JPH1169017A - Information distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the disadvantage of a user by canceling an account processing in the case down-loading is interrupted by an incorrect operation or the like while down-loading prescribed information after the user performs the account processing. SOLUTION: A portable terminal 1 is mounted to a receiver 2 and the request information of a data base menu stored in the storage part 59 of a desired transmitter 3 is transmitted. The transmitter 3 detects data corresponding to the request information in a retrieval part 60 and sends them through the input/ output part 24 of the receiver 2 to the terminal 1. At this point, when the receiver 2 automatically confirms the mounting of the terminal 1 in a mounting discrimination part 40, the account processing part 42 of the transmitter 3 starts the transmission of the data after performing a prescribed account processing and the terminal 1 is turned to a down-loading state. When the user incorrectly releases the mounting during down-loading, the mounting discrimination part 40 sends a release signal to the transmitter 3 and starts a timer, and when counting passes prescribed time, the transmitter 3 cancels the processing of the account processing part 42 by an account cancellation part 58.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system, and in particular, information is distributed from a transmitting device in which information is stored to at least one receiving device, and the information is further transmitted from the receiving device to a terminal device. The present invention relates to an information distribution system capable of copying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a communication karaoke system has been known as an information distribution system. In such a communication karaoke system, karaoke data and video data are stored in the form of a database in a transmitting device serving as a host, and at least one or more receiving devices are connected to the transmitting device via a telephone line or the like. As a data distribution method, data is periodically downloaded from a transmission device to a buffer memory provided in a reception device, or the desired data is designated and transmitted by a user operating an operation unit provided in the reception device. A method of transmitting data to a device and transmitting data from the transmitting device to the receiving device in response to the request is known.

[0003]

However, in such a communication karaoke system, the receiving apparatus does not have a function of copying the data to a recording medium or a portable terminal having a built-in recording medium. .

Further, it is easy to simply provide a line-out to be output to the receiving apparatus and copy it to a recording medium. However, if such a function is provided, a user who uses the communication karaoke can request karaoke data. It is possible to easily copy the karaoke data to a recording medium such as an optical disk or an IC memory and to own the karaoke data, which causes a problem that the copyright of the karaoke data cannot be protected.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to cause the user to perform a charging process for downloading data to such a recording medium. Although it is possible to protect the copyright of data by giving only the user who has completed the charging process the right to receive the data download service, in this case, after downloading the charging process, If the user erroneously interrupts the download, there is a possibility that a disadvantage may occur that a copy of the data could not be obtained even though the charging process was performed.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for completely copying information because the download is interrupted due to a user's erroneous operation or the like while downloading the desired information after the user has performed a billing process. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution system in which a charging process is canceled so that a disadvantage does not occur to a user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick and reliable restart of a download when the download is interrupted due to a user's erroneous operation or the like during the download of desired information after the user has performed a billing process. An object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system capable of downloading.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, the present invention outputs information designated by a user as request information, and downloads information inputted in response to a request to a built-in recording medium. A terminal, a receiving device capable of inputting / outputting with the terminal, inputting request information specified by the user at the terminal, transmitting at least the request information, receiving the corresponding information and outputting to the terminal, and a receiving device. A plurality of information can be transmitted and received, and a plurality of pieces of information are stored in a large-capacity recording medium, and request information input by a user is received via a receiving device, information about the request information is searched, and the information is transmitted to the receiving device. The transmitting device and the charging device provided in the transmitting device according to the request information are performed on the user, and the receiving device is responded to the request information only when the charging is normally processed. And a charge processing unit configured to transmit the received information, and the download is interrupted while the information transmitted from the transmission device corresponding to the request information provided to the reception device is downloaded to the terminal via the reception device. After a predetermined time elapses after the download interruption determination unit provided in the transmitting apparatus determines that the download has been interrupted, the charging processing for the user performed by the charging processing unit is canceled. And an information delivery system including a billing process canceling unit.

[0009] When the download is interrupted due to an erroneous operation of the user during the download of the desired information after the user has performed the charging processing, the charging processing is canceled when the complete information cannot be copied. By that
Avoid disadvantages for users.

[0010] Further, when the download is interrupted due to a user's erroneous operation or the like during the download of the desired information after the user has performed the billing process, the download can be resumed, and the interruption of the download is determined. Information received by the receiving device after the time is recorded on the recording medium of the receiving device, and is configured to be downloaded from the receiving device to the terminal when the download is resumed.

When it is determined that the download has been interrupted, the request information is recorded in the receiving device, and when the download is resumed, the request information is transmitted to another receiving device. Is downloaded from a receiving device that is expected to be short, thereby enabling quicker and more reliable downloading.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a transmission device 3 has a recording medium on which large-capacity data is stored, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, or the like, and a communication means 5, for example, ISDN (registered trademark) (Integrated Servi
ces digital network), CATV (Cable Television,
Community Antenna Television, communication satellites, telephone lines, etc., receives request information from a user via a communication line 5, searches for information specified by the request information from a large-capacity recording medium, and retrieves the information. To the receiving device 2 via the.

The receiving apparatus 2 receives this information and outputs the information to the portable terminal 1, so that desired information can be copied to a recording medium built in the portable terminal 1, for example, a hard disk, an optical disk, an IC memory, or the like. This is a system for realizing so-called data on demand. Examples of the data here include audio information, text information, image information, video information, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7, the transmitting device 3 includes a storage unit 59 for storing a large amount of data, and a search unit 60 for searching the data stored in the storage unit 59 for desired data.
At least. The storage unit 59 may be a magnetic tape or the like used in current broadcasting equipment, but a hard disk, an IC memory, an optical disk, an optical A magnetic disk or the like is desirable. The whole control is performed by the control unit 62.

The communication line 5 used for information distribution from the transmission device 3 may be an ISDN, CATV, communication satellite, telephone line, wireless communication, or the like. Two-way communication is required to perform on-demand, but existing communication satellites and the like use only one direction, so other communication lines 5 are used in the other direction. You may.

In addition, in order to directly transmit information from the transmitting device 3 to the receiving device 2 by the communication line 5, not only costs for infrastructure such as connection of lines from the transmitting device 3 to all the receiving devices 2 are increased, but also cost. Since request information is concentrated on the transmitting device 3 and the data is transmitted to each receiving device 2 accordingly, the transmitting device 3 may be overloaded.

Therefore, a server 7 for temporarily storing data is provided between the transmitting device 3 and the receiving device 2 to save the line length and to download predetermined data to the server 7 in advance and exchange data with the server 7. Only the requested information may be downloaded. The entire control is performed by the control unit 57.

FIGS. 2 to 6 show the receiving device 2 and the portable terminal 1 detachable from the receiving device 2.

The receiving device 2 is provided in, for example, a stand, a convenience store, a public telephone, each home, etc. at each station, and has a display unit 7 such as a game machine, an operation unit 8 for selecting desired information, and a like. It is desirable to have a mounting section 9 for mounting the mobile terminal 1.

Here, in order to reduce the functions of the receiving device 2 by using the operation unit and the display unit of the portable terminal 1, the display unit 7 and the operation unit 8 need not be provided. An input / output terminal 6 through which the receiving device 2 and the mobile terminal 1 input and output information,
A power supply terminal 11 is provided which is connected to a power supply 10 for automatically charging the portable terminal 1 when the portable terminal 1 is mounted.

In the present embodiment, the entire main surface of the portable terminal 1 is detachable from the receiving device 2. However, any device capable of inputting / outputting and supplying power to / from the receiving device 2 may be used. A power supply line and an information input / output line having a small mounting portion on the bottom, side, or tip of the mobile terminal 1 may be extended from the mobile terminal 1 and the small mounting portion may be mounted on the receiving device 2.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 7 and the operation unit 8 are provided on the receiving device 2 and the portable terminal mounting unit 9 is provided. Information is input and output and power is supplied by directly connecting the mobile terminal 1 to the mobile terminal mounting unit 9 or by connecting the mobile terminal 1 to the mobile terminal mounting unit 9 via a cable.

It is conceivable that a plurality of users access each receiving device 2 with each portable terminal 1. In the example shown in FIG. 4, one receiving device 2 is divided into a plurality of blocks 2A, 2B, 2C,. Each of the blocks 2A, 2B, 2C,.
, And operation parts 9A, 9B, 9C,..., And mobile terminal mounting parts 9A, 9B, 9C,.
... is provided. In such a receiving apparatus 2, each mobile terminal mounting section 9A in each block 2A, 2B, 2C,.
The portable terminals 1A, 1B, 1C,... Can be connected to 9B, 9C,.

As described above, the power supply is automatically supplied from the power supply terminal 13 by being mounted on the receiving device 2 in a predetermined manner, so that the battery built in the portable terminal 1 is charged and the user is displayed. Select the accumulation information menu output to the section 16 with the select key 14,
The request information determined by the determination key 15 is transmitted to the input / output terminal 12
And upload that information. Here, the operation system can be further simplified by using a jog dial in which the select key and the determination key are selected by rotating the jog and determined by pressing the jog.

After the end of the download is warned by the display unit 7 of the receiving device 2 or the display unit 16 of the portable terminal 1, the user removes the portable terminal 1 from the receiving device 2 so that the user can connect to the portable terminal 1 anytime and anywhere. The recorded information can be displayed or output. At this time, the display and output can be controlled by operation keys 17 provided on the portable terminal 1 such as fast forward, playback, rewind, stop, and pause.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A headphone terminal 18 used for listening to audio information via the communication device, and information stored in the transmission device 3 via a predetermined communication line is used not only by desired information downloaded via the reception device 2 but also by the user as a memorandum. Microphone terminal 19 as shown in FIG. By adding a recording key to the above-mentioned operation key, the portable terminal 1 can be used as a memo recorder.

As shown in FIG. 6, the portable terminal 1 has a connector 20 to which a display 21, a keyboard 22, a modem 23 or a terminal adapter 23 can be connected. The mobile terminal 1 by connecting the display
It is possible to output the downloaded moving image data.

The connection of the keyboard 22 not only facilitates selection of requested information but also enables more complicated command input. Also, the modem 23,
Alternatively, by connecting the terminal adapter 23, not only the data communication with the transmitting device 3 is possible without using the receiving device 2, but also it is possible to communicate with another computer or the portable terminal 1, so that data exchange between users can be performed. It can be done easily.

In addition, a wireless connection between the transmitting device 3 and the portable terminal 1 can be easily performed by using a wireless connection controller instead of the above.

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a block diagram of the receiving device 2 and the portable terminal 1 according to the present invention, and the operation of the whole system will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 7, a portable terminal 1 has a CPU 3
0 is provided. A bus 29 is derived from the CPU 30, and a ROM 27, a RAM 28, and a hard disk 32 are connected to the bus 29. ROM 27 or RAM 28
, Request information is stored by selecting desired information from a database menu stored in the transmission device 3. The hard disk 32 stores downloaded information. The mobile terminal 1 has an input key 33,
A display unit 34, an input / output unit 26 for inputting / outputting data to / from the receiving device 2, and an audio compression / expansion circuit 35 for performing audio compression / expansion processing such as ATRAC are provided. Further, the display 21, the keyboard 22, the modem or the terminal adapter 23 can be connected to the mobile terminal 1 via the I / O port 39. In addition, the portable terminal 1 includes:
Power is supplied from the battery 31.

The receiving device 2 is provided with an input / output unit 24 for receiving data from the transmitting device 3 and transmitting request information from the portable terminal 1. The operation of the receiving device 2 is controlled by the control unit 57. In addition, the receiving device 2 is provided with a power supply circuit 25 for supplying power to the battery 31 of the portable terminal 1. Further, the receiving device 2 is provided with a mounting determination unit 40 for checking whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is mounted on the receiving device 2. The mounting determination unit 40 may detect whether or not the mobile terminal 1 is placed on the mobile terminal mounting unit 9 of the receiving device 2 by using a mechanical switch. Whether or not the connection is made may be electrically detected. Alternatively, communication may be performed between the control unit 57 of the receiving device 2 and the CPU 30 of the mobile terminal 1 to confirm the connection.

The transmitting device 3 includes a storage unit 59 in which large-capacity data is stored, a search unit 60 for searching desired information from the storage unit 59 based on request information from a user, and input / output of data to / from the receiving unit 2. An input / output unit 61 for performing output is provided. The overall operation of the transmitting device 3 is controlled by the control unit 62. In addition, the transmission device 3 includes a collation processing unit 63 that performs collation for confirming whether or not the user is a legitimate user when the user tries to download data, and a billing process that performs a billing process corresponding to the request information. A processing unit 42 is provided. Further, a charge canceling unit 42 for canceling the charge processing is provided in order to pay a disadvantageous state to the user due to download failure or the like.

The user uses the input key 33 of the portable terminal 1 to select desired information from a database menu stored in the ROM 27 or the RAM 28 and stored in the transmitting device 3, thereby storing required information in the RAM 28. By mounting the portable terminal 1 to the mounting section 9 of the receiving apparatus 2, the receiving apparatus 2 is connected to the transmitting apparatus 3 via a predetermined communication line via the input / output section 24, and the same input / output section 24, the input / output unit 2 of the portable terminal 1
6 is connected to the bus 29 of the portable terminal 1.

As a result, the request information stored in the RAM 28 is controlled by the CPU 30 connected to the bus 29 and is automatically transmitted to the transmitting device 3 via the input / output unit 24.

In the transmitting device 3, the request information is entered /
The data input from the output unit 61 is retrieved from the storage unit 59 (large-capacity hard disk) by the retrieval unit 60, and the devised data is transmitted to the receiving device 2. The overall control is performed by the control unit 62.

Since it is necessary to record a plurality of data in the storage section 59, it is preferable that the data is digitally compressed. ATRAC (Adaptive Tra
nsform Acoustic Coding), ATRAC2, TwinV
Q (Transform domain Weighted Interleave Vector Qu
(Trademark) such as antization), but any compression method that can be decompressed on the receiving device 2 side may be used.

The transmission protocol at the time of transmission is a proprietary protocol or T which is widely used on the Internet.
CP / IP (Transmission control protocol / internet
protocol) for data transmission.

The transmission information is received by the input / output unit 24 of the receiving device 2 and output to the input / output unit 26 of the portable terminal 1. Utilizing the time required between the transmission of the request information and the reception of the desired information, the power supply circuit 25 of the receiving device 2 causes the power supply terminal 11 and the mobile terminal 1 to be connected with the mounting of the mobile terminal 1 on the receiving device 2. The power supply terminal 13 on the side is connected and the battery 31 incorporated in the portable terminal 1 is configured to be automatically charged.

Information input from the input / output unit 26 to the portable terminal 1 is subjected to packet data decomposition processing, and necessary compressed information is extracted and recorded on the hard disk 32. When the download of the desired information is completed, a download completion display is output to the display unit 7 provided in the receiving device 2 or the display unit 34 provided in the portable terminal 1.

After confirming the download completion display, the user removes the display from the portable terminal 1 and the receiving device 2 and is ready to carry it.

When the user wants to reproduce the downloaded information, the user first selects and decides the information to be reproduced from the list of information recorded on the hard disk 32 with the input key 33. Then, the compression information is read from the hard disk 32 and sent to the compression / expansion circuit 35 to be expanded. The expanded data is converted into analog information by the D / A converter 36 and output from the headphones 29.

When recording an audio signal from the microphone 38, a recording signal is output from the input key 33, and the audio signal from the microphone 38 is digitized by the A / D converter 37. The data is compressed by a predetermined compression method and recorded on the hard disk 32 via the bus 29. Thus, the memo recorder is configured to be usable by the user.

The display 21, the keyboard 22, the modem or the terminal adapter 23 can be connected to the portable terminal 1 via the I / O port 39. By connecting a display, moving image data, character data, and the like downloaded to the mobile terminal 1 can be output on a large screen. The display 21 may be a CRT, a TFT liquid crystal, a plasma display, or the like. If a head-mounted liquid crystal display is used, the output information can be viewed even while the user is moving.

The connection of the keyboard 22 not only facilitates selection of requested information but also enables more complicated command input. This makes it easy for the user to input remarks, information, and the like as character information.
By uploading the user information to the transmission device 3, it is possible to collect user requests or provide a conference room or the like as a place for exchanging information between users.

Further, a modem or terminal adapter 23
Not only enables direct data communication with the transmitting device 3 without using the receiving device 2, but also enables communication with another computer or the portable terminal 1, thereby facilitating data exchange between users. Can be. Send request information anytime and anywhere by using mobile phone etc. 3
And can be just on demand.

In addition, it is possible to easily perform wireless connection between the transmitting device 3 and the portable terminal 1 by using a wireless connection controller instead of these.

Next, a processing flow according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, when the portable terminal 1 is attached to the receiving device 2, the request information is automatically transmitted to the transmitting device 3 via the receiving device 2. Is provided. When the attachment of the portable terminal 1 is confirmed by the attachment determining unit 40 (step S40), the terminal ID of the portable terminal 1 and the request information previously recorded by the user in the portable terminal 1 are transmitted via the receiving device 2. The data is transmitted to the transmitting device 3 (step S41).

In the transmitting device 3, the accounting processing unit 42 performs accounting processing corresponding to the request information for the terminal ID (step S42). Here, a billing process error occurs because the terminal ID has not been registered or the balance is insufficient, and a signal is sent to the receiving device 2 according to the error.
Alternatively, an output unit that displays the warning on a display unit provided in the mobile terminal 1 or outputs a warning sound according to the warning may be provided.

When the charging process is completed normally, transmission from the transmitting device 3 to the terminal ID is started, and the portable terminal 1 enters a download start state (step S44). During this download, the mounting state is constantly monitored by the mounting determination unit 40 (step S40). If the user unintentionally releases the device during downloading, the terminal ID and the mounting release signal are transmitted to the transmitting side and transmitted. The timer provided on the side starts (step S45). At the same time, the receiving device 2 stores the terminal ID and the request information in the recording means 56 such as the memory 56 (step S54). When the portable terminal 1 is re-attached within the predetermined time of the timer, a signal is sent to the transmitting device 3 and the matching processing unit 63 performs matching processing based on the terminal ID (step S4).
8).

In the case of a collation error, the counting of the timer is still continued.
Predetermined data is downloaded to the mobile terminal 1 in accordance with the request information corresponding to the terminal ID stored in the mobile terminal 1 (step S
55).

Here, in the present embodiment, the terminal ID and the request information are stored in the receiving device 2.
9 may be stored and managed. The same applies to the embodiments described later.

It is conceivable that the download is surely completed by such processing (step S51). However, if the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting unit 9 and is left as it is, the charging process is performed. Regardless, there is a possibility that the user who is not performing the download service may be disadvantaged.

When a predetermined time has elapsed after the portable terminal 1 has been detached from the mounting section (step S47), the charging cancellation section 58 provided in the transmitting device 3 executes the charging processing performed by the user on the information. Processing is performed so as to cancel and prevent billing due to user's erroneous operation.

That is, if the user has completed the charging process for some reason but the download has not been completed, the charging process can be canceled, so that the user can receive the service with peace of mind. It has a special effect that it can be done.

