WO2007061090A1

WO2007061090A1 - Multi-media view system and multi-media view method

Info

Publication number: WO2007061090A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/323563
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masayoshi Son
Original assignee: Softbank Bb Corp.
Priority date: 2005-11-28
Filing date: 2006-11-27
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: TW200727701A; JP2007150764A; JP4846352B2

Abstract

A multi-media view system includes: an indexing server (372) for accumulating indexing data on a multi-media content; a search engine server (371) for searching a corresponding multi-media content from the indexing data according to the matching degree with a keyword based on a user operation in a user terminal device (1a); and a play list creation server (32) for creating a play list describing the reproduction order of the multi-media contents searched and transmitting the play list to the user terminal device (1a). The play list classifies reproduction information such as a title, contents, and a reproduction time of the multi-media content to be reproduced according to the keyword or the search method and displays them as a program table to be presented in the time series. Thus, it is possible to search for a plurality of contents reflecting the user’s hobby and preference and reproduce them smoothly and continuously in content viewing via a communication network such as the Internet.

Description

Multimedia viewing system and multimedia viewing method

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a multimedia viewing system and a multimedia viewing method for viewing, via a user terminal such as a personal computer, content such as streaming delivered through a communication network such as the Internet.

Background art

In recent years, in addition to television broadcasts such as terrestrial and satellite broadcasts, content viewing systems that transmit content such as bidet streams via communication networks such as the Internet are becoming popular.

[0003] Content viewing systems via a communication network include, for example, VOD (Video On Demand) and pot casting. According to these, a user terminal having a communication function such as a personal computer is connected to a distribution server on a communication network, and a video stream of a program distributed in response to a distribution request to the distribution server is played and viewed. It can be done.

[0004] By the way, in the above-described VOD, pot casting, etc., it is necessary for the user to select contents that the user wants to view one by one, and it is difficult to "watch while" by continuous playback. Therefore, in order to receive and continuously reproduce a plurality of contents, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, based on a reproduction scenario that describes a schedule for rearranging contents in order of display time, Techniques have been proposed for playback in a predetermined order.

[0005] In the system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a content server that manages playback scenarios is provided via a network such as the Internet, and when a playback device requests distribution of playback scenarios via the network, the content is stored in the content server. The playback scenario is downloaded via the network, and the playback device plays the content according to the schedule based on the playback information (playback time, playback order, etc.) described in the playback scenario. Note that the playback scenario in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a service scenario. It can be stored in advance on the server side, or it can be generated sequentially when a distribution request is made.

[0006] However, the playback scenario in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 also simply displays the playback time and playback order determined by the server side.

'Does not reflect preference.

[0007] In the above-mentioned television broadcast, programs for a plurality of channels determined in advance on a time axis proceed at the same time. According to this television broadcast, for example, when one channel is being watched , Like switching to another channel for a short time,

There is a merit that V, so-called “zabbing viewing” can be done.

[0008] However, in the system disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, since the playback scenario describes a single playback order, the operation feeling of switching to another channel is not realized.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-140536 (Pages 4 to 5: Fig. 1)

Disclosure of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in content distribution through a communication network such as the Internet, a plurality of contents reflecting a user's hobbies' preferences by keywords are searched. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multimedia viewing system and a multimedia viewing method that can be seamlessly reproduced continuously and can improve operability by using a program guide with keywords as channels.

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is a system and method for viewing multimedia content distributed from a content distribution server arranged on a communication network in response to a distribution request from a user terminal. .

[0011] Specifically, according to the present invention, the indexing server that stores metadata indicating the attribute of each multimedia content and the indexing data that associates the location address of the multimedia content, and the user terminal are based on user operations. A keyword acquisition unit that acquires a word and transmits it to a communication network, receives a keyword through the communication network, and indexes the location address of the corresponding multimedia content according to the degree of matching between the received keyword and metadata. Data power A playlist that associates the search engine server, the playback order of multimedia content searched by the search engine server, and the location address of the multimedia content related to playback with the search engine server, and transmits the playlist to the user terminal. A list creation server and a media viewing application that is executed on a user terminal device and receives multimedia content from a content distribution server according to a playlist and plays it back.

[0012] In the present invention, the playlist is a program table that categorizes reproduction information such as titles, contents, and reproduction times of multimedia contents to be reproduced according to a keyword or a search method, and presents them in time series. It can be displayed by a media viewing application.

[0013] And in the present invention,

(1) Accumulating indexing data associating metadata indicating the attributes of each multimedia content with the location address of the multimedia content in the indexing server,

(2) Obtain keywords based on user operations from the user terminal, send them to the communication network,

(3) A keyword is received through a communication network, and the location address of the corresponding multimedia content is searched by the search engine server according to the degree of matching between the received keyword and the metadata.

(4) A playlist that associates the playback order of multimedia content searched by the search engine server with the location address of the multimedia content related to playback is created by the playlist creation server and is stored in the user terminal. Send

(5) The multimedia content is viewed on the user terminal device by receiving the multimedia content from the content distribution Sano according to the playlist and playing it by the media viewing application.

