Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Program

Abstract

Enable flexible modification of the process for reducing the capacity of data transmitted by the information terminal. 【Solution means】The management server 1 includes an acquisition unit 121 that acquires information indicating transmission conditions for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating the communication status of communication resources used for data transmission, a specification unit 122 that specifies a program for reducing the capacity of data based on the transmission conditions and the communication status, and a distribution unit 124 that distributes program execution information for causing at least one of a user terminal that transmits data via communication resources and a communication device that transmits data received from the user terminal via communication resources to execute the program.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for processing information related to data transmitted by a user terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that switches a communication line used by an information terminal between a communication line via a satellite and a communication line via a ground base station based on positioning information indicating the position of the information terminal or the electric field strength of radio waves emitted by the information terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An information terminal may perform a process for reducing the capacity, such as compression processing, on data to be transmitted. Also, the required data capacity and quality vary depending on various conditions such as the communication line used by the information terminal, the location where the information terminal is located, and the use of the data. Conventionally, the process for reducing the capacity of data transmitted by an information terminal has been predetermined and could not be changed according to conditions.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object thereof is to enable flexible change of the process for reducing the capacity of data transmitted by an information terminal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The information processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the data, a selection unit that selects a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status from a plurality of programs that reduce the capacity of the data, and a transmission unit that transmits the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program selected by the selection unit and program specific information indicating the program selected by the selection unit to a device that increases the capacity of the data reduced by the program indicated by the program specific information.

[0007] The information processing apparatus may further include an execution unit that reduces the capacity of the data by executing the program selected by the selection unit on the data.

[0008] The acquisition unit acquires association information associating each of the plurality of programs with each combination of each of the plurality of transmission conditions and each of the plurality of communication statuses, and the selection unit may select the program associated with the transmission condition and the communication status in the association information.

[0009] The transmission condition may be a condition that specifies at least one of the type of the data, the use of the data, the capacity of the data, the location where the data is transmitted, the number of user terminals that transmit the data, the communication speed for transmitting the data, and the communication quality when transmitting the data.

[0010] The communication status may include at least one of the congestion level of the communication resources and the communication speed of the communication resources.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

[0019] The information processing method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes steps of: obtaining information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the data, which are executed by a processor; selecting a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status from a plurality of programs for reducing the capacity of the data; and transmitting the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program selected in the selecting step and program specific information indicating the program selected in the selecting step to a device that increases the capacity of the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program indicated by the program specific information.

[0020] The program according to the third aspect of the present invention causes a processor to execute steps of: obtaining information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the data; selecting a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status from a plurality of programs for reducing the capacity of the data; and transmitting the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program selected in the selecting step and program specific information indicating the program selected in the selecting step to a device that increases the capacity of the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program indicated by the program specific information.

Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, there is an effect that the process of reducing the capacity of data transmitted by the information terminal can be flexibly changed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] [Overview of Information Processing System S] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an information processing system S according to the present embodiment. The information processing system S includes a management server 1, a user terminal 2, a relay device 3, and a receiving device 4. The information processing system S may include other terminals, devices, etc. The management server 1, the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, and the receiving device 4 transmit and receive data via a network such as the Internet.

[0024] The management server 1 is a computer that processes information regarding transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2. The management server 1 executes a process for causing the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, or the receiving device 4 to execute a program (also referred to as software or an application) that decreases or increases the capacity of the transmission data. The management server 1 is a single computer or a plurality of computers. Further, the management server 1 may be one or more virtual servers operating on a cloud that is a collection of computer resources.

[0025] The user terminal 2 is a computer used by the user. The user terminal 2 is, for example, an information terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a personal computer. The user terminal 2 has a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for displaying information and an operation unit such as a touch panel for receiving operations by the user. Further, the user terminal 2 may be a device that automatically transmits transmission data such as an image captured by a surveillance camera, a camera for news gathering, etc. according to preset conditions. Further, the user terminal 2 may include an imaging unit including an imaging element for imaging a predetermined imaging range, an audio input unit including a microphone for inputting audio, etc.

[0026] The user is a person who transmits transmission data using the user terminal 2. In this case, the user, for example, performs an operation for causing the user terminal 2 to transmit transmission data when the user terminal 2 transmits transmission data.

[0027] Further, the user may be a person who presets conditions (such as transmission conditions described later) for transmitting transmission data to the user terminal 2. In this case, the user, for example, sets conditions in advance for the user terminal 2 (such as a surveillance camera, a camera for news gathering, etc.) without directly operating the user terminal 2 when the user terminal 2 transmits transmission data.

[0028] The transmission data is data generated by the user terminal 2 or data acquired by the user terminal 2 from another device. The transmission data is, for example, data indicating at least one of an image (still image or moving image), sound, and characters. The user terminal 2 transmits the transmission data that the user wishes to transmit to the relay device 3 or the receiving device 4.

[0029] The relay device 3 (communication device) is a computer that relays the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2 and transmits it to the receiving device 4. For example, the relay device 3 receives the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2 and transmits the received transmission data to the receiving device 4. The relay device 3 may perform predetermined processing on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2 and transmit the transmission data after the predetermined processing to the receiving device 4.

[0030] The receiving device 4 is a computer that receives the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2. For example, the receiving device 4 receives the transmission data directly from the user terminal 2 or via the relay device 3 and stores the received transmission data in a predetermined storage unit. The storage unit in which the transmission data is stored is a storage unit provided in the receiving device 4 or a storage device different from the receiving device 4. The receiving device 4 may perform predetermined processing on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 and store the transmission data after the predetermined processing in the storage unit.

[0031] The outline of the processing executed by the information processing system S according to this embodiment will be described below. The management server 1 acquires information indicating the transmission conditions for the user terminal 2 to transmit transmission data and information indicating the communication status of the communication resources used for transmitting the transmission data. The transmission conditions are, for example, the type of transmission data specified by the user, the location where the transmission of the transmission data is performed, and the like. The communication status is, for example, the congestion level or communication speed of the communication resources used by the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 to transmit the transmission data to the receiving device 4.

[0032] The management server 1 identifies a capacity reduction program that reduces the capacity of the transmission data based on the transmission conditions and communication status indicated by the acquired information. Further, the management server 1 identifies a capacity increase program that increases the capacity of the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the identified capacity reduction program.

[0033] The management server 1 distributes program execution information for causing at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 to execute the identified capacity reduction program. Further, the management server 1 distributes program execution information for causing the receiving device 4 to execute the identified capacity increase program. The program execution information includes at least one of, for example, the program itself, an execution instruction for executing a program pre-stored in the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, or the receiving device 4, and a generation instruction for causing the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, or the receiving device 4 to generate a program.

[0034] The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 transmits the transmission data with reduced capacity to the receiving device 4 by executing the capacity reduction program based on the distributed program execution information. The receiving device 4 receives the transmission data from the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 and stores the transmission data with increased capacity in the storage unit by executing the capacity increase program based on the distributed program execution information.

[0035] In this way, the information processing system S identifies programs for reducing and increasing the capacity of the transmission data based on the transmission conditions and communication status, and distributes information for executing the identified programs to the devices that transmit or receive the transmission data. Thereby, the information processing system S can flexibly change the process of reducing and increasing the capacity of the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2.

[0036] [Configuration of Information Processing System S] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the information processing system S according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, the arrows indicate the main data flow, and there may be a data flow other than those shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each block represents a configuration in terms of functional units, not hardware (device) units. Therefore, the blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented within a single device, or may be divided and implemented in a plurality of devices. The exchange of data between the blocks may be performed via any means such as a data bus, a network, a portable storage medium, or the like.

[0037] The management server 1 includes a storage unit 11 and a control unit 12. The storage unit 11 is a storage medium including a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, and the like. The storage unit 11 stores in advance a program executed by the control unit 12.

[0038] The control unit 12 includes an acquisition unit 121, a specification unit 122, a generation unit 123, and a distribution unit 124. The control unit 12 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example, and functions as the acquisition unit 121, the specification unit 122, the generation unit 123, and the distribution unit 124 by executing the program stored in the storage unit 11.

[0039] Hereinafter, the processing executed by the information processing system S will be described in detail. In the management server 1, the acquisition unit 121 acquires condition information indicating a transmission condition for the user terminal 2 used by the user to transmit transmission data, and status information indicating the communication status of the communication resources used for the transmission of the transmission data.

[0040] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process of the acquisition unit 121 acquiring condition information and situation information. The user terminal 2 receives, for example, a designation of transmission conditions from the user. The transmission conditions include, for example, at least one of the type of transmission data, the use of the transmission data, the capacity of the transmission data, the location where the transmission data is to be transmitted, the number of user terminals 2 for transmitting the transmission data, the communication speed for transmitting the transmission data, and the communication quality when transmitting the transmission data.

[0041] The type of transmission data is, for example, a moving image, a still image, sound, etc. The use of the transmission data is, for example, anomaly detection, art, commemoration, etc. The capacity of the transmission data is, for example, the value of the data capacity planned to be transmitted (X megabytes or more, Y megabytes or less, etc.). The location where the transmission data is to be transmitted is, for example, coordinates, an address, a region, etc. The number of user terminals 2 is, for example, the number of user terminals 2 that the user plans to use for transmitting transmission data simultaneously.

[0042] The communication speed for transmitting the transmission data is, for example, the range of the communication speed of the communication resources used for transmitting the transmission data (high speed, low speed, etc.). The communication quality when transmitting the transmission data is, for example, a value related to communication quality such as packet loss rate, delay, jitter, etc. The communication speed and the communication quality may be specified, for example, by the upper limit value acceptable to the user. The transmission conditions are not limited to the specific conditions shown here and may include other conditions related to data transmission.

[0043] The user designates the transmission conditions using the operation unit of the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 transmits condition information indicating the transmission conditions designated by the user to the management server 1. In the management server 1, the acquisition unit 121 receives the condition information from the user terminal and stores the received condition information in the storage unit 11.

[0044] The acquisition unit 121 acquires status information indicating the communication status of one or more communication resources that can be used by the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 to transmit transmission data from a predetermined device (such as a server of a communication carrier). The communication resources include, for example, communication lines for performing wireless communication via a base station installed on the ground, communication lines for performing wireless communication via an artificial satellite placed in space, and the like. Also, the communication resources may include communication lines for performing wired communication. Further, the communication resources may include a plurality of communication lines corresponding to a plurality of communication carriers (such as MNO (Mobile Network Operator), MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), etc.) that provide communication services. Additionally, the communication resources may include a plurality of communication lines provided by the same communication carrier and having different communication speeds or communication qualities from each other.

[0045] The communication status includes at least one of the congestion level of each of the one or more communication resources and the communication speed of the communication resource. The congestion level is an index (such as network occupancy rate) indicating the degree to which the communication resource is congested. The congestion level is represented, for example, by the measured value or estimated value of the congestion level for each area (region, communication cell, etc.). The communication speed is the data volume transmitted and received per unit time. The communication speed is represented, for example, by the measured value or estimated value of the communication speed for each area (region, communication cell, etc.).

[0046] The acquisition unit 121 receives status information indicating the communication status of each of the one or more communication resources from one or more devices, and stores the received status information in the storage unit 11.

[0047] The specifying unit 122 specifies a capacity reduction program for reducing the capacity of the transmission data and a capacity increase program for increasing the capacity of the transmission data based on the condition information and the status information acquired by the acquisition unit 121.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process in which the specifying unit 122 specifies a program. The acquisition unit 121 acquires, for example, association information that is stored in advance in the storage unit 11 and is used by the specifying unit 122 to specify a program.

[0049] The association information is, for example, information such as a table or a database that associates each of a plurality of capacity reduction programs, each of a plurality of capacity increase programs, each of a plurality of transmission conditions, and each of a plurality of communication situations. That is, the association information is information that enables the capacity reduction program and the capacity increase program to be specified according to a combination of a specific transmission condition and a specific communication situation. The same capacity increase program may be associated with a combination of a plurality of transmission conditions and a plurality of communication situations. The same capacity reduction program may be associated with a combination of a plurality of transmission conditions and a plurality of communication situations. The association information is, for example, specified in advance by the administrator of the information processing system S and stored in the storage unit 11.

[0050] The capacity reduction program is a program that reduces the capacity of transmission data that a user desires to transmit by a predetermined process. The capacity reduction program may include, for example, a process of masking (excluding) a part of the transmission data. In this case, the capacity reduction program is, for example, a machine learning model generated by a known machine learning process, and the transmission data is input to the machine learning model that masks a part of the transmission data, thereby masking a part of the transmission data. A part that is masked in the transmission data is, for example, an area in the image data where complementation is relatively easy (an area with high regularity, etc.), an area that is not relatively important in the image data (an area where no person is shown, etc.).

[0051] The capacity reduction program may include, for example, a process of encoding transmission data into different types of data. The process of encoding transmission data into different types of data includes, for example, generating a character string that describes the content of the image data from the image data, generating two-dimensional image data from three-dimensional point cloud data, and the like. In this case, the capacity reduction program encodes the transmission data, for example, by inputting the transmission data into a machine learning model generated by known machine learning processing, which is a machine learning model for encoding transmission data into different types of data.

[0052] The capacity reduction program may include, for example, a process of performing reversible compression or irreversible compression on the transmission data. In this case, the capacity reduction program compresses the transmission data, which is image data or other types of data, by known compression processing.

[0053] The capacity reduction program is not limited to the specific processes shown here and may include other processes for encoding the transmission data to have a smaller capacity. The process of encoding the transmission data is a process of performing reversible encoding that can restore the information of the original transmission data, or a process of performing irreversible encoding that cannot restore the information of the original transmission data.

[0054] The capacity increase program is a program that increases the capacity of the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program by a predetermined process. That is, the capacity increase program includes a process of decoding the encoded transmission data according to the process in which the capacity reduction program encodes the transmission data. One capacity increase program may correspond to a plurality of capacity increase programs.

[0055] The capacity increase program includes, for example, a process of generating a masked part of the transmission data when the capacity decrease program includes a process of masking a part of the transmission data. In this case, the capacity increase program inputs the transmission data into a machine learning model generated by, for example, known machine learning processing, which is a machine learning model that generates the masked part from the transmission data with a part masked, to generate the masked part of the transmission data, and combines the generated part with the transmission data.

[0056] The capacity increase program includes, for example, a process of decoding the transmission data encoded into different types of data back to the original type of transmission data when the capacity increase program includes a process of encoding the transmission data into different types of data. In this case, the capacity increase program inputs the transmission data into a machine learning model generated by, for example, known machine learning processing, which is a machine learning model that decodes the transmission data encoded into different types of data back to the original type of transmission data, to decode the transmission data. Note that when the transmission data encoded into different types of data is used as it is (such as when the explanatory text of image data is used), the capacity increase program may not be executed.

[0057] The capacity increase program includes, for example, a process of expanding the transmission data that has been reversibly or irreversibly compressed by a known expansion process corresponding to the compression process used for the transmission data when the capacity increase program includes a process of performing reversible or irreversible compression on the transmission data.

[0058] The capacity increase program is not limited to the specific processes shown here, and may include other processes of decoding the transmission data according to the processes included in the capacity decrease program.

[0059] The specific unit 122 selects a capacity reduction program and a capacity increase program that correspond to the transmission conditions and the communication status from among a plurality of capacity reduction programs and a plurality of capacity increase programs. For example, in the association information acquired by the acquisition unit 121, the specific unit 122 selects a capacity reduction program and a capacity increase program that are associated with the transmission conditions indicated by the condition information acquired by the acquisition unit 121 and the communication status indicated by the status information acquired by the acquisition unit 121. Thereby, the information processing system S can flexibly change the program for reducing and increasing the capacity of the transmission data according to the transmission conditions specified by the user and the communication status of the communication resources.

[0060] Also, the specific unit 122 may specify a capacity reduction program according to the communication capacity available to the user terminal 2. The available communication capacity is, for example, the remaining communication capacity among the communication capacities (such as X gigabytes per month) defined in the contract between the user who uses the user terminal 2 and the communication carrier that provides the communication resources.

[0061] For example, when the available communication capacity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, the specific unit 122 specifies a first capacity reduction program, and when the available communication capacity is less than the threshold, the specific unit 122 specifies a second capacity reduction program that makes the capacity of the transmission data smaller than the first capacity reduction program. Thereby, the information processing system S can specify the capacity reduction program so that, for example, the capacity of the transmission data is made larger when the communication capacity available to the user terminal 2 is large, and the capacity of the transmission data is made smaller when the communication capacity available to the user terminal 2 is small.

[0062] Also, the specific unit 122 may specify a capacity reduction program according to the importance of the user terminal 2. The importance of the user terminal 2 is an index indicating which transmission data transmitted from which user terminal 2 should be preferentially transmitted, and is specified in advance for each user terminal 2. The importance of the user terminal 2 is specified, for example, to be relatively high when the user terminal 2 is an information terminal for the purpose of anomaly detection, and relatively low when the user terminal 2 is an information terminal for other purposes.

[0063] The specific unit 122 identifies, for example, the first capacity reduction program when the importance is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and identifies a second capacity reduction program that makes the capacity of the transmission data smaller than that of the first capacity reduction program when the importance is less than the threshold. Thereby, the information processing system S can identify a capacity reduction program so that, for example, when the user terminal 2 is important, the capacity of the transmission data is made larger (i.e., the degradation or loss of the transmission data is small), and when the user terminal 2 is not important, the capacity of the transmission data is made smaller.

[0064] The specific unit 122 selects at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 as an execution entity that executes the capacity reduction program. In the present embodiment, the execution entity of the capacity increase program is the receiving device 4.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the process in which the specific unit 122 selects an execution entity. The specific unit 122 selects at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 as an execution entity that executes the capacity reduction program based on, for example, at least one of the transmission conditions indicated by the condition information acquired by the acquisition unit 121, the performance of the user terminal 2, and the request received from the user.

[0066] The specific unit 122 selects, for example, the relay device 3 as the execution entity when the transmission conditions satisfy the usage conditions of the relay device 3, and selects the user terminal 2 as the execution entity when the transmission conditions do not satisfy the usage conditions. The usage conditions of the relay device 3 are, for example, that the location where the transmission of the transmission data is performed is within a predetermined range including the location of the relay device 3. Thereby, the information processing system S can select an execution entity according to the transmission conditions specified by the user.

[0067] The performance of the user terminal 2 is, for example, the specifications of the processor or memory provided in the user terminal 2. The specifying unit 122 selects, for example, the user terminal 2 as the execution entity when the performance of the user terminal 2 satisfies the performance condition, and selects the relay device 3 as the execution entity when the performance of the user terminal 2 does not satisfy the performance condition. The performance condition is, for example, that the speed of the processor or the capacity of the memory is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. Thus, the information processing system S can switch the execution entity so that, for example, when the performance of the user terminal 2 is high, the user terminal 2 executes the program, and when the performance of the user terminal 2 is low, the relay device 3 executes the program.

[0068] The request received from the user indicates, for example, which of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 is desired to be used as the execution entity. The user terminal 2 receives the request from the user in advance. The specifying unit 122 selects, for example, the user terminal 2 as the execution entity when the user desires to use the user terminal 2 as the execution entity, and selects the relay device 3 as the execution entity when the user desires to use the relay device 3 as the execution entity. Thus, the information processing system S can reflect the user's request in the selection of the execution entity.

[0069] When the capacity reduction program is composed of a plurality of programs, the specifying unit 122 may select both the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 as execution entities so as to execute the plurality of programs constituting the capacity reduction program separately.

[0070] The specifying unit 122 may specify the fee that the user incurs for transmitting transmission data according to the specified capacity reduction program and capacity increase program. Further, the specifying unit 122 may specify the fee that the user incurs for transmitting transmission data according to whether the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 is selected as the execution entity. The acquisition unit 121 acquires, for example, the fee information used by the specifying unit 122 to specify the fee, which is prestored in the storage unit 11. The fee information is information such as a table or database that associates each of a plurality of capacity reduction programs, each of a plurality of capacity increase programs, at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 as the execution entity, and the fee.

[0071] The specifying unit 122 specifies, for example, in the fee information acquired by the acquisition unit 121, the fee associated with the specified capacity reduction program and capacity increase program and whether the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 is selected as the execution entity. Thereby, the information processing system S can flexibly change the fee that the user incurs for transmitting transmission data according to the program and execution entity related to the transmission of the transmission data.

[0072] The generation unit 123 generates program execution information for causing the execution entity to execute the capacity reduction program and the capacity increase program. FIGS. 6(a), 6(b), and 6(c) are schematic diagrams for explaining the process in which the generation unit 123 generates the program execution information.

[0073] The generation unit 123 generates program execution information (also referred to as capacity reduction program execution information) for causing at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 selected by the specifying unit 122 as the execution entity to execute the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122. The program execution information of the capacity reduction program includes any one of the capacity reduction program itself, an execution instruction for the capacity reduction program, and a generation instruction for the capacity reduction program.

[0074] In the example of FIG. 6(a), the program execution information is information including the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122. In the example of FIG. 6(b), the program execution information is the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122, and is information including an execution instruction for designating the capacity reduction program stored in advance in the storage unit of the execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3.

[0075] The generation unit 123 may generate different program execution information according to whether the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122 is stored in the storage unit of the execution entity. The acquisition unit 121 acquires, for example, storage information indicating one or more capacity reduction programs stored in advance in the storage unit of the execution entity from the execution entity.

[0076] Based on the storage information acquired by the acquisition unit 121, the generation unit 123 generates program execution information including the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122 on the condition that the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122 is not stored in the storage unit of the execution entity. On the other hand, the generation unit 123 generates program execution information including an execution instruction for designating the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122 on the condition that the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122 is stored in the storage unit of the execution entity.

[0077] In the example of FIG. 6(c), the program execution information is information including a generation instruction for causing the execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3, to generate the capacity reduction program specified by the specifying unit 122. The generation instruction is information for designating the process to be executed by the capacity reduction program (for example, a compression process of reversible compression or irreversible compression), and the capacity reduction program is generated by the execution entity according to the generation instruction.

[0078] The generation unit 123 generates program execution information (also referred to as capacity increase program execution information) for causing the receiving device 4, which is the execution entity, to execute the capacity increase program, in the same manner as the program execution information of the capacity reduction program. The program execution information of the capacity increase program includes any one of the capacity increase program itself, the execution instruction of the capacity increase program, and the generation instruction of the capacity increase program.

[0079] The distribution unit 124 distributes the program execution information of the capacity reduction program generated by the generation unit 123 to the execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 selected by the specification unit 122 and the relay device 3. The distribution unit 124 distributes the program execution information of the capacity increase program generated by the generation unit 123 to the execution entity, which is the receiving device 4. Each of the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, and the receiving device 4 receives the program execution information from the management server 1 and stores the received program execution information in the storage unit.

[0080] Based on the above-mentioned storage information acquired by the acquisition unit 121, the distribution unit 124 may distribute the program execution information including the capacity reduction program or the capacity increase program specified by the specification unit 122, on the condition that the capacity reduction program or the capacity increase program specified by the specification unit 122 is not stored in the storage unit of the execution entity. On the other hand, the distribution unit 124 may distribute the program execution information including the execution instruction specifying the capacity reduction program or the capacity increase program specified by the specification unit 122, on the condition that the capacity reduction program or the capacity increase program specified by the specification unit 122 is stored in the storage unit of the execution entity. Thereby, when a program is already stored in the storage unit of the execution entity, the information processing system S does not transmit the program itself, so that the communication capacity related to the transmission of the program execution information can be reduced.

[0081] When the specifying unit 122 specifies candidates for a plurality of capacity reduction programs, the distribution unit 124 may accept selection of any one of the candidates for the plurality of capacity reduction programs from the user. In this case, before distributing the program execution information, the distribution unit 124 distributes to the user terminal 2 information for displaying the plurality of capacity reduction programs specified by the specifying unit 122.

[0082] Based on the information transmitted by the management server 1, the user terminal 2 displays on the display unit information indicating candidates for the plurality of capacity reduction programs specified by the specifying unit 122. The user terminal 2 accepts from the user a selection of any one of the candidates for the plurality of capacity reduction programs. The user terminal 2 transmits to the management server 1 information indicating the capacity reduction program selected by the user.

[0083] In the management server 1, the acquisition unit 121 receives information indicating the capacity reduction program selected by the user transmitted by the user terminal 2. The generation unit 123 generates program execution information for executing the capacity reduction program selected by the user based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 121. The distribution unit 124 distributes the program execution information for executing the capacity reduction program selected by the user to the execution entity. Thereby, when a plurality of capacity reduction programs are specified based on the transmission conditions and the communication status, the information processing system S can cause any one of the capacity reduction programs selected by the user to be executed by the execution entity.

[0084] The execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3, executes a capacity reduction program on the transmission data to be transmitted based on the program execution information received from the management server 1. The execution entity, which is the receiving device 4, executes a capacity increase program on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 based on the program execution information received from the management server 1.

[0085] FIG. 7(a), FIG. 7(b), and FIG. 7(c) are schematic diagrams for explaining the processes executed by the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, and the receiving device 4. FIG. 7(a) shows the case where the user terminal 2 is the execution entity. FIG. 7(b) shows the case where the relay device 3 is the execution entity. FIG. 7(c) shows the case where the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 are the execution entities.

[0086] The execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3, acquires a capacity reduction program based on the program execution information received from the management server 1. When the program execution information includes the capacity reduction program itself, the execution entity acquires the capacity reduction program included in the program execution information. When the program execution information includes an execution instruction for the capacity reduction program, the execution entity acquires the capacity reduction program indicated by the execution instruction from among the plurality of capacity reduction programs pre-stored in the storage unit of the execution entity.

[0087] When the program execution information includes a generation instruction for the capacity reduction program, the execution entity generates the capacity reduction program indicated by the generation instruction. The execution entity generates, for example, a capacity reduction program that executes the process (e.g., a compression process of a specific reversible compression or irreversible compression) specified by the generation instruction using a known program generation process (such as a generation AI (Artificial Intelligence)).

[0088] The execution entity, which is the receiving device 4, acquires a capacity increase program based on the program execution information received from the management server 1. When the program execution information includes the capacity increase program itself, the execution entity acquires the capacity increase program included in the program execution information. When the program execution information includes an execution instruction for the capacity increase program, the execution entity acquires the capacity increase program indicated by the execution instruction from among the plurality of capacity increase programs pre-stored in the storage unit of the execution entity.

[0089] When the program execution information includes an instruction to generate a capacity increase program, the execution entity generates the capacity increase program indicated by the generation instruction. For example, the execution entity uses a known program generation process (such as generation AI) to generate a capacity increase program that executes the process specified by the generation instruction (for example, a specific reversible compression or irreversible compression expansion process).

[0090] In the example of Fig. 7(a), the user terminal 2 executes a capacity reduction program on the transmission data to be transmitted, and transmits the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program to the receiving device 4. In the example of Fig. 7(b), the user terminal 2 transmits the transmission data to be transmitted to the relay device 3 without executing the capacity reduction program, and the relay device 3 executes the capacity reduction program on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2, and transmits the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program to the receiving device 4.

[0091] In the example of Fig. 7(c), in a situation where the capacity reduction program is composed of a plurality of programs, the user terminal 2 executes a part of the plurality of programs that make up the capacity reduction program on the transmission data to be transmitted, and transmits the transmission data after execution to the relay device 3. The relay device 3 executes the remaining part of the plurality of programs that make up the capacity reduction program on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2, and transmits the transmission data after execution to the receiving device 4.

[0092] The receiving device 4 executes a capacity increase program on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3. Thereby, the information processing system S can dynamically cause the user terminal 2, the relay device 3, and the receiving device 4 to execute programs for reducing and increasing the capacity of the transmission data specified based on the transmission conditions and the communication status.

[0093] [Flow of Information Processing Method] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flowchart of an information processing method executed by the management server 1 according to the present embodiment. The acquisition unit 121 acquires condition information indicating a transmission condition for the user terminal 2 used by the user to transmit transmission data, and situation information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the transmission data (S11).

[0094] The specifying unit 122 specifies a capacity reduction program for reducing the capacity of the transmission data and a capacity increase program for increasing the capacity of the transmission data based on the condition information and the situation information acquired by the acquisition unit 121 (S12).

[0095] The specifying unit 122 selects at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 as an execution entity for executing the capacity reduction program (S13). The execution entity of the capacity increase program is the receiving device 4.

[0096] The generation unit 123 generates program execution information for causing the execution entity to execute the capacity reduction program and the capacity increase program (S14). The distribution unit 124 distributes the program execution information of the capacity reduction program generated by the generation unit 123 to the execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3 selected by the specifying unit 122 (S15). Further, the distribution unit 124 distributes the program execution information of the capacity increase program generated by the generation unit 123 to the execution entity, which is the receiving device 4.

[0097] The execution entity, which is at least one of the user terminal 2 and the relay device 3, executes the capacity reduction program on the transmission data to be transmitted based on the program execution information received from the management server 1. The execution entity, which is the receiving device 4, executes the capacity increase program on the transmitted data after reception based on the program execution information received from the management server 1.

[0098] [Effects of the Embodiment] According to the information processing system S according to this embodiment, the management server 1 identifies a program for decreasing and increasing the capacity of transmission data based on transmission conditions and communication status, and distributes information for executing the identified program to a device that transmits or receives transmission data. Thereby, the information processing system S can flexibly change the process of decreasing and increasing the capacity of transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2.

[0099] <First Modification Example> In the above-described embodiment, a receiving device 4 different from the management server 1 executes the capacity increase program, whereas in this modification example, the management server 1 executes the capacity increase program. Hereinafter, differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described.

[0100] In this modification example, the distribution unit 124 does not distribute the program execution information of the capacity increase program generated by the generation unit 123 to the receiving device 4. The control unit 12 of the management server 1 further has an execution unit that executes a program.

[0101] In the management server 1, the execution unit acquires a capacity increase program based on the program execution information generated by the generation unit 123. When the program execution information includes the capacity increase program itself, the execution unit acquires the capacity increase program included in the program execution information. When the program execution information includes an execution instruction for the capacity increase program, the execution unit acquires the capacity increase program indicated by the execution instruction from among a plurality of capacity increase programs stored in advance in the storage unit 11.

[0102] When the program execution information includes a generation instruction for the capacity increase program, the execution unit generates the capacity increase program indicated by the generation instruction. For example, the execution unit uses a known program generation process (such as generation AI) to generate a capacity increase program that executes the process specified by the generation instruction (for example, a specific reversible compression or irreversible compression expansion process).

[0103] The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 transmits the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program to the management server 1. In the management server 1, the acquisition unit 121 receives the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3. The execution unit executes the capacity increase program on the transmission data received from the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3. The distribution unit 124 transmits the transmission data whose capacity has been increased by the capacity increase program to the receiving device 4. The receiving device 4 receives the transmission data transmitted by the management server 1 and stores the received transmission data in the storage unit.

[0104] According to the information processing system S according to this modification example, the management server 1 executes the capacity increase program specified based on the transmission conditions and the communication status, and transmits the transmission data after the capacity increase program is executed to the receiving device 4, so that the load of the process executed by the receiving device 4 can be reduced.

[0105] <Second Modification Example> In the above-described embodiment, the management server 1 specifies the capacity reduction program. However, in this modification example, the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 executes the capacity reduction program. Hereinafter, the differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described.

[0106] The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 acquires condition information and status information in the same manner as the acquisition unit 121. The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 specifies a capacity reduction program for reducing the capacity of the transmission data based on the acquired condition information and status information in the same manner as the specifying unit 122. Since the capacity increase program is specified by the management server 1 as will be described later, it is not specified by the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3.

[0107] The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 acquires, for example, the association information prestored in the storage unit of the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3. The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 selects, from among the plurality of capacity reduction programs prestored in the storage unit, the capacity reduction program associated with the transmission conditions indicated by the condition information and the communication status indicated by the status information in the association information.

[0108] The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 executes a specified capacity reduction program on the transmission data to be transmitted. The user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 transmits to the management server 1 program specification information indicating the capacity reduction program specified based on the transmission conditions and the communication status, and the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program. The program specification information is, for example, information indicating the process (for example, a compression process of a specific reversible compression or irreversible compression) executed by the capacity reduction program.

[0109] In the management server 1, the acquisition unit 121 acquires the program specification information transmitted by the user terminal 2 or the relay device 3 and the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program.

[0110] The specifying unit 122 specifies a capacity increase program for increasing the capacity of the transmission data whose capacity has been reduced by the capacity reduction program indicated by the program specification information acquired by the acquisition unit 121. The specifying unit 122 selects, for example, any one of the plurality of capacity increase programs stored in advance in the storage unit 11 that executes a process (for example, a decompression process of reversible compression or irreversible compression) corresponding to the capacity reduction program indicated by the program specification information.

[0111] When the capacity increase program that executes the process corresponding to the capacity reduction program indicated by the program specification information is not stored in advance in the storage unit 11, the generation unit 123 generates the capacity increase program. The generation unit 123 generates, for example, a capacity increase program that executes a process (for example, a decompression process of a specific reversible compression or irreversible compression) corresponding to the capacity reduction program indicated by the program specification information using a known program generation process (such as generation AI).

[0112] The control unit 12 of the management server 1 further has an execution unit that executes a program. The execution unit executes the capacity increase program specified by the specifying unit 122 or generated by the generation unit 123 on the transmission data acquired by the acquisition unit 121.

[0113] The distribution unit 124 transmits the transmission data whose capacity has been increased by the capacity increase program to the receiving device 4. The receiving device 4 receives the transmission data transmitted by the management server 1 and stores the received transmission data in the storage unit.

[0114] According to the information processing system S according to this modification example, the management server 1 identifies the capacity increase program corresponding to the capacity decrease program executed by the user terminal 2 for the transmission data, and increases the capacity of the transmission data transmitted by the user terminal 2 by executing the identified capacity increase program. Thereby, the information processing system S can dynamically identify and execute the capacity increase program corresponding to the capacity decrease program applied by the user terminal 2 to the transmission data.

[0115] Note that the present invention can contribute to Goal 9, "Build the infrastructure for industry and innovation," of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations.

[0116] As described above, the present invention has been described using the embodiments. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by functionally or physically dispersing and integrating it in an arbitrary unit. Also, new embodiments generated by any combination of a plurality of embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments generated by the combination have the effects of the original embodiments combined.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0117] S Information processing system 1 Management server 11 Storage unit 12 Control unit 121 Acquisition unit 122 Identification unit 123 Generation unit 124 Distribution unit 2 User terminal 3 Relay device 4 Receiver

Claims

1. An acquisition unit that acquires information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the data; A selection unit that selects a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status from a plurality of programs that reduce the capacity of the data; A transmission unit that transmits the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program selected by the selection unit and program identification information indicating the program selected by the selection unit to a device that increases the capacity of the data whose capacity has been reduced by the program indicated by the program identification information; An information processing apparatus having the above.

2. Further comprising an execution unit that reduces the capacity of the data by executing the program selected by the selection unit on the data, The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The acquisition unit acquires association information associating each of the plurality of programs with each combination of each of the plurality of transmission conditions and each of the plurality of communication statuses, The selection unit selects the program associated with the transmission condition and the communication status in the association information, The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The transmission condition is a condition that specifies at least one of the type of the data, the use of the data, the capacity of the data, the location where the data is transmitted, the number of user terminals that transmit the data, the communication speed for transmitting the data, and the communication quality when transmitting the data. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The communication status includes at least one of the congestion level of the communication resources and the communication speed of the communication resources. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

6. Executed by a processor, A step of acquiring information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for transmitting the data; A step of selecting a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status from a plurality of programs that reduce the capacity of the data; A step of transmitting, to a device that increases the capacity of the data whose capacity has been decreased by the program selected in the selecting step, the data and program specific information indicating the program selected in the selecting step; An information processing method comprising the above.

7. A processor is caused to: acquire information indicating a transmission condition for a user terminal used by a user to transmit data and information indicating a communication status of communication resources used for the transmission of the data; select, from a plurality of programs that decrease the capacity of the data, a program corresponding to the transmission condition and the communication status; transmit, to a device that increases the capacity of the data whose capacity has been decreased by the program selected in the selecting step, the data and program specific information indicating the program selected in the selecting step; A program for causing the above to be executed.

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