JP2000285312A - Data distributing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data distributing device capable of recording book data desired by a user on a recording medium, distributing them and also erasing the recorded data. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an electronic book automatic vending machine 2 which can communicate with an electronic book data storage center 1 storing plural pieces of book data through a communication line 3 and satellite communication. The machine 2 can attach and detach a recording medium 6 and records the book data desired by a user on a loaded recording medium 6. The recorded book data can be erased by user's desire and the price is sometimes cleared up.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a data distribution device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a data distribution device that records desired book data on a data recording medium such as an optical disk brought in by a user.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, a social system for recording book data on a rewritable recording medium such as an optical disk, distributing the data widely, and reproducing the data with a portable electronic book player or with a personal computer. Is being considered. The book data is not limited to paperback books, weekly magazines, monthly magazines, and specialized magazines, but also includes newspapers, advertisements, and any other data conventionally distributed as printed matter. Use in meaning.

In order to realize the data distribution system, it is necessary to be able to easily record (update) desired book data in a place where a user can easily drop in, such as a convenience store or a station stand. On the other hand, in this system, unlike a conventional paper book, the user cannot directly check the contents with his / her hand, and there is a possibility that the user may purchase an incorrect book. Therefore, if it is desired to return the book data once purchased, or if it is desired to erase the recorded contents in terms of the recording capacity or the like, it is necessary to meet such a request.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a data distribution apparatus which allows not only desired data to be easily recorded on a recording medium and distributed, but also erasure of the once recorded data.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a data distribution apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a storage unit for storing a plurality of data; a detachable unit for detachably attaching a recording medium;
Selecting means for selecting specific data from a plurality of data stored in the storing means; recording means for recording the specific data selected by the selecting means on a recording medium loaded in the attaching / detaching means; Clearing means for clearing the price corresponding to the data recorded by the recording means, reading means for reading at least a part of the data recorded by the recording means, and erasing the data recorded by the recording means from the recording medium. Erasing means;
And re-clearing means for correcting the clearing of the clearing means in conjunction with the erasure of the data by the erasing means.

It is preferable that the data distribution device is connected to the storage means via a communication means. The communication means includes a telephone line and a satellite communication means. Since the amount of book data to be distributed is huge, it is configured as a large-capacity data storage center. That is, it is preferable that a large number of data distribution devices be installed so that the user can easily access them. Since the amount of data stored in the storage unit is enormous and the data is expected to be updated frequently, a large amount of data is stored. It is set up as a center and takes the form of transmitting data to many distribution devices. Note that if data to be distributed is limited, or a part of data that is frequently requested may be stored in the distribution device.

According to the present invention, a user can obtain data by a simple operation of loading a recording medium into the detachable means and selecting a desired book. On the other hand, if you want to delete even the book data once recorded,
Data can be erased from the recording medium by the erasing device.

There are two modes for such data erasure. The first is so-called return due to erroneous purchase, and usually involves liquidation of the price. For this purpose, the data distribution apparatus reads the date and time of data recording from the recording medium of the user, and determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the read date and time. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the return is not accepted and the erasure is not permitted. The second case is simply erasure of data, which corresponds to a case where the capacity of the recording medium becomes insufficient. In such a case, the re-clearing means does not operate and executes data erasure unconditionally.

According to the data distribution apparatus described above, a user can receive desired data and delete recorded data. The user can purchase a dedicated erasing apparatus or delete unnecessary data. The data distribution system can be easily used without burdening the user with the processing of the recorded medium, which contributes to the spread of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a data distribution device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Overall Configuration of System) FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a data distribution system including an electronic book vending machine which is a data distribution device according to the present invention. This system is
The electronic book data storage center 1 includes a large number of electronic book vending machines 2. Storage center 1
Is installed in one place in the whole country or one place in a major area, and electronic data of all books is stored. One or a plurality of vending machines 2 are installed in many places (convenience stores, station stores, etc.) that are easy for the user to use. The storage center 1 and the vending machine 2 can exchange data via the telephone line 3 or the communication satellite 4. As communication paths, there are three paths indicated by arrows a, b, and c in FIG.

