JP4613627B2 - Content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system for distributing digital content to terminal devices in a building such as a condominium or a building via a network.

  In recent years, with the development of high-speed data communication networks such as ADSL and optical cables, digital contents (hereinafter referred to as contents) such as electronic movies, TV programs, and music are distributed to viewing terminals of users using the Internet. The content distribution service that has come to attract attention. The content distribution service is roughly divided into a streaming type in which the user views the content data on the spot while continuing to distribute the content data to the viewing terminal, and the user starts viewing after all the content data is once distributed to the viewing terminal. There are two download types. The streaming type has the advantage of enabling real-time viewing that starts immediately after a viewing request is issued. However, when using a network with unstable bandwidth, such as the Internet, content quality assurance is guaranteed. There is a drawback of difficulty. On the other hand, the download type has the advantage that the content can be viewed with stable quality without being influenced by the network environment, but since a large amount of content data has to be downloaded in order to view it, there is a lot of waiting time. There is a disadvantage that occurs.

  Therefore, in order to compensate for the disadvantages of the above two forms, in Patent Document 1, a system using a distribution server (hereinafter referred to as “edge server”) installed in an apartment house such as a condominium is constructed. The edge server is connected to the viewing terminal owned by the user through an internal network that can secure a stable band, and a part of the content provided by the service provider is stored in the edge server in advance. Then, the edge server performs streaming distribution of the content in the edge server to the viewing terminal according to the viewing request from the user. Therefore, in the above system, it is possible to realize a content distribution service that guarantees the quality of content distributed to the user and enables real-time viewing.

JP 2004-265397 A

  In the content distribution system described above, an edge server is installed in each housing complex, so it is necessary to limit the disk capacity of the edge server in order to reduce costs, and the amount of content that can be stored in the edge server is limited. . For this reason, the user can use only a part of the content that is determined by the service provider and distributed in advance to the age server among all the contents stored in the service provider server that should originally be available.

  Further, in the conventional content distribution service such as Patent Document 1, the use of the service by an unauthorized terminal is prevented by authenticating the viewing terminal itself when distributing the content. However, since it is not possible to specify the viewing terminal usage location and user, even an unauthorized third party other than the service contractor can use the service due to theft or lending of a valid viewing terminal, The validity of billing according to the service usage status is not guaranteed. Therefore, for example, when residents in an apartment share a viewing terminal, there arises a problem that a charging opportunity that should originally be obtained by a service provider is lost.

  The present invention allows a user to use not only content in an edge server but also all content provided by a service provider in an apartment house such as a condominium, etc., and by specifying a usage location and a user of a viewing terminal, An object is to provide a content distribution system that prevents unauthorized use.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, a content distribution system includes a viewing terminal in a living room, an authentication server in the living room (hereinafter, “home server”), and the viewing terminal and the authentication server in the same building. A distribution server (hereinafter referred to as “edge server”), a content server owned by the service provider (hereinafter referred to as “service provider server”), and a management server (hereinafter referred to as “data center server”); The buildings are connected through an internal network, and the building, service provider server, and data center server are connected through the Internet.

  The viewing terminal is streamed from the edge server, the means for storing terminal-specific authentication information for authenticating itself, the communication means for communicating with the home server, service provider server, and edge server, and the edge server. Playback means for playing back the content data.

  The home server includes means for storing authentication information unique to the home server for authenticating itself, means for managing user entry / exit information, means for authenticating a viewing terminal in the room, a data center, Communication means for communicating.

  The data center server includes an entrance / exit management unit that manages entrance / exit information for each room, a service management unit that manages users registered in the service and viewing terminals that can be used by the user, Content management means for managing content.

  Here, the home server transmits the authentication information received from the viewing terminal and its own authentication information to the data center server, so that the data center server can specify the room where the viewing terminal is used. Then, based on the specified terminal and room, the user is confirmed by both the entrance / exit management means and the service management means to authenticate whether the user currently in the room is a user who can use the service. Is possible.

  The edge server includes means for managing the contents in the edge server that can be viewed immediately by the user, and means for downloading content data instructed from the data center from the service provider server.

  Further, the service provider server has means for managing all contents that can be provided to the user, means for transmitting content data to the edge server in accordance with a request from the edge server, and for viewing the managed content. Means for managing viewing licenses.

  Here, when the user selects content that the user wants to view and the content is not in the edge server, the content is transmitted from the service provider to the edge server and registered in the edge server. After the registration is completed, the viewing license is transmitted from the service provider server to the viewing terminal, and the streaming distribution of the content is performed from the edge server. Thereby, the user can view any content.

  According to the present invention, when a user uses a content distribution service, it is possible to authenticate a viewing terminal, a use room, and a user. Therefore, a safe service environment that prevents unauthorized use of a service can be provided to a user and a service provider. Can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a content distribution system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, although it demonstrates using the application example to an apartment below, it is applicable not only to an apartment but a hotel, an office, etc., for example.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a content distribution system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  As shown in the figure, the content distribution system includes a data center server 10, a condominium 20, and a service provider server 30, which are connected to each other through a network 40. In the apartment 20, there are a living room 21 and an edge server 70, and a viewing terminal 50 and a home server 60 are installed in the living room 21. In addition, the number of the apartment 20, the service provider server 30, and the living room 21 is not specifically limited.

  The data center server 10 includes a service screen generation unit 11, a metafile generation unit 12, an authentication unit 13, an entrance / exit management unit 14, a cache content management unit 15, a database management unit (hereinafter “DB management unit”) 16, an entrance / exit It has a management database (hereinafter “entrance / exit management DB”) 17 and a service management database (hereinafter “service management DB”) 18.

  The service screen generation unit 11 generates various display screens for content services such as a service portal screen and a content details screen described later. When each screen is generated, information stored in various databases is acquired through the DB management unit 16 as necessary.

  The metafile generation unit 12 generates a content metafile (FIG. 8) to be sent back to the home server 60 when a content viewing request is received from the home server 60. The content metafile will be described in detail later.

  The authentication unit 13 authenticates whether various requests from the home server 60 are legitimate from the authentication information transmitted from the home server 60 when using the service and the entrance / exit information managed by the entrance / exit management unit 14. To do.

  The entrance / exit management unit 14 manages the entrance / exit information transmitted from the home server 60 and accesses various databases through the DB management unit 16 as appropriate.

  The cache content management unit 15 manages content in the edge server 70, and when a user requests content that is not in the edge server, the cache content management unit 15 instructs the edge server to download the content. Further, various databases are accessed through the DB management unit 16 as appropriate.

  The DB management unit 16 controls input / output of data stored in each of the entrance / exit management DB 17 and the service management DB 18.

  The entrance / exit management DB 17 stores information related to entrance / exit of each apartment room, and includes an entrance / exit information table 100 (FIG. 3) and a personal authentication information table 110 (FIG. 4). The data structure of each table will be described in detail later.

  The service management DB 18 stores information related to content services, and includes a device registration information table 120 (FIG. 5), a cache content table 130 (FIG. 6), and a service registrant table 140 (FIG. 7). The data structure of each table will be described in detail later.

  The service provider server 30 manages all contents that can be provided to the user and viewing licenses for viewing each content, means for distributing the content requested to be downloaded from the edge server 70 to the edge server 70, viewing Means for transmitting the viewing license requested from the terminal 50 to the viewing terminal 50.

  The viewing terminal 50 displays communication means such as an HTTP client for transmitting / receiving data to / from the home server 60, the service provider server 30, and the edge server 70, and various display screens received from the home server 60 to the user. It has display means such as a browser, playback means for playing back the content data streamed from the edge server 70, and terminal-specific authentication information (hereinafter referred to as “device ID”) used for authentication of itself.

  The home server 60 includes a device authentication unit 61 and an entrance / exit management unit 62.

  The device authentication unit 61 receives the device ID from the viewing terminal 50 and performs an authentication process for the viewing terminal. In addition, the device authentication unit 61 transmits home server-specific authentication information (hereinafter, “home server ID”) used for its own authentication and the device ID received from the viewing terminal 50 to the data center server 10.

  The entrance / exit management unit 62 receives personal authentication information input by the resident when entering / leaving the room, authenticates the resident, and transmits the result to the data center server 10. An authentication device (for example, a card reader) is connected to the entrance / exit management unit 62, and the resident is authenticated using the authentication device.

  The edge server 70 manages the in-condominium content that can be immediately viewed by the residents of the condominium 20, the means for streaming the content requested to be distributed from the viewing terminal 50 to the viewing terminal 50, and the data center server 70. Communication means such as an HTTP client and an FTP client for downloading the content instructed to download from the service provider server 30.

  Next, the hardware configuration of this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the home server 60 and the data center server 10 in the content distribution system of this embodiment.

  First, the hardware configuration of the home server 60 will be described.

The home server 60 includes an EPROM 601, a CPU 602, a main memory 603, a bus 604, a peripheral control device 605, a nonvolatile storage device 606, a LAN interface (hereinafter “LAN I / F”) 607, and a card reader interface. (Hereinafter, “card reader I / F”) 608 and an electronic lock interface (hereinafter, “electronic lock I / F”) 609.
The LAN I / F 607 controls data transmission / reception performed via the network 40. The EPROM 601, the CPU 602, the main memory 603, and the peripheral control device 605 are connected to each other via a bus 604. The nonvolatile storage device 605, the LAN I / F 607, the card reader I / F 608, and the electronic lock I / F 609 are each connected to the peripheral control device 605. The non-volatile storage device 605 includes a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like.

  A card reader 610 and an electronic lock 611 are connected to the card reader I / F 608 and the electronic lock I / F 609, respectively.

  The EPROM 601 stores a boot program. The nonvolatile storage device 605 stores various programs for realizing the functions of the device authentication unit 61 and the entrance / exit management unit 62 described above. When the home server 60 is activated, the CPU 602 operates according to the boot program. The CPU 602 loads the various programs from the nonvolatile storage device 605 to the main memory 603 by the boot program. The CPU 602 executes various programs loaded in the main memory 603 to transmit / receive signals to / from the LAN I / F 607, the card reader I / F 608, and the electronic lock I / F 609 via the peripheral control device 605. Communication with the data center server 10, the viewing terminal 50, etc., and control of the card reader 610 and the electronic lock 611 are performed.

  Here, a card reader is assumed as the authentication device, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a biometric authentication device such as a fingerprint authentication device or a vein authentication device may be used. Further, although the card reader I / F 608 and the electronic lock I / F 609 are described as interfaces, other interfaces can be added and deleted as appropriate according to the authentication device and the control target device.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the data center server 10 will be described.

  The data center 10 includes an EPROM 101, a CPU 102, a main memory 103, a bus 104, a peripheral control device 105, a nonvolatile storage device 106, and a LAN interface (hereinafter “LAN I / F”) 107.

The LAN I / F 107 controls data transmission / reception performed via the network 40. EPROM 101, CPU 102, main memory 103, and peripheral control device 105 are connected to each other via bus 104. The nonvolatile storage device 106 and the LAN I / F 107 are each connected to the peripheral control device 105. The nonvolatile storage device 106 includes a magnetic disk device, a flash ROM, and the like. The EPROM 101 stores a boot program. The nonvolatile storage device 106 stores various programs for realizing the functions of the service screen generation unit 11, the metafile generation unit 12, the authentication unit 13, the entrance / exit management unit 14, and the DB management unit 16 described above. Yes. When the data center 10 is activated, the CPU 102 operates according to the boot program. The CPU 102 loads the various programs from the nonvolatile storage device 106 to the main memory 103 by the boot program. The CPU 102 executes the various programs loaded in the main memory 103, thereby performing the functions of the service screen generation unit 11, the metafile generation unit 12, the authentication unit 13, the entrance / exit management unit 14, and the DB management unit 16 described above. Realize. In addition, the above-described entry / exit management DB 17 and service management DB 18 are stored in the main memory 103 and the nonvolatile storage device 106.

  Next, the data structure of the table stored in each database of the data center server 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the entrance / exit information table 100 according to the present embodiment. The entry / exit information table 100 is a table showing which users are currently occupying each room.

  As illustrated, the entry / exit information table 100 includes a field 101 for registering a “home server ID” and a field 102 for registering a “personal ID”, and constitutes one record. “Home server ID” is a character string uniquely determined for a home server installed in each apartment room. “Personal ID” is a character string uniquely determined for each user in order to identify the user.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the personal authentication information table 110 according to the present embodiment. The personal authentication information table 110 is a table for managing a user and authentication information for authenticating the user in association with each other.

  As shown in the figure, the personal authentication information table 110 includes a field 111 for registering “personal ID” and a field 112 for registering “authentication information”, and constitutes one record. The “personal ID” is the same as the personal ID in the above-described entry / exit information table 100. “Authentication information” is data for authenticating a user, and includes, for example, a card ID of an IC card, biometric information such as a fingerprint and a vein, and the like. Although the number of authentication information fields in the figure is one, if there are a plurality of authentication means such as card authentication and biometric authentication, an authentication information field corresponding to each authentication means may be added.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the device registration information table 120 according to the present embodiment. The device registration information table 120 is a table for associating and managing each room and a viewing terminal that can be used in the room. The data center server 10 refers to the device registration information table 120 and stores the room in the room. A list of device IDs of available viewing terminals (hereinafter, “device ID list”) is registered in each home server.

  As illustrated, the device registration information table 120 includes a field 121 for registering a “home server ID” and a field 122 for registering a “device ID”, and constitutes one record. The “home server ID” is the same as the home server ID in the above-described entry / exit information table 100. The “device ID” is a character string uniquely determined for each viewing terminal in order to identify the viewing terminal.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the cache content table 130 according to the present embodiment. The cache content table 130 is a table for managing content stored in the edge server of each apartment. Here, it is assumed that there is one type of content distribution service, but when a plurality of services are provided, a cache content table is created for each service.

  As illustrated, the cache content table 130 includes a field 131 for registering an “edge server ID” and a field 132 for registering a “content ID” (“CID”). Is done. The “edge server ID” is a character string uniquely determined for each edge server in order to identify the edge server installed in each apartment. The “content ID” is a character string uniquely determined for each content in order to identify each content.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the service registrant management table 140 according to the present embodiment. The service registrant management table 140 is a table for managing a user who can use the service and a viewing terminal that can be used by the user in association with each other. Here, it is assumed that there is one type of content distribution service, but when a plurality of services are provided, a cache content table is created for each service.

  As illustrated, the service registrant management table 140 includes a field 141 for registering “device ID”, a field 142 for registering “personal ID”, and a field 143 for registering “age”. One record is configured. “Device ID” is the same as the device ID in the device registration information table 120 described above, and “Personal ID” is the same as the personal ID in the above-described entry / exit information table 100. “Age” is the age of the user, and is necessary when the content has age restrictions. Note that the user information displayed here is only the age, but a field such as “gender” may be increased according to the usage conditions of the content. Further, the user information may be managed by another table.

  Next, details of the content metafile 150 that the viewing terminal 10 acquires from the data center server 10 via the home server 60 when viewing the content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The content metafile 150 describes information necessary for the user to view the content.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of the content metafile 150 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the content metafile 150 includes “CONTENT_ID” 151, “ENCODE_ID” 152, “LICENSE_URL” 153, “LICENSE_ID” 154, “SERVER_URL” 155, and “SERVER_TYPE” 156. ing. “CONTENT_ID” 151 is a content ID for identifying each content, and is the same as the content ID of the cache content table 130 (FIG. 6) described above. “ENCODE_ID” 151 is an ID for identifying the encryption format of the content data that is encrypted and distributed. “LICENSE_URL” 153 indicates the URL of the license server that the viewing terminal 50 accesses when acquiring a viewing license including a decryption key of encrypted content data, viewing conditions, and the like. “LICENSE_ID” 154 is an ID for identifying a viewing license. “SERVER_URL” 155 indicates the URL of the edge server that distributes the content data to the viewing terminal 50. “SERVER_TYPE” 156 indicates whether the content distribution form of the edge server is a streaming type or a download type. This data configuration is merely an example, and the number of items may be increased or decreased as necessary.

  Next, the service portal screen and the content detail screen generated by the service screen generation unit 11 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a service portal screen according to the present embodiment. The service portal screen is a screen that is displayed when the user activates the viewing terminal 50, and displays a list of contents that can be viewed by the user.

  As shown in the figure, the service portal screen includes an all content list 201, an in-condominium content list 202, and a purchased content list 203. The all contents list 201 displays a list of all contents that the service provider can provide to the user. In the condominium content list 202, a list of contents that are stored in the condominium edge server 70 and can be viewed immediately is displayed. The purchased content list 203 displays a list of content that has been purchased by the user. For example, if the user wants to purchase content that can be viewed immediately, the content may be selected from the condominium content list 202.

  FIG. 10 is an example of the content detail screen of this embodiment. The content detail screen is a screen that is displayed when the user selects content on the service portal screen of FIG. 9, and displays detailed information of each content.

  As shown in the figure, the content detail screen includes a title 211, a playback time 212, a price 213, a content introduction 214, a purchase button 215, a viewing reservation button 216, and a viewing button 217. The title 211 is a content title. The reproduction time 212 is a content reproduction time. The price 213 is the price of the content. The content introduction 214 is content introduction. The purchase button 215 is a button that is displayed when the content has not been purchased. When the purchase button 215 is pressed, content purchase processing is performed. The viewing reservation button 216 is a button that is displayed when the content has been purchased and is not stored in the edge server 70. When the button is pressed, content data transmission processing from the service provider server 30 to the edge server 70 is performed. Be started. The viewing button 217 is a button that is displayed when the content has been purchased and stored in the edge server, and when pressed, the viewing process is started. Each button may be displayed or hidden depending on the situation, or all buttons may be displayed and may be enabled or disabled for each button.

  Next, a flow of a series of processing from when the user enters the room to view the content on the viewing terminal in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described. In the following, the user selects content on the service portal screen from when the user enters the room until entry / exit information is registered, until the user activates the viewing terminal and the service portal screen is displayed. The process is divided into four stages from when the content detail screen is displayed until when the user presses a button on the content detail screen to when content viewing starts. Here, a home server ID (hereinafter referred to as “HSID”) is assumed as home server-specific authentication information used for home server authentication, and a device ID is assumed as device-specific authentication information used for device authentication.

  First, the flow of registration processing of entrance / exit information performed when a user enters a room in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram of registration processing of user entry / exit information in the content distribution system of the present embodiment. In the figure, 80 indicates a user.

  First, when entering the room, the user 80 transmits personal authentication information such as a card ID to the home server via an authentication device such as a card reader (S1001).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 specifies an individual from the received personal authentication information (S1002). Here, a table (hereinafter referred to as “personal ID table”) in which the personal ID of a user who can enter the room is associated with personal authentication information such as a card ID is registered in the home server 60. The home server 60 refers to the personal ID table and identifies the personal ID associated with the received personal authentication information. Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the identified personal ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1003).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 adds the received personal ID and HSID to the entry / exit information table 100 (S1004), and returns a normal end message to the home server 60 (S1005).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 performs unlocking processing of the electronic lock 611 (S1006), and presents a normal end message to the user 80 (S1007).

  Next, processing from when the user 80 activates the viewing terminal 50 until the service portal screen is displayed in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user 80 activates the viewing terminal 50 until the service portal screen is displayed in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  First, the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID unique to the viewing terminal 50 to the home server 60 by describing it in the HTTP header or HTTP body (S1101).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 refers to the device ID list registered in the home server 60 and authenticates whether the received device ID is an ID of a valid device that can be used in the room (S1102). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the authenticated device ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1103).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires a user ID that can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and authenticates whether the user 80 in the room can use the viewing terminal 50 from the acquired user ID and the received HSID ( S1104).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 transmits a request for a list of all contents to the service provider server 30 (S1105). Then, the service provider server 30 returns a list of all contents requested from the data center server 10 to the data center server 10 (S1106).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID of the viewing terminal 50 to the service provider server 30 (S1107). Then, the service provider server 30 acquires a list of contents purchased by the viewing terminal 30 from the received device ID (S1108). Thereafter, the service provider server 30 returns the acquired purchased content list to the data center server 10 (S1109).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1110). Thereafter, the data center server 10 creates a service portal screen from the above-described various content lists (S1111), and returns it to the home server 60 (S1112).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the service portal screen received from the data center 10 to the viewing terminal 50.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a flow of processing in which the home server 60 of the present embodiment receives a device ID from the viewing terminal and returns a portal screen to the user.

  First, the home server 60 receives a device ID from the viewing terminal 50 (S1201). Subsequently, the home server 60 refers to the device ID list registered in the home server 60 and authenticates whether or not the received device ID has been registered (S1202). In the case of an unregistered device ID, the home server 60 returns an error page to the viewing terminal 50 (S1203) and ends the process. In the case of a registered device ID, the home server 60 acquires an HSID unique to the home server 60 (S1204). Subsequently, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and HSID to the data center server 10 (S1205), and receives a portal screen returned from the data center server 10 (S1206). Finally, the home server 50 returns the received portal screen to the viewing terminal (S1207), and ends the process.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a processing flow until the data center server 10 according to the present embodiment receives the HSID and the device ID from the home server 60 and returns a portal screen to the home server 60.

  First, the data center server 10 receives the HSID and device ID from the home server 60 (S1301). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140 and acquires a user ID that can use the service using the device from the received device ID (S1302). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the entry / exit information table 100 and acquires the user ID of the user in the room from the received HSID (S1303). Subsequently, the data center server 10 authenticates whether the user who can use the service is in the room by checking whether the user ID acquired in S1302 is included in the user ID acquired in S1303. (S1304). If not, the data center server 10 returns an error page to the home server 60 (S1305) and ends the process. If the user is in the room, the data center server 10 acquires a list of all contents that can be viewed by the user from the service provider server 30 (S1306).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30, and acquires a list of purchased contents (S1307). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1308). Subsequently, the data center server 10 creates a service portal screen to be displayed to the user from the various content lists acquired in S1306 to S1307 (S1309). Finally, the data center server 10 returns the created service portal screen to the home server 60 (S1310), and ends the process.

  Here, the service portal screen is created by the data center server 10, but may be created by the service provider server 30. A sequence diagram when the service portal screen is created by the service provider server 30 is shown in FIG. 15 and will be described below. Since S1401 to S1404 are the same as S1101 to 1104 in FIG.

  The data center server 10 refers to the cache content table 130 and acquires a list of contents stored in the edge server 70 in the apartment (S1405). After that, the data center server 10 transmits a device ID and a content ID list of condominium content to the service provider server 30 (S1406).

  Subsequently, the service provider server 30 acquires a purchased content list from the received device ID, and creates a service portal screen from the received condominium content ID list, all content list, and purchased content list (S1407). ). Thereafter, the service provider server 30 returns a service portal screen to the data center server 10 (S1408).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 returns the service portal screen received from the service provider server 30 to the home server 60 (S1409).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the service portal screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1410).

  Next, processing from when a user selects content on the service portal screen until the content detail screen is displayed in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 16 is a sequence diagram of processing from when a user selects content on the service portal screen until the content detail screen is displayed in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  First, when the content on the service portal screen is selected by the user (S1501), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1502).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1503). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and content ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1504).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires a user ID that can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and authenticates whether the user 80 in the room can use the viewing terminal 50 from the acquired user ID and the received HSID ( S1505). Thereafter, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1506).

  Subsequently, the service provider server 30 returns the content information of the content to the data center server 10 from the content ID received from the data center server 10 (S1507). Here, the content information includes content detailed information such as content title and content introduction, content usage conditions such as age restriction, and the like.

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 checks the usage conditions of the content included in the received content information (S1508). Specifically, for example, when the use condition of the content is “user age is 18 years or older”, a list of users in the room and their ages is acquired from the entry / exit information table 100 and the service registrant table 140. If there is a user over the age of 18 in the acquired list, content distribution is permitted. If there is only a user under the age of 18, the content distribution is not permitted. Thereafter, the data center server 10 creates a content detail screen from the received content information (S1509), and returns the created content detail screen to the home server 60 (S1510). Details of the content detail screen creation process will be described later.

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1511).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a processing flow from when the data center server 10 according to the present embodiment receives a device ID, an HSID, and a content ID from the home server 60 to when a content detail screen is returned to the home server 60. is there.

  First, the data center server 10 receives a device ID, an HSID, and a content ID from the home server (S1601). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant management table 140, and acquires a user ID that can use the service using the device from the received device ID (S1602). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the entry / exit information table 100 and acquires the user ID of the user in the room from the received HSID (S1603). Subsequently, the data center server 10 verifies whether the user who can use the service is in the room by checking whether the user ID acquired in S1602 is included in the user ID acquired in S1603. (S1604).

  If not, the data center server 10 returns an error page to the home server 60 (S1605) and ends the process. When the user is in the room, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID received from the home server 50 to the service provider server 30, and acquires the content information including the detailed information and usage conditions of the content (S1606). ). Subsequently, the data center server 10 checks whether content usage conditions such as age restrictions are satisfied (S1607). If not, the process proceeds to S1605. If the content is satisfied, a content detail screen is created from the detailed information of the received content (S1608). Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the purchased content list acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen, and checks whether or not the received content ID has been purchased (S1609). If not purchased, the data center server 10 validates only the purchase button 215 (FIG. 10) on the content detail screen (S1610), returns the content detail screen to the home server (S1614), and ends the process. If purchased, the data center server 10 refers to the content list in the apartment acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen, and checks whether the received content ID has been stored in the edge server (S1611). If not stored, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing reservation button 216 (FIG. 10) on the content detail screen (S1612), and proceeds to S1614. If the data has been stored, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing button 217 (FIG. 10) on the content detail screen, and the process advances to S1614.

  Next, processing from when the user presses a button on the content detail screen until viewing the content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, there are three types of buttons displayed on the content details screen: a purchase button, a viewing reservation button, and a viewing button, depending on the purchase status or storage status of the content. Hereinafter, each case will be described. Note that, as will be described later, during the period from when the viewing reservation button is pressed until the viewing button becomes valid, a “content registration in progress” message is displayed instead of the button.

  First, the case where only the viewing button is valid will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses the viewing button on the content detail screen until viewing the content in the content distribution system of the present embodiment.

  First, when the viewing button on the content detail screen is pressed by the user (S1701), the viewing terminal 50 transmits the device ID and the content ID of the selected content to the home server 60 (S1702).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 authenticates the received device ID (S1703). Thereafter, the home server 60 transmits the received device ID and content ID and the HSID unique to the home server 60 to the data center server 10 (S1704).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the service registrant table 140 and acquires a user ID that can use the viewing terminal 50 from the received device ID. Then, the data center server 10 refers to the entrance / exit information table 100 and authenticates whether the user 80 in the room can use the viewing terminal 50 from the acquired user ID and the received HSID ( S1705). Thereafter, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID and device ID received from the home server 60 to the service provider server 30 (S1706).

  Subsequently, the service provider server 30 creates a content metafile 150 (FIG. 8) including license information necessary for viewing the content from the received content ID and device ID, and sends it to the data center server 10. A reply is made (S1707).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 updates the contents of the received content metafile 150 if necessary (S1708). Specifically, for example, since the location information of the viewing terminal 50 is managed by the data center server 10, the service provider server 30 does not know in which condominium the viewing terminal 50 is installed. There is also. In that case, since the service provider server cannot include the URL of the edge server 70 serving as a distribution server in the content metafile 150, the data center server 10 writes the URL of the edge server 70 in the content metafile 150. . After updating the content metafile 150, the data center server 10 returns the content metafile 150 to the home server 60 (S1709).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content metafile 150 received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1710). Thereafter, the viewing terminal 50 refers to the content metafile 150 and requests a viewing license including the encrypted content key and the like from the service provider server 30 (S1711).

  Subsequently, the service provider server 30 returns a content viewing license to the viewing terminal 50 based on a request from the viewing terminal 50 (S1712). Here, since the service provider server 30 manages the license ID and the device ID in association with each other, the viewing terminal 50 requests an unauthorized viewing license by referring to the content metafile distributed to the other viewing terminals. Even in this case, since the combination of the license ID and the device ID is not correct, the viewing terminal 50 cannot acquire the viewing license.

  Subsequently, the viewing terminal 50 refers to the content metafile 150 and issues a content distribution request to the edge server 70 (S1713). Then, the content data distributed from the edge server 70 is decrypted with the decryption key included in the viewing license and viewed (S1714).

  Next, the case where only the viewing reservation button is valid will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 19 shows a period from when the user presses the viewing reservation button on the content detail screen until the content data is accumulated in the edge server and the viewing button on the content detail screen becomes valid in the content distribution system of this embodiment. It is a sequence diagram of a process. Note that S1801 to S1805 are the same as S1701 to S1705 in FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made from S1806.

  After S1805, the data center server 10 transmits the content ID to the edge server 70 (S1806).

  Subsequently, the edge server 70 starts processing to download and register the content with the content ID received from the data center server 10 from the service provider server 30, and returns a registration start message to the data center server 10 (S1807). .

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 turns on the content registration flag (S1808). Thereafter, the data center server 10 displays a registration in-progress message on the content detail screen (S1809), and returns the updated content detail screen to the home server 60 (S1810).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center server 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1811).

  On the other hand, after S1807, the edge server 70 requests content data from the service provider server 30 using the HTTP protocol, the FTP protocol, or the like (S1812), and when the download of the content data is completed (S1813), a registration completion message Is transmitted to the data center server 10 (S1814).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 sets the registration completion flag to ON (S1815), and returns a flag processing completion message to the edge server 70 (S1816).

  Subsequently, after S1811, the viewing terminal 50 requests the data center 10 to check the registration status of the content via the home server 60 (S1817, S1818).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 checks whether the registration completion flag is ON (S1819). Thereafter, the data center server 10 validates only the viewing button on the content detail screen (S1820), and returns the updated content detail screen to the viewing terminal 50 via the home server 60 (S1821, S1822).

  Next, the case where only the purchase button is valid will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses the purchase button on the content detail screen to when the viewing reservation button or the viewing button on the content detail screen becomes valid in the content distribution system of the present embodiment. . Note that S1901 to S1905 are the same as S1701 to S1705 in FIG. Hereinafter, description will be made from S1906.

  After S1905, the data center server 10 transmits the device ID and the content ID to the service provider server 30 (S1906).

  Subsequently, the service provider server 30 performs processing for purchasing the content with the received content ID for the viewing terminal 50 with the received device ID (S1907). After that, a purchase processing completion message is returned to the data center server 10 (S1908).

  Subsequently, the data center server 10 refers to the content list in the apartment acquired at the time of creating the service portal screen, and checks whether the purchased content is stored in the edge server (S1909). Then, the data center server 10 updates the content detail screen (S1910). Specifically, when the purchased content has already been stored in the edge server, only the viewing button is enabled, and when the purchased content is not stored in the edge server, only the viewing reservation button is enabled. After updating the content detail screen, the data center server 10 returns the content detail screen to the home server 60 (S1911).

  Subsequently, the home server 60 returns the content detail screen received from the data center 10 to the viewing terminal 50 (S1912).

  In the above embodiment, the device is authenticated on the home server. However, as another embodiment, there is a case where all authentication is performed on the data center server without performing authentication on the home server. Specifically, when the home server receives the device ID from the viewing terminal, it immediately transmits the device ID and the HSID to the data center server. Then, the data center server refers to the device registration information table and authenticates whether the received device ID and the HSID have a correct correspondence relationship. As a result, since the device registration information is managed only by the data center, there is an advantage that the information can be easily updated.

  Moreover, although the above embodiment assumes a content distribution service, the application destination is not limited to the content distribution service in the present invention, but the application destination is not limited to the content distribution service. It can be applied to any terminal that uses the service on a user-owned terminal. Hereinafter, as an example of an embodiment of the above system, a system for specifying a PC usage place and a user when using his / her PC in an office room will be briefly described.

  This system has a PC in the room, a home server in the room, and a data center server, and the PC has means for transmitting a device ID unique to the PC to the home server when used by the user, The home server accepts device ID when the user uses the PC, means for authenticating the user when the user enters and exits, means for transmitting the entry / exit information to the data center server together with the home server ID unique to the home server, and And means for transmitting the authentication information of the PC and the authentication information of the home server to the data center server, the data center server including entrance / exit management means for managing entrance / exit of the room, Service management means for managing a user and a PC in association with each other.

  First, when a user enters a room, user authentication is performed at the home server. After authentication, the home server transmits the user ID of the user who entered the room and the home server ID to the data center server, and the home server ID and user ID are managed by the entry / exit management unit of the data center server.

  Next, when the user uses the PC, the PC transmits a device ID to the home server, and device authentication is performed at the home server. After authentication, the home server transmits the device ID and home server ID to the data center server. The data center server identifies the user ID associated with the device ID received by the service management means, and the user in the room using the PC from the home server ID received by the entry / exit management means Specify the ID. By confirming whether the user ID associated with the device ID is included in the user ID in the room, the data center server determines whether a user who can use the PC is in the room. Is possible.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, since the person in the room can be grasped, it is possible to set finer content viewing conditions than conventional services, such as content that cannot be viewed without a parent. Become.

  Furthermore, conventionally, the user can view only limited content in the edge server, and the other content cannot be viewed until the service provider updates the content in the edge server. The user can select content that he / she wants to view from all the contents other than the contents in the edge server without incurring a cost with the limited edge server capacity.

It is a functional block diagram of a content distribution system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the home server 60 and the data center server 10 in the content delivery system of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the entrance / exit information table 100 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the personal authentication information table 110 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the apparatus registration information table 120 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the cache content table 130 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the service registrant management table 140 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a data structure of the content metafile 150 of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the service portal screen of embodiment of this invention. It is an example of the content detail screen of embodiment of this invention. It is a sequence diagram of a registration process of user entry / exit information in the content distribution system of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a sequence diagram of a process from starting of the viewing terminal 50 until a service portal screen is displayed in the content distribution system of the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the process in which the home server 60 of embodiment of this invention receives apparatus ID from a viewing terminal, and returns a portal screen to a user. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of a process until the data center server 10 of embodiment of this invention receives HSID and apparatus ID from the home server 60, and returns a portal screen. It is a sequence diagram in the case of creating the service portal screen of the embodiment of the present invention on the service provider server 30. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of processing from when a user selects content on a service portal screen until a content detail screen is displayed in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of this invention. It is a figure explaining the flow of a process until the data center server 10 of embodiment of this invention receives apparatus ID, HSID, and content ID from the home server 60, and returns a content detailed screen. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of processing from when a user presses a viewing button on a content detail screen until viewing content in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram of processing from when the user presses a viewing reservation button on the content detail screen until the viewing button on the content detail screen becomes valid in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of processing from when a user presses a purchase button on a content detail screen until a viewing reservation button or a viewing button on the content detail screen becomes valid in the content distribution system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Data center server, 11 ... Service screen production | generation part, 12 ... Metafile production | generation part, 13 ... Authentication part, 14 ... Entrance / exit management part, 15 ... Cache content management part, 16 ... DB management part, 17 ... Entrance / exit management DB, 18 ... Service management DB, 20 ... Apartment, 21 ... Apartment room, 30 ... Service provider server, 40 ... Network, 50 ... Viewing terminal, 60 ... Home server, 61 ... Device authentication unit, 62 ... Entrance / exit management unit , 70 ... Edge server, 101 ... EPROM, 102 ... CPU, 103 ... Main memory, 104 ... Bus, 105 ... Peripheral control device, 106 ... Non-volatile storage device, 107 ... LAN I / F, 601 ... EPROM, 602 ... CPU, 603 ... Main memory, 604 ... Bus, 605 ... Peripheral control device, 606 ... Non-volatile storage device, 607 ... LA I / F, 608 ... card reader I / F, 609 ... electronic lock I / F, 610 ... card reader, 611 ... electronic lock

Claims (10)

Home network system having a terminal device, a home server, a home content distribution server connected to the terminal device and the home server via a home network, and a management connected to the home network system via the network A content distribution system having a server and a content distribution server,
The management server includes an in-room information table including an in-home server ID that is an ID unique to the in-house server and a user ID that is an ID unique to a user of the terminal device, and an equipment ID that is an ID unique to the terminal device And a service registrant table including the user ID, a device registration information table including the home server ID and the device ID,
The terminal device transmits the device ID to the home server,
Based on the device registration information table, the home server determines whether or not the received device ID is included in the device registration information table, and if included, corresponds to the device ID and the device ID. The home server ID is transmitted to the management server,
The management server refers to the service registrant table, obtains a first user ID corresponding to the received device ID, further refers to the entry / exit information table, and corresponds to the received in-home server ID. The content distribution system is characterized in that when a user ID of 2 is acquired and the first and second user IDs match, the content stored in the home content distribution server or the content distribution server can be used. . The content distribution system according to claim 1,
The home server includes means for transmitting user entrance / exit information to the management server, means for receiving a device ID unique to the terminal device, and a home server unique to the device ID and home server. Means for transmitting an ID to the management server,
The management server specifies a user who is present in the home based on the entrance / exit information, and specifies a room using the terminal device based on the device ID and the home server ID. A featured content distribution system. The content distribution system according to claim 2,
The management server further includes means for managing content in the home content distribution server, and there is a request for content other than the content stored in the home content distribution server from the terminal device to the home content distribution server. A content distribution system that instructs the in-home content distribution server to download the content. The content distribution system according to claim 2,
The home content distribution server is configured to manage content that can be distributed to the terminal device, and to acquire content that is not stored in the home content distribution server from the content distribution server in accordance with an instruction from the management server. Content distribution system. The content distribution system according to claim 2,
The home content distribution server is configured to manage content that can be viewed by the user without accessing the content distribution server connected via the network, and the content data instructed by the management server to the content Means for downloading from the distribution server and transmitting a download completion message to the management server after the download is completed,
The content distribution server includes content management means for managing content that can be provided by a service provider, means for transmitting a content list acquired from the content management means in accordance with a request from the management server, and the in-home content distribution Means for transmitting content data to a home content distribution server in accordance with a request from the server,
The management server includes: a cache content management unit that manages content in the home content distribution server; a unit that acquires a content list from the content distribution server; and a home content distribution server content list acquired from the cache content management unit And a means for creating a service portal screen on which the content list is displayed; means for transmitting the service portal screen to the terminal device when the terminal device is activated; Means for transmitting a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content to the terminal device when the internal content is selected, and the user selects a content other than the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen. Selection Means for instructing the home content distribution server to download the content, and means for transmitting the content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the home content distribution server. A content distribution system comprising: The content distribution system according to claim 2,
The home content distribution server is configured to manage content that can be viewed by the user without accessing the content distribution server connected via the network, and the content data instructed by the management server to the content Means for downloading from the distribution server and transmitting a download completion message to the management server after the download is completed,
The content distribution server receives content management means for managing content that can be provided by a service provider, a content list in the home content distribution server stored in the home content distribution server from the management server, and the content management A service portal screen on which the content list acquired from the means and the content list on the home content distribution server are displayed, a means for transmitting the created service portal screen to the management server, and a request from the home content distribution server Therefore, it has means for transmitting the content data to the home content distribution server,
The management server includes a cache content management unit that manages content in the home content distribution server and a content list in the home content distribution server that is acquired from the cache content management unit when the terminal device is activated. Means for transmitting and transmitting the service portal screen received from the content distribution server to the terminal device, and for viewing the content when the user selects the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen. Means for transmitting a content metafile describing necessary information to the terminal device, and when the user selects a content other than the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen, Conte Tsu means for downloading instruction, the content distribution system characterized in that it comprises means for transmitting the content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving the download completion message from the home content distribution server. A system that provides services to terminals in a house in a home via a network,
A terminal in the room, a home server in the room, and a management server connected to the terminal and the home server via a network;
The in-home server includes means for storing authentication information unique to the in-home server for authenticating itself, means for receiving and authenticating user authentication information, authentication information of the user, and authentication information of the in-home server. Means for transmitting to the management server; means for receiving and authenticating authentication information of the terminal device; and means for transmitting authentication information of the terminal and authentication information of the home server to the management server;
The management server includes an entrance / exit management means for managing the user authentication information received from the home server and the home server authentication information in association with each other, and the user authentication information registered in the service and the user Service management means for associating and managing authentication information of possible terminals, and user authentication information confirmed by both entrance / exit management means and service management means using the authentication information of the home server received from the home server. And a means for authenticating whether a user who can use the terminal is in the room. A home server in a room connected to a terminal device and a management server in the room via a network,
Means for storing authentication information specific to the home server for authenticating itself, means for receiving and authenticating user authentication information, and transmitting the user authentication information and the home server authentication information to the management server And a means for receiving and authenticating the authentication information of the terminal device, and a means for transmitting the authentication information of the terminal device and the authentication information of the home server to a management server. A management server connected to a terminal device in the room, a home server in the room, a home content distribution server in the building, and a content distribution server owned by the service provider via a network,
An entrance / exit management means for managing the user authentication information received from the home server and the home server authentication information in association with each other, a user authentication information registered in the service, and a terminal device usable by the user Service management means for managing authentication information in association with each other, and terminal information based on user authentication information confirmed by both the entrance / exit management means and the service management means using the authentication information of the home server received from the home server. Means for authenticating whether an available user is in the room; cache content management means for managing content in the home content distribution server; means for acquiring a list of all contents from the content distribution server; The content list in the home content distribution server acquired from the cache content management means and the content list are displayed. Means for creating a service portal screen, means for transmitting the service portal screen to the terminal device when the terminal device is activated, and contents when the user selects content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen. Means for transmitting a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content to the terminal device, and when the user selects a content other than the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen, the home content distribution server A management server comprising: means for instructing download of the content; and means for transmitting a content metafile of the content to the terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the home content distribution server. A management server connected to a terminal device in the room, a home server in the room, a home content distribution server in the building, and a content distribution server owned by the service provider via a network,
An entrance / exit management means for managing the user authentication information received from the home server and the home server authentication information in association with each other, a user authentication information registered in the service, and a terminal device usable by the user Service management means for managing authentication information in association with each other, and terminal information based on user authentication information confirmed by both the entrance / exit management means and the service management means using the authentication information of the home server received from the home server. Means for authenticating whether or not an available user is in the room; cache content management means for managing content in the home content distribution server; and the home content acquired from the cache content management means when the terminal device is activated A content list in the content distribution server is transmitted to the content distribution server and received from the content distribution server. Means for transmitting a portal screen to the terminal device, and a content metafile describing information necessary for viewing the content when the user selects the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen Means for transmitting to the terminal device, means for instructing the home content distribution server to download the content when the user selects a content other than the content in the home content distribution server from the service portal screen, A management server comprising means for transmitting a content metafile of a content to a terminal device after receiving a download completion message from the home content distribution server.

Images