JPH10262233A - Video server system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage and operate a system and to provide service in accordance with the system constitution of a client by analyzing the hardware constitution and software constitution of the client, deciding dynamic image data to be distributed to the client and distributing them to the client. SOLUTION: A constitution information obtaining means 12 which receives hardware(H/W) and software(S/W) constitution information transfers the constitution information to a constitution information analysis means 14 and the constitution information analysis means 14 analyzes the H/W and S/W constitution of the client 2 and recognizes a dynamic image reproducing device 22 packaged to the client 2. The constitution information analysis means 14 transfers the analyzed result to a dynamic service decision means 15 and the dynamic service decision means 15 decides the dynamic image data suitable for the dynamic image reproducing device 22 from the analyzed result. Then, a dynamic image distribution means 16 distributes the dynamic image data to the client 2 and the client 2 reproduces the dynamic image data by using a dynamic image reproducing means 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a video server system for handling digitized moving image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, there have been many video server systems which digitize analog data such as movies and videos, store the data in a server, and distribute these moving image data (services) in response to a request from a client. In this system, a client recognizes a video server in which desired data is stored, and requests moving image data. That is, the client itself needs to recognize the location of the moving image data. If the video server requested for the moving image data cannot deliver the moving image data, it is necessary to request the moving image data from another video server.

For this reason, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-35395
In the video server system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5 (1999) -2005, when a client requests a service from a video server and the video server cannot provide the service, the video server seeks another video server capable of providing the same service. Transfer the service request from the client to the video server. Then, a service was provided from another video server to the client.

FIG. 7 shows, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-353955.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a video server system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-205,026. In the figure, 101 is the first video server, 10
2 is a first server automatic switching device for checking whether the first video server 101 can request the service requested by the client, 103 is the second video server, 1
04 is a second server automatic switching device for checking whether the second video server 103 can request the service requested by the client, 105 is the client, 106
Is a network.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 105 requests a service from the first video server 101. The first server automatic switching device 102 receives a service request from the client 105. Currently the first
It is assumed that the video server 101 has failed and cannot provide the service. Therefore, when the first server automatic switching device 102 checks whether or not the first video server 101 can provide the service, it is found that the service cannot be provided, that is, “No”. As a result, the network address of the second video server 103 that can provide the same service is obtained, and the service request from the client 105 is sent to the second server automatic switching device 104.
Send to The second server automatic switching device 104
The service request sent from the server automatic switching device 102 is received as having been sent from the client 105. At present, it is assumed that the second video server 103 is operating normally and can provide a service. Therefore, when the second server automatic switching device 104 checks whether or not the second video server 103 can provide the service, it is found that the service can be provided, that is, the service can be provided. As a result, a request for the service is sent to the second video server 103. The second video server 103
The service request transmitted is received as transmitted from the client 105. Then, the service is provided to the client 105.

[0006]

Since the conventional video server system is configured as described above, unless the server system configuration is set in each server in advance, the services stored in each server cannot be used. I didn't know if it could be offered to clients. Therefore, when a client is newly added to the system, there has been a problem that the system configuration of each client must be set again in the server.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is not necessary to set a client system configuration in a video server in advance.
It is an object of the present invention to obtain a video server system that provides a service according to a client system configuration.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video server system comprising: a video server comprising: a configuration information acquisition unit for acquiring hardware configuration information and software configuration information of a client; and a configuration information acquisition unit. Configuration information analysis means for analyzing the hardware configuration and software configuration of the client based on the acquired hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client, and determining the moving image data to be distributed to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis means And dynamic service distribution means for distributing the moving image data determined by the dynamic service determination means to the client.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. It was done.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video server system, wherein the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the network device as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. Things.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the determination of the dynamic service determining means is performed based on the load of the video server.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the determination by the dynamic service determining means is performed based on a dynamic load on the network.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the determination of the dynamic service determining means is performed based on a connection state of the client to the network.

In a video server system according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, each of the plurality of video servers is obtained by configuration information obtaining means for obtaining hardware configuration information and software configuration information of a client, and configuration information obtaining means. A configuration information analysis unit that analyzes a hardware configuration and a software configuration of the client based on the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client; and a video server that distributes moving image data to the client based on an analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit. Dynamic server determining means for determining, and dynamic service determining means for determining moving image data to be delivered to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing means when the determination of the dynamic server determining means is its own video server, The video data determined by the dynamic service determination means Dynamic service delivery means for delivering to a client, service migration means for migrating a client request to another video server when the determination of the dynamic server determination means is another video server, and client request having migrated from the video server And a service receiving means for receiving the request.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. It was done.

In a video server system according to the present invention, a plurality of video servers have a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data when the plurality of video servers are combined.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the video server system, the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the network device as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. .

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the determination by the dynamic server determination means is performed based on a dynamic load on the network.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the determination by the dynamic server determining means is performed based on a connection state of the client to the network.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of video servers include a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data when the plurality of video servers are combined.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below. Embodiment 1 FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a video server which distributes digitized moving image data such as a movie or video in response to a request from a client; 2, a client which requests the video server 1 for moving image data and reproduces the distributed moving image data; (Network). Video server 1 and client 2 are connected to LAN 3. Reference numeral 11 denotes a network interface mounted on the video server 1 for connecting to the LAN 3; 12, a configuration information acquisition unit for acquiring hardware (H / W) and software (S / W) configuration information of the client 2; H / of client 2
The configuration information acquisition program 14 transmitted to the client 2 to acquire the W and S / W configuration information. The configuration information acquisition program 14 is based on the H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2 acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 12. Configuration information analysis means for analyzing the H / W and S / W configuration of the server; 15, a dynamic service determination means for determining moving image data to be distributed to the client 2 based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis means 14; A video data distribution unit that distributes the video data determined by the service determination unit 15 to the client 2;
Reference numeral 17 denotes logical moving image data registered in the video server 1. Further, reference numeral 171 denotes an MPEG1 format constituting the moving image data 17 and a reproduction rate of 1.5 Mbp.
s file, 172 is the MP that constitutes the moving image data 17
An EG1 format file having a reproduction rate of 3 Mbps, an MPEG2 format file 173 constituting the moving picture data 17, and an AVI format file 174 constituting the moving picture data 17. File 17
1 to 174 have the same contents. Since the transfer rate is higher as the playback rate is higher, the file 1
The transfer rate of 72 is greater than the transfer rate of file 171.

Reference numeral 21 denotes an L which is mounted on the client 2 and
A network interface (network device) 22 for connecting to the AN 3 is a moving image reproducing device that reproduces moving image data distributed from the video server 1.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 2 requests logical video data from the video server 1. This request is transmitted to the configuration information acquisition unit 12 of the video server 1 via the LAN 3. The configuration information acquisition unit 12 that has received the request transmits the configuration information acquisition program 13 to the client 2. The transmitted configuration information acquisition program 13 checks the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 using the function of the operating system of the client 2 and generates H / W and S / W configuration information. In this configuration information, information on the moving image reproducing device 22 is recorded. When the H / W and S / W configuration information is generated, the configuration information acquisition program 13 transmits the configuration information to the video server 1.

The configuration information obtaining means 12 having received the H / W and S / W configuration information transfers the configuration information to the configuration information analysis means 14. The configuration information analysis unit 14 analyzes the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 from the configuration information, and the moving image reproduction device 22 mounted on the client 2
Recognize. The configuration information analysis unit 14 transfers the analysis result to the dynamic service determination unit 15. The dynamic service determination unit 15 determines video data suitable for the video playback device 22 from the analysis result.

For example, when the moving picture reproducing device 22 is an MPEG2 decoder, the dynamic service determining means 15 selects a file 173 in the MPEG2 format as moving picture data. Also, for example, if the moving image reproducing device 22 is an MPEG1
In the case of a decoder, the dynamic service determining means 15 selects the MPEG1 format file 171 or 172 as moving image data. If the client 2 does not have a moving picture reproducing apparatus, the client 2 selects an AVI format file 174 that does not require a moving picture reproducing apparatus as moving picture data.

