U.S. patent application number 13/996163 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-17 for information processing device, information processing method, and program.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Naohisa Kitazato, Yasuaki Yamagishi. Invention is credited to Naohisa Kitazato, Yasuaki Yamagishi.
Application Number | 20130275502 13/996163 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46672439 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130275502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yamagishi; Yasuaki ; et
al. |
October 17, 2013 |
INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND
PROGRAM
Abstract
The present technology relates to an information processing
device, an information processing method, and a program that can
ensure content-related application programs can be reliably
utilized. A client 11 reproduces content distributed from a content
server 12 via a network 21, and if the content being reproduced is
identified by an ACR server 13, a T/SS for managing an application
relating to the identified content is acquired from a T/SS server
14, a predetermined application distributed from an application
server 15 is acquired on the basis of the T/SS acquired, and the
activation and so on of that application is managed, and the
application can therefore be reliably utilized. The present
technology can, for example, be applied to a content distribution
system that distributes content and content-linked
applications.
Inventors: |
Yamagishi; Yasuaki;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Kitazato; Naohisa; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yamagishi; Yasuaki
Kitazato; Naohisa |
Kanagawa
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
46672439 |
Appl. No.: |
13/996163 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
February 8, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2012/052904 |
371 Date: |
June 20, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/8545 20130101;
H04N 21/8173 20130101; H04N 21/4722 20130101; H04L 67/10 20130101;
H04L 67/42 20130101; H04N 21/23418 20130101; H04N 21/8126 20130101;
H04N 21/4622 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/203 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/08 20060101
H04L029/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2011 |
JP |
2011-030058 |
Claims
1. An information processing device comprising: a content
reproduction unit that reproduces content distributed from a
content distribution device; a management information acquisition
unit that, in the case where the content being reproduced is
identified, acquires management information for managing an
application program relating to the identified content, from a
management information distribution device that distributes the
management information; and a management information processing
unit that executes processing to manage the application program on
the basis of the acquired management information.
2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein
the management information is information relating to control of
the application program to be executed in conjunction with the
content, and the management information processing unit controls
the operation of the application program on the basis of the
acquired management information.
3. The information processing device according to claim 2, further
comprising a sample acquisition unit that acquires sample data of
video data or audio data of the content, wherein the content is
identified by a content identification device that identifies
target content on the basis of the sample data of the video data or
the audio data of the content acquired.
4. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein
the management information processing unit acquires the application
program corresponding to a reproduction time of the content, from
an application distribution device that distributes the application
program.
5. The information processing device according to claim 4, further
comprising a presentation unit that presents information indicating
a recognition rate of the content that is obtained in the
identification processing carried out by the content identification
device, wherein the management information processing unit acquires
the application program from the application distribution device in
the case where acquisition of the application program is instructed
from a user in response to the presented recognition rate of the
content.
6. The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein
the sample acquisition unit acquires the sample data once again, in
response to the recognition rate of the content that is obtained in
the identification processing carried out by the content
identification device, and the content is identified on the basis
of the sample data acquired once again.
7. The information processing device according to claim 6, wherein
the sample acquisition unit alters an extraction region or a
sampling frequency of the sample data in the case where the sample
data is to be acquired once again.
8. An information processing method to be performed by an
information processing device, the information processing method
comprising the steps of: reproducing content distributed from a
content distribution device; acquiring, in the case where the
content being reproduced is identified, management information for
managing an application program relating to the identified content,
from a management information distribution device that distributes
the management information; and executing processing to manage the
application program on the basis of the management information
acquired.
9. A program for causing a computer to function as: a content
reproduction unit that reproduces content distributed from a
content distribution device; a management information acquisition
unit that, in the case where the content being reproduced is
identified, acquires management information for managing an
application program relating to the identified content, from a
management information distribution device that distributes the
management information; and a management information processing
unit that executes processing to manage the application program on
the basis of the acquired management information.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present technology relates to an information processing
device, an information processing method, and a program, and
particularly relates to an information processing device, an
information processing method, and a program with which it is
ensured that content-related application programs can be reliably
utilized.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In content distribution services, services that distribute
content-related application programs have been realized as well as
distribution services for content (for example, see Patent Document
1).
CITATION LIST
Patent Document
[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2006-50237
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, if management information for managing a
content-related application program cannot be acquired, there is a
possibility that it will not be possible to utilize that
application program.
[0005] The present technology takes this kind of situation into
consideration, and ensures that content-related application
programs can be reliably utilized.
Solution to Problem
[0006] An information processing device according to one aspect of
the present technology includes: a content reproduction unit that
reproduces content distributed from a content distribution device;
a management information acquisition unit that, in the case where
the content being reproduced is identified, acquires management
information for managing an application program relating to the
identified content, from a management information distribution
device that distributes the management information; and a
management information processing unit that executes processing to
manage the application program on the basis of the acquired
management information.
