JP2002183609A - Information use control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information use control system not increasing a user's burden, even if trying to newly download and continue to use information suited to new hardware wise specifications, although it is the same service, for the change or the like of hardware wise specifications of terminal equipment. SOLUTION: When a unit of music data is downloaded anew from a storage device 28 for the use in a cell phone 12, the music (classification) to which one music data belongs, includes a plurality of music data, and in the case the music data already used in the cell phone 12 belongs to the music, the number of used items (the number of titles of musical compositions) related to charging are maintained, so that the user's burden will not increase, even when the user is going to newly download and continue to use music data suited to new hardware specifications, although it is the same service, for the change or the like of hard specifications of the cell phone 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information use control system for utilizing information stored in a predetermined storage device by using a terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An information use control system for utilizing information stored in a predetermined storage device by using a large number of terminal devices connected through communication channels such as a public telephone line, a wireless line, and the Internet. It has been known. For example, an information use control system used for a service for distributing information such as ringtones, games, karaoke, and music in units of a unit in response to a request from a mobile phone of a member who has joined by a contract. In such an information use control system, the number of times information is used for each unit is charged. For example, usage is limited to the number of uses set in accordance with a preset contract fee, or charging is performed according to the number of uses.

In the above-mentioned information use control system, for example, a plurality of (unit) tunes for generating the same tune (one type) of music but having different sound source specifications, for example, the number of sound sources and sound source characteristics are different from each other. Data and a plurality of (unit) data which are for executing the same game but differ in the number of display colors, the operating system of the CPU, and the like are prepared. Can be used.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned information use control system, if there is a change in the hardware specifications of a terminal device due to, for example, replacement of an old device with a new device, or addition of a specification, the information use control system is used until that time. In some cases, information that was available may not be available, and new information that is the same as the previously used ringtone, ringtone, game, karaoke, or music but that conforms to the new hardware specifications is newly downloaded. It is necessary to use it. However, the number of times the downloaded information is used is linked to the billing, and the number of times the information is used is added by a new download. There is a drawback that the load on the user increases due to the increase.
For example, the specifications of a sound source for synthesizing music or voice to notify the incoming of a mobile phone by replacement of a model,
This is the case when the number of display colors, the number of pixels, or the operating system of the CPU is changed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to conform to a new hardware specification although the service is the same because of a change in the hardware specification of a terminal device. An object of the present invention is to provide an information use control system which does not increase the burden on the user even if the user tries to download and continue using the newly obtained information.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the gist of the present invention is to store information of a plurality of classes including at least one class to which a plurality of different units of information are distributed. A format in which one unit of information selected from a plurality of types of information stored in the storage device and downloaded from the storage device is downloaded and used in a predetermined terminal device, and the number of types of the used information is associated with billing. In the information use control system, when one unit of information is newly downloaded from the storage device for use in the terminal device, the classification to which the one unit of information belongs includes a plurality of units of information. If the information already used by the terminal device belongs to the classification, the unit number of the usage information related to the billing is maintained. That.

[0007]

In this manner, when one unit of information is newly downloaded from the storage device for use in the terminal device, the classification to which the one unit of information belongs includes a plurality of units of information. If the information already used by the terminal device belongs to the classification, the unit number of the usage information related to the billing is maintained, so that the hardware specification of the terminal device is changed. For this reason, even if the user tries to download and continue using the same service but new information that conforms to the new hardware specifications, the burden on the user does not increase.

[0008]

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the terminal device is a mobile phone, and the one unit of information is to output one music or a series of voices for notifying an incoming call of the mobile phone. Music data or audio data, and a plurality of units of information included in one of the plurality of classes of information stored in the storage device output one music or a series of sounds using different sound source specifications, respectively. A plurality of pieces of music data or voice data for outputting one piece of music or a series of voices respectively. If the other song data or audio data of the plurality of song data or audio data is already used at the time of the In which ie classification number or use number Song usage information is maintained in previous values. In this way, for the purpose of changing the hardware specifications of the mobile phone, music data or voice data that is the same incoming notification music or incoming notification sound but conforms to the new hardware specifications is newly downloaded and continuously used. Attempting to do so does not increase the burden on the user.