The dynamic service determining means 15 which has determined the moving image data transfers the information to the moving image data distribution means 16. The moving image data distribution unit 16 distributes the moving image data determined by the dynamic service determining unit 15 to the client 2. The client 2 to which the moving image data has been distributed reproduces the moving image data using the moving image reproducing device 22.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the configuration information obtaining means performs the H / W configuration information and the S / W of the moving image reproducing apparatus as the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the client. Since the configuration information is obtained, it is not necessary to set in advance in the video server whether or not the client has a moving picture reproducing device or what kind of moving picture reproducing device the client has mounted. Is obtained. In addition, since the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data, the degree of freedom in selecting moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device mounted on the client to the client is increased. Is obtained.

Embodiment 2 FIG. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes H / W and S /
A configuration information acquisition means for acquiring W configuration information; and 19, a configuration information acquisition program 1 for the client 2 to acquire H / W configuration information and S / W configuration information of the client 2.
3 is a configuration information acquisition program transmission means for transmitting the configuration information 3.
The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 2 requests logical video data from the video server 1. This request is transmitted to the configuration information acquisition unit 18 of the video server 1 via the LAN 3. The configuration information acquisition unit 18 that has received the request transfers the information to the configuration information acquisition program transmission unit 19. The configuration information acquisition program transmission unit 19 transmits the configuration information acquisition program 13 to the client 2. Other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 The configuration information acquisition unit 12 includes:
This is to acquire the configuration information of the network interface 21 mounted on the client 2. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. The configuration information acquisition unit 12 that has received the H / W and S / W configuration information transfers the configuration information to the configuration information analysis unit 14. The configuration information analysis means 14 analyzes the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 from the configuration information, and recognizes the network interface 21 and the moving picture reproducing device 22 mounted on the client 2. The configuration information analysis unit 14 transfers the analysis result to the dynamic service determination unit 15. The dynamic service determination unit 15 determines video data suitable for the video playback device 22 from the analysis result. For example, when the moving picture reproducing apparatus 22 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic service determining unit 15 selects the MPEG1 format file 171 or 172 as moving picture data. At this time, if the network interface 21 is a device with a high transfer rate, the file 172 with the higher transfer rate is selected, and if the network interface 21 is a device with a low transfer rate, the file 171 with the lower transfer rate is selected. select.
Other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, the configuration information obtaining means performs the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration of the network interface as the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the client. Since the information is obtained, it is not necessary to set in the video server in advance what kind of network interface the client has implemented. In addition, since the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data, the degree of freedom in selecting moving image data suitable for the network interface implemented by the client to the client is increased. Is obtained.

Embodiment 4 FIG. Dynamic service determination means 15
Is to determine the moving image data to be distributed to the client 2 based on the load of the video server 1 and the load on the LAN 3 which changes every moment, in addition to the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing means 14. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, when the moving picture reproducing apparatus 22 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic service determining unit 15 selects the MPEG1 format file 171 or 172 as moving picture data. At this time, if the load on the video server 1 is low or the load on the LAN 3 is low, the file 17 with the higher transfer rate is used.
2 if the load on video server 1 is high or LAN
In the case where the load on 3 is high, the file 171 with the lower transfer rate is selected. Other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the dynamic service determining means determines the moving image data to be delivered to the client based on the load on the video server and the dynamic load on the network. The effect is obtained that the load on the entire system can be kept low. In addition, since the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as the moving image data, the moving image data suitable for the load of the video server and the dynamic load on the network is distributed to the client. The effect that the degree of freedom of selection is widened is obtained.

