Streaming delivery method and system, server system, terminal, and computer program

A server system for delivering video contents to a client via a network by streaming, comprising:

• a first and a second storage area;
• a streaming delivery controller that delivers video contents stored in the first storage area to the client via the network by streaming and that stores additional video contents in the second storage area;
• a list generator that generates a list of title information of at least one of the additional video contents that have been stored in the second storage area, the additional video contents being separate from the video contents stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• a list transmitter that delivers the list to the client via the network;
• and
• a list update unit for generating data for updating the list and delivering the same to the client via the network, where the updating is responsive to the at least one of the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the at least one of the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area,
• wherein while a first video content stored in the first storage area is delivered to the client, delivery of a second video content contained in the list updated by the list update unit is started in response to a request that is sent from the client to designate the second video content, and wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A server system for delivering video contents to a client via a network by streaming, comprising:

• first and a second storing means;
• means for controlling streaming delivery to deliver video contents stored in the first storage area to the client via the network by streaming and that stores additional video contents in the second storage area;
• means for generating a list of title information of at least one of the additional video contents that have been stored in the second storage area, the additional video contents being separate from the video contents stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• means for delivering the list to the client via the network;
• and
• means for generating data for updating the list and delivering the same to the client via the network, where the updating is responsive to the at least one of the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the at least one of the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area,
• wherein while a first video content stored in the first storage area is delivered to the client, delivery of a second video content contained in the list updated by the list update unit is started in response to a request that is sent from the client to designate the second video content, and wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program executed by a computer to perform a method of

• delivering a video content to a client via a network, the method comprising the steps of:
• delivering to a client a first video content stored in a first storage area accessible to the computer;
• storing additional video contents in a second storage area accessible to the computer;
• delivering to the client a list of title information of at least one of the additional video contents that have been stored in the second storage area to display the list on the client, the additional video contents being separate from the first video content stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• delivering to the client data for updating the list in accordance with the additional video contents stored in the second storage area, such that the updating is responsive to the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, and such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area;
• receiving from the client a request that designates one of the second video contents in the updated list;
• and
• delivering to the client the second video content in response to the request, wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A terminal receiving delivery of video contents from a server system comprising at least one server via a network by streaming, the terminal comprising:

• a receiver that receives from the server system comprising a first and a second storage area delivery of a first video content stored in the first storage area to play back the first video content;
• a receiver that receives from the server system delivery of a list of title information of at least one additional video content stored in the second storage area to display the list, the additional video contents being separate from the first video content stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• a receiver that receives from the server system delivery of data for updating the list to display the updated list, where the updating is responsive to the at least one of the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the at least one of the video contents have been stored in the second storage area;
• an input device that receives an input designating a second video content from the updated list to deliver a request of the second video content to the server system;
• and
• a player that plays back the second video content delivered from the server system in response to the request, wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A terminal receiving delivery of video contents from a server system comprising at least one server via a network by streaming, the terminal comprising:

• means for receiving from the server system comprising a first and a second storage area delivery of a first video content stored in the first storage area to play back the first video content;
• means for receiving from the server system delivery of a list of title information of additional video contents stored in the second storage area to display the list, the additional video contents being separate from the first video content stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• means for receiving from the server system delivery of data for updating the list and displaying the updated list, where the updating is responsive to the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area;
• means for receiving an input designating a second video content from the updated list to deliver a request of the second video content to the server system;
• and
• means for playing back the second video content delivered from the server system in response to the request, wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A non-transitory computer-readable data storage medium storing a computer program executed by a computer to perform a method of receiving video contents from a server system that comprises at least one server and delivers video contents via a network to clients by streaming, wherein the server system comprises a first storage area and a second storage area, and the method comprises:

• receiving from the server system delivery of a first video content stored in the first storage area to play back the received first video content;
• receiving from the server system delivery of a list of title information of additional video contents that have been stored in the second storage area to display the list, the additional video contents being separate from the first video content stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• receiving from the server system delivery of data for updating the list to display the updated list, where the updating is responsive to the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area;
• receiving an input designating a second video content from the updated list to deliver a request of the second video content to the server system;
• and
• playing back the second video content delivered by the server system in response to the request, wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.

A streaming delivery system for delivering video contents to a client via a network by streaming, comprising at least one server and at least one terminal, wherein

• the server comprises:
• a first and a second storage area;
• a streaming delivery controller that delivers video contents stored in the first storage area to the client via the network by streaming, and that stores additional video contents in the second storage area;
• a list generator that generates a list of title information of at least one of the additional video contents stored in the second storage area, the additional video contents being separate from the video contents stored in the first storage area, and the title information of the additional video contents not being a part of or a transformation of the additional video contents;
• a list transmitter that delivers the list to the client via the network;
• and
• a list update unit for generating data for updating the list and delivering the same to the client via the network, where the updating is responsive to the at least one of the additional video contents having been stored in the second storage area, such that a user who is watching the video contents is notified that the at least one of the additional video contents have been stored in the second storage area, and
• the terminal comprises:
• a receiver that receives from the server delivery of the first video content stored in the first storage area to play back the first video content;
• a receiver that receives from the server delivery of the list to display the list;
• a receiver that receives from the server delivery of the data for updating the list to display an updated list;
• an input device that receives an input designating a second video content from the updated list to deliver a request of the second video content to the server system;
• and
• a player that plays back the second video content delivered from the server system in response to the request, wherein:
• each of the video contents stored in the second storage area is related with attribute information;
• the video contents in the list are selected from among the video contents stored in the second storage area based on the attribute information;
• and,
• the attribute information comprises time attribute information;
• and the selection is made based on the time attribute information.