed at the home server. After authentication, the home server sends the device ID and home server ID to the data center server. The data center server specifies a user ID corresponding to the device ID received by the service management means, and also specifies a user ID in the living room using the PC from the home server ID received by the entrance / exit management means. . By checking whether the user ID corresponding to the device ID is included in the user ID being occupied, the data center server can determine whether a user who can use the PC is in the living room.

In addition, according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to identify a person living in the living room, so that it is possible to set a content viewing condition more precisely than a conventional service, such as content that cannot be viewed without a parent.

In the related art, the user can only watch limited content in the edge server, and other contents cannot be viewed until the service provider updates the content in the edge server. It is possible for a user to select content to be watched from all contents other than contents in an edge server, without incurring a cost.

According to the present invention, when the user uses the content distribution service, authentication of the viewing terminal, the living room, and the user is enabled, so that the user and the service provider can provide a secure service environment that prevents unauthorized use of the service.

Claims (10)

Terminal equipment, With an indoor server, An indoor network system having an indoor content distribution server connected to the terminal device and the indoor server via an indoor network; A management server connected through the indoor network system and the network; Content delivery server As a content delivery system comprising: The management server includes an entrance / exit information table including an indoor server ID that is an ID unique to an indoor server and a user ID that is an ID unique to a user of the terminal device, a device ID that is an ID unique to the terminal device, and the user ID. A service registrant table comprising a; and a device registration information table including the indoor server ID and the device ID; The terminal device sends the device ID to the indoor server, The indoor server determines whether the received device ID is included in the device registration information table based on the device registration information table, and if it is included, the indoor server corresponding to the device ID and the device ID. Sends a server ID to the management server, The management server obtains a first user ID corresponding to the received device ID by referring to the service registrant table, and also refers to the entrance / exit information table to display a second user corresponding to the received indoor server ID. A content distribution system that obtains an ID and can use the content stored in the indoor content distribution server or the content distribution server when the first and second user IDs match. The method of claim 1, The indoor server, Means for transmitting the user's entrance / exit information to the management server; Means for receiving a device ID unique to the terminal device; Means for transmitting the device ID and an indoor server ID unique to the server in the home to the management server And And the management server specifies means for specifying a user who is indoors on the basis of the entrance / exit room information, and a living room using the terminal device based on the device ID and the indoor server ID. The method of claim 2, The management server, Means for managing content in the indoor content distribution server Further provided, A content delivery system for instructing the indoor content distribution server to download the content to the indoor content distribution server when a content request other than the content stored in the indoor content distribution server is requested from the terminal device. The method of claim 2, And the indoor content distribution server acquires means for managing the content that can be delivered to the terminal device and content not stored in the indoor content distribution server from the content distribution server according to an instruction of the management server. The method of claim 2, The indoor content distribution server, Means for managing the viewable content without the user accessing the content distribution server connected through the network; Means for downloading the content data instructed from the management server from the content distribution server and sending a download completion message to the management server after the download is completed. And The content distribution server, Content management means for managing the content that can be provided by the service provider; Means for transmitting a list of contents acquired from the content management means to a management server in accordance with a request of the management server; Means for transmitting content data to the indoor content distribution server in accordance with a request from the indoor content distribution server. Equipped with The management server, Cache content management means for managing content in the indoor content distribution server; Means for obtaining a list of contents from the content distribution server; Means for creating a list of contents in the indoor content distribution server acquired from the cache contents management means and a service portal screen on which the contents list is displayed; Means for transmitting the service portal screen to the terminal device upon activation of the terminal device; Means for transmitting, to the terminal device, a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content when the user selects the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for instructing the indoor content distribution server to download the content when the user selects something other than the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for transmitting a content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the indoor content distribution server; Content delivery system having a. The method of claim 2, The indoor content distribution server, Means for managing the viewable content without the user accessing the content distribution server connected through the network; Means for downloading the content data instructed from the management server from the content distribution server and sending a download completion message to the management server after the download is completed. And The content distribution server, Content management means for managing the content that can be provided by the service provider; Receiving a list of contents in the indoor content distribution server stored in the indoor content distribution server from the management server, creating a service portal screen displaying a list of contents acquired from the content management means and a list of contents in the indoor content distribution server; Means for transmitting the created service portal screen to the management server; Means for transmitting content data to the indoor content distribution server in accordance with a request from