Preferably, the one unit of information is music data or voice data for outputting one music or a series of voices for notifying an incoming call of the mobile phone,
Download operation determining means for determining whether or not music data or voice data for notifying the incoming call has been downloaded by the mobile phone; and when predetermined music data or voice data has been downloaded by the download operation determination means. If it is determined, the song name of the newly downloaded song data or the product name of the audio data (the name indicating the data classification (the song name in the case of song data)) is the song name or name that has already been used. Used product name determining means for determining whether or not the product name (song name of music data or name of audio data) newly downloaded by the used product name determining means has not been used yet (song name or name) ), The count value of the number of used articles, for example, the number of used music pieces, is set to 1
However, if it is determined that the item name has already been used (song name or name), a use item number counting means for maintaining the used item number is included. In this way, if it is determined that the product name such as the name of the newly downloaded music data or the name of the audio data is not a product name that has not been used, the number of used products, that is, the number of used songs, is reduced by one. However, if it is determined that the song name or name has already been used, the number of used items is maintained, so that the burden on the user may increase as long as the same song name or name is used. Absent.

[0010] Preferably, the already-used item name judging means uses the song data of the newly downloaded song data that has already used the song data that generates the music of the song title using a different sound source specification. If there is, the music title is determined to be the already used music title. In this way, as long as the same music title is used, the burden on the user does not increase even if the music data is different.

[0011] Preferably, the music of the music title is transmitted from the mobile phone based on the music title newly input for notifying the incoming call by the mobile phone and the number of sound sources provided in the mobile phone. A plurality of song data number determining means for determining whether or not a plurality of song data which can be output are stored; and if the plurality of song data is determined to be stored by the song data number determining means, the plurality of song data Song data display means for displaying a plurality of song data in order to select any of the song data. According to this configuration, based on the song name newly input to notify the incoming call from the mobile phone and the number of sound sources provided in the mobile phone, a plurality of music titles can be output from the mobile phone. Since the song data is displayed on the display, the user can easily select a plurality of song data having different numbers of available sound sources according to the number of sound sources determined by the hardware specifications of the mobile phone.

Preferably, the model change determining means for determining whether or not the model of the mobile phone has been changed based on the identification information transmitted from the mobile phone; If it is determined that the model is to be changed, the music data or voice data that has already been used is replaced with the user name after the change in order to re-download the music or a series of sounds that notify the incoming of the mobile phone after the change. Model change data display means for selecting based on the sound source specification of the model and displaying it on the display of the mobile phone,
included. In this way, when the model of the mobile phone is changed, music or a series of voices for notifying the incoming call of a new model mobile phone for which no incoming notification music or a series of voices is initially set. Can be re-downloaded without forgetting, and you can use the same music ringing service without burden.

Preferably, sound source specification detecting means for detecting the sound source specification of the mobile phone after the change based on identification information transmitted from the mobile phone is provided. A plurality of music data or voice data of one used music or voice that can be output according to the sound source specification of the mobile phone after the change detected by the sound source specification detecting means is displayed on the display of the mobile phone. . In this way, when the model of the mobile phone is changed, at the beginning of the model change, the new model mobile phone in which the music or the series of voices of the incoming call notification is not set is adapted to the number of sound sources of the new model. Since a plurality of music data or voice data are displayed, by selecting the music data or voice data within the displayed range, the incoming call service of music having the same music name or voice name but different sound source specifications can be used without burden. it can.

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an incoming call notification music (known as ringtone) use system (ringtone use control device) of a portable telephone as an embodiment of an information use control system (information use control device) of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration when 10 is applied to a wireless switching system of a mobile phone company.
In FIG. 1, a large number of mobile phones 12 as terminal devices are provided.
Is connected to a wireless communication channel via a plurality of relay base stations 14, and exchange or connection of the mobile phone 12 is controlled by a central processing unit 16 connected to the plurality of relay base stations 14. ing. The central processing unit 16 includes a gateway 18 having a function of checking by translating a protocol, a wired, wireless,
A server 22 of an incoming notification music providing company which provides mobile phone incoming notification music, which is an information service company called a provider, is connected via a public communication line 20 such as the Internet.