[0014] According to the present invention as described above, multimedia content can be continuously played back according to a playlist created based on a user's keyword, so that the user's hobbies and preferences are reflected. Content viewing can be realized. Also, in the present invention Since such a playlist can be viewed as a program guide in which reproduction information corresponding to the keyword is presented in time series, it is possible to easily select and switch content.

[0015] In the above invention, the user terminal is provided with a notifier unit that downloads and stores multimedia content in advance according to the playback order described in the playlist, prior to playback by the media viewing application. It is preferable. In this case, since the multimedia content is downloaded to the buffer unit in advance of viewing, the next multimedia viewing can be started quickly.

[0016] In the above invention, the content distribution server issues an encryption key that permits reproduction of multimedia content related to distribution, and the multimedia content is decrypted with the encryption key and can be viewed, so that the media can be viewed. When viewing multimedia content according to a playlist, the application obtains part or all of the multimedia content related to viewing from another user terminal, and an encryption key corresponding to the obtained multimedia content. It is preferable that the multimedia content related to viewing is reproduced by obtaining from the content distribution server, decrypting with the obtained encryption key. In this case, since multimedia contents are distributed between distributed user terminals, it is possible to reduce the burden on the content distribution server and to avoid the concentration of communication and to reduce the communication load. Can be reduced.

[0017] In the above invention, the multimedia content includes a main stream that is the main part of the program and additional information data that is inserted in the main part stream or between the main part streams. Reproduction information such as the insertion position of additional information data inserted in the main stream is included, and the media viewing application can add the additional information in the multimedia content or between the multimedia contents based on the playlist. It is preferable to insert and reproduce information data. In this case, for example, advertisement data such as CM can be inserted as additional information between the multimedia contents of the main part, and various advertising effects can be produced by the additional information.

[0018] In the above invention, charging for viewing the main stream is performed by a billing aggregation server installed on the communication network, and charging for viewing the main stream is reduced according to the reproduction frequency of the additional information data. It is preferable. In this case By adding advertisement data such as commercials as additional information between the multimedia contents of this volume, it is possible to carry out advertisements and advertisements that match the user's hobby 'preference, and further enhance the advertising effect In addition, the advertising fee from the advertiser can be allocated to the viewing fee of the main part, which makes it possible to realize various fee systems, such as allowing users to cash-knock for advertisements.

[0019] In the above invention, the media viewing application detects the multimedia content playback environment of the user terminal on which the media viewing application is executed, and sends the detection result to the content distribution server side. It is preferable that the content distribution server has a notification function, and the content distribution server has a data conversion unit that converts multimedia content to be distributed into a data format corresponding to the reproduction environment. In this case, it is possible to play back the optimum content according to the performance and environment settings of the user terminal used by the user.

[0020] In the above invention, an associative keyword that is a keyword related to the multimedia content is assigned to the multimedia content, and the search engine search is used for associating the multimedia searched according to the keyword. It is preferable to have a function of searching for a plurality of multimedia contents by searching for the next multimedia using the keyword as a keyword and repeating this. In this case, starting with the keyword entered by the user, the content associated with this keyword is selected and played sequentially, and the user's hobbies and preferences are reflected within the range. Content selection that is surprising to the user can be realized.

[0021] In the above invention, the media viewing application has a function of recording the playback history and playback stop position of the played multimedia content, and changing the next playback start position according to the recording. Preferably it is. In this case, we offer a variety of playback methods that meet the user's needs, such as skipping content that has already been watched, or continuing playback if it has been stopped. can do.

[0022] In the above invention, the user terminal has a function of transmitting, to the playlist creation server, evaluation information indicating user evaluation of the multimedia content related to reproduction. And the playlist creation server preferably changes the playback order according to the received evaluation information. In this case, based on the evaluation information, information related to the user's hobby 'preference can be collected, and in the subsequent playlist creation, content that more matches the user's hobby' preference can be selected. .

[0023] In the above invention, the playlist creation server has a function of presenting a playlist created for a user so that the playlist can be distributed to other users based on the operation of the user. Is preferred. In this case, it becomes possible for other users to use playlists created based on other users' hobbies and preferences, and communication between users can be achieved.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multimedia viewing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a user terminal device 1 (la to lc) according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an overview of a peer “two” peer network system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an overview of a peer-to-peer network system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing operations of the content reproduction unit 103 and the advertisement data insertion unit 103a according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of indexing data in the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of a program guide in the present embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] (Configuration of multimedia viewing system)

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the multimedia viewing system according to the present embodiment. In the multimedia viewing system according to the present embodiment, multimedia contents such as moving images distributed from the server groups 31 to 36 via the communication network 2 are transferred to the user terminal device 1 (la to lc, etc.). A case where the user views the content will be described below. The term “module” used in the description refers to a functional unit that is configured by hardware such as equipment or equipment, software having the function, or a combination thereof, and achieves a predetermined operation. Indicates.

[0026] The communication network 2, for example, uses a communication protocol TCP / IP to connect various communication lines (public lines such as telephone lines, ISDN lines, ADSL lines, private lines, wireless communication networks) to each other. This is a decentralized IP network that is constructed, and includes IP such as 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX intranets (enterprise networks) and home networks.