the indoor content distribution server. Equipped with The management server, Cache content management means for managing content in the indoor content distribution server; Means for transmitting a list of contents in an indoor content distribution server acquired from said cache content management means to said content distribution server at the time of activation of said terminal device, and transmitting a service portal screen received from said content distribution server to said terminal device; , Means for transmitting, to the terminal device, a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content when the user selects the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for instructing the indoor content distribution server to download the content when the user selects something other than the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for transmitting a content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the indoor content distribution server; Content delivery system having a. A system for providing a service to a terminal in an indoor living room through a network, Terminal in the living room, Indoor server in the living room, Management server connected to the terminal and the indoor server through the network Including, The indoor server, Means for storing authentication information unique to an indoor server for authenticating itself; Means for receiving and authenticating user authentication information; Means for transmitting the authentication information of the user and the authentication information of the indoor server to the management server; Means for receiving and authenticating authentication information of the terminal device; Means for transmitting the authentication information of the terminal and the authentication information of the indoor server to a management server Equipped with The management server, Entrance / exit room management means for managing the authentication information of the user received from the indoor server and the authentication information of the indoor server in correspondence; Service management means for managing the authentication information of the user registered in the service and the authentication information of the terminal available to the user in association with each other; Means for authenticating whether the user who can use the terminal is in the room from the authentication information of the user confirmed in both the entrance / exit room management means and the service management means using the authentication information of the indoor server received from the indoor server. System comprising a. An indoor server in a living room connected to a terminal device and a management server in a living room through a network, Means for storing authentication information unique to an indoor server for authenticating itself; Means for receiving and authenticating user authentication information; Means for transmitting the authentication information of the user and the authentication information of the indoor server to the management server; Means for receiving and authenticating authentication information of the terminal device; Means for transmitting authentication information of the terminal device and authentication information of an indoor server to a management server Indoor server comprising a. A management server connected to a terminal device in a living room, an indoor server in a living room, an indoor content distribution server in a building, and a content distribution server owned by a service provider via a network. Entrance / exit room management means for managing the authentication information of the user received from the indoor server and the authentication information of the indoor server in correspondence; Service management means for correlating and managing the authentication information of the user registered in the service and the authentication information of the terminal device available to the user; Means for authenticating whether a user who can use the terminal device is in the room from the authentication information of the user confirmed by both the entrance / exit room management means and the service management means using the authentication information of the indoor server received from the indoor server; Cache content management means for managing content in the indoor content distribution server; Means for obtaining a list of all contents from the content distribution server; Means for creating a service portal screen on which the list of contents in the indoor content distribution server acquired from the cache content management means and the list of all contents are displayed; Means for transmitting the service portal screen to the terminal device upon startup of the terminal device; Means for transmitting a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content to the terminal device when the user selects the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for instructing the indoor content distribution server to download the content when the user selects something other than the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for transmitting a content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the indoor content distribution server; Management server comprising a. A management server connected to a terminal device in a living room, an indoor server in a living room, an indoor content distribution server in a building, and a content distribution server owned by a service provider via a network. Entrance / exit room management means for managing the authentication information of the user received from the indoor server and the authentication information of the indoor server in correspondence; Service management means for correlating and managing the authentication information of the user registered in the service and the authentication information of the terminal device available to the user; Means for authenticating whether a user who can use the terminal device is in the room from the authentication information of the user confirmed by both the entrance / exit room management means and the service management means using the authentication information of the indoor server received from the indoor server; Cache content management means for managing content in the indoor content distribution server; Means for transmitting a list of contents in the indoor content distribution server acquired from the cache content management means to the content distribution server when the terminal device is activated, and for transmitting the service portal screen received from the content distribution server to the terminal device; Means for transmitting a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content to the terminal device when the user selects the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for instructing the indoor content distribution server to download the content when the user selects something other than the content in the indoor content distribution server on the service portal screen; Means for transmitting a content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the indoor content distribution server; Management server comprising a.

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