The vending machine 2 reads electronic book data from the storage center 1 in response to a request from a user (book data purchaser) and writes the electronic book data on a recording medium 6 that can be reproduced by the electronic book player 5.

The recording medium (electronic book) 6 is composed of a recordable / readable / erasable recording element such as optical recording, magneto-optical recording, magnetic recording, and nonvolatile semiconductor. The electronic book player 5 has display screens 5a, 5 made of liquid crystal or the like.
b, the recording medium 6 is detachable, and the book data recorded on the attached recording medium 4 can be reproduced on the display screen.

(Configuration of Vending Machine) FIG. 2 shows the front of the electronic book vending machine 2. A display device 21, an operation device 22, a cash input device 23, a cash card receiving device 24, a recording medium receiving device 25, a change discharging device 26, a purchased recording medium discharging device 27, and the like are provided on the front portion. The operation device 22 includes a keyboard for inputting characters, operation buttons for selecting a book, and the like. Further, a touch switch may be displayed on a screen to constitute an operation device.

(Control Circuit) FIG. 3 shows a control circuit of the electronic book vending machine 2. The control circuit is mainly configured by a control unit 31 composed of a CPU, and reads and receives a transmission / reception device 32 with the storage center 1, the operation device 22, the data storage device 33, the display device 21, and the inserted recording medium 6. A reproducing device 34, a device 35 for recording and erasing the recording medium 6, a device 27 for discharging the purchased recording medium, and the like. The cash input device 23, the cash card receiving device 24, and the change discharging device 26 are connected to a control unit 31 via a clearing device 36. Data storage device 3
Reference numeral 3 temporarily stores the book data from the storage center 1 received by the transmission / reception device 32. Purchased recording medium ejection device 27
Stores a large number of new recording media that have been initialized and have not yet recorded book data, and eject the new recording media in exchange for money in response to a user operation.

(Control Procedure) Next, a control procedure of the control section 31 and a method of using the electronic book vending machine 2 will be described.

(Initial Setting) FIG. 4 shows a main routine of the control unit 31. When the control unit 31 is reset, each component device is set to an initial state in step S1. In step S2, information to be displayed on the display device 21 during standby is read. This information is set by the store where the vending machine 2 is installed, or transmitted from the storage center 1, and is advertisement information of a specific book. In step S3, the information is displayed on the display device 21.

(Operation Process) FIG. 5 shows a control procedure of the operation device 22 by a user operation. When any operation is performed by the user, first, it is determined in step S11 whether or not the sell button for a new recording medium has been operated, and if sale is required, the sale of the new recording medium is processed in step S12. . The details of this sales process are omitted.

On the other hand, if the recording medium has been inserted into the receiving device 25 (YES in step S13), the process proceeds to step S13.
In step S14, it is determined whether (cancel / return) of the book data already recorded on the recording medium or the erasure of the record is required. Execute the process.
If it is not cancel / erase, an electronic book sales process is executed in step S16.

If no recording medium is inserted (step S1)
3), it is determined that the user is searching for an electronic book to purchase, and in step S17 it is determined whether the user performs a keyword search. If a keyword search is to be performed, the keyword search process is performed in step S18. Execute. Otherwise, a book is displayed for each genre in step S19, and the user selects a desired book.

Hereinafter, steps S15, S16, S18,
Each control procedure in S19 will be described in detail.

(Electronic Book Display) FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show a subroutine of electronic book sales and electronic book display executed in steps S16 and S19. First, the electronic book display processing will be described. The book genre list is displayed on the display device 21 based on the operation of the selection start button by the user.
To be displayed. When the store owning the vending machine 2 has set a specific priority small category book genre (step S
21 is YES), a book list of the priority small category is displayed in step S22. Note that a list of books sold today may be displayed during standby (see FIG. 13A).

If no priority genre is set,
In step S23, a list of book genres in large categories such as magazines, specialized books, novels, and utility books is displayed (FIG. 13B).
reference). Here, when the user selects one genre from the book genre list, the middle category of the genre is displayed. For example, when a magazine is selected, the middle category includes the middle category such as science, sports, and automobile. When a utility book is selected, there are medium categories such as hobbies, business, and languages (see FIG. 13C).

Further, when one of the middle categories is selected, a small category of the genre is displayed. For example, if a sport is selected, baseball, soccer,
Skiing and the like are displayed (see FIG. 13D). Also,
When a utility book is selected, fishing, pets, paintings, etc. are displayed. And when the user selects one of the sub-categories,
A list in which actual book titles in the genre are listed is displayed (see FIG. 13E).

Depending on the setting of the store, if there is a book genre that the vending machine 2 preferentially sells,
A list of the priority sub-category genres may be displayed from the time of standby.

(Recording of Book Data) After confirming that the user has selected a desired book in step S24, the selected book is displayed in step S25, and in step S26, it is determined whether or not a recording medium is loaded in the receiving device 25. Is determined.
If the recording medium has not been loaded, it is displayed in step S27 that the recording medium is loaded (see FIG. 13F).
At 28, the process waits until a purchase stop operation is performed or a recording medium is loaded.

When the recording medium is loaded (step S26)
In step S41, a confirmation display for recording the book data on the recording medium is performed for the user. If the necessity of recording is confirmed in step S42,
At 43, the situation in which the settlement of money (such as the insertion of cash or the use of a credit card) is confirmed. If the settlement has not yet been performed, the settlement is requested in step S44, and the process waits until the purchase stop operation is performed or the settlement is performed in step S45. When completion of the settlement is confirmed (YES in step S43), the book data is recorded on the recording medium in step S46, and the recording date and time are also recorded.

(Recording of next / next volume billing information) If the book recorded in step S46 has a plan to release the next / next volume (YES in step S47), the next / next volume billing information is recorded in step S48. The user is asked whether or not to write on the medium, and if there is a write request, the billing information is recorded on the recording medium in step S49. For a user who wishes to subscribe, the next issue / next volume billing information may be automatically recorded.

(Reproduction of Recorded Data) When the recording of the book data on the recording medium is completed as described above, step S50 is performed.
To reproduce the recorded book data on the display device 21 to have the user finally confirm the recorded contents. Step S51
When the content confirmation OK is confirmed by the user, the recording medium is ejected from the vending machine 2 in step S52.
On the other hand, if the user indicates the intention to cancel the purchase of the book data (NO in step S53), the recorded content is erased from the recording medium in step S54, the money is re-cleared in step S55, and then the recording is performed in step S52. Eject the media.

When a recording medium on which book data purchased before (electronic book automatic selection) is recorded is loaded in the vending machine 2, the reading / reproducing device 34 reads the recorded contents of the recording medium in step S31. In step S32, it is determined whether or not there is already recorded information. If there is already recorded information, it is recorded in the recording medium after confirming that the already recorded information is the next issue / next volume request information in step S33, and
A list of book names for which the next issue / next volume has been released among books having the next issue / next volume request information is displayed on the display device 21 in step S34 (see FIG. 14A). Thereafter, the processing after step S41 is continued, and the desired book data is recorded on the recording medium.

Further, the recording medium can be made to function as a specific book-specific recording medium. That is, the billing information of the specific book is recorded on the specific book-specific recording medium so that the specific book is automatically selected when the medium is inserted into the vending machine 2, and the billing information is read.・ Playback device 3
The specific document may be automatically recorded by the reading of the document 4. If this system is adopted, the next issue / volume of a periodical such as a weekly magazine or a monthly magazine can be recorded by a simple operation.

(Recorded Information Use Processing) On the other hand, if there is no next issue / next volume request information (NO in step S33), the recorded information use processing is executed in step S35.

FIG. 9 shows a subroutine of the recorded information use process executed in step S35. Here, in step S56, a revised version of the book recorded on the recording medium is searched, and if the existence of the revised version is confirmed in step S57,
In step S58, the revised book list is displayed on the display device 21 (see FIG. 14B). When the user selects / determines the purchase of the revised edition in step S59, step S60
To display the determined book, and the processing after step S46 is continued.

On the other hand, if there is no revised version (step S5
7), the next issue / next volume of the recorded book is searched in step S61, and if the existence of the next issue / next volume is confirmed in step S62, the book list of the next issue / next volume is displayed on the display device 21 in step S63. indicate. If the user does not wish to purchase a revised version (NO in step S59),
Process 61. Next, when the user selects / determines the purchase of the next issue / next volume in step S64, the determined book is displayed in step S65, and the processing after step S49 is continued.

Further, there is no next issue / next volume (step S62).
If the user does not wish to purchase the next issue / volume (NO in step S64), a book list of the same small category as the latest recorded book is displayed on the display device 21 in step S66. In this case, a book of the same author as the already-recorded book may be preferentially displayed.
Then, when the user selects / determines a book desired to be purchased from the displayed list in step S67, the process proceeds to step S67.
At 68, the determined book is displayed, and the processing after step S49 is continued. If there is no book to be purchased in the list displayed in step S66 (NO in step S67), the process proceeds to step S23 to display the desired book for each genre.

(Recorded Information Use Process, Another Example) As the recorded information use process, the process may be executed according to the procedure shown in FIG. In this process, as shown in FIG. 15, the related books are displayed on the display device 21 at one time based on the recorded information, and the user selects / determines from the list.

That is, a revised version of the book recorded on the recording medium is searched in step S71, and if the existence of the revised version is confirmed in step S72, the revised book list is displayed on the display device 21 in step S73. I do. If there is no revised edition, the next issue / next volume of the recorded book is searched in step S74,
When the existence of the next issue / next volume is confirmed in step S75, the book list of the next issue / next volume is additionally displayed in step S76. Further, a book of the same author as the already-recorded book is searched in step S77, and if a book of the same author is confirmed in step S78, the book list is additionally displayed in step S79. Further, in step S80, a book list of the same small category as the latest recorded book is also displayed.

Thereafter, when the user selects / determines a book desired to be purchased from the displayed book list in step S81, the processing from step S49 is continued. If there is no book to be purchased in the displayed book list, the process proceeds to step S23, where the desired book is displayed for each genre.

When the recorded information is read in step S31 shown in FIG. 6, a display as shown in FIG. 14C is displayed, and a book related to the book purchased so far is displayed. The user may be asked to give priority to the search, and a list of books the user most wants to purchase may be immediately displayed according to the answer.

(Keyword Search) FIG. 11 shows a keyword search subroutine executed in step S18. When the book search is selected in step S17 shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S91, a keyword input screen is displayed on the display device 21 (see FIG. 14D). When the user inputs a book name, an author name, and a publisher in step S92, a search based on the input is executed in step S93, and the book name found in the search is displayed in step S94. If the user decides to purchase the displayed book in step S95 (selects a plurality of books), the decided book name is displayed in step S96.

Next, in step S97, after confirming that the recording medium is loaded in the receiving device 25, the processing from step S41 is performed. If the recording medium has not been loaded, it is displayed in step S98 to load the recording medium, and in step S99, the process waits until the purchase stop operation is performed or the recording medium is loaded.

On the other hand, if the search result is not the book desired by the user (NO in step S95), it is determined whether to stop the search in step S100 or to continue the search. If so, the process returns to step S91.

(Cancel / Erase) FIG. 12 shows a cancel / erase subroutine executed in step S15. This process is executed when it is desired to return the purchased book data once and when it is desired to erase the recorded contents in terms of recording capacity and the like. When cancel / erase is selected in step S15 shown in FIG. 5, first, in step S1
In step S01, the content recorded on the recording medium and the recording date and time are read, and in step S102, it is determined whether there is a book sold within a predetermined time from the recording date and time. Cancelable books are limited to books that have not passed a predetermined time from the recording date and time. If there is no such book, step S1
At 07, a message indicating that cancellation is not possible is displayed, and the routine proceeds to step S108.

If there are books that can be canceled, a list of those books is displayed on the display device 21 in step S103. After selecting / confirming the book to be actually canceled in step S104, the selected book is stored in step S10.
At step S5, the data is erased from the recording medium, and at step S106, money is settled. In this case, the book price already paid is returned, but the communication cost and the like are deducted from the book price and returned.

