JP2002041696A - Contents distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate has sales consignment of the copyright article of digital contents(DC) and to facilitate the participation of the DC dealers of medium, small and individual scales. SOLUTION: A DC distribution system dealer 2 is interposed between a DC copying holder 1 and a DC dealer 3. When the DC distribution system dealer 2 receives the sales consignment of the DC article from the DC copyright holder 1, the sales of the consigned DC copyright article is permitted to the DC dealer 3 in the form of 'link right'. Then, authentication information of the DC dealer 3 who is permitted to sell the article and a user purchasing the article are supplied to the copyright holder 1. Thus, copyright is protected. When an order is given from the user through the DC dealer 3, the DC distribution system dealer 2 down-loads the DC copyright article from the DC copyright holder and the DC copyright article is distributed through the DC dealer 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution system for providing a digital content distribution service.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, download and sale of various digital contents (DC) such as music, video, games and the like using the Internet have begun and are showing signs of becoming widespread in society. At present, digital contents such as music are sold by licensed retailers and sold by copyright holders.

[0003]

However, in the conventional distribution of DC copyrighted materials, as shown in FIG. 11, there is no unified contact with the DC copyright holder, so that the DC seller has to purchase individual D copyrights.
There was a problem that negotiating with the C copyright holder and requesting a DC to be provided.

[0004] In addition, since there is no DC distribution system, DC sellers are required to compress DC, apply a copyright protection system, construct a search system for improving convenience to purchasers, maintain and manage the system, and provide a charging system. Construction needed to be done.

[0005] DC sellers are limited to large companies with financial resources due to the introduction of a copyright protection / charging system and maintenance costs, and the current DC copyrighted goods distribution industry is limited to small and medium-sized individuals who meet user needs. There is a problem that it is difficult to create a DC seller of a small scale (it is difficult for DC sellers of small and medium individuals to enter).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has been developed in consideration of protecting the copyright of a DC copyright holder.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system that makes it easy to sell C copyrighted works and that small and medium-sized individual DC sellers can easily enter.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a content distribution system, comprising: a copyright holder's terminal provided with a storage medium in which copyrighted material is converted into data and stored as means for solving the above-mentioned problem; Device, a terminal device of a seller who sells the copyrighted material converted into data on the Internet, and a terminal device of the copyright holder and the terminal device of the seller interposed via a communication network, And a terminal device of a distribution system provider that is entrusted with the sale of the copyrighted material from the right holder and grants the right to sell to the seller who wants to sell the copyrighted material.

[0008] Further, the content distribution system according to the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, includes a terminal device of a sales company that sells copyrighted material in the form of a net via a predetermined communication line network. Connected to the terminal device of the seller, and provided with a storage medium for the data of the copyrighted material entrusted to the sales by the copyright holder. And a terminal device of a distribution system company that grants the right to sell the right.

Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the content distribution system according to the present invention, the terminal device of the distribution system trader has the authentication information and / or copyright of the trader who has been granted the right to sell. The authentication information of the user who sells the product is provided to the copyright holder.

[0010] Further, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the content distribution system according to the present invention is designed so that the terminal device of the distribution system trader distributes the copyrighted material together with the right to sell to the seller. Provide program information for providing ancillary services.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content distribution system, wherein the terminal device of the distribution system trader collects the price of the copyrighted material sold to the user by the distributor. Outsource to existing collection companies and distribute the collected money to at least the copyright holders and distributors.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the content distribution system according to the embodiment includes an HDD or CD-ROM storing digital contents (DC) such as music, books, game software, movies, television broadcasts, photographs, and paintings. DVD-
Content database such as ROM (content DB)
A terminal device 1 of a DC copyright holder having the following information and a database in which link information and authentication information described later are stored, and have a search function, a recommendation function, an equalizer function, a billing function, a copyright protection function, and the like. A DC distribution system 2 of a DC distribution system having the DC distribution system 3 and a DC distribution system 3 of a DC distributor that acquires a link right and sells the DC on the Internet. , For example, by mutually connecting via an IP network such as the Internet.

Next, the system operation of such a content distribution system will be described. FIG. 2A and FIG.
It is a figure which shows the exchange between C copyright holder and DC distribution system trader simply. As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 3, between the DC copyright holder and the DC distribution system trader, the DC copyright holder communicates with the DC distribution system trader 2 via the terminal device 1. Achieve access and consign sales and license of own DC.

The sales consignment and the licensing may be performed electronically as described above, or may be performed artificially by actually meeting the copyright holder and the contents distribution system provider.

When this sales consignment and licensing are performed by the DC copyright holder, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a link information database (link information DB) incorporating link information to the copyright holder is distributed by DC. Create in system 2.

FIGS. 2B and 6 are diagrams schematically showing the exchange between the DC distribution system company and the DC seller. As can be seen from FIG. 2B and FIG. 6, the DC distribution system provider is the DC distribution system 3 of the DC seller.
And provides the link information stored in the link information DB to the DC seller in the form of “link right”.

The “link right” is a type of provision in which various services (compression format, bill, settlement method of credit, etc.) associated with the distribution of the work are combined with the work, and thereby, the DC seller can obtain the link right. , The right to sell the copyrighted DC.

In addition to the link right, the DC distribution system trader provides the DC seller with services associated with the distribution of DC copyrighted materials, such as copyright protection, charging systems, and DC copyrighted material proxy distribution services. By providing the DC copyright holder with the authentication information of the DC seller,
The copyright of the C copyright holder is protected.

FIG. 2C is a diagram schematically showing the exchange between the DC distribution system provider and the user. As can be seen from FIG. 2C, when the user purchases the DC copyrighted material, the user performs user registration for the settlement processing with the DC seller. An existing payment system or the like is used for this payment processing.

Here, the "link right" may be provided to the DC seller in the form of one link right for one DC copyrighted material of the DC copyright holder, or as shown in FIG. Some DC copyrighted materials of one or a plurality of DC copyright holders are collectively provided to a DC seller as one link right. As a result, small and medium-sized individual DC
Even a seller can easily enter the system.

The DC seller acquires such a “link right” from a DC distribution system provider, and advertises the DC work corresponding to the obtained link right on the Internet as a DC work to be sold. The user purchases a DC work based on the advertisement of the DC seller.

In other words, in this system, the DC distribution system assigns a usage form to the DC copyrighted material,
It is provided to DC sellers. As this usage form, for example, it is conceivable to combine DC copyrighted materials and various services accompanying distribution of DC copyrighted materials and provide them as one link.

Also, a DC distribution system company may authenticate a DC seller and give the information to the DC copyright holder, thereby protecting the copyright of the DC copyright owner and providing the DC seller with the information. it can.

For copyright protection and content compression, a DC distribution system company generally applies a method widely used for DC. For this reason, D
There is no need for the C seller to protect copyright and compress content.

The DC search function and the recommendation function are constructed and operated by a DC distribution system company and provided as a part of the link right to a DC seller who wants to use the system.

Next, when the DC distribution system provider provides such a “link right” to the DC seller, it indicates that the DC seller that provided the “link right” has been authenticated as shown in FIG. Provide authentication information to the corresponding DC copyright holder. This allows the DC copyright owner to have the same level of DC copyright authentication as the DC copyright owner authenticates, despite his DC work being sold through DC distribution systems and DC sellers. You can recognize that the rights are protected.

Next, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow until the user purchases a desired DC copyrighted work. In FIG. 9, the user selects a desired DC copyrighted work by an advertisement on the net of the DC seller who has acquired the link right, and issues a purchase request to the DC seller (step 1).

When this purchase request is made, the DC seller enters D
Access is made to the C distribution system provider, and the information of the DC seller and the user desiring to purchase is provided to the DC distribution system provider (step 2).

As a result, the DC distribution system contractor
Based on the information of the DC seller and the user desiring the purchase provided by the seller C, the DC seller and the user desiring the purchase are authenticated (steps 3 and 4).

Next, the DC distribution system trader
The authentication information of the seller is provided to the DC copyright holder, and a download of the DC copyrighted work is requested from the content DB of the DC copyright holder (step 5). As a result, the DC copyrighted work desired by the user is downloaded from the DC copyright holder to the DC distribution system trader (step 6).

When the download of the DC copyrighted work from the DC copyright holder is completed, the DC distribution system trader incorporates copyright holder protection technology or the like into this DC as necessary and provides it to the user (step 7). ). Thereby, the user can obtain a desired DC.

Next, FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow when the user who has purchased the DC pays the price. As shown in FIG. 10, the user transmits information necessary for charging when purchasing the DC to the DC seller.

When the DC seller transmits the information necessary for the charging from the user, the DC seller transmits the information to the DC distribution system vendor, and the DC distribution system vendor transmits the information required for the charging from the user. The information is stored in the charging information database, and a collection request is issued to the collection company for the price.

Upon receiving the request, the collection company collects the price from the user, and passes the collected purchase price to the DC distribution system company.