Embodiment 5 FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a client for requesting video data from the video server 1 and reproducing the distributed video data;
AN (network). Client 4 is WAN
5 and connected to the LAN 3. Reference numeral 41 denotes a network interface mounted on the client 4 for connecting to the WAN 5, and reference numeral 42 denotes a moving image reproducing apparatus for reproducing moving image data distributed from the video server 1. further,
The dynamic service determining unit 15 determines moving image data to be delivered to the client 4 based on the connection state of the client 4 to the network, in addition to the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing unit 14. Other configurations are described in Embodiment 1.
This is the same as that of the video server system described above, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, when the moving picture reproducing device 42 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic service determining means 15 selects the MPEG1 format file 171 or 172 as moving picture data. At this time, since the client 4 is connected to the LAN 3 via the WAN 5, the file 171 having the lower transfer rate is selected. Other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the first embodiment, and a duplicate description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to the fifth embodiment, the dynamic service determining means determines the moving image data to be delivered to the client based on the connection state of the client to the network. The effect of not having to do is obtained. In addition, since the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data, the degree of freedom in selecting moving image data suitable for the connection state of the client to the network to the client is increased. The effect of spreading is obtained.

Embodiment 6 FIG. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.
In FIG. 4, reference numerals 6 and 8 denote video servers for distributing digitized moving image data such as movies and videos in response to a request from a client; Is a LAN, and 3 is a LAN. Video servers 6 and 8 and client 2 are connected to LAN 3.

Also, reference numeral 61 is mounted on the video server 6 and L
A network interface for connecting to AN3,
62 is a configuration information acquisition unit that acquires the H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2, and 63 is the H of the client 2.
A configuration information acquisition program transmitted to the client 2 to acquire the / W and S / W configuration information, and a client 64 based on the H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2 acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit 62 2 H / W
And a configuration information analysis unit 65 for analyzing the S / W configuration, a dynamic server determination unit 65 for determining a video server that distributes moving image data to the client 2 based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit 64, and a dynamic server determination unit 66. When the determination by the determination unit 65 is the own video server, the configuration information analysis unit 64
Dynamic service determining means for determining moving image data to be delivered to the client 2 based on the analysis result of the above, 67 is a moving image data delivering means for delivering the moving image data determined by the dynamic service determining means 66 to the client 2, and 68 is a video server 6, moving image data registered in 6; 69, a service transfer unit for transferring the request of the client 2 to another video server when the determination by the dynamic server determination unit 65 is another video server; Is a service receiving means for receiving a request from the client 2 which has been transferred from the video server. Reference numeral 682 denotes a file of the MPEG1 format and the reproduction rate of 3 Mbps constituting the moving picture data 68, and 684 denotes an AVI format file of the moving picture data 68.

Similarly, reference numeral 81 denotes a network interface mounted on the video server 8 for connecting to the LAN 3; 82, configuration information obtaining means for obtaining H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2;
The configuration information acquisition program 84 transmitted to the client 2 to acquire the H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2
H of client 2 based on W and S / W configuration information
Configuration information analysis means for analyzing / W and S / W configuration, 8
Reference numeral 5 denotes a dynamic server determining unit that determines a video server that distributes moving image data to the client 2 based on the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing unit 84.
Is a dynamic service determining unit that determines moving image data to be distributed to the client 2 based on the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing unit 84 when the determination is the video server itself. Means for delivering moving image data to the client 2, 88 is logical moving image data registered in the video server 8, 89 is a request from the client 2 when the dynamic server determining means 85 determines that another video server is used. Is a service receiving means for receiving a request from the client 2 which has been transferred from another video server. Reference numeral 881 denotes an MPEG1 format constituting the moving picture data 88 and a playback rate of 1.5 Mb.
ps file, 883 is M which constitutes the moving image data 88
This is a PEG2 format file.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a package mounted on the client 2 and L
A network interface for connecting to AN3,
Reference numeral 22 denotes a moving picture reproducing apparatus for reproducing moving picture data distributed from the video servers 6 and 8. The file 682,
684, 881 and 883 all have the same contents.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 2 requests logical video data from the video servers 6 and 8. This request is transmitted to, for example, the configuration information acquisition unit 62 of the video server 6 via the LAN 3. The configuration information acquisition unit 62 that has received the request transmits the configuration information acquisition program 63 to the client 2. The transmitted configuration information acquisition program 63 checks the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 using the function of the operating system of the client 2, and checks the H / W and S / W
Generate configuration information. In this configuration information, information on the moving image reproducing device 22 is recorded. When the H / W and S / W configuration information is generated, the configuration information acquisition program 63 transmits the configuration information to the video server 6.

The configuration information obtaining means 62 having received the H / W and S / W configuration information transfers the configuration information to the configuration information analysis means 64. The configuration information analysis unit 64 analyzes the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 from the configuration information, and the moving image reproduction device 22 mounted on the client 2
Recognize. The configuration information analysis unit 64 compares the analysis result with the dynamic server determination unit 65 and the dynamic service determination unit 6.
Transfer to 6. The dynamic server determining means 65 determines a video server having moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device 22 from the analysis result.

For example, when the moving picture reproducing apparatus 22 is an MPEG2 decoder, the dynamic server determining means 65 selects the video server 8 having the MPEG2 format file 883 as the video server. In this case, the dynamic server determination means 65 transfers this information to the service transfer means 69. The service transfer unit 69 is configured to perform H / W and S / W
The request of the client 2 is transferred to the video server 8 together with the configuration information. This request (including H / W and S / W configuration information) is transmitted to the service receiving unit 90 of the video server 8 via the LAN 3.

The service receiving means 90 transmits the request (H /
W and S / W configuration information).
Transfer to 2. The configuration information acquisition unit 82 that has received the H / W and S / W configuration information transfers the configuration information to the configuration information analysis unit 84. The configuration information analysis means 84 analyzes the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 from this configuration information, and recognizes that the client 2 has mounted the moving image playback device 22. The configuration information analysis unit 84 transfers the analysis result to the dynamic server determination unit 85 and the dynamic service determination unit 86. The dynamic server determining means 85 determines a video server having moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device 22 from the analysis result. If the video playback device 22 is M
Since it is a PEG2 decoder, dynamic server determination means 85
Is an MPEG2 format file 88 as a video server having moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device 22.
3. Select the video server 8 having 3. In this case, the dynamic server determining means 85 transfers this information to the dynamic service determining means 86. The dynamic service determination unit 86 determines video data suitable for the video playback device 22 from the analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit 84. The video playback device 22 is an MPE
Since it is a G2 decoder, the dynamic service determining means 86
Is MPE as moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device 22.
Select the file 883 in the G2 format.

The dynamic service determining means 86 having determined the moving image data transfers the information to the moving image data distribution means 87. The moving image data distribution unit 87 distributes the moving image data determined by the dynamic service determining unit 86 to the client 2. The client 2 to which the moving image data has been distributed reproduces the moving image data using the moving image reproducing device 22.

When the client 2 does not have a moving picture reproducing apparatus, the dynamic server determining means 65 selects the video server 6 having the AVI format file 684 which does not require the moving picture reproducing apparatus as the video server. I do. In this case, the dynamic server determining means 65 transfers this information to the dynamic service determining means 66. The dynamic service determining means 66 determines moving image data from the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing means 64. Since the client 2 does not have a moving picture reproducing device, the dynamic service determining means 66
Is an AVI format file 6 as moving image data.
Select 84. Then, the dynamic service determining unit 66 that has determined the moving image data transfers the information to the moving image data distribution unit 67. The moving image data distribution unit 67 distributes the moving image data determined by the dynamic service determining unit 66 to the client 2.

As described above, according to the sixth embodiment, the dynamic server determining means determines the video server which distributes the moving image data to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analyzing means. An advantage is obtained in that it is not necessary to fix a video server that distributes moving image data in advance. In addition, the configuration information acquisition unit acquires the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the moving image playback device as the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the client. The effect is that there is no need to set in advance in the video server whether or not the video playback device is installed or what kind of moving picture playback device is installed by the client. Furthermore, when both of the two video servers are combined, since there are a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data, the moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device mounted on the client is delivered to the client. This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in selection at the time.

Embodiment 7 FIG. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.
In the figure, reference numerals 71 and 91 denote configuration information acquisition means for acquiring H / W and S / W configuration information of the client 2;
Reference numeral 92 denotes a configuration information acquisition program transmitting unit that transmits the configuration information acquisition programs 63 and 83 to the client 2 in order to acquire the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the client 2. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. The client 2 requests logical video data from the video servers 6 and 8. This request is transmitted to, for example, the configuration information acquisition unit 71 of the video server 6 via the LAN 3. The configuration information acquisition unit 71 that has received the request transfers the information to the configuration information acquisition program transmission unit 72. The configuration information acquisition program transmission unit 72 transmits the configuration information acquisition program 63 to the client 2. Other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the fifth embodiment, and thus redundant description will be omitted.

As described above, according to the seventh embodiment, the same effects as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 8 FIG. Configuration information acquisition means 62, 8
Numeral 2 is for acquiring configuration information of the network interface 21 mounted on the client 2. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. The configuration information acquisition unit 62 that has received the H / W and S / W configuration information transfers the configuration information to the configuration information analysis unit 64. The configuration information analysis unit 64 analyzes the H / W and S / W configuration of the client 2 from the configuration information, and recognizes the network interface 21 and the moving picture reproducing device 22 mounted on the client 2. The configuration information analysis unit 64 transfers the analysis result to the dynamic server determination unit 65 and the dynamic service determination unit 66. Dynamic server determination means 65
Determines a video server having moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing device 22 from the analysis result. For example, when the moving picture reproducing apparatus 22 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic server determining means 65 determines that the video server 6 has the MPEG1 format files 682 and 881 as the video server.
Or select 8. At this time, if the network interface 21 is a device with a low transfer rate, the video server 8 having the file 881 with the lower transfer rate is selected. In this case, the dynamic server determining means 65
This information is transferred to the service transfer means 69. And
The service transfer unit 69 transfers the request from the client 2 to the video server 8 together with the H / W and S / W configuration information. On the other hand, if the network interface 21 is a device having a higher transfer rate, the video server 6 having the file 682 with the higher transfer rate is selected. In this case, the dynamic server determining means 65 transfers this information to the dynamic service determining means 66. Then, the dynamic service determination unit 66 determines the moving image data from the analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit 64. Other operations are described in Embodiment 6.
This is the same as that of the video server system described above, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, according to the eighth embodiment, the configuration information acquisition means performs the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration of the network interface as the H / W configuration information and the S / W configuration information of the client. Since the information is obtained, it is not necessary to set in the video server in advance what kind of network interface the client has implemented. In addition, when the two video servers are combined, since there are a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data, the moving image data suitable for the network interface implemented by the client is delivered to the client. This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in selection at the time.

Embodiment 9 Dynamic server determination means 65,
Reference numeral 85 designates a video server which distributes moving image data to the client 2 based on the load on the LAN 3 which changes every moment, in addition to the analysis results of the configuration information analyzing means 64 and 84. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, when the moving picture reproducing apparatus 22 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic server determining means 65 selects the video server 6 or 8 having the MPEG1 format files 682 and 881 as the video server. At this time, if the load on the LAN 3 is high, the video server 8 having the file 881 with the lower transfer rate is selected. In this case, the dynamic server determination means 65 transfers this information to the service transfer means 69. Then, the service transfer unit 69 transfers the request from the client 2 to the video server 8 together with the H / W and S / W configuration information. On the other hand, when the load on the LAN 3 is low, the video server 6 having the file 682 with the higher transfer rate is selected. In this case, the dynamic server determining means 65 transfers this information to the dynamic service determining means 66. Then, the dynamic service determination unit 66 determines the moving image data from the analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit 64. The other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, according to the ninth embodiment, the dynamic server determining means determines the video server that distributes the moving image data to the client based on the dynamic load on the network. The effect is obtained that the load on the substrate can be kept low. In addition, when the two video servers are combined, there are a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data.
This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in selecting moving image data suitable for the load on the video server and the dynamic load on the network to the client.

Embodiment 10 FIG. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 10 of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a client for requesting video data from the video servers 6 and 8, and reproducing the distributed video data, and reference numeral 5 denotes a WAN. The client 4 connects to the LAN 3 via the WAN 5. 41 is the client 4
Is a network interface for connecting to the WAN 5 and a moving image reproducing apparatus for reproducing moving image data distributed from the video servers 6 and 8. Further, the dynamic server determination means 65, 85
A video server that distributes moving image data to the client 4 is determined based on the connection state of the client 4 to the network, in addition to the analysis results of 4, 84. The other configuration is the same as that of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Next, the operation will be described. For example, when the moving picture playback device 42 is an MPEG1 decoder, the dynamic server determining unit 65 determines that the video server 6 has files 682 and 881 in the MPEG1 format as moving picture data.
Or select 8. At this time, the client 4
5, the video server 8 having the file 881 with the lower transfer rate is selected. In this case, the dynamic server determination means 65 transfers this information to the service transfer means 69. Then, the service transfer unit 69 transfers the request from the client 2 to the video server 8 together with the H / W and S / W configuration information. The other operations are the same as those of the video server system according to the sixth embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

As described above, according to the tenth embodiment, the dynamic service determining means determines the video server that distributes the moving image data based on the connection status of the client to the network. The effect of not using it is obtained. In addition, when the two video servers are combined, there are a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data.
This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in selecting moving image data suitable for the connection state of the client to the network to the client.

[0065]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the video server is obtained by the configuration information obtaining means for obtaining the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client, and the configuration information obtaining means. Configuration information analysis means for analyzing the hardware configuration and software configuration of the client based on the hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client; and an operation for determining moving image data to be delivered to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis means. Service determination means and dynamic service distribution means for distributing video data determined by the dynamic service determination means to the client, so that it is not necessary to set the system configuration of the client to the video server in advance, System management and operation become easy, and There is an effect that it is possible to provide a service according to the system configuration of Ianto.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the configuration information obtaining means is configured to obtain the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client. In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to set in advance in the video server whether or not the client has a moving image reproducing device, or what kind of moving image reproducing device the client has.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the video server is configured to have a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as the moving image data, so that the moving image suitable for the moving image reproducing apparatus mounted on the client is provided. This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom in selecting data when distributing it to clients.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the configuration information obtaining means is configured to obtain the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the network device as the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client. There is an effect that it is not necessary to set in advance in the video server what kind of network device is installed by the client.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the dynamic service determination means is determined based on the load on the video server, so that the load on the entire system can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the determination of the dynamic service determination means is made based on the dynamic load on the network, so that the load on the entire system can be reduced. is there.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the determination of the dynamic service determining means is performed based on the connection state of the client to the network, so that useless resources are not used. effective.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the video server is configured to have a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as the moving image data, the video server can be freely selected when distributing the moving image data to the client. This has the effect of increasing the degree.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, each of the plurality of video servers is provided with configuration information obtaining means for obtaining hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client, and client hardware obtained by the configuration information obtaining means. A configuration information analysis unit that analyzes a hardware configuration and a software configuration of a client based on the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information; and a process that determines a video server that distributes moving image data to the client based on an analysis result of the configuration information analysis unit. Server determination means,
A dynamic service determining unit that determines moving image data to be distributed to a client based on an analysis result of the configuration information analyzing unit when the dynamic server determining unit determines the own video server; and a moving image determined by the dynamic service determining unit. Dynamic service distribution means for distributing data to the client, service migration means for migrating a client request to another video server when the determination of the dynamic server determination means is another video server, and migration from the other video server Since the system is configured to include a service receiving unit that receives a client request, there is no need to set the client's system configuration to the video server in advance, which simplifies system management and operation and makes it possible to respond to the client's system configuration. There is an effect that the service can be provided. Also, there is an effect that it is not necessary to fix a video server that distributes moving image data to a client in advance.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the configuration information obtaining means is configured to obtain the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client. In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to set in advance in the video server whether or not the client has a moving image reproducing device, or what kind of moving image reproducing device the client has.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of video servers are configured to have a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data when the plurality of video servers are combined, the client can be implemented. There is an effect that the degree of freedom of selection when distributing moving image data suitable for the moving image reproducing apparatus to the client is expanded.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the configuration information obtaining means is configured to obtain the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the network device as the hardware configuration information and the software configuration information of the client. There is an effect that it is not necessary to set in advance in the video server what kind of network device is installed by the client.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the determination of the dynamic service determination means is made based on the dynamic load on the network, so that the load on the entire system can be reduced. is there.

