JP2002366480A - Device, method and system for circulating contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents circulating device and a contents circulating method and a contents circulating system capable of reducing the load of a manager side by simplifying the registration processing of contents to be provided by an information provider. SOLUTION: This contents circulating device is provided with a receiving means for receiving contents to be transmitted from the terminal of a contents provider according to the registration request of contents to be circulated on a network, a storage means for storing the contents to be received by the receiving means, an environment setting means for notifying the terminal of the contents provider who transmits the contents of address information for reading the contents stored in the storage means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the contents stored in the storage means to the terminal of the contents provider according to the confirmation instruction of the contents to be executed by using the address information from the terminal of the contents provider.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution apparatus, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system for easily registering content provided by a poster on a server.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Transmission of content such as paid information and free information from a network server to a user is widely performed on a network. The problem at this time is how to transmit the paid information, charge the user, collect the payment including the bill, etc. for the person who provides the content. In other words, it takes a great deal of labor and cost for the paid information provider to independently construct these systems for the user. Therefore, it is conceivable that the paid information provider provides the paid information to an existing specific provider, and the provider transmits the paid information to a user who is a registered member. When the provider charges a usage fee, such as a network connection fee, to a member user, the fee for transmitting the paid information is added to the usage fee, and the paid information provider is charged. A method has been adopted in which compensation is collected according to the provision of information.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned method, paid information can be provided only to registered member users of a specific provider, and a paid information provider can receive paid information. The number of users could not be expanded so much. Therefore, as a paid information provider, it is conceivable to provide paid information to a plurality of providers in order to increase the number of users who can receive paid information. In this case, the paid information is registered in the server of each provider. In order to receive it, it is necessary to create paid information according to the specifications etc. of each provider and provide this to each provider, and for the paid information provider,
It was a very cumbersome task. Furthermore, each provider has a different billing process, billing for compensation, and a payment processing method. To cope with these, labor, cost, and technical know-how are required even in the initial stage.
The operation also required a large number of people and costs. Therefore, it is conceivable that a paid information distributor is newly interposed between the paid information provider and the provider, and the paid information provided by the paid information provider is provided to the user via the paid information distributor. At this time, a paid information distributor is provided with a paid information distribution server, and the paid information distribution server manages the payment method of the provider such as billing and billing, and the transmission of the paid information transmitted from the provider to the user. be able to.

However, when performing registration processing for making the contents provided by the paid information provider publicly available, it is necessary to check whether or not the paid information provider seeking to provide the contents is registered as a member. Since the process of registering with the provider was performed by the content operator, it takes time to register the content and publish it on the network,
The registration process for the operator on the operator side is very time-consuming and burdens the operator. further,
When the content to be registered increases, there is a problem that the burden is further increased. Further, since the content registration process is manually performed, even as a member who provides the content, the procedure for registering the content is time-consuming and complicated, so that an increase in content registration cannot be expected.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to simplify the registration process of contents provided by an information provider and reduce the burden on the operator. It is to provide a distribution device, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system. Another object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution device, a content distribution method, and a content distribution system capable of increasing content.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content provider terminal for providing content to be distributed on a network, and a content transmitted from the content provider terminal. And a content distribution device in a content distribution system in which a content distribution device to be distributed on the network is connected to each other, wherein a terminal of the content provider responds to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network. Receiving means for receiving the transmitted content, content receiving means for storing the content received by the receiving means, publishing content storing means for storing the content to be distributed on the network, and the content An instruction to confirm the content is issued from the provider's terminal. Queue registration means for storing, in the content storage means for publication, the content instructed to be published among the contents stored in the content storage means for submission when requested to publish the content for the content. It is characterized by having.

[0007] According to the above arrangement, the content storage means for requesting registration and the content storage means for publication are provided.
The content of the registration request is confirmed by the user of the terminal of the content provider, and the content stored in the registration request content storage unit is copied to the disclosure content storage unit when the content release instruction is received. Therefore, the content can be released to a third party after the user confirms the content.

According to the present invention, based on an instruction from the operator of the above-mentioned content distribution apparatus, an instruction is made as to whether or not to permit the publication of the content stored in the submission content storage means. A publishing instruction unit, wherein the queue registration unit is requested to publish the content whose content is instructed from the terminal of the content provider, and the publishing instruction unit permits the publishing of the content. The contents are stored in the public contents storage means.

