WO2007145225A1

WO2007145225A1 - Gateway device, mobile terminal, content reproduction device, and content distribution system

Info

Publication number: WO2007145225A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/061843
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hirotaka Ueda; Masahiro Chiba
Original assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2006-06-12
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: JP2008021297A

Abstract

A gateway device implemented as a foreign gateway (305) acquires an address (external gateway specification information) of a home gateway (304) via mobile terminal (307). According to the acquired address, a communication channel with the home gateway (304) is established. Via the communication channel, it is possible to reproduce a content under control of the home gateway (304) in a renderer (306) under control of the local device. Thus, it is possible to realize a gateway device enabling a user to view a content accumulated in a server at home by a reproduction terminal in another home.

Description

Specification

Gateway device, portable terminal, content reproduction device, and content distribution system

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a gateway device for delivering content under the control of an external gateway to a renderer under the control of its own device. The present invention relates to a portable terminal for playing back content under the management of an external gateway pre-associated with its own device using a renderer under the control of a gateway device capable of communicating with that device. The present invention also relates to a content reproduction apparatus that acquires and reproduces content stored in a content storage apparatus. Also

The present invention relates to a self-confidence system for content.

Background art

[0002] The ability to watch TV programs in a home, such as programs taken with an HDD recorder in the home, or digital camera photos stored in a PC (Personal Computer), is a home network technology. This is the basic goal of, and is often described with the keyword location-free. In addition, standards such as Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) are being developed, and DLNA-compatible terminals are being sold by various companies.

[0003] In DLNA, a desired content is transmitted by a controller called DMC (Digital Media Controller) from content consisting of moving images, still images, and audio stored in a media server called DMS (Digital Media Server). By specifying and then specifying a renderer called DM R (Digital Media Renderer), it is possible to play the specified content with the specified renderer. As DMC, a DL NA dedicated remote control or mobile phone is used. As DMR, TV, PC, audio equipment, etc. are usually selected. There are devices that include multiple elements among DMS, DMR, and DMC. For example, a device having both a DMR function and a DMC function is called a player, DMP (Digital Media Player).

FIG. 32 is a network configuration diagram of a home network using DLNA. [0005] As shown in FIG. 32, a home network (hereinafter abbreviated as HNW) 301 includes a media server (hereinafter abbreviated as DMS) 303, a renderer (hereinafter abbreviated as DMR) 306, and , A controller (hereinafter abbreviated as DMC) 308. In FIG. 32, only one DMC308, DMR306, and DMS303 are drawn, but there may be a plurality of these.

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram showing a conventional content reproduction procedure based on DLNA.

[0007] The DMC 308, DMR 306, and DMS 303 are connected to each other via a home network, and discover each other according to the UPnP protocol (S301). In the display on the DMC308, the discovered DMR306 and DMS303 can be confirmed. When the user selects the DMS 303 to be used (S302), the DMC 308 makes a request for the content list managed by the DMS 303 to the specified DMS 303 (S303). When the content list is supplied from the DMS303 (S304), the content list in the DMS is displayed on the display on the DMC308. In the content list, content is usually displayed in folders classified by media type. The user selects the DMR 306 that has been viewed on the DMC 308! And used for content (S305, 306), and notifies the selected DMR 306 of the content to be played back (S307). Upon receiving the reproduction request, the DMR 306 requests the DMS 303 to distribute the specified content (S308), receives the content distribution from the DMS 303 (S309), and reproduces the content. When the content is a large size such as a video, streaming playback is usually performed while receiving the content from the DMS 303.

[0008] By using DLNA, content stored in any DMS in the home can be viewed on any DMR in the home.

[0009] However, DLNA is a standard for home networks configured in the home. For example, content stored in a DMS at home cannot be viewed by DMR at another home. If you set up a home network that includes your home and another home, you can use DL NA as it is. It is not realistic to always have such a network enabled, and such a network is necessary if necessary. Even if you set up, you need a way to select and securely connect the two networks.

[0010] As a technology that can be used to view content that can be viewed at home, outside the home The techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are known.

[0011] Patent Document 1 discloses a content distribution system that enables a user to view content stored in a home server at home on a mobile terminal outside the home.

FIG. 34 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of the content distribution system 1001 described in Patent Document 1. In the content distribution system 1001 shown in FIG. 34, the user receives the broadcast content at the home server 1009 and stores it in the storage unit 1007. When the user wishes to distribute this accumulated content to the mobile terminal 1010, the authentication data is transmitted from the mobile terminal 1010 to the home server 1009, and the mobile terminal 1010 is registered by the user. The home server 1009 confirms that it exists. When this confirmation is performed, the home server 1009 distributes the target content specified by the user from the content stored in the storage unit 1007 to the mobile terminal 1010.

[0013] On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a content distribution system capable of constructing an environment that is the same as a program viewing environment at home even in an accommodation facility such as a hotel at a travel destination. The technology described in Patent Document 2 is a distribution system that releases scramble by collating key information so that the content can be viewed. Is. As a result, as long as you have a terminal device, you can cancel the scrambling not only when you are in your own house, but also when you are staying at an accommodation facility such as a hotel, and you can view the contents.

[0014] Patent Document 3 discloses a remote control device connected to a remote control device and a remote control terminal device via a network, and transfers operation information from the remote control device to the remote control terminal device. A remote control device that remotely controls a remote control device by transferring control information corresponding to the operation information to the remote control terminal device force remote control device is disclosed.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Gazette “JP 2003-37802 (Publication Date: February 7, 2003)”

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2001-345766 (Released on December 14, 2001)”

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2005-341041 (Publication date: December 2005 8) 曰)

Disclosure of the invention

However, with the above-described conventional configuration, it is impossible to view content stored in a server at home on a playback terminal such as a television in another home.

[0016] The above problem will be described in more detail as follows.

[0017] According to the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is only possible to view content at home on a mobile terminal, and not on a television in another home. In other words, even if a large-screen TV is in a different home, you cannot use it to play content, and users can only view content on the small screen of their mobile phone.

[0018] According to the technique described in Patent Document 2, if a television is available in an accommodation facility such as a hotel, content can be viewed using the television. However, the content covered by this technology is limited to content delivered directly from a specific content provider, and is intended for delivery of content once stored on a home server in the home. Even if you want to watch a TV program recorded at home on a remote TV, you cannot watch it unless the program you want to watch is delivered by a specific content provider.

[0019] In order to view content stored on a server in a home on a playback terminal such as a television in another home, at least the home and the home must be connected by some means. However, it is necessary to change the connection destination of the playback terminal for each user, such as visitor A's home for visitor A and B's home for visitor B.

[0020] However, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, a television as a playback terminal accesses a specific server that is determined in advance. That is, the content stored on the server in the user's home that changes according to the user cannot be reproduced.

[0021] In addition, viewing content stored on a server at home on a playback terminal such as a television set in another home means that when the user visits home C from the server side at home, This means that when you visit another house D from another house, you get access to another house D. That is, there arises a problem of how to provide authentication for playback terminal power access not specified in advance. On the other hand, in the system of Patent Document 1, the mobile terminal capability also accesses the content distribution system, and the content is viewed on the mobile terminal that is the access terminal. The mobile terminal knows the location of the content distribution system, and the content distribution system only needs to authenticate the mobile terminal that is the access terminal.

[0023] Similarly, in the system of Patent Document 2, a playback terminal such as a television can also access the content distribution system and view the content on the television as an access terminal. The TV knows the location of the content distribution system specified in advance, and the content distribution system only has to authenticate the TV that is also the access terminal.

[0024] For a server at home, there is no problem if the access partner is always the user's mobile terminal as in Patent Document 1, but if the access partner is a TV set in a separate home, is it really possible to deliver the content to that partner? It is necessary to determine whether or not.

[0025] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gateway device that enables content stored in a server in a home to be viewed on a playback terminal in another home. Is to realize.

[0026] Further, an object of the present invention is to distribute content under the management of the first gateway device such as a server to a second gateway device such as a playback terminal by a terminal device such as a portable terminal. The purpose is to realize a content distribution system that allows selection of content to be distributed.

[0027] In order to solve the above problems, a gateway device according to the present invention provides:

A gateway device for delivering content under the control of an external gateway to a renderer under the control of its own device,

External gateway designation information acquisition means for acquiring external gateway specification information for specifying the external gateway via a portable terminal capable of communicating with the gateway device;

A communication path establishing means for establishing a communication path with the external gateway designated by the external gateway designation information;

The content under the control of the external gateway is transferred by the communication path establishing means. A content acquisition means for acquiring the above external gateway power via an established communication path;

Content distribution means for distributing the content acquired by the content acquisition means to a renderer under the control of the gateway device;

It is characterized by having

[0028] According to the above configuration, the gateway device establishes a communication path with the external gateway designated by the external gateway designation information acquired via the mobile terminal. Then, the content under the management of the external gateway device is acquired via the communication path, and the acquired content is distributed to the renderer under the management of the gateway device.

[0029] Therefore, according to the mobile terminal that transmits the external gateway designation information designating the first external gateway to the gateway device, the gateway device establishes a communication path with the first external gateway. Then, according to the portable terminal that transmits the external gateway designation information that designates the second external gateway, the gateway device establishes a communication path with the second external gateway.

[0030] That is, if a portable terminal that transmits external gateway designation information that designates the home gateway of the home is brought into another home where the gateway device is installed, the gateway device of the home is connected to the home gateway of the home. Establish a communication path. As a result, the content under the management of the home gateway at home can be distributed to the renderer under the management of the gateway device at another home via the communication path.

[0031] A gateway device according to the present invention provides:

An authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information issued by the external gateway via the mobile terminal;

The connection establishment means establishes an authenticated communication path with the external gateway using the acquired authentication information.

It is preferable.

[0032] According to the above configuration, the gateway device acquires authentication information from the mobile terminal, and establishes a connection with the external gateway using the authentication information. Therefore, the above The external gateway has the further effect of being able to deny access from other than the gateway device that has given the authentication information via the mobile terminal.

[0033] It is preferable that the portable terminal carried by the user and the external gateway that manages the media server that stores the content to be viewed are associated in advance. For example, the portable terminal may hold the authentication information given in advance from the external gateway, or may acquire the authentication information from the external gateway. The authentication information may be permanent. It is preferable that the authentication information has a predetermined expiration date. This expiration date may be defined by the time when the authentication information is valid, or may be defined by the number of accesses such as the upper limit of the number of times access is possible with the authentication information. Further, the expiration date may be expired when the physical or virtual connection between the mobile terminal and the gateway device becomes invalid. If security is required, the connection between the mobile terminal that grants access rights and the gateway device involves physical contact with a cable, cradle, etc., and is physically given to the gateway device when they are separated from each other. It is intuitive and desirable that access rights are deprived.

The gateway device is

Content specifying information acquisition means for acquiring the content specification information for specifying the content to be reproduced among the content managed by the external gateway, the mobile terminal power,

The content acquisition means acquires the content designated by the content designation information also with the external gateway power.

It is preferable.

[0035] According to the above configuration, the gateway device acquires the content specified by the content specification information that has also acquired the mobile terminal capability, and distributes the acquired content to the renderer. Therefore, according to the above configuration, there is an additional effect that the content distributed to the renderer can be designated by the mobile terminal.

[0036] The gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Play the content in the renderer under the control of the gateway device Renderer designation information acquisition means for acquiring renderer designation information for designating a renderer from the portable terminal,

It is preferable that the content distribution unit is to transmit the content acquired by the content acquisition unit to the renderer specified by the renderer specifying information.

[0037] According to the above configuration, the gateway device distributes the content acquired with the external gateway power to the renderer specified by the renderer specifying information that also acquired the mobile terminal power. Therefore, according to the above configuration, there is an additional effect that it is possible to specify a renderer as a content distribution destination on the mobile terminal.

[0038] A gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Content list request accepting means for accepting a content list request for obtaining a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the external gateway, from the portable terminal;

A content list request transfer means for transferring the content list request received by the content list request reception means to the external gateway via the communication path established by the communication path establishment means;

U, who prefers to be further equipped.

[0039] According to the above configuration, the content list request issued by the mobile terminal can be transferred to the external gateway.

[0040] Note that the gateway device may further include content list transfer means for receiving a content list transmitted by the external gateway as a response to the content list request and transferring the received content list to the mobile terminal. In this case, the content under the control of the external gateway can be selected and specified on the mobile terminal.

[0041] The gateway device of the present invention includes:

DLNA content list request accepting means for accepting a DLNA content list request, which is a content list request in accordance with DLNA protocol,

A content list, which is a list of contents under the management of the external gateway, is sent from the external gateway via the communication path established by the communication path establishing means. Content list acquisition means for acquiring;

In response to the DLNA content list request, content list transmission means for transmitting the content list acquired by the content list acquisition means to the controller according to the DLNA protocol;

A content distribution request that specifies content to be played back among the contents belonging to the content list, and that includes a content specification information, and transmits a DL NA content distribution request that conforms to the DLNA protocol, among the renderers under the control of the gateway device. DLNA content delivery request accepting means for accepting any one of them. The content obtaining means receives the content designated by the content designation information included in the DLNA content delivery request as the external gateway power. To obtain

The content distribution unit distributes the content acquired by the content acquisition unit to a renderer that is a transmission source of the DLNA content distribution request according to a DLNA protocol.

It is preferable.

[0042] If there is a content list request according to the DLNA protocol from the controller, the gateway device acquires the content list of the content under the control of the external gateway from the external gateway and returns it to the controller according to the DLNA protocol.

[0043] When the gateway device receives a content distribution request according to the renderer DLNA protocol, the gateway device acquires the requested content from the external gateway and returns it to the renderer according to the DLNA protocol.

Therefore, the gateway device has an effect that the controller and the renderer can behave as a media server (DMS) compliant with DLNA.

[0045] DLNA is a standardized standard, and home appliances have released TVs and HDD recorders that support DLNA. If these devices can be used as they are, the options for the renderer will expand. When watching movies, it is possible to select the most suitable playback terminal according to the type of content, such as viewing on a large-screen TV that is not possible with a small display on a mobile terminal. . In the gateway device of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller and the renderer are integrated.

[0047] When a list of contents in the media server is obtained and a controller for selecting the contents and a renderer for reproducing the contents are arranged, the contents are reproduced on the terminal (controller) operated by the user. Therefore, if a content playback environment that is intuitive and easy to understand for the user can be realized, a further effect can be achieved.

