JP4894837B2 - Karaoke network system and karaoke device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for replicating content between karaoke apparatuses connected to a network in a karaoke store.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a karaoke network system that distributes content to be played back on a karaoke device from a content distribution host server to karaoke devices installed in karaoke stores throughout the country (for example, karaoke boxes) via a wide area network has been widely used. .

In recent years, many karaoke apparatuses installed in karaoke stores are individually provided with a large-capacity storage means so that contents to be reproduced by the own karaoke apparatus can be accumulated. In a karaoke network system composed of such karaoke devices, a representative karaoke device having authority to communicate with a host server for content distribution and a host server among a plurality of karaoke devices installed in a store ( The content is distributed from the host server to the master device (primary distribution) through direct communication with the master device. Then, the content distributed to the master device is transmitted from the master device to the karaoke device under the management of the master device in the karaoke store via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) distributed in the karaoke store (hereinafter referred to as “master device”). Are distributed to each karaoke device in the karaoke store (secondary distribution). By doing so, the number of karaoke apparatuses that receive content distribution directly from the host server can be reduced, and the communication load in the primary distribution between the host server and the master device can be reduced (for example, Patent Documents). 1).
JP 2004-170529 A

  By the way, the content played back by the karaoke device is not only normal performance data (MIDI data, etc.), but also a variety of high-quality live music songs, promotional video (PV) video, CM video, etc. sampled from the actual performance sound. The amount of data is increasing year by year. Due to such circumstances, the amount of content that can be acquired per day is limited by the capability of the communication line provided in the store. For example, the latest content from the host server is released several times a week, but in stores that have only a low-speed communication line, the latest content that has not been acquired by the master machine after the latest content has been released. The content is acquired, and the content held by the master device is updated. For this reason, there is a certain time difference between the start of release of the latest content on the host server and the completion of acquisition of the latest content by the master device of the karaoke store.

Under such circumstances, there are the following problems. A karaoke device holding the latest content may be brought in as a substitute for a failed karaoke device in a LAN in a store connected to a karaoke device such as a master device or a slave device that has not yet acquired the latest content. When an existing master device is connected on the LAN, the karaoke device brought in as an alternative device operates as a slave device. At this time, the other slave machines in the store receive distribution of content only from the master machine even though there is a karaoke device that holds the latest content on the LAN. Until receiving the primary distribution of the latest content and secondary distribution to the slave machine, the latest content is not held. Therefore, until the content held by all the slave devices including the alternative device is equivalent to the content held by the master device, there is a mixture of karaoke devices that can use the latest content in the same store and karaoke devices that are not. , Will cause unfairness in the services provided to customers.

  In addition, if the master machine performs secondary distribution from the master machine to the substitute machine that holds the latest content before the master machine acquires the latest content from the host server, the content held by the substitute machine will be retained by the master machine. There is also a disadvantage that so-called reverse equivalence occurs, in which old content is overwritten on the latest content originally held.

  Thus, in a karaoke apparatus (alternative machine) that originally possesses the latest content, it should be originally not necessary to distribute the content from another karaoke apparatus via the LAN. In spite of this, the distribution of content to an alternative device that holds the latest content allows various data related to the distribution of content that is not necessary to be transferred over the LAN. Bandwidth is wasted. As a result, the time until the equivalence of other karaoke devices is completed is delayed, and the period during which the service is unfair is prolonged.

  In a situation where content is equivalent between the master machine and the slave machine, the master machine that receives primary distribution from the host server is usually a device that first acquires the latest content in the store. Therefore, after the master device acquires the latest content, if the content held by each slave device in the store is equivalent to the content held by the master device, the latest content can be used equally in all karaoke devices in the store. It is supposed to be. However, once a situation occurs in which karaoke apparatuses that have received content distribution in different environments coexist on the same LAN, there is no guarantee that the content held by the master device is necessarily the latest. For this reason, if a situation occurs in which only the slave machine other than the master machine holds the latest content, such problems as unfairness and reverse equivalence of the service described above occur.

  Note that such unfairness or reverse equivalence of the service is not limited to when the karaoke device itself is replaced, but when the hard disk drive (HDD) provided in the karaoke device is replaced, the latest content is previously stored in the new HDD. It can also happen if it is installed.

  In addition, when multiple karaoke devices are exchanged at the same time, or when a plurality of karaoke devices with different production times and usage histories are installed when a karaoke store is newly opened, karaoke devices with different acquisition status of old and new contents Since many are mixed, the above problem becomes more remarkable. In other words, the more unnecessary data flows on the LAN (the use efficiency becomes lower), the longer the period until communication is delayed and the secondary distribution to each karaoke device is completed, and the service is unfair. Also gets longer.

Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the period of time until the secondary distribution is completed and reduce the unfairness of the service by increasing the use efficiency of the LAN in the distribution of contents.
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can solve the unfairness of service between a plurality of karaoke apparatuses having different contents acquisition status more quickly than before and can efficiently distribute the latest contents. It aims at providing the technique for doing so.

The karaoke network system according to claim 1, which has been made in order to solve the above problem, has content including at least karaoke music, and a plurality of karaoke apparatuses that play back the content are communicably connected via a network. Content held between karaoke apparatuses can be copied via a network.

  Each karaoke device has a transmission request means, an acquisition destination list acquisition means, a first possession list creation means, as means related to processing executed when content is acquired from another karaoke apparatus connected to the network, A creation requesting unit, a possession list obtaining unit, a latest list creating unit, a list creating unit, and an obtaining unit are provided.

  The transmission request means requests other karaoke devices connected to the network to transmit the acquisition destination list created in the other karaoke devices during a period from a predetermined designated date and time before the current time to the current time. . The acquisition destination list acquisition unit acquires an acquisition destination list transmitted from another karaoke apparatus in response to a transmission request by the transmission request unit. When the acquisition list is not acquired by the acquisition destination list acquisition unit after the transmission request by the transmission request unit, the first holding list creation unit holds the identification information of the karaoke apparatus and the karaoke apparatus about the own karaoke apparatus A holding list which is a list in which identification information of all contents to be recorded and revisions of the contents is recorded is created.

  When the acquisition request list cannot be acquired by the acquisition destination list acquisition means after the transmission request by the transmission request means, for each other karaoke apparatus connected to the network, the creation request means Request creation. The possession list acquisition unit acquires the possession list created by each of the other karaoke apparatuses in response to the creation request by the creation request unit. The latest list creation means is based on the possession list of the own karaoke apparatus created by the first possession list creation means and the possession list of each other karaoke apparatus obtained by the possession list acquisition means, and each of the possession lists included in these possession lists For each content, a latest list is created, which is a list in which the content identification information, the latest revision of the content, and the identification information of all karaoke devices holding the content of the latest revision are associated and recorded.

  In the latest list created by the acquisition destination list creation means and the latest list creation means, the identification information of the karaoke device that is the acquisition destination of the content among the identification information of the karaoke device associated with each content of the latest revision One content is selected, recorded in association with the identification information of the content and the latest revision, and an acquisition source list, which is a list to which information indicating the creation date and time is added, is created. The content acquisition means is one acquisition destination list whose creation date is the latest among the acquisition destination lists acquired from other karaoke devices by the acquisition destination list acquisition means, or the acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means, If the identification information of the other karaoke device other than the own karaoke device is associated as the acquisition source of the latest revision content, and the own karaoke device does not have the latest revision content, the latest revision content From the corresponding karaoke device.

  Further, each karaoke device includes an acquisition list transmission unit as a unit related to processing executed when a transmission request for an acquisition source list is received from another karaoke device connected to the network. The acquisition destination list transmission means is an acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means in the past, and if the creation date / time holds an acquisition destination list that is after the specified date / time in the transmission request, the acquisition destination list The list is transmitted to the karaoke apparatus from which the transmission is requested.

  Furthermore, each karaoke device has a second holding list creating unit, a holding list creating unit, as a unit relating to processing executed when a request for creating a holding list from another karaoke device connected to the network is received. Is provided.

  The second possession list creation means is a list in which identification information of the own karaoke device, identification information of all contents held by the own karaoke device, and revisions of the respective contents are recorded in response to the possession list creation request. Create a holding list. The possession list transmitting means transmits the possession list of the own karaoke apparatus created by the second possession list creating means to the karaoke apparatus as the creation request source.

  According to the karaoke network system configured as described above, each karaoke device connected to the network has the latest content that the karaoke device does not own, and other karaoke devices that have the latest content. Can be obtained from. As a result, in a situation where a plurality of karaoke devices with different production times and usage histories are connected to the network and the distribution status of the latest content is uneven, each karaoke device has its latest content from other karaoke devices on the network. By acquiring, you can quickly resolve the unfairness of services. Further, since only the latest content that the own karaoke device does not have is acquired based on the acquisition destination list, so-called reverse equivalence such as being equivalent from a karaoke device that does not have the latest content does not occur.

  Furthermore, when there is an acquisition destination list created by another karaoke device within a predetermined designated date and time, the latest acquisition destination created by another karaoke device instead of the own karaoke device creating the acquisition destination list itself. You can get a list and use it to get content. That is, when each karaoke device tries to acquire content, it is not always necessary to create an acquisition destination list. Therefore, it is preferable because the processing load for the karaoke device trying to acquire the content to create the acquisition destination list and the processing load for creating the holding list in response to a request from the karaoke device are reduced.

  Therefore, as described above, according to the karaoke network system of the present invention, the latest content can be efficiently distributed between a plurality of karaoke apparatuses having different content acquisition situations.

  By the way, when acquiring contents, when using an acquisition destination list created in the past by another karaoke device, the acquisition destination list was created after the content held by the karaoke device recently changed in the network. It is desirable to be a thing. This is because the latest content is included without omission even in the acquisition destination list created in the past. Therefore, each karaoke device detects an event that may occur in any of the karaoke devices in the network that may cause a change (update) of the owned content, and the latest update date and time is designated as the specified date and time in the transmission request of the acquisition destination list. It is possible to do.

  As a specific example, it is conceivable to configure as described in claim 2. That is, each karaoke device further includes an update date and time recording unit that detects another karaoke device newly connected to the network and records the detected latest date and time as an update date and time. Then, the transmission request unit requests transmission of the acquisition destination list using the update date and time recorded in the update date and time recording unit as the specified date and time.

  When a karaoke device is newly connected to the network, the content held by the karaoke device may include the latest content not yet owned by another karaoke device. Therefore, when acquiring the content, the acquisition list after the new karaoke device is connected to the network is acquired from the other karaoke devices, thereby reducing the processing load of the own karaoke device itself creating the acquisition list. On the other hand, the latest content which the own karaoke apparatus does not have can be acquired with certainty, which is preferable.

Further, as a specific example of an event that may cause a change in owned content, there is a case where a master device that acquires content from a content distribution host server receives content distribution in a network in a store. Therefore, it is preferable to configure as described in claim 3. That is, the karaoke network system is connected to a content distribution host server that distributes content to one of the karaoke apparatuses belonging to the karaoke network system via an external network. In addition, each karaoke device acquires the date and time when the content is distributed from the host server to any one karaoke device belonging to the karaoke network system, and records the acquired latest date and time as the update date and time. Recording means is further provided. Then, the transmission request unit requests transmission of the acquisition destination list using the update date and time recorded by the update date and time recording unit as the specified date and time.

  When the master machine receives distribution of contents from the host server, the contents held by the master machine naturally include the latest contents not yet held by other karaoke apparatuses. Therefore, when acquiring content, the own karaoke device creates its own acquisition source list by acquiring from other karaoke devices the acquisition source list created after the latest date and time when the content was delivered from the host server. It is preferable because the latest content which the own karaoke apparatus does not have can be acquired with certainty while reducing the processing load to be performed.

  Note that even if the acquisition list is created after an event that may cause fluctuations in the content held in the network, the credibility will be weakened if a long time has passed since the event occurred. It is done. This is because, as time passes from the occurrence of the event, the possibility that the latest content is introduced into another karaoke apparatus by some method during that time increases. Therefore, it is a good idea to predetermine a certain reference time and not adopt an acquisition destination list older than that.

  Therefore, a configuration as described in claim 4 is preferable. That is, the transmission requesting unit obtains either the update date / time recorded by the update date / time recording unit or the date / time corresponding to a predetermined fixed time before the current time as the designated date / time. Request to send a list.

  By doing in this way, the acquisition destination list created more than a fixed time before the current time is not adopted for content acquisition, and it is preferable because the credibility of the acquisition destination list diverted from other karaoke devices can be secured. It is. Note that the reference fixed time may be set to an appropriate value in operation, but the shorter the fixed time, the greater the chance that the karaoke apparatus attempting to acquire the content itself creates the acquisition destination list. Therefore, this fixed time should be set to a value that does not cause the frequency of newly creating an acquisition list to be excessive, taking into consideration the scale of the network, the processing capability of the karaoke device, the number of contents held by each karaoke device, etc. It is essential.

  By the way, in order to efficiently distribute contents between a plurality of karaoke apparatuses, it is also effective to reduce communication load and communication time when contents are exchanged between karaoke apparatuses. As a contrivance for this, when one karaoke apparatus continuously acquires a plurality of contents, it is conceivable to continuously acquire the contents from the same karaoke apparatus as much as possible. By doing in this way, more contents can be acquired by establishing one communication session with the karaoke apparatus of the other party of communication, and the load which establishes a communication session many times can be saved. Conversely, when the acquisition karaoke apparatus is different for each content, a load is required to establish a communication session with the acquisition karaoke apparatus each time, leading to an increase in communication time.

Therefore, firstly, it is possible to continuously acquire contents from the same karaoke apparatus by changing the order of the contents to be acquired. However, this method has a problem unique to a karaoke network system. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a priority corresponding to the importance level is set for the content played back by the karaoke device, and the content with the higher priority is distributed to the karaoke device first. As a result, it is possible to provide excellent services to customers quickly. Therefore, if the content distribution order is determined based on this priority, ignoring the priority and changing the content acquisition order is undesirable because it leads to a decrease in service to customers.

  Therefore, as a device for reducing the communication load and the communication time at the time of content acquisition while maintaining the content distribution order based on the priority, it is conceivable to configure as described in claim 5.

  That is, after each karaoke device acquires content by the content acquisition means, the identification information of the acquisition destination karaoke device associated with all the contents in the acquisition destination list with respect to the acquisition destination list used for the acquisition. Is further changed to identification information of the own karaoke device, and the acquisition date list updating means for updating the creation date and time to the date and time of the change is further provided.

  By doing in this way, when another karaoke device diverts the acquisition destination list held by the karaoke device that acquired the content, all the acquisition destinations of the latest content in the acquisition destination list are rewritten to the same karaoke device. Will be. Therefore, all content in the acquisition destination list can be acquired continuously from the same karaoke device without changing the content acquisition order, reducing communication load and communication time, and efficiently acquiring content between karaoke devices. it can.

  Next, the karaoke apparatus according to claim 6 functions as a karaoke apparatus constituting the karaoke network according to claim 1. By applying the karaoke apparatus configured as described above to the karaoke network system, the above-described effects can be obtained.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[Description of configuration of karaoke network system 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a karaoke network system 1 according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the karaoke network system 1 is a store in which karaoke devices 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d installed in karaoke rooms in a karaoke store that provides karaoke services to users are connected via a LAN 100. The internal network is connected to the host server 2 via the WAN 200 which is a wide area network. 1 shows a configuration in which four karaoke devices are connected to the karaoke network system 1 in one karaoke store for convenience of explanation, but more karaoke devices are connected to the same store. May be. A plurality of in-store networks may be connected to the host server 2. In the following description, the karaoke devices 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d are simply referred to as the karaoke device 4 unless otherwise distinguished.

The host server 2 has various contents such as karaoke music data, PV video, CM video, etc., for each master device that has the content acquisition authority to acquire content from the host server 2 among the karaoke devices 4 in the karaoke store. Is a server device for a karaoke service for delivering a message. The host server 2 is composed of an information processing apparatus having an appropriate processing capability, and a hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 2 as an external storage device.
4 always holds all contents of the latest revision.

  The host server 2 is connected to the LAN 100 on the karaoke store side via the WAN 200 (for example, the Internet) and the router 120 on the karaoke store side. That is, communication between the host server 2 and the master device of the karaoke apparatus 4 is performed via the WAN 200 and the LAN 100 on the karaoke store side.

  The karaoke device 4 is a karaoke song designated by a user who uses a karaoke service, video content such as a movie, variety program, drama, CM, user-participated content such as an audition or quiz, purchase content such as ordering food and drink, etc. These are devices that hold various contents in their own HDDs 44 and play back the held contents. In the present embodiment, each karaoke device 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d has a serial number (for example, a production number) X001, X002, X003, X004, which is unique identification information.

  Of each karaoke apparatus 4 installed in the karaoke store, only the master machine having the content acquisition authority only directly communicates with the host server 2 to receive distribution of content from the host server 2 (primary Delivery). When receiving the primary distribution from the host server 2, the master unit stores the date and time when the primary distribution was performed and broadcasts a “primary distribution update notification” for notifying other karaoke devices 4 of the date and time. Then, the data is transmitted to each karaoke apparatus 4 (slave machine) connected to the LAN 100.

  On the other hand, each karaoke device connected to the LAN 100 acquires the latest revision of content that is not owned by its own karaoke device 4 (hereinafter referred to as “own device”) from another karaoke device 4 that owns the content. (Secondary delivery). In this way, through the primary distribution from the host server to the master machine and the secondary distribution between the karaoke apparatuses 4, the contents held in all the karaoke apparatuses 4 connected to the LAN 100 are equivalent to the latest ones. It has come to be.

  However, when an alternative machine for the failed karaoke device 4 is newly connected, or when the HDD 44 of the karaoke device 4 is replaced, the old and new contents until the above-described primary distribution and secondary distribution are completed. The karaoke apparatuses 4 having different acquisition statuses may be mixed. In particular, when a plurality of karaoke devices 4 are exchanged at the same time, or when a plurality of karaoke devices 4 having different production times and usage histories are installed at the time of opening a new karaoke store, the acquisition status of old and new content differs. Many karaoke apparatuses 4 are mixed.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, in consideration of such a situation, it is assumed that the acquisition status of new and old content is different between the four karaoke apparatuses 4. Taking the karaoke apparatus 4a with the serial number X001 as an example, the karaoke apparatus 4a does not have the contents F (revision 1) and H (revision 1) that the host server 2 has. Of the contents held by the karaoke apparatus 4a with the serial number X001, B (revision 2), D (revision 1), and I (revision 1) are older than the same contents held by the host server, and the latest revision Is not. As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 1, each karaoke device 4 does not necessarily have all the contents provided from the host server 2, and the held contents are the latest revision. It is not necessarily a thing.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the karaoke apparatus 4.
The karaoke apparatus 4 has a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, an H as a hardware configuration.
It includes a DD 44, an operation unit 45, a reproduction unit 46, an input unit 47, a LAN communication unit 48, and the like.

  The CPU 41 is a device that executes control and various operations for each part of the karaoke device 4 in accordance with programs and data stored in the RAM 42 and the ROM 43. The equivalent processing 1, 2, latest list creation processing, acquisition destination list creation processing, content described later Various processes such as an acquisition process are executed by the CPU 41. The RAM 42 is a storage device used as a main memory or the like that is directly accessed from the CPU 41. Various programs are read from the HDD 44 in the RAM 42, and results of various calculations by the CPU 41 and data read from the HDD 44 are also stored in the RAM 42. When executing various processes to be described later, a program for causing the CPU 41 to execute each process is read from the HDD 44 into the RAM 42. And according to the program memorize | stored in RAM42, CPU41 will perform each process.

  The ROM 43 is a storage device that retains the stored contents even when the power switch of the karaoke apparatus 4 is turned off, and stores BIOS, read-only data that is not normally updated, and the like. The HDD 44 is a device for storing various data such as content data such as karaoke music data and video data, and programs. The operation unit 45 is an input device for inputting various instructions from the user, and includes a plurality of key switches and the like.

  The playback unit 46 is a MIDI sound source that performs performance playback based on performance data, an audio control unit that outputs an audio signal generated from the MIDI sound source and an audio signal input from the input unit 47 to a speaker, and video playback based on image data A video playback unit for controlling the video, a monitor for displaying video, and the like. The input unit 47 is for converting a singer's singing voice into an audio signal by a microphone and inputting the voice signal to the reproduction unit 46.

  The LAN communication unit 48 is a communication interface for connecting the karaoke apparatus 4 to the LAN 100 to communicate with the outside. Each karaoke device 4 connected to the LAN 100 in the same store stores in advance the mutual IP address (for example, the local IP address) and the IP address of the host server 2 (for example, the global IP address), When communicating with the outside by the LAN communication unit 48, the communication partner can be specified by this IP address.

  It should be noted that the primary delivery between the host server 2 and the master machine and the secondary delivery between the karaoke apparatuses 4 are more reliable than multicast communication (UDP / IP) in order to reliably deliver content without errors. Highly unicast communication (TCP / IP) is adopted. In unicast communication using TCP / IP, one-to-one communication is realized by establishing a session with a communication partner.

  Returning to the description of the block diagram of FIG. The router 120 is a communication device that interconnects different networks. The router 120 is installed at a connection point between the WAN 200 that is an external network and the LAN 100 that is an internal network. The router 120 transmits communication from the LAN 100 to the WAN 200 and transmits communication from the WAN 200 to the LAN 100. Each router 120 installed in each karaoke store is assigned a global IP address. Data transmitted from the host server 2 to the master device of each karaoke store is transmitted to the global IP address assigned to each router 120. The router 120 that has received the data addressed to its own global IP address from the host server 2 converts the destination of the received data into the private IP address of the master machine connected in the LAN 100 by port forwarding and sends it to the LAN 100. . By such a procedure, access from the host server 2 outside the LAN 100 to the master machine in the LAN 100 is realized.

[Description of Equivalent Process 1 Performed by Karaoke Apparatus 4]
Next, detailed contents of the equivalent process 1 executed by each karaoke apparatus 4 belonging to the karaoke network system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the main process of the equivalent process 1 executed by the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4. This process is a process that is always executed in all karaoke apparatuses 4 belonging to the karaoke network system 1.

  First, the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 determines whether or not one minute has passed since the last alive transmission (S101). The alive transmission here is data communication for notifying the other karaoke apparatus 4 that the own karaoke apparatus 4 (hereinafter, the own apparatus) is connected to the LAN 100 and is in operation. Data (alive) including the serial number is broadcasted to the LAN 100. If it is determined in S101 that one minute has passed since the previous alive transmission (S101: YES), the alive including the serial number of the own device is broadcasted on the LAN 100 (S102), and the process returns to S101.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S101 that one minute has not elapsed since the previous alive transmission (S101: NO), it is determined whether or not an alive transmitted from another karaoke apparatus 4 connected to the LAN 100 has been received. (S103). Here, if it is determined that an alive from another karaoke apparatus 4 has been received (S103: YES), a serial number indicated by the received alive is a list of connected devices stored in the RAM 42 or the like (see FIG. It is determined whether it is included in 5 (a) (details will be described later) (S104). If it is determined that the serial number indicated by the received alive is included in the connected device list (S104: YES), the process returns to S101. On the other hand, when it is determined that the serial number indicated by the received alive is not included in the connected device list (S104: NO), the serial number indicated by the received alive is additionally recorded in the connected device list. The update date / time of the list is updated to the current date / time (S105), and the process returns to S101.

  Here, the detailed contents of the connected device list stored in the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 5A and 5B are explanations schematically showing an example of the connected device list. In the cases shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the connected device list stored in the karaoke apparatus 4b having the serial number X002 is assumed.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the connected device list is confirmed to be connected to the LAN 100 by receiving an “update date / time” record indicating the date and time when the connected device list was updated and the alive. And a “connected device serial number” record that is a list of serial numbers of the karaoke apparatus 4. The connected device list shown in FIG. 5A shows a state in which the karaoke apparatus 4 with serial numbers X001, X002, X003, and X004 is connected to the LAN 100.

  Here, it is assumed that the karaoke apparatus 4 having a new serial number X005 is connected to the LAN 100. The X005 karaoke apparatus 4 connected to the LAN 100 transmits its own alive on the LAN 100. When the karaoke device 4b with the serial number X002 receives this alive, as shown in FIG. 5B, the serial number of X005 is added to the record of the connected device serial number, and the record of update date and time is updated to the current date and time. To do.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. If it is determined in S103 that an alive from another karaoke apparatus 4 has not been received (S103: NO), it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned primary distribution update notification has been received from the karaoke apparatus 4 that is the master machine ( S106). This primary distribution update notification is data transmitted to notify the other karaoke apparatus 4 of the date and time when the master machine received the primary distribution of content from the host server 2. When it is determined that the primary delivery update notification has been received from the master machine (S106: YES), the primary delivery date and time stored in the RAM 42 or the like is updated to the date and time indicated by the received primary delivery update notice. Then (S107), the process returns to S101.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S106 that the primary delivery update notification has not been received from the master machine (S106: NO), it is determined whether or not an acquisition list transmission request has been received from another karaoke apparatus 4 (S108). ). The acquisition destination list transmission request here refers to data communication for requesting transmission of an acquisition destination list (see FIG. 8B, details will be described later) created between a specified date and time. is there. Here, when it is determined that a transmission request for an acquisition destination list has been received from another karaoke apparatus 4 (S108: YES), an acquisition destination list created between the specified date and time indicated by this transmission request and the current date and time is displayed. It is determined whether or not the device is owned (S109). When it is determined that the own device holds the acquisition destination list created between the specified date and time and the current date and time (S109: YES), the acquired acquisition list is sent to the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 (S110), and the process returns to S101. If it is determined that the own device does not have an acquisition destination list created between the designated date and time and the current date and time (S109: NO), the process returns to S101.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S108 that a request to send the acquisition list is not received from another karaoke apparatus 4 (S108: NO), it is determined whether a request to create a holding list is received from another karaoke apparatus 4. (S111). Here, if it is determined that the possession list creation request has been received from another karaoke apparatus 4 (S111: YES), the possession list which is a list of the contents owned by the own device in the HDD 44 and its revision is created (S112). .

  Here, the specific content of the possession list created by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are explanatory diagrams schematically showing examples of possession lists relating to the own devices created by the karaoke apparatuses 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the possession list includes a serial number that is identification information of the karaoke device 4 that is the creation source, a file name of the content that the karaoke device 4 currently possesses, and its It consists of a set of records consisting of revisions.

  Each content stored in the HDD 44 of the karaoke apparatus 4 has a distribution priority set according to the importance of the content. That is, it indicates that the higher the distribution priority, the higher priority should be distributed over other contents. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that A> B> C> D> E> F> G> H> I in order of distribution priority. And each karaoke apparatus 4 sorts the record of each content in a possession list in order with a high delivery priority, when producing the possession list regarding an own machine. That is, in the created possession list, the records of each content are arranged in descending order of distribution priority.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. After creating the possession list regarding the own device in S112, the created possession list is transmitted to the requesting karaoke apparatus 4 (S113), and the process returns to S101.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S111 that the holding list creation request has not been received (S111: NO), then one day has elapsed since the previous acquisition of the content (that is, when content equivalence was performed). It is determined whether or not (S114). If it is determined that one day has not elapsed since the previous content acquisition (S114: NO), the process returns to S101.

In the process of sequentially repeating the processes of S101 to S114 as described above, when it is determined in S114 that one day has elapsed since the previous content acquisition (S114: YES), the equivalent process 2 is executed (S115), and the process of S101 is performed. Return to processing. In this equivalence process 2, an acquisition destination list is created from another karaoke apparatus 4, or an acquisition destination list is created by itself, and an acquisition destination corresponding to each latest revision content is based on the acquisition destination list. Is obtained from the karaoke apparatus 4. The detailed content of the equivalent process 2 will be described later.

[Description of Equivalent Process 2 Performed by Karaoke Apparatus 4]
Next, the detailed contents of the equivalent process 2 executed by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the main process of the equivalent process 2 executed by the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4. This process is a process executed in S115 of the above-described equivalent process 1 (see FIG. 3).

  First, the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 compares the primary delivery date and time stored in the RAM 42 and the like with the update date and time of the device connection list, and the update date and time of the connected device list is greater than the primary delivery date and time. It is determined whether or not it is close to the current date and time (S121). If it is determined that the updated date / time of the connected device list is closer to the current date / time than the primary delivery date / time (S121: YES), whether the updated date / time of the connected device list is within one hour before the current date / time. Is determined (S122).

  When it is determined that the update date / time of the connected device list is within one hour before the current date / time (S122: YES), the update date / time described in the connected device list held by the own device is set as the specified time. The other karaoke apparatus 4 connected to the LAN 100 is requested to transmit the acquisition destination list created up to the current date and time (S123). It should be noted that the transmission request for the acquisition destination list is made by broadcast without specifying the receiving party.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S121 that the primary delivery date and time is closer to the current date and time than the connection device list update date and time (S121: NO), whether or not the primary delivery date and time is within one hour before the current date and time. Is determined (S124). When it is determined that the primary delivery date / time is within one hour before the current date / time (S124: YES), the primary delivery date / time stored in the device is designated as the designated time, and the time between the designated time and the current date / time is determined. The other karaoke apparatus 4 connected to the LAN 100 is requested to transmit the created acquisition destination list (S125).

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S122 that the connected device list update date is before one hour before the current date (S122: NO), or the primary delivery date is before one hour before the current date in S124. (S124: NO), a request is made for transmission of an acquisition destination list created between this designated time and the current date and time, with the designated time being one hour before the current date and time (S126).

  In step S123, S125, or S126, an acquisition destination list is requested to be transmitted, and then an acquisition destination list transmitted from another karaoke apparatus 4 is received in response to the transmission request (S127). Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined whether or not one or more acquisition destination lists have been collected from the other karaoke devices 4 (S128). If it is determined that the acquisition destination list has been collected (S128: YES), the latest acquisition date is selected from the acquired acquisition list and only the selected acquisition list is saved. Then (S129), the process proceeds to S132.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S128 that no acquisition destination list has been acquired from another karaoke apparatus 4 (S128: NO), the latest list creation process is executed (S130). In this process, the other karaoke device 4 connected to the LAN 100 is requested to create a possession list, and the latest revision content and the latest content are obtained from the possession list relating to the own device and the possession list relating to the other karaoke device 4. The latest list which is a list of all the karaoke apparatuses 4 that hold is created. The detailed contents of this latest list creation process will be described later.

  After creating the latest list in S130, an acquisition destination list creation process is executed (S131). In this process, one karaoke device 4 that is the acquisition destination of the content of each latest revision described in the latest list is selected for each content, and an acquisition source list that is a list in which this is associated with the file name of the content is created. To do. The details of the acquisition destination list creation process will be described later.

  Next, in S132, content acquisition processing is executed based on the acquisition destination list selected and saved in S129 or the acquisition destination list created in S131. In this process, the latest revision content is acquired from the corresponding acquisition karaoke apparatus 4 based on the acquisition destination list. Details of the content acquisition process will be described later.

  After acquiring the content in S132, the serial numbers of all records in the acquisition source list used for acquiring the content are rewritten with the serial numbers of the own device, and the creation date and time of this acquisition source list is updated to the current date and time (S133, 8), the equivalent process 2 is completed.

[Description of latest list creation process executed by karaoke device 4]
Next, detailed contents of the latest list creation process executed by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the latest list creation process executed by the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4. This process is a process executed in S130 of the above-described equivalent process 2 (see FIG. 4).

  First, the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 creates a holding list related to the own device and stores it in the RAM 42 or the like (S210). Since this process is the same as S112 of the above-described equivalent process 1 (see FIG. 3), a detailed description thereof is omitted here. Next, the other karaoke apparatuses 4 connected to the LAN 100 are requested to create their own possession lists (S220). The holding list creation request is made by broadcast without specifying the receiving party.

  After transmitting the possession list creation request, it is determined whether or not the possession list has been received from another karaoke apparatus 4 as a response to the creation request (S230). If it is determined that the possession list has not been received (S230: NO), the process proceeds to S250. On the other hand, when it is determined in S230 that the possession list has been received (S230: YES), the obtained possession list is stored in the RAM 42 or the like (S240), and the process proceeds to S250.

  In S250, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time-out period has elapsed since the transmission of the holding list creation request. If it is determined that the timeout time has not elapsed (S250: NO), the process returns to S230. Thereafter, until the timeout time elapses, the processes of S230 to S250 are sequentially repeated, and the possession list transmitted from each karaoke apparatus 4 is sequentially stored.

If it is determined that the time-out period has elapsed since the transmission of the holding list creation request (S250: YES), all of these are based on the owning list stored in the RAM 42 and the other karaoke devices 4. This is a list in which all types of content included in at least one of the possession list, the latest revision of each content, and all the karaoke devices 4 possessing the content of the latest revision are extracted and associated with each other. The latest list is created (S260).

  FIG. 8A schematically illustrates an example of the latest list created by the latest list creation process described above. In the case shown in FIG. 8A, the latest list created by the karaoke apparatus 4b with the serial number X002 is assumed based on the respective holding lists shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 8A, the latest list includes the file name of the content, the latest revision of the content in the entire possession list, for all types of content included in all the possession lists, And it is comprised by the collection of the record which consists of the serial number of all the karaoke apparatuses 4 which hold | maintain the content of the latest revision. Note that when the karaoke device 4 creates the latest list, the order of contents in the latest list is created in accordance with the order of records of the contents in the possession list (order of distribution priority). That is, the content records in this latest list are arranged in order from the highest distribution priority.

  For example, when the contents of the file name “A” are compared with the respective possession lists shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D, the latest revision of the content A is 3. Then, it is understood from the possession list of FIG. 6 (a) that only the karaoke device with the serial number X001 possesses the content A of revision 3. Therefore, a record composed of the file name “A”, the latest revision “3”, and the serial number “X001” is described in the latest list. Similarly, when the respective possession lists are compared for the content with the file name “I”, for example, the latest revision of the content I is 2. Only the karaoke apparatus with serial numbers X002 and X003 possesses the content I of revision 2. Accordingly, the latest list includes a record including the file name “I”, the latest revision “2”, and the serial numbers “X002” and “X003”.

[Description of acquisition destination list creation processing executed by karaoke device 4]
Next, detailed contents of the acquisition destination list creation process executed by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 9 is the first half of a flowchart showing the procedure of the acquisition destination list creation process executed by the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4, and FIG. 10 is the latter half. This process is a process executed in S131 of the above-described equivalent process 2 (see FIG. 4).

  First, the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 erases and initializes all records in the acquisition destination list stored in the RAM 42 (FIG. 9: S310). Next, the serial number of “previous connection destination” which is a parameter stored in the RAM 42 is deleted and initialized (S320).

Then, the records in the latest list (see FIG. 8A) are referred to in order from the top to determine whether there is an unprocessed record (S330). If it is determined that there is an unprocessed record in the latest list (S330: YES), the highest record among the unprocessed records is acquired as a processing target from the latest list (S340). Then, it is determined whether or not a plurality of serial numbers are described in the acquired record to be processed (S360). If it is determined that only one serial number is described in the record to be processed (S360: NO), the serial number described in the record to be processed is overwritten as the previous connection destination parameter. Store (S370). Then, the file name, revision, and corresponding serial number (in this case, the only serial number described in the record to be processed) described in the record to be processed are acquired as one record. (S390), and the process returns to S330.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S360 that a plurality of serial numbers are described in the record to be processed (S360: YES), the parameter of the previous connection destination is included in the plurality of serial numbers described in the record to be processed. It is determined whether or not there is the same serial number stored as (S380). If it is determined that there is a serial number that is the same as the serial number of the previous connection destination (S380: YES), the file name, revision, and corresponding serial number described in the processing target record (here, the previous serial number) The same serial number as the connection destination) is added to the end of the acquisition source list as one record (S390), and the process returns to S330.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S380 that the serial number described in the record to be processed is not the same as the serial number stored as the previous connection destination parameter (S380: NO), S400 The process proceeds to (see FIG. 10).

  In S400, all serial numbers of the “connection destination candidate array” that are parameters stored in the RAM 42 are erased and initialized. Next, all serial numbers described in the record to be processed are recorded in the initialized connection destination candidate array (S410). Then, it is determined whether or not there is a next lower unreferenced record from the record to be processed in the latest list (S420).

  If it is determined in S420 that there is a next unreferenced record (S420: YES), the serial number described in this next record is referred to (S430). Then, it is determined whether or not the same serial number exists between the serial number described in the next record and the serial number stored as the parameter of the connection destination candidate array (S450). If it is determined that the same serial number exists between the serial number of the next record and the serial number of the connection destination candidate array (S450: YES), the mismatched serial number is deleted from the connection destination candidate array. (S460). Then, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of serial numbers in the connection destination candidate array after deletion (S470). If it is determined that there are a plurality of serial numbers in the connection destination candidate array after deletion (S470: YES), the process returns to S420, and there is an unreferenced record that is further next to the previous next record in S420. It is determined whether or not to do.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S470 that only one serial number is recorded in the connection destination candidate array (S470: NO), the serial number is overwritten and stored as the parameter of the previous connection destination (S490), and S390 ( The process proceeds to the process of FIG. In S390, the file name, revision, and corresponding serial number (here, the only serial number recorded in the connection destination candidate array) described in the processing target record are acquired as one record. And return to the processing of S330.

Returning to the flowchart of FIG. When it is determined in S420 that there is no next lower unreferenced record (S420: NO), or in S450, the serial number described in the next record and the serial number stored as parameters of the connection destination candidate array If it is determined that the same serial number does not exist between the numbers (S450: NO), the serial number recorded in the connection destination candidate sequence is the smallest (the number is the smallest). The serial number is set (S480). Then, the set serial number is overwritten and stored as the previous connection destination parameter (S490), and the process proceeds to S390 (see FIG. 9). In S390, the file name, revision, and corresponding serial number (here, set in S480) described in the record to be processed are added to the end of the acquisition list as one record, and S330 Return to the process.

  Thereafter, the processing of S330 to S490 is sequentially repeated, so that the contents and the records of the acquisition destination are sequentially added to the acquisition destination list in the same order as the arrangement order of the records in the latest list. If it is determined in S330 that there are no unprocessed records in the latest list (S330: NO), that is, if the process of selecting acquisition sources for all the records in the latest list is completed, the acquisition list is created. The date and time record is updated to the current date and time (S500), and the acquisition destination list creation process is terminated.

  FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram schematically showing an example of the acquisition destination list created by the above-described acquisition destination list creation processing. In the case shown in FIG. 8B, an acquisition destination list created by the karaoke apparatus 4b with the serial number X002 is assumed based on the latest list shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8B, the acquisition destination list is the content file name, the latest revision of the content, and the acquisition destination of the content for each content described in all the records included in the latest list. It is composed of a set of records composed of serial numbers of two karaoke apparatuses 4. Note that when the karaoke device 4 creates the acquisition destination list, the arrangement order of the records in the acquisition destination list is made the same as the arrangement order of the records in the latest list (that is, the distribution priority order of the contents). To do. In other words, the content records in this acquisition destination list are arranged in order from the highest distribution priority.

  For example, for the content with the file name “A”, only X001 is described as the serial number in the latest list in FIG. Therefore, in the acquisition source list creation process (FIGS. 9 and 10) described above, X001 is selected as the serial number of the acquisition destination of the content A, and is described in the content A record in the acquisition destination list of FIG. Similarly, for the content with the file name “B”, since only X004 is described as the serial number in the latest list, this X004 is described in the record of content B in the acquisition destination list.

  Next, for the content with the file name “C”, X001, X003, and X004 are described as serial numbers in the latest list. At this time, since X004, which is the acquisition destination of the content B, is stored as the previous connection destination, X004 is selected as the acquisition destination of the content C, and is described in the record of the content C in the acquisition destination list. Assuming that the content is acquired in order from the top content in the acquisition destination list, as described above, by selecting the same serial number as the previous connection destination as the acquisition destination, a plurality of karaoke devices 4 of the same acquisition destination can be selected. The content of can be acquired continuously. That is, a plurality of contents can be acquired continuously in a communication session that has been established once, so that a communication session can be established in comparison with a case where a communication session is established with a different acquisition destination each time one content is acquired. The required communication load can be reduced.

  Next, for the content with the file name “D”, X002, X003, and X004 are described as serial numbers in the latest list. At this time, since X004, which is the acquisition destination of the content C, is stored as the previous connection destination, X004 is selected as the acquisition destination of the content D, and is described in the record of the content D in the acquisition destination list.

Next, for the content with the file name “E”, X001 and X003 are described as serial numbers in the latest list. In this case, the previous connection destination serial number X004 is not included. Here, referring to the record of the next lower content F in the latest list, it can be understood that the serial number X003 common to the content E is included. Therefore, the serial number X003 common to the next record is selected as the acquisition destination of the content E, and is described in the record of the content E in the acquisition destination list. As described above, when there is a serial number common to lower consecutive contents, selecting the serial number as an acquisition destination selects the same serial number as the acquisition destination of the lower contents. Therefore, it becomes possible to continuously acquire a plurality of contents from the karaoke apparatus 4 of the same acquisition destination, and the communication load required for establishing a communication session can be reduced.

  Next, for the content with the file name “F”, X003 and X004 are described as serial numbers in the latest list. At this time, since X003, which is the acquisition destination of the content E, is stored as the previous connection destination, X003 is selected as the acquisition destination of the content F, and is described in the record of the content F in the acquisition destination list.

  Next, for the content with the file name “G”, X001 and X004 are described as serial numbers in the latest list. In this case, the previous connection destination serial number X003 is not included. Further, even if the record of the next lower content H in the latest list is referred to, the serial number common to the content G is not included. Therefore, here, X001 having a smaller serial number is selected as the acquisition destination of the content G, and is described in the record of the content G in the acquisition destination list.

  Next, for the content with the file name “H”, only X003 is described as the serial number in the latest list. Therefore, X003 is selected as the acquisition destination of the content H, and is described in the record of the content H in the acquisition destination list.

  Finally, X002 and X003 are described as serial numbers in the latest list for the content with the file name “I”. At this time, since X003, which is the acquisition destination of the content H, is stored as the previous connection destination, X003 is selected as the acquisition destination of the content I, and is described in the record of the content I in the acquisition destination list.

[Description of content acquisition processing executed by karaoke device 4]
Next, detailed contents of the content acquisition process executed by the karaoke apparatus 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of content acquisition processing executed by the CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4. This process is a process executed in S132 of the above-described equivalent process 2 (see FIG. 4).

  The CPU 41 of the karaoke apparatus 4 first refers to the records in the acquisition destination list (see FIG. 8B) in order from the top, and determines whether there is a record of unacquired content (S510). When it is determined that there is an unacquired content record in the acquisition destination list (S510: YES), the highest record among the unacquired content records is acquired as a processing target from the acquisition destination list (S520). ).

  Then, it is determined whether or not the serial number described in the record to be processed is the same as the serial number of the own device (S530). If it is determined that the serial number described in the record to be processed is the same as the serial number of the own device (S530: YES), the process returns to S510 to determine whether there is a next record to be processed. Determine whether.

On the other hand, when it is determined in S530 that the serial number described in the record to be processed is different from the serial number of the own device (S530: NO), the own device's own list (see FIG. 6) is referred to and the own device is referred to. In the possession list, it is determined whether or not the record to be processed includes a record of the same content with the same revision as the corresponding content (S540). Here, when it is determined that the record to be processed includes a record of the same content with the same revision as the corresponding content in the own list (S540: YES), that is, the record corresponding to the record to be processed If the own device already holds the same content with the same revision as the content, the process returns to S510 to determine whether there is a next record to be processed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S540 that the record to be processed does not include a record of the same content at the same revision as the corresponding content in the own list (S540: NO), it is described in the record to be processed. The content corresponding to this record is acquired from the karaoke apparatus 4 corresponding to the serial number that is present (S550). At this time, when content is acquired from the same karaoke apparatus 4 as the communication partner that has already established a communication session as the previous connection destination, the content is continuously acquired while maintaining the communication session. On the other hand, when acquiring content from the karaoke apparatus 4 different from the previous connection destination, a communication session is newly established with the karaoke apparatus 4 of the acquisition destination, and the content is acquired.

  Thereafter, the processing of S510 to S550 is sequentially repeated to sequentially acquire contents from the higher order records in the acquisition destination list according to the distribution priority order, and when it is determined in S510 that there are no unacquired content records (S510). : NO), the content acquisition process is terminated.

  After this content acquisition process is completed, in S133 of the equivalent process 2 (see FIG. 4), the serial numbers of all records in the acquisition source list used for content acquisition are rewritten with the serial numbers of the own device, and the acquisition source list is created. Update the date and time to the current date and time. Specifically, when the karaoke apparatus 4b with the serial number X002 acquires content based on the acquisition source list shown in FIG. 8B, after acquisition of the content, as shown in FIG. Are all changed to the serial number X002 of the own device, and the creation date and time of the acquisition source list is updated. The same processing is performed not only on the acquisition destination list created by itself but also on the acquisition destination list acquired from another karaoke apparatus 4.

[effect]
According to the karaoke network system of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Each karaoke device 4 connected to the LAN 100 collects a possession list from the other karaoke devices 4 and creates a latest list and an acquisition destination list based on the collected possession list. Then, according to the acquired acquisition destination list, the latest content that each own device does not have can be acquired from another karaoke apparatus 4 that has the latest content. As a result, in a situation where a plurality of karaoke devices 4 having different production times and usage histories are connected on the LAN 100 and the distribution status of the latest content is uneven, each karaoke device 4 is connected to each other karaoke device 4 on the LAN 100. By acquiring the latest content, the unfairness of services can be quickly resolved. In addition, since only the latest content that the device itself does not have is acquired, so-called reverse equivalence such as being equivalent to a karaoke device that does not have the latest content 4 does not occur. Therefore, according to the karaoke network system 1 of the embodiment, the latest content can be efficiently distributed between a plurality of karaoke apparatuses 4 having different content acquisition situations.

(2) If there is an acquisition destination list created by another karaoke device 4 within the specified date and time, the latest acquisition destination created by the other karaoke device 4 instead of creating the acquisition destination list by itself. You can get a list and use it to get content. That is, when each karaoke device 4 tries to acquire content, it is not always necessary to create an acquisition destination list. Therefore, the processing load for the karaoke device 4 to acquire content to create the acquisition destination list and the processing load to create the holding list in response to a request from the karaoke device 4 are reduced.

  (3) When the karaoke device 4 is newly connected to the LAN 100, the content held by the karaoke device 4 may include the latest content not yet held by the other karaoke device 4. Moreover, when the karaoke apparatus 4 which is a master machine receives primary delivery from the host server 2, the content which the master machine possesses naturally includes the latest contents which the other karaoke apparatus 4 does not yet possess. . Therefore, when acquiring the content, when the connection of a new karaoke device 4 is detected on the LAN 100 (that is, the update date and time of the connected device list), or the latest date and time when the primary distribution from the host server 2 was performed (that is, (Our primary distribution date / time), the device acquires itself by acquiring from the other karaoke device 4 an acquisition destination list created between the date / time closest to the current date / time and the current date / time. While reducing the processing load for creating the destination list, it is possible to reliably acquire the latest content that the device does not have.

  (4) An acquisition destination list created more than a fixed time (one hour before in the above embodiment) from the current date and time is excluded from the diversion target, so that the acquisition destination list diverted from other karaoke devices 4 The credibility can be secured. Note that the reference fixed time may be set to an appropriate value in operation, but the shorter the fixed time, the greater the chance that the karaoke apparatus 4 that intends to acquire content creates its own acquisition destination list. . Therefore, this fixed time is set to a value that does not cause the frequency of newly creating an acquisition list to be excessive, taking into consideration the scale of the network, the processing capability of the karaoke device 4, the number of contents held by each karaoke device 4, and the like. That's fine.

  (5) After acquiring the content based on the acquisition list, the karaoke apparatus 4 changes the serial number of the acquisition source of all the content to the serial number of the own device, and sets the creation date and time for the acquisition source list. Update to the date and time when the change was made. By doing in this way, when the other karaoke apparatus 4 diverts the acquisition destination list which the karaoke apparatus 4 which acquired the content possesses, all the serial numbers of the acquisition destination of the latest content in the acquisition destination list are the same. This means that the device 4 has been rewritten. Therefore, since all the contents in the acquisition destination list can be continuously acquired from the same karaoke apparatus 4 without changing the order of acquiring the contents, the communication load and the communication time are reduced, and the contents can be efficiently transmitted between the karaoke apparatuses. You can get it.

  (6) When the acquisition destination list is created by itself, if the karaoke device 4 of the previous connection destination is included in the karaoke device 4 that holds the target content, the karaoke device 4 of the target content is created. Select as acquisition source. By doing in this way, since it becomes possible to acquire a content continuously from the same karaoke apparatus 4, the load for establishing a communication session can be reduced.

  (7) On the other hand, when the karaoke device 4 to which the connection is made last time does not have the target content, any of the karaoke devices 4 that have the content immediately below is the same as the karaoke device 4 that has the target content If so, the same karaoke apparatus 4 is selected as the acquisition source of the target content. In this case, when acquiring the content, a new communication session needs to be established, but the next content can be continuously acquired from the same karaoke apparatus 4, so the load for establishing the communication session can be reduced. .

(8) Also, when selecting the same karaoke device 4 as the karaoke device 4 associated with the content immediately below the target content as an acquisition destination, Among the plurality of karaoke apparatuses 4, the karaoke apparatus 4 whose owner is the same as the most subordinate content continuously from the latest subordinate content is selected as the acquisition source of the target content. By configuring in this way, it is possible to select the acquisition destination of the target content so as to be continuous with the acquisition destinations of as many subordinate contents as possible. Therefore, as much content as possible can be continuously acquired from the same karaoke device 4, communication load and communication time can be reduced, and content can be efficiently acquired between karaoke devices.

  By performing (6) to (8), as much content as possible is continuously made from the same karaoke device 4 without changing the order of content acquisition, that is, while maintaining the distribution priority order of the content. An acquisition list is created so that it can be acquired. Therefore, communication load and communication time can be reduced, and contents can be efficiently acquired between karaoke apparatuses.

[Modification]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to said embodiment at all, It is possible to implement in various aspects.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the date and time when the connection of the new karaoke device 4 is detected on the LAN 100 (that is, the update date and time of the connected device list) as the designated date and time when acquiring the acquisition list from another karaoke device 4, the host Of the date and time when the primary delivery from the server 2 was performed (that is, the primary delivery date and time) or the fixed time (one hour ago), the one closest to the current date and time is adopted. In addition to such operations, it is also possible to operate in a manner that omits any of the update date / time, primary delivery date / time, or fixed time of the connected device list, and only one of these can be used. It is also possible to operate in such a manner that the designated time is determined by.

  Furthermore, in addition to the update date / time of the connected device list, the primary delivery date / time, and the fixed time, for example, in the karaoke device 4 already connected to the LAN 100, the date / time when the HDD 44, which is a content storage medium, is replaced is specified. It may be adopted as the date and time. In this case, the karaoke apparatus 4 whose HDD 44 has been replaced performs communication for notifying the replacement date and time of the HDD 44 by broadcast. Then, each karaoke device 4 may store the exchange date and time so that the karaoke device 4 adopts it for the designated time in the acquisition list transmission request.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke network system 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a karaoke apparatus 4. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of equivalent processing 1; It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the equivalent process 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a connection apparatus list typically. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of a holding list typically. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the newest list creation process. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the newest list typically, (b), (c) is explanatory drawing which shows an example of an acquisition destination list typically. It is the first half part of the flowchart which shows the procedure of an acquisition destination list creation process. It is the latter half part of the flowchart which shows the procedure of an acquisition destination list creation process. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a content acquisition process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Karaoke network system, 2 ... Host server, 4 ... Karaoke apparatus, 41 ... CPU, 42 ... RAM, 43 ... ROM, 44 ... HDD, 45 ... Operation part, 46 ... Playback part, 47 ... Input part, 48 ... LAN Communication unit 100 ... LAN 120 ... Router 200 ... WAN

Claims (6)

The content including at least karaoke music is held, and a plurality of karaoke devices for reproducing the content are connected to be communicable via a network, and the content held between the karaoke devices can be copied via the network Karaoke network
Each of the karaoke devices is a means for processing executed when acquiring content from another karaoke device connected to the network.
Transmission request means for requesting transmission of an acquisition destination list created in the other karaoke apparatus during a period from a predetermined designated date and time before the current time to the current time to the other karaoke apparatus connected to the network When,
An acquisition destination list acquisition means for acquiring the acquisition destination list transmitted from the other karaoke device in response to a transmission request by the transmission request means;
If the acquisition source list cannot be acquired by the acquisition source list acquisition unit after the transmission request by the transmission request unit, the identification information of the karaoke device and the identification information of all contents held by the karaoke device are acquired for the own karaoke device. , And a first holding list creating means for creating a holding list that is a list in which revisions of the respective contents are recorded;
If the acquisition destination list acquisition means fails to acquire the acquisition destination list after the transmission request by the transmission request means, the other list karaoke devices connected to the network are informed of the possession list related to the karaoke device. Creation request means to request creation,
Possession list acquisition means for acquiring the possession list created by each of the other karaoke devices in response to a creation request by the creation request means;
Based on the possession list of the own karaoke device created by the first possession list creation means, and the possession list of each of the other karaoke devices acquired by the possession list acquisition means, for each content included in these possession lists, Latest list creation means for creating a latest list, which is a list in which the identification information of the content, the latest revision in the content, and the identification information of all karaoke devices holding the content of the latest revision are associated and recorded;
In the latest list created by the latest list creating means, among the identification information of the karaoke apparatus associated with the latest revision of each content, one piece of identification information of the karaoke apparatus that is the acquisition destination of the content is one per content. An acquisition destination list creating means for creating the acquisition destination list, which is a list in which the identification information and the latest revision of the content are selected and recorded, and information indicating the creation date and time is added thereto;
In the acquisition destination list acquired from the other karaoke apparatus by the acquisition destination list acquisition means, the latest revision in one acquisition destination list having the latest creation date or time or the acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means If the identification information of another karaoke device other than the own karaoke device is associated as the acquisition source of the content and the latest karaoke device does not have the latest revision content, the latest revision content is supported. Content acquisition means for acquiring from a karaoke device,
Furthermore, each of the karaoke devices is a means related to processing to be executed when receiving a transmission request for the acquisition destination list from another karaoke device connected to the network.
In the past, when the acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means has an acquisition destination list whose creation date and time is after the specified date and time in the transmission request, the acquisition destination list is sent to the transmission request source An acquisition destination list transmission means for transmitting to the karaoke apparatus of
Furthermore, each karaoke device, as a means related to processing executed when receiving a request to create the possession list from another karaoke device connected to the network,
In response to a request to create a possession list, a second possession list is created that is a list in which the identification information of the own karaoke device, the identification information of all the content possessed by the own karaoke device, and the revisions of each content are recorded. Holding list creation means,
A karaoke network system comprising: possession list transmission means for transmitting the possession list of the own karaoke apparatus created by the second possession list creation means to the karaoke apparatus as a creation request source. The karaoke network system according to claim 1,
Each karaoke device is
An update date and time recording means for detecting another karaoke device newly connected to the network and recording the detected latest date and time as an update date and time, further comprises:
The karaoke network system, wherein the transmission request unit requests transmission of the acquisition source list using the update date and time recorded in the update date and time recording unit as the specified date and time. The karaoke network system according to claim 1,
The karaoke network system is connected via an external network to a content delivery host server that delivers content to one of the karaoke devices belonging to the karaoke network system.
Each karaoke device acquires the date and time when the content was distributed from the host server to any one karaoke device belonging to the karaoke network system, and records the acquired latest date and time as the update date and time Further comprising means,
The karaoke network system, wherein the transmission request unit requests transmission of the acquisition destination list using the update date and time recorded by the update date and time recording unit as the specified date and time. In the karaoke network system according to claim 2 or claim 3,
The transmission request unit includes the update date / time recorded by the update date / time recording unit and the date / time corresponding to a predetermined fixed time before the current time as the designated date / time as the specified date / time. A karaoke network system that requests the acquisition list to be sent. The karaoke network system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Each karaoke device is
After the content is acquired by the content acquisition means, the identification information of the karaoke device of the acquisition destination associated with all the contents in the acquisition destination list is identified with respect to the acquisition destination list used for the acquisition. A karaoke network system characterized by further comprising an acquisition destination list updating means for changing to information and updating the creation date and time to the date and time of the change. A plurality of karaoke apparatuses that have contents including at least karaoke music and that reproduce the contents are communicably connected via a network, and the contents held between the karaoke apparatuses can be copied via the network. In the karaoke apparatus constituting the karaoke network,
As means relating to processing executed when acquiring content from another karaoke device connected to the network,
Transmission request means for requesting transmission of an acquisition destination list created in the other karaoke apparatus during a period from a predetermined designated date and time before the current time to the current time to the other karaoke apparatus connected to the network When,
An acquisition destination list acquisition means for acquiring the acquisition destination list transmitted from the other karaoke device in response to a transmission request by the transmission request means;
If the acquisition source list cannot be acquired by the acquisition source list acquisition unit after the transmission request by the transmission request unit, the identification information of the karaoke device and the identification information of all contents held by the karaoke device are acquired for the own karaoke device. , And a first holding list creating means for creating a holding list that is a list in which revisions of the respective contents are recorded;
If the acquisition destination list acquisition means fails to acquire the acquisition destination list after the transmission request by the transmission request means, the other list karaoke devices connected to the network are informed of the possession list related to the karaoke device. Creation request means to request creation,
Possession list acquisition means for acquiring the possession list created by each of the other karaoke devices in response to a creation request by the creation request means;
Based on the possession list of the own karaoke device created by the first possession list creation means, and the possession list of each of the other karaoke devices acquired by the possession list acquisition means, for each content included in these possession lists, Latest list creation means for creating a latest list, which is a list in which the identification information of the content, the latest revision in the content, and the identification information of all karaoke devices holding the content of the latest revision are associated and recorded;
In the latest list created by the latest list creating means, among the identification information of the karaoke apparatus associated with the latest revision of each content, one piece of identification information of the karaoke apparatus that is the acquisition destination of the content is one per content. An acquisition destination list creating means for creating the acquisition destination list, which is a list in which the identification information and the latest revision of the content are selected and recorded, and information indicating the creation date and time is added thereto;
In the acquisition destination list acquired from the other karaoke apparatus by the acquisition destination list acquisition means, the latest revision in one acquisition destination list having the latest creation date or time or the acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means Content acquisition means for acquiring the latest revision of the content from the corresponding karaoke device when the identification information of the other karaoke device other than the own karaoke device is associated as the content acquisition destination of
Furthermore, as means relating to processing to be executed when receiving a transmission request for the acquisition destination list from another karaoke device connected to the network,
In the past, when the acquisition destination list created by the acquisition destination list creation means has an acquisition destination list whose creation date and time is after the specified date and time in the transmission request, the acquisition destination list is sent to the transmission request source An acquisition destination list transmission means for transmitting to the karaoke apparatus of
Furthermore, as means relating to processing to be executed when receiving a request to create the possession list from another karaoke device connected to the network,
In response to a request to create a possession list, a second possession list is created that is a list in which the identification information of the own karaoke device, the identification information of all the content possessed by the own karaoke device, and the revisions of each content are recorded. Holding list creation means,
A karaoke apparatus comprising: a possession list transmission unit configured to transmit a possession list of the own karaoke apparatus created by the second possession list creation unit to a karaoke apparatus as a creation request source.

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