JP6847292B1 - Information processing device, communication system, content playback program, content playback method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately limit playback when transmitting content according to a request from a user's terminal. In a communication system 1, an information processing device (server 10) that provides a service for transmitting content to a terminal 20 specifies user identification information, content request information including content identification information, and a mode of content reproduction. Based on the receiving unit that receives the mode designation information, the determination unit that determines whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and the usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information, and the determination unit. A playback control unit and a playback control unit that reproduce the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect. Includes a history update unit that updates the usage history based on the content being reproduced according to the first aspect or the second aspect. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, a communication system, a content reproduction program, and a content reproduction method.

Conventionally, there is a distribution service that distributes content to a user's terminal. Patent Document 1 discloses a system in which a type of content is specified and the content of the specified type is distributed.

Patent No. 5857405

The first aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting contents to a terminal, and is a user identification information, a member type information associated with the user identification information, and a usage history associated with the user identification information. A storage unit that stores the contents, a user identification information, a content request information including the content identification information, a reception unit that receives the mode specification information that specifies a mode of content reproduction, and a user identification information corresponding to the content request information. Based on the member type information and usage history of the content, the determination unit that determines whether or not the content can be played, and the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information based on the determination by the determination unit are the first aspect or the first aspect. Utilization based on the reproduction control unit that reproduces the content on the terminal and the reproduction control unit that reproduces the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect according to the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the aspect. A history update unit for updating the history is provided , the content includes music, and the playback control unit removes some elements from the content data reproduced by the first aspect as the reproduction of the content according to the second aspect. be those which reproduce the process was subjected to the data, Ru to regenerate the data subjected to processing to remove the wavelengths corresponding to the vocals as part of the elements.
A second aspect of the present invention is a communication system including a terminal and an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to the terminal, and the information processing device is associated with user identification information and user identification information. Receives a storage unit that stores member type information and usage history associated with user identification information, user identification information, content request information including content identification information, and mode specification information that specifies a mode of content playback. Included in the content request information based on the determination by the first receiving unit, the determination unit that determines whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and the usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information, and the determination unit. A playback control unit that reproduces the content on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect, and the reproduction control unit is the first aspect or The terminal is provided with a history update unit that updates the usage history based on the content being reproduced according to the second aspect, and the terminal has a reception unit that accepts input regarding the mode designation information and a mode designation information received by the reception section. , The transmission unit that transmits the content request information and the user identification information to the information processing device, the second receiving unit that receives the content based on the content request information from the information processing device, and the content received by the second receiving unit. The content includes music, and the playback control unit performs a process of removing a part of the content data reproduced by the first aspect as the reproduction of the content by the second aspect. data be one to regenerate, Ru to regenerate the data subjected to processing to remove the wavelengths corresponding to the vocals as part of the elements.
A third aspect of the present invention is a computer of an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to a terminal, and is associated with user identification information, membership type information associated with user identification information, and user identification information. A reception function that receives user identification information, content request information including content identification information, and mode specification information that specifies a mode of content playback, and a content request to a computer that can access a storage unit that stores usage history. Based on the member type information and usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the information, the judgment function that judges whether or not the content can be played, and the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information based on the judgment by the judgment function. According to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect, the reproduction control function for reproducing the content on the terminal and the reproduction control function for reproducing the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect. Based on the fact, a history update function for updating the usage history is realized , the content includes music, and the playback control function is used as the playback of the content according to the second aspect in the content data reproduced by the first aspect. It is those for reproducing the data subjected to processing to remove some elements for, Ru to regenerate the data subjected to processing to remove the wavelengths corresponding to the vocals as part of the elements.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to a terminal, and is a user identification information, a member type information associated with the user identification information, and a usage history associated with the user identification information. A reception step in which an information processing device that can access the storage unit that stores the contents receives the user identification information, the content request information including the content identification information, and the mode specification information that specifies the mode of content reproduction, and the content request. Based on the member type information and usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the information, the judgment step for determining whether or not the content can be played, and the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information based on the judgment by the determination step. According to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect, the reproduction control step for reproducing the content on the terminal and the reproduction control step for reproducing the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect. Based on the fact, a history update step of updating the usage history and a history update step are executed , the content includes music, and the playback control step is the content data to be played by the first aspect as the playback of the content by the second aspect. On the other hand, the data that has been subjected to the processing of removing a part of the elements is reproduced, and the data that has been subjected to the processing of removing the wavelength corresponding to the vocal as a part of the elements is reproduced .

It is a block diagram which shows the configuration example of a communication system, and shows the configuration example of a terminal and a server. It is a data conceptual diagram which shows the data structure example of the user information. It is a sequence diagram which shows an example of the exchange of each device in a communication system. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the terminal which concerns on FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the server which concerns on FIG. (A) to (d) are diagrams showing an example of a screen displayed on a terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of a terminal.

<Compliance with legal matters>
It should be noted that the disclosures described herein are premised on compliance with the legal matters of the implementing country necessary for the implementation of this disclosure, such as secrecy of communications.

An embodiment for implementing a display method or the like capable of confirming a situation related to transmission or reception by a terminal according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

<System configuration>

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. As disclosed in FIG. 1, in the communication system 1, the server 10 and the terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C) are connected via the network 30. The server 10 provides a service for transmitting and receiving a message between terminals 20 to a terminal 20 owned by a user via a network 30. The number of terminals 20 connected to the network 30 is not limited.

The network 30 plays a role of connecting one or more terminals 20 and one or more servers 10. That is, the network 30 means a communication network that provides a connection route so that data can be transmitted and received after the terminal 20 connects to the server 10.

