JP2001236079A - Distribution path control method for contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a supplier to control the distribution path of contents. SOLUTION: Distribution path control information showing whether the distribution of contents is approve or inhibit by means of terminals 2 and 5 installed at sales stores on the distribution path is set for every content. Before a server 1 downloads contents to the terminal 5 of the sales store, the terminals 2 and 5 transmit download desired contents and sales store installation terminal IDs to the server 1. The server 1 identified the terminals 2 and 5 by the IDs, collates the terminals with distribution path control information in a herder, downloads the desired contents when they are 'approved for distribution'. When it is 'distribution inhibitted', no downloading is conducted for the desired contents.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution route control method for a content distribution system for transferring (downloading) content data such as music from a host to a player on a user side via a network such as the Internet or a public telephone line. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as a system for selling content data (software) such as music to users, instead of using tangible or paid recording media such as CDs (compact discs) and DVDs (digital versatile discs). Attention has been paid to a network distribution system that transfers the data to a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory in a user's player through a network such as a store-installed terminal or the Internet on condition that payment is made, and reproduces the data. .

As an example of a network distribution system, a system via the Internet in which content data is transferred from an Internet server (host) to a player via the Internet and an Internet client (user personal computer) is considered. Another example is
A method is conceivable in which content data is transferred to a store-installed terminal via a satellite communication line or a public telephone line, and further transferred from the store-installed terminal to a player. In the latter system, a system via a public telephone line that directly transfers to a player via a public telephone line without passing through a store-installed terminal can be considered.

[0004]

[0005] By the way, instead of directly transferring the content from a server such as a copyright holder to a player of an end user, a sales server installed in a record store or a convenience store on a distribution channel is used. In a network distribution system that transfers data to an end user's player via a shop-installed terminal, there is a demand for a supplier to restrict a distribution channel instead of selling through all distribution channels.

[0005] For example, there is a demand that sales be permitted through record shops, but classified into genres such as record shops and convenience stores, but that sales be prohibited through convenience stores. Also, there is a request that, even if a record shop is permitted, sales are permitted via the A record store but a record shop is prohibited via the B record store. Therefore, in such a network distribution system, there is a problem that the system must be configured to satisfy these requirements on the supply side. The content can be applied not only to music but also to other software such as a movie.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a distribution route control method for a content distribution system in which a supply source can control a distribution route of content.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention sets distribution route control information indicating whether distribution by a terminal on a distribution route is permitted or prohibited for each content. The distribution of the content is permitted or prohibited based on the route control information.
That is, according to the present invention, there is provided a distribution route control method for a content distribution system for transferring content to a player on a user side via a retailer terminal on the distribution route, wherein the content is allowed to be sold by the retailer terminal for each content. A distribution channel control method for a content distribution system is provided in which distribution channel control information indicating whether to perform or prohibit is set, and based on the distribution channel control information, sales of the content is permitted or prohibited.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a network distribution system according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the editing system in FIG. 1 in detail, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a header, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the distribution route control information in detail, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the distribution route control information in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution route controlled by the distribution route control information.

FIG. 1 shows a system for distributing music contents to a player 10 on the user side as an example.
The music content is downloaded to the information medium 13 from the content holder or the editing system / server 1 of the copyright holder. The downloaded music content is compressed and encrypted. This information medium 13 is the player 10
Depending on the form, it may be built-in or detachable.

[0010] As a download form, (1) a method via a terminal (hereinafter referred to as a kiosk terminal) 2 installed at a JR station, (2) a method via a computer network 3, a mobile phone / PHS4, (3) a computer network 3, a method via a personal computer (PC) 5, (4) a method via digital satellite broadcasting (satellite 6 and digital satellite broadcasting receiver 7), and the like. Here, the kiosk terminal 2 and the PC 5 are store installation terminals installed in a record store or the like, which will be described later. Also,
The PC 5 may be a user terminal held by an end user.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the editing system 1a. The editing system 1a includes a CPU 1-1, a hard disk 1-2, and the like. When music content and its distribution route control information are separately input, the editing system 1a forms stream data of the music content including the distribution route control information, and Download to the installation terminals 2 and 5. The distribution route control information is arranged in the header shown in FIG.

The header includes, for example, header information, a content ID, a content title, a country identification code indicating, for example, a country to which the transfer destination is permitted, a production company name, and a distribution channel for each song. Control information, and listening conditions for each song (listening date, listening period, number of listenings,
(Accumulated listening time, complex conditions, etc.), ・ Song name of each song, ・ Performance time of each song (hours, minutes, seconds, number of frames) ・ Content decryption key storage area ing. The content decryption key data is used by the player 10 shown in FIG. 1 to decrypt and play back the encrypted content.

The distribution route control information for each song is composed of large classification data, middle classification data and small classification data as shown in detail in FIG. . The large classification data is composed of 8 bits (bit) = b7 to b0 as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and the distribution route is a record shop (b7), a convenience store (b6), etc. as shown in FIG. 5 (a). The bits are broadly classified into eight categories, and "1" is set and bit b represents "distribution permitted", and "0" is set and bit b represents "distribution prohibited". Therefore, 8 bits = b
By selectively setting one or more of 7 to b0 to “1”, 256 types can be set. In addition, when set to "no distribution channel restriction", the large classification data b
7 to b0 are set to all 0s or all 1s. In addition,
FIG. 4A shows, as an example, that “1” is set only in b7, so that only “record shop” is set to “sale permission”.

[0014] The middle classification data is provided in a number corresponding to the "sale permission" set in the above-mentioned large classification data, and a mode for designating the genre classified by a single (single) route for each store, A mode designated by a plurality of routes such as a company having a plurality of dealers is selectable. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4B, the intermediate classification data is specified by a single path / multiple path designation bit (1 bit), 8 bits b7 to b0 used when specifying a plurality of paths, and a single path. It is composed of 256 bits b255 to b0.

FIG. 5 (b-1) shows, as an example, a case where classification can be made by a single route for each record store, such as "record shop". Therefore, in this case, the single route / multiple route designation bit = 1 (single route) The multiple route designation bits b7 to b0 = all 0, and the single store route designation bits b255 to b0 are set to the “sales permitted” record store. Set "1" to the corresponding bit. In this case, if two or more bits b255 to b0 are set to "1", a plurality of record stores can be set to "sale permission".

FIG. 5 (b-2) shows another example. For example, "station stores" in a large category are designated, "all station stores in the Kanto area", and "all stations in the Kansai area". This shows a case where it is possible to specify multiple routes, such as “station stall”. Therefore, in this case, the single route / multiple route designation bits = 0 (multiple routes) The single route designation bits b255 to b0 = all 0, and one or more of the multiple route designation bits b7 to b0 are set to "1". It is possible to set one or more station stalls to "sales permission".

Similarly, the small classification data is provided in the same number as the “sale permission” set in the above middle classification data.
Further, a mode in which the intermediately classified route is designated by a single route and a mode in which the route is designated by a plurality of routes are selectable. For this reason, the small classification data similarly has a single path / multiple path designation bit (1 bit) as shown in FIG.
And 8 bits b7 to 8
b0 and 256 bits b255 to b specified by a single path
0.

FIGS. 4 (c) and 5 (c) show, by way of example, a case where the record store is classified by a plurality of routes for each member type (platinum member, gold member, etc.). In this case, single route / multiple route designation bits = 0 (multiple routes) Single route designation bits b255 to b0 = all 0, and one or more of the multiple route designation bits b7 to b0 are set to "1". One or more member types (a platinum member and a gold member in the example shown in FIG. 4) can be set to “sale permission”.

Although not shown in the figure, if the minor classification can be designated by a single route, the single route / multiple route designation bit = 1 (single route) the multiple route designation bits b7 to b0 = As “0”, “1” is set in one or more bits corresponding to the target of “sales permission” among the single route designation bits b255 to b0.

When the content together with the header including the distribution route control information created by the editing system 1a is downloaded from the server 1 to the store installation terminal 5, the store installation terminal 5 sends the content to the server 1 before downloading. Download desired content and dealer installation terminal ID
Send The server 1 identifies the store-installed terminal 5 by the store-installed terminal ID, compares this with the distribution route control information (major classification and middle classification) in the header, and, in the case of “sales permitted”, the desired content. On the other hand, in the case of "sales prohibition", the desired content is not downloaded.

Further, the player 10 is connected to the store-installed terminal 5.
If you want to download to
0 transmits the content to be downloaded and the player ID to the store installation terminal 5. Then, the store setting terminal 5 identifies the end user by the player ID, and compares the end user with the distribution route control information (small classification) in the header,
In the case of "distribution permission", the desired content is downloaded, while in the case of "distribution prohibition", the desired content is not downloaded. Therefore, according to such control information, the distribution route can be finely controlled as shown in FIG.

Here, as a mode in which the server 1 downloads the content to the store setting terminal 5, the store setting terminal 5 has a large-capacity recording medium, and many contents are collectively downloaded to this large-capacity recording medium. It is conceivable that this is the case. Therefore, in this embodiment, many contents are collectively downloaded to the store-installed terminal 5 irrespective of the distribution route control information (large classification and medium classification) for each content.
Before the reseller setting terminal 5 re-transfers to the player 10, it may be determined whether or not to re-transfer based on the distribution route control information for each content.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, distribution route control information indicating whether distribution by a terminal on a distribution route is permitted or prohibited is set for each content, and the distribution route control information is set in the distribution route control information. Since the distribution of the content is permitted or prohibited based on the content, the distribution channel of the content can be controlled by the supplier.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network distribution system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the editing system of FIG. 1 in detail.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a header.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the distribution route control information of FIG. 3 in detail.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the distribution route control information in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a distribution route controlled by distribution route control information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 1a editing system 2 kiosk terminal (store-installed terminal) 5 PC (store-installed terminal) 10 player

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuo Sato 3-12-12 Moriyacho, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture F-term (reference) 5B049 AA00 AA01 BB11 CC05 CC08 DD01 DD05 EE05 EE28 FF09 GG04 GG07 5B089 GA11 HA10 HB19 JA33 JB03 JB04 JB05 JB06 KC37 KE07 5K030 GA15 HA07 HB01 HB16 HC01 HC11 JT01 JT06 JT09 KA02 LB02 LD07 LD19 LD20 9A001 CC03 JJ13 KK60

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A distribution route control method for a content distribution system for transferring content to a player on a user side via a retailer terminal on a distribution route, wherein a method of permitting sales by the retailer terminal for each of the contents is performed. A distribution channel control method for a content distribution system, wherein distribution channel control information indicating whether or not to prohibit the content is set, and sales of the content is permitted or prohibited based on the distribution channel control information. 2. The distribution route control information, wherein the distribution route is hierarchized in a tree shape, and sales are permitted or prohibited for each of the dealer terminals or for each group including a plurality of the dealer terminals in each hierarchy. 2. The distribution route control method for a content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution route selection information is selected, and control is performed for each of the dealer terminals or for each group based on the distribution route selection information. 3. The distribution channel selection information further includes the distribution channel selection information for selecting whether to permit or prohibit sales for each of the users or for each group including the plurality of users. 3. The distribution route control method for a content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein the control is performed for each user or each group based on the following.