Video distribution server and video distribution program

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of appropriately managing streaming distributed video. [Solution] A video distribution server that streams video includes a storage device that stores video data of the video to be distributed and management information that manages the distribution of video segments obtained by dividing the video data into multiple segments, and a computer that distributes the video segments based on the management information. When the video distribution server detects a signal indicating that a specific video is not to be distributed during live video distribution, it updates the management information based on the signal so that the specific video segment is not included in the management information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for streaming video. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a receiving device that receives and plays video segments that constitute a video. Specifically, the receiving device calculates a predicted value of the throughput of a subsequent video segment based on the throughput when the segment was received. If the buffer volume of the received video segment is greater than a first threshold or the predicted value of the throughput is higher than the bitrate of the video segment, the receiving device selects a receiving path from the distribution server via a standard slice. If the buffer volume is equal to or less than the first threshold and the predicted value of the throughput is equal to or less than the bitrate of the video segment, the receiving device selects a receiving path from the distribution server via a high-speed slice that is faster than the standard slice. The receiving device then requests the video segment based on the determined receiving path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-136708 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Typically, video is streamed from a server. The video streamed from the server is a set of video segments, which are video data divided into multiple segments. These video segments are stored in the server as video content.

[0005] On the other hand, since the video segments corresponding to the video data of a specific video are stored on a server, there may be cases where you do not want to distribute the video segments corresponding to the video data of that specific video to users who are watching the video.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can appropriately manage video that is distributed through streaming. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a video distribution server that streams video. The video distribution server includes a storage device that stores video data of video to be distributed and management information that manages distribution of video segments obtained by dividing the video data into multiple segments, and a computer that distributes the video segments based on the management information. When the computer detects a signal indicating that a specific video is not to be distributed during live video distribution, the computer performs a process based on the signal. , special The management information is updated so that the specified video segment is not included in the management information. The video segments include video segments to be distributed and video segments that have already been distributed.

[0008] A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a video distribution program that causes a computer to perform streaming distribution of video. The video distribution program distributes video segments based on management information that manages video segments obtained by dividing video data for distribution into multiple segments, and, when a signal indicating that a specific video is not to be distributed is detected during live distribution of the video, performs streaming distribution of the video segments based on the signal. , special and updating the management information so that the certain video segment is not included in the management information. The video segments include video segments to be distributed and video segments that have already been distributed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, when a signal indicating that a particular video segment is not to be distributed is detected during live video distribution, the management information is updated based on the signal so that the particular video segment that is not to be distributed is not included in the management information. This makes it possible to prevent the particular video segment from being distributed to users viewing the video. Therefore, it is possible to meet the requests of video distributors who do not wish to distribute particular videos, and to appropriately manage streaming videos. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a video distribution system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a video distribution server according to the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of non-distribution of a specific video during live distribution. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of a notification to a user when a specific video is not being distributed. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of distribution of already distributed video. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a video distribution server according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A video distribution server and a video distribution program according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements common to the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted.

[0012] 1. Overview FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a video distribution system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the video distribution system 1 includes a user terminal 2 and a video distribution server 10. The user terminal 2 is a terminal carried by a user who watches videos. Examples of the user terminal 2 include a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet PC, and a television terminal. The video distribution server 10 streams videos to the user terminal 2. The video distribution server 10 stores video data 20. The video data 20 is video data to be distributed and is acquired (uploaded) from an external device (e.g., an encoder, another server, a camera, etc.).

[0013] The video data 20 stored in the video distribution server 10 includes video segments 21. The video segments 21 are video data obtained by dividing the video data 20 into multiple segments. For example, the video segments 21 are video data corresponding to a time span of several seconds or several tens of seconds. The time span may be a predetermined value.

[0014] During live distribution, video segments 21 to be distributed are sequentially added to the video data 20. That is, the video segments 21 include video segments 21 to be distributed and video segments 21 that have already been distributed. The video segments 21 to be distributed refer to video segments 21 that are stored in the video distribution server 10 and are scheduled to be distributed in the future. The video segments 21 that have already been distributed refer to video segments 21 that are stored in the video distribution server 10 and have already been distributed. The video segments 21 are generated, for example, by an external device.

[0015] The video distribution server 10 further includes management information 30 (hereinafter simply referred to as management information 30) that manages the distribution of the video segments 21. The management information 30 is a file for managing the distribution of each video segment 21. The management information 30 includes information on the time period in which the video was shot. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the management information 30 is managed in order from the video segment 21 that was shot earlier in the time period. The management information 30 is also referred to as a manifest file. The manifest file contains, for example, storage information (e.g., URL) of the video segment 21 for playing the video.

[0016] The video distribution server 10 distributes the video segments 21 based on the management information 30. Specifically, the video distribution server 10 provides the management information 30 to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 plays back the video segments 21 based on the storage information for the video segments 21 included in the management information 30. This achieves streaming distribution of the video.

[0017] Consider a case where, during live video distribution, a signal is detected indicating that the video is a specific video (e.g., a television broadcast advertisement) that should not be distributed. In this case, it is preferable not to distribute the video segment 21 corresponding to the specific video to the user terminal 2. Details of the non-distribution process, which indicates the process of not distributing the specific video, will be described later.

[0018] According to the video distribution server 10 of this embodiment, when a signal indicating that a particular video is not to be distributed is detected during live distribution of video, the management information 30 (manifest file) is updated based on the signal so that the particular video segment 21 that is not to be distributed (also referred to as the particular video segment 21) is not included in the management information 30. This makes it possible to prevent the particular video segment 21 that is not to be distributed (the particular video segment 21) from being distributed to users viewing the video. This makes it possible to meet the requests of video distributors who do not wish to distribute particular videos, and to appropriately manage videos that are streamed.

[0019] In the example shown in Figure 1, if a signal indicating that a specific video is not to be distributed at the timing of the fourth video segment is detected, management information 30 is updated so that the fourth video segment is not to be distributed.

[0020] 2. Specific examples 2-1.Configuration example 2 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of a video distribution server 10 according to an embodiment. The video distribution server 10 includes a computer 50, a storage device 60, and a communication device 70. The computer 50 executes various processes. The storage device 60 stores video data 20 (including video segments 21) and management information 30 that manages the distribution of the video segments 21.

[0021] The information stored in storage device 60 also includes a video distribution program (not shown). The video distribution program is a computer program executed by computer 50. The functions of computer 50 are realized by computer 50 executing the video distribution program.

[0022] The communication device 70 is a device that communicates with an external device and the user terminal 2. The communication device 70 receives video data (video data 20, video segments 21) from the external device. The communication device 70 also streams the video to the user terminal 2.

[0023] 2-2. Examples of specific videos not being distributed FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of non-distribution of specific video during live distribution. For example, when a signal indicating that the video is a specific video that will not be distributed is detected, the management information 30 includes distribution execution information indicating whether or not to execute distribution of the video segment 21, as shown in FIG. 3. When the distribution of the video segment 21 is executed, storage information of the video segment 21 for playing the video segment 21 is set in the distribution execution information. On the other hand, when the distribution of the video segment 21 is not executed, i.e., when the distribution of the video segment 21 is stopped, the distribution execution information is set so as not to include storage information of the video segment 21. In other words, when storage information of the video segment 21 is set in the distribution execution information, the storage information of the video segment 21 is excluded from the distribution execution information. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the video segments 21 corresponding to SEGMENT 12 to SEGMENT 17 are specific video that will not be distributed (i.e., the specific video segment 21). The signal indicating the specific video is, for example, a cue signal (e.g., an SCTE-35 signal).

[0024] According to this embodiment, when the video distribution server 10 (computer 50) detects a signal indicating that a particular video is not to be distributed, the video distribution server 10 (computer 50) updates the management information 30 based on the signal to exclude the particular video segment 21 from the management information 30. Then, when the signal is no longer detected, the video distribution server 10 (computer 50) updates the management information 30 to resume distribution of the video segment 21. Specifically, when the signal is no longer detected, the video distribution server 10 updates the management information 30 to include the video segment 21 in the management information 30. This makes it possible to distribute only the video segments 21, excluding the particular video segment 21, to users viewing the video. This makes it possible to meet the requests of video distributors who do not wish to distribute particular videos, and to appropriately manage videos to be streamed.

[0025] 2-3. Example of notification to users FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of notification to a user when a specific video is not being distributed. While a specific video segment 21 is not being distributed, the video distribution server 10 may distribute advertising video (e.g., content such as an advertisement for internet distribution) to the user (user terminal 2). In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the advertising video is distributed to the user terminal 2. This allows the user to wait while watching the advertising video until video distribution resumes.

[0026] 2-4. Example of catch-up delivery FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of catch-up delivery. If a user misses a video being live-delivered, the user requests playback of the delivered video. A request for playback of the delivered video is made, for example, by moving the playback position (e.g., seek bar) displayed on the screen to a past playback position. When a user requests playback of the delivered video, it is expected that the past playback position will overlap with the timing of a specific video segment 21 whose video will not be delivered. Even in this case, it is preferable not to deliver the specific video segment 21 to the user.

[0027] According to this embodiment, video segments 21 are distributed based on management information 30. When a signal indicating a specific video included in management information 30 is detected, the specific video segment 21 among the video segments 21 is not distributed. This prevents the specific video segment 21 from being distributed even if the video segment 21 has already been distributed and the past playback position overlaps with the timing of the specific video segment 21. This makes it possible to meet the requests of video distributors who do not wish to distribute specific videos, and to appropriately manage videos to be streamed.

[0028] 3. Processing example FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the video distribution server 10 (computer 50) according to the embodiment.

[0029] In step S100, computer 50 starts live video distribution, after which the process proceeds to step S110.

[0030] In step S110, the computer 50 determines whether or not a signal indicating a specific video has been detected. If it is determined that a signal indicating a specific video has been detected (step S110; Yes), the process proceeds to step S120. Otherwise (step S110; No), the process proceeds to step S130.

[0031] In step S120, the computer 50 updates the management information 30 so that the specific video segment 21 is not included in the management information 30. Then, the process returns to step S110.

[0032] In step S130, computer 50 distributes video segment 21. More specifically, when a signal indicating a specific video is no longer detected, computer 50 resumes distribution of video segment 21. Then, the process proceeds to step S140.

[0033] In step S140, the computer 50 updates the management information 30 to store the video segment 21. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S150.

[0034] In step S150, the computer 50 determines whether the live streaming of the video has ended. If it is determined that the live streaming of the video has ended (step S150; Yes), the process ends. Otherwise (step S150; No), the process returns to step S110. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1...Video distribution system, 2...User terminal, 10...Video distribution server, 20...Video data, 21...Video segment, 30...Management information, 50...Computer, 60...Storage device, 70...Communication device

Claims

1. A video distribution server that streams video, a storage device that stores video data of a video to be distributed and management information that manages distribution of video segments obtained by dividing the video data into a plurality of segments; a computer that executes distribution of the video segments based on the management information; Equipped with The computer and when a signal indicating that the video is a specific video that is not to be distributed is detected during the live distribution of the video, updating the management information based on the signal so that the specific video segment is not included in the management information; The video segments include video segments to be distributed and video segments that have already been distributed. A video distribution server characterized by:

2. The video distribution server described in claim 1 also The computer further comprises: and distributing an advertising video to a user who is watching the video while the specific video segment is not being distributed. A video distribution server characterized by:

3. A video distribution program that causes a computer to perform video streaming distribution, Executing distribution of the video segments based on management information for managing video segments obtained by dividing the video data of the video to be distributed; and when a signal indicating that the video is a specific video that will not be distributed is detected during the live distribution of the video, updating the management information based on the signal so that the specific video segment is not included in the management information; The video segments include video segments to be distributed and video segments that have already been distributed. A video distribution program comprising:

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