Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
Information Distribution System
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an information
distribution system, and more particularly, is suitably
applied to a case of distributing information via an
information transmission network such as the Internet.
Background Art
Conventionally, in order to provide home page
information of via the Internet, a home page is created on a
WWW (World Wide Web) server in the Internet.
As an information distribution server for hypertext
multimedia data, the world wide web (WWW) server stores
server software called HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
and hypertext information in a description lancJuage called
HTML (HyperText Markup Language), so as to establish a
linkage to information in its own database or another
database with information address data called LJRL (Unifome
Resource Locator) included in link information called an
anchor.
In a conventional world wide web (WWW) server, various
kinds of information can be taken from the world wide web
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(WWW) server or another world wide web (WWW) server via the
Internet into an Internet user terminal based on information
address data (URL data) which is included in a home page as
link information. However, there is an inconvenience
problem in that the WWW server is not arranged to allow many
Internet user terminals to simultaneously (at the same time)
obtain mass home page information or information of which
the contents change with time, such as motion picture.
The present invention has been made considering the
above point and is proposing an information di~;tribution
system in that even mass information or information which
changes with time can be simultaneously distributed to many
user terminals.
Description of the Invention
To obviate such problems, the present invention
provides an information distribution system 1 for
distributing program information data INF stored in a
database 2A of a program distribution server 2 to many user
terminals 6A, 6B ... via an information transmission network
under the control of a program control server 3. The
program information data INF stored in the database is
composed of a plurality of unit program data DM-N obtained
by dividing program information of each channel_ CH1 - CH4 on
a first split time basis, and each of unit program data DM-N
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is composed of a series of frame-contents-of-program data
Dmnp obtained by subdividing program information data INF
for each first split time on a second split time basis, and
the program control server 3 distributes channel table data
CHDAT for specifying unit program data DM-N, ar~d-timetable
data TMDAT for specifying frame-contents-of-program data
Dmnp as a part of the channel table data CHDAT, to the user
terminals 6A, 6B ..., and when specification information
specifying one data in the channel table data C:HDAT is
entered in one or plural user terminals 6A, 6B ...,
timetable data TMDAT corresponding to the channel table data
CHDAT specified through input is given from they user
terminals to the program distribution server 2, so that the
corresponding frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp is
distributed from the program distribution server 2 to the
user terminals 6A, 6B .. in that the specification
information has been entered, via the information
transmission network 5.
Further, in an information distribution system 1X for
distributing program specification information data INF
stored in a database 2XA of a main program distribution
server 2X to plural additional distribution servers 2A,
2B ... 2E via an information transmission network 5 under
the control of a program control server 3 and then
distributing the above distributed program information data
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INF from the plural additional distribution servers 2a,
2B ... 2E to corresponding one or plural user terminals (6AA,
6AB, 6AC), (68A, 6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC), the program
information data INF stored in the database XA is composed
of a plurality of unit program data DM-N into which program
information of each of one or plural channels is divided on
a first split time basis, and each of unit program data DM-N
is composed of a series of frame-contents-of-program data
obtained by subdividing program information~data INF for the
first split time on a second split time basis, the program
control server distributes the program information data Dmnp
in the main program distribution server 2X to the plural
additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ... 2E, the program
control server distributes channel table data f.HDAT for
specifying unit program data DM-N, and timetable TMDAT for
specifying the frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp as a part
of the channel table data CHDAT, to the user terminals (6AA,
6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 68B, 6BC), (6EA, 6EB, 6EC), and when
specification information specifying one data i_n the channel
table data CHDAT is entered in one or plural user terminals,
the program control server makes the additional. distribution
servers 2A, 2B, 2E to which the user terminals belong,
distribute the frame-contents-of-program data I>mnp of the
unit program data to the user terminals in that. the
specification information has been entered, via the
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information transmission network 5 based on the timetable
data TMDAT included in the channel table data CHDAT
specified through input.
Thereby, an information distribution system capable of
simultaneously distributing program information. having the
same contents to many user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA,
6BB, 6BC), (6EA, 6EB, 6EC) can be constructed.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. 1 is a system view showing an information
distribution system of a first embodiment according to the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of
distribution information INF to be distributed in the
information distribution system of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining unit program
data DM-N and frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp which
compose the distribution information INF of Fig. 2..
Fig. 4 is a table illustrating channel table data CHDAT
for specifying unit program data DM - N of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a table illustrating timetable data TMDAT
included in the channel table data CHDAT of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram explaining a method of
transmitting program information.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a program select
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switch 5W1 displayed on the display of a user terminal.
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a display return
switch SW2.
Fig. 9 'is a schematic diagram showing a reservation
program select switch SW3.
Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram explaining information
to be used to specify frame information.
Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of
commercial picture DPI.
Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing them display
screen of a user terminal to explain a method of storing a
commercial picture.
Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a bookmark list
screen provided on the display screen of a user terminal.
Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram explaining a method of
distributing program information data from program
distribution servers to user terminals.
Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing another
distribution method different from that of Fig. 14.
Fig. 16 is a table illustrating another example of
timetable data.
Fig. 17 is a timing chart explaining a distribution
method of high-resolution motion picture data.
Fig. 18 is a timing chart explaining a dispersed
distribution method.
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Fig. 19 is a block diagram showing an information
distribution system of a second embodiment.
Fig. 20 is tables illustrating timetable data TMDAT to
be used in the information distribution system of Fig. 19.
Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an information
distribution -system of a third embodiment.
Fig. 22 is a block diagram showing an information
distribution system of a fifth embodiment.
Fig. 23 is a block diagram showing the construction of
a user terminal.
Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a flow of data
which is communicated between user terminals 6P., 6B,..., and
a program control server 3 or a program distribution server
2.
Fig. 25 is a flowchart showing a program startup
processing procedure RTO of the CPU 31 of Fig. 23.
Fig. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a control panel
display procedure DIP1 of a display 38 of Fig. 23.
Fig. 27 is a flowchart showing an X-channel button
processing procedure RT1 of the CPU 31.
Fig. 28 is a schematic diagram showing a ~~rogram
display panel DIP2 of the display 38.
Fig. 29 is schematic diagrams explaining divided motion
picture data.
Fig. 30 is schematic diagrams explaining motion-picture
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middle-reproduction processing.
Fig. 31 is a flowchart showing a picture information
reading processing procedure RT2 of the CPU 31.
Fig. 32 is a flowchart showing a normal-rE~production-
display interruption-timer processing procedure RT3 carried
out by CPU 31.
Fig. 33 is a flowchart showing a motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT4 carried out by the CPU 31.
Fig. 34 is a flowchart showing a motion-picture middle-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT5 carried out by the CPU 31.
Fig. 35 is a schematic diagram showing another example
of a display screen.
Fig. 36 is a schematic diagram showing another example
of a display screen.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
An embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
(1) First Embodiment
(1-~1) Whole construction
Referring to Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 shows an
information distribution system as a whole, in which a
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distribution center 4 having a program distribution server 2
and a program control server 3 is connected to the Internet
serving as an information transmission network.
As shown in Fig. 2, the program distribution server 2
stores unit program data (Dl-20, D1-21 ... D1-19), (D2-20,
D2-21 ... D2-19), (D3-20, D3-21 ... D3-19) and (D4-20, D4-
21 ... D4-19) obtained by dividing program information for
plural channels, the first, the second, the third and, the
fourth channels CH1, CH2, CH3 and CH4, on a first split time
(in this case, one hour) basis, in a program database 2XA as
distribution information INF.
This distribution information is created by a program
creation terminal 8 connected to the Internet 5 and is
stored in the program database 2XA.
In the case of this embodiment, the program information
of the first to the fourth channels CH1 to CH4 is composed
of unit program data D1-20 to D4-20, D1-21 to I)4-21 ... D1-
19 to D4-19 (these are represented by DM-N:M=1 to 4, N=20 to
19); these data starting at 20:00, 21:00 ... 19:00 (these
are represented by "20:00", "21:00" ... "19:00").
As shown in Fig. 3, each of unit program data DM-N is
composed of a plurality of frame-contents-of-program data
Dmnp between N:00:00 and N+1:00:00, each for second split
time: in this case, 15 seconds.
Each of unit program data Dmnp corresponds to one
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picture of a home page. Thus, the unit program data DM-N
has the frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp that corresponds
to 4x60 pictures of home pages, one picture every second
split time (that is, fifteen seconds), within the first
split time being one hour (that is, between N:00:00 and
N+1:00:00 (N=20 to 19)).
The frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp i:~ specified by
user terminals 6A, 6B ... via the Internet 3.(F'ig. 1) with
channel table data CHDAT of Fig. 4 and timetable data TMDAT
of Fig. 5.
The channel table data CHDAT has such a data structure
that time channel table data TCDAT each having "channel
number data" (ChNo.) specifying a channel number on which
the program information is distributed (in this embodiment,
the first to the fourth channels), "date data" (date)
representing date of distributing the program, "time data"
(time (including second)) representing time of distributing
the program', and "channel address data" (channel URL:
Uniform Resource Locator) representing the location where
the program information is stored, are arranged in a
temporal order.
In the channel table data CHDAT of Fig. 4, data on the
first line has "channel number data" of "1" (representing
that the first channel is specified), "date data" of
"20001011" (representing that October 11, 2000 is specified),
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the "time data" of "120000" (representing that 12:00:00 is
specified), and the "channel information address data" of
"http://www.xxx.co.jp/chl/timetable.dat" (representing. that
the location of the program is in the timetable of the first
channel "chl/timetable.dat" of "http://www.xxxx.co.jp"
server, that is, a program distribution server 2).
Therefore, the user terminal 6A, 6B ... transmits the
data on the first line of the channel table data CHDAT of
Fig. 4 to the Internet 5, so as to reserve the reception of
the program information on the first channel from the server
having the server number "http://www.xxxx.co.jp" (that is,
program distribution server 2) for one hour from 12:00:00,
October 11, 2000, based on the specification by the
timetable data "timetable.dat".
Also data on the other lines in the channel table data
CHDAT of Fig. 4 are the same as above.
In the channel table data CHDAT of Fig. 4, each of the
timetable data "timetable:dat" included in the "channel
information address data" has timetable data TMDAT having a
structure shown in Fig. 5.
The timetable data TMDAT has frame information
specification data FRDAT to specify frame information to be
sequentially displayed every second split time (15 seconds),
within the first split time (one hour), as the data on
respective lines.
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Each of the frame information specification data FRDAT
on the first, the second, ... lines includes "frame number
data" (Kno: ("1,", "2" ...) representing the frame number
within one hour, "frame display time data" (time "12000",
"120015" ...) representing time of displaying the frame
information, "frame information address data" (display URL
"http://www.xxxx.co.jp/1./",
"http://www.xxxx:co.jp/ch1/2./" ...) representing the
location of the frame information (including the frame
information of program pictures and the frame information of
commercial pictures), "picture format data" ("html", "cab",
"paz") representing the picture creation format of the frame
information, "commercial link specification data" CMDAT
(" " ") representing a commercial server which stores
commercials for watching commercial pictures after a program
finishes, "display width specification data" ("100, 50",
"100, 50," ...) representing the number of display dots of
the frame in the X-direction and the Y-direction, and
"display type specification data" representing the type of
display picture (in the case of this embodiment., "1," means
a normal picture, "2," means a created picture (an animation,
for example), and "3," means a motion picture with sounds).
The picture format data "html" means HTML (HyperText
Markup Language: a picture is created by a hypertext
standard language protocol (a picture not subject to special
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picture processing)). The "paz" means that a picture is
created by a motion picture division technique, and the
"cab" means that a picture is created by a picture
compression technique (for example, MPEG: Moving Picture
Experts Group (International standards for media motion
picture compression technique).
Referring to Fig. 5, for instance, the frame
information specification data FRDAT on the first like has
"1" as frame number data (representing being th.e first
frame), "120000," as frame distribution time data
(representing that distribution starts at 12:00:00),
"http://www.xxxx.co.jp/ch1/l.html/" as frame information
address data (in this embodiment, representing that a normal
picture on the first channel "CH1" in the program
distribution server 2 which has the server specification
number is specified (there are two cases: a program frame
picture and a commercial frame picture), (,.,) as commercial
specification link data which is used in the case where the
frame is a commercial (representing that this frame does not
make a commercial server link because there is no data
between commas), "100, 50," as display width specification
data (representing that the display width has 1.00 dots in X-
direction and 50 dots in Y-direction), and "1," as display
type specification data (representing that the frame is
displayed in the first display format, that is, as a normal
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picture).
Also frame information specification data FRDAT on the
other lines in the timetable data TMDAT of Fig. 5 are the
same as above.
In the case where the frame picture is a commercial and
therefore there is commercial link specification data, the
user terminals 6A, 6B ... previously store the commercial
link specification data when receiving a program. Thereby,
after the program information finishes, the user terminals
6A, 6B ... can obtain the same picture display information
a.s a commercial picture that was used as a part of the
program information, from commercial servers 7A, 7B ... (Fig.
1) based on the commercial link specification data.
The hundredth frame of the timetable data TMDAT of Fig.
is a commercial display picture, and it shows that its
frame number data is "100," and its frame display time data
is "121530," (representing 12:15:30), and it has the
commercial display picture information of "chl/'100.htm1" in
the program distribution server 2 having the server number
"http://www.xxxx.co.jp/", this commercial display picture
can be obtained from a commercial server 7A, 7B ... (Fig. 1)
having the server number "http://www.yyyy:co.jp/" when the
program finishes, and this picture is displayed in the. size
specified by the display width specification data "10, 50,"
and in a format specified by the display type specification
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data "1, " (normal picture).
Therefore, in the case of Fig. 5, the commercial
display picture can be distributed to the user terminals 6A,
6B ... for 15 seconds from 12:15:30 between the program
pictures.
(1-2) Distribution of Program Information
In the information distribution system 1 of Fig. l, the
distribution center 4 previously distributes control
information including standard time information, to the user
terminals 6A, 6B ... that will receive the distribution of
program information. As a result, the plural user terminals
6A, 6B ... simultaneously receive the distribution of the
same program information based on this standard time
information.
(1-2-1) Distribution of Control Information
A user terminal 6A, 6B ... stores a distribution
program (this is called "active view program") when it
registers in the information distribution system l, and
starts up the active view program at the time of receiving
program information from the distribution center 4.
At this time, as shown in Fig. 6, the user terminal 6A,
6B ... transmit terminal information D1 includ_Lng a terminal
ID, personal information, to the program control server 3 of
the distribution center 4. In response to this, the program
control server 3 transmits standard time information to the
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user terminal 6A, 6B ....
As a result, the user terminal 6A, 6B ... which has
received the standard time information D2 set time so ws to
match with the program control server 3. Thereby, plural
user terminals 6A, 6B ... subject to the time matching can
independently operate in synchronization with the
distribution center 4 based on the standard time.
In this condition, the user terminal 6A, EiB ...
receives the distribution of channel table data CHDAT (Fig.
4) for all the program data included in the distribution
information of Fig. 2, and stores this.
Thus, the user terminal 6A, 6B ... can specify unit
program data DM-N (Fig. 3) of any time on the first through
the fourth channels stored in the program distribution
server 2 (that is, from 20:00 to 19:00). In this condition,
a program select switch SW1 shown in Fig. 7 is displayed on
the display of the user terminal 6A, 6B ..., and the present
time is displayed in a "TIME" field ("19:36:59", displayed
based on the standard time). Also, with first to fourth
channel switches SW1A, a user can specify a desired channel
to receive distribution at the present time (the display of
specified contents "CH1 NEWS" appears).
Under this condition, when a display start switch SW1B
is operated, a window is opened on the display to display
the picture of the distribution information.
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The display of this program select switch SW1 is
'disappeare.d from the display by operating a hide button SW1C,
and it can be returned by operating a display return button
SW2 provided in a task bar as shown in Fig. 8.
In the case of this embodiment, a reserve button SW1D
is provided in the program select switch SW1. When this
button is operated, program select switches SW3 arranged
corresponding to the unit program data DM-N of Fig. 2 are
displayed on the display of the user terminal 6A, 6B ... as
shown in Fig. 9, so that the user can specify and reserve a
desired program (that is, a program to be distributed on the
first - fourth channel between 20:00 and 19:00 by the
program distribution server 2) by operating one of the
switches.
(1-2-2) Distribution of Program Information
When the user wants to receive a desired program with
the user terminal 6A, 6B ..., the user operates the channel
switch SW1A in the program select switch SW1 on the display
of the user terminal 6A, 6B ....
When the display start switch SW1B of the user terminal
6A, 6B ... is operated in this condition, the program
distribution server 2 sequentially returns the frame
information specification data FMDAT of the distributed
timetable data TMDAT to the user terminal 6A, EiB ....
Thus, the frame pictures displayed by the frame display
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data are sequentially displayed on the display of the user
terminal 6A, 6B ....
Assuming that the user has specified the ~>rogram of
"12:00:00, October 11, 2000" on the "first" channel as
distribution request information, the user terminal 6A,
6B ... transmits the time channel table data TCDAT on the
first line of Fig. 4 to the program control server 3 (Fig.
6) and thereby receives the distribution of corresponding
timetable data TMDAT (Fig. 5), and transmits the frame
information specification data FRDAT to the program
distribution server 2 line by line every time when frame
distribution time comes (Fig. 6).
In this manner, as shown in Fig. 10, the user terminal
6A, 6B ... specifies the program control server 3 based on
channel information specification data included in the
channel table data CHDAT which is distributed from the
program control server 3, in order to receive t:he
distribution of the timetable data TMDAT, and thus receiving
the distribution of the frame picture data, commercial
picture data and commercial link specification data CMDAT
from the program distribution server 2 as picture
information URL1, URL2, ..., based on the frame information
specification data FRDAT included in the timetable data
TMDAT ( Fi g . 6 ) .
If the timetable data TMDAT does not have commercial
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link specification data CMDAT (that is, it has ",,"), the
user terminal 6A, 6B ... receives the distribution of
picture data that is not a commercial, from the program
distribution server 2.
On the contrary, when receiving display data including
commercial link specification data CMDAT as timetable data
TMDAT, the user terminal 6A, 6B ... displays the commercial
picture on the display based on the commercial display data,
and stores the commercial link specification data CMDAT.
Thereby, after the program finishes, the user terminal 6A,
6B ... can obtain the commercial information from a
specified commercial server 7A; 7B ... via the Internet 5.
Referring to Fig. 5, the frame information
specification data FRDAT with the frame program Kno of "100"
specifies the commercial server 7A, 7B of ",
http://www.yyyy.co.jp," as commercial link specification
data CMDAT.
As described above, the program information specified
by the user with the program select switch SW1 (Fig. 7) can
be displayed on the display of the user terminal 6A, 6B ...
so as to be sequentially switched every 15 seconds during a
time period specified by the frame display time data of the
timetable data TMDAT.
Thus, the user can watch pictures (composed of program
pictures and commercial pictures (as shown in Fig. 11, for
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example) inserted therebetween) that sequentially change
every 15 seconds; which allows the user to receive pictures
having a larger amount of information via the Internet 5.
In this case, as shown in Fig. 11, a commercial picture
DP1 to be displayed on the entire display screen of the user
terminals 6A, 6B ... can be received as one of the pictures
that change every 15 seconds. Thereby, the user can read
the commercial contents (for example, detailed information
on items that the user wants to buy) without missing.
Furthermore, program data to be distributed to the user
terminals 6A, 6B ... via the Internet 5 can be
simultaneously transmitted to the plural user terminals 6A,
6B ... that have requested the distribution, based on the
standard time. Thus, a program having the same contents can
be simultaneously, thus massively provided to t:he user
terminals 6A, 6B ... which are dispersed in an area where
the Internet 5 is laid, from the distribution center 4, like
general broadcasting programs.
In this manner, one unit program data DM-N selected
with the program select switch SW1 (Fig. 7) can be
simultaneously distributed to the plural user t=erminals 6A,
6B ... based on the corresponding time channel table data
TCDAT, as picture information URL1, URL2 ... that
sequentially change (Fig. 6). When the user selects another
program in the middle of or after the distribution of the
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one unit program data DM-N, as shown in Fig. 6, tim-a channel
table data TCDAT transmitted from the user terminals 6A,
6B ... to the program control server 3 is changed to TCDAT-1,
and accordingly the frame information specification data
FADAT is changed to FADAT-1, and accordingly program picture
data and commercial picture data distributed from the
program distribution server 2 are changed. As a result,
changed picture information URL11, URL12 ... can be
immediately distributed to the user terminals 6A, 6B ...
which have changed the specification of the program.
When the user terminal 6A, 6B ... which has been
received the distribution of program information transmits
stop information to the Internet 5, the program control
server 3 stops the program distribution.
(1-3) Storage of Commercial Link Specification Data
As shown in Fig. 12, by providing a picture storing
button (that is, bookmark button) 17 on the display screen
16 of a user terminal 6A, 6B ..., the user can store
interesting pictures out of the pictures being sequentially
displayed.
That is, as shown in Fig. 12, the commercial picture
DPI can be displayed on the display screen 16 based on the
timetable data TMDAT having the commercial link
specification data CMDAT inserted therein, as described
above with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 11.
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When the user operates the picture storing button 17
while the_commercial picture DPI is displayed on the display
screen 16, the commercial link specification data CMDAT is
stored in the memory of the user terminal 6A, 6B ....
In a state where the program select switch SW1 is
displayed on the display screen 16 of the user terminal 6A,
6B ... as shown in Fig. 13 after a program finishes,
commercial link specification data ", http//iKenchiku.net,"
is displayed as a first stored commercial, and at the same
time, commercial link specification data
"http//alpha.international.," is displayed as a. second
stored commercial, based on the stored commercial link
specification data CMDAT.
Under this condition, when the user specifies one out
of these commercial link specification data CMDAT, the user
terminal 6A, 6B ... links to the commercial server 7A, 7B ...
specified by the specified commercial link specification
data.
Thus, commercial pictures stored in the commercial
servers 7A, 7B ... can be provided to the user terminal 6A,
6B ... of the user who has specified the picture, via the
Internet 5.
In this way, when a program finishes, the user can view
interesting commercial pictures at any time without temporal
limitation.
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(1-4) Program Information Receiving Method of User Terminal
When the program distribution server 2 of the
distribution center 4 (Fig. 1) distributes program
information to the user terminals 6A, 6B ... via the
Internet 5, the program distribution server 2 is arranged to
switch a receiving method of each user terminal 6A, 6B ...
between a sequential receiving method shown in Fig. 14 and
an overwrite receiving method shown in Fig. 15.
As shown in Fig. 14, each user terminal 6A, 6B ... has
a pair of receiving memory units 12A and 12B which
alternatively receives program information IF1, IF2 ... via
the Internet 5. While the first receiving memory unit 12A
receives the program information IF1, IF2 ... via the
Internet 5, program information which has completed to be
received by the second receiving memory unit lf.B is
displayed.
Then, when the program information has completed to be
received by the first receiving memory unit 12A, the
reception state is switched to receive program information
via the Internet 5 by the second receiving memory unit 12B,
and the program information which has been received by the
first receiving memory unit 12B is displayed.
This configuration allows the receiving memories 12 of
the user terminal 6A, 6B ... to have sufficient time, so
that the user terminal 6A, 6B ... can easily control the
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display processing of a relatively large amount of file such
as motion picture and also can display pictures without
sudden changes on the display.
However, in the case of receiving the distribution of
program distribution data with sound such as to output
sounds while taking in the data, that program information
might arrive at such timing that sound starts in the middle
of reading the program information by the receiving memory
unit performing the receiving operation.
In such case, the program distribution server 2
compresses and then transmits the data of the program
information to the receiving memory unit 12A or 12B.
For such compressed program information, as shown in
Fig. 5, frame information specification data "cab"
representing being compressed picture data is used as frame
information specification data.
If such compression is unnecessary, the program
information is transmitted without compression, as shown in
Fig. 16.
In the case of Fig. 5, to the frame information
specification data of the frame numbers "4" to "6", the type
data "cab" representing that "image has been compressed" is
added. It should be noted that the type data "html" is
added to frame information specification data for program
information "to be transmitted without compression".
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Thereby, when the compressed program information is
stored in one receiving memory unit of the receiving
memories 12 via the Internet 5, all information is taken in
the user terminal 6A, 6B ... and then decompressed, so that
sound starts at a timing when it returned to the original
program information. Thus, a problem in that only sound
starts can be effectively solved.
By the sequential receiving method of Fig. 14, the
receiving display part 12 of the user terminal 6A, 6B ...
can have sufficient time to perform the receiving operation,
so that program information can be taken in the user
terminal 6A, 6B ... without interruption.
By the way, by the sequential receiving method of Fig.
14, all of program information to be distributed from the
program distribution server 2 to the user terminal 6A, 6B ...
can be received by the receiving memory 12 without fail.
However, it is necessary that after the program information
is once received by the user terminals 6A, 6B ...., the
program information should be all deleted, for example, for
a copyright protection.
In such case, as shown in Fig. 15, the program
distribution server 2 is provided with a pair of first and
second sending memory units 11A and 11B as a sending memory
.11, and thereby program information IF1, IF2, IF3 ... in the
first and second sending memory units 11A and 1B are
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sequentially and alternately overwritten.
Then, the program distribution server 2 makes the first
and second receiving memory units 12A and 12B of the
receiving memory 12 of the user terminal 6A, 6B ... directly
receive the program information from the first and the
second sending display units 11A and 11B of the sending
memory 11 via the Internet 5.
Thereby, only two pieces of program information out of
program information distributed from the sending memory 11
of the program distribution server 2 remain in the first and
the second receiving memory units 12A and 12B.
Therefore, according to the configuration of Fig. 15,
while program information is taken in the user terminal 6A,
6B ... with one receiving memory unit out of the pair of
receiving memory units 12A and 12B of the receiving display
part 12, new program information overwrites the' former
program information in the corresponding sending memory unit
for data in the other receiving memory unit. Thereby, a
fear that the remained program information is unnecessarily
taken in the user terminal 6A, 6B ... can be effectively
avoided; thus, a program information distribution system
capable of surely protecting copyright can be realized.
According to the above configuration, program
information without a copyright protection problem can be
distributed to the user terminals 6A, 6B ... with a
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sufficient time by~the sequential receiving method shown in
Fig. 14. On the contrary, with respect to program
information which needs a copyright protection, the program
distribution server 2 uses the overwrite distribution method
shown in Fig. 15, thus realizing an information distribution
system 1 capable of practically and sufficiently meeting the
distribution conditions of programs.
(1-5) Distribution of High Resolution Motion Picture Data
In the case where program information including high
resolution motion picture data is distributed from the
program distribution server 2 of the distribution center 4
to a user terminal 6A, 6B ... via the Internet 5 in the
information distribution system 1 of Fig. 1, if' the Internet
does not have a large transmission speed, the mass program
information is previously transmitted to the user terminal
6A, 6B .., so as to be displayed at the display standard
time of the user terminal 6A, 6B ....
For instance, in the case of displaying first, second,
third, fourth ... program pictures fl, f2, f3, f4 ... on the
user terminals 6A, 6B ... at time of t1, tz, t3, t4 ... in
Fig. 17, respectively, if the third program information data
f3 is high resolution motion picture data, the data amount
of the third program information data f3 is extremely large.
Therefore, the program control server 3 starts to read
out the program information data f3, which is transmitted to
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the user terminal 6A, 6B ..., from the program distribution
server 2 at time of to3, that is a ten minutes before display
time t3 of program information data f3, to start the
transmission from the program distribution server 2 to the
user terminal 6A, 6B ....
Accordingly, the first and the second program
information data f1 and f2 previous to the third program
information data f3 are transmitted from the program
distribution server 2 to the user terminal 6A, 6B ... at
time, toi and toe, that are ten minutes before display time,
t1 and tz .
Practically, when the timetable data TMDA'.~ is created,
data on the reading time tol, toe, to3 for the first, the
second and third program information data fl, f2, f3 is
added as frame display time data to the timetable data TMDA
which is then distributed from the program control server 3
to the user terminals 6A, 6B ..., and thereby t:he.program
information data can be distributed from the program
distribution server 2 to the user terminals 6A, 6B ... so as
to be displayed at display time.
(1-6) Distribution of Program Information Data by Dispersion
In the case of distributing.program information data to
user terminals 6A, 6B ... based on the standard time in the
information distribution system 1 of Fig. 1, because the
same program information data must be distributed to all the
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terminals in synchronization, there is a fear that when
there are a vast number of user terminals 6A, 6B ... and
each frame information specification data FRDAT of the
timetable data TMDAT (Fig. 5) is transmitted, traffic on the
Internet 5 is congested and they cannot be distributed
safely.
In such case, as shown in Fig. 18, the distribution
start time of tol, toz~ to3. to4 for the first, the second, the
N
third, the fourth program information data f1, f2, f3, f4 to
the user terminals 6A, 6B ... is selected to time that is
delayed by time a from the display time to, t1, t2, t3 of the
preceding program information. Because there is no program
information preceding to program information data "f" in
this case, a virtual time to is assumed.
This delay time a is selected so that the: user
terminals 6A, 6B ... have different values according to the
congestion of the traffic on the Internet 5 from the program
distribution server 2 to the user terminals 6A,, 6B ....
Thereby, different information transmission time is set
within a time range from the transmission time of the
preceding program information data to the transmission time
of the present program information data. .
Thereby, when the first, the second, the third, the
fourth ... program information data f1, f2, f3, f4 ... are
transmitted to the user terminals 6A, 6B ... from the
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program distribution server 2, since the transmission start
time tol, toz~ toss tog ~ ~ . is different for each user terminal
6A, 6B ..., it is possible to avoid the congestion of
traffic on the Internet 5 when the program information data
is distributed to the user terminals 6A, 6B .... Thus, an
information distribution system 1 that can make all of the
user terminals 6A, 6B ..., which have requested a
distribution, simultaneously and reliably display a program
at a display time determined based on the standard time can
be realized.
(2) Second Embodiment
Fig. 19 shows an information distribution system 1X of
the second embodiment. In this information distribution
system 1X in~which the same reference numerals are applied
to parts corresponding to those of Fig. 1, program
information data is simultaneously distributed from a
program database 2XA of a main program distribution server
2X provided in a distribution center 4, via plural
additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ... 2E dispersed in a
broad area, to the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6B8,
6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC) each near the additional
distribution server 2A, 2B ... 2E .
The main program distribution server 2X has a similar
configuration to the information distribution server 2
described above with reference to Fig. 1. Therefore, the
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main program distribution server 2X distributes channel
table data CHDAT similar to the data described above with
reference to Fig. 4, to the user terminals (6AA., 6AB, 6AC),
(6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC) via the Internet 5, so
that the frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp (F'ig. 3) of the
distribution information on the first to the fourth channels
(Fig. 2) in the main program distribution server 2X can be
specified with the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6P,C), (6BA, 6BB,
6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC).
On the other hand, as shown in Figs. 20(A), 20(B) ...,
instead of the timetable specification data "ti.metable.dat"
of the "channel information address data" (channel URL) of
the channel table data CHDAT, the program control server 3
includes "additional distribution server specification data"
specifying an additional distribution server 2A, 2B ... 2E
("http//www.xxxx.co.jp/ch1/l.html",
"http//www.yyyy.co.jp/chl/l.html" ...) as "frame display
address data" (display URL).
When an active view system is opened, the user
terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (68A, 68B, 6BC) ... corresponding
to the additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ... receive
the distribution of the channel table data CHTAD (Fig. 4)
that is common among all the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC),
(6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ..., and the distribution of timetable data
TMDAT including the "frame information address data" of the
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corresponding additional distribution servers 2A,, 2B ... as
timetable data TMDAT, as shown in Figs. 20(A), 20(B)....
In this connection, the "additional distribution server
specification data" for the additional distribution server
2A is assigned to distribute program information data to its
neighbor user terminals 6AA, 6AB and 6AC, the "additional
distribution server specification data" for the additional
distribution server 2B is assigned to distribute program
information data to its neighbor user terminals 6BA, 6BB and
6BC, ..., and the "additional distribution server
specification data" for the additional distribution server
2E is assigned to distribute program information data to its
neighbor user terminals 6EA, 6EB and 6EC.
In the information distribution system 1X of Fig. 19,
the program control server 3 previously distributes the
distribution information INF on the first to the fourth
channels (Fig. 2) that have been previously stored in the
main program distribution server 2X, to the additional
distribution servers 2A, 2B ... via the Internet 5, before
distributing the channel table data CHDAT and t:he timetable
data TMDAT to the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC;), (6BA, 6BB,
68C) ....
Under this condition, when the user transmits the
distribution request of channel table data CHDAT
corresponding to desired unit program data DM-N, from his
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user terminal (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... to the
program control server 3, since the distribution request
from the user terminal (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ...
includes the frame information address data (display URL)
for specifying the corresponding additional distribution
server 2A, 2B ... "http//www.xxxx.co.jp/chl/l.h.tml/",
"http//www.yyyy.co.jp/chl/l.html" ..., the user terminal
(6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... which has transmitted
the distribution request reads the specified unit program
data DM-N from the allotted additional distribution server
2A, 2B ... via the Internet 5.
For instance, out of the user terminals (AAA, 6A8, 6AC)
that belong to the additional distribution server 1A, the
user terminal 6AA reads the program information from the
corresponding additional distribution server 1A via the
Internet 5 based on the frame information specification data
FRDAT (specifying the additional distribution server 2A)
included in the timetable data TMDAT (Fig. 20) specified by
the channel table data on the first line in the channel
table data CHDAT of Fig. 4.
At this time, the user terminal 6AA sequentially reads
program information data every 15 seconds for one hour;
program information. data on the first channel at 12:00:00,
program information data at 12:00:15, program :information
data at 12:00:30,..., from the additional distribution
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server 1A allotted to the user terminal 6AA, based on the
timetable data TMDAT.
In the information distribution system 1X of Fig. 19,
program information data can be distributed from the
additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ... 2E which are
connected to the Internet 5 and dispersed in a broad area,
to the user terminals (6AA, 6A8, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ...
near the additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ...,
respectively. Thereby, program information can be
distributed so as to be practically and almost
simultaneously displayed on each user terminal (6AA, 6AB,
,6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ....
Therefore, the distribution of program information data
can be dispersed in a broad area so as not to be
concentrated in a part of the Internet 5 (more particularly,
a part that the distribution center 4 is connected to).
Thus, a fear that the Internet 5 is partly congested can be
effectively avoided.
Accordingly, such an information distribution system 1X
can have impressive effects in applying to the case of a
large volume of program information such as mot=ion picture.
(3) Third Embodiment
Referring to Fig. 21 showing the third embodiment in
which the same reference numerals are added to parts
corresponding to those of Fig. 19, an information
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distribution system 1X has a distribution center 4 in Japan,
and program information data is distributed from a main
program distribution server 2X to Japanese user terminals
6JPA, 6JPB ... via the Japanese Internet 5JP under the
control of a program control server 3.
In addition, the program control server 3 in the
distribution center 4 connected to the Japanese Internet 5JP
controls an additional distribution server 2NA disposed in
North America via a North American Internet 5NA connected to
the Japanese Internet 5JP with an intercontinental
transmission line 15A, so as to previously distribute the
program information data of the main program distribution
server 2X in the Japanese distribution center 4, to the
North American additional distribution server 2NA via the
Japanese Internet SJP, the intercontinental transmission
line 15A and the North American Internet 5NA.
When a North American user terminal, 6NAA, 6NAB ...
connected to the North American Internet 5NA transmits the
distribution request of program information to the program
control server 3 in the distribution center 4, the program
control server 3 distributes the requested program
information data from the North American additional
distribution server 2NA to the North American user terminal
6NAA, 6NAB ....
Furthermore, a South American additional distribution
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CA 02395633 2002-06-25
server 2SA is connected to the South American Internet 5SA
connected to the North American Internet SNA, with an
intercontinental transmission line 15B, and the program
control server 3 in the Japanese distribution center 4
controls this South American additional distribution server
2SA via the Japanese Internet SJP, the intercontinental
transmission line 15A, the North American Intex-net SNA, the
intercontinental transmission line 15B and the South
American Internet 5SA, so as to previously distribute
program information data previously distributed to the North
American additional distribution server 2NA, to the South
American additional distribution server 2SA via the North
American Internet 5NA, the intercontinental transmission
line 15B and the South American Internet 5SA.
When a South American user terminal 6SAA, 6SAB ...
transmits the distribution request of program .information
data to the program control server 3 via the South American
Internet 5SA, the intercontinental transmission line 15B,
the North American Internet SNA, the intercontinental
transmission line 5A and the Japanese Internet 5JP, the
program control server 3 makes the South American additional
distribution server 2SA distribute the program information
data to the South American user terminal 6SAA, 6SAB ....
In the information distribution system 1X of Fig. 21,
the Japanese user terminals 6JPA, 6JPB ..., the North
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CA 02395633 2002-06-25
American user terminals 6NAA, 6NAB ... and the South
American user terminals 6SAA, 6SAB ... can efficiently read
program information from the respective nearest distribution
servers 2X, 2NA and 2SA on respective continents, by the
program control server 3 provided in the Japanese
distribution center 4.
(4) Fourth Embodiment
Referring to Fig. 22 which shows a fourth embodiment in
which the same reference numerals are added to parts
corresponding to those of Fig. 19, motion picture data VD is
transmitted from a motion picture data creation device 21 to
a main program distribution server 2X of a distribution
center 4.
The motion picture data creation device 2:L converts a
video signal S1 corresponding to the image of t:he subject
picked up by a television camera 21A into a digital signal
and then compresses it with a coding means 21B, and then
transmits the resultant as motion picture data VD.
In the case of this embodiment, the main program
distribution server 2X creates unit program data DM-N having
the five-minute motion picture data VD as frame-contents-of-
program data Dmnp, and sequentially distributes the frame-
contents-of-program data Dmnp to additional distribution
servers 2A, 2B ... 2E via the Internet 5 as live mode
program information data.
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In this case, while the additional distribution servers
2A, 2B ... 2E can receive unit program data DM-N from the
main program distribution server 2X, the corresponding user
terminals ( 6AA, 6AB, 6AC) , ( 6BA, 6BB, 6BC) . . . ( 6EA, 6EB,
6EC) can read that data. Therefore, the users of the user
terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB,
6EC) can watch the subject image picked up by the television
camera 2.1A of the motion picture data creation device 21, on
the displays of the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (68A,
6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC), with a time delay due to the
transmission of the picture information, but a~~ almost
simultaneous images (that is, in a live mode.)
In the information distribution system 1X of Fig. 22,
the motion picture data VD to be transmitted from the motion
picture data creation device 21 has much larger amount of
data as compared with static pictures. That is, the data
amount of unit program data DM-N to be distributed to the
additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ... 2E becomes huge.
However, the number of user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC),
( 68A, 6BB, 6BC ) . . . ( 6EA, 6EB, 6EC ) al lotted to each
additional distribution server 2A, 2B ... 2E can be limited
to the number so that the above mass unit program data DM-N
can be read from the additional distribution server 2A,
2B ... 2E for a short time (in this example, three).
Therefore, the users of the user terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC),
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(6BA, 6BB, 68C) ... (6EA, 6EB, 6EC) can watch images picked
up by the television camera 21 without so much time lag,
like a live mode.
In addition, in the case where all of the user
terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6EB,
6EC) directly read motion picture data from the main program
distribution server 2X, there is a large time lag to display
images on a display (it is considerably delayed from a pick-
up time by the television camera 21A) according to the
transmission speed of the Internet 5, the degree of
congestion on a traffic, the number of connected user
terminals (6AA, 6AB, 6AC), (6BA, 6BB, 6BC) ... (6EA, 6E8,
6EC), etc. However, the information distribution system 1X
of the fifth embodiment as shown in Fig. 22 can effectively
solve such problems.
(5) Fifth Embodiment
(5-1) Whole construction
An information distribution system 1 of the fifth
embodiment has a similar structure to that described with
reference to Fig. 1, and user terminals 6A, 6B ... has the
construction shown in Fig. 23.
In each user terminal 6A, 6B ..., a CPU (Central
Processing Unit) 31 starts up the processing operation of
the user terminal 6A, 6B ... by a startup program memory 33
composed of a ROM via a bus 32, and executes the program of
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a program memory 34 composed of a RAM being a hard disk,
with a temporal storage memory 35 composed of a RAM.
Thereby, in Fig. 24 where the same reference numerals are
applied to parts corresponding to those of Fig. 6, the user
terminal 6A, 6B ... executes communication processing of the
channel table data CHDAT and the timetable data TMDAT with
the program control server 3, and executes information
communication processing of the frame specification data
FRDAT with the program distribution server 2.
With respect to data communication between the user
terminal 6A, 6B ..., and the program distribution server 2
or the program control server 3, the CPU 31 controls a
communication interface 36 via the bus 32 to store data
transmitted from the Internet 5, in the temporal storage
memory 35 where the data is then processed, and then
displays the resultant on a display 38 having a GUI
structure with a graphic interface 37 via the bus 32, and if
an occasion arises, the CPU 31 stores it in an external
storage unit 39 via the bus 32.
The user of the user terminal 6A, 6B ... enters
specification information via a mouse interface 40 connected
with the bus 32 by operating the cursor on the display 38
with a mouse 41 serving as a data input means, and transmits
communication information to the Internet 5 via the
communication interface 36.
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(5-2) Program Startup Processing Procedure
To start up the programs of the user terminal 6A,
6B ..., the CPU 31 starts up the program memory 34 in
accordance with the program in the startup program memory 33
and executes a program startup processing procedure RTO
shown in Fig. 25.
When the user enters the terminal identification ID and
password at step SP1, the CPU 31 executes processing to
transmit these as terminal information D1 (Fig. 24) t.o the
program control server 3.
Then, the CPU 32 detects at step SP2 whether a
connection has been established with the program control
server 3, and when a negative result is obtained, it means
that the ID password was not confirmed, and then the CPU 31
performs display for indicating an error at step SP3, and
returns to the step SP1 for the input processing of the
terminal identification ID and password again.
When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP2,
then the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP4 to display a control
panel display DIP1 on the display screen 38A of: the display
38 as shown in Fig. 26.
The control panel display DIP1 includes a program
display section DP1 for displaying distributed program
pictures at the top left thereof, and also a channel
selection switch section DP2 for selecting a channel on
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which distribution should be performed, at the top right
thereof (in this case, zero to twelfth channels are
selectable).
Thereby, the user can display the selected program on
the program display section DP1 by selecting and operating
one of the channel switches on the channel selection switch
section DP2 while the control panel display DIP1 is
displayed.
In this embodiment, the control panel display DIP1
includes a reservation program list switch DP3 (which is
operable for program reservation), a channel group switch
DP4 (which is operable for selecting one channel group to be
allotted to the switches of the channel selection switch
section DP2, out of a plurality of channel groups), a
language switch DP5 (which is operable for selecting a
language for a program), and a country switch I)P6 (which is
operable for select the country where a~transmi_ssion network,
such as the Internet 5, is connected to the user terminal, 6A,
6B ...), below the program display section DPl.
In addition, a display end switch DP7 is provided at
the bottom of the control panel display DIP1 to close the
control panel display DIP1 by operating this switch.
Then, the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP5 to obtain the
standard time information D2, channel table data CHDAT, and
other information from the program control server 3 via the
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communication interface 36, which are then stored in a
channel table data memory 35A of the temporal dealing memory
35 via the bus 32.
That is, as shown in Fig. 24, the user terminal 6A,
6B ... sends the terminal information D1 to the program
control server 3 and thereby receives the distribution of
the standard time information D2, channel table data CHDAT,
and other information.
Under this situation, the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP6
where it keeps the processing of this program until the
display end switch DP7 is operated to terminates the
distribution. This situation is that the distribution of a
program or other processing is executable in accordance with
a program when the user of the user terminal 6A, 6B ...
selects the program stored in the program memory 34 by
operating the switch of the control panel display DIP1.
When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP6
thereafter, this means that the user has operated the
display end switch DP7 to terminate the distribution of the
program, and then the CPU 31 proceeds to step ;>P7 to send
the stop information D3 to the program control server 3, and
then terminates the program startup processing procedure RTO
at step SP8.
(5-3) X-channel Button Processing Procedure
The CPU 31 executes an X-channel button processing
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CA 02395633 2002-06-25
procedure RT1 shown in Fig. 27 when the user operates one
channel button (this button is referred to as "X-channel
button") of the channel selection switch section DP2 on the
control panel display DIP1 under the situation of step SP6
of the program startup processing procedure RTO.
After the X-channel button processing procedure RT1
starts, the CPU 31 sends request information for the time
channel table data TCDAT (Fig. 4) of the X-channel for.the
present time to the program control server 3 to obtain the
X-channel timetable data TMDAT (Fig. 5) for the present time
from the program control server 3 via the communication
interface 36, which is then stored via the bis 32 in a
timetable data memory 35B provided in the temporal storage
memory 35.
Then, the CPU 31 proceeds to next step SP11 to judge
whether the motion picture data has started to be displayed.
This judgement of the CPU 31 is for determining whether the
user of the user terminal 6A, 6B ... wants to watch the
motion picture program from the middle, and when a negative
result is obtained, then the CPU 31 proceeds tc> step SP12.
In this embodiment, the user terminal 6A, 6B ... can
receive the normal picture "html", compressed picture "cab"
and motion picture "paz" as the type of pictures, as
described with reference to Fig. 5. And in the case of
watching motion picture of the motion picture "paz" from the
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middle, the CPU 31 obtains an affirmative result at step
SP11. On the contrary, in the case of watching the other
pictures, that is, the normal picture "html", compressed
picture "cab" and motion picture "paz" from the beginning,
the CPU 31 obtains a negative result at step SF11.
At step SP12, the CPU 31 starts a communication
interruption timer 45 and a display interruption timer 46 by
supplying the timetable data TMDAT, and at next. step SP13,
the CPU 31 displays a program display panel DIF~2 as shown in
Fig. 28 on the display 38.
The program display panel DIP2 includes two display
screens, that is, first and second browser pictures BR1 and
BR2 which are alternatively created with the graphic
interface 37, as described with reference to Fi.g. 14 and Fig.
15, and displays one picture completed out of them on a
program display section DP1 (the other picture is gradually
created as picture data arrives, and is displayed by
switching on the program display section DP1 when being
completed) .
As shown in Fig. 28, an audio volume VL is displayed on
the bottom right side of the program display panel DIP2, so
that the user can adjust the volume with this.
The CPU 31 displays a waiting picture stored in a
waiting picture memory 47, on the program display section
DP1 for a fixed time (fifteen seconds, for example) at next
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step SP14.
Because it takes time equivalent to a delay time due to
the transmission, after the user operates the X.-channel
button till program data is all stored in the distributed
picture data memory 35C of the temporal recording memory 35,
the processing of this step SP14 displays a waiting picture,
such as a guide display "wait for a second" or a commercial
picture described with reference to Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, so
that the user does not get uneasy feelings during that time.
Then the CPU 31 terminates the X-channel processing
procedure RT1 at step SP15.
When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP11,
this means that the X-channel button is operated while the
motion picture data is being displayed, then the CPU 31
executes the processing of step SP16 to step SP21 to start
the display of pictures from the middle of the motion
picture.
Generally, for the motion picture, a significantly
large amount of data needs to be transmitted, as compared
with still pictures. Therefore, in the case of transmitting
the motion picture "paz" such as the frame number Kno - 7 of
Fig. 5, divided motion picture data which is obtained by
dividing one motion picture into plural pictures is prepared
in the program distribution server 2 in advance.
That is, in the case of specifying the frame
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information specification data FRDAT (Fig. 5) having the
frame number Kno - 7 as shown in Fig. 29(A), one motion
picture program "chl/7.paz" (ten-minute motion picture, for
example) is divided into ten pieces of picture partial data
VDX (one-minute picture data, for example), as motion
picture data "paz" having the frame number 7 on the first
channel chl as shown in Fig. 29(B), and then the picture
partial data VDX is taken to as the first to tenth divided
motion picture frame data F1 to F10 as shown in Fig. 29(C),
which are previously stored in the program distribution
server 2 as a series of divided motion picture data "F1 ~ F2
~ ... ~ F10"
The first divided motion picture frame data F1 contains
a motion picture header HD having control information
indicating the structure of the ten pieces of picture
partial data VDX of one motion picture program "ch1/7.paz"
as header information. This information includes
information on the data structure of the motion picture
program "chl/7.paz" such as the number, amount, data format,
and display time of the picture partial data VI)X, so that
obtaining the motion picture header HD of the first divided
motion picture frame data F1 is equal to obtaining the data
structure of the motion picture program "chl/7.paz".
In the case where the start time for such divided
motion picture frame data Fl ~ F2 ~ ... ~ F10 is set to
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12:01:30 as the frame information specification. data FRDAT
of the seventh frame (Krio - 7), when the X-channel button is
operated at time t=tx after the start time 12:01:30 as shown
in Fig. 30(A), the user terminal 6A, 6B ... performs the
processing of step SP16 to step SP21 to display only the
frame data F6 to F10 after the X-channel button operation
time t=tx as shown in Figs. 30(B) to (D).
Specifically, when an affirmative result is obtained at
step SP11, the CPU 31 stores attribute file information
[PazInf] on a series of the divided motion picture data F1
F2 ~ ... ~ F10, from the program control server 3 into the
distributed picture data memory 35C as the timetable data
TMDAT at step SP16, and then determines the divided motion
picture frame data F6 to be read, based on the X-channel
button operation time TX (Fig. 30(A)) and the read time t=t0
of the divided motion picture data file at step SP17, and
thus it is determined that the divided motion picture frame
data F6 ~ F7 ~F8 ~ F9 ~ F10 which starts at time t=t6 after
the X-channel button operation time t=tx should be displayed
on the display 38.
The attribute file information "PazInf" comprises a
frame name (Name - 7), picture format (Ex - mpg (which means
a compressed picture), data size (Size - 3000000 (which
means 3000000 bytes), and the number of divisions (Count -
(which means 10 pieces of divided motion pi<:ture frame
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data F1 to F10), as general information.
In addition, the frame information on each of the frame
data F1, F2, ..., F10 comprises the start address (Start - 0,
Start - 300000, ..., Start - 2700000 (representing the
location of start byte), the data size (Size - 300000, Size
- 300000 ... Size - 300000 (representing 300000 bytes), anal
the required time (Time - 6000, Time - 6000 ..., Time - 6000
(representing 60 seconds).
Then, the CPU 31 displays a waiting picture in the
waiting picture memory 47 on the program display section DP1
of the display 38 at step SP18, and then creates the motion
picture free file FILEX as shown in Fig. 30(C) in the
divided motion picture memory 49 (Fig. 23) based on the
attribute file "PazInf" taken in the distributed picture
data memory 35C.
As this motion picture free file FILEX, motion picture
free file FILEX composed of the header HD of the motion
picture data which has been distributed by the X-channel
operation time t=tx, and free file division frames OX ~ 1X ~
2X ~ ... ~ lOX corresponding to divided motion picture
frames F1 to F10 is created in the distributed picture data
memory 35C.
As a result, as shown in Fig. 30(D), a memory area is
created in the distributed picture data memory 35C so that
the frame data F6 to F10 to be distributed after the X-
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channel operation time t=tx are stored in the free file
division frames 6X to 10X. Then, at step SP20, the CPU 31
creates a motion-picture middle-reproduction start command
file [7, smi] as, shown below.
[7, smi]
<smil>
<body>
<ref clip-being="300. os"src="7. mpg"
</body>
</smil>
<smil> i.s a file name, <body> is a body, ~: ref clip-
being="300.os"="7.mpg> is a command of "MPEG compressed file
called 7.mpg is reproduced from 300 seconds passed", and
</body>, </smil> represent the end.
Then the CPU 3l,proceeds to step SP21 to activate the
communication interruption timer 45 and a motio n-picture
middle-reproduction-display interruption timer 46C of the
display interruption timer 46 by giving the timetable to
them, and then terminates the X-channel processing procedure
RT1 at step SP15 following step 14 as described above.
(5-4) Picture Information Reading Processing F~rocedure
When the communication interruption timer 45 is in an
active condition at steps SP12 and SP21 of the X-channel
button processing procedure RT1 of Fig. 27 as described
above, the CPU 31 executes the picture information reading
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processing procedure RT2 of Fig. 31 every time when the
communication interruption timer 45 generates interruption
data.
When the picture information reading processing
procedure RT2 starts, the CPU 31 decides based on the
distributed timetable, which has been stored in the
distributed picture data memory 35, whether there is data to
be read, at step SP32. When an affirmative result is
obtained, it is confirmed at step SP33 whether the attribute
file information "PazInf" (Fig. 29(D)) is contained in the
frame information specification data FRDAT (Fig. 5) of the
timetable.
When a negative result is obtained, this means that the
picture of the frame information specification data FRDAT is
a normal picture "html", and then the CPU 31 proceeds to
step SP34 to download the picture information tlRLl, URL2, ...
into the user terminal 6A, 6B ... from the program
distribution server 2.
The downloading of the picture information URLl,
URL2, ... is executed by the transmission protocol FTP.
Sequentially, the CPU 31 stores the downloaded picture
information in the distributed picture data memory 35C and
then proceeds to step SP36 to decide whether the file
currently read has been completed. When an affirmative
result is obtained, the CPU 31 stops the communication
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interruption timer 45 at step SP37, and then ends the
picture information reading processing procedure RT2 at step
SP38.
When a negative result is obtained at step SP36, on the
contrary, this means that time table information may come to
the timetable data memory 35B following the currently read
file. In this time, the CPU 31 completes the picture
information reading processing procedure RT2 at step SP38,
without processing of step SP37.
Then, the CPU 31 executes the processing of steps SP32
- SP33 - SP34 - SP35 - SP36 - SP37 - SP38 every time when
the communication interruption timer 45 generates
interruption data, to performs the processing for
sequentially receiving the distribution of the picture
information based on the frame information specification
data FRDAT of the timetable data TMDAT read in the timetable
data memory 35B.
When there is no data to be read, in the timetable
distributed to the timetable data memory 35C thereafter, a
negative result is obtained at step SP32 and thereby the CPU
31 proceeds to step SP36.
The above processing is for the case where the
timetable data for the normal pictures is distx-ibuted to the
timetable data memory 35B. In the case of motion picture,
on the other hand, an affirmative result is obtained at
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aforementioned step SP33, so the processing is for the
divided motion picture data file for which the timetable
data includes the attribute file "PazInf". In this time,
the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP40 to download the attribute
file information "PazInf" into the distributed picture data
memory 35C from the program distribution server 2, and at
next step SP41, the CPU 31 additionally stores the divided
files included in the attribute file information "PazInf" in
the distributed picture data memory 35C.
As a result, when the divided motion picture files
including the attribute file information "PazInf" are
contained in the timetable distributed to the timetable data
memory 35B, the divided files included in the attribute file
information "PazInf" are all taken in the distributed
picture data memory 53C in succession, so that they can be
additionally stored together with the other picture
information of the timetable.
When the divided motion picture files of the timetable
finishes to be downloaded, the CPU 31 returns t:o step SP31
to repeat the processing for other frame information
specification data FRDAT included in the timetable stored in
the timetable data memory 35B. When a negative result is
obtained at step SP32 thereafter, it means that: the picture
information of the frame information specification data
FRDAT (including the normal pictures and divided motion
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pictures stored in the timetable data memory 35B are all
downloaded in the distributed picture data memory 35C, and
in this time, the CPU 31 terminates the picture information
reading processing procedure RT2 at step 5P38 passing
through steps SP36, SP37.
(5-5) Normal-Reproduction-Display Timer Processing
Procedure
In the case where the normal-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46A starts at step SP12 of t:he X-channel
button processing procedure RTl of Fig. 27, the CPU 31
executes the normal-reproduction-display interruption-timer
processing procedure RT3 every time when this normal-
reproduction-display interruption timer 46A generates
interruption data.
When the normal-reproduction-display interruption-timer
processing procedure RT3 starts, the CPU 31 determines at
step SP41 whether the waiting time has passed, and when the
waiting time has not passed, then the CPU 31 rE~turns to
above step SP41 to wait for the passage of the waiting time.
When the waiting time has passed, the CPU 31 proceeds
to step SP43 to determine whether the distributed picture
data exist in the distributed picture data memory 35C, and
when an affirmative result is obtained, it proceeds to step
SP44 to determine whether there is the picture data of the
display time which matches the present time.
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When an affirmative result is obtained at this time,
which means that the picture data downloaded from the
program distribution server 2 at the time tx (Fig. 30(A))
when the userloperates the X-channel button, exist in the
distributed picture data memory 35C, and in this case, the
CPU 31 proceeds to step 5P45 to determine whether the type
of the picture data is the "html" picture (normal frame
information picture), "cab" picture (MPEG compressed
picture) or "paz" picture (divided,motion picture).
When the CPU 31 determines that the type is the normal
picture "html", the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP46 and
transmits the picture data to the graphic interface 37 to
create the picture of the picture data.
In this embodiment, the graphic interface 37
alternatively creates two pictures (referred tc> as the first
and second brows.er pictures) as described above with
reference to Fig. 14 and Fig. 15, and the CPU 31 determines
at next step SP47 which is currently created, first browser
picture or second browser picture.
When the result shows the first browser picture, the
CPU 31 proceeds to step SP48 to read the picture data in the
first browser, displays the second browser picture at next
step SP49, and proceeds to next step SP50. When the result
at step SP47 shows the second browser picture, on the
contrary, the C.PU 31 proceeds to step SP51 to read the
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picture data into the second browser, displays the first
browser picture at step SP52, and then proceeds to step SP50.
In this way, the CPU 31 alternatively displays picture
data, which is given from the normal-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46A, with the first and second browsers
of the graphic interface 37, as the first and second browser
pictures on the display screen of the display 38 (Fig. 28),
then deletes the displayed picture data from the normal-
reproduction-display interruption timer 46 at step SP50, and
then terminates the normal-reproduction-display
interruption-timer processing procedure RT3 at step SP57.
As a result, as long as the picture data Exist in the
normal-reproduction-display interruption timer 46A of the
display interruption timer 46, the CPU 31 repeats the
processing of steps SP43 - SP44 - SP45 - SP46 -~ SP47 - (SP48,
SP49, or SP51, SP52) - SP50 - SP57 every time when the
normal-reproduction-display interruption timer 46A generates
interruption data, to display the pictures of all norma l
picture data "hmtl" on the display screen 38A of the display
38 and then to delete the displayed picture data from the
normal-reproduction-display interruption timer 46A.
When it is determined at step SP45 that the picture
data given to the display interruption timer 46 is the
compressed picture "cab", on the other hand, the CPU 31
decompresses the compressed picture at step SP55 to convert
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it into the picture data the same as the normal picture data.
After the compressed picture "cab" is converted into
the.picture data the same as the normal picture data, the
CPU 31 proceeds to the aforementioned step SP46 and displays
the decompressed picture on the display screen 38A of the
display 38 and deletes the displayed picture data from the
normal-reproduction-display interruption timer 46A, through
the same loop as described for the normal picture "html".
When the result at aforementioned step SP45 shows that
the picture to be processed is the motion picture "paz", on
the other hand, the CPU 31 proceeds to step 5P56 to stop the
operation of the normal-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46A and activate the motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display interruption timer 46B, anal then
executes a motion-picture normal-reproduction-display
interruption-timer processing procedure RT4 of Fig. 33 every
time when the motion-picture normal-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46B generates interruption data, and when
this procedure ends, the CPU 31 terminates the normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT3 at step SP57.
When a negative result is obtained at aforementioned
step 5P43, on the contrary, this means that the picture data
in the distributed picture data memory 35C has been all
displayed, and in this case, the CPU 31 closes the program
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display panel DIP2 (Fig. 28) at step SP58, and gives the
stop information D3 indicating the operation status to the
program control server 3 (Fig. 24) at step SP59, and then
terminates the normal-reproduction-display interruption-
timer processing procedure RT3 at step SP57.
Further, when a negative result is obtained at
aforementioned step SP44, this means that even picture data
remains in the normal-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46A, the data does not need to be displayed, and in
this case, the CPU 31 proceeds to aforementioned step SP58
to execute such processing as to terminate the no~rmal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT3.
(5-6) Motion-Picture Normal-Reproduction-Display
Interruption-timer processing Procedure
Referring to Fig. 33, when the motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer proces~~ing procedure
RT4 starts, the CPU 31 determines whether the picture data
in the distributed picture memory 35C contain t:he attribute
file information "PazInf".
When an affirmative result is obtained, this means that
the picture data is the divided motion picture data, and in
this case, the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP62 to calculate the
total amount of the picture data from the attribute file
information, and creates the motion picture free file FILEX
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corresponding to the frame data F1 to F10, in the divided
motion picture memory 49 as described with reference to Figs.
30 (A) to 30 (C) .
Sequentially, the CPU 31 determines at next step SP64
whether the divided picture data exist in the divided motion
picture memory 35C.
When an affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 31
proceeds to step SP65 to store the divided picture data in
the motion picture free file FILEX (Fig. 30(C))'of the
divided motion picture memory 49.
Next, the CPU 31 determines whether the divided picture
data to be firstly processed is the first divided picture
data of the motion picture free file FILEX, and when an
affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 31 sequentially
outputs the divided pictures stored in the motion picture
free file FILEX, to the graphic interface 37 to start the
reproduction of the motion picture at step SP68, and then
proceeds to aforementioned step SP70.
In this case, the graphic interface 37 creates a motion
picture as one of the first and second browser pictures BR1
and BR2 to display the motion picture on the program display
section DP1 (Fig. 28).
Then, the CPU 31 executes reproduction processing of
motion picture for the second, third ... divided pictures
stored in the motion picture free file FILEX, and then since
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a negative result is obtained at step SP67 (because the
second, third ... divided file is to be reproduced), the CPU
31 obtains a negative result at step SP67 and proceeds to
step SP69 to sequentially deletes the header data HD stored
in the motion picture free file FILEX and motion picture
data which was already displayed on the display 38.
Thus, the motion-picture normal-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46B is capable of deleting the header
data and the picture data of the motion pictures already
displayed, so as to secure the security of the motion
pictures distributed.
When the divided motion picture data stored in the
motion picture free file FILEX is all reproduced, a negative
result is obtained at step SP64, and therefore the CPU 31
determines at step 70 whether all the picture files for the
files (that is, the picture files to be distributed in
response to the one-operation of X-channel button) have been
distributed, and when an affirmative result is obtained, the
CPU 31 stops the motion-picture normal-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46B and starts the normal-reproduction-
display interruption timer 46A at next step SP'71, and
thereby making the normal-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46A perform the following display processing of the
picture data (Fig. 32). Then, the motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display timer processing procedure RT4 is
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completed at step SP72.
When an affirmative result is obtained at
aforementioned step SP70, which means that the processing of
the files has not completed and in this case, the CPU 31
proceeds to step SP72 to complete the motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT4 immediately and repeats the processing procedure RT4
every time when the motion-picture normal-reproduction-
display interruption timer 46B generates interruption data.
(5-7) Motion-Picture Middle-Reproduction-Display
Interruption-timer processing Procedure
When the motion-picture middle-reproduction-display
interruption timer 46C starts at step SP21 of the X-channel
button processing procedure RT1 (Fig. 27), the CPU 31
executes a motion-picture middle-reproduction-display
interruption-timer processing procedure RT5 every time when
the motion-picture middle-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46C generates interruption data.
At this time, the CPU 31 determines at step SP82
whether picture data exist in the distributed picture memory
35C.
When an affirmative result is obtained, which means
that the motion picture data to be reproduced from the
middle exist, and in the case, the CPU 31 procE~eds to step
SP83 to store the divided picture data into the divided
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motion picture memory 49, and at step SP84, stores the
divided picture data from the middle, in the motion picture
free file FILEX (Fig. 30(C)) at next step SP84 (stores the
sixth to tenth divided picture data F6 to F10 in the sixth
to tenth fee file division frames 6X to lOX of the motion
picture free file FILEX, in the case of Fig. 30(D)).
Then, the CPU 31 determines at step SP 85 whether the
reproduction of the motion picture has started, and when a
negative result is obtained, the CPU 31 performs the
reproduction from the middle by the middle-reproduction
start command file [7, smi] (using the file created at step
SP20 of Fig. 27) at step SP86.
When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP85, on
the contrary, this means.that the reproduction is not
performed from the middle, and in this case, the CPU 31
proceeds to step SP87, without the middle-reproduction of
step SP86.
