WO2001033855A1

WO2001033855A1 - Image distribution system

Info

Publication number: WO2001033855A1
Application number: PCT/JP2000/007785
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takeshi Sato
Original assignee: Intermedia Corporation
Priority date: 1999-11-05
Filing date: 2000-11-06
Publication date: 2001-05-10
Also published as: JP2001136511A

Abstract

An image distribution system comprises a distribution center (10), a user terminal (20) and an online telecommunication line (30) that connects the distribution center and the user terminal for two-way communication. The user terminal (20) has a display screen, part of which forms a frame (23) where a video program sent from the distribution center (10) is displayed. The user terminal (20) can acquire predetermined data provided by or through the distribution center by giving a command in the frame (23) using a pointing device (22) of the user terminal (20).

Description

明

Image distribution technology

The present invention relates to an image distribution system, and in particular, distributes program image data that can be sequentially updated from a distribution center to a user terminal device, and the user terminal device corresponds to the distributed program image. The present invention relates to an image distribution system capable of acquiring provided data, and is particularly suitable for providing commercials by multimedia using the Internet. Background of the Invention

Although terrestrial television broadcasting has been a major player in the media until now, the spread of personal computers (hereinafter simply referred to as personal computers) and the general use of the Internet have led to the rapid expansion of multimedia. Under these circumstances, the effects of television commercials are being reviewed. In other words, consumers are expected to realize more exciting commercials through multimedia, which is more exciting for consumers.

Under these circumstances, commercials are being offered to PC users via banners that appear on the homepage screen of the Internet. However, this banner is fixedly displayed on a specific part of a specific homepage and cannot be accessed unless the homepage is opened, which satisfies the commercial provider. Was not.

On the other hand, it has been proposed to provide a system for distributing various kinds of image information (still images and moving images) to PC users using the Internet. In this case, in the user terminal device, as a method of acquiring the image information from a center that distributes the image information, a download method and a stream method are mainly used.

The former download method is a method in which image information obtained from the center is stored in the storage means of a personal computer (floppy disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, etc.) and then reproduced, but it takes a considerable amount of time to store data. And real time It is unsuitable for obtaining accurate image information.

In the latter stream method, image data is accumulated at intervals of about 10 to 30 seconds, and the accumulated image data is reproduced at each interval. It can be said that it is acquisition of. However, the above-mentioned stream method consumes a considerable amount of resources on the Internet in distributing moving images, and when many users use services of the method at the same time, the Internet resources quickly become saturated. There is a risk. For example, at the time of this application, the maximum number of stream resources that can be used simultaneously in Japan is about 1,000,000.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and has developed an image rooster system that realizes a commercial using multimedia instead of a TV commercial, which is more exciting for consumers and more effective for companies. The task is to provide it.

Further, the present invention provides an image distribution system capable of distributing sequentially updatable image data in real time to a large number of online terminal devices using an online communication line such as the Internet without saturating the resources. Is another task.

For example, as described above, while the maximum number of users in the stream method is 100,000, the maximum number of simultaneous users to be realized by the present invention is calculated (by design). More than 100,000 people. Summary of the Invention

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to solve the above problems, and as a result, completed the present invention.

That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a data distribution mechanism for distributing program image data that can be updated sequentially, a database for storing broadcast data of a program to be distributed and a digitized data of a time table representing the time zone. A distribution center having a link mechanism for linking predetermined provided data to broadcast images in each time zone of the time table; and a display device and a pointing device, and reproducing the image data. A user-side terminal device having a function and a function of forming a frame on at least a part of the screen of the display device E; Consisting of

A program image distributed by the distribution station is broadcast inside a frame formed on at least a part of a display screen of the user side terminal device,

When a pointing instruction is input inside the frame by the pointing device of the user-side terminal device, the user-side terminal device can acquire the predetermined provided data. Is provided. Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, there is provided an image distribution system for providing the broadcast image data to a user by a semi-automatic online image data distribution method.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, there is provided an image distribution system in which the provided data is character data, image data, Z, or audio data.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, there is provided an image distribution system in which the online communication line is the Internet.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image distribution system in the above configuration, wherein the link mechanism links to a U R of a homepage corresponding to a broadcast image.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, there is provided an image distribution system in which the user-side terminal device is a personal computer.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, there is provided an image distribution system in which an operation relating to the image distribution system of the user side terminal device is performed in synchronization with a standard clock set in the distribution center. .

