JP3569360B2 - Information providing terminal - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an information providing terminal capable of receiving information from an information center that stores information via an information communication network and providing the information to a user provides a charge for the information to be distributed. The present invention relates to a communication-type information providing system provided with a charging system for collecting information and an information providing terminal used for the communication-type information providing system, and more particularly to a technology using a charging communication network such as a videotex network.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A communication karaoke system that has become widespread in recent years is configured such that a large number of music data is stored in a communication karaoke terminal installed in a store or the like in advance, and a new music is distributed from a host computer through a telephone line. The fee collection associated with the distribution of the new song is performed by a method in which the song data distribution company directly goes to a store or the like of the karaoke terminal installation company or has a bank account transfer.
[0003]
However, if it becomes impossible for the music data distribution company to manage the karaoke terminal installation company that uses the karaoke terminal due to the resale of the karaoke terminal, etc., then the music data distribution service to the karaoke terminal and the collection of fees for the service Has the problem that it becomes difficult.
[0004]
In addition, such management of the karaoke terminal installation business and collection of the fee for the music data distribution also put a heavy burden on the music data distribution business.
Therefore, the applicant has considered the construction of a toll collection system using a billing communication network such as a videotex system or a dial queue two system which has been put into practical use in recent years.
[0005]
This videotex system is well known in Japan as a captain system. This system has been put into practical use as interactive image information communication in which a user terminal is connected to an information center via a Videotex communication network, and character information is provided from the information center in response to a request from the user terminal. ing. In order to collect the fee for the information provided from the information center, the above-mentioned videotex communication network has a billing function, and the fee can be collected in units of information.
[0006]
In addition, the dial cue two system connects a user terminal and an information center via a public line, adds an information fee per unit time set for each information center to a public line usage fee, and calculates a fee by a pay-as-you-go calculation. It collects.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if a system using such a billing communication network is adopted, it is difficult to operate a sound information providing business unless the following problems are solved.
That is, when the fee charged via the charging communication network is collected by using a fee collection agency service or the like, the information provider fee is actually paid to the information provider three to four months after the transmission of the billing information. Will be. This presupposes a trusting relationship between the information distributor and the information user who pays for the convenience of the user by distributing the paid information first and collecting the actual fee later. Things.
[0008]
With such a post-payment system, the information providing service becomes available after the billing process is completed. However, there is a possibility that a predetermined fee cannot be collected at the time of settlement. In other words, the information user may take advantage of the fact that the payment of the fee will be done later and try to remove the information maliciously, or leave the balance of the bank account below the specified amount due to forgetting the payment deadline. In some cases, information charges cannot be collected on a predetermined date. Permanently permitting the use of such information for which a fee has not been collected in this manner may cause a great obstacle to the operation of the system.
[0009]
In addition to this type of system, which collects fees along with such data distribution, song data is stored in advance in a karaoke terminal device in a state where it cannot be used for providing services as it is, and charging is performed. The system can be used by executing the system. In this case as well, the use of the Videotex communication network makes it possible to collect tolls without having to go out each time. The problem of having to be used in the same way arises.
[0010]
Such problems are not limited to the communication karaoke system, but are common to various information providing systems in the future multimedia society.
Therefore, the present invention provides not only troublesome fee collection but also information provision for enabling a more sound information provision business operation. Terminal The purpose is to provide.
[0011]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the object is achieved. An information providing system used for the information providing terminal according to the invention is: An information providing terminal for providing a user with paid transmitted information and capable of executing an information providing service in which the usage fee is settled after a period of time after receiving the information; A charging center that periodically connects to the terminal via a charging communication network, performs charging for the terminal by transmitting charging information corresponding to the information to the information providing terminal, and stores the information; An information center for transmitting the information to the information providing terminal, wherein the information providing terminal is capable of accessing the information center via an information communication network having an information communication function. Communication means, information storage means for storing information used for an information providing service received from the information center via the information communication network and the first communication means, Information provision execution means for providing information using information stored in storage means, information request means for transmitting an information request signal to the information center via the first communication means and the information communication network, Second communication means capable of accessing the charging center via a charging communication network having a charging function, and charging for transmitting a charging request signal to the charging center via the second communication means and the charging communication network. Processing requesting means, charging information receiving means for receiving charging information transmitted from the charging center, and whether information stored in the information storage means, which has been determined based on the charging information, has been charged Charging state storage means for storing whether or not charging has been performed in association with information stored in the information storage means; and information stored as being charged with reference to the charging state storage means. Only when the charging information receiving means does not receive the charging information for a first predetermined period, the execution permission means restricts the use of the information providing by the information providing executing means. Execution inhibition means for inhibiting execution of information provision by the information provision execution means with respect to information stored in the information storage means during a second predetermined period even if the information is permitted information; When receiving a charging request signal transmitted by charging processing requesting means of the information providing terminal, the charging center transmits charging information of the terminal to the charging information receiving means via the charging communication network. When the information center receives an information request signal transmitted by the information request means of the information providing terminal, the information center responds to the information request signal. And transmitting the stored information to the information providing terminal.
[0012]
According to this information providing system, the information providing terminal executes the information providing service to the user based on the stored information, but the charging center periodically communicates with the information providing terminal via the charging communication network. Connect and charge.
Here, in the current charging communication networks such as the captain system and the dial queue two, the calling side (the side that made the call) is charged, so that the information providing terminal calls and connects to the charging center. Will be. However, it is possible to change the configuration of the charging communication network so as to charge the called side (the side receiving the call) by the collect call method, as is already in practical use in public telephone lines. Therefore, the connection here may be a call originating from the terminal side or a call originating from the charging center side, as long as the information providing terminal side is charged.
[0013]
When the information providing terminal is connected to the charging center in this way, the charging center transmits charging information corresponding to the information to the information providing terminal. As a result, billing to the information providing terminal via the billing communication network is executed.
Then, the charging status storage means determines whether the information stored in the information storage means is charged or not charged, which is determined based on the charging information, in correspondence with the information stored in the information storage means. The execution permitting means refers to the charging state storage means and permits execution of information provision by the information provision executing means only for information stored as being charged.
[0014]
In this way, the execution of the information providing service is once permitted. However, if it is stored that the charging has been completed, the execution is not permanently permitted after that, but in a predetermined case as follows. Prohibits the execution of the information provision service.
That is, when the charging information receiving means has not received the charging information for the first predetermined period, even if the information is permitted to be used by the execution permission means, the information is stored in the information storage means during the second predetermined period. The execution of information provision by the information provision execution means is prohibited for the information.
[0015]
This takes into account the following problems. In other words, even if the billing process is performed and it is stored that the billing has been completed, the fee is actually collected at a later date. For example, it is often a monthly settlement method. This is based on the premise that the information distribution side and the information user who pays the fee have a trusting relationship. For the convenience of the user, it is possible to distribute the pay information first and collect the actual fee later. is there. Due to such a post-payment system, there is a possibility that a predetermined fee cannot be collected at the time of settlement of accounts, even though the information processing service has been completed for the charging process.
[0016]
In other words, the information user may take advantage of the fact that the payment of the fee will be done later and try to remove the information maliciously, or leave the balance of the bank account below the specified amount due to forgetting the payment deadline. In some cases, the information fee cannot be collected on a predetermined date. Permanently permitting the use of such information for which a fee has not been collected in this manner may cause a great obstacle to the operation of the system.
[0017]
For such a problem, the above According to the system, even if the charging process is executed and the execution of the information providing service is once permitted, if the charging information to be periodically received from the charging center is not received for the predetermined period, the predetermined period is set. Prohibit the execution of the information provision service retroactively. This is because, for example, although there is a premise of the system that the use of information is permitted by receiving billing information periodically every month, the fact that it has not received for a predetermined period means that the terminal moves without permission. In such a case, it is highly possible that fraudulent acts are performed to prevent charges from being charged.In such a case, the terminal prohibits the execution of the information provision service retroactively for a predetermined period instead of the control from the center side. You do it. As a result, it is possible to prevent an abnormal state in which pay information is continuously used for free, and to enable a sound operation of the information providing business.
[0018]
The information for the information providing service stored in the information providing terminal may be transmitted from the information center to the information providing terminal via the information communication network. This is convenient, for example, because the work of adding new information can be performed quickly and easily. In particular, it is preferable to adopt such an information distribution format in a field where there is a high demand for early addition of a new song such as karaoke.
[0019]
In the field of so-called online karaoke, for example, a new song may be distributed every few days, and thus it is preferable that the newly distributed song can be used immediately as an information providing service. Therefore , When the information providing terminal receives the billing information from the billing center, the information transmitted from the information center within a predetermined period thereafter is stored in the billing state storage means as being charged, and the information provision service is immediately started. It is preferable to allow execution. For example, when the billing information is received at the beginning of the month, the information delivered within the month is immediately put into a state in which the service can be executed.
[0020]
Further, the information transmitted from the charging center to the information providing terminal may be actual information to be distributed, as in a normal Videotex system, but may have an information communication network and a charging communication network separately. Then, mere dummy data is enough. The information transmitted by the charging center to the information providing terminal may be, for example, information as a decryption key. This is because information is stored in advance as scramble information on the information providing terminal side, and decryption or conversion into information can be provided by receiving a decryption key for descrambling and provided to the user. This is because it is possible to do so.
[0021]
Further, in the communication type information providing system described above, even if the execution of the information provision is once prohibited by the execution prohibiting means, the reception of the periodic billing information from the billing center is resumed thereafter. It is preferable that the execution permission unit permits execution of information provision by the information provision execution unit for the information.
[0022]
In addition, the above In the system, if the information communication network and the billing communication network are different communication networks, particularly excellent functions and effects can be obtained in the following points. In other words, the information used for the information providing service in the information providing terminal is assumed to be, for example, new song data for karaoke performance or a case of a considerably large amount of information such as game software. When the information itself is distributed from an information center, using a communication network suitable for the distribution may be faster than distributing such information using a billing communication network. This is because an optimal system configuration according to the type of information to be received by the providing terminal can be realized.
[0023]
As can be seen from the above description, in the case of a system having an information center, the charging center and the information center may exist as separate independent centers, or both functions may be provided in one center. You may leave. In any case, when connected via the information communication network capable of distributing information to the information providing terminal, it can function as an information center, and when connected via the charging communication network As long as the functions of the billing center can be fulfilled and the completion of the billing by the part having the function of the billing center is transmitted to the part having the function of the information center by some means, the two centers are separate entities. It doesn't matter whether you are one or the same. That is, in the present invention, the information center and the billing center are only expressed as concepts, and do not only mean a case where they are separated as objects.
[0024]
On the other hand, an information providing terminal used in such a system can be configured as follows.
For example, a claim 1 The information providing terminal shown in (1) provides the transmitted paid information to the user and is capable of executing an information providing service in which the usage fee is settled after a period of time after receiving the information. A providing terminal, a first communication unit capable of accessing the information center via an information communication network having an information communication function, and receiving from the information center via the information communication network and the first communication unit. Storage means for storing information used for the provided information providing service, information providing execution means for providing information using the information stored in the information storage means, the first communication means, and the information communication network An information requesting means for transmitting an information request signal to the information center via a communication network; a second communication means capable of accessing the charging center via a charging communication network having a charging function; Means, a billing process requesting means for transmitting a billing request signal to the billing center via the billing communication network, a billing information receiving means for receiving billing information transmitted from the billing center, and Charging state storage means for storing whether the information stored in the information storage means has been charged or not charged, in association with the information stored in the information storage means; Execution permitting means for permitting execution of information provision by the information provision executing means only for information stored as being charged with reference to the charging state storage means, and wherein the charging information receiving means sets the charging information to a first predetermined value. If the information is not received during the period, even if the information is permitted to be used by the execution permission unit, the information stored in the information storage unit during the second predetermined period is Characterized by comprising an execution inhibiting means for inhibiting the execution of the advertisement by the information providing execution unit.
[0025]
[0026]
Claim 2 The information providing terminal shown in 1 In the information providing terminal described in (1), when charging information is received from the charging center, information distributed from the information center within a predetermined period thereafter is stored in the charging state storage means as being charged. It is characterized by comprising.
[0027]
Claim 3 The information providing terminal shown in 1 or 2 In the information providing terminal according to the above, even if the execution of the information provision is once prohibited by the execution prohibiting means, after that, when the regular charging information reception from the charging center is resumed, the The execution permission unit permits execution of information provision for the information by the information provision execution unit.
[0028]
Claim 4 The information providing terminal shown in 1-3 Wherein the first communication means is a connection means for an information communication network which is a communication network different from the charging communication network to which the second communication means is connected. Features.
[0029]
Of course, the present invention Information terminal according to is used In realizing the communication-type information providing system, the present invention is not limited to these terminals, but also includes terminals using terminals different from the above-described terminals as long as they have the same purpose, operation, and effect. Needless to say. For example, the above claim 1 Although the information providing terminal provided with the charging state storage means, the communication type information providing system is not limited to the case where the information providing terminal is provided with the charging state storage means as described above. It can also be configured to include means.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram when the communication-type information providing system of the embodiment is applied to a system related to karaoke, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a karaoke terminal 10 as an information providing terminal which is a component of the system. is there.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this embodiment, a charging center 1 in charge of charging-related processing and a plurality of karaoke terminals 10 are connected via a charging communication network 5 and transmit karaoke music information. An information center 3 in charge of related processing and a plurality of karaoke terminals 10 are connected via an information communication network 7. The charging center 1 and the information center 3 are also connected.
[0032]
The charging communication network 5 has a function of charging an information fee, for example, a videotex communication network or a dial queue two communication network. In Japan today, the Videotex network and the dial queue two network are known as typical examples. The dial queue network is basically a pay-as-you-go calculation in units of time, and the videotex network can set an arbitrary fee for each content of information, and is used for a so-called captain system or the like.
[0033]
A videotex communication network will be described as an example of the billing function. Specifically, the videotex communication network includes, for example, a public telephone line connected to each karaoke terminal 10 and a videotex communication processing device. This Videotex communication processing device connects / exchanges a public telephone line trying to access the Videotex communication network to the charging center 1, manages the karaoke terminal 10 as a user device, and manages subscribers to the charging center 1. It provides communication processing functions such as charging of communication charges and information provision charges collected by the telephone company, communication control between the karaoke terminal 10 and the charging center 1, and conversion processing such as protocol conversion and code / pattern conversion.
[0034]
Next, the configuration of the karaoke terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The central controller 31 corresponding to the execution permitting means, the execution prohibiting means, the billing processing requesting means and the information requesting means includes a multi-purpose input key 32 as an input means for inputting various instructions, a hard disk 33 as an information storage means, The first communication control device 27a which can be connected to the audio reproduction circuit 35, the screen display control device 26, the information communication network 7 and corresponds to the first communication device, and the second communication device which can be connected to the accounting communication network 5 A second communication control device 27b. Further, a mixer amplifier 38 is connected to the audio reproduction circuit 35, and a television monitor 29 as display means is connected to the screen display control device 26, respectively. Further, a speaker 41 and a microphone 43 are connected to the mixer amplifier 38.
[0035]
Then, the central control device 31 executes a predetermined charging control process. This charging control process will be described later in detail, but is different from the conventional method of using the charging communication network 5, so that the point will be described. Conventionally, a user terminal receives information via the charging communication network 5 and executes a predetermined process using the information. Then, the charging communication network 5 charges a predetermined fee (a predetermined fee set for each information content) as a price for the information.
[0036]
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, information used by the karaoke terminal 10 for the karaoke performance processing is stored in the hard disk 33. The hard disk 33 stores karaoke song information of about several thousand songs in advance. Note that the karaoke terminal 10 is managed by a karaoke terminal installation company, and can receive song data from a song data distribution company every time new song data is released. In the system of the present embodiment, it is connected to the information communication network 7 via the first communication control device 27a, so that the new song data can be received from the information center 3 and stored in the hard disk 33 later. I have.
[0037]
The karaoke song information stored in the hard disk 33 is composed of song number information, which is identification information for identifying songs, and entity information. The entity information includes performance information of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard, which is information of accompaniment music, lyrics information, and background video information. The background video information is obtained by encoding video information corresponding to each song.
[0038]
The karaoke song information cannot be used as it is. In order to use it, a predetermined charging process using the charging function of the charging communication network 5 is performed by connecting to the charging communication network 5 through the second communication control device 27b and executing the charging control program by the central control device 31. Then, the karaoke song information can be used.
[0039]
For example, in the uncharged state, scramble information is added to the karaoke song information, and if it cannot be used as it is, a release key is distributed by a charging process, and the scramble information is released by the release key. It is possible to permit use. Also, instead of making the karaoke song information itself unusable, such as adding scramble information, even if the karaoke song information itself is physically usable but the billing state is not charged, A use prohibition flag may be set, and control may be performed such that the karaoke song information is not accepted even if requested. Then, when the charge is completed, the control can be performed by changing the use prohibition flag to the use enable flag.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, either a usable flag or a use prohibition flag is set for each song in the song correspondence table, and use is permitted or prohibited according to the flag. . The song correspondence table stored in the hard disk 33 includes a table including, for each piece of karaoke song information, items of the song number, song title, reception date, charging status, and use permission prohibition flag.
[0041]
The billing state is either “charged” for which a predetermined billing process has been completed or “uncharged” for which a billing process has not been completed. As a use permission prohibition flag, a flag of permission or prohibition is set as described above. First, when the charging state is “uncharged”, the use prohibition flag is set and the music is prohibited. It is in a locked state where it cannot be used. Then, when "charging is completed" by a predetermined charging process, the use permission flag is set, the locked state is released, and the music information can be used freely.
[0042]
In the present embodiment, for example, the charging information is received at the beginning of the month, and the information distributed within the month is set to “charged” immediately after receiving the distribution. Therefore, since the use permission flag is set, the service can be immediately executed. This is for the following reasons.
[0043]
That is, in the field of online karaoke, new songs are often distributed every few days, and thus it is preferable that the newly distributed songs can be used immediately as an information providing service. Since it is troublesome to execute the billing process every time information is distributed, one month's worth of billing is first collected, and those that have been distributed during the following one month are automatically used. It is made possible.
[0044]
Of course, the information may be distributed first and stored in the hard disk 33, and the use of the stored information may be permitted only after the billing information is received later. In this case, at the time when the music is distributed and stored in the hard disk 33, “uncharged” is stored in the song correspondence table, so that the “use prohibition flag” is set and cannot be used. Then, when the billing information is received later, "Billed" is stored in the music correspondence table, and the "usage flag" is set so that the song can be used freely. In the following embodiment, description will be made on the premise of pre-charge and post-delivery.
[0045]
When the use permission flag is set and the karaoke song information can be used, the user operates the multi-purpose input key 32 to select a song to sing. Then, the central control device 31 executes a karaoke performance process according to a predetermined karaoke performance program. In brief, the central control unit 31 reads performance information, lyrics information, and background video information corresponding to the selected song from the hard disk 33, and sends the performance information to the audio playback circuit 35 and the lyrics information and background video information to the screen. The data is respectively transferred to the display control device 26.
[0046]
The performance information output to the audio reproduction circuit 35 is converted into an analog performance signal, and then sent to a mixer amplifier 38 where it is electrically amplified. Mixing at a ratio. The mixed audio signal is output to the outside by a speaker 41 as a performance sound.
[0047]
On the other hand, the lyric information output in synchronization with the performance information is synthesized (superimposed) with a background video signal described later in the screen display control device 26 and displayed on the television monitor 29. As a result, the TV monitor 29 displays the background video in a state where the lyrics telop is synthesized.
[0048]
Next, the configuration of the charging center 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The charging center 1 includes a host computer 51, a storage device 53, an input device 55, a communication control device 57, a printer 59, and a CRT 61. The storage device 53 is for storing various control programs for operating the host computer 51, the accounting results for each of the karaoke terminals 10, and the like. In other words, something similar to the above-described music correspondence table is stored corresponding to each karaoke terminal 10.
[0049]
Various commands can be input from the input device 55. For example, a charge record or the like is created based on the charge information for each karaoke terminal 10 stored in the storage device 53, and the charge record is created by the printer 59. It can be printed or displayed on the CRT 61.
[0050]
Next, the configuration and functions of the information center 3 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the information center 3 includes a communication control device 77 connected to the karaoke terminal 10 via the information communication network 7, and a storage device 73 for storing karaoke music data to be distributed to the karaoke terminal 10. Are controlled by a host computer 71 as a central control device. Various devices such as an input device 75, a printer 79, and a CRT 81 are connected to the host computer 71. The storage device 73 also stores various control programs for operating the host computer 71 in addition to the karaoke music data.
[0051]
The information center 3 configured as described above transmits karaoke music data to each karaoke terminal 10 via the information communication network 7. This transmission is performed from the information center 3 side at an interval of about several days to add new music data. For example, the karaoke terminal 10 periodically (for example, once a day) inquires about new music, If there is a new song to be distributed in response to the inquiry, distribution processing may be performed. In any case, the karaoke song information is transmitted from the information center 3 to the karaoke terminal 10 as a result.
[0052]
Next, the operation of the system according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, the operation of the karaoke terminal 10 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS.
When the power is turned on, the main routine of FIG. 4 is started.
[0053]
First, in the first step S1, initialization of the entire device such as resetting of the communication control devices 27a and 27b is performed. Next, in S2, it is checked whether or not the karaoke performance mode is specified as the operation specification of the karaoke terminal 10. If the karaoke terminal installation company specifies the karaoke performance mode, the process proceeds to S3, and if not, the process proceeds to S4.
[0054]
In S3, a karaoke performance process is performed by calling a subroutine. This karaoke performance process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the first step S30 of the karaoke performance process, a key input from the multi-purpose input key 32 is waited. If there is a key input (S30: YES), it is determined in S31 whether or not it is a request number input. If it is a request number input, the flow shifts to S32, where it is determined whether or not the song is to be locked. This is determined based on whether or not the use prohibition flag is set in the item of the use permission prohibition flag in the above-described song correspondence table.
[0055]
If the use permission flag is set, the process proceeds to S33 to execute the music of the requested number. If the use prohibition flag is set, the music is to be locked. Then, a display indicating that the service is unavailable is displayed on the television monitor 29. After the processing in S33 or S35, the process proceeds to S34.
[0056]
On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the request number has not been input, a process corresponding to the other key input is executed in S36, and the process proceeds to S34. In S34, it is determined whether or not an instruction to end the karaoke mode has been issued. If there has been no end instruction, the process returns to S30. If there has been an end instruction, the karaoke performance process ends, and the process returns to S4 in the flowchart of FIG. Transition.
[0057]
In S4, it is checked whether or not it is a predetermined time for charging as the operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. This is because in the present system, each karaoke terminal 10 is required to perform a billing process once a month. For example, the karaoke terminal 10 is required to transmit predetermined billing information from the billing center 1 on the first day of every month. Request. If it is a predetermined time for charging, the process proceeds to S5, and if not, the process proceeds to S6.
[0058]
In S5, a subroutine is called to perform charging-related processing. This charging-related process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
In the first step S50, it is checked whether or not the station closing process for the charging center 1 has been completed. The station closing process is a predetermined process for stopping the information distribution from the information center 3. If the station closing process has been completed, no new information is distributed, and consequently, the billing information need not be received from the billing center 1.
[0059]
Therefore, if the station closing processing has been completed (S50: YES), the processing is skipped without executing the processing of S51 and thereafter, and this processing ends. On the other hand, if the station closing process has not been completed (S50: NO), in S51, a calling process is performed to connect to the charging center 1.
[0060]
Then, in S52, it is determined whether or not the connection with the charging center 1 is successful. If the connection with the charging center 1 has failed (S52: NO), the process proceeds to S53. In S53, after counting up the retry counter, it is determined whether or not the number of retries exceeds a predetermined number. If the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number (S53: NO), the process returns to S51 and attempts to connect to the charging center 1 again. If the connection to the charging center 1 has not been made even after the predetermined number of repetitions (S53: YES), the process proceeds to S54.
[0061]
In S54, the acquired charging information is checked, and in S55, it is determined whether the charging information that has not been acquired in the past has reached a predetermined period (n months). If the unacquired period is less than n months (S55: NO), the process ends.
[0062]
On the other hand, if the unacquired period is equal to or longer than n months (S55: YES), the flow shifts to S56 to go back a predetermined number of months from the last month in which the accounting information was acquired, that is, (n + m). The invalidation processing is performed so that the music information distributed during the period from month to n months ago cannot be used. The processing related to the reception of the new song to be distributed will be described later. However, in brief, in the system according to the present embodiment, the billing information is received first, for example, at the beginning of the month, and then distributed from the information center 3 during the month. The song information thus set is automatically made available. That is, for the received music, the use permission flag is set in the item of the use permission prohibition flag in the music correspondence table, so that the music information can be used.
[0063]
Therefore, in the processing of S56, the reception date falls within the period from (n + m) months to n months ago among the music information that is available because the use permission flag is set. A use prohibition flag is set for the music information to make it unavailable.
[0064]
The song for which the use prohibition flag is set in this manner is affirmatively determined in S32 of the above-described karaoke performance process (FIG. 5), that is, determined to be a lock target, and cannot be used.
Returning to FIG. 6, when the determination in S52 is affirmative, that is, when the connection to the charging center 1 is successful (S52: YES), the process proceeds to S57 to perform a request / reception process for charging information. The price for enabling the use of a new song to be distributed is, for example, fixed monthly or set monthly, and the price is known on the billing center 1 side. Therefore, in S57, there is no request regarding the amount of money, but only a request to transmit the billing information (for this month). Then, the charging information transmitted in response to the request is received. When the charging information is received by the process of S57, the history of the number of months of the charging information received is stored in a predetermined table. Therefore, by referring to this table, it is possible to determine how many months the billing information has been received.
[0065]
Upon completion of the process in S57, the process proceeds to S58. In S58, the connection with the charging center 1 is released, and then the process proceeds to S59. In S59, it is determined whether or not the billing information has been normally acquired. If the acquisition of the billing information has failed (S59: NO), the process proceeds to S60. In S60, after counting up the retry counter, it is determined whether or not the number of retries exceeds a predetermined number. If the number is equal to or less than the predetermined number (S60: NO), the process returns to S51, and attempts to connect to the charging center 1 again. If the billing information cannot be acquired from the billing center 1 even after the predetermined number of repetitions (S60: YES), the process proceeds to the check of the acquired billing information in S54.
[0066]
On the other hand, if the billing information has been acquired (S59: YES), the present process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S6 in the flowchart of FIG.
Returning to FIG. 4, in S6, it is checked whether or not it is a predetermined time for a new song inquiry as an operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. This is for inquiring whether or not there is music data to be distributed from the information center 3 once a day, for example, in order to obtain new music data as soon as possible. If it is a predetermined time for a new song inquiry, the process proceeds to S7 to execute a new song inquiry process. If it is not the predetermined time of the new music inquiry, the process proceeds to S2.
[0067]
In S7, a subroutine is called to perform a new song inquiry / reception process. The new song inquiry / reception process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S68 of the new song inquiry / reception process, it is checked whether or not the station closing process for the information center 3 has been completed. If the station closing process has not been completed (S68: NO), the process proceeds to S70. If the station closing process has been completed (S68: YES), the flow shifts to S69 to check whether all new song data for the charged month has been acquired. If the acquisition has been completed (S69: YES), the new song inquiry / reception process is terminated, and the process proceeds to S2 in FIG. If acquisition has not been completed (S69: NO), the process proceeds to S70.
[0068]
Then, in S70, it is connected to the information center 3 via the information communication network 7. After the connection process with the information center 3 is completed, the process proceeds to S71.
In S71, an inquiry is made to the information center 3 about the presence or absence of a new song, and in S72, an answer to the inquiry is received. If it is determined from the answer that there is new song data to be distributed (S73: YES), the process proceeds to S74, and a request to acquire all the new songs to be distributed is transmitted to the information center 3.
[0069]
In S75, karaoke song information on the new song transmitted from the information center 3 is received and saved in the built-in hard disk 33 as a response to the all song acquisition request. In addition, along with the saving to the hard disk 33, the song number, song name, and reception date of the saved song are written in the song correspondence table, and "charged" is automatically written in the charging status item. Then, the “use permission flag” is set in the item of the use permission prohibition flag.
[0070]
When the saving to the hard disk 33 in S75 is completed, the process proceeds to S76, and processing for disconnecting from the information center 3 is performed.
If it is determined in S73 that there is no new song data to be delivered (S73: NO), the process proceeds to S77 to store no new song data, and then proceeds to S76. In this case, the fact that there is no new music data may be displayed on the television monitor 29.
[0071]
After the disconnection with the information center 3 is completed in S76, the process proceeds to S2 in the flowchart of FIG.
The above is the operation of the central control device 31 of the karaoke terminal 10. The karaoke performance, the charging-related processing for enabling or disabling the karaoke music information, and the processing of receiving the karaoke music information relating to the distributed new music are described. Do.
[0072]
Next, the operation of the charging center 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
After the power is turned on, the charging center 1 executes the processing from step S100.
In S100, initialization of the entire device such as resetting of the communication control device 57 is performed. After the processing of S100 ends, the procedure moves to S101.
[0073]
In S101, it is checked whether there is a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10. If there is, the process proceeds to S102, and if not, the process of S101 is repeated, and a standby state is set.
In S102, connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is performed in response to a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10. After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S103.
[0074]
In S103, the charging request information from the karaoke terminal 10 is received. The billing request information is information requested in S57 shown in FIG.
In S104, predetermined billing information is transmitted to the corresponding karaoke terminal 10 in response to the request. After the transmission is completed, the process proceeds to S105.
[0075]
In S105, the connection with the connected karaoke terminal 10 is released. After the disconnection is completed, the process proceeds to S101.
The above is the operation of the host computer 51 of the charging center 1, which performs processing for receiving charging request information from the karaoke terminal 10 and transmitting predetermined charging information. Here, the communication processing of both will be described with reference to the communication sequence diagram of FIG.
[0076]
The karaoke terminal 10 calls the charging center 1 and transmits a password to the charging center 1 after being connected.
In the charging center 1, this is received via the communication control device 57, the host computer 51 performs terminal collation with a telephone number, a password, and the like. If the karaoke terminal 10 is registered in the charging center 1, the verification is successful. I do. After the karaoke terminal 10 receives this normal collation, the charging center 1 enters a receivable state, and then transmits a charging information request.
[0077]
This billing information request is, as described above, a “request to send billing information for this month”, and the information provision fee in this case is basically a fee determined on the billing center 1 side. No charge is specified.
In the toll collection system constituting the accounting communication network 5, which karaoke terminal 10 has transmitted accounting information from the accounting center 1 via the accounting communication network 5 is acquired as the accounting result. The telephone operator collects the information provision fee based on the charging result and adds the information provision fee to the karaoke terminal 10 installation company at the time of requesting the telephone fee, and sends the information provision fee to the music information distribution company as the information provider. We have a service to pass. This in itself is well known as Videotex performed by NTT.
[0078]
Then, when a charge is actually collected on the telephone carrier side, the collection result is stored in the storage device 53 of the charging center 1. That is, the storage device 53 of the charging center 1 stores a table for storing the transmission result of the charging information for each month (that is, the charging result) corresponding to each karaoke terminal 10. If there is a billing request from, the billing information is transmitted, and the billing status for the corresponding month is set to “billed”.
[0079]
Next, the operation of the information center 3 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. After turning on the power, the information center 3 executes the processing from step S120.
In S120, initialization of the entire device such as resetting of the communication control device 77 is performed. Then, the flow shifts to S121, where it is checked whether there is a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10. If there is, the process proceeds to S122, and if not, the process of S121 is repeated, and a standby state is set.
[0080]
In S122, connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is performed in response to a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10. After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S123.
In S123, an inquiry about the presence or absence of a new song from the karaoke terminal 10 is received, and the answer is transmitted in S124. If the answer is no new song data (S125: NO), the karaoke terminal 10 is disconnected from the karaoke terminal 10 and the communication with the karaoke terminal 10 is released since the subsequent communication is not necessary, as described above. Then (S140), the process returns to S121.
[0081]
On the other hand, if the answer is that there is new song data (S125: YES), it receives the request from the karaoke terminal 10 and receives it (S126). As described in S74 of FIG. 7, this request is a request to acquire all songs, so in S127, all karaoke song information relating to the new song to be distributed is transmitted.
[0082]
When the transmission of the new song data is completed in S127, the process proceeds to S128, and the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is released. After the connection release processing is completed, the process proceeds to S121, and the above processing is repeated.
The above is the operation of the host computer 71 of the information center 3. In response to a new song inquiry from the karaoke terminal 10, if there is new song data to be delivered, a process of delivering the new song data is executed.
[0083]
This process is performed in connection with the new song inquiry / reception process on the karaoke terminal 10 shown in FIG. 7, and the communication process between the two will be described with reference to the communication sequence diagram in FIG. .
The karaoke terminal 10 makes a call to the information center 3 via the information communication network 7 and transmits a password to the information center 3 after connection is established.
[0084]
In the information center 3, this is received via the communication control device 77, the host computer 71 performs terminal collation with a telephone number, a password, or the like, and if the karaoke terminal 10 is registered in the information center 3, returns a normal collation. I do. The karaoke terminal 10 makes an inquiry about the presence / absence of a new song after the information center 3 is in a receivable state after receiving the normal verification.
[0085]
The information center 3 receives the inquiry and searches for new music data for the karaoke terminal 10, and transmits a response to the inquiry to the karaoke terminal 10. That is, this is an answer indicating whether there is new song data.
The karaoke terminal 10 determines whether or not there is new song data based on the answer result. If there is new song data, the karaoke terminal 10 transmits a request for acquiring all songs of the new song data to the information center 3. Then, the information center 3 receiving this request transmits the corresponding new music data, that is, karaoke music information, to the karaoke terminal 10. The karaoke terminal 10 that has received and saved this disconnects the connection with the information center 3.
[0086]
According to the embodiment described above, the karaoke terminal 10 first receives the billing information for the month from the billing center 1 at the beginning of the month, and thereafter, the music information distributed from the information center 3 during the month. When the data is received and stored in the hard disk 33, the charged information is automatically stored in the song correspondence table, and the use permission flag is automatically set in the song correspondence table. However, even if such a use permission flag is set, execution is not permanently permitted thereafter. In a predetermined case, the use of music information is prohibited as follows.
[0087]
That is, the present system is established on the premise that billing information is received periodically (monthly) first, and that the price of new songs distributed during the month is charged first. If the charging information to be received periodically from the charging center 1 has not been received for a predetermined period, the use of the music information is prohibited by going back for a predetermined period.
[0088]
This takes into account the following problems. That is, even if the billing information is received and stored that the billing has been completed, the fee is actually collected at a later date. For example, it is often a monthly settlement method. This is based on the premise that the information distribution side and the information user who pays the fee have a trusting relationship. For the convenience of the user, it is possible to distribute the pay information first and collect the actual fee later. is there. Due to such a post-payment system, there is a possibility that a predetermined fee cannot be collected at the time of settlement of accounts, even though the information processing service has been completed for the charging process.
[0089]
In other words, the information user may take advantage of the fact that the payment of the fee will be done later and try to remove the information maliciously, or leave the balance of the bank account below the specified amount due to forgetting the payment deadline. In some cases, the information fee cannot be collected on a predetermined date. Permanently permitting the use of such information for which a fee has not been collected in this manner may cause a great obstacle to the operation of the system.
[0090]
In order to solve such a problem, according to the present system, even if the charging process is executed and the execution of the information providing service is once permitted, the charging information to be periodically received from the charging center is transmitted for a predetermined period. If the information providing service has not been received, execution of the information providing service is prohibited for a predetermined period. This is because, for example, although there is a premise of the system that the use of information is permitted by receiving billing information periodically every month, the fact that it has not received for a predetermined period means that the terminal moves without permission. In such a case, it is highly possible that fraudulent acts are performed to prevent charges from being charged.In such a case, the terminal prohibits the execution of the information provision service retroactively for a predetermined period instead of the control from the center side. You do it. As a result, it is possible to prevent an abnormal state in which pay information is continuously used for free, and to enable a sound operation of the information providing business.
[0091]
As described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments at all, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the follow-up after setting the use prohibition flag and disabling the use because the charging information has not been received for a predetermined period has not been described. Even if it is information, when the periodic reception of the billing information from the billing center 1 is resumed thereafter, the use permission flag may be set again to permit the use of the music information. In this case, in addition to the charging information of the reopening month, the amount of the past uncollected month or the amount obtained by adding a predetermined delinquency amount thereto is added to the charging information of the restarting month in this case. It is conceivable to set an amount.
[0092]
Further, in the above embodiment, the karaoke song information of the new song is transmitted using the information communication network 7, but may be transmitted using the charging communication network 5. However, when the information communication network 7 is a communication network different from the charging communication network 5 and the karaoke music information is transmitted by the information communication network 7 as in the above-described embodiment, the following advantages are obtained. It works. That is, the karaoke piece information may have a considerably large amount of information, but when such large information itself is distributed, it is preferable to use a communication network suitable for the distribution. This is faster than distributing the karaoke song information itself using the accounting communication network 5, and thus allows an optimal system configuration according to the type of information to be received by the karaoke terminal 10. It is.
[0093]
Furthermore, the information communication network 7 is used to add new songs, and so-called online transmission is performed. The information providing terminal of the present invention is a karaoke terminal 10 in the communication type karaoke system as in the above embodiment. Not necessarily. For example, when a new song is added as a stand-alone type, for example, a service person of a song distributor directly goes to and stores the new song on the hard disk 33, or distributes the new song by storing it on a medium such as a CD-ROM. In such a case, the same effect as in the case of online can be obtained.
[0094]
Also, it goes without saying that the application of the present invention is not limited to the communication type karaoke system, but may be applied to a distribution network for game software.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram when a communication-type information providing system according to an embodiment is applied to a karaoke-related system.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a karaoke terminal which is a component of the system of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a billing center and an information center, which are components of a system according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a main process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a karaoke performance process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a charging-related process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a new song inquiry / reception process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a main process in a charging center according to the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a main process in the information center according to the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a communication sequence diagram of a charging process according to the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a communication sequence diagram of a new song inquiry and a new song transmission / reception process of the embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Billing center 3 Information center
5 Billing communication network 7 Information communication network
10 Karaoke terminal 26 Screen display control device
27a: first communication control device 27b: second communication control device
29: TV monitor 31: Central controller
32: Multipurpose input key 33: Hard disk
35 ... Audio reproduction circuit 38 ... Mixer amplifier
41 ... speaker 43 ... microphone
51, 71: Host computer 53, 73: Storage device
55, 75 ... input device 57, 77 ... communication control device
59, 79 ... Printer 61, 81 ... CRT

Claims (4)

An information providing terminal that provides a user with paid information to be transmitted and is capable of executing an information providing service in which the usage fee is settled after a period of time after receiving the information,
First communication means capable of accessing the information center via an information communication network having an information communication function;
Information storage means for storing information used for an information providing service received from the information center via the information communication network and the first communication means;
Information provision execution means for performing provision of information using information stored in the information storage means,
Information request means for transmitting an information request signal to the information center via the first communication means and the information communication network;
Second communication means capable of accessing the charging center via a charging communication network having a charging function;
Charging processing requesting means for transmitting a charging request signal to the charging center via the second communication means and the charging communication network;
Billing information receiving means for receiving billing information transmitted from the billing center;
Charging for storing, based on the charging information, whether information stored in the information storage means is charged or uncharged in association with the information stored in the information storage means State storage means;
Execution permission means for permitting execution of information provision by the information provision execution means only for information stored as being charged with reference to the charge state storage means,
If the charging information receiving means has not received the charging information for the first predetermined time period, the information is stored in the information storage means during the second predetermined time period even if the information is permitted to be used by the execution permission means. Execution prohibition means for prohibiting execution of information provision by the information provision execution means with respect to the performed information;
An information providing terminal comprising: The information providing terminal according to claim 1 ,
When charging information is received from the charging center, information transmitted from the information center within a predetermined period thereafter is stored in the charging state storage means as being charged. Information providing terminal. The information providing terminal according to claim 1 or 2 ,
Even if the execution of the provision of the information is temporarily prohibited by the execution prohibiting unit, when the reception of the periodic charging information from the charging center is resumed thereafter, the execution permitting unit may An information providing terminal, wherein execution of information provision by said information provision execution means is permitted. The information providing terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The information providing terminal according to claim 1, wherein the first communication means is a connection means for an information communication network which is a communication network different from a charging communication network to which the second communication means is connected.

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