JP2004102679A - Content distribution system, content distributing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content distribution system for distributing program data, at the same time as with broadcasting the program for not yet broadcasted programs. <P>SOLUTION: In the content distribution system, a service user terminal 10, a media provider terminal 20 and a service provider terminal 30 are connected one another for communication. The service user terminal 10 requests to the service provider terminal 30, to distribute a desired medium freely selected from a plurality of media provided by the media provider at desired day and time. The service provider terminal 30 decides whether the desired medium is disclosed, based on the dates and the times of the plurality of media registered in advance, and when it is decided that the medium is not disclosed but the disclosure day and time of the desired medium matches the desired day and time for distribution, it instructs the media provider terminal 20 to directly distribute the contents of the desired media to the service user terminal 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and method for distributing content such as television and radio programs, as well as books, music, movies, and games. Further, the present invention relates to a program for executing such content distribution.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Usually, television and radio programs are organized on a broadcast station side, and a viewer can view a desired program in accordance with a program schedule distributed based on the program organization, and can use a VTR (Video Tape Recorder). Or recording. However, in this case, a program that was missed or forgotten to be recorded could not be viewed unless it was rebroadcast.
[0003]
Therefore, recently, a system has been proposed in which a viewer can freely organize a program and watch a specified program at a desired time. As one of such systems, for example, there is a program distribution agency system as described in Patent Document 1. FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration thereof.
[0004]
The program distribution agency system shown in FIG. 4 includes a program provider terminal 103 used by a program provider that provides program data, and a distribution agency that performs proxy distribution of the program data provided by the program provider to users who have contracted in advance. A distribution proxy server 105 managed by a user and a user terminal 106 used by the user. The distribution agent server 105 and the program provider terminal 103 and the user terminal 106 are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other.
[0005]
The program provider terminal 103 includes a program storage device 109 for storing program data such as a TV or radio broadcast program and a movie, and program data stored in the program storage device 109 in response to a transmission request from the distribution proxy server 105. And a program management device 110 for extracting the requested program data from the server and transmitting it to the distribution proxy server 105.
[0006]
The distribution proxy server 105 includes a proxy acquisition / distribution management device 111, a conversion device 112, and a program cache device 113. The proxy acquisition / distribution management device 111 accepts an order for program data distribution from the user terminal 106, and also requests the program provider terminal 103 to transmit the ordered program data according to the order. The program data transmitted by the program provider terminal 103 in response to the transmission request is transmitted to the user terminal 106 that has placed the order. The converter 112 converts the format of the program data transmitted by the program provider terminal 103 into a format desired by the user. The program cache device 113 temporarily stores program data transmitted by the program provider terminal 103.
[0007]
The user terminal 106 is installed at an appropriate place such as a station or a stand, has a function of displaying a list of distributable programs presented from the distribution agent server 105, and collects a usage fee from the user. It has a function of managing a medium for recording program data provided by a user, a function of recording program data received from the distribution agent server 105 on the medium, and the like. Note that the user terminal 106 may be a terminal owned by the user.
[0008]
In the above-described program distribution agency system, a user goes to a place where the user terminal 106 is installed, and receives a program data distribution service using the user terminal 106 there. Hereinafter, a processing procedure in the distribution service will be briefly described.
[0009]
When the user displays a list of distributable programs on the user terminal 106, selects a desired program from the list, and performs an input operation necessary for distributing data of the selected program. The user terminal 106 requests the distribution agent server 105 to distribute data relating to the selected and input program.
[0010]
Upon receiving the distribution request from the user terminal 106, the distribution proxy server 105 first checks whether or not the program data requested to be distributed is stored in the program cache device 113. The corresponding program data is obtained from the cache device 113, and if not stored, the program data requested to be distributed is obtained from the program provider terminal 103. Subsequently, the distribution proxy server 105 checks whether or not the format of the obtained program data matches the format desired by the user, and if it matches, transmits the obtained program data to the user terminal 106 as it is, and If not, the obtained program data is subjected to necessary format conversion and transmitted to the user terminal 106.
[0011]
Upon receiving the program data from the distribution agent server 105, the user terminal 106 records the received program data on a medium presented by the user. The recorded medium is stored in the user terminal 106 until the user arrives. The user comes to the installation location of the user terminal 106 at a convenient time, and performs necessary procedures on the user terminal 106 to receive the recorded medium. This procedure includes processing such as payment of a fee.
[0012]
In addition to the above, there is also a program recording and distribution system as described in Patent Document 2. In this system, a server system managed by a program recording and distribution company receives program data broadcast from a broadcasting station to which a contract has been made in advance, and records the received program data in association with the broadcast date and time and the program name. The program data is stored in a recording database, and necessary program data is extracted from the recording database and distributed according to a distribution application from a client. The distribution application is made by designating a program name or a broadcast date and time.
[0013]
There is also a program receiving / accumulating device as described in Patent Document 3. This program receiving / accumulating device receives all program data continuously distributed by a program distribution device using a broadcast channel to which a unique frequency band is allocated, accumulates the received program data, and The user extracts the program data requested to be transmitted from the program data by using the terminal device and transmits the program data to the user terminal device. When storing the received program data, information of the program ID, the distribution time, the storage location, and the channel ID are registered together as data management information. The program ID is information for uniquely specifying the stored program data. A transmission request from the user is made by registering information such as a transmission time (transmission start time, transmission end time), a terminal ID, and a program ID according to a reservation command. The corresponding program data is transmitted accordingly.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-112223 (pages 12 to 15, FIG. 2)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-309334 A (Pages 6 to 10, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-2002-112223 (pages 6 to 113, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in any of the distribution methods of the program data described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 described above, for example, when a distribution request is made for an unbroadcast program, the distribution is performed by a distribution agent after the program is broadcast. Will be done. For this reason, time loss is inevitably caused by the intervening distribution agency. Some users have a request to view the program at the same time as the broadcast of the program, so that it is required to distribute the program data at the same time as the broadcast.
[0016]
In addition, since all program data is always transmitted via a distribution agent, a distribution agent fee is always charged, and the burden on the user is increased accordingly.
[0017]
In addition, recently, distribution of not only broadcast programs but also contents such as books, music, movies, and games has been demanded. However, the contents described in Patent Documents 1 to 3 cannot perform such content distribution. For this reason, development of a system capable of distributing other contents together with program data has been one of the important issues.
[0018]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to distribute a program data of an unbroadcasted program simultaneously with its broadcast, and to distribute a content other than a broadcast program to a user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system and a content distribution method with a small usage fee.
[0019]
A further object of the present invention is to provide a program for executing such content distribution.
[0020]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a content distribution system according to the present invention includes a user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal. A content distribution system in which a service provider terminal acting as a part of distribution is communicably connected to each other,
The user terminal requests the service provider terminal to deliver a desired delivery media arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time set arbitrarily,
In the case where the service provider terminal has previously registered the release date and time of the plurality of media, determines whether or not the distribution desired media is released based on the release date and time, and determines that the distribution desired media is not released. If the release date of the desired distribution media matches the desired distribution date requested by the user terminal, the content of the desired distribution media is directly distributed to the user terminal to the media provider terminal. Send a delivery instruction to that effect,
The media provider terminal is configured to directly distribute the content of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date and time of the release according to the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal. Features.
[0021]
The content distribution method of the present invention acts as a user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a part of distribution of a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal. A content distribution method performed in a system in which a service provider terminal and a service provider terminal are communicably connected to each other,
Requesting the user terminal to deliver to the service provider terminal a desired delivery date arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time arbitrarily set;
In the case where the service provider terminal determines in advance whether or not the release date of the plurality of media is registered, and determines whether or not the distribution desired media is released based on the release date and time, and determines that the media is not disclosed. If the release date of the desired distribution media matches the desired distribution date requested by the user terminal, the content of the desired distribution media is directly distributed to the user terminal to the media provider terminal. Sending a distribution instruction to that effect;
The media provider terminal, in accordance with the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal, directly distributes the contents of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date and time of its publication. I do.
[0022]
A program according to the present invention includes a user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a service provider acting as a part of distribution of a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal. A program used in a system in which a terminal and a terminal are communicably connected to each other,
Executes, to the computer of the user terminal, a process of requesting the service provider terminal to deliver the desired delivery media arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time set arbitrarily. Let
The release date and time of the plurality of media are registered in advance, and it is determined whether or not the desired distribution media is released based on the release date and time. If the release date and time match the desired distribution date and time requested by the user terminal, a distribution instruction is sent to the media provider terminal to directly distribute the contents of the desired distribution media to the user terminal. Causing the computer of the service provider terminal to execute
According to the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal, the computer of the media provider terminal may execute a process of directly distributing the contents of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date of publication. Features.
[0023]
According to the present invention as described above, for the media before release (corresponding to unbroadcast media and unreleased media), the desired distribution date and time and the release date (corresponding to the broadcast date and release date) match. In this case, the contents of the media are transmitted directly from the media provider terminal to the user terminal simultaneously with the publication. Therefore, there is no time loss associated with the conventional distribution agency.
[0024]
Further, when the contents of the media are directly distributed from the media provider terminal to the user terminal, a distribution agency fee is not charged, and the burden on the user is reduced accordingly.
[0025]
Furthermore, the content of the media provided by the media provider may be any content that can be digitized, and includes, for example, content such as broadcast programs, books, music, movies, and games.
[0026]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0027]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the content distribution system of the present invention. This content distribution system includes a service user terminal 10, a media provider terminal 20, and a service provider terminal 30 which are connected to each other via a network 40 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The network 40 is, for example, an optical fiber internet network. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 1, each of the service user terminal 10, the media provider terminal 20, and the service provider terminal 30 is a computer system having a communication function, and is a storage device that stores programs and the like. Input devices such as keyboards and mice, display devices such as CRTs and LCDs, communication devices such as modems that communicate with the outside world, output devices such as printers, and the input of input devices to control the operation of each component Control device for Further, the service user terminal 10 and the media provider terminal 20 may be plural.
[0028]
The service user terminal 10 is a terminal used by the service user, and includes a program formation creation request device 11, a service reception device 12, a storage device 13, and a media reproduction output device 14. The program scheduling creation request device 11 can use a program search function provided from the service provider terminal 30. By using this function, a service user can freely select a desired program and schedule a program. Can be done. Further, the program scheduling creation request device 11 transmits to the service provider terminal 30 the program scheduling information (including information on media desired to be distributed and the desired distribution date and time) created by the service user. A knitting request is also made. The service receiving device 12 receives media distributed from the service provider terminal 30 or the media provider terminal 20. The storage device 13 temporarily stores the contents (program data) of the media received by the service receiving device 12. The media reproduction output device 14 reproduces the contents of the media arbitrarily selected by the service user from the contents of the media stored in the storage device 13, and includes, for example, a video display device and a speaker. I have.
[0029]
The media provider terminal 20 is used by a media provider that provides provided media 21 including contents such as television and radio programs, books, music, movies, games, and the like. 22 and a media distribution device 23. The media conversion device 22 converts the content of the provided media 21 into a format that can be registered in the service provider terminal 30. The converted provided media 21 is transmitted to the service provider terminal 30 and registered. The media distribution device 23 distributes the provided media 21 to the service user terminal 10 in accordance with a distribution instruction from the service provider terminal 30. Here, the media provider is, for example, a television broadcast station (including one using a terrestrial wave, a BS / CS satellite wave, or a cable) or a radio broadcast station (one using FM, short wave, medium wave, satellite, or the Internet) ), Music labels and promotions, movie distributors, video providers, and any other companies or organizations that provide video / audio / image-based services.
[0030]
The service provider terminal 30 is used by a service provider acting as an agent for distributing the provided media 21 to a service user. The service provider terminal 30 has a request receiving device 31, a program scheduling request management table 32, and a program distribution device 33. , A media library database 34 and a media registration device 35. The media registration device 35 receives the provided media 21 converted by the media conversion device 22 from the media provider terminal 20 and registers the received provided media 21 in the media library DB 34. The request receiving device 31 receives the program information transmitted from the program creation requesting device 11 and registers the received program information in the program request management table 32. The program distribution device 33 manages the time of the program information registered in the program request management table 32 and distributes the media corresponding to the program information having the distribution date and time to the service user terminal 10. This distribution is performed when the provided media 21 is taken out from the media library DB 34 and distributed to the service user terminal 10, or when a distribution instruction is sent to the media provider terminal 20 and the service is transmitted from the media provider terminal 20. There are two cases in which the content of the corresponding provided media 21 is directly distributed to the user terminal 10.
[0031]
Next, a brief flow of content distribution in the content distribution system of the present embodiment will be briefly described. Content distribution is performed according to the following procedures (1) to (6) in FIG.
[0032]
(1) The media provider uses the media provider terminal 20 to provide the contents (video / audio or either) of the provided media 21 and the media information (information related to the provided media 21) using the media provider terminal 20. The data is transmitted to the provider terminal 30. The media information is transmitted before the broadcast of the provided media 21 starts (release start). Media information includes
・ Type of media to mediate (broadcast, music, video)
・ Title (program name, album name, work name)
・ Subtitles (broadcast times and names, volume names)
-Creator or provider (broadcaster / producer / label company / distributor)
-Broadcast date / time or release / offset start date
Such information is included. As for the content of the provided media 21, the content converted by the media conversion device 22 is transmitted at the same time as or after the start of broadcasting (start of sale).
[0033]
In the service provider terminal 30, the media registration device 35 receives the media information and the contents of the provided media 21 from the media provider terminal 30, respectively, and registers them as programs in the media library DB. In addition, for the provided media 21 that has not been broadcasted or has not been released, only the media information is registered in the media library DB 34. In addition to broadcast media programs such as TV, radio, BS, CS, CATV, music, movies, and videos, all media that can be distributed are provided media regardless of the recording media system (CD, DVD, video, etc.) 21 Can be targeted.
[0034]
{Circle over (2)} When the service user uses the provided program search function on the service user terminal 10 to create a program composed of desired programs, the program creation service requesting device 11 sends the service provider terminal 30 , And transmits the program scheduling information as the program scheduling result to make a distribution request. In the service provider terminal 30, the request receiving device 31 receives the program scheduling information from the service user terminal 10, and registers it in the program scheduling request management table 32. In the programming information,
・ Programming name (program group name)
-Desired start date and time (desired delivery date and time)
・ List of programs
・ Information on each program
・ Type of media to mediate (broadcast, music, video)
・ Title (program name, album name, work name)
・ Subtitles (broadcast times and names, volume names)
-Creator or provider (broadcasting station / producer / label company / distribution company)
・ Date and time of release or release date
・ Regularization (day of week, date, start time) or non-regularization
Such information is included.
[0035]
{Circle around (3)} In the service provider terminal 30, the program distribution device 33 manages the time of the program scheduling information registered in the program scheduling request management table 32 based on the desired distribution date and time. The corresponding program (provided media 21) is extracted from the media library database 34. At this time, if the broadcast start date or release start date of the program does not match the desired distribution date and time, and if the program is not broadcast or has not been released, the contents of the provided media 21 are registered in the media library database 34. Since it has not been performed, the program distribution device 33 notifies the service user terminal 10 to that effect and urges the user to change the desired distribution date and time or to re-organize the program.
[0036]
{Circle around (4)} If the corresponding program has already been broadcast or released, the program distribution device 33 stores the corresponding program (contents of the provided media 21) extracted from the media library database 34 as described above. 10 to deliver. In the service user terminal 10, the service receiving device 12 temporarily stores the corresponding program received from the service provider terminal 30 in the storage device 13. The service user can freely view the program stored in the storage device 13 using the media reproduction output device 14.
[0037]
(5) If the broadcast start date or release start date of the program matches the desired distribution date and time, the program distribution device 33 sends the contents of the corresponding provided media 21 to the media provider terminal 20 for the service user. It instructs the terminal 10 to directly distribute.
[0038]
(6) In the media provider terminal 20, when receiving the distribution instruction directly from the service provider terminal 30, the media distribution device 23 distributes the contents of the corresponding provided media 21 to the service user terminal 10. In the service user terminal 10, the service receiving device 12 temporarily stores the content (program) of the corresponding provided medium 21 received from the service provider terminal 30 in the storage device 13. The service user can freely view the program stored in the storage device 13 using the media reproduction output device 14.
[0039]
Next, the above-mentioned procedures (1) to (6) will be described more specifically by exemplifying a case where the provided medium 21 is a broadcast medium (broadcast program). FIG. 2 shows a specific content distribution procedure when the provided medium 21 is a broadcast medium. Hereinafter, the content distribution procedure will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0040]
(1) Media registration by media provider ((1) in Fig. 1):
An input operation for the media provider to appropriately create the provided media 21 composed of video and / or audio, and to register the created provided media 21 in the service provider terminal 30 on the media provider terminal 20 Then, the media provider terminal 20 transmits input information (registration information) necessary for registration of the provided media 21 to the service provider terminal 30 (procedure A1 in FIG. 2). The transmission of the registration information is performed in two stages: transmission of the media information of the provided media 21 and transmission of the contents (program data) of the provided media 21.
[0041]
<Media information transmission>
The transmission of the media information of the provided media 21 is performed before the broadcast of the provided media 21 starts. First, the media provider inputs the media information of the provided media 21 on the media provider terminal 20. When the media information is input, the media provider terminal 20 transmits the input media information to the service provider terminal 30.
[0042]
<Transmission of provided media>
The transmission of the contents of the provided medium 21 is performed simultaneously with or after the start of the broadcast of the provided medium 21. When an input operation for registering the provided media 21 in the service provider terminal 30 is performed, the media converter 22 converts the contents of the provided media 21 into a format that can be registered in the media library DB 34 and transmits the format to the service provider terminal 30. I do.
[0043]
When the service provider terminal 30 receives the media information transmitted from the media provider terminal 20 and the contents of the provided media 21 as described above (procedure A2 in FIG. 2), the media registration device 35 transmits the received media information. The contents of the provided media 21 are registered in the media library DB 34 in association with each other (procedure A3 in FIG. 2). In the case of the provided media 21 that has not been broadcast, since only the media information is received, the contents of the provided media 21 are not registered in the media library DB 34, and only the media information is registered.
[0044]
(2) Programming by service user ((2) in FIG. 1):
When the service user performs an input operation on the service user terminal 10 to access a program creation homepage opened by the service provider terminal 30 on the network 40, the program creation requesting device 11 The program creation homepage is accessed (procedure B1 in FIG. 2). In response to the access from the program formation creation request device 11, the service provider terminal 30 sends information (search program information) necessary for searching for programs registered in the media library DB 34 and the service user terminal 10 to date. The received programming information is transmitted to the programming creation request device 11 (procedure B2 in FIG. 2).
[0045]
When the service user terminal 10 receives the program information and the search program information, the program creation requesting device 11 displays a program creation / request screen (procedure B3 in FIG. 2). FIG. 3 shows an example of a program creation / request screen for a broadcast program. On the program creation / request screen, the main display items are "accepted information", "program search / program selection", and "currently selected program / organization registration".
[0046]
“Received information” is information on a program that the service provider terminal 30 has received so far in response to a program creation / request from the program creation requesting device 11, and includes “program name” and “scheduled start”. Is displayed. The "program search / program selection" field has a "program name / work name" input field and a "search result list" field. The desired program is displayed in the "program name / work name" input field. By inputting a name / work name and pressing a “search” button (for example, clicking with a mouse), a search in the media library DB 34 is performed based on the input program name / work name, and the search result is It is displayed in the "search result list" column. In the "search result list" column, check boxes are provided so that a program name / work name can be arbitrarily selected from the displayed search results, and a check box of a desired program name / work name is provided. Is selected, and information about the selected program name / work name is added to the column of “currently selected program / organization registration” by clicking the “Add” button. The “currently selected program / organization registration” field has input fields for “program name” and “desired start date and time”, and “addition” in the “search result list” field. By pressing the "" button, information on the added program title / work title is displayed. In the input fields of "program name" and "desired start date and time", a desired program name and desired distribution date and time of distribution of the displayed program name / work name are input. By pressing (clicking) the “Register” button, the information on the displayed program name / work name is changed to the program name and desired distribution date and time entered in the input fields of “program name” and “desired start date and time”. Registered at.
[0047]
When the above-described program creation / request screen is displayed in step B3, the program creation creation request device 11 registers (adds) a program to be created according to a selection input instruction by the service user (FIG. 2). Procedure B4). Specifically, first, in order to arrange a desired program, the service user inputs a desired program name / work name in an input field of “program name / work name” on the display screen and performs “search”. When the button is pressed, the program scheduling creation requesting device 11 searches for the search program information received from the service provider terminal 30 using the input program name / work name as a search key, and displays the search result in a “search result list”. To be displayed. Subsequently, when the service user arbitrarily selects program information from the search results displayed in the “search result list” and presses the “Add” button, the program scheduling creation request device 11 The selected program information is registered (added) to the list in the column of “currently selected program / organization registration”.
[0048]
When the selection and registration (addition) of the program information are performed, the program scheduling creation request device 11 subsequently registers (sets) the desired distribution date and time (desired start date and time) in response to an input instruction from the service user. (Procedure B5 in FIG. 2). Specifically, when the service user inputs the desired distribution date and time in the input field of “desired start date and time” and presses the “registration” button, the program creation creation request device 11 adds and registers in the above-mentioned procedure 4. The entered desired distribution date and time is registered (set) in the program information.
[0049]
When the registration (setting) of the desired distribution date and time is performed, subsequently, the program scheduling creation request device 11 displays a message for confirming whether there is any other program information to be registered (procedure B6 in FIG. 2). In response to this display, when the service user inputs on the screen that there is still program information to be registered, the program scheduling creation request device 11 performs the above-described procedures B4 and B5. On the other hand, when the service user inputs on the screen that there is no more program information to be registered, the program scheduling creation request device 11 requests input of the program scheduling name. In response to this input request, when the service user inputs a desired program name in the input field of "program name" and presses the "register" button, the program creation requesting apparatus 11 executes the above-described procedures B4 to B4. The program information including the program information registered in B6 and the input program name is transmitted to the service provider terminal 30 (procedure B7 in FIG. 2).
[0050]
When the service provider terminal 30 receives the program information from the service user terminal 10 (procedure B8 in FIG. 2), the reception request device 31 registers the received program information in the program request management table 32. This registration is performed for each service user.
[0051]
(3) Distribution of program data ((3) to (6) in FIG. 1):
The program distribution device 33 manages the time of the program information registered in the program request management table 32, and extracts the program information having the desired distribution date and time from the program request management table 32 to create a program. (Procedure C1 in FIG. 2). Subsequently, the program distribution device 33 determines whether or not the desired distribution date and time matches the broadcast start date and time of the corresponding program for each piece of program information of the generated program (step C2 in FIG. 2). If the determination is “Yes”, the program distribution device 33 directly distributes the contents of the provided medium 21 corresponding to the extracted program information to the service provider terminal 20 to the media provider terminal 20. Is given (procedure C3 in FIG. 2). At this time, the program distribution device 33 can also transmit the created program to the service user terminal 10. In the media provider terminal 20, upon receiving a distribution instruction directly from the service provider terminal 30, the media distribution device 23 distributes the corresponding provided media 21 to the service user terminal 10 (procedure C4 in FIG. 2).
[0052]
If the determination in step C2 is “No”, the program distribution device 33 further determines whether the desired distribution date and time is before the broadcast start date and time of the program (step C5 in FIG. 2). If the determination is “No”, the program distribution device 33 transmits the created program scheduling and the corresponding program (contents of the corresponding provided media 21) to the service user terminal 10 (procedure C6 in FIG. 2). ).