The portable telephone 12 has a plurality of keys 24 and a display 26, and is communicable with a contract with a portable telephone company, and is provided with a UID (user identification number, for example, a telephone number). The plurality of keys 24
Is used when inputting the telephone number of the communication partner and when downloading the music for notification of the incoming call. The display 26 displays the telephone number of the input communication partner and the music data when downloading the music for the notification of the incoming call. Is displayed.

The server 22 includes a CPU, an RO,
M, RAM, a so-called microcomputer having an input / output interface, etc., is provided with a storage device 28 having a database (DB) storing various information, and music (melody) for notifying the incoming of the mobile phone 12. In order to provide the music data, the music data stored in the storage device 28 is downloaded, for example, within a predetermined number of articles used in a monthly contract in response to a request from the mobile phone 12 which has become a member in advance by a contract. , And is configured to control its use. The storage device 28 stores a large number of song names to be provided to each mobile phone 12 by a download operation, a model code (model name) of the mobile phone 12, a sound source specification necessary for synthesizing a song, and song data in association with each other. Song storage area (song database: song DB) 30 and the I of the service contracting member
A member storage area (member database: member DB) 32 in which D, the model, the number of used articles, the title of the used music, etc. are stored in association with each other.
And a model storage area (model database: model DB) for storing a model (model) of the mobile phone 12 and a model code (corresponding to a sound source specification) representing the model in association with each other.
34 are provided.

That is, the server 22 stores a large number of song data composed of a plurality of song title classes including at least a song title category (one category) to which a plurality of song data (unit information) having different sound source specifications are allocated. One song data selected from among the plurality of song categories stored in the song storage area 30 is downloaded and used by a predetermined mobile phone 12, and the used song data In the information use control system of the type in which the number of times of use is associated with the billing, when one piece of music data is downloaded from the music storage area 30 for use by the mobile phone 12, the music classification is Contains a plurality of music data and the mobile phone 12
If the music data already used in the above belongs to the music classification, the music data is updated so as to maintain the number of used music data items (the new number of downloaded music data data) associated with the charging. Execute data usage control.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 schematically show the contents of information stored in the music storage area 30, the member storage area 32, and the model storage area 34 in the storage device 28. FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, in the music storage area 30, a large number of music names, model codes (model names) of the mobile phone 12, sound source specifications necessary for synthesizing music, and music data are stored in association with each other. ing. This music data corresponds to one unit of information, and a set of music data that synthesizes music with the same music name but has different sound source specifications corresponds to one class of information. In the member storage area 32, as shown in FIG. 3, for each user (member) who has made a ringtone distribution service contract, a user ID (usually a mobile phone number: U
ID), the model name (model information) of the mobile phone, and the music data used so far are stored as one set. In the model storage area 34, as shown in FIG. 4, a model name of a mobile phone and a representative model code corresponding to a sound source specification of the model name are stored in association with each other.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining a main part of the control function of the server 22. In FIG. 5, the product name, song name or name input determination means 40
For example, the key 2 is used to determine whether a song name for notifying the incoming call or a corresponding song selection number has been input.
4 based on the signal from The music data number judging means 42, based on the music title newly input for notifying the incoming call by the mobile phone 12 and the sound source specification provided on the mobile phone 12, from the mobile phone 12 to the music of the music title Is determined based on the data stored in the music database 30. The song data display means 44
If the song data number determining means 42 determines that a plurality of song data are stored for the song name (name) selected and input from the mobile phone 12, any one of the plurality of song data is determined. For easy selection, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a display showing the plurality of music data is performed on the display 26 of the mobile phone 12.

The model change determination means 46 is identification information (user ID, model name of the mobile phone to be used, etc.) transmitted from the mobile phone 12 for each operation or sequentially, and is also called a user agent. Of the mobile phone 12 based on a comparison between the model (model) name included in the mobile phone 12 and the model (model) name stored in the location of the user ID included in the identification information in the member database 32. It is determined whether or not the model has been changed. The sound source specification judging means 48 detects the sound source specification (such as the number of sound sources and the characteristics of the sound source device) of the mobile phone 12 before the model change from the information stored in the member database 32, and detects the sound source specification of the mobile phone 12 after the model change. To the model database 34
, Based on the identification information (model name) actually transmitted from the mobile phone 12, and determines whether or not the sound source specifications before and after the model change, that is, the number of sound sources or the sound source characteristics are the same.
When the model change is determined by the model change determination unit 46, the model change song data display unit 50 displays a song for notifying the incoming of the mobile phone 12 after the model change to the member database 32. , Selects the song data already used by the old model before the model change based on the user ID and the tone generator specification of the model after the change, and the name of the music (name) already used by the old model before the model change A plurality of pieces of music data having the same title as that of the mobile phone 12 but having the same model as the mobile phone 12 after the model change can be output from the music database 30 using the user ID and the tone generator specification of the mobile phone 12 after the model change (corresponding to the model code) If the sound source specification before and after the model change is determined to be different by the sound source specification determining means 48, as shown in FIG. Of output that can be Song Title in the model, and 1
A display representing a plurality of music data for one music title is displayed on the display 26 of the mobile phone 12, and the sound source specification determining means 48
When it is determined that the sound source specifications before and after the model change are the same, for example, as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display unit 26.

In the state where the display shown in FIG. 6 or 7 is performed, the selection operation determining means 52 determines, for example, from the key 24 whether or not one of the music data displayed on the display is selected. Is determined based on the signal of For confirmation, the download confirmation screen display means 54 displays a screen representing the music data selected by the selection operation as shown in FIG.
To be displayed. Further, the download confirmation screen display means 54 determines that the music data number determination means 42 determines that one music data is stored instead of a plurality of music data for the music title selected and input. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, a screen representing one piece of music data corresponding to the music title input by the music title input operation is displayed on the display 26 prior to downloading.

The download operation determining means 56 determines whether or not the operation of downloading the music data for notifying the incoming call by the mobile phone 12 has been performed by using the display on the download confirmation screen shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. For example, the determination is made based on a signal from the key 24. When the download operation determining unit 56 determines that the download operation has been performed, the download control unit 58
The music data displayed on the download confirmation screen is transmitted from the music storage area 30 of the storage means 28 to the mobile phone 12 and stored therein.

The used item name determining means, that is, the used item name determining means 60, when the download operation determining means 56 determines that the predetermined music data has been downloaded, the name of the newly downloaded music data ( It is determined in the member storage area, that is, the member database 3 whether or not the (song name) is an article name (song name) that has already been used.
Judgment is made from the information in 2. The used article number counting means, that is, the used music piece number counting means 62,
If it is determined that the song name of the newly downloaded song data is a song name that has never been used, the count value of the number of used songs, that is, the number N of used articles is increased by one. When it is determined that the title is a certain music title, the number N of used articles is maintained. In the above, when the song name of the newly downloaded song data is a song name that has already been used, not only when the already used song data and the newly downloaded song data match, but also when the sound source specification Is different from the song data already used and the newly downloaded song data but have the same song title. If the number N of used articles reaches the upper limit _Nmax of the monthly usage contract, the use thereafter is restricted.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a main part of the control operation of the server 22, and shows a ringtone download control routine. The steps in FIG.
In step SA1, the identification information repeatedly transmitted from the mobile phone 12 is read. Then
In SA2 corresponding to the model change determination means 46,
It is determined whether or not the model of the mobile phone 12 has been changed. If the determination in SA2 is negative, in SA3 corresponding to the product name input determination means 40, it is determined whether or not the music name or music number of the music for notifying the incoming of the mobile phone 12 has been operated by, for example, the key 24. Is determined based on the signal of If the determination in SA3 is denied, the present routine is ended. If the determination is affirmative, in SA4 corresponding to the used item number determining means, the number of used items (number of used song names) N of the music for notifying the incoming call is determined. It is determined whether or not a predetermined monthly usage contract upper limit value _Nmax has been exceeded. If the determination in SA4 is affirmative, a display indicating that downloading is not possible is made in SA5, and then this routine is terminated and downloading is prohibited.

Initially, the judgment at SA4 is denied, so at SA6, the music data corresponding to the input music name is searched from the information stored in the music database 30. Next, in SA7 corresponding to the music data number determination means 42, it is determined whether or not a plurality of music data corresponding to the input music title exists corresponding to different sound source specifications. If the determination in SA7 is affirmative, in SA8 corresponding to the music data display means 44, for example, as shown in FIG.
In order to select one piece of music data, a plurality of pieces of music data having different sound source specifications are displayed for one piece of music. Next, in SA9 corresponding to the selection operation determination means 52, it is determined whether or not a selection operation for selecting music data has been performed. If the determination at SA9 is negative for a predetermined time or more, this routine is terminated.
SA corresponding to the download confirmation screen display means 54
At 10, for example, a screen shown in FIG. 8 is displayed for confirmation prior to the download operation.

