FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“RECEIVING DEVICE AND METHOD, INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION DEVICE AND METHOD, AND INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM”
SONY CORPORATION, of 1-7-1, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
108-0075, Japan
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.
2
DESCRIPTION
5 TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present technology relates to a reception
apparatus and method, an information delivery apparatus
and method, and an information delivery system, and
10 particularly to a reception apparatus and method, an
information delivery apparatus and method, and an
information delivery system that enable the load on an
electric power system to be decreased at the time of
information delivery.
15
BACKGROUND ART
[0002]
In recent years, due to the development of
information communication means, services for delivering
20 information such as content by utilizing various
information communication means have become common. As a
result, the amount of traffic for data communications has
been steadily increasing, and means for dealing with this
rapidly increasing traffic are being sought.
25 [0003]
As one of the means, a technology called "cognitive
radio" has been proposed whereby a terminal apparatus or
a base station recognizes the wireless environment and
dynamically switches the utilized communication system or
30 frequency so as to effectively utilize frequencies. In
cognitive radio, frequency–sharing systems that utilize a
3
frequency allocated to an existing wireless system in
another wireless system are being studied for practical
application.
[0004]
For example, the technology 5 would enable a
frequency band that is allocated to an existing wireless
system but that is not being used or utilized in a
limited time in an associated region to be available in
another wireless system. Particularly, in the United
10 States, the technology is moving toward practical
application for exploiting television broadcast vacant
channels, or the so-called "TV white spaces" (see Nonpatent
Document 1, for example).
[0005]
15 Non-patent Document 1 describes a mechanism in
which a database (white space database: WSDB)
registering frequencies and time bands that are available
in each region is provided, and a radio device (TV Band
Devices (TVBD)) makes an inquiry as to whether or not, on
20 the basis of the current position, its frequency is
available.
CITATION LIST
NON-PATENT DOCUMENT
25 [0006]
Non-patent Document 1: Fujii, K., “Core Technology Using
White Space for Eliminating Radio Wave Utilization Loss”,
[online], businessnetwork.jp, [searched on May 2, 2011],
Internet
4
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0007]
Broadcast media represented 5 by television
broadcasts have the simultaneous broadcasting function as
their delivery characteristics. In order to fully
exploit the delivery characteristics, the number of
terminal apparatuses that simultaneously receive the
10 simultaneously broadcast data needs to be maximized.
[0008]
In order to increase the concurrent simultaneous
reception performance, the number of terminal apparatuses
that are activated simultaneously may be maximized.
15 However, as the number of the simultaneously activated
terminal apparatuses increases, electric power demand
rapidly increases and may possibly put excessive load on
an electric power system.
[0009]
20 The present technology was made in view of such
circumstances and aims to decrease the load on the
electric power system at the time of information delivery.
SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS
25 [0010]
A reception apparatus according to a first aspect
of the present technology includes: an electric power
supply information notification unit that, on the basis
of content delivery information notified from an
30 information delivery apparatus that delivers content by
utilizing a delivery frequency band in a delivery time
5
band, notifies a monitoring control apparatus of electric
power supply information including an electric power
supply amount and an electric power supply time at the
time of receiving the content, the monitoring control
apparatus monitoring and controlling 5 electric power
supply by an electric power system; a control unit that
implements control on the basis of the notified delivery
information such that a content reception-enabled state
is achieved when the electric power supply in the
10 delivery time band is ensured by an evaluation of
electric power supply feasibility based on the electric
power supply information by the monitoring control
apparatus; and a content reception unit that receives the
content delivered from the information delivery apparatus.
15 [0011]
The electric power supply information notification
unit may notify the monitoring control apparatus of the
electric power supply information on the basis of
delivery information re-notified from the information
20 delivery apparatus when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band cannot be ensured by the electric
power supply feasibility evaluation based on the electric
power supply information by the monitoring control
apparatus.
25 [0012]
The control unit may select desired content from
the content delivered from the information delivery
apparatus on the basis of the notified delivery
information, and the electric power supply information
30 notification unit may notify the electric power supply
information about the selected content.
6
[0013]
The control unit, on the basis of the delivery
information of the selected content, may activate the
reception apparatus so as to achieve the content
reception-enabled state immediately 5 before delivery of
the content from the information delivery apparatus.
[0014]
The delivery time band and the delivery frequency
band may be determined on the basis of frequency
10 utilization status information concerning a frequency
band utilization status in each time band in a
predetermined region.
[0015]
A reception method according to the first aspect of
15 the present technology corresponds to the reception
apparatus according to the first aspect of the present
technology.
[0016]
In the reception apparatus and method according to
20 the first aspect of the present technology, on the basis
of the content delivery information notified from the
information delivery apparatus that delivers the content
by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band, electric power supply information including
25 the electric power supply amount and the electric power
supply time at the time of receiving the content is
notified to the monitoring control apparatus that
monitors and controls electric power supply by the
electric power system. When the electric power supply in
30 the delivery time band is ensured by the evaluation of
electric power supply feasibility based on the electric
7
power supply information by the monitoring control
apparatus, the content reception-enabled state is
achieved on the basis of the notified delivery
information, and the content delivered from the
information delivery apparatus 5 is received.
[0017]
An information delivery apparatus according to a
second aspect of the present technology includes a
content acquisition unit that acquires content to be
10 delivered; a frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit that acquires frequency utilization
status information concerning a frequency band
utilization status in each time band in a predetermined
region; a delivery evaluation unit that, on the basis of
15 the acquired frequency utilization status information,
evaluates a delivery time band for delivering the
acquired content and a delivery frequency band utilized
for the delivery; a delivery information notification
unit that notifies a plurality of reception apparatuses
20 in the region of delivery information about the content
to be delivered by utilizing the delivery frequency band
in the delivery time band; an electric power supply
evaluation result reception unit that receives an
evaluation result concerning the feasibility of electric
25 power supply to the plurality of reception apparatuses in
the delivery time band, wherein the feasibility is
evaluated by the plurality of reception apparatuses in
the region notifying a monitoring control apparatus of
electric power supply information based on the delivery
30 information and including an electric power supply amount
and an electric power supply time at the time of
8
receiving the content, the monitoring and controlling
apparatus monitoring and controlling electric power
supply by an electric power system; and a content
delivery unit that, when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band is ensured by the 5 evaluation of the
feasibility of electric power supply, delivers the
acquired content to the plurality of reception
apparatuses that are placed in a delivery-enabled state
in accordance with the delivery information, by utilizing
10 the delivery frequency band in the delivery time band.
The delivery information notification unit, when the
electric power supply in the delivery time band cannot be
ensured by the evaluation of the feasibility of electric
power supply, notifies the plurality of reception
15 apparatuses in the region of the delivery information
with one or both of the delivery time band and the
delivery frequency band modified.
[0018]
The information delivery apparatus may further
20 include an evaluation reference information acquisition
unit that acquires evaluation reference information as a
reference for evaluating the delivery time band and the
delivery frequency band. The delivery evaluation unit
evaluates the delivery time band and the delivery
25 frequency band on the basis of the acquired evaluation
reference information.
[0019]
The evaluation reference information may be a
reference for highly evaluating the cost of a time band
30 in which viewing of the content by more viewers can be
expected, and for highly evaluating the cost of a
9
frequency band in which a higher delivery bit rate for
the content is expected.
[0020]
The evaluation reference information may be a
reference for highly evaluating the cost 5 of a time band
in which viewing of the content by more viewers is
expected.
[0021]
The evaluation reference information may be a
10 reference for highly evaluating the cost of a frequency
band in which a higher delivery bit rate for the content
is expected.
[0022]
The frequency utilization status information
15 acquisition unit may acquire the frequency utilization
status information for each region from an information
management apparatus that manages the frequency
utilization status information for each region.
[0023]
20 The information delivery apparatus may include a
delivery apparatus and a management apparatus, the
delivery apparatus may include the content acquisition
unit and the content delivery unit, and the management
apparatus may include the frequency utilization status
25 information acquisition unit, the delivery evaluation
unit, the delivery information notification unit, and the
electric power supply evaluation result reception unit.
[0024]
An information delivery method according to the
30 second aspect of the present technology corresponds to
the information delivery apparatus according to the
10
second aspect of the present technology.
[0025]
In the information delivery apparatus and method
according to the second aspect of the present technology,
content to be delivered is acquired; 5 frequency
utilization status information concerning a frequency
band utilization status in each time band in a
predetermined region is acquired; on the basis of the
acquired frequency utilization status information, a
10 delivery time band for delivering the acquired content
and a delivery frequency band utilized for the delivery
are evaluated; a plurality of reception apparatuses in
the region is notified of delivery information about the
content to be delivered in the delivery time band by
15 utilizing the delivery frequency band; an evaluation
result concerning the feasibility of electric power
supply to the plurality of reception apparatuses in the
delivery time band is received, wherein the feasibility
is evaluated by the plurality of reception apparatuses in
20 the region notifying a monitoring control apparatus of
electric power supply information based on the delivery
information and including an electric power supply amount
and an electric power supply time at the time of
receiving the content, the monitoring and controlling
25 apparatus monitoring and controlling electric power
supply by an electric power system; when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
evaluation of the feasibility of electric power supply,
the acquired content is delivered to the plurality of
30 reception apparatuses that are placed in a deliveryenabled
state in accordance with the delivery information,
11
by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band; and, when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band cannot be ensured by the evaluation of
the feasibility of electric power supply, the delivery
information with one or both of the 5 delivery time band
and the delivery frequency band modified is notified to
the plurality of reception apparatuses in the region.
[0026]
An information delivery system according to a third
10 aspect of the present technology includes an information
delivery apparatus; an information management apparatus;
a plurality of reception apparatus; and a monitoring
control apparatus that monitors and controls electric
power supply by an electric power system. The
15 information delivery apparatus includes a content
acquisition unit that acquires content to be delivered; a
frequency utilization status information acquisition unit
that acquires a frequency utilization status information
from the information management apparatus that manages
20 the frequency utilization status information concerning a
frequency band utilization status in each time band in a
predetermined region; a delivery evaluation unit that
evaluates, on the basis of the acquired frequency
utilization status information, a delivery time band for
25 delivering the acquired content and a delivery frequency
band utilized for the delivery; and a delivery
information notification unit that notifies a plurality
of the reception apparatuses in the region of delivery
information about the content to be delivered by
30 utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band. Each of the plurality of reception
12
apparatuses includes an electric power supply information
notification unit that notifies, on the basis of the
delivery information notified from the information
delivery apparatus, the monitoring control apparatus of
electric power supply information including 5 an electric
power supply amount and an electric power supply time for
receiving the content. The monitoring control apparatus
includes an electric power supply evaluation unit that
evaluates, on the basis of the electric power supply
10 information notified from each of the plurality of
reception apparatuses, the feasibility of electric power
supply to the plurality of the reception apparatuses in
the delivery time band; and an electric power supply
result notification unit that notifies the information
15 delivery apparatus of a result of evaluation of the
feasibility of electric power supply. The information
delivery apparatus further includes an electric power
supply evaluation result reception unit that receives the
electric power supply feasibility result notified from
20 the monitoring control apparatus; and a content delivery
unit that, when the electric power supply in the delivery
time band is ensured by the electric power supply
feasibility evaluation, delivers the acquired content to
the plurality of reception apparatuses that are placed in
25 a delivery-enabled state in accordance with the delivery
information by utilizing the delivery frequency band in
the delivery time band. The delivery information
notification unit notifies, when the electric power
supply in the delivery time band cannot be ensured by the
30 electric power supply feasibility evaluation, the
plurality of reception apparatuses in the region of the
13
delivery information with one or both of the delivery
time band and the delivery frequency band modified. Each
of the reception apparatuses further includes a control
unit that, when the electric power supply in the delivery
time band is ensured by the electric 5 power supply
feasibility evaluation, implements control based on the
notified delivery information such that a content
reception-enabled state is achieved; and a content
reception unit that receives the content delivered from
10 the information delivery apparatus.
[0027]
The information delivery apparatus, the information
management apparatus, the plurality of reception
apparatuses, and the monitoring control apparatus may be
15 independent apparatuses, or internal blocks of a single
apparatus.
[0028]
In the information delivery system according to the
third aspect of the present technology, content to be
20 delivered is acquired by an information delivery
apparatus; frequency utilization status information is
acquired from an information management apparatus that
manages frequency utilization status information
concerning a frequency band utilization status in each
25 time band in a predetermined region; a delivery time band
for delivering the acquired content and a delivery
frequency band utilized for the delivery are evaluated on
the basis of the acquired frequency utilization status
information; a plurality of reception apparatuses in the
30 region is notified of delivery information about the
content to be delivered by utilizing the delivery
14
frequency band in the delivery time band; a monitoring
control apparatus is notified by the plurality of
reception apparatuses of electric power supply
information including an electric power supply amount and
an electric power supply time for receiving 5 the content
on the basis of the delivery information notified from
the information delivery apparatus; the feasibility of
electric power supply to the plurality of reception
apparatuses in the delivery time band is evaluated by the
10 monitoring control apparatus on the basis of the electric
power supply information notified from each of the
plurality of reception apparatuses; a result of
evaluation of the electric power supply feasibility is
notified to the information delivery apparatus; the
15 electric power supply feasibility result notified from
the monitoring control apparatus is received by the
information delivery apparatus; when the electric power
supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
electric power supply feasibility evaluation, the
20 acquired content is delivered to the plurality of
reception apparatuses that are placed in a deliveryenabled
state in accordance with the delivery information
by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band; when the electric power supply in the delivery
25 time band cannot be ensured by the electric power supply
feasibility evaluation, the delivery information with one
or both of the delivery time band and the delivery
frequency band modified is notified to the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the region; when the electric
30 power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
electric power supply feasibility evaluation, each of the
15
reception apparatuses is controlled to be placed in a
content reception-enabled state on the basis of the
notified delivery information; and the content delivered
from the information delivery apparatus is received.
5
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0029]
According to the first through third aspects of the
present technology, the load on the electric power system
10 at the time of information delivery can be decreased.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0030]
Fig. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a
15 content delivery system according to the present
technology.
Fig. 2 shows a configuration example of a broadcast
server.
Fig. 3 shows a configuration example of a broadcast
20 resource management server.
Fig. 4 shows a configuration example of a WSDB.
Fig. 5 shows a configuration example of a TVBD.
Fig. 6 shows a configuration example of an electric
power control server.
25 Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a content
delivery process.
Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the content
delivery process.
Fig. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the details of a
30 delivery evaluation process.
Fig. 10 shows a common free block identification
16
method.
Fig. 11 shows a cost evaluation graph evaluation
method (in which time low-cost is set).
Fig. 12 shows a cost evaluation graph evaluation
method (in which frequency 5 low-cost is set).
Fig. 13 shows a cost evaluation graph evaluation
method (in which time high-cost and frequency low-cost
are set).
Fig. 14 shows an example of a content selection
10 screen.
Fig. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a delivery
schedule re-notification process.
Fig. 16 shows another configuration of the
embodiment of the content delivery system according to
15 the present technology.
Fig. 17 shows yet another configuration of the
embodiment of the content delivery system according to
the present technology.
Fig. 18 shows a configuration example of a computer.
20
MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0031]
In the following, an embodiment of the present
technology will be described. The description will be
25 made in the following order:
1. First embodiment
2. Second embodiment
3. Third embodiment
4. Modification
30 [0032]
<1. First embodiment>
17
[Configuration of content delivery system]
Fig. 1 shows a configuration of an embodiment of a
content delivery system according to the present
technology.
5 [0033]
A content delivery system 1 includes a broadcast
server 11, a broadcast resource management server 12,
WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N, and TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M. Users'
houses 5-1 to 5-M in which the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are
10 disposed are connected to an electric power network 6 via
electric power lines. To the electric power network 6,
an electric power station 7, an office 8, a factory 9,
and an electric power control server 41 are also
connected.
15 [0034]
The broadcast server 11 is a dedicated server for
delivering content. The broadcast server 11 is disposed
within the facility of a service provider 3. The service
provider 3 is an operator who provides the service of
20 delivering content, such as television programs and
movies.
[0035]
The broadcast server 11 acquires content to be
delivered, and requests a delivery schedule for the
25 content from the broadcast resource management server 12.
[0036]
The broadcast resource management server 12 is a
dedicated server for managing content delivery. The
broadcast resource management server 12 is disposed
30 within the facility of the service provider 3. The
broadcast server 11 and the broadcast resource management
18
server 12 are disposed in the same facility, for example,
and communicate in a wired or wireless manner according
to a predetermined communication system to exchange
various data.
5 [0037]
The broadcast resource management server 12, in
response to the request from the broadcast server 11,
enquires the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N via transmission channels
2 about a frequency band utilization status on a time
10 band basis.
[0038]
The WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N (N: 1, 2,..., N) are
dedicated servers for managing information about the
frequency utilization status on a time band basis in each
15 region (hereafter referred to as "frequency utilization
status information") by using a white space database
(WSDB). The WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N are disposed in the
facility of a network provider 4. The network provider 4
is an operator who provides the frequency utilization
20 status information.
[0039]
The WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N, in response to the inquiry
from the broadcast resource management server 12,
notifies the broadcast resource management server 12 of
25 the frequency utilization status information via the
transmission channels 2.
[0040]
The broadcast resource management server 12, on the
basis of the frequency utilization status information
30 notified by the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N, determines the
content delivery schedule and notifies the broadcast
19
server 11. The broadcast resource management server 12
also notifies the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M of the content
delivery schedule via the transmission channels 2.
[0041]
The broadcast server 11, on 5 the basis of the
delivery schedule notified by the broadcast resource
management server 12, delivers the content to the TVBDs
31-1 to 31-M by broadcasting via the transmission
channels 2.
10 [0042]
The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M (M: 1, 2 ,..., M) are
terminal apparatuses (reception apparatuses) referred to
as TV band devices (TVBD), which performs reproduction or
storing of the delivered content. The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M
15 are disposed in the respective users' houses 5-1 to 5-M
and used therein.
[0043]
The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, on the basis of the
delivery schedule notified by the broadcast resource
20 management server 12, make preparations for receiving the
content delivery and enter a content reception-enabled
state. The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, upon delivery of the
content from the broadcast server 11, receive the content
and reproduce or store the content.
25 [0044]
The users' houses 5-1 to 5-M are connected via
electric power lines to the electric power network 6, and
electronic devices in the users' houses, such as the
TVBDs, are operated with electric power from the electric
30 power network 6.
[0045]
20
The electric power network 6 is an electric power
supply system (electric power system) referred to as a
"smart grid", in which a measuring device with artificial
intelligence and a communication function is disposed to
provide the function for autonomously 5 controlling
electric power demand such that electric power demand can
be optimized without human intervention. The smart grid,
which aims to achieve energy saving and cost reduction
and an increase in reliability and transparency, is
10 gaining increasing attention in various countries in the
world and its practical application is under way.
[0046]
To the electric power network 6, an electric power
substation, a transformer, and the like (not shown) are
15 also connected in addition to the electric power station
7 via electric power lines, and the electric power
generated by the electric power station 7 is supplied via
the electric power substation, the transformer, and the
like to the electric power demanding facilities, such as
20 the users' houses 5-1 to 5-M, the office 8, and the
factory 9.
[0047]
The electric power control server 41 is a dedicated
server for monitoring the amount of electric power
25 generated by the electric power station 7 in the electric
power network 6 and the load on the electric power
demanding equipment such as the users' houses 5-1 to 5-M,
and for controlling electric power in accordance with the
result of monitoring. The electric power control server
30 41 is disposed in the facility of the operator 10
providing the smart grid.
21
[0048]
The electric power control server 41 also receives
information about electric power supply amount and
electric power supply time (hereafter referred to as
"electric power supply information"), 5 which is notified
by the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M via the transmission channels 2
and which is required when receiving the content. The
electric power control server 41, on the basis of the
notified electric power supply information, evaluates the
10 feasibility of electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M, and notifies, via the transmission channels 2, the
broadcast resource management server 12 of the result of
evaluation of the feasibility of electric power supply.
[0049]
15 While not shown in the drawings for the sake of
simplifying description, the broadcast server 11, the
broadcast resource management server 12, and the WSDBs 21
are also connected via electric power lines to the
electric power network 6, and are operated with the
20 electric power from the electric power network 6. Thus,
the communications between the electric power control
server 41 and the TVBD 31 or the broadcast resource
management server 12 may be conducted not only via the
transmission channels 2 but also via the electric power
25 network 6 by the so-called electric power line
communications (PLC).
[0050]
The content delivery system 1 shown in Fig. 1 is
configured as described above.
30 [0051]
In the following description, when it is not
22
necessarily required to distinguish among the WSDBs 21-1
to 21-N, they will be referred to as "the WSDB 21". When
it is not necessarily required to distinguish among the
TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, they will be referred to as "the TVBD
31". When it is not necessarily required 5 to distinguish
among the users' houses 5-1 to 5-M, they will be referred
to as "the user's house 5".
[0052]
[Configuration of each apparatus]
10 Next, with reference to Figs. 2 to 6, the detailed
configuration of each of the broadcast server 11, the
broadcast resource management server 12, the WSDB 21, the
TVBD 31, and the electric power control server 41
constituting the content delivery system 1 of Fig. 1 will
15 be described.
[0053]
[Configuration of broadcast server]
Fig. 2 shows a configuration example of the
broadcast server 11 of Fig. 1.
20 [0054]
The broadcast server 11 includes a control unit 110,
content acquisition unit 111, a communication unit 112,
and a content delivery unit 113.
[0055]
25 The control unit 110 controls the operation of
various parts of the broadcast server 11.
[0056]
The content acquisition unit 111 acquires content
to be delivered to the TVBD 31 by broadcasting, and
30 supplies the content to the control unit 110.
[0057]
23
When the content is supplied from the content
acquisition unit 111, the control unit 110 supplies a
request for a delivery schedule for the content to the
communication unit 112.
5 [0058]
The communication unit 112 transmits the request
for the delivery schedule supplied from the control unit
110 to the broadcast resource management server 12. The
communication unit 112 receives the delivery schedule
10 transmitted from the broadcast resource management server
12 in response to the request for the delivery schedule,
and supplies the delivery schedule to the control unit
110.
[0059]
15 The control unit 110, on the basis of the delivery
schedule supplied from the communication unit 112,
carries out scheduling of a delivery process. The
control unit 110 supplies the content acquired by the
content acquisition unit 111 to the content delivery unit
20 113 in a time band for delivering the content.
[0060]
The content delivery unit 113 delivers the content
supplied from the control unit 110 to the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M by broadcasting via the transmission channels 2,
25 using a frequency band for delivering the content.
[0061]
The broadcast server 11 is configured as described
above.
[0062]
30 [Configuration of broadcast resource management server]
Fig. 3 shows a configuration example of the
24
broadcast resource management server 12 of Fig. 1.
[0063]
The broadcast resource management server 12
includes a control unit 120, a communication unit 121, a
delivery evaluation unit 122, a WSDB inquiry 5 unit 123, a
frequency utilization status information acquisition unit
124, an evaluation reference information acquisition unit
125, a delivery schedule generation unit 126, a delivery
schedule notification unit 127, and an electric power
10 supply evaluation result reception unit 128.
[0064]
The control unit 120 controls the operation of
various parts of the broadcast resource management server
12.
15 [0065]
The communication unit 121 receives the delivery
schedule request transmitted from the broadcast server 11,
and supplies the request to the delivery evaluation unit
122.
20 [0066]
The delivery evaluation unit 122, when the delivery
schedule request is supplied from the communication unit
121, instructs the WSDB inquiry unit 123 to inquire the
WSDB 21.
25 [0067]
The WSDB inquiry unit 123, in response to the
instruction from the delivery evaluation unit 122,
queries the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N via the transmission
channels 2 for the frequency utilization status
30 information. The WSDB inquiry unit 123, in response to
the query, supplies the frequency utilization status
25
information notified by each of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N to
the frequency utilization status information acquisition
unit 124.
[0068]
The frequency utilization 5 status information
acquisition unit 124 acquires the frequency utilization
status information supplied from the WSDB inquiry unit
123, and supplies the information to the delivery
evaluation unit 122. [0069]
10 The evaluation reference information acquisition
unit 125 acquires evaluation reference information and
supplies the information to the delivery evaluation unit
122.
[0070]
15 The evaluation reference information is information
as a reference for evaluation at the time of a delivery
evaluation process carried out by the delivery evaluation
unit 122. For example, the evaluation reference
information is set in advance by a content provider
20 providing the delivery content, such as a content
production company, a broadcast station, and an
individual. The evaluation reference information may be
held by the broadcast resource management server 12.
Alternatively, the evaluation reference information may
25 be acquired simultaneously with the content delivered by
the broadcast server 11.
[0071]
The delivery evaluation unit 122 is supplied with
the frequency utilization status information from the
30 frequency utilization status information acquisition unit
124, and the evaluation reference information from the
26
evaluation reference information acquisition unit 125, as
well as the delivery schedule request supplied from the
communication unit 121.
[0072]
The delivery evaluation unit 122, 5 on the basis of
the frequency utilization status information and the
evaluation reference information, carries out a delivery
evaluation process for evaluating a time band for
delivering the content for which the delivery schedule
10 has been requested (hereafter referred to as a "delivery
time band"), and a frequency band utilized for the
delivery (hereafter referred to as a "delivery frequency
band"). The delivery evaluation unit 122 supplies a
delivery evaluation result obtained by the delivery
15 evaluation process to the WSDB inquiry unit 123 and the
delivery schedule generation unit 126.
[0073]
The WSDB inquiry unit 123, on the basis of the
delivery evaluation result supplied from the delivery
20 evaluation unit 122, notifies the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N via
the transmission channels 2 of information for reserving
the delivery time band and the delivery frequency band as
a reservation block. When the content delivery is
completed, the WSDB inquiry unit 123 notifies the WSDBs
25 21-1 to 21-N via the transmission channels 2 of
information for releasing the reservation block.
[0074]
The delivery schedule generation unit 126, on the
basis of the delivery evaluation result supplied from the
30 delivery evaluation unit 122, generates a delivery
schedule and supplies the schedule to the communication
27
unit 121 and the delivery schedule notification unit 127.
[0075]
The communication unit 121 transmits the delivery
schedule supplied from the delivery schedule generation
unit 126 to the broadcast 5 server 11.
[0076]
The delivery schedule notification unit 127
notifies the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M via the transmission
channels 2 of the delivery schedule supplied from the
10 delivery schedule generation unit 126.
[0077]
The electric power supply evaluation result
reception unit 128 receives the evaluation result
concerning the electric power supply feasibility notified
15 by the electric power control server 41 via the
transmission channels 2, and supplies the evaluation
result to the delivery schedule generation unit 126.
When the electric power line communication with the
electric power control server 41 is performed, the
20 evaluation result concerning the electric power supply
feasibility that has been notified via the electric power
network 6 is received.
[0078]
The delivery schedule generation unit 126, on the
25 basis of the evaluation result concerning the electric
power supply feasibility supplied from the electric power
supply evaluation result reception unit 128, regenerates
a delivery schedule in which one or both of the delivery
time band and the frequency band are modified, and
30 supplies the regenerated delivery schedule to the
communication unit 121 and the delivery schedule
28
notification unit 127.
[0079]
The communication unit 121 transmits the delivery
schedule regenerated by the delivery schedule generation
unit 126 to the broadcast server 5 11. The delivery
schedule notification unit 127 notifies the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M of the delivery schedule regenerated by the delivery
schedule generation unit 126 via the transmission
channels 2.
10 [0080]
The broadcast resource management server 12 is
configured as described above.
[0081]
[Configuration of WSDB]
15 Fig. 4 shows a configuration example of the WSDB 21
of Fig. 1.
[0082]
The WSDB 21 includes a control unit 210, a
communication unit 211, a DB management unit 212, and a
20 WSDB 213.
[0083]
The control unit 210 controls the operation of
various parts of the WSDB 21. By controlling the
communication unit 211 and the DB management unit 212,
25 the control unit 210 collects information concerning a
frequency and a time band that are available in a
predetermined region under management, and registers the
information in the white space data base (WSDB) 213.
[0084]
30 The communication unit 211 receives from the
broadcast resource management server 12 the query for the
29
frequency utilization status information notified via the
transmission channels 2, and supplies the query to the DB
management unit 212.
[0085]
The DB management unit 212, 5 in response to the
query supplied from the communication unit 211, refers to
the WSDB 213 and acquires the frequency utilization
status information. The DB management unit 212 supplies
the frequency utilization status information to the
10 communication unit 211.
[0086]
The communication unit 211 notifies, via the
transmission channels 2, the broadcast resource
management server 12 of the frequency utilization status
15 information supplied from the DB management unit 212.
[0087]
The communication unit 211, when notified by the
broadcast resource management server 12 of a reservation
block or the releasing of the reservation block via the
20 transmission channels 2, supplies the notification to the
DB management unit 212.
[0088]
The DB management unit 212, in response to the
notification supplied from the communication unit 211,
25 refers to the WSDB 213 and carries out a process of
registering the reservation block or releasing the
reservation block.
[0089]
The WSDB 21 is configured as described above.
30 [0090]
[Configuration of TVBD]
30
Fig. 5 shows a configuration example of the TVBD 31
of Fig. 1.
[0091]
The TVBD 31 includes a control unit 310, a
communication unit 311, a display unit 5 312, an input unit
313, a reproduction unit 314, a storage unit 315, a
preference information acquisition unit 316, an electric
power supply information notification unit 317, and an
electric power supply unit 318.
10 [0092]
The control unit 310 controls the operation of
various parts of the TVBD 31.
[0093]
The communication unit 311 receives from the
15 broadcast resource management server 12 the delivery
schedule notified via the transmission channels 2, and
supplies the delivery schedule to the control unit 310.
[0094]
The control unit 310, on the basis of the delivery
20 schedule supplied from the communication unit 311,
carries out a reception process scheduling. The control
unit 310 displays the scheduling result on the display
unit 312.
[0095]
25 The control unit 310 selects, on the basis of an
operation signal from the input unit 313, a desired
content from among the content planned for delivery. The
control unit 310 also selects the desired content based
on preference information acquired by the preference
30 information acquisition unit 316.
[0096]
31
The preference information includes a user viewing
history, for example, which may be held by the TVBD 31 or
acquired from an external apparatus before a process of
selecting the desired content is carried out.
5 [0097]
The control unit 310, when it is immediately before
the delivery time band for the desired content, activates
and controls the TVBD 31 into a state such that the
desired content can be received.
10 [0098]
The communication unit 311 receives the content
delivered from the broadcast server 11 by broadcasting
via the transmission channels 2 and supplies the content
to the control unit 310.
15 [0099]
The control unit 310, when reproducing the content
supplied from the communication unit 311, supplies the
content to the reproduction unit 314. In this case, the
reproduction unit 314 reproduces the content supplied
20 from the control unit 310 in real-time, and causes the
display unit 312 to display the content. When the
content supplied from the communication unit 311 is
stored, the control unit 310 supplies the content to the
storage unit 315 to be stored therein. In this case, the
25 stored content is reproduced by the reproduction unit 314.
[0100]
The electric power supply information notification
unit 317, in accordance with the control by the control
unit 310, generates electric power supply information,
30 which is information concerning an electric power supply
amount required when receiving the content selected by
32
the reception process scheduling and an electric power
supply time, and notifies the electric power control
server 41 via the transmission channels 2. When the
electric power line communication with the electric power
control server 41 is performed, the electric 5 power supply
information is notified via the electric power network 6.
[0101]
The electric power supply unit 318 is connected via
an electric power line to the electric power network 6,
10 and supplies electric power from the electric power
network 6 to various parts of the TVBD 31.
[0102]
The TVBD 31 is configured as described above.
[0103]
15 [Configuration of electric power control server]
Fig. 6 shows a configuration example of the
electric power control server 41 of Fig. 1.
[0104]
The electric power control server 41 includes a
20 connection unit 411, an electric power monitoring control
unit 412, and a communication unit 413.
[0105]
The electric power monitoring control unit 412
monitors, via the connection unit 411, the amount of
25 electric power generated by the electric power station 7
in the electric power network 6, and the load on the
electric power demanding equipment, such as the user's
house 5, the office 8, and the factory 9, and implements
electric power control in accordance with the result of
30 monitoring.
[0106]
33
The communication unit 413 receives the electric
power supply information notified by the TVBD 31 via the
transmission channels 2, and supplies the information to
the electric power monitoring control unit 412.
5 [0107]
The electric power monitoring control unit 412, on
the basis of the electric power supply information
supplied from the communication unit 413, performs
scheduling of electric power supply. The electric power
10 monitoring control unit 412, on the basis of the result
of scheduling of electric power supply, evaluates the
feasibility of electric power supply to the TVBD 31, and
supplies the result of electric power supply feasibility
to the communication unit 413.
15 [0108]
The communication unit 413 notifies, via the
transmission channels 2, the broadcast resource
management server 12 of the result of electric power
supply feasibility supplied from the electric power
20 monitoring control unit 412.
[0109]
When the electric power line communication with the
TVBD 31 or the broadcast resource management server 12 is
performed, the electric power supply information or the
25 electric power supply feasibility result is exchanged via
the electric power network 6.
[0110]
The electric power control server 41 is configured
as described above.
30 [0111]
[Content delivery process]
34
Next, with reference to the flowchart of Figs. 7
and 8, a content delivery process carried out in the
content delivery system 1 of Fig. 1 will be described.
[0112]
In the following, for the sake 5 of simplifying
description, it is assumed that the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M
are present in a region under the management of the WSDBs
21-1 to 21-3. In the flowchart of Figs. 7 and 8, the
TVBD 31-1 and the TVBD 31-M from among the TVBDs 31-1 to
10 31-M will be described as representative examples.
[0113]
In the broadcast server 11, when the content is
acquired by the content acquisition unit 111 (step S11),
the control unit 110 requests the broadcast resource
15 management server 12 for a delivery schedule (step S12).
[0114]
The content acquired by the content acquisition
unit 111 is offered by the content provider, such as a
content production company, a broadcast station, or an
20 individual, via a terminal apparatus, a recording medium,
and the like.
[0115]
In the broadcast resource management server 12,
when the delivery schedule is requested from the
25 broadcast server 11, the WSDB inquiry unit 123 queries
each of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3 about a free block of time
band and frequency band via the transmission channels 2
(step S21).
[0116]
30 In step S31, the DB management unit 212 of the WSDB
21-1 refers to the WSDB 213 and identifies a free block
35
on the basis of the frequency band utilization status in
each time band in the region that the DB management unit
212 manages, and notifies the broadcast resource
management server 12 of the frequency utilization status
information corresponding to the free 5 block. Similarly
in the WSDB 21-2 and the WSDB 21-3, a free block is
identified in each region, and the broadcast resource
management server 12 is notified of the corresponding
frequency utilization status information (steps S41 and
10 S51).
[0117]
In the broadcast resource management server 12, the
frequency utilization status information from the WSDBs
21-1 to 21-3 is acquired by the frequency utilization
15 status information acquisition unit 124 (step S22). Then,
in step S23, the delivery evaluation unit 122, on the
basis of the frequency utilization status information
acquired by the frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit 124, carries out the delivery evaluation
20 process.
[0118]
With reference to the flowchart of Fig. 9, the
details of the delivery evaluation process corresponding
to step S23 of Fig. 7 will be described.
25 [0119]
The delivery evaluation unit 122 acquires the
frequency utilization status information acquired by the
frequency utilization status information acquisition unit
124, and the evaluation reference information acquired by
30 the evaluation reference information acquisition unit 125
(steps S101 and S102).
36
[0120]
In step S103, the delivery evaluation unit 122, on
the basis of the acquired frequency utilization status
information and evaluation reference information,
generates a cost evaluation graph 5 weighted by the
evaluation reference information. The delivery
evaluation unit 122 evaluates the generated cost
evaluation graph (step S104), and identifies the
reservation block in accordance with the result of
10 delivery evaluation (step S105).
[0121]
With reference to Figs. 10 to 13, the details of a
cost evaluation graph evaluation method will be described.
[0122]
15 As shown in Fig. 10(A) to (C), when the free blocks
B1 to B3 notified with the frequency utilization status
information acquired from the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3 are
expressed in a time-frequency plane, the area of the time
band and frequency band identified by the free block B
20 differs for each WSDB 21. The reason is that, as
described above, because the region in which the
frequency band utilization status is managed in each time
band varies from one WSDB 21 to another, the vacant time
band or frequency band differs in each region.
25 [0123]
When the planes shown in Fig. 10(A) to (C) are
expressed in a single plane in an overlapping manner, as
shown in Fig. 10(D), the result consists of an area in
which all of the free blocks B1 to B3 are overlapping; an
30 area in which the free blocks B1 and B2 are overlapping;
an area in which the free blocks B1 and B3 are
37
overlapping; an area in which the free blocks B2 and B3
are overlapping; and areas in which only the free block
B1, B2, or B3 is exclusively present. When the areas in
which all of the free blocks B1 to B3 are overlapping are
extracted, as shown in Fig. 10(E), 5 four common free
blocks are obtained. These common free blocks provide
frequency bands that can be commonly utilized in a common
time band in all of the regions under the management of
the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3.
10 [0124]
Namely, the broadcast server 11 can deliver the
content by broadcasting in the delivery time band in the
common free block areas shown in Fig. 10(E) by utilizing
the delivery frequency band corresponding to the delivery
15 time band. The content delivered by broadcasting is
delivered to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M present in the region
under the management of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3.
[0125]
When the time band and frequency band in the common
20 free block areas are evaluated, the evaluation may be
conducted after weighting the free block areas. For
example, for an area in which the content can be expected
to be viewed by more viewers, such as in the time band of
19:00 to 22:00 on Sunday, the free block utilization cost
25 is set higher. On the other hand, for an area in which
the viewers are expected to be less, such as in a time
band early in the morning or late at night, the free
block utilization cost is set lower.
[0126]
30 For example, as shown in Fig. 11(A) to (C), with
respect to the graphs showing the free blocks B1 to B3 of
38
Fig. 10(A) to (C) on the time-frequency plane, an area
with increased utilization cost (hereafter referred to as
a "time high-cost area") in which viewing by more viewers
can be expected can be set for each WSDB 21.
5 [0127]
When the planes shown in Fig. 11(A) to (C) are
represented on a single plane in an overlapping manner,
as shown in Fig. 11(D), the time high-cost areas are
further overlapped with the overlapping free blocks B1 to
10 B3. Namely, of the common free block areas, a high cost
is expected for the common free blocks in the time highcost
area, while a low cost is expected for the common
free blocks in an area outside the time high-cost areas
(hereafter referred to as a "time low-cost area").
15 [0128]
The evaluation reference information includes a
cost parameter indicating whether priority should be
given to the common free blocks belonging to the time
high-cost area or those belonging to the time low-cost
20 area.
[0129]
For example, when the cost parameter indicates
priority to the time low-cost area, as shown in Fig.
11(E), the common free block in the time low-cost area is
25 selected as a reservation block. While Fig. 11(E) shows
the case in which the time low-cost area is given
priority, the common free block in the time high-cost
area is selected as the reservation block when the cost
parameter indicates priority to the time high-cost area.
30 [0130]
The free block utilization cost may be set
39
depending on the bit rate for content delivery, i.e., the
frequency band cost, in addition to the time band such as
date and time.
[0131]
For example, as shown in Fig. 5 12(A) to (C), with
respect to the graphs showing the free blocks B1 to B3
each on the time-frequency plane, an area in which a high
delivery bit rate is expected and the utilization cost is
high (hereafter referred to as a "frequency high-cost
10 area") can be set for each WSDB 21.
[0132]
When the planes shown in Fig. 12(A) to (C) are
shown on a single plane in an overlapping manner, as
shown in Fig. 12(D), with respect to the overlapping free
15 blocks B1 to B3, the frequency high-cost areas are
further overlapped. Namely, of the common free blocks, a
high cost is expected for the common free blocks in the
frequency high-cost area, while a low cost is expected
for the common free blocks in the area in which the
20 utilization cost is low (hereafter referred to as a
"frequency low-cost area") outside the frequency highcost
area.
[0133]
The evaluation reference information includes, as a
25 cost parameter, a parameter indicating whether priority
should be given to the common free blocks belonging to
the frequency high-cost area or to those belonging to the
frequency low-cost area, in addition to the abovedescribed
parameter concerning the time cost area
30 priority.
[0134]
40
For example, when the cost parameter indicates
priority to the frequency low-cost area, as shown in Fig.
12(E), the common free blocks in the frequency low-cost
area are selected as reservation blocks. While Fig.
12(E) shows the case in which priority 5 is given to the
frequency low-cost area, when the cost parameter
indicates priority to the frequency high-cost area, the
common free blocks in the frequency high-cost area are
selected as the reservation blocks.
10 [0135]
The time costs illustrated in Fig. 11 may be
combined with the frequency costs illustrated in Fig. 12,
and the reservation block may be selected from the common
free blocks in accordance with the combination of the
15 time cost and the frequency cost. Such combinations may
be utilized in a case, for example, in which the time
cost may be maximized while the frequency cost is desired
to be minimized.
[0136]
20 For example, as shown in Fig. 13(A) to (C), with
respect to the graphs showing the free blocks B1 to B3
each on a time-frequency plane, the time high-cost area
and the frequency high-cost may be set.
[0137]
25 When the planes shown in Fig. 13(A) to (C) are
shown on a single plane in an overlapping manner, as
shown in Fig. 13(D), the time high-cost area and the
frequency high-cost area are further overlapped on the
overlapping free blocks B1 to B3. Namely, of the common
30 free blocks, a high cost is expected in the common free
blocks in the time high-cost area or the frequency high41
cost area, while a low cost is expected in the common
free blocks in the time low-cost area or the frequency
low-cost area.
[0138]
For example, when the cost parameter 5 indicates
priority to the time high-cost area and to the frequency
low-cost area, as shown in Fig. 13(E), the common free
blocks in the time high-cost area and in the frequency
low-cost area are selected as reservation blocks.
10 [0139]
While Fig. 13(E) shows the case in which the time
high-cost area and the frequency low-cost area are given
priority, when the cost parameter indicates priority to
the time high-cost area and to the frequency high-cost
15 area, the common free blocks that are in the time highcost
area and that are in the frequency high-cost area
are selected as reservation blocks. Also, when priority
is given to the time low-cost area and to the frequency
low-cost area, or when priority is given to the time low20
cost area and to the frequency high-cost area, the common
free blocks in the prioritized area are selected as
reservation blocks.
[0140]
Thus, in the delivery evaluation unit 122,
25 evaluation is performed after the weighting with the
parameter indicating whether priority is given to the
common free blocks belonging to one or both of the time
high-cost area and the time low-cost area, or to those
belonging to one or both of the frequency high-cost area
30 and the frequency low-cost area, and then the reservation
blocks are identified.
42
[0141]
As described above, the cost parameter is set in
advance by the content provider, such as the content
production company, as evaluation reference information.
5 [0142]
Accordingly, the content provider can set the
content delivery condition (such as the delivery time
band or the delivery frequency band) from the viewpoint
of whether, in light of budgets, for example, the content
10 should be viewed by more viewers or delivered at higher
bit rate. As a result, the content provider can deliver
the desired content within the budgets and under the best
delivery condition.
[0143]
15 Referring back to the flowchart of Fig. 9, when the
process of step S105 is completed, the process is further
returned to the flowchart of Fig. 7 and the process of
step S23 and thereafter is carried out.
[0144]
20 In step S24, the WSDB inquiry unit 123 notifies,
via the transmission channels 2, each of the WSDBs 21-1
to 21-3 of the reservation block identified by the
delivery evaluation process.
[0145]
25 In step S32, the DB management unit 212 of the WSDB
21-1 registers the reservation block notified by the
broadcast resource management server 12 in the WSDB 213.
Similarly in the WSDB 21-2 and the WSDB 21-3, the
notified reservation block is registered in the WSDB 213.
30 [0146]
Thus, in each WSDB 21, the time band and frequency
43
band corresponding to the reservation block are ensured
for content delivery by the broadcast server 11, and
cannot be used for delivering other content.
[0147]
Meanwhile, in the broadcast resource 5 management
server 12, the delivery schedule is generated by the
delivery schedule generation unit 126 on the basis of the
reservation block identified by the delivery evaluation
process (step S25).
10 [0148]
The delivery schedule is delivery information for
the content delivered in the delivery time band and
delivery frequency band allocated to the reservation
block, and includes a file storing metadata (manifest
15 file), for example. For example, in the delivery
schedule (delivery information), information about the
content planned to be delivered in each delivery time
band and delivery frequency band, such as the title,
genre, outline, and purchase price of the content, is
20 stored as the metadata.
[0149]
The broadcast server 11 is notified of the
generated delivery schedule by the communication unit 121.
The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are also notified, via the
25 transmission channels 2, of the generated delivery
schedule by the delivery schedule notification unit 127
(step S26).
[0150]
When notified of the delivery schedule, in the
30 broadcast server 11, scheduling of the delivery process
is performed by the control unit 110 (step S13). The
44
scheduling includes making a plan based on the notified
delivery schedule for delivering the content by
broadcasting using the delivery frequency band in the
delivery time band.
5 [0151]
The broadcast server 11 stands by until the
delivery time band as determined by the control unit 110
("Yes" in step S14 of Fig. 8).
[0152]
10 Meanwhile, in the TVBDs 31-1, when notified of the
delivery schedule, the control unit 310 carries out
scheduling of a reception process (step S61). The
reception process scheduling includes making a plan, on
the basis of the notified delivery schedule, for
15 achieving a state such that the desired content delivered
from the broadcast server 11 can be received by using the
delivery frequency band in the delivery time band.
[0153]
For example, the control unit 310, on the basis of
20 the metadata of the content contained in the delivery
schedule, displays a delivery plan chart on the display
unit 312, the delivery plan chart showing information
about each content planned for delivery, such as the
title, genre, outline, and purchase price of the content
25 on a time-frequency plane, as shown in Fig. 14. The user
confirms the delivery plan chart displayed on the display
unit 312 and selects the desired content he or she wishes
to view from among the content planned for delivery, by
operating the input unit 313.
30 [0154]
The delivery plan chart of Fig. 14 is an example of
45
the screen display for enabling the user to select the
content to be delivered. The delivery plan chart may be
based on other display methods, such as in the form of an
electronic program guide (EPG) that can be utilized on
the TVBD 31, or radio and television 5 listings on the
newspaper.
[0155]
The control unit 310, on the basis of user
preference information acquired by the preference
10 information acquisition unit 316, may carry out a process
of determining by analogy the content from among the
content planned for delivery that matches the preference
of the user using the TVBDs 31-1, and regard the
determined content as the content that the user wishes to
15 view. In this case, the user does not need to select the
desired content. Further, as the preference information,
the user viewing history and the like may be used, in
which case the content of a genre or with a title
corresponding to the viewing history is selected.
20 [0156]
When the reception process scheduling is completed,
the process returns to the flowchart of Fig. 7. In step
S62, the electric power supply information notification
unit 317 notifies, via the transmission channels 2 or the
25 electric power network 6, the electric power control
server 41 of electric power supply information including
information about the electric power supply amount and
the electric power supply time for receiving the content
selected by the reception process scheduling.
30 [0157]
The TVBD 31-1 stands by until immediately before
46
the delivery time band as determined by the control unit
310 (such as several minutes before delivery) ("Yes" in
step S63 of Fig. 8).
[0158]
Similarly, in the TVBDs 5 31-2 to 31-M, upon
notification of the delivery schedule, the reception
process scheduling is carried out. The scheduling
involves making a plan for enabling the reception of the
desired content from the broadcast server 11 by utilizing
10 the delivery frequency band in the delivery time band
(step S71). Further, the electric power control server
41 is notified, via the transmission channels 2 or the
electric power network 6, of the electric power supply
information in accordance with the reception process
15 scheduling (step S72). The TVBDs 31-2 to 31-M stands by
until immediately before the delivery time band as
determined ("Yes" in step S73 of Fig. 8).
[0159]
The electric power supply information notified by
20 the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M via the transmission channels 2 or
the electric power network 6 is received by the
communication unit 413 or the connection unit 411 of the
electric power control server 41. In the electric power
control server 41, electric power supply scheduling based
25 on the electric power supply information is carried out
by the electric power monitoring control unit 412 (step
S81). By the scheduling, a plan for the electric power
amount required in the delivery time band for each
content planned for delivery is made, for example.
30 [0160]
In step S82, the electric power monitoring control
47
unit 412 evaluates the feasibility of electric power
supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery time
band on the basis of the result of electric power supply
scheduling.
5 [0161]
Namely, by the electric power supply scheduling, an
expected value of the total amount of electric power
consumed by the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery time
band is determined. Thus, when the total amount of
10 electric power consumed is not more than a predetermined
electric power amount, the electric power monitoring
control unit 412 evaluates that electric power can be
supplied to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, for example. On the
other hand, when the total amount of electric power
15 consumed is more than the predetermined electric power
amount, it is evaluated that electric power cannot be
supplied to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M.
[0162]
Further, the electric power monitoring control unit
20 412 monitors the amount of electric power generated by
the electric power station 7 and the load on the electric
power demanding equipment, such as the user's house 5 and
the office 8. Thus, when there is surplus electric power
supply in view of their electric power demand and supply,
25 for example, it may be evaluated that electric power
supply is possible even when the expected value of the
total amount of electric power consumed by the TVBDs 31-1
to 31-M is large. Conversely, when there is no electric
power supply surplus, it may be evaluated that electric
30 power supply is impossible even when the expected value
of the total amount of electric power consumed by the
48
TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M is small.
[0163]
Thus, the feasibility of electric power supply to
the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M is evaluated by the electric power
monitoring control unit 412, and when 5 it is evaluated
that electric power supply is possible, electric power to
the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M from the electric power network 6
in the delivery time band is ensured. On the other hand,
when it is evaluated by the electric power monitoring
10 control unit 412 that electric power supply is impossible,
electric power to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M from the
electric power network 6 in the delivery time band cannot
be ensured. Hereafter, in the content delivery process
illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the case in which electric
15 power supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery
time band is ensured by the evaluation of the electric
power supply feasibility will be described.
[0164]
Thereafter, when it is determined that the time is
20 immediately before the delivery time band ("Yes" in step
S63; "Yes" in S73), the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are activated
by the electric power from the respective electric power
supply unit 318 in accordance with the control by the
respective control unit 310. Then, the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-
25 M transition from the stand-by state to the state
enabling the reception of the desired content (steps S64,
S74). Namely, it can be said that, from the viewpoint of
the broadcast server 11 and the broadcast resource
management server 12, the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M enter a
30 state enabling delivery according to the delivery
schedule.
49
[0165]
On the other hand, in the broadcast server 11, when
it is determined that the time is the delivery time band
("Yes" in step S14), the process goes onto step S15. In
step S15, the content delivery unit 5 113 delivers the
content acquired by the content acquisition unit 111 to
the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M by broadcasting using the delivery
frequency band.
[0166]
10 At this time, because the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are
already activated and in the reception-enabled state, the
content delivered from the broadcast server 11 is
received by the communication unit 311 (steps S65, S75).
[0167]
15 In the TVBD 31-1, the content received by the
reproduction unit 314 is reproduced and displayed on the
display unit 312. As described above, the delivered
content may not be reproduced in real-time. For example,
in the TVBD 31-M among the TVBDs 31-2 to 31-M, the
20 received content is stored by the storage unit 315.
[0168]
In this way, the users of the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M
can view the desired content or store the content and
view it later.
25 [0169]
Thereafter, the control unit 310 determines whether
the content delivery by the broadcast server 11 has been
completed. When it is determined that the content
delivery is not completed ("No" in step S67; "No" in S77),
30 the process returns to steps S65 and S75. Then, the
process of receiving the content and reproducing or
50
storing the content is carried out by the broadcast
server 11 until content delivery is completed.
[0170]
When it is determined that the content delivery is
completed ("Yes" in step S67; "Yes" in 5 S77), the control
unit 310 causes the state of the TVBD 31 to transition
from the reception-enabled state to the stand-by state.
Thus, in the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, the process of content
reception and reproduction or storage is completed.
10 [0171]
In the broadcast resource management server 12,
when the content delivery is completed ("Yes" in step
S27), the process goes onto step S28. In step S28, the
WSDB inquiry unit 123 notifies each of the WSDBs 21-1 to
15 21-3 via the transmission channels 2 of the releasing of
the reservation block that has been used for content
delivery.
[0172]
In step S33, the DB management unit 212 of the WSDB
20 21-1 releases the reservation block that has been
registered in the WSDB 213 in accordance with the
notification by the broadcast resource management server
12. Similarly, in the WSDB 21-2 and WSDB 21-3, the
reservation block that has been registered in the WSDB
25 213 is released (steps S43, S53). Thus, the time band
and frequency band corresponding to the reservation block
are released in each WSDB 21 and become available for
delivering other content.
[0173]
30 As described above, in the content delivery system
1, when content is delivered, the frequency utilization
51
status information managed in the WSDB 21 is acquired,
and the delivery time band and delivery frequency band
for the delivered content are evaluated on the basis of
the frequency utilization status information. Then, the
TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the region under 5 the management of
the WSDB 21 are notified of the delivery schedule.
Further, when the electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1
to 31-M is ensured, the content is delivered by
broadcasting to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M that have been
10 placed in the reception-enabled state according to the
delivery schedule.
[0174]
Thus, electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M is ensured only when there is electric power demand
15 surplus, such as when the total amount of electric power
consumed by the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery time
band is not more than the predetermined electric power
amount. Accordingly, the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are placed
in the reception-enabled state when content delivery is
20 performed, so that the load on the electric power system
at the time of content delivery can be decreased.
[0175]
Further, when predetermined content is delivered by
broadcasting, the TVBD 31 of the user wishing to view the
25 content is activated without fail, so that the concurrent
simultaneous reception performance can be improved. As a
result, broadcast delivery characteristics can be fully
exploited, and the efficiency of delivering information,
such as content, can be increased.
30 [0176]
When the delivery time band and the delivery
52
frequency band are evaluated, the evaluation is conducted
after weighting in accordance with the time band or
frequency band, so that, from the viewpoint of the
content provider, the content can be delivered in a
delivery time band and at a bit rate 5 commensurate with
the cost that the provider can afford. Thus, the
information delivery efficiency can be increased in
accordance with the delivery cost, whereby the content
delivery cost-effectiveness can be increased.
10 [0177]
[Delivery schedule re-notification process]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of Fig. 15, a
delivery schedule re-notification process will be
described in a case in which electric power supply to the
15 TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M cannot be ensured by the electric
power supply feasibility evaluation process by the
electric power monitoring control unit 412 (step S82 in
Fig. 7).
[0178]
20 The process according to the flowchart of Fig. 15
is partially omitted with regard to the process
overlapping with the flowchart of Fig. 7, and corresponds
to the process in which, after step S24 of Fig. 7 is
carried out, the reservation block is registered in each
25 of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3.
[0179]
Namely, in step S221, as in step S25 of Fig. 7, a
delivery schedule is generated by the delivery schedule
generation unit 126 on the basis of the reservation block
30 identified by the delivery evaluation process. The
delivery schedule is notified to the broadcast server 11
53
by the communication unit 121, as in step S26 of the Fig.
7, and also to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M by the delivery
schedule notification unit 127 via the transmission
channels 2 (step S222).
5 [0180]
In the broadcast server 11, when notified of the
delivery schedule, delivery process scheduling is
performed by the control unit 110 (step S211) as in step
S13 of Fig. 7. The broadcast server 11 stands by until
10 the delivery time band as determined by the control unit
110.
[0181]
Meanwhile, in the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M, when notified
of the delivery schedule, reception process scheduling is
15 performed by the control unit 310, as in steps S61 and
S71 of Fig. 7 (steps S261, S271). When the reception
process scheduling is completed, in the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-
M, the electric power supply information in accordance
with the reception process scheduling is notified to the
20 electric power control server 41 via the transmission
channels 2 or the electric power network 6, as in steps
S62 and S72 of Fig. 7 (steps S262, S272).
[0182]
The electric power supply information notified from
25 the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M via the transmission channels 2 or
the electric power network 6 is received by the electric
power control server 41. In the electric power control
server 41, as in steps S81 and S82 of Fig. 7, electric
power supply scheduling based on the electric power
30 supply information is performed, and the feasibility of
electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the
54
delivery time band is evaluated on the basis of the
result of the scheduling (steps S281, S282).
[0183]
In step S283, the electric power monitoring control
unit 412 determines whether electric 5 power can be
supplied to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M on the basis of the
evaluation result concerning the electric power supply
feasibility.
[0184]
10 If it is determined in step S283 that electric
power cannot be supplied, the process goes onto step S284.
In step S284, the communication unit 413, in accordance
with the control by the electric power monitoring control
unit 412, notifies the broadcast resource management
15 server 12 of the evaluation result concerning the
electric power supply feasibility via the transmission
channels 2 or the electric power network 6.
[0185]
The evaluation result concerning the electric power
20 supply feasibility notified from the electric power
control server 41 via the transmission channels 2 or the
electric power network 6 is received by the electric
power supply evaluation result reception unit 128 of the
broadcast resource management server 12. Then, the
25 process of step S221 is carried out again, and a delivery
schedule is regenerated by the delivery schedule
generation unit 126.
[0186]
The delivery schedule regeneration process involves,
30 for example, repeating the evaluation of the cost
evaluation graph generated by the delivery evaluation
55
process as described above (step S23 of Fig. 7). Namely,
while the evaluation of the cost evaluation graph as
described above with reference to Figs. 10 to 13 involves
selecting a reservation block from the common free blocks,
in the present case, a reservation block 5 different from
the previously selected reservation block is selected.
Then, the delivery schedule generation unit 126
regenerates the delivery schedule on the basis of the
newly identified reservation block. In this case, in the
10 WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3, the reservation block that has been
registered previously is released and the reservation
block that has been newly selected this time is
registered.
[0187]
15 For example, the cost evaluation graph itself may
be regenerated. In this case, after the previously
registered reservation block of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3 is
released, each of the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-3 is queried about
a free block, as in steps S21 and S22 of Fig. 7, and the
20 frequency utilization status information is acquired.
Then, the delivery evaluation unit 122 regenerates the
cost evaluation graph that is based on the frequency
utilization status information and the evaluation
reference information and that is weighted by the
25 evaluation reference information, as in step S23 of Fig.
7. In this way, evaluation of the regenerated cost
evaluation graph is conducted, and a reservation block
different from the previously selected reservation block
is selected. Thereafter, the delivery schedule
30 generation unit 126 regenerates the delivery schedule on
the basis of the newly identified reservation block.
56
[0188]
A target value of the total amount of electric
power consumed by the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery
time band may be included in the evaluation result
notified from the electric power 5 control server 41
concerning the electric power supply feasibility, for
example, so that the delivery schedule corresponding to
the target value can be regenerated.
[0189]
10 By regenerating the delivery schedule thus, for
example, the delivery time band is shifted compared with
the previous delivery schedule and the viewers of the
content are reduced, whereby the number of the TVBDs 31
that are activated is decreased. Thus, it can be
15 expected that the electric power demand in the delivery
time band can be satisfied. Further, for example, it is
also possible that the electric power demand in the
delivery time band is satisfied by the delivery time band
shifting to a time band with less electric power demand.
20 Further, for example, by lowering the delivery bit rate,
the viewers who expect high image quality content may be
discouraged from viewing.
[0190]
The regenerated delivery schedule is notified again
25 to the broadcast server 11 by the communication unit 121,
while also notified again to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M by
the delivery schedule notification unit 127 via the
transmission channels 2 (step S222).
[0191]
30 In the broadcast server 11, when notified of the
delivery schedule again, the delivery process scheduling
57
is again performed by the control unit 110 (step S211),
and the broadcast server 11 stands by until the delivery
time band.
[0192]
Meanwhile, in the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-5 M, when notified
of the delivery schedule again, the reception process
scheduling is performed in the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M again
(steps S261, S271), and electric power supply information
in accordance with the reception process scheduling is
10 notified to the electric power control server 41 again
(steps S262, S272).
[0193]
The electric power supply information notified from
the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M again is received by the electric
15 power control server 41. Then, the electric power
monitoring control unit 412 again performs the electric
power supply scheduling based on the electric power
supply information (step S281), and the feasibility of
electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the
20 delivery time band is evaluated again (step S282).
[0194]
When it is determined by the re-evaluation of the
electric power supply feasibility that electric power
cannot be supplied to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M ("Yes" in
25 step S283), the process again goes onto step S284.
Namely, the delivery schedule regeneration process as
described above is repeated until the electric power
supply to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery time
band is ensured.
30 [0195]
On the other hand, when the electric power supply
58
to the TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M in the delivery time band is
ensured in the re-evaluation of the electric power supply
feasibility ("No" in step S283), the process of step S284
is skipped. In this case, the broadcast resource
management server 12 is not notified 5 of the evaluation
result concerning the electric power supply feasibility,
the delivery schedule is finalized, and the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M stand by until immediately before the delivery time
band in accordance with the reception process scheduling.
10 [0196]
The subsequent process corresponds to the flowchart
of Fig. 8 and therefore its description will be omitted.
The TVBDs 31-1 to 31-M are activated immediately before
the delivery time band and receive the content delivered
15 by broadcasting from the broadcast server 11.
[0197]
As described above, the delivery schedule is
regenerated until electric power supply to the TVBDs 31-1
to 31-M is ensured, whereby the load on the electric
20 power system during content delivery can be decreased and
the content can be reliably delivered.
[0198]
<2. Second embodiment>
[Another configuration of content delivery system]
25 Fig. 16 shows another configuration of the
embodiment of the content delivery system according to
the present technology.
[0199]
While the broadcast server 11 and the broadcast
30 resource management server 12 have been described as
being independent apparatuses with reference to Fig. 1,
59
these apparatuses may be considered to constitute the
single broadcast server 11, as shown in Fig. 16.
[0200]
Namely, the broadcast server 11 of Fig. 16 is a
single apparatus including a broadcast 5 delivery unit 11A
as a processing unit corresponding to the broadcast
server 11 of Fig. 1, and a broadcast resource management
unit 12A as a processing unit corresponding to the
broadcast resource management server 12 of Fig. 1. The
10 broadcast server 11 of Fig. 16 is disposed in the
facility of the service provider 3.
[0201]
The broadcast delivery unit 11A includes the
control unit 110 to the content delivery unit 113 of Fig.
15 2. The operation of the control unit 110 of Fig. 2 to
the content delivery unit 113 is as described above.
[0202]
The broadcast resource management unit 12A includes
the control unit 120 to the electric power supply
20 evaluation result reception unit 128 of Fig. 3. The
operation of the control unit 120 to the electric power
supply evaluation result reception unit 128 of Fig. 3 is
as described above.
[0203]
25 Thus the content delivery system 1 of Fig. 16 is
configured as described above.
[0204]
<3. Third embodiment>
[Another configuration of content delivery system]
30 Fig. 17 shows yet another configuration of the
embodiment of the content delivery system according to
60
the present technology.
[0205]
While the broadcast server 11, the broadcast
resource management server 12, and the WSDBs 21-1 to 21-N
have been described as being independent 5 apparatuses with
reference to Fig. 1, these apparatuses may be considered
to constitute the single broadcast server 11, as shown in
Fig. 17.
[0206]
10 Namely, the broadcast server 11 of Fig. 17 is a
single apparatus including a WSDB 21A as a processing
unit corresponding to the WSDB 21, in addition to the
broadcast delivery unit 11A and the broadcast resource
management unit 12A of Fig. 17. The broadcast server 11
15 of Fig. 17 is disposed in the facility of a
service/network provider 3A. The service/network
provider 3A is an operator providing both content
delivery service and frequency utilization status
information.
20 [0207]
The WSDB 21A includes the control unit 210 to the
WSDB 213 of Fig. 4. The operation of the control unit
210 to the WSDB 213 of Fig. 4 is as described above.
[0208]
25 Thus the content delivery system 1 of Fig. 17 is
configured as described above.
[0209]
<4. Modification>
In the foregoing description, an example has been
30 described in which both time and frequency as evaluation
reference information are weighted with the two stages of
61
cost of "low" and "high". However, the weighting is not
limited to the two stages, and may be based on three
stages of "low", "middle", and "high", or more than three
stages, such as four stages of "level 1", "level 2",
"level 3", and "level 5 4", for example.
[0210]
With regard to the content delivery by the
broadcast server 11, the content may be delivered not
just by broadcasting such as television broadcasting, but
10 also by other communication systems, such as the Internet.
The "communication" herein may include not only wireless
communication or wired communication but also
communication in which wireless communication and wired
communication are mixed such that wireless communication
15 is performed in one section and wired communication is
performed in another section. The communication may also
include communication such that communication from one
apparatus to another apparatus is conducted via wired
communication, while communication from the other
20 apparatus to a certain apparatus is conducted via
wireless communication.
[0211]
In the foregoing description, the electric power
supply information of which the electric power control
25 server 41 is notified is notified by the TVBDs 31-1 to
31-M. However, the electric power supply information may
be notified by the broadcast resource management server
12. In this case, the broadcast resource management
server 12 notifies the electric power supply information
30 based on the delivery schedule to the electric power
control server 41 via the transmission channels 2, so
62
that the TVBD 31 does not need to notify the electric
power supply information.
[0212]
[Description of computer to which the present technology
5 is applied]
The series of processes described above may be
performed by hardware or software. When the series of
processes is performed by software, a program
constituting the software is installed in a general10
purpose computer and the like.
[0213]
Fig. 18 shows a configuration example of an
embodiment of a computer in which the program for
executing the series of processes is installed.
15 [0214]
The program may be recorded in a recording unit 508,
such as a hard disk in a computer 500, or in a read only
memory (ROM) 502 in advance.
