JP2001357225A - Method and system for digital content distribution using transportation lodgment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a consumer to easily and efficiently download digital contents that the consumer orders even at a visiting place accordingly as the customer needs. SOLUTION: A method and a system for digital content distribution are based upon a network system NS having a server 1. The server 1 receives a content order set on the screen of a digital TV 21 by a consumer at home as a program viewer through a network 2 through the processing (order receiving program 1a) of a CPU 4 when a program regarding digital contents to be sold by a content providing company B1 is digitally broadcasted by a broadcasting station B2. Further, the server 1 sends the digital contents requested for distribution to a distribution device 32 through the processing (content sending program 1b) of the CPU 4 when the request to distribute the ordered digital contents is received from the distribution device 32 arranged at a transportation lodgment B3 that the consumer uses through a network 2 so that the contents can be distributed to a portable terminal 40 of the consumer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a system for distributing digital contents using a base of a transportation agency.
The present invention relates to a technology for requesting distribution of digital contents such as books and music at a kiosk terminal at a station, a ticket gate, a train, and the like, and downloading the digital contents to a predetermined communication terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digitalization of broadcasting has been rapidly progressing, as seen in terrestrial digital broadcasting scheduled to be implemented after 2003, starting with BS digital broadcasting scheduled to be started in December 2000.

[0003] In these digital broadcasts, in addition to a main broadcast that carries a normal broadcast program, a data broadcast that carries information that is linked or independent of the program (information about program performers and stores, weather information, news, etc.) is provided in a predetermined manner. You can watch at home through the receiver. As the receiver, for example, a TV connected to a dedicated tuner (dedicated adapter), a TV with a built-in tuner, or the like is used. These TVs are connected to a recording medium such as a hard disk capable of storing broadcast programs and the like as necessary. These televisions can also exchange data bidirectionally with an external computer (server) via a communication line. This allows the viewer to store a favorite program on a recording medium and watch it at any time, or use the Internet or the like by operating a remote control or the like on a TV screen, for example, by operating a mouse or the like on a PC. With this feeling, two-way communication such as online TV shopping becomes possible.

[0004] In the above-mentioned TV shopping by digital broadcasting, the order of products can be easily made by operating a remote controller or the like for various generations up to the elderly, who are TV viewers. There is an advantage that selection options increase. Also, if the product to be purchased is distributed in the market as digital content such as music or video and can be traded, it can be downloaded directly to the consumer's recording medium via a communication line when ordering the product. Since it is also possible to make it possible, the efficiency from the order of the product to the delivery thereof is remarkably improved.

[0005]

The above-mentioned downloading of digital contents is basically performed through a TV receiver located at the home of the consumer. However, this kind of downloading is performed at a place such as home. There is also a consumer need to view only necessary contents from a destination outside, for example, in a station yard before getting on a train or in a car while on a train from outside.

However, with regard to the technology for downloading digital contents ordered by TV shopping of digital broadcasting from places such as train stations and trains, such as when ordering goods via the Internet,
Almost nothing that can be put to practical use is known.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and digital contents ordered from consumers, including TV shopping for digital broadcasting, can be transmitted from the outside in accordance with the needs of consumers. The purpose is to make downloading easy and efficient.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of distributing digital contents using a base of a transportation facility, the method comprising the steps of: Receiving from the consumer via the communication line via a communication line, and receiving a distribution request for the digital content ordered by the consumer via the communication line from a communication device arranged at a transportation base used by the consumer. And sending the digital content requested to be delivered to the communication device so that the digital content can be delivered to the portable terminal of the consumer.

The digital content distribution method using a transportation hub according to the invention according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that when a program related to digital content to be sold by a seller is digitally broadcasted, the viewer who is a viewer of the digital content broadcasts the program. Receiving a digital content order via a communication line, and receiving a digital content distribution request received from the communication device disposed at a transportation base used by the consumer via the communication line. And sending the digital content requested to be delivered to the communication device so that the digital content can be delivered to the portable terminal of the consumer.

[0010] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital content distribution method using a transportation hub, wherein a step of managing digital contents to be sold by a seller, and information relating to the digital contents managed here are transmitted on the Internet. Receiving an order of the digital content from a consumer who is a viewer when the digital content is browsed through a communication line; and Transmitting the digital content requested to be distributed to the communication device so that the digital content can be distributed to the portable terminal of the consumer when the digital content is received from the communication device disposed at the base via the communication line. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the base of the transportation means is at least one of a predetermined location in a station yard including a station ticket gate and at least one of the traffic vehicles. It is characterized by including one.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the digital content includes at least one of a newspaper, a magazine, a book, and music. I do.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital content distribution system using a transportation hub, which receives an order for a digital content to be sold by a seller from a consumer as a buyer via a communication line. Means for receiving the distribution request when receiving a distribution request for digital content ordered by the order receiving means from the communication device disposed at a transportation base used by the user via the communication line. Content transmitting means for transmitting the digital content to the portable terminal of the consumer in a distributable manner.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital content distribution system using a transportation hub, wherein a first recording medium for storing digital contents to be sold by a seller and a recording medium recorded on the first recording medium. A second recording medium on which a program for controlling at least order reception of the digital content and transmission of the content is recorded;
On the basis of the program recorded on the second recording medium, an order for the digital content on the first recording medium is received from a consumer who is a buyer via a communication line, and the digital content ordered by the consumer is received. When a distribution request is received from a communication device disposed at a transportation base used by the consumer via the communication line, the digital content requested to be distributed can be distributed to the consumer's portable terminal. A sending processor.

The recording medium used in the digital content distribution system using the base of a transportation facility according to the invention described in claim 8 is an apparatus for ordering digital content to be sold by a seller via a communication line from a consumer as a buyer. Receiving the distribution request when receiving a digital content distribution request ordered from the communication device located at a transportation base used by the consumer via the communication line. Transmitting the digital content to the portable terminal of the consumer in a distributable manner.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a communication terminal having a portable body of a consumer, and a request for distributing digital content ordered in advance to a communication device arranged at a base of transportation in the main body. Transmitting means for transmitting the digital content according to the distribution request by the transmitting means from the communication device, and output means for outputting the digital content received by the receiving means. .

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a digital content distribution method and system using a transportation base according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a network system NS having a server 1 on which a digital content distribution method and system of the present invention can be implemented. The network system NS shown in FIG.
Content providing companies B1, 2) broadcasting stations B2, 3) homes C, 4) transportation bases B3, 5) financial institutions B4, and 6) public communication between the devices of the response server company BB where the server 1 is located. The connection is made communicable via a network 2 such as a line.

1) The content providing company B1 includes newspapers,
Newspapers, magazines, publishers, music production companies, etc. that provide digital contents that can be distributed and traded in markets such as magazines, books, music, and images (still images and moving images) are included. The digital content to be sold is passed to the response server company BB and managed in the server 1.

2) The broadcasting station B2 is equipped with predetermined broadcasting equipment such as a digital broadcasting system 10 for carrying out main broadcasting and data broadcasting by digital broadcasting of BS or terrestrial broadcasting and a broadcasting antenna 11 in this example. In these broadcasting facilities,
As a TV shopping program using data broadcasting, information on sales of digital contents by the content providing company B1 can be digitally broadcast.

3) In each home C, in this example, a receiving antenna 20 for receiving a digital broadcast from the broadcasting station B1, and a digital TV (receiver) connected to the receiving antenna 20
21 and the communication device 2 connected to the digital TV 21
2 is placed. The communication device 22 is connected to the network 2 and enables information communication between the TV 21 and the server 1 via the network 2. This information communication includes information related to advance registration relating to digital content sales, ordering and settlement of digital contents by TV shopping, and the like.

In this embodiment, a storage TV capable of receiving digital broadcasting such as BS, terrestrial broadcasting, and CS is applied to the digital TV 21. The TV 21 includes a dedicated adapter, a monitor, a recording medium such as a hard disk capable of storing received programs, a remote controller for various operations and settings, and a controller for controlling the overall operation of the TV 21 and the like. Have been. The digital TV 21 is not limited to this, and any digital TV 21 can be used as long as the digital TV 21 can receive digital broadcasts of BS and terrestrial waves.

Each home C has P
C (personal computer) 23 and its communication device 2
4, thereby enabling online shopping using the Internet equivalent to the above-mentioned TV shopping from a Web page.

4) Each base B3 of transportation means, in this example, the inside of a train, a ticket gate of a station, and a kiosk (KIOSK). On the transportation side, a communication device 30 connected to the network 2, a transportation-side information processing system 31 connected to the communication device 30, and a distribution device 32 connected to the system 31 are placed.

In the present embodiment, the distribution device 32 includes a train distribution device 32a installed at an appropriate position in a train, a ticket distribution device 32b mounted in an automatic ticket gate at a station, and an integrated device in a kiosk terminal. Kiosk terminal distribution device 32
c. Among them, the distribution device 32a in train and the distribution device 32b in ticket gate can perform wireless communication of a predetermined frequency with the portable information terminal 40 used by the consumer.

In this embodiment, the portable information terminal 40 has a main body oriented to a portable terminal such as a hand-held type PDA (personal digital assistant). Internal distribution device 32a
And a wireless communication system that sends a download request for contents ordered by TV shopping in advance to the ticket distribution device 32b and receives the contents corresponding to the request from the distribution devices 32a and 32b. In addition, the terminal 40 includes a recording medium for recording content downloaded from the kiosk terminal distribution device 32c, a display system for displaying the content (characters, images, and the like) on a screen of a predetermined size,
An audio output system for content (music), an operation system (input device) such as operation buttons, a control system for controlling the operation of each of these elements, a power supply, and the like are included.

The portable information terminal 40 is not limited to this, and various types such as a mobile phone, a PHS, and a portable PC can be applied. The wireless communication system includes NT
The present invention can also be applied to a mobile phone such as an Internet connection service (packet communication) represented by i-mode of T-DOCOMO or a communication standard such as Bluetooth (Bluetooth).

5) The financial institution B4 includes a bank, a post office, a credit company, and the like. In this example, a communication device 50 connected to the network 2 and an information processing system 51 connected thereto are provided. In this information processing system 51, electronic payment relating to payment of digital content purchase by TV shopping of a consumer is enabled by receiving payment information from the server 1 (the existing payment method is used in this example). It is possible and not particularly limited).

6) In the response server company BB, in addition to the server 1, a communication device 3 connected to the server 1 is placed. The communication device 3 is connected to the network 2.

The server 1 is, for example, UNIX (registered trademark).
Computers such as servers, PC servers, and servers
Consists of machines. This machine includes various components mutually connected to a communication bus therein, that is, a CPU 4, a memory (ROM / RAM) 5, an interface (I / F) 6a for a recording medium, and a recording medium 6 such as a hard disk.
b, a monitor 7, an input device 8 such as a keyboard, a communication interface 9, and the like. Among them, the recording medium 6b
, Various programs (order receiving program 1a, content transmission program 1b) and databases (customer database (customer master) 1c, content database (content master) 1d, order / payment information database 1e) are executable by CPU4. Or be built. The communication device 2 is connected to the communication I / F 9.

In the server 1, the CPU 4 operates as a recording medium 6b.
By executing the order receiving program 1a of the digital TV 21
While the CPU 4 executes the content transmission program 1b of the recording medium 6b, the CPU 4 executes the content transmission program 1b. In response to a download request from the device 30, download is possible to the portable information terminal 40 of the consumer.

Here, the processing procedure of this example will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the content provider company B1 submits a TV shopping program of the content (step S).
t1), the program is data broadcast from the broadcasting station B2 (step St2). The TV shopping program by the data broadcasting is broadcast on the digital TV 21 of each home C. FIG. 3 shows a display example of the TV shopping program.

FIG. 3A shows an example of a content group selection screen. On this screen, for example, by clicking on the consumer's remote control or the like, “music”, “book”,
Either “magazine” or “newspaper” content can be selected. In the case of "magazine", it can be further selected for each item such as business, computer, general magazine, fashion, and the like.

FIG. 3B shows a product purchase screen (screen designation).
An example is shown below. This screen is an example in which “newspaper” is selected on the above screen, and “buy” and “cancel” buttons are set for each newspaper company that is a content provider company B1 registered in advance as shown in the figure. Thus, it is possible to order a desired product (newspaper in this example). As shown in the figure, a payment method for purchasing the product can be selected from preset items such as a registration card. The “OK” button set at the bottom of the screen is operable when the selection is completed, and the “Cancel” button is operable when there is cancellation.

When the consumer selects the desired digital content on the screen displayed as described above and sets the order and settlement method (Step St3), the merchandise order information and the settlement information are transmitted from the digital TV 21 to the digital TV 21. The data is transmitted to the server 1 via the communication device 22 and the network 2 (Step St4).

Next, the server 1 executes the order receiving process shown in steps St5 to St9 in the figure by the CPU 4 executing the order receiving program 1a. That is,
When the above order information and payment information are received (step S
t5) Search the customer master 1c for managing customer information registered in advance (Step St6), and check whether or not the customer (customer) has been registered in advance. (Step St7). Thereby, the order / settlement information is stored in the database 1d. Then, the server 1 refers to the order / payment information (Step St8), and thereby performs a process using a predetermined payment method (Step St9).

Then, at each transportation base B3 (on the train,
At the station ticket gate, kiosk), a request to download the digital content ordered by the consumer is issued to the distribution device 32 (step St11). The download request is transmitted from the portable information terminal 40 of the consumer to the on-train distribution device 32a or the on-station distribution device 32b by wireless communication in the case of a train or station ticket, while the kiosk terminal is in the case of a kiosk. This is performed by a predetermined operation set in advance on the distribution device 32c. Then, the download request is sent to the server 1 via the network 3 by the distribution device 32 (Step St12).

Next, the server 1 executes the content transmission processing shown in steps St13 to St15 in the figure by the CPU 4 executing the content transmission program 1b. That is, upon receiving the above download request, the customer master 1c and the order settlement information database 1e
, The customer and its order data are collated (step St13), and the digital content requested after the collation is searched from the content product master 1d (step St14). Digital contents provided in advance by the content providing company B1 are stored in the master 1d. Then, the digital content retrieved from the master 1d is transmitted to the distribution device 3 of the download request destination.
2 (Step St15). As a result, the digital content ordered by the consumer is transferred to the transportation base B
At 3, it is downloaded to the portable information terminal 40 via the distribution device 32.

FIG. 4 shows an outline from the ordering of digital contents by TV shopping of digital broadcasting to the request for downloading digital contents at each base of transportation and the distribution thereof.

Therefore, according to this example, it is possible to order digital content from a home television and easily receive the digital content not at home but at a station or train where the user is going out.
In other words, digital contents ordered from consumers, including digital broadcasting TV shopping, can be easily and efficiently downloaded from outside the home according to the needs of consumers.

In the present example, the inside of a train, a station ticket gate, and a kiosk are illustrated as transportation bases, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to, for example, airports and ports. It is.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to satisfy the consumer's need to view only necessary digital contents from a destination outside, for example, in a station yard before getting on a train or in a car on board without being restricted by a place such as a home. In particular, it is possible to easily and efficiently download digital contents ordered from a consumer including TV shopping of digital broadcasting from an outside destination according to the needs of the consumer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an overall configuration of a network system which is an embodiment of a digital content distribution method and system using a transportation base according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a processing procedure of the network system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating an example of a TV shopping screen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a network system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 BB Response server company B1 Content providing company B2 Broadcasting station B3 Transportation base C Home 1 Server 1a Order reception program 1b Content transmission program 1c Customer database (master) 1d Content product database (master) 1e Order / payment information database 2 Network 3 Communication device for server 4 CPU 5 Memory (ROM / RAM) 6a Interface for recording medium (I / F) 6b Recording medium 7 Monitor 8 Input device 9 Interface for communication (I / F) 10 Digital broadcasting system 11 Broadcast antenna Reference Signs List 20 receiving antenna 21 digital TV 22 communication device for digital TV 23 PC 24 communication device for PC 30 communication device for transportation-side information processing system 31 transportation-side information processing system 32 distribution device 3 a train in the distribution device 32b wicket in the distribution device 32c kiosk in the distribution device 40 a portable information terminal (communication terminal)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Okamura 1-1-1, Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo Inside Toshiba Corporation Head Office (72) Inventor Hiromi Saito 1-9-1, Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo Stock FIR term in the company RIC (reference) 5B049 AA02 BB11 CC05 CC10 GG03 GG06

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A step of receiving an order for digital content to be sold by a seller from a consumer who is a buyer of the seller via a communication line, and using the distribution request of the digital content ordered by the consumer. And transmitting the digital content requested to be distributed to the communication device so that the digital content can be distributed to the portable terminal of the consumer when the digital content is received from the communication device disposed at the base of a transportation facility via the communication line. A digital content distribution method using a transportation hub. 2. A step of receiving, via a communication line, an order for the digital content from a consumer who is a viewer when the program relating to the digital content to be sold by the seller is digitally broadcasted. When the digital content distribution request is received from the communication device disposed at the base of the transportation facility used by the consumer via the communication line, the digital content requested to be distributed is transmitted to the consumer's portable terminal. Transmitting a digital content to the communication device so that the digital content can be distributed. 3. A step of managing digital contents to be sold by a seller, and an order of the digital contents from a consumer who is a viewer when information on the digital contents managed here is browsed on the Internet. Receiving via the communication line, the distribution request of the digital content ordered by this when received from the communication device arranged at the base of the transportation used by the consumer via the communication line Transmitting the digital content requested to be distributed to the communication device so that the digital content can be distributed to the portable terminal of the consumer. 4. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the transportation base includes at least one of a predetermined location in a station yard including a station ticket gate and a vehicle of a transportation vehicle. A digital content distribution method using a unique transportation hub. 5. The transportation base according to claim 1, wherein the digital content includes at least one of a newspaper, a magazine, a book, and music. Content download sales method used. 6. An order receiving means for receiving an order for digital content to be sold by a seller from a consumer as a buyer via a communication line, and a distribution request for the digital content ordered by the order receiving means. Content transmitting means for transmitting the digital content requested to be distributed to a portable terminal of the consumer so that the digital content can be distributed to the portable terminal of the consumer when the digital content is received from a communication device disposed at a base of a transportation facility used by the user via the communication line. And a digital content distribution system using transportation hubs. 7. A first recording medium for storing digital contents to be sold by a seller, and a program for controlling at least order reception and transmission of the digital contents recorded on the first recording medium. A second recording medium and an order for digital content on the first recording medium received from a consumer as a buyer via a communication line based on a program recorded on the second recording medium; When a distribution request for digital content ordered by the consumer is received via a communication line from a communication device disposed at a transportation base used by the consumer, the digital content for which the distribution request has been received is transmitted to the consumer. A digital content using a transportation base, comprising: Tsu delivery system. 8. A step of receiving an order for a digital content to be sold by a seller from a consumer as a buyer via a communication line, and using the request for distribution of the ordered digital content by the consumer. Sending the digital content requested to be distributed to the portable terminal of the consumer so that the digital content can be distributed when the digital content is received via a communication line from a communication device disposed at a base of a transportation agency. A recording medium which is recorded in a computer-readable manner and which is used in a digital content distribution system using a transportation base. 9. A transmitting means for transmitting a digital content distribution request ordered in advance to a communication device disposed at a transportation base, comprising a main body which is portable by a consumer; A communication terminal, comprising: receiving means for receiving digital content according to a distribution request from the communication device; and output means for outputting digital content received by the receiving means.