JP4283708B2 - Content providing system, user terminal, and content acquisition program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a content providing system , a user terminal , and a content acquisition program , and in particular, a content providing system , a user terminal , and a content providing system for reducing the load on the server due to concentration of data acquisition from a large number of terminals on the server It relates to a content acquisition program.

  In recent years, with the broadband and continuous connection of Internet users, the terminal connected to a network such as a PC (Personal Computer) while watching a broadcast from a broadcast station or the like with a broadcast receiver, The number of users who use content on the network is increasing. For this reason, a phenomenon in which many users access the content from the terminal at the moment when URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information indicating the location of the content on the Internet is disclosed (displayed) by broadcasting is often observed.

  In response to changes in usage styles of users in recent years, a broadcast-linked type in which the content of the content being used is updated and displayed one after another as the program progresses with broadcasts such as broadcast programs and CMs. The emergence of new content services is expected.

  As a service that provides content linked to broadcasting, there is a method of transmitting content data to a receiver in data broadcasting using digital broadcasting, but a mechanism to perform in the broadcasting service is necessary, and content provision on the Internet As a result, the scope of application as a service may be limited to receivers, may be more expensive than services on the Internet, and may be difficult to link with various services on the Internet.

  Therefore, the user terminal accesses the server on the Internet in advance to acquire content that matches the progress of the program being broadcast at each time, and uses a browser or the like on the user terminal at a predetermined time. A system that presents text, images, audio, and the like is required. Here, as a method of sequentially acquiring content that changes with time from the server, there are a streaming method, a method of periodically rereading the content, a method of using push-type distribution, and the like.

  In the streaming method, the browser of the user terminal is always connected to the streaming server and continuously transmits data. This method is suitable for sending continuous data at a constant data rate over a long period of time such as video and audio.

  In addition, as a method of periodically rereading content, there is a method of using an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) meta tag. Specifically, the browser performs an operation to acquire the content again after a certain time interval or after a certain time by describing the time to read again in the header portion of the content written in HTML using a tag. Can do.

  Also, with the push-type delivery method, new data is transmitted from the server to the user terminal one after another and presented on the user terminal without requiring an explicit content acquisition request such as normal web access. Delivery method.

  Here, in push type distribution, real push type distribution (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) in which data transmission from the server to the user terminal is performed by a request on the server side, and pseudo push performed by a request on the user terminal side. Type distribution (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  In the real push distribution as described in Patent Document 1, the server manages user terminal information to which data should be transmitted in advance, and transmits data to the user terminal according to a schedule for transmitting new information.

  Moreover, in the pseudo push type distribution, the update of the data on the server is periodically checked by the processing of the software on the user terminal side, and if there is updated data, it is acquired from the server and sent to the user on the user terminal. Make a presentation. The content data acquisition method of the pseudo-push type distribution service is to check whether data is updated regularly, so that all users using the receiving software check the content data for update and acquire the data. Become.

Therefore, if there is a possibility that content update will be performed at a short interval in time, it is necessary to set the data update confirmation interval short, and as a result, all users will receive new content data within a short time. As a result, the load on the server may increase temporarily.
JP 2002-334033 A JP 2003-303153 A

  However, the streaming method described above is in a state in which all user terminals that perform streaming are always connected to the server, and the server is loaded, so the number of simultaneously connected users is limited or only a predetermined time range can be connected. It will disappear. In other words, it is inefficient in terms of the usage rate of the network line and server to be used for the web-type content service that performs intermittent communication as described above.

  Also, in the method of periodically rereading the content, the timing of rereading the content is the timing of displaying new content data. Therefore, when performing a service for displaying content on all user terminals at a fixed time, all user terminals Since the content is reacquired at the same time, the server that provides the service is instantaneously subjected to a high load. Therefore, especially when a large number of users are assumed to be used, such as services linked to broadcasting, there is a possibility that the service will be interrupted or the server system may be damaged by overloading the server. .

  Furthermore, in the method using push distribution, in real push distribution as described in Patent Document 1, the user terminal information to which the server should transmit data is managed, and the user terminal is in accordance with a schedule for transmitting new information. However, since the transmission schedule is determined on the server side, it is easy to suppress the load on the server. However, as the number of terminals increases, the management information and processing on the server side increase, which increases costs in terms of server equipment.