[0007] The management information is information relating to
control of the application program to be executed in conjunction
with the content, and the management information processing unit
controls the operation of the application program on the basis of
the acquired management information.
[0008] The information processing device further includes a sample
acquisition unit that acquires sample data of video data or audio
data of the content, and the content is identified by a content
identification device that identifies target content on the basis
of the sample data of the video data or the audio data of the
content acquired.
[0009] The management information processing unit acquires the
application program corresponding to a reproduction time of the
content, from an application distribution device that distributes
the application program.
[0010] The information processing device further includes a
presentation unit that presents information indicating a
recognition rate of the content that is obtained in the
identification processing carried out by the content identification
device, and the management information processing unit acquires the
application program from the application distribution device in the
case where acquisition of the application program is instructed
from a user in response to the presented recognition rate of the
content.
[0011] The sample acquisition unit acquires the sample data once
again, in response to the recognition rate of the content that is
obtained in the identification processing carried out by the
content identification device, and the content is identified on the
basis of the sample data acquired once again.
[0012] The sample acquisition unit alters an extraction region or a
sampling frequency of the sample data in the case where the sample
data is to be acquired once again.
[0013] An information processing method and program of one aspect
of the present technology are an information processing method and
program that correspond to an information processing device of the
aforementioned one aspect of the present technology.
[0014] In the information processing device, the information
processing method, and the program of the one aspect of the present
technology, content distributed from a content distribution device
is reproduced, and if the content being reproduced is identified,
management information for managing an application program relating
to the identified content is acquired from a management information
distribution device that distributes the management information,
and on the basis of the acquired management information, processing
to manage the application program is executed.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] According to the one aspect of the present technology,
content-related application programs can be reliably utilized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting the configuration of a content
distribution system.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting the configuration of a
client.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a drawing depicting the configuration of a content
server.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a drawing depicting the configuration of an ACR
server.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a drawing depicting the configuration of a T/SS
server.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a drawing depicting the configuration of an
application server.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting content-linked application
distribution processing.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a drawing depicting another configuration of a
content distribution system.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a drawing depicting another configuration of a
content distribution system.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a drawing depicting an exemplary configuration of
a computer.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0026] Embodiments of the present technology are described
hereafter with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that
the descriptions are given in the following order. [0027] 1. First
embodiment [0028] 2. Second embodiment [0029] 3. Third embodiment
[0030] 4. Modified embodiment
1. First Embodiment
[Configuration of a Content Distribution System]
[0031] FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting the configuration of a content
distribution system.
[0032] A content distribution system 1 includes a client 11, a
content server 12, an ACR server 13, a T/SS server 14, and an
application server 15. The devices from the client 11 to the
application server 15 are connected to each other via a network 21
such as the Internet.
[0033] The client 11 makes a request, via the network 21, to the
content server 12 for the distribution of content.
[0034] When the distribution of content is requested from the
client 11, the content server 12 distributes, via the network 21,
data of predetermined content corresponding to that request.
[0035] It should be noted that, as the content distribution method,
the data is distributed by unicast (one-to-one) or multicast
(one-to-many), either by streaming distribution or download
distribution.
[0036] The client 11 makes a request, via the network 21, to the
ACR server 13 for the identification of the content.
[0037] When the identification of content is requested from the
client 11, the ACR server 13 executes processing to identify the
content being reproduced by the client 11.
[0038] The ACR server 13 notifies the identification result to the
client 11 via the network 21.
[0039] Processing referred to as ACR (automatic content
recognition) with which target content is identified (specified) on
the basis of video data or audio data that make up the content is
employed as identification processing for the content, for example.
By employing this ACR, it is possible to identify target content
that is the same as the content being reproduced in the client 11,
on the basis of video data or audio data, without being dependent
upon information such as the video resolution, aspect ratio, bit
rate, or format.
[0040] The client 11 makes a request, via the network 21, to the
T/SS server 14 for the distribution of a T/SS.
[0041] When the distribution of a T/SS is requested from the client
11, the T/SS server 14 distributes a T/SS corresponding to that
request, to the client 11 via the network 21.
[0042] Here, T/SS collectively refers to segment sequence
information and trigger information proposed as a scheme with which
a content-related application program (a content-linked
application, hereafter simply referred to as an application) is
activated/controlled. In other words, a T/SS can be said to be
management information for managing an application to be executed
in conjunction with content, and to be information relating to the
control of that application. It should be noted that the
application may be dependent upon or may not be dependent upon the
relative time period from the start of the reproduction of the
content (content stream).
[0043] The client 11 makes a request, via the network 21, to the
application server 15 for the distribution of an application.
