# US 8,752,101 B2 · Distribution system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,752,101 B2 - Document ID: US8752101B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/508,025 - Filed: 2010-10-13 - Published: 2012-09-06 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-11-05 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: Takeo Onishi - Inventors: Takeo Onishi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8752101B2 ## CPC - H04N 21/234: Processing of video elementary streams, e.g. splicing of video streams or manipulating encoded video stream scene graphs - H04N 21/26283: {for associating distribution time parameters to content, e.g. to generate electronic programme guide data} - H04N 21/4331: {Caching operations, e.g. of an advertisement for later insertion during playback} - H04N 21/6379: directed to encoder {, e.g. for requesting a lower encoding rate} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A distribution system 100 includes a transmission device 110 and a reception device 120. The transmission device transmits content data coded with a certain code rate to the reception device. The reception device, while receiving the content data transmitted by the transmission device, stores received data into a storage device and also reproduces content based on the stored data. The distribution system determines a code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time from a present moment and an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproduction of the content based on the stored data. The transmission device changes the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the determined code rate. The reception device starts reproduction of the content at the reproduction start point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A distribution system, including a transmission device and a reception device configured to be capable of communicating with each other, the transmission device being equipped with a content transmitting unit for transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, and the reception device being equipped with a content reproducing unit for, while receiving the content data transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data, the distribution system, comprising a code rate determining unit for determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device, wherein: the content transmitting unit is configured to change the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to the determined code rate; and the content reproducing unit is configured to start reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine a value becoming smaller as the available reproduction time becomes shorter than a target available reproduction time, which is a target value of the available reproduction time, and becoming smaller as the remaining time becomes shorter, as the code rate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to acquire a communication speed, which is a data amount of the content data transmitted from the transmission device to the reception device per unit time, and determine a value of a result of dividing a value of a result of multiplying the acquired communication speed and the remaining time by a value of a result of subtracting the available reproduction time from the target available reproduction time, as the code rate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine the code rate with every change period set in advance. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The distribution system according to claim 1, further including a plurality of the reception devices, the distribution system further comprising a synchronous reproduction controlling unit for matching reproduction positions of the content to be reproduced by the plurality of the reception devices, respectively, with each other among the plurality of the reception devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The distribution system according to claim 5, further comprising a reproduction start time setting unit for setting the reproduction start time based on a target available reproduction time, which is a target value of the available reproduction time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the content transmitting unit is configured to, when second reproduction start time, which is reproduction start time set for a second reception device as one of the plurality of the reception devices, is later than first reproduction start time, which is reproduction start time set for a first reception device as another one of the plurality of the reception devices, estimate a reproduction position of the content being reproduced by the first reception device at the second reproduction start time and transmit a portion of the content data at and after the estimated reproduction position to the second reception device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the reproduction start time setting unit is configured to, for each reception device of the plurality of the reception devices, calculate an each-device reproduction preparation time as a time required for the reception device to start reproduction of the content and set the reproduction start time based on a maximum value of the calculated each-device reproduction preparation time. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the reproduction start time setting unit is configured to set the reproduction start time based on an activation time, which is a time required for activation of an application program to be executed by the reception device for reproduction of the content, and the target available reproduction time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the reproduction start time setting unit is configured to set the reproduction start time based on a communication speed, which is a data amount of the content data transmitted from the transmission device to the reception device per unit time, and the target available reproduction time. ### Claim 11 A distribution method applied to a distribution system including a transmission device and a reception device configured to be capable of communicating with each other, the distribution method comprising: transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, by the transmission device; while receiving the content data transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data, by the reception device; determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment, and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device; changing the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to the determined code rate, by the transmission device; and starting reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time, by the reception device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining a value becoming smaller as the available reproduction time becomes shorter than a target available reproduction time, which is a target value of the available reproduction time, and becoming smaller as the remaining time becomes shorter, as the code rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The distribution method according to claim 12, further comprising: acquiring a communication speed, which is a data amount of the content data transmitted from the transmission device to the reception device per unit time; and determining a value of a result of dividing a value of a result of multiplying the acquired communication speed and the remaining time by a value of a result of subtracting the available reproduction time from the target available reproduction time, as the code rate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The distribution method according to claim 11, further comprising: determining the code rate with every change period set in advance. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The distribution method according to claim 11, applied to the distribution system including a plurality of the reception devices, the distribution method further comprising: matching reproduction positions of the content to be reproduced by the plurality of the reception devices, respectively, with each other among the plurality of the reception devices. ### Claim 16 A transmission device configured to be capable of communicating with a reception device, the transmission device comprising: a content transmitting unit for transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, wherein the content transmitting unit is configured to change the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to a code rate determined based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The transmission device according to claim 16, further comprising: a code rate determining unit means for determining the code rate based on the remaining time and the available reproduction time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine a value becoming smaller as the available reproduction time becomes shorter than a target available reproduction time, which is a target value of the available reproduction time, and becoming smaller as the remaining time becomes shorter, as the code rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The transmission device according to claim 18, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to acquire a communication speed, which is a data amount of the content data transmitted from the transmission device to the reception device per unit time, and determine a value of a result of dividing a value of a result of multiplying the acquired communication speed and the remaining time by a value of a result of subtracting the available reproduction time from the target available reproduction time, as the code rate. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The transmission device according to claim 16, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine the code rate with every change period set in advance. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program comprising instructions for causing a transmission device configured to be capable of communicating with a reception device to realize a content transmitting unit for transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, wherein the content transmitting unit is configured to change the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to a code rate determined based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment, and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device. ### Claim 22 A reception device configured to be capable of communicating with a transmission device, the reception device comprising: a content reproducing unit for, while receiving content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other and is transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data; and a code rate determining unit for determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time to start reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device, wherein the content reproducing unit is configured to receive content data coded with the determined code rate and start reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The reception device according to claim 22, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine a value becoming smaller as the available reproduction time becomes shorter than a target available reproduction time, which is a target value of the available reproduction time, and becoming smaller as the remaining time becomes shorter, as the code rate. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The reception device according to claim 23, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to acquire a communication speed, which is a data amount of the content data transmitted from the transmission device to the reception device per unit time, and determine a value of a result of dividing a value of a result of multiplying the acquired communication speed and the remaining time by a value of a result of subtracting the available reproduction time from the target available reproduction time, as the code rate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The reception device according to claim 22, wherein the code rate determining unit is configured to determine the code rate with every change period set in advance. ### Claim 26 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program comprising instructions for causing a reception device configured to be capable of communicating with a transmission device to realize: a content reproducing unit for, while receiving content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other and is transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data; and a code rate determining unit for determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment, and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device, wherein the content reproducing unit is configured to receive content data coded with the determined code rate and start reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time. ### Claim 27 A distribution system, including a transmission device and a reception device configured to be capable of communicating with each other, the transmission device being equipped with a content transmitting means for transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, and the reception device being equipped with a content reproducing means for, while receiving the content data transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data, the distribution system, comprising a code rate determining means for determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device, wherein: the content transmitting means is configured to change the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to the determined code rate; and the content reproducing means is configured to start reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time. ### Claim 28 A transmission device configured to be capable of communicating with a reception device, the transmission device comprising: a content transmitting means for transmitting content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other, to the reception device, wherein the content transmitting means is configured to change the code rate of the content data to be transmitted to the reception device to a code rate determined based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time at which the reception device starts reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device of the reception device. ### Claim 29 A reception device configured to be capable of communicating with a transmission device, the reception device comprising: a content reproducing means for, while receiving content data, which is one content coded with any one code rate of a plurality of code rates different from each other and is transmitted by the transmission device, storing received data of the content data into a storage device and also reproducing the content based on the stored data; and a code rate determining means for determining the code rate based on a remaining time before reproduction start time set as time to start reproduction of the content from a present moment and based on an available reproduction time, which is a time available for reproducing the content based on the content data stored in the storage device, wherein the content reproducing means is configured to receive content data coded with the determined code rate and start reproduction of the content at the set reproduction start time.