JP2002091453A - System for providing information and device for the same and method for the same and terminal equipment and method for acquiring information and program storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide service corresponding to a request from a user. SOLUTION: An information providing device reads corresponding music data from plural kinds of music data preliminarily stored in a storage means, and provides the music data through a network to terminal equipment based on a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal equipment through the network. When a picture acquisition request is transmitted through the network in response to the input of the picture acquisition request during the reproduction of the music data by the terminal equipment, the information providing device reads several picture data from the plural kinds of picture data preliminarily stored in the storage means, and provides the picture data through the network to the terminal equipment based on the picture acquisition request so that the picture data can be recorded. When the picture acquisition request is inputted from a user during the reproduction of the music data by the terminal equipment, the information providing device provides the picture data selected so as to be made successively different to the terminal equipment, and therefore provides a service corresponding to the request from the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information providing system,
The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, a terminal device, an information providing method, an information obtaining method, and a program storage medium, for example, an electronic music distribution (EMD: Electronic) that distributes music via a network.
Music Distribution) system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, many types of music data are stored in a content server connected to a network, and a desired music data is obtained by accessing the content server via a network using a cellular phone, for example. So-called music distribution has begun to spread.

[0003]

By the way, as a content server for music distribution, recently, in response to a music data acquisition request given from a portable telephone, for example, an artist who plays music together with the music data is used. By providing the image data obtained by capturing the image of the mobile phone, a service is started in which when the music data is reproduced by the mobile phone, the image based on the image data is displayed so that the image can be enjoyed together with the music. Something you are doing.

However, in such a content server, only one image is provided for one piece of music to a mobile phone, and the same image is displayed each time music data is reproduced and listened to by the mobile phone. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to say that the service that can sufficiently enjoy images in addition to music is provided.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an information providing system, an information providing apparatus, a terminal device, an information providing method, which can provide a service according to a user's request.
An information acquisition method and a program storage medium are proposed.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the information providing apparatus stores the information in a storage means in advance based on a music acquisition request transmitted from a terminal device via a network. The corresponding music data among the many types of music data is read out and provided to the terminal device via the network, and when the music data is reproduced from the terminal device, the image acquisition request is transmitted via the network in response to the input of the image acquisition request. When transmitted, any one of many types of image data stored in advance in the storage unit is read out based on the image acquisition request and provided to the terminal device via the network to be recorded. I made it.

Therefore, when a request to acquire an image is input from a user during reproduction of music data by the terminal device, the information providing device provides the terminal device with differently selected image data in response to the request. Can be.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

(1) First Embodiment In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic music distribution system to which the present invention is applied as a whole, which is a fixed wireless station via a network 3 to a content server 2 for music distribution. Base station 4
Is connected, and the mobile phone 5 as a mobile radio station is connected to the base station 4 by, for example, W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Diode).
It is configured to be wirelessly connected by a code division multiple access method called vision multiple access, whereby, for example, TCP between the mobile phone 5 and the content server 2 via the base station 4 and the network 2 sequentially
/ IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Pro
tocol) protocol.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the content server 2, a CPU (Central Processing Uni
t), ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random
(Access Memory) and the like. The control unit 10 loads various programs and application software stored in the ROM in advance into the RAM and starts them up.
According to these various programs and application software, various functions in the content server 2 can be controlled and realized in a comprehensive manner.

In practice, the control unit 10 electronically lists a large number of kinds of music to be distributed in the ROM, and sets a data amount (music data,
Simple homepage data including the total data amount of image number data and distribution image data) is stored in advance.

When the mobile phone 5 is provided with the browsing request data of the simple homepage, the control unit 10 fetches the data via the network interface 11 and, based on the fetched browsing request data, converts the simple homepage into, for example, a compact HTML. (Hyper Text Marku
The file is transmitted from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5 as a file in a (p Language) format.

As a result, when transmission request data of desired music selected on the simplified homepage is transmitted from the portable telephone 5, the control unit 10 takes in the data via the network interface 11.

The control unit 10 includes, for example, an HDD
(Hard Disk Drive) music data storage unit 12,
Similarly, an image data storage unit 13 composed of an HDD is connected.

As shown in FIG. 3, the music data storage unit 12
Contains music data DO of many types of music to be distributed in advance.
In addition to 1 to DON, image number data DB1 to DBN unique to each of the music data DO1 to DON are compression-encoded by a predetermined compression-encoding method and stored.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image data storage unit 13
Includes image number data DB1 to DBD that have been compression-encoded.
Along with the BN, the image data for one frame to be distributed (hereinafter referred to as distribution image data) DT1 to DTN corresponding to each of the image number data DB1 to DBN is JPEG.
(Joint Photographic Experts Group) and GIF (Grap
hics Interchange Format) or the like, and is stored after being compressed and encoded by a predetermined compression encoding method.

The image data storage unit 13 stores one frame of image data (hereinafter, referred to as a four-part period) consisting of, for example, one year divided into four periods and a plurality of types of background images selected in advance according to these periods. Is called background image data) DH1
-1 to DH4-N are JPEG (Joint Photographic Exp
erts Group) and GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
), And is stored by being compression-encoded by a predetermined compression-encoding method.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the distribution image data DT1 to DT stored in the image data
The distribution image based on TN includes, for example, a character portion CG of an artist or the like playing music and a background portion HG of the character portion CG.

As shown in FIG. 6, background image data DH1-1 to DH1-1 stored in the image data storage unit 13 are stored.
As H4-N, for example, the background image data DH1- composed of many types of snow scenes corresponding to the period from January to March.
1 to DH1-N and background image data DH2-1 to DH-D each including a variety of flower scenes according to the period from April to June.
H2-N, background image data DH3-1 to DH3-N including a large variety of seascapes according to the period from July to September
And background image data DH4-1 to DH each consisting of a variety of mountain (foliage) scenes according to the period from October to December.
4-N is stored.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
Are the music data DO1 to D transmitted from the mobile phone 5.
When the acquisition request data of ON is captured, the corresponding music data DO1 or DON and the image number data DB1 are stored from the music data storage unit 12 based on the acquisition request data.
Or DBN is read, and the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN is read from the image data storage unit 13 based on the read image number data DB1 or DBN, and the read music data DO1 is read.
Or DON, image number data DB1 or DBN
And the distribution image data DT1 or DTN together as distribution data D1
To the mobile phone 5.

The control unit 10 requests the mobile phone 5 to change the distribution image data DT1 or DTN.
When the change request data including the music data DO1 or the image number data DB1 or DBN unique to DON is transmitted, the change request data is transmitted to the network interface 1.
1 and reads out the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN from the image data storage unit 13 again based on the image number data DB1 or DBN included in the fetched change request data.

At this time, the control unit 10 detects the time to which the time when the change request data is given from the mobile phone 5 belongs based on the date and time data D2 given from the date and time data generation unit 14, and determines the detected time. On the basis of the,
From the image data storage unit 13, one of randomly selected background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N from among a large number of types of background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N corresponding to the time is read.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The background part HG of the distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 read from the image data storage unit 13 or the distribution image based on DTN (at this point, the control unit 10 performs the expansion decoding) without changing the character part CG. Background image data DH1-1 read from the image data storage unit 13.
Or DH4-N (at this point, the control unit 10 expands and decodes) the background image to perform processing, and obtains the obtained distribution image data (hereinafter, referred to as processed distribution image data). ) After compressing and encoding D3 according to a predetermined compression encoding method, the network interface 1
1 to the mobile phone 5.

In this way, the control unit 10 transmits one music data DO1 or DON to the portable telephone 5 together with one music data DO1.
After distributing the two distribution image data DT1 or DTN, if there is a request for changing the distribution image data DT1 or DTN, the distribution image data DT1 or DTN can be sequentially added and provided accordingly. It has been made like that.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, in the portable telephone 5, a drawer-storable antenna element 21 is provided at an upper end 20A of a box-shaped casing case 20 and a front face of the casing case 20 is provided. The display unit 20B is provided with a display unit 22 composed of a liquid crystal display and a plurality of types of operation keys 23 for inputting various instruction commands.

A speaker 24 is housed inside the upper surface of the front surface 20B of the housing case 20.
The microphone 25 is housed inside the lower side of the front surface 20B of the camera.

Further, a memory slot 27 for inserting a detachable card type memory 26 such as a memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation) is provided on the left side surface 20C of the housing case 20, and a headphone is provided. A jack 28 is provided.

The card-type memory 26 has a small and thin plastic case in which a flash memory element, which is a kind of electrically rewritable and erasable non-volatile memory, is housed, and is provided in the plastic case. Various data such as music data and image data can be recorded and reproduced in an internal flash memory device via the external terminal provided.

The card type memory 26 is of a standard type for recording and reproducing various data supplied to a flash memory device as it is, and a predetermined type for protecting the copyright of the various data supplied. A type with a copyright protection function that performs copyright protection processing and records / reproduces data to / from the flash memory device (by the way, the copyright protection function includes MagicGate (Sony Corporation, trademark), etc.). Rights protection type).