[0044] When the distribution of an application is requested from
the client 11, the application server 15 distributes an application
corresponding to that request, to the client 11 via the network
21.
[0045] The content distribution system 1 of FIG. 1 is configured as
described above.
[Configuration of a Client]
[0046] FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting the configuration of the
client 11.
[0047] The client 11 includes a communication I/F 31, a content
reproduction unit 32, a display control unit 33, a display unit 34,
a RAM 35, a sample acquisition unit 36, a control unit 37, a memory
38, an operation unit 39, a T/SS processing unit 40, a cache memory
41, and an application engine 42.
[0048] The communication I/F 31, in accordance with the control of
the control unit 37, connects with the devices from the content
server 12 to the application server 15 via the network 21. The
communication I/F 31, in accordance with the control of the control
unit 37, transmits various types of requests to the devices from
the content server 12 to the application server 15 via the network
21.
[0049] If content data is received from the content server 12, the
communication I/F 31 supplies that content data to the content
reproduction unit 32. If an identification result is received from
the ACR server 13 or a T/SS is received from the T/SS server 14,
the communication I/F 31 supplies that identification result or
T/SS to the control unit 37. Furthermore, if an application is
received from the application server 15, the communication I/F 31
supplies that application to the cache memory 41.
[0050] The content reproduction unit 32 carries out predetermined
processing for obtaining video data such as decoding data, with
respect to the content data supplied from the communication I/F 31,
and supplies the video data thus obtained to the display control
unit 33. The display control unit 33 causes the video data supplied
from the content reproduction unit 32 to be displayed on the
display unit 34. It should be noted that audio data obtained from
the content data is supplied to a speaker (not depicted) of a later
stage by the content reproduction unit 32.
[0051] The RAM 35 temporarily stores the content video data
obtained by the content reproduction unit 32. The sample
acquisition unit 36 acquires sample data from the content video
data stored in the RAM 35, and supplies the sample data to the
control unit 37.
[0052] The control unit 37 controls the operation of the units of
the client 11. A program and data required for the control unit 37
to execute the predetermined processing are temporarily stored in
the memory 38. The operation unit 39 receives various types of
operations from a user, and supplies signals that correspond to the
operations, to the control unit 37.
[0053] Furthermore, the control unit 37 controls the communication
I/F 31 to transmit, to the ACR server 13, the sampling data
supplied from the sample acquisition unit 36, and acquire an
identification result from the ACR server 13. The control unit 37
controls the communication I/F 31 to transmit, to the T/SS server
14, a distribution request for a T/SS based on the identification
result acquired from the ACR server 13, and acquire a T/SS from the
T/SS server 14. The control unit 37 supplies the acquired T/SS to
the T/SS processing unit 40.
[0054] The T/SS processing unit 40 executes analysis processing for
the T/SS supplied from the control unit 37, and, in accordance with
that analysis result, executes processing to manage an application
such as acquiring, activating, executing, or stopping an
application. On the basis of the T/SS, the T/SS processing unit 40
controls the communication I/F 31 by way of the control unit 37,
and causes the application received from the application server 15
to be stored in the cache memory 41.
[0055] In accordance with the control of the T/SS processing unit
40, the application engine 42 reads and executes the application
stored in the cache memory 41. The application engine 42 supplies
the application execution result to the display control unit 33.
The display control unit 33 causes information corresponding to the
application execution result supplied from the application engine
42 to be displayed on the display unit 34.
[0056] The client 11 is configured as described above.
[Configuration of a Content Server]
[0057] FIG. 3 is a drawing depicting the configuration of the
content server 12.
[0058] The content server 12 includes a communication I/F 51, a
content acquisition unit 52, a content storage unit 53, and a
content distribution unit 54.
[0059] The communication I/F 51 connects to the client 11 via the
network 21. If the distribution of content is requested from the
client 11 via the network 21, the communication I/F 51 supplies the
content distribution request to the content acquisition unit
52.
[0060] On the basis of the content distribution request supplied
from the communication I/F 51, the content acquisition unit 52
acquires, from the content storage unit 53, data of content
corresponding to the distribution request, and supplies the data to
the content distribution unit 54. Various types of content data
such as television programs and movies for example are stored in
the content storage unit 53; however, such content data may be
acquired from an external device, in addition to that stored in the
content storage unit 53.
[0061] The content distribution unit 54 controls the communication
I/F 51 to distribute the content data supplied from the content
acquisition unit 52, to the client 11 via the network 21.
[0062] The content server 12 is configured as described above.
[Configuration of an ACR Server]
[0063] FIG. 4 is a drawing depicting the configuration of the ACR
server 13.