[0048] In the gateway device of the present invention, it is preferable that the controller and the mobile terminal are integrated.

[0049] If the portable terminal carried by the user becomes a controller, the content list in the media server can be obtained using the portable terminal, and a renderer and content can be selected.

[0050] In the gateway device of the present invention, the mobile terminal is preferably a mobile phone.

[0051] A mobile phone is a terminal that a user carries without leaving his / her skin and is a terminal occupied by an individual. User authentication is usually limited to one user, so device authentication can be replaced with user authentication. By using a mobile phone that you always carry as a mobile terminal, you can access content in your home network even when you are away from home.

[0052] The portable terminal is a portable terminal for reproducing content under the management of an external gateway associated with the own device in advance by a renderer under the control of a gateway device capable of communicating with the own device. There,

External gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting external gateway designation information for designating the external gateway to the gateway device;

Content list acquisition means for acquiring a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the external gateway, directly from the external gateway, or from the external gateway via the gateway device;

Content specifying information transmitting means for transmitting content specifying information for specifying the content selected by the user in the content list acquired by the content list acquiring means to the gateway device; Renderer designation information transmitting means for transmitting, to the gateway apparatus, renderer designation information for designating a renderer that reproduces the content designated by the content designation information among the renderers under the management of the gateway apparatus;

May be configured.

[0053] In addition, the mobile terminal is present in any of a network currently managed by the gateway device or a network managed by the external gateway. A network determination means for determining whether the mobile device is present in the network under the control of the external gateway, and functions as a DLNA compliant controller. Can be configured as follows.

[0054] A content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention includes:

A content playback device that acquires and plays back content stored in a content storage device,

Content ID storage type content acquisition means for acquiring content ID in-thread type content storing a content ID that uniquely identifies itself in the content storage device from the content storage device;

A content ID transmitting means for transmitting the content ID included in the content ID content type content to / from other content playback devices;

It has.

[0055] According to the above configuration, the content ID included in the content ID storage type content acquired by the content reproduction device is transmitted to another content reproduction device. Since the content ID can uniquely identify the content in the content storage device, other content playback devices that have received the content ID have acquired the content storage device power by the content playback device that is the transmission source. Content ID storage type content can be uniquely identified. That is, according to the above configuration, the content ID storage type content that is the same as the content ID storage type content that the content playback device acquires and plays back the content storage device power is also used for other content playback devices. There is an effect that it can be obtained or reproduced. [0056] The content reproduction device of the present invention comprises authentication information acquisition means for acquiring authentication information issued by an external gateway managing the content storage device from an external gateway;

An authentication information transmission unit that transmits the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquisition unit to a gateway device that manages the other content reproduction device may be further provided.

[0057] Also, in the content playback device of the present invention, the content ID storage type content includes authentication information issued by an external gateway device that manages the content storage device, and the content The playback device is the content ID storage type

The authentication information transmitting unit may further include authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information to the gateway device that manages the other content reproduction device.

[0058] The content playback apparatus according to the present invention further includes a content ID storage type content holding unit that holds the content ID storage type content acquired by the content ID storage type content acquisition unit.

It is preferable.

[0059] According to the above configuration, the content reproduction apparatus can hold content ID storage type content. Therefore, the content storage device can also play back the content ID storage type content at a different time and at a different place from when the content ID storage type content is acquired.

[0060] For example, when the content storage device is at home and the other content playback means is at another home, the content acquired from the content storage device at home may be held in the content playback device and visited at another home. it can. Here, if another content playback device in another home is configured to be able to acquire content at the home content storage device, the same content is played back by the content playback device and the content playback device at the other home. It becomes possible.

[0061] Note that the content playback device is a content playback device that plays back a content ID case content that stores a content ID that uniquely identifies the content playback device, and at least the content ID case type The content ID included in the content is changed to other content. A content ID transmission means for transmitting to the playback device should be provided.

[0062] In order to solve the above problems, the content distribution system according to the present invention provides:

A content distribution system including a first gateway device, a second gateway device, and a terminal device,

The first gateway device includes content list transmitting means for transmitting a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the first gateway device, to the terminal device,

The terminal device sends a content list acquisition unit for acquiring the content list transmitted from the first gateway device, and a content distribution request for requesting distribution of content selected from the content list. Content distribution request transmitting means for transmitting to the gateway device,

The first gateway device further includes a content transmission means for delivering the requested content to the second gateway device in response to the content delivery request sent from the terminal device,

The second gateway device includes a content acquisition unit that acquires the content distributed from the first gateway device.

It is characterized by that.

[0063] According to the above configuration, the content selected in the terminal device among the content managed by the first gateway device is distributed from the first gateway device to the second gateway device. There is an effect that can be done.

Note that the terminal device may be a mobile terminal, for example, a mobile phone.

[0065] The content distribution system according to the present invention!

The terminal device further includes authentication information transmitting means for transmitting authentication information to the first gateway device,

The first gateway device includes, based on the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, user specifying means for specifying a user of the terminal device and a second gateway device serving as a distribution destination of the content of the terminal device. Storage means for storing in association with the user; Is further provided,

The content transmission means of the first gateway device transmits the content to the second gateway device associated with the user of the terminal device specified based on the authentication information.

It is preferable.

[0066] According to the above configuration, the first gateway device identifies the user of the terminal device based on the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, and is associated with the user of the terminal device. Content can be distributed to the gateway device. That is, even when content distribution is requested from a plurality of terminal devices, the first gateway device distributes content to the second gateway device associated with the user of each terminal device. There is a further effect that becomes possible.

[0067] The content distribution system according to the present invention!

The terminal device further includes gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting the gateway designation information for designating the second gateway device to the first gateway device,

The storage means of the first gateway device includes the second gateway device specified by the gateway specification information transmitted from the terminal device, the second gateway device specified based on the authentication information. Remember to associate with the user,

It is preferable.

[0068] According to the above configuration, the first gateway device specifies the second gateway device to be associated with the user of the terminal device based on the gateway designation information transmitted from the terminal device, There is a further effect that the association can be stored.

[0069] The content distribution system according to the present invention!

The second gateway device further includes gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting gateway designation information for designating the second gateway device to the terminal device,

The terminal device specifies the gateway designation transmitted from the second gateway device. A storage means for storing information;

It is preferable.

[0070] According to the above configuration, the terminal device acquires gateway specification information for specifying the second gateway device to be associated with the user of the terminal device from the second gateway device, and stores the gateway specification information. The gateway designation information transmitting means of the terminal device can further transmit the gateway designation information stored in the storage means to the first gateway device. .

In order to solve the above problems, the gateway device according to the present invention provides

A content list transmitting means for transmitting a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the own device, to the terminal device;

A content transmission means for transmitting a requested content to another gateway device in response to a content distribution request transmitted from the terminal device and requesting the distribution of the content selected from the content list It is characterized by having.

[0072] According to the above configuration, the content selected in the terminal device among the contents managed by the gateway device can be delivered to the gateway device and other gateway devices. .

[0073] A gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Authentication information receiving means for receiving authentication information transmitted from the terminal device; user specifying means for specifying a user of the terminal device based on the received authentication information! /;

Storage means for storing the other gateway device as a delivery destination of the content in association with the user of the terminal device;

Preferably, the content transmission means distributes the content to another gateway device specified based on the authentication information and associated with the user of the terminal device.

[0074] According to the above configuration, the gateway device identifies the user of the terminal device based on the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, and is associated with the user of the terminal device. Content can be distributed to other gateway devices. That is, even when content distribution is requested from a plurality of terminal devices, the gateway device can distribute the content to other gateway devices associated with the user of each terminal device. There is a further effect.

[0075] A gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Password transmitting means for transmitting a password to the terminal device;

A connection request received from the other gateway device, and a connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request including the password;

Authentication means for confirming whether the password is valid;

It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises connection establishment means for establishing a communication path for distributing the content with the other gateway device when the password is valid.

[0076] According to the above configuration, the gateway device accepts a connection request including the password transmitted to the terminal device from the other gateway device. When it is confirmed that the password included in the connection request is a valid password, a communication path is established with the other gateway device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent inappropriate distribution of content to a device that cannot obtain a password from the terminal device.

[0077] The gateway device includes password generation means for generating a password according to the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, and password request reception means for receiving a password request transmitted from the terminal device. Further, the password transmitting means may transmit the password generated by the password generating means to the terminal device in response to the password request.

[0078] In the gateway device according to the present invention, the terminal device is a mobile terminal.

It is preferable.

[0079] According to the above configuration, there is an additional effect that the user can select content distributed from the gateway device using the mobile terminal.

[0080] In order to solve the above problems, the content distribution system according to the present invention provides: A content distribution system including a first gateway device, a second gateway device, and a terminal device,

The terminal device includes content list acquisition means for acquiring the content list transmitted from the first gateway device, content specification information for specifying content selected from the content list, and the second gateway device. Content designation information transmitting means for transmitting to

The second gateway device includes a content designation information receiving means for receiving content designation information transmitted from the terminal device, and a content delivery request for requesting delivery of content designated by the content designation information. Content distribution request transmitting means for transmitting to the gateway device.

The first gateway device further includes content transmission means for distributing the requested content to the second gateway device in response to the content distribution request transmitted from the second gateway device.

The second gateway device further includes content acquisition means for acquiring the content distributed from the first gateway device.

It is characterized by that.

[0081] According to the above configuration as well, content selected in the terminal device out of content managed by the first gateway device is distributed from the first gateway device to the second gateway device. There is an effect that can be.

[0082] Note that the content distribution system described above is

The terminal device further includes address transmission means for transmitting an address designating the first gateway device to the second gateway device,

The second gateway device further includes address acquisition means for acquiring the address transmitted from the terminal device,

The content delivery request transmitting means of the second gateway device is configured to send the address Sending the content delivery request to the first gateway device designated by

It's configured as you like.

[0083] In the content distribution system according to the present invention!

The first gateway device further includes password transmission means for transmitting a password to the terminal device,

The terminal device acquires a password transmitted from the first gateway device, an address for designating the first gateway device, and the acquired password for the second gateway device. An access authority transmission means for transmitting to

The second gateway device includes an access authority acquisition means for acquiring the address and the password transmitted from the terminal device, and a connection request including the password, the first gateway device specified by the address. A connection request transmission means for transmitting to

The first gateway device includes a connection request accepting unit that accepts the connection request transmitted from the second gateway device, an authentication unit that confirms whether the password is valid, and the password. Connection establishment means for establishing a communication path for distributing the content to the second gateway device when it is valid,

It is preferable.

According to the above configuration, the first gateway device accepts a connection request including the password transmitted to the terminal device from the second gateway device. Then, when it is confirmed that the password included in the connection request is a valid password, a communication path is established with the second gateway device. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent inappropriate distribution of content to a device that cannot obtain a password from the terminal device.

[0085] Note that the terminal device includes authentication information transmitting means for transmitting authentication information to the first gateway device, and a password for transmitting a password request to the first gateway device. Request transmitting means, wherein the first gateway device receives an authentication information receiving means for receiving the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device and a password request transmitted from the terminal device. A password request accepting unit and a password transmitting unit that generates a password according to the authentication information and transmits the generated password to the terminal device may be further included.

[0086] In order to solve the above problems, the gateway device according to the present invention provides

Content transmission request sent from another gateway device that delivers the requested content to the other gateway device in response to a content delivery request that requests delivery of the content selected from the content list Means, and

It is characterized by that.

[0087] The above configuration also has an effect that the content selected in the terminal device among the content managed by the gateway device can be distributed to the gateway device power to the other gateway device. .

[0088] A gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Password transmitting means for transmitting a password to the terminal device;

A connection request accepting means for accepting a connection request including the above-mentioned nose word from the other gateway device;

Authentication means for confirming whether the password is valid;

It is preferable to further include connection establishment means for establishing a communication path for distributing the content to the other gateway device when the password is valid.

[0089] According to the above configuration, the gateway device accepts a connection request including the password transmitted to the terminal device from the other gateway device. When it is confirmed that the password included in the connection request is a valid password, a communication path is established with the other gateway device. Therefore, the terminal device It is possible to prevent inappropriate distribution of content to a device that cannot obtain a password.

[0090] The gateway device further includes an authentication information receiving unit that receives the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, and a password request receiving unit that receives a password request transmitted from the terminal device. The password transmitting means may transmit the password generated based on the authentication information to the terminal device in response to the password request.

Note that the second gateway device included in the content reproduction system is also included in the scope of the present invention.

That is, the gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Access authority acquisition means for acquiring an address and authentication information from the outside;

By transmitting the authentication information to the other gateway device specified by the address, a communication route establishment means for establishing a communication route with the other gateway device and a content specification 'blueprint for specifying the content' Stipulates that the content is to be acquired from the Bund, the blueprint acquisition means,

A content distribution request for distributing the content specified by the content specification information is sent to the other gateway device, and content acquisition means for acquiring the content distributed via the communication path includes: Prepare.

[0093] The gateway device may further include a display unit that displays the content acquired by the content acquisition means.

[0094] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be sufficiently understood from the following description. The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a schematic configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content distribution system.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and includes a foreign gateway and a home gateway. It is a sequence diagram which shows the connection method with ray.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for a mobile terminal to acquire a content list according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, (a) shows the acquisition method when a bidirectional communication path can be used between the mobile terminal and the FGW. (B) shows the acquisition method when there is only a one-way communication path from the mobile terminal to the FGW between the mobile terminal and the FGW. (C) shows the acquisition method when the external communication path between the mobile terminal and the HGW is used without going through the FGW.

4] An embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a display screen displayed on a mobile terminal as a UI in the mobile terminal.

5] An embodiment of the present invention is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display screen displayed on a mobile terminal as a UI in the mobile terminal.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for selecting content, a method for selecting a renderer, and a method for playing back selected content using the selected renderer, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, (a) shows a method when a bidirectional communication path can be used between the mobile terminal and the foreign gateway. (B) shows a method in the case where there is only a one-way communication path to the foreign gateway between the portable terminal and the foreign gateway. (C) shows a method in which an external communication path between the mobile terminal and the home gateway is used without going through a falling gateway.

FIG. 7, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of a foreign gateway (FGW).

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a home gateway (HGW) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[9] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of a renderer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a media server according to an embodiment of the present invention.

