JP2009225174A - Router device, receiving terminal, broadcast distribution system, distribution method, reception method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

When the IP broadcast requested by the receiving terminal cannot be received, the cause cannot be known on the receiving terminal side.
The number of distribution channels currently used for receiving IP broadcasts is monitored for each user home port 310 to 314 corresponding to one household, and it is determined whether or not the number reaches an upper limit value. When the number of distribution channels exceeds the upper limit, the table storage unit 333 and the distribution number management unit 334, and the communication management unit 335 that receives the IP broadcast reception request using the multicast address. Send unreceivable notification data.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a router device, a receiving terminal, a broadcast distribution system, a distribution method, a receiving method, a program, and a recording medium in a communication field using an IP network such as the Internet, and in particular, a network to which a plurality of video receiving terminals are connected. This is related to the prevention of bandwidth breakdown.

  Broadcast services (hereinafter referred to as IP broadcast) that provide video content on an IP network are generally implemented using IP multicast technology. In IP multicast technology, IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) or MLD (Multicast Listener Discovery) is used as a protocol for a receiving terminal to control a video stream. In these standard protocols, when the receiving terminal wants to start receiving a video stream, it sends a Join message to the router device on the network, and conversely, when it wants to stop receiving the video stream, it sends a Leave message. By transmitting, the receiving terminal can receive only a desired video stream (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2).

  Here, when IP broadcast is provided to a general home via a broadband access line such as FTTH (Fiber to the Home), there is a problem of securing a communication band. In IP broadcasting, it is necessary to occupy a certain network band in order to ensure a certain video quality every time one channel is viewed. On the other hand, there is a limit to the network bandwidth that can be accepted by the broadband access line in each home. On the other hand, as described above, IGMP and MLD only perform simple Join and Leave control, and cannot perform video stream control considering the network bandwidth.

Therefore, a method is considered in which a router on the network is provided with a function for limiting the number of channels to be distributed to each home, an upper limit is set for the number of channels to be distributed to one home, and further channel distribution is limited. .
RFC2326 IGMP Version2 RFC3810 MLD Version2

  However, when the above method is used, there are the following problems. In other words, when the number of channels reaches the upper limit at the router in each household, it becomes impossible to receive more channels in the household, but on the receiving side, the cause is the upper limit of the number of channels that can be distributed by the router. It cannot be determined whether the value is exceeded or it is due to other causes. This is because conventional IGMP and MLD are not equipped with a function for notifying the receiving terminal of whether or not channel distribution in response to a request such as a Join message by the receiving terminal is successful.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. When the IP broadcast requested by the receiving terminal cannot be received, the router terminal, the receiving terminal, and the broadcasting that can know the cause on the receiving terminal side. An object is to provide a distribution system, a distribution method, a reception method, a program, and a recording medium.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, data is distributed between a server apparatus that performs IP broadcasting and one or a plurality of receiving terminals that receive the IP broadcast transmitted from the server apparatus. Router device to perform,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. A delivery number management unit that determines whether or not
A reception request reception unit that receives a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When there is a request for reception, if the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each of the predetermined units using the determination of the distribution number management unit, the reception terminal cannot respond to the reception request. And a transmission unit that transmits unreceivable notification data indicating.

The second aspect of the present invention includes an inquiry request reception unit that receives an inquiry request as to whether or not the IP broadcast can be received from the receiving terminal,
The transmission unit is the router device according to the first aspect of the present invention, which transmits the reception impossible notification data when the inquiry request reception unit receives the inquiry request from the reception terminal.

  The third aspect of the present invention is the router device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the predetermined unit is a household that owns one or a plurality of the receiving terminals.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the router device according to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the one household has a one-to-one correspondence with a port connected to the receiving terminal.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the transmission of the reception impossibility notification data is performed by designating a multicast address used for communication with the receiving terminal. It is a router device.

Further, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the multicast address specified in the transmission of the reception impossibility notification data has a one-to-one correspondence with the multicast address used for receiving the IP broadcast,
The transmission of the IP broadcast by designating a multicast address used for the delivery of the IP broadcast to the same receiving terminal and the transmission of the non-reception notification data of the transmission unit by designating the multicast address are alternatively performed. The router device of the fifth aspect of the present invention.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is transmitted from a server device that performs IP broadcasting,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and whether the number or information has reached the upper limit determined for each predetermined unit When the determination is made and the number or information has reached the upper limit, the determination is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit Is a receiving terminal that receives the IP broadcast distributed by a router device that transmits unreceivable notification data indicating that the receiving terminal cannot respond to the reception request,
A reception request transmission unit that transmits a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When it is not possible to receive a response to the reception request for a predetermined period of time, the reception disabled notification data waiting unit for receiving and receiving the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device;
It is a receiving terminal provided with the display control part which performs control which displays at least the said reception impossible notification data.

  Further, an eighth aspect of the present invention is the receiving terminal according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the reception impossibility notification data includes a notification that the number or information for each predetermined unit has reached the upper limit. is there.