[0009] According to the above arrangement, the content is requested to be published for the content whose content is instructed from the terminal of the content provider, and the operator of the content distribution apparatus transmits the content via the disclosure instructing means. When the publication of the content stored in the submission content storage unit is permitted, the content stored in the registration request content storage unit is copied to the disclosure content storage unit. It is possible for the user and the operator of the content distribution apparatus to check the content and to release the content to a third party when both authorize the release of the content.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned content distribution apparatus, address information for browsing the content stored in the submission content storage means is notified to a terminal of the content provider which transmitted the content. Environment setting means for transmitting, and transmitting means for transmitting the content stored in the storage means to the content provider terminal in response to a content confirmation instruction performed using the address information from the content provider terminal. , Is characterized by having.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the content whose registration has been requested from the terminal of the content provider is stored, and in order to browse (confirm) the stored content, the address where the content is stored in the storage means is stored. Since the information is notified to the terminal of the content provider, the content requested by the user of the terminal of the content provider can be confirmed without disclosing the content to a third party (on the network).

Further, in the above-described content distribution apparatus, when updating the content that has been made available for distribution on the network, the environment setting means may include:
In response to a content update request from the terminal of the content provider, the content stored in the submission content storage unit is updated, and based on an instruction to publish the updated content from the terminal of the content provider. The queue registration means controls to store the updated content stored in the submission content storage means in the public content storage means. According to the above configuration, at the same time that the content stored in the public content storage unit is disclosed to a third party, the content stored in the submission content storage unit is updated, and the content is updated after being updated. The copied content can be copied to the public content storage means.

According to the present invention, in the above content distribution apparatus, the content requested to be registered by the terminal of the content provider includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content. It is characterized by being. According to the above configuration, it is possible to register a plurality of contents and check the registration state of the contents. Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described content distribution apparatus, the content distribution apparatus further includes a test page creating unit that creates a test content among the plurality of contents. According to the above configuration, the association between a plurality of contents can be confirmed, so even when registering a plurality of contents,
It is possible to confirm in an undisclosed state whether or not the association between the contents, that is, the link is correctly performed.

[0014] The present invention also provides a content provider terminal for providing content to be distributed on a network,
A content distribution system in which content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider is stored and distributed to the content distribution device on the network, wherein the content distribution device distributes the content on the network. Receiving means for receiving a content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider in response to the content registration request, a content storing means for storing the content received by the receiving means, and distributing the content on the network Content storing means for storing contents for storing, and when the content is instructed to be published from the terminal of the content provider, the content is requested to be published in the content storing means for submission. Of the content to be published And having a queuing means for storing Ntsu to the public content storage means. According to the present invention, a terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network and a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network are interconnected. A content distribution method in a content distribution system that has received a content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network,
The content received from the content provider terminal is stored, and address information for confirming the stored content is notified to the content provider terminal that transmitted the content, and the address information is used by using the address information. The stored content is transmitted to the content provider terminal in response to a content confirmation instruction from the content provider terminal.

According to the present invention, in the above content distribution method, the content requested to be registered by the content provider terminal includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content. The content provider terminal generates a test content for confirming the association between the plurality of contents.

Further, the present invention provides a content provider terminal for providing content to be distributed on a network,
A content distribution program in a content distribution system in which content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider is stored and interconnected with a content distribution device that distributes the content on the network, the content being distributed on the network. Receiving the content transmitted from the content provider terminal in response to the registration request, storing the content received from the content provider terminal, and an address for confirming the stored content. Notifying the information to the terminal of the content provider that transmitted the content, and responding to the content confirmation instruction from the terminal of the content provider using the address information, to store the stored content of the content provider. Send to terminal Characterized in that to execute a-up the computer.

Further, the present invention provides a content provider terminal for providing content to be distributed on a network,
A computer-readable recording medium recording a content distribution program in a content distribution system in which a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network is interconnected, Receiving a content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network; storing the content received from the terminal of the content provider; Notifying the address of the content provider transmitting the content to the terminal of the content provider that transmitted the content, and storing the content in response to a content confirmation instruction from the terminal of the content provider using the address information. Done container Tsu, characterized in that the recording contents distribution program for executing the steps on a computer to be transmitted to the content provider's terminal.

Further, according to the present invention, the content requested to be registered from the terminal of the content provider is composed of a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content. A step of generating a test content for the terminal to confirm the association between the plurality of contents.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a content distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG.
1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system to which a content distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, a content distribution system includes a content providing terminal 7 of a poster 6 and a paid information distribution device 1.
And a user terminal 9 of the user 8. The paid information distribution device 1 corresponds to a content distribution device,
It is connected to the content providing terminal 7 and the user terminal 9 via a network. This network is, for example,
Communication means such as a wired, wireless, telephone line, dedicated line, and satellite communication is used at least in part.

The paid information distribution device 1 is composed of a registration unit 2, a content server 4, an authentication settlement unit 10, and a distribution unit 80, and distributes the content registered from the content providing terminal 7 to the user terminal 9. The user terminal 9 is charged for the content distribution, and a process of paying the poster 6 according to the price collected from the user 8 is performed.

Here, the content includes at least one of free information and paid information, and includes not only materials such as character information, image information, and audio information but also application software and services. Is included. The free information is information that can be distributed via a network, and is not information that is particularly charged. Hereinafter, the free information will be described as free content.

The paid information includes still images such as photographs, videos,
Representation of paid content such as moving images such as movies and / or novels, etc., paid products such as personal computers, cameras, etc., paid tickets such as air tickets, concert tickets, etc. by images and / or characters. Information about the product sales
This is information related to all services to be paid and traded between the user and the provider, such as information related to service provision in which an application for a paid service such as paid transportation is represented by an image and / or text. The provision of paid information to the user is performed by transmitting the information to the user's terminal and displaying it. It should be noted that paid products and paid tickets are provided by means such as mail, and paid services are provided by providing services to users, although they vary depending on the type of service. Hereinafter, the paid information will be described as paid content.

The registration unit 2 of the paid information distribution device 1 performs a member registration process in response to a request for member registration from the poster 6. The authentication settlement unit 10 performs an authentication process as to whether or not the user 8 is a member as a content purchaser, and performs a charging process associated with distribution of the content. The content server 4 records the content requested to be distributed by the content providing terminal 7 and provided. In response to the content transmission request from the user terminal 9, the distribution unit 80 acquires the content corresponding to the content requested to be transmitted from the content server 4 and transmits the content to the user terminal 9 via a network such as the Internet.
To provide.

The content providing terminal 7 and the user terminal 9
Input devices, output devices, and the like are provided as peripheral devices. Here, the input device refers to an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. An output device is a CRT (Cath
(ode Ray Tube), a liquid crystal display device, a speaker, and the like.

Next, the operation of the content distribution system will be described. First, when a member is registered in the paid information distribution device 1 from the content providing terminal 7 by the contributor 6 who is the creator and provider of the content (reference numeral (1)), the registration unit 2 of the paid information distribution device 1 Based on the information for member registration transmitted from the content providing terminal 7, the member is registered in the authentication settlement unit 10 and the distribution unit 80 (code (2)). After the content to be distributed from the poster 6 is registered by the content providing terminal 7 (reference numeral (3)), the user 8 is instructed to purchase the content registered in the content server 4 via the user terminal 9. Then (code (4)), the paid information distribution device 1 receives the purchase instruction from the distribution unit 80 and makes an authentication request to the authentication settlement unit 10 (code (5)). When the authentication and settlement unit 10 authenticates the user 8, the authentication and settlement unit 10 sends an authentication response with the billing information added to the distribution unit 80 (code (6)), and the transmission request is sent by the distribution unit 80. The content is acquired from the content server 4 (code (7)), and the content is distributed to the user terminal 9 (code (8)). Then, upon receiving the payment information from the user terminal 9 according to the billing information (reference numeral (9)), the authentication settlement unit 10 of the paid information distribution device 1 executes a payment process according to the distribution of the content to the content providing terminal 7. (10).

In the above embodiment, a provider may be provided between the paid information distribution apparatus 1 and the content providing terminal 7 or between the paid information distribution apparatus 1 and the user terminal 9. Here, the “provider” corresponds to a service provider that provides services to potential consumers and the like. This service provider includes:
For example, it includes a service provider that provides a connection service to a network, and typically corresponds to an ISP (Internet Service Provider) that provides a connection service to the Internet. However, the “provider” is not limited to Internet service providers that provide this network connection service, but includes banks, securities companies,
Credit card companies, other payment service providers, money lenders, other financial-related service providers, electronic money-related businesses, prepaid voucher-related businesses, terrestrial / satellite / cable broadcasting companies, or similar businesses Members, contractors, account holders, etc., such as operators, power companies, distributors, and transporters (these are collectively referred to as users)
Any means may be used as long as it has means for managing information on the related information and directly or indirectly providing paid information to the user, and means for paying for the paid information.

Next, another embodiment of the paid information distribution apparatus 1 in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the paid information distribution device. In this figure, the authentication settlement unit 10 has an authentication function for authenticating whether the user 8 at the time of distribution of paid content or the poster 6 at the time of content registration is registered as a member, and a charge generated by distribution of the paid content. And a payment function for performing payment processing relating to the payment.

The environment setting section 20 includes a content list registration section 21, a storage area setting section 22, and an account generation section 23.
And a test page creation unit 24, and controls each unit of the apparatus to perform processing relating to registration of content. This environment setting unit 20 corresponds to the registration unit 2 in FIG.
Among the environment setting units 20, the content list registration unit 2
1 stores a list of registered contents in the contents list storage unit 40 as list information. Here, in the content list storage unit 40, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a content name, a content ID for identifying the content, a price of the content, and a charging type are stored in association with each other. As this charging type, for example, monthly charging, daily charging, number-of-items charging, and the like are set. here,
The content ID is assigned and stored by the content list registration unit 21 when the content is registered in the content list storage unit 40. The content list registration unit 21 stores the content list information in the content list storage unit 40 and, at the same time, notifies the server of the ISP where the content is registered of information of the content to be added.

The storage area setting unit 22 sets a storage area for storing the free content and the paid content transmitted from the content providing terminal 7 of the poster 6 in the submission content database 52. In this setting, a free directory for storing free content and a paid directory for storing paid content are set. Here, the paid content is a content for performing charging processing to the user terminal 9 and distributed, and the free content is a content for introducing the paid content.

The account generation unit 23 stores an FTP (File Transfer) corresponding to the free directory and the paid directory set by the storage area setting unit 22.
(Protocol) to set an account for transmitting the file. For example, an FTP ID and a password for accessing the free directory and the paid directory are set.

The test page creator 24 creates a test page for confirming the state when the content posted by the poster 6 is actually published on the network in an undisclosed state. For example, if the free content and the paid content are posted, and if the user 8 is instructed to purchase the paid content in the free content, the ISP performs an authentication process related to charging and then handles the free content. This is for confirming whether or not the paid content to be delivered is distributed. Thus, the contributor 6 checks whether the free content is correctly linked to the ISP-side billing process and the paid content, and also checks the appearance of the content, the arrangement position of the image, the arrangement of characters, and the like. It is possible.

The application form storage unit 30 stores application form information serving as a template for inputting information necessary for registering contents. The application form information is, for example, content information and poster information, and the content information includes a content name, which is the name of the content, a content price, a charging type,
It includes a genre name indicating the genre to which the content belongs, content introduction sentence information for introducing the paid content in the free content, and the like. The contributor information is information for identifying and authenticating a contributor who provides content registered in the paid information distribution device.
D, a password for performing authentication, and the like.

The content storage unit 50 includes a public content database 51 and an input content database 5.
2 and the content provided by the contributor 6 and requested to be distributed is referred to as a URL (Uniform Resource).
loc Locator) and stores them in association with each other. Note that the content storage unit 50 corresponds to the content server 4 in FIG. The content database for publication 51 stores contents to be published to the user terminal 9 and other servers via a network such as the Internet. A third party can access the public content database 51 using a terminal. The submission content database 52 stores content posted by a content provider. Since the content stored in the submission content database 52 is stored as undisclosed content,
Unless the content information is transferred (copied) to the publishing content database 51, it is not disclosed to a third party.

The queue registration unit 60 has a confirmation work content list database for storing a content list to be examined for whether or not to publish the content, and stores the content ID notified from the environment setting unit 20. Register in the confirmation work content list database. Also,
The queue registration unit 60 instructs the content storage unit 50 to make the content permitted to be published from the disclosure instruction unit 70 to be published. If the content is created according to a predetermined rule, the queue registration unit 60 instructs the content storage unit 50 to make the content public when the content providing terminal 7 requests the content to be published. You may do so. Public instruction section 7
0 indicates whether or not to permit the publication of the content stored in the confirmation work content list database of the queue registration unit 60. Whether or not to release this content is determined by, for example, an examiner on the operator side.

The distribution unit 80 transmits and receives various information via a network. For example, the distribution unit 80 may store the content stored in the public content database 51,
The application form information, e-mail and the like are transmitted to the user terminal 9 via the network.

Next, the operation of the paid information distribution apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the drawings. here,
It is assumed that the poster 6 has been registered as a member for posting content, and the ID and password used for this member authentication have been issued from the authentication settlement unit 10 in advance. In addition, it is assumed that the poster 6 and the user 8 have an account for performing a payment process for the paid information distribution device in advance.

First, a description will be given with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. When the contributor 6 makes an application request for registering content from the content providing terminal 7, the environment setting unit 20 of the paid information distribution apparatus
Is received by the distribution unit 80. Then, the environment setting unit 20 reads the application form information stored in the application form storage unit 30, and transmits the read application form information to the content providing terminal 7 by the distribution unit 80 (step S11).

[0038] The content providing terminal 7 receives the application form information from the paid information distribution device, and outputs the application form information to the output device. At this time, for example, output as shown in FIG. 5 is made as application form information. Then, when the “send” button is clicked by the input device after the information on each item is input by the poster 6, the information on each item is used as the application information for registering the content, and the distribution unit 80 of the paid information distribution device 80 Sent to.

When acquiring the application information from the content providing terminal 7 (step S12), the environment setting unit 20 of the paid information distribution device registers the poster 6 by the authentication and settlement unit 10 based on the poster information included in the application information. Authentication is performed as to whether or not the member is a member (step S1).
3). If the authentication result of the authentication settlement unit 10 is not a member,
An error process is performed, and an error is displayed on the user terminal 9 (step S14).

On the other hand, if the authentication result in the authentication settlement unit 10 is a member, the environment setting unit 20 of the paid information distribution apparatus
Is transmitted to the user terminal 9 by the distribution unit 80 to have the received application information confirmed. User terminal 9
Receives the application information for confirmation, which is transmitted from the paid information distribution device. At this time, a confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 6 is output to the output device of the content providing terminal 7. Then, the application information is confirmed by the poster 6, and when the "correction" button is clicked on the input device, a process for correcting the application information is performed. Then, the corrected application information transmitted from the content providing terminal 7 by the user 8 is obtained (step S12).

On the other hand, when the "OK" button is clicked, the environment setting unit 20 of the paid information distribution apparatus performs an environment setting process for registering the content (step S1).
6) The environment setting information is transmitted to the content providing terminal 7 via the distribution unit 80 by e-mail of various setting information (step S17). When the electronic mail reaches the content providing terminal 7 of the poster 6 correctly, the location of the poster 6 can be confirmed.

Next, the environment setting process in step S16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The environment setting unit 20 issues a content ID by the content list registration unit 21, and stores the content ID in the content list registration unit 21 as list information in association with the content name, price, and charging type included in the application information (step S2).
1), the list information to be added is notified to the server on the ISP side that registers the content. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG.
01 ”is added as list information.

Next, the environment setting unit 20 stores the storage area for storing the free content and the paid content transmitted from the content providing terminal 7 of the contributor 6 by the storage area setting unit 22. 52 is set. In this setting, a free directory for storing free content and a paid directory for storing paid content are set for each content (step S22).

Next, the environment setting unit 20 uses the account generation unit 23 to transmit an FTP file to the free directory and the paid directory set by the storage area setting unit 22 using FTP. I
D and a password are generated (step S23).

Next, the environment setting section 20 causes the test page creation section 24 to execute a test page for confirming the contents as shown in FIG. 9 and a URL of the test page.
Is set (step S24). In this test page, a content name, a “test” button, and an “OK” button are set. The “test” button is set as the link destination to the first page of the free content posted by the poster 6, that is, the free directory.
In addition, the “OK” button in the test page has “OK”
CGI for processing when button is clicked (Com
mon Gateway Interface) is set, and a content ID is set as a parameter to identify whether the content is OK. When the “OK” button is clicked, the paid information distribution apparatus is notified that the tested content is correct. In addition, the test page creation unit 24 creates an authentication processing screen that is a processing screen for performing user authentication when an “OK” button for instructing to purchase paid content is clicked in the free content. . This authentication processing screen is output, for example, as shown in FIG. Further, the test page creation unit 24 sets the paid directory in which the paid content corresponding to the free content posted by the poster 6 is stored as a link destination to the “OK” button in the authentication processing screen.

Next, the environment setting unit 20 creates an e-mail including information for performing a content registration process to the poster 6 (step S25). The e-mail includes an FTP account: an FTP ID and a password for transmitting content files to the free directory and the paid directory set by the storage area setting unit 22. URL for charging: a "purchase" button in the free content URL for performing a test user authentication process when is clicked. URL of test page... URL of test page set by test page creation unit 24. When the e-mail is created, the e-mail is transmitted to the content providing terminal 7 of the poster 6. In addition,
As the information for performing the content registration process, mail, facsimile, or the like may be used.

Next, the operation of the paid information distribution apparatus when a content is submitted will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the e-mail including the information for performing the content registration process arrives from the paid information distribution device, the contributor 6 adjusts the free content and the paid content to be posted to the paid information distribution device by the content providing terminal 7 ( Step S41). Here, author 6
As a free content, for example, FIG.
The content shown in FIG. 10A is created, and the content shown in FIG. 10C is created as paid content. In addition, the poster 6 creates a “purchase” button as shown by a symbol p in FIG. 10A in the free content, and as a link destination when the “purchase” button is clicked, from the paid information distribution device. A charging URL included in the received e-mail is set. In addition, the poster 6 adjusts the appearance of the content, the character string, the position of the image to be pasted in the content, and the like as necessary.

Next, after the content adjustment is completed, the contributor 6 sends the paid content and the free content to the paid information distribution device using the FTP account included in the e-mail received from the paid information distribution device. Post (upload) (step S42). Here, author 6
In response to the transmission instruction from, the free content is transmitted to the free directory of the submitted content database 52 and stored, and the paid content is transmitted to the paid directory of the submitted content database 52 and stored. (Step S51).

When the posting of the content is completed, the contributor 6
Tests the posted content using the content providing terminal 7 (step S43). Here, the content providing terminal 7 is included in the e-mail transmitted from the paid information distribution device in accordance with the instruction from the poster 6.
Access the URL of the test page. The paid information distribution device transmits a test page in response to an instruction from the content providing terminal 7 (Step S52). The content providing terminal 7 outputs the acquired test page by the output device. At this time, the data is output to the output device, for example, as shown in FIG.

Then, the "test" in this test page
When the button is clicked by the poster 6, the free content stored in the free directory set for the "test" button is acquired from the submitted content database 52. Then, the free content is output on the screen of the output device of the content providing terminal 7 as shown in FIG. Then, the content of the free content is confirmed by the poster 6, and when the "purchase" button is clicked, the authentication screen set as the link destination of the "purchase" is changed as shown in FIG. Is output. After the member ID and the password are input, when the “OK” button in the authentication screen is clicked, the “O”
The paid content stored in the paid directory set as the link destination for the “K” button is shown in FIG.
It is output as shown in (c). In this way, the free content and the paid content posted by the poster 6 can be confirmed by the poster 6 itself in an undisclosed state. If the result of the check is not correct, that is, if the correction is necessary, the poster 6 adjusts the content (step S41), posts again (step S42), and tests the content (step S43). In the authentication process for purchase on the test page, no charge is made to the poster.

On the other hand, assuming that the confirmation result is correct,
When the "OK" button is clicked, the "O"
The process by the CGI set on the “K” button is performed, the content ID set as a parameter is notified to the environment setting unit 20, and the content ID is notified to the server of the ISP's content operator.
The environment setting unit 20 of the fee-based information distribution device uses the content ID
Is notified, the content ID of the queue registration unit 60 is registered in the confirmation work content list database (step S53).

Then, the contents I of the queue registration unit 60
After D is registered in the confirmation work content list database, the examiner who examines whether to release the content determines whether to release the content. Then, when the examiner determines that the content cannot be disclosed and gives an instruction of “non-permission” from the disclosure instruction unit 70, a notification indicating that the content cannot be released is transmitted from the distribution unit 80 to the content providing terminal 7 by e-mail. (Step S55). This notification may be other than an e-mail.

On the other hand, when the examiner permits the disclosure of the content and gives an instruction of “permission” from the disclosure instructing unit 70, the queue registration unit 60 stores the content ID of the content permitted to be disclosed in the content storage unit 50. And instruct the content to be made public.
As a result, the data of the content permitted to be published is copied from the submitted content database 52 to the directory in the published content database 51, and a registration process for making the content available for public viewing by the user terminal 9 or the like is performed. (Step S5
6). When the user 8 issues a content distribution instruction from the user terminal 9 to the paid information distribution device,
Free contents and paid contents are distributed (step S57).

When updating the already published content, the content stored in the content database for publication 51 is disclosed to a third party, and the content stored in the content database for submission 52 is updated as described above. Update by the same procedure as in. Then, when the updated content is made public, the data of the updated content stored in the submitted content database 52 is copied to the public content database 51. Thus, even when the poster 6 is updating the content, the general user can browse the content, and thus can perform the update operation without stopping the sale of the paid content.

In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the content provided by the poster is registered in the paid information distribution apparatus. However, even if the registered content is a free content, the registered content is only a paid content. Alternatively, when the content is registered in the server on the ISP side, the content may be registered by the above-described procedure.

Further, the authentication and settlement unit 10 is further provided with a tally unit for counting the distribution of the content, and counts the number of sales of the paid content. Then, the contributor 6 may be able to confirm the total result. This contributor 6
When the user browses the totaling result, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the user inputs the ID and password of the contributor 6, performs authentication processing, and then obtains the totaling result of the content posted by the contributor 6. Then, a list of contents provided by the content provider, the number of accesses to the free page, the number of paid pages sold, the amount paid to the content provider, and the like are notified (FIGS. 12B and 12C). Also,
The consolidation result may be periodically notified to the poster 6 by e-mail or the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where one content provider submits content using the content providing terminal 7 has been described. The content may be submitted using the providing terminal 7. That is, the content intermediary may use the content providing terminal 7 to submit contents from a plurality of content providers to the paid information distribution apparatus 1. In this case, for example, it is possible to mediate the content providing terminal 7 of the mediator and perform the above-described submitted content confirmation processing. Also, a plurality of content providing terminals 7
May be connected to the paid information distribution apparatus 1.

The authentication and settlement unit 10, environment setting unit 20, application form storage unit 30, content list recording unit 40, content recording unit 50, queue registration unit 60, disclosure instruction unit 70, and distribution unit 80 shown in FIG. A program for realizing the function may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the distribution of paid information may be managed by reading and executing the program recorded on the recording medium by a computer system. Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Also, the “computer system” is WW
If the W system is used, a homepage providing environment (or display environment) is also included. The “computer-readable recording medium” is a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or the like.
It refers to a portable medium such as a ROM or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. Further, a "computer-readable recording medium" refers to a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short time. In this case, it is also assumed that a program that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, is included. The above program
The present invention may be for realizing a part of the functions described above, or may be for realizing the aforementioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes a design and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. It is.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, the content storage means for registration request and the content storage means for publication are provided, and the content of the content requested by the user of the terminal of the content provider is provided. When the confirmation is made and the instruction to publish the content is received, the content stored in the content storage means for registration request is copied to the content storage means for publication.
Since the content can be disclosed to a third party after the user confirms the content, the desired content can be provided to the poster, and the content is confirmed by the poster. The effect of reducing the burden of the confirmation work in registering the content on the operator side is obtained.

Further, according to the above-described configuration, the disclosure instructing means is provided, and when the disclosure of the content is requested from the terminal of the content provider and the disclosure of the content is permitted by the operator of the content distribution apparatus. Since the content stored in the content storage unit for requesting registration is copied to the content storage unit for publication, the user and the operator of the content distribution apparatus confirm the content, and both are permitted to release the content. In this case, the content can be disclosed to a third party. As a result, there is an effect that the content can be made public by reflecting the intentions of the user and the operator of the content distribution apparatus.

According to the present invention, the content whose registration has been requested from the terminal of the content provider is stored, and the content is stored in the storage means in order to browse (confirm) the stored content. Since the address information is notified to the content provider's terminal, the content requested by the user of the content provider's terminal can be confirmed without disclosing the content to a third party (on the network), and the operation can be performed. This makes it possible to reduce the burden on the user and to register the content easily and with reduced registration time. In addition, since the content can be easily registered, it is possible to encourage the poster to register the content, and it is possible to obtain an effect of increasing the content.

Further, according to the present invention, the contents stored in the public contents storage means are made public to a third party, and at the same time, the contents stored in the submission contents storage means are updated, and the update is performed. Since the updated content is copied to the publishing content storage unit after the update, the effect of updating the content without interrupting the provision of the content is obtained.

According to the present invention, in the above content distribution apparatus, the content requested to be registered by the terminal of the content provider includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content. Therefore, the registration of a plurality of contents and the registration state of the contents can be confirmed, and the versatility in content registration can be provided.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to confirm the association between a plurality of contents. Therefore, even when registering a plurality of contents, it is not determined whether the association between the contents, that is, whether the link is correctly performed or not. An effect that can be confirmed in the open state is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system to which a paid information distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration of a paid information distribution device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a list of contents stored in a content list storage unit 40;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the paid information distribution device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of application form information output to an output device of the content providing terminal 7;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of application form information for user confirmation output to an output device of the content providing terminal 7;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an environment setting process.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of content list information stored in an ISP server.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a test page.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a case of confirming content.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the paid information distribution apparatus when a content is submitted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for describing a totaling result of contents.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Paid information distribution apparatus 2 Registration part 6 Contributor 7 Content providing terminal 8 User 9 User terminal 10 Authentication settlement part 20 Environment setting part 21 Content list registration part 22 Storage area setting part 23 Account generation part 24 Test page creation part 30 Application form Storage unit 40 Content list storage unit 50 Content storage unit 51 Content database for publication 52 Content database for submission 60 Queue registration unit 70 Publication instruction unit 80 Distribution unit