[0215]
20 Alternatively, the program may be stored (recorded),
temporarily or permanently, in a removable medium 511,
such as a flexible disc, a compact disc read only memory
(CD-ROM), a magneto optical (MO) disk, a digital
versatile disc (DVD), a magnetic disk, and a
25 semiconductor memory. The removable medium 511 may be
provided as so-called packaged software.
[0216]
In addition to being installed in the computer 500
from the removable medium 511, the program may also be
30 transferred from a download site via an artificial
satellite for digital satellite broadcasting to the
63
computer 500 wirelessly or in a wired manner via a
network such as a local area network (LAN) or the
Internet. In the computer 500, the transferred program
is received by the communication unit 509 and can be then
installed in the recording 5 unit 508.
[0217]
The computer 500 includes a central processing unit
(CPU) 501. To the CPU 501, an input/output interface 505
is connected via a bus 504. The CPU 501, upon reception
10 of a command inputted via the input/output interface 505
by a user operating an input unit 506, which may include
a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone, executes the
program stored in the ROM 502 in accordance with the
command. Alternatively, the CPU 501 may load a program
15 stored in the recording unit 508, a program transferred
from a satellite or a network, received by the
communication unit 509 and then installed in the
recording unit 508, or a program read from the removable
medium 511 mounted on a drive 510 and installed in the
20 recording unit 508 on a random access memory (RAM) 503
and then execute the program. In this way, the CPU 501
carries out a process according to the flowcharts
described above, or a process according to the block
diagrams described above. The CPU 501 then causes the
25 result of processing to be outputted via an output unit
507 which may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) and
a speaker, transmitted from a communication unit 509, or
recorded in the recording unit 508 as needed via the
input/output interface 505, for example.
30 [0218]
In the present specification, the process steps
64
describing a program for causing the computer to carry
out various processes may not necessarily be processed
chronologically in the order described in the form of a
flowchart, and may include processes which are carried
out in parallel or individually 5 (such as parallel
processes or object-based processes).
[0219]
The program may be processed by a single computer,
or processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of
10 computers. The program may be transferred to a distant
computer and executed thereby.
[0220]
In the present specification, a "system" refers to
an apparatus as a whole including a plurality of
15 apparatuses.
[0221]
The present technology is not limited to the
foregoing embodiment, and various changed may be made
without departing from the gist of the present technology.
20 [0222]
Further, the present technology may include the
following configurations.
[0223]
[1]
25 A reception apparatus including:
an electric power supply information notification
unit that, on the basis of content delivery information
notified from an information delivery apparatus that
delivers content by utilizing a delivery frequency band
30 in a delivery time band, notifies electric power supply
information including an electric power supply amount and
65
an electric power supply time at the time of receiving
the content to a monitoring control apparatus that
monitors and controls electric power supply by an
electric power system;
a control unit that implements control 5 on the basis
of the notified delivery information such that a content
reception-enabled state is achieved when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by an
evaluation of electric power supply feasibility based on
10 the electric power supply information by the monitoring
control apparatus; and
a content reception unit that receives the content
delivered from the information delivery apparatus.
[2]
15 The reception apparatus according to [1], wherein
the electric power supply information notification unit
notifies the monitoring control apparatus of the electric
power supply information on the basis of delivery
information re-notified from the information delivery
20 apparatus when the electric power supply in the delivery
time band cannot be ensured by the electric power supply
feasibility evaluation based on the electric power supply
information by the monitoring control apparatus.
[3]
25 The reception apparatus according to [1] or [2],
wherein:
the control unit selects desired content from the
content delivered from the information delivery apparatus
on the basis of the notified delivery information; and
30 the electric power supply information notification
unit notifies the electric power supply information about
66
the selected content.
[4]
The reception apparatus according to any one of [1]
to [3], wherein the control unit, on the basis of the
delivery information of the selected 5 content, activates
the reception apparatus so as to achieve the content
reception-enabled state immediately before delivery of
the content from the information delivery apparatus.
[5]
10 The reception apparatus according to any one of [1]
to [4], wherein the delivery time band and the delivery
frequency band are determined on the basis of frequency
utilization status information concerning a frequency
band utilization status in each time band in a
15 predetermined region.
[6]
A reception method including the steps of a
reception apparatus:
notifying, on the basis of delivery information
20 notified from an information delivery apparatus that
delivers content by utilizing a delivery frequency band
in a delivery time band, a monitoring control apparatus
of electric power supply information including an
electric power supply amount and an electric power supply
25 time at the time of receiving the content, the monitoring
control apparatus monitoring and controlling electric
power supply by an electric power system;
implementing control based on the notified delivery
information such that a content reception-enabled state
30 is achieved when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band is ensured by an evaluation of
67
electric power supply feasibility based on the electric
power supply information by the monitoring control
apparatus; and
receiving the content delivered from the
information delivery 5 apparatus.
[7]
An information delivery apparatus including:
a content acquisition unit that acquires content to
be delivered;
10 a frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit that acquires frequency utilization
status information concerning a frequency band
utilization status in each time band in a predetermined
region;
15 a delivery evaluation unit that, on the basis of
the acquired frequency utilization status information,
evaluates a delivery time band for delivering the
acquired content and a delivery frequency band utilized
for the delivery;
20 a delivery information notification unit that
notifies a plurality of reception apparatuses in the
region of delivery information about the content to be
delivered by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the
delivery time band;
25 an electric power supply evaluation result
reception unit that receives an evaluation result
concerning the feasibility of electric power supply to
the plurality of reception apparatuses in the delivery
time band, wherein the feasibility is evaluated by the
30 plurality of reception apparatuses in the region
notifying a monitoring control apparatus of electric
68
power supply information based on the delivery
information and including an electric power supply amount
and an electric power supply time at the time of
receiving the content, the monitoring and controlling
apparatus monitoring and controlling 5 electric power
supply by an electric power system; and
a content delivery unit that, when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
evaluation of the feasibility of electric power supply,
10 delivers the acquired content to the plurality of
reception apparatuses that are placed in a deliveryenabled
state in accordance with the delivery information,
by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band,
15 wherein the delivery information notification unit,
when the electric power supply in the delivery time band
cannot be ensured by the evaluation of the feasibility of
electric power supply, notifies the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the region of the delivery
20 information with one or both of the delivery time band
and the delivery frequency band modified.
[8]
The information delivery apparatus according to [7],
further including an evaluation reference information
25 acquisition unit that acquires evaluation reference
information as a reference for evaluating the delivery
time band and the delivery frequency band,
wherein the delivery evaluation unit evaluates the
delivery time band and the delivery frequency band on the
30 basis of the acquired evaluation reference information.
[9]
69
The information delivery apparatus according to [8],
wherein the evaluation reference information is a
reference for highly evaluating the cost of a time band
in which viewing of the content by more viewers can be
expected, and for highly evaluating 5 the cost of a
frequency band in which a higher delivery bit rate for
the content is expected.
[10]
The information delivery apparatus according to [8]
10 or [9], wherein the evaluation reference information is a
reference for highly evaluating the cost of a time band
in which viewing of the content by more viewers is
expected.
[11]
15 The information delivery apparatus according to any
one of [8] to [10], wherein the evaluation reference
information is a reference for highly evaluating the cost
of a frequency band in which a higher delivery bit rate
for the content is expected.
20 [12]
The information delivery apparatus according to any
one of [7] to [11], wherein the frequency utilization
status information acquisition unit acquires the
frequency utilization status information for each region
25 from an information management apparatus that manages the
frequency utilization status information for each region.
[13]
The information delivery apparatus according to any
one of [7] to [12], wherein:
30 the information delivery apparatus includes a
delivery apparatus and a management apparatus;
70
the delivery apparatus includes the content
acquisition unit and the content delivery unit; and
the management apparatus includes the frequency
utilization status information acquisition unit, the
delivery evaluation unit, the delivery 5 information
notification unit, and the electric power supply
evaluation result reception unit.
[14]
An information delivery method including the steps
10 of an information delivery apparatus:
acquiring content to be delivered;
acquiring frequency utilization status information
concerning a frequency band utilization status in each
time band in a predetermined region;
15 evaluating, on the basis of the acquired frequency
utilization status information, a delivery time band for
delivering the acquired content and a delivery frequency
band utilized for the delivery;
notifying a plurality of reception apparatuses in
20 the region of delivery information about the content to
be delivered in the delivery time band by utilizing the
delivery frequency band;
receiving an evaluation result concerning the
feasibility of electric power supply to the plurality of
25 reception apparatuses in the delivery time band, wherein
the feasibility is evaluated by the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the region notifying a
monitoring control apparatus of electric power supply
information based on the delivery information and
30 including an electric power supply amount and an electric
power supply time at the time of receiving the content,
71
the monitoring and controlling apparatus monitoring and
controlling electric power supply by an electric power
system;
delivering, when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band is ensured by the 5 evaluation of the
feasibility of electric power supply, the acquired
content to the plurality of reception apparatuses that
are placed in a delivery-enabled state in accordance with
the delivery information, by utilizing the delivery
10 frequency band in the delivery time band; and
notifying, when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band cannot be ensured by the evaluation of
the feasibility of electric power supply, the delivery
information with one or both of the delivery time band
15 and the delivery frequency band modified to the plurality
of reception apparatuses in the region.
[15]
An information delivery system including:
an information delivery apparatus;
20 an information management apparatus;
a plurality of reception apparatus; and
a monitoring control apparatus that monitors and
controls electric power supply by an electric power
system,
25 wherein the information delivery apparatus
includes:
a content acquisition unit that acquires content to
be delivered;
a frequency utilization status information
30 acquisition unit that acquires the frequency utilization
status information from the information management
72
apparatus that manages frequency utilization status
information concerning a frequency band utilization
status in each time band in a predetermined region;
a delivery evaluation unit that evaluates, on the
basis of the acquired frequency 5 utilization status
information, a delivery time band for delivering the
acquired content and a delivery frequency band utilized
for the delivery; and
a delivery information notification unit that
10 notifies a plurality of the reception apparatuses in the
region of delivery information about the content to be
delivered by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the
delivery time band,
wherein each of the plurality of reception
15 apparatuses includes an electric power supply information
notification unit that notifies, on the basis of the
delivery information notified from the information
delivery apparatus, the monitoring control apparatus of
electric power supply information including an electric
20 power supply amount and an electric power supply time for
receiving the content,
wherein the monitoring control apparatus includes:
an electric power supply evaluation unit that
evaluates, on the basis of the electric power supply
25 information notified from each of the plurality of
reception apparatuses, the feasibility of electric power
supply to the plurality of the reception apparatuses in
the delivery time band; and
an electric power supply result notification unit
30 that notifies the information delivery apparatus of a
result of evaluation of the feasibility of electric power
73
supply,
wherein the information delivery apparatus further
includes:
an electric power supply evaluation result
reception unit that receives the electric 5 power supply
feasibility result notified from the monitoring control
apparatus; and
a content delivery unit that, when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
10 electric power supply feasibility evaluation, delivers
the acquired content to the plurality of reception
apparatuses that are placed in a delivery-enabled state
in accordance with the delivery information by utilizing
the delivery frequency band in the delivery time band,
15 wherein the delivery information notification unit
notifies, when the electric power supply in the delivery
time band cannot be ensured by the electric power supply
feasibility evaluation, the plurality of reception
apparatuses in the region of the delivery information
20 with one or both of the delivery time band and the
delivery frequency band modified,
wherein each of the reception apparatuses further
includes:
a control unit that, when the electric power supply
25 in the delivery time band is ensured by the electric
power supply feasibility evaluation, implements control
based on the notified delivery information such that a
content reception-enabled state is achieved; and
a content reception unit that receives the content
30 delivered from the information delivery apparatus.
74
REFERENCE SINGS LIST
[0224]
1 Content delivery system
2 Transmission channel
6 Electric 5 power network
11 Broadcast server
11A Broadcast delivery unit
12 Broadcast resource management server
12A Broadcast resource management unit
10 21, 21A, 21-1 to 21-N WSDB
31, 31-1 to 31-M TVBD
41 Electric power control server
110 Control unit
111 Content acquisition unit
15 112 Communication unit
113 Content delivery unit
120 Control unit
121 Communication unit
122 Delivery evaluation unit
20 123 WSDB inquiry unit
124 Frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit
125 Evaluation reference information acquisition unit
126 Delivery schedule generation unit
25 127 Delivery schedule notification unit
128 Electric power supply evaluation result reception
unit
210 Control unit
211 Communication unit
30 212 DB management unit
213 WSDB
75
310 Control unit
311 Communication unit
312 Display unit
313 Input unit
314 5 Reproduction unit
315 Storage unit
316 Preference information acquisition unit
317 Electric power supply information notification unit
318 Electric power supply unit
10 412 Electric power monitoring control unit
413 Communication unit
500 Computer
501 CPU
76
CLAIMS
1. A reception apparatus comprising:
an electric power supply information notification
unit that, on the basis of content delivery 5 information
notified from an information delivery apparatus that
delivers content by utilizing a delivery frequency band
in a delivery time band, notifies a monitoring control
apparatus of electric power supply information including
10 an electric power supply amount and an electric power
supply time at the time of receiving the content, the
monitoring control apparatus monitoring and controlling
electric power supply by an electric power system;
a control unit that implements control on the basis
15 of the notified delivery information such that a content
reception-enabled state is achieved when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by an
evaluation of electric power supply feasibility based on
the electric power supply information by the monitoring
20 control apparatus; and
a content reception unit that receives the content
delivered from the information delivery apparatus.
2. The reception apparatus according to claim 1,
25 wherein the electric power supply information
notification unit notifies the monitoring control
apparatus of the electric power supply information on the
basis of delivery information re-notified from the
information delivery apparatus when the electric power
30 supply in the delivery time band cannot be ensured by the
electric power supply feasibility evaluation based on the
77
electric power supply information by the monitoring
control apparatus.
3. The reception apparatus according to claim 1,
5 wherein:
the control unit selects desired content from the
content delivered from the information delivery apparatus
on the basis of the notified delivery information; and
the electric power supply information notification
10 unit notifies the electric power supply information about
the selected content.
4. The reception apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the control unit, on the basis of the delivery
15 information of the selected content, activates the
reception apparatus so as to achieve the content
reception-enabled state immediately before delivery of
the content from the information delivery apparatus.
20 5. The reception apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the delivery time band and the delivery frequency
band are determined on the basis of frequency utilization
status information concerning a frequency band
utilization status in each time band in a predetermined
25 region.
6. A reception method comprising the steps of a
reception apparatus:
notifying, on the basis of delivery information
30 notified from an information delivery apparatus that
delivers content by utilizing a delivery frequency band
78
in a delivery time band, a monitoring control apparatus
of electric power supply information including an
electric power supply amount and an electric power supply
time at the time of receiving the content, the monitoring
and control apparatus monitoring and controlling 5 electric
power supply by an electric power system;
implementing control based on the notified delivery
information such that a content reception-enabled state
is achieved when the electric power supply in the
10 delivery time band is ensured by an evaluation of
electric power supply feasibility based on the electric
power supply information by the monitoring control
apparatus; and
receiving the content delivered from the
15 information delivery apparatus.
7. An information delivery apparatus comprising:
a content acquisition unit that acquires content to
be delivered;
20 a frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit that acquires frequency utilization
status information concerning a frequency band
utilization status in each time band in a predetermined
region;
25 a delivery evaluation unit that, on the basis of
the acquired frequency utilization status information,
evaluates a delivery time band for delivering the
acquired content and a delivery frequency band utilized
for the delivery;
30 a delivery information notification unit that
notifies a plurality of reception apparatuses in the
79
region of delivery information about the content to be
delivered by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the
delivery time band;
an electric power supply evaluation result
reception unit that receives an 5 evaluation result
concerning the feasibility of electric power supply to
the plurality of reception apparatuses in the delivery
time band, wherein the feasibility is evaluated by the
plurality of reception apparatuses in the region
10 notifying a monitoring control apparatus of electric
power supply information based on the delivery
information and including an electric power supply amount
and an electric power supply time at the time of
receiving the content, the monitoring and controlling
15 apparatus monitoring and controlling electric power
supply by an electric power system; and
a content delivery unit that, when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
evaluation of the feasibility of electric power supply,
20 delivers the acquired content to the plurality of
reception apparatuses that are placed in a deliveryenabled
state in accordance with the delivery information,
by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the delivery
time band,
25 wherein the delivery information notification unit,
when the electric power supply in the delivery time band
cannot be ensured by the evaluation of the feasibility of
electric power supply, notifies the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the region of the delivery
30 information with one or both of the delivery time band
and the delivery frequency band modified.
80
8. The information delivery apparatus according to
claim 7, further comprising an evaluation reference
information acquisition unit that acquires evaluation
reference information as a reference 5 for evaluating the
delivery time band and the delivery frequency band,
wherein the delivery evaluation unit evaluates the
delivery time band and the delivery frequency band on the
basis of the acquired evaluation reference information.
10
9. The information delivery apparatus according to
claim 8, wherein the evaluation reference information is
a reference for highly evaluating the cost of a time band
in which viewing of the content by more viewers can be
15 expected, and for highly evaluating the cost of a
frequency band in which a higher delivery bit rate for
the content is expected.
10. The information delivery apparatus according to
20 claim 8, wherein the evaluation reference information is
a reference for highly evaluating the cost of a time band
in which viewing of the content by more viewers is
expected.
25 11. The information delivery apparatus according to
claim 8, wherein the evaluation reference information is
a reference for highly evaluating the cost of a frequency
band in which a higher delivery bit rate for the content
is expected.
30
12. The information delivery apparatus according to
81
claim 7, wherein the frequency utilization status
information acquisition unit acquires the frequency
utilization status information for each region from an
information management apparatus that manages the
frequency utilization status information 5 for each region.
13. The information delivery apparatus according to
claim 7, wherein:
the information delivery apparatus includes a
10 delivery apparatus and a management apparatus;
the delivery apparatus includes the content
acquisition unit and the content delivery unit; and
the management apparatus includes the frequency
utilization status information acquisition unit, the
15 delivery evaluation unit, the delivery information
notification unit, and the electric power supply
evaluation result reception unit.
14. An information delivery method comprising the steps
20 of an information delivery apparatus:
acquiring content to be delivered;
acquiring frequency utilization status information
concerning a frequency band utilization status in each
time band in a predetermined region;
25 evaluating, on the basis of the acquired frequency
utilization status information, a delivery time band for
delivering the acquired content and a delivery frequency
band utilized for the delivery;
notifying a plurality of reception apparatuses in
30 the region of delivery information about the content to
be delivered in the delivery time band by utilizing the
82
delivery frequency band;
receiving an evaluation result concerning the
feasibility of electric power supply to the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the delivery time band, wherein
the feasibility is evaluated by 5 the plurality of
reception apparatuses in the region notifying a
monitoring control apparatus of electric power supply
information based on the delivery information and
including an electric power supply amount and an electric
10 power supply time at the time of receiving the content,
the monitoring and controlling apparatus monitoring and
controlling electric power supply by an electric power
system;
delivering, when the electric power supply in the
15 delivery time band is ensured by the evaluation of the
feasibility of electric power supply, the acquired
content to the plurality of reception apparatuses that
are placed in a delivery-enabled state in accordance with
the delivery information, by utilizing the delivery
20 frequency band in the delivery time band; and
notifying, when the electric power supply in the
delivery time band cannot be ensured by the evaluation of
the feasibility of electric power supply, the delivery
information with one or both of the delivery time band
25 and the delivery frequency band modified to the plurality
of reception apparatuses in the region.
15. An information delivery system comprising:
an information delivery apparatus;
30 an information management apparatus;
a plurality of reception apparatus; and
83
a monitoring control apparatus that monitors and
controls electric power supply by an electric power
system,
wherein the information delivery apparatus
5 includes:
a content acquisition unit that acquires content to
be delivered;
a frequency utilization status information
acquisition unit that acquires the frequency utilization
10 status information from the information management
apparatus that manages frequency utilization status
information concerning a frequency band utilization
status in each time band in a predetermined region;
a delivery evaluation unit that evaluates, on the
15 basis of the acquired frequency utilization status
information, a delivery time band for delivering the
acquired content and a delivery frequency band utilized
for the delivery; and
a delivery information notification unit that
20 notifies a plurality of the reception apparatuses in the
region of delivery information about the content to be
delivered by utilizing the delivery frequency band in the
delivery time band,
wherein each of the plurality of reception
25 apparatuses includes an electric power supply information
notification unit that notifies, on the basis of the
delivery information notified from the information
delivery apparatus, the monitoring control apparatus of
electric power supply information including an electric
30 power supply amount and an electric power supply time for
receiving the content ,
84
wherein the monitoring control apparatus includes:
an electric power supply evaluation unit that
evaluates, on the basis of the electric power supply
information notified from each of the plurality of
reception apparatuses, the feasibility 5 of electric power
supply to the plurality of the reception apparatuses in
the delivery time band; and
an electric power supply result notification unit
that notifies the information delivery apparatus of a
10 result of evaluation of the feasibility of electric power
supply,
wherein the information delivery apparatus further
includes:
an electric power supply evaluation result
15 reception unit that receives the electric power supply
feasibility result notified from the monitoring control
apparatus; and
a content delivery unit that, when the electric
power supply in the delivery time band is ensured by the
20 electric power supply feasibility evaluation, delivers
the acquired content to the plurality of reception
apparatuses that are placed in a delivery-enabled state
in accordance with the delivery information by utilizing
the delivery frequency band in the delivery time band,
25 wherein the delivery information notification unit
notifies, when the electric power supply in the delivery
time band cannot be ensured by the electric power supply
feasibility evaluation, the plurality of reception
apparatuses in the region of the delivery information
30 with one or both of the delivery time band and the
delivery frequency band modified,
85
wherein each of the reception apparatuses further
includes:
a control unit that, when the electric power supply
in the delivery time band is ensured by the electric
power supply feasibility evaluation, 5 implements control
based on the notified delivery information such that a
content reception-enabled state is achieved; and
a content reception unit that receives the content
delivered from the information delivery apparatus.
10