JP2005107829A - Content distributing device and method, and content receiving device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents distributing/receiving technology and an accounting technology capable of performing an accounting processing corresponding to a time when a user views and an object of contents viewed by the user. <P>SOLUTION: A contents receiver 2 receives content information transmitted from a content distributing device 1, and registers the method of viewing contents desired by a user. A decoding means 22 decodes the received contents, a monitoring means 23 monitors the object and the decoding time of the decoded contents, a charging means 24 refers to a charge database 251 of a storage means 25 to record the accumulated sum in an accumulated sum database 252, a transmitting/receiving means 21 transmits the recorded charge information through a network 100 to the content distributing device 1, and the content distributing device 1 stores the account fee of the user transmitted from the content receiver 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution / reception technology and a billing technology, and in particular, a content distribution device, a content reception device, a content distribution method, and a content reception that enable charging in units of objects in a system that encodes and decodes content in units of objects. Regarding the method.

Conventionally, there has been a system in which a user is charged according to the viewing time when the user views content. Patent Document 1 below describes a video distribution method and apparatus that enable charging according to the presence / absence of insertion of advertisement video, the number of insertions, the type of advertisement video, and the like.
JP 2003-111052 A

  However, the conventional system is not a system in which the user can select a content object encoded in units of objects, and charging is performed in units of objects. In the present invention, not only the time viewed by the user, but also the object of the time viewed and the content viewed (content encoded for each object such as “person”, “background”, “thing”, “sound”, etc.) The purpose is to enable billing processing according to.

  Users can reduce viewing fees by viewing only the objects they want to see, and for content providers, only free objects are shown to viewers, and there is a charge in the content A system that encourages viewers to view objects can be realized. It is also possible to prioritize objects, determine objects to be transmitted according to network traffic, and charge content viewing fees according to the objects actually transmitted.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device, and is a specific one of requested content. Encoding means for encoding the above objects, monitoring means for monitoring which objects are encoded by the encoding means, and charging means for charging according to the encoded objects detected by the monitoring means Or a means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging device.

  Further, the present invention is a content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device, and stores one or more pieces of object information selected by the user. Storage means; encoding means for selecting and encoding only the object selected by the user; multiplexing means for multiplexing only the encoded object; receiving the multiplexed encoded data from the user's content And means for transmitting to the apparatus, and means for charging the encoded object or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus.

  Further, the present invention is a content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device, and stores one or more pieces of object information selected by the user. Storage means; encoding means for encoding content in units of objects; multiplexing means for multiplexing only objects selected by a user among encoded data encoded in units of objects; A means for transmitting the encoded data to the user's content receiving apparatus; and a charging means for charging the multiplexed object or a means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. To do.

  In addition, the present invention is a content receiving apparatus that receives data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution apparatus and decodes the data. Receiving means for receiving; decoding means for decoding one or more specific objects among the data received by the receiving means; monitoring means for monitoring which objects are decoded by the decoding means; Charging means for charging according to the decrypted object detected by the monitoring means, or means for transmitting information for the charging to an external charging device.

  In addition, the present invention is a content receiving device that receives from a content distribution device and decodes data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects, and includes one or more pieces of object information selected by a user Storage means for storing data, receiving means for receiving multiplexed data in which encoded objects are multiplexed from a content distribution apparatus, separation means for separating the multiplexed data for each object, and a user-selected And a decoding unit that selects and decodes only the object, and a charging unit that charges the decoded object or a unit that transmits information for charging to an external charging device.

  In addition, the present invention is a content receiving device that receives from a content distribution device and decodes data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects, and includes one or more pieces of object information selected by a user Storage means for storing data, receiving means for receiving multiplexed data in which encoded objects are multiplexed, from the content distribution apparatus, and only objects selected by the user in the multiplexed multiplexed data. Separating means for separating, decoding means for decoding the separated object, charging means for charging the separated and decoded object, or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging device It is characterized by.

  In the conventional system, charging is performed according to the content unit or the viewing time of the content. However, in the present invention, the user wants to view the content composed of a plurality of objects by the user. It can be requested to a content distribution apparatus, data is distributed in units of objects, objects are synthesized and output in a user terminal which is a content reception apparatus, and charging is performed in units of objects.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform billing processing according to the time viewed by the user and the object of the content viewed. Further, according to the present invention, the user can reduce the viewing fee by viewing only the object he / she wants to see, or the content provider can show only the free object to the viewer, and the user can view the paid object in the content. Can also realize a system that encourages viewers.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to prioritize objects, determine objects to be transmitted according to network traffic, and charge content viewing fees.

  The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the system configuration shown in FIGS. The difference between the system of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is whether the content receiving apparatus performs processing related to charging or the content distribution apparatus performs processing, and the same is true in that charging is performed according to the object. .

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration of the present invention when processing related to charging is performed on the content receiving device 2 side. 1 is a content distribution apparatus, 2 is a content reception apparatus, and 100 is a network.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the content receiving apparatus 2 includes a transmission / reception unit 21 that receives data, a decoding unit 22 that decodes data, a monitoring unit 23 that monitors which object is decoded by the decoding unit 22, and a detection unit 23 that detects the object. The storage unit 25 stores a charging unit 24 that charges in accordance with the decrypted object, a fee database 251, and a cumulative amount database 252. Reference numeral 26 denotes a display means such as a display, which is connected to the content receiving device 2 and outputs a content made up of decrypted objects.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a system configuration example of the present invention when processing related to charging is performed on the content distribution apparatus 1 side. The content distribution apparatus 1 is detected by a transmission / reception means 11 for transmitting data, an encoding means 12 for encoding data, a monitoring means 13 for monitoring which object is encoded by the encoding means 12, and a monitoring means 13 The storage unit 15 stores a charging unit 14 that charges according to the encoded object, a fee database 151, and a cumulative amount database 152.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a data configuration example of the fee database 251 possessed by the content receiving device 2 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the fee database 251 includes data items such as a distribution device name of the content distribution device 1, a content name, an object name, and a charge / second (a charge per unit time). Here, an example in which there are a plurality of content distribution apparatuses 1 is shown, but when there is only one content distribution apparatus 1, data on the distribution apparatus name is not necessary. The fee database 251 is distributed in advance from the content distribution device 1 or the content distribution management center (not shown) to the content reception device 2.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of the accumulated amount database 252 of the content receiving device 2 of FIG. The accumulated amount database 252 includes data items such as a distribution device name and a viewing fee of the content distribution device 1. The accumulated amount database 252 stores, for each content distribution device 1, the accumulated viewing fee for the content viewed by the user in the content receiving device 2. It should be noted that, instead of the accumulated amount, detailed information on individual viewing charges such as trial listening date and time, contents viewed and object names may be stored in the database.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining charging processing in content distribution when the system configuration shown in FIG. 1 is used. FIG. 5A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution apparatus 1, and FIG. 5B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception apparatus 2.

  The content distribution device 1 transmits content to the content reception device 2 (step S1). When the content receiving device 2 receives the content information (step S2), the content receiving device 2 inputs and registers the viewing method of the content desired by the user from the user (step S3).

  The viewing method is a menu for setting various viewing methods, such as viewing only the object desired by the user, the user deciding the viewing fee first, and deciding the viewing fee by prioritizing the objects. You can choose from.

  The content receiving device 2 decrypts the received content by the decrypting means 22 and reproduces it (step S4). At this time, the monitoring means 23 monitors the decrypted content object and the decryption time (step S5). The accounting unit 24 refers to the fee database 251 shown in FIG. 3, and records the accumulated amount of the trial fee in the accumulated amount database 252 shown in FIG. 4 (step S6).

  For example, when the content distribution device 1 with the distribution device name “distribution device A” transmits the content with the content name “content 1”, and the objects viewed by the user are the object a and the object c, the charge database 251 The sum of the charge per unit time of the object 1 and the object c of the content 1 shown in FIG. 4 × decoding time is added and recorded as the viewing charge corresponding to the distribution apparatus A in the accumulated amount database 252 shown in FIG.

  The content receiving device 2 transmits the recorded fee information to the content distribution device 1 of the content provider (step S7), and the content distribution device 1 stores the user's charging fee transmitted from the content receiving device 2 (step S7). S8).

  The charging process corresponding to the above object can also be performed on the content distribution apparatus 1 side. The fee database 151 in the content distribution apparatus 1 in FIG. 2 is the same as the fee database 251 described in FIG. However, since it is sufficient to manage only the charge information of the content distributed by the own device, the data item of the distribution device name is not necessary.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration example of the accumulated amount database 152 for each user of the content distribution apparatus 1 of FIG. The accumulated amount database 152 includes data items such as a user name and a viewing fee, and stores the accumulated amount of the viewing fee for each user.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining charging processing in content distribution when the system configuration shown in FIG. 2 is used. FIG. 7A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution apparatus 1, and FIG. 7B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception apparatus 2.

  The content receiving device 2 inputs the viewing method of the content desired by the user from the user, and transmits it to the content distribution device 1 (step S11). The viewing method is a menu for setting various viewing methods, such as viewing only the object desired by the user, the user deciding the viewing fee first, and deciding the viewing fee by prioritizing the objects. You can choose from. It is also possible to instruct the content distribution apparatus 1 to determine the object to be transmitted according to the traffic status of the network 100. This is useful for a user who wants to see a smooth video even if the number of objects in the video is reduced, although a packet drop of the video and a network delay occur when the traffic situation of the user's network 100 is not constant.

  The content distribution device 1 receives the content viewing method desired by the user from the content reception device 2 (step S12). Next, the content to be distributed is encoded in units of content according to the viewing method selected by the user, multiplexed, and transmitted to the content receiving device 2 (step S13). The content receiving device 2 decodes the received content and reproduces and outputs it (step S14).

  On the other hand, in the content distribution apparatus 1, when the object is encoded, the monitoring unit 13 monitors the encoded content object and its reproduction time interval (time length) (step S15). The accounting unit 14 refers to the fee database 151, calculates the sum of the fee per unit time of each encoded object × the reproduction time length, and views the accumulated amount of the corresponding user in the accumulated amount database 152 shown in FIG. The fee is added and recorded (step S16).

  Example 1 of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the content distribution apparatus 3 includes an object information storage unit 31 that stores object information in content selected by a user, a charging unit 32 that determines a charging amount according to object information and charging rules selected by the user, Encoding means 33 (33-1 to 33-3) for encoding the data, encoded data multiplexing means 34 for multiplexing the encoded data, transmission / reception means 35 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the content receiving apparatus 4, and content 39 Object separation means 36 for separating the object information, an accounting information storage unit 37 for storing accounting information, and a user information storage unit 38 for storing user information such as user ID and distribution contract information.

  In addition, the content receiving device 4 includes a transmission / reception unit 41 that transmits / receives information to / from the content distribution device 3, an encoded data separation unit 42 that separates multiplexed encoded data, and a decoding unit 43 (43 that decodes the separated object). -1 to 43-3), and content composing means 44 for composing the decrypted object. Reference numeral 46 denotes input means such as a keyboard, and 45 denotes display means such as a display, which are connected to the content receiving apparatus 4. Note that the content receiving device 4 in FIG. 8 may be a receiving device according to, for example, a normal MPEG4 system decoder model.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 3, and FIG. 9B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 4.

  The content distribution device 3 transmits the attribute information of the content 39 and the preview of the content 39 to the content receiving device 4 (step S21). FIG. 10 shows an example of a screen first transmitted to the content receiving device 4. This screen example includes {video object OBJ1 (still texture object OBJ10 + two arbitrary shape objects OBJ11, OBJ12) + audio object OBJ13}. In the example of this figure, explanation of each object was added explicitly.

  When receiving the content information such as the attribute information and the preview (step S31), the content receiving device 4 causes the user to select the object of the content 39 desired by the user from the received content information, and transmits it to the content distribution device 3 ( Step S32).

  Upon receiving the object information selected by the user, the content distribution device 3 stores it in the object information storage unit 31 (step S22). The content 39 desired by the user is separated by the object separation means 36 (step S23), and only the object selected by the user is encoded by the encoding means 33 (step S24). Next, the content distribution device 3 multiplexes the encoded objects and transmits them to the user (step S25). When receiving the multiplexed encoded data, the content receiving device 4 separates the encoded data for each object (step S33).

  The content receiving device 4 decrypts the separated object (step S34), and the decrypted object is composed by the content composition unit 44 (step S35). The content receiving device 4 provides the user with the content by outputting the result synthesized by the content synthesizing unit 44 to the display unit 45 (step S36). When the user stops viewing the content, a viewing stop signal is transmitted to the content distribution device 3 (step S37).

  When the content distribution device 3 receives the content viewing stop signal of the user (step S26), the content distribution device 3 calculates the amount of money to be charged to the user according to the charging rule (for example, viewing time × number of viewing objects) recorded in the charging means 32, It records in the billing information storage part 37 (step S27).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 3, and FIG. 11B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 4.

  In the second embodiment, the difference from the content distribution processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9 is that, in the first embodiment, the content distribution apparatus 3 encodes only the object selected by the user in step S24. While the object encoded in step S25 is multiplexed and transmitted to the user, in the second embodiment, the content distribution apparatus 3 performs encoding in units of objects for all the contents in step S24 ′. In S25 ', only the object selected by the user among the encoded objects is multiplexed and transmitted to the user.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a content distribution apparatus, and 6 is a charging apparatus. In the content distribution apparatus 5, 51 is an object information storage unit that stores object information in the content 39 selected by the user. In the billing device 6, 61 is an object information storage means for storing object information in the content 39 selected by the user, 62 is a billing means for determining a billing amount, and 63 is information with the content distribution device 5. A transmission / reception means for transmitting / receiving 64 is a charging information storage unit for storing charging information. Other portions are the same as those in the configuration example of FIG.

  The difference from the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 is that in the third embodiment of the present invention, a charging device 6 is newly provided, and the charging device 6 performs a portion related to user charging.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Steps S51 to S53 shown in FIG. 13 (A) show an example of the processing flow of the charging apparatus 6, and steps S41 to S46 shown in FIG. 13 (B) show an example of the processing flow of the content distribution apparatus 5. Steps S31 to S37 shown in FIG. 13 (C) show an example of the processing flow of the content receiving device 4.

  The following processing is different from the content distribution processing according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the content distribution device 5 receives the object information selected by the user, stores it in the object information storage means 51, and transmits the received object information to the charging device 6 (step S42). On the other hand, the charging device 6 stores the received object information in the object information storage means 61 (step S51).

  Further, when the content distribution device 5 receives the user content viewing stop signal from the content receiving device 4 and transmits it to the charging device 6 (step S46), the charging device 6 receives the user content viewing stop signal (step S46). S52), the amount of money to be charged to the user is calculated based on the charging rule (for example, viewing time × viewing object number) recorded in the charging means 62 (step S53). As described above, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the charging apparatus 6 rather than the content distribution apparatus 5 calculates the amount of money to be charged to the user.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Steps S51 to S53 shown in FIG. 14 (A) show an example of the processing flow of the charging device 6, and steps S61 to S66 shown in FIG. 14 (B) show an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 5. Steps S31 to S37 shown in FIG. 14 (C) show an example of the processing flow of the content receiving device 4.

  The following processing is different from the content distribution processing according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the content distribution apparatus 5 receives the object information selected by the user, stores it in the object information storage means 51, and transmits the received object information to the charging apparatus 6 (step S62). The object information is stored in the object information storage means 61 (step S51).

  When the content distribution device 5 receives the user's content viewing stop signal and transmits it to the charging device 6 (step S66), the charging device 6 receives the user's content viewing stop signal (step S52). The amount of money to be charged to the user is calculated based on the charging rule recorded in (for example, viewing time × number of viewing objects) (step S53).

  Next, Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first to fourth embodiments, the object selected by the user is selected on the content distribution device side, whereas in the fifth embodiment described here and the sixth to eighth embodiments described later, the content receiving device. Select the object selected by the user at the initiative.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a content distribution device, and 8 is a content reception device. The content receiving device 8 is a transmission / reception unit 81 for transmitting / receiving information to / from the content distribution device 7, an object information storage unit 82 for storing object information in the content selected by the user, the object information selected by the user, and a charging rule. Billing means 83 for determining the billing amount, decoding means 43 (43-1 to 43-3) for decoding the object, coded data separating means 42 for separating the coded data, content synthesizing means 44 for synthesizing the content, billing information Is stored in a billing information storage unit 84 and user information storage unit 85 in which user information is stored. Reference numeral 45 denotes display means 45 and 46 for displaying content, and input means for inputting an instruction for selecting an object required by the user from the content.

  The content distribution apparatus 7 of FIG. 15 includes an encoding unit 33 (33-1 to 33-3), an encoded data multiplexing unit 34, a transmission / reception unit 35, and an object separation unit 36. Any encoding device may be used.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 7, and FIG. 16B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 8.

  The content distribution device 7 transmits the content attribute information and the content preview to the content receiving device 8 (step S71). When the content receiving device 8 receives content information such as attribute information and preparation (step S81), the content receiving device 8 causes the user to select an object of the content desired by the user from the received content information, and stores it in the object information storage means 82. A content distribution request signal is transmitted to the content distribution device 7 (step S82).

  Upon receiving the content distribution request signal (step S72), the content distribution device 7 separates the requested content by the object separation means 36 (step S73) and encodes it (step S74). Next, the content distribution device 7 multiplexes the encoded objects and transmits them to the user (step S75).

  When the content receiving apparatus 8 receives the multiplexed encoded data by the transmission / reception means 81, the encoded data separation means 42 separates the encoded data for each object (step S83). Subsequently, the content receiving apparatus 8 decrypts only the object selected by the user from the separated objects by the decrypting means 43 (step S84), and synthesizes the decrypted object by the content compositing means 44 (step S85).

  Next, the content receiving device 8 provides the user with the content by outputting the result synthesized by the content synthesizing unit 44 to the display unit 45 (step S86). When the user stops viewing the content, a viewing stop signal is transmitted to the content distribution device 7 (step S87).

  The content distribution device 7 receives the user's content viewing stop signal (step S76). At the same time, the content receiving device 8 calculates the amount of money to be charged to the user according to the charging rule (for example, viewing time × number of viewing objects) recorded in the charging means 83, and transmits it to the content distribution device 7 (step S88). The distribution device 7 stores the received charging fee for the user (step S77).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 7, and FIG. 17B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 8.

  The difference from the content distribution processing according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 16 is that the content receiving device 8 separates only the object selected by the user from the encoded objects in step S83 ′. In S84 ′, the separated object is decoded.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 9 is a charging device, and 10 is a content receiving device. In the charging device 9, 91 is an object information storage means for storing object information in the content selected by the user, 92 is a charging means for determining a charge amount, and 93 is a transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives information to / from the content receiving apparatus 10. Means 94 is a charging information storage unit for storing charging information. In the content receiving apparatus 10, reference numeral 101 denotes object information storage means for storing object information in the content selected by the user.

  The difference from the fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 15 is that the seventh embodiment of the present invention is provided with a new charging device 9 and the charging device 9 performs a portion related to user charging.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 19A shows an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 7, FIG. 19B shows an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 10, and FIG. 19C shows the processing of the charging device 9. An example of a flow is shown.

  The following processing is different from the content distribution processing according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the content receiving apparatus 10 causes the user to select an object of the content desired by the user from the received content information, stores the information in the object information storage unit 101, and transmits a content distribution request signal to the content distribution apparatus 7. To do. Further, the selected object information is transmitted to the billing apparatus 9 (step S102).

  The billing apparatus 9 stores the received object information in the object information storage unit 91 (step S91). Further, the content receiving apparatus 10 transmits a content viewing stop signal of the user to the content distribution apparatus 7 and the charging apparatus 9 (step S107). The charging device 9 receives the content viewing stop signal of the user (step S92), and calculates the amount of money to be charged to the user based on the charging rule (for example, viewing time × number of viewing objects) recorded in the charging means 92 (step S92). S93). Thus, in the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the charging device 9 calculates the amount of money to be charged to the user.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining content distribution processing according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. Steps S71 to S76 in FIG. 20 (A) show an example of the processing flow of the content distribution device 7, and steps S111 to S117 shown in FIG. 20 (B) show an example of the processing flow of the content reception device 10. Steps S91 to S93 shown in 20 (C) show an example of the processing flow of the charging apparatus 9.

  The following processing is different from the content distribution processing according to the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the content receiving device 10 selects the content object desired by the user from the received content information, stores it in the object information storage means 101, and transmits a content distribution request signal to the content distribution device 7. Further, the selected object information is transmitted to the billing apparatus 9 (step S112).

  The charging device 9 stores the received object information in the object information storage unit 91 (step S91). When the content receiving device 10 transmits a user content viewing stop signal to the content distribution device 7 and the billing device 9 (step S117), the billing device 9 receives the user content viewing stop signal (step S92). The amount of money to be charged to the user is calculated based on the charging rule (for example, viewing time × number of viewing objects) recorded in the means 92 (step S93).

  Here, the object to be charged by the present invention is an element that is a coding unit that constitutes content, and the object includes a visual object that constitutes an image and an element that constitutes audio. There is an audio object. In addition, “natural images” and “artificially created images” are classified as objects, and “natural objects”, “moving objects”, “still objects”, “background”, etc. Are also classified as objects. A typical example of such an object is an object handled by MPEG4. FIG. 21 shows an example of classification of objects handled in the present invention.

As a method for selecting an object to be distributed from a content distribution apparatus or a method for selecting an object to be decoded and reproduced by a content reception apparatus, there are the following methods.
(1) First, a still image as shown in FIG. 10 is transmitted and displayed on the content receiving apparatus, and the user selects a favorite object from the still images.
(2) First, the content receiving apparatus transmits and displays a list of objects and explanation information included in the content that the user intends to view as text information, and allows the user to select a favorite object from the list. As information to be displayed for selection, text information and a still image may be used in combination.
(3) First, a preview of a moving image of about several seconds is transmitted to the content receiving apparatus, and after the moving image reproduction is stopped, the user is made to select a favorite object.

  Also, when the network used by the user's content receiving device is a narrow band, the content distribution device allows the user to select the priority order of the objects and the minimum required object by the methods (1) to (3) described above. It is also preferable to provide an optional function that makes it possible to change the content to be transmitted according to the actual traffic situation of the network and to save the “network bandwidth” and “viewing fee”.

It is a figure which shows the system configuration example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example of this invention. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of a charge database. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of an accumulation money amount database. It is a figure explaining the example of the accounting process in content delivery. It is a figure which shows the data structural example of an accumulation money amount database. It is a figure explaining the example of the accounting process in content delivery. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the content information transmitted to a content receiver from a content delivery apparatus. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 6 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the system configuration example which concerns on Example 7 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 7 of this invention. It is a figure explaining the content delivery process which concerns on Example 8 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the classification | category of the object handled in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 3, 5, 7 Content distribution device 2, 4, 8, 10 Content reception device 6, 9 Billing device 100 Network 11, 21, 35, 41, 63, 81, 93 Transmission / reception means 12, 33-1, 33- 2,33-3 Coding means 13, 23 Monitoring means 14, 24, 32, 62, 83, 92 Billing means 15, 25 Storage means 22 Decoding means 26, 45 Display means 31, 51, 61, 82, 91, 101 Object information storage means 34 Encoded data multiplexing means 36 Object separation means 37, 64, 84, 94 Billing information storage section 38, 85 User information storage section 39 Content 42 Encoded data separation means 43-1, 43-2, 43 -3 Decryption means 44 Content composition means 46 Input means 151,251 Charge database 152,252 Cumulative amount data Base

Claims (12)

A content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device,
Encoding means for encoding one or more specific objects of the requested content;
Monitoring means for monitoring which objects are encoded by the encoding means;
A content distribution apparatus comprising: charging means for charging according to the encoded object detected by the monitoring means, or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device,
Storage means for storing one or more pieces of object information selected by the user;
An encoding means for selecting and encoding only the object selected by the user;
A multiplexing means for multiplexing only the encoded object;
Means for transmitting the multiplexed encoded data to a user content receiving device;
A content distribution apparatus comprising: charging means for charging the encoded object or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content distribution device that encodes content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributes the content to a user content reception device,
Storage means for storing one or more pieces of object information selected by the user;
Encoding means for encoding content in units of objects;
A multiplexing means for multiplexing only the object selected by the user in the encoded data encoded in object units;
Means for transmitting the multiplexed encoded data to a user content receiving device;
A content distribution apparatus comprising: charging means for charging the multiplexed object or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content receiving apparatus that receives data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution apparatus and decodes the data,
Receiving means for receiving object-encoded data from the content distribution device;
Decoding means for decoding one or more specific objects among the data received by the receiving means;
Monitoring means for monitoring which objects are decoded by the decoding means;
A content receiving apparatus comprising: charging means for charging according to the decrypted object detected by the monitoring means, or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content receiving apparatus that receives data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution apparatus and decodes the data,
Storage means for storing one or more pieces of object information selected by the user;
Receiving means for receiving multiplexed data, in which encoded objects are multiplexed, from a content distribution device;
Separating means for separating the multiplexed data for each object;
A decoding means for selecting and decoding only the object selected by the user;
A content receiving apparatus comprising: charging means for charging the decrypted object or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content receiving apparatus that receives data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution apparatus and decodes the data,
Storage means for storing one or more pieces of object information selected by the user;
Receiving means for receiving multiplexed data, in which encoded objects are multiplexed, from a content distribution device;
Separating means for separating only the object selected by the user in the multiplexed multiplexed data;
Decoding means for decoding the separated object;
A content receiving apparatus comprising: charging means for charging the separated and decrypted object or means for transmitting information for charging to an external charging apparatus. A content delivery method for encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and delivering the content to a user content receiving device,
An encoding step for encoding one or more specific objects of the requested content;
A monitoring step for monitoring which objects are encoded by the encoding step;
A content distribution method comprising: a billing step of billing according to the encoded object detected in the monitoring step. A content distribution method for encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and distributing the encoded content to a user content receiving device,
Storing one or more object information selected by the user;
An encoding step for selecting and encoding only the object selected by the user;
A multiplexing step for multiplexing only the encoded objects;
Transmitting the multiplexed encoded data to a user content receiving device;
A content distribution method comprising: a charging step of charging for the encoded object, or a step of transmitting information for charging to an external charging device. A content delivery method for encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects and delivering the content to a user content receiving device,
Storing one or more object information selected by the user;
An encoding step for encoding content in units of objects;
A multiplexing step for multiplexing only the object selected by the user in the encoded data encoded in object units;
Transmitting the multiplexed encoded data to a user content receiving device;
A content distribution method comprising: a charging step of charging for the multiplexed object or a step of transmitting information for charging to an external charging device. A content receiving method for receiving and decoding data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution device,
A receiving step of receiving object-encoded data from the content distribution device;
A decoding step of decoding one or more specific objects among the data received by the receiving step;
A monitoring step of monitoring which objects are decoded by the decoding step;
A content receiving method comprising: a billing step of billing according to the decrypted object detected in the monitoring step. A content receiving method for receiving and decoding data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution device,
Storing one or more object information selected by the user;
A reception step of receiving, from the content distribution device, multiplexed data in which the encoded object is multiplexed;
A separation step of separating the multiplexed data for each object;
A decoding step of selecting and decoding only the object selected by the user;
A content receiving method, comprising: a charging step of charging the decrypted object or a step of transmitting information for charging to an external charging device. A content receiving method for receiving and decoding data obtained by encoding content composed of a plurality of objects in units of objects from a content distribution device,
Storing one or more object information selected by the user;
A reception step of receiving, from the content distribution device, multiplexed data in which the encoded object is multiplexed;
A separation step of separating only an object selected by a user from the multiplexed multiplexed data;
A decoding step for decoding the separated object;
A content receiving method comprising: a charging step for charging the separated and decrypted object or a step of transmitting information for charging to an external charging device.

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