Content distribution system

Abstract

To provide a content distribution system 100 capable of flexibly and securely performing distribution and replacement of a content.SOLUTION: A content distribution system comprises: a plurality of reception / transmission apparatuses 10 for converting a content including voice or video to streaming data before reception / transmission via an IP network; and a relay device 20 for intervening between the reception / transmission apparatuses 10 to relay the content. The relay device 20 receives and analyzes handling information indicating handling of the content; on the basis of a result of the analysis, identifies one or more reception / transmission apparatuses that request a content transmitted from another reception / transmission apparatus; and performs distribution transmission of the content to the one or more reception / transmission apparatuses in real time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a content distribution system that distributes content such as radio and TV broadcasts and commercials in real time and is suitable for use in BtoB situations. [Background technology]

[0002] In the conventional broadcasting industry, for example within a broadcasting station or between multiple broadcasting stations, when distributing multiple contents such as live audio and video in real time, a crosspoint switch in which input and output signals are arranged in a matrix is ​​used.

[0003] Therefore, if there are N (N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) pieces of content as input and M (M is an integer greater than or equal to 2) distribution destinations as output, an N x M matrix switch is required. Also, a mechanism for synchronizing the N input signals is required to prevent them from becoming out of sync. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2003-259334 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, as the number of contents and distribution destinations increases (as N and M increase), many input and output cables are concentrated in the matrix switch, and reliable control of these cables becomes difficult.

[0006] Even when content is transmitted as an IP-converted live stream, the content converted into IP stream data must be converted back into a conventional SDI signal and then input into the matrix switch described above, ultimately resulting in the problems described above.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to provide a content distribution system etc. that can flexibly and reliably distribute and replace content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] That is, the content distribution system according to the present invention comprises: The system includes a plurality of transmitting / receiving devices which convert contents including audio or video into streaming data and transmit and receive the streaming data via an IP network, and a relay device which is disposed between the transmitting / receiving devices and relays the contents, The relay device is characterized by having an analysis unit that receives and analyzes handling information indicating the handling of the content, and a distribution unit that distributes all or part of the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device to one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that require it in real time based on the analysis results by the analysis unit. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention configured as described above, the flow of content can be controlled with a simple configuration based on the IP protocol, and content can be reliably distributed to multiple receiving / transmitting devices in real time. This effect is particularly noticeable in the case of live content. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 11 is a diagram showing the contents and structure of handling information in the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 3] 13 is a specific example of handling information according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for receiving and interpreting handling information in the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing a content distribution procedure in the embodiment. [Figure 6]13 is a flowchart showing a content synchronization procedure according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] 4 is a time chart for explaining the buffering time of each content received from each receiving device in the embodiment. [Figure 8] 11 is a schematic diagram showing a procedure for replacing content in the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content distribution state in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] A content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] 1. Overview This content distribution system 100 relays some or all of the broadcast content (hereinafter simply referred to as content) created at one broadcast station via an IP network and distributes it in real time to one or more other broadcast stations, and as shown in FIG. 1, it comprises receiving / transmitting devices 10 installed at each broadcast station and a relay device 20 interposed between the receiving / transmitting devices 10.

[0013] 2. Configuration <Transmitting / receiving equipment> The transmitting / receiving device 10 is composed of one or more computers having a CPU, memory, communication ports, etc., and has the function of converting content including audio and video created by each broadcasting station, for example from baseband signals or MPEG data, into streaming data and transmitting it over an IP network, as well as receiving the content converted into streaming data over the IP network and decode it into audio and video.

[0014] <Relay device> The relay device 20 is physically configured by one or more computers having a CPU, memory, communication ports, etc., and is communicably connected to each of the transmitting / receiving devices 10 via an IP network. The communication between the relay device 20 and each of the transmitting / receiving devices 10 here is performed by a one-to-one communication method (unicast method).

[0015] In addition, by operating based on a program stored in memory, functionally speaking, this relay device 20 performs functions such as an analysis unit 1 that receives and analyzes handling information indicating the handling of each of the contents, a distribution unit 2 that relays and distributes in real time the content received from one receiving / transmitting device 10 to other receiving / transmitting devices 10 that require it based on the analysis result by the analysis unit 1, and a replacement unit 3 that replaces the content relayed and distributed from the distribution unit 2 with another content based on the analysis result by the analysis unit 1.

[0016] <Contents> As mentioned above, there are three types of content: audio only, audio + video, and video only. When the content is converted into stream data, content identification information for identifying each content, such as the broadcasting station name, program name, and broadcast time, is added. This content also includes live content. Live content is not recorded content, but content that is transmitted in real time.

[0017] In this embodiment, the contents are hierarchically structured. Specifically, the top layer is the overall broadcast contents, which are made up of broadcast contents for multiple days, and the broadcast contents for one day are made up of multiple program contents to be broadcast on that day, and each program content is made up of one or more main content and CM contents inserted before and after the main content.

[0018] <Handling information> As shown in FIG. 2(a), the handling information includes content identification information for identifying each of the above-mentioned contents, as well as distribution and replacement information required for distributing and / or replacing each of the contents.

[0019] The handling information in this embodiment can be said to be on-air data generated based on the program guide of each broadcasting station, and since the contents have a hierarchical structure as described above, the handling information is also hierarchically structured accordingly. An example is shown in Fig. 2(b). In the figure, daily handling information corresponding to daily broadcast contents is formed in a lower hierarchy of the overall broadcast handling information corresponding to the overall broadcast contents, program handling information corresponding to program contents is formed in a lower hierarchy of the daily handling information, and main handling information corresponding to main contents and CM handling information corresponding to CM contents are formed in a lower hierarchy of the program handling information. Next, a description will be given of FIG. 3 in which this handling information is written in a markup language.

[0020] <<Full broadcast handling information>> The overall broadcast handling information includes the bibliographic information such as the broadcast station name, as well as the above-mentioned daily handling information. In Fig. 3, the daily handling information is shown in the part enclosed by the <broadcast date> tag.

[0021] <<Daily handling information>> The daily handling information includes broadcast date information indicating the broadcast date, as well as program handling information corresponding to each program content broadcast on that broadcast date. In Fig. 3, the broadcast date information is shown in the part enclosed by the <date> tag, and the program handling information is shown in the part enclosed by the <program> tag.

[0022] <<Program handling information>> The program handling information includes at least program identification information for identifying the program content, the broadcast time of the program content, and source information (self-or-other distinction information in the claims) for distinguishing whether the program content is from the own station or another station. This source information is one of the distribution replacement information mentioned above, and is used for distributing the content.

[0023] The program identification information here corresponds to the program name (the portion enclosed in the <program name> tag), but may be expressed, for example, as a unique code.

[0024] The broadcast time is, here, <start>Tags and <end>It is written in the part enclosed by tags.

[0025] The source information is shown in the part enclosed by the <creator> tag. Here, it is stipulated that in the case of a self-sender's call, the content of the <creator> tag is "your own station", and in the case of a call from another station, the content of the <creator> tag is the name of that station.

[0026] Furthermore, this program handling information includes the main content handling information corresponding to the main content and the CM handling information corresponding to the CM content.

[0027] <<Main story handling information>> The main part handling information is shown in the portion enclosed by <main part> tags in the program handling information.

[0028] The main content handling information includes the broadcast time of the corresponding main content and main content identification information for identifying the main content. <start>Tags and <end>It is described in the part enclosed by the tag. Here, the main text identification information corresponds to the name (the part enclosed by the <name> tag), but it may be represented by, for example, a unique code or the like.

[0029] <<CM handling information>> The CM handling information is in the program handling information <cm>It is shown in the tagged section.

[0030] The CM handling information includes the broadcast time of the corresponding CM content and CM identification information for identifying the CM content. <start>Tags and <end>The CM identification information is written in the portion enclosed by the tags. Here, the CM identification information is represented by, for example, a unique code, but may be represented by the sponsor or name of the CM.

[0031] Furthermore, this CM handling information includes replacement information that indicates whether the corresponding CM content is to be replaced or remains original. This replacement information is shown in the part enclosed in the <replacement> tag, and when "replacement" is displayed, it indicates that the CM content is to be replaced, and when "original" is displayed, it indicates that it is the original. This replacement information is one of the distribution replacement information mentioned above, and is used to replace content.

[0032] 3.Operation Next, the operation of this content distribution system 100 will be described.

[0033] <Operation of the transmitting / receiving device 10> <<Transmission of handling information>> The receiving / transmitting device 10 of each broadcasting station generates the above-mentioned handling information in advance, converts it into streaming data, and transmits it to the relay device 20 via the IP network on a regular or irregular basis.

[0034] The reason why the handling information is not sent once but intermittently is to enable immediate updating to the latest handling information in the event of unexpected changes in the program contents or schedule, such as the insertion of emergency news or last-minute changes in performers, and also to enable compensation for partial loss of handling information that may occur when using a UDP protocol, etc. The handling information may be sent only when it is updated. <<Submit content>> On the other hand, each transmitting / receiving device 10 converts each content originating from the broadcast station in which it is installed into streaming data in accordance with the handling information, and transmits the streaming data to the relay device 20 .

[0035] The source content is, for example, the program content in Fig. 3, whose source information in the <creator> tag indicates "our station." Also, for example, the commercial content in Fig. 2, the original commercial content originally broadcast by the broadcasting station, that is, the content in the <replacement> tag is "original."

[0036] <Repeater operation> <<Analysis of handling information>> In this manner, the handling information transmitted in streaming format from each transmitting / receiving device 10 is received by the analysis unit 1 of the relay device 20 (FIG. 4: step S1).

[0037] The analysis unit 1 identifies and analyzes information relating to distribution of content and information relating to replacement of content in the received handling information.

[0038] First, the identification and analysis of information related to content distribution will be described.

[0039] The analysis unit 1 refers to the handling information related to each of the receiving / transmitting devices 10, and identifies the content that the receiving / transmitting device wishes to receive from the other receiving / transmitting device 10 (hereinafter, when a distinction is necessary, the content received from the other receiving / transmitting device 10 is also referred to as other-transmitted content, and the content that the receiving / transmitting device transmits is also referred to as self-transmitted content) and the other receiving / transmitting device 10 (FIG. 4: step S2).

[0040] 2 as an example, the analysis unit 1 refers to the program handling information, identifies program contents for which the source information (information for distinguishing between own and other stations as referred to in the claims), which is information related to the distribution of contents, specifies the name of another broadcasting station instead of the own station, and identifies the source receiving / transmitting device 10 based on the broadcasting station name. The analysis unit 1 also checks whether the program contents are specified in the handling information of the source receiving / transmitting device 10.

[0041] Note that, as the identification information for identifying the other transmitted content, for example, the time and the name of the broadcasting station may be used instead of the content name or identification code. This indicates that the content may be defined not only as a unit of a set of contents, but also as a unit of time.

[0042] Next, the specification and analysis of information relating to content replacement will be described.

[0043] The analysis unit 1 refers to the handling information and identifies the content to be replaced and the time of replacement (FIG. 4: step S3). In the example of FIG. 3, the analysis unit 1 refers to the CM handling information and recognizes the CM content with "Replacement" displayed in the part enclosed by the <Replacement> tag as the content to be replaced, and <start>Tags and <end>The time written in the tagged portion is recognized as the replacement time.

[0044] <<Content Distribution>> The distributor 2 in the relay device 20 receives the transmitted content from each transmitting / receiving device 10 (FIG. 5: step S11).

[0045] Next, by referring to the analysis result of the analysis unit 1, among the received transmitted contents, the relay device 20 relays in real time the contents for which distribution has been requested by other broadcasting stations (other receiver-transmitter devices 10) to the other receiver-transmitter devices 10 (FIG. 5: step S12). When relaying, the relay device 20 rewrites the destination address of the contents to the address of the receiver-transmitter device 10 to which the contents are to be distributed.

[0046] The content to be distributed in this embodiment is program content, and as described above, in the program handling information, the source information enclosed with the <creating station> tag is that of another broadcasting station.

[0047] Note that the meaning of "real-time" here does not only mean that there is no physical delay during distribution relay, but also includes slight delays due to the data processing time required during distribution relay, such as the delay for synchronization described below and the delay required for content replacement processing.

[0048] The distribution unit 2 also corrects the difference in line transmission time (delay time) required for each content transmitted from the different transmitting / receiving devices 10 to arrive at the relay device 20 by short-term buffering, and distributes each content to the other transmitting / receiving devices 10 in synchronization with each other.

[0049] Let me explain in detail.

[0050] Each content is accompanied by transmission time information indicating the transmission time at the receiving / transmitting device 10, and the distribution unit 2 calculates the line transmission time from each receiving / transmitting device 10 based on this transmission time and the reception time at which each packet was received (FIG. 6: step S21). Note that the transmission / reception time here is a common time for each receiving / transmitting device 10, based on, for example, Greenwich Mean Time.

[0051] Next, the distributor 2 identifies the transmitting / receiving device 10 that has the longest line transmission time to the relay device 20 (FIG. 6: step S22).

[0052] Then, using this longest line transmission time as a reference, the delay time from when the content is received from each receiving / transmitting device 10 until it is transmitted for distribution is calculated. The delay time is determined by the difference between the line transmission time from each receiving / transmitting device 10 and the longest line transmission time (FIG. 6: steps S23 and S24).

[0053] The distribution unit 2 then delays the timing of distributing the content from each transmitting / receiving device 10 by the delay time through buffering.

[0054] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, consider a case where line transmission times from three different transmitting / receiving devices (first transmitting / receiving device, second transmitting / receiving device, and third transmitting / receiving device) are 5.0 ms, 5.2 ms, and 7.0 ms, respectively.

[0055] The longest line transmission time is 7 ms for the third transceiver device, so this 7 ms is used as the standard.

[0056] The time required for the distribution process and the replacement process described below must be delayed to a minimum extent, and if this time is taken as the minimum required delay time, the delay time due to buffering between receiving the content from the third receiving / transmitting device and transmitting it to the other receiving / transmitting devices for distribution is set to said minimum required delay time.

[0057] The delay time between receiving the content from the first transceiver and transmitting it to the other transceivers for distribution is set to the minimum required delay time plus the difference in line transmission time, i.e., 7ms-5ms=2ms. The delay time of the content from the second transceiver is set to the minimum required delay time plus 7ms-5.2ms=1.8ms.

[0058] The transmission line time from each receiving / transmitting device may be dynamically measured and updated each time, or the initially measured transmission line time may be fixed. If the transmission line time is fixed, the line transmission time from each receiving / transmitting device may fluctuate, and the timing of content distribution may be shifted by the amount of the fluctuation. However, the "synchronization" in this distribution allows for the range of the deviation.

[0059] <<Content replacement>> As shown in FIG. 8, the replacement unit 3 in the relay device 20 refers to the analysis result of the analysis unit 1, and replaces a predetermined content among the contents distributed by the distribution unit 2 with another content.

[0060] In this embodiment, the content to be replaced is a commercial content, and the replacement unit 3 replaces it with a commercial content that has "Replacement" displayed in the replacement information enclosed with a <Replacement> tag in the commercial handling information. The commercial content to be replaced is stored in a storage device (not shown) connected to the relay device 20, and the replacement unit 3 accesses this storage device to identify and extract the commercial content to be replaced based on its identification information.

[0061] It should be noted that when replacing content, the timing must also be synchronized, but the accuracy of the synchronization need only be at a level that does not cause problems for the human hearing or vision. <<Reply with handling information>> The handling information is returned from the relay device 20 to each transmitting / receiving device 10 periodically or irregularly as, for example, stream data, and at least when the handling information is modified midway, the handling information is promptly returned to each transmitting / receiving device 10 related to the handling information. <Overall operation example> FIG. 9 shows an example of the overall operation.

[0062] The figure shows the flow of content in a configuration in which there are eight broadcasting stations, each equipped with transmitting / receiving devices 10(1) to 10(8).

[0063] The receiving / transmitting device 10(1) only transmits content and does not receive it. The receiving / transmitting device 10(3) both transmits and receives content. The receiving / transmitting device 10(4) receives content from the receiving / transmitting device 10(1) and the receiving / transmitting device 10(3) and does not transmit content. The receiving / transmitting device 10(6) receives content from the receiving / transmitting device 10(1) and does not transmit content. The receiving / transmitting device 10(8) receives content from the receiving / transmitting device 10(3) and does not transmit content.

[0064] <Effects> The above configuration can provide the following advantages. This makes it possible to distribute and replace content in real time between multiple transmitting and receiving devices with a very simple configuration, without the need for physical switches or numerous wires. This effect is particularly noticeable with live content.

[0065] The source and destination of content distribution, and changes to the content to be replaced can be made quickly by simply modifying the handling information, allowing for flexible and dynamic operation.

[0066] Since communications can be multiplexed within the IP communications band without adding any special configuration, it can easily accommodate an increase in transmitting / receiving devices and an increase in content.

[0067] Since the handling information is made into stream data, it can be handled in the same way as content in communication processing, and the configuration, including the processing software in the relay device 20 and each transmitting / receiving device 10, can be simplified.

[0068] Since the contents transmitted from different receiving / transmitting devices 10 are synchronized and sent to the receiving / transmitting device 10, there is no need for synchronization on the receiving / transmitting device side. This eliminates the need for dedicated hardware or software related to synchronization in the receiving / transmitting device 10, reducing the burden on, for example, a broadcasting station that wants to newly join this system.

[0069] Since the handling information is returned to each receiving / transmitting device 10, the handling information can be confirmed again at each receiving / transmitting device 10. For example, when the content of other-transmitted content requested by one receiving / transmitting device 10 is changed at the source receiving / transmitting device of the other-transmitted content, this function allows one receiving / transmitting device 10 to confirm the information in advance, and to smoothly change the program guide, etc.

[0070] <Modified embodiment> In the above embodiment, the handling information was generated individually by each receiving / transmitting device, but, for example, a handling information generation unit may be provided in the relay device, and this handling information generation unit may generate common handling information based on the program guide sent from each broadcasting station.

[0071] The handling information does not have to be IP streaming data.

[0072] The replacement of commercial contents, etc. may be performed based on the timing of the ignition signal transmitted from each transmitting / receiving device. In this case, the ignition signal is treated as a kind of handling information.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the present system is applied to broadcast content, but the present system can also be applied to distributed content as well as broadcast content.

[0074] This system can also be used in a single broadcasting station. For example, a transmitting / receiving device may be installed in each studio, and content created in each studio may be distributed or replaced in real time.

[0075] It is also possible to use a mobile terminal as a transmitting / receiving device. In this way, for example, it would be easy to insert content from a personal mobile terminal that has recorded an accident scene into broadcast content in real time.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the distributable content is the program content, i.e., the commercial content and main content contained therein, but it is also possible to distribute the main content as a unit, or to define and distribute the content in various other units. For example, as described above, the unit of content may be defined by time instead of by a chunk of content.

[0077] A plurality of mutually different handling information may be generated for one receiving / transmitting device. For example, if one broadcasting station has a plurality of channels, a program guide is created for each channel, so that corresponding handling information is required for each channel. In this case, the receiving / transmitting device corresponding to these plurality of handling information may be a single device.

[0078] In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the handling information is acquired by the relay device 20 prior to the content, but if the content arrives before or at the same time as the handling information, the relay device may delay the distribution of the content to other receiving / transmitting devices and the associated timing of replacing the content by at least the time it takes to receive the handling information and / or the time it takes to interpret and process it.

[0079] 4. Summary The features of the above content distribution system can be summarized as follows:

[0080] [1] The system includes a plurality of transmitting / receiving devices which convert contents including audio or video into streaming data and transmit and receive the streaming data via an IP network, and a relay device which is interposed between the transmitting / receiving devices and relays the contents, The relay device is receiving and analyzing handling information indicating handling of the content; Based on the analysis, identifying one or more other transceiver devices that request the content transmitted from the one transceiver device; A content distribution system characterized by distributing and transmitting the content to the other one or more receiving / transmitting devices in real time.

[0081] [2] The content distribution system according to [1], wherein the handling information is converted into streaming data and transmitted and received.

[0082] [3] The handling information includes, for each receiving / transmitting device, self-transmitted content, which is content transmitted by the receiving / transmitting device, and other-transmitted content, which is content that the receiving / transmitting device requests to receive from another receiving / transmitting device, and The content distribution system according to [1] or [2], wherein the relay device identifies one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that request content transmitted from a certain receiving / transmitting device based on the self-other distinction information.

[0083] [4] A content distribution system according to any one of [1] to [3], in which the relay device corrects the difference in line transmission time for the content transmitted from each receiving / transmitting device to arrive at the relay device by short-term buffering, and then distributes each content.

[0084] [5] Each piece of content is accompanied by transmission time information that indicates the time of transmission on the receiving / transmitting device. The relay device identifies the content having the longest line transmission time based on the reception time of each content and the transmission time indicated by the transmission time information, and sets the buffering time of each content based on this longest line transmission time.

[0085] [6] The content distribution system according to any one of claims [1] to [5], wherein the relay device replaces the content received from one transceiver with another content based on the analysis result, and transmits the replaced content to the other transceiver.

[0086] [7] The handling information includes replacement information for identifying the content to be replaced, The content distribution system according to [6], wherein the relay device replaces the content received from one transceiver / transmitter with different content based on the replacement information and transmits the content to another transceiver / transmitter.

[0087] [8] A content distribution system according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the relay device transmits corresponding handling information to each receiving / transmitting device.

[0088] [9] It is a device that exists between multiple receiving and transmitting devices, converts content including audio or video into streaming data, and relays it via an IP network. an analysis unit that receives and analyzes handling information indicating handling of the content; A relay device characterized by having a distribution unit that receives the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device and distributes the content in real time to one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that require the content based on the analysis results by the analysis unit.

[0089]

[10] A program applied to a relay device that is interposed between multiple receiving / transmitting devices, converts content including audio or video into streaming data, and relays it via an IP network, the program having an analysis unit that receives and analyzes handling information indicating how to handle the content, and a distribution unit that receives the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device, and distributes the content in real time to one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that require it based on the analysis results by the analysis unit. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 100: Content distribution system 10: Transmitting and receiving equipment 20: Relay device 1:Analysis section 2:Distribution section 3: Replacement part< / end> < / start> < / end> < / start> < / cm> < / end> < / start> < / end> < / start>

Claims

1. The system includes a plurality of transmitting / receiving devices which convert content including video or audio into streaming data and transmit and receive the streaming data via an IP network, and a relay device which is interposed between the transmitting / receiving devices and relays the content, The relay device is receiving and analyzing handling information indicating handling of the content; Based on the analysis result, one or more other transceiver devices that request the content transmitted from one transceiver device are identified; A content distribution system that distributes and transmits the content to the one or more other receiving / transmitting devices in real time.

2. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the handling information is converted into streaming data and transmitted and received.

3. The handling information includes, for each receiving / transmitting device, self-transmitted content, which is content transmitted by the receiving / transmitting device, and other-transmitted content, which is content that the receiving / transmitting device requests to receive from another receiving / transmitting device, and 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the relay device identifies one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that request the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device based on the self-other distinction information.

4. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said relay device distributes the content after correcting a difference in line transmission time between each of the receiving and transmitting devices by buffering.

5. The content is accompanied by transmission time information indicating the time when the content was transmitted from the transmitting / receiving device, The content distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the relay device identifies the content having the longest line transmission time based on the reception time of each content and the transmission time indicated by the transmission time information of each content, and sets the buffering time of each content based on this longest line transmission time.

6. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the relay device replaces the content received from one transceiver / transmitter with another content based on the analysis result, and transmits the replaced content to another transceiver / transmitter.

7. The handling information includes replacement information for identifying the content to be replaced, 7. The content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein said relay device replaces the content received from one receiving / transmitting device with another content based on said replacement information, and transmits the replaced content to another receiving / transmitting device.

8. 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the relay device transmits corresponding handling information to each of the transmitting and receiving devices.

9. This is a system that exists between multiple receiving and transmitting devices, converts content including video or audio into streaming data, and relays it via an IP network. an analysis unit that receives and analyzes handling information indicating handling of the content; A relay device characterized by having a distribution unit that receives the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device and distributes the content in real time to one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that require the content based on the analysis results by the analysis unit.

10. A program applied to a relay device that is interposed between a plurality of receiving and transmitting devices, converts content including video or audio into streaming data, and relays the content via an IP network, A content distribution program that functions as an analysis unit that receives and analyzes handling information indicating how the content is to be handled, and a distribution unit that receives the content transmitted from one receiving / transmitting device and distributes the content in real time to one or more other receiving / transmitting devices that require the content based on the analysis results by the analysis unit.

Images