  Further, in the pseudo push type distribution, the method of using a server that accumulates and redistributes information as described in Patent Document 2 costs server equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems , and provides a content providing system , a user terminal , and a content acquisition program for reducing a load on a server due to concentration of data acquisition from a large number of terminals on the server. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs means for solving the problems having the following characteristics.

The invention described in claim 1 is a content providing system comprising a user terminal for outputting content to a user and a content providing server for providing content to the user terminal, wherein the content providing server is the user terminal Obtained by a content acquisition unit that acquires content corresponding to a content request from the user terminal, a prefetch information setting unit that sets prefetch information based on a content prefetch information acquisition request from the user terminal, and the prefetch information setting unit. Transmitting means for transmitting the prefetched information to the user terminal, and the user terminal records a use start time consisting of an acquisition time of the content from the content providing server or an execution time of the content; , Prefetching content on the content providing server Prefetch information acquisition means for making an information acquisition request; prefetch time setting means for setting a prefetch time of content based on the use start time; and prefetch information obtained by the prefetch information acquisition means; and the prefetch time setting. Control means for acquiring content at the time set by the means and controlling the acquired content to be output at the time set in the prefetch information, the prefetch information acquisition means, as the prefetch information, Data provision start time at which content data can be provided, data presentation time at which the content data is presented, user discrimination information for discriminating a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided, and the location of the content data Content data information indicating, the prefetch time setting means From start time the data provided starting time threshold time duration before time before included in the user identification information, to set the random range of the look-ahead time from the data providing start time and the data presentation time Features.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the server due to the concentration of data acquisition from many user terminals on the content providing server. In addition, since the content prefetch acquisition request time is set based on the content use start time by the user terminal, not the setting by the server, for example, in the case of a user who immediately moves to other content, etc. It is possible to reduce the load on the server by performing a process on the user terminal side to prevent unnecessary content acquisition requests from being made and preventing unnecessary server request information from being acquired. Further, the content acquisition request time can be set in detail based on the user's content use start time of the prefetch information described above. Thereby, concentration of content data acquisition to the server can be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a user terminal for pre-reading and accumulating content from a content providing server and presenting the content accumulated at a predetermined time to a user, the content from the content providing server Recording means for recording use start time consisting of acquisition time or content execution time, prefetch information acquisition means for requesting acquisition of content prefetch information to the content providing server, use start time, and prefetch information acquisition Prefetch time setting means for setting the prefetch time of the content based on the prefetch information obtained by the means, acquiring the content at the time set by the prefetch time setting means, and setting the acquired content as the prefetch information It has a control means for controlling to output the to time, the destination The information acquisition means only determines a data provision start time at which content data can be provided as the prefetch information, a data presentation time at which the content data is presented, and a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided. User discrimination information and content data information indicating the location of the content data are acquired, and the prefetch time setting means is configured such that the use start time is a threshold time before the data provision start time and included in the user discrimination information. If the time is before the time, the prefetch time is randomly set in a range from the data provision start time to the data presentation time .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the server due to the concentration of data acquisition from a large number of user terminals on the content providing server. Furthermore, since the content prefetch acquisition request time is set based on the content use start time by the user terminal, not the setting by the server, for example, in the case of a user who immediately moves to other content, etc. It is possible to reduce the load on the server by performing a process on the user terminal side to prevent unnecessary content acquisition requests from being made and preventing unnecessary server request information from being acquired. Further, the content acquisition request time can be set in detail based on the user's content use start time of the prefetch information described above. Thereby, concentration of content data acquisition to the server can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the use start time is later than the time before the threshold time by the data provision start time and before the time by the threshold time from the data presentation time, The prefetch time is set to a time after the threshold time from the use start time.

According to the invention described in claim 3 , the content acquisition request time can be set in detail. Thereby, concentration of content data acquisition to the server can be prevented.

The invention described in claim 4, wherein the read-ahead time setting unit, when the use start time is later than said threshold time period before the time from the data presentation time, without setting the look-ahead time, the control means, When the prefetch time is not set, content is acquired after the data provision start time, and control is performed to output the acquired content .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the content acquisition request time can be set in detail. Thereby, concentration of content data acquisition to the server can be prevented.

The invention described in claim 5 is a content acquisition program for prefetching and storing content from a content providing server and causing a computer to execute content acquisition processing for presenting the content to the content user stored at a predetermined time. Recording means for recording the use start time consisting of the acquisition time of the content from the content providing server or the execution time of the content, and prefetching information acquisition for requesting the content providing server to acquire prefetch information of the content means, the use start time, on the basis of the pre-read information obtained by pre-reading the information acquisition unit, read-ahead time setting means for setting a read-ahead time of the content, and the content at the time set by the read-ahead time setting means Acquired and acquired content The to function as a control means for controlling to output the time set in the look-ahead information, the look-ahead information obtaining means, as the look-ahead information, the data providing start time content data can be provided, the content data The data presentation time to be presented, user discrimination information for discriminating a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided, and content data information indicating the location of the content data are acquired, and the prefetch time setting means includes the When the use start time is before the time before the threshold time included in the user determination information from the data provision start time, the prefetch time is randomly set within a range from the data provision start time to the data presentation time It is characterized by.

According to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to reduce the load on the server due to the concentration of data acquisition from a large number of user terminals on the content providing server. In addition, since the content prefetch acquisition request time is set based on the content use start time by the user terminal, not the setting by the server, for example, in the case of a user who immediately moves to other content, etc. It is possible to reduce the load on the server by performing a process on the user terminal side to prevent unnecessary content acquisition requests from being made and preventing unnecessary server request information from being acquired. Further, the content acquisition request time can be set in detail based on the user's content use start time of the prefetch information described above. Thereby, concentration of content data acquisition to the server can be prevented. In addition, the content acquisition process can be easily realized by installing the execution program in the computer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the load of the server by the data acquisition from many user terminals concentrating on a content provision server can be reduced.

<Outline of the present invention>
The present invention provides a server that occurs in a short period of time when many user terminals acquire content data in providing network content in which content is automatically presented to user terminals one after another at a predetermined time. Content data acquisition timing is set on the user terminal side.

<System configuration example>
Here, a configuration example of the content providing system will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a content providing system according to the present invention. The content providing system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to include a content providing server 11 and user terminals 12-1 to 12-n, and the content providing server 11 and the user terminal 12 are composed of the Internet or the like. They are connected by a communication network 13.

  In addition, the content providing server 11 is configured to include a transmission / reception unit 14, a request content determination unit 15, a content acquisition unit 16, a content DB (DB: database) 17, and a prefetch parameter setting unit 18. .

  The transmission / reception means 14 receives the corresponding content acquisition request and the acquisition request of the prefetch information (prefetch parameter) based on the content request from the user terminal 12 via the communication network 13 and responds to the request from the user terminal 12. The transmitted content and the prefetch parameters are transmitted to the user terminal 12 that has requested them via the communication network 13.

  The request content determination unit 15 determines the content of the request information from the user terminal 12 received by the transmission / reception unit 14, distributes it to the content acquisition unit 16 and the prefetch parameter setting unit 18 and outputs the result.

  Based on the content request obtained by the request content determination unit 15, the content acquisition unit 16 extracts content to be output to the user terminal 12 from the content group stored in advance in the content DB 17 and outputs the content to the transmission / reception unit 14. To do. Further, the prefetch parameter setting means 18 determines whether the content is prefetched for each content, and sets the prefetch parameter when prefetching. Further, the prefetch parameter setting unit 18 outputs a corresponding prefetch parameter to the transmission / reception unit 14 based on the prefetch parameter acquisition request from the user terminal 12.

  Here, the prefetch parameter is a parameter for causing the user terminal to prefetch the content in advance in order to present the content on the user terminal 12 at a predetermined time. Note that the prefetch parameters can be set according to the load status of the server and the content of the acquired user content. For example, when content is updated one after another at a predetermined time, a data presentation time for the content set in advance, a data provision start time at which content data can be provided, and the like are set.

  Next, a specific functional configuration example of the user terminal 12 in the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the user terminal. 2 includes a transmission / reception unit 21, an input unit 22, an output unit 23, a control unit 24, a recording unit 25, a time management unit 26, a prefetch parameter acquisition unit 27, and a prefetch time setting unit. 28.

  The transmission / reception means 21 transmits / receives data to / from the content providing server 11 via the communication network 13. Specifically, the content input by the user using the input unit 22, the acquisition request information for acquiring the prefetch parameters and the like are output to the content providing server 11 via the communication network 13. Also, the content, prefetch parameters, and the like transmitted from the content providing server 11 via the communication network 13 are acquired.