圆 11] An embodiment of the present invention, which shows a functional program showing the main part configuration of a mobile terminal FIG.

[12] FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a main configuration of a SIP server provided by a service provider according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a method for causing a home gateway to function as a DMC.

FIG. 14, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a flowchart showing a method for changing processing depending on whether the mobile terminal is at the home gateway or the foreign gateway.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the media server 303 functions as a virtual media server in the foreign gateway in the content distribution system shown in FIG. FIG.

FIG. 16, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for acquiring a content list that is a list of content stored in a media server from a controller-powered home gateway.

FIG. 17, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for distributing content to a foreign gateway power renderer.

18] An embodiment of the present invention is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a state in which a mobile terminal is playing back album display UI content. FIG.

FIG. 19, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a data structure diagram showing a data structure of UI content.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a content management table used when a media server manages content according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a diagram showing a screen transition ′ function call description file in UI content.

FIG. 22 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a home network when a mobile terminal is in the home network.

圆 23] An embodiment of the present invention, which is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by a mobile terminal before playing back UI content.

圆 24] This shows one embodiment of the present invention, and the content re-execution executed on the mobile terminal It is the flowchart which showed raw processing.

FIG. 25 is a data structure diagram showing the data structure of the screen transition 'function call description file, showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed in the media server.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing that is executed by the television that is the renderer, according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, showing a configuration of a home network and a foreign network, a case where a mobile terminal holding UI content is brought into the foreign network FIG.

FIG. 29 is a data structure diagram conceptually showing the structure of a screen transition 'function call description file according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which the mobile network holding UI content is in the home network and the mobile network is transferring UI content in the home network and foreign network configuration. FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a case where the mobile terminal is in an S foreign network work.

FIG. 31 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is an explanatory diagram for explaining other UI contents.

FIG. 32 shows a conventional technique and is a network configuration diagram showing a conventional home network using DLNA.

FIG. 33 is a sequence diagram showing a conventional technique and showing a conventional content reproduction procedure based on DLNA.

[Fig. 34] Fig. 34 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system which shows a conventional technique and can reproduce content stored in a home server.

Explanation of symbols

301 Home Network

302 Foreign Network

303 media server 304 Home gateway (external gateway)

305 Foreign gateway (gateway device)

306 Renderer

307 mobile device

309 Service Provider

401 -414-415 Communication Department

402 Authentication Department

403 Connection request reception part

404 Access authority acquisition unit (external gateway specification information acquisition means, authentication information acquisition means)

410 Connection establishment unit (communication path establishment means)

406 Content management unit (content list request accepting means,

Content list request transfer means)

407 Renderer Management Department

408 Renderer designation reception part (Renderer designation information acquisition means)

405 Content specification reception unit (Content specification information acquisition means)

411 Content acquisition 咅 (Content acquisition means)

412 Content conversion 咅

413 Content transmission 咅 Content 酉 Self-confidence means)

409 Content operation reception

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[Embodiment 1]

One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, the configuration of the content distribution system including the gateway device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content distribution system. The content distribution system is configured in a user's home, and is a home network (hereinafter abbreviated as HNW). And a foreign network (hereinafter abbreviated as FNW) 302 configured in a separate home visited by the user. HNW301 has a home gateway (hereinafter abbreviated as HGW) that manages the devices in HNW301. 304 FNW302 has a foreign gateway (hereinafter abbreviated as FGW) 305 that manages the devices in FNW302. .

[0100] Note that here, for convenience, the HNW 301 configured in the user's home and the FNW 305 configured in another home are described as relative names. In other words, since the relationship between the home network and the foreign network and between the home gateway and the foreign gateway may be interchanged, it is desirable that both networks and gateways have both functions in implementation.

[0101] A media server 303 is arranged in the HNW 301. The media server 303 is composed of devices having storage such as an HDD recorder and a PC, for example, and accumulates various contents such as moving images, still images, and sound documents. Devices that deliver real-time media such as cameras are also a type of media server 303. Although only one is shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of simplicity, there are usually many media servers 303 in the HNW 301. On the other hand, at least one HGW304 is installed in HNW301.

A renderer 306 is arranged in the FNW 302. The renderer 306 is composed of a content playback device such as a television set, for example, and plays back moving images, still images, sounds, etc., and presents office documents. The type of media that can be handled depends on the type of renderer, and for example, it is not possible to play a video on an audio device. In FIG. 1, only one renderer 306 is shown for simplicity, but there are many renderers 306 in FNW302. On the other hand, the FGW 305 may have at least one force installed in the FNW 302.

[0103] Normally, the home gateway function and the foreign gateway function are realized by a single device, so it is not necessary to install the home gateway and the foreign gateway separately (and two at the same time) in each home. ! /

[0104] As described above, the distinction between a home gateway and a foreign gateway is different. Forces omitted for the sake of simplicity, because they are opposites. Normally, there are renderers in HNW301, and media servers in FNW302. The devices in HNW301 are connected to each other via a wired or wireless home LAN, and recognize each other's presence. The same applies to each device in FNW302.

[0105] (1. Establishing connection between HGW and FGW)

Here, the owner of HNW301 who lives in the house where HNW301 is configured has FNW302 configured with mobile terminal 307 !, moved to the house, and the media server belonging to HNW301 with renderer 306 belonging to FNW302 Consider the situation where the content stored in 303 is viewed.

[0106] FIG. 2 shows a procedure until FGW 305 and HGW 304 are connected when content stored in media server 303 in the home is played by renderer 306 via mobile terminal 307 force FGW 305 and HGW 304. FIG.

[0107] The connection procedure between the FGW 305 and the HGW 304 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0108] First, the mobile terminal 307 applies to the FGW 305 for permission to use resources belonging to the FNW 302 (S001). The FGW 305 grants the resource use permission to the mobile terminal 307 according to the use permission policy predetermined in the FNW 302 (S002). The usage permission policy may accept all requests, or the policy may require confirmation by the owner of the FNW 302 sequentially. It may be possible to make a payment using a credit card. Here, as an example, a policy is adopted in which use permission is granted to all resources belonging to the FNW 302 only to the mobile terminal 307 located physically close to the FGW305. Whether or not the mobile terminal 307 is in a position physically close to the FGW 305 can be verified by various methods. For example, there are the following methods.

[0109] (1) Use permission is granted only when physical contact is confirmed, such as when the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305 are connected with a sufficiently short cable.

[0110] (2) Communication between mobile terminal 307 and FGW 305 is performed using infrared communication, Bluetooth, or other nearby communication, and application for use through it is not allowed. Only if it is done).

[0111] (3) The FGW 305 is granted a use permission only when a use application is received within a predetermined time after a specific physical operation is performed directly. Specifically, for example, a physical button, etc., is placed on the FGW 305, and only usage applications received within a sufficiently short time after the button is pressed are accepted.

[0112] (4) A passcode is displayed on the display panel of the FGW305, and the use permission is given only when the passcode (it is also necessary to confirm the physically close position force) is input. It is possible to send a passcode to the surroundings of FGW305 by proximity communication (for example, proximity wireless communication).

In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305 perform infrared communication. The F GW 305 receives the infrared communication from the mobile terminal 307 to verify that the mobile terminal 307 exists in the physical vicinity of the F GW 305. In this sense, the FGW 305 permits the mobile terminal 307 in the physical vicinity to use resources belonging to the FNW 305. In this way, by configuring the FGW 305 to accept only near field communication, when limiting the mobile terminals that can communicate with the FGW 305, the steps from S001 to S003 surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 2 may be omitted. it can. This is because the HGW304 address, connection ID and password notification sent from the mobile terminal 307 in S010 are accepted only by infrared communication. This is because it is automatically guaranteed that the mobile terminal 307 exists in the physical vicinity of the FGW 305.

[0114] Authentication information for logging in to HGW304 4 via the network (client certificate proving that it is a client of HGW304, and logging in to HGW304) to portable terminal 307 owned by the owner of HNW301 Password) is stored in advance. The portable terminal 307 attempts to log in to the HGW 304 via the network using these authentication information (S004). For security reasons, it is desirable that the communication path between the mobile terminal 307 and the HGW 304 is appropriately encrypted to prevent third parties from eavesdropping and tampering.

[0115] HGW304 confirms the client certificate of mobile terminal 307 and does not Is used to authenticate the mobile terminal 307 (S005), and login is permitted (S006). Next, the mobile terminal 307 requests the HGW 304 to generate a password for the FGW 305 to connect to the HGW 304 (S007). The HGW 304 generates a password (S008), and transmits the generated nose word to the mobile terminal 307. This password has an expiration date and is preferably a one-time password (One Time Password (OTP)) that cannot be used after the expiration date.

[0116] The mobile terminal 307 notifies the FGW 305 of the connection destination ID and password to the FGW 305 via short-range infrared communication (S010). The connection ID is set in advance between the mobile terminal 307 and the HGW 304 (or dynamically generated based on a rule agreed in advance by both parties). In the password notification to the mobile terminal 307, even if the password is leaked to the outside, this ID cannot be used unless it has the power, so the risk can be reduced.

[0117] The FGW 305 makes a connection request to the HGW 304 using the address, ID, and password given from the mobile terminal 307 in S010 (S011). HGW304 confirms the validity of the ID and password, and if there is no problem, establishes a connection with FGW305. At this time, FGW305 and HGW304 perform SIP connection via a SIP server provided by service provider 309. The service provider 309 can perform authentication of each gateway, security evaluation, etc. as necessary, and can present the obtained information to each gateway. Each gateway refers to the information provided by the service provider 309 to allow connection only to gateways registered in the service in advance, or to gateways with low ratings. Safety measures such as refusal can be adopted. Since the communication path between the HGW 304 and the FGW 305 is a path through which the content list and contents of the media server 303 managed by the HGW 304 are distributed thereafter, it is desirable that the communication is properly encrypted.

[0118] In order to establish more secure communication between HGW and FGW, confirm the network address of FGW304 in S001 to S003, and check the network of FGW304 in S007! The mobile terminal 307 may be configured to notify the network address to the HGW 305. At this time, by configuring the HGW 305 to accept access only from the address corresponding to the notified address, communication between the HGW and the FGW can be made more secure.

[0119] (2. Acquisition of content list by mobile terminal)

In order to play the content in the media server 303 belonging to the HNW 301, it is necessary to specify which content is to be played. For this purpose, it is necessary to acquire a list of all or part of the content stored in the media server 303 and select it from there.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a procedure for the portable terminal 307 to acquire the content list. The content list acquisition procedure varies depending on the available network environment. Here, three patterns are shown. It should be noted that here, when there are multiple media servers 303 managed by HGW304, it is necessary to select the media server after acquiring the media server list belonging to HNW301 before acquiring the content list. There is. The acquisition and selection of the media server list are performed in the same procedure as the content list acquisition and selection.

[0121] Fig. 3 (a) shows an acquisition procedure when a bidirectional communication path such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) is available between the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305. The portable terminal 307 relays the FGW 305 and requests the content list from the HGW 304 (S101, 102). The HGW confirms the content stored in the media server (S103), and also relays the FGW305 and returns the content list to the mobile terminal 307 (S104, 105). If you use home WiFi between the mobile terminal and the FG W, and flat-rate broadband between the FGW and the HGW, the communication cost can be reduced and the list can be acquired with little delay!

[0122] Fig. 3 (b) shows the acquisition procedure when there is only a one-way communication path from the portable terminal 307 to the FGW 305 such as infrared communication between the portable terminal 307 and the FGW 305. . The mobile terminal 307 relays the FGW 305 and requests a content list from the HGW 304 (S101, 102). The HGW 304 confirms the content stored in the media server (S103) and passes through an external communication channel such as the Internet or a mobile network. The content list is returned directly to (S106). In this case, since the mobile terminal needs to use an external communication channel, there is a possibility that problems of billing and transmission delay may become large. On the other hand, mobile terminals have the advantage of being able to use inexpensive infrared communication ports for communication with FGW!

[0123] (c) of Fig. 3 shows an acquisition procedure when communication between the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305 is not used. The mobile terminal 307 directly requests a content list from the HGW 304 via an external communication path such as the Internet or a mobile network (S107). The HGW 304 confirms the content stored in the media server (S103), and returns the content list directly to the mobile terminal 307 (S106). In the case of (c) in Fig. 3, the content list can be acquired in the mobile terminal before the communication between the HGW and FGW is established. Considering the convenience of the user, it is desirable that the mobile terminal 307 carried by the user always holds a necessary content list and can be easily called at any time. According to the acquisition procedure shown in (c) of Fig. 3, this state can be easily realized.

[0124] In this embodiment, the HGW 304 sequentially distributes (feeds) the content list managed by the media server to the mobile terminal 307 in the form of RSS (Rich Site Summary), and the content that is always required by the mobile terminal 307. Ensure that the list is maintained. In the mobile terminal 303, distributed RSS is classified and managed under various conditions such as each media server, each media, and each registration date.

[0125] The RSS distributed from the HGW 304 to the mobile terminal 307 includes some or all of the following information.

• Content name

. Content type

Content size

• DRM (Digital Rights Management) information

• Recording channel, recording date and time

-URI

• Overview

• Genre • Thumbnail

• Playback control information (starting point 'digest, etc.)

• RSS delivery date and time

• expiration date

The content name is the name of the content. The content type indicates the media type of the content. The content size indicates the data size of the content. The renderer that can be used is determined by the content type and content size. The DRM information includes information related to the copyright of the content, the name of the copyright holder, contact information, source URI, authority URI, and electronic signature. The recording channel and the recording date and time are used when the content is broadcast content, and indicate the channel on which the recorded content was broadcast and the date and time when the recording was performed. Based on the information described here, HGW304 confirms that the same copy is recorded on a local HDD recorder, etc., and confirms that if it is recorded, it uses that. (The same can be done with the above-mentioned source URI). The outline is a rough explanation of the content. For example, EPG (Electronic Program Guide) information can be used for broadcast content. A thumbnail is a spatially or temporally extracted content, and usually consists of small still images. A genre indicates a content category and is composed of one or more keywords. Based on genre information, classify RSS distributed on the terminal side.

[0126] The URI (Universal Resource Identifier) globally indicates the location of the content. The URI for the content stored in the media server managed by the HGW 304 is composed of the IP address of the HGW 304, the UDN (Unique Device Name) of the media server managed by the HGW 304, and the file path in the media server. On the other hand, URI of contents distributed on the Internet is defined as a general Internet URL.

[0127] The playback control information is information for controlling the content playback method. For example, a resume point for resume playback, a set of highlight time intervals for performing digest playback, and playback of each time interval. Method (Normal playback, 3x fast forward playback, slow playback, etc.) Is described. By using the playback control information, special viewing such as resume viewing and digest viewing becomes possible.

[0128] The RSS distribution date / time indicates the date / time when the RSS is distributed, and the expiration date indicates the effective date / time of the distributed index. Based on these pieces of information, the client executed on the mobile terminal 307 automatically deletes the distributed index information. The erasure policy is the same as that used for general RSS aggregators, and it is preferentially erased, such as the oldest transfer date to the terminal or the one not recently played. The deletion policy can be set individually for each category such as genre. If the content is video, it can be deleted once it is viewed!

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a display screen displayed on the mobile terminal 307 as a UI (User Interface) in the mobile terminal 307.

[0130] The display screen 1301 presents the content list acquired by any of the above-mentioned methods in a hierarchy for each category. For example, when the user selects the folder 1305, a program group recorded by the HDD recorder is listed as shown as the display screen 1302. When the folder 1306 is selected, a group of pictures taken with a digital camera is listed, and when a folder 1307 is selected, a group of movies taken with a video is listed. Also, if you select folder 1308, music that has been ripped from the CD and music that has been purchased from the online shop will be listed. These folders are virtual, and the same file may be classified into multiple folders.

[0131] Here, the information distribution on the Internet via RSS is also handled in the same way, and the recommended program of 1304 is the recommended TV program list provided by the Internet service provider, and the program in the list is at home. If it is stored on the media server, it can be viewed. Otherwise, it cannot be viewed or jumps to the program purchase site. This recommended program is prepared by, for example, selecting a program with a large number of reservations from the recording reservation information of many other users having the same tendency as the TV viewing history of the user of the mobile terminal 307. Accumulating personal viewing history in a personal terminal, which is a mobile terminal, enables highly accurate customized information transmission for each individual. Viewing information on TV, recording information and viewing information on HDD recorder, stored music art Online services can be customized based on information such as strikes and genre information. For example, in a book online shop, users who view and reserve similar programs are encouraged to purchase books that are commonly purchased, or conversely, users who purchase similar books! It is possible to make a reservation for recording in common and recommend watching TV programs.

[0132] When the user selects the Internet folder 1309, the podcasting distributed on the Web page, the update information of the Web page, etc. are classified and arranged in the same way as a normal RSS aggregator. When you select an index stored in the Internet folder, the URL indicated by RSS is accessed using a Web browser or the like, and the content is acquired. The acquisition procedure for the content acquisition server 303 is also different from the above method, but the user does not need to recognize the difference. Just select

[0133] When the viewing of a certain content is stopped halfway, an index for resuming playback from that point later is accumulated in the interruption folder 1311. When playback is interrupted by any of the renderers, the gateway detects the interrupt, generates a resume index, and sends it to the mobile terminal. The user can use the resume index to resume viewing interrupted content At this time, there is no problem if the renderer changes from the previous view.

[0134] Mailbox 1310 stores index information of content transmitted from other users. If the content is broadcast content such as a TV program and is stored on the media server at home, the same program can be viewed. On the other hand, in the case of private photos, etc., the connection information consisting of the connection address, ID, and password given to FG W at S010 in FIG. Using this information, the user can access the content owner's HGW remotely and view the content.

[0135] To prevent unauthorized access other than the forwarding user, when an external user accesses the HGW using an ID and password, send another ID and password again to the original forwarding address, You may request access again. Or you can use your friend's ID and password in advance May be registered in the HGW (not sent when sending the index) and accessed with the default ID and password. If index transmission / reception is performed over a copyright-protected network such as a mobile network, add DRM, which becomes FL (Forward Lock's transfer prohibition) when sending the index, and prohibit transfer. May be. It is also possible to make it necessary to acquire the authority necessary for viewing at the time of access in the separate delivery format.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which index information existing in another user is transferred by the mobile terminal 307. A desired content is selected from the index list screen 1302 of a certain content, and the menu power is also selected to be transmitted (1316). Further, when a transfer destination address, sub-data, message body, etc. are added and transferred to a desired user, the index is classified into the above-mentioned mailbox at the transfer destination user's terminal. Looking at the mailbox, the message body 1317 is displayed along with the program thumbnail 1312 and the summary 1313, and the transferred program can be viewed by selecting the index.

[0137] Note that the classification folder mentioned here is merely an example, and various other classification methods such as registration date, new arrival content, genre classification, and media server classification are possible.

[0138] (3. Renderer selection and content playback by mobile terminal)

In order to reproduce the content in the media server 303 in the FNW 302, it is necessary to determine which renderer in the FNW 302 is to reproduce the content. Unless the renderer is automatically determined because there is only one renderer available in FNW302, the user must select the desired renderer from the power of multiple options (FGW305 or The mobile terminal 307 can also automatically select a renderer according to a predetermined priority).

[0139] In Fig. 6, the mobile terminal 307 obtains an available renderer list, selects a desired content from the previously obtained content list, designates a renderer to play it, and is designated by the designated renderer. Shows a procedure for playing back the content. The procedure can vary depending on the network environment that can be used. Here are three patterns.

[0140] Fig. 6 (a) shows the selection of a renderer and the content playback procedure when a bidirectional communication path such as WiFi is available between the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305.

[0141] The mobile terminal 307 requests the FGW 305 for a list of available renderers (S201). . The FGW confirms the renderer that can be used in the FNW (S202), and returns it to the mobile terminal 307 (S203). The mobile terminal 307 selects the renderer to be used from the acquired list (S204), and further selects the content to be played back by the renderer from the previously acquired content list (S206), and notifies them to the FGW 305. (S205, 207). Request distribution of the requested content up to FGW305i to HGW304 (S208). The HGW 304 acquires the content requested from the media server in the HN W301 (S209) and distributes it to the FGW 305 (S210). Upon receiving the content distribution, the FGW 305 transfers the content to the designated renderer 306 (S211) and requests the reproduction of the content. (The FGW 305 may instruct the renderer 306 what content to play, and the renderer 306 may pull the instructed content from the HGW 304 via the FGW 305.) The renderer 306 plays the content sent from the FGW 305 ( S212). Communication between the FGW 305 and the renderer 306 is treated as a normal DLNA protocol, and the renderer 306 sees FGW3 05 as DMC and DMS.

[0142] Here, the mobile terminal 307 does not work in the reverse order of selecting the renderer and selecting the power or the content (the same applies to the following examples). If a renderer is determined, the content that can be played by that renderer is narrowed down, and if the content is determined, the renderer that can play that content is also narrowed down. If the renderer is uniquely determined, the renderer selection can be omitted.

[0143] Fig. 6 (b) shows the renderer selection and content playback procedure when there is only a one-way communication path to the FGW 305, such as infrared communication, between the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305. It is a thing. When the mobile terminal 307 requests a renderer list (S201), the FGW 305 confirms an available renderer (S202), and then returns the renderer list to the mobile terminal 307 via the HGW 304 (S213, 214). The subsequent procedure is the same as in Fig. 6 (a).

[0144] (c) of FIG. 6 shows a renderer selection and content playback procedure when the communication path between the mobile terminal 307 and the FGW 305 is not used. The mobile terminal 307 requests a renderer list from the FGW 305 via the HGW 304 (S215, 216). The FGW 305 checks the available renderers (S202), and then returns the renderer list to the mobile terminal 307 via the HGW 304. (S213, 214). The mobile terminal selects a renderer and content (S204, 206) and notifies them to the HGW304 (S217, 219). The HGW 304 informs the designated renderer 306 to the FGW 305 (S218), acquires the requested content from the media server 303 in the HNW 301 (S209), and communicates with the FGW 305 (S210). The FGW 305 that has received the self-confidence of the content transfers the content to the designated renderer 306 (S211) and requests the reproduction of the content. (The FGW 305 may indicate the content to be played back to the renderer 306, and the renderer 306 may also pull the HGW 304 power via the FGW 305.) The renderer 306 plays back the content sent from the FGW 305 ( S212).

[0145] The UI used in the portable terminal 307 in each procedure shown in Fig. 6 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 again.

Display screen 1302 shown in FIG. 4 is a configuration example of a display screen that displays a content list on portable terminal 307. On the display screen 1320, a thumbnail 1312 and a brief description 1313 of the content are displayed for each content. When the user selects any content, a list of renderers that can be used to play the selected content is displayed as shown as the display screen 1303. In order to allow the user to specify the renderer intuitively, each element listed in the renderer list is a simple name such as the icon 1314 that gives an overview of the renderer, or “living room TV”. It is desirable that it can be set to. Furthermore, by exchanging renderer IDs etc. using near-field communication means such as infrared or RFI D (Radio Frequency Identification), which is not possible with such a list-selection type UI, the device in front of you It is more desirable to be able to specify.

When the user selects a renderer, the content specified by the specified renderer 306 is played. Since the reproducible format, bit rate, screen size, etc. differ depending on the renderer that is finally played back, it is desirable to perform content conversion that is required by HGW304 or FG W305 that transfers content. In addition, QoS (Quality of Service) control is performed on the route from the media sano to the final renderer, and it is necessary to appropriately manage the bandwidth so that the quality required for the service is ensured. [0148] After the start of playback, an interface for performing playback control of content such as fast forward and rewind may be displayed on the mobile terminal 307. Since the types of playback control that can be used differ depending on the type of renderer and content, it is desirable that an interface corresponding to the type of content is provided from the renderer 306 to the portable terminal 307. Alternatively, playback control can be performed using an interface provided in the renderer 306.

[0149] (4. Configuration of each device)

Next, the configuration of each device that implements the processing shown in FIGS. 2, 3 (a), and 5 (a) will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the FGW 305.

[0151] As shown in FIG. 7, the FGW 305 is configured to include the elements listed below.

[0152] Communication units 401, 414, and 415, which are communication interfaces with various external devices.

[0153] · Authentication unit 402 that manages communication involving authentication.

· Connection request from mobile terminal 307 (application for use) Connection request reception unit 403 that receives S001.

[0155] · An address (external gateway specification information) for uniquely specifying the connection destination HGW304, and a connection ID and password (authentication information) for establishing an authenticated communication path between the HGW304 ) From the mobile terminal 307 (S010), access right acquisition 取得 04.

[0156] · The connection ID and password acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 404 are transmitted to the HGW 304 specified by the address acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 404 (SO 11) and authenticated communication. Establishing a route (SO 13), connection establishment unit (communication route establishment means) 4 10.

[0157] · A content list request for requesting a content list is acquired from the mobile terminal 307 (S 10 1), and the acquired content list request is transferred to the HGW 304 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 410. (S102), the content list acquired from the HGW 304 as a response to the content list request (S104) and transferred to the mobile terminal 307 (S1 05), the content management unit (content list request accepting means, content list request transfer method) Step) 406. [0158] · Renderer list request for a renderer list is obtained from the mobile terminal 307 (S201), a list of available renderers under the management of FGW305 is created (S202), and the created list is used as a renderer list. The renderer management unit 407 transmits to the portable terminal 307 (S203).

A renderer designation receiving unit (renderer designation information obtaining unit) 408 obtains from the portable terminal 307, renderer designation information for designating a renderer to play back content from among the renderers included in the renderer list (S205).

[0160] · The content designation information for specifying the content to be played back from the content included in the content list is acquired from the mobile terminal 307 (S207), and the content designation receiving unit (content designation information obtaining means) 405.

[0161] · Among the contents under the management of the HGW 304, the HGW 304 is requested to distribute the content specified by the content specification information (S208), and the HGW 304 is transmitted via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit. A content acquisition unit (content acquisition means) 411 acquires the content distributed from (S210).

[0162] · Content conversion unit 412 that performs content conversion on the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 411 according to the renderer function specified by the renderer specification information.

[0163] · Content acquired by the content acquisition unit 411 and subjected to content conversion by the content conversion unit 412 as required is specified by the renderer specification information among the renderers managed by the FGW305. The content is transmitted to the renderer 306 (S211).

[0164] · Accepting user operations for instructing content playback start, fast forward, rewind, stop, etc., and accepting content operations to control content transmission unit 413 and content acquisition unit 411 based on the received user operations Part 409.

[0165] The FGW 305 is connected to the network via the communication units 401, 414, and 415. When the FGW 305 communicates with the outside of the FNW 302 such as the mobile terminal 307 and the HGW 304, the authentication unit 402 is used. When the connection request reception unit 403 receives a connection request from the mobile terminal 307, the access authority acquisition unit 404 receives information such as an address, ID, and password necessary for connection to the HGW 304 from the mobile terminal 307, and based on the information. Connection establishment unit 410 establishes connection with HGW304. The content management unit 406 acquires the content list from the HGW 304 and supplies the content list to the mobile terminal 307 based on the request from the mobile terminal 307. The renderer management unit 407 supplies the renderer list to the mobile terminal 307 based on the request from the mobile terminal 307. When the content specification receiving unit 405 receives a request for content from the mobile terminal 307, the content acquisition unit 411 acquires the requested content based on the connection with the HGW 304 established by the connection establishment unit 410. On the other hand, the renderer designation receiving unit 408 obtains information on the renderer for reproducing the content from the portable terminal 307. If content conversion is necessary due to the renderer's capabilities, the content conversion unit 412 converts the content, and then the content transmission unit 413 transmits the content to the designated renderer via the communication unit 415. . Also, if a content playback operation is received from the portable terminal 307 during the playback of the content, the content transmission unit 413 or the content acquisition unit 411 is acted on to handle playback operations such as fast-forwarding and rewinding the content.

FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the HGW 304.

[0168] As shown in Fig. 8, the HGW 304 is configured to include the elements listed below.

[0169] A communication unit 501 · 512 · 513 which is a communication interface with various external devices.

[0170] · An access authority request for requesting acquisition of a password used by FGW 305 to establish an authenticated communication path with HGW 304 is received from mobile terminal 305 (S007), and access authority request reception unit 503 .

In response to an access authority request, a password (for example, one-time password) generated by a password generation unit (not shown) is transmitted to the mobile terminal 307 (S009). Access authority transmission unit 504.

[0172] · Connection request reception unit 505 that receives a connection request including an ID and a password from FGW 305 (SOI 1).

· The connection request receiving unit 505 confirms whether or not the password received by the password generation unit is a valid password generated by the password generation unit (S012), and the authentication unit 502.

· Connection request receiving unit 505 When the validity of the password received by the authentication unit 502 is confirmed by the authentication unit 502, a communication path is established with the FGW 305 (S013).

[0175] · FGW sends content list request via communication path established by connection establishment unit 506 305 (S102) and generate a list of contents under the control of HGW304 (SIO

3) The generated content list is transmitted to the FGW 305 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 506 (S104), and the content management unit 508.

[0176] · A connection establishment unit 506 sends a request for content confirmation including a blueprint for content to define the content selected by the user from the power of the content belonging to the content list in the mobile terminal 307. The content designation accepting unit 507 accepts from the FGW 305 via the communication path established by (S208).

[0177] The content acquisition unit 509 acquires the content specified by the content determination 'blueprint included in the content authentication request from the media server 303 (S209).

[0178] A content conversion unit 510 that performs content conversion necessary for transmitting the content acquired from the media server 303 to the FGW 305.

[0179] · Content conversion unit 510 converts content that has been converted as necessary

Then, the content is transmitted to the FGW 305 via the communication path established by the connection establishment unit 506 (S210), and the content transmission unit _{5 n} .

[0180] The HGW 304 is connected to the network via the communication unit 501. When the HGW 304 communicates with the outside of the HNW 301 such as the mobile terminal 307 or the FGW 305, the authentication unit 502 is used. When the access authority request receiving unit 503 receives an access authority request from the mobile terminal 307, the access authority request receiving unit 503 generates a nose word, and the access authority transmitting unit 504 sends the nose word to the mobile terminal 307.

[0181] When the connection request accepting unit 505 accepts a connection request from the FGW 305, the connection establishing unit 506 establishes a connection with the FGW 305 (the access authority transmitting unit 504 checks whether or not it is a valid password). This is performed by the authentication unit 502). The content management unit 508 transmits the content list based on the request from FGW305. When the content designation accepting unit 507 accepts the content distribution request, the content obtaining unit 509 communicates with the media server 303 via the communication unit 512 to obtain the requested content. After the content conversion unit 510 performs conversion necessary for transmission, the content transmission unit 511 transmits the content via the communication unit 513.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the renderer 306. As shown in FIG. 9, the renderer 306 receives, from the FGW 305, the communication unit 601 that is a communication interface for communicating with other devices in the FNW 302 and the content managed by the HGW 304. (S211) includes a content acquisition unit 602 and a content reproduction unit 603 that reproduces the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 602 (S212).

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the media server 303.

As shown in FIG. 10, the media server 303 displays a communication unit 701 that is a communication interface for communicating with other devices in the HNW 301, and a list of contents managed by the media server 303. A content management unit 703 that transmits to the HGW 304 and a content transmission unit 702 that transmits content to the HGW 304 are included! RU

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the mobile terminal 307. As shown in FIG.

[0187] As shown in FIG. 11, the portable terminal 307 is configured to include the following elements!

[0188] · A communication unit 801 which is a communication interface with various external devices.

[0189] A resource discovery unit 802 for discovering a gateway device in the FNW 302.

[0190] · A connection request unit 803 sends a use request to the FGW 305 discovered by the resource discovery unit 802 and makes a connection request (S001).

[0191] · An authentication information management unit 812 that manages authentication information necessary for connecting to the FGW 305 and authentication information necessary for logging in to the HGW 304 (S004).

[0192] · Acquire necessary authentication information from the authentication information management unit 812 when connecting to the FGW 305 and send it to the FGW 305 (S001). Also, when logging in to the HGW 304, the necessary authentication information is used as the authentication information. An authentication information transmission unit 804 that is acquired from the management unit 812 and transmitted to the HGW 304 (S004).

[0193] · FGW305 requests the HGW304 for the password (authentication information) required to establish an authenticated communication path with the HGW304 (S007), and the password generated by the HGW304 Acquire (S009) Access authority acquisition unit 805.

[0194] · Password (authentication information) acquired by the access authority acquisition unit 805 and the address (external gateway specification information) that specifies the connection ID (authentication information) and HGW304 stored in advance in the storage unit (not shown) ) To the FGW 305 (S010) The access authority transmission unit 806 A content management unit 807 transmits a content list request for requesting a content list to the FGW 305 (S101), and receives the content list acquired from the HGW 304 by the F GW 305 from the FGW 305 (S105).

[0196] · Based on the user operation detected by the UI unit 813, the content to be played is identified from the power of the content list, and the content specifying information for specifying the content to be played is transmitted to the FGW 305. (S207), content selection unit 808.

[0197] · A renderer list request for a renderer list is sent to the FGW 305 (S201), and a list of available renderers under the management of the FGW 305 is received from the FGW 305 as a renderer list (S203). Part 810.

[0198] · Based on the user operation detected by the UI unit 813, the renderer specifying the renderer to play the content from the power of the renderer list and specifying the renderer to play the content is FGW305 (S205), the renderer selection unit 811.

[0199] A content operation unit 809 that controls the reproduction of content based on a user operation detected by the UI unit 813.

[0200] The portable terminal 307 communicates with other devices via the communication unit 801. The communication unit 307 is often configured with multiple network capabilities such as the Internet and mobile networks. The mobile terminal 307 that has entered the FNW uses the resource discovery unit 802 to find the FGW 305 in the network, and the connection request unit 803 makes a connection request to the FGW. At that time, necessary authentication information is transmitted from the authentication information management unit 812 via the authentication information transmission unit 804.

[0201] On the other hand, the mobile terminal 307 also connects to the HGW via the communication unit 801 (same as for authentication). The access authority acquisition unit 805 acquires the access authority necessary for the FGW 305 to access the HGW 304 from the HGW 304, and the access authority transmission unit transmits it to the FGW 305. The content management unit 807 acquires a content list from the HGW 304 via the network, and the renderer management unit 810 acquires an available renderer list from the FGW 305. A content and a renderer are selected by the content selection unit 807 and the renderer selection unit 811 connected to the UI unit 813, transmitted to the FGW 305, and played by the renderer. The content operation unit 809 performs various playback operations via the UI unit 813. FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the SIP server provided by the service provider 309.

[0203] SIP server 901 is a conventional SIP server, and includes communication unit 901, registration reception unit 902, registered device management unit 903, connection request reception unit 904, terminal authentication unit 905, connection establishment unit 906, and authentication information. A management unit 907 is included.

[0204] Here, SIP is used to establish a session between two points between HGW and FGW, so the SIP server is necessary. The communication path between HGW and FGW is realized by other means such as direct connection. It is also possible, in this case no SIP server is required.

[0205] (5. Modification 1)

Even if the content stored in the media server 303 is played by the renderer under the control of the HGW 304, the user can use the same UI as shown in Fig. 4 in the HNW 301. It is desirable to configure the content playback system so that the content renderer can be selected.

In order to realize this, for example, the mobile terminal 307 may be configured to function as a controller (DMC) compliant with DLNA in the HNW301. As a result, the mobile terminal 307, media server 303, and renderer in HN W301 function as DMC, DMS, and DMR, respectively (see Fig. 32), so the conventional playback processing procedure using DLNA ( As shown in Fig. 33, content playback processing can be performed.

[0207] As another method for realizing this, the HGW 304 may be configured to function as a DLNA-compliant controller (DMC). In this case, in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 8, the HGW 304 includes a DMC unit having a DMC function and a protocol conversion unit that converts a request from the mobile terminal 307 into a D LNA protocol and passes it to the DMC unit. Is done.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow when the HGW 304 is caused to function as a DMC. In FIG. 13, the portion surrounded by the dotted line on the right side corresponds to the conventional playback processing procedure in the DLNA shown in FIG. From the processing contents shown as S401 to S408, the mobile terminal 307 acquires the content list and the renderer list from the HGW 304, and notifies the HGW 304 of the desired content and the renderer used for IJ for playback. Each process of S401 to 408 corresponds to the process shown with the names corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. Since there is, explanation is omitted.

[0209] In the mobile terminal 307 used together with the HGW 304 as described above, it is preferable to change the processing procedure depending on whether it exists in the HNW 301 or in the FGW 302.

[0210] FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing flow executed in the mobile terminal 307 in order to change the processing procedure depending on the force existing in the HNW301 or the force existing in the FGW302.

[0211] When the mobile terminal 307 is connected to the network (S501), the connection request unit 803 determines whether the connection destination GW is a gateway device in the HNW 301 in which the connection destination GW is registered in advance, or other gateway device ( S502). When the gateway device of the connection destination is HGW304, the content reproduction processing is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 33 or FIG. 13 (S503). On the other hand, in the case of the gateway device power FGW 305 as the connection destination, the content reproduction processing is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 (S504, S505, S506). In either case, the processing ends when the network power is disconnected (S507).

[0212] In order to realize the switching of processing according to the gateway of the connection destination as described above, the mobile terminal 307 shown in Fig. 11 is used as a controller (DMC) compliant with DLNA in HNW301! / It is sufficient to add a network judgment unit that judges whether the HNW301 or F NW302 currently exists in the network.

[0213] (6. Modification 2)

By partially changing the content playback method described above, the media server 303 in the HNW 301 can function as a virtual media server in the FNW 302.

FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in which the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1 functions as a virtual media server 310 in the media server 303 FN W302. In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 15, after establishing the connection between the HGW and the FGW (after completion of the processing in FIG. 2), the media server 303 is virtually connected to the FNW 302. As seen by a typical media server 310, the FGW 305 controls communications to other resources in the FNW 302, the controller 308 and the renderer 306. By doing so, both the controller 308 and the renderer 306 can communicate with the virtual media server 310 using the normal DLNA protocol. The controller 308 is a DMC in DLNA, the renderer 306 is a DMR in DLNA, and the virtual media server 310 is a DMS in DLNA. When the controller 308 and the renderer 306 are a single device, it is called DMP.

[0215] After the connection between FGW305 and HGW304 is established by the process shown in Fig. 2, follow the conventional DLNA protocol! /, Specify content and renderer, and play content be able to. In other words, the DMC can request the DMR and DMS in the home network and the contents list (Contents List) stored in each DMS from the DMC and display them on the display on the controller. The user can operate the DMC, select one of the contents in the DMS, and request playback by DMR. The DMR that receives the request also receives the corresponding content and plays it. In addition to DMR, DMC also has the advantage of being able to use existing DLNA devices.

FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for acquiring a content list that is a list of content stored in the media server 303 from the controller 308 power HGW 304.

[0217] The difference from Fig. 3 (a) is that the entity that acquires the content list has been changed from the portable terminal 307 to the controller 308.

In order to perform the processing shown in FIG. 16, the content management unit 406 of the FGW 305 shown in FIG. 7 accepts a content list request conforming to the DLNA protocol from the controller 308, and the content list acquired from the H GW 304 is downloaded to the DLNA. It may be modified so that it is transmitted to the controller 308 according to the protocol. From this point of view, the controller 308 can see the virtual media server 310 ahead of the FGW 305.

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing how the FGW 305 delivers content to the renderer 306.

[0220] The biggest difference from the method shown in FIG. 6 (a) is that the main body that requests content reproduction has been changed from the portable terminal 307 to the controller 308. In this case, available D Since MS and DMR are discovered according to the conventional DLNA procedure, the controller 308 need not receive the renderer list from FG W305. After selecting the renderer to be used (S204), the controller 308 makes a content reproduction request to the selected renderer 306 (S213). The renderer 306 requests the virtual media server 310 to distribute the specified content.

[0221] In order to perform the processing shown in Fig. 17, the content distribution request that includes the content specification information for specifying the content to be played back, including the content specification information that specifies the content to be played back, is also received in the FGW 305 shown in Fig. 7 Further, a request accepting unit may be added, and the content transmission unit 413 may be modified to transmit the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 411 to the renderer 306 that is the transmission source of the content distribution request according to the DLNA protocol. .

[0222] However, in this configuration, if the entire media server 303 is allowed to participate in the FNW 302 as the virtual media server 310, all the content stored in the media server is transferred to all resources in the FNW 302. It will be accessible. In order to make only the specific content in the media server visible in the virtual media server, the content to be published can be set in the public folder in advance, or the content to be published can be set when establishing a connection between FGW305 and HGW304 It is desirable to do so. In addition, since the virtual media server 310 is accessible from all DMCs in the F NW 305, it is desirable that the DMC and DMR that can be used be restricted by the user of the mobile terminal.

[0223] (7. Modification 3)

As described above, the power of the present invention that describes the embodiment in which the content under the management of the home HGW 304 is delivered to the renderer 306 in another home via the FGW 305 is not limited to this. That is, according to the present invention, in general, the content under the control of the first gateway device can be distributed to the content reproduction device via the second gateway device. For example, it is possible to distribute content under the control of the first gateway device installed in the content distribution company's office to a television in the user's home via the second gateway device. is there. Here, the second gateway device is a TV The gateway device may be configured separately and may be a gateway device built in the television.

By using the HGW 304 as the first gateway device, the FGW 305 as the second gateway device, and the mobile terminal 307 as the terminal device, the following content distribution system can be configured.

That is, a content distribution system including a first gateway device (HGW301), a second gateway device (FGW305), and a terminal device (mobile terminal 307), wherein the first gateway device Content list transmission means (content management unit 508) for transmitting a content list, which is a list of contents under the management of the first gateway device, to the terminal device is provided, and the terminal device is configured to transmit the content list. The content list acquisition means (content management unit 807) for acquiring the content list transmitted from the gateway device, and the content self-trust request for requesting the self-trust of the content included in the content list, Content delivery request transmission means (content selection unit 808) for transmitting to the gateway device of The gateway device further includes content transmission means (content transmission unit 511) for distributing the requested content to the second gateway device in response to the content distribution request transmitted from the terminal device. The second gateway device can constitute a content distribution system including content acquisition means (content acquisition box 11) for acquiring the content distributed from the first gateway device.

[0226] Further, the first gateway device generates a password request accepting means (access authority request accepting unit 503) for accepting a password request transmitted from the terminal device, and a password corresponding to the authentication information, Password transmission means for transmitting to the terminal device (access authority transmission unit 504) and connection request reception means for receiving a connection request transmitted from the second gateway device and including the password (connection request reception). Append section 505), authentication means (authentication section 502) for confirming whether or not the password is valid, and distribution of the content to the other gateway device when the password is valid And a connection establishment means (connection establishment unit 506) for establishing a communication path for communication. [0227] In addition, in the content distribution system, the terminal device further includes authentication information transmitting means for transmitting authentication information to the first gateway device, and the first gateway device includes the terminal. User specifying means for specifying the user of the terminal device based on the authentication information transmitted from the device, and storage means for storing the second gateway device to which the content is distributed in association with the user of the terminal device The content transmitting means of the first gateway device is connected to the second gateway device associated with the user of the terminal device specified based on the authentication information. You may comprise so that the said content may be delivered.

Here, when the terminal device is, for example, a mobile phone device, the phone number of the mobile phone device can be used as the authentication information. At this time, the storage means associates, for example, an association between the user of the mobile phone device specified by the telephone number and the IP address of the gateway device to which content is distributed to the user. It can be configured to store a table that provides the data.

[0229] In addition, the content distribution system, the terminal device further includes gateway designation information transmission means for transmitting gateway designation information for designating the second gateway device to the first gateway device. The first storage device stores the second gateway device specified by the gateway specification information transmitted from the terminal device based on the authentication information. It may be configured to store in association with the user of the terminal device.

[0230] In addition, the content distribution system, the second gateway device further includes gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting gateway designation information for designating the second gateway device to the terminal device. In addition, the terminal device may be configured to include storage means for storing the gateway designation information transmitted from the second gateway device.

In addition, the following content distribution system can be configured by using the HGW 304 as the first gateway device, the FGW 305 as the second gateway device, and the mobile terminal 307 as the terminal device.

[0232] That is, the first gateway device (HGW301) and the second gateway device (FGW30) 5) and a terminal device (mobile terminal 307), wherein the first gateway device transmits a content list that is a list of content under the control of the first gateway device to the terminal Content list transmission means (content management unit 508) for transmitting to the device is provided, and the terminal device acquires content list acquisition means (content management unit 80) for acquiring the content list transmitted from the first gateway device. 7) and content designation information transmitting means (content selection unit 808) for transmitting to the second gateway device a blueprint declaring the content that defines the content included in the content list. The second gateway device receives the content designation information transmitted from the terminal device. Information receiving means (content specification receiving unit 405) and content distribution request transmitting means (content acquisition unit 411) for transmitting a content distribution request for requesting distribution of the content specified by the content specifying information to the first gateway device. And the first gateway device distributes the requested content to the second gateway device in response to the content distribution request transmitted from the second gateway device. A content transmission unit 511), and the second gateway device further includes content acquisition means (content acquisition unit 411) for acquiring content transmitted from the first gateway device. It is also possible to configure a content distribution system.

[0233] Further, in the content distribution system, the terminal device further includes address transmission means (access authority transmission unit 806) for transmitting an address designating the first gateway device to the second gateway device. The second gateway device includes address acquisition means (access authority acquisition unit 404) for acquiring the address transmitted from the terminal device, and the content distribution of the second gateway device. The request transmission means (content acquisition unit 411) may be configured to transmit the content distribution request to the first gateway device designated by the address.

[0234] Further, in the content distribution system, the terminal device transmits authentication information to the first gateway device (authentication information transmitting unit 804), and a password request is transmitted to the first gateway device. Password request transmission means (access right acquisition unit 805) for transmitting to the gateway device, wherein the first gateway device is the terminal device. Authentication information receiving means for receiving the authentication information transmitted from the terminal, password request receiving means for receiving a password request transmitted from the terminal device (access authority request receiving unit 503), and a node corresponding to the authentication information. Password transmitting means (access authority transmitting unit 504) for generating a password and transmitting the generated password to the terminal device, and the terminal device receives the password transmitted from the first gateway device. Password acquisition means (access authority acquisition unit 805) to be acquired, an address for specifying the first gateway device, and access authority transmission means (access authority) for transmitting the acquired password to the second gateway device. And the second gateway device transmits the address transmitted from the terminal device. Access authority acquisition means (access authority acquisition unit 404) for acquiring the password and the password, and a connection request transmission means (connection authority) for transmitting a connection request including the password to the first gateway device specified by the address. An establishment unit 410), wherein the first gateway device includes a connection request reception unit (connection request reception unit 505) for receiving the connection request transmitted from the second gateway device; Communication path for distributing the content between the authentication means (authentication unit 502) for confirming whether the password is valid and the second gateway device when the password is valid. And a connection establishment means (connection establishment unit 506) for establishing

[Embodiment 2]

In the present embodiment, among the mobile terminals 307 shown in the first embodiment, in particular, the content acquired from the media server 303 in the HNW 301 1 is retained, and the same content as the retained content is retained as a renderer belonging to the HNW 301. However, a mobile terminal 307 that can be played even by a renderer belonging to FNW 302 will be described. In addition to the media data, UI content that includes information that defines the screen layout and information that defines the processing to be executed according to user operations will be described below. By using these, the user can browse the content by the same operation on the renderer belonging to HNW301, the renderer belonging to FNW302, or even the mobile terminal itself.

[0236] First, in the following explanation, the album display UI content to be played in common is used. The user's ability to browse the content will also be explained.

[0237] FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a state in which the portable terminal 307 is playing back the album display UI content. In the following description, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 307 is configured as a DMP having both DMC and DMR functions (the mobile terminal 307 is stored in the media server 303 as DMR, that is, It also functions as a content playback device that plays back existing content). The mobile terminal 307 is in the HNW 301 and is configured to communicate with the media server 303, which is a DMS, and a television receiver (hereinafter abbreviated as TV) 316, which is another DMR, according to the DLNA protocol. Suppose.

[0238] The portable terminal 307 can acquire the content list from the media server 303. The portable terminal 307 acquires the content list from the media server 303 and causes the user to select desired content from the power of the acquired content list. In the example shown in Fig. 18, the desired genre is selected from the powers of “viewing photos”, “watching videos”, “listening to music”, etc., and then listing the contents belonging to the selected genre. A method is adopted in which the method is selected from candidates such as “photo list”, “album list”, and “keyword input”, and finally specific content is selected. In Fig. 18, the user selects the items displayed in the order of "View Photos", "List of Albums", and "Okibashi", and as a result, the content with the title "Okibashi" is displayed. Show conceptually the process of selecting!

[0239] The content "offshore" is an album display UI content that displays a plurality of photo contents as needed in a slide show. Buttons “Previous” and “Next” are displayed on the display screen displaying each photo content. The user can switch the display to the previous photo content or the next photo content by selecting these during the slide show display.

[0240] When reproduction of predetermined photo content as a slide show ends, a selection screen for selecting a renderer for reproducing the content is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 18, two renderers “TV3 16” and “TV317” are listed as candidates. Here, when the user selects TV 3 16, the content “offshore” is played on the television 316. [0241] FIG. 19 is a data structure diagram showing a data structure of UI content 1400, represented by the album display UI content described above.

[0242] As shown in FIG. 19, UI content 1400 includes screen transition function call description file 140 1, screen layout 'event processing description file 1402, and playback media data file 1404. It is data that includes. The album display UI content described above is a type of UI content.

[0243] In addition to the playback media data file 1404, which is normal content data such as still image data files and video data files, UI content includes screen transition / function call description file 1401 and screen layout 'event processing description file 1402 Including. By using these, processes such as screen transitions according to events such as user operations can be defined in the UI content. For this reason, it is called “UI” content to distinguish it from normal content that does not include these. Note that UI content refers to general data including each element as shown in FIG. 19, and is not limited to the album display UI content described above. In other words, quiz UI content that asks users a quiz is an example of UI content.

Screen transition · Function call description file 1401 includes screen transition information and function call information. The screen transition information is information that specifies which screen is displayed next to a certain screen and when the relationship between the screens is specified. The function call information defines the function to be called from the playback device (mobile terminal 307) and the timing to call the function.

Screen layout 'Event process description file 1402 includes screen layout information and event description information. The screen layout information specifies media data to be displayed on each screen, the layout of the media data on the screen, and the timing for reproducing the media data. In addition, the event description information associates an event (such as a key input or timer event) that can occur while the screen is displayed with a process that should be executed when each event occurs. Is.

[0246] The playback media data file 1404 is media data to be played back, and includes still image data, moving image data, audio data, text data, and the like. Still image data and video Image data such as data is laid out and displayed based on the screen layout information described above.

[0247] Further, the UI content ID is described as an element of the screen transition.function call description file 1401. This will be described later. The UI content ID is not limited to that described in the screen transition / function call description file 401 as long as it is included in the UI content 1400.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a content management table 1410 used when the media server 303 manages content.

[0249] The content management table 1410 is managed by the content management unit 703 (see FIG. 10) of the media server 303. The content data stored in the media server 303 is identified by the content ID. The content management table 1410 is a table that associates the content ID with the content data. In the content management table 1401, content with content IDs 00000005 to 0000000A corresponds to the UI content described above. That is, yoshino.zip, kekkon.zip, wine.zip, nyuug aku.zip, and quizl.zip are archived in zip format for UI content. Data with content IDs 0000 0001 to 00000004 are media files such as still image data and moving image data. A content ID is used to uniquely identify content in the media server 303. In particular, a content ID whose corresponding content is UI content is referred to as UI content ID here.

[0250] Also, in the content management table 1410, attribute values are associated with each content. This attribute value is used to facilitate content search. The attribute value can be omitted in the content management table 1410. If the attribute value is omitted, the content may be searched by interpreting the content data itself when searching for the content. In the content management table 1410, the content having the content IDs 00000005 to 00000009 has the attribute value “album”. This indicates that the content corresponding to the content IDs 00000005 to 00000009 is the album display UI content described above. That is, the album display UI content is the UI content that has the attribute value “album”. It is.

FIG. 22 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of the home network (HNW) 301 in the case where the mobile terminal 307 has power iNW 301.

As shown in FIG. 22, the HNW 301 includes a mobile terminal 307, a media server 303, and a television 316 that is a renderer. As described above, the portable terminal 307 has both functions of DMC and DMR. Therefore, by using the DMC function, the content of the media server 303, which is a DMS, can be played back to another renderer (DMR) in the HNW 301.

When the user selects “album list” on the mobile terminal 307 (see FIG. 18), the mobile terminal 307 requests the media server 303 for an album list. In response to the album list request, the media server 303 transmits album list information to the portable terminal 307. Here, the album list information is a kind of content list, and is a list of contents stored in the media server 303 having the attribute value “album”, that is, album display UI contents.

[0254] The mobile terminal 307 displays a list of album display UI content titles stored in the media server 303 based on the album list information. When the user selects a desired album display UI content from the power of the list-displayed titles, the portable terminal 307 sends a content distribution request for requesting distribution of the selected album display UI content to the media server 303. This content distribution request includes the content ID (content designation information) of the content selected by the mobile terminal 307. That is, the mobile terminal 307 sends the content ID of the content selected by the user to the media server 303 as a content playback request. Here, in particular, the album display UI content, which is the UI content, is selected by the user, and is sent to the UI content ID card server 303. The media server 303 delivers the UI content corresponding to the received UI content ID to the mobile terminal 307. Then, the mobile terminal 307 uses the DMR function to play back UI content distributed from the media server.

[0255] In addition, when the user selects the TV 316 on the “Browse with different device” screen (see FIG. 18), the mobile terminal 307 functions as a DMC, and the TV 316, which is one of the DMRs, is stored. Send a replay request. This content playback request also includes the UI content ID! That is, the mobile terminal 307 transmits the UI content ID of the UI content selected by the user to the television 316 as a content playback request. Receiving this, the television 316 transmits the UI content ID acquired from the portable terminal 307 to the media server 303 as a content distribution request for requesting distribution of the album display UI content. The media server 303 delivers the UI content corresponding to the received UI content ID to the mobile terminal 307. Then, the television 316 reproduces the UI content distributed from the media server 303.

[0256] As described in Embodiment 1, the procedure for playing content by DMR is that the content ID and DMR are specified from DMC to DMS, and the corresponding content is specified by DMS. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the DMR is transmitted and played back.

[0257] Next, the processing executed by the mobile terminal 307 in order to realize the above operation will be described with reference to Figs.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the mobile terminal 307 until the UI content is played back by the mobile terminal 307.

[0259] In order to allow the user to select a content, the mobile terminal 307 first selects a desired genre, and then selects a method of listing content belonging to the selected genre (function selection reception process S330). ). When the album list is selected by the user (S331: YES), the portable terminal 307 sends a request for acquiring album list information to the media server 303 (S332), and the album list information S from the media server 303 Wait for reception (S333). If it is confirmed that the album list information has been received (S333: YES), the album list is displayed based on the received album list information (S334). The album list information includes the UI content ID of the album display UI content stored in the media server 303 in combination with information that can be used by the user to specify the album, such as an album title. When the user selects an album (S335: YES), the portable terminal 307 transmits a UI content ID corresponding to the selected album to the media server 303 as a content distribution request (S336). When UI content (album display UI content) is delivered from the media server 303 (S337: YES), it is received The UI content is played back (S336).

Next, the above-described UI content reproduction process S336 will be described based on FIG.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of the content reproduction process S336 executed by the mobile terminal device 307.

[0262] As described above, UI content has the data structure shown in FIG. The portable terminal 307 interprets the internal structure of the UI content and extracts data of each element constituting the UI content (S340). Subsequently, the mobile terminal 307 identifies a screen to be displayed based on the description content of the screen transition 'function call description file 1401 and describes the description content of the screen layout' event processing description file 1402 and the screen layout 'event. A screen is generated and displayed based on the media file referenced from the process description file 1402 (S341). Thereafter, the mobile terminal 307 checks the occurrence of an event such as a user input operation based on the description content of the screen layout 'event processing description file 1402 (S 342). When the generated event is an event that a user operation for instructing the end of UI content playback is accepted or an event that the UI content playback is completed (S343: YES), the mobile terminal 307 Finish the UI content playback process. When the user receives an instruction to call the selection function of the display device (renderer) or when the display device selection function is called based on the content described in the UI content (S344: YES), the mobile terminal 307 is processing The renderers (DMR) group in the HNW301 that can play the UI content of is displayed as a renderer list (S345). Since the mobile terminal 303 has a DMC function, it is possible to determine a renderer that can reproduce the UI content for the UI content being processed. When a renderer is selected from the renderer list by the user, the mobile terminal 307 transmits a UI content ID as a content playback request to the selected renderer (for example, the television 316) (S346).

[0263] In the above description, as a desirable implementation example, the case where processing (screen transition, display, etc.) for calling the display device (renderer) selection function is executed based on the description content of UI content is explained. These processes may be executed based on a program stored in advance in the mobile terminal 307. Ie mobile For example, the terminal 307 may be configured to call a display device (renderer) selection function when a specific operation predetermined by the user is received.

[0264] In addition, in the processing illustrated in FIG. 24, processing for causing the user to select a renderer may be omitted. For example, if there is only one renderer option that can display the UI content being processed in addition to the mobile device 307, the user will be told that content will be played on that single renderer. It may be configured to display a message such as “Masu” and automatically start playing the UI content being processed by that single renderer.

[0265] Also, if the mobile terminal 307 and the TV 316 are connected using NFC (Near Field Communication) or wired communication, the UI content ID is sent directly from the mobile terminal 307 to the TV 316. Also good. For example, the TV 316 may be configured to be used as a renderer for playing back UI content simply by sending a UI content ID from the portable terminal 307 to the TV 316 using proximity communication such as an infrared remote controller. ,.

[0266] Furthermore, when there are a plurality of media servers in HNW301, a DMS address for identifying the media server storing the UI content ID may be added to the UI content ID. As shown in FIG. 25, the screen transition / function call description file 1 401 includes a UI content ID with a DMS address attached. In other words, the mobile terminal 307 transmits a UI content ID for uniquely specifying the UI content in the media server and a DMS address for uniquely specifying the media server in the HNW 301 to the renderer. It's configured as you like.

Next, processing executed in the media server 303 will be described based on FIG.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed in the media server 303.

[0269] Upon receiving an album list information request from the mobile terminal 307 (S350: YES), the media server 303 creates album list information by searching the album display UI content stored in its own device. The album list information is transmitted to the mobile terminal 307 (S352). [0270] When creating the album list information, the media server 303 uses the content management table 1410. Upon receiving the album list information request, the media server 303 restores UI content having the album attribute from the content management table 1410. Further, the media server 303 creates album list information in which, for example, the UI content title is associated with the listed UI content. Here, the title of the UI content may be a title extracted from the UI content, or may be a title extracted from the content management table. Or you can treat the content ID as a title!

[0271] When the UI content ID is received from the renderer (S351: YES), the media server 303 reads the content specified by the received UI content ID from the content storage unit in which the content is stored, and reads the read UI. Deliver the content to the renderer.

[0272] For example, when the media server 303 receives the UI content ID, it simultaneously receives renderer designation information that designates the renderer that plays the UI content, and the processing capability of the renderer designated by the renderer designation information. It may be configured to process the UI content according to (for example, display capability) (content conversion) and then distribute the processed UI content to the renderer. Such a configuration is effective when UI content needs to be distributed to different renderers with different display capabilities. Examples of UI content processing include processing to replace the screen layout description part 403 of the UI content 1400, or to rewrite a part of the screen layout description part 1403 according to the renderer of the delivery destination. . Furthermore, if UI content is delivered exclusively to a particular renderer (eg TV 316), the user need not be given the opportunity to select a display device (renderer). In such a case, it is also effective to delete the part that specifies the display device selection function from the UI content data or replace it with another process specification.

[0273] Next, processing executed by the television 316 as a renderer will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the television 316 as a renderer. [0275] When the TV 361 as the renderer receives the UI content ID from the mobile terminal 307 (S360: YES), it transmits the received UI content ID to the media server 303 in order to request delivery of the UI content ( S361). At this time, as described above, a configuration may be adopted in which renderer designation information for designating a renderer for reproducing UI content and information indicating the processing performance of the renderer are transmitted together. Further, as described above, when there are a plurality of media servers (DMS) in the HNW 301, the DMS address is transmitted from the portable terminal 307 together with the UI content ID. In this case, the renderer TV 316 is preferably configured to transfer the received UI content ID to the media server specified by the DMS address.

[0276] When receiving the UI content (S362: YES), the television 316 as a renderer executes a UI content playback process (S363). The content of UI content playback processing 361 is basically the same as that shown in FIG. 24, but the realized operation depends on the content of the received UI content. By these processes, the screen transition as shown in FIG. 18 is realized, and the album can be similarly viewed on the mobile terminal 307 and the television 316.

[0277] The mobile terminal 307 can reproduce the same content as the content held by the renderer belonging to the FNW 302. As a result, the user possessing the mobile terminal 307 can view the content stored in the media server 303 to which the HNW 301 belongs, even in the FNW 302, as in the case of the HNW 301 described above. This process will be described below.

[0278] Fig. 28 is a system configuration diagram showing the configuration of a content distribution system composed of HNW301, FNW302, and mobile terminal 307. In particular, mobile terminal 3 07 holding UI content is brought into FNW302. Is shown.

[0279] As shown in FIG. 28, the mobile terminal 307 holds the album display UI content acquired from the Mediasano 303 force in the HNW301 (FIG. 23: state after YES is determined in S337). Brought into FNW302. The mobile terminal 307 may be brought into the FNW302 to start the UI content playback process (Fig. 23: S338), or it may enter the FNW 302 during the UI content playback process (Fig. 23: S338). May be brought in. When the mobile terminal 307 enters the FNW 302, the FGW A communication path between 305 and HGW 304 is established.

In the FGW 305, the process of causing the renderer 306 to play back the UI content held by the mobile phone 307 in the mobile terminal 307 corresponds to the process shown in FIG. However, since the renderer that plays back the UI content needs to be the renderer in FGW305, the process S345 in FIG. Be changed. When the user selects the renderer 306 from the power of the renderer list on the portable terminal 307, the portable terminal 307 transmits a UI content ID as a content reproduction request to the selected renderer 306.

[0281] Here, the UI content ID transmitted from the mobile terminal 307 to the renderer 306 is the UI content extracted from the UI content held by the mobile terminal 307 (specifically, the UI content for album display). ID. That is, the mobile terminal 307 according to the present embodiment extracts the UI content ID of the UI content from the power of the album display UI content that is held, and specifies the extracted UI content ID as the content to be reproduced. It is sent to the renderer 306 as content specification information for this purpose.

[0282] The renderer 306 transmits the UI content ID acquired from the mobile terminal 307 to the media server 303 via the FGW 305 and the HGW 306, and requests distribution of the content. In response to this, the media server 303 also reads the UI content specified by the UI content ID received from the renderer 306, and distributes the read UI content to the renderer 306 via the HGW 304 and the FGW 305. The processing in the renderer 306 at this time is the same as that in FIG. 27 except that the UI content ID transmission destination and the UI content distribution source are the FGW 305.

[0283] Note that, similarly to the main content acquisition method in the first embodiment, the mobile terminal 307 uses the UI content ID that specifies the content to be played back and the address that specifies the renderer 306 that plays back the content as FGW305. The media server distributes the content corresponding to the UI content ID to the renderer 306 based on the received UI content ID and the renderer address. Also good.

[0284] Also, the address and authentication information (connection ID and password) of HGW304 required for FGW305 to establish a communication path with HGW304 are stored in UI content in advance. I can keep it. In this case, the mobile terminal 307 may be configured to extract the UI content from the address and authentication information of the HGW 304 and establish communication with the HGW 304 based on the extracted address and authentication information. In the screen transition 'function call description file 1401 shown in FIG. 23 included in the UI content, the address of the HGW 304 and authentication information are written together with the DMS address and UI content ID. The mobile terminal 307 can also extract the address and authentication information from the UI content and give it to the FGW 305. Of course, the HGW304 address, connection ID, and password are included in the UI content data that must not be described in the screen transition 'function call description file, like the UI content ID! If it is a thing!

[0285] Through the above processing, even in the FNW 302, the mobile terminal 307 can play back the same content as the UI content held by the renderer 306. Here, the operation that the user must perform is the same whether the mobile terminal is in the HNW301 or the FNW302.

[0286] As described above, it has been described that the mobile terminal 307 can reproduce the same content as the content held by the renderer belonging to the FNW 302. In the above description, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 307 acquires UI content directly from the media server 303 in the HNW 301.

Needless to say, the above processing can be realized even if the UI content power HNW301 held in the mobile device 307 is not directly acquired from the media server 303 by the mobile terminal 307. That is, for example, even if the UI content is transferred to the mobile terminal 307 using another communication device such as e-mail, if the UI content ID is included in the UI content, the mobile terminal 307 Can realize the above processing. Further, the above-described processing can be realized even if the UI content held in the mobile terminal 307 is acquired via an arbitrary storage medium.

FIG. 30 is a system configuration diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system including HNW301, FNW302, mobile terminal 307, and mobile terminal 307 ′. In particular, mobile terminal 307 ′ includes mobile terminal 307. It shows the state that UI content has been transferred from. The mobile terminal has the same configuration as the mobile terminal 307, which has been described so far. is there.

[0289] Since the mobile terminal 307 and the mobile terminal 307 'have the same configuration, the mobile terminal 307' executes UI content reproduction processing similar to that of the mobile terminal 307 in the FGW 302. The renderer 306 also executes the processing shown in FIG. As a result, the user can view the album display UI content with the renderer 306 by the same operation as when the user is in the HNW301. Also in this case, a third party who is far away receives the album display UI content via, for example, a mobile terminal network, and browses the album on the TV (renderer) at hand, for example, by the same operation as in HNW. It is possible.

[0290] However, in this example, it is necessary to connect the FGW 305 to the UI content transfer source HGW 304 using a third-party mobile terminal 307 'and log in. Therefore, the address that specifies the HG W304 in the UI content It is necessary to include the connection ID and password for logging in to HGW304. In this case as well, the HGW address, connection ID, and password are not necessarily described in the screen transition function call description file 401. That's fine. Alternatively, even if it is not described in the UI content data itself, the portable terminal 307 ′ may obtain it by transferring the information together with another means when transferring the UI content data. Using this information, the mobile terminal 307 can access the HGW 304 and log in to display UI content on the specified renderer in the same way as in FIG.

[0291] In the above description, the power that portable terminal 307 and television 316 (or renderer 306) play the same album display UI content is not limited to this. That is, the television 316 (or the renderer 306) does not receive UI content directly from the mobile terminal 307, and thus is not always limited to use for browsing the same album.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing another UI content that the mobile terminal 307 causes the television 316 (or renderer 306) to play.

For example, after selecting “album list” in FIG. 19, portable terminal 307 may receive UI content for album designation as shown in FIG. This is shown in FIG. 23 [Koo \ /, Anorenom list '| S333, S334, S335, and after blueprint request transmission (S332) S336 can be omitted, and it can be considered that UI content for album designation has been received in S337. The subsequent operations of the portable terminal 307, the television 316 (or the renderer 306), and the media server 303 are the same as those described above. The album specification UI content includes screen display information for album selection, album display UI content ID corresponding to each selectable album, function activation for display device specification, and selected album display UI content ID. Describes the operation and function activation for sending. For this reason, after the user selects an album and a display device (renderer), the album display UI content ID corresponding to the selected album is transmitted to the media sano 303 via the TV 316, and the album selected on the TV 316 is selected. Can be browsed.

[0294] In the present embodiment, the UI content is assumed to be saved in the media server 303 in advance. The means for creating and storing the UI content is not particularly limited. However, the UI content must include content specification information that can uniquely determine the UI content in at least the content group managed by the HGW304. In other words, if there is one media server under the management of the HGW 304, the UI content ID that uniquely specifies the UI content within the media server is sufficient as the content specification information. On the other hand, when there are multiple media servers, among the media servers under the management of HGW304, the UI content is stored in V, and the DMS address that identifies the media server is stored in the media server! Among the content to be read, content specification information combined with the UI content ID that identifies the UI content is required.

[0295] Also, the UI content ID can be added by the content management unit 703 of the media server 303, for example. The content management unit 703 adds the UI content ID of the UI content to the UI content at the time of transmitting the UI content to the TV 316! Or when adding UI content supplied from the outside in the media server 303, the UI content is appended with the UI content ID of the UI content. May be. Alternatively, on the premise that it is guaranteed to be uniquely determined in the media server 303, the one already created in the UI content is registered in the content management table. Moyo. [0296] Also, for example, the album is not selected by the portable terminal 307, and the selected album is not notified to the media server 303. For example, by giving a keyword to the media server 303, the media server 303 Select the content that corresponds to the keyword given the power of the content stored in the machine, create the album display UI content that combines them, and the UI content ID that is uniquely determined in the media server 303 Append the album and store it in your own device, and then hand over the album display UI content to the mobile device 307.

[0297] In addition to UI content ID, information power such as DMS address, HGW address, connection ID and password may be included in the UI content. As with IDs, there are no particular restrictions on the means for inclusion in UI content.

[0298] Finally, a description example of UI content will be described with reference to FIG. 21 and FIG.

FIG. 21 shows a screen transition / function call description file 1401 in the UI content.

FIG. 29 is a data structure diagram conceptually showing the structure of “screen transition” function call description file 1401.

[0301] As shown in FIG. 29, the screen transition 'function call description file 1401 includes an HGW address, a connection ID, a password, and a DMS address divided by a predetermined symbol (here, “&”). And a description of UI content ID.

[0302] The screen transition / function call description file 1401 shown in Fig. 21 is briefly described below.

[0303] The mobile terminal 307 sequentially executes the step tags surrounded by the wizard tag. The step tag activates the function specified by the app attribute, and the activated function generates the file specified by the target-name attribute as a file of the file type specified by the target-type attribute. Also, the information specified by the param attribute is passed to the function specified by the app attribute.

[0304] That is, it is specified that the SVG file of sl.svg is displayed with svg-viewer in the first step. The next step is specified to display the SVG file of s2.svg, and the next step is to display the SVG file of s3.svg. [0305] In the fourth step, a function called dmr_connector is called. This is connected using the DMC's DMR designation and connection function, and the HG W address, connection ID, password, DMS address, and UI content ID described in param are connected via DMR and FG W. By accessing the home network with, it is possible to display the specified UI content on the specified DMR.

[0306] In this example, the HGW address, connection ID, password, DMS address, and UI content ID are all passed to the DMR to access the HGW via the DMR. First, the HGW address You can log in by calling the function to connect to the HGW using the connection ID and password, and then pass the DMS address and UI content ID to the DMR. When accepted, it may be called a function to log in to HGW or select DMR.

[0307] The switch tag looks at the contents of the file specified by the target-name attribute and changes the transition destination to the step specified by the nextstep tag. In other words, the first switch tag indicates that the contents of ke y.txt transition to the step specified by id attribute 1 when b.

Reference numeral 1402 shown in FIG. 21 is a description example of the screen layout 'event processing description file (SVG file s2.svg) displayed in the second step of the screen transition / function call description file 401.

[0309] For example, processing contents other than display are described in the script tag in the svg tag. In particular, the even t tag describes processing contents for various events. For example, when the key corresponding to the key attribute is pressed, the character string specified by the string attribute is written to the text file specified by file, and the svg-viewer processing ends.

[0310] Similarly, after the millisecond specified in the timer attribute elapses, the character string specified in the string attribute is also written to the text file specified in file. The img tag specifies the image file to be displayed. Therefore, for example, when the left soft key (soft_left.key) is pressed while s2.svg is displayed, key.txt containing the character string b is generated, so the screen transition 'function call description file 401 When returning to operation, the switch statement will return to the step specified by id = l. [0311] (Additional information)

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. However, it is included in the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be configured as follows.

[0312] The gateway device according to the present invention provides:

Controller communication means for communicating with a controller present in the home network, player communication means for communicating with a player present in the home network, portable terminal power, portable terminal communication means for receiving external gateway information and access authority, and the portable terminal An external gateway communication means for establishing communication with the external gateway based on the external gateway information and access authority received by the communication means;

Content list acquisition means for acquiring the external gateway power content list by the external gateway communication means;

By the controller communication means,

Content list transmitting means for transmitting the acquired content list to the controller; content determining means for determining the content to be transferred based on the operation command received by the controller communication means;

Content acquisition means for acquiring said external gateway force specified content by said external gateway communication means;

Content transmission means for transmitting the acquired content to the renderer by the renderer communication means;

Consists of, including,

[0313] Further, in the gateway device according to the present invention, the controller and the renderer may be configured as a single terminal.

[0314] Further, in the gateway device according to the present invention, the controller and the portable terminal may be configured as a single terminal.

[0315] Further, the gateway device according to the present invention provides: A renderer communication means for communicating with a renderer existing in the home network; a mobile terminal communication means for receiving external gateway information, access authority and an operation command from the mobile terminal;

Based on external gateway information and access authority received by the mobile terminal communication means, external gateway communication means for establishing communication with the external gateway;

Based on the operation command received by the mobile terminal communication means, content to be transferred and content to determine the renderer 'renderer confirmation means;

Content reproducing means for transmitting the acquired content to the designated renderer by the renderer communication means and reproducing the content;

Consists of, including,

[0316] In the gateway device according to the present invention, the renderer may be a DMR compatible with DLNA, and the renderer communication means may be configured to comply with DLNA.

[0317] Further, in the gateway device according to the present invention, the mobile terminal may be configured to be a mobile phone.

[0318] Further, the portable terminal according to the present invention is

In the media server in the home network, the UI content acquisition means for acquiring the UI content including the UI content ID uniquely determined by the UI content itself in the UI content,

UI content playback means for playing back the acquired UI content;

UI content sending means for sending the UI content ID in the acquired UI content to the renderer in the home network;

Consists of, including,

[0319] In addition, the mobile terminal according to the present invention may be configured to have UI content holding means for holding the acquired UI content.

[0320] Further, the mobile terminal according to the present invention may be configured to have UI content transfer means for transferring the acquired UI content. [0321] Finally, each block included in the foreign gateway (FGW) 305 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.

[0322] That is, the foreign gateway 305 is a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of an image display program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the above program, and a RAM that expands itself. Ijanciom access memory), and a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing programs and various data. An object of the present invention is a recording medium in which the program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of the control program of the foreign gateway 305, which is software that realizes the functions described above, is recorded in a computer-readable manner. This can also be achieved by supplying the program to the foreign gateway 305 and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).

[0323] Examples of the recording medium include magnetic tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy disk Z hard disks, and optical disks such as CD-ROMZMOZ MD / DVD / CD-R. Disk systems, IC cards (including memory cards) Z optical cards and other card systems, or mask ROMZEPROMZEEPROMZ flash ROM and other semiconductor memory systems can be used.

[0324] The slide show display device 100 may be configured to be connectable to a communication network, and the program code may be supplied via the communication network. The communication network is not particularly limited. For example, the Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, ISDN, VAN, CATV communication network, virtual private network, telephone line network, mobile communication network, satellite communication A net or the like is available. In addition, the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited, for example, IEEE1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc. Bluetooth (registered trademark), 802.11 radio, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, etc. can also be used. Note that the present invention provides a form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission. But it can be realized.

[0325] Also, each block included in the mobile terminal 307 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU in the same manner as described above for the foreign gateway 305. In addition, each block included in the home gateway (HGW) 304 may be configured by hardware logic, or implemented by software using a CPU, as described above. Do it! / ヽ

[0326] The gateway device according to the present invention is as described above.

A content acquisition means for acquiring content under the control of the external gateway via the communication path established by the communication path establishing means;

It has.

Therefore, the gateway device establishes a communication path with the external gateway designated by the external gateway designation information acquired via the mobile terminal. Then, the content managed by the external gateway device is acquired via the communication path, and the acquired content is distributed to the renderer managed by the gateway device.

[0328] For example, if a portable terminal that transmits external gateway designation information for designating a home gateway at home is brought into another home where the gateway device is installed, the gateway device at the other home is connected to the home gateway at home. Establish a communication path. to this Thus, the content under the management of the home gateway at home can be distributed to the renderer under the management of the gateway device at another house via the communication path.

[0329] The content reproduction apparatus according to the present invention is as described above.

Content ID storage type content transmitting means for transmitting a content ID included in the content ID content type content to other content playback devices;

It has.

[0330] Accordingly, the content reproduction device acquires the same content ID content type content as the content ID content type content that the content reproduction device acquires and reproduces from the content storage device. , Can be played.

[0331] The content distribution system according to the present invention is as described above.

The first gateway device further includes a content transmission means for delivering the requested content to the second gateway device in response to the content delivery request sent from the terminal device, The second gateway device includes content acquisition means for acquiring the content distributed from the first gateway device.

[0332] Further, the content distribution system according to the present invention is as described above.

The second gateway device may further include content acquisition means for acquiring the content distributed from the first gateway device.

It is characterized by that.

[0333] Therefore, among the contents under the control of the first gateway device, the content selected by the terminal device can be distributed from the first gateway device to the second gateway device. .

[0334] The specific embodiments or examples made in the detailed description of the invention are to clarify the technical contents of the present invention, and are limited to such specific examples. Accordingly, the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the following claims should not be construed in a narrow sense. It can be implemented with changes in the box.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used as a gateway device for distributing content under the control of an external gateway to a renderer under the control of its own device, and in particular, a gateway device that can be used with a device compliant with the DLNA standard. Can be used as

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A gateway device for delivering content under the control of an external gateway to a renderer under the control of its own device.

A gateway device comprising:

[2] It further comprises authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information issued by the external gateway via the mobile terminal,

The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein:

[3] Content specifying information acquisition means for acquiring the content designation information for designating the content to be reproduced among the contents under the management of the external gateway, the mobile terminal power,

The gateway device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gateway device is characterized in that:

[4] Renderer designation information acquisition means for acquiring, from the mobile terminal, renderer designation information for designating a renderer for reproducing the content among the renderers under the management of the gateway device, The content delivery means transmits the content acquired by the content acquisition means to the renderer specified by the renderer specification information. The gateway device according to any one of the three items.

[5] Content list request accepting means for accepting a content list request for obtaining a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the external gateway, from the mobile terminal device;

The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:

[6] DLNA content list request accepting means for accepting a DLNA content list request, which is a content list request conforming to DLNA protocol, also with the controller power;

Content list acquisition means for acquiring a content list, which is a list of contents under the management of the external gateway, from the external gateway via a communication path established by the communication path establishment means;

The content distribution means is the content acquired by the content acquisition means Is distributed to the renderer that is the transmission source of the DLNA content distribution request according to the DLNA protocol.

The gateway device according to claim 1, wherein:

[7] The controller and the renderer are integrated.

The gateway device according to claim 6, wherein:

[8] The controller and the mobile terminal are integrated.

The gateway device according to claim 6, wherein:

[9] The mobile terminal is a mobile phone.

The gateway device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein:

[10] A mobile terminal for playing content under the control of an external gateway associated with the own device in a renderer under the control of a gateway device capable of communicating with the own device,

Content specifying information transmitting means for transmitting content specifying information for specifying the content selected by the user in the content list acquired by the content list acquiring means to the gateway device;

Renderer designation information transmitting means for transmitting, to the gateway apparatus, renderer designation information for designating a renderer that reproduces the content designated by the content designation information among the renderers under the management of the gateway apparatus;

A portable terminal characterized by having! /.

[11] A network determination means for determining in which network the network is currently managed by the gateway device or the network managed by the external gateway. In addition, The mobile terminal according to claim 10, wherein the mobile terminal functions as a DLNA-compliant controller when the mobile terminal is present in a network under the control of the external gateway. The portable terminal described.

[12] A content playback apparatus that plays back content ID content that contains a content ID that uniquely identifies itself.

Content ID transmitting means for transmitting the content ID included in the content ID content type content to / from other content playback devices is provided.

A content reproduction apparatus characterized by the above.

[13] The content playback device plays back content ID storage type content stored in the content storage device.

Content ID in-thread type content acquisition means for acquiring the content ID in-thread type content from the content storage device is further provided.

13. The content playback apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the content playback apparatus is characterized in that:

[14] Authentication information acquisition means for acquiring the authentication information issued by the external gateway managing the content storage device from the external gateway;

Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information acquired by the authentication information acquiring means to a gateway device that manages the other content reproduction device;

The content playback apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:

[15] The content ID storage type content includes authentication information issued by an external gateway device that manages the content storage device.

The content playback device

Authentication information transmitting means for transmitting the authentication information contained in the content ID storage type content to a gateway device that manages the other content playback device;

14. The content playback apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the content playback apparatus is characterized in that:

[16] The content ID in-thread type content holding means for holding the content ID in-thread type content acquired by the content ID in-thread type content acquisition means is further provided. The content reproduction apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the content reproduction apparatus is characterized by the above.

[17] A content distribution system including a first gateway device, a second gateway device, and a terminal device,

This is a content-based self-trust system.

[18] The terminal device further comprises authentication information transmitting means for transmitting authentication information to the first gateway device,

The first gateway device includes, based on the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device, user specifying means for specifying a user of the terminal device and a second gateway device serving as a distribution destination of the content of the terminal device. Storage means for storing in association with the user, and

18. The content distribution system according to claim 17, wherein the system is a content distribution system.

[19] The terminal device specifies a gateway for specifying the second gateway device. Further comprising gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting information to the first gateway device,

The storage means of the first gateway device sends the second gateway device specified by the gateway specification information transmitted from the terminal device to the user of the terminal device specified based on the authentication information. The content distribution system according to claim 18, wherein the content distribution system is stored in association with each other.

[20] The second gateway device further includes gateway designation information transmitting means for transmitting gateway designation information for designating the second gateway device to the terminal device,

The terminal device further comprises storage means for storing the gateway designation information transmitted from the second gateway device.

20. The content distribution system according to claim 19, wherein

[21] Content list transmission means for transmitting a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the own device, to the terminal device;

A content transmission means for transmitting a requested content to another gateway device in response to a content distribution request transmitted from the terminal device and requesting the distribution of the content selected from the content list When,

A gateway device characterized by comprising

[22] Authentication information receiving means for receiving authentication information transmitted from the terminal device;

Based on the received authentication information! /, A user specifying means for specifying the user of the terminal device,

The gateway according to claim 21, wherein the content transmission means distributes the content to another gateway device specified based on the authentication information and associated with the user of the terminal device. apparatus.

[23] password transmitting means for transmitting the password to the terminal device;

A connection request sent from the other gateway device, including the password. Connection request accepting means for accepting connection requests;

Authentication means for confirming whether the password is valid;

And a connection establishing means for establishing a communication path for distributing the content with the other gateway device when the password is valid. The gateway device according to Item 22 of the scope.

[24] The gateway device according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the terminal device is a mobile terminal.

[25] A content distribution system including a first gateway device, a second gateway device, and a terminal device,

The second gateway device includes a content designation information receiving means for receiving content designation information transmitted from the terminal device, and a content delivery request for requesting delivery of content designated by the content designation information. Content distribution request transmitting means for transmitting to the gateway device,

This is a content-based self-trust system.

[26] The terminal device further includes address transmission means for transmitting an address designating the first gateway device to the second gateway device, The second gateway device includes address acquisition means for acquiring the address transmitted from the terminal device,

The content delivery request transmitting means of the second gateway device transmits the content delivery request to the first gateway device designated by the address;

26. The content distribution system according to claim 25, wherein the system is a content distribution system.

[27] The first gateway device further includes password transmission means for transmitting a password to the terminal device,

The terminal device acquires a password transmitted from the first gateway device, an address for designating the first gateway device, and the acquired password for the second gateway device. And an access authority transmission means for transmitting to

[28] Content list transmission means for transmitting a content list, which is a list of contents under the control of the own device, to the terminal device;

Content transmission request sent from another gateway device that delivers the requested content to the other gateway device in response to a content delivery request that requests delivery of the content selected from the content list And a gateway device characterized by comprising:

[29] password transmitting means for transmitting the password to the terminal device;

Authentication means for confirming whether the password is valid;

And a connection establishment means for establishing a communication path for distributing the content to the other gateway device when the password is valid. The gateway device according to claim 28.

[30] Access authority acquisition means for acquiring an address and authentication information from outside,

A content distribution request for distributing the content specified by the content specification information is sent to the other gateway device, and content acquisition means for acquiring the content distributed via the communication path includes: A gateway device characterized by comprising.

[31] The apparatus further includes a display unit that displays the content acquired by the content acquisition unit.

32. The gateway device according to claim 30, wherein the gateway device is characterized in that: