KR20030002189A - Apparatus and method for acquisition and buying of media data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A media information acquisition and media purchasing system and method is provided to enable a client to acquire a pattern image, having a code, inserted into a case for packing a media, to automatically access a web site for offering demo information or to access an electronic commerce service providing site. CONSTITUTION: The system comprises a code management server(100), a client terminal(600), and a contents providing sever(900). The code management server(100) generates a pattern with a code, offers the pattern to the client terminal, and if a code is input from the client terminal(600), offers a location address corresponding to the code to the client terminal(600). The client terminal(600) acquires a pattern image from a cover for packaging a media, extracts the code from the pattern, receives a location address corresponding to the code from the code management server(100), automatically accesses a web site providing information on the media, downloads a media demo file and information on a media selling web site, regenerates the demo file or stores the information on the media selling web site, and accesses the media selling web site if the client wants to. The contents server(900) stores information on the media selling web site.

Description

Apparatus and method for acquiring and purchasing media information {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUISITION AND BUYING OF MEDIA DATA}

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for acquiring and purchasing media information, and in particular, the demo information of a media medium (records, video tapes, audio tapes, CDs, multimedia data, etc.) is confirmed in advance, and then the product thereof is online. An apparatus and method for acquiring and purchasing media information for purchase on a web site are provided.

In general, if a user wants to purchase a media medium, that is, a record, a video tape, an audio tape, a CD, a multimedia, and the like, they should have sufficient information about the contents.

In other words, the information on whether the recorded music is suitable for one's own taste, or whether the recorded movie is his or her desired form, etc. is checked in advance before the purchase.

However, knowing this information in advance is not so easy.

For example, if you want to buy a videotape, you should watch the trailer for it, or be fully aware of the details of the videotape, and if it is an audiotape, listen to the song in advance and buy it.

However, in the store, since all the media are sold, the contents are not known, and thus, the contents are not known, and thus, hesitant at the time of purchase occurs.

In addition, after purchase, it is not easy to exchange it, which causes inconvenience of repurchasing the desired contents again.

Therefore, in view of such a problem, the present invention inserts a pattern having a code into an exterior, that is, a case of various media media and acquires an image of the pattern, thereby automatically connecting to a site providing demo information and demo information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method for acquiring and displaying media information that can be downloaded and displayed, and also automatically connects to an e-commerce site that sells the product upon purchase.

1 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus for issuing a pattern having a code generated by the code management server according to the present invention.

2 is a conceptual diagram of an apparatus for implementing the present invention.

3 illustrates an example of a pattern image having a code.

4 is an internal block diagram of an image acquisition unit;

5 is an internal block diagram of a code management server.

6 illustrates the structure of a code database of a code management server.

7 is an internal block diagram of a client terminal.

8 is an internal block diagram of a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention;

9 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of a content server.

10 to 17 are flowcharts illustrating a method for acquiring product information of the present invention and purchasing the product thereof.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: code management server 200: code applicant terminal

300: code expression medium 400: code pattern

500: image acquisition unit 600: client terminal

700: mobile communication terminal 800: communication network

900: content server 1000: e-commerce site

Apparatus for obtaining and purchasing the media information of the present invention for achieving the above object,

A code management server generating a pattern having a code and providing the pattern to a client terminal, and providing a corresponding position value to the client terminal when a code value is input from the client terminal;

After acquiring the pattern image from the media medium having the code inserted therein, extracting the code therefrom, receiving the corresponding position value from the code management server, and then automatically accessing the information provider by the position value and demo media. A client terminal which downloads a file and information of a purchase site, plays back and stores the information, and automatically accesses the purchase site when the client intends;

And a content server storing information of the media file purchase site.

The client terminal has an image acquisition device for acquiring an image of a pattern containing a code, and has a program for extracting a code from the pattern image thereof.

It also has information for automatically connecting to the code management server.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention obtains media information and a method for purchasing the same.

