JP4124399B2 - Content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution system, and in particular, to distribution of content to be displayed on a content display terminal device installed at each site from a content distribution center to each content display terminal device and automation of installation processing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In each multimedia science museum in Japan, materials belonging to each field such as nature, health, disasters, etc. are displayed and related content is displayed on a content display terminal device (hereinafter referred to as “exhibition terminal”). It is exhibited at. The exhibition terminal is configured such that a joystick or a large projector is connected to a general-purpose personal computer, and various contents such as video such as MPEG and three-dimensional CG can be displayed in various forms according to a preset display schedule. . In order to display content on the exhibition terminal, it is necessary to install in advance a content suitable for the type of each exhibition terminal.
[0003]
Hereinafter, a conventional processing flow until content is installed in each exhibition terminal will be described.
[0004]
Content displayed on each exhibition terminal is managed by a content distribution center. In the content distribution center, when new content is produced, the content and its installer are recorded on a CD-ROM and delivered to each multimedia science museum. Each multimedia science museum installs the delivered CD-ROM on each exhibition terminal that displays content. Alternatively, the installation is executed from the content server for the exhibition terminal connected to the content server installed in the multimedia science hall. When the content is installed in this manner, each content is displayed according to a display schedule set in advance in each exhibition terminal.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, conventionally, it is necessary for contents to be delivered from the content distribution center to each multimedia science museum (hereinafter referred to as “base”) at a remote location, and the person in charge must install each type of display terminal for multiple types and multiple displays. there were. For this reason, in a base where the number of exhibition terminals is large, installation requires a lot of manpower and time.
[0006]
In addition, the content to be installed differs depending on the type of exhibition terminal, and the installation method may differ depending on the content. Therefore, a certain level of skill is required to install without mistake by the method according to the terminal type. there were. In addition, the burden on the person in charge for installing the software in order not to make a mistake was considerable.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to automate the work of installing content distributed from a content distribution system to each content display terminal device installed at each site. It is to provide a content distribution system.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a content distribution system according to the present invention displays content 1 Or Multiple types of content display terminal devices Is Several units were installed plural In a content distribution system having a base and a content distribution center that distributes content to each base, the content distribution center includes content to be distributed, installed software for the content, display schedule information for the content, and content attributes. Content information including information , For each content display schedule Content information generation processing means for generating; A distribution destination information database in which distribution destination information in which a content type and information specifying a base serving as a distribution destination of content information including content corresponding to the content type is associated is registered; Content information according to a preset delivery schedule , Identified based on delivery destination information A content distribution server having automatic distribution processing means for automatically distributing to each base is installed, and a distribution destination terminal for specifying the content display terminal device as a distribution destination of the content based on the content type at each base information Was registered The distribution destination terminal information database and the content, installation software and display schedule information included in the content information distributed from the content distribution server in accordance with a distribution schedule set in advance are specified based on the distribution destination terminal information Content having a content distribution processing means within a base for automatic distribution to a content display terminal device relay A server is installed, and each of the content display terminal devices relay It has installation execution means for automatically starting installation of the content when the content and the installation software of the content are sent from the server, and distributes and installs the produced content to each content display terminal device It executes automatically.
[0009]
Also, The content distribution server is It has a delivery schedule setting means for setting delivery time information for automatically delivering content to the base.
[0010]
In addition, when the content distribution processing means in the base automatically distributes the content to the content display terminal device, the display schedule information distributed to each content display terminal device is examined in advance, and the display schedule information is not distributed. The display schedule information is distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device only when it is.
[0011]
In addition, when the content distribution processing means in the base automatically distributes the content to the content display terminal device, the content distributed to each content display terminal device is investigated in advance, and the content is not yet distributed Only the content and the installed software are distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the case where the content distribution system according to the present invention is applied to distribution of content to the multimedia science museum will be described as an example.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content distribution system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a content distribution center 1 for distributing produced content to each multimedia science museum, a base 2 corresponding to the multimedia science museum, and a jurisdiction base 3. The base 2 in the present embodiment is assumed to be a relatively large-scale multimedia science museum where a plurality of all types of content display terminal devices are installed. On the other hand, the base 3 within the jurisdiction is assumed to be a relatively small facility that is in the same area as the base 2 and does not have all types of content display terminal devices. For this reason, the base 2 within the jurisdiction is managed by the base 2.
[0014]
The content distribution center 1 is provided with a content distribution server 4 that executes content distribution processing. The content distribution server 4 generates content information and stores it in the content information database 5 and the base 2 registered in advance in the distribution destination information database 7 according to a preset distribution schedule. An automatic distribution processing unit 8 that automatically distributes content information is provided.
[0015]
Each base 2 is provided with a content relay server 9 connected to the content distribution server 4 over a network and a plurality of content display terminal devices (exhibition terminals) 10 for displaying content. The content relay server 9 downloads content received according to the content receiving folder 11 for receiving the content information distributed from the content distribution server 4 and the distribution destination terminal information database 12 to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10. It has a content distribution processing unit 13 and an automatic distribution processing unit 14 that distributes the received content information to the base 3 within the jurisdiction.
[0016]
The exhibition terminal 10 is formed as a different type of exhibition terminal by connecting an input / output device such as a joystick or a large projector to a general-purpose personal computer that performs overall display control, and MPEG according to a preset display schedule. Various contents such as videos and 3D CG can be displayed in various forms. On the other hand, regardless of the terminal type, each exhibition terminal 10 executes the content receiving folder 15 for receiving the content downloaded from the content relay server 9 and the installed software, and the content is stored in the content database 16. It has an installation execution unit 17 that is set so that it can be registered and executed, and a content display processing unit 19 that displays content according to a display schedule stored in the display schedule information database 18.
[0017]
The base 3 within the jurisdiction is realized with the same configuration as the base 2 except that the automatic distribution processing unit 14 is not provided.
[0018]
Next, in the present embodiment, a processing flow until the produced content is installed in each exhibition terminal 10 will be described. First, processing performed in the content distribution center 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0019]
When the content is produced internally or by requesting the outside, the content information generation processing unit 6 generates content information and registers it in the content information database 4. The installed software is produced together with the content. The automatic distribution processing unit 8 distributes the generated content information to each site 2 according to a distribution schedule set in advance. The distributed content information includes content attribute information, display schedule information, content, installed software, and distribution schedule information. Since each content may be incorporated into a plurality of display schedules, content information is generated for each content display schedule. The content information generation processing unit 6 generates content information as follows.
[0020]
When the content is produced, the content information generation processing unit 6 first generates content attribute information (step 101). The content attribute information is composed of information input by the administrator from the content attribute information registration screen shown in FIG. Among these, “title name” is a title name assigned to the content, “electronic file storage location” is a content storage folder in a disk device (not shown), and “content type” is a content type such as a moving image or CG.
[0021]
Subsequently, the content information generation processing unit 6 sets distribution schedule information (step 102). The distribution schedule information is constituted by information input by the administrator from the distribution schedule information setting screen shown in FIG. The terminal operation time zone is a terminal operation time zone during which content is displayed on each exhibition terminal 10. The data transfer time zone is a time zone for transferring content, and distribution of the content information to each site 2 is automatically started when the transfer start time is reached. In the data transfer time zone, the time is normally set so as not to overlap with the terminal operation time zone in consideration of the processing load at the base 2.
[0022]
Subsequently, the content information generation processing unit 6 sets display schedule information (step 103). The display schedule information is composed of information input by the administrator from the display schedule information setting screen shown in FIG. On the left side of the screen, fields for inputting schedule attribute information are provided. Among these, “display schedule name” is a name assigned to each display schedule. On the right side of the screen, a schedule setting area for setting an actual schedule is provided, and contents to be incorporated into the schedule are selected from those displayed in a list.
[0023]
The content information generation processing unit 6 generates content information by associating the content, the installed software, and each information generated as described above, and registers the content information in the content information database 4 (step 104). Since content may be incorporated into a plurality of different display schedules, a plurality of content information including the same content, display schedule information, and the like may be generated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, each piece of information constituting the content information may be stored in a separate file, and the content information may have only a pointer (file name) for each piece of information. Each file is given a name according to a predetermined rule. As described above, the data structure of the content information and the internal specification of the content information database 4 may be suitable for the system environment using the present invention, and are not the gist of the present invention.
[0024]
When the content information is generated as described above, the automatic distribution processing unit 8 periodically compares the transfer start time of the distribution schedule information included in each untransferred content information with the current time, and starts the transfer. The content information that has reached the time is distributed to each site 2 (step 105). Since the content type and the IP address of the content relay server 9 installed at each site 2 are registered in the distribution destination information database 7 in association with each other, the automatic distribution processing unit 8 Each content information is downloaded only to the corresponding base 2 by referring to the content type set in the content attribute information of the information. Note that the name of the content receiving folder 11 of each content relay server 9 in which the downloaded content information is stored is determined in advance.
[0025]
Next, processing performed at each site 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0026]
The content relay server 9 monitors whether content information has been sent by periodically referring to the content receiving folder 11 (step 201). This monitoring process may not be performed during the operation time zone of the exhibition terminal 10. This is because the processing load in the operation time zone is taken into consideration. When the content information reception completion is confirmed, the in-site content distribution processing unit 13 moves to a content information database (not shown) and stores it (step 202). Then, the in-site content distribution processing unit 13 refers to the distribution destination terminal type table 12a based on the content type set in the content attribute information of each piece of content information of the received content information, thereby setting the distribution destination of the content information. Specify the exhibition terminal type. Further, the display terminal 10 as the distribution destination of the content information is specified by referring to the distribution destination terminal table 12b based on the specified display terminal type (step 203). In this way, it is possible to automatically specify the exhibition terminal 10 on which the content distributed from the content distribution center 1 is installed.
[0027]
Subsequently, the in-site content distribution processing unit 13 distributes the corresponding content to the specified exhibition terminal 10, but in the present embodiment, the distribution processing to each exhibition terminal 10 is efficiently performed. Therefore, the following determination process is included. Of the information included in the content information, the distribution schedule information is information for distribution from the content distribution center 1 to each base 2 and is not downloaded to each exhibition terminal 10. In the following description, when content information is distributed to the exhibition terminal 10, the distribution schedule information is excluded.
[0028]
First, the display schedule name (including the version) set in the display schedule information included in the content information to be sent to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10 and the display schedule information downloaded to the exhibition terminal 10 in the past are set. Each display schedule name (including version) is compared (step 204). Note that the content information downloaded to the exhibition terminal 10 may be inquired of the exhibition terminal 10 at the time of this comparison process, and the display schedule name may be returned, or held in the content relay server 9 as distribution history information. You may manage it. The same applies to other information described later. If the display schedule information with the matching display schedule name exists in the exhibition terminal 10, it can be determined that the content displayed according to the display schedule has been downloaded to the exhibition terminal 10, so the content information is displayed in the exhibition terminal 10. Do not download to. If there is no match, the display schedule information is downloaded to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10 (step 205). Note that the name of the content receiving folder 15 of each exhibition terminal 10 in which the downloaded display schedule information and other information to be described later are stored is determined in advance.
[0029]
Next, the title name (including version) of the content set in the content attribute information included in the content information to be distributed to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10 and the content information downloaded in the past to the exhibition terminal 10 are included. The content title name (including version) set in the content attribute information to be compared is compared (step 206). If the content attribute information of the matching title name exists in the exhibition terminal 10, it can be determined that the content has been downloaded to the exhibition terminal 10, so the content attribute information, the content, and the installed software included in the content information are included. Do not download to the exhibition terminal 10. If there is no match, the information is downloaded to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10 (step 207). Since the content attribute information includes information related to the content attribute, in the present embodiment, the content attribute information is downloaded to the exhibition terminal 10 together with the content for management of the content, but is unnecessary information when displaying the content. So you don't have to download it.
[0030]
The reason why the above-described determination process is included is because the following case is assumed. For example, it is assumed that a certain exhibition terminal T01 displays the contents A, B, and C in this order according to the display schedule S1 (version 1.00). Here, when the display schedule S1 is upgraded to version 1.01 and the contents A, B, C, and D are displayed at this time, the contents A, B, and C are already installed, so it is necessary to download them again. Absent. Further, at this time, when the contents C, D, and E are to be displayed on the display schedule S2 (version 1.00) that displays them in this order, the contents C is already installed, so there is no need to download it again. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the display schedule downloaded to the exhibition terminal T01 and each list of contents are notified to the content relay server 9, and the installed content is not distributed from the content relay server 9 to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10. I did it. In other words, the processing efficiency is improved by preventing the content download and installation processing from being duplicated.
[0031]
As described above, when the corresponding content or the like is automatically distributed to the corresponding exhibition terminals 10, the automatic distribution processing unit 14 automatically distributes the content information to the bases 3 within each jurisdiction (step 208). The IP address of each jurisdiction base 3 is held in advance in the content relay server 9.
[0032]
In each jurisdiction base 3, processing similar to the processing in the base 2 described above is executed, and content is installed in each exhibition terminal installed in the jurisdiction base 3. The above-described determination process is executed so that the installed content is not installed again in the jurisdiction base 3.
[0033]
Next, processing performed in each exhibition terminal 10 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0034]
The exhibition terminal 10 monitors whether content or the like has been downloaded by periodically referring to the content receiving folder 15 (step 301). This monitoring process may not be performed during the operation time zone of the exhibition terminal 10. This is because the processing load in the operation time zone is taken into consideration. When the reception completion of the content or the like is confirmed, the display schedule information is moved to and stored in the display schedule information (step 302). Subsequently, when the installation software has been downloaded, the installation executing unit 17 installs the content by starting and executing the installation software (step 303). As a result, the content is registered in the content database 16. Note that the file name of the installed software is predetermined.
[0035]
When the installation of the content is completed as described above in each exhibition terminal 10, the content display processing unit 19 displays one or more contents in the scheduled time and order according to the latest display schedule information.
[0036]
According to the present embodiment, by configuring as described above, the content can be automatically distributed from the content distribution center 1 to each site 2 according to the distribution schedule. Further, at each site 2, the distributed content can be automatically distributed from the content relay server 9 to the corresponding exhibition terminals 10. At this time, by providing the distribution destination terminal information database 12, it is possible to specify to which exhibition terminal 10 the content should be distributed. Furthermore, since it is checked in advance whether or not the content has been distributed before automatically distributing the content or the like, it is possible to prevent redundant information distribution. In addition, since the exhibition terminal 10 is automatically activated and executed when it is recognized that the installation software has been distributed, the installation of the content to the corresponding exhibition terminal 10 is automatically executed. Can do.
[0037]
In this manner, the process of installing the produced content on the exhibition terminal 10 can be automated. Thereby, the content can be displayed on the predetermined exhibition terminal 10 on the next day when the content is produced, regardless of the type of the exhibition terminal 10 and the number of installed terminals, and without requiring manual work.
[0038]
It is possible to automate the work of installing content to each content display terminal device installed at each site.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, the locations where the exhibition terminals are installed are hierarchically configured so that information distribution of content is also performed hierarchically. However, the locations within the jurisdiction are included in the distribution destination information database 7 of the content distribution center 1. If information 3 is also included, it is not always necessary to distribute information hierarchically.
[0040]
Further, the content information may be broadcast simultaneously using a satellite communication device or the like without specifying a delivery destination. This is because the installation destination of the content is specified based on the terminal type, and the information may be discarded at the base that receives the unnecessary content information. Thereby, the content distribution process in the content distribution center 1 can be performed more efficiently. However, such a delivery method cannot be adopted if a small-scale base that does not have a sanitary communication device is added. In such a case, the base may be combined with the above-described delivery method or the bases may be hierarchized. This can be handled by using a structure.
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the case where the content distribution system according to the present invention is applied to the distribution of content to the multimedia science museum has been described as an example, but it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to other facilities.
[0042]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to automate the distribution and installation processing of produced content to content display terminal devices installed at each base.
[0043]
In addition, since the distribution time of the content from the content distribution center to each site can be set, the installation work can be performed in a time zone in consideration of the load on the content display terminal device.
[0044]
In addition, since the display schedule information distributed to each content display terminal device is investigated in advance, the display schedule information is distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device only when the display schedule information has not been distributed. Thus, it is possible to efficiently perform content distribution processing to the content display terminal device.
[0045]
In addition, since content that has already been distributed to each content display terminal device is examined in advance and the content and installed software are distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device only when the content has not been distributed, the content display It is possible to efficiently perform content distribution processing to the terminal device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a content distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing in the content distribution center of the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a content attribute information registration screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a delivery schedule information setting screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display schedule information setting screen in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing in the content relay server according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing in the exhibition terminal according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content distribution center, 2 bases, 3 bases in jurisdiction, 4 Content distribution server, 5 Content information database, 6 Content information generation process part, 7 Delivery destination information database, 8, 14 Automatic delivery process part, 9 Content relay server, 10 Content display terminal device (exhibition terminal), 11 content reception folder, 12 distribution destination terminal information database, 12a distribution destination terminal type table, 12b distribution destination terminal table, 13 in-site content distribution processing unit, 15 content reception folder, 16 Content database, 17 installation execution unit, 18 display schedule information database, 19 content display processing unit.

Claims (4)

A plurality of bases 1 or more types of content display terminals for displaying the contents is placed few cars double,
A content distribution center that distributes content to each site;
In a content distribution system having
The content distribution center includes
Content information generation processing means for generating content information including distribution target content, content installation software, content display schedule information and content attribute information for each content display schedule ;
A distribution destination information database in which distribution destination information in which a content type and information specifying a base serving as a distribution destination of content information including content corresponding to the content type is associated is registered;
Automatic distribution processing means for automatically distributing content information to each base specified based on distribution destination information according to a distribution schedule set in advance;
A content distribution server having
In each of the above locations,
A delivery destination terminal information database in which delivery destination terminal information for specifying the content display terminal device as the delivery destination of the content based on the content type is registered ;
Automatic distribution of content, installed software, and display schedule information included in content information distributed from the content distribution server according to a predetermined distribution schedule to the content display terminal device specified based on distribution destination terminal information The content distribution processing means in the base,
A content relay server with
Each of the content display terminal devices has an installation execution unit that automatically starts installation of the content when the content and the installation software of the content are sent from the content relay server,
A content distribution system that automatically distributes and installs the produced content to each of the content display terminal devices. The content distribution system according to claim 1 , wherein the content distribution server includes distribution schedule setting means for setting distribution time information for automatically distributing content to the base.   When the content distribution processing means in the base automatically distributes the content to the content display terminal device, the in-site content distribution processing means investigates the display schedule information distributed to each content display terminal device in advance, and the display schedule information is not yet distributed. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the display schedule information is distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device only when the content is displayed.   When the content distribution processing means in the base automatically distributes the content to the content display terminal device, the content distribution processing means investigates the content already distributed to each content display terminal device in advance, and only when the content is not yet distributed The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content and the installed software are distributed to the corresponding content display terminal device.

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