JP2001331182A - Information distribution method and distributed information receiving terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid making a downloading error before downloading desired information. SOLUTION: An information distribution server transmits a portion of information requested to be distributed to a distributed information receiving terminal before distributing all of the information requested to be distributed. The receiving terminal nortifies the information contents to a user by using a portion of the information. Moreover, in accordance with the notification of the information contents, instructions related to the execution and the nonexecution of information distribution by the use are transmitted to the information distribution server. The, the server executes a downloading when it is an execution instruction and stops the downloading when it is a nonexecution instruction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution method for distributing music data from an information distribution server and a distribution information receiving terminal for receiving the distribution data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of information communication networks such as the Internet, music data is distributed from an information distribution server to a distribution information receiving terminal through an information communication network (in the following description, distribution may be referred to as download). You can now watch music data.

[0003] In this case, the user accesses the information distribution server from the distribution information receiving terminal and connects through the network, and downloads a list of distribution information that can be downloaded. From the information distribution server. Then, a desired song is selected from the song list, and a download request is sent to the information distribution server. In response to the download request, the information distribution server downloads the requested music data to the distribution information receiving terminal via the network.

[0004]

By the way, the music list as the distribution information list sent from the information distribution server usually describes the title of the music that can be distributed and the artist name. Chooses the desired song based on their titles and artist names,
Make a download request.

[0005] However, if the user forgets or misunderstands the title or artist name of the song requested to be downloaded, the user may request distribution of a song different from the song the user really wants. However, in the conventional case, the problem that the user knows that the user has requested distribution of a music different from the music that the user really wants is when the downloaded music is played for the first time after downloading the data. there were.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to allow a user to confirm the content of a distribution request himself before downloading distribution data.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an information distribution request is sent from a distribution information receiving terminal to an information distribution server, and the distribution request is sent from the information distribution server. In an information distribution method for distributing information to a distribution information receiving terminal of a request source, the information distribution server partially converts the requested distribution information before distributing the requested distribution information. A partial information transmission step of transmitting to the requesting distribution information receiving terminal,
The distribution information receiving terminal that has received a part of the information transmitted in the partial information transmission step, a notification step of notifying a user of the information content, and, in the distribution information reception terminal, the information content in the notification step In response to the notification of the execution of information distribution by the user, a distribution execution instruction receiving step of receiving an instruction input of non-execution, and in the distribution execution instruction receiving step, when there is an execution instruction of the information distribution by the user, An execution instruction transmitting step of transmitting a distribution execution instruction from the distribution information receiving terminal to the information distribution server, and the information distribution server receiving the distribution execution instruction sent in the execution instruction transmission step, And a delivery execution step of delivering information to the delivery information receiving terminal of the request source.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information distribution method according to the first aspect, the partial information transmitting step includes a partial information transmission request included in the distribution request from a distribution information receiving terminal. It is characterized by being executed only when

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information distribution method according to the first aspect, the partial information transmitting step includes:
The information distribution server transmits a part of the information requested to be distributed with a data amount smaller than the original data amount.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information distribution method according to the first aspect, in the partial information transmission step, the information distribution server replaces a part of the information requested to be distributed with the original information. The content is maintained, but transmitted in an information form different from the original information.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, prior to downloading of the requested information, the information distribution server transmits a part of the requested information to the distribution information receiving terminal.

The distribution information receiving terminal reproduces a part of the information and notifies the user. With this notification, the user can confirm whether the information requested by the user for distribution is truly desired information. In response to this confirmation, the user transmits an execution instruction as to whether or not to execute the distribution of the information requested to be distributed to the information distribution server.

The information distribution server receives the execution instruction, and when the instruction is to execute distribution, downloads the information requested to be distributed. When the execution instruction indicates non-delivery, the information distribution server may not execute the download.

Therefore, the user can confirm the content of the information requested to be delivered before downloading the delivery data, so that it is possible to avoid downloading erroneous information due to misunderstanding or stumbling.

[0015] In the case of the second aspect of the present invention, the information distribution server executes transmission of a part of the requested distribution to the distribution information receiving terminal only when the user requests partial information transmission. . Therefore, the user can make a partial information transmission request and check the information content before executing the download only when the title of the information requested to be distributed is sloppy or the like.

In the case of the third aspect of the present invention, the information distribution server transmits a part of the information requested to be distributed with a data amount smaller than the original data amount, thereby shortening the communication time. In addition, it is possible to reduce communication costs and charging users for downloading.

Further, in the case of the invention of claim 4, the information distribution server transmits a part of the information requested to be distributed in a form of information different from the original information, while maintaining the contents of the original information. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the communication cost and the charge to the download user.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an information distribution method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a music distribution system as an example.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the general outline of the music distribution system in the case of this embodiment. This embodiment is a case where the distribution information receiving terminal is the mobile phone terminal 1. The music distribution server 2 as an example of the information distribution server is connected to a communication network 3 such as a public telephone network or the Internet. A base station 4 of a mobile phone is connected to the communication network 3, and the mobile phone terminal 1 can connect to the music distribution server 2 via the base station 4 and the communication network 3.

In this embodiment, the portable telephone terminal 1
It has a configuration as shown in FIG. That is, the mobile phone terminal 1 includes a transmission / reception antenna 11, an antenna switch 12, a reception unit 13, a transmission unit 14, a baseband processing unit 15, a system control unit 16, a speaker 17, a liquid crystal display 18, , Key operation unit 19
, A microphone 20, and a headphone terminal 21 to which a headphone 22 is connected.

Then, the system control unit 16
CPU (Central Processing Un
it) and ROM (Read Only Memory)
y) and RAM (Random Access Mem)
ory) and a DSP (Digital Signal)
Processor) and I / O (Input / Out)
(put) control unit 165 and a nonvolatile memory 166.

The system control unit 16 displays on the display screen of the liquid crystal display device 18 in accordance with the operation of the key operation unit 19, a distribution information list for connecting to the music distribution server 2 and making a music distribution request, and other information. Display the necessary information. Further, in this embodiment, the system control unit 16 performs a selection operation on a predetermined selection screen displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 18 by operating a predetermined key of the key operation unit 1 as described later. I can do it. The system control unit 16 also controls the entire mobile phone terminal 1.

The DS of the system control unit 16
The P164 performs a reception signal process and a transmission signal process under the control of the CPU 161, and also performs a process of reproducing the downloaded music data. Non-volatile memory 16
Numeral 6 is for storing downloaded music data (music data).

The system control unit 16 stores the music data downloaded from the information distribution server 2 in the nonvolatile memory 166, reads out the stored music data, reproduces the music data with the DSP 164, and reproduces the sound with the speaker 17 and the headphones 22. Has functions. Further, music data includes so-called incoming melody data and MIDI (Musical Instrument).
Even in the case of a Digital Interface (Digital Interface) data format, the DSP 164 has a function of reproducing the data and reproducing the sound with the speaker 17 and the headphones 22.

In the portable telephone terminal 1, during a call, a received voice signal received by the antenna 11 is supplied to the baseband processing section 5 through the receiving section 3 and subjected to baseband processing. The signal subjected to the baseband processing is supplied to the DSP 165 of the system control unit 16.
After that, the signal is supplied to the speaker 17 for sound reproduction and supplied to the headphones 22 through the headphone terminal 21.

The transmitted voice picked up by the microphone 20 is processed by the DSP 165 of the system control unit 16 and then supplied to the baseband processing 15 where it is subjected to baseband processing. Then, the signal is wirelessly transmitted through the transmitting unit 14 and the antenna 11.

Then, the portable telephone terminal 1 of this embodiment
Has a function key in the key operation unit 19.
When the user operates this function key, the system control unit 16 displays a function menu on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 18. This function menu includes a music distribution service.

When the user of the portable telephone terminal 1 selects this music distribution service, the portable telephone terminal 1 is connected to the information distribution server 2 by performing key operations and the like according to the display on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 18. And a music distribution service.

The music distribution server 2 stores the data of the music to be distributed in the storage unit, and distributes (downloads) the data of the music requested to be distributed to the requesting terminal. Although not shown, the music distribution server is connected to the content providing device of the content providing company through a dedicated line or the like, and content not stored in the storage unit of the server 2 itself is acquired from the content providing device of the content providing company. It is also configured to be able to.

Further, the music distribution server 2 of this embodiment
As will be described later, the information that can be distributed includes not only the entire music, but also information about only a part of the music, such as, for example, only an intro part, only a so-called chorus part, and the like. For this download information,
The same information quality is prepared for the entire music, the intro part and the chorus part.

The music distribution server 2 not only provides each piece of music as high-quality music data, but also provides a form of providing the information as a so-called incoming melody of a portable telephone terminal, a MIDI (Musical Instrument).
As in the information format of “t Digital Interface”, provision in an information format different from the original music information format is also possible.

Further, in the music distribution server 2 of this embodiment, when there is a request from the user, before downloading the music, the user can check the intro part and the chorus part of the requested music for confirmation by the user. The service to send to can be performed.

In this case, the intro part and the chorus part are not to be downloaded, but are for the user to check the contents, and therefore have low quality and low data amount enough to recognize the music. As a result, the information transmission time of the intro part and the chorus part is reduced to minimize the increase in communication cost, and the billing for the music distribution service can be suppressed to the lowest possible price.

As a data format of low quality and low data amount, for example, when the original music information is of 16 bits / sample, the number of bits is reduced to 8 bits / sample or 4 bits / sample. In addition to those that reduce the number of samples and those that reduce the number of samples, a data format of an incoming melody, a data format of MIDI, and the like can be used.

Next, the operations of the mobile phone terminal 1 and the music distribution server 2 when executing the music distribution service will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 1 and 4 and the screen of the liquid crystal display 18 of the mobile phone terminal 1 of FIG. This will be described with reference to the display.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart when the music distribution service is executed in the mobile phone terminal 1, and mainly focuses on software processing in the system control unit 16. 4 and 5 are flowcharts when the information distribution server 2 executes the music distribution service.

As described above, when the music distribution service is selected in the function menu of the portable telephone terminal 1 and a connection operation to the music distribution server 2 is performed, the portable telephone terminal 1 and the music distribution server are connected. , Base station 4
And via the communication network 3 (FIG. 1
Step S1 and Step S31 in FIG. 4).

Since the connection from the portable telephone terminal 1 to the music distribution server 2 means a music distribution request, the music distribution server 2 transmits a distribution information list to the portable telephone terminal 1 (step S32 in FIG. 4). ). The mobile phone terminal 1 receives this distribution information list and displays it on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 18 (step S2 in FIG. 1).

FIG. 6A shows a display example of the distribution information list.
Shown in In FIG. 6 (A), “all songs (without prior check)” means download of all songs without a prior check of a part of the song. “All songs (with intro pre-check)” means to download all songs with pre-check by intro. “All songs (with rust pre-check)” means downloading all songs with a pre-check based on the rust portion of the song.

"Only the chorus portion" means a high quality download of the chorus portion of the requested music. "Intro" means a high quality download of the intro portion of the requested song. “Ringtone” means to download the requested song in the data format of the ringtone melody. Further, “MIDI” means that the requested music is downloaded in the MIDI data format.

The user of the portable telephone terminal 1 can read the information shown in FIG.
From the distribution information list of (A), the user selects a desired download mode (step S3 in FIG. 1).

The system control section 16 of the portable telephone terminal 1 determines whether the selection by the user is the whole song or a part of the song such as an intro (step S4 in FIG. 1).
If it is a part of a song, the selection information is transmitted to the information distribution server 2 (step S15 in FIG. 1). Further, if the selection by the user is all the songs, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned song is a part of the song with pre-check (step S5 in FIG. 1). To transmit the selection information to the information distribution server 2.

If it is determined in step S5 that the user's selection is a part of the above-mentioned tune with a preliminary check, the process proceeds to step S6.
The selection information is transmitted to the information distribution server 2.

When the above selection information is received by the information distribution server 2 (step S33 in FIG. 4), the information distribution server 2
Transmits a list of distributable songs to the mobile phone terminal 1 (step S34 in FIG. 4).

The portable telephone terminal 1 receives the music list and displays it on the screen of the liquid crystal display 18 by the system control unit 16 (step S7 or step S16 in FIG. 1).

FIG. 6B shows a display example of the music list on the screen of the liquid crystal display device 18 of the portable telephone terminal 1 at this time. As shown in FIG. 6B, the music list includes a music title (title name) and an artist name.
The user selects and confirms a desired song from the list of songs.

When the system controller 16 of the portable telephone terminal 1 confirms this selection operation (step S8 or step S17 in FIG. 1), it transmits a request for downloading the selected music to the music distribution server 2 (FIG. 1). Step S9 or Step S18).

When the information distribution server 2 receives the request for downloading the selected music (step S3 in FIG. 4)
5), referring to the selection information received in step S33,
It is determined whether or not the download request is for all the songs (step S36 in FIG. 4). If it is a request to download all the songs, it is determined whether or not a pre-check is provided (step S37 in FIG. 4).

If it is determined in step S36 that the request is not a request for downloading the entire song, or if it is determined in step S37 that the download is for the entire song but is not pre-checked, the process proceeds to step S38. The whole of the requested music, the intro part, the chorus part, the ringing melody, and the like are downloaded to the mobile phone terminal 1 that has made the request. Then, after the download is completed (step S39 in FIG. 5),
When the completion is confirmed, the connection with the mobile phone terminal 1 through the network is disconnected (step S40 in FIG. 5).

In step S38 of FIG. 4, the music data downloaded from the music distribution server 2 is received by the portable telephone terminal 1 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 166 of the system control unit 16 (step S1 of FIG. 1).
9). Then, the mobile phone 1 waits for the completion of storing the download data in the memory 166 (step S2).
0), the connection with the music distribution server 2 through the network is disconnected (step S21).

Next, when the information distribution server 2 determines in step S37 of FIG. 4 that the request is a download request with advance check, based on the selection information received in step S33, the advance check is either intro or rust. It is determined whether or not there is an intro (step S31), and if it is an intro, the intro part of the requested music, which is a small amount of data as described above, is transmitted to the mobile phone terminal 1 (step S32). If it is a chorus, the chorus portion of the requested music is transmitted to the mobile phone terminal 1 as described above and has a low data amount (step S33).

The portable telephone terminal 1 receives the pre-check data, reproduces and outputs the pre-check data to the speaker 17 and the headphone 22 under the control of the system control unit 16, and notifies the user (step S1 in FIG. 1).
0).

The user confirms whether or not the requested music is the desired one by reproducing and outputting the pre-check data. If it is different from the one, a download non-execution instruction is given.

In response to the user's instruction, the portable telephone terminal 1 determines whether the instruction is a download execution instruction (step S11 in FIG. 1). When it is determined that the instruction is a download execution instruction, a download execution request is sent to the music distribution server 2 (step S1).
2) If it is determined that the instruction is a download non-execution instruction, a download cancel instruction is sent to the music distribution server 2 (step S13).

The information distribution server 2 receives the download execution request or the cancel request from the portable telephone terminal 1 and determines whether the request is a download execution request (step S44 in FIG. 5). If it is determined that the request is a download cancel request, the download is stopped (step S45), and the connection with the mobile phone terminal 1 is disconnected (step S40).

When it is determined in step S44 that the request is a download execution request, all the requested songs are downloaded (step S46), and after the download is completed (step S39), the connection with the portable telephone terminal 1 is established. Cutting is performed (step S40).

The music distribution server 2 in step S46
The music data sent by the download from is received by the mobile phone terminal 1 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 166 of the system control unit 16 (step S14 in FIG. 1). Then, the mobile phone terminal 1 waits for the completion of storing the download data in the memory 166 (step S20), and disconnects the connection with the music distribution server 2 via the network (step S21).

As described above, in this embodiment,
Before downloading the song, the content can be checked based on the partial information, and a user-friendly service can be provided.

Therefore, the user can avoid downloading a song that he / she does not want by mistake, thereby preventing unnecessary payment of billing.

Further, in the case of the above-described embodiment, a part of data for preliminary check such as an intro and a rust part is transmitted with low-quality data, ringtone data and MIDI data, so that a small amount of data is transmitted. Since the transmission is performed, the communication time is shortened, and billing can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, data such as an intro part, a chorus part, a ringtone, and MIDI are also displayed as downloadable data in the list. When the user requests the download of a part of the song, there is also an effect that a preliminary check before downloading the entire song can be performed at a low cost rather than downloading the entire song.

In this case, the information quality can be selected between high quality and low quality for the download of the intro and rust data. May be selected.

When the same operation as the pre-check is performed by downloading a part of the information as described above, the distribution information list includes information such as the download with the pre-check as in the above-described embodiment. The mode need not be provided.

[Other Embodiments] In the above embodiment, the memory for storing the downloaded music data is the built-in non-volatile memory 166. A removable card-type memory may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the distribution information receiving terminal is a mobile phone terminal. However, the distribution information receiving terminal is not limited to this. For example, a personal computer may be used. Good.

The information to be distributed is not limited to music data as in the above-described embodiment, but can be applied to movie contents and the like. In this case, the partial data may be, for example, image data for promotion, in addition to the climax part and the ending part of the movie.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, a user can download desired information before downloading it.
Since a part of the information can be acquired and the content can be confirmed, downloading mistakes can be avoided. Therefore, the user can receive a user-friendly information distribution service such that there is no need to pay unnecessary charges.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a distribution information receiving terminal in an embodiment of an information distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a communication system to which an embodiment of an information distribution method according to the present invention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a mobile phone terminal configuring a communication system to which an embodiment of an information distribution method according to the present invention is applied;

FIG. 4 is a part of a flowchart for explaining the operation on the distribution information server side in the embodiment of the information distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a part of a flowchart for explaining an operation on the distribution information server side in the embodiment of the information distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a distribution information list in the embodiment of the information distribution method according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 mobile phone terminal 2 music distribution server 3 communication network 4 mobile phone base station 16 system control unit 17 speaker 18 liquid crystal display device 19
... Key operation unit, 22 ... Headphones, 166 ... Non-volatile memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G10H 1/00 102 G10H 1/00 102Z

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An information distribution in which a distribution information receiving terminal sends an information distribution request to an information distribution server, and the information distribution server distributes the requested distribution information to a distribution information receiving terminal of a request source. In the method, the information distribution server transmits a part of the requested distribution information to the distribution information receiving terminal of the request source before distributing the requested distribution information, The distribution information receiving terminal that has received a part of the information transmitted in the partial information transmission step, a notification step of notifying a user of the information content, and at the distribution information reception terminal, the information content in the notification step In response to the notification, a delivery execution instruction receiving step of receiving an instruction input of execution or non-execution of information delivery by the user, and the delivery execution instruction receiving step, An execution instruction transmitting step of transmitting a distribution execution instruction from the distribution information receiving terminal to the information distribution server when receiving an information distribution execution instruction; and receiving the distribution execution instruction transmitted in the execution instruction transmission step. A delivery execution step in which the information delivery server delivers the requested information to the delivery information receiving terminal of the request source. 2. The information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the partial information transmitting step is executed only when the distribution request includes a partial information transmission request from the distribution information receiving terminal. An information distribution method characterized in that: 3. The information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein, in the partial information transmission step, the information distribution server transmits a part of the distribution requested information with a data amount smaller than an original data amount. An information distribution method characterized by: 4. The information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein, in the partial information transmission step, the information distribution server maintains a part of the information requested to be distributed, while maintaining the original information content. An information distribution method, wherein the information is transmitted in an information form different from that of the information. 5. The information distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and in the partial information transmitting step, the distribution request is made in a data format of a ringing melody of a telephone. An information distribution method characterized by transmitting a part of the obtained information. 6. The information distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and in the partial information transmitting step, a MIDI (Musical I / O) is used.
nstment Digital Interfa
ce) An information distribution method, wherein a part of the information requested to be distributed is transmitted in a data format. 7. A distribution information receiving terminal connects to an information distribution server via a network, and transmits a distribution request for information selected from a distribution information list, which is a list of distributable information, transmitted from the information distribution server. An information distribution method in which the distribution information receiving terminal sends the information to the information distribution server, and the information distribution server distributes the requested information to the distribution information receiving terminal of the request source. An information distribution method, wherein the list includes all of the distributable information and a part of each of the distributable information, and a distribution request of a part of the information is also enabled. 8. The information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein, in response to a distribution request for the part of the information, the information distribution server transmits the part of the information requested to be distributed in response to a user request. And transmitting the data with a data amount smaller than the data amount of the original information. 9. The information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein in response to a distribution request for the part of the information, the information distribution server transmits the part of the information requested to be distributed in response to a user request. An information delivery method characterized in that the content of the original information is maintained but transmitted in an information form different from the original information. 10. The information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and each part of the distributable information is an intro part of the music. An information distribution method characterized by the following. 11. The information distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and each part of the distributable information is a chorus part of the music. An information distribution method characterized by the following. 12. A connection means for connecting to an information distribution server via a network, means for receiving a distribution information list sent from the information distribution server connected by the connection means, and displaying the list on a display screen; Selection operation means for selecting information for which a user makes a distribution request from a distribution information list displayed on a screen; and distribution request transmission means for transmitting a distribution request of the information selected by the selection operation means to the information distribution server. In response to the distribution request by the distribution request sending unit, when receiving a part of the distribution requested information sent from the information distribution server, a notifying unit for notifying the information content, A distribution execution instruction receiving means for receiving an instruction input of execution or non-execution of information distribution by the user after the notification, and receiving the distribution execution instruction An execution instruction transmitting means for transmitting a distribution execution instruction to the information distribution server when a user gives an instruction to execute the information distribution, and transmitting the information in response to the distribution execution instruction by the execution instruction transmission means. Receiving all of the information requested for distribution,
A distribution information receiving terminal comprising: a storage unit for storing the received information. 13. The distribution information receiving terminal according to claim 12, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and a part of the music requested to be distributed has a data amount smaller than an original data amount. A distribution information receiving terminal having a function of reproducing music data having a small data amount. 14. The distribution information receiving terminal according to claim 12, wherein the information requested to be distributed is music information, and a part of the music requested to be distributed maintains the original information content. A distribution information receiving terminal having a function of reproducing music data in an information form different from the original information and having the information form.