Content distribution system, content distribution method, and computer program

Abstract

This aims to improve user convenience when storing content on storage over a communication network, such as in cloud recording. [Solution] The cloud server comprises a receiving unit that receives content from multiple users, a storage unit that stores the received content for each user, and a distribution unit that distributes content in response to user requests. The distribution unit, in response to a recovery request from a first user, distributes to the first user a second piece of content from a second user that has the same content identifier as the first piece of content that is the subject of the recovery request.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a content delivery system, a content delivery method, and a computer program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, cloud recording that records content such as broadcast programs received by a set-top box (STB) to storage on a communication network has been considered (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Non-Patent Documents

[0003]

Non-Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in cloud recording, since the content received by the STB is transferred to storage via a communication network, there is a possibility that cloud recording may fail when communication via the communication network is unstable. For this reason, a situation may occur where the user cannot record when trying to record content, or cannot record even though the content can be viewed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the convenience of the user when storing content in storage on a communication network such as cloud recording.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a system that allows multiple users to Content identifier The system comprises a receiving unit that receives content, a storage unit that stores the received content for each user, and a distribution unit that delivers content in response to user requests, wherein the distribution unit Received along with the content identifier of the first content subject to the recovery request. In response to the recovery request from the first user, Among the contents stored in the aforementioned storage unit as belonging to the second user This is a content distribution system that delivers a second piece of content, which has the same content identifier as the first piece of content, to the first user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which the distribution unit verifies the legitimacy of a recovery request from a first user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system further comprising a recording unit for recording logs related to user content, wherein the distribution unit verifies the legitimacy of a recovery request from a first user based on the logs of a first user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which the distribution unit requests a second user to restore data in response to a first user's request for restoration. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which, upon receiving acceptance of a recovery request from a second user, the distribution unit requests the first user to send a public key. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which, upon receiving a first public key from a first user, the distribution unit transmits the first public key to a second user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which, when the distribution unit receives the second content of a second user encrypted with a first public key from the second user, it distributes the encrypted second content of the second user to the first user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system further comprising a reward granting unit that grants a reward to a second user who has provided a second content to a first user. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system having recovery request conditions for issuing a recovery request in the above-mentioned content distribution system. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system that, when it receives acceptance of recovery requests from multiple second users, has content provision conditions that specify from which second user the second content will be provided. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system further comprising a recording unit for recording logs related to user content, wherein the distribution unit selects a portion of a second user's second content to be distributed to the first user based on the first user's log. One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution system in which the content received from the user is the content received by the user's set-top box.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is a content distribution method performed by a content distribution system, wherein from multiple users Content identifier A receiving step to receive content, and the received content for each user. In the storage section The distribution step includes a storage step for storing content and a distribution step for delivering content in response to a user request, wherein the distribution step includes: Received along with the content identifier of the first content subject to the recovery request. In response to the recovery request from the first user, Among the contents stored in the aforementioned storage unit as belonging to the second user This is a content distribution method that delivers a second piece of content, which has the same content identifier as the first piece of content, to the first user.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention provides a computer that can receive from multiple users Content identifier A receiving step to receive content, and the received content for each user. In the storage sectionThe system performs a storage step to store the data and a distribution step to deliver the content in response to a user request, and the distribution step is as follows: Received along with the content identifier of the first content subject to the recovery request. In response to the recovery request from the first user, Among the contents stored in the aforementioned storage unit as belonging to the second user This is a computer program that delivers a second piece of content, having the same content identifier as the first piece of content, to the first user. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve user convenience when storing content on storage on a communication network, such as in cloud recording. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example configuration of a cloud server (content distribution system) according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the procedure for a content distribution method according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an example configuration of a content distribution system according to one embodiment. In the example in Figure 1, the cloud server 10 corresponds to the content distribution system. The cloud server 10 is connected to a communication network NW such as the Internet. Multiple STBs 30 (STB#1, STB#2, ...) communicate with the cloud server 10 via the communication network NW. The cloud server 10 provides a cloud recording service that records content such as broadcast programs received by the STBs 30 to its own storage.

[0012] [Cloud Server] The cloud server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a receiving unit 12, a distribution unit 13, a privilege granting unit 14, a storage unit 100, and a recording unit 110.

[0013] Each function of the cloud server 10 is realized by the cloud server 10 having computer hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory, and the CPU executing a computer program stored in the memory. Note that the cloud server 10 may be configured using a general-purpose computer device, or may be configured as a dedicated hardware device. For example, the cloud server 10 may be configured using a server computer connected to a communication network such as the Internet. Also, each function of the cloud server 10 may be realized by cloud computing. Further, the cloud server 10 may be realized by a single computer, or the functions of the cloud server 10 may be distributed and realized by a plurality of computers. Also, the cloud server 10 may be configured to open a website using, for example, a WWW system or the like.

[0014] The communication unit 11 communicates with devices outside the cloud server 10. Hereinafter, communication with devices outside the cloud server 10 is performed via the communication unit 11.

[0015] The receiving unit 12 receives content from a plurality of users. In the present embodiment, the receiving unit 12 receives content from the user's STB 30. The content has a content identifier (content ID) for identifying the content.

[0016] The storage unit 100 stores the content received by the receiving unit 12 for each user. In this embodiment, the storage unit 100 is equipped with a storage 101 (storage_STB#1, storage_STB#2, ...) for each STB 30. The storage unit 100 stores the content received from the STB 30 in the storage 101 corresponding to that STB 30. For example, the content received from STB#1 is stored in storage_STB#1.

[0017] The distribution unit 13 distributes content in response to user requests. In response to a recovery request from the first user, the distribution unit 13 distributes to the first user the second content belonging to the second user, which has the same content ID as the first content that is the subject of the recovery request.

[0018] The recording unit 110 records logs related to user content. In this embodiment, the recording unit 110 records viewing logs 111 (viewing log_STB#1, viewing log_STB#2, ...) and cloud recording logs 112 (cloud recording log_STB#1, cloud recording log_STB#2, ...) for each STB 30. For example, the recording unit 110 records viewing log_STB#1 and cloud recording log_STB#1 related to STB#1.

[0019] Viewing Log_STB#1 is a record of the content viewed by the user on STB#1. Viewing Log_STB#1 shows which content (content ID) the user viewed on STB#1, where they started viewing (start time of content viewing), and how far they finished viewing (end time of content viewing).

[0020] The Cloud Recording Log_STB#1 is a record of the cloud recording content that the user recorded on STB#1. The Cloud Recording Log_STB#1 shows which content (content ID), where (start time of cloud recording of the content), and how far (end time of cloud recording of the content) the user recorded on STB#1.

[0021] The reward granting unit 14 grants a reward to the second user who provided the second content to the first user. Examples of rewards include additional storage capacity.

[0022] [STB] The STB30 comprises a tuner 31, an STB communication unit 32, an STB control unit 33, and an STB storage unit 300.

[0023] Each function of the STB30 is realized when the STB30, equipped with computer hardware such as a CPU and memory, executes a computer program stored in memory using the CPU.

[0024] Tuner 31 receives content such as broadcast programs.

[0025] The STB communication unit 32 communicates with devices outside the STB 30. Hereafter, communication between the STB 30 and external devices will be conducted via the STB communication unit 32.

[0026] The STB control unit 33 controls the STB 30. For example, the STB control unit 33 controls real-time viewing of content and cloud recording. For instance, the STB control unit 33 controls the start, end, and scheduling of cloud recording, as well as the viewing of cloud-recorded content, in response to user operations.

[0027] The STB storage unit 300 stores various types of data. For example, the STB storage unit 300 stores the public key 301 and private key 302 pair of the STB 30. For example, the STB storage unit 300 of STB#1 stores the public key_STB#1 and private key_STB#1 pair of STB#1.

[0028] [Content distribution method] The content distribution method according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the procedure for the content distribution method according to this embodiment. Here, we will explain using the example of a case where cloud recording fails on STB#1 (first user) and the cloud-recorded content from STB#2 (second user) is provided to STB#1 (first user).

[0029] (Step S1) If the user of STB#1 is unable to view content that was supposed to have been recorded to the cloud, for example, they operate STB#1 to request the recovery of the content to be recovered (the first content). In response, the STB control unit 33 of STB#1 sends a recovery request to the cloud server 10 along with the cloud recording reservation information of the content to be recovered.

[0030] (Step S2) The distribution unit 13 of the cloud server 10 verifies the validity of the recovery request received from STB#1. The validity of the recovery request is verified based on the viewing log_STB#1 and the cloud recording log_STB#1. For example, the distribution unit 13 compares the cloud recording reservation information of the content to be recovered, received along with the recovery request, with the cloud recording log_STB#1 to confirm that the cloud recording of the content to be recovered has been executed. Alternatively, the distribution unit 13 refers to the viewing log_STB#1 to confirm that the content to be recovered has been viewed.

[0031] If the legitimacy of the recovery request is confirmed, the distribution unit 13 refers to the cloud recording logs 112 of other STBs 30 besides STB#1 and searches for an STB 30 that has recorded content with the same content ID as the content to be recovered. As a result, STB#2 is found.

[0032] (Step S3) The distribution unit 13 sends a request to STB#2 to recover the content to be recovered.

[0033] (Step S4) When the user of STB#2 accepts the recovery request for the content to be recovered, they operate STB#2 to accept the recovery request. As a result, the STB control unit 33 of STB#2 sends the acceptance of the recovery request for the content to be recovered to the cloud server 10.

[0034] (Step S5) When the distribution unit 13 of the cloud server 10 receives acceptance of the recovery request for the content to be recovered from STB#2, it sends a request to STB#1 to send the public key (key transmission request).

[0035] (Step S6) The STB control unit 33 of STB#1 sends the public key_STB#1 to the cloud server 10 in response to a key transmission request from the cloud server 10 (key transmission).

[0036] (Step S7) When the distribution unit 13 receives the public key_STB#1 from STB#1, it sends the public key_STB#1 to STB#2 (key transmission). STB#2 holds the public key_STB#1 received from the cloud server 10.

[0037] (Step S8) The STB control unit 33 of STB#2 downloads the recovery target content (second content) recorded by STB#2 to the cloud from the cloud server 10. The recovery target content recorded by STB#2 to the cloud is encrypted with STB#2's public key_STB#2.

[0038] (Step S9) The STB control unit 33 of STB#2 decrypts the recovery target content, which is encrypted with the public key_STB#2, using the private key_STB#2. Then, the distribution unit 13 encrypts the decrypted recovery target content with the public key_STB#1 of STB#1.

[0039] (Step S10) The STB control unit 33 of STB#2 uploads the recovery target content encrypted with public key_STB#1 to the cloud server 10. The distribution unit 13 of the cloud server 10 stores the recovery target content (encrypted with public key_STB#1) uploaded from STB#2 into storage_STB#1 of STB#1.

[0040] (Step S11) The STB control unit 33 of STB#1 downloads the recovery target content (encrypted with public key_STB#1) stored in its own STB#1 storage_STB#1 in order to view it.

[0041] (Step S12) The STB control unit 33 of STB#1 decrypts the content to be recovered, which is encrypted with the public key_STB#1, using the private key_STB#1. Then, the STB control unit 33 plays the recovered content as a result of the decryption. As a result, the user of STB#1 can view the same content (second content) provided by STB#2 instead of the first content that failed to be recorded to the cloud on STB#1.

[0042] Furthermore, the cloud server 10 may have recovery request conditions for issuing recovery requests. For example, if STB#2 does not respond to a recovery request sent to STB#2, it may send a recovery request for the content to be recovered to another STB30 that has already recorded the content to the cloud. Alternatively, it may send a recovery request for the content to be recovered to multiple STB30s at once.

[0043] Furthermore, when the cloud server 10 receives recovery request acceptances from multiple STBs 30, it may have content provision conditions that determine which STB 30 will provide the content to be recovered. For example, it may receive the content to be recovered from the STB 30 with the best cloud recording quality.

[0044] Furthermore, the distribution unit 13 may select which parts of the recovery target content recorded in the cloud on STB#2 to distribute to STB#1 based on the viewing log_STB#1 and the cloud recording log_STB#1 of STB#1. For example, if the log of STB#1 shows that all of the recovery target content has been viewed or recorded in the cloud, the distribution unit 13 will distribute all of the recovery target content recorded in the cloud on STB#2 to STB#1. On the other hand, if the log of STB#1 shows that only a portion of the recovery target content has been viewed or recorded in the cloud, the distribution unit 13 will distribute only that portion of the recovery target content recorded in the cloud on STB#2 to STB#1.

[0045] According to this embodiment, even if the first user fails to record the desired content (first content) to the cloud, another user will provide the first user with second content having the same content ID as the first content, so the first user can view the desired content using the second content. Thus, this embodiment provides the effect of improving user convenience when storing content on storage on a communication network, such as in cloud recording.

[0046] Furthermore, this will enable improvements in overall service quality, such as in content distribution systems, and will contribute to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): "Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0047] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design modifications and the like are also included within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0048] For example, a computer program to implement the functions of each of the above-mentioned devices may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on this recording medium may be loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" here may include hardware such as an operating system and peripheral devices. Furthermore, if a WWW system is used, the "computer system" also includes the homepage provisioning environment (or display environment). "Computer-readable recording medium" refers to a storage device such as a flexible disk, magneto-optical disk, ROM, flash memory, other writable non-volatile memory, a portable medium such as a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or a hard disk built into a computer system.

[0049] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" also includes volatile memory (such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)) within computer systems that act as servers or clients when programs are transmitted via networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, which retain programs for a certain period of time. Furthermore, the above program may be transmitted from a computer system that stores the program in a memory device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by transmission waves within the transmission medium. Here, the "transmission medium" used to transmit the program refers to a medium that has the function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) like the Internet or a communication line (communication line) like a telephone line. Furthermore, the above program may be intended to implement some of the functions described above. It may also be a so-called differential file (differential program) that can implement the aforementioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10...Cloud server (content distribution system), 11...Communication unit, 12...Receiving unit, 13...Distribution unit, 14...Benefit granting unit, 100...Storage unit, 110...Recording unit, 30...STB, 31...Tuner, 32...STB communication unit, 33...STB control unit, 300...STB memory unit

Claims

1. A receiving unit that receives content having a content identifier from multiple users, A storage unit that stores received content for each user, It includes a distribution unit that delivers content in response to user requests, The distribution unit, in response to a recovery request from a first user received along with the content identifier of the first content that is the subject of the recovery request, distributes to the first user a second content that has the same content identifier as the first content, from among the content stored in the storage unit as belonging to the second user. Content distribution system.

2. The distribution unit verifies the validity of the recovery request from the first user. The content distribution system according to claim 1.

3. It further includes a recording unit that records logs about user content, The distribution unit verifies the validity of the recovery request from the first user based on the first user's log. The content distribution system according to claim 2.

4. The distribution unit, in response to a recovery request from the first user, makes a recovery request to the second user. The content distribution system according to claim 1.

5. When the distribution unit receives acceptance of a recovery request from the second user, it requests the first user to send the public key. The content distribution system according to claim 4.

6. The distribution unit, upon receiving the first public key from the first user, transmits the first public key to the second user. The content distribution system according to claim 4.

7. When the distribution unit receives the second user's second content, encrypted with the first public key, from the second user, it distributes the encrypted second user's second content to the first user. The content distribution system according to claim 6.

8. It further includes a rewards granting section that grants a reward to a second user who provides a second piece of content to a first user. The content distribution system according to claim 1.

9. Those who have the conditions for requesting recovery, The content distribution system according to claim 4.

10. When receiving recovery requests from multiple second users, the system has content provision conditions specifying which second user will provide the second content. The content distribution system according to claim 4.

11. It further includes a recording unit that records logs about user content, The distribution unit selects, based on the log of the first user, the portion of the second user's second content to be distributed to the first user. The content distribution system according to claim 1.

12. The content received from the user is the content received on the user's set-top box. The content distribution system according to claim 1.

13. A content delivery method performed by a content delivery system, A receiving step in which content having a content identifier is received from multiple users, A storage step in which the received content is stored in a storage unit for each user, This includes a delivery step that delivers content in response to user requests, The distribution step, in response to a recovery request from a first user received along with the content identifier of the first content that is the subject of the recovery request, distributes to the first user a second piece of content stored in the storage unit as belonging to the second user that has the same content identifier as the first piece of content. Content distribution methods.

14. On the computer, A receiving step in which content having a content identifier is received from multiple users, A storage step in which the received content is stored in a storage unit for each user, A delivery step is performed to deliver content in response to a user request, The distribution step, in response to a recovery request from a first user received along with the content identifier of the first content that is the subject of the recovery request, distributes to the first user a second piece of content stored in the storage unit as belonging to the second user that has the same content identifier as the first piece of content. Computer program.

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