JP2002055685A - Service method for distributing contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify operations in a portable telephone 3, when distributing melody data for singing the incoming tone hereafter to be referred to as melody data to the portable telephone 3 from a distribution server 2, by utilizing a network infrastructure 1. SOLUTION: A telephone number (customer ID) of the registered portable telephone 3 is associated with the model in use and is stored in the client database 22 of the distribution server 2. The model is decided by the telephone number, when the distribution server 2 is accessed by the portable telephone 3. The melody data (contents), matching the decided model, are retrieved from a contents database 21. The music name list of the retrieved melody data is distributed to the portable telephone 3. The melody data selected from the music name list by the portable telephone 3 are distributed to the portable telephone 3 from the distribution server 2. When a plurality of specifications are in a music selected from among a model which makes the melody data having a plurality of specifications of three rings or four rings as matching contents about a music of the same name, the user is able to select the specifications.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content distribution service method for distributing content used by a client terminal connected to the network from a server to the terminal using the network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the use of networks by electronic devices (terminals) such as mobile phones and personal computers has been advanced, and these electronic devices have made it possible to receive various types of content services from servers. The contents include, for example, melody data for ringing the ringtone of a mobile phone in a melody (hereinafter simply referred to as “ringtone data”), music data for performing music or karaoke on a personal computer, or corresponding to these. There are various types of electronic musical score data.

[0003] However, depending on the contents, there are contents that can be used and contents that cannot be used depending on the type of terminal. For example, in the case of ringtone data or music data, the format, the number of sounds used (the number of simultaneous sounds), the timbre, and the like need to match the sound source, and only data that matches the terminal model can be used.

In order to distribute such contents, the following method has conventionally been adopted. For example,
There is a method in which content suitable for each terminal model is prepared in one server, and a user who wants to receive distribution operates the terminal to specify the model and select the content. In addition, there is a method in which a server (or Web page) is provided for each model of the terminal, and the user operates the terminal to select a server (or Web page) having content suitable for the model and access the server.

[0005]

However, according to the former method, it is necessary for the user to specify the model and to select the content suitable for the model used. According to the latter method, It is necessary to select an access destination according to the model used, and there is a problem that the operation is complicated in each case.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to simplify the operation of a terminal on the user side when a user receives a content distribution.

[0007]

A content distribution service method according to a first aspect of the present invention is a content distribution service method for distributing, from a server, content used by a client-side terminal, wherein the server has ,
It has a database of contents corresponding to the model of the terminal, as well as customer I for multiple clients.
D and a database of terminal model information,
The server receives the customer ID from the accessed client, performs authentication processing of the customer ID, determines the model of the terminal of the client from the authenticated customer ID, and instructs the content that matches the model. The information is distributed to the terminal of the client, and the terminal of the client can request distribution of the content based on the instruction information of the content. The server delivers the requested content to the client terminal.

According to the content distribution service method of claim 1 configured as described above, the client terminal only automatically sends a customer ID, for example, and automatically transmits the content (e.g., Hereinafter, this information is referred to as “conforming content”) from the server to the terminal. Therefore, the client can receive the content suitable for the model of the terminal simply by selecting a desired one from the instruction information of the relevant content.

The following method is a preferred example of the present invention. A method for distributing ringtone data for distributing ringtone data used by a user's mobile phone from a server, wherein the server has ringtone data corresponding to a model of the mobile phone as a database, and a telephone call for a plurality of users. The server has a number and a mobile phone model information as a database, and the server receives a telephone number from an accessed user, performs authentication processing of the telephone number, and obtains a mobile phone of the user from the authenticated telephone number. Is determined, and a list (instruction information) of ringtone data suitable for the model is distributed to the mobile phone of the user, and a distribution request for ringtone data can be made on the mobile phone of the user based on the list of ringtone data. A method for distributing ringtone data, characterized in that:

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a network to which the content distribution service method according to the embodiment is applied. The network infrastructure 1 is, for example, the Internet or the like. The network infrastructure 1 includes a distribution server 2 that distributes ringtone data and the like as contents,
A relay base station 4 connected to the mobile phone 3 on the user side, a network-compatible electronic device 5, a settlement institution 6 such as a bank or a credit card company, and a general client 7 such as a personal computer capable of using a Web browser are connected.

The distribution server 2 includes a content database (DB) 21, a client database 22, We
The content database 21 stores a ringtone data group composed of a large number of ringtone data and a music data group composed of a large number of music data. In the client database 22, the telephone numbers (customer IDs) of all the mobile phones registered in the distribution server 2 after the distribution service contract has been made and the corresponding models (used models) are stored in association with each other. . The Web server unit 23 stores a screen file (for example, a Web page of an HTML file) such as a selection list to be distributed to the client (mobile phone 3) at the time of the content distribution service. The data for managing the charge status such as the usage status and the charge of the distribution service is stored.