[0064] The ACR server 13 includes a communication I/F 61, a content
identification unit 62, a content attribute database 63, a relative
reproduction time period calculation unit 64, and an identification
result notification unit 65.
[0065] The communication I/F 61 connects to the client 11 via the
network 21. If the identification of content is requested from the
client 11 via the network 21, the communication I/F 61 supplies the
identification request to the content identification unit 62.
[0066] The content identification unit 62 executes processing to
identify content on the basis of sample data included in the
identification request supplied from the communication I/F 61, and
attribute data acquired from the content attribute database 63. The
content identification unit 62 supplies the identification result
to the relative reproduction time period calculation unit 64 and
the identification result notification unit 65.
[0067] Sample data for identifying original content, and data
(attribute data) required in order to execute identification
processing such as an identification algorithm are stored in the
content attribute database 63. Furthermore, an identifier (a
content ID or content URL or the like) is allocated in advance to
the original content. It should be noted that the content attribute
database 63 may be set up separately from the ACR server 13, and
connected from the ACR server 13 via the network 21.
[0068] The relative reproduction time period calculation unit 64
calculates a relative reproduction time period (the details of
which are described hereafter) on the basis of the identification
result supplied from the content identification unit 62, and
supplies the relative reproduction time period to the
identification result notification unit 65.
[0069] The identification result from the content identification
unit 62, and the relative reproduction time period from the
relative reproduction time period calculation unit 64 are supplied
to the identification result notification unit 65. The
identification result notification unit 65 controls the
communication I/F 61 to notify the identification result including
the relative reproduction time period, to the client 11 via the
network 21.
[0070] The ACR server 13 is configured as described above.
[Configuration of a T/SS Server]
[0071] FIG. 5 is a drawing depicting the configuration of the T/SS
server 14.
[0072] The T/SS server 14 includes a communication I/F 71, a T/SS
acquisition unit 72, a T/SS storage unit 73, and a T/SS
distribution unit 74.
[0073] The communication I/F 71 connects to the client 11 via the
network 21. If the distribution of a T/SS is requested from the
client 11 via the network 21, the communication I/F 71 supplies the
T/SS distribution request to the T/SS acquisition unit 72.
[0074] On the basis of the T/SS distribution request supplied from
the communication I/F 71, the T/SS acquisition unit 72 acquires,
from the T/SS storage unit 73, a T/SS corresponding to the
distribution request, and supplies the T/SS to the T/SS
distribution unit 74. Various types of T/SSs for managing
content-related applications are stored in the T/SS storage unit
73.
[0075] The T/SS distribution unit 74 controls the communication I/F
71 to distribute the T/SS supplied from the T/SS acquisition unit
72, to the client 11 via the network 21.
[0076] The T/SS server 14 is configured as described above.
[Configuration of an Application Server]
[0077] FIG. 6 is a drawing depicting the configuration of the
application server 15.
[0078] The application server 15 includes a communication I/F 81,
an application acquisition unit 82, an application storage unit 83,
and an application distribution unit 84.
[0079] The communication I/F 81 connects to the client 11 via the
network 21. If the distribution of an application is requested from
the client 11 via the network 21, the communication I/F 81 supplies
the application distribution request to the application acquisition
unit 82.
[0080] On the basis of the application distribution request
supplied from the communication I/F 81, the application acquisition
unit 82 acquires, from the application storage unit 83, an
application corresponding to the distribution request, and supplies
the application to the application distribution unit 84. Various
types of applications related to content are stored in the
application storage unit 83.
[0081] The application distribution unit 84 controls the
communication I/F 81 to distribute the application supplied from
the application acquisition unit 82, to the client 11 via the
network 21.
[0082] The application server 15 is configured as described
above.
[Content-Linked Application Distribution Processing]
[0083] Next, content-linked application distribution processing
that is executed in the content distribution system 1 is explained
with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.
[0084] In the client 11, if reproduction of predetermined content
is instructed by way of the operation unit 39 by the user, the
control unit 37 controls the communication I/F 31 to transmit a
distribution request for content corresponding to a signal from the
operation unit 39, to the content server 12 via the network 21
(step S11).
[0085] As this distribution request, for example, a request for
desired content is made using HTTP protocol, by designating the URL
of the desired content from a web browser or a dedicated video
reproduction application (player) or the like. Furthermore, for
example, a distribution request for desired content may be made by
tuning and so on to a multicast distribution channel by means of
the URL and so forth of the multicast distribution channel.
[0086] If a distribution request is transmitted from the client 11,
the distribution request is received in the content server 12 by
the communication I/F 51. In step S21, the content acquisition unit
52 acquires, from the content storage unit 53, data of content
corresponding to the distribution request.
[0087] In step S22, the content distribution unit 54 controls the
communication I/F 51 to distribute the content data acquired by the
content acquisition unit 52, to the client 11 via the network
21.
[0088] When the content is distributed from the content server 12,
the content data is received in the client 11 by the communication
I/F 31. In step S12, the content reproduction unit 32 reproduces
the content data received by the communication I/F 31. Thus,
desired content corresponding to the distribution request is
displayed on the display unit 34.
[0089] In step S13, the sample acquisition unit 36 acquires sample
data from video data stored in the RAM 35.
[0090] Video data required for the content identification
processing executed by the ACR server 13 is acquired as this sample
data. For example, with respect to one or more frames of the
content being reproduced, video data corresponding to a
predetermined region from among the video data of the frames is
acquired as sample data. It should be noted that if content
identification processing using audio data is handled at the ACR
server 13 side, audio data may be acquired as sample data.
[0091] In step S14, the control unit 37, for example, causes a PTS
(presentation time stamp) of a content stream, or the value of a
system clock of the client 11 to be stored in the memory 38 as the
time when sample data is acquired (hereafter referred to as the
initial reproduction time).
[0092] In step S15, the control unit 37 controls the communication
I/F 31 to transmit sample data to the ACR server 13 via the network
21, and request the identification of content.
[0093] When the identification request is transmitted from the
client 11, the identification request is received in the ACR server
13 by the communication I/F 61. In step S31, the content
identification unit 62 executes processing to identify content, on
the basis of the sample data included in the identification
request, and attribute data acquired from the content attribute
database 63.
[0094] To be specific, the content identification unit 62 acquires
an identification algorithm and sample data of the original content
as attribute data from the content attribute database 63. The
content identification unit 62 executes the identification
algorithm, and thereby specifies sample data of the original
content that is the same as the sample data (of the content being
reproduced) included in the identification request, and identifies
the original content recognized as having that sample data included
therein. Thus, a content identifier of the content being reproduced
is acquired.
[0095] In step S32, with respect to the time at which the sample
data of the content being reproduced is acquired, the relative
reproduction time period calculation unit 64 calculates the
relative time period (hereafter referred to as the relative
reproduction time period) from the start time of that content. It
should be noted that this relative reproduction time period is
expressed by means of a PTS or the like.
[0096] In step S33, the identification result notification unit 65
controls the communication I/F 61 to notify the content identifier
and the relative reproduction time period as an identification
result, to the client 11 via the network 21.
[0097] When the identification result is notified from the ACR
server 13, the content identifier and the relative reproduction
time period are received in the client 11 by the communication I/F
31, and are acquired by the control unit 37.
[0098] In step S16, the control unit 37 corrects the relative
reproduction time period notified from the ACR server 13. As this
correction, for example, a correction is carried out based on the
difference between the time at which the identification result is
notified from the ACR server 13 and the initial reproduction time
stored by the processing of step S14, and the relative reproduction
time period after the correction (hereafter referred to as the
corrected relative reproduction time period) is obtained.
[0099] In step S17, the control unit 37 controls the communication
I/F 31 to transmit the content identifier and the corrected
relative reproduction time to the T/SS server 14 via the network
21, and request the distribution of a T/SS.
[0100] When the T/SS distribution request is transmitted from the
client 11, the content identifier and the corrected relative
reproduction time are received in the T/SS server 14 by the
communication I/F 71. In step S41, the T/SS acquisition unit 72
acquires, from the T/SS storage unit 73, a T/SS corresponding to
the content identifier and the corrected relative reproduction
time.
[0101] In step S42, the T/SS distribution unit 74 controls the
communication I/F 71 to distribute the T/SS acquired by the T/SS
acquisition unit 72, to the client 11 via the network 21.
[0102] When the T/SS is distributed from the T/SS server 14, the
T/SS is received in the client 11 by the communication I/F 31, and
is acquired by the T/SS processing unit 40 by way of the control
unit 37. In step S18, the T/SS processing unit 40 executes analysis
processing for the T/SS received, and transmits an application
distribution request to the application server 15 via the network
21, in accordance with the result of that analysis processing. For
example, in the content being reproduced, if there is an
application that is to be executed at a certain timing during the
reproduction time period of the content, a distribution request for
the application described in the T/SS is made to the application
server 15 temporally prior to the time at which that application is
activated.
[0103] When the application distribution request is transmitted
from the client 11, the distribution request is received in the
application server 15 by the communication I/F 81. In step S51, the
application acquisition unit 82 acquires, from the application
storage unit 83, an application corresponding to the application
distribution request.
[0104] In step S52, the application distribution unit 84 controls
the communication I/F 81 to distribute the application acquired by
the application acquisition unit 82, to the client 11 via the
network 21.
[0105] When the application is distributed from the application
server 15, the application is received in the client 11 by the
communication I/F 31, and is stored in the cache memory 41. In step
S19, when the activation time of the application is reached, the
application engine 42 reads and executes the application stored in
the cache memory 41, in accordance with the control of the T/SS
processing unit 40. Here, for example, an application for the
display of a speedometer that is displayed during the reproduction
of automobile race content, or an application for the display of
stock price information that is displayed during the reproduction
of news content, is executed.
[0106] In this way, the T/SS processing unit 40 controls the
application engine 42 to execute management such as the
acquisition, activation, execution, or stopping of an application,
and thereby executes life-cycle management for the application so
to speak.
[0107] When the application is stopped thereafter, and in addition
the content being reproduced finishes, the content-linked
application distribution processing of FIG. 7 finishes.
[0108] As described above, in the content distribution system 1,
content distributed from the content server 12 is reproduced at the
client 11, the T/SS of an application relating to content
identified by the ACR server 13 is acquired from the T/SS server
14, and processing is executed by which the application acquired
from the application server 15 is managed on the basis of the T/SS
acquired. Thus, a content-related application can be reliably
utilized.
[0109] In other words, if for example the metadata of a content
stream is deleted and so on along a distribution path, it will no
longer be possible to acquire management information such as a T/SS
for managing a content-related application, and it will no longer
be possible to execute processing relating to the management
information (T/SS) at the client 11 side. It is envisaged that this
kind of distribution path is a content distribution chain that
continues from a content supplier to a distribution provider and
also to a content distribution provider, for example.
[0110] Furthermore, it is envisaged that it will no longer be
possible for processing relating to the management information
(T/SS) to be executed at the client 11 side, and it is also
proposed that the management information (T/SS) be stored (inserted
during encoding) in an elementary stream of video or audio content.
Furthermore, there are cases in which the management information
(T/SS) is distributed as the metadata (attachment
information/control information of content including a content
identifier and so on) of a content stream.
[0111] However, at the client 11 side, if it is not possible to
acquire management information (T/SS) that is encoded as an
elementary stream of content, there is a possibility that the
management information (T/SS) cannot be utilized. As this kind of
case, for example, a situation is envisaged in which content that
has been codec converted and accumulated temporarily at the client
11 side is uploaded to a so-called content sharing site (for
example, YouTube).
[0112] On the other hand, in the content distribution system 1, the
identification of content is executed by the ACR server 13, and the
T/SS that is attached to the identified content is acquired from a
separate path (in other words, the T/SS server 14 connected to the
network 21), and acquisition and activation management of an
application is executed on the basis of that T/SS. Therefore,
because the T/SS of the content being reproduced is invariably
acquired, a content-related application can be reliably
utilized.
2. Second Embodiment
[Configuration of Another Content Distribution System]
[0113] FIG. 8 is a drawing depicting another configuration of a
content distribution system.
[0114] In FIG. 1, an example has been described in which the
content server 12 distributes content to the client 11 via the
network 21 such as the Internet; however, as depicted in FIG. 8,
the distribution of the content may be carried out via, for
example, a broadcasting network such as terrestrial broadcasting,
satellite broadcasting, or cable broadcasting.
[0115] In this case, for example, the content server 12 is capable
of transmitting a digital television broadcast signal or the like
as broadcast content.
[0116] On the other hand, the client 11, for example, is a
television receiver or a mobile device or the like, and is provided
with a block for receiving broadcast content such as a tuner, and
broadcast content is received by executing an application for
receiving a digital television broadcast for example. Furthermore,
for example, broadcast content may be selected by means of a user
interface (UI: user interface) on an external set-top box (STB:
set-top box) connected to the television receiver.
[0117] The client 11 receives and demodulates a digital television
broadcast signal transmitted from the content server 12, and
decodes a video signal and an audio signal obtained as a result of
the demodulation. The client 11 displays a video corresponding to
the video data obtained by the decoding, and also outputs, from a
speaker, audio corresponding to the audio data.
[0118] Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 8, the client 11 and the
devices from the ACR server 13 to the application server 15 are
connected via the network 21. As in FIG. 1, the client 11 transmits
a variety of requests via the network 21 to the devices from the
ACR server 13 to the application server 15, and receives an
identification result, a T/SS, or an application in accordance with
these requests.
[0119] The content distribution system 1 of FIG. 8 is configured as
described above.
3. Third Embodiment
[Configuration of Another Content Distribution System]
[0120] FIG. 9 is a drawing depicting yet another configuration of a
content distribution system.
[0121] In FIG. 1, the T/SS server 14 and the application server 15
are both described as being independent devices; however, as
depicted in FIG. 9, these devices may be treated as a single
T/SS-application server 16.
[0122] In other words, the T/SS-application server 16 of FIG. 9 is
a single device including a T/SS unit (not depicted) as a single
processing unit corresponding to the T/SS server 14 of FIG. 1, and
an application unit (not depicted) as a single processing unit
corresponding to the application server 15. The T/SS unit includes
the devices from the communication I/F 71 to the T/SS distribution
unit 74 of FIG. 5, and the application unit includes the devices
from the communication I/F 81 to the application distribution unit
84 of FIG. 6.
[0123] Similarly, the content server 12 or the ACR server 13 can
also be formed as a single unit with another server. In other
words, the content server 12, the ACR server 13, the T/SS server
14, and the application server 15 may be independent devices, or
may be internal blocks making up a single device. Furthermore, the
function (processing to identify content) of the ACR server 13 can
be incorporated inside the client 11.
[0124] Furthermore, the network 21 means a scheme in which at least
two devices are connected and it is ensured that information can be
transmitted from a certain device to the other device. Furthermore,
the devices that communicate via the network 21 may be independent
devices, or may be internal blocks that make up a single device.
Here, the communication may obviously be wireless communication and
wired communication, or may be communication in which wireless
communication and wired communication are mixed, namely when
wireless communication is carried out in a certain zone and wired
communication is carried out in another zone. In addition,
communication from a certain device to another device may be
carried out by wired communication, and communication from the
other device to the certain device may be carried out by wireless
communication.
[0125] The content distribution system 1 in FIG. 9 is configured as
described above.
4. Modified Embodiment
[0126] In the aforementioned descriptions, the client 11 is
described as making a request to the ACR server 13 for the
identification of content, and making a request to the T/SS server
14 for the distribution of a T/SS corresponding to that
identification result; however, the ACR server 13 may distribute
the identification result directly to the T/SS server 14 without
involving the client 11. In this case, it is possible for the
client 11 to receive the distribution of a T/SS from the T/SS
server 14 just by making a request to the ACR server 13 for the
identification of content.
[0127] Furthermore, in the aforementioned description, a
description is given with respect to the case in which the
identification result of the ACR server 13 is principally
distributed to the client 11; however, in addition to this, for
example, identification processing may be executed once again in
accordance with the identification result produced by the ACR
server 13. For example, in the case in which the result of the ACR
server 13 executing identification processing has a low recognition
rate, the cause of which is a problem in the amount of sample data
transmitted from the client 11 side or the sampling frequency, the
ACR server 13 may be configured so as to prompt the client 11 to
extract new sample data once again and retransmit the new sample
data. In this case, at the ACR server 13 side, information relating
to the sample data extraction region and sampling frequency can be
designated, and the client 11 can be instructed to extract sample
data once again. For example, which region of a video is to be
extracted is designated as the extraction region, and a sampling
cycle is designated as the sampling frequency.
[0128] In addition, at the client 11 side, if it is desired that
information be acquired regarding whether an identification result
has been obtained and at what degree of accuracy an identification
result has been obtained in the content identification processing
carried out by the ACR server 13, information indicating a
recognition rate such as an identification probability or accuracy
level may be transmitted in combination with a content identifier,
from the ACR server 13 to the client 11. For example, a percent
value is used as the identification probability, and an accuracy
result of 1-10 grades or levels of high, medium, and low are used
as accuracy levels. Furthermore, in the client 11, the result may
be presented to the user on the basis of the information indicating
the recognition rate, and the decision depending on the recognition
accuracy as to whether or not a related application for example is
to be acquired may be entrusted to the user. In this case, for
example, if the recognition accuracy is low and the user decides
not to acquire an application, the distribution of an application
is not carried out.
[0129] Furthermore, in the aforementioned description, a
description is given with regard to the case in which a T/SS
distribution request is made only once; however, there are cases in
which this distribution request is made a number of times midway
through the reproduction of content in the client 11. In addition,
T/SSs are distributed by the T/SS server 14, but since T/SSs are
normally distributed synchronously together with a certain content
stream, only the corresponding T/SS is distributed in accordance
with a T/SS distribution request from the client 11; however, there
are also cases in which T/SSs subsequent to the relative
reproduction time period are collectively distributed. In other
words, for example, in a case such as when content that has already
been distributed once is temporarily accumulated in a certain
terminal, uploaded to a so-called content sharing site, and then
viewed by means of the client 11, T/SSs relating to the entirety of
the content in question are collectively distributed to the client
11. Furthermore, also in the case in which content is downloaded
and distributed and that content is accumulated in the client 11,
the T/SSs relating to the entirety of that content may be
collectively distributed to the client 11 when the accumulated
content is reproduced.
