JP2004343238A - Content distribution method and content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to solve the user dissatisfaction and to reduce the revenue of a content distributor at the same time by reducing the usage conditions of the user instead of discounting the fee when the viewing quality is poor.
An end-user terminal includes means for measuring the viewing quality of the content when the content is distributed, and notifying the application server of the viewing quality measurement result. Means for managing, based on the result of the viewing quality measurement notified from the user terminal, counting down the usage condition if the viewing quality of the content satisfies a certain standard, and not counting down if not satisfied.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to streaming distribution of paid content or the like using the Internet or the like, and more particularly, to extending the period of use or the number of times of content distribution from a media distribution platform in accordance with the viewing quality of content received at a user terminal. The present invention relates to a content distribution method and a content distribution system that are enabled.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a viewing mode of streaming distribution of paid content using the Internet or the like, a method of once paying the content price is a method of viewing the content as many times as possible for a certain period, or limiting the number of times during a certain period. A method or a method of limiting the number of times without limiting the period is generally used.
[0003]
On the other hand, a method has been proposed in which a terminal that receives a streaming distribution of content measures the viewing quality of the content and returns the result to the content distribution side, so that a fee is refunded to the user according to the deterioration of the viewing quality. (For example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP, 2002-209234, A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If you pay the content once, you can see it as many times as you want within a certain period, limit the number of times during a certain period, or limit the number of times without limiting the period, etc. Is constant irrespective of the viewing quality. Therefore, if only low-quality images or the like are provided because the network is crowded at the time of reproduction, the viewer may be dissatisfied.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the method of Patent Literature 1, since the viewing quality of the content is reflected in the billing, the dissatisfaction of the viewer is alleviated to some extent, but the content distributor may reduce the revenue.
[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the conventional method, and has as its object the purpose of keeping the paid price as it is and using the content distribution period and the number of times of use of the content distribution from the media distribution platform in accordance with the content viewing quality. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution method and a system which can extend the contents and the like to solve the dissatisfaction of the content viewers (users) and at the same time to solve the decrease in the revenue of the content distributor.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is characterized in that the viewing quality of the content is measured at the user terminal when the content is distributed, and the usage condition is not counted down when the viewing quality of the content does not satisfy a certain standard.
[0009]
In addition, the present invention measures the viewing quality of the content at the user terminal at the time of distribution of the content, and counts up the use condition counted down at the time of using the content when the viewing quality of the content does not satisfy a certain standard. It is characterized by the following.
[0010]
Here, the usage condition is a remaining viewing period, a remaining viewing frequency, or a usage point at which a certain unit amount decreases with each use.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
<System configuration>
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an end user terminal 10 is connected to an application server (application node) 100, an accounting settlement platform 110, a media distribution platform 120, and the like via a network 50 such as the Internet. Although a copyright management platform and the like also exist on the network, they are not shown in FIG. 1 because they are not directly related to the present invention.
[0012]
The end user terminal 10 is a general term for a digital TV terminal, a personal computer, a PDA, a PHS, a mobile phone, and the like. The end-user terminal 10 includes a content viewing quality determination unit 11 that measures the viewing quality of the content being played back, in addition to the existing Web browser and playback player. Here, in the measurement of the content viewing quality, for example, the continuity or lack of a received packet can be used as described in Patent Document 1. Also, as described in, for example, NTT Technical Journal, March 2001, Hirohisa Taniguchi and Tadahiro Yokoi, “Current Status of IP Network Quality Measurement Technology” (pages 71 to 74), packets are provided with a time stamp, and the time stamp difference is set. , The delay time is calculated from the packet delay and the packet delay fluctuation can be used as a measure.
[0013]
The application server 100 plays a role of a portal site of the present system, and also performs content sales / user management. The application server 100 manages, for each content / user, content contract data, usage conditions (remaining viewing period, remaining viewing frequency, usage points at which a certain unit amount decreases for each usage), content usage history, and the like. A user viewing management database 101 is provided. It is assumed that the application server 100 also manages a URL indicating a location of a metafile of the pay content provided by the present system.
[0014]
The billing settlement platform 110 is a server that does not perform billing processing and manages billing for each user. The media distribution platform 120 stores a content file 121 that holds distribution content and a content metafile 122 that holds metadata (content URL, type, outline, etc.) of the content without distributing the content and metadata. Have.
[0015]
<Example 1>
This is because if the viewing quality of the streaming-distributed content does not satisfy a certain standard, instead of discounting the fee, the paid content is not counted down by using the remaining viewing period, remaining viewing frequency, usage points, etc. It allows extension of usage. 2 and 3 show an operation sequence of the first embodiment.
[0016]
(1) When the end user terminal 10 accesses the application server 100 and executes, for example, a request to purchase paid VOD (Video On Demand) P content (a request to purchase a viewing right) (S201), the application server 100 displays a guide screen. It is sent (S202).
(2) When the end user follows the guide screen of the terminal 10 and inputs an acknowledgment that the purchase may be made (S203), the application server 100 requests the charge settlement platform 110 to perform a charge process (S204). .
(3) When the accounting process is performed by the accounting settlement platform 110 (S205), the accounting settlement result is notified from the accounting settlement platform 110 to the application server 100 (S206).
(4) The application server 100 sets the content contract information, usage conditions, usage history (first is NULL) and the like of the end user in the content / user viewing management database 101 (S207), and reports the billing result and the like to the end user terminal. 10 is displayed on the screen (S208).
(5) When the user confirms the charging result and the like, and a viewing request is sent from the end user terminal 10 (S209), the application server 100 notifies the end user terminal 10 of the URL of the metafile of the content (S210).
(6) The Web browser of the end user terminal 10 activates the corresponding reproduction player and passes the URL of the meta file of the notified content (S211).
[0017]
(7) When the playback player of the end user terminal 10 executes a content metadata request for the URL of the content metafile 122 of the media distribution platform 120 (S212), the media distribution platform 120 transmits the metadata of the content. It is sent to the end user terminal 10 (S213).
(8) The metadata describes the URL of the content, and the playback player 11 of the end user terminal 10 executes a playback request to the URL of the content file 121 of the media distribution platform 120 (S214). The video stream or the like transmitted from the distribution platform 120 is reproduced (S215).
(9) The content viewing quality measurement unit 11 of the end user terminal 10 measures the viewing quality of the video stream or the like being played back by the playback player (S216). The measurement of the viewing quality is performed in fixed time units, and the result of the viewing quality measurement is sequentially notified to the application server 100 (S217).
(10) If the viewing quality satisfies the reference value and is satisfactory, the application server 100 determines whether the content in the content / user viewing management database 101 is used by the end user (remaining viewing period, remaining viewing count, or usage). Count down). On the other hand, if the viewing quality does not satisfy the standard and is poor, the countdown is not performed. This is executed every fixed time period from the beginning to the end of the distribution, and the first viewing is completed (S218).
[0018]
(11) It is assumed that, after the end of the first viewing, a second viewing request is made from the end user terminal 10 (S219).
(12) The application server 100 checks the content / user viewing management database 101 to determine whether the content has been purchased by the user and within the remaining viewing period, the remaining viewing count, or the viewing usage point (S220). . If the viewing period and the number of times of viewing are not zero, the application server 100 notifies the end user terminal 10 of the URL of the metafile of the content (S221).
(13) Steps S222 to S229 are the same as in the first viewing, and a description thereof will be omitted. Similarly, in the second viewing, the end user terminal 10 measures the viewing quality of the video stream or the like being played back and notifies the application server 100 of the viewing quality measurement result at regular time intervals. In accordance with the result of the viewing quality measurement, the content server viewing management database 101 repeats the countdown of the remaining viewing period, the number of remaining viewings, or the number of usage points of the end user of the content, or stops counting down.
[0019]
Hereinafter, each time there is a viewing request from the end user terminal 10, the processing continues until the remaining viewing period or the remaining number of times of viewing of the content in the content / user viewing management database 101 becomes zero. Note that when a viewing request is issued from the end user terminal 10 and the remaining viewing period or the number of remaining viewing times of the end user of the content is zero, for example, the application server 100 provides a guide to the end user terminal 10. The screen will be displayed to prompt the purchase or the like again.
[0020]
<Example 2>
In the case where the viewing quality of streaming-distributed content does not satisfy a certain criterion, usage can be extended by counting up usage conditions that have been counted down when using the content. 4 and 5 show an operation sequence of the second embodiment.
[0021]
(1) When the end user terminal 10 accesses the application server 100 and executes, for example, a request to purchase paid VOD content (S301), the application server 100 sends a guidance screen (S302).
(2) When the end user follows the guidance screen of the terminal 10 and inputs an acknowledgment that charging may be performed upon purchase (S303), the application server 100 requests the charging and settlement platform 110 to perform charging (S304).
(3) When the accounting process is performed in the accounting settlement platform 110 (S305), the accounting processing result is notified from the accounting settlement platform 110 to the application node 100 (S306).
(4) The application server 100 sets the content contract information, usage conditions, usage history, and the like of the end user in the content / user viewing management database 101 (S307), and displays the billing result and the like on the screen of the user terminal 10. It is displayed (S308).
(5) When the user confirms the billing result and the like and a viewing request is sent from the end user terminal 10 (S309), the application server 100 notifies the end user terminal 10 of the URL of the metafile of the content (S310).
(6) Further, the application server 100 counts down usage conditions such as the remaining viewing period, the remaining viewing frequency, and the remaining usage point of the content in the content / user viewing management database 101 (S311).
[0022]
(7) The Web browser of the end user terminal 10 starts the corresponding playback player and passes the URL of the meta file of the notified content (S312).
(8) When the playback player of the end user terminal 10 executes a content metadata request for the URL of the content metafile 122 of the media distribution platform 120 (S313), the media distribution platform 120 transmits the metadata of the content. It is sent to the end user terminal 10 (S314).
(9) The URL of the content is described in the metadata, and the (reproduction player) of the end user terminal 10 issues a reproduction request to the URL of the content file 121 of the media distribution platform 120 (S315). Then, a video stream or the like sent from the media distribution platform 120 is reproduced (S316).
(10) The content viewing quality measuring unit 11 of the end user terminal 10 measures viewing quality information such as a video stream being played by the playback player (S317). The measurement of the viewing quality is performed in fixed time units, and the result of the viewing quality measurement is sequentially notified to the application server 100 (S318).
(11) If the viewing quality does not satisfy the reference value and is not good, the application server 100 determines whether the end user uses the content in the content / user viewing management database 101 (remaining viewing period, remaining viewing count, or remaining viewing frequency). (Use point) is counted up by a predetermined value. If the viewing quality satisfies the criteria and is good, it is left as it is. This is executed every fixed time period from the beginning to the end of the distribution, and the first viewing ends (S319).
[0023]
(12) Assume that a second viewing request is made from the end user terminal 10 after the first viewing is completed (S320).
(13) In the application server 100, content. The user viewing management database 101 is checked to determine whether the content has been purchased by the user and whether the viewing usage point, the remaining viewing count, the remaining viewing period, or the like can be counted down, and if possible, the count is down (S321). Then, the application server 100 returns the URL of the metafile to the end user terminal 10 (S322). If it is impossible, the viewing is stopped, a guidance screen or the like is displayed on the end terminal 10, and the purchase or the like is prompted again.
(14) Steps S323 to S330 are the same as those for the first viewing, and a description thereof will be omitted. Similarly, in the second viewing, the end user terminal 10 measures the viewing quality of the video stream or the like being played back and notifies the application server 100 of the viewing quality measurement result at regular time intervals. Then, in accordance with the viewing quality measurement result, the operation of performing the count-up of the end-user's viewing usage point, the remaining viewing period, or the remaining viewing count of the content in the content / user viewing management database 101, or performing the operation of keeping the count up without any change. repeat.
[0024]
Hereinafter, each time there is a viewing request from the end user terminal 10, the processing continues until the remaining viewing period or the remaining number of times of viewing of the content in the content / user viewing management database 101 becomes zero.
[0025]
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the embodiment, it is checked whether or not the viewing quality satisfies a reference value at regular time intervals during reproduction. If not, whether the remaining viewing period, the remaining number of times of viewing, or the usage point is counted down (first embodiment) ) Or count-up (Example 2), but paying attention from the beginning to the end of the distribution, if the viewing quality as a whole does not satisfy the reference value, do not count down or count up. May be.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the viewing quality is poor in the stream distribution of the content, usage conditions such as the remaining viewing period of the end user, the number of remaining viewing times, and the use points are extended, so that it is easy for the VOD user and the like to use. A system can be constructed, and a system can be provided that does not require content providers to lower usage fees.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a content distribution system.
FIG. 2 is an operation sequence diagram of the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an operation sequence diagram continued from FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an operation sequence diagram of the second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a continued operation sequence diagram of FIG. 4;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 End user terminal 11 Content viewing quality measuring unit 50 Network 100 Application server (application node)
110 Payment settlement platform 101 Content / user viewing management database 120 Media distribution platform 121 Content file 122 Content metafile

Claims (6)

In a content delivery method for streaming delivery of content, a user terminal measures content viewing quality at the time of content delivery, and does not count down usage conditions if the content viewing quality does not satisfy a certain standard. Content distribution method characterized by the following. In a content distribution method for streaming distribution of content, a user terminal measures content viewing quality at the time of content distribution, and when the content viewing quality does not satisfy a certain standard, usage conditions counted down at the time of using the content. A content distribution method characterized by counting up. 3. The content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the usage condition is a remaining viewing period, a remaining viewing frequency, or a usage point at which a certain unit amount decreases for each usage. In a content distribution system in which at least a user terminal, an application server, and a media distribution platform are connected via a network, and a user terminal is provided with a content streaming distribution service,
The user terminal includes means for measuring the viewing quality of the content at the time of distribution of the content, and notifying the application server of the viewing quality measurement result,
The application server, based on the viewing quality measurement result notified from the user terminal, means for managing a usage condition of a content user, and if the viewing quality of the content satisfies a certain standard, the usage condition is determined. Provide a means to count down and not count down if you are not satisfied,
A content distribution system, characterized in that: In a content distribution system in which at least a user terminal, an application server, and a media distribution platform are connected via a network, and a user terminal is provided with a content streaming distribution service,
The user terminal includes means for measuring the viewing quality of the content at the time of distribution of the content, and notifying the application server of the viewing quality measurement result,
The application server includes: means for managing usage conditions of the content user; means for counting down the usage conditions when the content is used; and viewing quality of the content based on the viewing quality measurement result notified from the user terminal. If the device meets a certain standard, the use condition is left as it is, and if not satisfied, a means for counting up is provided.
A content distribution system, characterized in that: The content distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the usage condition is a remaining viewing period, a remaining number of times of viewing, or a usage point at which a certain unit amount decreases with each use.

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