JP2008203928A - Content management server, information terminal, and image data distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a content management server, an information terminal, and an image data distribution system capable of easily managing information terminals connected to a network and providing contents according to the display capability of the information terminals. Objective.
A content management server 103 searches for an information terminal 101 when connected to a network 106, acquires device information 102 held by the information terminal 101, and stores it in a device information DB 104. When a transfer request is received from the information terminal 101 for the content recorded in the content DB 105, the terminal searches for the device information DB 104 and converts it into content that matches the display capability of the information terminal 101. It is possible to transmit displayable content data.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a content management server, an information terminal, and an image data distribution system that display optimal image data according to the display capability of the information terminal.

  There are various types of terminal devices for browsing image data on a network, such as personal computers, mobile phones, and digital televisions. However, since the processing capability and image display size of the terminal device are different for each terminal, there is a problem that a high-resolution image with a large file size cannot be displayed on a terminal with a low display capability, or on a terminal with a low processing capability, There was a problem that it took time. In addition, there is a problem that it takes time to acquire image data because an image having a size larger than the display capability of the terminal is communicated over the network.

  Therefore, as a method for providing content according to the display capability of the information terminal, content for each terminal is prepared in advance as represented by a WEB service such as a mobile phone, and terminal information such as User-Agent is used. There is a method of selecting content to be provided.

Further, as in Patent Document 1, there is a method of preparing a template and content for each terminal in a server.
JP 2004-110427 A

  However, in the method of preparing the contents for each terminal in advance, it is necessary to prepare image data for all terminals, and there is a problem that a large disk capacity is used.

  In addition, the method of preparing templates and contents for each terminal in the server requires a server administrator, and it is necessary to prepare templates for the server each time the number of connected terminals increases. There is.

  The present invention is for solving these problems. When the content management server participates in the network, the capability of the information terminal connected to the network is acquired, and when the information terminal participates in the network, the capability information of the information terminal is acquired by the content management server. By registering with the ID and deleting it when leaving, it is possible to facilitate the management of the information terminal, provide content according to the display capability of the information terminal, and reduce the amount of information during communication on the information terminal It is an object of the present invention to provide a content management server, an information terminal, and an image data distribution system that shorten the time until the content is displayed.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the content management server of the present invention is a content management server used in an image data distribution system including a content management server and an information terminal, and is connected to the network when connected to the network. Means for acquiring the device information of the information terminal, and means for storing if the acquired device information indicates the capability related to the content display of the device, and upon receiving a content transfer request from the information terminal Means for comparing the display capability of the stored information terminal with the requested content, and means for converting the requested content to match the display capability of the information terminal if the requested content is greater than the display capability of the information terminal And transfer the optimum content to the information terminal.

  In addition, the information terminal of the present invention has means for notifying that the network is connected to the content management server when the network is connected, and adds a capability for content display when a request for device information is received from the content management server. The device information is transmitted to the content management server before acquiring the content data.

  The image data distribution system of the present invention has a plurality of information terminals and a content management server, the information terminal and the content management server are connected via a network, and the information terminal and the content management server are connected via a network. Communicate.

  According to the present invention, since the content management server acquires device information of information terminals connected to the network, it is possible to save the trouble of creating a template for each terminal.

  In addition, for a large image with high resolution, it is possible to display an optimal image for the information terminal by converting and transferring the content into content corresponding to the display capability of the information terminal.

  In addition, for content that exceeds the display capability of the information terminal, the image data size can be reduced by converting the content into a content according to the display capability of the information terminal, and the time required for communication can be reduced. Thus, it is possible to shorten the time until the image is displayed.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system configuration showing an example of the present invention.

  The information terminal 101 has network connection means (not shown), has a display device (not shown) such as a liquid crystal, and has device information 102 stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk or a nonvolatile memory. For example, it is an information terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a mobile phone, a liquid crystal television, and a plasma television.

  The device information DB 104 records device information 102 of the information terminal 101.

  The content DB 105 is a hard disk or nonvolatile memory in which image information content data is recorded.

  The content management server 103 has network connection means (not shown), has a device information DB 104, has a content DB 105, and responds to image information in the content DB 105 when a request from the information terminal 101 is received. Means (not shown). For example, a digital device such as a personal computer or a digital camera.