The network infrastructure 1 is, as is well known, a network in which a large number of servers and a large number of clients are formed by a large number of providers based on an Internet protocol such as WWW (HTTP). The distribution server 2 is a specific server of a telephone company contracted by the user of the mobile phone 3 (or a specific server of a service company with which the telephone company is affiliated).

With the above configuration, by accessing the distribution server 2, the mobile phone 3 as a client terminal can receive a distribution service of ringtone data, for example, an electronic instrument 5 such as an electronic musical instrument, or a general client such as a personal computer. 7, a music data distribution service can be received. In addition, the billing of the distribution service is paid through the settlement institution 6. In the following embodiment, a case will be described in which ringtone data is distributed to the mobile phone 3.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing an example of a distribution process of the distribution server 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example corresponding to an operation on the mobile phone 3. Note that the correspondence between the steps of the flowchart and the display example is shown by numbers in parentheses. First, when the mobile phone 3 receives the distribution of ringtone data, the mobile phone 3 performs a predetermined operation to connect the line with the distribution server 2. On the other hand, the distribution server 2 performs the processing of FIGS. 2 and 3 by interruption processing, and determines whether or not there is a distribution request (line connection) from the user (mobile phone) in step S1.

If there is no distribution request, the process is terminated. If the mobile phone is connected to the line and there is a distribution request, step S2
Then, it is determined whether or not the mobile phone that has requested the distribution is a registered user. That is, since the mobile phone is connected to the line, the distribution server 2 recognizes the phone number of the connected mobile phone, and uses this phone number as a customer ID and stores the registered phone number stored in the client database 22. Against the telephone number entered. If the received telephone number is not registered, that is, if the mobile phone which has requested the distribution is not a registered user, step S3
To send an alarm or the like and end the process. As a process when the user is not a registered user, a page of a registration mode for registering a new user or another process page may be displayed.

On the other hand, if the received telephone number is registered, that is, if the mobile phone which has requested distribution is a registered user, in step S4, the registered information of the registered user (information of the model corresponding to the telephone number) ) Is read out, and in step S5, processing of page generation and distribution of the content selection list (display processing on the mobile phone) is performed. That is, in detail, based on the information of the model, ringtone data suitable for the model is searched from the ringtone data group of the content database 21, a list of song names of the searched ringtone data is generated as instruction information of the content, and the image information Is delivered to the mobile phone 3 as a Web page file.

As a result, a song name list screen is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 3, for example, as shown in FIG.
In this example, since there are other song names that cannot be displayed on the display screen, "NEX" for specifying the next page is used.
"T" is displayed. During this display, the distribution server 2 monitors the mobile phone 3 for performing a content selection operation (tune selection operation) in step S6.

Then, when a desired song name is selected by performing a predetermined operation on the mobile phone 3, the selected song name (in this example, "the wind city corner") is displayed in reverse video, for example, as shown in FIG. Is done. In FIG. 4, the reverse display is shown by oblique lines. When the content selection operation is performed in this manner, the process proceeds from step S6 to step S7, and proceeds to step S7.
In step 7, a search is made for a content candidate that satisfies the selection condition. That is, the ringtone data of the selected song name is searched.

Then, in step S8, it is determined whether there is only one suitable content, that is, one content (ringtone data) that satisfies the selection condition (tune name), and if there is only one suitable content, it is determined in step S9. Distribute the content itself (ringtone data). During this distribution, the message is displayed on the mobile phone 3 as shown in (3) of FIG. 4, and when the distribution is completed, the display becomes as shown in (4). This step S
9 includes processing for selecting and confirming "OK" with the mobile phone 3 as shown in (5) of FIG. 4 after the distribution is completed.
When the confirmation is completed, other processing such as charging processing for the distribution service is performed in step S10. As a result, FIG.
The display is as shown in (6) above, and the process ends.

On the other hand, in step S8, the content
If there is only one, in step S11, it is determined whether there is a plurality of conforming contents. If there is not more than one, there is no one, so an alarm (which may include a message or the like) is transmitted in step S12. And terminate the processing.
If there are a plurality of compatible contents in step S11,
The processing after step S13 in FIG. 3 is performed.

In step S13, a process of generating and distributing a page of a content selection list (display process on a mobile phone) is performed for a plurality of compatible contents. That is, a list of ringtone data having the same song name but different specifications is generated as instruction information of the content, and the image information is used as the Web information.
It is distributed to the mobile phone 3 as a file of the page b.

As a result, a screen of the list of the ringtone data specifications is displayed on the display screen of the mobile phone 3 as shown in FIG. In this example, step S in FIG.
The song name "Lake Hamana Ondo" is selected at 6, and this song has two types of ringtone data of three-tone specification and four-tone specification. During this display, the distribution server 2 monitors the content selection operation (specification selection operation) on the mobile phone 3 in step S14.

When a desired specification is selected by performing a predetermined operation on the mobile phone 3, the selected specification ("4 sounds" in this example) is highlighted, for example, as shown in FIG. You. Thus, the distribution server 2 distributes the selected content (ringtone data) in step S15. During this distribution, the message is displayed on the mobile phone 3 as shown in FIG. 4 (9), and the completion of the distribution is monitored in step S16. When the distribution is completed, a distribution completion notification page is distributed in step S17. This results in a display as shown in FIG.

Next, in step S18, all candidate contents (in this case, ringtone data of three and four sounds) are given to the user (mobile phone) currently providing the distribution service.
It is determined whether or not the distribution has been completed, and if not, it is determined in step S19 whether or not “OK” has been input. If there is no "OK" input, step S20
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a selection operation for undistributed content, and if there is no selection operation, the process returns to step S19. Then, in step S19, if "OK" is input as shown in (11) of FIG. 4, other processing such as charging processing for the distribution service is performed in step S21. As a result, (1) in FIG.
The display becomes as shown in 2), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if "OK" has not been input in step S19 and there is a selection operation (in this case, an operation for selecting three tones) as shown in FIG. 4 (13), the flow returns to step S15. To perform the same processing. Thereby, FIG.
The display becomes as shown in (14) and (15), the process directly proceeds from step S18 to step S21, and the display becomes as shown in (16) in FIG. 4 and the process ends.

In the above example, since the mobile phone 3 is a model capable of producing a four-tone ringing melody, the ringtone data of three and four tones is retrieved in step S5.
By moving from step S11 to step S13,
The specifications of three and four sounds are displayed, and the above-described processing is performed. However, if the model can only sound a ringtone of three tones, only ringtone data of three or less tones will be searched. For example, even if "Hamana Ondo" is selected in the above example, as one specification, Town corner "((3)-(6))
Is the same processing as.

As described above, the model of the user's mobile phone is determined from the customer ID, and a list of song names of ringtone data (compatible content) suitable for the model is distributed to the mobile phone and displayed. By simply selecting, you can receive the ringtone data and the operation becomes simple.

It should be noted that in the above-described embodiment, a song having the same name
When there are different specifications such as sound and quadruple, it is possible to receive distribution for all specifications, but once distribution of one specification selected by the user is performed, processing is performed at that point The processing may be terminated.
Further, the fee system for the billing process may be appropriately set according to the contract or the like.

In the above embodiment, the case where ringtone data is distributed to a mobile phone has been described.
In the case of distributing music data as content, a contract or registration process is performed to distribute a customer ID (a number for identifying a user) of the electronic device 5 or the general client 7 and a type of device used by the user. The same processing can be performed by registering in the server 2 in advance.

The present invention is applicable not only to ringtone data and music data, but also to programs such as game software or other data whose suitability is required depending on the type of terminal device. it can.

[0031]

As described above, according to the content distribution service method of the present invention, a client terminal only sends, for example, a customer ID, and designates compatible content suitable for the model of the terminal. Since the information is distributed from the server to the terminal, the client can receive the distribution of the content suitable for the terminal model simply by selecting the desired information from the instruction information of the compatible content, thereby simplifying the operation. Can be In particular, when distributing content such as ringtone data to a mobile phone, a telephone number can be used as a customer ID, and since this telephone number is automatically transmitted, the operation can be further simplified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a network to which a content distribution service method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a part of a flowchart illustrating an example of distribution processing of a distribution server in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is another part of the flowchart showing an example of the distribution processing of the distribution server in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a display example corresponding to an operation on the mobile phone according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Network infrastructure, 2. Distribution server, 3. Mobile phone

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution service method for distributing content used by a terminal device on a client side from a server, wherein the server has a content corresponding to a model of the terminal device as a database and a plurality of clients. The server has a customer ID and information on the model of the terminal as a database. The server receives the customer ID from the accessed client, performs authentication processing of the customer ID, and, based on the authenticated customer ID, The type of the terminal is determined, the instruction information of the content conforming to the model is distributed to the terminal of the client, and the terminal of the client can request the distribution of the content based on the instruction information of the content. A content distribution service method characterized in that: