JP5502567B2 - Broadcast distribution system, broadcast distribution method, and content viewing program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast distribution system, a broadcast distribution method, and a content viewing program for distributing content data from a content server to a user terminal through a communication network constructed by mutually connecting communication lines such as the Internet.

  Conventionally, television broadcasting through radio waves is provided by each broadcasting station. In this television broadcasting, the user is watching the target program with the television receiver, and also viewing the television program while performing other work while the television program is displayed on the television receiver. It was.

  On the other hand, conventionally, there is a system for transmitting broadcast content from a server arranged on a communication network such as the Internet to a user terminal via the Internet (for example, Patent Document 1). In this conventional system, a general-purpose viewing application is started on the user terminal and played on the screen of the user personal computer, or the viewing application is embedded in the web browser and played in the web browser. It is common.

JP 2009-017091 A

  However, the above-mentioned conventional system is not based on the idea of reproducing a television broadcast viewing experience on the Internet, but is a simple distribution system whose main purpose is simply to “distribute” content via the Internet.

  However, Internet broadcasting services are currently expanding, such as so-called simulcasting services that deliver program content broadcasted by each broadcast station via radio waves in synchronization with radio broadcasts via communication networks such as the Internet. . Despite the increasing use of Internet broadcasting, the opportunity to view broadcast content on screens other than so-called television receivers is expanding, but content is simply displayed on the user's desktop. However, it is essentially difficult to provide a user with a TV broadcast viewing experience with a system that only plays back in a player or web browser.

  As a result, a survey result that the average viewing duration time of the user is about a fraction of that of the television broadcast is obtained, and the media value of the broadcast service on the Internet is underestimated.

  One of the causes of this situation is that the personal computer desktop is a place for active information gathering for users, and the method of providing playback players so far has been an obstacle to the situation. . In other words, in the conventional use form of personal computers, the majority of users do not want to occupy a long time only with the broadcast content, and as a result, the use of the broadcast service is stopped and another work is started. This results in “exclusive” behavior.

  For example, unlike the screen of a television receiver, the screen of the information processing terminal as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 allows the user to actively work such as collecting information via the Internet or the like, or creating text using document creation software. When the user is doing other work, operations such as displaying other windows and selecting desktop icons are performed, so if the content playback window is displayed, other work Has become complicated and the work efficiency has been reduced. As a result, when the user performs another work, since the viewing of the content is stopped, there is a problem that the content is not viewed.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and the purpose of the present invention is essentially to “watch while watching” as a viewing experience of a television broadcast by an old television receiver. By replaying on the desktop, the existing “exclusive” user behavior is avoided, and broadcast content and other work are provided in a form that can coexist on the desktop, resulting in viewing duration. To provide a broadcast distribution system, a broadcast distribution method, and a content viewing program that can improve the performance of media and create a media value more than ever on the desktop of a personal computer and obtain the viewing log. is there.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a content broadcast distribution system for distributing content including an image to an information terminal connectable to a communication network, comprising: an application execution unit for executing an application; and a graphic user interface. Within the entire display area, a GUI control unit that generates image information for display, a reception unit that receives content via a communication network, a content synthesis unit that displays and outputs the content received by the reception unit , A GUI monitoring unit for detecting an application display area defined in the graphic user interface .

In the present invention, the application execution unit displays an interface and an execution result related to the activation and execution of the application in an application display area defined in the user interface, and the image of the content is synthesized in the graphic user interface. The mask screen, the application display area, and the background are displayed in a hierarchical manner, the GUI control unit switches the background to a predetermined background color according to the detection result by the GUI monitoring unit , and the content synthesis unit displays the application on the mask screen. In the display area other than the display area, the content image is synthesized with the pixel of the same color as the switched background color.

Another invention is a content broadcast method for distributing content including an image to an information terminal connectable to a communication network,
(1) Image information for displaying a graphic user interface is generated on an information terminal, an application is executed on the information terminal, and an interface and an execution result related to activation and execution of the application are displayed in the graphic user interface. Screen display control steps to be displayed in the application display area defined in
(2) In a graphic user interface, a GUI control step for hierarchically displaying a mask screen on which the image of the content is combined, the application display area, and a background;
(3) a receiving step of receiving content through a communication network at the information terminal;
(4) The background is switched to a predetermined background color, and the application display area in the entire display area is detected, and the same background color as the switched background color is displayed in the display area other than the application display area on the mask screen according to the detection result. A content composition step of composing and displaying a content image on the color pixels.

  According to these inventions, a mask image is hierarchically displayed in front of an application area such as an icon or another application window, and a content image is displayed in a display area other than the application display area on the mask screen. As a result, other application windows and icons can be displayed on the screen as usual, and the playback content can be displayed on the back of the content. it can. As a result, the content can be played back without reducing the work efficiency of other work processes, so that the content can be played back continuously on the display screen of the information processing terminal.

  In other words, by recreating “watching” as an experience of watching TV broadcasts on a conventional television receiver on the desktop of a personal computer, the conventional “exclusive” user behavior can be avoided and broadcasted. Providing content and other work in a form that can coexist on the desktop can result in improved viewing duration and resulting media value on the desktop of a personal computer.

  In the present invention, since the background is switched to a predetermined background color and the content is synthesized with pixels of the same color in the display area where the content is reproduced, the image quality of the content image displayed on the desktop Adjustment processing can be facilitated, and the image can be displayed in the original image quality state.

In the above invention, it is preferable that the GUI monitoring unit periodically detects the coordinates of the application display area in the entire display area. Usually, windows for other applications displayed on the desktop are moved on the screen by a user operation, so that the application display area changes at any time. Since the GUI monitoring unit of the present invention periodically monitors this change and displays the content by changing the area in which the content is reproduced according to the change, the window for another application executed by the user is the content. The image can be prevented from being in a non-display state. As a result, the user can efficiently perform other operations while continuing the content reproduction.

In the above invention, when the GUI control unit detects a predetermined user operation, the content display unit reduces or deletes the application display area so that the content image is displayed in full screen on the front. It is preferable to further include a switching function. In this case, when the user decides to view the content while other work is being performed, the content can be viewed immediately. In the above invention, the content is content data having the same content as the radio broadcast at the broadcasting station, and is distributed in synchronization with the radio broadcast, and the broadcast time of the radio broadcast is distributed in the content data. The timeline is stamped as a timeline that is the elapsed time on the side, and the information terminal detects the timeline as the content data is played back, records the detected timeline as playback history information as the elapsed time on the delivery side, It is preferable that the current time at which is detected is added to the reproduction history information as viewing time data on the information terminal side.

  The above-described apparatus and method according to the present invention can be realized by executing a program written in a predetermined language on a computer. Such a program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program can be easily stored, transported and installed.

  As for the broadcast content distribution system unit, it is desirable to actively consider not only conventional unicast distribution but also a live distribution system to which so-called P2P technology is applied. This improves the point that live broadcast burst traffic, where traffic tends to be concentrated in time, is the most difficult traffic pattern of the Internet, and is represented by “Network Free Ride” that has become apparent recently. It is possible to avoid such negative impacts and to realize efficient distribution of huge content data to the entire Internet infrastructure, and to reduce unnecessary impacts on the entire Internet.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the adverse effects on other work caused by the reproduction of the content broadcast using the Internet line and continuously reproduce the content on the display screen of the information processing terminal. it can. In other words, “watching while watching” as a TV broadcast viewing experience with a conventional television receiver can be essentially reproduced on the desktop of a personal computer, thereby avoiding the “exclusive” user behaviors so far. Broadcast content and other work can be provided in a form that can coexist on the desktop. As a result, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the viewing duration and thereby create a media value more than ever on the desktop of a personal computer, and to acquire the viewing log.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the content broadcast delivery system which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the content broadcast delivery method which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the broadcasting station, content delivery server, and log analysis server which comprise the content broadcast delivery system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the software distribution server which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the information terminal which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the hierarchy of each layer displayed on the graphic user interface which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement at the time of producing | generating the display information of the user interface which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the change of the display information of the user interface which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the content broadcast delivery method which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the audience rating investigation method in the content broadcast delivery system which concerns on embodiment.

(Content broadcast distribution system)
Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a content broadcast distribution system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overview of a content broadcast distribution method according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content broadcast distribution system according to the present embodiment is a system that distributes content including an image from the content server 100 to an information terminal that can be connected to the communication network 5, and in particular, in the present embodiment. In so-called simulcasting, in which content having the same content as radio broadcast is simultaneously streamed through the communication network 5 in synchronism with the radio broadcast, content via the communication network 5 is delivered. That is, in the present embodiment, content data having the same content as the program broadcast on the broadcast station 300 is transmitted from the content server 100 to the information terminals 2a to 2c via the Internet 5 from the broadcast station 300. Deliver in sync.

  In the present embodiment, the Internet 5 is a form of the communication network 5 constructed by connecting communication lines to each other. For example, the Internet 5 is an IP network using the communication protocol TCP / IP, and various communication lines ( This is a distributed IP network constructed by connecting telephone lines, ISDN lines, ADSL lines, optical lines and other public lines, dedicated lines, and wireless communication networks. The Internet 5 includes a LAN such as an intranet (company network) or a home network based on 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX.

  The information terminal 2 (2a to 2c) is a client terminal having an arithmetic processing function by a CPU and a communication processing function by a communication interface, and is realized by a general-purpose computer such as a personal computer or a dedicated device specialized in the function. Mobile computers, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance), and mobile phones. The information terminal 2 also has a browser function for accessing the Internet 5 and transmitting / receiving data. This browser function is application software for browsing Web pages, downloads HTML (HyperText Markup Language) files, image files, music files, etc. from the Internet 5, analyzes the layout, and displays / reproduces them. It is also possible for a user to transmit data to a Web server using a form or to operate application software described in JavaScript (Java is a registered trademark), Flash, Java, or the like. In the present embodiment, the information terminal 2 has a function of receiving distribution of content data from the server 100 side via the Internet or the like, and also has a function of executing an application for viewing the content data.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the information terminals 2a to 2c share content data downloaded by any information terminal with other information terminals by a so-called OLM (OverLay Multicast) peer-to-peer network system, It has a function of mutually delivering content data between distributed information terminals.

  The content server 100 is configured by a plurality of server device groups, and the functions of each server device are realized by a server computer that executes various types of information processing or software having the functions. In particular, the content server 100 according to the present embodiment has a function of distributing content data to the information terminal 2 through an IP network such as the Internet 5 in response to a request from client software such as a web browser, and viewing of the content data. With the ability to investigate rates. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the content server 100 has a plurality of server devices such as a content distribution server 110, a software distribution server 120, and a log analysis server 130 as shown in FIG. It is comprised by.

  Then, the content data broadcast (distributed) from the content server 100 in the present embodiment is provided to the user information terminal 2 according to the procedure shown in FIG. 2, and other applications are displayed on the graphic user interface of the information terminal 2. A mask screen L2 as shown in FIG. 6 is generated in front of the display area, and an image of the content data D1 is synthesized and displayed in a display area other than the application display area of the mask screen L2 so that the user can view it. In addition, viewing information of the viewed content data D1 is collected.

  Specifically, first, content data D1 created or obtained by the Internet broadcaster 11 is submitted (stored) to the content distribution server 110 operated by the Internet distributor 12. Here, the Internet broadcaster 11 is, for example, the broadcast station 300, and the content data D1 has the same content as the broadcast data broadcast by the broadcast station 300. The content data D1 includes, for example, live broadcast content such as baseball broadcasts and news programs, as well as prerecorded broadcast content such as quiz programs and music programs.

  When the viewer accesses the Web page for viewing the program, the content data D1 is distributed from the content distribution server 110. The Internet distributor 12 transmits a content broadcast distribution application D2 from the software distribution server 120 to the information terminal 2 in accordance with a request or permission from the user. In this application D2, a content sibling distribution program is described. By executing this program, the content data D1 is displayed on the graphic user interface of the information terminal 2.

  In the information terminal 2, when the received application D2 is executed and the content data D1 is received, a mask screen is generated in front of another application display area on the graphic user interface of the information terminal 2. Then, by synthesizing the image of the content data D1 in a display area other than the application display area of the mask screen L2, other application windows (P1) and icons (P2) are displayed, and contents such as wallpaper are displayed. The image (P3) of the data D1 is displayed and can be viewed.

  In addition, the Internet distributor 12 embeds the current time in the acquired content data as the distribution-side elapsed time (timeline), and sends the content data D1 in which the timeline is embedded from the content distribution server 110 to the information terminal 2. And deliver. The delivery-side elapsed time here refers to a processing speed equivalent to the playback speed of the content data in streaming format content data that requires a certain length of time for playback, such as video data or audio data, for example. This is the elapsed time when the current time is imprinted in the content and transmitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the content data D1 having the same content as the radio broadcast at the broadcasting station 300 is simulcast, the broadcast elapsed time (broadcast time) of the radio broadcast is stamped in the content data D1 as the delivery side elapsed time. However, it synchronizes with the radio broadcast and delivers the same content at the same time. As a result, the same time as the broadcast time of the broadcast scene in the radio wave broadcast is stamped on the same scene in the content data D1 as a timeline at regular intervals (for example, every 1 second). . This timeline is periodically detected (one second interval) when played back on the client side.

  When the user views the content data D1 in which the timeline is embedded, the information terminal 2 detects the timeline in accordance with the reproduction of the content data D1, and uses the detected timeline as the distribution side elapsed time as reproduction history information. In addition to recording, the current time at which each timeline is detected is added to the reproduction history information as viewing time data on the information terminal 2 side, and the reproduction history information is transmitted to the log analysis server 130 as log information D3.

  The log analysis server 130 adds the reception time T1 as a time stamp to the received log information D3 and accumulates it as log information D4. Then, the log information D4 is analyzed by the log analysis server 130, and is examined as the audience rating of the Internet television based on the distribution side elapsed time, the viewing time data, the reception time, and the like included therein. The log information D3 includes, for example, device type (PC / mobile), viewing status (start / continue / end), content name (such as a program name and a string associated with the program name), and elapsed time at the time of scene distribution. Information such as (delivery server side time), scene viewing time (user side time), delivery method (normal / P2P / others), incidental information (GPS information etc.) is included.

(Content broadcast distribution system configuration)
Next, the internal structure of the content broadcast distribution system will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the broadcast station 300, the content distribution server 110, and the log analysis server 130 that constitute the content broadcast distribution system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 relates to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the software distribution server 120, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal structure of the information terminal 2 according to the present embodiment. The “module” used in the description refers to a functional unit that is configured by hardware such as an apparatus or a device, software having the function, or a combination thereof, and achieves a predetermined operation. .

(1) Content Distribution Server The content distribution server 110 is a server device that distributes content data to the information terminal 2, and in a document system such as WWW (World Wide Web), an HTML (HyperText Markup Language) file or an image file , A server computer that transmits information such as music files or software having the function thereof, storing information such as HTML documents and images, and IP such as the Internet in response to requests from client software such as a Web browser This information is transmitted through the network. Specifically, the content distribution server 110 includes a data transmission unit 114, a data reception unit 111, and a synchronization processing unit 115 as communication modules, and a content data storage unit 116 as a module for storing each data. And a content generation unit 113 and a timeline insertion unit 112 as content editing processing modules.

  The data transmission unit 114 is a module that transmits data through the Internet 5 and transmits each data in packets. In the present embodiment, the data transmission unit 114 has a function of inserting a timeline into content data and distributing it. The data transmission unit 114 includes a streaming distribution unit 114a.

  The streaming distribution unit 114 a is a module for streaming distribution of content data, reads out the content data stored in the content data storage unit 116 according to a predetermined broadcast schedule, and sends it to the Internet 5. In the streaming distribution unit 114a, a timeline indicating the distribution-side elapsed time of content data is inserted by the timeline insertion unit 112 into the content data read from the content data storage unit 116. In particular, in the present embodiment, when the timeline insertion unit 112 simulcasts the content data D1 having the same content as the radio broadcast at the broadcast station 300, the broadcast elapsed time (broadcast time) of the radio broadcast is used as the delivery side elapsed time. Insertion processing is performed on the content data D1 every second, and the same content is simultaneously distributed in synchronization with the radio broadcast. As a result, the same time as the broadcast time of the broadcast scene in the radio wave broadcast is stamped on the same scene in the content data D1 as a timeline at regular intervals (for example, every 1 second). .

  The timeline insertion unit 112 is linked to the synchronization processing unit 115, measures the time difference between the radio broadcast time in the radio broadcast unit 302 and the data distribution by the streaming distribution unit 114a, and the time difference between the radio broadcast and the streaming distribution. Is recorded in association with the timeline. This function records fluctuations in processing time required for broadcast video encoding and data transfer when simultaneously performing radio broadcast and streaming distribution, and reflects the gap between the timeline inserted into the content data and radio broadcast It is possible to conduct audience rating surveys.

  Furthermore, the streaming distribution unit 114a shares content data downloaded by any information terminal with other information terminals by a so-called OLM (OverLay Multicast) peer-to-peer network system, and is distributed information terminals. When distributing content data between each other, a function of transmitting distributed content data is provided.

  On the other hand, the data receiving unit 111 is a module that receives broadcast data broadcast by the radio wave broadcasting unit 302, user operations transmitted from the information terminal 2, and audience rating analysis results transmitted from the log analysis server 130. Specifically, the data receiving unit 111 receives broadcast data broadcast by the radio wave broadcasting unit 302 and transfers it to the content generation unit 113 or receives content data from the data transmission unit 114 in response to a user operation received from the client side. Send it.

  The content generation unit 113 is a module that encodes broadcast data transferred from the radio wave broadcast unit 302 and converts it into a moving image file format. In addition, the content generation unit 113 has a function of generating content data based on the analysis result from the analysis result transmission unit 136 of the log analysis server 130, so that the content generation unit 113 can respond to user preference trends and regional characteristics. Content data can be generated. The content data generated by the content generation unit 113 is sent to the content data storage unit 116 and stored.

  The synchronization processing unit 115 is a module that synchronizes the transmission timing of broadcast data in the radio wave broadcasting unit 302 on the broadcast station 300 side and the content distribution timing by the data transmission unit 114 on the content distribution server 110 side.

  The content data storage unit 116 is a storage device that stores content data submitted from the Internet broadcaster 11, and the content data has the same content as the broadcast data broadcast by the broadcast station 300. . In the simulcast, the broadcast data broadcast by the radio wave broadcast unit 302 is received by the data receiving unit 111, immediately encoded by the content generation unit 113, converted into a moving image data file, and the content data storage unit. 116 is accumulated.

(2) Log Analysis Server As shown in FIG. 3, the log analysis server 130 is a server device that collects and analyzes log information transmitted from the information terminal 2, and logs information as a log data collection module. A receiving unit 131, a log collecting unit 132, a log data storage unit 133, and an absolute time acquisition unit 137 are provided.

  The log information receiving unit 131 is a module that receives log information in which the reproduction history of content data is recorded from the client side, and transmits the received log information to the log collecting unit 132. Here, the log information includes contents of content data viewed by the user, viewing time data, position information, user operation history information, and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, the program detected in accordance with the reproduction of the content data A timeline that is the progress time is included as a time stamp.

  The log collection unit 132 is a module that collects and accumulates log information input from the log information reception unit 131. In this embodiment, the reception time of the log information received by the log information reception unit 131 is recorded in the log information. It is associated with the time stamp. Further, the log collecting unit 132 has a function of associating the time difference, which is measured and recorded by the timeline inserting unit 112, generated during the synchronization processing in the simulcast with the log information reception time, and associated with the collected log information. Yes.

  The log data accumulating unit 133 is a storage device that accumulates, as log data, an operation history operated by the user and a reproduction history in which a time stamp is recorded in association with a user ID that identifies the user.

  In addition, the log analysis server 130 includes a log information analysis unit 134, an analysis result display unit 135, and an analysis result transmission unit 136 as audience rating survey type modules.

  The log information analysis unit 134 extracts the log information stored in the log data storage unit 133, and determines the audience rating from the time stamp recorded in the log information, the reception time information of the log information associated with the time stamp, and the like. Is a module to analyze

  The analysis result display unit 135 is a module that displays the result of the audience rating analysis analyzed by the log information analysis unit 134, and the analysis result transmission unit 136 displays the result of the audience rating survey analyzed by the log information analysis unit 134. It is a module that transmits to the broadcast station 300 or the content distribution server 110.

(3) Broadcasting station
The broadcast station 300 is also a facility for performing various types of radio wave broadcasting such as terrestrial analog broadcasting, terrestrial digital broadcasting, BS digital broadcasting, or CS digital broadcasting. In this embodiment, a plurality of channels and broadcasting are provided. This method supports simultaneous broadcasting that broadcasts the same program at the same time. In this simulcast, the broadcasting station 300 has channels on a plurality of satellite platforms, and can share a program having the same content in a plurality of channels depending on a time zone, and also transfers broadcast data to a content distribution server. Simultaneous broadcasting with streaming distribution via the communication network 5 such as the Internet is also possible.

  More specifically, broadcast data broadcast by the broadcast station 300 is stored in the broadcast data storage unit 301 and transmitted by the radio wave broadcast unit 302 through radio waves. At this time, the broadcast data that has been broadcast is transferred to the data receiving unit 111 of the content distribution server (or the broadcast wave is received on the content distribution server side), converted into a video file format that can be streamed, and the content data storage unit 116.

  The radio broadcast unit 302 can be connected to the synchronization processing unit 115, and the data transmission unit 114 of the content distribution server 110 distributes content data in synchronization with transmission of broadcast data by the radio broadcast unit 302. Be able to. In addition, the broadcasting station 300 has a function of receiving the result of the audience rating survey analyzed by the log information analysis unit 134 of the log analysis server 130.

(4) Software Distribution Server As shown in FIG. 4, the software distribution server 120 is a server device that distributes software for broadcast distribution to the information terminal 2, and a distribution software distribution unit as a software distribution module. 121 and a distribution software storage unit 122.

  The distribution software distribution unit 121 is a module that transmits software data through the Internet 5. The distribution software distribution unit 121 reads the content data stored in the distribution software storage unit 122, packetizes and transmits each data.

  The distribution software storage unit 122 is a storage device that stores software such as applications. In the present embodiment, the content broadcast distribution that the Internet broadcaster 11 has submitted via the distribution software submission unit 126 in the present embodiment. Remembering the application for.

  Further, the software distribution server 120 includes a distribution log collection unit 124 and a distribution log storage unit 125 as modules for recording log information. The distribution log collection unit 124 is a module that acquires information about distribution software transmitted from the distribution software distribution unit 121 and inputs the information to the distribution log storage unit 125. The information regarding the distribution software includes the information terminal 2 of the distribution destination, the type of distribution software, the distribution date and time, and the like. The distribution log storage unit 125 is a memory device or the like that records information about input distribution software.

(5) Information Terminal On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the information terminal 2 includes a data transmission / reception unit 201 and a log transmission unit 209 as communication modules, and an OS as a module for browsing content. A control unit 210, a cache unit 203, and an input / output interface 202 are provided.

  The data receiving unit 201 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data such as content data and distribution software via the Internet 5. In the present embodiment, the received software is recorded in the storage memory 205, and the received content data is input to the cache unit 203. The log transmission unit 209 is a communication interface that transmits various data such as log information.

  The cache unit 203 is a buffer device that temporarily stores content data D1 received and reproduced from the content distribution server 110 or other user information terminals. In the present embodiment, the application execution unit 211 performs content reproduction. Prior to this, the content is downloaded and stored in the cache unit 203 in advance. The data stored in the cache unit 203 can be shared with another user's information terminal 2 by an OLM (Over Lay Multicast) peer-to-peer network system. Is transmitted to the information terminal 2 of the other user.

  The storage memory 205 is a memory device that stores various data used in the information terminal 2, and stores content broadcast distribution applications, other content data D1, and the like.

  The input / output interface 202 is a module that receives an operation signal from an operation device such as a mouse or a keyboard as a user operation and outputs video and audio from a monitor, a speaker, or the like.

  The OS control unit 210 is a module that provides basic functions commonly used in a plurality of application software, such as input / output functions and memory management, and manages the entire computer system, and is usually realized by a CPU or the like. Is done. In the present embodiment, the OS control unit 210 includes an application execution unit 211, a GUI control unit 213, and a user operation acquisition unit 212.

  The user operation acquisition unit 212 is a module for acquiring an operation signal within the user interface and starting and executing an application based on a signal acquired from an operation device such as a mouse or a keyboard. The user operation acquisition unit 212 acquires the operation signal. The received signal is input to the GUI control unit 213 and the application execution unit 211, and user operation history information is transmitted to the log recording unit 207.

  The GUI control unit 213 is a module that prompts a user operation in an interactive manner with the user, generates image information for displaying a graphic user interface, and accepts a click operation, a character input, and the like on the screen. In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6A, the GUI control unit 213 hierarchically displays a mask screen, an application display area, and a background on which a content image is combined in a graphic user interface. . Specifically, the GUI control unit 213 hierarchically displays the background L4 and the application display area L3 so that the application display area L3 is positioned in front of the background L4 in the graphic user interface, and also displays the background L4 and the application display. A mask screen L2 on which a content image is synthesized is generated in front of the region L3. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, by superimposing these, a graphic user interface is displayed on a display screen such as a monitor as shown in FIG. 6C.

  Also, the GUI control unit 213 reduces or deletes the application display area L3 from the content composition unit 221 when detecting a function for switching the background L4 to a predetermined background color or a predetermined user operation. A function of switching so that an image is displayed in full screen on the front is provided.

  The application execution unit 211 is a module that executes an application, and displays an interface and an execution result related to the activation and execution of the application in the application display area L3 defined in the user interface.

  In the application execution unit 211, the viewing application 220 and other applications 230 can be executed, and a module that realizes each application function is formed by executing each application.

  The other application 230 is, for example, an application such as a text creation application or a table creation application, and displays a window that is the application display area L3 in the user interface and displays information about the application in the window. Let

  The viewing application 220 is an application that executes an application related to content broadcast distribution and displays an image of content data on a user interface. As a module constructed by the execution of the viewing application 220, a content composition unit 221, And an image / audio decoding unit 222.

  The image / sound decoding unit 222 is a module that decodes the encoded content data and extracts the image data and the sound data, and inputs the decoded image data to the content synthesis unit 221.

  The content synthesis unit 221 is a module that synthesizes the image data input from the image / sound decoding unit 222 with the mask screen L2, and synthesizes the content image in a display area other than the application display area L3 on the mask screen L2. .

  Specifically, the content composition unit 221 confirms the coordinate positions of the application and icon display areas arranged on the rear surface of the mask screen L2, and determines a display area other than the application and icon display areas on the mask screen L2. . Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the content composition unit 221 synthesizes the received content data D1 image in the display area of the determined mask screen L2, and displays the display image on the mask screen L2. At this time, the content synthesis unit 221 synthesizes the received image of the content data D1 with a pixel having the same color as the predetermined background color switched by the GUI control unit 213.

  In addition, the content composition unit includes a GUI monitoring unit 221a. The GUI monitoring unit 221a is a module that periodically detects the coordinates of the application display area L3 in the entire display area. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the user operates the pointer L11 arranged in the uppermost layer L1 arranged in the uppermost layer, and the application display area L3 is controlled by the OS control unit 210. Application windows, icons move, and windows are displayed / hidden. The GUI monitoring unit 221a detects the coordinates of the application display area L3 such as this window and inputs the information to the content composition unit 221. Then, the content composition unit 221 determines a display region other than the application region and the icon display region on the mask screen L2 according to the detection result by the GUI monitoring unit 221a, selects a pixel having the same color as the background color, and selects the mask. The image of the screen L2 content is synthesized and displayed.

  Furthermore, the information terminal 2 includes a timeline monitoring unit 204, a log transmission unit 209, and a log information storage unit 208 as modules relating to log information recording processing.

  The timeline monitoring unit 204 is a module that detects and monitors a timeline indicating the distribution side elapsed time of the content data inserted into the content data in the content distribution server 110 in accordance with the reproduction of the content data. In the present embodiment, the timeline inserted into the content is information that is inserted into the content data every second and serves as an index of the content data delivery side elapsed time. Then, the timeline monitoring unit 204 detects this timeline every second and transmits it to the log recording unit 207 as a time stamp.

  The log recording unit 207 is a module that records the timeline detected by the timeline monitoring unit 204 in the log information as a time stamp. By recording a time stamp indicating the distribution-side elapsed time of the content data in the log information, the playback history by the media playback unit becomes a history based on the content distribution-side elapsed time. The log transmission unit 209 also has a function of recording the reproduction history in the log information based on the time stamp of the timeline. In the present embodiment, the time information measured by the system clock unit 206 is viewed as the viewing time. As data, the user operation acquired by the user operation acquisition unit 212 is recorded as user information, and the current position acquired by GPS or the like is stored as position information in the log information in association with each time stamp. Here, it is assumed that each content program can be viewed on the information terminal 2, and the content to be viewed can be changed by a user operation. For example, when the user performs an operation of switching channels, the user operation acquisition unit 212 detects the stop of viewing of a program and the start of viewing of another program as information related to the user operation.

  The log information accumulating unit 208 is a memory device that accumulates the recorded log information for a certain period in the log recording unit 207. The log information accumulating unit 208 stores the log information accumulated every certain period for the log transmitting unit 209. To the log analysis server 130.

(Content broadcast delivery method)
By operating the content broadcast distribution system having the above configuration, the content audience rating survey method can be implemented. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content broadcast distribution system according to this embodiment. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the content broadcast distribution application has been received and installed in advance.

First, when the information terminal 2 is activated, the GUI control unit 213 generates image information for displaying a graphic user interface on the information terminal 2 (S101). For example, when a table creation application is executed by a user operation (S102), the GUI control unit 213 displays the background L4 and the application so that the application display area L3 is positioned in front of the background L4 in the graphic user interface. The display area L3 is displayed hierarchically (S103).
Then, the other application 230 executes the table creation application on the information terminal 2, and displays an interface and an execution result related to activation and execution of the table creation application in the application display area L3 defined in the graphic user interface. (S104).

  Next, when the user executes the content broadcast application (S105), the GUI control unit 213 displays a mask screen L2 on which the content image is combined on the front of the application display area L3 on the information terminal 2. (S106) The background L4 is switched to a predetermined background color.

  The viewing application 220 executes the content broadcast distribution application on the information terminal 2 and receives the content data D1 through the communication network 5 (S107). The content data D1 is reconstructed by the cache unit 203, and the reconstructed content data D1 is input to the image / audio decoding unit 222. The image / audio decoding unit 222 decodes the image data and audio data, and transmits the image data to the content synthesis unit 221.

  Then, the content composition unit 221 switches the background L4 to a predetermined background color (S108), and in the display area other than the application display area L3 on the mask screen L2, the content image is applied to pixels having the same color as the background color. Are synthesized and displayed (S109).

  Specifically, the content composition unit 221 confirms the coordinate positions of the application and icon display areas arranged on the rear surface of the mask screen L2, and determines a display area other than the application and icon display areas on the mask screen L2. . Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the content composition unit 221 displays an image of the content data D1 in the display area of the determined mask screen L2 corresponding to the pixel of the same color as the predetermined background color switched by the GUI control unit 213. And a display image is displayed on the mask screen L2.

  Further, during content reproduction, the GUI monitoring unit 221a periodically detects the coordinates of the application display area L3 in the entire display area (S110). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, when the user operates the pointer L11 arranged in the uppermost layer L1 arranged at the uppermost position and the application window or the like in the application display area L3 moves. The GUI monitoring unit 221a detects the coordinates of the application display area L3 and inputs the information to the content composition unit 221. Then, the content composition unit 221 determines a display region other than the application region and icon display region on the mask screen L2 according to the detection result by the GUI monitoring unit 221a, and selects a pixel having the same color as the background color (S108). ) The image of the mask screen L2 content is synthesized and displayed (S109).

(Content audience rating survey method)
By operating the content broadcast distribution system having the above configuration, the content audience rating survey method can be implemented. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content broadcast distribution system according to this embodiment.

  First, an application relating to a content broadcast distribution system is distributed from the software distribution server 120 (S201), and the information terminal 2 installs this application (S401).

  Here, radio broadcasting of broadcast data is started in the broadcasting station 300 (S101). The synchronization processing with the radio broadcast is executed in the synchronization processing unit 115 of the content distribution server 110 (S202). At the time of this synchronization processing, the timeline insertion unit 112 measures the time difference between the radio broadcast time in the radio broadcast unit 302 and the data distribution by the streaming distribution unit 114a in cooperation with the synchronization processing unit 115, and the radio broadcast and streaming. Record the time difference from the delivery in relation to the timeline. In parallel with this synchronization processing, a timeline is inserted into the content data D1 (S203), and the content data D1 with the timeline inserted is generated.

  Next, it is assumed that there is an access from the information terminal 2 to the Web site of the broadcast program (S402). For this access, user authentication may be performed by accepting input of a user ID or password. In this access, the IP address of the information terminal may be acquired, or it may be determined whether the access to the content is a drill-down from the top page or via a URL broadcast on a television broadcast. .

  The content distribution server 110 accepts access (S204), and the content distribution server 110 transmits display information to the information terminal 2 in response to the access. On the information terminal 2 side, reception and reproduction of streaming distribution of the received content data D1 are started (S205 and S403). At this time, the content data D1 is synthesized and displayed on the front face of the application display area L3 on the mask screen L2 on which the content image is synthesized.

  First, when it is confirmed that the viewing of the content data D1 is started (S404), the information terminal 2 transmits the confirmation information about the viewing start to the log analysis server 130 and the timeline monitoring unit 204 performs time The line is detected, and the time stamp at this time is recorded in the log information (S405).

  In addition, while the content data is being reproduced, the timeline monitoring unit 204 periodically detects the timeline in accordance with the reproduction of the content data on the mask screen L2 every second. The time (time stamp) is recorded in the log information as viewing time data (S405, S406), and the log information is transmitted to the log analysis server 130.

  After the log information is recorded, the information terminal 2 determines whether or not viewing of the content data has ended with a signal from the user operation acquisition unit 212 (S407), and when viewing of the content data has not ended ("N" in S407), the timeline monitoring process and the log information recording process are continued until the end of viewing is confirmed (S405, S406).

  On the other hand, when viewing of the content data D1 is completed in the information terminal 2 (“Y” in S407), the information terminal 2 ends the timeline detection operation, and the information related to the viewing termination operation is detected immediately before the termination. The log information including the viewing end time stamp is recorded in association with the time stamp. The log transmission unit 209 transmits log information including the viewing end time stamp accumulated in the log information accumulation unit 208 to the log information reception unit 131 (S408).

  On the log analysis server 130 side, when the confirmation of the start of viewing the content data D1 is received from the information terminal 2 side (S302), a folder related to the user is created in the user data storage unit 133, and log information from the information terminal 2 Accept. The log information receiving unit 123 receives the log information every second (S303), and the log collecting unit 132 associates the reception time of the log information with the time stamp recorded in the log information (S304). The log information is stored in the user data storage unit 133 (S305).

  The log analysis server 130 confirms whether or not the log information including the viewing end time stamp has been received (S306). When the log information including the viewing end time stamp is not received ("N" in S306), Information is received, and the same processing is performed on the received log information (S303 to S305). On the other hand, when log information including a viewing end time stamp is received (“Y” in S306), reception of log information is stopped.

  The log information receiving unit 131 receives log information as data being viewed from the start of viewing to the end of viewing, and stores all log information in association with the log data storage unit 133. In the log analysis server 130, the log information D3 is extracted from the log data storage unit 133, and the log information is analyzed by the log information analysis unit 134 (S307). In the present embodiment, in the simulcast, the log information analysis unit 134 causes a processing delay that occurs in the content distribution server 110 with respect to the difference between the broadcast time of the broadcast data and the viewing time of the content data streamed by simulcast. In consideration of this, a more detailed audience rating survey can be conducted.

  That is, at the time of distribution by the data transmission unit 114, the timeline insertion unit 112 cooperates with the synchronization processing unit 115 to measure the time difference between the time of the radio broadcast in the radio broadcast unit 302 and the data distribution by the streaming distribution unit 114a, The time difference between radio broadcast and streaming distribution is recorded in association with the inserted timeline. As a result, fluctuations in the processing time required for broadcast video encoding and data transfer when radio broadcasting and streaming delivery are performed simultaneously are recorded, and the timeline inserted into the content data is reflected from the radio broadcast. Enables audience rating surveys.

  Thereafter, the analysis data that is the result of the analysis is transmitted to the content distribution server 110 and the broadcast station 300. The broadcast station 300 and the content distribution server 110 receive the analysis data that is the analysis result (S102, S206), and investigate the audience rating.

(Action / Effect)
According to the present embodiment, the mask image L2 is displayed in front of the hierarchically displayed background L4 and the application area, and the content image is displayed in the display area other than the application display area L3 on the mask screen L2. Since the content is reproduced, other application windows and icons can be displayed on the screen in the same manner as when the content data D1 is not reproduced. As a result, the content can be played back without reducing the work efficiency of other work processes, so that the content can be played back continuously on the display screen of the information processing terminal.

  In other words, “watching while watching” as a TV broadcast viewing experience with a conventional television receiver can be essentially reproduced on the desktop of a personal computer, thereby avoiding the “exclusive” user behaviors so far. Broadcast content and other work can be provided in a form that can coexist on the desktop. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the viewing duration and to thereby create a media value more than ever on the desktop of the personal computer and to acquire the viewing log.

  Further, according to this embodiment, the background L4 is switched to a predetermined background color, and the content is synthesized with the pixels of the same color in the display area where the content data D1 is reproduced. The image quality adjustment processing of the content image displayed above can be facilitated, and the original image quality state can be displayed.

  In the present embodiment, the content composition unit 221 further includes a GUI monitoring unit 221a that periodically detects the coordinates of the application display region L3 in the entire display region, and the background color is determined according to the detection result by the GUI monitoring unit 221a. Since the image of the content data D1 is selected by selecting the same color pixel, it is possible to prevent the window for another application from being hidden by the content image. As a result, the user can efficiently perform other operations while continuing the content reproduction.

  In this embodiment, when the GUI control unit 213 detects a predetermined user operation, the GUI display unit 221 reduces or deletes the application display area L3 with respect to the content composition unit 221, and the content image is displayed in full screen on the front. Therefore, if the user decides to view the content while other work is being performed, the content can be viewed immediately.

  In this embodiment, the broadcast content distribution system uses not only the conventional unicast distribution but also a live distribution system to which so-called P2P technology is applied. To improve the point that burst traffic is the most difficult traffic pattern of the Internet, avoid negative impacts such as the “free-riding network theory” that has become apparent in recent years, and improve the efficiency of the entire Internet infrastructure Massive content data distribution will also be realized, and as a result, unnecessary impact on the entire Internet can be reduced.

D1 ... Content data D2 ... Application D3 ... Log information D4 ... Log information L1 ... Top layer L11 ... Pointer L2 ... Mask screen L3 ... Application display layer L4 ... Background T1 ... Reception time 2 ... Information terminals 2a to 2c ... Information terminal 5 Communication network 11 Internet broadcaster 12 Internet distributor 100 Content server 100
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Content delivery server 111 ... Data receiving part 112 ... Timeline insertion part 113 ... Content generation part 114 ... Data transmission part 114a ... Streaming delivery part 115 ... Synchronization processing part 116 ... Content data storage part 120 ... Software distribution server 121 ... Delivery Software distribution unit 122 ... Distribution software storage unit 123 ... Log information reception unit 124 ... Distribution log collection unit 125 ... Distribution log storage unit 126 ... Distribution software submission unit 130 ... Log analysis server 131 ... Log information reception unit 132 ... Log collection unit 133 ... Log data storage unit 134 ... Log information analysis unit 135 ... Analysis result display unit 136 ... Analysis result transmission unit 137 ... Absolute time acquisition unit 201 ... Data reception unit 202 ... Input / output interface 203 ... Cache unit 204 ... Timeline monitoring unit 205 ... Memories 206: System timing unit 207: Log recording unit 208 ... Log information storage unit 209 ... Log transmission unit 210 ... OS control unit 211 ... Application execution unit 212 ... User operation acquisition unit 213 ... GUI control unit 220 ... Viewing application 221 ... Content Combining unit 221a ... GUI monitoring unit 222 ... Image / speech decoding unit 230 ... Other applications (word processing software, spreadsheet software, etc.)
300 ... Broadcasting station 301 ... Broadcast data storage unit 302 ... Radio wave broadcasting unit

Claims (6)

A content broadcast distribution system for distributing content including images to information terminals connectable to a communication network,
An application execution unit for executing the application;
A GUI control unit that generates image information for displaying a graphic user interface;
A receiving unit for receiving the content through the communication network;
A content synthesis unit for displaying and outputting the content received by the reception unit ;
A GUI monitoring unit for detecting an application display area defined in the graphic user interface in the entire display area ;
The application execution unit, an interface and execution results for activation and execution of the application, is displayed on the application display area,
In the graphic user interface, a mask screen on which an image of the content is combined, the application display area, and a background are displayed hierarchically,
The GUI control unit switches the background to a predetermined background color,
The content composition unit synthesizes the image of the content with the pixel of the same color as the background color that has been switched in a display region other than the application display region on the mask screen in accordance with a detection result by the GUI monitoring unit. Broadcast distribution system characterized by that. The broadcast distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the GUI monitoring unit periodically detects the coordinates of the application display area in the entire display area.   When the GUI control unit detects a predetermined user operation, the GUI control unit has a function of reducing or erasing the application display area and switching the content composition unit so that the image of the content is displayed in full screen on the front. The broadcast delivery system according to claim 2, further comprising:   The content is content data having the same content as a radio broadcast at a broadcasting station and is delivered in synchronization with the radio broadcast.
  In the content data, the broadcast elapsed time of the radio broadcast is stamped as a timeline that is the delivery side elapsed time,
  In the information terminal, the timeline is detected in accordance with the reproduction of the content data, and the detected timeline is recorded as reproduction history information as the distribution side elapsed time, and the current time when the timeline is detected is Added to the playback history information as viewing time data on the information terminal side
The broadcast delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast delivery system is provided. A content broadcast method for distributing content including an image to an information terminal connectable to a communication network,
Image information for displaying a graphic user interface is generated on the information terminal, an application is executed on the information terminal, and an interface and an execution result related to activation and execution of the application are displayed in the graphic user interface. Screen display control steps to be displayed in the application display area defined in
In the graphic user interface, a GUI control step in which a mask screen on which the image of the content is combined, the application display area, and a background are displayed hierarchically;
A receiving step of receiving the content through the communication network in the information terminal;
The background is switched to a predetermined background color, and the application display area in the entire display area is detected, and the background color switched in the display area other than the application display area on the mask screen according to the detection result And a content synthesizing step of synthesizing and displaying the content image with respect to pixels of the same color. A content viewing program for viewing content including images in an information terminal connectable to a communication network, the information terminal including:
Image information for displaying a graphic user interface is generated on the information terminal, an application is executed on the information terminal, and an interface and an execution result related to activation and execution of the application are displayed in the graphic user interface. Screen display control steps to be displayed in the application display area defined in
In the graphic user interface, a GUI control step in which a mask screen on which the image of the content is combined, the application display area, and a background are displayed hierarchically;
A receiving step of receiving the content through the communication network in the information terminal;
The background is switched to a predetermined background color, and the application display area in the entire display area is detected, and the background color switched in the display area other than the application display area on the mask screen according to the detection result A content viewing program that executes a process including a content composition step of compositing and displaying the content image with respect to pixels of the same color.