JP4552461B2 - Distribution method, distribution system, and information processing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a distribution method, a distribution system , and an information processing apparatus suitable for application to, for example, a terminal capable of viewing a television broadcast and a system for distributing a program to the terminal.

  By preparing a video tape recording / playback device, a hard disk recording device, and the like and recording content such as a television broadcast program, the user can play back and view the recorded content at a desired time.

  On the other hand, with the recent improvement of the Internet connection environment, many contents such as various video programs are stored on the server connected to the Internet, and the contents are stored when there is access from the user terminal. A service is provided to distribute the content that has been made. When such distribution via the Internet is performed, the user can receive and view the content distribution at a desired time.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses disclosure of viewing content on a user terminal via the Internet.
JP 2002-84523 A

  By the way, in order to access a server from a terminal via the Internet and receive distribution of content from the server, the user needs to search a web page or the like that can access the server in which necessary content is stored. There is a problem that it takes time and labor compared with the case of watching a television broadcast program. In Patent Document 1 described above, a process of extracting metadata from the currently viewed content while searching for the content (distributed stream) distributed in real time and searching for another content based on the metadata. There is a disclosure. By performing such processing, content that is somewhat related to the content currently being viewed can be obtained, but switching to another content can be performed with a simple operation such as channel switching when viewing a television broadcast. It is impossible.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and when viewing a content such as a recorded television broadcast, it is possible to easily switch to another content temporally related to the broadcast. The purpose is to do.

In the present invention, when playing back content that has been distributed and recorded on a terminal that plays back the distributed content, the content is distributed at a date and time that is different from the channel or source from which the content was distributed. Access the content management server that stores the metadata of the content via a predetermined network to find the location where the content distributed by the channel or source is stored, and select the channel or source during playback on the terminal When there is an operation, the content selected by the selection operation and searching for the accumulated location is acquired and reproduced. In this case, the date / time at which the playback position of the content being played is distributed is determined, the position at which the playback position of the content being played is distributed at the date / time that matches the date / time of distribution is determined, and the determined position Based on the above, the playback start position of the found content is controlled.

By doing so, it is possible to view when switching the channel or the like during the distribution by performing the channel or source switching operation during the reproduction of the past contents such as the recorded television broadcast program. The same content can be viewed.

  According to the present invention, even when recorded (recorded) content is played back, a plurality of temporally related contents can be switched as appropriate and viewed freely, and so-called zapping is reversed in the past. This can solve the problem of not being able to switch channels when performing time shift playback.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the system of this example. In this example, one or a plurality of television broadcast recording / reproducing devices 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 as terminals installed on the user side are prepared in each of the homes H1, H2, H3, H4. In addition, each of the recording / playback apparatuses 100 to 500 records (records) a television broadcast signal so that the content can be accumulated, and the recorded content such as the television broadcast is installed in each home. The television receivers 190, 290, 390, and 490 can be viewed.

  In this example, each recording / reproducing device 100 to 500 can be connected to the Internet 10. Since the home H4 has a configuration in which a plurality of recording / reproducing devices 400 and 500 can be connected to the Internet 10, the home H4 is connected to the Internet 10 via the router 600. The connection to the Internet 10 here is assumed to be a connection via a broadband line capable of downloading at least high-speed content composed of video and audio.

  In this example, a content management server 20 and a streaming server 30 are prepared and connected to the Internet 10. The content management server 20 and the streaming server 30 are prepared by, for example, a business provider that provides the service of this example. The content management server 20 functions as content management means for storing metadata about broadcast programs. Specifically, for example, metadata such as the title of the program broadcast on each channel, the content of the program, the broadcast start date and time, and the end date and time are accumulated during a predetermined period in the past. The streaming server 30 functions as content storage means for storing the content data of the broadcast program itself, stores the video data and audio data of the broadcast program broadcast during the past predetermined period (for example, several weeks), and requests It is a recording / reproducing machine that reads out by the above.

  Note that the content management server 20 and the streaming server 30 may be configured by the same server. Further, the streaming server 30 may be individually prepared for each broadcaster or for each broadcast channel, for example. It is also assumed that a plurality of content management servers 20 are prepared. Further, the recording / reproducing devices 100 to 500 themselves in each home connected to the Internet may function as a part of the streaming server.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording / playback device installed in each home. Here, the configuration of the recording / reproducing device 100 installed in the home H1 is used, but the other recording / reproducing devices have the same basic configuration. A tuner 102 connected to an antenna 101 for receiving broadcast waves and receiving a broadcast signal, and an interface 103 for connecting to the Internet, and contents such as video data and audio data received by the tuner 102 or the interface 103 Are recorded on the hard disk by the hard disk drive 104, and the content can be stored in the hard disk. The broadcast wave received by the tuner 102 may be any form of broadcast signal such as ground wave or satellite broadcast wave. Further, a disk drive 105 for recording and reproducing an optical disk is provided, and content data such as video data and audio data can be recorded on the optical disk mounted on the disk drive 105, and the recorded data can be reproduced. The operation of receiving, recording, and reproducing these contents is controlled by the control unit 106. The control unit 106 is connected to a memory (not shown) for storing data necessary for control such as metadata to be described later.

  The video data and audio data received by the tuner 102 or the interface 103, or the video data and audio data reproduced by the hard disk drive 104 or the disk drive 105 are supplied to the decoder 107 to be a MPEG (Moving Picture coding Experts Group) decoder. The decoded video data and audio data are supplied to the video / audio output unit 108 and supplied to the television receiver connected to the video / audio output unit 108, and the television receiver side To display video and output audio.

  In addition, a user interface 109 that processes operation data from a key operated by a user or a touch panel or data based on a received signal from a remote control device (not shown) is provided, and the control unit controls data from the user interface 109. By performing the determination in 106, reception, recording, and reproduction operations based on various operations are executed. As an operation related to reception with an operation key or a remote control device, for example, there is an operation of switching a reception channel or a reception input source.

  Next, an example of processing when a recorded broadcast program is played back by a recording / playback device as a terminal installed in each home with the system configuration of this example will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. In FIG. 3, a recording / playback device as a terminal installed in each home is shown as a client, and a server in which contents are stored is, for example, the streaming server 30 shown in FIG. A terminal (recording / playback device) installed in each home can exchange data with the content management server at any time via the Internet, and a server (streaming server) in which content is stored is connected to the terminal from the terminal. When there is a request, the terminal can be connected to the content storage server by a point-to-point (so-called PtoP), and the content data can be transferred to the terminal.

  First, in a server (streaming server) in which content is stored, a broadcast program is recorded (stored) as needed (step S11), and metadata of the program recorded in the server is transmitted to the content management server via the Internet. It is transferred and registered via (step S12). The registered metadata includes, for example, IDs of devices constituting the server, broadcast station names of programs, recording (broadcasting) start time, recording end time, and the like. If the metadata can be registered, a recording / playback device installed in each home can be used as a content server.

  Next, it is assumed that a recording / playback device installed in each home as a client-side terminal plays a program recorded on the recording / playback device, and starts time-shifted viewing that is viewed on the receiver (step). S13). It is assumed that there is a channel switching operation or a source switching operation by a user operation after starting this time shift reproduction. At this time, the control unit of the recording / playback device determines the date and time when the playback position of the program currently being played was broadcast, and sends the determined date and time as shift time data to the content management server. Also, the broadcast station data of the viewing channel designated by the switching operation is also sent to the content management server (step S14).

  The content management server that has received the shift time data and the viewing broadcast station data determines the server that stores the program that was broadcast at that time, and distributes the content to the server that stores the determined content. An inquiry is made as to whether or not a connection can be made (step S15), and a response is received (step S16). If there is a response that connection is impossible, a process for searching for another content storage server is performed.

  If there is a response that the connection with the content storage server is possible, the metadata stored for the program selected by the management server based on the shift time and the viewing channel is used as the terminal on the client side. The data is sent to the recording / reproducing device (step S17). When the client terminal that has received the metadata makes a request to start distribution of the corresponding content to the content storage server of the device ID indicated by the metadata (step S18), and there is a response that accepts the start request (Step S19), the distribution of the video data and audio data of the program is received from the content storage server via the Internet (Step S20).

  By distributing the video data and the audio data in this way, the recording / reproducing apparatus as the client-side terminal stops the output of the video data and the audio data of the recorded program which has been viewed in step S13. Thus, the output is switched to video data and audio data of the program distributed from the content storage server.

  In addition, about the delivery of video data and audio | voice data in step S20, the video data and audio | voice data from the position currently broadcast at the shift time instruct | indicated in step S14 are delivered. Alternatively, the video data and audio data are distributed in step S20 by distributing the video data and audio data from the head position of the instructed program, and the distribution is performed on the recording / playback device side as the client side terminal. Adjustment processing may be performed so that the reproduction position of the data is substantially coincident with the shift time.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example on the receiver connected to the terminal when performing time shift reproduction in this way. In this example, an operation means (for example, a touch panel) as a pointing device can be used to instruct display on the screen. Receivable channel numbers and a list of different sources are displayed as buttons. In addition, a time shift reproduction time is displayed separately from the current time. The display of the time shift playback time can be changed by touching the side of the time on the screen, and the playback of the program broadcast on the specified channel or input is started at the specified time. .

  Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the same time-shift playback time can be set by moving the cursor using a remote control device or the like. In the example of FIG. 5, a menu screen is displayed. For example, an item of “shift time setting” is selected from the menu, a screen for setting the time is displayed, and the direction instruction key of the remote control device is operated. Set the time. In the display examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, only the time for time-shift playback is set. However, the date (date, day of the week, date, etc.) is also set, and the past date is set. The time may be set.

  In this way, when a time shift playback operation is performed on the screen as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, a program on the specified channel at the specified time is recorded by the recording / playback device as the client side terminal. If the program is recorded, the program starts to be played. If there is an operation to switch to another channel after the start of playback, the program was broadcast to the indicated channel at the appropriate time. The program data is found and the program is switched to viewing. Therefore, the same channel switching as when the program was viewed in real time can be performed, and time-shifted reproduction over a plurality of channels is performed. In addition, when viewed from a broadcasting station that distributes programs, even when recording and viewing a program, each viewer should watch the time zone during which his / her favorite program was broadcast. This makes it possible to produce a program that narrows the target audience for each broadcast time period, and is highly effective. Here, only the distribution of the program content has been described, but the commercial can be distributed and viewed in the same manner as during the broadcast, thereby enabling an advertisement with a narrow target audience. Further, it is possible to receive a commission from an advertiser by distributing a commercial together with a program stored in the content management server.

  If the program at the time specified in the first stage is not recorded on the recording / playback device as the client terminal, the shift time and the channel (broadcast station) are directly requested to the content management server. The program may be obtained from the content storage server. Further, FIG. 3 shows an example in which the channel is switched once, but the same processing is performed every time the channel is switched, so that it is possible to cope with a case where there are a plurality of viewing channels. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, the content management server negotiates for connection with the server in which the content is stored. However, the client terminal connects to the server in which the content is stored. You may make it negotiate for. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an example of this case. As will be described below, a server (streaming server) in which content is stored records (stores) a broadcast program as needed (step S21), and the metadata of the program recorded in the server is stored in the content management server. Transfer and register via the Internet (step S22).

  Next, with the recording / playback device installed in each home as a client-side terminal, the program recorded on the recording / playback device is played back, and time-shifted viewing for viewing on the receiver is started (step S23). After that, it is assumed that there is a channel switching operation or a source switching operation by a user operation. At this time, the control unit of the recording / playback device determines the date and time when the playback position of the program currently being played was broadcast, and sends the determined date and time as shift time data to the content management server. In addition, the broadcast station data of the viewing channel designated by the switching operation is also sent to the content management server (step S24).

  The content management server that has received the shift time data and the viewing broadcast station data acquires the metadata for the program broadcast at that time from the stored data and sends it to the client-side terminal (step S25). . At this time, the server ID (or address) of the server storing the content data of the program is also sent so that the server accessed by the client can be identified.

  Then, the client-side terminal that has received the metadata inquires of the server with the device ID instructed by the metadata whether connection for content distribution is possible (step S26), and receives the response. (Step S27). Here, if there is a response that the connection with the content storage server is possible, a request to start distribution of the corresponding content is made (step S28), and if there is a response that accepts the start request (step S28). S29) The video data and audio data of the program are received from the content storage server via the Internet (step S30).

  As shown in FIG. 6, even when the client side terminal is connected to the content storage server, time-shifted reproduction can be performed as in the example of FIG. Even in the case of the example in FIG. 6, the same processing is performed in order to distribute a program not recorded on the terminal side from the server side, instead of viewing the program recorded by the time shift viewing in step S23. You may make it do.

  In the process of FIG. 3, the client side sends data about the channel to be switched (viewing channel) to the content management server to obtain only the metadata about the channel. When time-shifted playback (or playback operation) of a recorded program is performed, metadata of a plurality of channels (for example, all receivable channels) broadcast during the broadcast time of the program is acquired. Thus, it may be possible to cope with any channel switching. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing an example of this case. As will be described below, a server (streaming server) in which content is stored records (stores) broadcast programs as needed (step S31), and the metadata of the programs recorded in the server is stored in the content management server. Transfer and register via the Internet (step S32). The content storage server that performs the processes in steps S31 and S32 may be prepared individually for each channel, for example.

  Next, with the recording / playback device installed in each home as a client-side terminal, the program recorded on the recording / playback device is played back, and time-shifted viewing for viewing on the receiver starts, and the shift time data Is sent to the content management server (step S33).

  In the content management server that has received the shift time data, among the program data stored in the management server, the metadata of the programs of all channels broadcast at that time is sent to the client side terminal (step S34). The transmission of the shift time data from the client and the transmission of the metadata of the programs of all channels at the instructed shift time are executed at any time as shown in steps S35, S36, S37, and S38 in FIG. Perform polling processing. When there is an operation for actually starting the viewing of the distributed program such as channel switching (step S39), the instructed program is changed based on the metadata stored in the client terminal at that time. The stored content storage server is determined, a distribution start request is made to the determined content storage server (step S40), and when there is a response to accept the start request (step S41), the request is made via the Internet. Then, the distribution of the video data and audio data of the program is received from the content storage server (step S42).

  In the example described so far, the client side terminal obtains the program data directly from the content storage server. However, the program data stored in the content storage server is temporarily stored in the buffering server connected to the Internet. Then, it may be sent from the buffering server to the client side terminal. By doing so, it is possible to easily cope with so-called zapping in which channel switching is frequently performed. FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an example of this case. As will be described below, time shift viewing starts on the client side terminal (or when there is an operation for time shift viewing), and shift time data is sent to the content management server (step S51).

  The content management server that has received the shift time data selects a plurality of content storage servers A, B, and C in which the programs broadcast at that time are stored based on the stored metadata. The buffering server is instructed (step S52), and the shift time data is sent from the buffering server to the servers A, B, and C (step S53). In each of the content storage servers A, B, and C, the reproduction data of the program broadcast at the designated time is sent to the buffering server (step S54), and is temporarily stored in the buffering server. Then, the reproduction data of the designated channel program is sent from the buffering server to the client side terminal (step S55), and the channel of the program sent from the buffering server is switched back every time there is a channel switching instruction. Make it. Alternatively, if there is no problem with the transmission capacity or the client-side terminal capability, the playback data for all channels is sent from the buffering server to the terminal and viewed from the received program each time the channel is switched on the terminal side. You may make it choose a program.

  The processes in steps S54 and S55 are continuously executed as long as the time shift reproduction continues (steps S56, S57, S58, S59,...).

  By preparing the buffering server in this way, it is possible to easily cope with a viewing mode in which channel switching is frequently performed.

  In the examples described so far, an example in which there is a content management server has been described. However, if there is no content management server, the client-side terminal goes directly to search for a program on the server in which the content is stored. You may do it. FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of this case. As will be described below, time-shift viewing starts on the client-side terminal (or when there is an operation for time-shift viewing) (step S61), and shift time data and data of a channel (broadcasting station) desired to be viewed are obtained. Broadcast transmission or multicast transmission is simultaneously sent to a plurality of content storage servers (step S62).

  The content storage servers that have received the shift time data send metadata of stored programs (video files) suitable for the instructed contents from the programs stored in the respective servers to the client-side terminal ( Step S63). Then, the terminal collects the metadata, determines the video file of the program most suitable for viewing (step S64), and can connect for distribution to the content server in which the video file is stored. (Step S65) and the response is received (step S66). Here, if there is a response that the connection with the content storage server is possible, a request to start distribution of the corresponding content is made (step S67), and if there is a response to accept the start request (step S67) S68), receiving the video data and audio data of the program from the content storage server via the Internet (step S69).

  As shown in FIG. 9, even when metadata is acquired from the content storage server, time-shifted reproduction can be performed as in the other examples described above. As already described, the content storage server itself is not a dedicated server prepared by a broadcaster or the like. For example, a recording / playback device installed in each home is treated as the content storage server, and Metadata about the program stored in the recording / reproducing device may be collected to determine which recording / reproducing device should be connected to obtain necessary program data. By doing in this way, the recording / reproducing device installed in each home that constructs the system of this example becomes a terminal as a client and also a server that provides a recorded program, which requires a large-scale server. It is possible to construct a system without doing it.

  In the embodiment described so far, the terminal installed in each home or the like is composed of a television broadcast recording / reproducing device and a television receiver connected to the recording / reproducing device. Various other terminals may be used. For example, a mobile phone terminal that can watch television broadcasts and that can be connected to the Internet via a wireless telephone line may be used as a user-side terminal. In addition, an Internet connection function, a content storage function such as a television broadcast program, and a content display function may be incorporated in various personal computer devices so as to function as a terminal that performs the processing of the present invention. . Regardless of the configuration, the functional part that records (records) content such as a recording / playback device may be built in the terminal or connected to a separate device. Either is fine.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, a television broadcast program has been described as an example of content to be viewed, but the date and time is determined even for broadcasts distributed in other formats such as so-called Internet broadcasts. Any content can be applied. In the above-described embodiment, since it is assumed that the television broadcast is switched, the channel or source is switched. Depending on the distribution format, there is a case where there is no concept of channel switching. However, in the operation described as switching channel or source in this specification, switching of content to be distributed with a fixed date and time is performed by key operation. The broad meaning of doing it directly is included. Further, the content itself may be content other than the video program, for example, content by audio broadcasting.

It is explanatory drawing which showed the system configuration example by one embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the example of a structure of the video recording / reproducing machine by one embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of reproduction | regeneration by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of a display (example using a pointing device / touch panel) by one embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of a display (example which uses operation of a cursor movement / remote control apparatus) by one embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of reproduction | regeneration (example in which a client performs negotiation which can be connected) by other embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of reproduction | regeneration (example which polls metadata) by other embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence figure which showed the example of reproduction | regeneration (example which performs the buffering of the data which considered the zapping) by other embodiment of this invention. It is the sequence diagram which showed the example of reproduction | regeneration (example in case there is no content management server) by other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Internet, 20 ... Content management server, 30 ... Streaming server, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 ... Recording and reproducing machine, 101 ... Antenna, 102 ... Tuner, 103 ... Interface, 104 ... Hard disk drive, 105 ... Disk drive , 106 ... control section, 107 ... decoder, 108 ... video / audio output section, 109 ... user interface, 190, 290, 390, 490 ... television receiver, 600 ... router

Claims (10)

In a content distribution method to a terminal that reproduces content,
When playing back content that has been distributed and recorded on the terminal, the content distributed on a channel or source other than the channel or source on which the content is distributed is stored at the date and time when the content is distributed. The location is accessed by accessing a content management server that stores content metadata via a predetermined network.
When there is a channel or source selection operation during the viewing, the content selected by the selection operation and searched for the accumulated location is acquired,
The playback position of the content being played is determined to be delivered date and time, the playback position of the content being played is determined to be delivered at a date and time that matches the delivery date and time, and based on the determined location A delivery method for controlling the playback start position of the acquired content. The delivery method according to claim 1,
The method of searching for a location where the content is stored is performed by accessing a content management unit that stores metadata about the distributed content. The delivery method according to claim 2,
When the terminal searches for a content storage location based on the metadata, the terminal inquires whether the content storage location can be connected, and acquires the content when the connection is possible . The delivery method according to claim 1,
When the location where the content is stored is found, the found content is buffered at a predetermined location, and when the channel or source is selected, the buffered content is acquired. , A delivery method for controlling the playback start position of the buffered content. A network-side content storage unit that is connected to a predetermined network and stores the distributed content;
A content management means for storing metadata about the distributed content connected to the network;
A distribution system composed of terminals connected to the network;
The terminal has built-in or connected terminal-side content storage means for storing at least one distributed content,
In the terminal, when the channel or source different from the channel or source to which the content being played back is selected during playback of the content stored in the terminal-side content storage means, the content being played back The storage location of the content distributed by the selected channel or source is searched based on the metadata stored in the content management means, and the content is retrieved from the searched network-side content storage means. And obtaining a position where the reproduction position of the content being reproduced is distributed at a date and time coincident with the date and time of distribution, and based on the determined position, the reproduction start position of the found content is determined. Distribution system to control . The distribution system according to claim 5 , wherein
The distribution system in which the terminal inquires to the searched content storage unit whether it can be connected via the network, and acquires the content when the connection is possible. A network-side content storage unit that is connected to a predetermined network and stores the distributed content;
A content management means for storing metadata about the distributed content connected to the network;
A distribution system composed of terminals connected to the network;
The terminal has built-in or connected terminal-side content storage means for storing at least one distributed content,
The terminal is different from the channel or source in which the content being reproduced is distributed at the distribution date and time of the content being reproduced during reproduction of the content stored in the terminal-side content accumulation means that is built-in or connected. The storage location of the content distributed in the channel or source of the above is searched based on the metadata stored in the content management means,
When a channel or source different from the channel or source to which the content being reproduced is distributed is selected, the content is acquired from the found network-side content storage means, and the reproduction position of the content being reproduced A distribution system that controls the playback start position based on the position that was distributed at the date and time that coincided with the date and time when the was distributed. A network-side content storage unit that is connected to a predetermined network and stores the distributed content;
A content management means for storing metadata about the distributed content connected to the network;
A distribution system composed of terminals connected to the network;
The terminal has built-in or connected terminal-side content storage means for storing at least one distributed content,
In the terminal, during the reproduction of the content stored in the terminal-side content storage means built-in or connected, the distribution date or time of the content being reproduced is different from the distribution channel or source of the content being reproduced. Alternatively, the storage location of the content broadcasted by the source is searched based on the metadata stored in the content management means, and the content acquired from the searched network-side content storage means is buffered at a predetermined location,
In the terminal, when a channel or source is selected during playback, the content to be played is selected from the buffered content, and the playback position of the content being played matches the date and time when the content is distributed. A distribution system that controls the playback start position based on the position that was distributed day and time. The distribution system according to claim 5, wherein
Content management means for storing metadata about distributed content is included in the network-side content storage means,
The terminal determines whether or not necessary content is accumulated from metadata accumulated in the network-side content accumulation means. If there is a selection operation for a channel or source different from the channel or source to which the content has been distributed during playback of the recorded content, the date and time at which the playback position of the content has been distributed is determined, and information on the date and time Is transmitted to the content management server that manages the metadata about the distributed content,
Determining a content storage server in which content is stored based on data from the content management server, and controlling reception of the content corresponding to the selection operation from the determined content storage server;
An information processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a reproduction start position of the received content based on a position that has been distributed at a date and time that coincides with a date and time when the reproduction position of the content being reproduced is distributed.

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