  The information terminal 101 and the content management server 103 are connected through the network 106.

  The image data distribution system of the present invention has means (not shown) for searching for the information terminal 101 connected to the network 106 when the content management server 103 is connected to the network 106, for example, when the content management server 103 is activated by power-on. The device information DB 104 has a means (not shown) for acquiring the device information 102 via the network 106, analyzes the acquired device information 102, and can identify the information terminal 101 uniquely. When a transfer request is received from the information terminal 101 with respect to the content recorded in the content DB 105, the information such as the display capability of the information terminal 101 is searched from the device information DB 104. A container (not shown) that matches the display capability of the information terminal 101 with the desired content. And means (not shown) for converting the tool, by transmitting the content data to the information terminal 101 via the network 106, it is possible to transmit the displayable content data terminal desires.

  The search of the information terminal 101 does not have to be limited to when the power terminal is turned on, and may be a search by an instruction from the user, or a search at an arbitrary interval.

  Further, the information terminal 101 has means (not shown) for responding to a search request from the content management server 103 and has means (not shown) for responding when an acquisition request for the device information 102 is received. And a means (not shown) for acquiring the content data held by the content management server 103 and displaying the acquired content data.

  As described above, in the system of the present invention, it is possible to display any content data stored in the content management server 103 by receiving content of a desired size, number of colors, format, etc. that can be displayed by the information terminal. It becomes possible. For example, when the content stored in the content management server 103 is larger data than the content that can be displayed on the terminal, the data is reduced to the optimum size and transferred, so the time for image expansion processing on the terminal is shortened. In addition, the data size is reduced, leading to an improvement in communication speed, and for the user operating the information terminal, it is possible to shorten the time until the selection requested image is displayed on the terminal, which is highly convenient. A system can be provided.

  In the following, the details of the present invention will be described in the case where a digital TV having a function as a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) device is configured as a network as an information terminal 101 and a digital camera having a function as a UPnP control point is configured as a content management server 103. An example will be described.

  FIG. 2 shows an operation in which the content management server 103 acquires the device information 102 of the information terminal 101 when connected to the network.

  When connected to the network, the information terminal 101 creates a search request message and multicasts it to the network (S201). S201 is a state where, for example, a digital photograph is taken on the go such as a trip, the image DB is a non-volatile recording medium such as an SD card, the image is stored in the content DB 105, the user returns home, and is connected to the home network. is there.

  The information terminal 101 that has received the search request message creates a search response message that can specify the location where the device information 102 is stored, and transmits the search response message to the network using the content management server 103 as a transmission destination address (S202). .

  The content management server 103 analyzes the search response message received in S202 and makes an acquisition request to the location where the device information 102 is stored (S203).

  Upon receiving the acquisition request in S203, the information terminal 101 transmits the device information 202 stored in the storage area (S204).

  When the content management server 103 receives the device information 202 of the information terminal 101, the content management server 103 analyzes the device information 202 and combines the information such as the display capability of the terminal with the information that can uniquely identify the information terminal 101 in the device information DB 104. Save (S205).

  FIG. 3A shows a message used in the search request operation (S201). A search request message 301 is a message transmitted to a multicast address with an M-SEARCH request added, and is a message used for searching for a device of the type described in the ST header. FIG. 3B shows a message used in the search response operation (S202). The search response message 302 is a message used as a response message to the search request message 301. The LOCATION header describes an address to a DDD (Device Description Document) in which detailed information about the device is described, and is an address in which the device information 202 of the information terminal 101 is described. The SERVER header is a header that describes the OS and version information of the device. The ST header is a header in which the device type described in the search request message 301 is described. The USN header is a header in which unique identification information capable of uniquely specifying the information terminal 101 is described.

  The content management server 103 analyzes the search response message 302 and makes an acquisition request using the GET method of the HTTP protocol to the address described in the LOCATION header to acquire the DDD of the information terminal 101.