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, an image distribution system is provided in which the user terminal device has a function of storing broadcasted program image data as local data.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above configuration, the broadcast program image data is a combination of the program image data newly distributed by the distribution center and the raw data stored in the user-side terminal device. An image distribution system is provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration example of the image distribution system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the operation of the related application in the user terminal device.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart when a viewer is activated on the display screen of the user terminal device.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the opening cast reproduction process.

Figure 5 is an operation flowchart for acquiring a program guide via the Internet and storing it in the local environment.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of a process of reproducing a cast based on a program guide.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart for initializing the operation environment when the viewer performs the cast reproduction process and the communication process with the distribution center.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of a process of drawing a viewer, that is, a process executed with reference to a preference file stored as a result of the operation up to the previous time.

FIG. 9 is an operation flow of the connection state acquisition processing.

FIG. 10 shows an operation flow when the mouse is clicked in the frame. Preferred embodiment

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a configuration example of an image distribution system according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a distribution center for distributing program image data that can be updated sequentially, and 20 denotes an online terminal device (also referred to as a user terminal device) such as a personal computer, both of which are connected by an online communication line 30. ing.

The distribution center 10 stores at least a data distribution mechanism 11 for distributing program image data that can be updated successively, and digitized data of a time table showing broadcast activities of the program to be distributed and their time zones. Database 12 and the time tape A link mechanism 13 is provided for linking predetermined provided data to the broadcast image at each time point. Further, the distribution center 10 has a function of mixing and organizing program image data provided online and program image data stored in a role described later. The data distribution mechanism 11 of the distribution center 10 prepares program image data to be broadcast on the display screen of the user terminal device 20. The program image data is prepared for each broadcast work (channel) and for each time, and is provided from the data distribution mechanism 21 to the user terminal device 20 via the online communication line 30. I have. Of course, only one broadcast event is acceptable.

Further, the database 12 of the time table is updated, for example, every 24 hours, so that the user terminal device 20 can access the database 12.

A clock of GMT is installed on the distribution center 10 side, and application software related to the image distribution system on the user terminal device 20 side operates according to the reference clock. That is, the application software installed on the user terminal device 20 obtains the GMT from the distribution center 10 immediately after starting, converts it to the reference time, refers to the database 12, and refers to the database 12. Check the table. Based on the result of the comparison, a program is broadcast for a time that takes the approximate value of the reference time.

Further, the provided data is linked to the database 12 of the distribution center 10 in correspondence with the broadcast image in each time zone of the time table, and the link mechanism 13 is linked to the request from the user terminal device 20 side. The provided data is provided to the user terminal device 20 side. The provided data can be multimedia data including character data, image data, and / or audio data. Typically, the link mechanism 13 links the URL of the Internet homepage corresponding to the broadcast image according to the above request.

On the other hand, the user terminal device 20 includes a central control device (CPU), a RAM, a ROM, a communication control unit, an input / output interface, and the like, and includes a display device 21 and a pointing device 22. A typical user terminal device 20 is a computer, but a similar function can be realized in a television receiver, a mobile phone terminal, or the like. Not limited to this. A typical pointing device 22 is a mouse, but a trackball, a light pen, a touch screen, a joystick, a trackpad, or the like can also be used. The user terminal device 20 has a function of forming a frame 23 for displaying an image distributed from the distribution center 10 on the screen of the display device 22 and a function of forming an image distributed from the distribution center 10. an engine function of reproducing, when the instruction operation of the frame 2 3 by a pointing device ^{2 2,} function to notify the information to the delivery center 1 0 has a function to acquire providing data corresponding to a desired broadcast image.

Further, the user terminal device 20 has a function of taking in the image data once broadcast into the device as needed and storing it as local data.

Further, the user terminal device 20 may be connected to the online communication line 30 by dial-up, or may be connected to the online communication line 30 via LAN. On the screen of the display device 21 of the user terminal device 20, a frame 23 for broadcasting the program image distributed from the distribution center 10 is formed, and its position and size are set by the user. If desired, it can be arbitrarily set and changed using a pointing device 22 such as a mouse. The user only needs to form a frame 23 of an appropriate size in an appropriate place so as not to interfere with the creation of documents in the office using a personal computer or the learning using a bath computer.

A typical example of the online communication line 30 is the Internet, but other communication lines such as a dedicated line and a digital broadcasting network can also be used.

In the image distribution system of the present invention, the data of the program image to be provided can be obtained by efficiently combining the data to be newly distributed and the data which is broadcast and acquired online and stored as local data on the user terminal device 20 side. It is a combination of the two. Newly distributed data includes the latest program guide data, broadcast image data set to be broadcast in real time in the program guide, and various text data to supplement the above data. The data stored as local data includes opening broadcast data and fixedly used video data.

In the image distribution system of the present invention, the acquisition of the provided program image It can be said that this is a real-batch type multimedia (image) data distribution system with an automatic learning function for already-imaged image data. According to this method, it is possible to distribute sequentially renewable program image data to a large number of online terminal devices using an online communication line such as the Internet without saturating the resources.

The content of the program images provided can be commercials of still images and videos, development of websites, download of data, application for sweepstakes, etc.

This content can be, for example, one of about 10 seconds and repeated at appropriate intervals. For example, if the CM video provided by the same company is broadcast twice a hour for about 10 seconds during the hours between 9:00 and 20:00 (11 hours), it will be distributed twice a day. Become. If January is 31 days in January, there will be a total of 68 2 CM broadcasts.

The broadcast pattern can be a rolling type, a paper type, an animation type, a still image type, or the like.

24 hours may be used as the core time, or 24 hours may be divided into a time zone other than the core time and the core time. In the latter case, during times other than the core time, it can be used for various test distributions, viewer-participatory programs, and broadcast of promotional programs to acquire viewers.

An example of the operation is as follows. In the above distribution system, a user looks at a frame formed in a suitable place on his / her personal computer screen in an accessory manner, and when a desired image is displayed, for example, clicks in the frame with a mouse. . The information of this click is transmitted to the distribution center, linked to the URL of the homepage corresponding to the image, and the contents of the homepage are provided to the user.

According to the present invention, since the above configuration is employed, a new image distribution system capable of providing commercials by multimedia using an online communication line such as the Internet can be realized.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multimedia commercial which is more exciting for a user and more effective for a company. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to sequentially update information on a large number of online terminal devices using an online communication line such as the Internet without saturating the resources. Image data can be distributed in real time

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to directly transmit information to a user who is not using the web browser. From the above, the configuration and operation of the system of the present invention are understood, but the operation flow is shown for reference.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a related application (also referred to as a viewer) in the user terminal device 20 of the image distribution system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation flow when a viewer is started on the screen of the display device 21 of the user terminal device 20.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation flow of an opening cast reproduction process, that is, an initial cast process for reproducing immediately after starting the viewer.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the operation flow for acquiring a program guide (alias table) via the Internet and storing it in the local environment. The acquisition method is divided into an offline state and an online state. Note that IndexTV is the distribution system.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a process of reproducing a cast based on a program guide.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation flow for initializing an operation environment when a viewer performs a cast reproduction process and a communication process with a distribution center.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation flow of a process of drawing a viewer, that is, a process executed with reference to a preference file stored as a result of the operation up to the previous time.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation flow of a connection state acquisition process.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation flow when a mouse is clicked in a frame.

In the figure, Index-TV is a TV-like image formed in a frame formed on at least a part of the display screen of the user terminal as described above.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A data distribution mechanism that distributes program image data that can be updated sequentially, a database that stores digitized data of a time table that indicates the broadcast time of the program to be distributed and the time zone, and each of the time tables A distribution center having a link mechanism for linking predetermined provision data to a broadcast image in a time zone; a display device and a pointing device, a function of reproducing the image data, and at least one of screens of the display device. A user-side terminal device having a function of forming a frame in a unit; and an online communication line for connecting the rooster self-service center and the user-side terminal device online so that bidirectional communication is possible;

When a pointing instruction is input inside the frame by the pointing device of the user terminal device, the user terminal device can acquire the predetermined provided data. Image distribution system.

2. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said broadcast image data is provided to a user by a semi-automatic online image data distribution system.

3. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the provided data is character data, image data, Z data or audio data.

4. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said online communication line is the Internet.

5. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the link mechanism links the URL with a URL of a homepage corresponding to the broadcast image.

6. The image according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal device is a personal computer. Delivery

7. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein an operation relating to the image distribution system of the user-side terminal device is performed in synchronization with a standard clock set in the distribution center.

8. The image distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said user terminal device has a function of storing broadcasted program image data as local data.

9. An image distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the broadcast program image data is a combination of program image data newly distributed by a distribution center and local data stored in said user terminal device.