The ninth aspect of the present invention includes an inquiry request transmission unit that transmits an inquiry request for requesting the reception failure notification data to the router device.
The inquiry request transmission unit is a reception terminal according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, which transmits the inquiry request in conjunction with transmission of the reception request by the reception request transmission unit.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the display control unit cannot receive data from the router device or the server device when the non-reception notification data waiting unit cannot receive the non-reception notification data for a predetermined time. The receiving terminal according to any of the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, which performs control for displaying the information.

  The eleventh aspect of the present invention is the receiving terminal according to any of the seventh to tenth aspects of the present invention, wherein the inquiry request is transmitted using a multicast address used for communication with the router device. It is.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the receiving terminal according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the multicast address designating transmission of the inquiry request has a one-to-one correspondence with the multicast address used for receiving the IP broadcast. is there.

A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a receiving terminal for receiving the IP broadcast transmitted from a server apparatus that performs IP broadcasting, and a router apparatus that distributes data between the server apparatus and the receiving terminal. A broadcast distribution system comprising:
The router device
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. A delivery number management unit that determines whether or not
A reception request reception unit that receives a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When there is a request for reception, if the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each of the predetermined units using the determination of the distribution number management unit, the reception terminal cannot respond to the reception request. A transmission unit for transmitting the reception failure notification data indicating
The receiving terminal is
A reception request transmission unit that transmits a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When it is not possible to receive a response to the reception request for a predetermined period of time, the reception disabled notification data waiting unit for receiving and receiving the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device;
A broadcast distribution system including at least a display control unit that performs control to display the reception impossibility notification data.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention is a distribution method for distributing data between a server apparatus that performs IP broadcasting and a single or a plurality of receiving terminals that receive the IP broadcast transmitted from the server apparatus,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. Distribution number management process to determine whether or not,
A reception request reception step of receiving a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When the determination of the distribution number management step is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit, the reception request cannot be responded to the receiving terminal. And a transmission method.

The fifteenth aspect of the present invention is transmitted from a server device that performs IP broadcasting,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and whether the number or information has reached the upper limit determined for each predetermined unit When the determination is made and the number or information has reached the upper limit, the determination is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit Is a reception method for receiving the IP broadcast distributed by the router device that transmits the reception failure notification data indicating that the reception request cannot be satisfied with respect to the reception terminal,
A reception request transmission step of transmitting a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When a response to the reception request cannot be received for a predetermined time, waiting for the reception failure notification data transmitted from the router device and receiving the reception failure notification data,
And a display control step for performing control to display at least the unreceivable notification data.

  Also, the sixteenth aspect of the present invention provides the number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal of the distribution method of the fourteenth aspect of the present invention or information related to the number for each predetermined unit. Monitoring and determining whether the number or information has reached an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit; and a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the receiving terminal. The reception request reception step of accepting, and when the reception request is made, use the determination of the distribution number management step, and when the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each of the predetermined units, the reception terminal It is a program for causing a computer to execute the transmission step of transmitting reception impossible notification data indicating that a reception request cannot be satisfied.

  The seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the reception request transmission according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, wherein a transmission request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast is transmitted to the router device. And when the response to the reception request cannot be received for a predetermined time, waiting for the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device and receiving the reception disabled notification data waiting step, and displaying at least the reception disabled notification data A program for causing a computer to execute the display control process for performing control.

  The eighteenth aspect of the present invention is a recording medium on which the program of the sixteenth or seventeenth aspect of the present invention is recorded, and is a recording medium that can be processed by a computer.

  As described above, in the present invention, when the IP broadcast requested by the receiving terminal cannot be received, the cause can be known on the receiving terminal side.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
The video distribution system according to the present invention is provided with a plurality of channels as in the conventional television broadcast, and performs a broadcast type service (hereinafter referred to as IP broadcast) that programs and broadcasts video content to be distributed in each channel every time. ing.

  First, the configuration and basic operation of a video distribution system that performs IP broadcasting, which is the premise of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of a video distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the video distribution server 100 has a function of sending video content to the IP network 200 by IP multicast, and is connected to one of the router groups 300 to 304 constituting the IP network 200. In the present embodiment, the video distribution server 100 is connected to the router 304. Televisions 500 to 502 have a function of receiving and reproducing video content transmitted by IP multicast, and one or more televisions are installed in user homes 400 to 405. In the present embodiment, three TVs 500 to 502 are installed in the user's home 400. The routers 300 to 304 have a function of controlling IP multicast communication between the video distribution server 100 and the televisions 500 to 502. In this embodiment, televisions 500 to 502 are connected to router 300 by hub 400a.

  In the video distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the video distribution server 100 combines a plurality of video contents into programs for each time and broadcasts them in units of channels as in television broadcasting. One multicast address corresponds to one channel, and generally the video distribution server 100 has the capability of broadcasting a plurality of channels by one unit. In the present embodiment, the video distribution server 100 broadcasts video content from each of the three channels A to C shown in the correspondence table 600 shown in FIG. Note that the correspondence table 600 and other correspondence tables corresponding thereto are shared by each server and television connected to the IP network, and this is the same in other embodiments.