One or more parts of the network 30 may or may not be a wired or wireless network. The network 30 is not limited, but by example, an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), and a wireless. LAN (wireless LAN: WLAN), wide area network (WAN), wireless WAN (wireless WAN: WWAN), metropolitan area network (MAN), part of the Internet, public exchange telephone network (Public) Switched Telephone Network: Part of PSTN, mobile phone network, ISDN (integrated service digital networks), wireless LAN, LTE (long term evolution), CDMA (code division multiple access), Bluetooth (Bluetooth (registered trademark)), satellite Communication and the like, or a combination of two or more of these can be included. The network 30 may include one or more networks 30.

The terminal 20 (terminal 20A, terminal 20B, terminal 20C) may be any information processing terminal that can realize the functions described in each embodiment. The terminal 20 is not limited but, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone (feature phone), a computer (not limited, for example, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (not limited, for example, a cable, a satellite set) Top boxes, digital video recorders), handheld computer devices (not limited to personal digital assistants (PDAs), email clients, etc.), wearable terminals (glasses devices, clock devices, etc.), or other types of computers, Or include a communication platform. Further, the terminal 20 may be expressed as an information processing terminal.

Since the configurations of the terminal 20A, the terminal 20B, and the terminal 20C are basically the same, the terminal 20 will be described in the following description. Further, if necessary, the terminal used by the user X is expressed as the terminal 20X, and the user information in the predetermined service associated with the user X or the terminal 20X is expressed as the user information X. The user information is user information associated with an account used by the user in a predetermined service. The user information is not limited but, as an example, input by the user or given by a predetermined service, the user's name, the user's icon image, the user's age, the user's gender, the user's address, and the user's hobby. It includes information associated with the user, such as preference, user's identifier, and may or may not be any one or combination of these.

The server 10 has a function of providing a predetermined service to the terminal 20. The server 10 may be any device as long as it is an information processing device capable of realizing the functions described in each embodiment. The server 10 is not limited to, for example, a server device, a computer (not limited to, for example, a desktop, a laptop, a tablet, etc.), a media computer platform (not limited to, for example, a cable, a satellite set top box, a digital video recorder). ), Handheld computer devices (for example, but not limited to PDAs, email clients, etc.), or other types of computers, or communication platforms. Further, the server 10 may be expressed as an information processing device. When it is not necessary to distinguish between the server 10 and the terminal 20, the server 10 and the terminal 20 may or may not be expressed as information processing devices, respectively.

<Hardware (HW) configuration>

The HW configuration of each device included in the communication system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) HW configuration of the terminal

The terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 (CPU: central processing unit), a storage unit 28, a communication I / F 22 (interface), an input / output unit 23, a display unit 24, and a position information acquisition unit 25. Each component of the HW of the terminal 20 is connected to each other via bus B, for example, without limitation. It is not essential that the HW configuration of the terminal 20 includes all the components. As an example without limitation, the terminal 20 may or may not be configured to remove individual components or a plurality of components such as a microphone 232, a camera 234, and a position information acquisition unit 25. Good.

The communication I / F 22 transmits and receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be executed by wire or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication can be executed. The communication I / F 22 has a function of executing communication with the server 10 via the network 30. The communication I / F 22 transmits various data to the server 10 according to an instruction from the control unit 21. Further, the communication I / F 22 receives various data transmitted from the server 10 and transmits the various data to the control unit 21. Further, the communication I / F 22 may be simply expressed as a communication unit. Further, when the communication I / F 22 is composed of a physically structured circuit, it may be expressed as a communication circuit.

The input / output unit 23 includes a device for inputting various operations to the terminal 20 and a device for outputting the processing result processed by the terminal 20. The input / output unit 23 may or may not be integrated with the input unit and the output unit, or may be separated into the input unit and the output unit.

The input unit is realized by any or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of receiving an input from a user and transmitting information related to the input to the control unit 21. The input unit is not limited, but as an example, hardware keys such as a touch panel 231 and a touch display and a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera 234 (operation input via a moving image), and a microphone 232 (operation input by voice). including.

The output unit is realized by any or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of outputting the processing result processed by the control unit 21. The output unit includes, for example, a touch panel, a touch display, a speaker 233 (audio output), a lens (not limited to three dimensions output, a hologram output, etc.), a printer, and the like.

The display unit 24 is realized by any or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of displaying according to the display data written in the frame buffer. The display unit 24 includes a touch panel, a touch display, a monitor (not limited to an example, a liquid crystal display or an OELD (organic electroluminescence display)), a head mounted display (HDM), a projection mapping, and a hologram. , Includes a device capable of displaying images, text information, etc. in the air (which may or may not be vacuum). It should be noted that these display units 24 may or may not be able to display display data in 3D.

When the input / output unit 23 is a touch panel, the input / output unit 23 and the display unit 24 may be arranged so as to face each other with substantially the same size and shape.

The control unit 21 has a physically structured circuit for executing a function realized by a code or an instruction contained in the program, and is not limited to, but as an example, a data processing device built in hardware. Is realized by. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

The control unit 21 is not limited to, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor (microprocessor), a processor core (processor core), a multiprocessor (multiprocessor), an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), and an FPGA (field programmable). gate array) is included.

The storage unit 28 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the terminal 20 to operate. The storage unit 28 includes various storage media such as an HDD (hard disk drive), an SSD (solid state drive), a flash memory, a RAM (random access memory), and a ROM (read only memory). Further, the storage unit 28 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

The terminal 20 stores the program P in the storage unit 28, and by executing the program P, the control unit 21 executes the processing as each unit included in the control unit 21. That is, the program P stored in the storage unit 28 causes the terminal 20 to realize each function executed by the control unit 21. Further, this program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

The microphone 232 is used for inputting voice data. The speaker 233 is used for outputting audio data. The camera 234 is used for acquiring moving image data.