[0027] Specifically, the server groups 31 to 36 include a Web server 31, a playlist creation server 32, a content distribution server 33, a DRM (Digital Rights Management) license server 34, and a billing aggregation server 35. The system is composed of an advertisement distribution server 36 and a search system server group 37 (servers 371 to 376).

[0028] The Web server 31 is a server that distributes Web pages that serve as a service window for users. Through this Web page described in HTML (HyperText Markup Language), various services such as program search, support services, etc. Provides an interface for user settings. The Web server 31 is connected to a search system server group 37 and a playlist creation server 32, and by cooperation of these servers, program search power is also created to create a playlist.

[0029] Specifically, the Web server 31 sends the keyword included in the search request transmitted from the user terminal device 1 to the search system server group 37 as the search query D2, and the query result that is the search result. Receive D3. Thereafter, the Web server 31 transmits the query result D3 to the playlist creation server 32 as a playlist creation request. In the playlist creation server 32, a playlist is created in response to a playlist creation request including the query result D3 that is the search result, and the created terminal D5 is the user terminal device that transmitted the search request D1. Reply to

[0030] Note that the Web server 31 according to the present embodiment has a function of presenting a playlist created for a user keyword so that the playlist can be distributed to other users based on the operation of the user. It has. In detail, users can access themselves through Web server 31. The playlist that is allowed to be published can be performed for other users through the Web server 31 for viewing by other users. Can be used.

The playlist creation server 32 is a server that creates a playlist of multimedia contents searched by the search system server group 37 and transmits it to the user terminal. In the present embodiment, the playlist includes the playback order of multimedia contents (main stream D10 and advertisement data D11) and the location address of the multimedia contents related to playback (URL, directory and file in the content storage unit 33a). Table data in association with the name, etc., as shown in Fig. 7, in the video display window 101b of the media viewing application 101a on the user side, the title, content, and playback time of the multimedia content Can be displayed as a program guide T1 that is classified according to keywords or search methods and presented in time series.

In detail, a playlist is created for a keyword (single keyword, keyword group) entered by the user, and even if the keyword is the same, there are various search methods and search result orders. For example, search methods include simple search and associative search, and the order includes detection order, data size order, and evaluation order. In the present embodiment, since the peer “two” peer method is used for content distribution, the playback order in the playlist may be in the descending order of the number of partner terminals.

[0033] Then, as shown in FIG. 7, in the program guide T1, a plurality of playlists are displayed as if they were channels of a broadcasting station, and a plurality of playlists corresponding to different keywords, search methods, and orders are displayed. Each virtual broadcast station (channel) is displayed. In other words, in this embodiment, the broadcast time is determined independently for each channel of each playlist, and while viewing a certain channel, the time progresses virtually in other channels as well. It is like that. As a result, multiple channels can be watched simultaneously while being zapped. Note that this multi-channel simultaneous progression is only virtual, and by operating operating means such as fast-forward, rewind, and pause provided in the content playback unit 103, the program broadcast by the actual TV broadcast station is performed. When Differently, it is possible to fast forward, rewind, or stop the progress of the program.

[0034] Further, the playlist in the present embodiment includes playback information such as the location address, playback position, playback time, and the like of additional information data such as advertisement data Dl 1 inserted into the main stream D10. The viewing application 101a has a function of inserting and reproducing advertisement data (additional information data) together with the main stream based on the playlist.

[0035] Furthermore, the playlist creation server 32 includes an evaluation information storage unit 32a that receives evaluation information D9, which is an evaluation of a user who has viewed and listened to multimedia contents, from the user terminal device 1 and stores this information for each user. When creating a playlist, the playlist creation server 32 refers to the accumulated evaluation information and creates a playlist so that multimedia content that matches the user's hobby 'preference is placed at the top of the playback order. be able to. In addition, this evaluation information can be made public among multiple users if the user permits it, and other users can play information that reflects the publicly available evaluation information. You can also request the creation of a list.

[0036] The content distribution server 33 is a server device that transmits data such as HTML files, image files, and music files in a document system such as the World Wide Web (WWW). (Here, the main stream D10) is stored in the content storage unit 33a. Then, the content distribution server 33 distributes the multimedia content through streaming or the like through the communication network 2 in response to a distribution request based on the playlist from the user terminal device 1.

[0037] In this embodiment, the multimedia content stored in the content storage unit 33a is collected by a crawler server in a distributed manner on the communication network 2 such as the Internet, and the collected data is The data is converted by a data conversion Sano 373 as described later.

[0038] Similar to the content distribution server 33, the advertisement distribution server 36 is a server that distributes additional information as advertisement data to the user terminal device 1 in response to an advertisement distribution request from the user terminal device 1. . This advertisement data is, for example, a video clip such as a movie, as well as sound data and character data, and the advertisement data storage unit 36a as file data. Have been accumulated. The advertisement data accumulating unit 36a includes information on the input of each advertisement advertisement data (advertisement data identifier, advertiser identifier, validity period, etc.) and advertisement price information (advertisement data identifier, price according to time zone, etc.) The information is also provided to the billing summary server 35. The accounting tabulation server 35 may reduce the accounting for the user according to the viewing frequency of the advertisement data inserted in the main part.