  In the correspondence table 600 of FIG. 2, it is specified that channel A is distributed using the multicast address 225.1.1.1, the multicast address 225.1.1.2 is assigned to channel B, and the channel C is assigned to channel C. A multicast address 225.1.1.3 is defined. This correspondence table 600 is uniquely determined for the entire video distribution system, and the television 500 is obtained by, for example, a method of acquiring from the video distribution server 100 connected to the IP network 200 or another server (not shown). Assume that the correspondence table 600 can be acquired.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the television 500.

  In FIG. 3, a control input interface (I / F) 510 is means for accepting control inputs such as channel selection from a user, power on / off, etc. from a remote controller or directly. The reception request generation unit 530 refers to the correspondence table 600 stored in the table storage unit 520, generates an IGMP Join message by setting a multicast address corresponding to the channel input to the control I / F 510, and generates a multicast It can be transmitted to the router 300 via the communication unit 540. The multicast communication unit 540 is a means for communicating with the router 300 using a multicast address.

  The response receiving unit 550 is a means for receiving a multicast packet addressed to the television 500 received by the multicast communication unit 540, and receives video content and other data. The decoder 560 is a means for decoding the video content of each broadcast channel received by the response receiving unit 550. The display unit 570 is a module that displays the reception state of the television 500 indicated by the video decoded by the decoder 560 and other data reception units received by the response reception unit 550. Note that the televisions 501 and 502 have the same configuration.

  Next, FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram of the router 300.

  In FIG. 4A, user home ports 310 to 314 are ports for connecting to the user home 400 and the like. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that user home port 310 is connected to user home 400 and user home port 311 is connected to user home 401. The router ports 320 to 321 are ports for connecting to a router group in the IP network 200 such as the router 301. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the router port 320 is connected to the router 301 and the router port 321 is connected to the router 304. The packet transfer unit 330 controls packet transfer between the user home ports 310 to 314 and the router ports 320 to 321.

  The packet transfer unit 330 holds a channel monitoring table 700 shown in FIG. In the channel monitoring table 700, a user home port number, the number of distribution channels, and a distributed multicast address list are associated with each other.

  Next, FIG. 4B is a configuration diagram of the packet transfer unit 330.

  In FIG. 4B, a network side communication unit 331 is connected to the router ports 320 to 321 and is a means for performing communication based on a multicast packet for each port. The port side communication unit 332 is a unit that is connected to the user home ports 310 to 314 and performs communication based on multicast packets for each port. The delivery number management unit 334 refers to the channel monitoring table 700 stored in the table storage unit 333 and manages the number of delivery channels per user home port connected to the port side communication unit 332. is there. The communication management unit 335 is a unit that manages communication between the router 300 and the user home ports 310 to 314 in accordance with the management of the distribution number management unit 334. The routers 301 to 304 have the same configuration.

  In the above configuration, the television 500 corresponds to the receiving terminal of the present invention, and the router 300 corresponds to the router device of the present invention.

  In the television 500, the control input I / F 510, the table storage unit 520, the reception request generation unit 530, and the multicast communication unit 540 correspond to the reception request transmission unit of the present invention, and the multicast communication unit 540 and the response reception unit 550 are the main ones. The display unit 570 corresponds to the display control unit of the present invention. The multicast communication unit 540, the reception request generation unit 530, and the table storage unit 520 correspond to the inquiry request transmission unit of the present invention.

  In the router 300, the table storage unit 333 and the distribution number management unit 334 correspond to the distribution number management unit of the present invention, and the communication management unit 335 and the port side communication unit 332 correspond to the reception request reception unit of the present invention. Further, the communication management unit 335 and the port side communication unit 332 correspond to the transmission unit of the present invention. The port side communication unit 332 and the communication management unit 335 also correspond to the inquiry request reception unit of the present invention.

  The operation of the video system according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described, and thereby the router device, the operation of the receiving terminal of the present invention, and the embodiment of the distribution method and the receiving method of the present invention. Give an explanation.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a communication sequence when each operation of viewing start, channel switching, and viewing end is executed in the video distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The normal operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  When the user selects channel A by input to the control input I / F using a remote controller or the like and performs an operation to start viewing channel A on television 500 (S1), a reception request generation unit of television 500 530 acquires the multicast address 225.1.1.1 corresponding to channel A from the correspondence table 600 stored in the table storage unit 520. Next, the reception request generation unit 530 of the television 500 transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 to the router 300 by the multicast communication unit 540 (S2).

  On the other hand, the router 300 that has received the IGMP Join message transmitted from the television 500 starts distributing the video stream addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 to the television 500 (S3). On the television 500 side, reception and decoding of the video stream addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1.1 is started by the operations of the multicast communication unit 540, the response receiving unit 550, and the decoder 560, and the user displays them on the display unit 570. The viewing of channel A is started.

  Next, when the user selects channel B with the remote controller or the like (S4), the television 500 side causes the router 300 to operate the IGMP request to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 with respect to the router 300 by the operation of the reception request generation unit 530 or the like. A message is transmitted (S5).

  The router 300 that has received the IGMP Leave message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 stops distributing the video stream addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1. Next, the reception request generation unit 530 of the television 500 obtains the multicast address 225.1.1.2 corresponding to the channel B from the correspondence table 600 stored in the table storage unit 520, and similarly to the case of S2, the router An IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 is transmitted to 300 (S6). Similar to the channel A viewing start operation in S3, the router 300 starts distributing the video stream addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 to the television 500 so that the user can view channel B. (S7).

  Finally, when the user turns off the power switch of the television 500 by operating the remote controller (S8), the television 500 receives an IGMP addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 before the television 500 enters the standby state. The Leave message is transmitted to the router 300 (S9), and the router 300 stops the distribution of the video stream addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2.

  Here, generally, a broadband access line such as FTTH (Fiber to the Home) exists between the router 300 and the user home 400. As already described in the background section, since IP broadcasting occupies a certain network bandwidth for each viewing of a channel, when viewing a number of channels exceeding the access line bandwidth, Deterioration in video quality occurs.

  Therefore, the router 300 according to the present embodiment has a function of limiting the number of channels distributed to one user's house, and also has a function of notifying the user's house that the number of channels has reached the upper limit.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the router 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7 using FIG. 4 and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the router 300 in the video distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the television 500 and the television 502 that are the communication targets of the router 300. In the following description, the upper limit value of the number of channels that can be distributed to one user's home, that is, each of the user home side ports 310 to 314 of the router 300, determined by the distribution number management unit 334 of the router 300 is two. To do.

  In the router 300, when none of the user homes connected to the user home ports 310 to 314 has received a channel, the channels A to C are transferred between the router port 320 and the router port 321. It ’s just that. When the user join 400 transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 to the router 300 in order to receive the channel A using the television 500 (S11), the communication management unit 335 of the packet transfer unit 330 is transmitted. Receives an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.1 from the user home port 310 (S12).

  The above operation is the same as the normal operation shown in FIG. 6, but in the case of the present embodiment, in the router 300, the channel monitoring table shown in FIG. 5 stored in the table storage unit 333 by the distribution number management unit 334. The number of channels distributed to the user home port 310 corresponding to 700 user homes 400 is confirmed. The distribution number management unit 334 determines whether or not the confirmed number of channels being distributed has reached the upper limit value, and the router 300 performs the following operation according to the determination result.

  First, when the upper limit value is not reached, the number of distribution channels for the user home port 310 is increased, and the communication management unit 325 transfers the video stream of channel A to the user home port 310. (S13).

  Second, when the number of distribution channels for the user home port 310 reaches the upper limit, the upper limit notification data is forcibly distributed to the user home port 310 by multicast. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail with reference to the communication sequence shown in FIG. In user home 400, an operation when a user tries to receive channel C by television 502 while television 500 receives channel A and television 501 receives channel B is taken as an example. When the user join 400 transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.3 to the router 300 in order to receive the channel C using the television 502 (S14), the response receiving unit 550 of the television 502 transmits the multicast. An IGMP Join message addressed to the address 225.1.1.3 is transmitted (S15).

  In the router 300, the distribution number management unit 334 refers to the channel monitoring table 700 and determines whether the number of channels currently distributed to the user home port 310 has reached the upper limit value. In this case, in the channel monitoring table 700, a total of two channels A and B are already recorded as the number of distribution channels. The distribution number management unit 334 notifies the communication management unit 335 of the result.

  When the communication management unit 335 receives the above notification from the distribution number management unit 334, the communication management unit 335 determines that responding to the IGMP Join message from the television 502 exceeds the upper limit value, and sends the upper limit notification data from the port side communication unit 332 to the user. It transmits with respect to the house 400 (S16). At this time, it is assumed that the upper limit notification data is transmitted to the multicast address 225.1.1.254 shown in the correspondence table of FIG.

  Note that the upper limit notification data may be data acquired by the communication management unit 335 from the network side communication unit 331 as data distributed in the IP network 200 as in the case of the video streams of the channels A to C, or communication. Data that the management unit 335 automatically generates in response to a notification from the distribution number management unit 335 may be used. As shown in FIG. 8, the multicast address of the upper limit notification data is additionally written in the correspondence table 601 between channels and multi-addresses stored in the table storage unit 333. It is assumed that the upper limit notification data has a data amount that does not cause a load on the network, such as sending about 100 bytes of data once per second. By distributing the upper limit notification data to the user's home 400, the televisions 500 to 502 in the user's home 400 can recognize that the channels that are currently being viewed cannot be received.

  Returning to FIG. 7, the response receiving unit 550 of the television 502 attempts to receive a packet addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.3 for a certain period of time, and if the packet cannot be received within the certain period of time, the router Attempt to receive a packet addressed to multicast address 225.1.1.254, which is upper limit notification data transmitted from 300. Here, the “certain time” for waiting for the multicast address 225.1.1.3 is preferably about 5 seconds.

  When the upper limit notification data can be acquired, a “reception impossible” message is displayed on the display unit 570 of the television 502 (S17). On the other hand, if the upper limit notification data cannot be acquired for a certain period of time, it is considered that a transmission facility such as the video distribution server 100 or the IP network 200 has failed, and a “reception timeout” message is displayed on the display unit 570 of the television 502. (S18). Here, the “certain time” for waiting for the upper limit notification data is preferably about 5 seconds. The “reception timeout” message may also be data distributed in the IP network 200 by the video server 100 or the like, or may be generated by the router 300.

  Note that the reception state displayed on the display unit 570 includes the display of the normal reception when the designated multicast packet is normally received in addition to those displayed by the sequence of S14 to S18. “Waiting”, “Waiting” indicating that the multicast address to be received is not set on the television side, and the like may be included. Further, in the “reception impossible” message, it may be displayed that the number of channels that can be distributed in the user home 400 has reached the upper limit.

  As described above, according to the video distribution system according to the first embodiment, when distribution is performed with an upper limit on the number of channels that can be distributed for each port of the router, It is possible to respond individually. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether the reason why a video receiving terminal such as a television cannot receive video has reached the upper limit of the number of channels or other factors.

(Embodiment 2)
The configuration of the video distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the output conditions of the upper limit notification data in the router 300 and the operations of the router 300 and the televisions 500 to 502 corresponding to the output conditions are different from those in the first embodiment. That is, it is shown in the correspondence table 601 in the second embodiment. The correspondence table 601 shown in FIG. 8 includes a multicast address 255.1.1.244 defined for the upper limit notification data in addition to the broadcast channel and the multicast address.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the video distribution system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9, and thereby, the operation of the router device and the reception terminal of the present invention, and the distribution method and the reception method of the present invention will be described. Embodiments will be described. However, FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a communication sequence between the router 300 in the video distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the television 501 and the television 502 that are communication targets of the router 300. In the following description, as in the first embodiment, the number of channels that can be distributed to one user's home, that is, each of the user home side ports 310 to 314 of the router 300, determined by the distribution number management unit 334 of the router 300. The upper limit value of 2 is assumed to be two.

  First, when the television 500 receives the channel A and the television 501 receives the channel C, if the television 502 tries to receive the channel C by operating the remote controller or the like (S21), the reception request generating unit 530 of the television 502 is received. Transmits an IGMP Join addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.3 (S22) and transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.254 for requesting the upper limit notification data (S23). . Here, the IGMP Join message in S23 corresponds to the inquiry request of the present invention.

  As in the case of S15 to S16 of the first embodiment, since the router 300 does not distribute two or more channels to the user home 400, the communication management unit 335 does not use the channel C corresponding to the multicast address 225.1.1.3. Are not distributed to the TV 502.

  However, since the communication management unit 335 simultaneously receives an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.4, the upper limit notification data is distributed to the user home 400 as a response to the IGMP Join message (S24). ).

  When the TV 502 cannot receive a packet addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 for a certain period of time, the channel C cannot be received by trying to receive a packet addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.254. It is possible to distinguish whether the upper limit is reached or due to other factors, and a message corresponding to the processing content is displayed on the display unit 570 (S25, S26). The operations in S24 to S26 are the same as the operations in S16 to S18 in the first embodiment.

  Secondly, when the television 500 receives the channel A at the user's home 400, the operation when the television 501 that has not received anything before tries to receive the channel B will be described. However, it is assumed that the television 502 is not operating.

  In response to the operation of the remote controller or the like (S27), the reception request generation unit 530 of the television 501 transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 (S28) and the multicast address 225.1.1. An IGMP Join message addressed to H.254 is transmitted (S29).

  In the router 300, when the communication management unit 335 receives each message, the number of channels that the distribution number management unit 334 distributes to the user home port 310 that is a port for distributing to the user home 400 reaches the upper limit value. If the channel monitoring table 700 confirms that it has not reached, the number of distribution channels for the user home port 310 is increased. In response to the operation of the distribution number management unit 334, the communication management unit 335 distributes the video stream of channel B corresponding to the multicast address 225.1.1.2 to the user home 400 (S30). At this time, the communication management unit 335 simultaneously receives an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.4, but ignores the message according to the operation of the distribution number management unit 334. Therefore, the upper limit notification data as a response to the IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.4 is not distributed to the user home 400.

  As described above, in the video distribution system according to the second embodiment, when distribution is performed with an upper limit on the number of channels that can be distributed for each port of the router, It is possible to respond to. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether the reason why a video receiving terminal such as a television cannot receive video has reached the upper limit of the number of channels or other factors.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transmission of the upper limit notification data is performed as a response to a request by designating a dedicated multicast address on the television side, so that the determination of the reception state of the television on the user side can be made more reliably. Can be.