Next, the download operation determining means 56
In SA11 corresponding to the above, it is determined whether or not a download operation has been performed, for example, based on a signal from the key 24. If the determination in SA11 is denied for a predetermined time or more, this routine is terminated. If the determination is affirmative, the SA corresponding to the download control unit 58 is determined.
At 12, the selected music data is transmitted to the mobile phone 12, and the mobile phone 12 stores the selected music data as an incoming call notification music. Then, the used product name judging means 6
In SA13 corresponding to “0”, the song name of the song data downloaded this time is changed to “1” within the current contract validity period.
A determination is made as to whether or not the song name matches a song name already used within a month. If they match, not only does the already used song data match the newly downloaded song data, but also the already used song data matches the newly downloaded song data due to different sound source specifications. No, but includes when the song name is the same. SA13 above
If the determination in step (1) is denied,
Is added to the number N of pieces of song data used (the number of new song data among downloaded song data, that is, the number of song titles) N in SA14 corresponding to the above, but if the result is affirmative, this routine ends. By doing so, the number N of used articles up to that time is maintained.

SA corresponding to the model change determination means 46
If the determination in step 2 is affirmative, the sound source specification determination means 4
In SA15 corresponding to 8, it is determined whether or not the sound source specifications of the mobile phone 12 before and after the change are the same. If the determination in SA15 is affirmative, the SA16 corresponding to the model change music data display means 50 is checked.
In FIG. 9, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a display indicating a song name that can be used in the model before the change and can be output according to the sound source specification of the model after the change is displayed on the display 26 of the mobile phone 12. However, when the determination of SA15 is denied,
SA1 corresponding to the song data display means 50 at the time of model change
In FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the name of a song that can be used in the model before the change and can be output with the tone generator specification of the model after the change, and a display indicating a plurality of song data for one song name are displayed on the mobile phone 12. Is displayed on the display 26.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the song data in a plurality of songs (classifications) including at least one song (classification) to which a plurality of song data as a plurality of units of information are distributed. Is stored in a predetermined storage device 28, and one piece of music data selected from a plurality of pieces of music data (classification) stored in the storage device 28 is downloaded to a predetermined mobile phone (terminal device) 12. In a song data use control system in which the number of types of used song data is used as a basis for charging, one unit of song data is newly downloaded from the storage device 28 for use in the mobile phone 12. When the song (classification) to which the one song data belongs includes a plurality of song data and the song data already used by the mobile phone 12 belongs to the song, Since the number of used items (number of used song names) of the song data related to the billing is maintained, the same service is adapted to the new hardware specification although the service is the same because the hardware specification of the mobile phone 12 is changed. Even if the user tries to download music data anew and continue using it, the burden on the user does not increase.

According to the present embodiment, the portable telephone 12
Download operation determining means 56 (SA11) for determining whether or not music data for notifying the incoming call has been downloaded, and when the download operation determining means 56 determines that predetermined music data has been downloaded. The used item name (song name) determining means 60 (SA1) for determining whether the song name of the newly downloaded song data is a song name that has already been used.
3) When the already-used item name judging means 60 determines that the item name (song name) of the newly downloaded song data is an item name that has never been used, the number of used items (song name or type) is determined. The count value N is incremented by one, but if it is determined that the song name has already been used, the used article number counting means 62 maintains the count value N of the used article number.
Since (SA14) is included, if it is determined that the song name of the newly downloaded song data is a song name that has never been used, the number of song data items used (of the downloaded song data) The count value N of the number of new songs, that is, the number of song titles) is increased by 1, but if it is determined that the song title has already been used, the count value N is maintained, so the same song title is used. The burden on the user will not increase as long as

Further, according to the present embodiment, the used item name judging means 60 determines that the song name of the newly downloaded song data is the song data that generates the music of the song name using a different sound source specification. If the song has already been used, it is determined that the song name has already been used. Therefore, as long as the same item name (song name) is used, the burden on the user does not increase even if the song data is different. .

Further, according to the present embodiment, the portable telephone 12
The key 24 determines whether or not a song name for notifying the incoming call or a corresponding song selection number has been input.
Input determination means 40 for determining based on a signal from
(SA3), the song name newly input to notify the incoming call by the mobile phone 12 and the mobile phone 12
Mobile phone 1 based on the sound source specifications provided in
The song data number judging means 42 (SA7) for judging whether or not a plurality of song data capable of outputting the music having the song name from the song database 30 is stored in the song database 30; Is stored, the song data display means 44 (for example, as shown in FIG. 6) for displaying the plurality of song data in order to select any of the plurality of song data. SA
8) is provided, and based on the music title newly input for notifying the incoming call from the mobile phone 12 and the sound source specification provided on the mobile phone 12, the mobile phone 12 Since a plurality of pieces of music data capable of outputting the music of the music name are displayed on the display 26, the user can input a plurality of music data having different sound source specifications according to the sound source specifications determined by the hardware specifications of the mobile phone 12. Easy to choose.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the portable telephone 12
Model change determining means 46 (SA2) for determining whether or not the model of the mobile phone 12 has been changed based on the user agent transmitted from the mobile phone 12, and the model change of the mobile phone 12 is determined by the model change determining means 46. In this case, in order to re-download the music that notifies the incoming of the mobile phone 12 after the change, the music data already used is based on the user name and the sound source specification (the number of sound sources) of the model after the change. Model change music data display means 50 (SA) to automatically select and display on the display 26 of the mobile phone 12
16 and SA17), when the model of the mobile phone 12 is changed, music for notifying the incoming call of the new model of the mobile phone 12 to which the incoming call notification music is not initially set is set. Can be re-downloaded without forgetting, and you can use the same music ringing service without burden.

According to the present embodiment, the sound source specification of the mobile phone 12 after the model change is detected based on the user agent transmitted from the mobile phone 12, and whether the sound source specifications before and after the model change are the same is determined. A sound source specification judging unit 48 (SA15) for judging whether or not the model is changed is provided, and the model change display unit 50 (SA17) can output according to the sound source specification of the mobile phone 12 after the model change, for example, as shown in FIG. Since a plurality of pieces of music data for a single used music piece are displayed on the display 26 of the mobile phone 12, when the model of the mobile phone 12 is changed, the music of the incoming call notification is initially set. Is displayed on the display unit 26, since a plurality of pieces of music data conforming to the sound source specifications of the new model are displayed for the new model of the mobile phone 12 in which is not set. By selecting a song data in 囲内, there is at the same Song Title can be used without the burden of the incoming service of different music of the sound source specification.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the present invention can be applied to other embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case is described in which a music data use control system in which a plurality of music data having different sound sources are prepared for music having the same music title by the server 22 of the provider. However, instead of the music data, the music data may be used for distribution of a series of voices, for example, voice data for outputting a message, karaoke data, music data, and the like.
Further, instead of the music data, a plurality of units of game data are prepared for the same game for devices having different numbers of display pigments on the screen, the number of pixels per unit area, or the operating system of the CPU, for example. A game data use control system in which one unit of game data selected from a plurality of units of game data conforming to the hardware specifications of the device in response to a request from the user is downloaded.

In the above embodiment, the portable telephone 12
The use of song data for synthesizing a song for alerting the incoming of a song has been described in the case where the number N of items used per month of the song data is within the contracted item count _Nmax . The contract may be of a type charged for each N. In short, it is only necessary that the number of used items N of the music data be related to the billing.

In the flowchart of FIG. 10, the order of the steps and the like can be changed as appropriate.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, this is merely an embodiment,
The present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved aspects based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a music data use control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mutual relationship between data stored in a music storage area provided in a storage device of the music data use control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mutual relationship of data stored in a member storage area provided in a storage device of the music data use control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mutual relationship between data stored in a model storage area provided in a storage device of the music data use control system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram for explaining a main part of a control function of the server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which one of music data is selected.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a screen displayed on a display of a mobile phone by the music data display means.

FIG. 7 is a screen displayed on the display of the mobile phone by the model change-time song data display means of FIG. 5 so that new song data can be selected when the model change is detected;
It is a figure showing a screen when a sound source specification (the number of sound sources) differs before and after model change.

8 is a diagram illustrating a screen displayed on the display of the mobile phone by the download confirmation screen display means of FIG. 5 for confirming the music data to be downloaded.

FIG. 9 is a screen displayed on the display of the mobile phone by the model change-time song data display means of FIG. 5 to allow the user to select new song data when the model change is detected;
It is a figure showing a screen when a sound source specification (the number of sound sources) is the same before and after a model change.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a main part of a control operation of the server in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Incoming call notification music use control system (information use control device) 12: Mobile phone (terminal device) 22: Storage device 42: Music data number judgment means 44: Music data display means 46: Model change judgment means 48: Sound source specification Judgment unit 50: Model change song data display unit 56: Download operation judgment unit 60: Used song name judgment unit (Used item name judgment unit) 62: Used song number counting unit (Used item number counting unit)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Majima 566-1 Karasuma Oikeshita Le Torayacho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Faith Co., Ltd. 1 Face Inc.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of classes of information including at least a class to which a plurality of different units of information are allocated are stored in a predetermined storage device, and one of the plurality of classes selected from the plurality of classes of information stored in the storage device. In an information use control system in which classification information is downloaded and used by a predetermined terminal device, and the number of units of the downloaded information is associated with charging, the information use control system includes: When information of a unit is newly downloaded, when the classification to which the information of one unit belongs includes information of a plurality of units and the information already used in the terminal device belongs to the classification, Is a system for maintaining the number of units of information associated with the billing. 2. The terminal device is a mobile phone, wherein the one unit of information is music data or voice data for outputting one music or a series of voices, and a plurality of pieces of information stored in the storage device. The information of a plurality of units included in one classification of the classification information is a plurality of music data or audio data for respectively outputting one music or a series of sounds using sound sources of different specifications. When any one of a plurality of song data or voice data for outputting a song or a series of voices is downloaded, another one of the plurality of song data or voice data is downloaded. 2. The information use method according to claim 1, wherein when the music data or the voice data has already been used, the number of used articles associated with the billing is maintained at the previous value. Control system. 3. The one unit of information is music data or voice data for outputting one music or a series of voices for notifying the incoming call of the mobile phone, and for notifying the incoming call by the mobile phone. Download operation determining means for determining whether or not the music data or voice data of the predetermined music data or audio data has been downloaded; and if the predetermined music data or voice data is determined to be downloaded by the download operation determination means, a new Used item name determining means for determining whether or not the item name of downloaded song data or audio data is an item name that has already been used; song data or audio newly downloaded by the used item name determining device If it is determined that the data item name is an item name that has never been used, the number of used items is set to 1
3. The information use control system according to claim 2, further comprising: a use item counting means for maintaining the number of use items when it is determined that the name of the item has already been used. 4. The already-used item name judging means, when the song name of the newly downloaded song data has already been used, if the song data for generating the music of the song name using a different number of sound sources is used. 4. The information use control system according to claim 3, wherein the information use control system determines that the name is an already used item. 5. A plurality of music titles which can be output from the mobile phone based on the music title newly input for notifying the incoming call by the mobile phone and the number of sound sources provided in the mobile phone. Song data number determining means for determining whether song data is stored; and if the song data number determining means determines that a plurality of song data are stored, any one of the plurality of song data The information use control system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising: music data display means for displaying a display of the plurality of music data in order to select the music data. 6. A model change judging means for judging whether or not the model of the mobile phone has been changed based on identification information transmitted from the mobile phone, and a model change of the mobile phone is judged by the model change judging means. If it is displayed, in order to re-download a song or a series of voices notifying the incoming of the mobile phone after the change, music data or voice data that has already been used is selected based on the specification of the sound source. 4. The information use control system according to claim 2, further comprising a model change data display means for displaying the data on a display of a mobile phone. 7. The data display means at the time of model change detects the number of sound sources of the mobile phone after the change based on identification information transmitted from the mobile phone, and detects the number of sound sources of the mobile phone after the change. 7. The information use control system according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of music data or voice data of one output tune or a series of voices that can be output are displayed on a display of the mobile phone. 8. The information use control system according to claim 1, wherein said one unit of information is game data.