The DC distribution system company pays the collected money by dividing it into a dividend of the DC distribution system company, a dividend of the DC copyright holder, and a dividend of the DC seller.

As is clear from the above description, the content distribution system according to the present embodiment has a
By receiving the "link right" from the C distribution system provider, it is possible to easily obtain a license to use the copyrighted material according to the user's own needs, and it is possible for small- and medium-sized individuals to enter DC sellers.

Further, the DC copyright holder can provide his / her own DC to many DC sellers by integrally contracting with a DC distribution system trader, increasing the number of sales routes and using the content of the company. It is possible to maximize it.

Further, in order for the DC distribution system provider to provide services associated with the distribution of DC copyrighted materials, such as a copyright protection / charging system, both DC sellers and DC copyright owners establish systems related to these services. Is unnecessary. For this reason, it is possible to lower the barriers for both companies to enter the new business.

[0039] In addition, the purchase route of the user is increased by creating a variety of DC sellers.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment described as an example. For example, in the above description of the embodiment, the DC copyright holder has the content DB in the terminal device 1 and the DC distribution system company
C When a purchase request is made via a seller, the corresponding copyrighted material is downloaded from the content DB of the DC copyright owner. When there is a request, the corresponding copyrighted material is transferred to the contents D of the DC distribution system company.
You may make it distribute from B. In this case, since the DC copyright owner does not need to prepare a content DB, the sale of his / her copyrighted material can be completely entrusted to the DC distribution system trader side. Simplification can be achieved.

Of course, various changes can be made according to the design and the like within a range not departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

[0042]

According to the present invention, a DC seller can easily obtain a license to use a copyrighted material according to his / her needs by receiving a "link right" from a DC distribution system provider. In this way, small and medium-sized DC sellers can enter the market.

The DC copyright holder can provide his / her DC to a large number of DC sellers by integrally contracting with a DC distribution system company, and the number of sales routes increases, and the use of its own DC is increased. It is possible to maximize it.

Also, in order for a DC distribution system provider to provide services associated with the distribution of DC copyrighted materials, such as a copyright protection / charging system, both DC sellers and DC copyright owners need to provide systems related to these services. No construction is required.
For this reason, it is possible to lower the barriers for both companies to enter the new business.

In addition, the number of purchase routes for the user is increased by creating various types of DC sellers.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining exchanges between traders in the content distribution system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining exchange between a DC copyright holder and a DC distribution system provider in the content distribution system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining content registration and link information registration in the content distribution system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing how the link information is stored in a database.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining provision of a link right to a DC seller in the content distribution system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a form of providing the link right.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining authentication information given to a DC copyright holder.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a content distribution system when a user purchases a DC.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a content distribution system in a case where a price is collected from a user who has purchased a DC.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a problem in conventional DC sales.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 DC copyright holder's terminal device 2 DC distribution system company's DC distribution system 3 DC distributor's net distribution system 4 User's terminal device

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shuji Miyazaki 3-15 Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hideaki Kusumi 3-15, Babacho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka F-term (reference) in Nishi Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation 5B049 AA01 BB00 CC36 GG04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A copyright holder's terminal device provided with a storage medium in which copyrighted material is converted into data, a terminal device of a seller who sells the copyrighted material online, and the copyright Between the terminal device of the seller and the terminal device of the seller via a communication line network, the seller of the copyrighted material is entrusted with the sales of the copyrighted material, and the seller wishes to sell the copyrighted material. And a terminal device of a distribution system company that grants the right to sell the copyrighted material to the content distribution system. 2. A terminal device of a seller who sells the copyrighted material converted into data on the Internet, and a terminal device of the seller via a predetermined communication line network, and is entrusted with sales by a copyright holder. A content distribution system having a storage medium for a copyrighted material that has been converted into data and having a terminal device of a distribution system vendor that grants a right to sell the copyrighted material to a seller who wants to sell the copyrighted material. system. 3. The terminal device of the distribution system provider provides the copyright holder with authentication information of a seller who has been granted the right to sell and / or authentication information of a user who sells copyrighted materials. The content distribution system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The terminal device of the distribution system provider provides program information for providing a service accompanying distribution of copyrighted material to the seller together with the right to sell. Claims 1 to 3
The content distribution system according to any one of the above. 5. The terminal device of the distribution system contractor entrusts the collection of the price of the copyrighted material sold by the seller to the user to an existing collection company, and transfers the collected price to at least the copyright. The content distribution system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content is distributed to right holders and sellers.