[0039] The DRM license server 34 is a server device that performs user authentication processing and issues a decryption key D8 based on access information of the user when viewing multimedia content. Specifically, the DRM license server 34 receives the distribution request for the decryption key D8 from the user's user terminal 1 and, after the authentication process, sends the decryption key D8 to the authorized user. Issue and distribution. When the decryption key D8 is distributed from the DRM license server 34 to the user terminal device 1 of the user, the content is transmitted to the user terminal device 1 based on the decryption key D8. Decrypted and can be played back.

[0040] Further, the DRM license server 34 collects the viewing status of each user based on the authentication processing and the distribution history of the decryption key D8, and accumulates the viewing status in the user database 34a. Based on the data stored in the user database 34a, the DRM license server 34 aggregates which multimedia content is viewed by which user and when! Stored in the user database 34a as viewing history data D12. The accounting totaling server 35 calculates the accounting for each user based on the viewing history data D12 acquired from the user database 34a and accumulates it in the accounting database 35a.

In this embodiment, multimedia content distributed by the content distribution server 33 and the advertisement distribution server 36 is received and viewed in a so-called peer “two” peer network system form. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, user A's user terminal device la transmits a viewing request based on the playlist to the DRM license server 34, and reproduces the main stream D10 related to the viewing request. A decryption key D8 is received from the DRM license server 34, and the terminal list D7 of another user terminal holding a part or all of the main stream D10 related to the request is sent to the DRM license server 34 or Other user terminal device lb force to get.

Next, the user terminal device la selects an arbitrary user terminal as a partner terminal device from the terminal list D7, makes a distribution request, and selects the selected partner terminal (here, the user terminal). Device lb), a part or all of the main stream D10 and the advertisement data D11 according to the request from the content distribution server 33 or the advertisement distribution server 36, and the main terminal stream la receives the main stream D10 or the advertisement data D11 again. Configure and play back with decryption key D8. The user terminal device 1b selected as the partner terminal receives the main content stream D10 or the advertisement data D11 received in the content distribution server 33 and stored in its own buffer memory, and the client terminal (user Relay distribution to one terminal device la).

[0043] On the other hand, the search system server group 37 includes a search engine server 371, an indexing server 372, a crawler sano 374, and a data conversion server 373, and the database is an indexing database. 375 and crawling data sano 376!

[0044] The search engine server 371 receives a search request (including a search keyword) from the user side through the communication network 2, refers to the indexing database 375, and includes the keyword included in the search request and the indexing data. It is a server device that searches the corresponding multimedia content according to the degree of coincidence with the metadata (attribute information of each multimedia content).

[0045] The indexing database 375 is a database server that accumulates indexing data that associates metadata indicating the attributes of each multimedia content with the location address of the multimedia content. The indexing server 372 is a server device that creates indexing data. Specifically, from the crawling data collected by the crawler server 374, text data indicating the location address of the multimedia content (here, main stream D10) included in the crawling data and the content of the multimedia content. Are extracted, associated with each other, classified according to the attributes of the metadata (metadata), and stored as indexing data.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, the indexing data includes index records IND1 ... Each index record IND1, IND2 "'is associated with metadata (content ID such as file name) of each content, and metadata K1 to K4 ... indicating the content attribute is assigned. In addition, associative keywords Α1 to… 4, which are keywords related to the multimedia content, are assigned, and the search engine server 371 searches for multimedia associations searched according to the metadata keywords K1 to. It has a function to search for multiple multimedia contents continuously by searching for the next multimedia using the new keywords Α1 to Α4 and repeating this.

[0047] The crawler server 374 is a so-called patrol robot server. The crawler server 374 circulates data on the Internet, downloads the text data and multimedia contents, and stores them in the crawling data sano 376. The crawler server 374 also monitors the update of already acquired data, and has a function of downloading again even if the data has already been acquired when the content has been changed more than a predetermined ratio.

[0048] The data conversion server 373 is a server device that performs predetermined data conversion when the multimedia content collected by the crawler sano 374 is stored in the content storage unit 33a. Specifically, the data conversion server 373 is a server that serves as a data conversion unit that converts multimedia content distributed by the content distribution server 33 into a data format corresponding to the reproduction environment of each user terminal. Device. In the present embodiment, information regarding the playback environment in each user terminal is included in the distribution request D6, and the information regarding the playback environment is stored in the user database 34a. When converting the multimedia content, the data conversion server 373 reads the reproduction environment information in the user database 34a and converts it into a data format (data format) suitable for the conversion. Therefore, even if there is only one original multimedia content, as many types of data as the number of playback environment information patterns stored in the user database 34a are converted and stored in the content storage unit 33a. Become.

[0049] (Configuration of user terminal)

User terminal device 1 (la-lc) is a communicable processing unit equipped with a CPU, A general-purpose computer such as a personal computer can be realized by a dedicated device with specialized functions, and a mobile computer includes a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance) and a mobile phone. FIG. 2 shows the internal configuration of the user terminal device 1.

[0050] As shown in the figure, the user terminal device 1 includes a communication interface 102, a cache unit 106, a content playback unit 103, an output signal generation unit 104, as a module for streaming reception and playback. An output interface 105, a display unit 101, a content acquisition unit 106a, and an advertisement data acquisition unit 106b are provided.

[0051] The communication interface 102 is a module that transmits and receives data as packets through the communication network 2. Through this communication interface 102, the main stream D10, advertisement data Dll, playlist D5, and terminal list D7 are transmitted. Received, search request D1, delivery request D6, evaluation information D9, etc. are sent to each server.

[0052] The cache unit 106 is a notifier device that temporarily stores and holds multimedia content (main stream D10 and advertisement data D11) received from the communication network 2 and played back by the content playback unit 103. In the present embodiment, multimedia content is downloaded and stored in advance prior to content playback by the media viewing application 101a in accordance with the playback order described in the playlist. In other words, the playlist describes the playback order and playback time of the multimedia content. By referring to this, the multimedia content to be played next (or in another channel at the same time) is referred to. Download in advance. The data stored in the cache unit 106 can be shared with other user terminals by the above-mentioned peer “one-peer” network system. Sent to other user terminals.

The content acquisition unit 106a is a module that acquires the main stream D10 through the communication interface 102. The advertisement data acquisition unit 106b is a module that acquires the advertisement data D11 through the communication interface 102. The advertisement data acquisition unit 106b transmits a distribution request to the advertisement distribution server 36 at a predetermined time, receives a plurality of advertisement data D11 distributed in response to the distribution request, and stores it in the cache unit 106. You may do it. Note that the viewing history of the multimedia content acquired and viewed by the content acquisition unit 106a and the advertisement data acquisition unit 106b is stored in the playback history storage unit 110 as viewing history data D12. The viewing history data D12 is data having a data identifier (file name, etc.) that identifies the main stream D10 and the advertisement data D11, and the number of times viewed and the time of the record.

[0055] The content reproduction unit 103 is a module that reproduces moving image data and audio data and outputs them from the media viewing application 101a on the display unit 101, the speaker 105a, and the like. The content playback unit 103 acquires the decryption key D8 corresponding to the multimedia content acquired in response to the distribution request from the DRM license server 34, and caches it in the cache unit 106 using the acquired decryption key D8. Decode and play the multimedia content.

[0056] Further, in the present embodiment, the content reproduction unit 103 includes an advertisement data insertion unit 103a that inserts the advertisement data D11 into the main stream D10. As shown in FIG. 5, the advertisement data insertion unit 103a analyzes the main stream D10 and detects an insertion position detection process for detecting a position where the advertisement data D11 such as CM clip data is inserted. Then, the insertion processing for inserting the advertisement data D11 is executed, and the multimedia content is reproduced while inserting the advertisement data D11 into the main stream D10.

[0057] Furthermore, the content playback unit 103 has a function of recording the playback history and playback stop position of the played multimedia content, and changing the next playback start position according to the recording. Specifically, the file name of the multimedia content that the user has already watched and the playback stop position are stored as a playback history in the playback history storage unit 110, and the playback history is referred to during playback. If the content has already been viewed, it will be skipped, or if the viewing has been interrupted, playback will continue from there.

[0058] The output signal generation unit 104 converts the multimedia content that can be reproduced by the content reproduction unit 103 into a video signal and an audio signal, and also displays a media viewing application 101a displayed on the display unit 101. This module synthesizes multimedia content video signals with video signals such as those that generate signals that can be output by the display unit 101 or speaker 105a. It is. The output interface 105 is a module that outputs video and audio output signals from the display unit 101 and the speaker 105a, respectively. The display unit 101 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display, for example, and synthesizes and displays a plurality of screens such as a moving image display window 101b and a text input window 101c.

[0059] Further, the user terminal device 1 includes a distribution request unit 109, a playlist acquisition unit 107, a keyword acquisition unit 114, and an evaluation information acquisition unit 115 as modules relating to a distribution request.

[0060] The distribution request unit 109 is a module that transmits a distribution request for multimedia contents (main stream D10 and advertisement data D11) in the order described in the playlist. In this embodiment, the distribution request includes a distribution request for the decryption key D8 and a distribution request for the main stream D10'ad data D11. The distribution request for the decryption key D8 is transmitted to the DRM license server 34. The distribution request for the main stream D10 is transmitted to the content distribution server 33 or other user terminal device lb, and the distribution request for the advertisement data D11 is transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 36 or other user terminal device lb.

The playlist acquisition unit 107 is a module that downloads the playlist D5 created by the playlist creation server 32 in response to the search request and accumulates it in the playlist storage unit 108. When transmitting the distribution request D6, the distribution request unit 109 collates the playlist in the playlist storage unit 108, collates the reproduction history in the reproduction history storage unit 110, and next ( The main stream D10 (program broadcast at the same time in a virtual multi-channel) that should be played at the same time as the program being played or the currently played program is preferentially downloaded. For example, the content that is already viewed and the content that is already viewed are skipped.

The keyword acquisition unit 114 is a module that acquires a keyword based on a user operation in the user terminal device 1 and transmits the keyword to the communication network 2. Specifically, an operation signal such as a character string input through the operation device 113a is acquired as keyword text data, and is transmitted to the Web server 31 as a search request D1.

[0063] The evaluation information acquisition unit 115 is a module for acquiring an evaluation of the viewed content through the text input window 101c, and the acquired evaluation information D9 is a communication interface. The data is transmitted to the playlist creation server 32 through the source 102. In addition, in the text input window 101c, it is possible to select whether to apply this evaluation information only to the user or whether to make it public to other users. The selection result is also included in the evaluation information D9. Is stored in the evaluation information storage unit 32a.

In addition, the user terminal device 1 includes an application execution unit 112, an operation device interface 113, and a program guide display unit 111 as modules relating to the user interface.

The application execution unit 112 is a module that executes an application such as a general OS or a media viewing application 101a, and is usually realized by a CPU or the like. The program table display unit 111 is a module that displays a playlist as a program table on the display unit 101. Specifically, the program guide display unit 111 displays a playlist, playback information such as a title, content, and playback time of multimedia content according to a keyword and a search method (normal search, associative search, search order, etc.). As a program table to be classified and presented in time series, it is synthesized and displayed on the media viewing application 101a through the output signal generation unit 104.

The operation device interface 113 is a module to which a keyword acquisition unit 114 such as a mouse or a keyboard is connected and an operation signal is input / output. With this media viewing abrasion 101a and the operation device 113a, a user can enter a keyword for creating a playlist or enter a character string that is an evaluation of the multimedia content after viewing. it can.

[0067] (Multimedia viewing method)

By operating the multimedia viewing system having the above configuration, the multimedia viewing method of the present invention can be implemented. This multimedia viewing method is described with reference to Fig. 1.

First, the crawler server 374 always circulates Web data on the communication network 2, collects crawling data (multimedia content, Web text, etc.), and stores it in the crawling data sano 376 as crawling data. This crawling data is used to extract the indexing data by the indexing sano 372, and the multimedia content included in the crawling data is sent to the data conversion server 373. Then, the data is converted and stored in the content storage unit 33a.

[0069] Then, the user (here, user A) inputs a keyword for searching for multimedia to be viewed on the user terminal device la into the text input window 101c and sends a search request. Execute. As a result, a search request is transmitted from the keyword acquisition unit 114 to the Web server 31. In this search request, for example, the search method (associative search, etc.) and the playback order of search results can be specified.

[0070] The Web server 31 extracts the keywords! /, Which are included in the search request, and transmits them to the search engine Sano 371 as a query D2. Search engine Sano 371 compares the received key key with the indexing data record, searches for the location address of the corresponding multimedia content according to the degree of coincidence with each metadata, and the search result is the query result D3. As a response to the Web server 31. The Web server 31 writes this query result D3 in the playlist creation request D4 together with an identifier (user ID, IP address, etc.) that identifies the user A who has made the search request, and transmits it to the playlist creation server 32.

[0071] The playlist creation server 32 creates a playlist in response to the received playlist creation request D4 and transmits it to the user terminal device la. In this playlist, the playback order of the multimedia content searched by the search engine Sano 371 and the location address of the multimedia content related to playback (here, the directory in the content storage unit 33a) are associated with each other and recorded. The records are listed according to the playback order.

This playlist is received by the playlist acquisition unit 107 on the user terminal device la side and stored in the playlist storage unit 108. The user can make a search request again by changing the keyword and the search method, and the play list as a result is sequentially accumulated in the playlist storage unit 108.

Next, when the user requests viewing of multimedia content, first, the playlist is displayed on the display unit 101 as a thread and a table. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the playback time is displayed for each time zone so that a plurality of playlists accumulated in the playlist storage unit 108 are all on the same time axis.

[0074] At this time, the distribution request unit 109 plays the play prior to the reproduction of the multimedia content. Start downloading and buffering multimedia content displayed at the top of the list. In the example shown in FIG. 7, programs 5, 9 and 13 are downloaded and stored in the cache unit 106.

When downloading the multimedia content, in the present embodiment, the multimedia content distributed by the content distribution server 33 is received and viewed by the above-described peer network system. Here, the user terminal device la transmits a viewing request based on the playlist to the DRM license server 34, and receives the decryption key D8 for reproducing the main stream D10 related to the viewing request from the DRM license server 34. The terminal list D7 of the other user terminal that holds part or all of the main stream D10 related to the request is acquired from the DRM license server 34 or another user terminal device lb.

[0076] Then, the user terminal device la selects an arbitrary user terminal from the terminal list D7 as a partner terminal device, makes a distribution request, and selects the partner terminal (here, the user terminal device _{lb). )} Or a part or all of the requested main stream D10 from the content distribution Sano 33, and the user terminal device la reconstructs the main stream D10, plays it back with the decryption key D8, and views it. The user terminal device lb selected as the partner terminal also receives the content distribution server 33 equal power, and transmits the main stream D10 held in its own cache unit 106 to the client terminal (user terminal device la ).

[0077] Thereafter, when multimedia content (channel) on the program guide is selected by a user operation, the selected multimedia content is read from the cache unit 106, and playback is started in the content playback unit 103. The In response to the start of reproduction, the distribution request unit 109 starts downloading programs 2, 6, 10 and 14 in the next time zone.

In addition, in parallel with the reproduction of the main stream D10, the distribution request unit 109 makes a distribution request for advertisement data inserted in the program (or between programs), and receives advertisement data from the advertisement distribution server 36. D11 is acquired and cached in the cache unit 106. Then, the advertisement data insertion unit 103a inserts the advertisement data D11 into the main stream D10 and reproduces it.

[0079] The playback history of the watched main stream D10 and the advertisement data D11 is the playback history. In addition to being stored in the storage unit 110, it is stored in the user database 34a and the advertisement data storage unit 36a. The accounting totaling server 35 charges for the content that has been viewed based on the information in these databases. At this time, you can subtract the advertising fee for viewing the ad data from the content viewing fee!

[0080] (Operations and effects according to this embodiment)

According to the multimedia viewing system and method according to the present embodiment described above, the following operations and effects can be expected.

[0081] First, according to the present embodiment, multimedia content can be continuously played in accordance with a playlist created based on a user's keyword, so that the user's hobbies and preferences are reflected. Content viewing can be realized. In addition, since the playlist can be viewed as a turn and table in which reproduction information corresponding to the keyword is presented in time series, it is possible to easily select and switch content.

[0082] Also, in the present embodiment, prior to playback by the media viewing application, the multimedia content is downloaded and stored in advance in the cache unit 106, so that the transition to the next multimedia viewing is performed seamlessly. Can do.

[0083] In this embodiment, the multimedia content is distributed by acquiring a part or all of the multimedia content related to viewing from another user terminal by the so-called peer-to-peer method, and the encryption key. Because the multimedia content related to viewing is played back by decoding, the burden on the content distribution server can be reduced and the concentration of communication can be avoided and the communication load can be reduced. Can do.

[0084] Further, the playlist includes reproduction information of advertisement data (additional information data) inserted into the multimedia content, and the media viewing application can advertise in the main stream D10 based on the playlist. Since data D11 is inserted and played, various advertising effects can be achieved. Since this advertisement data is appropriately selected and distributed by the above keyword search, it is possible to carry out advertisement / advertisement suitable for the user's hobbies / preferences, and to further enhance the advertisement effect.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the multimedia content playback environment of the user terminal is detected, and the data conversion server 373 converts it to a data format corresponding to the playback environment. Because multimedia content is distributed, it is possible to play back the optimal content according to the performance and environment settings of the user terminal used by the user.

[0086] Further, in this embodiment, as one of the multimedia content search methods in the search engine server 371, an associative search using an associative keyword can be performed. Content is selected and played sequentially, and content selection that is surprising to the user can be realized within a range that reflects the user's hobbies and preferences.

In the present embodiment, the playback history and playback stop position of the played multimedia content are recorded, and the next playback start position is changed according to the recording. Various playback methods that meet the user's needs are possible, such as skipping or stopping viewing in the middle and continuing playback from that point on.

[0088] Furthermore, since the playlist creation server 32 can change the playback order of the playlist based on the evaluation information indicating the evaluation of the multimedia content related to playback, the user's hobbies' preferences Information can be collected, and in the next and subsequent playlist creation, it is possible to select content that more matches the user's hobbies and preferences. In addition, since playlists can be made public to other users based on user operations, playlists created based on other users' hobbies and preferences can be used by other users. And communication between users can be achieved. Industrial applicability

[0089] As described above, according to the present invention, in content viewing via a communication network such as the Internet, a plurality of contents reflecting the user's hobbies' preferences by keywords are searched and seamlessly reproduced continuously. The operability can be improved by using a program guide with keywords as channels.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A system for viewing multimedia content distributed from a content distribution server arranged on a communication network in response to a user terminal capability distribution request, wherein metadata indicating attributes of each of the multimedia content And an indexing server for storing indexing data for associating the multimedia content location address;

A keyword acquisition unit that acquires a keyword based on a user operation from a user terminal and transmits the keyword to the communication network;

A search engine server that receives the keyword through the communication network, and searches for the location address of the corresponding multimedia content according to the degree of matching between the received keyword and the metadata;

A playlist creation server that creates a playlist describing the multimedia content playback order searched by the search engine server and the location address of the multimedia content related to playback, and transmits the playlist to the user terminal; A media viewing application that is executed on the user terminal device and receives and plays multimedia content from the content distribution server according to the playlist;

With

The playlist classifies playback information such as the title, content, and playback time of the multimedia content to be played back according to the keyword or search method, and displays the media as a program table to be displayed in time series. A multimedia viewing system that can be displayed by an application.