In the above-described example, when the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting unit 9 of the receiving device 2 during downloading, the data is downloaded again. However, the data is downloaded after the already downloaded data. You may do it. FIG. 9 is such an example.

As described above, when the portable terminal 1 is attached to the receiving device 2, the request information is automatically transmitted to the transmitting device 3 via the receiving device 2.
Is provided with a mounting determination unit 40 of the mobile terminal 1. When the attachment of the portable terminal 1 is confirmed by the attachment determining unit 40 (step S40), the terminal ID of the portable terminal 1 and the request information previously recorded by the user in the portable terminal 1 are transmitted via the receiving device 2. The data is transmitted to the transmitting device 3 (step S41).

In the transmitting device 3, the charging processing section 42 performs charging processing corresponding to the request information for the terminal ID (step S42). Here, a billing process error occurs because the terminal ID has not been registered or the balance is insufficient, and a signal is sent to the receiving device 2 according to the error.
Alternatively, an output unit that displays the warning on a display unit provided in the mobile terminal 1 or outputs a warning sound according to the warning may be provided. When the charging process is completed normally, transmission from the transmitting device 3 to the terminal ID is started, and the portable terminal 1 enters a download start state (step S44).

During the download, the mounting state is constantly monitored by the mounting determination section 40 (step S40).
If the user mistakenly releases the terminal during downloading, the terminal ID and the release signal are transmitted to the transmitting side, and a timer provided on the transmitting side is started (step S45).

At the same time, the download is continued to the receiving apparatus 2 while writing the received data in the storage unit 56 simultaneously with the generation of the mounting release signal in the receiving apparatus 2 (step S46). At this time, it is desirable to associate the data with the terminal ID by storing the terminal ID as a header in the data.

When the portable terminal 1 is re-attached within the predetermined time of the timer, the collation processing section 63 provided in the transmitting device 3 performs collation processing on the terminal ID (step S48). In the case of a collation error, the timer continues counting, but when cleared, data from the middle corresponding to the terminal ID stored in the storage unit 56 of the receiving device 2 is downloaded to the portable terminal 1 (step S4).
9).

If the download to the storage section 56 of the receiving apparatus is continued when the receiver is re-attached, the download is continued and the download to the portable terminal 1 is also performed to improve the download efficiency. Desirably.

It is conceivable that the download is surely completed by such processing (step S51). However, even if the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting portion and is left as it is, the charging process is performed. This may lead to a disadvantageous state for the user who does not provide the download service to the user.

Therefore, when the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting unit 9 and a predetermined time has elapsed (step S47), the charging cancellation unit 58 provided in the transmitting device 3 performs the charging process performed by the user on the information. Is canceled so as to prevent the user from being charged due to an erroneous operation.

In the example described above, the receiving device 2 always downloads data from the transmitting device 3.
As shown in the figure, the transmitting device 3 includes a plurality of receiving devices 2A, 2A,
B, ... are connected. The transmitting device 3 periodically sends the latest information, information with a high request frequency, etc. to each of the receiving devices 2A, 2B, 2C,.
2B, 2C,.... The data sent to each of the receiving devices 2A, 2B, 2C,... Is stored in the storage unit 56 of each of the receiving devices 2A, 2B, 2C,.

In such a configuration, the receiving devices 2A, 2
B, 2C,... Store similar data. In this case, for example, when the download fails in the receiving device 2A, the receiving device 2A can download the data from the peripheral receiving devices 2B, 2C,... Without downloading the data from the transmitting device 3. it can.

FIG. 11 shows that, when the download has failed in the receiving apparatus 2A, the data is not always downloaded from the transmitting apparatus 3 but the peripheral receiving apparatus 2A.
In this example, when desired data is stored in B, 2C,..., The data is downloaded from the peripheral receiving devices 2B, 2C,.

In the flow of FIG. 10, when the portable terminal 1 is attached to the receiving device 2, the request information is automatically transmitted to the transmitting device 3 via the receiving device 2.
The receiving device 2 includes a mounting determination unit 40 of the mobile terminal 1. When the attachment of the portable terminal 1 is confirmed by the attachment determining unit 40 (step S40), the terminal ID of the portable terminal 1 and the request information previously recorded by the user in the portable terminal 1 are transmitted via the receiving device 2. The data is transmitted to the device 3 (step S41).

In the transmitting device 3, the charging processing unit 42 performs charging processing corresponding to the request information for the terminal ID (step S42).

Here, a charging process error occurs because the terminal ID is not registered or the balance is insufficient, and a signal corresponding to the error is transmitted to the receiving device 2 and the display unit provided in the receiving device 2 or the portable terminal 1. May be provided with an output means for displaying the warning or outputting a warning sound in response to the warning. When the charging process is completed normally, transmission from the transmitting device 3 to the terminal ID is started, and the portable terminal 1 enters a download start state (step S44).

During the download, the mounting state is constantly monitored by the mounting determination section 40 (step S40).
If the user mistakenly releases the terminal during downloading, the terminal ID and the release signal are transmitted to the transmitting side, and a timer provided on the transmitting side is started (step S).
45). At the same time, the receiving device 2 stores the terminal ID and the request information in the recording means 56 such as the memory 56 (step S54). When the portable terminal 1 is re-attached within the predetermined time of the timer, a signal is sent to the transmitting device 3 and the matching processing unit 63 performs a matching process based on the terminal ID (step S48).

Next, in the case of a collation error, the count of the timer is still continued. When the collation is cleared, the request information corresponding to the terminal ID stored in the storage unit 56 of the receiving device 2 is changed as shown in FIG. The request information is transmitted to each of the mutually connected receiving devices 2, and the receiving device 2 that is considered to have the shortest communication time is selected from other receiving devices 2 in which data corresponding to the request information is stored. Then, downloading from the receiving device 2 is started. As criteria for this selection, factors such as geographical distance, traffic condition of the line, thickness of the line, etc. can be considered (step S5).
3).

It is conceivable that the download is reliably completed by such processing (step S51). However, if the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting portion and is left as it is, the charging process is performed. This may lead to a disadvantageous state for the user who does not provide the download service to the user.

Therefore, when the portable terminal 1 is detached from the mounting section 9 and a predetermined time has elapsed (step S47), the charging cancellation section 58 provided in the transmitting device 3 performs the charging process performed by the user on the information. Is canceled so as to prevent the user from being charged due to an erroneous operation.

[0075]

The information distribution system of the present invention protects the copyright of data by granting only the user who has completed the charging process for the information requested by the user to receive the data download service. Although it is possible, if the user accidentally interrupts the download while downloading after completing the charging process, a copy of the data is not available despite the charging process There is a possibility that a disadvantage to the user may occur. Therefore, in the present invention, when downloading is interrupted due to an erroneous operation of the user during downloading of desired information after the user performs charging processing, the charging processing is canceled when complete information cannot be copied. To prevent disadvantages for the user.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, when the download is interrupted due to the user's erroneous operation or the like during the download of the desired information after the user performs the billing process, the download can be resumed. Further, information received by the receiving device after the interruption of the download is determined is recorded on the recording medium of the receiving device, and is downloaded from the receiving device to the terminal when the download is resumed. . Also, when the interruption of the download is determined, the request information is recorded in the receiving device, and when the download is resumed, the request information is transmitted to another receiving device, and the communication time is shortest among the receiving devices having the desired information. It is intended to provide a quicker and more reliable download by downloading from an expected receiving device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a receiving device according to the present invention and a terminal device detachably provided in the receiving device.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a receiving device according to the present invention and an embodiment of a terminal device attached to the receiving device.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a receiving device according to the present invention, in which a plurality of terminal devices can be simultaneously attached and detached.

FIG. 5 is a terminal device to which headphones for listening to sound output from the terminal device according to the present invention are attached.

FIG. 6 is a diagram in which various input / output devices are connected to a terminal device according to the present invention via a connector.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an entire system including a terminal, a receiving device, and a transmitting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an overall system diagram of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 terminal, 2 receiving device, 3 transmitting device, 40 download interruption determining section, 42 charging processing means, 50 charging processing canceling means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A terminal for outputting information specified by a user as request information and downloading information input in response to a request to a built-in recording medium; A receiving device for inputting request information to be specified, transmitting at least the request information, receiving the corresponding information, and outputting the received information to the terminal; and a plurality of information that can be transmitted and received with the receiving device and that has a large capacity recording medium. Is stored in the transmitting device, receives the request information input by the user via the receiving device, retrieves information corresponding to the request information, and transmits the information to the receiving device; Performing a charging process in accordance with the request information for the user, and instructing the receiving apparatus to respond to the request information only when the charging is normally performed. Billing processing means for transmitting information; and information transmitted from the transmitting device corresponding to the request information provided in the receiving device is downloaded to the terminal via the receiving device. Download interruption determining means for determining that the download has been interrupted, and, after a predetermined time elapses after the download interrupt determination means provided in the transmitting device determines that the download has been interrupted, the charging processing means performs And a billing process canceling unit for canceling the billing process for the user. 2. A terminal for outputting information designated by a user as request information and downloading information input in response to the request information to a built-in recording medium; A receiving device for inputting request information to be specified, transmitting at least the request information, receiving the corresponding information, and outputting the received information to the terminal; and a plurality of information that can be transmitted and received with the receiving device and that has a large capacity recording medium. Is stored in the transmitting device, receives the request information input by the user via the receiving device, retrieves information corresponding to the request information, and transmits the information to the receiving device; Performing a charging process in accordance with the request information for the user, and instructing the receiving apparatus to respond to the request information only when the charging is normally performed. Billing processing means for transmitting information; and information transmitted from the transmitting device corresponding to the request information provided in the receiving device is downloaded to the terminal via the receiving device. Download interruption determining means for determining that the download has been interrupted, and, after a predetermined time elapses after the download interrupt determination means provided in the transmitting device determines that the download has been interrupted, the charging processing means performs And a charging process canceling unit for canceling the charging process for the user. When the interruption determining unit determines that the download to the terminal has been interrupted, the recording medium provided in the receiving device is interrupted. The next information is recorded sequentially,
An information distribution system, wherein when the download is resumed, information recorded in the receiving device is recorded subsequently to a recording medium of the terminal. 3. A terminal for outputting information designated by a user as request information, and downloading information inputted in response to the request information to a built-in recording medium; A receiving device for inputting request information to be specified, transmitting at least the request information, receiving the corresponding information, and outputting the received information to the terminal; and a plurality of information that can be transmitted and received with the receiving device and that has a large capacity recording medium. Is stored in the transmitting device, receives the request information input by the user via the receiving device, retrieves information corresponding to the request information, and transmits the information to the receiving device; Performing a charging process in accordance with the request information for the user, and instructing the receiving apparatus to respond to the request information only when the charging is normally performed. Billing processing means for transmitting information; and information transmitted from the transmitting device corresponding to the request information provided in the receiving device is downloaded to the terminal via the receiving device. Download interruption determining means for determining that the download has been interrupted, and, after a predetermined time elapses after the download interrupt determination means provided in the transmitting device determines that the download has been interrupted, the charging processing means performs A charging process canceling unit for canceling the charging process for the user, wherein the receiving device is arranged in a plurality of places, and predetermined information is downloaded from the transmitting unit to a recording medium provided in each of the receiving devices. When the determining means determines that the download to the terminal has been interrupted, The request information corresponding to the interrupted information is recorded on a recording medium provided in the receiving device, and when the download is resumed, the request information recorded in the receiving device is transmitted to at least one or more other receiving devices. An information distribution system, wherein information corresponding to the request information is selectively received from another predetermined receiving device in accordance with the communication time of each other and downloaded to a recording medium of the terminal.