(2) Server HW configuration

The server 10 includes a control unit 11 (CPU), a storage unit 15, a communication I / F 14 (interface), an input / output unit 12, and a display unit 13. Each component of the HW of the server 10 is connected to each other via bus B, for example, without limitation. It is not essential that the HW of the server 10 includes all the components as the configuration of the HW of the server 10. As an example but not a limitation, the HW of the server 10 may or may not be configured to remove the display unit 13.

The control unit 11 has a physically structured circuit for executing a function realized by a code or an instruction contained in the program, and is not limited to, but as an example, a data processing device built in hardware. Is realized by.

The control unit 11 is typically a central processing unit (CPU), and may or may not be a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, or an FPGA. In the present disclosure, the control unit 11 is not limited to these.

The storage unit 15 has a function of storing various programs and various data required for the server 10 to operate. The storage unit 15 is realized by various storage media such as HDD, SSD, and flash memory. However, in the present disclosure, the storage unit 15 is not limited to these. Further, the storage unit 15 may or may not be expressed as a memory.

The communication I / F 14 transmits / receives various data via the network 30. The communication may be executed by wire or wirelessly, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication can be executed. The communication I / F 14 has a function of executing communication with the terminal 20 via the network 30. The communication I / F 14 transmits various data to the terminal 20 according to an instruction from the control unit 11. Further, the communication I / F 14 receives various data transmitted from the terminal 20 and transmits the various data to the control unit 11. Further, the communication I / F 14 may be simply expressed as a communication unit. Further, when the communication I / F 14 is composed of a physically structured circuit, it may be expressed as a communication circuit.

The input / output unit 12 is realized by a device that inputs various operations to the server 10. The input / output unit 12 is realized by any or a combination of all kinds of devices capable of receiving an input from a user and transmitting information related to the input to the control unit 11. The input / output unit 12 is typically realized by a hardware key typified by a keyboard or the like, or a pointing device such as a mouse. The input / output unit 12 is not limited to the input / output unit 12, and may or may not include a touch panel, a camera (operation input via a moving image), and a microphone (operation input by voice) as an example. However, in the present disclosure, the input / output unit 12 is not limited to these.

The display unit 13 is typically realized by a monitor (not limited to, for example, a liquid crystal display or an OELD (organic electroluminescence display)). The display unit 13 may or may not be a head-mounted display (HDM) or the like. It should be noted that these display units 13 may or may not be able to display display data in 3D. However, in the present disclosure, the display unit 13 is not limited to these.

The server 10 stores the program P in the storage unit 15, and by executing the program P, the control unit 11 executes the processing as each unit included in the control unit 11. That is, the program P stored in the storage unit 15 causes the server 10 to realize each function executed by the control unit 11. This program P may or may not be expressed as a program module.

In each embodiment of the present disclosure, it will be described as realized by executing the program P by the CPU of the terminal 20 and / or the server 10.

The control unit 21 of the terminal 20 and / or the control unit 11 of the server 10 is formed not only in a CPU having a control circuit but also in an integrated circuit (IC (Integrated Circuit) chip, LSI (Large Scale Integration)) or the like. Each process may or may not be realized by a logic circuit (hardware) or a dedicated circuit. Further, these circuits may be realized by one or a plurality of integrated circuits, and the plurality of processes shown in each embodiment may or may not be realized by one integrated circuit. Further, the LSI may be referred to as a VLSI, a super LSI, an ultra LSI, or the like due to the difference in the degree of integration. Therefore, the control unit 21 may or may not be expressed as a control circuit.

In addition, the program P (not limited to, for example, a software program, a computer program, or a program module) of each embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided in a state of being stored in a computer-readable storage medium. , Does not have to be. The storage medium can store the program P in a "non-temporary tangible medium". Further, the program P may or may not be for realizing a part of the functions of each embodiment of the present disclosure. Further, it may or may not be a so-called difference file (difference program) in which the functions of the respective embodiments of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the program P already recorded in the storage medium.

The storage medium is one or more semiconductor-based or other integrated circuits (ICs) (for example, but not limited to field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or application-specific ICs (ASICs)), hard disks. Disk drive (HDD), hybrid hard drive (HHD), optical disk, optical disk drive (ODD), magneto-optical disk, magneto-optical drive, floppy diskette, floppy disk drive (FDD), magnetic tape, solid It can include a drive (SSD), a RAM drive, a secure digital card, or drive, any other suitable storage medium, or any suitable combination of two or more of these. The storage medium may be volatile, non-volatile, or a combination of volatile and non-volatile, where appropriate. The storage medium is not limited to these examples, and any device or medium may be used as long as the program P can be stored. Further, the storage medium may or may not be expressed as a memory.

The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 can read the program P stored in the storage medium and execute the read program P to realize the functions of the plurality of functional units shown in each embodiment.

Further, the program PDD of the present disclosure may or may not be provided to the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 via an arbitrary transmission medium (communication network, broadcast wave, etc.) capable of transmitting the program. Good. The server 10 and / or the terminal 20 realizes the functions of the plurality of functional units shown in each embodiment by executing the program P downloaded via the Internet or the like, as an example without limitation.

Each embodiment of the present disclosure may also be realized in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave, in which the program P is embodied by electronic transmission.

At least part of the processing in the server 10 and / or the terminal 20 may or may not be realized by cloud computing composed of one or more computers.

At least a part of the processing in the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 may or may not be performed by the server 10.

At least a part of the processing in the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20. In this case, at least a part of the processing of each functional unit of the control unit 11 of the server 10 may or may not be performed by the terminal 20.

Unless explicitly stated, the configuration of the determination in the embodiment of the present disclosure is not essential, and a predetermined process may be performed when the determination condition is satisfied, or a predetermined process may be performed when the determination condition is not satisfied. It may or may not be.

The program of this disclosure is not limited to, but examples include scripting languages such as ActionScript and JavaScript (registered trademark), object-oriented programming languages such as Objective-C and Java (registered trademark), and markup languages such as HTML5. Implemented using.

<Embodiment>
The server 10 according to the present embodiment provides a service for transmitting content to the terminal 20.

Here, the content is music, a moving image, or the like, and may be a novel, a manga, or the like. In the present embodiment, the content is basically described as music.

In addition, the user who receives the service provided by the server 10 receives the service from the paid member who can use the service provided by the server 10 by paying the consideration (mainly money) and the paid member instead of paying the consideration. Includes free members with limited services available. In addition, paying members may include services that can be received different in quality depending on the amount of consideration paid (the face value of money paid as an example, not limited).

As an example, not limited, when the content is music, paid members do not restrict viewing, whereas free members can watch only the first 30 seconds, or for a unit period (limited) Not as an example, but limit the number of times it can be played during one month). This reproduction limit may be limited by the number of times of reproduction in the unit period, may be limited by the total number of times of reproduction in the unit period, or may be limited by the total number of reproduction times in the unit period.

By the way, the server 10 can also provide the content in a state in which some elements of the content are removed for each content. Specifically, when the content is music, the server 10 can provide a state including a vocal element and a state excluding the vocal element. Alternatively, for example, when the content is a moving image (for example, a movie), the server 10 can also provide a normal movie and a silent movie.

At this time, when the content provision target is a member whose provision of the content is restricted, the server 10 is the content in a state where some elements are excluded even if the provided content includes all the elements. Even if the content is provided, it is counted as the basis for restrictions on the provision of the content from the next time onward, and the management related to the provision of the content of each user is executed. Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given.

(1) Functional Configuration of Terminal 20 As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 21 of the terminal 20 includes a content request unit 211, a reproduction unit 212, and a display processing unit 213.

The content requesting unit 211 accepts the designation of the content for the input / output unit 23 from the user and the designation of the mode for reproducing the content, and requests the content specified to the server 10 via the communication I / F 22. Send content request information. At this time, the content request unit 211 may transmit user identification information (also referred to as a user ID) that identifies the user of the terminal 20 in association with the content request information. When the service provided by the server 10 receives the service provided while logged in to the service site provided by the server 10, the user ID can be specified on the server 10, so that the user identification information can be obtained. You do not have to send it. In addition, the content requesting unit 211 may transmit mode designation information for designating the playback mode of the designated content in association with the content request information.

Here, the mode of reproducing the content is the first mode in which the content is transmitted as it is, that is, the process of removing some elements from the content is not performed, or the second mode in which the process of removing some elements from the content is performed. Either one may be specified. Here, some elements may be human voice. That is, when the content is music, it may be information that specifies so-called on-vocal or off-vocal.

Further, when the input for specifying the quality of the content is accepted from the user to the input / output unit 23, the content request unit 211 transmits the quality information for specifying the quality of the content in association with the content request information. You may. The quality of the content here means sound quality (not limited, but as an example, frequency characteristics, distortion factor, signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range, etc.) if the content includes sound, and the content includes images. If there is, it may mean image quality (not limited, but as an example, resolution or frame rate).

The reproduction unit 212 receives the content transmitted from the server 10 via the communication I / F 22, and reproduces the received content. That is, when the content is music, the sound is output from the speaker of the input / output unit 23. In addition, the playback unit 212 receives input from the user to the input / output unit 23 and executes functions that can be realized by a general music player, such as fast-forwarding the content and playback from a designated playback position. The playback of the content by the playback unit 212 may be performed in any format such as streaming.

The display processing unit 213 instructs the display area 24 to display information about the content provided by the server 10. The display processing unit 213 displays, for example, a list of contents, a menu for accepting input of the mode and quality of the contents when requesting the contents, and the like.
The above is the functional configuration of the terminal 20.

(2) Functional Configuration of Server 10 As shown in FIG. 2, the server 10 includes a determination unit 111, a reproduction control unit 112, and a history update unit 113.

The determination unit 111 identifies whether the member type associated with the user identification information of the user corresponding to the content request information received via the communication I / F 14 is a paid member or a free member. The control unit 11 stores the information (content request information, mode designation information, quality information) received via the communication I / F 14 in the storage unit 15. When the member type associated with the user identification information is a free member, the determination unit 111 determines whether or not the content can be reproduced based on the associated usage history.

The determination unit 111 determines that the content can be reproduced when the member type of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information is a paid member.

On the other hand, when the member type of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information is a free member, the determination unit 111 refers to the usage history corresponding to the user identification information and reproduces the content indicated by the content identification information. Identify the number of times you have done it. Then, it is determined whether the specified number of times is less than a predetermined threshold value (one time as an example, not a limitation). When the specified number of times is less than a predetermined threshold value, the determination unit 111 determines that the content can be reproduced. If the specified number of times is not less than a predetermined threshold value (or more than the threshold value), the determination unit 111 determines that the content cannot be reproduced.

The reproduction control unit 112 transmits the content to the terminal 20 according to the determination by the determination unit 111.

When the determination unit 111 determines that the content can be reproduced, the reproduction control unit 112 connects the user's terminal 20 indicated by the user identification information included in the corresponding content request information via the communication I / F 14. , Send the content indicated by the content identification information. At this time, when the playback control unit 112 receives the mode designation information together with the content request information and the mode designation information specifies the second mode, that is, off-vocal, the playback control unit 112 specifies the vocal for the content. The off-vocal content (content of the second aspect) that has been processed to erase the audio wavelength of the above is transmitted. Further, when the reproduction control unit 112 receives the quality information, the reproduction control unit 112 processes the content so as to have the quality specified in the quality information, and transmits the processed content. If there is no mode designation information, the content may be transmitted in the first mode. In addition, if there is no quality information, standard quality content may be transmitted, but this is not the case, and if there is no quality information, high quality content may be transmitted as a default.

Here, although the playback control unit 112 processes and transmits the content having the specified mode and quality, the content of various modes and quality is stored in the storage unit 15 in advance. The reproduction control unit 112 may read and transmit the content of the specified mode and quality.

On the other hand, when the determination unit 111 determines that the content cannot be reproduced, the reproduction control unit 112 indicates the user identification information included in the corresponding content request information via the communication I / F14. The restriction information is transmitted to the user's terminal 20. The restriction information is information indicating that the content cannot be played.

When the reproduction control unit 112 transmits the content to the terminal 20, the history update unit 113 updates the history information corresponding to the user identification information of the user corresponding to the transmission destination terminal 20. That is, when the content identification information of the transmitted content is not associated with the user identification information, the content identification information and the number of times of reproduction are associated with the history information and updated. If the user identification information is associated with the content identification information of the transmitted content, the number of playbacks is incremented by 1 and updated.

The above is the functional configuration of the server 10. The server 10 may be realized by one server device or may be realized by a plurality of server devices. When realized by a plurality of server devices, each server device may hold all the functions as the server 10, or only a part of the functions of the server 10 may be distributed and held, and the server 10 may cooperate with each other. It may be an aspect that realizes the function as.

<Data>
FIG. 2 is a data conceptual diagram showing information stored in the storage unit 15 of the server 10 and showing a configuration example of user management information 200 for each user to which the server 10 provides a service. The server 10 determines whether the user requesting the content is a free member or a paid member with restrictions, and determines whether or not the content may be transmitted, based on the user management information 200. Used to do.

As shown in FIG. 2, the user management information 200 is information in which a user ID 201, a user name 202, a member type 203, and a usage history 204 are associated with each other.

The user ID 201 is user identification information for identifying a user who enjoys the service provided by the server 10.

The user name 202 is the name of a user having the user ID indicated by the corresponding user ID 201. The user name 202 may be a real name or a handle name.

The member type 203 is information indicating the member type of the user having the user ID indicated by the corresponding user ID 201. Here, it is assumed that there are two types, a paid member and a free member, but there are other types. There may be multiple types of paid members.

The usage history 204 is information indicating the content viewed by the user indicated by the corresponding user ID 201 and the number of views thereof. Further, although not shown in FIG. 2, information on the date and time when the content was viewed may be retained for each content. In the present embodiment, the usage history 204 is reset at a predetermined timing (not limited, but as an example, the timing of switching from the end of the month to the beginning of the month). This makes it easy to count the number of views for each content of the user who is a free member. The reset timing does not have to be uniformly executed, and the reset may be performed for each user identification information based on the date when the user information is registered. Further, when not resetting, the number of times of reproduction within a predetermined period may be specified by holding the reproduction date and time of the content as history information.

In the user management information 200, the user name 202 is not essential information. Further, in the user management information 200, information related to the user other than the information shown in FIG. 2 may be registered.

<Operation>
FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of communication between the terminal 20 and the server 10 in the communication system 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 20 accepts the designation of the content and the designation of the mode for reproducing the content (step S301). The terminal 20 transmits the user ID, the content request information including the content ID of the designated content, and the mode designation information indicating the designated playback mode to the server 10 (step S302).

When the server 10 receives the user ID, the content request information, and the mode designation information, the server 10 identifies the member type associated with the received user ID (step S303). Then, the server 10 determines whether or not the content can be played back when the member type is a free member (step S304). When the server 10 determines that the content can be reproduced, the server 10 transmits the content of the mode specified in the mode designation information (step S305).

The terminal 20 reproduces the content received from the server 10 (step S306).

Further, after the content is transmitted, the server 10 updates the usage history of the user who owns the destination terminal 20 regardless of whether the transmitted content is in the first mode or the second mode (step S307).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the terminal 20 for realizing the exchange shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 4 shows the process from the point where the user selects the desired content.

As shown in FIG. 4, the input / output unit 23 of the terminal 20 receives an input from the user to specify the content desired by the user (step S401). The input / output unit 23 transmits the received input content to the control unit 21.

Next, the input / output unit 23 receives from the user the designation of the mode of reproducing the content (step S402). The input / output unit 23 transmits the received input content to the control unit 21.

The content requesting unit 211 of the control unit 21 provides the server 10 via the communication I / F 22 with the content requesting information including the identification information of the designated content and the mode specifying information for designating the mode of reproducing the content. Send. At this time, the content requesting unit 211 may also transmit a user ID that identifies the user of the terminal 20 (step S403).

The control unit 21 determines whether or not the requested content is received via the communication I / F 22 (step S404). When the content is received (YES in step S404), the reproduction unit 212 of the control unit 21 executes the reproduction of the content (step S405). When the content is not received (NO in step S404), the control unit 21 determines whether or not the restriction information is received via the communication I / F 22 (step S406). If the restriction information has not been received (NO in step S406), the process returns to the process of step S404.

When the restriction information has been received (YES in step S406), the display processing unit 213 displays the received restriction information in the display area of the display unit 24 (step S407).

The control unit 21 determines whether or not there is an end input from the user (step S408). The end input referred to here may be an end input of the application for playing the content, or may be an input such as turning off the power of the terminal or putting it to sleep. If there is no end input (NO in step S408), the process returns to the process of step S401, and if there is an end input (YES in step S408), the process ends.

In FIG. 4, the process of step S402 may be omitted. Further, in step S402, the designation of quality information that specifies the quality of the content may be accepted, and in that case, the content requesting unit 211 may also transmit the quality information in step S403.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the server 10 for realizing the exchange shown in FIG. The process shown in FIG. 5 shows a process executed by the server 10 when one content request information is received.

The communication I / F 14 of the server 10 receives the user ID, the content request information, and the mode designation information from the terminal 20 (step S501). The communication I / F 14 transmits each received information to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 stores the received information in the storage unit 15.