(Embodiment 3)
The configuration of the video distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as that shown in FIG. The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the multicast address of the upper limit notification data is assigned to each channel in a one-to-one correspondence.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the video distribution system according to the second embodiment will be described, and the operation of the router device and the receiving terminal according to the present invention, and one embodiment of the distribution method and the reception method according to the present invention will be described. . In the following description, as in the first embodiment, the number of channels that can be distributed to one user's home, that is, each of the user home side ports 310 to 314 of the router 300, determined by the distribution number management unit 334 of the router 300. The upper limit value of 2 is assumed to be two.

  FIG. 10 shows a correspondence table 602 between broadcast channels and multicast addresses in the third embodiment. The correspondence table 602 shown in FIG. 10 stipulates that channel A is distributed using the multicast address 225.1.1.1, channel B is multicast address 225.1.1.2, and channel C is multicast. The use of the address 225.1.1.3 is specified respectively. Further, a multicast address 225.1.2.1 is defined as upper limit notification data for channel A, and similarly, upper limit notification data for channel B is multicast address 225.1.2.2, upper limit notification for channel C. A multicast address 225.1.2.3 of data is defined respectively.

  Router 300 in the present embodiment cannot simultaneously distribute each channel and the upper limit notification data corresponding to that channel to user home 400. That is, if the channel A is being delivered to the user home 400, the channel A upper limit notification data should not be delivered to the user home 400. The upper limit notification data for channel A can be distributed only in a situation where channel A cannot be distributed.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the router 300 will be described using the channel monitoring table 700 shown in FIG. 5 stored in the table storage unit 333 as an example. In the router 300, based on the management of the delivery number management unit 334, the channel delivery number has already reached the upper limit at the user home port 310 for the user home 400. Can't deliver.

  That is, when receiving an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.3 for distributing the channel C from the user's home 400, this must be ignored, but instead for the channel C. The IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3 for distributing the upper limit notification data can be accepted, and the channel C upper limit notification data is distributed to the user home 400 as a response to the message. Can do.

  On the other hand, since the channel A and the channel B are currently distributed, when receiving the IGMP Join message for distributing the channel A upper limit notification data and the channel B upper limit notification data from the user home 400, these messages are ignored. Must.

  Next, in the user home port 311 for the user home 401, the number of channel distributions is “1” and has not reached the predetermined upper limit “2”. If a Join message is received, it can be distributed. In this case, the communication management unit 335 ignores the IGMP Join message for distributing the channel B upper limit notification data and the channel C upper limit notification data even if it is received. Further, since channel A is currently being distributed, the IGMP Join message for distributing the upper limit notification data for channel A is also ignored.

  Hereinafter, operations of the router 300 and the TV 502 when the TV 502 tries to receive the channel C when the TV 500 in the user's home 400 receives the channel A and the TV 501 receive the channel C will be described. 11 will be described. However, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a communication sequence between the router 300 and the television 502 which is a communication target of the router 300 in the video distribution system according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  When the television 502 attempts to receive channel C (S31), the reception request generation unit 530 of the television 502 transmits an IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.1.3 (S32) and the upper limit for channel C. An IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3 for delivering the notification data is transmitted (S33).

  In the router 300 that has received the IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3, the distribution number management unit 334 distributes it to the user home port 310 that is a port for distributing to the user home 400. When the channel monitoring table 700 stored in the table storage unit 333 confirms that the number of channels has reached the upper limit value, the communication management unit 335 that has received the confirmation checks that the IGMP address 225.1.1.3 is addressed to the multicast address. Ignore Join messages.

  The router 300 receives the IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3 almost at the same time. In this case, the router 300 refers to the channel monitoring table 700 by the distribution number management unit 334 to address the address 222.1.1.3. When it is confirmed that the IGMP Join must be ignored, the distribution number management unit 334 receives the IGMP Join message addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3, and responds to this by using the channel C for the channel C. The upper limit notification data is distributed to the user home 400 (S34). By receiving the channel C upper limit notification data addressed to the multicast address 225.1.2.3, the television 502 can immediately determine that the channel C cannot be received because the number of distribution channels has reached the upper limit. (S35). If the channel C upper limit notification data cannot be received, a “reception timeout” message is displayed on the display unit 570 of the television 502 (S36). The operations of S35 to S36 are the same as the operations of S16 to S18 of the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the video distribution system according to the third embodiment, when distribution is performed with an upper limit on the number of channels that can be distributed for each port of the router, It is possible to respond individually. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish whether the reason why a video receiving terminal such as a television cannot receive video has reached the upper limit of the number of channels or other factors.

  Further, in the present embodiment, transmission of the upper limit notification data is performed as a response to a request by designating a multicast address corresponding to each channel on the television side, so that reception of television on the user side is possible. It is possible to reliably and quickly determine the state. Further, when distribution is requested for a plurality of channels and the request cannot be met, it is possible to reliably determine which channel cannot be received.

  In the first to third embodiments, in the router 300, the distribution number management unit 334 includes the user home ports 310 to 314 corresponding to the user homes 400 to 401 and other user homes in a predetermined unit of the present invention. The number of distributions is monitored for each user home port, and whether or not the upper limit is reached is determined. However, the allocation between each port and the number of user homes is not limited to a one-to-one combination, and any combination It may be. For example, when a certain user's home receives distribution using two ports, the distribution number management unit 334 may monitor the number of distribution channels using two ports as one predetermined unit. In this case, one household is a predetermined unit of the present invention.

  In the first to third embodiments, the distribution number management unit 334 monitors the number of distribution channels. However, the distribution number management unit 334 may directly monitor the number of multicast addresses corresponding to the channels. The number of distribution channels is an example of information related to the number of multicasts according to the present invention.

  In the first to third embodiments, the upper limit notification data as an example of the reception failure notification data of the present invention has been described as being requested and transmitted using a multicast address. Unicast may be used for the IP address of the router 300. In short, the transmission of the reception failure notification data and the inquiry request thereof according to the present invention may be performed by a protocol other than IGMP.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the receiving terminal of the present invention is a television and the display control unit is a display unit 570 that directly displays an image. However, the receiving terminal of the present invention is Alternatively, it may be realized as a configuration having no image receiving portion like a set top box (STB). In this case, the display control unit of the present invention is realized as means for outputting a video signal to an external display.

  In the first to third embodiments, IPv4 is assumed and the description is made using IGMP. However, in the case of IPv6, similar control is possible using MLD.

  In the first to third embodiments, a method of displaying the error message video decoded by the decoder 560 of the television 500 on the display unit 570 using the low-rate video content in which the error message is reproduced as the upper limit notification data is also possible. It is.

  The present invention is a medium in which a program for causing a computer to execute all or a part of the operations of the delivery method or the reception method of the present invention described above or a part thereof is readable by a computer. In addition, the read program may be a medium that executes the operation in cooperation with the computer.

  The “part of the process” of the present invention means some of the plurality of processes, or means a part of the operation of one process. is there.

  The present invention also includes a computer-readable recording medium that records the program of the present invention.

  Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium and operates in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium, read by a computer, and operated in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, the recording medium includes a ROM and the like.

  The computer of the present invention described above is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, but may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

  As described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized as software or hardware.

  According to the router device, the receiving terminal, the broadcast distribution system, the distribution method, the receiving method, the program, and the recording medium according to the present invention, when the receiving terminal cannot receive the IP broadcast requested, the cause is known on the receiving terminal side. In the communication field using the IP network such as the Internet, it is useful for troubleshooting and user support in the IP broadcast service.

Configuration diagram of video distribution system according to first to third embodiments of the present invention The figure which shows the corresponding table 600 of the broadcast channel and multicast address in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Internal configuration diagram of televisions 501 to 502 in the first to third embodiments of the present invention. (A) Internal configuration diagram of router 300 in the present invention (b) Internal configuration diagram of packet transfer unit 330 The figure which shows the channel monitoring table 700 in Embodiment 1-3 of this invention. Communication sequence diagram when the operations of viewing start, channel switching, and viewing end are executed in the video distribution system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Communication sequence diagram when executing transmission of upper limit notification data in the video distribution system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure which shows the conversion table 601 of the broadcast channel in the Embodiment 2 of this invention, upper limit notification data, and a multicast address. Communication sequence diagram when executing transmission of upper limit notification data in the video distribution system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention The figure which shows the conversion table 602 of the broadcast channel in the Embodiment 3 of this invention, upper limit notification data, and a multicast address. Communication sequence diagram when executing transmission of upper limit notification data in the video distribution system in Embodiment 2 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Video delivery server 200 IP network 300-304 Multicast corresponding router 310-314 User home port 320-321 Router port 330 Packet transfer unit 331 Network side communication unit 332 Port side communication unit 333 Table storage unit 334 Distribution number management unit 335 Communication management unit 400 to 405 User house 500 to 502 Television receiving IP broadcast 510 Control input I / F
520 Table storage unit 530 Reception request generation unit 540 Multicast communication unit 550 Response reception unit 560 Decoder 570 Display unit 600 Broadcast channel and multicast address correspondence table 601 and 602 Broadcast channel, upper limit notification data and multicast address correspondence table 700 Channel monitoring table

Claims (18)

A router device that distributes data between a server device that performs IP broadcasting and one or more receiving terminals that receive the IP broadcast transmitted from the server device,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. A delivery number management unit that determines whether or not
A reception request reception unit that receives a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When there is a request for reception, if the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each of the predetermined units using the determination of the distribution number management unit, the reception terminal cannot respond to the reception request. A router device comprising: a transmission unit that transmits unreceivable notification data indicating An inquiry request receiving unit that receives an inquiry request as to whether the IP broadcast can be received from the receiving terminal;
The router device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the reception impossibility notification data when the inquiry request reception unit receives the inquiry request from the reception terminal.   The router device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined unit is a household that owns one or a plurality of receiving terminals.   The router apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the one household has a one-to-one correspondence with a port connected to the receiving terminal.   The router apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmission of the reception failure notification data is performed by designating a multicast address used for communication with the receiving terminal. The multicast address specified in the transmission of the reception impossibility notification data has a one-to-one correspondence with the multicast address used for reception of the IP broadcast,
The transmission of the IP broadcast by designating a multicast address used for the delivery of the IP broadcast to the same receiving terminal and the transmission of the non-reception notification data of the transmission unit by designating the multicast address are alternatively performed. The router device according to claim 5. Sent from a server device that performs IP broadcasting,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and whether the number or information has reached the upper limit determined for each predetermined unit When the determination is made and the number or information has reached the upper limit, the determination is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit Is a receiving terminal that receives the IP broadcast distributed by a router device that transmits unreceivable notification data indicating that the receiving terminal cannot respond to the reception request,
A reception request transmission unit that transmits a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When it is not possible to receive a response to the reception request for a predetermined period of time, the reception disabled notification data waiting unit for receiving and receiving the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device;
A receiving terminal comprising: a display control unit that performs control to display at least the reception impossibility notification data.   The receiving terminal according to claim 7, wherein the reception impossibility notification data includes a notification that the number or information for each predetermined unit has reached the upper limit. An inquiry request transmission unit that transmits an inquiry request for requesting the reception impossibility notification data to the router device,
The receiving terminal according to claim 7, wherein the inquiry request transmission unit transmits the inquiry request in conjunction with transmission of the reception request by the reception request transmission unit.   The display control unit performs control for displaying information indicating that data cannot be received from the router device or the server device when the non-reception notification data waiting unit cannot receive the non-reception notification data for a predetermined time. The receiving terminal according to claim 7, which is performed.   The receiving terminal according to claim 7, wherein the inquiry request is transmitted using a multicast address used for communication with the router device.   The receiving terminal according to claim 11, wherein the multicast address designating transmission of the inquiry request has a one-to-one correspondence with the multicast address used for receiving the IP broadcast. A broadcast distribution system comprising: a receiving terminal for receiving the IP broadcast transmitted from a server apparatus that performs IP broadcasting; and a router apparatus that distributes data between the server apparatus and the receiving terminal. ,
The router device
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. A delivery number management unit that determines whether or not
A reception request reception unit that receives a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When there is a request for reception, if the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each of the predetermined units using the determination of the distribution number management unit, the reception terminal cannot respond to the reception request. A transmission unit for transmitting the reception failure notification data indicating
The receiving terminal is
A reception request transmission unit that transmits a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When it is not possible to receive a response to the reception request for a predetermined period of time, the reception disabled notification data waiting unit for receiving and receiving the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device;
A broadcast distribution system comprising: a display control unit that performs control to display at least the reception impossibility notification data. A distribution method for distributing data between a server apparatus that performs IP broadcasting and a single or a plurality of receiving terminals that receive the IP broadcast transmitted from the server apparatus,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information reaches an upper limit determined for each predetermined unit. Distribution number management process to determine whether or not,
A reception request reception step of receiving a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal;
When the determination of the distribution number management step is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit, the reception request cannot be responded to the receiving terminal. A delivery method comprising: Sent from a server device that performs IP broadcasting,
The number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and whether the number or information has reached the upper limit determined for each predetermined unit When the determination is made and the number or information has reached the upper limit, the determination is used when the reception request is made, and the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit Is a reception method for receiving the IP broadcast distributed by the router device that transmits the reception failure notification data indicating that the reception request cannot be satisfied with respect to the reception terminal,
A reception request transmission step of transmitting a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device;
When a response to the reception request cannot be received for a predetermined time, waiting for the reception failure notification data transmitted from the router device and receiving the reception failure notification data,
And a display control step of performing control to display at least the reception impossibility notification data.   15. The distribution method according to claim 14, wherein the number of multicast addresses currently used for receiving the IP broadcast by the receiving terminal or information related to the number is monitored for each predetermined unit, and the number or information is The distribution number management step for determining whether or not the upper limit determined for each predetermined unit has been reached, the reception request reception step for receiving a reception request for the IP broadcast using a multicast address from the reception terminal, When there is a reception request, the determination of the distribution number management step is used, and when the number or information exceeds the upper limit for each predetermined unit, the reception terminal cannot respond to the reception request. The program for making a computer perform the said transmission process which transmits the reception impossible notification data shown.   16. The reception method according to claim 15, wherein the reception request transmission step of transmitting a reception request using a multicast address for requesting reception of the IP broadcast to the router device, and for the reception request for a predetermined time. When a response cannot be received, the reception disabled notification data waiting step for waiting for and receiving the reception disabled notification data transmitted from the router device; and the display control step for performing control to display at least the reception disabled notification data; A program that causes a computer to execute.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 16 or 17 is recorded, wherein the recording medium can be processed by a computer.

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