  FIG. 4 is a DDD 401 showing an example of data acquired by the GET method. The DDD is described in XML, the <specVersion> tag describes the major version and minor version of the device, and the <device> tag lists device information and a list of services to be provided. deviceType> tag, <friendlyName> tag used to give a descriptive name to the device, <manufacturer> tag that describes the device developer, <UDN> tag that describes an identifier for uniquely identifying the device, There is a <pana: X_DisplayResolution> extension tag that describes pixel information of the display device of the device. FIG. 4 shows an example of DDD, and other tags defined by UPnP may be used. In the example of the DDD, the pixel information of the device is shown as the display capability information of the device. However, any information may be used as long as the information is related to the display device such as luminance information and the number of colors.

  FIG. 5 is a management table 501 showing an example of registration information in the device information DB 104 in step S205. The management table 501 includes items of terminal identification information that can uniquely identify the information terminal 101 and device display capability information described in the DDD 401 of the information terminal 101.

  The content management server 103 has means for analyzing the DDD 401, and has means for extracting a <UDN> tag, which is an identifier for uniquely identifying a device described in the DDD 401, and pixel information of the device, and the acquisition information Is recorded in the management table 501. When the content management server 103 receives a content transfer request from the information terminal 101, the content management server 103 can know the display capability of the information terminal 101 recorded in the management table, and converts the content into a content that can be displayed by the information terminal 101 for transmission. Thus, the information terminal 101 can display even content that greatly exceeds the display capability.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the content management server 103 when receiving a content transfer request from the information terminal 101.

  It waits to receive a request for content data from the information terminal 101 (S601).

  When receiving a request for content data, it is determined whether the terminal identification information of the information terminal 101 can be acquired from the reception request (S602). If it can be acquired, the management table 501 is searched using the terminal identification information acquired in the step as a key to acquire the terminal display capability (S603).

  If the terminal display capability cannot be acquired, the requested content is returned. If it can be obtained, it is converted into image data suitable for the terminal display capability (S604).

  When the image data conversion is not performed, the original image data is returned, and when the image data conversion is performed, the conversion data is returned (S605).

  With the operation as described above, the terminal identification information can be acquired and the display capability can be acquired. For the terminal that cannot acquire the display capability, it is possible to respond with an optimal image to the display device of the information terminal 101. Will respond with the requested content. The content management server 103 can be used without any problem even if the access is from a terminal that cannot acquire terminal identification information or display capability.

  In the method in which the content management server 103 searches for the information terminal 101 when joining the network, the search cannot be performed when the information terminal 101 joins the network later. Therefore, means for notifying the content management server 103 that the information terminal 101 has joined the network when joining the network is used.

  FIG. 7 shows a network participation notification message 701 that means network participation transmitted to the multicast address when the information terminal 101 participates in the network. It starts with a NOTIFY request meaning network participation, and ssdp: alive is described in the NTS header indicating the type of NOTIFY request. The other headers have the same meaning as the headers used in the search request message 301 and the search response message 302.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the content management server 103 when the information terminal 101 joins the network.

  The content management server 103 waits for a network participation notification from the information terminal 101 (S801).

  The content management server 103 has means for receiving the network participation notification message 701 transmitted when the information terminal 101 joins the network, has means for analyzing the message, and relates to the device described in the LOCATION header It has means for acquiring URL information to DDD in which detailed information is written, and acquires DDD (S802).

  It is determined whether the acquired DDD includes information related to the display capability of the terminal (S803). If not included, the process returns to S801. If the information about the display capability of the terminal is included, it is determined whether there is an empty entry in the management table 501 (S804).

  If there is no empty entry, the process returns to S801. If there is an empty entry, it is added to the table (S805), and the process returns to S801. Thus, even when the information terminal 101 joins the network later by using the network participation notification message 701, the content management server 103 can manage the state of the information terminal 101 on the network in real time.

  The information added to the management table 501 is deleted using means for notifying the content management server 103 of leaving the network when the information terminal 101 leaves the network.

  FIG. 9 shows a network leaving notification message 901 signifying network leaving sent to the multicast address when the information terminal 101 leaves the network. Starting with a NOTIFY request that signifies network participation, ssdp: bybye is described in the NTS header indicating the type of NOTIFY request. The other headers have the same meaning as the headers used in the search request message 301 and the search response message 302.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing of the content management server 103 when the information terminal 101 leaves the network.

  The content management server 103 waits for the information terminal 101 to leave the network (S1001).

  The content management server 103 has means for receiving the network leave notification message 901 transmitted when the information terminal 101 leaves the network, has means for analyzing the message, and has a terminal identification described in the USN header A means for acquiring information, a means for searching the management table 501 for a record with matching terminal identification information, and determining whether a record with matching terminal identification information is included in the table (S1002). If not, the process returns to S1001.

  If the table includes a record with matching terminal identification information, the record information is deleted (S1003), and the process returns to S1001. As described above, by using the network leaving notification message 901, the record of the corresponding terminal recorded in the management table 501 can be deleted, and extra resources recorded in the management table 501 can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the identifier described in the <UDN> tag of DDD 401 is used as information for uniquely identifying the terminal to be recorded in management table 501, but the identification described in the USN header of search response message 302 is used. Information may be used, and any information may be used as long as the information can uniquely identify a terminal such as a Mac address or an IP address.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the information terminal 101 joins the network later when the information terminal 101 joins the network, the network join notification message 701 and the network leave notification message 901 are used, but the SUBSCRIBE / UNSUBSCRIBE message is used. You may use event subscription / cancellation using.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, device discovery on the network, device information acquisition, network participation, and network withdrawal were performed using the UPnP protocol. However, the present invention is not limited to UPnP, and the above functions can be realized. Any protocol can be used as long as it is a simple protocol.

  As described above, the content management server, the information terminal, and the image data distribution system can display an image optimal for the information terminal, can reduce the time required for communication, and the time until the image is displayed on the information terminal. This is useful for systems that distribute image data and the like.

Diagram showing system configuration Diagram showing device information acquisition operation Diagram showing data structure of search request / search response message Diagram showing an example of DDD Figure showing an example of the management table Flow chart showing processing of a content management server when receiving a content transfer request from an information terminal The figure which shows the data structure of the network participation notification message Flow chart showing processing of content management server when information terminal joins network Diagram showing the data structure of the network disconnection notification message Flow chart showing the processing of the content management server when the information terminal leaves the network

Explanation of symbols

101 Information terminal 102 Device information 103 Content management server 104 Device information DB
105 Content DB
106 Network 301 Search Request Message 302 Search Response Message 401 DDD
501 Management table 701 Network participation notification message 901 Network departure notification message

Claims (9)

An image data distribution system comprising a content management server and an information terminal, comprising: network connection means; means for obtaining device information of an information terminal connected to the network when connected to the network; Means for storing the device's capability regarding content display, and means for comparing the stored display capability of the information terminal with the requested content when a content transfer request is received from the information terminal And a means for converting the requested content to a content that matches the display capability of the information terminal when the requested content exceeds the display capability of the information terminal, and transferring the optimum content to the information terminal. server. In the means for acquiring the device information, means for creating a search request message, means for sending the created message to the network, means for receiving a search response message for the sent message, and means for analyzing the inside of the search response message The content management server according to claim 1, further comprising means for knowing a storage location of the device information. The content management server according to claim 1, wherein the device information acquiring unit includes a device that acquires the device information from a storage location of the device information. The means for storing the capability related to content display has a means for analyzing the device information, and manages the display capability of the information terminal and information capable of uniquely specifying the information terminal in the device information DB. The content management server according to claim 1. The content management server according to claim 1, wherein a step of determining whether the identification information of the information terminal can be acquired at the time of content transfer request, and a step of acquiring the display capability of the information terminal from the device information DB at the time of acquisition of the identification information And a content management server characterized by having a step of converting the content into a content suitable for display capability. An image data distribution system comprising a content management server and an information terminal, and after connecting to a network, means for detecting the network connection of the information terminal, means for acquiring device information, and analyzing the acquired device information A content management server characterized in that it is managed in the device information DB together with means, information display capability of the information terminal, and information capable of uniquely identifying the information terminal. An image data distribution system composed of a content management server and an information terminal, characterized in that means for detecting a network detachment of the information terminal and a table managed in the device information DB when the detachment is detected Management server. An image data distribution system comprising a content management server and an information terminal, wherein the device information is transmitted before requesting content data, and the device information includes at least information about a display device. Terminal. An image data distribution system comprising a content management server and an information terminal, wherein the content management server receives a request for image content from the information terminal, converts it into content data that can be displayed on the information terminal, and responds An image data distribution system comprising: means for displaying the data on a display device when receiving the data.

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