A first step of generating a pattern having a code by the code management server when the code request is generated from the code requester terminal to database the code and a location value corresponding to the code and providing the code value to the code requester terminal;

A second step of receiving a code requesting terminal when a pattern having a code is provided from the code management server and inserting the code requesting terminal into the exterior of the media medium;

A third step of obtaining, by the client terminal, a pattern image from the media medium, extracting a code and providing the same to a code management server;

Receiving a code provided from the client terminal by a code management server and transmitting a position value corresponding to the code from the database to the client terminal;

5 steps of the client terminal accessing the corresponding information source by downloading the demo media file and the purchase site information based on the location value provided from the code management server, and then playing the demo media file;

And a sixth process of accessing the e-commerce site by the purchase site information when the purchase intention of the client occurs.

The apparatus and method for acquiring and purchasing the media information of the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a device for issuing a pattern having a code for realizing the present invention, the code management server 100 generates a sequential code according to the request of the code applicant terminal 200, Will generate a pattern.

In addition, the generated code value is stored in its own database and the position value is stored together.

The location value is provided from the code applicant terminal 200 and may be a URL.

The code management server 100 receives a code issuance request from a plurality of code requester terminals 200 and provides a pattern having a code to a corresponding code requester terminal 200.

The code requester terminal 200 receives the pattern having the issued code digitally and inserts the pattern having the code into the exterior of the media medium (record, video tape, audio tape, CD, multimedia data, etc.), that is, the case. do.

Therefore, the code applicant terminal 200 can be a media producer.

Therefore, when a code issuance request is generated from the code requester terminal 200, the code management server 100 receives and processes the request for issuing the code. The operation of the code management server 100 is described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 10. It demonstrates with reference.

The code management server 100 receives a code issuance request request generated from the code requester terminal 200. In this case, the signal requesting code issuance request should include a location value provided by the code requester terminal 200 ( ST100).

Such a location value is a typical URL.

Therefore, the processor 110 of the code management server 100 receives it through the communication network 800 and the modem 150, and the code pattern generating program 120 sequentially codes the codes according to the number of received URLs. Will occur.

In addition, the code pattern generating program 120 configures the generated code value into a pattern and provides the generated code value to the processor 110. The processor 110 stores the code value and the position value in the code database 130. (ST110).

Here, the operating program storage unit 140 stores the basic operating program for the code management server 100 to operate.

6 is a diagram illustrating an internal structure of the code database 130, in which code values sequentially generated are provided, and correspondingly, location values, that is, URLs, are provided.

For example, the code value '00000001' matches the URL 'www.music.co.kr' provided from the code applicant terminal 200.

The code value can be infinitely expanded as the number of bits increases.

This code value is expressed in a visible pattern and provided to the code applicant terminal 200 through the modem 150 and the communication network 800 (ST120), an example of a pattern having a code thereof is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The pattern represented in FIG. 3 is a patent application filed by the present applicant on December 29, 2000 (Application No .: 10-2000-85811), and has a circular structure in which a plurality of symbols S have respective code values. Each symbol S is located in a two-dimensional lattice structure.

The code value is determined by the size of the circular symbol S.

This is an example of the pattern to be expressed in the present invention, it may be any pattern.

That is, maxicode, data matrix, code one, and discard code, which are patterns having a code that can acquire an image by a camera or other scanning means and then extract the code from the image. Other barcodes such as Vericode, codablock, and Philips dot code are acceptable.

The code applicant terminal 200 receives the pattern having its code and inserts it into the outer case of the media medium 300 (ST200, ST210).

Therefore, a pattern having its code may be provided to the client intending to purchase (ST220).

On the other hand, if a client visits a store that sells a media medium and wants to first play a demo media file to check the contents, the client inserts the code into the media medium 300 by extracting a code from the pattern using his client terminal. An information source (for example, an Internet web site, etc.) is automatically connected from the pattern having the code. The process is described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the code pattern 400 printed on the outer case of the media medium 300 is obtained by the image acquisition unit 500. The image acquisition unit 500 may be configured to the client terminal 600. It may be a digital camera or scanner provided, and may also be a portable scanner and a portable digital camera.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 4, the image acquisition unit 500 photographs a pattern 400 having an analog code by the imaging unit 510, and the image is provided to the analog processing unit 520. It is sampled and analog image processing such as gain flare, shading correction, and potential gamma correction is performed.

The analog-processed pattern image is provided to the A / D converter 530 and converted into a digital signal, and an image of one frame is stored in the image memory 540.

When the image acquisition apparatus 500 is portable, the image acquisition apparatus 500 is then transmitted to the client terminal 600 through the output unit 550 according to the intention of the client. When the image acquisition apparatus 500 is provided in the client terminal 600, the image memory ( The pattern image is temporarily stored in 540 and immediately provided to the client terminal 600 (ST300).

In other words, if the client has an image acquisition device that can store the pattern, the client acquires the image of the pattern at the sales place, and transmits the pattern to its client terminal or a terminal installed in the store to extract a code, and then from the information provider. You will be able to download the demo media file.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the client terminal 600 interfaces the interface 610 with the image acquisition unit 500 to provide a pattern image to the processor 620, and the processor 620 generates a code extraction program. The code is extracted from the pattern image by a code extraction program stored in the storage unit 630.

In this case, since the program of the code extracting program may vary according to the type of the pattern image, the detailed procedure for extracting the code extract does not necessarily describe the process.

Therefore, a plurality of programs according to the number of code patterns may be stored in the code extraction program storage unit 630 (ST310).

The processor 620 transmits the code value to the code management server 100 through the modem 660 and the communication network 800 so as to have a location value corresponding to the extracted code value (ST320).

In this case, the client terminal 600 should know the position value of the code management server 100 in advance.

In other words, the position value of the code management server 100 should be defined in advance so that the code management server 100 can be automatically connected without any involvement of the client.

Meanwhile, the processor 110 of the code management server 100 receives a code value provided from the client computer 600 through the communication network 800 and the modem 150, and inputs a URL corresponding to the location value into the code database. It will be read (ST400, ST410).

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, if the received code value is '00000001', the client terminal 600 reads the position value of 'www.music.co.kr' through the modem 150 and the communication network 800. It is transmitted to (ST420).

Accordingly, the processor 620 of the client terminal 600 receives the position value thereof through the communication network 800 and the modem 660, and then drives the web browser 640 to execute the content server 900 according to the position value. Are automatically connected (ST330, ST340).

When the content server 900 as shown in FIG. 9 is connected from the client terminal 600, the processor 910 reads the demo media file and the e-commerce site location value stored in the content database 920. The modem 940 and the communication network 800 are provided to the client terminal 600 (ST500, ST510, ST520).

The operating program storage unit 930 stores a program for operating the content server 900 thereof.

The client terminal 600 receives the demo media file and the e-commerce site location value provided from the content server 900 through the modem 660 and stores them in the memory 680.

The processor 620 then drives a media player (for example, a Windows media player, a real player, etc.) stored in the player storage unit 670, and then reads the demo media file stored in the memory 680 and downloads the demo media. The file is played back and displayed (ST360).

These demo media files may be part or all of the recorded songs in the case of audio media, and interview contents of singers, and in the case of video media, may be trailers or interview contents of actors, and all other audio and It may contain video content.

On the other hand, if there is a purchase intention from the client, the processor 620 drives the web browser 640 and then reads the e-commerce site location value, that is, the URL, stored in the memory 680 to connect the modem 660 and the communication network 800. Through the electronic commerce site 1000 is automatically connected (ST600, ST610, ST620).

This allows the media medium to be purchased online at the client's intention.

The above connection process using the client terminal device 600 exemplifies a process of obtaining information through a wired network at a fixed location such as a home or a store, but may obtain information through a wireless network rather than a wired network. .

As a representative example, information desired by a client may be obtained by acquiring an image of a pattern having a code through a mobile communication terminal equipped with a camera.

The operation thereof will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

The operations of the imaging unit 701, analog processing unit 702, A / D conversion unit 703, image memory 704, and code extraction unit 705 are the same as those shown in FIG. .

The control unit 706 receives a code value provided from the code extracting unit 705 and the communication network 800 with a series of components such as a frequency synthesizer 707-a data transmitter 708-a duplexer 709-an antenna 710, and the like. Will be transmitted to the code management server (100).

The control unit 706 of the mobile communication terminal 700 receives a URL, which is a position value corresponding to a code value of the content server 900 having the contents of the demo media file, from the code management server 100. 709)-received through the data receiving unit 711-synthesizer 707.

Thereafter, the content server 900 is automatically connected according to the location value, and then the demo media file and the e-commerce site location value are received and stored in the memory 715. The player program stored in the player storage unit 714 is driven. Let's go.

Therefore, the demo media file stored in the memory 715 is played by the player.

If the intention is to purchase a media medium from a client, the controller 706 starts its own web browser 713 and then reads a URL, which is an e-commerce site location value stored in the memory 715, to read the electronic medium through the communication network 800. The commerce site 1000 is automatically connected.

As a result, the demo media file is checked through the mobile terminal at the purchase site according to the intention of the client, and then the purchase can be made through electronic commerce.

Such an apparatus and method for acquiring and purchasing the media information of the present invention,

When the media is purchased, the image of the pattern having the code is acquired, and the code included therein is automatically extracted to the content server providing the demo media file so that the contents can be checked even when the package is not opened. There is an effect that can accurately purchase the media medium.

In addition, after checking the contents of the demo content, when the client intends to purchase, the commerce site is automatically connected to enable immediate purchase activity.

Claims (13)

A code management server generating a pattern having a code and providing the pattern to a client terminal, and providing a corresponding position value to the client terminal when a code value is input from the client terminal; After acquiring the pattern image from the media medium having the code inserted therein, extracting the code therefrom, receiving the corresponding position value from the code management server, and then automatically accessing the information provider by the position value and demo media. A client terminal which downloads a file and information of a purchase site, plays back and stores the information, and automatically accesses the purchase site when the client intends; Content server for storing the information of the media file purchase site; Apparatus for acquiring and purchasing media information, characterized in that consisting of. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client terminal is a mobile communication terminal or a computer equipped with an image acquisition device. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the client terminal, Apparatus for acquiring and purchasing media information, characterized in that it has a program for extracting a code from the obtained pattern image. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the code management server is first provided with a location value from the code applicant terminal. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the client terminal has information for automatically accessing the code management server. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the automatic access information is a URL. 6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the location value is a URL. A first step of generating a pattern having a code by the code management server when the code request is generated from the code requester terminal to database the code and a location value corresponding to the code and providing the code value to the code requester terminal; A second step of receiving a code requesting terminal when a pattern having a code is provided from the code management server and inserting the code requesting terminal into the exterior of the media medium; A third step of obtaining, by the client terminal, the pattern image from the media medium, extracting the code and providing the same to the code management server; Receiving a code provided from the client terminal by a code management server and transmitting a position value corresponding to the code from the database to the client terminal; 5 steps of the client terminal accessing the corresponding information source by downloading the demo media file and the purchase site information based on the location value provided from the code management server, and then playing the demo media file; And a sixth step of accessing the e-commerce site by the purchase site information when the purchase intention of the client is generated. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the code management server is first provided with a location value from the code applicant terminal. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the client terminal is a mobile communication terminal or a computer equipped with an image acquisition device. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the client terminal has information for automatically accessing a code management server. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the automatic access information is a URL. 10. The method of any one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the location value is a URL.