[0053]
When the relevant program (contents of the provided media 21) is distributed in the above-described procedure C4 or C6, in the service user terminal 10, the service receiving device 12 receives the program and the relevant program (procedure C7 in FIG. 2). , And temporarily stores the received information in the storage device 13. The service user can confirm the received content (information stored in the storage device 13) on the service user terminal 10. When the service user performs an input operation for reproducing a desired program on the service user terminal 10, information on the program is output from the storage device 13 to the media reproduction output device 14, and the program is reproduced. (Step C7 in FIG. 2).
[0054]
If the determination in the procedure C5 is “Yes”, the program distribution device 33 executes a process for changing the desired distribution date and time (procedure C9 in FIG. 2). Specifically, the program distribution device 33 provides an instruction to change the desired distribution date and time after the broadcast start date and time, together with a warning message indicating that the desired distribution date and time is before the broadcast start date and time of the provided media requested for distribution. It is transmitted to the user terminal 10. Upon receiving the warning message and the change instruction, the service user terminal 10 displays a desired date and time change screen together with the warning message. The service user checks the displayed content and performs an input operation on the screen to change the desired date and time. The change result is transmitted from the service user terminal 10 to the service provider terminal 30 together with the program name used at the time of the previous registration. In the service provider terminal 30, the reception request device 31 changes the desired start date and time of the corresponding program information in the program request management table 32 based on the change result and the program name transmitted from the service user terminal 10. I do. After the change, the above-described procedures C1 to C9 are performed.
[0055]
The content distribution operation described above is basically executed by a program. A series of programs are stored in the respective storage devices of the service user terminal 10, the media provider terminal 20, and the service provider terminal 30, and the above-described content distribution is executed by starting the programs on the respective terminals. Is done.
[0056]
According to the content distribution system of the present embodiment, if the desired distribution date and time of the requested media matches the broadcast start date and time (release start date and time), the requested media is sent directly from the media provider to the service user. It will be delivered. In this case, proxy distribution by the service provider is not performed, so that the media is distributed to the user simultaneously with the broadcast (release). Also, since the agency delivery is not performed by the service provider, there is no agency delivery fee, so that the delivery fee can be reduced accordingly.
[0057]
Further, according to the content distribution system of the present embodiment, it is possible to organize a program according to the taste and daily life style of the service user, and the service user can perform an original program.
[0058]
Furthermore, the service user can freely view the media provided by the media provider on his / her own terminal at any time beyond the broadcast / music / video media frame and the broadcast / broadcast time frame. In viewing, there is no need to prepare a device for reproducing and outputting for each medium provided by the media provider.
[0059]
Further, by analyzing the contents of the program scheduling request management table 32, it is possible to know the viewing status indicating which service user has watched which program (media content). This viewing status can be used for charging the service user by the media provider, and can be used as a material for determining media production.
[0060]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that a service user can acquire the content of an unbroadcasted or unreleased media simultaneously with the start of the broadcast or the release.
[0061]
In addition, since there is no surrogate distribution fee for the content directly delivered from the media provider to the service user, there is an effect that the fee burden on the service user is reduced accordingly.
[0062]
Furthermore, since not only broadcast programs but also contents such as books and game software can be distributed, there is also an effect that the types of media (types of contents) that can be distributed are increased as compared with conventional ones.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a content distribution operation in the content distribution system shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a screen for creating / requesting a program for a broadcast program.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a program distribution agency system described in JP-A-2002-112223.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 service user terminals
11 Program Creation Creation Request Device
12 Service receiver
13 Storage device
14 Media playback output device
20 Media provider terminals
21 Provided media
22 Media converter
23 Media distribution device
30 Service Provider Terminal
31 Request receiving device
32 programming request management table
33 Program distribution device
34 Media Library Database
35 Media Registration Device
40 Network
103 Program provider terminal
105 Delivery agency server
106 User terminal
109 program storage device
110 program management device
111 Agency acquisition and distribution management device
113 Program Cache Device
112 converter

Claims (7)

A user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a service provider terminal acting as a part of distribution of a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal can communicate with each other. A content distribution system connected to
The user terminal requests the service provider terminal to deliver a desired delivery media arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time set arbitrarily,
In the case where the service provider terminal has previously registered the release date and time of the plurality of media, determines whether or not the distribution desired media is released based on the release date and time, and determines that the distribution desired media is not released. If the release date of the desired distribution media matches the desired distribution date requested by the user terminal, the content of the desired distribution media is directly distributed to the user terminal to the media provider terminal. Send a delivery instruction to that effect,
The media provider terminal is configured to directly distribute the content of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date and time of the release according to the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal. Characteristic content distribution system. If the service provider terminal determines in advance that the contents of the published media of the plurality of media have been registered and determines that the desired distribution media has been published, the 2. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution system retrieves the content of the corresponding media from the user terminal and transmits the content to the user terminal. The media provider terminal transmits, to each of the plurality of media, media information that can be identified and managed, including the date and time of publication, to the service provider terminal in advance, and simultaneously or after publication with the content of the published media. Send to the service provider terminal,
The user terminal creates, for a plurality of media selected as the desired distribution media, program information that can be identified and managed, including a desired distribution date and time, and transmits the program information to the service provider terminal. Is composed of
The service provider terminal,
A database in which the media information of the plurality of media received from the media conversion device and the contents of the published media are registered in association with each other,
A management table in which the programming information received from the user terminal is registered,
The program management information registered in the management table is time-managed based on the desired distribution date and time, and if there is a media having the desired distribution date and time, the release date and time of the medium are determined from the media information registered in the database. It is determined whether or not the content is obtained and released. If the content is released, the contents of the corresponding media are taken out from the database and transmitted to the user terminal. The content distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising: a program distribution device that instructs a terminal to directly distribute the content to the user terminal. A user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a service provider terminal acting as a part of distribution of a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal can communicate with each other. Content distribution method performed in a system connected to the
Requesting the user terminal to deliver to the service provider terminal a desired delivery date arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time arbitrarily set;
In the case where the service provider terminal determines in advance whether or not the release date of the plurality of media is registered, and determines whether or not the distribution desired media is released based on the release date and time, and determines that the media is not disclosed. If the release date of the desired distribution media matches the desired distribution date requested by the user terminal, the content of the desired distribution media is directly distributed to the user terminal to the media provider terminal. Sending a distribution instruction to that effect;
The media provider terminal, in accordance with the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal, directly distributes the contents of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date and time of its publication. Content distribution method to use. If the service provider terminal determines that the distribution desired media is published, it extracts the content of the corresponding media from the published media content of the plurality of pre-registered media. The content distribution method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of transmitting the content to the user terminal. A user terminal, a media provider terminal used by a media provider, and a service provider terminal acting as a part of distribution of a plurality of media provided by the media provider to the user terminal can communicate with each other. A program used in a system connected to
Executes, to the computer of the user terminal, a process of requesting the service provider terminal to deliver the desired delivery media arbitrarily selected from the plurality of media at a desired delivery date and time set arbitrarily. Let
The release date and time of the plurality of media are registered in advance, and it is determined whether or not the desired distribution media is released based on the release date and time. If the release date and time match the desired distribution date and time requested by the user terminal, a distribution instruction is sent to the media provider terminal to directly distribute the contents of the desired distribution media to the user terminal. Causing the computer of the service provider terminal to execute
According to the distribution instruction from the service provider terminal, the computer of the media provider terminal may execute a process of directly distributing the contents of the corresponding media among the plurality of media to the user terminal at the date of publication. Features program. If it is determined that the distribution desired media is published, the contents of the corresponding media are taken out of the contents of the published media among the plurality of pre-registered media and transmitted to the user terminal. The program according to claim 6, further causing the computer of the service provider terminal to execute the process of performing the operation.

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