According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the determination by the dynamic server determining means is made based on the connection status of the client to the network, so that useless resources are not used. effective.

According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of video servers are configured to include a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data when the plurality of video servers are combined. This has the effect of increasing the degree of freedom of selection when distributing to clients.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing a video server system according to Embodiment 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional video server system.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,6,8 Video server, 2,4 client, 3
LAN (network), 5 WAN (network), 12, 18, 62, 71, 82, 91 configuration information acquisition means, 14, 64, 84 configuration information analysis means, 1
5, 66, 86 dynamic service determination means, 17, 68,
88 video data, 21 network interface (network device), 22 video playback device, 65, 8
5 dynamic server determination means, 69, 89 service transfer means, 70, 90 service reception means.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A video server for distributing moving image data in response to a request, and a client for requesting moving image data from the video server and playing back the distributed moving image data, wherein the video server and the client are connected by a network. In the video server system which is connected, the video server comprises: a configuration information acquisition unit for acquiring hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client; and a hardware configuration information of the client acquired by the configuration information acquisition unit. Configuration information analysis means for analyzing the hardware configuration and software configuration of the client based on software configuration information, and dynamic service determination means for determining moving image data to be distributed to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis means And the dynamic Video server system in which video data determined in-bis determining means is characterized in that a dynamic service delivery means for delivering to said client. 2. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. . 3. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data. 4. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the network device as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. 5. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the dynamic service determination means is performed based on a load on the video server. 6. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the dynamic service determination means is performed based on a dynamic load on the network. 7. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the dynamic service determination means is performed based on a connection state of the client to the network. 8. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the video server has a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data. 9. A video server comprising: a plurality of video servers for distributing moving image data in response to a request; and a client for requesting moving image data to the plurality of video servers and reproducing the distributed moving image data; And a video server system comprising the client connected by a network, wherein each of the plurality of video servers includes configuration information obtaining means for obtaining hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client; Means for analyzing the hardware configuration and software configuration of the client based on the hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client obtained by the means; and to the client based on the analysis result of the configuration information analysis means. Video server that distributes video data Dynamic server deciding means for deciding a server, and dynamic data deciding moving image data to be distributed to the client based on an analysis result of the configuration information analyzing means when the dynamic server deciding means decides the video server. A service deciding unit, a dynamic service distributing unit for distributing the moving image data determined by the dynamic service deciding unit to the client, and a request of the client when the dynamic server deciding unit determines another video server. A video server system comprising: a service transfer unit for transferring to another video server; and a service receiving unit for receiving the client request transferred from another video server. 10. The video server system according to claim 9, wherein the configuration information obtaining means obtains hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the moving picture reproducing apparatus as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of the client. . 11. The video server system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of video servers have a plurality of files having the same contents in different formats as moving image data. 12. The configuration information acquiring means acquires hardware configuration information and software configuration information of a network device as hardware configuration information and software configuration information of a client.
A video server system as described. 13. The video server system according to claim 1, wherein the determination by the dynamic server determination means is performed based on a dynamic load on a network. 14. The video server system according to claim 9, wherein the determination by the dynamic server determination unit is performed based on a connection state of the client to the network. 15. The video server system according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of video servers have a plurality of files having the same contents with different transfer rates as moving image data.