  The input means 22 has a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse operated by the user, and inputs various operation signals such as execution of a program from the user.

  The output means 23 is for outputting images such as content and objects included in the content, video, audio and the like, and includes a display for displaying images and video by a browser, a speaker for outputting audio, and the like.

  The control means 24 controls each main component shown in FIG. 2 to calculate and process data, such as data input / output and various calculations, and record the data in the recording means 25 or output the results to each component. Or controls the processing of the entire user terminal 12.

  The recording means 25 is for recording setting information such as acquired content and prefetch time. The time management unit 26 maintains an accurate time on the user terminal 12. That is, it is used for outputting content data from the output means 23 at an accurate time. In order to maintain an accurate time, for example, a method of adjusting the time using a time server on the network through a communication protocol such as NTP (Network Time Protocol) defined in RFC1305 or the like, or the user terminal 12 It is possible to use a clock device or a radio clock with little error.

  The prefetch parameter acquisition unit 27 acquires prefetch parameters from the server when requesting acquisition of content for which the presentation time is set. The prefetch time setting unit 28 sets the prefetch time of the content based on the prefetch parameter information acquired by the prefetch parameter acquisition unit 27, the use start time of the content, the time information obtained from the time management unit 26, and the like. Do.

  Next, specific contents of prefetch acquisition of content using the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The content providing service targeted by the present invention is a service for presenting the same content data (content data D1) to be updated on all user terminals accessing the content. Specifically, the present embodiment shows an example of prefetching content in a time-linked content in which content changes one after another at a preset time in one content.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content prefetchable period. In FIG. 3, time t0 indicates the data presentation time when the content data D1 is presented to the user terminal, and time t1 indicates the data provision start time when the content providing server 11 provides the content data D1. That is, in FIG. 3, it is assumed that a service for presenting the content data D1 is performed on all user terminals accessing the content at time t0.

  The content data D1 can be acquired on the content providing server 11 at the time t1, and after the time t1, the user terminal 12 can acquire the content data D1 (this is referred to as D1 prefetching). Since the content data D1 needs to be acquired by the user terminal at time t0, the prefetchable period T during which the content data D1 can be acquired is from time t1 to time t0 as shown in FIG. .

  Next, an example in which content prefetching from each user terminal is distributed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a distributed example of conventional content prefetching acquisition. As shown in FIG. 4, when the content data D1 is prefetched from each user terminal to the server in the prefetchable period T, the timing of prefetching content data from each user terminal is the same in the period T. By distributing according to conditions, it is possible to reduce the load caused by the concentration of instantaneous content acquisition on the server.

  In particular, when the number of user terminals that acquire content data is fixed, it is easiest to set the time tr at which each user terminal acquires the content data D1 using a random number. For example, it can be set by an expression such as “tr = t0− (rand () * T)”. Here, rand () is a function that generates a uniform random number between 0 and 1. Thereby, the data acquisition timing from a terminal can be disperse | distributed uniformly.

  By the way, among users who access Internet contents such as the Web, users who stop accessing or move to other contents at any timing after starting to access the contents (hereinafter referred to as “pass-through users”). That said.) In addition, there are users who have used the content at time t1, but have stopped using the content by time t0, and users who newly start using the content after time t1. It cannot be distributed with high accuracy, and access increases especially near the time t0, and high-accuracy load distribution cannot be performed.

  In addition, regarding the content acquisition request from the above-mentioned “pass-through user” terminal, even if the content data D1 that is not presented to the browser until the predetermined time t0 is prefetched, the corresponding user uses the content at the time t0. This is finished, and the prefetch process is wasted.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the user discrimination threshold time Δt is used as user discrimination information for discriminating between “passing-type users” and users who have been using the content for some time (hereinafter referred to as “stay-type users”). Is used. That is, the user who is less than Δt from the start of use of the content may be a “pass-through user”, and the content prefetching method is distinguished from the “stay-type user”.

  Specifically, for a user terminal that may be a “stay-type user”, the prefetch time is set to be uniformly distributed in the prefetchable period T similar to the time tr described above. On the other hand, for user terminals that may be “pass-through users”, pre-reading is performed after waiting for Δt after the start of use. By this method, it is possible to prevent the “passing-type user” from performing unnecessary prefetching, and as a result, it is possible to reduce the load on the server of the entire prefetching from each user terminal.

  Next, the setting contents of the above-described prefetch time will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a procedure for setting the prefetch time in the present invention. 5A shows an example of setting the prefetch time for a user whose content use start time is early, and FIG. 5B shows an example of setting the prefetch time for a user whose content use start time is in the vicinity of the prefetchable period. FIG. 5C shows an example of setting the prefetch time for the user whose content use start time is immediately before the content presentation time.

  Here, it is assumed that the content use start time of a certain user terminal 12-i is ts (i), and the prefetch time of the content data D1 is tr (i). As shown in FIG. 5 (a), a user terminal 12-i has a use start time ts (i) at a time (in FIG. 5 (a)) that is a user determination threshold time Δt minutes before the data provision start time t1. t2) Before, that is, when the use start time ts (i) satisfies the condition “ts (i) ≦ t1−Δt”, the prefetching time “tr (i) = t0− (rand () × T )) And parameters. That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the user terminal using the content is regarded as the above-mentioned “stay-type user”, and the prefetch time tr is randomly assigned in the prefetchable time T.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the use start time ts (i) is later than the time t2 that is the user determination threshold time Δt minutes before the data provision start time t1, and the user determination threshold value from the data presentation time t0. In the case before time Δt minutes (t3 in FIG. 5B), that is, the usage start time ts (i) satisfies the condition “t1−Δt <ts (i) ≦ t0−Δt”. When satisfied (when the use start time ts (i) is from t2 to t3), the pre-read time tr (i) is a time after the user start threshold time Δt minutes from the use start time ts (i) (FIG. 5B). At time t4). Therefore, the prefetching time “tr (i) = ts (i) + Δt”.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the accessed user is regarded as a “stay-type user” and executes prefetching when the content usage time exceeds Δt. At this time, if the user is a “pass-through user”, the use is stopped before Δt is exceeded from the start of the use of the content.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5 (c), when the use start time ts (i) is later than the time t3 that is the user determination threshold time Δt minutes before the data presentation time t0, that is, the use start time ts (i) is When the condition of “ts (i)> t0−Δt” is satisfied, the content is used immediately before the data presentation time t0, so the content data is not presented at time t0.

  That is, since the user as shown in FIG. 5C does not provide the content data D1 by prefetching at time t0 and acquires the content after the data presentation time t0, the load is reduced.

  Further, for the user shown in FIG. 5C, there is a restriction that the content is not provided at the time point t0, but the use of the content is started by setting the user determination threshold time Δt to a certain short time. What is necessary is just to provide as a service shown with respect to the user who passed (DELTA) t later. When the contents are updated one after another, prefetch parameters are acquired in order to prefetch the next content.

  In addition, as a modification of the user shown in FIG. 5C, content data presented to the user of this classification at time t0 by causing the user to pre-read the content data D1 at the same time as starting the use of the content. Can also be provided.

  The above-described content prefetching method can be realized by software using an execution program to be described later. Therefore, if the content providing method is used in the present invention, a service in which content data changes with time can be provided with a lower load even if the same server equipment is used.

<Processing procedure on the content providing server>
Next, a processing procedure on the content providing server side in the present invention will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example showing the processing procedure of the content providing server in the present invention.

  In FIG. 6, first, the content providing server 11 receives request information from the user terminal. (S01). Next, the request content is determined from the acquired request information (S02). Specifically, it is determined whether the request is a content acquisition request or a prefetch parameter acquisition request.

  If it is a content acquisition request in the determination process (S03), the content stored in advance in the content providing server 11 is acquired (S04). If it is a prefetch parameter acquisition request in S03, the prefetch parameter is set (S05). The prefetch parameter will be described later. Next, the content providing server 11 transmits data to the requested user terminal after the processing of S04 or S05 is completed (S06).

  Thus, in the present invention, by setting the prefetch parameter, it is possible to reduce the load on the server due to concentration of acquisition requests.

<Prefetch parameters>
Here, specific examples of the above-described prefetch parameters will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the prefetch parameter.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the prefetch parameters include a data presentation time t0 when the content data D1 is presented to the user terminal, a data provision start time t1 at which the content data can be prefetched from the content provision server, and a target for providing the content data. Data including user identification threshold time parameter Δt for classifying (discriminating) the user terminals as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C and an identifier (content data information) u1 such as a URL indicating the location of the content data (T0, t1, Δt, u1) (hereinafter referred to as prefetch parameter set).

  Note that an identifier (content data information) such as a URL indicating the location of content data may indicate the location of content on a content providing server different from the content providing server for setting the prefetch parameter. Further, the above-described prefetch parameters are set in a file format or the like so that the user terminal can acquire the content from the content providing server 11 before time t1. Further, the content data is set and stored in a file format or the like so that the content data can be downloaded from the location indicated by u1 of the content providing server 11 and the like after time t1. These setting methods can be realized by preparing content data in a file format in the same way as content in a normal web server.

<Processing procedure on the user terminal>
Next, a content acquisition processing procedure according to the present invention will be described with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example showing a content acquisition processing procedure in the present invention. In addition, FIG. 8 describes content prefetching acquisition when content changes one after another with time.

  First, in order to acquire the first content (initial content), a content acquisition request is transmitted to the content providing server 11 (S11), and the content (initial content) is acquired from the content providing server (S12). This content is, for example, a homepage prepared on a server, and various objects such as images and moving images are arranged on the page. These objects are also acquired from the content providing server 11 simultaneously with the acquisition of the page, Output is performed by the output means of the user terminal.

  Next, the time when the page is acquired or the time when the software is started is recorded as the content use start time ts in the recording means 25 of the user terminal. (S13). Next, an acquisition request for a new prefetch parameter set (t0, t1, Δt, u1) shown in FIG. 7 is sent to the content providing server 11 (S14).

  Here, it is determined whether or not a new prefetch parameter exists (S15). If no new prefetch parameter exists (NO in S15), after a preset time (predetermined time) has passed (S16), the process returns to S14. Return and make a request to get the next new lookahead parameter. In addition, although it repeats repeating the inquiry about the presence or absence of a prefetch parameter here, this periodic inquiry method is a method generally used by push type information delivery.

  If the prefetch parameter exists in S15 (YES in S15), the prefetch parameter is acquired (S17), and the prefetch time is set based on the use start time ts. Specifically, it is first determined whether or not the use start time ts is “ts> t0−Δt” (S18). When the condition of “t> t0−Δt” is satisfied (YES in S18), the acquired prefetch parameter set is deleted (S19), and the process returns to S14 to make a new prefetch parameter acquisition request. This is a case where the read prefetch parameter set is data that is too late with respect to the current time, and the prefetch process is not executed for this parameter set because it is not in time. This is a process corresponding to the user shown in FIG.

  If the current time t is “t ≦ t0−Δt” in S18 (NO in S18), the prefetch time tr is set in S20 and thereafter. The prefetch time tr determines whether the use start time ts satisfies the condition “ts ≦ t1−Δt” (S20). If the condition is satisfied (YES in S20), the prefetch time tr is set to “tr = t0. (Rand () × (t0−t1)) (S21) When the condition is not satisfied in S20 (NO in S20), the prefetch time tr is set to “tr = ts + Δt” (S22). ).

  Here, S21 is the case of the user shown in FIG. 5A, and S22 is processing corresponding to the user shown in FIG. 5B. After setting the prefetch time tr, the content prefetch acquisition request is not performed until the time tr, and the content data is obtained from the location indicated by the data location identifier u1 (S23), and the data is obtained on the browser at the time t0. Presentation to the user is performed by outputting in the form of an image or sound (S24).

  Note that after S24, the prefetch parameter set corresponding to the next content is read, so the process may return to S14. By the process described above, the user terminal 12 can perform the process of acquiring the content data D1 prefetching before the time t0 and presenting it to the user at the time t0.

  Here, in the above-described example, a series of processes such as reading a prefetch parameter set, setting a prefetch time based on time condition determination, and prefetching content data can be realized as dedicated software separate from the browser.

  The above-described processing can also download data loaded with software as an object included on the page from the server side to the user terminal and execute it together with the display of the page. The software executed on such a page is realized by describing it in a language or tool in a format that can be embedded in a page such as Java (registered trademark), Javascript, or Flash.

  Therefore, as described above, by generating an execution program for causing a computer to execute content providing processing and content acquisition processing according to the present invention, for example, by installing the program on a general-purpose personal computer, workstation, or the like, The content providing process in the content providing server as described above and the content obtaining process in the user terminal can be realized.

  Here, a hardware configuration example of a computer capable of executing the content providing process and the content acquiring process according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration capable of providing content and acquiring content according to the present invention.

  11 includes an input device 91, an output device 92, a drive device 93, an auxiliary storage device 94, a memory device 95, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 96 for performing various controls, and a network connection device. 97 are connected to each other by a system bus B.

  The input device 91 has a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse operated by the user, and inputs various operation signals such as execution of a program from the user. The output device 92 has a display for displaying various windows and data necessary for operating the computer main body for performing processing by the program, and displays the program execution progress and results by the control program of the CPU 96. can do.

  Here, in the present invention, the execution program installed in the computer main body is provided by, for example, a recording medium 98 such as a CD-ROM. The recording medium 98 on which the program is recorded can be set in the drive device 93, and the execution program included in the recording medium 98 is installed in the auxiliary storage device 94 from the recording medium 98 via the drive device 93.

  The auxiliary storage device 94 is storage means such as a hard disk, and can store an execution program according to the present invention, a control program provided in a computer, and the like, and can perform input / output as necessary.

  The CPU 96 performs processing of the entire computer, such as various operations and input / output of data with each hardware component, based on a control program such as an OS (Operating System) and an execution program read and stored by the memory device 95. By controlling the above, it is possible to realize the above-described processes in content provision and content acquisition. Various kinds of information necessary during the execution of the program can be acquired from the auxiliary storage device 94 and can also be stored.

  The network connection device 97 obtains an execution program from another terminal connected to the communication network by connecting to a communication network or the like, or an execution result obtained by executing the program or an execution in the present invention The program itself can be provided to other terminals.

  With the hardware configuration as described above, it is possible to provide content and acquire content with high accuracy at low cost without requiring a special device configuration. In addition, the content providing process and the content obtaining process can be easily realized by installing the program.

<Measurement results>
Next, load measurement results of the content providing server when the conventional method is applied and when the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a server load measurement result.

  FIG. 10 shows the server load in the vicinity of the user presentation time t0 from the prefetchable time t1 with the server load on the vertical axis and the time on the horizontal axis. Further, in FIG. 10, as a measurement result, the load distribution method is not performed (in FIG. 10,...,...), And the conventional load distribution method shown in FIG. 4 is used (FIG. 10). In FIG. 10,-●-) and the application of the present invention shown in FIG. 5 (-▲-in FIG. 10) are shown.

  Further, as a setting condition, the user's access start occurs according to the Poisson process, and 20% of all users are the above-mentioned “stay type users” and the remaining 80% are the above “passing type users”. Further, the average stay time of the “staying type user” is 30 (according to the exponential distribution), and the average staying time of the “passing type user” is 2 (according to the exponential distribution). Further, the prefetch period T is set to 15, and the user determination threshold time Δt for determining the user is set to 5.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when load distribution is not performed, content acquisition increases momentarily before and after the user presentation time t0, which places a heavy load on the server. Further, when the conventional method is used, the load is distributed as compared with the case where the load is not distributed. However, since the above-described “passing-type user” includes a lot of useless prefetching, the present invention The load is higher compared to the case where the service is provided.

  When the present invention is applied, the server load can be greatly reduced because the above-described “pass-through user” is prevented from being used prefetched.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the load on the server due to the concentration of content data acquisition from a large number of terminals on the server. This method does not have user terminal or user management information as seen in real push distribution on the server side, and can be serviced on a server similar to a normal web server. The service can be provided to more users without incurring a cost burden.

  In addition, since the service can be performed with the same equipment as the web server, reliability can be improved by using a load balancing method usually used for web services.

  Thereby, for example, a highly reliable content providing system suitable for a content service with a large number of users linked to a broadcast program can be realized.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims. Can be changed.

It is a figure which shows one structural example of the content provision system in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a function structure of a user terminal. It is an example of a content pre-readable period. It is a figure which shows the example of dispersion | distribution of the prefetch acquisition of the conventional content. It is a figure of an example for demonstrating the setting procedure of the prefetch time in this invention. It is a flowchart of an example which shows the process sequence of the content provision server in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a prefetch parameter. It is a flowchart of an example which shows the content acquisition process procedure in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions which can implement | achieve provision of the content in this invention, and acquisition of a content. It is a figure which shows an example of a server load measurement result.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Content provision system 11 Content provision server 12 User terminal 13 Communication network 14, 21 Transmission / reception means 15 Request content judgment means 16 Content acquisition means 17 Content DB
18 Prefetch parameter setting means 22 Input means 23 Output means 24 Control means 25 Recording means 26 Time management means 27 Prefetch parameter acquisition means 28 Prefetch time setting means 91 Input device 92 Output device 93 Drive device 94 Arithmetic processing device 95 Memory device 96 CPU
97 Network connection device 98 Recording medium

Claims (5)

In a content providing system comprising a user terminal for outputting content to a user and a content providing server for providing content to the user terminal,
The content providing server includes a content acquisition unit that acquires content corresponding to a content request from the user terminal, and a prefetch information setting unit that sets prefetch information based on an acquisition request for prefetch information of the content from the user terminal And transmission means for transmitting the prefetch information obtained by the prefetch information setting means to the user terminal,
The user terminal includes a recording unit that records a use start time composed of an acquisition time of the content from the content providing server or an execution time of the content, and prefetch information for requesting the content providing server to acquire prefetch information of the content Content at the time set by the prefetch time setting means, the prefetch time setting means for setting the prefetch time of the content based on the obtaining means, the use start time, and the prefetch information obtained by the prefetch information obtaining means. And a control means for controlling to output the acquired content at the time set in the prefetch information,
The prefetch information acquisition means determines, as the prefetch information, a data provision start time at which content data can be provided, a data presentation time at which the content data is presented, and a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided. User identification information and content data information indicating the location of the content data,
The prefetch time setting means includes:
When the use start time is before the time before the threshold time included in the user discrimination information from the data provision start time, the prefetch time is randomly set in a range from the data provision start time to the data presentation time A content providing system characterized by that. In a user terminal for pre-reading and storing content from a content providing server and presenting the content stored at a predetermined time to a user,
Recording means for recording a use start time consisting of an acquisition time of the content from the content providing server or an execution time of the content ;
Prefetch information acquisition means for requesting acquisition of content prefetch information to the content providing server;
Prefetch time setting means for setting a prefetch time of content based on the use start time and prefetch information obtained by the prefetch information acquisition means;
The look-ahead time and retrieving the content to a set time by the setting means, have a control means for controlling to output the acquired content to the time set in the look-ahead information,
The prefetch information acquisition means determines, as the prefetch information, a data provision start time at which content data can be provided, a data presentation time at which the content data is presented, and a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided. User identification information and content data information indicating the location of the content data,
The prefetch time setting means includes:
When the use start time is before the time before the threshold time included in the user discrimination information from the data provision start time, the prefetch time is randomly set in a range from the data provision start time to the data presentation time A user terminal characterized by that. The prefetch time setting means includes:
When the use start time is later than the time before the threshold time by the data provision start time and before the time by the threshold time from the data presentation time, the prefetch time is set to the threshold from the use start time. The user terminal according to claim 2 , wherein the user terminal is set to a time after hours. The prefetch time setting means includes:
If the use start time is later than the time before the threshold time from the data presentation time , do not set the prefetch time ,
The control means includes
4. The user terminal according to claim 2 , wherein when the prefetch time is not set, control is performed so as to acquire content after the data provision start time and output the acquired content . 5. In a content acquisition program for causing a computer to execute content acquisition processing for pre-reading and storing content from a content providing server and presenting the content to a content user stored at a predetermined time,
Computer
Recording means for recording a use start time consisting of an acquisition time of the content from the content providing server or an execution time of the content ;
Prefetch information acquisition means for requesting acquisition of content prefetch information to the content providing server;
Said utilization start time, based on the look-ahead information obtained by the look-ahead information acquisition unit, read-ahead time setting means for setting a read-ahead time of the content and,
The content is acquired at the time set by the prefetch time setting means , and functions as a control means for controlling to output the acquired content at the time set in the prefetch information ,
The prefetch information acquisition means determines, as the prefetch information, a data provision start time at which content data can be provided, a data presentation time at which the content data is presented, and a user terminal to which the content data is to be provided. User identification information and content data information indicating the location of the content data,
The prefetch time setting means includes:
When the use start time is before the time before the threshold time included in the user discrimination information from the data provision start time, the prefetch time is randomly set in a range from the data provision start time to the data presentation time A content acquisition program characterized by that .

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