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Sota Nagano 1-1-5 Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network, and a content distribution apparatus that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network. A content distribution device in a content distribution system, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network; Submission content storage means for storing content to be distributed, publishing content storage means for storing content to be distributed on the network, and content for which a content confirmation instruction has been issued from a terminal of the content provider. I was asked to publish the content Case, the content distribution apparatus characterized by having a queuing means for storing a content which is the opening instruction to the public content storage unit of the content stored in the entering-draft content storage means. 2. A publishing instruction means for instructing, based on an instruction from an operator of the content distribution apparatus, whether to permit publishing of content stored in the submission content storage means, The queue registration unit requests the content to be published for the content whose content confirmation instruction has been issued from the terminal of the content provider, and stores the content permitted to be published by the publication instruction unit to the publishing content storage unit. The content distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution device stores the content. 3. Environment setting means for notifying the content provider terminal that transmitted the content of address information for browsing the content stored in the submission content storage means, and from the content provider terminal And transmitting means for transmitting the content stored in the storage means to a terminal of the content provider in response to a content confirmation instruction issued using the address information. Item 3. The content distribution device according to Item 2. 4. When updating the content after the content has been made available for distribution on the network, the environment setting means is configured to update the content for submission in response to a content update request from a terminal of the content provider. The content stored in the storage unit is updated, and the updated content stored in the submission content storage unit is updated by the queue registration unit based on an instruction to publish the updated content from the terminal of the content provider. 4. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 3, wherein control is performed to store the content in the public content storage unit. 5. The content requested to be registered by a terminal of the content provider includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content. Item 5. A content distribution device according to any one of Items 4. 6. The content distribution apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a test page creating unit that creates a test content among the plurality of contents. 7. A terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network, and a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network are connected to each other. A content distribution system, wherein the content distribution device receives a content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network; A content storing means for receiving the content received by the user, a content storing means for public storing the content to be distributed on the network, and a content instructed to confirm the content from a terminal of the content provider. Was asked to publish the content Case, the content distribution system characterized by having an a queuing means for storing a content which is the opening instruction to the public content storage unit of the content stored in the entering-draft content storage means. 8. A terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network, and a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network. A content distribution method in a content distribution system, comprising: receiving a content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network; and receiving the content from a terminal of the content provider. The stored content is stored, and the address information for confirming the stored content is notified to the terminal of the content provider that transmitted the content, and the content from the terminal of the content provider is used using the address information. In response to the confirmation instruction, the stored Content distribution method and transmits the content to the content provider's terminal. 9. The content requested to be registered by the terminal of the content provider includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content, and the terminal of the content provider includes the plurality of contents. 9. A test content for confirming an association between the content items is generated.
Content distribution method described in 1. 10. A terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network, and a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network. Receiving a content transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network; and a terminal of the content provider. Storing the content received from the server; and notifying the terminal of the content provider that transmitted the content the address information for confirming the stored content; and Command from terminal Depending on the Ceiling confirmation instruction, content distribution program for executing the steps, to a computer that transmits the stored content to the content provider's terminal. 11. A terminal of a content provider that provides content to be distributed on a network, and a content distribution device that stores content transmitted from the terminal of the content provider and distributes the content on the network. A computer-readable recording medium on which a content distribution program in a content distribution system is recorded, the content being transmitted from a terminal of the content provider in response to a registration request for content to be distributed on the network. Storing the content received from the content provider terminal; and notifying the content provider terminal that transmitted the content of address information for confirming the stored content; and information Transmitting the stored content to the content provider's terminal in response to a content confirmation instruction from the content provider's terminal using: a recording of a content distribution program for causing a computer to execute Medium. 12. The content requested to be registered by the terminal of the content provider includes a plurality of contents including at least one of a free content and a paid content, and the terminal of the content provider includes the plurality of contents. The recording medium according to claim 11, further comprising a step of generating a test content for confirming an association between the contents.