Content providing server, information processing device and method, and computer program

• US 7,523,214 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hamada, Masaaki, Igarashi, Tatsuya, Kikkawa, Norifumi, Kobori, Yoichi, Mitsubori, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee; John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hussain; Imad
• Application Number:
  US10/552,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20060242664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 709/231, 709/1, 709/2, 709/3, 709/230, 709/249, 709/250, 709/217, 709/219, 709/227, 709/229, 725/37, 725/74, 725/82, 725/91, 725/143, 707/10
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/611 for multicast or broadcast systems for broadcast or conference H04L12/18; arrangements for broadcast or distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/00; arrangements for broadcast applications with a direct linkage to broadcast information or to broadcast space-time H04H60/00; selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS], H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4627 Rights management associated to the content security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8586 by using a URL processing chained hypermedia data for information retrieval G06F16/94; information retrieval from the Internet by using URLs G06F16/955; URL in broadcast information H04H20/93; Web-based protocols H04L67/02

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are proposed which enable an improved control processing for live streaming distribution of tuner received content from a server to a client. By setting a URL to a channel list as a set of channels, and transmitting a content acquisition request from the client to the server, wherein the channel list URL is designated, to a server, the client can collectively obtain rights to control all content on the channels listed in the channel list. By continuously using an HTTP connection set on the basis of a channel list, the client can switch channels.

Claims

1. A content providing server that executes a content transmission process to a client connected via a local area network, comprising:

a tuner that receives content over channels;

a data transmission/reception section that executes a communication process between the server and the client via the local area network for the content and control information;

a storage section having attribute information corresponding to the content as content information;

a content management section providing the content information to the client; and

a content distribution control section that executes live streaming of the content to the client via the local area network,

wherein the storage section stores a first channel list including the channels, and

wherein the content distribution control section streams the content, corresponding to the channels, the content being simultaneously streamed over a single connection as a single unit of controlled content, the single unit of streamed content being represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and being streamed on the basis of a control request corresponding to a second channel list received from the client.

2. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

the storage section is configured to store the URLs as attribute information corresponding to the content; and

the content distribution control section is configured to stream the content on the basis of the single URL, according to the control request from the client.

3. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content between the server and the client is an HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

the content distribution control section streams the content via the HTTP connection before and after channel switching, wherein the channel switching comprises switching between the channels described in the second channel list.

4. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content information contains protocol information comprising a function ID, as tuner identification information, corresponding to the tuner; and

the content distribution control section is configured to set a control instance that executes control over the content, by executing control over the tuner based on the function ID.

5. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content distribution control section sets a control instance to execute control for streaming content; and

a tuner control instance executes control over the content by controlling the tuner on the basis of the control request from the client.

6. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content distribution control section is configured to;

set a control instance to execute control for streaming content; and

execute connection management based on a connection management table comprising an instance ID as an identifier of the control instance, a connection ID as a connection identifier between the server and the client, and protocol information corresponding to the content.

7. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content distribution control section is configured to;

set a control instance for streaming content, wherein the control instance is configured to have an instance ID set as an identifier; and

execute the content distribution control according to a control request from the client, wherein the client request designates the control instance ID.

8. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content distribution control section is configured to;

receive a control request from the client, for streaming the content, wherein the control request is compliant with a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol); and

execute distribution control over the content on the basis of the control request.

9. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the first channel list is configured to be set as a list formed from the channels divided according to categories.

10. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the content distribution control section is configured to;

set the single URL as an identifier for the second channel list;

receive an HTTP-GET method as a content request from another client, the request invoking the URL; and

stream, through an HTTP connection, content based on the single URL invoked by the client.

11. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content between the server and the client is an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) connection, wherein the connection is set on the basis of the single URL;

the content distribution control section is configured to;

determine whether or not streaming to the client can be maintained even when there is switching between the channels described in the second channel list; and

execute breakage of the HTTP connection where it is determined that the streaming cannot be maintained; and

the content providing server is configured to notify breakage information about the HTTP connection, via an event notification connection between the server and the client.

12. The content providing server as described in claim 1, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content between the server and the client is an HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

the content distribution control section is configured to execute switching between the channels described in the second channel list by controlling the tuner at a timing when streaming, of the channels, to the client can be maintained.

13. An information processing apparatus that receives content from a tuner set in a server via a local area network, comprising:

a data transmission/reception section that executes data transmission/reception process with respect to the server that provides content via the local area network, wherein the tuner receives the content over channels and the server stores a first channel list including the channels; and

a control section configured to;

transmit to the server, via the local area network, a content transmission request including a second channel list, the second channel list including a plurality of the channels included in the first channel list; and

transmit a distribution control request for the content, wherein the server designates a control instance that executes control over content streaming,

wherein the data transmission/reception section receives content corresponding to the channels as a single unit of controlled content, the single unit of controlled content being streamed over a single connection as a single unit of streamed content represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

14. The information processing apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein:

the control section is configured to;

transmit a connection preparation request, to the server, to acquire an ID of the control instance, wherein the ID comprises a tuner identification function ID based on protocol information stored in the server; and

transmit the distribution control request for the content, wherein the acquired control instance ID is included in the distribution control request.

15. The information processing apparatus as described in claim 13, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content between the server and the client is an HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

the control section executes content reception before and after switching between the plurality of channels described in the second channel list by using the HTTP connection.

16. A content transmission control method for transmitting content from a tuner, set in a server, to a client via a local area network, wherein the tuner receives the content over channels and the server stores a first channel list including the channels, comprising:

setting a control instance, wherein content corresponding to channels in a second channel list is set as a unit of content to execute control over streaming of the content corresponding to the second channel list;

receiving a control request, designating the control instance, from the client via the local area network;

controlling the tuner by using the control instance designated in the control request; and

streaming the unit of content based on the control request, wherein the unit of content is streamed over a single connection and the streamed unit of content is represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

17. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL; and

setting the control instance further comprises associating the single URL with the control instance.

18. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality or URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content between the server and the client is an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

setting the control instance further comprises content streaming using the HTTP connection, wherein the content streaming is executed before and after switching between the channels described in the second channel list.

19. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the content information contains protocol information corresponding to the content, the protocol information containing a function ID as tuner identification

information; and

setting the control instance further comprises controlling the tuner on the basis of the function ID.

20. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the content transmission control method further comprises executing connection management based on a connection management table comprising an instance ID as an identifier of the control instance, a connection ID as a connection identifier between the server and the client, and protocol information corresponding to the content.

21. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

receiving the control request further comprises receiving a request for streaming content compliant with a SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

22. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, further comprising:

setting the single URL as an identifier for the second channel list;

receiving an HTTP-GET method as a content request from another client, the request invoking the single URL; and

streaming, through an HTTP connection, content based on the URL invoked by the client.

23. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channels list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content is an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

content transmission control method further comprises;

determining whether or not streaming of the content, to the client can be maintained even when there is switching between the channels described in the second channel list;

executing breakage of the HTTP connection where it is determined that the streaming cannot be maintained; and

notifying breakage information about the HTTP connection via an event notification connection between the server and the client.

24. The content transmission control method as described in claim 16, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs(Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content is an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

executing switching between the channels described in the second channel list by controlling the tuner at a timing when streaming of the content, to the client, can be maintained.

25. An information processing method for receiving content from a tuner set in a server via a local area network, wherein the tuner receives the content over channels and the server stores a first channel list including the channels, comprising:

transmitting a content transmission request including a second channel list, the second channel list including a plurality of the channels included in the first channel list;

transmitting via the local area network a distribution control request for the content, wherein the server designates a control instance that executes control over content distribution; and

receiving content corresponding to the channels as a single unit of controlled content, wherein the single unit of controlled content is streamed over a single connection as a single unit of streamed content represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

26. The information processing method as described in claim 25, further comprising:

transmitting a connection preparation request, to the server, to acquire an ID of the control instance, wherein the ID comprises a tuner identification function ID based on protocol information stored in the server; and

transmitting a distribution control request for the content, wherein the acquired control instance ID is included in the distribution control request.

27. The information processing method as described in claim 25, wherein:

the first channel list comprises a plurality of URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) including the single URL;

the second channel list comprises the single URL;

a connection for streaming of the content is an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) connection set on the basis of the single URL; and

executing content reception before and after switching between the plurality of channels described in the second channel list by using the HTTP connection.

28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program which when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

transmitting content from a tuner, set in a server, to a client via a local area network, wherein the tuner receives the content over channels and the server stores a first channel list including the channels;

setting a control instance, wherein content corresponding to channels in a second channel list is set as a unit of content to execute control over streaming of the content corresponding to the second channel list;

receiving a control request, designating the control instance, from the client via the local area network; and

controlling the tuner by using the control instance designated in the control request,

wherein the content is transmitted by streaming the unit of content, over a single connection, based on the control request, the unit of streamed content being represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator).

29. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program which when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving content from a tuner set in a server, via a local area network, wherein the tuner receives the content over channels and the server stores a first channel list including the channels;

transmitting a content transmission request including a second channel list, the second channel list including a plurality of the channels included in the first channel list; and

transmitting, via the local area network, a distribution control request for the content, wherein a control instance that executes control over content streaming is designated in the server,

wherein the content is received when the tuner streams content corresponding to the channels as a single unit of content, the single unit of streamed content being represented by a single URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and being streamed over a single connection.