[2] The user terminal side is provided with a buffer unit for downloading and storing multimedia content in advance according to the playback order described in the playlist, prior to playback by the media viewing application. 2. The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia viewing system is characterized in that:

[3] The content distribution server issues an encryption key that permits reproduction of multimedia content related to distribution, The multimedia content is decrypted with the encryption key and can be viewed, and the media viewing application is

When viewing multimedia content according to the playlist, a part or all of the multimedia content related to the viewing is acquired from another user terminal, and an encryption key corresponding to the acquired multimedia content is distributed to the content From the server,

Decrypt with the acquired encryption key to play the multimedia content related to viewing

The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein:

[4] The multimedia content includes a main stream that is a main part of a program and additional information data that is inserted into the main stream or between the main stream.

The playlist list includes reproduction information such as an insertion position of additional information data inserted into the main stream.

The media viewing application has a function of inserting and reproducing the additional information data in the multimedia content or between multimedia contents based on the playlist.

The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The multimedia viewing system according to claim 4, further comprising a billing aggregation server that reduces a charge for viewing the main stream according to the reproduction frequency of the additional information data.

[6] The media viewing application has a function of detecting a multimedia content playback environment of a user terminal on which the media viewing application is executed and notifying the content distribution server of the detection result.

The content distribution server has a data conversion unit that converts multimedia content to be distributed into a data format corresponding to the reproduction environment.

The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein:

[7] The multimedia content is provided with an association keyword that is a keyword related to the multimedia content. The search engine server has a function of searching for a plurality of multimedia contents by performing a search of the next multimedia using a keyword associated with the multimedia searched according to the keyword as a keyword, and repeating the search. The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the multimedia viewing system is provided.

[8] It is characterized by having a function of recording a playback history and a playback stop position of multimedia content played by the media viewing application and changing a next playback start position according to the recording. The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1.

[9] The user terminal has a function of transmitting, to the playlist creation server, evaluation information indicating user evaluation of multimedia content related to reproduction, the playlist creation server responding to the received evaluation information The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the playback order is changed.

[10] The playlist creation server has a function of presenting a playlist created for a user so that the playlist can be distributed to other users based on the operation of the user. The multimedia viewing system according to claim 1.

[11] A system for viewing multimedia content distributed from a content distribution server arranged on a communication network in response to a user terminal capability distribution request, wherein the metadata indicates attributes of each of the multimedia content And (1) storing indexing data in the indexing server that associates the multimedia content with the location address of the multimedia content;

Step (2) of acquiring a keyword based on a user operation from the user terminal and transmitting the keyword to the communication network;

Receiving the keyword through the communication network, and searching the indexing data power for the location address of the corresponding multimedia content by a search engine server according to the degree of coincidence between the received keyword and the metadata. 3) is created by the playlist creation server, and a playlist is created by associating the playback order of the multimedia content searched by the search engine server with the location address of the multimedia content related to playback. Send to terminal (4)

A step (5) executed on the user terminal device, receiving multimedia content from the content distribution server according to the playlist, and playing it back by a media viewing application;

With

In the step (5), the playlist classifies reproduction information such as the title, content, and reproduction time of the multimedia content to be reproduced according to the keyword or the search method, and presents it in a time series. Can be displayed by the media viewing application

Multimedia viewing method characterized by the above.

[12] A buffer unit is provided on the user terminal side, and in the step (5), the multimedia content is previously stored in advance according to the playback order described in the playlist, prior to playback by the media viewing application. 12. The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein the multimedia viewing method is downloaded and stored in the buffer unit.

[13] In the step (5), the content distribution server issues an encryption key that permits reproduction of the multimedia content related to distribution,

The multimedia content is decrypted with the encryption key and can be viewed. In the step (5), the media viewing application is:

The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein:

[14] The multimedia content includes a main stream that is a main part of a program, and additional information data that is inserted into the main stream or between the main stream.

The playlist list is the insertion position of the additional information data inserted in the main stream. Playback information such as

In the step (5), the media viewing application inserts and reproduces the additional information data in the multimedia content or between the multimedia contents based on the playlist.

The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein:

[15] A step of charging for the viewing of the main stream by a charging totaling server installed on the communication network, and reducing the charging for the viewing of the main stream according to the reproduction frequency of the additional information data. Have more

15. The multimedia viewing method according to claim 14, wherein:

[16] Prior to the step (5), the media viewing application detects the multimedia content reproduction environment of the user terminal where the media viewing application is executed, and uses this detection result. A step of notifying the content delivery server side;

In the step (5), the content distribution server converts the multimedia content to be distributed into a data format corresponding to the reproduction environment.

The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein:

[17] The multimedia content is provided with an association keyword that is a keyword related to the multimedia content.

In the step (4), the search engine server searches for the next multimedia using the multimedia associative keyword searched according to the keyword, and repeats the search to obtain a plurality of multimedia. Search for media content

The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein:

[18] The media viewing application further includes a step of recording a playback history and a playback stop position of the played multimedia content, and changing a next playback start position according to the recording. The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11.

[19] A user for multimedia content related to playback in the user terminal A step of transmitting evaluation information indicating one evaluation to the playlist creation server;

In the step (4), the playlist creation server changes the playback order according to the evaluation information already received and held.

The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11, wherein:

The method further comprises the step of presenting the playlist created for the user by the playlist creation server so that the playlist can be distributed to other users based on the operation of the user. The multimedia viewing method according to claim 11.