Data Distribution System

• US 20110125792A1
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fukuda, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,337 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

To readily select a data file to be obtained from among data files to be distributed, or to readily recommend such a data file to a user, while suppressing a load imposed on a data distribution system. A data distribution system comprises a distribution device for holding data files which are distribution objects, and user terminals. Each of the user terminals obtains each of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the data files to be distributed, obtains a list of data files having been obtained by another user terminal when obtaining a file piece from the other user terminal, and assembles the obtained file pieces to obtain the object file, in which information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file to be newly obtained.

Claims

1. A data distribution system, comprising:

one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects; and

a plurality of user terminals,

wherein

each of the user terminals comprises

file piece obtaining means for obtaining each of a plurality of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the plurality of data files; and

file obtaining means for assembling the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the object file,

the file piece obtaining means, when obtaining a file piece from another user terminal, obtains a list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal, together with the file piece, and

information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

2. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein each of the user terminals automatically selects a data file which is a new target to obtain from among the data files included in the obtained list.

3. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

the list of data files which have been obtained includes relevant information concerning how a user terminal which has obtained respective data files included in the list has obtained or uses the data files, and

each of the user terminals selects a data file which is a new target to obtain from among the data files included in the obtained list, using the relevant information included in the obtained list.

4. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

the file piece obtaining means obtains, from each of a plurality of other user terminals, a list of data files which have been obtained by the user terminal, together with a file piece, and

information of the data files included in each of the plurality of lists obtained respectively from the plurality of other user terminals is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

5. The distribution system according to claim 4, wherein each of the user terminals selects, as a new target to obtain, a data file included in more than a predetermined number of lists, or lists corresponding to more than a predetermined percentage of the plurality of lists.

6. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

the file piece obtaining means transfers the list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal to still another user terminal which is different from the other user terminal when obtaining a file piece from the still other user terminal, the list being obtained from the other user terminal, and

information of the data files included in each of the plurality of lists respectively obtained from the other user terminals is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

7. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the file piece obtaining means, when distributing a file piece held by a user terminal itself including the file piece obtaining means to still another user terminal in response to a request from the still another user terminal, obtains a list of data files which has been obtained by the still other user terminal.

8. The distribution system according to claim 7, wherein

the file piece obtaining means transfers the list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal to the still other user terminal when distributing a file piece to the still other user terminal, the list being obtained from the other user terminal, and

information of the data file included in each of the plurality of lists respectively obtained from the other user terminals is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

9. The distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the file piece obtaining means transfers the list of data files which have been obtained to still another user terminal a number of times equal to or fewer than a predetermined transfer number of times, the list being obtained from the other user terminal.

10. The distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the file piece obtaining means transfers the list of data files which have been obtained to still another user terminal a number of times equal to or fewer than a predetermined transfer number of times, the list being obtained from the other user terminal.

11. The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

obtaining of at least one predetermined restricted piece among the plurality of file pieces from other user terminals is restricted, and

the distribution device restricts distribution of the restricted piece to each of the user terminals, based on a predetermined condition.

12. The distribution system according to claim 11, wherein, as the predetermined condition, the distribution device restricts distribution of the restricted piece when a predetermined disclosure date and time has not yet arrived.

13. The distribution system according to claim 11, further comprising

a file information management device for sending file information about each of the data files in response to a request from each of the user terminals,

wherein

the file information includes information specifying the restricted piece.

14. The distribution system according to claim 13, wherein

the file information further includes information about the predetermined condition, and

the file piece obtaining means determines whether or not the predetermined condition indicated by the file information is satisfied, and upon determination that the condition is satisfied, sends a request for obtaining the restricted piece to the distribution device.

15. A user terminal connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects and to one or more other user terminals, comprising:

file piece obtaining means for obtaining each of a plurality of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the plurality of data files; and

file obtaining means for assembling the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the object file,

wherein

the file piece obtaining means, when obtaining a file piece from another user terminal, obtains a list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal, together with the file piece, and

information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

16. An information processing method to be carried out using a user terminal connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects, and to one or more other user terminals, the method comprising:

a file piece obtaining step of obtaining each of a plurality of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the plurality of data files; and

a file obtaining step of assembling the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the object file,

wherein

at the file piece obtaining step, a list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal is obtained when obtaining a file piece from another user terminal, together with the file piece, and

information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.

17. A computer readable information storage medium storing a program for causing a user terminal, which is connected to one or more distribution devices for holding a plurality of data files which are distribution objects, and to one or more other user terminals, to function as:

file piece obtaining means for obtaining each of a plurality of file pieces from any of other user terminals or the distribution devices, the plurality of file pieces being obtained by dividing one object file among the plurality of data files; and

file obtaining means for assembling the plurality of obtained file pieces to thereby obtain the object file,

wherein

the file piece obtaining means, when obtaining a file piece from another user terminal, obtains a list of data files which have been obtained by the other user terminal, together with the file piece, and

information of the data files included in the obtained list is used in selecting a data file which is a new target to obtain.