The determination unit 111 of the control unit 11 refers to the received user ID and the user management information 200 stored in the storage unit 15, and whether the member type 203 associated with the user ID is a free member. Whether or not it is determined (step S502). If the member is not a free member, that is, a paid member (NO in step S502), the process proceeds to step S504.

When the received user ID is associated with information indicating that the member is a free member as a member type (YES in step S502), the determination unit 111 refers to the usage history 204 of the user management information 200. , It is confirmed whether or not the content identification information included in the received content request information is included in the usage history 204 associated with the received user ID. If there is content identification information included in the received content request information in the usage history 204, the determination unit 111 specifies the number of times of reproduction. If there is no content identification information included in the received content request information in the usage history 204, the determination unit 111 specifies the number of times of reproduction as 0. Then, the determination unit 111 determines whether or not the specified number of reproductions is less than a predetermined threshold value (step S503). When the number of reproductions is less than a predetermined threshold value (YES in step S503), the determination unit 111 determines that the content can be reproduced.

When the reproduction control unit 112 determines that the content can be reproduced by the determination unit 111, the reproduction control unit 112 specifies the mode designation information corresponding to the content request information according to the first aspect or the second aspect. Which is determined, that is, whether it is on-vocal or off-vocal. When the designation of the mode designation information specifies off-vocal (YES in step S504), the reproduction control unit 112 sets the wavelength of the vocal (YES) with respect to the content indicated by the content identification information of the content request information. A process of removing (a specific frequency) is performed to generate off-vocal (second aspect) content (step S505). Existing technology can be used for this process.

The playback control unit 112 transmits the content converted into the specified mode, that is, the music without vocals, to the terminal 20 of the user indicated by the receiving user ID via the communication I / F 14 (step S506). ).

When the designation of the mode designation information specifies on-vocal (first mode), or when there is no mode designation information (NO in step S504), the playback control unit 112 uses the content identification information of the content request information. The indicated content is transmitted as it is to the terminal 20 of the user indicated by the receiving user ID via the communication I / F 14 (step S509).

After the content is transmitted, the playback control unit 112 transmits the user ID of the target to which the content is transmitted and the content identification information to the history update unit 113.

When the received content identification information is registered in the usage history 204 corresponding to the received user ID in the user management information 200, the history update unit 113 adds 1 to the number of times the received content identification information is played, and the user management information 200 If the received content identification information is registered, the user management information 200 is updated by additionally registering the information associated with the number of playbacks 1 to the content identification information, and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S503, when the number of reproductions is not less than a predetermined threshold value, that is, when it is equal to or more than the threshold value (NO in step S503), the determination unit 111 determines that the content cannot be reproduced. ..

Then, the reproduction control unit 112 transmits the restriction information indicating that the content cannot be reproduced to the user's terminal 20 indicated by the user ID via the communication I / F 14 (step S508), and ends the process.

Although not shown in FIG. 5, when the specified information for specifying the reproduction quality of the content is received in step S501, the process of converting the content into the content of the specified quality is performed in step S505. ..

Further, the information received in step S501 may be individually received as long as the server 10 can determine that the information is associated with each other.

<Display example>
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the terminal 20.

FIG. 6A is a display example of a content list displayed in the display area of the display unit 24 of the terminal 20. The user selects (tap) desired content from the displayed content list. Here, for example, it is assumed that "0007 DDDD" is selected.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the terminal 20 displays a menu asking for permission to execute the download of the selected content. In this menu, a button for selecting "on vocal" or "off vocal" may also be displayed as information for designating the mode of playing the content.

When the number of times the user has viewed the content selected by the paid member or the free member has not reached the threshold value, the content selected by the user is transmitted from the server 10. Then, when the specified content is transmitted from the server 10, the terminal 20 executes the reproduction of the content as shown in FIG. 6 (c).

On the other hand, when the restriction information is received from the server 10 instead of the content, the terminal 20 displays the restriction information as shown in FIG. 6D. Here, the restriction information is information indicating that the content specified by the user cannot be downloaded. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6D, information recommending upgrading to a paying member who has no restriction on content playback may or may not be displayed.

<Modification example>
The aspect according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Hereinafter, various modification examples will be described.

(1) In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the content reproduction is restricted based on the number of times of reproduction for each content, but the method of restriction is not limited to this as described above. Hereinafter, other examples will be specifically described.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which playback is restricted when the number of playbacks of each content exceeds a predetermined threshold value, but the playback control unit 112 reproduces the content in a predetermined period instead of each content. Reproduction may be restricted when the total number of times exceeds a predetermined threshold value. That is, no matter which content (the same content may be continuously requested) is requested, it is counted as one playback count, and the playback is restricted depending on whether the total number of playbacks exceeds a predetermined threshold value. It may be configured as. In this case, as the usage history 204, only the number of times may be stored without storing the content identification information.

Further, the reproduction restriction may be executed based on the total reproduction time. That is, in the case of a free member, the total playback time per unit period (not limited, but as an example, 5 hours per month) is determined. When there is content request information from the terminal 20 and the content indicated by the content request information is reproduced on the terminal 20, the terminal 20 transmits the reproduction time to the server 10. The server 10 sequentially adds the received playback time and stores it as the usage history 204 of the user management information 200. When the total playback time stored in the usage history 204 corresponding to the user ID exceeds a predetermined threshold when there is content request information from the user's terminal 20, the playback control unit 112 sets the terminal. Do not send content to 20. In this way, it may be configured to limit the total time played on the terminal 20.

(2) In the above embodiment, music is described as an example of the content, but as described above, it may be a moving image, some text data, an image, or the like. When the content is a moving image, as a part of the elements, the conversation sound of the person in the moving image may be removed, and the silent moving image may be used as the content of the second aspect. When the content is a novel or the like, the novel may be used as a part of the content, and the data obtained by deleting a part of the chapters in the novel may be used as the content of the second aspect. Further, when the content is a cartoon or the like, the content in which the lines of the characters are removed as a part of the elements may be used as the content of the second aspect.

(3) In the above embodiment, when the number of times the content is reproduced reaches the threshold value (NO in step S503), the reproduction control unit 112 transmits the restriction information to the terminal 20 (step S508). , This is not the case. Instead of the restriction information, the reproduction control unit 112 may transmit a part of the content (not limited, but for 30 seconds from the beginning as an example), so-called sample data, to the terminal 20.

(4) In the above embodiment, the terminal 20 may have a so-called karaoke function. That is, when the terminal 20 requests the server 10 for the content of the second aspect (off-vocal) as the aspect designation information and receives the off-vocal content (the content of the first aspect (on-vocal) may be used). The user's singing voice may be collected via the microphone 232 of the input / output unit 23 and output from the speaker 233 together with the received content. Hereinafter, it will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the terminal 20 when the content is reproduced.

As shown in FIG. 7, the communication I / F 22 of the terminal 20 receives the content from the server 10 (step S701). The communication I / F 22 transmits the received content to the control unit 21.

At this time, the playback unit 212 determines whether or not the karaoke mode setting input has been input by the user via the input / output unit 23 (step S702).

When the karaoke mode is not set (NO in step S703), the received content is output as it is (step S706), and the process proceeds to step S707.

When the karaoke mode is set (YES in step S703), the playback unit 212 further determines whether the effect is set (step S703). Here, the effect means to make some kind of editing on the voice, and is not limited, but as an example, an echo effect, a voice change effect (male voice to female voice, or female voice to male voice). , Or changing to an animal-like voice).

When the effect is set (YES in step S703), the playback unit 212 applies the processing of the specified effect to the user's voice collected from the microphone 232, and sends the content from the speaker 233. It is output together with the sound (step S704).

If the effect is not set (NO in step S703), the playback unit 212 outputs the sound of the content together with the user's voice collected from the microphone 232 (step S705).

The control unit 21 determines whether or not there is an end input from the user (step S707). The end input referred to here may be an end input of the application for playing the content, or may be an input such as turning off the power of the terminal or putting it to sleep. If there is no end input (NO in step S707), the process returns to the process of step S401, and if there is an end input (YES in step S707), the process ends.

As described above, the terminal 20 may output the content together with the voice of the user at the time of reproducing the content, and may realize the so-called karaoke function.

(5) In the above embodiment, it has been explained that the mode and quality of the content can be specified, but these specifications may be switched during the use of the content. As an example, not a limitation, when the user first inputs to specify the playback in the second mode while playing the content in the first mode on the terminal 20, the content in the second mode is played. It may be changed. This switching may be realized by switching the mode of the content transmitted from the server 10 and transmitting the content to the terminal 20, or the server 10 originally produces the content reproducible in either the first mode or the second mode in the terminal 20. It may be realized by transmitting to, and switching at the terminal 20 to switch the mode of reproduction. This is the same even when switching the quality of contents.

(6) In the above supplement (3), it is explained that the sample can be reproduced when the number of reproductions reaches the threshold value, but even if the number of reproductions does not reach the threshold value, the user can use the terminal 20. Sample playback may be specified via. Sample playback is a playback method that allows only a part of the content to be played in the time axis direction of the content, and in the case of music, it may be played only for a predetermined time at the beginning (30 seconds as an example, not limited). , It may be the reproduction of only rust. When the designation of sample reproduction is accepted, the server 10 transmits the content for the sample to the terminal 20. The content for the sample may be stored in the storage unit 15 in advance, or may be a part of the normal content cut off in the time axis direction. Then, in the case of sample reproduction, the server 10 does not update the usage history 204. The content of the first aspect or the second aspect is content that can be fully reproduced in the time axis direction.

Further, when the sample reproduction is specified first, it may be possible to switch to the reproduction in the first aspect or the reproduction in the second aspect in the middle. When the sample reproduction is switched to the reproduction in the first aspect or the second aspect in the middle, the server 10 updates the usage history 204.

(7) In the above embodiment, the server 10 shows an example of receiving quality information related to the reproduction of the content, but the information (also referred to as setting information) related to the reproduction of the content that can be accepted is shown in the above embodiment. It is not limited to the information provided. The setting information is not limited, but as an example, if the content includes an image such as a moving image, it may be the brightness of reproduction or the color tone may be specified. Further, the setting information may specify the presence or absence of subtitles for the moving image. When the content is music, the setting information may be a deep bass emphasis designation, a specific range cut designation, or a playback speed speed designation. ..

<Effect of embodiment>
When the server 10 according to the above embodiment transmits the content in response to the content request information requesting the content from the terminal 20, the server 10 may have either the first aspect or the second aspect of the content. It is recorded as usage history as if the content was viewed. Then, the server 10 can determine whether or not the content can be distributed based on the usage history, and restrict the use of the content.
As a result, the server 10 can accept the designation of the content distribution mode and deliver the content in the accepted mode, and the content distribution mode is either the first mode or the second mode. However, by recording it as a usage history, it is possible to limit the time when the content is played. As a result, in order for the user to lift the restriction on the use of the content, it is possible to encourage the user to register as a paid member as an example, not as a limitation.

Further, the server 10 may determine that the content cannot be used by the user when the number of times the content is used per unit period exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Alternatively, the server 10 may determine that the content cannot be used by the user when the total usage time per unit period of the content exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
As a result, the server 10 can quantitatively determine whether or not the content may be provided to the user.

Further, the server 10 may accept the designation related to the quality of the content in addition to the mode designation information as the mode of the content, and transmit the content of the specified quality to the terminal 20.
As a result, the server 10 can receive the input for specifying the quality as well as the mode of reproducing the content and provide the content of the specified quality. Therefore, the server 10 can provide a higher quality service to the user.

Further, when the server 10 accepts the designation of the second aspect as the aspect of the content, the server 10 performs a process of removing some elements from the originally stored content and transmits the processed content to the terminal 20. May be. When the content is music, the server 10 may remove a specific sound, for example, a frequency corresponding to vocals, to generate a voice without vocals.
As a result, the server 10 does not have to prepare the contents corresponding to each mode, so that the storage capacity can be reduced.

Further, the content provided by the server 10 may be music or moving image, and a part of the elements removed in that case may be human voice.
As a result, the server 10 can provide off-vocal music in the case of music, and can provide silent moving images in the case of moving images. Therefore, the server 10 can provide various variations of content.

Further, the types of members of the user who enjoys the service provided by the server 10 may include a paid member who pays a consideration for receiving the service and a free member who does not pay the consideration. Then, if you are a free member, you may limit the provision of content.
This makes it possible to distinguish between paid members and free members, and to add motivation to become paid members in addition to free members.

1 Communication system 10 Server 11 Control unit 111 Judgment unit 112 Playback control unit 113 History update unit 12 Input / output unit 13 Display unit 14 Communication I / F (communication unit)
15 Storage unit 20 Terminal 21 Control unit 211 Content request unit 212 Playback unit 213 Display processing unit 22 Communication I / F
23 Input / output unit 231 Touch panel 232 Microphone 233 Speaker 234 Camera 24 Display unit (display)
25 Location information acquisition unit 28 Storage unit 30 Network

Claims (10)

An information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to terminals.
A storage unit that stores user identification information, membership type information associated with the user identification information, and usage history associated with the user identification information.
A receiving unit that receives the user identification information, the content request information including the content identification information, and the mode specification information that specifies the mode of content reproduction.
A determination unit that determines whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and the usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information.
Based on the determination by the determination unit, the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information is subjected to the content on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect. Playback control unit to play and
A history update unit that updates the usage history based on the reproduction control unit reproducing the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect.
Equipped with a,
The content includes music
The reproduction control unit reproduces the content that has been subjected to a process of removing some elements from the content data reproduced by the first aspect as the reproduction of the content according to the second aspect. part element information processing apparatus in which data Ru are regenerated subjected to treatment to remove the wavelengths corresponding to the vocals as the. The information processing device according to claim 1.
The determination unit determines that the content cannot be reproduced when the number of times the content is used per unit period exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The information processing device according to claim 1.
The determination unit determines that the content cannot be reproduced when the total usage time of the content per unit period exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The receiver further receives quality information that specifies at least either sound quality or image quality when the content is music or video.
The reproduction control unit reproduces the content based on the received quality information. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The content is music or video and
Some of the elements are human voice. The information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The types of members who enjoy the service indicated by the member type information include paid members who are paying for the service and free members who are not paying for the service. A communication system including a terminal and an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to the terminal.
The information processing device
A storage unit that stores user identification information, membership type information associated with the user identification information, and usage history associated with the user identification information.
The first receiving unit that receives the user identification information, the content request information including the content identification information, and the mode designation information that specifies the mode of content reproduction.
A determination unit that determines whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and the usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information.
Based on the determination by the determination unit, the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information is subjected to the content on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect. Playback control unit to play and
The reproduction control unit includes a history update unit that updates the usage history based on the content being reproduced according to the first aspect or the second aspect.
The terminal
A reception unit that accepts input related to the mode designation information,
A transmission unit that transmits the mode designation information, the content request information, and the user identification information received by the reception unit to the information processing device.
A second receiving unit that receives content based on the content request information from the information processing device, and
An output unit that outputs the content received by the second receiving unit is provided .
The content includes music
The reproduction control unit reproduces the content that has been subjected to a process of removing some elements from the content data reproduced by the first aspect as the reproduction of the content according to the second aspect. as an element parts Ru to regenerate the data subjected to processing to remove the wavelength corresponding to the vocals. The communication system according to claim 7.
The second receiving unit receives the music data from which the vocals have been removed as the content, and receives the music data.
Equipped with an input section that accepts voice input
The output unit outputs a voice obtained by synthesizing the voice received by the input unit with the music based on the music data received by the second receiving unit. A computer of an information processing device that provides a service for transmitting contents to a terminal, and stores user identification information, membership type information associated with the user identification information, and usage history associated with the user identification information. To a computer that has access to the storage
A receiving function for receiving the user identification information, content request information including content identification information, and mode specification information for designating a mode of content reproduction.
A determination function for determining whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information, and
Based on the determination by the determination function, the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information is subjected to the content on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect. Playback control function to play and
A history update function for updating the usage history based on the playback control function playing the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect, and
Realized ,
The content includes music
The reproduction control function regenerates the content data reproduced by the first aspect by removing some elements from the content data reproduced by the first aspect, as the reproduction of the content according to the second aspect. content playback program as an element parts Ru to regenerate the data subjected to processing to remove the wavelength corresponding to the vocals. An information processing device that provides a service for transmitting content to a terminal, and is a storage unit that stores user identification information, member type information associated with the user identification information, and usage history associated with the user identification information. An information processing device that can access
A receiving step for receiving the user identification information, the content request information including the content identification information, and the mode specification information for designating the mode of content reproduction.
A determination step for determining whether or not the content can be played based on the member type information and the usage history of the user identification information corresponding to the content request information, and
Based on the determination by the determination step, the content related to the content identification information included in the content request information is subjected to the content on the terminal according to the first aspect or the second aspect in which some elements are removed from the first aspect. Playback control steps to play and
A history update step for updating the usage history based on the playback control step playing the content according to the first aspect or the second aspect.
The execution,
The content includes music
In the reproduction control step, as the reproduction of the content according to the second aspect, the content data reproduced by the first aspect is subjected to a process of removing a part of the elements, and the data is reproduced. A content playback method that reproduces data that has been processed to remove wavelengths that correspond to vocals as part elements.

Images