Next, in step S108 and thereafter, erasing of recorded contents is processed. For example, when the capacity of the recording medium becomes small, a user who wants to erase the recorded book data is executed. That is, if it is confirmed in step S108 that the user simply wants to delete the book data without clearing the payment, a list of erasable books is displayed on the display device 21 in step S109, and the book to be actually deleted is displayed in step S110. After the selection / confirmation, the selected book is deleted from the recording medium in step S111. Then, in step S112, the recording medium is discharged from the vending machine 2.

In the recording / erasing process, the text data of the recorded book is erased, but the title, author,
Bibliographic data such as genre may be left without being deleted. If the bibliographic data is left, the priority book selection function based on the recorded information can be used. This record erasing function can be effectively used in libraries and the like that do not charge for the book on the assumption that the book will be returned. By using the priority book selection function based on the recorded information even after erasing the body data of the recorded book at the time of returning the book, it is possible to efficiently search for the book in a short time.

(Appeal Display) As another control procedure, when one book is selected (steps S25 and S25)
34, S60, S65, S68, S96), a screen for appealing the book may be displayed in order to encourage the purchase of the book. For example, FIG.
The screen as shown in (F) is displayed alternately. It may be displayed as a movie, and it is effective if the movie is like a movie trailer.

(Other Embodiments) The data distribution apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the gist.

In particular, various configurations of the electronic book vending machine and the electronic book player can be considered. A vending machine may store well-selling book data to some extent and include a function as a data storage center.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the vending machine has been described as a business vending machine which requires payment of a fee. However, the vending machine may be installed in a public place such as a library as a part of a system for providing book data non-profitly. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a data distribution system including an electronic book vending machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the electronic book vending machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the electronic book vending machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure (main routine) of the control circuit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of an operation process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of electronic book display and electronic book sales.

7 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of electronic book display and electronic book sales, and is a continuation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of electronic book display and electronic book sales, and is a continuation of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of recorded information use processing.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of another example of the recorded information use process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a keyword search subroutine.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a cancel / erase subroutine.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing a display example on a display device of the vending machine.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing another display example on the display device of the vending machine.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing still another display example on the display device of the vending machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic book data storage center 2 ... Electronic book vending machine 3 ... Communication line 4 ... Communication satellite 5 ... Electronic book player 6 ... Recording medium 21 ... Display device 22 ... Operation device 25 ... Recording medium receiving device 31 ... CPU 32 ... Transmission / reception device 33 Data storage device 34 Reading / reproducing device 35 Recording / erasing device 36 Clearing device (re-clearing device)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G11B 19/02 501 G11B 19/02 501J 501Q 20/10 D 20/10 G06F 15/40 310H (72) Invention Person Hideo Hotomi 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Isao Hayami 2-3-113 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Shares In-house (72) Inventor Katsuyuki Namba 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3E044 AA01 BA01 BA02 BA04 BA05 BA10 CA02 CA03 DA04 DA10 DB03 DB05 DE01 DE02 EA01 EA11 EA12 EB01 5B075 ND20 NR02 PP13 PQ02 UU11 5B089 GA11 GA23 GB04 HA01 HA12 JA08 JB06 KA01 KA15 LB04 LB14 LB26 5D044 AB09 BC 01 BC04 CC04 DE48 EF05 GK11 HL01 HL11 5D066 DA03 DA12 EA14 EA17 EA24

Claims (5)

[Claims] An accumulating means for accumulating a plurality of data; an attaching / detaching means for attaching / detaching a recording medium; a selecting means for selecting specific data from a plurality of data accumulated in the accumulating means; Recording means for recording the specific data selected by the recording means on the recording medium loaded in the attaching / detaching means, clearing means for paying a price corresponding to the data recorded by the recording means, and Reading means for reading at least a part of data recorded on the recording medium from a recording medium; erasing means for erasing data recorded by the recording means from the recording medium; and linking erasure of data by the erasing means And a re-clearing means for correcting the clearing of the clearing means. 2. The data distribution device according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is connected via communication means. 3. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said communication means includes a telephone line. 4. The data distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said communication means includes satellite communication means. 5. A control means for judging whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the recording date and time of the data read by the reading means, and disabling erasure of the recording if the predetermined time has elapsed. The data distribution device according to claim 1, wherein: