U.S. patent application number 15/962419 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-30 for method of using server, server reservation control apparatus and program storage medium.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is SONY CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Junko FUKUDA, Keigo IHARA, Takanori NISHIMURA, Takahiko SUEYOSHI, Takao YOSHIMINE.
Application Number | 20180248864 15/962419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18751960 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180248864 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NISHIMURA; Takanori ; et
al. |
August 30, 2018 |
METHOD OF USING SERVER, SERVER RESERVATION CONTROL APPARATUS AND
PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM
Abstract
In a content supply system, in order to use a streaming server
to perform a live distribution, a user PC used makes a reservation
for a time zone, etc. to a server reservation control center. When
the user PC sends desired reservation information to the server
reservation control center via the Internet, if the reservation is
accepted, a reservation ID only used for authentication of the
reservation is created and sent from the server reservation control
center to the user PC via the Internet. When a distribution request
is sent from the user PC to the streaming server, authentication
processing using this reservation ID is performed.
Inventors: |
NISHIMURA; Takanori;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; IHARA; Keigo; (Chiba, JP)
; YOSHIMINE; Takao; (Kanagawa, JP) ; FUKUDA;
Junko; (Kanagawa, JP) ; SUEYOSHI; Takahiko;
(Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SONY CORPORATION |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SONY CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
18751960 |
Appl. No.: |
15/962419 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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15015791 |
Feb 4, 2016 |
9992184 |
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15962419 |
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|
13442511 |
Apr 9, 2012 |
9276916 |
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|
15015791 |
|
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|
11844182 |
Aug 23, 2007 |
8370498 |
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13442511 |
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10089083 |
Apr 10, 2002 |
7392315 |
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PCT/JP01/07419 |
Aug 29, 2001 |
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11844182 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 63/08 20130101;
H04L 67/42 20130101; G06F 9/5027 20130101; G06Q 30/06 20130101;
H04L 69/329 20130101; H04L 29/06 20130101; H04L 47/72 20130101;
H04L 67/10 20130101; H04L 63/105 20130101; H04L 67/40 20130101;
G06F 2209/5014 20130101; G06Q 20/3674 20130101; G06Q 10/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 29/06 20060101
H04L029/06; H04L 29/08 20060101 H04L029/08; H04L 12/911 20130101
H04L012/911; G06Q 10/02 20120101 G06Q010/02; G06F 9/50 20060101
G06F009/50; G06Q 30/06 20120101 G06Q030/06; G06Q 20/36 20120101
G06Q020/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2000 |
JP |
2000-264561 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A server comprising: circuitry configured to receive, from a
first user terminal, a user ID of a user for logging in, receive,
from the first user terminal, content data captured by the first
user terminal and text description and a level of access control of
the content data, the level of access control being detennined from
two or more disclosure levels, store, in a memory, the received
content data and the text description and the level of access
control of the content data, determine whether to update content of
a webpage based upon the received level of access control, the
webpage being accessible by another user different from the user of
the first terminal, and update the content of the webpage by
including at least a portion of the received content data and the
text description and the level of access control of the content
data based on determining to update the content of the webpage.
3. The server of claim 2, wherein updating the content of the
webpage includes modifying the content by adding at least a portion
of the received content data and the text description and the level
of access control of the content data.
4. The server of claim 2, wherein the text description and the
level of access control are simultaneously displayed at the first
user terminal.
5. The server of claim 2, wherein the webpage includes at least two
webpages, and the circuitry is further configured to update the
content of the two webpages by including at least a portion of the
received content data and the text description and the level of
access control of the content data based on determining to update
the content of the webpage.
6. The server of claim 2, wherein the two or more disclosure levels
include a first disclosure level and a second disclosure level, and
the circuitry is further configured to update the content of the
webpage based on the first disclosure level being selected, and not
update the content of the webpage based on the second disclosure
level being selected.
7. The server of claim 2, wherein the two or more disclosure levels
include a first disclosure level and a second disclosure level, and
the circuitry is further configured to allow public users to access
the content data based on the first disclosure level being
selected, and allow only one or more identified users to access the
content data based on the second disclosure level being
selected.
8. The server of claim 7, wherein the circuitry is further
configured to notify the one or more identified users of the at
least a portion of the received content data and the text
description and the level of access control of the content
data.
9. The server of claim 6, wherein the first disclosure level is a
public disclosure level and the second disclosure level is a
private disclosure level.
10. A method comprising: receiving, by a server from a first user
terminal, a user ID of a user for logging in; receiving, by the
server from the first user terminal, content data captured by the
first user terminal and text description and a level of access
control of the content data, the level of access control being
detennined from two or more disclosure levels; storing, in a
memory, the received content data and the text description and the
level of access control of the content data; determining, by the
server, whether to update content of a webpage based upon the
received level of access control, the webpage being accessible by
another user different from the user of the first terminal; and
updating, by the server, the content of the webpage by including at
least a portion of the received content data and the text
description and the level of access control of the content data
based on determining to update the content of the webpage.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the updating of the content of
the webpage includes modifying the content by adding at least a
portion of the received content data and the text description and
the level of access control of the content data.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the text description and the
level of access control are simultaneously displayed at the first
user terminal.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the webpage includes at least
two webpages, and the updating includes updating the content of the
two webpages by including at least a portion of the received
content data and the text description and the level of access
control of the content data based on determining to update the
content of the webpage.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the two or more disclosure
levels include a first disclosure level and a second disclosure
level, and the updating includes updating the content of the
webpage based on the first disclosure level being selected, and not
updating the content of the webpage based on the second disclosure
level being selected.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the two or more disclosure
levels include a first disclosure level and a second disclosure
level, and the method further comprises allowing public users to
access the content data based on the first disclosure level being
selected, and allowing only one or more identified users to access
the content data based on the second disclosure level being
selected.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising notifying the one or
more identified users of the at least a portion of the received
content data and the text description and the level of access
control of the content data.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first disclosure level is a
public disclosure level and the second disclosure level is a
private disclosure level.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer
program instructions, wherein the instructions when executed by a
computer, cause the computer to perform a method, the method
comprising: receiving, from a first user terminal, a user ID of a
user for logging in; receiving, from the first user terminal,
content data captured by the first user terminal and text
description and a level of access control of the content data, the
level of access control being determined from two or more
disclosure levels; storing, in a memory, the received content data
and the text description and the level of access control of the
content data; determining whether to update content of a webpage
based upon the received level of access control, the webpage being
accessible by another user different from the user of the first
terminal; and updating the content of the webpage by including at
least a portion of the received content data and the text
description and the level of access control of the content data
based on determining to update the content of the webpage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
15/015,791, filed Feb. 4, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S.
Ser. No. 13/442,511, filed Apr. 9, 2012 now U.S. Pat. No.
9,276,916), which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/844,182,
filed Aug. 23, 2007 no U.S. Pat. No. 8,370,4983, the entire
contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Ser. No. 11/844,182, filed Aug. 23, 2007 is a divisional of
U.S. Ser. No. 10/089,083, filed Apr. 10, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No.
7,392,315) which is the National Stage of PCT/JP01/07419 filed Aug.
29, 2001 which claims the benefit of priority from the prior
Japanese Patent. Applications No. 2000-264561, filed Aug. 31,
2000.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of using a server
for accessing a processing server that performs predetermined
processing, via a network to use functions of the processing
server, a server reservation control apparatus that controls
reservations for the use of the processing server and a program
storage medium that stores a program to be executed by the server
reservation apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] In a computer network system, it is conventionally a common
practice that the individual opens a homepage to provide content
created over the Internet.
[0004] When a user personally opens a homepage, the user acquires a
homepage creation program via a personal computer (hereinafter
referred to a "PC"), creates a homepage hyper-linked with a
plurality of content, based on the homepage creation program and
stores the homepage in a server of an Internet service provider
(hereinafter referred to as "ISP").
[0005] Then, the ISP provides the homepage to clients who access it
over the Internet from the server and when an anchor on the
homepage is clicked, then the ISP provides linked content.
[0006] In recent years, content supplied to clients over the
Internet include many moving images and voice in addition to still
images. To provide content such as these moving images, moving
image files and voice files created by the user are uploaded
beforehand in a predetermined storage area of a streaming server of
the ISP. Then, at the request of the client, the streaming server
of the ISP performs stream distribution of the file corresponding
to the request to the client over the Internet.
[0007] Furthermore, the technique of performing stream distribution
of content such as moving images to clients over the Internet also
includes a technique called "live distribution" in addition to
"on-demand distribution" whereby a moving image file is uploaded in
the streaming server beforehand and distributed in response to a
request from a client as described above. In live distribution,
moving image data created by a content creator, for example, using
a digital camera, is encoded in real time and this is set to the
streaming server over the Internet, etc. Then, the streaming server
performs streaming reproduction while recording the moving image
data supplied in real time from the content creator in a dedicated
storage area and can thereby supply the moving image data in real
time to the requesting client.
[0008] On the other hand, when the above-described live
distribution is performed, the content creator needs to send moving
image data to the streaming server in real time, and it is
necessary to secure a communication path to transmit moving image
data between the streaming server and a personal computer
(hereinafter referred to as "PC") of the content distributor for a
period during the live distribution. This limits the number of
content that can be live-distributed using the streaming server
during the same period and in a time zone to which many applicants
rush, there is a problem that the content distributor who has been
preparing for live distribution in the time zone cannot perform
live distribution in that time zone. In order to prevent such a
problem, it is possible to use the streaming server based on a
reservation system to insure efficient use of the streaming server
to perform live distribution.
[0009] If the use of the steaming server is determined based on a
reservation system as described above, content creators without a
legal reservation may illegally use the streaming server unless
content creators who have accessed the streaming server via the
Internet, etc. to perform a live distribution in a certain time
zone are authenticated to be users with a legal reservation. This
requires authentication processing to authenticate whether a user
has a legal reservation or not and such authentication processing
must authenticate that the user has the right to use the relevant
live distribution service and at the same time has a reservation in
the relevant time zone, which would complicate input operations,
etc. for authentication by the content creators and the processing
by the providers of services such as live distribution, that is,
the processing on the authenticating side. Moreover, use of a
technique of making a multitude of simultaneous calls to an access
point to access the streaming server above may make the access line
to the streaming server busy, thus preventing the use by content
creators with a legal reservation, which may put in danger the
continuation of the reservation system.
[0010] Such a problem can occur not only with the reservation
system of the streaming server for carrying, out a live
distribution but also when a user PC uses the functions of a
processing server that carries out predetermined processing other
than live distributions via a network such as the Internet and a
reservation system is adopted taking into account the processing
capacity of the processing server and securing of the communication
path between the both parties, etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention has been implemented taking into
account the situation described above and it is an object of the
present invention to provide a method of using a server, a server
reservation control apparatus and a program storage medium capable
of allowing many users to efficiently use functions of a processing
server that performs predetermined processing, via a network and at
the same time reducing interference by illegal users without
complicated authentication processing or operations.
[0012] To solve the problems above, when, in order for a user
terminal apparatus to access a processing server that performs
predetermined processing via a network to use functions of the
processing server, the user terminal apparatus makes a reservation
for the use of the processing server via the network to a
reservation control apparatus that controls the reservation
situation of the processing server and uses the functions of the
processing server based on the reservation, the present invention
carries out the following procedure: First, the user terminal
apparatus sends reservation request information including a desired
service time to use, the processing server to the reservation
control apparatus via the network, and if the reservation for the
use of the processing server during the desired service time
included in the reservation request information is accepted,
authentication information used only for the accepted reservation
is created and the reservation setting information including this
authentication information is sent from the reservation control
apparatus to the user terminal apparatus via the network. Then, the
authentication information included the reservation setting
information is stored in a predetermined storage area of the user
terminal apparatus and when the user terminal apparatus accesses
and uses the processing server based on the reservation, the user
terminal apparatus reads the authentication information stored in
the predetermined storage area and sends it. Then, it is decided
whether the use of the processing server by the user terminal
apparatus should be accepted or not, based on the authentication
information sent from the user terminal apparatus.
[0013] Thus, adopting a reservation system to use the functions of
the processing server in this way allows many users of user
terminal apparatuses to efficiently use the processing server.
Furthermore, since authentication information used only for
authentication of certain reservations is used to authenticate
whether a user has a legal reservation or not, it is possible to
authenticate that a user of a user terminal apparatus who has sent
the authentication information about the reservation is the user
with a legal reservation, which can reduce complicated
authentication processing. Furthermore, the authentication
information is stored in the user terminal apparatus, and is read
when the user terminal apparatus accesses the processing server to
be used for authentication processing. That is, since the
authentication information stored in the storage area is read and
sent, the user need not perform operations such as entering
authentication information. Moreover, since the authentication
processing is performed based on the authentication information
only sent to the user terminal apparatus that has made a
reservation, it is possible to regulate the use of the processing
server by users other than those with a legal reservation.
[0014] Moreover, when, in order for a user terminal apparatus to
access a processing server that performs predetermined processing
via a network to use functions of the processing server, the user
terminal apparatus makes a reservation for the use of the
processing server via the network to a reservation control
apparatus that controls the reservation situation of the processing
server and uses the functions of the processing server based on the
reservation, another aspect of the present invention carries out
the following procedure: First, the user terminal apparatus sends
reservation request information including, a desired service time
to use the processing server to the reservation control apparatus
via the network, and if the reservation for the use of the
processing server during the desired service time included in the
reservation request information is accepted, the reservation
setting information including communication/connection information
necessary for the user terminal apparatus to establish a
communication/connection with the processing server is sent from
the reservation control apparatus to the user terminal apparatus
via the network. Then, the communication/connection information
included in the reservation setting information is written and
stored in a predetermined storage area of the user terminal
apparatus and when the user terminal apparatus accesses and uses
the processing server based on the reservation, the user terminal
apparatus reads the stored communication/connection information and
performs processing to establish a communication/connection with
the processing server based on the read communication/connection
information.
[0015] Thus, adopting a reservation system to use the functions of
the processing server in this way allows many users of user
terminal apparatuses to efficiently use the processing server.
Furthermore, information to establish a communication/connection
with the processing server is sent to the user terminal apparatus
of a user with a legal reservation and this information is read to
carry out communication processing. Therefore, the user can omit
operations of entering information to establish a
communication/connection, and the information to establish a
communication/connection with the processing server is read from
the storage area and used for processing, that is, the information
is not distributed in a manner apparent to the eyes of people such
as books or display data, thus making it possible to prevent the
information from being subjected to illegal processing of
communication with the processing server such as interference by
misusing the information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outlined overall
configuration of a content supply system to which a method of using
a server according to an embodiment of the present invention is
applied.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a user
PC that receives a personal casting service from the content supply
system above.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example
of appearance of the user PC above.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an initial screen at the start
of an application program by the user PC above.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section of the user PC above in picture taking mode.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section of the user PC above, in upload mode.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section of the user PC above in Web check mode.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section of the user PC above in live reservation mode.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section of the user PC above in live distribution mode.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a drawing showing an effect display field in the
live distribution mode above.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a drawing showing a display screen during effect
setting processing in the live distribution mode above.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a
server reservation control apparatus of the content supply system
above.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing the top page of a Web page
stored in a hard disk of the live casting server of the server
reservation control apparatus above.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a drawing showing a Web page stored in the hard
disk, of the live casting server above.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a drawing showing a Web page stored in the hard
disk of the live casting server above.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a drawing showing a Web page stored in the hard
disk of the live casting server above.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a drawing showing a Web page stored in the hard
disk of the live casting server above.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a drawing showing the registration content of the
reservation database of the server reservation control apparatus
above.
[0034] FIG. 19 is a sequence flow chart showing the processing
operation of the user PC and the live casting server above during
member registration.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a drawing showing a display screen of the display
section above of the user PC above during the member
registration.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a sequence flow chart showing the processing
operation of the user PC and the live casting server above during
distribution reservation,
[0037] FIG. 22 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC during said distribution
reservation.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC during said distribution
reservation.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC during the distribution
reservation above.
[0040] FIG. 25 is a sequence flow chart showing the processing
operation of the user PC and the live casting server above during
reconfirmation processing in the distribution reservation
above.
[0041] FIG. 26 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC during the reconfirmation
processing above.
[0042] FIG. 27 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC during the reconfirmation
processing above.
[0043] FIG. 28 is a drawing showing a reservation setting
information file created by the live casting server above and sent
to the user PC during the reconfirmation processing above.
[0044] FIG. 29 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section of the user PC during the reconfirmation processing
above.
[0045] FIG. 30 is a drawing showing the contents of e-mail sent to
an e-mail address specified during the reconfirmation processing
above.
[0046] FIG. 31 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
changed.
[0047] FIG. 32 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
changed.
[0048] FIG. 33 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
changed.
[0049] FIG. 34 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
canceled.
[0050] FIG. 35 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
canceled.
[0051] FIG. 36 is a drawing showing a display screen shown on the
display section above of the user PC above when a reservation is
confirmed.
[0052] FIG. 37 is a sequence flow chart showing the processing
operation of the content supply system above during live
distribution.
[0053] FIG. 38 is a drawing showing a display screen of a client PC
that receives a content supply during the live distribution
above.
[0054] FIG. 39 is a schematic drawing showing an overall
configuration of a network system according to a modification of
the embodiment above.
[0055] FIG. 40 is a schematic perspective view showing an external
configuration of a camera-integrated digital cellular phone.
[0056] FIG. 41 is a schematic perspective view showing a display
section of the camera-integrated digital cellular phone above when
the camera is rotated.
[0057] FIG. 42 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration
of the camera-integrated digital cellular phone above.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0058] With reference now to the attached drawings, embodiments of
the present invention will be explained below.
A. Configuration of Content Supply System
[0059] A-1. Outlined Overall System Configuration
[0060] First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall
configuration of the content supply system 100 that offers a
personal casting service using the method of using a server
according to an embodiment of the present invention. This
embodiment describes a case where the present invention is applied
to a method of using a streaming server with a function of carrying
out stream distribution of content such as moving image data, but
it is also possible to apply the present invention to methods of
using a server which carries out other processing functions.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 1, this content supply system 10 comprises
a user PC (distributor terminal apparatus) 106 connected to the
Internet 103 via an Internet service provider (not shown) and
telephone network 104, a server reservation control center 101
connected to the Internet 103, a streaming server (processing
server) 102 and a plurality (3 in the figure) of client PCs 107
connected to the Internet 103 via a telephone line (not shown) or
dedicated line (not shown). Here, the streaming, server 102 is
connected to a dedicated server connection network 108, and when
data is sent from the user PC 106 to the streaming server 102
during live distribution, which will be described later, the user
PC 106 connects to an access port of the dedicated server
connection network 108 using PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) via the
telephone network 104. This establishes a communication path
between the user PC 106 and streaming server 102 and the content
data can be sent using this communication path A dedicated line 109
is also laid between the streaming server 102 and server
reservation control center 101 and data is transferred between both
parties the dedicated line 109 in the case of authentication
processing, etc, which will be described later,
[0062] In this content supply system 100, the user of the user PC
106 sends Content data (e.g., video data, etc. taken from music
live) taken by a digital camera, etc to the streaming server 102 in
a reserved time zone (e.g., 15:00 to 16:00), while the streaming
server 102 performs stream-distribution of the above content data
to the client PC 107 that sent a request. In this way, the content
supply system 100 can provide a personal casting service that
implements personal broadcasting such that content data taken by
the user of the user PC 106 using a digital camera, etc. is
received and reproduced by the client PC 107 in real time.
[0063] Furthermore, this content supply system 100 adopts a
reservation system whereby each user makes a reservation for using
or accessing the streaming server 102 in order to implement a
personal casting service that allows the user to reliably transmit
personal broadcasting, in a desired time zone. That is, the user
requests the server reservation control center 101 over the
Internet 103 for a reservation of a time zone during which the user
wants to carry out personal broadcasting, that is, a time zone
during which the user (PC) wants to access the streaming server 102
and use, the stream distribution function by the streaming server
102. Then, when the reservation is permitted by the server
reservation control center 101, the user PC 106 can access the
streaming server 102 in the time zone based on this reservation and
perform live distribution.
[0064] The content supply system 100 is a system that offers the
personal casting service, which introduces the above-described
reservation system, and the components of this content supply
system 100 will be explained in detail below.
[0065] A-2. User PC
[0066] First, the user PC 106 will be explained. In this
embodiment, the user PC 106 refers to a PC used to transmit content
data by a user who has acquired the right to become a broadcasting
party who creates and transmits content data after completing a
registration procedure, etc, which will be described later in, a
personal casting service by the content supply system 100.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 2, the user PC 106 comprises a CPU (central
processing unit) 120 that performs various kinds of operation
processing and controls sections, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 121
used as a work memory of the CPU 120, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 122
that stores a program group read and executed by the CPU 1.20, a
hard disk 123 that Stores a program group read and executed by the
CPU 120 such as an operating system (e.g., "Windows 95/98/2000"
(Microsoft Corporation) and application programs, etc., a display
section 124 such as a liquid crystal display that displays an image
to the user, a display interface 125 to display an image
corresponding to data supplied from the CPU 120 on the display
section 124, an operation section 126 such as a keyboard, mouse and
rotary dial and operation button which will be described later used
for the user to enter instructions, an operation section interface
127 that supplies data indicating instructions entered via the
operation section 126 to the CPU 120 a network interface 128 that
transmits/receives data to/from devices connected to the interact
103 (see FIG. 1) and the dedicated server connection network 108
(see FIG. 1) via a telephone network 104 (see FIG. 1) and a digital
video camera 129 incorporated in the user PC 106. By the way, the
hard disk 123 is read by/written to the CPU 120 and also used to
store moving image data and various kinds of control data.
[0068] Here, FIG. 3 illustrates configuration examples of
appearance of the user PC 106 with the digital video camera 129
above. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the user PC 106 shown in this example
comprises, as in the case of a general notebook personal computer,
a display side cabinet 106a provided with a liquid crystal screen
124a and a keyboard side cabinet 106b provided with a keyboard 126a
and both are connected in a relatively pivotable manner by means of
a hinge section 106c. Furthermore, the display side cabinet 106a is
also made relatively pivotable with respect to the keyboard side
cabinet 106b in the direction indicated by an arrow A in the
figure. Furthermore, a rotary operation dial 126b is provided on
one side of the display side cabinet 106a. This operation dial 126b
can perform not only a rotation operation but also a pressing
operation.
[0069] On one end face of the keyboard side cabinet 106b are
attached as button cabinet 106e with a plurality (4 in the figure)
of operation buttons 126c and the above-described digital video
camera 129. Here, the button cabinet 106e is fixed to the keyboard
side cabinet 106b as illustrated. On the other hand, the digital
video camera 129 is supported at one point on the lateral end face
of the keyboard side cabinet 106b in a pivotable manner, which
allows the digital video camera 129 to rotate freely in the
direction shown by an arrow B in the figure.
[0070] With such a structure, the user PC 106 can be used not only
in the mode similar to a general notebook personal computer shown
in FIG. 3(a) but also in modes shown in FIGS. 3(b) to 3(d). For
example, when used in the mode shown in FIG. 3(b), the user can
hold the user PC 106 to take pictures of the user himself using the
digital video camera 129. In this case, since a liquid crystal
screen 124a is provided on the user side as illustrated, the user
can take pictures while checking the video. When used in this mode,
the keyboard 126a is located on the side opposite to the user, and
it, is difficult for the user to operate the keyboard correctly.
Taking into account this point, operations related to picture
taking and processing of video, etc. of the digital video camera
129 (e.g., operations to instruct start and stop of picture taking,
zooming, addition of effects, saving of moving image data and
transmission, etc.) in a processing according to an application
program described later can be performed by operating the
above-described operation dial 126b and operation buttons 126c as
appropriate. Furthermore, when used in the mode shown in. FIG.
3(c), the user can hold the user PC 106 to take pictures of a
target in front while watching the LCD screen 124a.
[0071] Returning to FIG. 2, the user PC 106 is configured to
perform various kinds of processing such as moving image data
distribution processing serviced from the above-described content
supply system 100, creation/processing of moving image data and WW
(World-Wide Web) browsing by the CPU 120 executing an application
program stored in the ROM 122 and hard disk 123 based on turning ON
of a power supply (not shown) and instructions from the user input
form the operation section 126. Hereinafter, focused on various
functions realized by the CPU 120 executing the processing
according to this application program, the functions of the user PC
106 will be explained with reference to the display screen,
etc.
[0072] First, when the user PC 106 executes the above application
program, an initial screen as shown in FIG. 4 appears on the
display section 124 under the control of the CPU 120. As shown in
the same figure, this initial screen shows a large-size main screen
display area 40 displaying an image taken by the digital video
camera 129, etc. and a small-size sub image display are 41
displaying a preview of the last image taken when the application
program was executed previously on the top right side of the
screen. Furthermore, below the sub image displayed area 41 a GUI
(Graphical User Interface) to select a mode, type of image
(camera), setting and instruction content (operation) is displayed.
By selecting/setting these items as appropriate, the user can
select a mode, select the type of image such as still screen
(STILL) or moving image (MOVIE), change the settings and cuter
instructions, etc.
[0073] Here, in this application, the user can select from five
modes such as capture mode (mode when "Capture" on the GUI is
selected), upload mode (mode when "View/send" on the GUI is
selected), Web check mode (mode when "View Web" on the GUI is
selected), live reservation mode (mode when "To live reservation
check" on the GUI is selected) and live distribution mode (mode
when "To live distribution" on the GUI is selected). By the way,
the capture mode is selected in the initial state when the
application program is started.
[0074] The capture mode is a mode in which pictures are taken by
the digital video camera 129 incorporated in the user PC 106 and
when this mode is selected or in the initial state, a screen as
shown in FIG. 5(a) is displayed under the control of the CPU 120.
As shown in the same figure, the display screen in the capture mode
shows the main image display area 40 and sub image display area 41
in the same way as in the above-described initial screen (see FIG.
4), and the main image display area 40 shows the picture currently
being taken and sub image display area 41 shows a preview of the
last image taken before the current capture.
[0075] In this mode, too, the above-described GUI is shown below
the sub image display area 41. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the GUI in
this mode shows selection items such as "mode", "camera", "setting"
and "operation". The selection item "operation" in this mode
includes an item ("capture") to instruct a capture of an image and
an item to instruct connection/disconnection with the Internet
("net connect/disconnect), etc, and it is possible to select and
decide a desired item by rotating the operation dial 126b, moving
the focus F (shown with bold line) to the desired item and then
pressing the operation on dial 126b.
[0076] Furthermore, in this capture mode, if a command, etc. which
is required for capture (e.g., command to instruct a selection of
an effect to be given to an image) is assigned to the operation
button 126c (see FIG. 3) provided on the button cabinet 106e, the
user can perform operations in the capture mode only through
operations of the operation dial 126b and operation buttons 126c
without using the keyboard 126a (see FIG. 3) making it possible to
easily perform a capture operation in the mode when the keyboard
126a is in a position that makes it difficult to operate the
keyboard as shown in FIG. 3(h) and FIG. 3(c). By the way, the
above-described command can be assigned to the operation buttons
126c by default, but in this capture mode and other modes which
will be explained below, it is also possible, to allow the user to
freely select a command to be assigned to the operation buttons
126c for each mode. In this way, the user sets so that commands
frequently used in each mode are assigned to the operation buttons
126c and can thereby reduce the necessity of operating the keyboard
126a and improve the operability in each mode.
[0077] The status window SW shown at the bottom of the screen in
FIG. 5(a) shows the current condition of the user PC 106 (e.g., the
residual amount of the battery and the residual storage space of
the hard disk drive, etc.), processing condition in the selected
mode (e.g., data size of the image being taken, specified saving
destination (hard disk and network, etc) and information on the
command assignment of the operation buttons 126c.
[0078] Then, the upload mode is a mode in which the image data
taken in the above-described capture mode is displayed or
referenced or the image data is selected and transmitted to a
server (not shown) at a predetermined upload destination connected
to the Internet 103 (see FIG. 1). When this mode is selected, a
screen as shown in FIG. 6(a) is displayed on the display section
124 under the control of the CPU 120. As shown in the same figure,
the display screen in the upload mode shows a preview area 42, a
list display area 43 that shows images taken in a tile form (lined
vertically in the example in the figure), a GUI, a status window SW
and a transmission capsule icon SC.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 6(b), "operation" of the GUI in the upload
mode includes an item to instruct connection/disconnection with the
Internet ("connect/disconnect Net"), item to instruct start/end of
transmission of image data ("transmit start/stop"), item to
instruct movement of the focus F to the list display area 43 ("Move
focus"), item to instruct a view inside the transmission capsule
icon SC, that is, a view of the list of image data selected to be
sent (see "transmission capsule), etc. and it is possible to select
a desired item by rotating the operation dial 126b to move the
focus F to the desired item and then pressing the operation dial
126b.
[0080] Furthermore, in the upload mode, the operation buttons 126c
are assigned commands to instruct replay/stop of a moving image
toward the preview area 42 and display of a still image, etc.
Furthermore, the status window SW in this mode shows the file name
of image data, file size, format (JPEG (Joint Photographic. Experts
Group) and MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group), etc.) and
information indicating the transmission destination currently
specified (the name of the server to be uploaded and its URL
(Uniform Resource Locator)).
[0081] Here, when an item instructing the move of the focus to the
list display area 43 ("Move focus") is selected, the focus F moves
onto the list display area 43. When the focus F moves onto the list
display area 43, the focus F sequentially moves from one listed
image to another according to the rotation operation of the
operation dial 126b. When the user wants to send some image data,
the user rotates the operation button 126e and moves the focus F
onto the relevant image data. Then, pressing the operation dial
126b shows a SUBGUI to instruct processing on the image data as
shown in FIG. 6(a) and the focus F moves onto an item, of this
SUBGUI. As shown, in FIG. 6(c), the SUBGUI includes instruction
items such as "Save", "Delete", "Preview" and "Enter into
transmission capsule". Here, when the user rotates the operation
dial 126b to move the focus F onto "Enter into transmission
capsule" which is desired processing and presses the operation dial
126b, the relevant image data is added to the list of image data to
be sent. When the user selects image data to be sent and sends the
image data in this way, the user returns the focus F onto an item
of the GUI and selects "transmit start/stop". When "transmit
start/stop" is selected, the processing of transmission of the
image data selected by the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 is
executed.
[0082] Next, the Web check mode is a mode for connecting to a
network such as the Internet and carrying out browsing. When the
Web check mode is selected, a screen as shown in FIG. 7(a) is
displayed on the display section 124 under the control of the CPU
120. As shown in the same figure, the Web cheek mode shows a
browser display screen 44 that shows a Web browser, a URL display
field 45 that shows URLs entered to display resources on the
browser display screen 44, a GUI and a status window SW. Here, when
the Web check mode is selected, the CPU 120 executes browser
software stored in the hard disk 123 (e.g., Internet Explorer
(Microsoft Corporation) and Netscape Navigator (registered
trademark of Netscape Communications Inc.)) and the display screen
is shown on the browser display screen 44 by the browser software
above.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 7(b), the GUI in the Web check mode shows
"browsing" to select an instruction item when browsing and
"browsing" shows an item to instruct a jump to a predetermined Web
page ("Jump") and an item to operate the browser (e.g., "Next" or
"Return", etc.). "operation" in this mode includes an item to
instruct connection/disconnection with the Internet
("Connect/disconnect Net"), an item to instruct movement of the
focus F to the browser display screen 44 ("Move focus"), etc. and
it is possible to select a desired item by rotating the operation
dial 126b to move the focus F to a desired item and then pressing
the operation dial 126b.
[0084] This "Web check" allows the user to perform general browsing
processing such as entering a URL and performing browsing.
[0085] Then, the live reservation mode is a mode to reserve a time
zone, etc. to be connected to the server reservation control center
101 (see FIG. 1) over the Internet 103 and carry out personal
broadcasting using, the above personal casting service. When the
live reservation mode is selected, a screen as shown in FIG. 8(a)
is displayed on the display section 124 under the control of the
CPU 120. As shown in the same figure, the live reservation mode
shows the browser display screen 44, URL display field 45, GUI and
status window SW in the same way as in the above Web check mode and
a reservation list display area 46 as well.
[0086] As shown in FIG. 8(b), "operation" of the GUI in the live
reservation mode includes an item to instruct
connection/disconnection with the Internet ("connect/disconnect
net") and item to instruct movement of the focus F to the browser
display screen 44 ("Move focus"), etc. the GUI in this mode shows
"browsing" as in the case of the above Web check mode and
"browsing" shows an item to instruct a jump to a Web page to make a
live reservation ("Reservation jump") and an item to operate the
browser (e.g., "Next" or "Return", etc.) etc. It is possible for
the user to select a desired item by rotating the operation dial
126b to move the focus F to a desired item and then pressing the
operation dial 126b. By the way, the Web page to make a live
reservation refers to a Web page that the live casting server,
which will be described later, in the server registration control
center 101 stores in its hard disk.
[0087] Here, when the user makes a reservation for live
distribution using the personal casting service, the user selects
and decides the item to instruct a jump to the Web page to make a
reservation for distribution. Then, the CPU 120 accesses the above
live casting server over the Internet 103 to make a live
reservation and can thereby exchange reservation-related
information such as sending reservation request information to the
relevant live casting server and downloading the reservation
setting information from the live casting server.
[0088] The reservation list display area 46 shows a list of
contents of reservations made by the user to the above server
reservation control center 101 and displays outlined information
such as a reservation time zone, etc, for each reservation. When
the user rotates the operation dial 126b to move the focus F onto
the reservation list display area 46, presses the operation dial
126b and thereby selects the item on the reservation list display
area 46 which shows the desired reservation outlined information,
then the CPU 120 controls such as jumping to the Web page to check
the reservation of the live casting server of the above server
reservation control center 101. Details about the
reservation-related processing between the user PC 106 and server
reservation control center 101 will be described later.
[0089] Then the live distribution mode is a mode for connecting to
the streaming server 102 (see FIG. 1) via the telephone network 104
and dedicated server connection network 108 and transmitting
content data such as moving image data, etc. taken by the digital
video camera 129 to the streaming server 102 in real time and the
content data seat in this mode is stream-distributed by the
streaming server 102 to the client PC 107 that sent a request. This
allows the user to distribute personal broadcasting in real
time.
[0090] When such a live distribution mode is selected, a screen as
shown in. FIG. 9(aappears on the display section 124 under the
control of the CPU 120.As shown in the same figure, the live
reservation mode shows an effect display field 48, a preview screen
47 that displays an image to be sent to the streaming server 102,
that is, an image which is the image taken by the digital video
camera 129 with predetermined effects, etc. added, the GUI and
status window SW.
[0091] The status window SW in the live distribution mode shows
on-air information that indicates that distribution is in progress,
distribution elapsed time information indicating the elapsed time
after distribution is started, time information on the service
provider side, time information on the user PC 106 side, reserved
time zone information that indicates reservation start time and
reservation end time, image size information, bit rate information
indicating the distribution data transmission rate (bit, rate),
distributed image data title name information, connection
destination information indicating the connected streaming server
102 and its channel and audience number information indicating the
number of clients who receive content data stream-distributed by
the streaming server 102, etc.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 9(b), "operation" of the GUI in the live
distribution mode includes an item to instruct
connection/disconnection with the Internet ("Connect/disconnect
Net"), and item to instruct the start/end of live distribution
("Start/finish distribution"), an effect setting item to set
effects shown in the effect display field 48 ("Set effect"), an
item to instruct the movement of the focus F to the effect display
field 48 ("Move focus"), etc. and it is possible to select a
desired item by rotating the operation dial 126b to move the focus
F to a desired item and pressing the operation dial 126b.
[0093] Here, when the user selects and decides an item to instruct
the start/end of live distribution the CPU 120 connects to the
streaming server 102 via the telephone network 104 and dedicated
server connection network 108 according to the reservation setting
information supplied from the live casting server in the above live
reservation mode. Then, when the connection with the streaming
server 102 is established, the CPU 120 sends moving image data
taken by the digital video camera earning server 102 in real time
according to the content (e.g., data transfer rate, etc.) set in
the above reservation setting information. The processing of
communication/connection with the streaming server 102 and moving
image data transmission processing, etc. after
communication/connection will be described later in detail.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 10, the effect display field 48 in the live
distribution mode displays effect names in order in the vertical
direction for each of button A and button B (marked "A" and "B" on
the upper surface of the button, etc.) in the operation buttons
126c. Here, the topmost effect name is the effect name currently
selected. In the example of the figure, button A shows selection
candidates such as "Heart pattern display", "None", "clapping
sound" . . . starting from the top. These are used to instruct
assignment of an effect corresponding to the effect name enclosed
by the focus F that relatively moves when the user rotates the
operation dial 126b, that is, the currently selected effect name
shown at the top and when the user presses the button A in the
operation buttons 126c, the effect corresponding to the effect name
selected and enclosed by focus F is added to the image taken by the
digital video camera 129. For example, in the figure, when button A
is pressed, processing of adding a clapping sound which is the
effect corresponding to the "Clapping sound" to the moving image
data taken by the digital video camera 129 is executed. That the
above focus F moves relatively means that the operation of the
rotary dial 126b does not cause the focus F to move but causes the
display string of the effect name to scroll and as a result the
focus F moves on the "effect name" displayed on the display
string.
[0095] Button B shows an effect name "Title impose" currently
enclosed by the focus F, that is, selected band below this shows
effect names such as "BGMI", "Monochrome image", "Title impose" . .
. sequentially starting from the top. These are used to instruct
that an effect corresponding to the effect name enclosed by the
focus F be added and by the user pressing the button B in the
operation buttons 126c, the effect corresponding to the effect name
enclosed by the focus F is added to the image taken by the digital
video camera 129. For example, in the figure, when button B is
pressed, processing of superimposing the title name which is the
effect corresponding to "Title impose" is executed on the moving
image data taken by the digital video camera 129. Here, the effect
processing, corresponding to button A is the addition of "clapping
sound" which is processing temporarily added, while the effect
processing corresponding to button B is processing added
continuously. Therefore, a toggle button is used as button B in the
operation buttons 126c in the user PC 106 and once pressed, effect
adding processing such as "monochrome image", etc, is continued
until the button is pressed the next time.
[0096] Furthermore, a preset effect name preset by the user is
shown to the right of the effect names corresponding to button B on
the screen. The effect shown here is added continuously unless the
effect to be preset is changed in the effect setting, which will be
described later, irrespective of button operations. In the example
in the figure, "Date/time" is set and in this case, the date/time
is always superimposed in the moving image data to be
distributed.
[0097] The above effect processing is implemented assuming that
live distribution will be performed, that is, moving image data
taken by the digital video camera 129 will be sent in real time.
That is, when live distribution is performed, the user PC 106 sends
images taken in real time and the operation when adding effects,
etc. to the images taken is required to be simple, and therefore it
is designed that processing can be executed by a single operation
of pressing button A or button B as described above. However, while
it is possible to instruct the processing of adding an effect by a
single operation of pressing button A or button B, when button A or
button B is depressed, the processing of the effect corresponding
to the effect name enclosed by the focus F in the effect display
field 48 is executed. Therefore, if the effect name and its display
sequence shown in the effect display field 48 do not match the
intention of the user, the amount that the focus F must be moved
increases relatively to add the desired effect, which will take
much time to rotate the operation dial 126b, preventing the user
from adding the desired effect at desired timing.
[0098] Thus, selecting "Set effect" from the GUI above (see FIG.
9(b)) in the live distribution mode makes it possible to set what
effect from among many effects provided beforehand should be
displayed in the above effect field 48 in what order. Here, FIG. 11
shows a screen displayed on the display section 124 when "Set
effect" (see FIG. 9(b)) of the above GUI is selected. As shown in
(a), (b) and (c) of the same figure, three setting screens, button
A, button B and preset button, are provided. The screen to perform
the effect setting corresponding to button A in FIG. 11(a) shows a
button A effect list field 50a that lists many effect names
provided and to be temporarily assigned, that is, effect names
corresponding to button A on the left side of the screen and a
registration list field 52 to be displayed in the above effect
display field 48 on the right side of the screen. The registration
list field 52 displays button A registration list field 52a, button
B registration list field 52b and preset registration field 52c. On
the button A setting screen, the display colors of the button B
registration list field 52b and the preset registration field 52c
are different from the display color of button A registration list
field 52a, which allows the user to easily recognize the currently
settable registration field. In the button A effect list field 50a,
the user can scroll up and down many provided and executable effect
names for effect processing.
[0099] On such a display screen, the user selects an effect to be
displayed in the effect display field 48 from among the effects
displayed in the button A effect list field 50a and drags the
selected effect into the button A registration list field 52a.
Thus, the user can make a setting in such a way that desired
effects corresponding to button A are displayed in the effect
display field 48 in a desired order.
[0100] When effects corresponding to button B are set, the screen
shown in FIG. 11(b) is displayed. On the right side of this screen,
a button B effect list 50b that displays many effect names provided
and consecutively added, that is, effect names corresponding, to
button B is displayed. In the button B effect list 50b, the user
can scroll up and down many provided and executable effect names
for effect processing.
[0101] On such a display screen, the user selects an effect to be
displayed in the effect display field 48 from among the effects
displayed in the button B effect list field 50b and drags the
selected effect into the button B registration list field 52b.
Thus, the user can make a setting in such a way that desired
effects corresponding to button B are displayed in the effect
display field 48 in a desired order.
[0102] When preset effects are set, the screen shown in FIG. 11(c)
is displayed. On the right side of this screen, a preset effect
list 50c that displays many effect names provided and consecutively
added is displayed. In this preset effect list 50c, the user can
scroll up and down many provided and executable effect names for
effect processing.
[0103] On such a display screen, the user selects an effect to be
displayed in the effect display field 48 from among the effects
displayed in the preset effect list field 50c and drags the
selected effect into the preset registration list field 52c. Thus,
the user can set preset effects.
[0104] When carrying out live distribution, the user generally has
an established concept of the types of effects to be added, timing
and order of adding those effects, etc. Therefore, if a setting is
made with consideration given to the type of effects to be added
and order in which effects are added based on the user's concept,
it is possible to perform effect processing that will reproduce the
user's concept more faithfully through simple operations in live
distribution.
[0105] The user PC 106 can store an application program provided
with the five functions of the capture mode, upload mode. Web check
mode, live reservation mode and live distribution mode as described
above in the hard disk 123 and execute the above processing
function. In addition, the user PC 106 also stores a program to
execute processing for automatically incorporating a reservation
setting information file, which will be described later, when a
reservation for live distribution is made and a program to execute
processing for communication/connection with the streaming server
102. The functions obtained by executing these programs will be
described in details later.
[0106] A-3. Server Reservation Control Apparatus
[0107] As described above, when the user PC 106 performs live
distribution as a broadcaster, it is necessary to make a
reservation for use of the streaming server 102 in the time zone
for carrying out live distribution in a personal casting service
provided from the content supply system 100. Next, the server
reservation control center 101 on the service provider side who
controls the reservation for use of the streaming server 102 will
be explained with reference to FIG. 12.
[0108] As shown in the same figure, the server reservation control
center 101 comprises a live casting server 150, a reservation
database 151, a user database 152, an NTP (Network Time Protocol)
server 153, a network interface 154 and a database server 155, all
of which are mutually connected to a LAN (Local Area Network).
Here, each component above of the server reservation control center
101 exchanges various kinds of data with the user PC 106 and client
PC 107 connected to the Internet 103 via the network interface 154
and the streaming server 102 connected to a dedicated line 109 (see
FIG. 1).
[0109] The live casting server 150 is a server that performs
processing to control the overall service such as live distribution
reservation processing, billing processing, service member
registration processing in a personal casting service. The live
casting server 150 stores Web pages for registration for the user
to acquire the right to receive this service, for reservation
reception to receive the reservation from the user, for reservation
confirmation for the user to confirm or change the reservation and
for referencing a program table to reference program table, etc,
live-distributed to the client PC 107 in the hard disk and upon
receipt of a request from the user PC 106 or client PC 107, the
user PC 106 or client PC 107 is allowed to browse the Web page
corresponding to this request. The Web page provided for the live
casting server 150 will be explained with reference to the display
screen displayed on the browser screen on the PC side that
requested the browsing of the relevant Web page.
[0110] Here, when using a PC connectable, to the Internet 103 such
as the user PC 106 and client PC 107, the user enters a URL, to
identify the top page (homepage) of the Web page of the live
casting server 150 and makes a request for browsing. FIG. 13 shows
a Web page display screen that appears on the requesting PC side.
By the way, when requesting the browsing of the top page of the Web
page of the live casting server 150, there is also another method
of jumping to the relevant page by clicking on a link button on
another homepage in addition to the method of entering the URL as
shown above.
[0111] As shown in FIG. 13, this homepage shows link buttons such
as "Member registration", "What is personal casting TV?", "Today's
live", "Program guide", "My channel", "Live distribution
reservation", "Program pickup", "image Station", in addition to the
fields to enter a user ID and password to log in. When these link
buttons are clicked a Web page hyper-linked to each link button is
sent to the PC side and displayed.
[0112] When "Member registration" is clicked, a Web page to
register members eligible to the relevant personal casting service
appears on the display screen on the PC side, which will be
described in detail later.
[0113] Then, when "What is personal casting TV?" is clicked., a
screen as, shown in FIG. 14 appears on the display screen on the PC
side. As shown in the same figure, this Web page screen shows a
description urging member registration of the personal casting
service and a link button "To registration page" to lump to the
above "Member registration" Web page. Moreover, this display screen
contains outlined descriptions of the personal casting service and
processing procedure, etc.
[0114] Then, when "Today's live" is clicked, a screen as shown in
FIG. 15 appears on the display screen on the PC side. As shown in
the same figure, this Web page screen shows live programs to be
distributed today and shows the current time on the service
provider side (a reservation is executed based on this time) at the
top and a list of information of items such as distribution times,
title, distributor and outline, etc. of a special program and a
private program to be distributed today below (the example in the
figure describes the names of items, displayed, but the contents of
the above items (distributor name and title name, etc.) are
actually displayed)). Here, the "special program" means content
supplied by a company and the "private program" means content
supplied by an individual user such as the user PC 106.
Furthermore, a program described as "On-demand" instead of
distribution time is not live-distributed but an on-demand
distribution program for which distribution data is stored on the
live casting server 150 side beforehand and distributed at the
request of the client PC 107, etc. Furthermore, "Capacity" in a
private program is information indicating the capacity of the
number of clients who can receive a distribution of the content of
the relevant program and "OPEN" and "CLOSE" are information
indicating whether the content can be distributed at present at the
request of the client or not in consideration of restrictions such
as the above capacity ("OPEN":distributable, "CLOSE":not
distributable).
[0115] Here, "Title" in the list of the program above is a link
button and when this button is clicked, detailed information of the
live program of the clicked "Title" appears as shown in FIG. 16. On
this screen, if the user enters a correct password and clicks on
the "Replay" button 175 during the time for distribution of the
relevant program, a distribution request for the relevant live
program is sent to the streaming server 102 over the Internet 103.
This allows the client PC 107 that has sent the distribution
request to receive a stream distribution of the relevant live
program content by the streaming server 102 and reproduce this in
real time. By the way, reproducing the content
streaming-distributed by the streaming server 102 in real time
requires replay software to perform this real-time replay
processing (e.g., "Real player's (Real Networks Co., Ltd.) and
"Windows Media Player" (Microsoft Corporation), etc.). Therefore,
if the PC that sends a distribution request does not store the
above replay software, the "Replay software" button 176 is clicked.
This makes it possible to download the above Replay software to the
PC and reproduce and view the content stream-distributed by the
streaming server 102 in real time by the relevant PC.
[0116] Then, when "Program guide" is clicked, a screen as shown in
FIG. 17 appears on the display screen on the PC side. As shown in
the same figure, this Web page screen shows a monthly calendar
including the current day and shows a list of programs distributed
on the date indicated by the outline characters on a colored
background of the calendar. Here, the list of programs displayed is
the same as "Today's live" described above (see FIG. 16). On this
display screen, clicking on a desired date on the monthly calendar
above shows a program list for the relevant date. The screens
displayed for "Today's live" and "Program guide" are not limited to
those shown in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, but can be provided in a
display format such as a TV column of a newspaper in which a
matrix-like program display column is provided showing the time on
the vertical axis and a channel on the horizontal axis and a title
name, content and distributor name, etc. are displayed in the
relevant matrix, and this display format can be set
arbitrarily.
[0117] Then, "My channel" is a web page provided for each user who
is granted the right to become the, transmitter of live
distribution (user registered as a premium member, which will be
described later) and when "My channel" is clicked, a Web page, etc.
to confirm the reservation content of live distribution at the
actual point in time is displayed. Furthermore, when "Live
distribution reservation" is clicked, a Web page to make a
reservation for live distribution is displayed, but this will be
described in detail later. By the way, users who are not registered
as members have no user it) or password, and cannot perform log in
processing such as entering the above-described user ID and
password. When "My channel" or "Live distribution reservation" is
clicked on the PC of the user who has not proceeded with such log
in processing, a jump is not made to the corresponding Web page but
to "What is personal casting TV?" where the user is urged to
register as a member.
[0118] Then, "Program pick up" is a Web page to present a program,
etc, recommended by the service provider and when this is clicked,
detailed information (see FIG. 16) on the program recommended by
the service provider appears.
[0119] The live casting server 15 stores the above-described Web
pages in its hard disk.
[0120] Returning to FIG. 12, the reservation database 151 stores
information on the reservation situation of live distribution and
billing resulting from the reservation. As shown in FIG. 18, the
reservation database 151 stores the reservation content information
including the reservation time zone, channel used, band used (bps
(bit per second)), etc. for every reservation in association with
user ID to identify the user, billing flag information to indicate
whether the reservation is established and billing is possible at
that point in time or not and reservation ID used, for
authentication when the relevant reservation is completed. Each of
these information pieces will be written during reservation
processing, etc. by the live casting server 150 which will be
described later and each information piece stored in the
authentication processing, by the database server 155 which will be
described later will be referenced.
[0121] The user database 152 stores information on registered users
who have the right to receive the personal casting service and
stores information such as the name, user ID, password, e-mail
address, address, telephone number (cellular phone and facsimile
number), credit card number and expiration date of the credit card
for billing for every registered user. Each of these information
pieces will be written during member registration processing by the
live casting server 150 which will be described later and
referenced during reservation processing by the live casting server
150 which will be described later.
[0122] The NTP server 153 controls time information in the
apparatus on the service provider side such as this server
reservation control center 101 and streaming server 102 in a
centralized manner and the live casting server 150 and streaming
server 102 acquire the time information front the NTP server 153
and control the live distribution start time and end time based on
the acquired time information. This reflects consideration that a
service like live distribution,must operate under precise time
control and unifying the reference times on the service provider
side prevents the server reservation control center 101, which is
the apparatus on the service provider side, and the streaming
server 102 front operating using mutually different times as
reference. Furthermore, the time of the user PC 106, which is the
user side apparatus, may be different from the time of the service
provider, and if the user of the user PC 106 fails to recognize
this time difference, there may be a difference between the start
time and end time of live distribution specified by the service
provider and the start time and end time of live distribution
recognized by the user. Therefore, the reservation processing by
the live casting server 150 notifies the user PC 106 of this time
difference, and this time difference is calculated based on the
time information acquired by the live casting server 150 from the
NTP server 153.
[0123] When the user PC 106 or another illegal PC sends a
connection request to use the streaming server 102 to the access
port of the dedicated server connection network 108, the database
server 155 receives the request from an access server (not shown)
of the dedicated server connection network 108 and performs
authentication processing as to whether the accessing PC is a PC
that has made a valid reservation (that is, user PC 106) or not. If
that PC has been authenticated to be the valid PC in the above
authentication processing, a communication/connection between the
streaming server 102 and the user PC 106 is established and the
user PC 106 requests the streaming server 102 to execute stream
distribution processing. In this case, the streaming server 102
requests the database server 155 for authentication processing to
authenticate whether the PC sending the distribution request is a
PC that has a valid reservation or not. Upon reception of such a
request from the streaming server 102, the database server 155
performs authentication processing to authenticate whether it is a
PC that has a valid reservation or not. This authentication
processing is performed by referencing the reservation database
151. The two kinds of authentication processing above will be
explained in detail later.
[0124] A-4. Streaming Server
[0125] Then, the streaming server 102 shown in FIG. 1 receives
content data such as moving image data sent from the user PC 106
having the above-described valid reservation via the dedicated
server connection network 108, etc. and performs a stream
distribution of this content data to the client PC 107 that has
seat a distribution request over the Internet 103.
[0126] The streaming server 102 can perform a stream distribution
of as plurality of content simultaneously. That is, the streaming
server 102 has a configuration of having a plurality of channels so
that a plurality of distributors in the same time zone can perform
live distribution of content using the streaming server 102. This
streaming server 102 has a preset number of people who can receive
distribution, transmission band (64 kbps to 28.8 kbps, etc.) and
service fee, etc, for every channel and the user who receive
content distribution using the streaming server 102 can select a
channel to be reserved taking into account the above settings.
[0127] Furthermore, the streaming server 102 performs stream
distribution processing of content sent from the live distributor
such as the user. PC 106 as described above and stores commercial
content, etc. distributed during a free time zone, with no
reservation, or intervals between programs and performs
distribution processing of commercial content in the free time
zones above.
[0128] Furthermore, the streaming server 102 controls the
distribution time zone and restriction on the number of client PCs
102 to which content is distributed according to the reservation
content permitted to the user PC 106 by the server reservation
control center 101. This processing will be described later.
[0129] A-5. Communication Path Between Streaming Server and User PC
for Live Distribution
[0130] As shown in FIG. 1, the streaming server 102 is connected to
the dedicated server connection network 108 and when live
distribution described above is performed, the user PC 106 is
connected to the streaming server 102 via the telephone network 104
and dedicated server connection network 108. The dedicated server
connection network 108 is a dedicated network provided to carry out
live distribution in the personal casting service supplied by this
content supply system 100.
[0131] Here, while communication connection between the streaming
server 102 and user PC 106 is possible via the Internet 103, this
content supply system 100 provides the dedicated server connection
network 108 to be connected to the streaming server 102 in order to
secure the transmission path and transmission band of content data
from the user PC 106 to the streaming server 102. Such a dedicated
network is used for the following reasons. In order for the user PC
106 to be connected to the Internet 103, the user PC 106 needs to
be connected to an Internet service provider (hereinafter referred
to as "ISP") with which the user PC 106 has contracted via the
telephone network 104. Such an ISP receives connections not only
from registered members of this personal casting service but also
from PCs of a multitude of Internet users. Therefore, when a
multitude of Internet users connects to the ISP and Internet 103,
the user PC 106 can no longer secure a transmission band necessary
for live distribution. Moreover, the user PC 106 may not be able to
be connected to the ISP for reasons such as that the line is busy.
Data transmission using the Internet 103 has the problem of a
deteriorated connection environment as described above, while
carrying out live distribution requires a communication path with
the streaming server 102 at a desired bit rate to be secured within
a desired time and the above problem prevents a normal service from
being supplied. Therefore, the content supply system 100 prevents
the above problem by providing the dedicated server connection
network 108 without using the Internet 103.
[0132] Here, the dedicated server connection network 108 is
provided with a multitude of lines to be connected to the streaming
server 102. The number of lines provided for the dedicated server
connection network 108 is greater than the maximum number of users
connected to the streaming server 102 in the same time zone (e.g.,
if the maximum number of users for whom connection is permitted is
10, the number of lines is 20). This is for the following reason.
As described above, the access server of the dedicated server
connection network 108 requests the database server 155 (see FIG.
12) to perform authentication processing on the PC that requests
for a connection and authenticate whether the PC that requests for
the connection has a legal reservation or not. If the PC is judged
to have no legal reservation in this authentication processing, the
call from the PC requesting for the connection is immediately cut.
Therefore, while any illegal PC cannot use the line of the
dedicated server connection network 108, one line remains busy
while the above authentication processing is in progress. For this
reason, if the maximum number of users allowed to connect is equal
to the number of lines provided, an illegal user may make a
multitude of calls simultaneously to the access port of the
dedicated server connection network 108 for the purpose of
interference with the personal casting service, etc., which will
prevent PCs of users with a legal reservation from connecting.
Therefore, providing lines exceeding the maximum number of users as
shown above reduces the possibility that the service will be
interfered by illegal users.
[0133] Furthermore, this personal casting service allows connection
to the streaming server 102 a predetermined time before the
distribution is started based on the reservation, making it
possible to complete connection processing such as authentication
before the time at which the distribution starts and perform live
distribution at the time at which the reserved distribution starts.
Therefore, if reservation times of different users are continuous,
the following problem, may occur. That is, the connection of a user
receiving a distribution who reserved a previous time zone may
overlap the connection by the user who reserved a posterior time
zone after a lapse of time after a predetermined time at which
distribution is started and lines corresponding to the maximum
number of users who can receive distribution alone are not enough.
Thus, providing lines twice the maximum number of users above can
even handle the case above where the connection by the user who
reserves the preceding time zone overlaps the connection by the
user who reserves the posterior time zone.
[0134] Furthermore, the dedicated server connection network 108 to
be connected to the streaming server 102 can provide not only
access ports for a network (e.g., public switched telephone
network) of one carrier but also access ports accessible from
networks (e.g., ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) or
mobile telephone network) of a plurality of carriers. In this case,
the user PC 106 selects a carrier to be connected, calls an access
port corresponding to the network of the relevant carrier and
establishes a communication/connection with the streaming server
102 via the dedicated server connection network 108.
[0135] A-6. Client PC
[0136] As described above, the content data sent from the user PC
106 to the streaming server 102 in real time is stream-distributed
over the Internet 103 to the client PC 107 that sent a request for
distribution to the streaming server 102. The client PC 107 can
send a distribution request from the Web page (see FIG. 16) of the
above-described live casting server 150 and also directly send a
distribution request to the streaming server 102 by entering the
URL of the streaming server 102. This embodiments refers to the PC
that sends a distribution request to the streaming server 102 and
receives streaming distribution from the streaming server 102 and
these client PCs 107 store an application program to reproduce
stream-distributed content data in real time (e.g., "Real player"
(Real Networks Co. Ltd.), "Windows Media Player" (Microsoft
Corporation), etc.) and can replay and view the distributed content
data in real time by executing the application program when
distribution is received.
B. Operation of Content Supply System
[0137] Then, the various processing operations of the content
supply system 100 in the above configuration to implement a live
casting service will be explained.
[0138] B-1. Member Registration
[0139] First, when the user of the user PC 106 performs a live
distribution using the personal casting service, it is necessary to
apply for member registration to the live casting server 150 of the
server reservation control center 101 to acquire the right to
perform a live distribution under this service. Here, FIG. 19 shows
a sequence flow chart of the processing operation of the user PC
106 and live casting server 150 when applying for this member
registration. As shown in the same figure, to apply for member
registration, the user PC 106 connects to the Internet 103 and
sends a request for browsing a Web page to the live casting server
150 (see FIG. 12) (step Sa1). Here, when the user PC 106 connects
to the Internet 103, power to the user PC 106 is turned on first
and then the above-described application program is started. Then,
by the user selecting the Web check mode, the screen as shown in
FIG. 7(a) is displayed on the display section 124. In this Web
check mode, the user enters a URL to identify the Web page of the
live casting server 150 and requests for browsing.
[0140] When the user PC 106 sends a request for browsing a Web page
to the live casting server 150 in this way, the live casting server
150 sends the Web page via the Internet 103 to the user PC 106
(step Sa2). The user PC 106 that has received the Web page sent
displays the Web page on the browser display screen 44 (step
Sa3).
[0141] In the case of such a browsing request or Web page
transmission, the user PC 106 and live casting server 150 carry out
the following operation and processing. First, when the user PC 106
enters the URL of the live casting server 150 and sends a browsing
request, the browser display screen 44 displays the top page of the
Web page stored in the live casting server 150 as shown in FIG. 13.
Here, the user clicks on "Member registration" to apply for member
registration. This makes the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 send a
request for browsing the Web page to apply for member registration
to the live casting server 150 via the Internet 103. Then, the live
casting server 150 sends the member registration Web page and upon
reception of this, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 displays the
member registration screen as shown in FIG. 20 on the browser
display screen 44.
[0142] As shown in FIG. 20, the member registration screen shows
the names of the items to be entered for member registration and
the entry field to enter the relevant item. Here, this personal
casting service provides the above described function of the client
PC 107, that is, two kinds of member registration, a general member
who receives a service of receiving content live-distributed by the
streaming server 102 and a premium member who can use the service
as a distributor who performs a live distribution in addition to
the service of receiving the above content and the member
registration screen shows an input field 210 for general/premium
members and an input field 211 only for a premium member.
[0143] In this display screen, the user who registers only as a
general member such as the user of the client PC 107 enters items
of the input field 210. Here, the member registration input screen
displays a Cancel button 212 that cancels the content entered and
all Enter button 213 that instructs the content entered to be
registered and when the user clicks on the Enter button 213, the
CPU 120 instructs the content entered in the input field 210 to be
sent as registration information to the live casting server 150 via
the Internet 103.
[0144] On the other hand, when the user registers as a premium
member, the user checks the checkbox and enters items of the input
field 210 and input field 211. When the user completes entries of
these items and clicks on the Enter button 213, the CPU 120 of the
user PC 106 creates a registration information file of the same
content as that entered in the above member registration input
screen and sends this to the live casting server 150 via the
Internet 103 (step sA4) and at the same time writes and stores the
registration information file in the hard disk 123 in the user PC
106.
[0145] The live casting server 150 receives the registration
information file created according to the content entered of the
user of the user PC 106 over the Internet 103 as shown above,
checks the content of the registration information file received
and decides whether or not to allow it to be registered (step Sa5).
The processing content here is as follows. First, when there is no
information on a certain item, that is, the user has entered
nothing in that item, etc., this is informed to the user PC 106
prompting for a reentry. Furthermore, the live casting server 150
accesses a credit check server of a credit company via the Internet
103 to check whether the credit card in the registration
information file is valid or not and permits the registration only
when the credit card is valid.
[0146] When the registration is permitted, the live casing server
150 writes the information of the items in the registration
information file in the user database 152 and in this way carries
out registration processing (step Sa6). Furthermore, in the premium
member registration processing, the live casting server 150 creates
a "My channel" Web page corresponding to the relevant registered
user and stores in the hard disk.
[0147] When this registration processing is completed, the live
casting server 150 notifies the user PC 106 over the Internet 103
that the registration processing has been completed (step Sa7) and
this completes the member registration processing.
[0148] B-2. Distribution Reservation
[0149] When the above described member registration processing is
completed, the user of the user PC 106 can become the distributor
who carries out a live distribution using the personal casting
service and makes a reservation for, a distribution to the live
casting server 150 to actually carry out the live distribution, in
this personal casting service, a reservation is established by the
user making a reservation for registration, to the live casting
server 150 and reconfirming the reservation to the live casting
server 150 by a predetermined time before the reserved live
distribution time (e.g., 6 hours before). Obliging the user who
made the reservation to reconfirm the reservation promotes the
fulfillment and establishment of reservations and reduces
fictitious reservations. Furthermore, this personal casting service
sets a maximum number of frames (e.g., 1 frame corresponds to 10
minutes) that a registered user can reserve a month and this
prevents a few users from monopolizing this service.
[0150] B-2-1. Reservation Registration
[0151] Hereinafter, the processing operation of the user PC 106 and
the live casting server 150 when reservation registration is
performed with such a distribution reservation will be explained
with reference to FIG. 21 that shows a sequence flow chart of the
processing operation and display screens, etc. of the user PC
106.
[0152] As shown in the same figure, when a distribution reservation
is made, the user turns on the power to the user PC 106 and starts
the application program above. Then, the user selects the live
reservation mode and opens the screen shown in FIG. 8(a) on the
display section 124. In this live reservation mode, the user
operates, the operation dial 126b, etc. to select/determine
"Reservation jump", which is a selection item of the GUI. This
allows the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 to perform processing of
connection to the Internet 103 and requests for browsing of the Web
page to make a reservation for a distribution (Web page when "Live
distribution reservation" in FIG. 13 is clicked) to the live
casting server 150 (step Sb1). In this way, the user PC 106 can
request for browsing of the Web page to make a reservation for a
distribution by selecting/determining "Reservation jump" using the
function provided by the application program above, but the user PC
106 can also request for browsing of the Web page by entering a
URL. More specifically, the user PC 106 can request for browsing of
the Web page by entering a URL and requesting for browsing of the
homepage shown in FIG. 13, logging in by entering the user ID and
password and clicking on the link button of "Live distribution
reservation".
[0153] Once the user PC 106 requests for browsing the Web page for
distribution reservation to the live casting server 150, the Web
page is sent from the live casting server 150 to the user PC 106
over the Internet 103 (step Sb2). The user PC 106 that has received
the Web page sent shows the Web page on the browser display, screen
44 (step Sb3).
[0154] Here, FIG. 22 shows a distribution reservation Web page
displayed on the browser display screen 44. As shown in the same
figure, this display screen shows a monthly calendar field 220, a
reservation situation display field 221 that indicates the
reservation situation on the date expressed in outline characters
on a colored background on the calendar, a reservation input field
222 that shows items to be entered for the user to make a
reservation and the input field, a reservation button 223 to
instruct an application for a reservation and a cancel button 224
to cancel the input content of the reservation input field 222.
[0155] On this display screen, the user clicks on a desired date of
reservation in the monthly calendar field 220. This allows the CPU
120 of the user PC 106 to instruct to display the clicked date in
outline characters on a colored background on the calendar and
request the live casting server 150 over the Internet 103 for the
data to display the reservation situation on the relevant date.
Upon reception of this request, the live casting server 150 creates
the data to display the, reservation situation on the relevant date
at the point in time by referencing the registered content of the
reservation database 151 and sends the data to display the
reservation situation on the requested date to the user PC 106 over
the Internet 103. The CPU 120 of the user PC 106 displays the
reservation situation display field 221 based on this data.
[0156] As illustrated, the reservation situation display field 221
displays, the capacity of distribution, transmission band used,
service fee, reservation situation per time ("Free" or "Reserved")
for every channel and the user determines the channel and time
zone, etc. and enters items of the reservation input field 222 with
reference to this reservation situation display field 221. Here,
the capacity of distribution, transmission band used and service
fee above are set for each channel beforehand and the user of the
user PC 106, who is the content distributor, can select a channel
that matches the desired service fee and capacity, etc. by
referencing the preset information for each channel displayed in
the reservation situation display field 221.
[0157] Here, the items to be entered in the reservation input field
222 are "channel" to select a channel to be used, "reservation
date/time" to specify the date/time of reservation, "disclosure
level", "title" to enter the title name of the content, "genre" to
enter the genre to which the content belong, "e-mail disclosure" to
select whether or not to disclose the e-mail address of the content
provider, "WEB disclosure" to select whether or not to disclose the
URL of the Web page of the content provider, "password" to enter a
password. "friend list", "outline" to write an outline of the
content in up to a predetermined number of characters (e.g., 20
characters) and "detail" to write the detail of, the content in up
to a predetermined number of characters (e.g., 200 characters).
[0158] The input item "disclosure level" in the reservation input
field 222 is the item for the user who is the content provider to
specify the disclosure level of the content supply distributed
based on this reservation, that is, restrictions on the content
receivers and it is possible to specify one of three levels
"Public", "Password" and "Secret" here.
[0159] "Public" specifies that the content is totally disclosed and
when "Public" is specified, users who have registered as general
members can receive the content through content distribution based
on a relevant reservation (however, should be within the
capacity).
[0160] "Password" restricts users who can receive the content
supply based on a relevant reservation and is the disclosure level
that only allows the users who have entered a valid password to
receive content distribution. When the user selects "Password", the
user needs to have already entered a password to be used at this
time.
[0161] Then, "Secret" is also the disclosure level that allows the
users who have entered a valid password to receive content
distribution as in the case of "Password". When the user selects
"Secret", too, the user needs to have already entered a password to
be used. Here, when "Password" or "Secret" is selected, information
on the distribution time of the relevant program and the password,
etc. is notified to the e-mail addresses specified in "friend list"
which will be described later.
[0162] Furthermore, "Password" and "Secret" are the same in that
both allow the content to be supplied to only specific users, but
different in that when "Password" is selected, the program based on
this reservation is included in the Web pages of "Today's live" and
"Program guide" above, while in the case of "Secret", the program
is not shown on the above Web pages and the fact that the content
is supplied itself is not disclosed. When "Secret" is selected, the
tact that the content is distributed is notified only m those who
have e-mail addresses included in the "Friend list" which will be
described later.
[0163] The user can select any one of the three disclosure levels
"Public", "Password" or "Secret" above taking into account the
content to be distributed. For example, when the user wants to
perform a content distribution to a specific few people, it is
desirable to select a channel with small capacity (low fee) from
the economical standpoint, but if this is fully disclosed, when a
distribution request is received from a person other than the above
specific people, the above specific people cannot receive the
content distribution because of the capacity restriction.
Therefore, in this case, selecting "Password" or "Secret" makes it,
possible to perform content distribution to specific people
reliably and economically.
[0164] The input item "Friend list" in the reservation input field
222 is the field to enter e-mail addresses of people who the user
of the user PC 106 wants to be notified that the content will be
distributed in a time zone and with a channel based on the relevant
reservation. Here, the live casting server 150 sends e-mail
including various kinds of information to receive a supply of the
content distribution based on the relevant reservation to the
entered e-mail addresses, which will be described later.
[0165] When the entries of the items of the reservation input field
222 above are completed and the reservation button 223 is clicked,
the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 creates a desired reservation
information file with the same content as the input content of the
reservation input field 222 and sends this desired reservation
information file to the live casting server 150 over the Internet
103 (step Sb4). In the example shown in FIG. 22, the user performs
input operation by entering characters, etc. In each field of the
reservation input field 222 using the keyboard, etc., but for the
items with predetermined input contents such as "channel",
"reservation date/time" and "genre", the user may be allowed to
perform an, input operation by selecting/specifying from a list of
candidates from a pull-down menu.
[0166] The live casting server 150 receives the desired reservation
information file created according to the input content of the user
of the user PC 106 above over the Internet 103 and sends a Web page
to reconfirm whether the content of the received, desired
reservation information file is acceptable or not (step Sb5). In
this way, the display screen of the user PC 106 shows a display
prompting to confirm the desired reservation information as shown
in. FIG. 23. In this case, the live casting server 150 also shows
displays prompting to confirm the service fee of the service based
on the reservation, the e-mail address of the sender of the
reservation setting information to be sent from the live casting
server 150 to the user PC 106 later (this e-mail address is the
e-mail address entered by the user at the time of member
registration), etc. Moreover, as described above, the user who
reserved live distribution is obliged to reconfirm the reservation
a predetermined time before the distribution time (e.g., 6 hours
before) based on the reservation and the live casting server 150
also shows messages to notify the user of this and reconfirmations
execution procedure.
[0167] Here, if the user agrees to the content displayed on the
confirmation screen above, the user clicks on the Agree button 240
and if the user does not agree to the content displayed on the
confirmation screen above, the user clicks on the Cancel button
241. Once the Cancel button 241 is clicked, this is sent to the
live casting server 150, and the live casting server 150 discards
the desired reservation information file and displays a reservation
input screen shown in FIG. 22 on the display screen of the user PC
106 and prompts for a reentry. On the other hand, if the Agree
button 240 is clicked, the CPU 120 instructs this to be sent to the
live casting server 150 over the Internet 103 (step Sb6).
[0168] If the Agree button 240 is, clicked, the live casting server
150 checks the content of the desired reservation information file
and judges whether the reservation should be permitted or not (step
Sb7). Here, the live casting server 150 cheeks whether there is any
omission in the input content and, confirms whether there is any
free space in the desired reservation time zone of the desired
channel and further checks whether the user who requested the
reservation has made a reservation exceeding the set number of
frames or not. More specifically, it has already been mentioned
above that this live casting service has a setting of the maximum
number of frames (e.g., 1 frame corresponds to 10 minutes) that
each registered user can reserve a month. Therefore, in checking as
to whether the reservation should be permitted or not, it is judged
whether the number of frames already reserved by the user for one
month exceeds the set number of frames above or not, and if it
exceeds the set number of frames, the reservation is not permitted.
On the other hand, if the number of frames already reserved by the
user for one month is smaller than the set number of frames, it is
judged that the check result has no problem and if other check
results have no problem, the reservation is permitted. In this way,
in order to check the number of frames reserved by the user for one
month, the user database 152 stores the reservation situation from
at least one month ago until the present day for every user
registered as a premium member.
[0169] When a reservation is permitted, the live casting server 150
creates a reservation ID only used for authentication when the
reservation is executed based on the reservation and writes and
registers the reservation time zone, channel used, band used (bps
(bit per second)), reservation content information including mad
addresses of the friend list, etc., user ID to identify the user
who reserved and the created reservation ID in the reservation
database 151 (see FIG.18) based on the content of the desired
reservation information file (step Sb8). By the way, at the time of
this reservation registration, the billing flag information
indicating whether billing is possible or not indicates that
billing is "not possible" and when a reconfirmation is made and the
reservation is established later, this billing flag is rewritten as
"possible". Moreover, the live casting server 150 adds and writes
the information on the reservation to the Web page of "my channel"
corresponding to the user who made the reservation. Furthermore if
the disclosure level in the reservation is "Public" or "Password",
the live casting server 150 updates the Web page to include the
program based on this reservation on the Web pages of "Today's
live" and "Program guide" above. That is, the information that the
content distribution based on the reservation will be performed is
stored in a browsable manner. In this case, it is possible to
browse the Web page from the client, terminal apparatus 107, etc,
over the Internet 103 and know that the live distribution will be
performed based on the reservation. That is, not only when "Public"
is set but also when "Password" is set, it is possible to browse
the Web page containing the information that the live distribution
based on the reservation will be performed and any third party can
know that the live distribution exists. On the other hand, when
"Secret" is set, the live casting server 150 does not include any
information on the live distribution carried out based on this
reservation on the Web pages of "Today's live" and "Program guide"
above. Therefore, for the live distribution for which "Secret" is
set, only specific people such as people who have received e-mail
transmitted which will be described later and who have browsed are
allowed to know that the live distribution has been performed.
[0170] Once such reservation registration processing is completed,
a Web page urging the user to agree by displaying copyright control
and prohibitions, etc. when the relevant service is used is sent to
the user PC 106 and displayed on the display screen of the user PC
106. Then, upon reception of an instruction of agreement from the
user PC 106, the live casting server 150 sends a Web page informing
the completion of the reservation procedure except reconfirmation
to the user PC 106. Here, FIG. 24 shows a reservation procedure
completion screen displayed on the display screen of the user PC
106. As shown in the same figure, this reservation procedure
completion screen displays a message urging the user to reconfirm.
Here, if the "OK" button 245 is clicked, the reservation procedure
except reconfirmation is completed and hereinafter, the live
casting server 150 sends e-mail about the reservation containing
the reservation ID created to the user PC 106 (step Sb9).
[0171] B-2-2. Reconfirmation
[0172] As described above, this personal casting service requires
the user to reconfirm the reservation 6 hours before the
reservation is executed and if the user fails to reconfirm, the
reservation is forcibly canceled. Therefore, the user who has
acquired the reservation ID through e-mail from the live casting
server 150 must reconfirm the reservation using the user PC 106 to
establish the reservation. The reservation procedure until the
reservation ID above is received can be done using a PC different
from the PC used for the live distribution, but it is obligatory to
use the PC used for live distribution as the PC for reconfirmation.
The following explanation assumes that a reconfirmation will be
made using the user PC 106. The processing operations of the user
PC 106 and live casting server 150 when a reconfirmation is made
will be explained with reference to FIG. 25.
[0173] When making a reconfirmation, the user turns ON the power to
the user PC 106 and starts the application program above (when
power is OFF). Then, the user selects a live reservation mode and
shows the screen in FIG. 8(a) on the display section 124. In this
live reservation mode the user operates the operation dial 126b,
etc. to select/determine the reservation to be reconfirmed from the
reservation list (there can be only one) displayed in the
reservation list area 46. Then, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106
performs processing for connection to the Internet 103 and sends a
request for browsing the Web page "My channel" corresponding to the
user to the live casting server 150 (step Sb10). In this way, the
user PC 106 can send a request for browsing the Web page to make a
reservation for distribution using the function provided by the
application program above. The request for browsing the Web page
can also be sent by entering a URL as appropriate. More
specifically, the request for browsing the Web page can be sent by
entering a URL, sending a request for browsing the homepage shown
in FIG. 13, entering the user ID and password to log in and
clicking on the link button of "My channel".
[0174] Thus, when a request for browsing the "My channel" Web page
is sent from the user PC 106 to the live casting, server 150, the
live casting server 150 sends the Web page to the user PC 106 over
the Internet 103 (step Sb11). Upon reception of the Web page sent,
the user PC 106 shows the Web page on the browser display screen 44
(step Sb12).
[0175] Here, FIG. 26 Shows the "My channel" Web page displayed on
the browser display screen 44. As shown in the same figure, this
display screen shows a reservation list 250, which is a list of
reservations currently made by the user to the live casting server
150, a link button 251 to jump to the Web page to check the number
of audience of the program distributed by the user in the past,
etc. and a link button 252 to jump to the Web page to modify the
registration information tile (see FIG. 20) of the user registered
in the user database 152. This display screen also includes
descriptions of the method of canceling or modifying a reservation
and this, personal casting service requires the user to cancel the
reservation if the user changes the reservation content such as the
channel or date/time and take necessary steps to make a
distribution reservation again, and this is described here. On the
other hand, the information other than that of the channel and
date/time, such as a title name and outline can be modified without
canceling the reservation.
[0176] The reservation list 250 shows for each reservation
"reservation date/time", "channel", "title", a status item
indicating the status whether this reservation is "waiting for a
reconfirmation" or "reconfirmed" and "cancel" button to be clicked
when cancellation of the reservation is instructed (one reservation
in the figure).
[0177] Here, if no reconfirmation of the reservation has been made
yet, "waiting for reconfirmation" is displayed in the status item
as shown in the figure and if this page is opened after a
reconfirmation of the reservation has been made, "reconfirmed" is
displayed. In the case of "waiting for reconfirmation", if this is
clicked, the CPU 120 sends a request for browsing the
reconfirmation screen to the live casting server 150 over the
Internet 103. In response to this request, the live casting server
150 sends the reconfirmation Web page to the user PC 106 over the
Internet 103 and the screen shown in FIG. 27 appears on the user PC
106.
[0178] As shown in the same figure, the reconfirmation screen
displays contents of items about the relevant reservation such as
"user ID", "channel", "reservation date/ time", "disclosure level",
"title", "genre", "e-mail disclosure", "Web disclosure",
"password", "friend list", "outline" and "detail". This display
screen farther shows the field for entering a reservation ID and a
message urging the user to enter a reservation ID and make a
reconfirmation.
[0179] To reconfirm the reservation, the user enters the
reservation included in the e-mail sent from the live casting
server 150 in the reservation procedure described above and clicks
on the reconfirmation button 261. On the other hand, to go back to
the "my channel" screen containing the reservation list 250, etc.
(see FIG. 26), the user clicks on the Return button 262.
[0180] Here, when the reconfirmation button 261 is clicked from the
reconfirmation display screen in FIG. 27, setting information to
establish communication/connection with the streaming server 102 in
the live distribution is automatically set in the PC and a message
is displayed prompting to make a reconfirmation on the
corresponding PC, that is, the PC carrying out live
distribution.
[0181] When the reconfirmation button 261 above is clicked, the CPU
120 of the user PC 106 sends the information that the user has
instructed the execution of a reconfirmation to the live casting
server 150 over the Internet 103 (step Sb13).
[0182] As described above, the live casting server 150 that has
received the reconfirmation execution instruction sent from the
user PC 106 references the reservation database 151 and user
database 152 and creates a reservation setting information file
shown in FIG. 28 on this reservation (step Sb14). Here, of the
information about each reservation registered in the reservation
database 151, the live casting server 150 erases the data about the
reservation from the reservation database 151 at a point in time 6
hours before the distribution start time based on the reservation
and cancels the reservation. That is, the reservation-related data
is erased from, the reservation database 151 after the point in
time 6 hours before the distribution start time. Therefore, if the
live casting server 150 receives the reconfirmation execution
instruction above later than 6 hours before the distribution start
time, the data about the reservation is no longer registered even
if the reservation database 151 is referenced. In this case, the
live casting server 150 sends a Web page posting a message
"Reservation has been canceled because reconfirmation is not
executed. To make a reservation, please redo the distribution
reservation procedure", etc. to the user PC 106.
[0183] On the other hand, if the live casting server 150 receives
reconfirmation execution instruction above earlier than 6 hours
before the distribution start time, the live casting server 150
creates reservation setting information. As shown in FIG. 28, the
reservation setting information file created by the live casting
server 150 includes "reservation ID", "live distribution
reservation date/time", "server accessible time", "connection
telephone number", "target server information", "distribution
requester address information", "transmission band", "title",
"outline", "disclosure level", "friend list address information",
and "distribution request password".
[0184] "Reservation ID" describes the reservation ID created about
the reservation, "live distribution reservation date/time"
describes the reserved distribution start time and end time.
"Server accessible time" describes the time zone during which
access to the streaming server is permitted to carry out a live
distribution. This example describes information according to which
access to the streaming server 102 is permitted from 3 minutes
before the distribution start time to 3 minutes after the
distribution end time.
[0185] "Connection telephone number" describes the telephone
numbers of access ports of the dedicated server connection network
108 to connect to the streaming server 102 and this example
describes the telephone numbers of access of ports of a plurality
(4 in this figure) carriers. In the procedure for actual connection
to the streaming server 102, which will be described later, the
user selects any one of carriers to carry out processing of making
a call to the telephone number of the access port for the selected
carrier.
[0186] "Target server information" describes items determined
according to the channel selected in this reservation such as "type
of server" connected when the channel is used, "server name",
"connection port", "stream path for server", etc. When a
communication/connection between the user PC 106 and the access
port of the dedicated server connection network 108 is established,
the connection processing to use the channel reserved by the
streaming server 102 is carried out based on the description of
this "target server information".
[0187] "Distribution requester address informaion" describes URL
information used by the client'PC 107 to connect to the streaming
server 102 when the client PC 107 requests a stream distribution of
the content to be sent by the user PC 106 to the streaming server
102. When a distribution of the content is requested, it is
possible to allow the client PC 107 to connect to the streaming
server 102 using the relevant URL over the Internet 103.
[0188] "Transmission band" describes information determined
according to the reserved channel and describes information on the
transmission band preset in the reserved channel such as 64 kbps
and 28.8 kbps. "Title", "outline" and "disclosure level" each
describe the contents registered at the time of reservation (see
FIG. 22 and FIG. 23). "Friend list address information" describes
e-mail address registered at the time of reservation.
[0189] "Distribution request password" also describes the password
information registered at the time of reservation. If "disclosure
level" is "Public", the distribution requesting side can request a
distribution without entering a password and in this case, the
information of "distribution request password" is not included in
the reservation setting information file.
[0190] Thus, the reservation setting information file created by
the live casting server 150 includes information such as the
reservation ID used for authentication at the time of connection of
the streaming server 102, which will be described later, the
telephone number and connection port of the, server, etc. to
establish a communication/connection with the streaming server 102.
The reservation setting information file is sent front the live
casting server 150 to the user PC 106 over the Internet 103. In
this case, the reservation setting information file contains
command information for automatically writing and incorporating the
reservation setting information file into a predetermined area
created on the hard disk 123 of the user PC 106 and command
information for instructing the display of a message notifying that
the automatic incorporation has ended normally or failed. As the
technology for automatically incorporating a file sent from the
live casting server 150, the distributor, to the user PC 106, the
receiver, the technology of "ActiveX" (registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation) can be used. When using this technology, the
user PC 106 needs to use "Internet Explorer" (Microsoft
Corporation) which can use "ActiveX" as the browser software.
[0191] The live casting server 150 that has created the reservation
setting information file in text data, etc. including the various
kinds of data and commands above encrypts this file using an
encryption system such as DES Data Encryption Standard), etc. and
sends this encryption file together with the Web page that displays
the reconfirmation completion screen to the user PC 106 over the
Internet 103 (step Sb15).
[0192] As described above, when the live casting server 150 sends
the encrypted reservation setting information file and Web page,
the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 receives this and decrypts the
reservation setting information file using the technology of
"ActiveX", automatically incorporates it in a predetermined area of
the hard disk 123 according to the command included in the file
(step Sb16) and shows the reconfirmation completion screen on the
browser display screen 44 (step Sb17). Therefore, the user PC 106
stores a program to decrypt the above encryption and executes this,
program when encrypting the reservation setting information the
above. Furthermore, when the CPU 120 writes the reservation setting
information file in a predetermined area, the user PC 106 has a
program to encrypt and write the file according to a predetermined
encryption system (DES, etc) and by executing this program, the
reservation setting information file is encrypted and saved.
Therefore, normally, the user is not allowed to display and
reference the content of the automatically incorporated reservation
setting information file This prevents the access port numbers of
the dedicated server connection network 108 from being
unnecessarily disclosed to many people and prevents illegal
accesses to the access ports of the dedicated server connection
network 108 with an intention of interfering with this service.
[0193] Here, FIG. 29 Shows the reconfirmation completion screen
displayed on the browser display screen 44 above. As Shown in the
same figure, this screen shows the current time of the service
provider and the time of the user PC 106. Here, the time of the
service provider is the time information acquired from the NTP
server 153 when the live casting server 150 sends the Web page. On
the other hand, the time of the user PC 106 shows the current time
shown by the clock of the user PC 106. Then, the CPU 120 of the
user PC 106 calculates the difference between these times (in units
of minutes) and if there is any difference, shows a message warning
the time difference as, shown in the figure. In this way, it is
possible to notify the user of the user PC 106 of the time
difference from that of the service provider to draw attention, or
it is also possible to store a time correction program to
automatically correct the time of the user PC 106 based on the time
information of the service provider sent together with the Web page
above in the user PC 106 and when the user PC 106 receives the
reconfirmation completion screen Web page as shown above, correct
the time of the user PC 106 according to the time of the service,
provider by the CPU 120 executing the time correction program. This
allows the service provider and the user PC 106 to share the same
time, making it possible to smoothly carry forward the service of
live distribution, which requires the accuracy in time.
[0194] Furthermore, the reconfirmation completion screen describes
the special item to access the dedicated server connection network
108 using a dialup router. When executing processing of
communication/connection with the streaming server 102 to execute a
live distribution, the user PC 106 is set to automatically call the
access telephone number to the access port of the dedicated server
connection network 108 described in the reservation setting
information file above (details will be given later). In this way,
by the CPU 120 executing the program for automatic calling, the
user can automatically carry out communication/connection
processing without carrying out troublesome input operation such as
entering telephone numbers. However, when the user PC 106 is
connected to the network via a dialup router, it is necessary to
set the information to be connected to the dedicated server
connection network 108 via the dialup router. Thus, since it is not
possible to perform processing of automatic calling based on the
telephone number described in reservation setting information file,
it is necessary for the user to manually set the telephone number,
etc, of the access port. The special item above is a description
taking into account the necessity of manual setting when this
dialup router is used and in this case, the access port number,
login ID (reservation ID in this case) and password to be manually
set by the user are displayed. In the example illustrated above,
connection using the dialup router is only permitted via ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network), but the present invention is
not limited to this.
[0195] When the user clicks on the "OK" button 291 by confirming
the display of the confirmation screen above, the CPU 120 sends
information that the "OK" button 291 has been clicked to the live
casting server 150 over the Internet 103 (step Sb18) and the
reconfirmation-related processing on the user side completes. On
the other hand, the live casting server 150 that has received the
information that the "OK" button 291 has been clicked references
the reservation database 151 and sends e-mail notifying that there
is a live database 151 and sends e-mail addresses registered in the
"friend list" about the relevant reservation (step Sb19). Here,
shows, the content displayed on the display screen of the PC when
the e-mail above is opened. As shown in the same figure, this
e-mail shows information such as "live distribution date/time",
"title", "outline", "URL of distribution requester" (see
"distribution requester address information" in FIG. 28),
"password" to request a distribution when the disclosure level is
"Password" or "Secret" (see "Distribution request password" in FIG.
28), if the user of the user PC 106 registers e-mail addresses of
friends, etc, to whom the user wants live distribution to be
presented at the time of reservation, this allows the user to
notify the friends of the information to automatically receive the
live distribution. Thus, this eliminates the necessity for the user
who performs live distribution to carry out a troublesome operation
such as transmitting the information to receive live distribution
by telephone or creating e-mail including the relevant
information.
[0196] In the above explanation, the processing of sending the
e-mail above (see FIG. 30) to the e-mail addresses registered in
the "friend list" is performed after the reconfirmation is
completed, but transmission of the e-mail above can also be
performed by the live casting server 150 when the processing of
registering the reservation in the reservation database 151 based
on the reservation request file from the user (step Sb8 in FIG. 21)
is completed. If e-mail is sent at the time of completion of the
reservation registration processing, those who have e-mail
addresses can know earlier that there is a live distribution. In
this case, it is also possible to perform similar e-mail
transmission processing again at the time of completion of the
reconfirmation.
[0197] In addition to sending e-mail as shown above, if the
reconfirmation-related processing finishes, the live casting server
150 regards it to mean that the reservation has been established,
rewrites the billing flag information of the reservation database
151 about this reservation to "enabled" and performs billing
processing about the reservation. Here, the billing sum is
calculated based on the service fee preset for every channel as
shown above. For example, when a reservation of using 6 frames of a
channel for which a service fee of .Yen.100 per 1 frame (10
minutes) is set is established, .Yen.600 is billed for the
reservation. However, the actual billing processing is executed
after confirming that the streaming server 102 is operating
normally on the day of live distribution.
[0198] The explanation above describes the case where the user PC
106 is used, which stores the program for encrypting and
automatically storing the reservation setting information file sent
from the live casting server 150, but the PC that does not store
such a program cannot automatically incorporate the file. In such a
case, the following technique is used to incorporate the
reservation setting information file into the PC. First, in the
case of a PC that does not store the program above and thus cannot
automatically incorporate the file, the information that automatic
incorporation has failed is displayed on the display screen of the
PC. In addition to a message indicating the failure, another
message appears on the same screen which instructs the user to
return to the "my channel" (see FIG. 26) screen and click on "wait
for reconfirmation" to request for browsing the reconfirmation
screen again. On the other hand, the live casting server 150 that
receives no reconfirmation "OK" from the user PC 106 but receives a
request for a reconfirmation screen from the user PC 106 judges
that the user PC 106 has failed to automatically read the
reservation setting information file and sends a Web page for
downloading the reservation setting information file to the user PC
106 over the Internet 103. As a result, the display screen on the
PC side shows a button for downloading the reservation setting
information file and clicking on this button starts downloading of
the reservation setting information file.
[0199] This is the flow of the distribution reservation processing
operation from the issuing of a reservation request to the
establishment of the reservation by the completion of a
reconfirmation. In this way, even after a reconfirmation is
completed, the information such as genre and outline can be changed
and the reservation can still be canceled even after the
reconfirmation is completed (in this case, the billing processing
is performed because the billing flag information above is
"enabled"). The processing operation when such a change or
cancellation is made will be explained below with reference to the
display content of the browser display screen 44 displayed on the
display section 124 of the user PC 106.
[0200] First, when a reconfirmed reservation is changed or
canceled, an operation to request browsing of the Web page
corresponding to "My channel" is performed in the same way as for
when the reconfirmation above is made. Thus, the CPU 120 of the
user PC 106 carries out processing for connect to the Internet 103
and requests the live casting server 150 for browsing the Web page
in "My channel" corresponding to the relevant user.
[0201] When the user PC 106 requests the live casting server 150
for browsing the "My channel" Web page, the live casting server 150
sends the Web page to the user PC 106 over the Internet 103. Upon
reception of the Web page sent, the user PC 106 displays the Web
page on the browser display screen 44.
[0202] Here, FIG. 31 shows the reconfirmed "My channel" Web page
displayed on the browser display screen 44. When compared with the
display screen (see FIG. 26) of "My channel" waiting for a
reconfirmation, the reconfirmed "My channel" display screen differs
in that "reconfirmed" is displayed in the status item of the
reservation list 250 and a "change" link button 310 is
displayed.
[0203] To make a change, this "change" link button 310 is clicked.
When the "change" link button 310 is clicked, the CPU 120 of the
user PC 106 sends information that the "change" link button has
been clicked to the live casting server 150 over the Internet 103.
In response to this, the live casting server 150 sends a Web page
for the change to the user PC 106 over the Internet 103 and as a
result, the browser display screen 44 of the user PC 106 displays
the screen shown in FIG. 32.
[0204] As shown in the same figure, the change screen shows the
currently set reservation content and the items "genre", "disclose
e-mail", "disclose Web", "password", "outline" and "detail" of
these display contents can be changed and when these are displayed,
the display colors of the items that can be changed are different
from the colors of items that cannot be changed (reservation
date/time, etc.).
[0205] The user overwrites the currently displayed setting contents
with new contents and clicks on the Update button 321. If the
contents are not changed, the user clicks on the Return button
322.
[0206] Then, when the user clicks on the Update button 321, the CPU
120 of the use PC 106 creates an information file with the changed
content and sends this to the live casting server 150 over the
Internet 103. Thus, the live casting server 150 updates the
registration content of the reservation database 151 based on the
information file with the changed content and sends the Web page of
the changed screen to the user PC 106 over the Internet 103. As a
result, the browser display screen 44 displays the screen shown in
FIG. 33.
[0207] As shown in the same figure, in addition to a message
stating that the change has been accepted, the change completion
screen shows the time on the service provider side, the time on the
user PC 106 side and time difference between the two and special
items when the dialup router is used, in the same way as for the
reconfirmation completion screen above (see FIG. 30). Clicking on
the "OK" button 331 here completes the change and returns to the
"My channel" screen shown in FIG. 31.
[0208] When the reservation is changed in this way, the live
casting server 150 sends e-mail including the information that the
reservation has been changed and the change content, etc, to the
e-mail addresses registered in the friend list above. Thus, it is
possible to automatically inform those who have the e-mail
addresses of the friend list of the reservation change content of
live distribution without the need for die user of the user PC 106
to inform by telephone that the reservation content of live
distribution has been changed or create e-mail including such a
message.
[0209] Then, the case where a reservation is canceled will be
explained. As in the case of Changing a reconfirmation as described
above, the operation for requesting browsing of a Web page
corresponding to "My channel" is performed. Thus, the browser
display screen 44 shows the reconfirmed "My channel" screen shown
in FIG. 31.
[0210] To cancel a reservation, the user clicks on the "Cancel"
link button 311. When the "Cancel" link button 311 is clicked, the
CPU 120 of the user. PC 106 sends the information that the "Cancel"
link button has been clicked to the live casting server 150 over
the Internet 103. In response to this, the live casting server 150
sends a Web page for the cancellation to the user PC 106 over the
Internet 103 and as a result, the browser display screen 44 of the
user PC 106 displays the cancellation screen shown in FIG. 34.
[0211] As shown in the same figure, the cancellation screen shows
the currently set reservation content and a "Reservation
cancellation" button 341 and "Return" button 342. Here, the user
clicks on the "Reservation cancellation" button 341 to cancel the
reservation and clicks on the "Return" button 342 otherwise.
[0212] Then, when the user clicks on the "Reservation cancel"
button 341, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 sends the information
that the reservation will be canceled to the live casting server
150 over the Internet 103. Thus, the live casting serve 150 erases
the registration content of the reservation database 151 and sends
the Web page of the cancellation completion screen to the user PC
106 over the Internet 103. As a result, the browser display screen
44 of the user PC 106 displays a message shown in FIG. 35 notifying
that the reservation has been canceled. When the user clicks on the
"OK" button 343 here, cancellation is completed and the "My
channel" screen in FIG. 31 is returned to.
[0213] When the registration is canceled in this way, the live
casting server 150 sends e-mail including information that the
reservation has been canceled and live distribution has been
stopped to the e-mail addresses registered in the friend list
above. Thus, it is possible to automatically inform people who have
the e-mail addresses that live distribution has been stopped
without the need for the user of the user PC 106 to inform by
telephone that live distribution has been stopped or create e-mail
including such a message.
[0214] Furthermore, if the user wants to confirm the reservation
content after the reconfirmation above has been made, the user
clicks on the "Reconfirmed" button shown on the screen in FIG. 31.
When the "Reconfirmed" button is clicked, the CPU 120 of the user
PC 106 sends the information to the live casting server 150 over
the Internet 103. In response to this, the live casting server 150
sends the Web page for confirming the reconfirmed reservation to
the use PC 106 over the Internet 103. As a result, the browser
display screen 44 of the user PC 106 shows the currently, set
reservation content, special item when the dialup, router is used,
a "Reenter PC connection setting" button 361 and a "Return" button
362 instructing a return to the "My channel" screen.
[0215] If the "Reenter PC connection setting" button 361 is
clicked, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 sends the information to
the live casting server 150 over the Internet 103. In response to
this, the live casting server 150 sends the reservation setting
information file (see FIG. 29) to the user PC 106 over the Internet
103 again. As a result, the user PC 106 automatically incorporates
the reservation setting information file. Retransmission of this
reservation setting information file can be performed When a PC
different from the PC used to make a reconfirmation is used to
perform live distribution, etc.
[0216] B-3. Live Distribution
[0217] When the distribution reservation including the above
reconfirmation is completed and the time for starting the reserved
live distribution comes, the user of the user PC 106 connects to
the streaming server 102 via the dedicated server connection
network 108 and performs a live distribution of the content. Then,
the client PC 107 receives the;supply of the content by requesting
the stream distribution of the content.
[0218] B-3-1. Content Transmission from User PC to Streaming
Server
[0219] The processing operations of the user PC 106 the dedicated
server connection network 108, the database server 155 (see FIG.
12) and the streaming server 102 when the user PC 106 sends content
to the streaming server 102 during live distribution will be
explained with reference to FIG. 37 showing a sequence flow chart
of the processing operation.
[0220] When a live distribution is performed, connection to the
streaming server 102 is permitted from 5 minutes before the time of
starting the reserved live distribution, and so the processing to
establish communication/connection between the user PC 106 and the
streaming server 102 will be started from this time on. The user
prepares content distribution before the time of starting the live
distribution. Here, the preparation for the content distribution
includes the determination of the picture taking position of the
digital video camera 129 (see FIG. 3), effect setting processing in
live distribution mode based on the concept of the content to be
distributed (see FIG. 10 and FIG. 11), etc.
[0221] The user PC 106 of this embodiment stores a program to
display a message "Live distribution will start soon" to the user a
predetermined time before the reserved live distribution start time
(e.g., 10 minutes before) and as shown in FIG. 37, when the time a
predetermined time ahead comes, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106
executes this program to display the message "Live distribution
will start soon" on the display section 124 (step Sc1). This
prevents the user from forgetting the live distribution start time.
Here, if the user PC 106 is not set to live distribution mode in
the above application, the CPU 120 automatically executes this
application program, automatically selects the live distribution
mode in the application and displays the "Live distribution, mode"
screen on the display section 124 (see FIG. 9(a)).
[0222] After this, when the time at which the start of connection
to the streaming server 102 is permitted (5 minutes before the
start time) comes, the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 executes the
connection processing program to automatically start the processing
of communication/connection with the streaming server 102. Here,
the communication/connection processing started can be fully
automated or the user can only enter an instruction for the, final
connection start and automatically execute the
communication/connection processing using this input as a
trigger.
[0223] Here, the processing by the CPU 120 according to the
communication/connection processing program above decrypts the
reservation setting information file encrypted and stored in a
predetermined registry (see FIG. 29) and carries out the following
communication/connection processing based on the information
described in the items "reservation ID" of this file, "server
accessible time", "connection telephone number" and "connection
server information".
[0224] When the accessible start time indicated by "server
accessible time" comes, the CPU 120 starts communication/connection
processing, acquires the access port telephone number of the
carrier preset by the user by referencing the "connection telephone
number" of the reservation setting information file and carries out
processing for calling the relevant telephone number. The CPU 120
then sends the reservation ID to the access server of the dedicated
server connection network 108 and requests for
communication/connection (step Sc2). Since the automatic calling
processing is carried out in this way, the user need not enter the
telephone number, etc. In the case of live distribution in
particular as described above, using the user PC 106 in the modes
shown in FIG. 3(b) or FIG. 3(c) by entering information, etc. using
the keyboard 126a is a very complicated operation, and therefore
the processing of automatic calling provides the user with a more
comfortable content creation environment.
[0225] In order to authenticate whether the user PC 106 that has
requested connection to the access port as described above belongs
to a user who has a valid reservation or not, the access server of
the dedicated server connection network 108 sends the reservation
ID sent to the database server 155 of the server reservation
control, center 101 (step Sc3). Thus, the database server 155 that
has received the reservation ID sent from the dedicated server
connection network 108 carries out authentication processing by
checking whether this reservation ID is registered in the
reservation database 151 in the time zone that starts from the
current time (step Sc4). Here, if the, reservation ID sent is
registered in the reservation database 151, the access server
judges that the user PC 106 that has sent this reservation ID has a
valid reservation and if the reservation. ID sent is not registered
in the reservation database 151, the access server judges that the
user PC 106 that has sent this reservation ID does not have a valid
reservation in that time zone.
[0226] In the authentication processing here, only the reservation
ID described above is used. This has the following effect. For
example, when the reservation is authenticated using the user ID
and password of a member of this service, even if it is confirmed
that the user ID and password are valid and it is the member who
has accessed, it is not possible to distinguish whether the member
has a reservation in that time zone or not. Therefore, in the
authentication processing, is it necessary to authenticate whether
the user is a member or not, then check the registration content of
the reservation and check whether the member identified with the
user ID has a reservation in the time zone or not, which makes the
authentication processing;very complicated. In contrast, if the
reservation ID used only for authentication for the reservation
described above is used, this reservation ID is the information
that only the user can know, and therefore there is no need to
authenticate the user ID and it is possible to distinguish whether
the user has a valid reservation or not through simple
authentication processing of checking whether the reservation ID is
registered as the reservation for the time zone corresponding to
the accessed time.
[0227] The database server 155 that has performed authentication
processing using the reservation ID as described above sends this
authentication result to the access server of the dedicated server
connection network 108 (step Sc5).
[0228] When the authentication result from the database server 155
above belongs to a user with a valid reservation, the access server
of the dedicated server connection network 108 permits the
connection between the user PC 106 and the streaming server 102,
which establishes a PPP connection and communication/connection
between the two (step Sc6). On the other hand, in the case where
the authentication result above does not belong to a user with a
valid reservation, the access server of die dedicated server
connection network 108 does not permit the connection between the
user PC 106 and the streaming server 102 and immediately cuts the
call from the user PC 106. Thus, by immediately cutting the call
when it is judged that the call is from an illegal user, the line
is secured for users with a valid reservation.
[0229] When connected to the streaming server 10.2 via the
dedicated server connection network 108 as described above, the CPU
120 of the user PC 106 sends a reservation ID to the streaming
server 102 to request for a live distribution (step Sc7).
[0230] The streaming server 102 that has received the live
distribution request from the, user PC 106 sends the reservation ID
sent to the database server 155 of the server reservation control
center 101 to authenticate whether the user PC 106 that has
requested for the live distribution belongs to a user with a valid
reservation or not (step Sc8). Thus, the database server 155 that
has received the reservation ID sent from the streaming server 102
carries out authentication processing by checking whether this
reservation ID is registered in the reservation database 151 in the
time zone that starts from the current time or not (step Sc9). The
authentication processing here is similar to that when a
reservation ID is sent from the access server of the dedicated
server connection network 108 above.
[0231] The database server 155 that has carried out authentication
processing using the reservation ID as shown above sends this
authentication result to the streaming server 102 (step Sc10).
[0232] In the case where the authentication result from the
database server 155 above belongs to a user with a valid
reservation, the streaming server 102 permits a live distribution
by the user PC 106 and sends an order of pet mission to the user PC
106 (step Sc11), acquires information about the reservation from
the reservation database 151 (reservation time zone, channel, etc.)
and controls live distribution based on this information. Doing so,
the CPU 120 of the user PC 106 displays a message, etc. to notify
the user that the live distribution has been permitted and urges
the user to start distribution of the content. Upon reception of
this notification, the user states picture taking of the digital
video camera 129 by operating the operation dial 126b and operation
buttons 126c as appropriate, creates moving image data obtained by
applying teal-time effect processing to the video captured,
instructs the start of live distribution and sends the created
moving image data to the streaming server 102 in real time via the
dedicated server connection network 108 (step Sc12).
[0233] Thus, the streaming server 102 that has received the moving
image data, which is the content sent from the user PC 106 performs
stream-distribution of this to the client PC 107 that has
requested. In this case, if the "disclosure level" of the live
distribution (see FIG. 22, etc.) is "Public", the streaming server
102 performs stream-distribution unconditionally according to the
distribution request if it is within the capacity of the channel
through which the live distribution is carried out. On the other
hand, if the "disclosure level" is "Password" or "Secret", the
streaming server 102 urges the client PC 107 that has requested the
distribution, to enter a password and performs stream-distribution
only for the client PC 107 that has entered a valid password. The
distribution request between the streaming server 102 and the
client PC 107 and the stream distribution processing operation will
be described later.
[0234] Once the live distribution is started in this way, the
streaming server 102 sends the information on the service provider
side acquired from the NTP server 153 and information on the number
of the client PCs 107 that receive the live distribution, that is,
the client PCs 107 that have requested distribution of the content,
to the user PC 106. Then, the status window SW (see FIG. 9(a))
displayed on the display section 124 of the user PC. 106 shows
information that the content is on the air, information on elapsed
time of distribution, time information on the service provider
side, time information on the user PC 106 side, information on the
number of audience, reservation start/end time, residual time
information indicating the residual time of distribution, image
size information and information on the distribution data
transmission rate, etc. With reference to the display of this
status window SW, the user can know various kinds of information on
the live distribution currently in progress. Especially, it is a
matter of concern for the transmitter of content how many people
are viewing or listening to the content and this also serves as a
reference in selecting a channel (selecting the capacity) when live
distribution is performed the next time. Thus, the display of the
number of audience described above can be significant to the
user.
[0235] In this way, when content is sent from the user PC 106 to
the streaming server 102 and the user of the user PC 106 finishes
live distribution before the reservation end time (time on the
service provider side), the user operates the operation dial 126b
(see FIG. 3) etc. to select/determine "distribution start/end" of
the GUI (see FIG. 9(b)) in the live distribution mode. Thus, the
CPU 120 of the user PC 106 Finishes the transmission of content and
cuts the connection with the streaming server 102 (step Sc13).
[0236] On the other hand, if the user personally finishes the
content transmission before the reservation end time, the above
processing is performed, but if the content transmission from the
user PC 106 to the streaming server 102 is in progress when the
reservation end time is reached, the streaming server 102 finishes
stream distribution processing of the content sent from the user PC
106 for the client PC 107 when the reservation end time is reached.
The streaming server 102 further forcibly cuts the
communication/connection with the user PC 106 when the time to
finish the connection with the user PC 106 indicated by "server
accessible time" (see FIG. 29) above.
[0237] B-3-2. Stream Distribution of Content from Streaming Server
to Client PC
[0238] What has been explained above is the detail of the content
transmission processing from the user PC 106, which is the
transmitter terminal during live distribution to the streaming
server 102 and the streaming server 102 receives content
transmission from the user PC 106 and performs a stream
distribution of the content to the client PC 107 that has sent a
request. This processing operation of content stream distribution
will be explained with reference to the display screen, etc. of the
client PC 107 that sends a distribution request. In the following
explanation, suppose the "disclosure level" of the content
distribution (see FIG. 22) is "Password" or "Secret" and this user
of the client PC 107 knows the password to receive content
supply.
[0239] When the client user of the client PC 107 sends a content
distribution request, the client user rums on power to the client
PC 107 and starts the browser software. Then, the client user
enters a URL, to identify the top page of the Web page of the live
casting server 150 on the client PC 107 and the CPU of the client
PC 107 sends a request for browsing of the Web page to the live
casting server 150 over the Internet 103. Thus, the live casting
server 150 sends the top page of the Web page over the Internet 103
and as a result, the display screen of the client PC 107 displays
the screen shown in FIG. 13.
[0240] To receive a content distribution, the client user clicks on
link buttons such as "Today's live" (see FIG. 15) or "program
guide" (see FIG. 17). If the client user clicks on "program guide",
the client user further clicks on the current date on the calendar
shown on the screen in FIG. 17. Thus, the program distributed on
the day is displayed as shown in FIG. 15. Then, the client user
clicks on the "title" link button of the program whose distribution
is requested from the program displayed.
[0241] When the "title" link button is clicked in this way, the CPU
of the client PC 107 sends a request for browsing the Web page that
displays detailed information of the "title" to the live casting
server 150 over the Internet 103. Then, the live casting server 150
sends the Web page that displays detailed information of the
specified live program to the client PC 107 over the Internet 103.
As a result, the display screen of the client PC 107 displays the
screen shown in FIG. 16.
[0242] If the client user requests the distribution of the program
with the detailed information, the client user enters a password to
obtain a distribution permission on the display screen shown in
FIG. 16 and clicks on the "Replay" button 175. In the case where
the client PC 107 does not have, real-time replay software, the
client user clicks on the "Replay software" button 176 before
clicking on the "Replay" button 175 to download the replay software
beforehand.
[0243] Then, when the password is entered and the "Replay" button
175 is clicked, the CPU of the client PC 107 sends the password
entered and distribution request to the streaming server 102 over
the Internet 103. The streaming server 102 sends the password sent
to the database server 155 and the database server 155 executes
authentication processing whether the password sent is valid or not
with reference to the reservation database 151 and sends the
authentication result to the streaming server 102.
[0244] When the authentication result above shows that the password
sent is a valid password, the streaming server 102 judges whether
or not to perform a distribution to the client PC 107 based on the
capacity preset in the channel used for the content distribution.
More specifically, the streaming server 102 compares the number of
the client PCs 107 carrying out distribution of the content with
the capacity above and if content distribution is already being
carried out to the same number of client PCs 107 as the capacity,
the streaming server 102 will perform no further distribution. That
is, when content distribution is being carried out to the capacity
of client PCs 107 at the time of a distribution request, the
streaming server 102 will not respond to the distribution
request.
[0245] On the other hand, if the number of client PCs 107 that
receive the content is smaller than the capacity at the time of the
distribution request, the streaming server 102 permits the
distribution to the requesting client PCs 107 and the streaming
server 102 performs stream distribution of the content to the
client PCs 107. In this way, once stream distribution is started,
the display screen of the client PC 107 displays the replay display
screen 390 of the replay software on the program detailed
information display screen as shown in FIG. 38 and the
stream-distributed content is reproduced in real time on the replay
display screen 390. In this way, the users of the clients PCs 107
can reproduce and view and listen to the live-distributed content
in real time.
[0246] Furthermore, the streaming server 102 counts the number of
the client PCs 107 that sent a request for distribution of the
program and are actually receiving the distribution one by one and
sends this count result, that is, information of the number of
audience to the content transmission terminal (the user PC 106 in
the above explanation).
[0247] In the explanation above, the client PCs 107 send a
distribution request to the streaming server 102 via the Web page
of the live casting server 150, but when a user who has an e-mail
address set in the "Friend list" (see FIG. 22) sends a distribution
request using, the client PC 107, it is also possible to configure
the system so that the user enters a URL displayed in "Distribution
requester address information" of the e-mail sent from the live
casting server 150 as described above (see FIG. 30) or clicks on a
URL displayed. Carrying out such an operation, the CPU of the
client PC 107 starts processing of connection to the destination
specified by the URL, that is, the streaming server 102 and can
thereby request, the streaming server 102 for distribution.
C. Modification
[0248] By the way, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiment described above, but can be modified in various manners
as shown in the following examples.
[0249] (Modification 1)
[0250] In the embodiment above, the streaming server 102
stream-distributes to a requesting client PC 107 the content sent
from the user PC 106. The streaming server 102 can also be
configured so as to carry out a rebroadcast service consisting of
carrying out the stream distribution processing, storing the
content sent from the user PC 106 in a medium such as a hard disk
and distributing this as on-demand program. In this case, it is
possible to post the rebroadcast program on the "Today's program"
Web page above (see FIG. 15) and distribute the content to the
requesting client PC 107.
[0251] Furthermore, the embodiment above performs content
distribution by sending moving image data, taken by the digital
video camera 129 of the user PC 106 in real time as content to the
streaming server 102, but it is also possible to configure the
system so that the user performs content distribution by storing
content created beforehand using the user PC 106, etc. in the hard
disk 123 and sending the content to the streaming server 102 at a
reserved distribution time. In order to send content in real time
using the user PC 106 as described in the embodiment above., when
sending content such as the moving image data, etc. captured to the
streaming server 102, it is also possible to store the content data
in the hard disk 123 of the user PC 106. Then, content distribution
may be performed by making a reservation for live distribution
again and distributing the stored content as a rebroadcast program
from the user PC 106 to the streaming server 102.
[0252] (Modification 2)
[0253] In the embodiment above, the streaming server 102 performs
processing of stream distribution of the content sent from the user
PC 106 to a requesting client PC 107. However, it is also possible
to configure the system so as to perform a service consisting of
not only performing the stream distribution processing but also
storing the content sent from the user PC 106 in a medium such as a
hard disk, writing the content, to various publicly known package
medium such as CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) and DVD-ROM
(Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory) and distributing the
content to the requesting user. Such a service allows the client
user of the client PC 107 to view and listen to the
live-distributed content and request favorite content written in a
package medium to be distributed. Here, as described above, since
the dedicated server connection network 108 is used as the
communication path between the user PC 106, which is the terminal
for transmitting, the content, and the streaming server 102, it is
possible to secure a sufficient transmission band. On the other
hand, the communication path between the streaming server 102 and
the client PC 107 is the one using the Internet 103, and therefore
it is not always possible to secure a sufficient transmission band,
and the communication path is likely to be subjected to
restrictions on the transmission band. Due to such restrictions on
the transmission band, it is necessary to reduce the transmission
rate of stream data distributed to the client PC 107 and in this
case, the quality of reproduced image of the content may
deteriorate at the client PC 107. The above-described service can
respond to the request for viewing and listening to favorite
content with high-quality video reproduced. That is, using the
service above, it is possible to write content sent from the user
PC 106 to the streaming server 102 directly into a package medium
and reproduce the written content data using the client PC 107,
allowing the client user to view and listen to the content with the
same quality as that of the content sent from the user PC 106 to
the streaming server 102. It is also possible to configure the
system so that the client who receives a supply of content recorded
in such a package medium views and listens to the content
reproduced or displayed on a TV screen using a player (can be other
than a PC) provided with a function of reproducing/displaying the
content stored in the package medium.
[0254] (Modification 3)
[0255] The embodiment above permits the user to perform live
distribution only in a time zone reserved beforehand. However, it
is also possible to configure the system so that while live
distribution based on the reservation is in progress, the streaming
server 102 references the reservation database 151, checks the
reservation situation after the reservation time of the channel
currently in use is completed and if there is any free space, sends
a message such as "Reservation can be extended to oo" to the user
PC 106 a predetermined time before the reservation end time (e.g.,
10 minutes before). The status window SW (see FIG. 9(a)) of the
user PC 106 that has received this message etc. can display this
message. In this case, an extension button is displayed on the
status window SW, and when this extension button is clicked, the
CPU 120 of the user PC 106 sends the information that an extension
will be made to the streaming server 102. The streaming server 102
that has received this permits the extension. Carrying out such an
extension service provides effects such as making it possible to
respond to an extension, request of the user of the user PC 106 who
is the distributor and also allowing the service provider to make
effective use of the channel of the streaming server 102.
[0256] (Modification 4)
[0257] Furthermore, the embodiment above describes the case where
the program to execute distribution reservation processing is
pre-installed in the hard disk of the live casting server 150 or
the program to execute various kinds of processing for making a
reservation for distribution or various kinds of processing for
live distribution is pre-installed in the hard disk 123 of the user
PC 106. However, the present invention is not limited to this and
it is also possible to install the various kinds of programs above
by reproducing a program storage medium consisting of a package
medium such as CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory) and DVD-ROM
(Digital Versatile Disc-Read Only Memory) or install the various
kinds of programs above by reproducing a program storage medium
such as semiconductor memory or magneto-optical disk in which such
a program is stored temporarily or permanently.
[0258] As the means for storing the various kinds of programs above
in these program storage media, it is also possible to use wired or
wireless communication media such as a local area network, digital
satellite broadcasting or store those programs via various
communication interfaces such as a router and modem.
[0259] (Modification 5)
[0260] Furthermore, the embodiment above describes the case where
the Internet 103 is used as the network to make a reservation for
distribution between the user PC 106 and the live casting server
150, but the present invention is not limited to this and it is
also possible, to use other types of wired or wireless network.
[0261] Furthermore, the embodiment above is provided with the
dedicated server connection network 108 to connect the user PC 106
and the streaming server 102, but the present invention is not
limited to this and it is also possible to connect the two using
the Internet 103.
[0262] (Modification 6)
[0263] Furthermore, the embodiment above uses the user PC 106 with
a built-in digital video camera 129 as the transmitter terminal for
live distribution, but it is also possible to use a normal PC with
a digital video camera connected via the IEEE (Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers) 1394 interface, etc, using
cables or a PC with a digital video camera connected by radio. It
is also possible to use a cellular phone with a digital video
camera connected using a cable, etc. or a cellular phone with a
built-in digital video camera instead of the user PC 106.
[0264] The case where a cellular phone using a built-in digital
video camera instead of the user PC 106 will be explained
below.
[0265] In FIG. 39, reference numeral 200 denotes a network system
to which a cellular phone MS3 applying the present invention is
connected and base stations CS1 to CS4, which are fixed radio
stations, are located in their respective cells resulting from
dividing the communication service supply area into desired
sizes.
[0266] These base stations CS1 to CS4 are connected to portable
information terminals MS1 and MS2, which are mobile radio stations,
and camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4 by radio
according to a W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access)
system and are capable of high-speed data communication of
large-volume data at a data transfer rate of up to 2 using a 2
[GHz] frequency band.
[0267] In this way, the portable information terminals MS1 and MS2
and camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4 can
perform high-speed data communication of a large volume of data
according to the W-CDMA system, and can thereby perform not only
voice communication but also various kinds of data communication
such as transmission/reception of e-mail browsing of simple
homepages, transmission/reception of images.
[0268] Furthermore, the base stations CS1 to CS4 are connected to
the telephone network 104 via a wired line, and this telephone
network 104 is connected to the Internet 103 and many subscribers
wired terminals (not shown), computer networks and in-house
networks, etc.
[0269] The telephone network 104 is also connected to the access,
server AS of the Internet server provider and the access server AS
is connected to a content server TS owned by the relevant Internet
service provider.
[0270] This content server TS provides content such as simple
homepage as a file in a compact HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
format, for example according to the request from the subscriber
wired terminal, portable information terminals MS1 and MS2 and
camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4. This compact
HTML is an HTML subset obtained by keeping only tags that can be
reflected and leaving out the rest of a limit-sized display
apparatus. For example, iMode (registered trademark) of NTT DoCoMo
uses an i-mode HTML which focuses functions necessary for a
cellular phone and used 30 types of tags and has restrictions such
that it is not possible to specify character attributes and colors
of text and a two-gradation GIF file is recommended for images. It
is possible to create a simple homepage file that is browsed by
portable terminals with a limited display area and display
capability, by using this compact HTML, HDML (Handheld Device
Markup Language) and WML (Wireless Markup Language) which are
descriptive languages used for mobile communication protocol WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol), etc.
[0271] In this network system 200, the Internet 103 is connected to
the server reservation control center 101, streaming server 102
same as in the embodiment above, and the subscriber wired
terminals, portable information terminals MS1 and MS2 and
camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4 can access
the server reservation control center 101 and streaming server 102
according to a protocol such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol). In the example illustrated, when a
content distribution is performed using the streaming server 102,
the camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4 send
content to the streaming server 102 over the dedicated server
connection network 108 as in the embodiment above, but it is also
possible to configure the system so that content is sent over the
Internet 103.
[0272] By the way, the portable information terminals MS1 and MS2,
and the camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4
communicate with base stations CS1 to CS4 using a simple transport
protocol of 2 (not shown) and the base stations CS1 to CS4
communicate with WWW server WS1 to "WSn over the Internet ITN using
a TCP/IP protocol.
[0273] By the way, the management control unit MCU is connected to
the subscriber wired terminal, portable information terminals MS1
and MS2 and camera-integrated digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4
via the telephone network 104 and is responsible for authentication
processing and billing processing on the subscriber wired terminal,
portable information terminals MS1 and MS2 and camera-integrated
digital cellular phones MS3 and MS4,
[0274] Then, a configuration example of the appearance of the
camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 that can be used
instead of the user PC 106 above will be explained. As shown in
FIG. 40, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 is
divided into the display section 212 and main unit 213 with the
hinge section 211 in the center as the boundary and is foldable via
the binge section 211.
[0275] The display section 212 has a transmission/reception antenna
214 at the top left set in a telescopic manner and signals are
transmitted/received to/from the base station CS3 via the antenna
214.
[0276] Furthermore, the display section 212 is provided with a
camera section 215 at the top center which is pivotable at an angle
of nearly 180 degrees and a CCD camera 216 mounted in the camera
section 215 allows the image of a desired object to be
captured.
[0277] Here, in the display section 212 when the user rotates the
camera section 215 nearly 180 degrees, a speaker 217 provided in
the center on the back of the camera section 215 faces toward the
front, which provides a normal voice conversation state.
[0278] The display section 212 is further provided with an LCD
display 218 on the front, showing the reception status of a radio
wave, residual amount of the battery, names and telephone numbers
registered as a telephone directory, transmission history, content
of e-mail, simple homepage and images taken by the CCD camera 216
of the camera section 215.
[0279] On the other hand, the main unit 213 is provided with
operations keys 219 such as numeral keys "0" to "9", calling key,
redial key, end key and power key, clear key and e-mail key and it
is possible to enter various commands using these operation keys
219.
[0280] The main unit 213 is also provided with a memo button 220
and a microphone 221 below the operation keys 219 and it is
possible to record voice during a call using the memo button 220
and collect the user's voice during conversation by the microphone
221.
[0281] The main unit 213 is also provided with a jog dial 222 above
the operation keys 219, which is pivotable and slightly protrudes
from the surface of the main unit 213, and executes various
operations such as scrolling of the telephone directory and e-mail
displayed on the LCD display 218 according to the rotation
operation to the jog dial 222, rolling-up of the simple homepage
and image feeding operations, etc.
[0282] For example, when the user selects a desired telephone
number from among a plurality of telephone numbers in the telephone
directory displayed on the LCD display 218 according to the
rotation operation of the jog dial 222 and presses the jog dial 222
toward inside the main unit 213, the main unit 213 confirms the
selected telephone number and executes automatic calling processing
on the relevant, telephone number.
[0283] By the way, the main unit 213 is provided with a battery
pack (not shown) on t the back and when a call end key or power key
is turned ON, the battery supplies power to the respective sections
making them ready to operate.
[0284] On the other hand, the main unit 213 is also provided with a
memory stick slot 224 to insert, a removable memory stick
(trademark of Sony Corporation) on the top left side of the main
unit 213 and when the memo button 220 is pressed, it is possible to
record the voice of the other part in communication in this memory
stick or record e-mail, simple homepage or images taken by the CCD
camera 216 according to the operations of the user.
[0285] Here, the memory stick 223 is a type of flash memory card
developed by Sony Corporation, the present applicant. This memory
stick 223 is a flash memory element, which is a kind of
electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory EEPROM
(Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) stored in
a small, thin plastic case of 21.5 (H).times.50 (W).times.18 (D)
[mm] and allows write/read of various kinds of data such as images,
voice and music through 10 pins.
[0286] Furthermore, the memory stick 223 uses an independent serial
protocol that can secure compatibility with apparatuses used even
if the specification of an internal flash memory is changed due to
introduction of a large-volume memory, implements high-speed
performance with a maximum writing speed of 1.5 and maximum read
speed of 2.45 and secures high reliability by providing a erroneous
erasure prevention switch.
[0287] Constructed with the capability of inserting such a memory
stick 223, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 can
share data with other electronic devices via this memory stick
223.
[0288] As illustrated in FIG. 42, the camera-integrated digital
cellular phone MS3 is constructed of a main control section 250
that controls the display section 212 and main unit 213 in a
concentrated manner, a power supply circuit 251, an operation input
control section 252, an image encoder 253, a camera interface
section 254, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control section 255,
an image decoder 256, a multiplexing/separation section 257, a
record/replay section 262, a modulation/demodulation circuit 258
and a voice CODEC 259, all of which are mutually connected via, a
main bus 260, and the image encoder 253, the image decoder 256, the
multiplexing/separation section 257, the modulation/demodulation
circuit 258 and the voice CODEC 259 are mutually connected via a
synchronous bus 261.
[0289] The power supply circuit 251, when the user turns ON the
call end/power key, supplies power from the battery pack to the
different sections and thereby makes the camera-integrated digital
cellular phone MS3 ready to operate.
[0290] The camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 converts
the voice signal collected by the microphone 221 to digital voice
data by the voice CODEC 259 in voice conversation mode, subjects
this to spread spectrum processing at the modulation/demodulation
circuit 258, subjects this to digital/analog conversion processing
and frequency conversion processing at the transmission/reception
circuit 263 and transmits from the antenna 214 under the control by
the main control section 250 made up of a CPU, ROM and RAM,
etc.
[0291] The camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 amplifies
the reception signal received from the antenna 214 in the
voice/conversation mode, subjects this to frequency conversion
processing and analog digital conversion processing, subjects this
to spread spectrum processing at the modulation/demodulation
circuit 258, converts to an analog voice signal at the voice CODEC
259 and outputs this via the speaker 217.
[0292] Furthermore, when transmitting e-mail in the data
communication mode, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 sends text data of the which has been entered by operating the
operation keys 219 and jog dial 222 to the main control section 250
via the operation input control section 252.
[0293] The main control section 250 subjects the text data to
spread spectrum processing at the modulation/demodulation circuit
258, subjects to digital/analog conversation processing and
frequency conversion processing at the transmission/reception
circuit 263 and then transmits to the base station CS3 (see FIG.
39) via the antenna 214.
[0294] In response to this, when receiving e-mail in the data
communication mode, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 subjects the reception signal received from the, base station
CS3 via the antenna 214 to spread spectrum processing at the
modulation/demodulation circuit 258, reconstructs the original text
data and then displays the text data as e-mail on the LCD display
218 via the LCD control section 255.
[0295] Then, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 can
also record the e-mail, which has been received according to the
operation of the user, in the memory stick 223 via the
record/replay section 262.
[0296] On the other band, when sending image data in the data
communication mode, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 supplies the image data taken by the CCD camera 216 to the
image encoder 253 via the camera interface section 254.
[0297] By the way, when no image data is sent, the
camera-integrated digital cellular phone MS3 can also directly
display the image data taken by the CCD camera 216 on the LCD
display 218 via the camera interface section 254 and LCD control
section 255.
[0298] The image encoder 253 converts the image data supplied from
the CCD camera 216 to encoded image data by compressing/encoding
according to a predetermined encoding system such, as MPEG (Motion
Picture Experts Group) 2 or MPEG4 and sends this to the
multiplexing/separation section 257.
[0299] At this time, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 sends the voice collected by the microphone 221 during picture
taking by the CCD camera 216 as digital voice data to the
multiplexing/separation section 257 via the voice CODEC 259.
[0300] The multiplexing/separation section 257 multiplexes the
encoded image data supplied from the image encoder 253 and the
voice data supplied from the voice CODEC 259 according to a
predetermined system, subjects the resultant multiplexed data to
spread spectrum processing at the modulation/demodulation circuit
258, subjects this to digital/analog conversion processing and
frequency conversion processing at the transmission/reception
section 262 and transmits via the antenna 214.
[0301] On the other hand, in data communication mode, when
receiving, for example, data of a moving image file linked to a
simple homepage, etc., the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 subjects the reception signal received via, the antenna 214
from the base station. CS3 to despread spectrum processing at the
modulation/demodulation circuit 258 and sends the resultant
multiplexed data to the multiplexing/separation section 257.
[0302] The multiplexing/separation section 257 separates the
multiplexed data into encoded image data and voice data, supplies
the encoded image data to the image decoder 256 via the synchronous
bus 261 and supplies the voice data to the voice CODEC 259
[0303] The image detector 256 decodes the encoded image data
according to a decoding system corresponding to a predetermined
encoding system such as MPEG2 or MPEG4 to create reproduced moving
image data, supplies this to the LCD display 218 via the LCD
control section 255, and in this way, for example, moving image
data contained in the moving image file linked to the simple
homepage is displayed.
[0304] At the same time, the voice CODEC 259 converts voice data to
an analog voice signal, then supplies this to the speaker 217 and
in this way, reproduces voice data included in the, moving image
file linked to the simple homepage, for example. In this case, as
in the case of e-mail, the camera-integrated digital cellular phone
MS3 can record the data linked to the received simple homepage,
etc. in the memory stick 223 via the recording/replay section 262
through operations by the user,
[0305] In addition to such a configuration, the camera-integrated
digital cellular phone MS3 stores an application program, etc.
similar to that in the embodiment above in the ROM of the main
control section 250, accesses the live casting server 150 (see FIG.
12) of the reservation control center 101 based on this application
program, can thereby perform live distribution reservation
processing including member registration and reconfirmation with
the live casting server 150, and when a reservation is made,
receives the reservation setting information file (see FIG. 28) and
automatically encrypts and saves the file. At this time, the
camera-integrated digital cellular, phone MS3 can perform
processing similar to live distribution processing based on a
reservation carried out by the user PC 106 in the embodiment above.
Thus, during a live distribution, the camera-integrated digital
cellular phone MS3 automatically reads the reservation setting
information file saved during the reservation processing above and
establishes a commucation/connection with the streaming server 102
and sends the content taken by the CCD camera 216 to the streaming
server 102 and performs a live distribution of the content.
[0306] As described above, the present invention allows many users
to efficiently use functions of the processing server that performs
predetermined processing via a network without causing complicated
authentication processing or operations and prevents interference,
etc. by illegal users.
INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION
[0307] This invention is applicable to a distribution system which
performs a live distribution and reservation distribution of
content including music, moving images and still image, to clients
via the computer Network like the Internet.
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