WO2009093694A1 - Émetteur, récepteur, indicateur, système de communication, procédé d'émission, procédé de réception, procédé d'indication, programme et support d'enregistrement - Google Patents

Émetteur, récepteur, indicateur, système de communication, procédé d'émission, procédé de réception, procédé d'indication, programme et support d'enregistrement Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009093694A1
WO2009093694A1 PCT/JP2009/051085 JP2009051085W WO2009093694A1 WO 2009093694 A1 WO2009093694 A1 WO 2009093694A1 JP 2009051085 W JP2009051085 W JP 2009051085W WO 2009093694 A1 WO2009093694 A1 WO 2009093694A1
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Prior art keywords
content
information
bandwidth
network
size
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Ceased
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PCT/JP2009/051085
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English (en)
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Yutaka Kobayashi
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Sharp Corp
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Sharp Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/65—Transmission of management data between client and server
    • H04N21/658—Transmission by the client directed to the server
    • H04N21/6581—Reference data, e.g. a movie identifier for ordering a movie or a product identifier in a home shopping application
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
    • H04N21/25—Management operations performed by the server for facilitating the content distribution or administrating data related to end-users or client devices, e.g. end-user or client device authentication, learning user preferences for recommending movies
    • H04N21/262—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists
    • H04N21/26208—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints
    • H04N21/26216—Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists the scheduling operation being performed under constraints involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
    • H04N21/60—Network structure or processes for video distribution between server and client or between remote clients; Control signalling between clients, server and network components; Transmission of management data between server and client, e.g. sending from server to client commands for recording incoming content stream; Communication details between server and client 
    • H04N21/61—Network physical structure; Signal processing
    • H04N21/6106—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network
    • H04N21/6125—Network physical structure; Signal processing specially adapted to the downstream path of the transmission network involving transmission via Internet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a transmission apparatus and method for transmitting content data, a reception apparatus and method for receiving content data, an instruction apparatus and method for instructing reception of content data, a communication system including these apparatuses, and a computer as these apparatuses.
  • the present invention relates to a program for functioning, and a recording medium on which these programs are recorded.
  • next generation network Next Generation Network
  • QoS Quality of Service
  • security can be improved, and multimedia services such as IP phone and streaming can be provided flexibly.
  • IPTV Internet Protocol TeleVision
  • IPTV Internet Protocol TeleVision
  • home networks home networks in which home devices are communicably connected via a communication network have begun to spread.
  • content digital content stored in each device (hereinafter simply referred to as “content”) can be shared by performing data communication between the devices, thereby providing convenience and comfort to the user. Can be provided. Accordingly, home networks are expected to become increasingly popular in the future.
  • DLNA guideline Home Networked Device Interoperability Guideline version 1.0
  • DLNA guideline Digital Living Network Alliance
  • the DLNA guidelines specify UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) for defining methods for discovering and controlling devices connected to a home network, and methods for searching, selecting and managing content.
  • UPnP Universal Plug and Play
  • HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
  • the format of each content is defined for ensuring mutual connectivity and coexistence of devices.
  • Patent Document 1 the format and bit rate are converted before the provision of multimedia data to other devices of the UPnP network, and multimedia data can be provided in real time in a format that can be handled by this device.
  • An apparatus is disclosed. Specifically, there is described a digital video camera that inquires about a maximum available bandwidth in a UPnP network and encodes content so that processing target data has a bit rate that can be transmitted using the maximum bandwidth.
  • Japanese Published Patent Publication “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-13879” Publication Date: January 18, 2007)
  • a media server that provides content to a media player provides a content list to a media player or a media controller.
  • the media player or media controller selects content from the acquired content list, and the media player or media renderer plays the selected content. That is, the user can view the content selected using the media player or the media controller using the media player or the media renderer.
  • the home network includes an IPTV playback terminal connected to the next-generation network, which is a factor that compresses the bandwidth of the home network.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a home network system capable of reliably transmitting / receiving selected content as long as the content is selected using a content list. is there.
  • the problem of the present invention has been described using terms such as a media server, a media player, and a media controller.
  • the problem is not limited to the home network system, but a content list or other similar information. It occurs in general communication systems that select content to be transmitted and received using.
  • the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems not only for home network systems but also for communication systems in general.
  • a transmitting apparatus transmits a content selected from attribute information of content that can be transmitted, and content selected from the content list via a network.
  • a transmission device comprising: a transmission means, comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring bandwidth information for identifying a size of a free bandwidth in the network that can be used for transmission of content transmitted by the transmission means;
  • the content list provided by the providing means is a content list including attribute information of content that can be transmitted at a preset transmission speed using a vacant bandwidth of a size specified by the bandwidth information. .
  • the content list provided by the transmission device uses a free bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as “unused bandwidth”) that can be used for transmission of content transmitted from the transmission means in the network.
  • unused bandwidth a free bandwidth
  • Content that can be transmitted in this manner that is, content that is set to a transmission speed (in bps) smaller than the size of the unused band (in bps) is included.
  • the content list provided by the transmission device does not include content that cannot be transmitted using the unused band, that is, content that is set to a transmission speed smaller than the unused band size.
  • the transmission device can reliably transmit the content selected from the content list via the network.
  • transmission can be performed at a preset transmission speed.
  • the bandwidth information may be anything as long as it can be used to specify a free bandwidth in the network. That is, information indicating the size of the free bandwidth may be used, or information indicating the size of the bandwidth to be used is used, and the size of the bandwidth to be used is subtracted from the total bandwidth size of the network. The size may be specified.
  • a transmission method is a transmission method in which a transmission device transmits content, a providing step of providing a content list including attribute information of content that can be transmitted, and the content
  • a transmission method including a transmission step of transmitting content selected from the list via a network.
  • a size of a free band in the network that can be used for transmission of the content transmitted by the transmission means is set.
  • Including an acquisition step of acquiring bandwidth information for identification, and the content list provided in the provision step can be transmitted at a preset transmission rate using a free bandwidth of a size specified by the bandwidth information
  • the content list is composed of content attribute information.
  • the content selected from the content list can be reliably transmitted via the network, like the transmission device.
  • transmission can be performed at a preset transmission speed.
  • the acquisition unit acquires time information indicating a time when a band of the size indicated by the band information becomes usable together with the band information
  • the providing unit includes: It is preferable to provide the content list after the time indicated by the time information has arrived.
  • the transmission device can reliably transmit the content selected from the content list via the network at the time indicated by the time information.
  • transmission can be performed at a preset transmission speed.
  • a transmitting apparatus transmits a content selected from attribute information of content that can be transmitted, and content selected from the content list via a network.
  • a transmission device comprising: a transmission means, comprising: an acquisition means for acquiring bandwidth information for identifying a size of a free bandwidth in the network that can be used for transmission of content transmitted by the transmission means; Identification information for identifying content that can be transmitted at a preset transmission speed using a free band of a size specified by the band information is added to the content list provided by the providing unit. It is characterized by.
  • the content list provided by the transmission device uses a free bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as “unused bandwidth”) that can be used for transmission of content transmitted from the transmission means in the network.
  • Identification information for identifying content that can be transmitted in this manner that is, content set to a transmission speed (bps unit) smaller than the size of the unused band (bps unit).
  • a receiving device that uses a content list provided by the transmitting device can identify content that can be received using an unused band and content that is not so by referring to the identification information. For this reason, it is possible to receive only the contents that can be received using the unused band, or to distinguish the contents that can be received using the unused band from the contents that are not, and present them to the user.
  • a receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive any of the receivable contents via a network based on a content list including attribute information of receivable contents.
  • a receiving apparatus comprising: acquisition means for acquiring band information for specifying a size of an empty band in the network that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving means; and a size specified by the band information Deletion means for deleting from the content list the attribute information of the content that cannot be received at a preset reception speed using the available bandwidth.
  • the content list presented by the receiving device uses an available bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as “unused bandwidth”) that can be used to transmit content received by the receiving means in the network. Only receivable content, that is, content set to a reception speed (bps unit) smaller than the size of the unused band (bps unit) is included. In other words, the content list presented by the receiving device does not include content that cannot be received using the unused bandwidth, that is, content that is set to a reception speed smaller than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the receiving device can reliably receive the content selected from the content list via the network.
  • reception can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • a receiving method is a receiving method in which a receiving apparatus receives content, and the receivable content is based on a content list including attribute information of receivable content.
  • a receiving step of receiving any of the above via a network before the receiving step, specifying a size of a free band in the network that can be used for transmission of content received in the receiving step
  • the attribute information of the content that cannot be received at a preset reception speed using a free bandwidth of the size specified by the bandwidth information,
  • a deletion step of deleting from the content list is a receiving method in which a receiving apparatus receives content, and the receivable content is based on a content list including attribute information of receivable content.
  • the content selected from the content list can be reliably received via the network, like the receiving device.
  • reception can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • the acquisition unit acquires time information indicating a time at which a band of the size indicated by the band information becomes usable together with the band information
  • the deletion unit includes: Preferably, after the time indicated by the time information has arrived, the attribute information of the unreceivable content is deleted from the content list.
  • the receiving device can reliably receive the content selected from the content list via the network at the time indicated by the time information.
  • transmission can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • a receiving apparatus includes a presentation unit that presents a content list including attribute information of receivable content to a user, and a network that displays content selected by the user from the presented content list.
  • a receiving device comprising: a receiving means for receiving via the receiving means, and obtaining means for acquiring band information for identifying a size of a free band in the network that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving means.
  • the presenting means presents, in an identifiable manner, attribute information of content that can be received at a preset reception speed using a vacant band of a size specified by the band information.
  • the content list is content that can be received using a free band (hereinafter referred to as “unused band”) that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving unit in the network, that is, The content set to a reception speed (bps unit) smaller than the size of the unused band (bps unit) is presented to be identifiable.
  • unused band a free band
  • the user can be prevented from unexpectedly selecting content that cannot be received using an unused band.
  • an instruction device receives any of the receivable contents via a network based on a content list including attribute information of contents that can be received by the receiving apparatus. And an instruction device for instructing the receiving device to acquire bandwidth information for specifying a size of a free bandwidth in the network that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving device. And a deletion unit that deletes, from the content list, attribute information of content that cannot be received by the reception device at a preset reception speed using a vacant bandwidth of a size specified by the bandwidth information. It is characterized by that.
  • the content list presented by the instruction device uses an available bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as “unused bandwidth”) that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving device in the network. Only receivable content, that is, content set to a reception speed (bps unit) smaller than the size of the unused band (bps unit) is included. In other words, the content list presented by the instruction device does not include content that cannot be received using the unused bandwidth, that is, content that is set to a reception speed smaller than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the instruction device instructs the receiving device to acquire the content selected from the content list. Therefore, the receiving device can reliably receive the content instructed by the instruction device via the network. In addition, reception can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • an instruction method receives any of the receivable contents via a network based on a content list including attribute information of contents that can be received by the receiving device.
  • the instruction method includes an instruction step in which the instruction device instructs the reception device, and before the instruction step, specifies a size of a free band in the network that can be used for transmission of content received by the reception device.
  • an acquisition step for acquiring band information for the content to be received by the receiving device using a vacant band of a size specified by the band information at a reception speed set in advance.
  • a deletion step of deleting the attribute information from the content list Before the instructing step, and an acquisition step for acquiring band information for the content to be received by the receiving device using a vacant band of a size specified by the band information at a reception speed set in advance.
  • the reception device can reliably receive the content instructed by the instruction device via the network. In addition, reception can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • the acquisition unit acquires time information indicating a time when a band of the size indicated by the band information becomes usable together with the band information
  • the deletion unit includes: Preferably, after the time indicated by the time information has arrived, the attribute information of the unreceivable content is deleted from the content list.
  • the receiving device can reliably receive the content instructed from the receiving device via the network at the time indicated by the time information.
  • transmission can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • an instruction device includes a presentation unit that presents a content list including attribute information of content that can be received by a reception device, and content selected by the user from the presented content list. And an instruction unit for instructing the receiving apparatus to receive the data via the network, in order to identify the size of the free bandwidth in the network that can be used for transmitting the content received by the receiving apparatus Content information that can be received at a reception speed set in advance by using the free bandwidth of the size specified by the bandwidth information. Is presented in an identifiable manner.
  • the content list presented by the instruction device uses an available bandwidth (hereinafter referred to as “unused bandwidth”) that can be used for transmission of content received by the receiving device in the network. Only receivable content, that is, content set to a reception speed (bps unit) smaller than the size of the unused band (bps unit) is included. In other words, the content list presented by the instruction device does not include content that cannot be received using the unused bandwidth, that is, content that is set to a reception speed smaller than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the instruction device instructs the receiving device to acquire the content selected from the content list. Therefore, the receiving device can reliably receive the content instructed by the instruction device via the network. In addition, reception can be performed at a preset reception speed.
  • a communication system including the transmission device, the reception device, and the instruction device as described above also falls within the scope of the present invention.
  • a communication system includes a transmission device that transmits content, a reception device that receives content transmitted from the transmission device via a network, and a management device that manages the bandwidth of the network.
  • the management device includes providing means for providing the transmission device with bandwidth information for specifying a size of an available bandwidth that can be used for transmission of content transmitted from the transmission device in the network.
  • the transmitting device includes a providing unit that provides the receiving device with a content list including content that can be transmitted at a preset transmission speed using a vacant bandwidth of a size specified by the bandwidth information.
  • the receiving device includes a presentation unit that presents the content list to the user, and a presented controller. The content selected by the user from Ntsurisuto via the network and a receiving means for receiving from said transmitting apparatus is characterized in that.
  • a communication system is a communication system including a receiving device that receives content transmitted from a transmitting device via a network, and a management device that manages a bandwidth of the network, wherein the management device includes: And providing means for providing the receiving device with bandwidth information for specifying the size of an available bandwidth in the network that can be used for transmission of the content transmitted from the transmitting device.
  • the receiving device can receive the information.
  • a receiving means for receiving any of the receivable contents via a network and a free band of a size specified by the band information are set in advance. Delete the attribute information of content that cannot be received at the receiving speed from the above content list It comprises a stage, and it is characterized in that.
  • the communication system includes a receiving device, an instruction device that instructs the receiving device to receive content transmitted from the transmitting device via a network, and a management device that manages the bandwidth of the network.
  • the instructing device receives from the content receiving device any one of the receivable contents based on a content list including content attribute information receivable by the receiving device.
  • the receiving device uses an instruction means for instructing and a free band of a size specified by the band information. Attribute information can not receive content because set reception speed, and a deleting means for deleting from the content list, it is characterized by.
  • the transmission device, the reception device, and the instruction device may be realized by a computer.
  • a program that realizes each of the above devices in the computer by operating the computer as each of the above means, and a computer-readable recording medium that records the program also fall within the scope of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home network system.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a modification of the home network system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
  • 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home gateway.
  • FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention is a block diagram showing a configuration of a media server.
  • FIG. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a content management directory.
  • FIG. 4 is a sequence showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a method of limiting content provided to a media player.
  • FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a content list according to the embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for limiting content acquired from a media server according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a modification of the home network system according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1, showing an embodiment of the present invention, is a block diagram showing a configuration of a media controller.
  • FIG. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating a method for restricting content acquired from a media server by a media controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • 4 is a sequence showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a method of limiting content provided to a media player with reference to time information.
  • 10 is a sequence showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a modified example of a method of limiting content provided to a media player with reference to time information.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the home network system 1.
  • the home network system 1 includes a home network 2, an external network 3, and an IPTV server 100 connected to the external network 3.
  • the home network 2 includes a home gateway 200, and the IPTV server 100 and the home gateway 200 are connected via the external network 3.
  • the home network 2 includes a digital media server 300 (hereinafter referred to as “media server”), a digital media player 400 (hereinafter referred to as “media player”), and an IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • media server a digital media server 300
  • media player a digital media player 400
  • IPTV playback terminal 500 an IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • the home network 2 is a network using an IP network as a network and IP (Internet Protocol) as a communication protocol.
  • Home gateway 200, media server 300, media player 400, and IPTV playback terminal 500 constitute home network 2 by discovering each other using UPnP (Universal Plug & Play).
  • UPnP Universal Plug & Play
  • DMS Digital Media Player
  • DMP Digital Media Player
  • the external network 3 is a next generation network (NGN: Next Generation Network).
  • NTN Next Generation Network
  • the next-generation network is different from the home network 2 in that the bandwidth is guaranteed by using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) as a communication protocol, but is common to the home network 2 in that the IP network is used as a network. Therefore, seamless communication between the device connected to the home network 2 and the device connected to the external network 3 is realized by absorbing the difference in the communication protocol at the home gateway 200.
  • SIP Session Initiation Protocol
  • the physical layer and data link layer of the home network 2 and the external network 3 may be wired or wireless as long as they can support IP (Internet Protocol). It does not matter if they are mixed. For example, if it is wired, an IP packet can be transmitted using an Ethernet (registered trademark) frame. On the other hand, if wireless, IP packets can be transmitted using the IEEE802.11a / b / g protocol.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 is a terminal device for playing back content distributed from the IPTV server 100 connected to the external network 3. It does not matter whether the distribution is a broadcast service or a VoD (Video-on-Demand) service.
  • a television receiver hereinafter referred to as “TV”
  • TV any device capable of playing back content distributed from the IPTV server 100 is used. It may be a simple device.
  • the media server 300 provides content data to the media player 400.
  • content data to be provided to the media player 400 various content data such as still image data such as photographs, moving image data such as movies and television programs, and audio data such as music are stored.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an HD / DVD recorder as the media server 300, it can be replaced with any device that can provide content data, such as a personal computer (PC) or NAS. .
  • the media player 400 reproduces the content data provided from the media server 300.
  • the request for content data to the media server 300 and the acquisition of content data from the media server 300 are both performed via the home network 2.
  • the media player 400 outputs the still image via a display.
  • the acquired content data is audio data
  • the audio is output via a speaker.
  • the acquired content data is moving image data
  • the moving image is output via a display and the sound is output via a speaker.
  • a television is illustrated as the media player 400.
  • any device capable of reproducing content data such as a personal computer, an audio device, a mobile phone, or a printer (which acquires still image data). Printing).
  • the media player 400 may have the functions of the media server 300, or the home gateway 200 may have both the functions of the media server 300 and the media player 400.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a modification of the home network system 1 described above.
  • the home network system 1 'shown in FIG. 2 includes a second home network 2' in addition to the first home network 2 described above. Similar to the first home network 2, the second home network 2 ′ includes a home gateway 200 ′, a digital media server 300 ′, and a digital media player 400 ′.
  • the media player 400 belonging to the first home network 2 receives the content stored in the media server 300 ′ belonging to the second home network 2 ′ via the home gateway 200, the external network 3 and the home gateway 200 ′. Can be acquired and played. Conversely, the media player 400 ′ belonging to the second home network 2 ′ is stored in the media server 300 belonging to the first home network 2 via the home gateway 200 ′, the external network 3, and the home gateway 200. Content data can be acquired and played back. Furthermore, an arbitrary media player (not shown) connected to the external network 3 acquires content from the media server 300 via the home gateway 200 or from the media server 300 ′ via the home gateway 200 ′ and plays it back. can do. Further, communication can be performed for a videophone using SIP between the IPTV playback terminal 500 belonging to the first home network 2 and the IPTV playback terminal 500 ′ belonging to the second home network 2 ′. It is.
  • FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the home gateway 200.
  • the home gateway 200 includes an NGN communication unit 210 that is a communication interface for communicating with a device connected to the external network 3 (next generation network), and a device connected to the home network 2.
  • an HNW communication unit 220 that is a communication interface (for example, an Ethernet interface) for communication with a network, and a bandwidth management unit 230 that manages a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2.
  • a bandwidth management unit 230 that manages a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2.
  • the home gateway 200 has a gateway function that connects the home network 2 and the external network 3 and absorbs a difference in communication protocol between the home network 2 and the external network 3.
  • the NGN communication unit 210 and the HNW communication unit 220 are means for realizing this gateway function.
  • a device connected to the home network 2 can communicate via the home gateway 200 regardless of whether the communication partner device is connected to the home network 2 or to the external network 3.
  • the home gateway 200 has a bandwidth management function for managing a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2.
  • the bandwidth management unit 230 is a means for realizing this bandwidth management function, and includes a used bandwidth size information acquisition unit 231, an unused bandwidth size calculation unit 232, and an unused bandwidth size information provision unit 233. Has been.
  • the home gateway 200 receives used band size information indicating the size of the band used for acquiring the content data.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 performs SIP communication with a device connected to the external network 3
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 provides (transmits) used bandwidth size information indicating the size of the bandwidth used for the communication to the home gateway 200.
  • used bandwidth size information indicating the size of the bandwidth used for acquiring the content data
  • the IPTV terminal 500 ′ (see FIG. 2) is used.
  • use band size information indicating the size of a band used for the communication is provided to the home gateway 200.
  • the used band size information acquisition unit 231 is a means for acquiring (receiving) the used band size information provided from a device connected to the home network 2 via the HNW communication unit 220.
  • the used band size information acquisition unit 231 only uses the used band size information provided from a device (in this case, the IPTV playback terminal 500) that acquires content data from the external network 3 among devices connected to the home network 2. You may comprise so that it may acquire.
  • the unused band size calculation unit 232 is based on the used band size information acquired by the used band size information acquisition unit 231, and the size of the free band that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 (hereinafter, “ This is a means for calculating “unused bandwidth size”. Specifically, the bandwidth size indicated in the used bandwidth size information, that is, the size of the bandwidth used for acquiring the content data from the external network 3 is subtracted from the bandwidth size of the home network 2 to obtain an unused bandwidth. Calculate the bandwidth size.
  • the bandwidth size of the home network 2 can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 and communication between a device connected to the home network 2 and a device connected to the external network 3. This is the size of the entire band and is determined by the configuration of the home network 2. Since the home gateway 200 grasps the configuration of the home network 2 using UPnP, the bandwidth size of the home network 2 can be specified at any time in advance.
  • the unused band size information providing unit 233 provides the unused band size information indicating the unused band size calculated by the unused band size calculating unit 232 to the device connected to the home network 2 via the HNW communication unit 220. It is a means for (transmission).
  • the unused bandwidth size information providing unit 233 is configured to provide unused bandwidth size information only to the media server 300 and the media player 400 that are DLNA devices among the devices connected to the home network 2. May be.
  • Used band size information acquisition processing by the used band size information acquisition unit 231 described above, unused band size calculation processing by the unused band size calculation unit 232, and unused band size information provided by the unused band size information provision unit 233 The providing process is instantaneously executed as a series of processes. Therefore, when the used band size information is transmitted from any device connected to the home network 2, the unused band size information is immediately notified to each device connected to the home network 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the media server 300.
  • the media server 300 includes a content data providing unit 310, a tuner 311, a content storage unit 312, a content list providing unit 320, a CDS information storage unit 321, a search processing unit 322, and unused bandwidth size information acquisition.
  • the content data providing unit 310 is a means for providing content data to the media player 400.
  • the tuner 311 is a means for receiving content data such as terrestrial broadcast data and satellite broadcast data.
  • the content storage unit 312 is means for storing content data such as still image data, moving image data, and audio data.
  • Media server 300 may include a plurality of tuners 311 so that a plurality of broadcast data can be received simultaneously.
  • Content data that can be provided by the content data providing unit 310 is content data of live content received by the tuner 311 and content data of stored content stored by the content storage unit 312.
  • the content data providing unit 310 reads content data corresponding to the content request from the tuner 311 or the content storage unit 312 and provides it to the media player 400.
  • the content list providing unit 320, the CDS information storage unit 321, and the search processing unit 322 are means for realizing a content directory service (CDS) function.
  • the content directory service is a function of providing the media player 400 with a content list that is a list of attribute information of content that can be provided. Using this content list, the media player 400 can browse or search live content received by the media server 300 and stored content stored in the media server 300.
  • the content server 300 uses the CDS information stored in the CDS information storage unit 321.
  • the CDS information includes attribute information corresponding to each of the contents that can be provided to the media player 400 and hierarchical information that defines a hierarchical structure between the contents.
  • the CDS information will be described in more detail later with reference to a different drawing.
  • the content list providing unit 320 is a means for providing a content list to the media player 400.
  • the content list providing unit 320 corresponds to two types of content list requests, that is, a browse request and a search request.
  • the browse request specifies a directory and requests a list of contents belonging to the directory.
  • the content list providing unit 320 selectively reads the content belonging to the designated directory and the attribute information of the directory from the CDS information, and provides the media player 400 with a content list that is a list of the read attribute information. To do.
  • the search request specifies a search condition and requests a list of content data that matches the search condition.
  • the content list providing unit 320 passes the designated search condition to the search processing unit 322.
  • the search processing unit 322 specifies content that matches the specified search condition with reference to the CDS information, selectively reads the attribute information of the specified content from the CDS information, and provides it to the content list providing unit 320.
  • the content list providing unit 320 provides the media player 400 with a content list that is a list of attribute information provided from the search processing unit 322.
  • the unused bandwidth size information acquisition unit 330 and the CDS information update unit 331 are means for limiting the content provided to the media player 400 based on the unused bandwidth size information provided from the home gateway 200.
  • the unused bandwidth size information acquisition unit 330 is a means for acquiring unused bandwidth size information from the home gateway 200.
  • the unused bandwidth size information indicates an unused bandwidth size, that is, a size of an available bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2. Specifically, the size of a free band that can be used by the media player 400 to acquire content from the media server 300 is shown.
  • the CDS information update unit 331 is a means for updating the CDS information stored in the CDS information storage unit 321 based on the unused band size information acquired by the unused band size information acquisition unit 330. Specifically, the attribute information corresponding to the content whose requested transmission rate (in bps) exceeds the unused band size is deleted from the CDS information. As will be described later, the transmission rate required for each content is stored in the CDS information as one piece of attribute information. Therefore, the CDS information update unit 331 can perform the above update by referring to the CDS information before update and the unused bandwidth size information.
  • the content list provided by the content list providing unit 320 does not include the attribute information of the content whose requested transmission speed exceeds the unused band size.
  • a content list including attribute information of content that can be transmitted at a required transmission rate is provided.
  • FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a hierarchical structure of content represented by hierarchical information included in the CDS information (hereinafter referred to as “content management directory”).
  • FIG. 5 also shows attribute information corresponding to each content included in the CDS information.
  • directories such as “VIDEO /”, “TV tuner /”, “Public /”, “RECORD /”, “PHOTO /”, and “MUSIC /” are arranged under the root directory. Is done. Under these directories, contents or directories are arranged. For example, moving image contents A and B and a “favorite /” directory are arranged under the “VIDEO /” directory. The same applies to other directories in the second hierarchy and directories in the third hierarchy and below.
  • the CDS information stores each directory constituting the content management directory and attribute information corresponding to each content.
  • the attribute information corresponding to the “VIDEO /” directory includes the title of the directory, the date when the directory was created, the ID of the directory, and the number of contents under the directory.
  • the attribute information corresponding to the video content A includes the title of the content, the date when the content was created, the ID of the content, the type of the content, the playback time of the content, the URL (UniformUniResource Locator of the content ), And the transmission speed required for the content.
  • the transmission speed required for each content is shown on the right side of each content.
  • the moving image content A requires 4.2 Mbps for transmission.
  • the moving image content B requires 12 Mbps for transmission.
  • content shown in gray is content that requires 10 Mbps or more for transmission. For example, when the unused bandwidth size is 10 Mbps, the attribute information of these contents is deleted from the CDS information.
  • the attribute information corresponding to each content is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 5, and may include other information defined according to the content class (music, video, photo, live streaming, etc.). .
  • Other information that can be included in the attribute information includes data size, resource information, artist name, copyright information, channel information, and the like.
  • FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the home network system 1.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 requests the IPTV server 100 to distribute the IPTV content in order to start playback of the IPTV content (S101).
  • the IPTV server 100 notifies the IPTV playback terminal 500 of the size of the band required for the distribution of the IPTV content before starting the distribution of the IPTV content (S102).
  • IPTV playback terminal 500 connected to the home network 2 and the IPTV server 100 connected to the external network 3 is actually performed via the home gateway 200.
  • SIP can be used for communication between the PTV playback terminal 500 and the IPTV server 100.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 provides used bandwidth size information indicating the size of the bandwidth used for acquiring the IPTV content to the home gateway 200 before starting the acquisition of the IPTV content (S103).
  • used bandwidth size information indicating the size of the bandwidth used for acquiring the IPTV content to the home gateway 200 before starting the acquisition of the IPTV content (S103).
  • UPnP can be used to provide the used band size information.
  • the home gateway 200 calculates an unused bandwidth size that is a size of a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 based on the used bandwidth size information acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S104). .
  • the method by which the home gateway 200 calculates the unused bandwidth size is as described above.
  • the home gateway 200 provides the unused bandwidth size information indicating the calculated unused bandwidth size to the media server 300 (S105).
  • the provision of the unused bandwidth size information may be performed by broadcast using UPnP, for example.
  • the media server 300 excludes, from the CDS information, content whose bandwidth size required for provision exceeds the unused bandwidth size based on the unused bandwidth size information acquired from the home gateway 200 (S106). Thereby, the content provided to the media player 400 can be limited to the content that can be provided simultaneously with the IPTV distribution S112.
  • this content list includes only content whose band size required for provision is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the media player 400 selects content from the content list (S110), and requests the content data of the selected content from the media server 300 (S111). At this time, since the content list includes only content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size, content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size is sent to the media server 300. There is no request.
  • the user of the media player 400 cannot browse or search for content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size. Therefore, Media Play 400 cannot reproduce such content. That is, content that can be played back by the media player 400 while the IPTV playback terminal 500 plays back IPTV is limited to content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the content provision S113 from the media server 300 to the media player 400 is inhibited by the IPTV distribution S112 from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500, or conversely, the IPTV distribution from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • S112 is not hindered by the content provision S113 from the media server 300 to the media player 400.
  • the ITPV playback terminal 500 provides the used gateway size information indicating that the used bandwidth size is 0 Mbps to the home gateway 200 (S114).
  • the home gateway 200 recalculates the unused bandwidth size based on the used bandwidth size information newly acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S115). Then, the unused bandwidth size information indicating the newly calculated unused bandwidth size is provided to the media server 300 (S116).
  • the media server 300 re-updates the CDS information based on the unused bandwidth size information newly acquired from the home gateway 200 (S117). That is, the content excluded from the CDS information in step S106 is added to the CDS information.
  • the media server 300 provides the media player 400 with the content list generated based on the CDS information updated in step S117.
  • This content list may also include content excluded in step S106. Therefore, the media player 400 can subsequently select the content that could not be selected in step S110.
  • the home gateway 200 has the function of acquiring the used bandwidth size information, calculating the unused bandwidth size, and providing the unused bandwidth size information.
  • Other devices such as the playback terminal 500 and the media server 300 may be used.
  • the media server 300 acquires the used bandwidth size information, calculates the unused bandwidth size, and based on the calculated unused bandwidth size, the size of the bandwidth required for provision Content exceeding the unused bandwidth size is excluded from the CDS information.
  • the home network 2 may include two or more media servers.
  • each media server may provide used bandwidth size information to the home gateway 200, and the home gateway 200 may broadcast usable bandwidth size information to each media server.
  • Media player The method for restricting the content provided to the media player 400 on the media server 300 side has been described above. However, the content acquired from the media server 300 may be restricted on the media player 400 side. Therefore, hereinafter, a media player 400 having a function of limiting content acquired from the media server 300 based on unused bandwidth size information will be described. In the following, it is assumed that the media server 300 does not limit the content to be provided. That is, the media server 300 combined with the media player 400 described below may be a general media server compliant with DLNA.
  • FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the media player 400.
  • the media player 400 includes a content list acquisition unit 410, a content list processing unit 411, an unused band size information acquisition unit 412, a content list display unit 413, a content data acquisition unit 420, a content reproduction unit 421, an operation unit 430, a speaker 431,
  • a display 432 is provided.
  • FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the media player 400 including the speaker 431 and the display 432, but these configurations are not necessarily included in the media player 400.
  • the content list acquisition unit 410 is a means for acquiring a content list from the media server 300. Specifically, a content list request corresponding to a user operation is transmitted to the media server 300, and a content list provided from the media server 300 is received as a response to the content list request. The content list received by the content list acquisition unit 410 is provided with a content list processing unit 411.
  • the content list request generated by the content list acquisition unit 410 includes a browse request and a search request.
  • the browse request is for requesting a list of content attribute information belonging to the specified directory of the specified media server
  • the search request is for requesting a list of content attribute information that matches the specified search condition. .
  • the operation unit 430 By operating the operation unit 430, the user can select a directory to browse or specify a search condition for searching.
  • the operation unit 430 may be a button or the like provided on the media player 400, or a remote control that remotely operates the media player 400.
  • the media server specified in the browse request contains attribute information of content belonging to the directory specified in the browse request.
  • the list is returned to the media player 400.
  • each media server connected to the home network 2 returns a list of content attribute information that matches the search conditions specified in the search request to the media player 400.
  • the content list processing unit 411 excludes, from the content list, attribute information of content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size (band size usable for communication between devices connected to the home network 2). It is a means to do.
  • the attribute information of each content listed in the content list includes information indicating the size of the band required to acquire the content. By referring to this information, the content list processing unit 411 can specify the size of the band required to acquire the content. Further, the content list processing unit 411 can identify the unused band size by referring to the unused band size information acquired by the unused band size information acquiring unit 412.
  • the content list processed by the content list processing unit 411 is displayed on the display 432 by the content list display unit 413.
  • the content data acquisition unit 420 is a means for acquiring the content data of the content selected from the content list. Specifically, (1) a reproduction target content is selected from the content list processed by the content list processing unit 411, and (2) a content request for requesting content data of the selected reproduction target content is transmitted to the media server 300. (3) The content data provided from the media server 300 is acquired as a response to the content request. Note that the content to be played back is selected based on a user operation performed on the operation unit 430. The content data acquisition unit 420 provides the acquired content data to the content reproduction unit 421.
  • the content playback unit 421 is a means for decoding the acquired content data and outputting the content to at least one of the speaker 431 and the display 432. Specifically, when the acquired content data is still image data, the still image is output to the display 432, and when the acquired content data is audio data, the audio is output to the speaker 431. When the acquired content data is moving image data, the moving image is output to the display 432 and the sound is output to the speaker 431.
  • FIG. 8A shows a content list displayed on the display 432 when the “VIDEO /” directory of the media server 300 is designated and browsed
  • FIG. 8B designates the “favorite /” directory.
  • the content list displayed on the display 432 when browsing is shown.
  • the attribute information of the title, type, and date of the contents belonging to the designated directory is displayed in a list.
  • the attribute information of the moving image content B is not listed in the content list.
  • the attribute information of the moving image content C2 is not listed in the content list.
  • the attribute information is not displayed at all for the content whose bandwidth required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size.
  • the attribute information may be displayed so as to be identifiable by a method such as grayout.
  • FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the home network system 1.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 requests the IPTV server 100 to distribute the IPTV content in order to start playback of the IPTV content (S201).
  • the IPTV server 100 notifies the IPTV playback terminal 500 of the size of the band required for the distribution of the IPTV content before starting the distribution of the IPTV content (S202).
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 provides the used gateway size information indicating the size of the bandwidth used for acquiring the IPTV content to the home gateway 200 before starting the acquisition of the IPTV content (S203).
  • the flow of processing so far is the same as that shown in FIG.
  • the home gateway 200 calculates an unused bandwidth size that is a size of a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 based on the used bandwidth size information acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500. (S204). Then, the home gateway 200 provides the media player 400 with unused bandwidth size information indicating the calculated unused bandwidth size (S205). The provision of the unused bandwidth size information may be performed by broadcast using UPnP, for example. The media player 400 holds the unused bandwidth size information acquired in step S205 until the next unused bandwidth size information is acquired.
  • step S206 when the media player 400 requests a content list from the media server 300 (S206), the media server 300 generates a content list corresponding to the request (S207), and provides the generated content list to the media player 400. (S207).
  • step S206 in which the media server 300 generates a content list, it is not necessary to exclude content whose bandwidth size required for provision exceeds the unused bandwidth size.
  • the media player 400 excludes content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size from the content list acquired in step S206 (S209).
  • the method of excluding content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size by referring to the unused bandwidth size information acquired in step S204 is as described above.
  • the media player 400 selects content from the content list (S210), and requests the content data of the selected content from the media server 300 (S211). At this time, since the content list includes only content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size, content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size is sent to the media server 300. There is no request.
  • the user of the media player 400 cannot browse or search for content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size. Therefore, the media player 400 cannot reproduce such content. That is, content that can be played back by the media player 400 while the IPTV playback terminal 500 plays back IPTV is limited to content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the content provision S212 from the media server 300 to the media player 400 is inhibited by the IPTV distribution S213 from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500, or conversely, the IPTV distribution from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • S213 is not hindered by the content provision S212 from the media server 300 to the media player 400.
  • the ITPV playback terminal 500 When the IPTV content distribution S213 is completed, the ITPV playback terminal 500 provides used bandwidth size information indicating that the used bandwidth size is 0 Mbps to the home gateway 200 (S214). The home gateway 200 recalculates the unused bandwidth size based on the used bandwidth size information newly acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S215). Then, the unused band size information indicating the newly calculated unused band size is provided to the media player 400 (S216).
  • the media player 400 acquires the content list from the media server 300, by referring to the unused bandwidth size information newly acquired in step S216, the media player 400 selects content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size. Perform exclusion process. Therefore, the content excluded in step S209 can be selected without being excluded from the content list.
  • the above-described media player 400 has both a content selection function and a content reproduction function, and can be separated into a media controller having only the content selection function and a media renderer having only the content reproduction function. is there. Therefore, application of the present invention to a home network system including a media controller 600 and a media renderer 700 instead of the media player 400 will be described below.
  • FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the home network system 1 ′′.
  • the home network 1 ′′ includes a media controller 600 and a media renderer 700 in place of the media player 400.
  • FIG. This is different from the home network system 1 shown in FIG. Other points are the same as those of the home network 1 shown in FIG.
  • the media server 300 does not limit the content to be provided. That is, the media server 300 may be a general media server compliant with DLNA.
  • the media controller 600 has a content selection function for selecting content to be reproduced. Specifically, the content list is acquired from the media server 300, the content to be reproduced is selected from the acquired content list, and the media renderer 700 is instructed to reproduce the selected content. On the other hand, the media renderer 700 acquires content data from the media server 300 according to an instruction from the media controller 600, and reproduces the acquired content data. If a plurality of media renderers exist in the home network 2 ′′, a renderer selection function may be further added to the media controller.
  • a personal computer is illustrated as the media controller 600.
  • any device for example, a portable terminal
  • a television is illustrated as the media renderer 700.
  • any device for example, a personal computer, which can be connected to the home network 2 and has the content playback function as described above
  • It can also be replaced with audio equipment, mobile phone terminals).
  • FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the media controller 600.
  • the media controller 600 includes a content list acquisition unit 610, a content list processing unit 611, an unused band size information acquisition unit 612, a content list display unit 613, a content reproduction instruction unit 620, an operation unit 630, and a display 631.
  • FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the media controller 600 with the display 631 built in, but the display 631 does not necessarily have to be built into the media controller 600.
  • the content list acquisition unit 610 is a means for acquiring a content list from the media server 300. Specifically, a content list request corresponding to a user operation is transmitted to the media server 300, and a content list provided from the media server 300 is received as a response to the content list request. The content list received by the content list acquisition unit 610 is provided with a content list processing unit 611.
  • the content list request generated by the content list acquisition unit 610 includes a browse request and a search request.
  • the browse request is for requesting a list of content attribute information belonging to the specified directory of the specified media server
  • the search request is for requesting a list of content attribute information that matches the specified search condition. .
  • the operation unit 630 By operating the operation unit 630, the user can select a directory to browse or specify a search condition for searching.
  • the operation unit 630 may be a button or the like provided in the media controller 600, or a remote control that remotely operates the media controller 600.
  • the media server specified in the browse request contains attribute information of content belonging to the directory specified in the browse request. Return the list to the media controller.
  • each media server connected to the home network 2 returns a list of content attribute information that matches the search condition specified in the search request to the media controller 600.
  • the content list processing unit 611 excludes, from the content list, attribute information of content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds an unused bandwidth size (a bandwidth size that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2). It is a means to do.
  • the attribute information of each content listed in the content list includes information indicating the size of the band required to acquire the content. By referring to this information, the content list processing unit 611 can specify the size of the band required to acquire the content.
  • the content list processing unit 611 can identify the unused bandwidth size by referring to the unused bandwidth size information acquired by the unused bandwidth size information acquisition unit 612.
  • the content list processed by the content list processing unit 611 is displayed on the display 631 by the content list display unit 613.
  • the content reproduction instruction unit 620 is a means for instructing reproduction of the content data of the content selected from the content list. Specifically, (1) a reproduction target content is selected from the content list processed by the content list processing unit 411, and (2) a reproduction instruction including the URL of the selected reproduction target content is transmitted to the media renderer 700. Note that the content to be played back is selected based on a user operation performed on the operation unit 630.
  • the media renderer 700 accesses the URL included in the playback instruction acquired from the media controller 600 to acquire the content data of the content selected by the media controller 600 from the media server 300 and play it back. Thereby, the media renderer 700 can reproduce desired content.
  • FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the home network system 1.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 requests the IPTV server 100 to distribute the IPTV content in order to start playback of the IPTV content (S301).
  • the IPTV server 100 notifies the IPTV playback terminal 500 of the size of the bandwidth required for the distribution of the IPTV content before starting the distribution of the IPTV content (S302).
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 provides the used gateway size information indicating the size of the band used for acquiring the IPTV content to the home gateway 200 before starting the acquisition of the IPTV content (S303).
  • the flow of processing up to this point is the same as that shown in FIG.
  • the home gateway 200 calculates an unused bandwidth size that is a size of a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 based on the used bandwidth size information acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500. (S304). Then, the home gateway 200 provides the unused bandwidth size information indicating the calculated unused bandwidth size to the media controller 600 (S305).
  • the provision of the unused bandwidth size information may be performed by broadcast using UPnP, for example.
  • the media controller 600 holds the unused bandwidth size information acquired in step S305 until the next unused bandwidth size information is acquired.
  • step S306 when the media controller 600 requests a content list from the media server 300 (S306), the media server 300 generates a content list corresponding to the request (S307), and provides the generated content list to the media controller 600. (S307). Note that in step S306 in which the content list is generated in the media server 300, it is not necessary to exclude content whose bandwidth size required for provision exceeds the unused bandwidth size.
  • the media controller 600 excludes content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size from the content list acquired in step S306 (S309).
  • the method for excluding contents whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size by referring to the unused bandwidth size information acquired in step S304 is as described above.
  • the media controller 600 selects content from the content list (S310), and instructs the media renderer 700 to reproduce the selected content (S311).
  • the content list includes only content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size
  • an instruction to reproduce content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size is given.
  • the media renderer 700 acquires content data corresponding to the instruction given from the media controller 600 from the media server 300 (S312).
  • the user of the media controller 600 cannot browse or search for content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size. Therefore, the media renderer 700 cannot reproduce such content. That is, content that can be played back by the media renderer 700 while the IPTV playback terminal 500 plays back IPTV is limited to content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the content provision S312 from the media server 300 to the media renderer 700 is hindered by the IPTV distribution S313 from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500, or conversely, the IPTV distribution from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • S313 is not hindered by the content provision S312 from the media server 300 to the media renderer 700.
  • the ITPV playback terminal 500 provides the used gateway size information indicating that the used bandwidth size is 0 Mbps to the home gateway 200 (S314).
  • the home gateway 200 recalculates the unused band size based on the used band size information newly acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S315). Then, the unused bandwidth size information indicating the newly calculated unused bandwidth size is provided to the media controller 600 (S316).
  • the media controller 600 acquires the content list from the media server 300, by referring to the unused bandwidth size information newly acquired in step S316, the media controller 600 detects content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size. Perform exclusion process. Therefore, the content excluded in step S309 can be selected without being excluded from the content list.
  • FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a processing flow of the home network system and the home network system 1.
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 requests the IPTV server 100 to distribute IPTV content from time T (S401).
  • the IPTV server 100 notifies the IPTV playback terminal 500 of the bandwidth size required for distribution of the requested IPTV content (S402).
  • the IPTV playback terminal 500 immediately notifies the home gateway 200 of the used band size information indicating the size of the band used for acquiring the IPTV content together with the acquisition start time information indicating the time T at which the acquisition of the IPTV content is started ( S403).
  • the home gateway 200 calculates an unused bandwidth size that is a size of a bandwidth that can be used for communication between devices connected to the home network 2 based on the used bandwidth size information acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S404). .
  • the method by which the home gateway 200 calculates the unused bandwidth size is as described above.
  • the home gateway 200 immediately provides the unused bandwidth size information indicating the calculated unused bandwidth size to the media server 300 together with the acquisition start time information (S405).
  • the provision of the unused band size information and the acquisition start time information may be performed by broadcast using UPnP, for example.
  • the media server 300 stores the unused bandwidth size information acquired from the home gateway 200 in a storage unit such as a memory, and sets a timer according to the time T indicated by the acquisition disclosure time information (S406a). Then, after waiting for the timer to tell the start time T of the IPTV distribution S408, the media server 300 excludes from the CDS information content whose bandwidth size required for provision exceeds the unused bandwidth size (S407a). Thereby, the content provided to the media player 400 can be limited to the content that can be provided simultaneously with the IPTV distribution S408.
  • this content list includes only content whose band size (transmission speed) required for provision is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the media player 400 selects a content from the content list (S412), and requests content data of the selected content from the media server 300 (S413).
  • the content list includes only content whose bandwidth required for acquisition is equal to or less than the unused bandwidth size, content whose bandwidth size required for acquisition exceeds the unused bandwidth size is sent to the media server 300. There is no request.
  • content provision S414 from the media server 300 to the media player 400 is hindered by IPTV distribution S408 from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500, or conversely, IPTV distribution from the IPTV server 100 to the IPTV playback terminal 500.
  • S408 is not hindered by the content provision S414 from the media server 300 to the media player 400.
  • the media player 400 also stores the unused bandwidth size information provided from the home gateway 200, and the content list processing executed after the time T indicated by the acquisition disclosure time information acquired from the home gateway 200 9, by deleting the content with reference to the stored unknown band size information, the processing flow shown in FIG. 9 can be changed similarly to FIG. 13.
  • the media controller 600 also stores unused bandwidth size information provided from the home gateway 200, and a content list that is executed after the time T indicated by the acquisition disclosure time information acquired from the home gateway 200.
  • the processing flow shown in FIG. 12 can be changed similarly to FIG. 13 by deleting the content with reference to the stored unknown bandwidth size information.
  • the configuration in which the update of the CDS information in the media server 300 is delayed until the time T when the distribution of the IPTV content is started has been described.
  • the provision of the unused bandwidth size information to the media server is It is also possible to adopt a configuration that delays until time T when distribution is started.
  • the home gateway 200 includes a timer.
  • the home gateway 200 after calculating the unused bandwidth size, sets a timer according to the time T indicated by the acquired disclosure time information acquired from the IPTV playback terminal 500 (S405b). ). Then, after this timer tells the start time T of the IPTV distribution S408, the home gateway 200 provides the unused bandwidth size information to the media server 300 (S406b). Then, the media server 300 immediately updates the CDS information based on the acquired unused bandwidth size information, so that the same effect as the configuration shown in FIG. 13 can be obtained.
  • IPTV distribution content distribution from the IPTV server 100
  • DLNA distribution content distribution from the media server 300
  • the IPTV distribution may be restricted with priority.
  • selection of IPTV content in the IPTV playback terminal 500 may be appropriately limited.
  • it may be configured such that both the distribution restriction giving priority to IPTV distribution and the distribution restriction giving priority to DLNA distribution can be made, and these distribution restrictions can be switched as appropriate.
  • the media server 300 provides a content list in response to a browse request from the media player 400 (or the media controller 600). As long as this content list is described in conformity with DLNA (UPnP), all DLNA-compatible devices can correctly interpret this.
  • DLNA UPN
  • the content restriction is realized by excluding the content whose distribution is to be restricted from the content list, but conversely, the information specifying the content whose distribution is restricted is clearly indicated.
  • Distribution restrictions may be realized by adding to the content list.
  • the content list provided by the media server 300 is a list of attribute information of contents that can be distributed, for example, original information (non-reproducible) indicating that distribution is impossible for the attribute information of the contents to be distributed. Distribution restriction can be realized by adding non-reproducible notification metadata.
  • Other examples of the original information include time information (band limit start time, end time), content limit band information (band is limited to xx Mbps or less), difference information from the previous acquisition (new band limit) Content that can no longer be played, content that has been released, etc.).
  • a DLNA device that does not correspond to the original information simply ignores the original information and does not hinder the compatibility of the content list. That is, such content list change can be performed within the framework of DLNA (UPnP).
  • the media server 300 among the attribute information registered in the CDS information, it cannot be distributed by the attribute information update unit 332 with respect to the attribute information of the content whose distribution is to be restricted.
  • the original information shown is added. Then, the media player 400 browsing the media server 300 is provided with a content list including this original information.
  • the original information included in the content list is analyzed by the content list display unit 411, and the original information is added when the content list is displayed on the display 431.
  • Content that is, content whose distribution is restricted, is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other content.
  • the original information included in the content list is analyzed by the content list display unit 611, and when the content list is displayed, the content to which the original information is added is displayed. Display distinguishably from other content.
  • the content to which the original information is added may not only be displayed in an identifiable manner, but may not be actually selected or may not be played back.
  • the content data provided from the media server 300 is limited to content data whose bandwidth size required for provision is smaller than the unused bandwidth size.
  • the content data stored in the media server 300 may be transcoded so as to be smaller than the use band size.
  • step S106 the CDS information updating unit 331 deletes the attribute information of the content whose bandwidth required for provision exceeds the unused bandwidth size from the CDS information.
  • the transcode processing unit 332 transcodes the content data stored in the content storage unit 312 so that the band size required for provision becomes smaller than the unused band.
  • the CDS information update unit 331 adds attribute information corresponding to the content data created by the transcoding process to the CDS information.
  • step S117 the transcode processing unit 332 deletes the content data created by the transcode processing in step S106 from the content storage unit 312.
  • the CDS information update unit 331 deletes the attribute information corresponding to the content data created by the transcoding process in step S106 from the CDS information.
  • the user can identify the transcoded content from other content by adding original information to attribute information corresponding to the transcoded content data. You may be able to.
  • the content list provided by the transmission device according to the present invention includes content attribute information that can be transmitted at a preset transmission speed using a vacant bandwidth of the size indicated by the acquired bandwidth information. It is a list.
  • the content list presented by the receiving device and the instruction device according to the present invention is based on attribute information of content that can be received at a preset reception speed using a free bandwidth of the size indicated by the acquired bandwidth information. Is a content list Therefore, as long as content is selected using these content lists, the selected content can be reliably transmitted and received.
  • the present invention can also be expressed as follows.
  • a bandwidth information management device for managing bandwidth information in a home network, which grasps bandwidth information acquisition means for acquiring bandwidth information used in the home network, and the acquired bandwidth information to be used.
  • Bandwidth information control means for calculating free bandwidth information from the overall bandwidth information in the home network, and bandwidth information notification means for notifying the free bandwidth information to a device in the home network.
  • Information management device for managing bandwidth information in a home network, which grasps bandwidth information acquisition means for acquiring bandwidth information used in the home network, and the acquired bandwidth information to be used.
  • Bandwidth information control means for calculating free bandwidth information from the overall bandwidth information in the home network, and bandwidth information notification means for notifying the free bandwidth information to a device in the home network.
  • the band information acquisition unit acquires time information used together with band information to be used, and the band information control unit holds the acquired time information together with the calculated free band information, 2.
  • the bandwidth information management device according to 1, wherein the information notification means notifies the time information together with free bandwidth information.
  • the band information acquisition unit acquires time information used together with the band information to be used, and the band information control unit holds the acquired time information together with the calculated free band information.
  • the bandwidth information management device according to 1, wherein the bandwidth information is controlled based on the information.
  • bandwidth information management device 4.
  • the bandwidth information control means retains priority in combination with the bandwidth information and controls free bandwidth information based on the priority.
  • a server device that provides content to a plurality of devices connected to a network, based on the received content restriction information, communication means for receiving content restriction information related to metadata of content to be restricted,
  • a server device comprising: content restriction management means for checking metadata of content provided in the server and restricting the provided content.
  • the communication unit receives the band information notified from the band information management device according to 1, and the content restriction management unit provides the content provided in the server based on the received band information. 6.
  • the server device according to 5 wherein the content to be checked is restricted and the provided content is restricted.
  • the communication unit receives the band information and time information notified from the band information management device according to 2, and the content management unit provides in the server based on the received time information.
  • the server device according to 6 or 7.
  • the server device further comprising: a transcoding processing unit that transcodes content for which content restriction is performed based on the received bandwidth information.
  • a player device that reproduces content stored in a plurality of servers connected to a network, the communication device receiving content restriction information related to metadata of content to be restricted, and the received content restriction information And a content restriction management means for checking content metadata acquired from the server and restricting the content to be played back.
  • the communication unit receives the band information notified from the band information management device according to 1, and the content restriction management unit stores the metadata of the content acquired from the server based on the received band information.
  • the player device according to 10 wherein the content to be played back is restricted and the content to be reproduced is restricted.
  • the communication unit receives the band information and time information notified from the band information management device according to 2, and the content management unit provides in the server based on the received time information.
  • the player device according to 11 which checks content metadata and restricts content to be played back.
  • the player device characterized by comprising:
  • a controller device that acquires content information stored in a plurality of servers connected to a network, and instructs a renderer connected to the network to reproduce the content of the server, the content relating to metadata of the content to be restricted Communication means for receiving restriction information, and content restriction management means for checking content metadata acquired from a server based on the received content restriction information and restricting content instructing playback.
  • a controller device acquires content information stored in a plurality of servers connected to a network, and instructs a renderer connected to the network to reproduce the content of the server, the content relating to metadata of the content to be restricted Communication means for receiving restriction information, and content restriction management means for checking content metadata acquired from a server based on the received content restriction information and restricting content instructing playback.
  • the communication unit receives the band information notified from the band information management device according to 1, and the content management unit receives content metadata acquired from a server based on the received band information.
  • the communication unit receives the band information and time information notified from the band information management device according to 2, and the content management unit provides in the server based on the received time information. 16.
  • the controller device characterized by comprising:
  • each block of the home gateway 200, the media server 300, the media player 400, and the media controller 600 may be configured by hardware logic, or may be realized by software using a CPU as follows.
  • each of the devices includes a CPU (central processing unit) that executes instructions of a control program that realizes each function, a ROM (read only memory) that stores the program, a RAM (random access memory) that expands the program,
  • a storage device (recording medium) such as a memory for storing the program and various data is provided.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a program code (execution format program, intermediate code program, source program) of a control program for each device, which is software that realizes the above-described functions, is recorded in a computer-readable manner. This can also be achieved by supplying to each of the above devices and reading and executing the program code recorded on the recording medium by the computer (or CPU or MPU).
  • Examples of the recording medium include tapes such as magnetic tapes and cassette tapes, magnetic disks such as floppy (registered trademark) disks / hard disks, and disks including optical disks such as CD-ROM / MO / MD / DVD / CD-R.
  • Card system such as IC card, IC card (including memory card) / optical card, or semiconductor memory system such as mask ROM / EPROM / EEPROM / flash ROM.
  • each of the devices 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.
  • 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.
  • the transmission medium constituting the communication network is not particularly limited.
  • wired such as IEEE 1394, USB, power line carrier, cable TV line, telephone line, ADSL line, etc.
  • infrared rays such as IrDA and remote control, Bluetooth (Registered trademark), 802.11 wireless, HDR, mobile phone network, satellite line, terrestrial digital network, and the like can also be used.
  • the present invention can also be realized in the form of a computer data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program code is embodied by electronic transmission.
  • the present invention can be widely used for devices that transmit and receive content via a network, but is particularly preferably used for DLNA devices, particularly DLNA devices connected to a home network connected to a next generation network. be able to.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Databases & Information Systems (AREA)
  • Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
  • Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

Abstract

Selon l'invention, un terminal de reproduction IPTV (500) indique la dimension d'une bande utilisée pour acquérir des contenus IPTV à une passerelle domestique (200). La passerelle domestique (200) calcule la dimension d'une bande disponible pour fournir les contenus provenant d'un serveur multimédia (300) à un lecteur multimédia (400) et indique la dimension calculée au serveur multimédia. Le serveur multimédia (300) fournit une liste des contenus, dont sont exclus des contenus qui ne peuvent pas être fournis, au lecteur multimédia (400) par utilisation d'une bande non utilisée. Avec cela, les contenus fournis du serveur multimédia (300) au lecteur multimédia (400) sont limités durant la distribution des contenus IPTV à partir d'un serveur IPTV (100).
PCT/JP2009/051085 2008-01-24 2009-01-23 Émetteur, récepteur, indicateur, système de communication, procédé d'émission, procédé de réception, procédé d'indication, programme et support d'enregistrement Ceased WO2009093694A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008-014201 2008-01-24
JP2008014201A JP2009177528A (ja) 2008-01-24 2008-01-24 送信装置、受信装置、指示装置、通信システム、送信方法、受信方法、指示方法、プログラム、及び、記録媒体

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WO2009093694A1 true WO2009093694A1 (fr) 2009-07-30

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WO (1) WO2009093694A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5133101B2 (ja) * 2008-03-19 2013-01-30 Ｎｅｃパーソナルコンピュータ株式会社 受信端末、及び、プログラム
JP4768894B2 (ja) * 2009-09-07 2011-09-07 エルシード株式会社 半導体発光素子
JP5600933B2 (ja) * 2009-12-22 2014-10-08 ソニー株式会社 情報処理装置、情報処理方法、プログラム、及び、情報処理システム
JP5023195B2 (ja) * 2010-06-30 2012-09-12 株式会社バッファロー 中継装置、パケット中継方法及びそのプログラム
JP5640807B2 (ja) * 2011-02-23 2014-12-17 富士通株式会社 コンテンツ提供システム
JP5178947B2 (ja) * 2011-05-31 2013-04-10 株式会社東芝 サーバ、データ配信システム及び情報配信方法
US9160779B2 (en) 2011-06-30 2015-10-13 Qualcomm Incorporated Dynamic adaptive streaming proxy for unicast or broadcast/multicast services

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JP2005318415A (ja) * 2004-04-30 2005-11-10 Canon Inc 映像配信装置および方法
JP2007074356A (ja) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-22 Hitachi Ltd ホームネットワークシステム
WO2007145225A1 (fr) * 2006-06-12 2007-12-21 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif passerelle, terminal mobile, dispositif de reproduction de contenu et système de distribution de contenu

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005318415A (ja) * 2004-04-30 2005-11-10 Canon Inc 映像配信装置および方法
JP2007074356A (ja) * 2005-09-07 2007-03-22 Hitachi Ltd ホームネットワークシステム
WO2007145225A1 (fr) * 2006-06-12 2007-12-21 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Dispositif passerelle, terminal mobile, dispositif de reproduction de contenu et système de distribution de contenu

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