JP2002108359A - Downloading system, information processor, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to enjoy information distributed via a network or downloaded multimedia contents of music, etc., without being aware of trouble for network connection. SOLUTION: It is discriminated (step S26) whether or not a file (data specified at a step S22) to be downloaded is an album file consisting of pieces of music data and when so, it is discriminated (step S27) whether or not a folder for the album is present in a download storage area 554 of a memory 55 by referring to the storage contents (specifically, root directory) of a downloaded data storage management area 553. When there is not the folder for the album, on the other hand, a folder is generated and registered in the downloaded data storage management area (step S28).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a download system, an information processing apparatus, and a recording medium.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Today, with the development of communication technology and the improvement of communication infrastructure, distribution services and download services of various multimedia contents by e-mail, Internet connection, and the like have become widespread. Also,
Apart from this, applications specialized in multimedia, such as playing and editing music downloaded in a data format such as MP3 and processing images on a personal computer, are also becoming widespread.

[0003]

However, as described above,
Even if the network environment and applications controlled and executed by personal computers have become widespread, it is necessary to be aware of this when connecting to the Internet under the current situation, and it is troublesome for PC users to enjoy multimedia contents. There was something to feel. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and allows a user to enjoy information distributed from a network or multimedia contents such as downloaded music without being bothered by a network connection. It is an object of the present invention to provide a download system, an information processing device, and a recording medium that can be used.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a download system, comprising: a server for managing a database for storing a plurality of music data; and a server connected to the server. Thus, in a download system including a terminal that downloads song data from the database via a network, the terminal obtains information on the song data downloaded from the database, and obtains the information by the obtaining unit. Storage means for managing the downloaded music data in folders based on the information on the downloaded music data and storing the data. Therefore,
When information about the downloaded song data is acquired from the database, the downloaded song data is managed and stored in a folder based on the acquired information about the song data. Therefore, the downloaded song data can be easily organized and stored.

[0005] In the information processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, a connection means for connecting to a server via a network, and the connection means connects to the server, so that the server is connected to the server. Download means for downloading song data from the database, acquiring means for externally acquiring information on the song downloaded by the download means, and downloading the song data based on the information on the song data acquired by the acquiring means. Storage means for managing and storing in a folder. Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 2, it is possible to function as a terminal in the download system according to the invention described in claim 1. Therefore, it is possible to provide a terminal capable of constructing a system capable of easily organizing and storing downloaded music data.

In the recording medium according to the third aspect of the present invention, a connection procedure for connecting to a server via a network, and the connection procedure connects to the server, so that the connection is established via the server. A download procedure for downloading song data from the database, an acquisition procedure for acquiring information about the song downloaded in the download procedure from outside, and a downloaded song data based on the information about the song data acquired in the acquisition procedure. And a program for causing the information processing apparatus to execute a storage procedure of managing the information in a folder and storing the information in a memory. Therefore, according to the recording medium of the third aspect, by causing the computer to read the recorded program, the computer can easily function as the terminal of the invention according to the first aspect. Therefore, it is possible to easily provide a terminal capable of constructing a system capable of easily organizing and storing downloaded music data.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the system according to the first embodiment has a wireless communication function between a Web server 2 connected to a network 1 and a base station 3,
The Web server 2 includes a telephone network 4 and a PC 5 that can access the Web server 2 via the network 1. The Web server 2 includes a database 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the Web server 2 includes a communication control unit 22, an operation unit (keyboard) 23, a control unit (main frame) 24, a work memory 25, a display unit (display) 26, a storage management unit 27, Recording medium reading unit 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes a system interconnected by a system bus 21, which distributes data (music information) stored in the database 6 for a fee to the PC 5 operated by the registrant and provides a download service.

The communication control unit 22 is connected to the network 1 shown in FIG.
It has a function of controlling the connection when transmitting and receiving information by connecting to the database 6 via a LAN or a wide area network, and controls a port connected to a modem or a LAN system.

The storage management unit 27 includes a registrant management DB 271 for managing registrants who receive the service, a database 6 management DB 272 for managing the accumulation status of music information of various media stored in the database 6, and a log file 273. And The recording medium reading unit 28 reads information recorded on an external recording medium 29 (specifically, a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a floppy (registered trademark) disk) based on an operation from the operation unit 23.
It has a function of outputting to the system bus 21.

As shown in FIG. 3, the registrant management DB 271 has a "management address" in the DB, a "user ID" and "password" used for registrant authentication, a registrant's name, contact information, and various downloads. "User information" composed of account information for payment of service fee, payment status, file data downloaded in the past, "service fee" generated when using the service up to now, and provision of registrant's service Is managed as one record, and a plurality of such records are stored and managed.

The DB 6 for database 6 management is
As shown in FIG. 4, the “management address” in the DB, the “storage address in the database 6”, which is the storage location of each music information file in the database 6, the “file name”, the artist, the label,
Single / album, record company, release time, etc.
"Comment data", "data size", file format, "file attributes" such as format, image information (jacket data, icon information, video information) , Lyrics information), the number of permitted copies, the number of permitted reproductions, “other accompanying data” such as the reproduction period, and the “registration date / update date” that is the date registered / updated in the database 6 are managed as one record. And a plurality of records are stored and managed. Also,
The log file 273 statistically manages the music information distributed in the past and the history of various services such as the file name and count number of the file requested to be downloaded, in association with the storage contents of the DB 272 for database 6 management. This is the file to be executed.

The PC 5 is a so-called mobile type that can be carried by a registrant, and as shown in the schematic configuration block diagram of FIG. 5, is mainly constituted by a CPU 51 that controls each unit. The CPU 51 includes an input / output unit 52, a position detection circuit 5
3, display drive circuit 54, memory 55, transmission / reception unit 56, system memory 57, recording medium reading unit 58, RAM6
2 and the tuner 63 are connected. The input / output unit 52 includes a keyboard provided with various buttons to be described later, a hard disk (HD),
Record and read information to and from the DR drive, DVD-RAM drive, VHS video drive, DV (digital video) drive, MD drive, and MP3 media drive 302, and 5.1CH or 6CH Dolby (registered trademark) digital Alternatively, it is an interface unit for inputting and outputting data to and from a three-dimensional audio output system such as DTS, and is also connected to a mouse. CR-R
The OM drive 101 is an example of a specific configuration of various media drives connected to the input / output unit 52, and includes a scanner 105 that optically reads a print surface formed on the upper surface of the CD 104. Have been. In the PC 5, the operation of each drive is performed by an operation button on a keyboard of the PC, a PC main body, or software of the PC. In addition, after information is recorded on any selected media, each media can be carried by dedicated hardware for reproducing these media, so that the user can select the desired location at any desired time. It is possible to play such media in a short time.

The position detecting circuit 53 includes a tablet 59
The display drive circuit 54 detects the input position in response to a pen input or the like by the user.
Is to be driven. The memory 55 is constituted by a hard disk (HD). In this memory 55, the user information storage area 551 stores the We
b. Connection information to server 2 (in the case of Internet connection, the URL (Uniform Resource
urce Locators), registrants (= users)
D and password), connection history with the Web server 2 such as what kind of music information has been received in the past, what file (song, music) has been downloaded,
And an area for storing an amount to be paid when the service is used. A distribution information storage area 552 is an area for storing music information such as new music information distributed from the Web server 2. In addition, a download data storage management area 553 for storing information on files downloaded up to now, Download storage area 554 for storing downloaded files, C
It is divided by the work area 555 of the PU 51 and the like.
FIG. 6 illustrates the storage state of the download data storage management area 553. The “management address” of the storage area, the “file name” of the downloaded file, the “file storage address” in the download storage area 554, and the album "Property data" composed of data related to the file, such as name, artist, lyrics, release date, etc., and "Download related data" composed of data related to the service, such as the number of playbacks, playback period, number of copies, etc. , Image information (“other accompanying data” composed of jacket data, icon data, etc.) and “date of download” are managed as one record, and a plurality of these records are stored and managed. For performing wireless communication with the telephone network 4 via the base station 3 Is composed of a modulator and a demodulator or the like. The system memory 57, OS (Operating Sy
The recording medium reading unit 58 reads a program stored in the recording medium 61. Then, based on the program read by the recording medium reading unit 58 from the recording medium 61, the CPU 51 executes necessary processing or controls each unit as shown in a flowchart described later.

The RAM 62 has a function as a work memory for temporarily storing data input from the outside.

In the first embodiment having the above configuration, the CPU 51 causes the recording medium reading unit 58 to
Based on the program read from No. 1, the process is executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The download file folder creation processing flow shown in FIG. 7 manages the storage location for each artist at the time of download, and creates a new folder using the artist name as the folder name for a new artist file. It is. In this flow, an artist name, an album name, and a song name of a downloaded file are automatically determined by referring to data on the file in the database 272 for management of the database 6 downloaded together with the file from the Web server 2.

That is, after connecting to the Web server 2 (step S21), specifying a file to be downloaded (step S22), a finalized input is performed (step S21).
23). Next, it is determined by searching the download data storage management area 553 whether or not an artist folder corresponding to the data to be captured exists in the download data storage area 554 of the memory 55 (step S24).
If it already exists, the process proceeds to step S26 without performing the process of step S25. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the artist name P4 of the song to be downloaded is displayed on the display unit 60.

As shown in FIG. 8B, the name of the artist to be downloaded ("$%" shown in FIG. 8A).
&! If the folder “)) does not exist, the memory 55
A new folder having this artist name as a folder name is created in the download data storage area 554, and registered in the download storage management area 553 (Step S).
25). As a result, as shown in FIG. 8C, a folder with the folder name “$% &!” Is newly created.

Next, it is determined whether or not the file to be downloaded (data specified in step S22) is an album file composed of a plurality of music data (step S26).
It is determined whether there is an album folder in the download storage area 554 with reference to the storage contents (specifically, the root directory) of the download data storage management area 553 (step S27). If there is no album folder, a folder is created and registered in the download storage management area 553 (step S28).

If the download data is not an album file (NO in step S26) and if an album folder has already been created (step S2)
If 7 is NO), it is determined whether or not the download data is a single file (step S29). If it is a single file, it is further determined whether or not it is one song. If it is not one (usually a single is often two songs), a single folder is created (step S31). . Thereafter, the music data of the album or single is stored (step S33).

That is, if the file to be stored is information related to one piece of music data, the music data is directly stored in a folder with an artist name, and if the file contains a plurality of music, the music data is further stored. Check the content of the information, for example, whether it is album information or single information, create an album folder and a single folder as needed, divide each song data into one song data, Store and manage.

According to the first embodiment, for the music data in the downloaded file, the user does not need to operate or manage the file in the subsequent processing, and the processing can be reduced.

In the first embodiment, the folder is automatically created and managed by referring to the artist name. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, "J-POP"
Or a music genre such as "Jazz", a label, or a record company.

(Second Embodiment) The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Operations such as file management performed by the PC 5 are the same as those of the first embodiment. It is applied.

In this embodiment, when the song data desired to be downloaded is a specific song in an album file composed of a plurality of song data, a case in which file management is automatically performed at the time of the download is described in detail. It is described.

The processing flow shown in FIG. 9 realizes a storage destination determining function and a download file candidate determining function when not downloading all the music data of the album file. That is, when the designation of a file including the music data to be downloaded is detected (step S81), the download of the designated file is executed (step S52). Next, it is determined whether or not this download is a download of one song in an album file composed of a plurality of song data (step S83). That is, when downloading,
Based on the information transmitted from the Web server 2 and created based on the contents of the database 6 management DB 272, album information as shown in FIG. 10A is displayed, and the song to be downloaded is included in the album information. Of 1
If it is a song (information P7), as shown in FIG. 10B, it is determined whether or not there is an artist folder 11 in the artist folder 10 corresponding to the album information in the storage destination (step S84). If there is, the process proceeds to step S86; otherwise, the album folder 1
1 is created (step S85). Thereafter, the storage location of the song data to be downloaded is designated to the album folder (step S86), and the above-mentioned step S86 is performed.
The downloaded song data is stored in step 82 (step S87). As a result, as shown in FIG. 10C, a plurality of single files 12 are stored in the album folder 11 of the artist folder 10.

According to the second embodiment, a user who wants to select and download some song data from an album file downloads only one song from the same album file previously downloaded. Specify or new one from album file
When the download of only a song is designated, a plurality of single files 12 are generated in the album folder 11 by the flow shown in FIG. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily and easily create an album file composed of favorite songs.

(Third Embodiment) The configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the file to be downloaded is managed only by operating icon data and the like. The case of performing this will be described in detail.

The icon information file processing flow shown in FIG. 11 realizes a function of transferring a file having a plurality of icons, particularly a function of automatically changing the display mode of icons when a folder operation or a hierarchy change is performed. Things.
That is, in the present embodiment, the memory 55 of the PC 5
As shown in FIGS. 12B and 12C, the download data storage area 554 has a hierarchical structure such as a drive / music file storage folder / artist folder / album folder / single folder as shown in FIGS. Download files are managed. When the user accesses the Web server 2 and specifies a file to be downloaded from the database 6, the file is downloaded to the RAM 62 of the PC 5 and temporarily stored (step S131). However, the downloaded file includes data (file name, comment data, data size, file format, other accompanying data, and registration data) stored in the database 6 management database 272 in association with the downloaded file. Date / update date), and other accompanying data includes a plurality of pieces of icon information applied to the present embodiment. The icon information includes an artist icon, an album icon, a single icon, a song order icon, and the like.

That is, when a plurality of pieces of icon information included in the downloaded file are obtained (step S
132) In order to specify the storage location of the download file by operating the displayed icon information, first, an icon corresponding to the display area of the folder is extracted from the obtained icon information and displayed on the display unit 60. (Step S133), storage destination designation processing is performed (Step S134). In this processing, the storage location of the download file is stored in the download data storage area 55.
4 is determined (step S5), and if the storage destination is the music file storage folder, an artist icon is extracted from the acquired icon information and displayed in the display area of the folder. It is displayed (step S136).

It is determined whether or not the storage destination is an artist folder under the music file storage folder (step S137). If it is an artist folder, a single icon is extracted from the acquired icon information, and the corresponding icon is extracted. Display in the display area of the folder (step S
138).

Further, it is determined whether or not the storage destination is an album folder below the artist folder (step S139). If the storage destination is an album folder, an album icon is extracted from the obtained icon information, and the album icon is extracted. Display in the folder display area (step S1
40).

It is determined whether the storage destination is a single folder further below the album folder (step S141). If the storage destination is a single folder, a music order icon is extracted from the acquired icon information. And
The folder is displayed in the display area (step S14)
2).

If the storage destination is not a single folder at the lowest level, the file is simply treated as a music file, a music file album icon is extracted from the acquired icon information, and displayed in the corresponding area. (Step S140).

When the storage destination designation processing is completed, the storage contents related to the download data in the download data storage management area 553, specifically, “other accompanying data” and “property data” are rewritten.
This processing ends. (The setting of the display mode of the icon is not shown, but flag information is set corresponding to each icon data of the downloaded icon information. By setting “1” or “0” to this, the display is set. Can be changed.)

Note that this display processing is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (C), in the operation of the tablet 59,
By specifying the icon and dragging and dropping,
It is desirable to be able to change the display of icons.

According to the third embodiment, the user can not only easily manage the downloaded file, but also can easily grasp the storage environment of the download data storage area 554. .

(Fourth Embodiment) The configuration of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. When a plurality of types of files are stored in the download data storage area 554, various files are stored. This is a detailed description of the case where the icon information for identifying is changed and set according to the type of the file (attribute information).

The icon change processing flow shown in FIG. 13 realizes a function of clearly identifying and displaying by changing the size of the music file icon.

First, the CPU 51 of the PC 5 operates according to the flow of FIG. 13 to execute a file creation process (step S311). Next, it is determined whether the type (attribute information) of the created file is A, B, C,... (Steps S312, S314, S316,...).
・ ・). If the type of the created file is A, an icon of size 1 is determined (step S31).
3) If it is B, an icon of size 2 is determined (step S315), if it is C, an icon of size 3 is determined (step S317). Determine the size.

According to the fourth embodiment, when a music file is created, the size of the icon is changed so as to be larger than that of the other icons. Image information such as jacket data can also be pasted, so that it can be clearly recognized.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, when information about downloaded music data is acquired from a database, downloaded music data is managed in a folder based on the acquired information about music data. Since the music data is stored in the memory, the downloaded music data can be easily organized and stored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a Web server.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a registrant management DB.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a database management DB configuration.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a PC.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a storage state of a download data storage management area.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a folder creation process of a download file;

FIG. 8 is a display transition diagram of a display unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a display transition diagram in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a display transition diagram in the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Network 2 Web Server 3 Base Station 4 Telephone Network 5 PC 51 CPU 55 Memory 56 Transmitter / Receiver 57 ROM

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A download system comprising: a server that manages a database that stores a plurality of music data; and a terminal that connects to the server to download music data from the database via a network. The terminal includes: an acquiring unit that acquires information about the song data downloaded from the database; and a storage unit that manages and stores the downloaded song data in a folder based on the information about the song data acquired by the acquiring unit. A download system comprising: 2. A connection means for connecting to a server via a network; a download means for downloading music data from a database via the server by being connected to the server via the connection means; Acquisition means for acquiring information about the downloaded music from outside, and storage means for managing and storing the downloaded music data in a folder based on the information about the music data acquired by the acquisition means. Information processing device. 3. A connection procedure for connecting to a server via a network, a download procedure for downloading music data from a database via the server by being connected to the server by the connection procedure, An acquisition procedure for acquiring information about the downloaded song from the outside, and a storage procedure for managing the downloaded song data in a folder and storing it in a memory based on the information about the song data acquired in the acquisition procedure. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program to be executed by a processing device is recorded.