Then, the CPU 31 stops the middle-reproduction of the
motion picture data stored from the middle in the motion
picture free file FILEX and proceeds to step SP87 to
determine whether the file has finished. When an
affirmative result is obtained, the CPU 31 stops the motion-
picture middle-reproduction-display interruption timer 46C
and starts the normal-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46A at step SP88, thereby performing the processing of
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the normal-reproduction-display interruption-timer
processing procedure RT3 (Fig. 32) for the processing of
other picture data of the file. Then, the motion-picture
middle-reproduction-display interruption-timer. processing
procedure RT5 is completed at step SP89.
When an affirmative result is obtained at step SP82,
which means that the middle-reproduction has.completed, and
then the CPU 31 proceeds to step SP87 and when a negative
result is obtained at step SP87, which means that the
processing of the series of files to be processed in
response to the operation of the X-channel button has not
completed, and then the CPU 31 directly proceeds to step
SP89 to terminate the motion-picture middle-reproduction-
display interruption-timer processing procedure RT5.
(5-8) Operations
In the aforementioned configuration, when any channel
button (that is, X-channel button) in the channel selection
switch section DP2 is operated while the control panel
display DIP1 is displayed on the display screen 38A of the
display 38 (Fig. 26), the CPU 31 of the user terminal 6A,
6B ... receives the X-channel timetable TMDAT corresponding
to the X-channel button operation time from the program
control server 3, with the channel table data memory 35A
(Fig. 23) at step SP10 of the X-channel button processing
procedure RTl.
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The type of pictures to be distributed by the timetable
TMDAT is the normal picture "html", compressed picture "cab",
and divided motion picture "paz", and further, there are two
cases for the divided motion picture "paz": full
reproduction from the beginning and reproduction from the
middle.
The CPU 31 determines the type of the picture at step
SP11 (Fig. 27), and when it is determined that the motion
picture is to be reproduced from the middle, th.e CPU 31
reproduces the motion picture free file FILEX (Fig. 30(C))
(at step SP19), creates the middle-reproduction start
command file [7, smi] (at step SP20), and then gives the
timetable to the communication interruption timer 45 and the
motion-picture middle-reproduction-display interruption
timer 46 to activate them.
In the case of the normal-reproduction-display picture
data, on the other hand, the CPU 31 gives the timetable to
the communication timer 45 and the display interruption
timer 46 to activate them at step SP12 (Fig. 27).
In the case of the normal picture "html" and compressed
picture "cab", the communication interruption timer 45
downloads picture information from the distribution server 2
to store it into the distributed picture data memory 35C (at
steps SP34, SP35 of Fig. 31). In the case of the motion
picture "paz", on the contrary, the communication
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interruption timer 45 downloads the attribute file
information "PazInf" from the distribution server 2 and
additionally stores the divided files in the attribute file
information "PazInf", into the distributed picture data
memory 35C (at steps SP40, SP41 of Fig. 31).
The CPU 31 activates the display timers depending on
the type of pictures, using the picture data distributed to
the distributed picture data memory 35C as desc:ri~bed above,
so as to display the picture data on the program display
section DP1 of the display 38.
That is, the display interruption timer 46 starts by
receiving the picture data, and in the case of receiving the
distribution of the normal picture "html" or compressed
picture "cab", the CPU 31 directly displays thE: normal
picture "html" or displays the compressed picture "cab"
subjected to decompression, on the display screen 38A using
the first and second browsers BRl and BR2 (at steps SP48,
SP49, or SP51, 5P52 of Fig. 32), in accordance with the
normal-reproduction-display panel processing procedure RT3
(Fig. 32) .
In the case of displaying the divided motion picture
"paz" from the beginning, the CPU 31 executes the normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT3 (Fig. 32), and then when the CPU 31 detects the divided
motion picture "paz" (at SP45 of Fig. 32), it stops the
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CA 02395633 2002-06-25
normal-reproduction-display timer 46A and activates the
motion-picture normal-reproduction-display timer 46B (SP56)
to start the reproduction of the motion picture (step SP68
of Fig. 33) in accordance with the motion-picture normal-
reproduction-display interruption-timer processing procedure
RT4 (Fig. 33) .
In order to reproduce the motion picture, the motion
picture free file FILEX is created (Fig. 30(C)) in the
divided motion picture memory 49 according to the total
amount of the picture data based on the attribute file
information [PazInf] (Fig. 29(D)), the divided picture data
is stored in the motion picture free file FILER, and thereby
sequentially displaying the motion picture data on the
display screen 38A every time when the motion picture data
is distributed frame by frame to the distributed picture
data 35C (before all frame pictures arrive) (st:eps SP64,
SP65, SP66, SP68 of Fig. 33).
In the case of watching the motion picture from the
middle, on the contrary, the CPU 31 can perform the
reproduction and display (steps SP83, SP84, SP86 of Fig. 34),
in accordance with the motion-picture middle-reproduction-
display interruption-timer processing procedure RT5 (Fig.
34), by the middle-reproduction start command file [7, smi]
which is created through steps SP19, SP20 of the X-channel
button processing procedure RT1 (Fig. 27).
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When the motion-picture normal-reproduction-display
interruption-timer processing procedure RT4 (Fig. 33) and
the motion-picture middle-reproduction-display interruption-
timer processing procedure RT5 (Fig. 34) are completed, the
CPU 31 performs the following processing in accordance with
the normal-reproduction-display interruption-timer
processing procedure RT3 (Fig. 32) once (step SP71 of Fig.
33, step SP88 o~f Fig. 34), thus even if other picture data
is distributed following the motion picture data, the
display processing of all pictures (html, cab, paz) can be
surely continued through the normal-reproduction-display
interruption-timer processing procedure RT3 (Fig. 32).
According to the fifth embodiment as described above,
such an information distribution system can be realized that
picture data having various pictures are simultaneously =
distributed from the program distribution server 4 to a
plurality of user terminals 6A, 6B ... connected to the
information terminal network at the same display time.
(6) Other Embodiments
(6-1) In the aforementioned embodiment, it has dealt with
the case where frame-contents-of-program data Dmnp composing
unit program data DM-N is created through division at a
fixed interval. This interval for the division, however,
may not be fixed. The divided length may be unevenly
determined according to the amount of data depending on the
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picture pattern or the kind (still picture, motion picture,
etc.) of the frame contents of program.
(6-2) In the embodiment of Fig. 19, "three near an
additional distribution server" are employed for assigning
the user terminals (6AA, 6A8, 6AC), (68A, 68B, 6BC) ... (6EA,
6EB, 6EC) to the additional distribution servers 2A, 2B ...
2E, in order to receive program information data. However,
the user terminals are assigned under a condition other than
neighbors (for instance, depending on the control area of
transmission line). In addition, three or more or less of
user terminals may be assigned depending on the transmission
rate of the transmission lin e.
(6-3) According to the aforementioned embodiments, the same
program information can be simultaneously distributed to
plural user terminals that have sent the distribution
request to a program control server. In addition to this
function, such function may be provided that the user
terminals receiving the distribution of the same program
information can update their information with each other in
a chat mode. This configuration can realize such a function
that the users who are watching the same picture of the
program information can exchange their opinion; using their
screens disp laying the program information.
(6-4) In the timetable data TMDAT of Fig. 5, as to each
frame information specification data FRDAT, the same server
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has been specified by the display URLs (that is, one program
distribution server 2). Instead of this, however, even if
display URLs specifies different servers as the occasion
demands, the same effect as the aforementioned case can be
obtained.
According to the present invention as described above,
the program control server distributes the channel table
data for specifying unit program data, and the timetable
data for specifying frame-contents-of-program data as a part
of the channel table data, to the user terminals, and then
the user terminal takes the corresponding frame-contents-of-
program from the program distribution server based on the
timetable data included in the channel table data, thus
making it possible to easily and simply construct an
information distribution system capable of simultaneously
distributing program information data to many user terminals.
In addition, after distributing program information
data stored in the main program distribution server to
additional distribution servers, the user terminals which
belong to each additional distribution server receive the
program information data, which can realize an information
distribution system capable of surely distributing program
information data by seizing and controlling the traffic of
the information transmission line even the program
information data is a large amount of data.
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(6-5) The display screen 38A of the display 38 has been
described with reference to Fig. 26. In stead of this,
however, as shown in Fig. 35, a program display section DP1
may be arranged in the center of the display screen 38A as a
large screen, and the channel selection switch section DP2
and other various function switches DP3 - DP7 may be
arranged on the right side of the section DP1.
The arrangement of Fig. 35 allows the user to watch the
program displayed on the program display section DP1 which
is a large screen.
In addition, instead of the arrangement of Fig. 26, as
shown in Fig. 36, a program display section DP1. is arranged
as a small screen and a channel selection switc:~ DP8 (having
the same selection operation functions as the channel
selection switch DP2 of Fig. 35) composed of an arrow key
and a function selection switch DP9 (having the same
selection operation functions as the switches I)P3 - DP7 of
Fig. 35) composed of a switch key are arranged beside the
program display section DP1, and thereby the display screen
38A may be used as a screen for operating the computer.
According to the arrangement of Fig. 36, -the user can
operate the computer while watching the program on the
program display section DP1, thus making it possible to use
the display screen 38A for multipurpose.
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Industrial Applicability
The present invention can be applied to an information
distribution system for distributing information to many
user terminals from a distribution center via an information
transmission network such as the Internet.
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