Network device, information processing apparatus, stream switching method, information processing method, program, and content distribution system

A stream switching method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a latest time point of distribution of the reference compressed video data, after analyzing each of multiple compressed data streams that are generated from single video/audio content in such a manner that positions of video frames corresponding to reference compressed video data and time points of distribution of the reference compressed video data are different to each other, the reference compressed video data being data, in time series data generated by compressing a video signal, for which decoding of a subsequent video signal can be started without depending on previous data;
• receiving a distribution request for video/audio content transmitted from an information processing apparatus which reproduces the video/audio content;
• selecting compressed data streams to be distributed to the information processing apparatus among the multiple compressed data streams corresponding to the video/audio content related to the distribution request, using a distribution time point of the reference compressed video data detected in the step of detecting the time point of distribution of the reference compressed video data;
• and
• switching the compressed data streams to be distributed to the information processing apparatus that transmitted the distribution request into the compressed data stream selected by the step of selecting the compressed data streams.

A program causing a computer to realize the functions of:

• a stream analysis section for analyzing each of multiple compressed data streams that are generated from single video/audio content in such a manner that positions of video frames corresponding to reference compressed video data and time points of distribution of the reference compressed video data are different to each other, the reference compressed video data being data, in time series data generated by compressing a video signal, for which decoding of a subsequent video signal can be started without depending on previous data, to detect a latest time point of distribution of the reference compressed video data;
• a distribution request processing section for receiving a distribution request for video/audio content transmitted from an information processing apparatus which reproduces the video/audio content as well as using a distribution time point of the reference compressed video data that is detected by the stream analysis section, to select a compressed data stream to be distributed to the information processing apparatus among the multiple compressed data streams corresponding to the video/audio content related to the distribution request;
• and
• a distribution switching section for switching the compressed data streams to be distributed to the information processing apparatus that transmitted the distribution request into the compressed data stream selected by the distribution request processing section.

A content distribution system comprising:

• a content server including multiple encoders for encoding video/audio content in such a manner that positions of video frames corresponding to reference compressed video data and time points of distribution of the reference compressed video data are different to each other, the reference compressed video data being data, in time series data generated by compressing a video signal, for which decoding of a subsequent video signal can be started without depending on previous data, and that generates multiple compressed data streams from the single video/audio content;
• an information processing apparatus for reproducing the compressed data streams that are corresponding to the multiple distributed video/audio content and that are to be distributed by the content server;
• and
• a network device for distributing the multiple compressed data streams distributed by the one or multiple content servers to the information processing apparatus desired for a distribution of the compressed data streams;
• and
• wherein the network device includes:
• a stream analysis section for detecting a latest time point of distribution of the reference compressed video data after analyzing the multiple compressed data streams distributed by the one or multiple content servers;
• a distribution request processing section for receiving a distribution request for video/audio content transmitted from an information processing apparatus as well as using a distribution time point of the reference compressed video data that is detected by the stream analysis section, to select a compressed data stream to be distributed to the information processing apparatus among the multiple compressed data streams corresponding to the video/audio content related to the distribution request;
• and
• a distribution switching section for switching the compressed data streams to be distributed to the information processing apparatus that transmitted the distribution request into the compressed data stream selected by the distribution request processing section,
• wherein the information processing apparatus requests the network device for a distribution of all the multiple compressed data streams corresponding to the video/audio content necessary to be acquired, and includes a content acquisition section for acquiring the video/audio content from the network device.