[0130] In the aforementioned description, a description is given in
which a T/SS serves as an example of management information for
managing a content-related application; however, this management
information is not restricted to a T/SS, and, for example, may also
apply to an AIT (application information table) or the like for
controlling a HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband Television) browser
page. In short, information other than a T/SS is permissible as
long as it is information relating to the control of an
application.
[Description of a Computer to Which the Present Technology has been
Applied]
[0131] The aforementioned series of processing can be carried out
by hardware, and can also be carried out by software. In the case
the series of processing is carried out by software, a program
constituting that software is installed in a general-purpose
computer or the like.
[0132] FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary configuration of one embodiment
of a computer in which a program that executes the aforementioned
series of processing is installed.
[0133] The program can be recorded in advance in a ROM (read-only
memory) 202 or in a recording unit 208 such as a hard disk built
into a computer 200.
[0134] Alternatively, the program can be temporarily or permanently
stored (recorded) on a removable recording medium 211 such as a
flexible disk, a CD-ROM (compact disk read-only memory), an MO
(magneto-optical) disk, a DVD (digital versatile disk), a magnetic
disk, and a semiconductor memory. This kind of removable recording
medium 211 can be provided as so-called package software.
[0135] It should be noted that apart from installing the program in
the computer 200 from a removable recording medium 211 such as the
aforementioned, the program can be transferred wirelessly from a
download site to the computer 200 via a man-made satellite for
digital satellite broadcasting, or transferred by wire to the
computer 200 via a network such as a LAN (local area network) and
the Internet, and the program which has been transferred in this
manner can be received at the computer 200 by a communication unit
209, and installed in the recording unit 208.
[0136] The computer 200 is internally equipped with a CPU (central
processing unit) 201. An input/output interface 205 is connected to
the CPU 201 by way of a bus 204, and when a command is input by way
of the input/output interface 205, by an input unit 206 including a
keyboard, a mouse, a microphone and the like being operated and so
forth by the user, the CPU 201 executes a program stored in the ROM
202, in accordance with the command.
[0137] Alternatively, furthermore, a program that is stored in the
recording unit 208, a program that has been transferred from a
satellite or a network and received by the communication unit 209
and installed in the recording unit 208, or a program that has been
read from the removable recording medium 211 attached to a drive
210 and installed in the recording unit 208, is loaded into a RAM
(random-access memory) 203 and executed by the CPU 201. Thus, the
CPU 201 carries out processing according to the aforementioned
flowchart, or processing that is carried out in accordance with the
configuration of the aforementioned block diagrams. The CPU 201, as
required, for example, outputs the processing result thereof by way
of the input/output interface 205, from an output unit 207
including an LCD (liquid crystal display) or a speaker and so on,
or causes the processing result to be transmitted from the
communication unit 209 and, furthermore, recorded, and so on, in
the recording unit 208.
[0138] Here, in the present description, with regard to the
processing steps that describe a program for causing a computer to
carry out a variety of processing, processing does not always have
to be executed in a time-sequential manner in the order described
as the flowchart, and processing that is executed in a parallel or
discrete manner (for example, parallel processing or object-based
processing) is also included.
[0139] Furthermore, with regard to the program, processing may be
carried out by one computer, or processing may be carried out in a
distributed manner by a plurality of computers. In addition, the
program may be transferred to a remote computer and executed.
[0140] It should be noted that, in the present description, a
system represents the equipment as a whole constituted by a
plurality of devices.
[0141] In addition, the present embodiments are not restricted to
the aforementioned embodiments, and various alterations are
possible within a scope that does not deviate from the purpose of
the present technology.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0142] 1 Content distribution system [0143] 11 Client [0144] 12
Content server [0145] 13 ACR server [0146] 14 T/SS server [0147] 15
Application server [0148] 21 Network [0149] 31 Communication I/F
[0150] 32 Content reproduction unit [0151] 33 Display control unit
[0152] 34 Display unit [0153] 35 RAM [0154] 36 Sample acquisition
unit [0155] 37 Control unit [0156] 38 Memory [0157] 39 Operation
unit [0158] 40 T/SS processing unit [0159] 41 Cache memory [0160]
42 Application engine [0161] 51 Communication I/F [0162] 52 Content
acquisition unit [0163] 53 Content storage unit [0164] 54 Content
distribution unit [0165] 51 Communication I/F [0166] 61
Communication I/F [0167] 62 Content identification unit [0168] 63
Content attribute database [0169] 64 Relative reproduction time
period calculation unit [0170] 65 Identification result
notification unit [0171] 71 Communication I/F [0172] 72 T/SS
acquisition unit [0173] 73 T/SS storage unit [0174] 74 T/SS
distribution unit [0175] 81 Communication I/F [0176] 82 Application
acquisition unit [0177] 83 Application storage unit [0178] 84
Application distribution unit [0179] 200 Computer [0180] 201
CPU
* * * * *