In practice, as shown in FIG.
Has a control unit 30 having a microcomputer configuration including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown),
The control unit 30 loads various programs and application software stored in the ROM in advance into the RAM and starts up the RAM, thereby controlling and realizing various functions in the mobile phone 5 according to the various programs and application software. It is made to be able to do.

That is, in the call mode for realizing the function as a normal telephone, the control unit 30 operates from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the operation key 23 to issue a call instruction command including the telephone number of the call partner and a call request. Is provided, the communication state with the telephone (not shown) of the communication partner is secured via the base station 4 based on the communication instruction command.

At this time, the control unit 30 transmits the voice data of the user's voice collected by the microphone 25 to the communication processing unit 32, and the communication processing unit 32 transmits the voice data to the predetermined transmission data. Process,
The obtained transmission data is transmitted to the base station 4 via the antenna element 21, and the reception data transmitted from the telephone of the other party via the base station 4 is transmitted to the antenna element 21.
And receives it into the communication processing unit 32, performs predetermined reception processing on the received data by the communication processing unit 32, and outputs the voice of the other party based on the obtained voice data to the speaker 2.
By emitting sound through the communication terminal 4, a call between the user and the other party is established.

In the communication mode, the control unit 30 displays the telephone number of the communication partner and the antenna element 211 on the display unit 22.
Various types of information, such as the reception status of the received data, are displayed so that the user can confirm it.

The control unit 30 also controls the contents server 2
In the data communication mode in which data communication is performed between the content server 2 and the operation key 23, when a communication instruction command including unique address information or the like is given from the input unit 31 to the content server 2 based on the communication instruction command. Thus, a data communication state with the content server 2 via the base station 4 and the network 3 sequentially is secured.

In this state, when a request for browsing the simple homepage is given from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the operation key 23, the control unit 30 sends the request data for browsing the simple homepage to the communication processing unit 32. A predetermined transmission process is performed, and the obtained transmission data is transmitted from the antenna element 21 to the base station 4.

As a result, when the reception data composed of the data of the simple homepage is transmitted from the content server 2 via the network 3 and the base station 4 sequentially, the control unit 30 receives the reception data by the antenna element 21. The data is taken into the communication processing unit 32.

Then, the control unit 30 performs predetermined reception processing on the received data by the communication processing unit 32 and sends the obtained data of the simple homepage to the display unit 22 so that the simple homepage is displayed on the display unit 22. Display, thus showing the user a list of music to be distributed.

In the state where the simplified homepage is displayed on the display unit 22 as described above, the control unit 30 receives the desired music selection instruction command from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the operation key 23, and performs the selection. Based on the instruction command, music acquisition request data is generated and transmitted to the communication processing unit 32. The transmission data obtained by performing predetermined transmission processing on the acquisition request data by the communication processing unit 32 is transmitted to the antenna element 21. To the base station 4.

When the distribution data D 1 is transmitted from the content server 2 via the network 3 and the base station 4 in sequence in response to the transmission of the music acquisition request data, the control unit 30 transmits the distribution data D 1 to the antenna element 21. The received data is received by the communication processing unit 32, and the communication processing unit 32 performs predetermined reception processing on the distribution data D1. 26.

By the way, when the control unit 30 transmits transmission data based on the acquisition request data to the content server 2,
The time from this point in time until the distribution data D1 is fetched (hereinafter referred to as access time) is defined by the internal RTC (Re
al Time Clock) is measured based on information of the current time measured by a circuit (not shown), and the access time information is also sent to the card type memory 26 via the memory interface 33.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 30 controls the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26.
Music data DO1 obtained based on the distribution data D1
Or DON, image number data DB1 or DBN
The distribution image data DT1 or DTN and the address information of the content server 2 and the information of the access time to the content server 2 are respectively filed and recorded in association with each other.

In this way, the mobile phone 5 can acquire the distribution image corresponding to the distribution target music provided from the content server 2.

Thereafter, when a command to display a menu screen (not shown) is given from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the operation keys 23, the control unit 30 displays a menu screen (not shown) on the display unit 22. Is displayed, and in this state, when a display instruction command of the reproduction instruction screen is given in accordance with the operation of the operation key 23, as shown in FIG.
7 is displayed.

The reproduction instruction screen 37 has an image display area 38
And an operation button display area 39. The operation button display area 39 includes a play button 40, a pause button 41, a stop button 42, and an image change button 43.
Is provided.

In this case, the control unit 30 controls the reproduction instruction screen 3
7, a list of music names and the like acquired from the content server 2 is displayed in the image display area 38, and in this state, the desired music on the reproduction instruction screen 37 is displayed from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the predetermined operation key 23. Is given and a selection command for the play button 40 on the playback command screen 37 is given, the music data DO1 to DON or DON selected from the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26. And corresponding distribution image data DT
1 or DTN.

Then, the control section 30 expands and decodes the reproduced music data DO1 or DON, and then sends the expanded music data DO1 or DON to the speaker 24, thereby transmitting music based on the music data DO1 or DON from the speaker 24. The sound is output, and the reproduced distribution image data DT1 or DTN is expanded and decoded, and then transmitted to the display unit 22, so that the music is displayed in the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37 as shown in FIG. Instead of a list of names and the like, a distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 or DTN (that is, the distribution image described above with reference to FIG. 5) is displayed.

At this time, when an instruction to select the pause button 41 on the reproduction instruction screen 37 is given from the input unit 31 in response to the operation of the predetermined operation key 23, the control unit 30 displays the reproduction instruction screen 37. While the distribution image is displayed in the image display area 38, the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON from the flash memory 35 is paused, and thereafter, the input unit is operated in accordance with the operation of the predetermined operation key 23. When an instruction to select the play button 40 on the reproduction instruction screen 37 or an instruction to select the pause button 41 on the reproduction instruction screen 37 is given again from 31, the music data DO <b> 1 or DON from the flash memory 35 is given. Resumes playback from the point where it was paused.

Further, when the control unit 30 receives an instruction to select the stop button 42 on the reproduction instruction screen 37 from the input unit 31, the music data D from the flash memory 35 is received.
While stopping the reproduction of O1 or DON, the image is displayed in the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37 instead of the distribution image.
A list of music names and the like is displayed again as described above with reference to FIG.

Incidentally, when a headphone (not shown) plug is inserted into the headphone jack 28, the control unit 30 replaces the music data DO1 or DON reproduced from the flash memory 35 with the speaker 24 with the headphone. By transmitting the data to the headphones from the jack 28, the music data D is transmitted through the headphones.
The music based on O1 or DON is emitted.

In this way, the control unit 30 can reproduce the music to be distributed obtained from the content server 2 and can show the distribution image to the user simultaneously with the start of the reproduction.

By the way, the control unit 30 stores the music data DO1 from the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26.
Or when DON is played back, the elapsed playback time from the start of the playback is measured based on the information on the current time measured by the RTC circuit, and the music data DO1 or DON being played back is measured. The information on the required reproduction time required for the reproduction from the beginning to the end stored in advance is extracted.

The control unit 30 operates the input unit 3 in response to the operation of the predetermined operation key 23 while the music data DO1 or DON is being reproduced from the flash memory 35.
When an instruction to select an image change button on the reproduction instruction screen 37 is given from 1 to the music data DO1, the elapsed reproduction time at this point is subtracted from the used reproduction time.
Or the remaining reproduction time required for the DON to be reproduced from the current time to the end (hereinafter referred to as the remaining reproduction time), and the music data being reproduced from the flash memory 35 of the card type memory 26. The information of the access time corresponding to DO1 or DON is reproduced, and it is determined whether the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time.

As a result, if the control unit 30 determines that the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time, the control unit 30 displays the reproduction instruction screen 3
7 while displaying the distribution image in the image display area 38.
Music data DO1 to D or D
ON, and in this state, the music data DO1 to be reproduced or DON
And the DBN and the address information (the music data DO1 or the address information of the content server 2 that is the distribution source of the DON) corresponding to the image data DB1 or the reproduced image number data DB1 or DB1 or Distribution image data D based on DBN and address information
By generating change request data for T1 or DTN and sending it to the communication processing unit 32, a predetermined transmission process is performed, and the obtained transmission data is transmitted from the antenna element 21 to the base station 4.

Thus, the control unit 30 transmits the processed distribution image data D3 from the content server 2 via the network 3 and the base station 4 in sequence in response to the transmission of the distribution image data DT1 or the change request data for DTN. Then, this is received by the antenna element 21 and taken into the communication processing unit 32, and the communication processing unit 32 performs a predetermined receiving process on the processed and delivered image data D <b> 3, and then performs a card type reception via the memory interface 33. The data is sent to the memory 26, and is decompressed and decoded and sent to the display unit 22.

Thus, the control unit 30 stores in the flash memory 35 of the card type memory 26 the distribution image data DT1 or DT1 of the distribution image which has been displayed until then.
N is recorded so as to overwrite the processed distribution image data D3, and based on the processed distribution image data D3 on the display unit 22, instead of the distribution image previously displayed in the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37. The processed distribution image described above with reference to FIG. 7 is displayed.

Here, as shown in FIG.
Takes in the processed distribution image data D3 transmitted from the content server 2, detects the remaining reproduction time for the music data DO1 or DON by subtracting the reproduction elapsed time at this point from the required reproduction time again, and As a result, if the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time, a predetermined transmission process is performed by generating again the change request data for the processed distribution image data D3 and sending it to the communication processing unit 32. The transmitted transmission data is transmitted from the antenna element 21 to the base station 4.

Thus, when the newly generated processed distribution image data D3 is transmitted from the content server 2 in accordance with the change request data of the processed distribution image data D3, the control unit 30 flashes the card type memory 26. Memory 3
5, the processing distribution image data D3 previously displayed is recorded so as to be overwritten with the new processing distribution image data D3, and the processing distribution image previously displayed in the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37 is recorded. Instead of
A processing distribution image based on the new processing distribution image data D3 is displayed.

As described above, when a request for changing the distribution image is given during the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON, the control unit 30 responds to the request by changing the distribution image.
Or until the reproduction of the DON is completed, the distribution image is sequentially displayed in place of a new processed distribution image, so that a plurality of distribution images can be easily displayed for one music data DO1 or DON. Things have been made to come.

Incidentally, the control unit 30 controls the music data DO1.
Or at the end of the reproduction of DON, if the request for changing the distribution image is not given, the music data DO1 or DO1 is stored in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26.
N and the distribution image data DT acquired together with the
1 or DTN is recorded.

The control unit 30 controls the music data DO1
Or if a request to change the distribution image is given during the reproduction of the DON, the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 is made to correspond to the music data DO1 or DON, and a reproduction instruction screen is displayed immediately before the end of the reproduction. 37 image display areas 3
8 stores the processed distribution image data D3 of the processed distribution image displayed.

Therefore, when the music data DO1 or DON reproduced once is reproduced again, the control unit 30
From the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26, the distribution image data DT1 or DTN or the processed distribution image data D3 of the processed distribution image which is recorded corresponding to the music data DO1 or DON is reproduced. The reproduced distribution image data DT1 or the distribution image based on DTN or the modified distribution image based on the modified distribution image data D3 is displayed in the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37, and thus the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON is performed. A delivery image or a processed delivery image can be shown at the same time as the start.

Here, in practice, the control section 10 of the content server 2 executes the music distribution processing procedure RT1 shown in FIG. 14 according to the music distribution program which is transferred from the internal ROM to the RAM and started when the music is distributed. The process starts in step SP1, and in step SP2, waits for the simple homepage browsing request data transmitted from the mobile phone 5.

Then, in step SP2, when the control unit 10 receives the browsing request data transmitted from the mobile phone 5 by the network interface 11, the control unit 10 proceeds to the following step SP3 and requests the simple homepage data to be browsed from the network interface 11. The data is transmitted to the mobile phone 5 that is the transmission source of the data, and the process proceeds to step SP4.

In step SP4, the control unit 10
Based on the return information indicating whether or not the transmission was successful when the data was transmitted to the mobile phone 5, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the data of the simple homepage was successful, and a negative result was determined because the transmission failed. When it is obtained, the process returns to step SP3 and retransmits the data of the simple homepage from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5.

On the other hand, the control unit 10 determines in step S
In P4, if a positive result is obtained because the transmission of the simple homepage data was successful, the process proceeds to step SP5 to determine whether or not the communication state with the mobile phone 5 to which the simple homepage data was transmitted has been released. If a positive result is obtained because the communication state is maintained, the process proceeds to the next step SP6, where it is determined whether or not music acquisition request data transmitted from the mobile phone 5 has been received by the network interface 11. .

In step SP6, obtaining a negative result means that although the user of the mobile phone 5 has confirmed the list of music to be distributed on the simplified homepage, the user has requested the content server 2 for distribution. This means that there is a possibility that the music does not exist, and at this time, the control unit 10 returns to step SP5.

On the other hand, in step SP6,
Obtaining an affirmative result means that the user of the mobile phone 5 checks the list of music to be distributed on the simplified homepage and finds the desired music.
Means that the music acquisition request data transmitted from the network interface 11 has been received by the network interface 11. At this time, the control unit 10 proceeds to step SP7,
Music data DO1 corresponding to the acquisition request data
Or DON, image number data DB1 or DBN
Then, the distribution data D1 including the distribution image data DT1 or DTN is transmitted from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5 that is the transmission source of the acquisition request data, and the process proceeds to step SP8.

In step SP8, the control unit 10
Based on the return information returned from the mobile phone 5, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the distribution data D1 has succeeded. If a negative result is obtained because the transmission has failed, the process returns to step SP7, where the distribution data D1 is again transmitted to the network. The data is retransmitted from the interface 11 to the mobile phone 5.

On the other hand, the control unit 10 determines in step S
In P8, if a positive result is obtained because the transmission of the distribution data D1 has succeeded, the process proceeds to step SP9, and the music distribution processing procedure RT1 ends.

By the way, the control unit 10 returns to step SP5 because a negative result is obtained in step SP6, and also in this step SP5, the communication state with the portable telephone 5 to which the data of the simple homepage is transmitted is released. If a negative result is obtained, the process proceeds to step SP9 and ends the music distribution processing procedure RT1.

If the control unit 10 returns to step SP5 because it obtained a negative result in step SP6, it returns to step SP6 if it obtains a positive result in step SP5.
Until a negative result is obtained in any of steps SP5 and SP6, steps SP5 and SP6
Is repeated.

At the time of distribution image change processing, the control section 10 executes the distribution image change processing procedure RT2 shown in FIG. 15 in step SP10 according to the distribution image change program which is transferred from the internal ROM to the RAM and started. In the following step SP11, the distribution image data DT1 transmitted from the mobile phone 5 or change request data for DTN is transmitted to the network interface 11 in step SP11.
And the corresponding distribution image data DT from the image data storage unit 13 based on the image number data DB1 or DBN included in the fetched change request data.
1 or DTN is read and the process proceeds to step SP12.

At step SP12, the control unit 10
Is the date and time data D provided from the date and time data generation unit 14.
2 and detects the time to which the current time belongs based on the date and time data D2. The random number among the many types of background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N corresponding to the time is detected from the image data storage unit 13. After reading one selected background image data DH1-1 or DH4-N, the process proceeds to step SP13.

At step SP13, the control unit 10
Is the background image data DH from which the background portion HG is read out in step SP12 while the character portion CG is left as it is in the delivery image data DT1 read out in step SP11 or the delivery image based on DTN.
The processing distribution image data D is obtained by performing processing so as to change to a background image based on 1-1 or DH4-N.
3 and proceeds to step SP14.

At step SP14, the control unit 10
Transmits the processed distribution image data D3 generated in step SP13 from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5, and proceeds to step SP15.

At step SP15, the control unit 10
Determines whether or not the transmission of the processed distribution image data D3 was successful based on the return information returned from the mobile phone 5 as a result of the transmission of the processed distribution image data D3 to the mobile phone 5, and the transmission failed. If a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step SP14 to retransmit the processed distribution image data D3 from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5 again.

On the other hand, in step SP15, the control unit 10 transmits the processed distribution image data D3 based on the return information returned from the mobile phone 5 as a result of the transmission of the processed distribution image data D3 to the mobile phone 5. If a positive result is obtained due to the successful transmission of
Then, the process proceeds to step 6 to end the distribution image change processing procedure RT2.

In this way, the control unit 10 sequentially executes the distribution image change processing procedure RT2 every time the mobile phone 5 transmits the change request data for the distribution image data DT1 or DTN or the processed distribution image data D3. By executing, a plurality of types of distribution images can be provided for one music.

On the other hand, when acquiring the music to be distributed, the control unit 30 of the mobile phone 5 transfers the music from the internal ROM to the RAM in accordance with the music data acquisition program that has been started up.
The music data acquisition processing procedure RT3 shown in FIG. 16 is started in step SP20, and in step SP21, the content server 2 is sequentially connected to the content server 2 via the base station 4 and the network 3 based on various instruction commands given from the input unit 31. By transmitting the browsing request data of the simplified homepage in this state, the data of the simplified homepage returned from the content server 2 according to the browsing request data is fetched, and the process proceeds to step SP22.

At step SP22, the control unit 30
Waits for a command to select a desired music to be given from the input unit 31 while the simplified homepage is displayed on the display unit 22, and when the command to select is given from the input unit 31, the selection command Based on this, music acquisition request data is generated, and the process proceeds to step SP23.

At step SP23, the control unit 30
Determines whether there is a free recording area in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 based on the data amount required for acquiring the music designated and included in the data of the simple homepage.

In step SP23, an affirmative result means that the flash memory 3 in the card type memory 26
5 indicates that there is a sufficient recording area for recording data acquired by the distribution of the music selected and instructed. At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP24 and It is determined whether or not the card type memory 26 inserted in the slot 27 is a copyright protection type.

In step SP24, obtaining a positive result means that the music data DO1 or DON is illegally copied even if the music data DO1 or DON is recorded in the internal flash memory 35 because the card type memory 26 is of the copyright protection type. Means that the copyright can be prevented from being infringed by, for example, transmitting the music acquisition request data generated in step SP22 to the content server 2 in step SP25. As a result, the distribution data D1 returned from the content server 2 is fetched, and the process proceeds to step SP26.

At step SP26, the control unit 30
Determines based on the received distribution data D1 whether or not the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN has been acquired together with the music data DO1 and DON of the music selected and instructed.

In step SP26, obtaining a positive result means that the distribution target music data DO1 to D1 or D2 from the content server 2 that distributes the distribution image together with the music.
ON and that the distribution image data DT1 or DTN has been acquired. At this time, the control unit 30 determines in step S
Proceeding to P27, it is determined based on the distribution data D1 whether or not the image number data DB1 or DBN has been acquired together with the designated distribution target music data DO1 and DON.

In step SP27, obtaining a positive result means that the content server 2 that distributes the distribution image and the image number together with the music from the distribution target music data DO
1 or DON and distribution image data DT1 or D
This means that the TN and the image number data DB1 or DBN have been acquired. At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP28 and acquires the TN and the image number data in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 based on the distribution data D1. The recorded image number data DB1 or DBN is recorded and step S
Proceed to P29.

At step SP29, the control unit 30
Is distribution image data DT1 acquired in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 based on the distribution data D1.
Or after recording the DTN, the process proceeds to step SP30, in which the music data DO1 to DO3 acquired in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 based on the distribution data D1.
Alternatively, DON is recorded and the process proceeds to step SP31.

At step SP31, the control unit 30
Are music data DO1 or DON and distribution image data DT1 or DTN and DTN and image number data DB1 for the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26.
Or whether the recording of the DBN is completed normally.

In step SP31, obtaining a positive result means that the music data DO1 or DON and the distribution image data DT1 to DT1,.
Or DTN and image number data DB1 or DBN
At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP32 and notifies the fact that the music to be distributed has been successfully obtained via the display unit 22, and thereafter, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP33. To end the music data acquisition processing procedure RT3.

On the other hand, obtaining a negative result in step SP31 means that a recording error occurs in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 and the music data DO1 or DON and the distribution image data DT1
Or DTN and image number data DB1 or DB
This means that the BN cannot be recorded normally, and at this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP34 to notify via the display unit 22 that the acquisition of the distribution target music has failed, and thereafter, Proceeding to step SP33, the music data acquisition processing procedure RT3 ends.

Incidentally, obtaining a negative result in step SP26 means that only the music data DO1 to be distributed or DON is acquired because the content server 2 connected for acquiring music distributes only music. At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP30.

In step SP27, obtaining a negative result means that the content server 2 connected for music acquisition distributes only the distribution image together with the music, and thus the distribution target music data DO1 to DON. And that only the distribution image data DT1 or DTN has been acquired, and at this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP29.

Further, obtaining a negative result in step SP23 means that the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 does not have a sufficient recording area for recording data acquired by the distribution of the music designated and instructed. This means that at this time, the control unit 30
The process proceeds to step S35, where it is notified via the display unit 22 that the selected music cannot be delivered because the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 does not have a sufficient recording area. Proceed to SP33.

In addition, obtaining a negative result in step SP24 means that the card type memory 26 inserted into the memory slot 27 of the mobile phone 5 is a standard type and the music data is stored in the internal flash memory 35. Even if DO1 or DON is recorded, it means that the copyright cannot be infringed due to illegal duplication or the like, so that music distribution cannot be received. Proceeds to step SP36, and displays on the display unit 22 that the distribution of the selected music cannot be received.
And the process proceeds to step SP33.

As described above, the control unit 30 receives the music data DO1 or DON only from the content server distributing only the music or the content server distributing only the music and the distribution image. Data D
O1 or DON and only the distribution image data DT1 or DTN can be obtained, and in addition to this, the music data DO1 to D1 can be obtained from the content server 2 which distributes the distribution image and the image number together with the music. , Or DON and distribution image data DT1 or DTN, and image number data DB1 or DBN.

When the acquired music is to be reproduced, the control unit 30 transfers the data from the internal ROM to the RAM according to the music data reproduction program that has been started up.
The music data reproduction processing procedure RT4 shown in FIG.
0, and in a succeeding step SP41, a reproduction instruction screen 37 is displayed on the display unit 22. In this state, a selection instruction instruction for a desired music name on the reproduction instruction screen 37 from the input unit 31 and a reproduction button 40 It waits for the selection instruction command to be sequentially given, and when the music selection instruction command and the selection instruction command for the play button 40 are given to instruct reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON, the process proceeds to step SP42. .

At step SP42, the control unit 30
Determines whether or not a distribution image has been acquired together with the music whose reproduction has been instructed.

In step SP42, obtaining a positive result means that the distribution image is acquired together with the distribution target music from the content server 2, and at this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP43 and By playing the music data DO1 or DON selected from the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 and the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN, music based on the music data DO1 or DON is reproduced by the speaker 24. And the distribution image data DT
1 or the distribution image based on DTN is displayed on the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37 on the display unit 22, and then the process proceeds to step SP44.

At step SP44, the control unit 30
Waits for an instruction to select an image change button on the reproduction instruction screen 37 from the input unit 31, and receives an instruction to select the image change button to change the distribution image data DT1 or DTN. When instructed, the process proceeds to step SP45.

In step SP45, the control unit 30
Determines whether an image number has been acquired together with the music whose reproduction has been instructed.

Obtaining an affirmative result in step SP45 means that the image number has been acquired together with the distribution target music and the distribution image from the content server 2. At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP46. Then, it is determined whether the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON.

In step SP46, obtaining a positive result means that the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON, so that the change request data is transmitted to the content server 2 at this point to process the data. If the distribution image data D3 is obtained, the music data DO1
Or during the reproduction of DON, the processed distribution image data D3
Means that it is possible to display and show the processed distribution image based on the display unit 22. At this time, the control unit 30
The process proceeds to step SP47, connects to the content server 2 via the base station 4 and the network 3 sequentially, and proceeds to step SP48.

At step SP48, the control unit 30
Reproduces the music data DO1 or DBN or DBN and address information corresponding to the music data DO1 or DON being reproduced from the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26, and reproduces the reproduced image number data DB1 or DB1 or D
By generating change request data based on the BN and the address information and transmitting this to the content server 2,
As a result, the process distribution image data D3 returned from the content server 2 is fetched, and the flow advances to step SP49.

At step SP49, the control unit 30
, The processed delivery image data D3 is stored in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26,
Alternatively, recording is performed so as to overwrite DTN, and step SP5
Go to 0.

At step SP50, the control unit 30
Determines whether the recording of the processed delivery image data D3 in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 has been completed normally.

Obtaining a positive result in step SP50 means that the processed distribution image data D3 has been recorded in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 without occurrence of a recording error. ,
At this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP51,
A processed distribution image based on the processed distribution image data D3 is displayed on the image display area 38 of the reproduction instruction screen 37 on the display unit 22, and then the process proceeds to step SP52.

At step SP52, the control unit 30
Determines whether the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON.

In this step SP52, obtaining a positive result means that the access time is shorter than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON. If the distribution image data D3 is obtained, the music data DO1
Or during the reproduction of DON, the processed distribution image data D3
Means that it is possible to display and show the processed distribution image based on the display unit 22. At this time, the control unit 30
Returning to step SP47, after this, the music data DO1
Steps SP47-SP48-SP49 until the access time exceeds the remaining reproduction time of DON.
By sequentially repeating the processing loop of -SP50-SP51-SP52, different delivery images are sequentially shown.

If the control unit 30 obtains a negative result because the access time is longer than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON in step SP52, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP53 and performs the reproduction. Waiting for the music data DO1 or DON to be played to the end, and playing the music data DO1 or DON to the end, the process proceeds to step SP54 to end the music data playback processing procedure RT4.

Incidentally, obtaining a negative result in step SP50 means that a recording error has occurred in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 and the processed distribution image data D3 cannot be normally recorded. Then, at this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP52.

[0111] Obtaining a negative result in step SP42 means that only music has been obtained from the content server 2, and at this time, the control unit 30 proceeds to step SP56, in which the card type memory 26 Music data DO1 instructed to be reproduced from the flash memory 35 in the
Or only DON is reproduced and the process proceeds to step SP53.

Further, obtaining a negative result in step SP45 means that only the distribution image is acquired together with the music from the content server 2, and at this time,
The control unit 30 proceeds to step SP53.

In addition, obtaining a negative result in step SP46 means that the access time is longer than the remaining reproduction time of the music data DO1 or DON, and the change request data is transmitted to the content server 2 at this time. This means that even if the processed image distribution data D3 is transmitted and transmitted, it is not possible to display and show the processed distribution image based on the processed image distribution data D3 during the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON. When the control unit 30
Proceeds to step SP53.

In the above configuration, in the electronic music distribution system 1, the music data storage unit 12 previously stores a large number of types of music data DO1 to DON to be distributed and the music data D
Image number data DB1 to DBN unique to each of O1 to DON
And distribution image data DT1 to DTN respectively corresponding to a large number of types of music data DO1 to DON in the image data storage unit 13 and a large number of types of background image data DH1-1 to DH1-1 to a predetermined time period. When an acquisition request for the music to be distributed is given from the mobile phone 5 to the content server 2 storing DH4-N, the music data DO1 or DON corresponding to the acquisition request from the content server 2 The transmitted image number data DB1 or DBN and the distribution image data DT1 or DTN are transmitted to the mobile phone 5.

Then, the mobile phone 5 to which the music has been distributed
However, when the music data DO1 or DON is reproduced, the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN can also be reproduced and a distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 or DTN can be displayed and shown. ,
At this time, when a change request for the distribution image data DT1 or DTN is given, the music data DO1 being reproduced is reproduced.
Or the image number data DB1 or DBN corresponding to DON to the content server 2.

In this case, in the content server 2, the image number data DB1 to DB1 or D
Based on the BN, while reading out the corresponding distribution image data DT1 or DTN from the image data storage unit 13,
Many types of background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N at corresponding times are stored in the image data storage unit 13 based on the date and time data at the time when the change request is given from the mobile phone 5.
Of the background image data DH1-1 randomly
Or DH4-N is selected and read out, and the background portion HG of the distribution image data DT1 or the distribution image based on DTN is changed to the background image data DH1-1 or DH4-N. The processing data is changed so as to be changed, and the obtained processed distribution image data D3 is transmitted to the mobile phone 5 so that the music data DO is transmitted to the mobile phone 5.
1 or a processed distribution image based on the processed distribution image data D3 is displayed in accordance with the reproduction of DON.

Therefore, in the electronic music distribution system 1, during reproduction of one music data DO1 or DON by the mobile phone 5, according to the user's request, the background portion HG is reproduced at the time of reproducing the character portion CG as it is. It is possible to sequentially provide and show a plurality of types of distribution images that have been changed accordingly, and thus to fully enjoy the plurality of types of distribution images together with music.

Further, in the electronic music distribution system 1, the user who operates the mobile phone 5 does not need to input a particularly complicated instruction command, but only instructs to change the distribution image, and the content server 2 allows the original distribution image to be changed. In order to additionally provide a processed distribution image generated by changing the background portion HG to a background image according to the time, a distribution image of a pattern (for example, a summer-like pattern or a snow scene) according to the time desired by the user. Can be easily provided.

Further, in the electronic music distribution system 1, the content server 2 stores the background image data DH1-1 for each period.
To DH4-N are prepared in advance, and in response to a request for changing the distribution image data DT1 or DTN, one of the background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N is randomly selected from the background image data DH1-1 to DH4-N. DH1-1 to DH4-
N is selected and used for the processing of the distribution image data DH1 or DHN, so that the distribution image data DT1 or Alternatively, even if the DTN is requested to be changed, each user can be provided with a different processed distribution image, and thus the user can enjoy his or her own distribution image different from those of other users.

In the case of the conventional music distribution, the content server uses the portable telephone 5 to store the music data DO1 to DO1,.
Or, it is used only when the DON is acquired, but if the music data DO1 or the DON is reproduced and a different processed distribution image is always added and provided according to the user's request, another distribution to the user can be provided. The motivation to view the image can be increased, and as a result, the usage rate for the content server 2 can be significantly improved.

According to the above configuration, the content server 2
In response to the acquisition request of the mobile phone 5, the music data DO1 or DON and the image number data DB1 or DBN unique thereto and the distribution image data DT1 or DTN are provided together with the music data DO1 or DON. During playback of music data DO1 or DON, image number data D
When B1 or DBN is given, processed distribution image data D3 in which the background portion HG of the original distribution image is changed to a background image according to time is generated and provided again, so that music distribution is performed. Music data DO acquired by
To realize an electronic music distribution system that can provide and show a plurality of types of distribution images according to a user's request during reproduction of 1 or DON, and thus can provide a service according to a user's request. Can be.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 19, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals, shows an electronic music distribution system 50 according to the second embodiment. Except for this, the configuration is the same as that of the electronic music distribution system 1 according to the first embodiment.

In this case, in FIG. 20, in which parts corresponding to those in FIG. 2 are assigned the same reference numerals, the control unit 55 of the content server 51 executes the content server 2 (FIG. 2) according to the first embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 2) control unit 10 (FIG. 2)
At the time of music distribution, the music distribution processing procedure R described with reference to FIG.
By executing T1, the music data DO1 or DON, the image number data DB1 or DBN, and the distribution image data DT1 and DT1 corresponding to the acquisition request to the mobile phone 5 are obtained.
Alternatively, a DTN can be provided.

By the way, H connected to the control unit 55
As shown in FIG. 21, the image data storage unit 56 having the DD configuration stores image number data DB1 to DBN and distribution image data DT1 to DT unique to each of the music data DO1 to DON in advance.
Along with TN, background image data DH5-1 to DH7 to include various types of backgrounds corresponding to weather such as sunny, cloudy, and rainy.
N is compression-encoded by a predetermined compression-encoding method such as JPEG or GIF and stored.

Therefore, at the time of distribution image change processing, the control section 55 executes the distribution image change processing procedure RT5 shown in FIG. 22 in step SP60 according to the distribution image change program which is transferred from the internal ROM to the RAM and started. In step SP61, the distribution image data DT1 transmitted from the mobile phone 5 or the change request data for DTN is transmitted to the network interface 1.
1, and the corresponding distribution image data D from the image data storage unit 56 based on the image number data DB1 or DBN included in the acquired change request data.
T1 or DTN is read and the process proceeds to step SP62.

At step SP62, the control unit 55
At this time, the location of the base station 4 stored in advance by the base station 4 from the base station 4 (the nearest base station 4 of the mobile phone 5) to which the mobile phone 5 is connected for communication with the content server 51 The base station data D5 including information and the like (FIG. 2)
0) is fetched via the network interface 11, and the flow advances to step SP63.

In step SP63, the control unit 55
Based on the base station data D5, the surroundings of the base station 4 to which the mobile phone 5 is connected from an external weather information providing device (not shown) via the weather data acquisition unit 57 (FIG. 20) (that is, The weather data D6 (FIG. 20) around the telephone 5) is fetched, and the fetched weather data D6 is acquired.
6, various types of background image data DH5-1 to DH5-1D corresponding to the weather around the base station 4 from the image data storage unit 56.
One background image data D at random from H7-N
After selecting and reading H5-1 or DH7-N,
Proceed to step SP64.

In step SP64, the control unit 55
In step SP6, the background portion HG is changed from the distribution image data DT1 read in step SP61 or the delivery image data based on DTN to the cacter portion CG.
3, the background image data DH5-1 read out
Or processing processing is performed so as to change to a background image based on DH7-N, thereby generating processed distribution image data D7 (FIG. 20), and proceeds to step SP65.

In step SP65, the control unit 55
Transmits the processed distribution image data D7 generated in step SP64 from the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5, and proceeds to step SP66.

In step SP66, the control unit 55
Determines whether or not the transmission of the processed distribution image data D7 has been successful based on the return information returned from the mobile phone 5 as a result of the transmission of the processed distribution image data D7 to the mobile phone 5; If a negative result is obtained, the process returns to step SP65 and returns the processed distribution image data D7.
From the network interface 11 to the mobile phone 5
To resend.

On the other hand, in step SP66, as a result of the transmission of the processed distribution image data D7 to the mobile phone 5, the control unit 55 sets the processed distribution image data D7 based on the return information returned from the mobile phone 5. If a positive result is obtained due to the successful transmission of the
Proceeding to 7, the distribution image change processing procedure RT5 is completed.

As described above, the control unit 55 transmits the distribution image data DT1 or DTTN or the modified distribution data DT1 or DTN from the mobile phone 5 according to the user's request during the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON in the mobile phone 5. Image data D
7 is sequentially executed, every time the change request data for 7 is transmitted, sequentially provides a plurality of types of processed distribution image data D7 having a background image corresponding to the weather for one music. Can be shown.

In the above configuration, in the electronic music distribution system 50, a large number of types of background image data DH corresponding to the weather are stored in the image data storage unit 56 of the content server 51 in advance.
5-1 to DH7-N are stored, and the mobile phone 5 sends the image number data DB to the content server 51.
1 or when the change request data including the DBN is transmitted, the image number data DB1 or the original distribution image data DT1 or DTN corresponding to the DBN is
Processing for changing the background portion HG of the distribution image to the background image data DH5-1 or DH7-N selected according to the weather around the base station 4 to which the mobile phone 5 is connected. And the obtained processed distribution image data D
7 to the mobile phone 5.

Therefore, in the electronic music distribution system 50, during reproduction of one music data DO1 or DON by the mobile phone 5, the background portion HG is changed according to the weather of the mobile phone 5 according to the user's request. The changed plural kinds of distribution images can be provided and shown, and thus the plural kinds of distribution images can be sufficiently enjoyed together with the music.

The electronic music distribution system 50 has a simple configuration in which the content server 51 is provided with a weather data acquisition unit 57, compared to the content server 2 (FIG. 2) according to the first embodiment. Can provide a plurality of types of distribution images according to the surrounding weather.

According to the above configuration, the content server 5
1, together with music data DO1 or DON in response to an acquisition request of the mobile phone 5, image number data DB1 or DBN specific to the music data DO1 and distribution image data DT1 and
Or, when the music data DO1 or DON is provided in the mobile phone 5 and the image number data DB1 or DBN is provided, the background portion HG of the original distribution image is provided around the mobile phone 5. By generating and providing the processed distribution image data D7 changed to the background image according to the weather again, in addition to the effect obtained by the above-described first embodiment, with a simple configuration,
An electronic music distribution system that can easily provide the mobile phone 5 with a plurality of types of distribution images according to the surrounding weather can be realized.

(3) Other Embodiments In the above-described first embodiment, the background portion HG of the distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 or DTN or the distribution image data based on the DTN is set to the background image corresponding to the time in units of months. Has been described, the modified delivery image data D3 is generated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the background portion HG of the delivery image based on the delivery image data DT1 or DTN may be changed to a mobile phone. Depending on the time of day (for example, morning, noon, evening, or night) to which the change request from the telephone 5 belongs, for example, change to a background image such as sunrise or sunset, or distribution image data DT1 Or the background portion HG of the distribution image based on the DTN, for example, a snowy mountain in the morning or dusk in accordance with both the timing of the month to which the change request is made from the mobile phone 5 and the timing of the day. May be changed to a background image such as the seaside.

In the above-described second embodiment, the background portion HG of the distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 or DTN is changed to a background image corresponding to a sunny, cloudy, or rainy weather condition. And processing distribution image data D
7 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the distribution image data DT1 or DTN may be generated.
The background portion HG of the distribution image based on the image is changed to a background image according to another weather condition such as snow or a storm, or the background portion HG of the distribution image based on the distribution image data DT1 or DTN is changed to a mobile phone. The change may be made according to the information in which the weather condition is added to the timing of the month to which the change request is issued from 5 and / or the timing of the day.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, distribution image data DT is transmitted from content servers 2 and 5 in response to change request data from mobile phone 5.
1 or DTN or processed distribution image data D3 and D7 are processed and the obtained processed distribution image data D3 and D7 are transmitted to the mobile phone 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, by the content server,
Transmission image data of a new distribution image completely different from the original distribution image is transmitted to the mobile phone 5 according to the date and time when the change request data is transmitted from the mobile phone 5 and / or weather, and image number data is transmitted. Only, or distribution image data randomly or arbitrarily selected from many types of distribution image data according to only the date and time and / or weather may be transmitted. Image data can be provided.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the contents server 2, 5,
1 is given music acquisition request data, music data DO1 or DON, image number data DB1 or DBN, and distribution image data D corresponding to the acquisition request.
The case where the distribution data D1 composed of T1 or DTN is transmitted has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when music acquisition request data is given from the mobile phone 5 to the content servers 2 and 51. , And only the music data DO1 or DON and the image number data DB1 or DBN in response to the acquisition request are transmitted, and the content is transmitted in response to the request obtained during reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON. Only one piece of distribution image data or a plurality of types of distribution image data may be transmitted from the servers 2 and 51 to the mobile phone 5 sequentially or collectively.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, when a change request is input to the mobile phone 5 which is playing back the music data DO1 or DON, the mobile phone is transmitted from the content server 2, 51 to the mobile phone 5. A case has been described in which a plurality of types of processed distribution image data D3 and D7 are sequentially transmitted to the telephone 5, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the portable telephone 5 reproducing the music data DO1 or DON may be used. When the change request is input, one processed distribution image data D3, D7 is sent from the content server 2, 51 to the mobile phone 5.
Alternatively, only one new distribution image data may be transmitted.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the music data DO1
Or during processing of the DON, processing / delivery image data D3, D7 from the content server 2, 51 according to the user's request.
Is obtained in the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26, the processed and delivered image data D3, D
7 which has already been reproduced and displayed.
1 or DTN and the modified delivery image data D3 and D7 have been described as being overwritten and recorded.
The present invention is not limited to this. When the mobile phone 5 obtains the processed distribution image data D3 and D7 from the content servers 2 and 51 according to the user's request during the reproduction of the music data DO1 or DON, the card is The processed distribution image data D3 and D7 may be all or arbitrarily selected and recorded in the flash memory 35 in the pattern memory 26 or a predetermined internal or external recording medium. In this way, even when the distribution image is reproduced once and a new processed distribution image is acquired, thereafter, the distributed image and the processed distribution image can be displayed again and enjoyed.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the distribution image data DT1 to DTN composed of an image of one frame (ie, a still image) from the content servers 2 and 51 to the mobile phone 5 and the processed distribution Image data D
3, the case where D7 is provided is described.
The present invention is not limited to this. The moving image data corresponding to the reproduction time of the music data DO1 to DON and the music data DO1 to DON are transmitted from the content servers 2 and 51 to the mobile phone 5.
May be provided in accordance with the remaining playback time.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the present invention is applied to the electronic music distribution systems 1 and 50 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the system performs music distribution, the present invention can be widely applied to an information providing system having various other configurations. Incidentally, the electronic music distribution system 1 or 50 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22 is provided with an electronic approval processing device such as a bank, and the electronic approval processing device uses the electronic payment processing device to generate an electronic payment for music and images. By executing a typical decision-making process, it is possible to construct a new business model that can provide music using a network and can provide images accompanying the music by switching according to the user's request. is there.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the control unit 10 of the content servers 2 and 51
And 55 execute a series of processes corresponding to the request of the mobile phone 5 based on a music distribution program and a distribution image change program stored in the internal ROM in advance,
The case has been described where the control unit 30 of the mobile phone 5 executes a series of processes corresponding to the user's request based on the music data acquisition program and the music data reproduction program stored in the internal ROM in advance. The present invention is not limited to this. A program storage medium on which a music distribution program and a distribution image changing program are recorded can be installed in the content servers 2 and 51, and a program storage medium on which a music data acquisition program and a music data reproduction program are recorded May be executed in the mobile phone 5 to execute the above-described series of processing.

As described above, the music distribution program and the distribution image changing program for executing the above-described series of processes are installed in the content servers 2 and 51 and used to make the content servers 2 and 51 executable. For example, a floppy (registered trademark) is used as a program storage medium used for installing a music data acquisition program and a music data reproduction program into the mobile phone 5 so as to be executable by the mobile phone 5. ) Disc, CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory)
), A DVD (Digital Video Disc), or other package media, as well as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk in which programs are temporarily or permanently stored. As a means for storing a program in these program storage media, a wired or wireless communication medium such as a LAN, the Internet, or digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and the program is stored via various communication interfaces such as a router or a modem. You may do it.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the content server 2 having the configuration described above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 20 is used as an information providing apparatus for providing music data to a terminal device via a network. Although the case where 51 is applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as music data can be provided to a terminal device via a network, information providing devices of various other configurations are widely applied. be able to.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the portable telephone 5 having the configuration described above with reference to FIG. 9 is used as a terminal device for acquiring music data provided from an information providing device via a network. Although the description has been given of the case where the present invention is applied, the present invention is not limited to this, and if it is possible to acquire music data provided from an information providing apparatus via a network, a PDA (Personal D
In addition, terminal devices having various other configurations, such as digital assistants and personal computers, can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the network 3 and the wireless communication line are applied as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 19, as the network for connecting the information providing device and the terminal device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the information providing device and the terminal device can be connected,
Various other networks such as satellite communication and public network can be widely applied.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the case has been described where the network interface 11 is applied as the provider communication means for communicating with the terminal device via the network. The present invention is not limited to this, and if it is possible to communicate with a terminal device via a network, various other communication means on the providing side such as a modem can be widely applied according to the network to be used.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the music data storage section 12 and the image data storage section 13 having the HDD configuration are used as storage means in which a large number of types of music data and image data are stored in advance. , 56 are applied, but the present invention is not limited to this, and if a large number of types of music data and image data can be stored, as in the case of a storage means using a magneto-optical disk as a recording medium, In addition, various other storage means can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, when a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device is received by the provider communication means, the music is received from the storage means based on the music acquisition request. When the corresponding music data of the many types of music data is read out and sent to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device, and when the image acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device is received by the provider communication means, A microcomputer as a reading unit that reads out any one of the many types of image data from the storage unit and sends it to the providing-side communication unit for transmission to the terminal device every time the image acquisition request is received. Although the case where the control units 10 and 55 having the configuration are applied has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. When the music acquisition request is received, based on the music acquisition request, the corresponding music data of the various types of music data is read from the storage means and sent to the providing communication means for transmission to the terminal device, When an image acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device is received by the providing communication unit, each time the image acquisition request is received, any one of the many types of image data is read from the storage unit. If it can be transmitted to the providing side communication means for transmission to the terminal device, the reading means having various other configurations can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the date / time data generation unit 14 and the weather data acquisition unit 57 are applied as acquisition means for acquiring the situation when music data is reproduced by the terminal device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other configurations such as a navigation device for specifying a position may be used as long as a situation at the time of reproducing music data by the terminal device can be acquired. Can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the case where the control units 10 and 55 are applied as image generation means for processing image data to generate processed image data. As described above, the present invention is not limited to this. If the image data can be processed to generate the processed image data, image generating means having various other configurations can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, the case where the communication processing unit 32 and the antenna element 21 are applied as the terminal side communication means for communicating with the information providing apparatus via the network. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if it is possible to communicate with the information providing apparatus via a network, the terminal side communication means having various other configurations such as a modem according to the network to be used, etc. Can be widely applied.

Furthermore, in the above-described first and second embodiments, a case has been described in which the operation keys 23 and the input unit 31 are applied as input means for inputting a predetermined instruction request. The present invention is not limited to this, and if a predetermined instruction request can be input, input means having various other configurations such as a touch panel and a pointing device can be widely applied.

Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, a music acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal side communication means, so that the information providing apparatus transmits the music acquisition request. When the provided music data is received, the music data is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, and when reproducing the music data from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input unit, When the image acquisition request input via the input unit is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication unit and the image data provided from the information providing apparatus is received, the image data is stored in a recording medium. The case where the control unit 30 having the microcomputer configuration is applied as the recording / reproducing means for recording has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. When music data provided from the information providing device is received by transmitting the input music acquisition request to the information providing device by the terminal-side communication means, the music data is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, and input. When music data is reproduced from a recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the means, the image acquisition request input through the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means. As a result, when image data provided from the information providing apparatus is received, if the image data can be recorded on a recording medium, recording and reproducing means having various other configurations can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, in the terminal device, the flash memory 35 in the card type memory 26 is applied as a predetermined recording medium on which data is recorded / reproduced by the recording / reproducing means. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other recording media such as a magnetic disk can be widely applied.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, a case has been described in which time and weather are used as conditions for selecting image data.
The present invention is not limited to this, and various other situations, such as a place at the time of reproduction, may be used in association with one or more.

[0160]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information providing device can store a large number of types of music data stored in the storage means in advance based on a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device via the network. Read out the corresponding music data and provide it to the terminal device via the network,
When the image acquisition request is transmitted via the network in response to the input of the image acquisition request during the reproduction of the music data from the terminal device, based on the image acquisition request, a large number of images stored in the storage unit in advance. A request to acquire an image is input from a user during reproduction of music data by the terminal device by reading any image data out of the data and providing it to the terminal device via the network for recording. According to this, the image data selected so as to be sequentially different from the information providing device to the terminal device can be provided, and thus the service according to the user's request can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic music distribution system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a content server.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of data stored in a music data storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of data stored in an image data storage unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of distribution image data.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of background image data.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of processed distribution image data generated in response to a change request.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile phone.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a mobile phone.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram used to explain recording of data to a flash memory in a card type memory.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a reproduction instruction screen.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a playback instruction screen during music playback.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a change request of a distribution image from a mobile phone to a content server.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a music distribution processing procedure.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a distribution image change processing procedure.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a music data acquisition processing procedure.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a music data reproduction processing procedure.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a music data reproduction processing procedure.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic music distribution system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of a content server.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of data stored in an image data storage unit.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a distribution image change processing procedure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 50 ... electronic music distribution system, 2, 51 ... content server, 3 ... network, 4 ... base station, 5
... mobile phone, 10, 30, 55 ... control unit, 11 ...
... Network interface, 12 ... Music data storage unit, 13, 56 ... Image data storage unit, 14 ... Date and time data generation unit, 21 ... Antenna element, 22 ... Display unit, 24 ... Speaker, 26 ... Card type memory, 31
... Input unit, 32 ... Communication processing unit, 57 ... Weather data acquisition unit, DO1 to DON ... Music data, DB1 to DB
N: image number data, DT1 to DTN: distribution image data, DH1-1 to DH7-N: background image data, D
1 ... distribution data, D3, D7 ... processed distribution image data, CG ... character part, HG ... background part, RT
1 ... music distribution processing procedure, RT2, RT5 ... distribution image change processing procedure, RT3 ... music data acquisition processing procedure, R
T4: Music data reproduction processing procedure.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 7/173 640 H04N 7/173 640A

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. An information providing system for acquiring music data provided from an information providing device via a network by a terminal device, wherein the information providing device communicates with the terminal device via the network. When a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device is received by the providing-side communication means, based on the music acquisition request, The corresponding music data of the various types of music data is read from the storage means and sent to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device, and transmitted from the terminal device by the provider communication means. When the image acquisition request is received, every time the image acquisition request is received, a large number of types of the image data are stored in the storage unit. Reading means for reading out the image data of any one of the above and sending it to the providing side communication means for transmission to the terminal device, wherein the terminal device communicates with the information providing device via the network Terminal-side communication means, input means for inputting a predetermined instruction request, and the music acquisition request input via the input means being transmitted to the information providing device by the terminal-side communication means. When the music data provided from the information providing device is received, the music data is recorded on a predetermined recording medium, and the music data is recorded from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input means. When the data is being reproduced, the image acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal side communication means. Recording / reproducing means for recording the image data on the recording medium when the image data provided from the information providing apparatus is received. 2. The storage device of the information providing device stores in advance image data unique to the music data together with a large number of types of music data and image data. Based on the music acquisition request, the image data unique to the music data is read out together with the corresponding music data from the storage means, and sent to the providing communication means for transmission to the terminal device, and the providing communication is performed. When the image acquisition request including the image number data transmitted from the terminal device is received by the means, any one of the images corresponding to the image number data among the plurality of types of image data is received from the storage means. 2. The information according to claim 1, wherein data is read out and sent to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device. Test system. 3. The information providing apparatus further comprises: acquiring means for acquiring a situation at the time of reproducing the music data by the terminal device, wherein the reading means transmits the music data transmitted from the terminal device by the providing communication means. When the image acquisition request is received, any one of the image data according to the situation acquired by the acquisition unit is read out from the storage unit and transmitted to the terminal device. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted to the providing side communication means for the purpose. 4. The storage means of the information providing device stores in advance image data unique to the music data together with a large number of types of music data and image data, and the reading means of the information providing device comprises: Based on the music acquisition request, read the image number data unique to the music data together with the corresponding music data from the storage means, and send the read image number data to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device; When the image acquisition request including the image number data transmitted from the terminal device is received by the communication unit, the image acquisition request corresponding to the image number data among the plurality of types of image data from the storage unit, and Read out any one of the image data corresponding to the image data and send the image data to the providing side communication means for transmission to the terminal device. Information providing system according to claim 3. 5. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image generating unit configured to process the image data to generate processed image data, wherein the reading unit transmits the information transmitted from the terminal device by the providing communication unit. When the image acquisition request including the image number data is received, any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data among the various types of image data from the storage unit, and any one of the image data corresponding to the situation. The image data corresponding to the image number data read from the storage means by the reading means, and processing the image data according to the situation. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the processing unit generates one of the processed image data and sends the processed image data to the providing-side communication unit for transmission to the terminal device. Information system. 6. An information providing apparatus for providing music data to a terminal device via a network, comprising: a providing communication means for communicating with the terminal device via the network; When a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device is received by the stored communication unit and the providing-side communication unit, based on the music acquisition request, based on the music acquisition request, out of a large number of types of the music data, The corresponding music data is read out and sent to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device, and transmitted by the provider communication means in response to input of an image acquisition request when the music data is reproduced from the terminal device by the terminal device. When the image acquisition request is received, each time the image acquisition request is received, a large number of types of the image data are stored in the storage unit. Information providing apparatus characterized by comprising a read means for transmitting to the providing side communication means to transmit read any of the above-described image data to the terminal device out. 7. The storage means stores in advance image data unique to the music data together with a large number of types of music data and image data, and the reading means stores the music data and image data in response to the music acquisition request. From the terminal device by reading the image number data unique to the music data together with the corresponding music data, and transmitting the read image number data to the providing device communication means for transmission to the terminal device. When the image acquisition request including the image number data is received, any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data among the various types of image data is read out from the storage unit and transmitted to the terminal device. 7. The information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information is transmitted to the providing side communication means for the purpose. 8. An acquisition means for acquiring a situation when the music data is reproduced by the terminal device, wherein the reading means receives the image acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device by the provider communication means. Then, the providing-side communication is performed to read any one of the image data according to the situation acquired by the acquiring means from among the many types of image data from the storage means and transmit the image data to the terminal device. 7. The information providing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information is transmitted to a means. 9. The storage means stores in advance image data unique to the music data together with a large number of types of music data and image data, and the reading means stores the music data in response to the music acquisition request. From the terminal device by reading the image number data unique to the music data together with the corresponding music data, and sending the read image number data to the provider communication means for transmission to the terminal device. When the image acquisition request including the image number data is received, the image data corresponding to the image number data among the various types of image data from the storage unit, and any one of the image data according to the situation is stored. 9. The information providing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information providing apparatus reads out the information and sends the read information to the providing side communication means for transmission to the terminal apparatus. 10. An image generating means for processing said image data to generate processed image data, wherein said reading means includes said image number data transmitted from said terminal device by said providing side communication means. When the image acquisition request is received, any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data of the many types of image data from the storage unit and any one of the image data according to the situation are stored. Reading, the image generating means processes the image data corresponding to the image number data read from the storage means by the reading means and the image data according to the situation, and performs one processing The information providing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information providing apparatus generates the image data and sends the generated image data to the providing-side communication unit for transmission to the terminal device. 11. A terminal device for acquiring music data provided from an information providing device via a network, comprising: a terminal side communication means for communicating with the information providing device via the network; and inputting a predetermined instruction request. Means for receiving the music data provided from the information providing apparatus by transmitting a music acquisition request input through the input means to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means. And when the music data is recorded on a predetermined recording medium and the music data is reproduced from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input means, When the input image acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means, a large number of images provided from the information providing apparatus are provided. When one of the image data selected by the one of the data is received, the terminal apparatus characterized by the image data comprising a recording means for recording on the recording medium. 12. The recording / reproducing means, wherein the music acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means, and provided by the information providing apparatus. When music data and image number data unique to the music data are received, the music data and the image number data are recorded on the recording medium, and the recording is performed in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input unit. If the image acquisition request is input via the input means while the music data is being reproduced from the medium, the corresponding image number data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the image including the image number data is reproduced. An acquisition request is sent to the terminal-side communication means for transmission to the information providing apparatus, and as a result, provided by the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means 2. When any one of the plurality of types of image data corresponding to the image number data is received, the image data is recorded on the recording medium.
2. The terminal device according to 1. 13. The recording / reproducing means, when reproducing the music data from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input via the input means, receives the input via the input means. When the image acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing device by the terminal-side communication means, the image data is provided from the information providing device. The terminal device according to claim 11, wherein when the image data is received, the image data is recorded on the recording medium. 14. The recording / reproducing means, wherein the music acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means, and provided by the information providing apparatus. When music data and image number data unique to the music data are received, the music data and the image number data are recorded on the recording medium, and the recording is performed in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input unit. If the image acquisition request is input via the input means while the music data is being reproduced from the medium, the corresponding image number data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the image including the image number data is reproduced. An acquisition request is sent to the terminal-side communication means for transmission to the information providing apparatus, and as a result, provided by the information providing apparatus by the terminal-side communication means When any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data of the plurality of types of image data to be received and according to the situation is received, the image data is recorded on the recording medium. The terminal device according to claim 13, wherein: 15. The recording / reproducing means sends the image acquisition request including the image number data to the terminal side communication means for transmitting to the information providing device.
As a result, any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data among the multiple types of image data provided from the information providing device by the terminal-side communication unit, and the multiple types of the image data The terminal according to claim 14, wherein when one piece of processed image data generated from any one of the image data according to the situation is received, the processed image data is recorded on the recording medium. apparatus. 16. An information providing method for providing music data to a terminal device via a network, a receiving step of receiving a music acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device via the network, based on the music acquisition request. A music data transmitting step of reading out the corresponding music data from among a large number of types of music data stored in advance from a predetermined storage means and transmitting the read music data to the terminal device via the network; Each time the image acquisition request transmitted via the network in response to the input of the image acquisition request during the reproduction of the music data is received, the image data of any one of a large number of types of the image data is stored in the storage means. And transmitting the image data to the terminal device via the network. Information providing method characterized in that. 17. The music data transmitting step reads out the image number data unique to the music data stored in advance together with the corresponding music data from the storage means based on the music acquisition request, and reads the image number data via the network. Transmitting the image data request to the terminal device, receiving the image acquisition request including the image number data transmitted from the terminal device via the network, 17. The information providing method according to claim 16, wherein any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data in the data is read and transmitted to the terminal device via the network. 18. An image data acquiring step for acquiring a situation when the music data is reproduced by the terminal device, wherein the image data transmitting step comprises receiving the image acquisition request transmitted from the terminal device via the network. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein any one of the plurality of types of image data according to the situation is read out from the storage unit and transmitted to the terminal device via the network. Information provision method described in. 19. The music data transmitting step reads the image number data unique to the music data stored in advance together with the corresponding music data from the storage unit based on the music acquisition request, and reads the image data through the network. Transmitting the image data request to the terminal device, receiving the image acquisition request including the image number data transmitted from the terminal device via the network, 19. The information providing method according to claim 18, wherein any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data of the data and according to the situation is read and transmitted to the terminal device. 20. The image data transmitting step, upon receiving the image acquisition request including the image number data transmitted from the terminal device via the network, among the plurality of types of the image data from the storage means. Read out any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data and any one of the image data according to the situation, and read the image data corresponding to the read out image number data; 20. The information providing method according to claim 19, wherein the processed image data is processed to generate one processed image data and transmitted to the terminal device via the network. 21. An information acquisition method for acquiring music data provided from an information providing apparatus via a network, wherein a music acquisition request input via predetermined input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus via the network. A music data recording step of receiving the music data provided from the information providing apparatus via the network by transmitting the music data and recording the music data on a predetermined recording medium; and a reproduction instruction request input through the input means. Transmitting an image acquisition request to the information providing device via the network when an image acquisition request is input via the input means while the music data is being reproduced from the recording medium. Selected from among many types of image data provided from the information providing device via the network Information acquisition method characterized by receiving said image data comprising the image data recording step of recording on the recording medium. 22. The music data recording step, wherein the music acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus via the network, whereby the information providing apparatus transmits the music acquisition request via the network. Receiving the provided music data and the image data unique to the music data, and recording the received music data on the recording medium; and the image data recording step includes the step of recording in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input means. If the image acquisition request is input via the input means while the music data is being reproduced from the medium, the corresponding image number data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the image including the image number data is reproduced. By transmitting an acquisition request to the information providing device via the network, the information providing device 22. The information acquisition according to claim 21, wherein any one of the image data corresponding to the image number data among a large number of types of the image data provided as an image data is received and recorded on the recording medium. Method. 23. The image data recording step, wherein when the music data is reproduced from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input means, the image data is reproduced through the input means. When the acquisition request is input, the image acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing apparatus via the network, and the information providing apparatus transmits the image acquisition request to the information providing apparatus via the network. 22. The information acquisition method according to claim 21, wherein any one of the image data according to a situation at the time of reproducing the music data is received and recorded on the recording medium. 24. The music data recording step, wherein the music acquisition request input via the input means is transmitted to the information providing apparatus via the network, whereby the information providing apparatus transmits the music acquisition request via the network. Receiving the provided music data and the image data unique to the music data, and recording the received music data on the recording medium; and the image data recording step includes the step of recording in response to a reproduction instruction request input through the input means. If the image acquisition request is input via the input means while the music data is being reproduced from the medium, the corresponding image number data is reproduced from the recording medium, and the image including the image number data is reproduced. By transmitting an acquisition request to the information providing device via the network, the information providing device Receiving one of the image data corresponding to the image number data among the plurality of types of the image data provided in accordance with the situation and recording the received image data on the recording medium. Item 23. The information acquisition method according to Item 23. 25. The image data recording step, wherein the image acquisition request including the image number data is transmitted to the information providing device via the network, so that the information providing device provides a large number of information provided via the network. One of the image data corresponding to the image number data of the types of the image data and one of the image data corresponding to the situation among the multiple types of the image data. The method according to claim 24, wherein the processed image data is received and recorded on the recording medium. 26. A receiving step of receiving a music acquisition request transmitted from a terminal device via a network, and based on the music acquisition request, among a plurality of types of the music data stored in advance from a predetermined storage means. A music data transmission step of reading the corresponding music data and transmitting the music data to the terminal device via the network, and transmitting the music data from the terminal device via the network in response to an input of an image acquisition request when reproducing the music data. Every time the image acquisition request is received, an image data transmission step of reading any one of the many types of image data from the storage means and transmitting the image data to the terminal device via the network. A program storage medium for causing an information providing device to execute a program characterized by comprising: 27. A music acquisition request input via a predetermined input means is transmitted to an information providing apparatus via a network to receive music data provided from the information providing apparatus via the network. A music data recording step of recording on a predetermined recording medium; and when reproducing the music data from the recording medium in response to a reproduction instruction request input via the input means, an image is input via the input means. When the acquisition request is input, the image acquisition request is transmitted to the information providing device via the network, thereby selecting one of the many types of image data provided from the information providing device via the network. Image data recording step of receiving any of the image data and recording the image data on the recording medium. A program storage medium for causing a terminal device to execute a program.