JP2002215622A - Contents providing method and system, contents related information providing device, contents providing program, and storage medium storing contents providing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents providing method and system, a contents providing device and a storage medium storing a contents providing program allowing integral distribution and management in the case of distributing contents of a movie, books, music, and the like and information on these contents, and further allowing distribution corresponding to a user's request and environment. SOLUTION: A DCD handler of a user terminal receives a service request from the user, transmits held DCD, a user policy and a system profile to a contents providing device and inquires of the contents providing device about information on the contents and available service provider information. The contents providing device transmits more detailed contents information and service provider information to the DCD handler. The DCD handler acquires contents data from a service provider on the basis of the service provider information, performs required processing and provides the user with the data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content providing method and system, and a storage medium storing a content providing program. The present invention relates to a content providing method and system to be provided, and a storage medium storing a content providing program.

2. Description of the Related Art Today, contents and information related thereto are provided to users by various methods on the Internet. For example, in the case of music, MP3
In many cases, data is distributed via the Internet in a data format (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3). There are various forms of the distribution method. The simplest example is
There is a form in which MP3 data is posted on a Web page together with information on the MP3 data.

[0002] As another example, a user downloads a file describing information about music from a server that distributes music by using special MP3 acquisition software,
Then, there is a music data download.

For example, on each client machine, a user sends MP3 data held by the user himself and information on his location to a central server using special software. The server manages the MP3 data and the location information of each client. Each user can browse information held by the server, and can download necessary MP3 data from another client based on the information.

Further, a system similar to the above example is realized by distributing and cooperating each client without requiring a server.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned conventional content data distribution system has the following problems.

First, there is a problem that distribution and acquisition means of contents and information are not unified. This is because the current content and the method of distributing information related to the content largely depend on the providing system of the content provider, and for example, unified content cannot be obtained across a plurality of content providers.

[0007] That is, when acquiring certain content data, it is difficult to compare prices and conditions with a plurality of content providers to consider purchasing, and it is difficult to provide the content data or the information provider to a specific provider. There is also a risk of being fixed to.

[0008] In addition, there is a difference in information that can be obtained by the user's search ability, for example, by using a search engine for the method of obtaining information on contents.

[0009] On the contrary, when viewed from the supply side, there is no means for providing the unspecified number of users with the content data or the information on the content, and it is necessary to perform the distribution work according to each distribution system.

[0010] Second, there is a problem that there is no unified management method of content data and information related thereto.

[0011] Since each provider manages content and information, it is not easy to update content data and information.

In addition, since they are not centrally managed,
For example, when a user indicates content data,
It can be expressed only within the range managed by a specific provider.
In other words, there is no method for specifying general-purpose content data across providers. On the other hand, there is a unique identifier assigned to content data such as a content ID,
There is no framework that centrally manages content data or information related to content from the content ID, and allows a user to acquire and use content data or information related to content based on the content ID.

Third, there is a problem that there is no concept of service.

When a user wants to view a certain content, various knowledge is required in order to determine in advance which processing software should be used to reproduce the content data in the data format. In other words, the user issues a vague request to listen to music, and the realization thereof depends on the user's ability to find a provider and the ability to collect information and knowledge.

If there is a means for achieving an object from a vague request while realizing it step by step, it is possible to appreciate the contents without requiring special knowledge. For example, when you want to listen to a certain music, you need to go through the steps to determine the application to be played, the sound quality, the length of the song (sample or appreciation), which version, which video clips are better, etc. Means is needed.

That is, it is necessary to provide a concept of a service for not only distributing specific content data but also fulfilling such vague requests of users.

Fourthly, there is a problem that services cannot be provided according to the environment of the user. In the current method, the user's use environment is assumed in advance, and there is no content data format or information acquisition framework adapted to the user's environment. For example, the size of data, the download destination, the method of acquiring information, and the like vary depending on whether the device used by the user is a personal computer or a mobile phone. Necessary information also changes depending on the area and language in which one lives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has been developed in the case where content such as a movie, a book, or music is distributed as digital data by using communication, or when information related to the content is distributed. To provide a content providing method and system, and a storage medium storing a content providing program, which enable efficient distribution and management of contents and information, and further enable distribution of contents and information according to a user's request and environment. With the goal.

[0019]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (claim 1) provides a content providing method for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data.
D is distributed on a network, a DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing the DCD is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and content-related information on the network is provided to provide the user with information on contents and service provider information In a system in which the device provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user, the DCD handler of the user terminal receives a service request from the user (step 1), and holds the DCD,
By transmitting the user policy and the system profile to the content-related information providing device, the content-related information providing device is inquired of the content-related information and available service provider information (step 2).
In the content-related information providing device, in response to a request from the DCD handler, more detailed content information,
Further detailed service provider information is transmitted to the DCD handler (step 3), where the DCD handler
Based on the service provider information transmitted from the content-related information providing device, the service provider is accessed (step 4), content data is obtained (step 5), and necessary processing is performed on the content data (step 6). To the user (step 7).

According to the present invention (claim 2), in a DCD handler, when a DCD and a request are input from a user, an RRDS, which is a data set in which the DCD, the request, the user policy, and the system profile are grouped, is generated. When the RRDS is transmitted to the content-related information providing device, and the content-related information providing device obtains the RRDS from the DCD handler,
Searches an attribute information database in which attribute information is stored and a service provider information database in which service provider information is stored, generates a resolve result matching the inquiry request from a plurality of searched search results, and transmits the result to the DCD handler. Then, in the DCD handler, the resolution result obtained from the content-related information providing device is narrowed down using the user policy and the system profile, the narrowed down resolution result is presented to the user, and based on the user interaction from the user,
In order to realize the service, a corresponding application is started, attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result are given to the application, and the application makes a service request to the service provider based on the service provider information. The provider provides the service according to the request of the application.

According to the present invention (claim 3), in a DCD handler, a DCD and a request are input, an RRDS, which is a data set in which the DCD and the request are paired, is generated, and the RRDS is transmitted to a content-related information providing apparatus. Send,
RRDS is converted to DC
When obtained from the D handler, an attribute information database storing attribute information and a service provider information database storing service provider information are searched according to the RRDS, and the search result is transmitted to the DCD handler as a resolve result. Then, in the DCD handler, the resolution result obtained from the content-related information providing device is narrowed down by the user policy and the system profile, the narrowed down resolution result is presented to the user, and the application is started based on the user interaction from the user. The attribute information and the service provider information included in the resolve result are given to the application, and the application provides the service to the service provider based on the service provider information obtained from the DCD handler. Performed determined in the service provider, it provides the user with the service based on the service request from the application.

According to the present invention (claim 4), the service provided by the service provider is a content data distribution service.

According to the present invention (claim 5), when registering information in the attribute information database and the service provider information database of the content-related information providing apparatus, a unique management number is assigned to the content-related information providing apparatus.
Receiving content attribute information and service provider information from the content data owner, and issuing a content ID, which is information uniquely indicating the content, to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus;
The content ID and the content attribute information are registered in the attribute database, and the DCD is registered based on the content attribute information.
And sends it to the content owner. If the service provider is a content data distribution provider, the service provider obtains the content data and DCD from the content owner and associates the content data and the DCD with the content-related information. Requests the providing device to register the attribute information and the service provider information, transmits the contents of the service provided by the provider to the content-related information providing device, and in the content-related information providing device,
Register and update the contents of the attribute information database and the service provider information database in response to a request from the service provider.

According to the present invention (claim 6), when there is one or more content-related information providing apparatuses on a network, each content-related information providing apparatus holds a content-related information providing apparatus group. Content I
While exchanging D, attribute information, and service provider information, the distributed result is output in a coordinated manner.

According to the present invention (claim 7), when the user terminal has a local resolver, the content-related information providing apparatus assigns a unique management number to the local resolver in the content-related information providing apparatus. Then, the local resolver inputs the RRDS, searches the attribute information database and the service provider information database according to the RRDS, and outputs the search result as a resolve result.
For the content data in the user terminal, the content ID is issued to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing device and the management number of the local resolver, and the content ID and the content information are stored in the attribute information database in the local resolver. The attribute information is registered, and a DCD is issued based on the registered content ID and the attribute information.

According to the present invention (claim 8), in the content-related information providing apparatus, when the RRDS is received from the DCD handler and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the content ID in the DCD included in the RRDS is Referring to the linked attribute information, the DCD including more detailed attribute information and service provider information is DCD.
Send to handler.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the content-related information providing apparatus, a signature is added to the DCD issued by itself, and the DCD in the RRDS acquired from the DCD handler is provided.
, The validity of the DCD is verified by the signature given by the content-related information providing device.

According to the present invention (claim 10), in the DCD handler, the validity of the DCD is verified by the signature given to the DCD input by the user.

According to the present invention (claim 11), in the content-related information providing apparatus, when the RRDS is acquired from the DCD handler and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the content of the DCD in the RRDS is updated to the latest information. , And issues a new DCD and sends it to the DCD handler.

According to the present invention (claim 12), in a user interface for exchanging with a user of the DCD handler, a service is displayed as a service icon, a content is displayed as a content icon, and an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon is performed. , The DCD and the request are input to the DCD handler, and the application is activated according to the resolve obtained from the content-related information providing device to receive the service.

According to the present invention (claim 13), in a user interface of a DCD handler, when a plurality of services are available for a certain content, a DCD and a request are input to the DCD handler by an operation of linking a content icon and a service icon. Then, a plurality of services are presented to the user according to the resolve result, and the service is selected by the user.

According to the present invention (claim 14), the user interface of the DCD handler performs an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon with the DCD handler.
A DCD and a request are input to the handler, and the content-related information providing device presents a service relating to other content associated with the content to the user, and causes the user to select a service.

According to the present invention (claim 15), in the interface of the DCD handler, when a menu operation is performed on a content icon, a list of available services, content attribute information, and attribute information of the content are displayed. The content described in the information is presented to the user as a menu, and the user is caused to select the menu.

According to the present invention (claim 16), the service provider information database is provided outside the content-related information providing apparatus, and the content-related information providing apparatus refers to the external service provider information database as necessary.

According to the present invention (claim 17), in the DCD handler, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, the user is authenticated, and when the user uses the service, the user is authenticated as necessary. Acting on behalf of the user's settlement procedure.

According to the present invention (claim 18), the service provider information database is managed using information representing the service function, information on the data interface of the service function, and information on the data protocol of the service function.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

The present invention (claim 19) is a content providing system for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is acquired and analyzed. A DCD handler is provided on the user terminal 200 connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network that provides information on contents and service provider information to the user provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user. In the system, the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200 receives a service request from a user, starts an application based on a resolve result that is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus 100, and The A user interface unit 233 for providing attribute information and service provider information included in the solve result and providing the user with content data obtained from the service provider 300 by the application, and data including a DCD, a user policy, and a system profile stored therein. RRDS as a set
RRDS generating means 234 for generating the RRDS, and RRDS transmitting means 2 for transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus.
35, a resolve result receiving means 236 for receiving a resolve result from the content-related information providing apparatus 100, the content-related information providing apparatus 100 includes: an attribute information database 110 storing content attribute information; The stored service provider information database 120 and the DCD handler 23
RRDS receiving means 140 for obtaining RRDS from 0;
RRDS interpreting means 130 for searching the attribute information database 110 and the service provider information database 120 according to the RRDS, and a resolve result transmitting means 150 for transmitting a search result by the RRDS interpreting means 130 as a resolve result to the DCD handler. .

The present invention (claim 20) is a content providing system for providing a user with content data and information and services for the content data. And distribute a data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing various services through the network,
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by the user. On the system that provides the information in response to the inquiry, the DCD handler of the user terminal receives a service request from the user, and narrows down a resolve result, which is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus, by a user policy and a system profile.
A user who starts an application based on the narrowed-down resolve result, gives the attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result to the application, and provides the user with content data obtained from the service provider by the application. RRDS generation means for generating an RRDS in which a data set including an interface means, a held DCD, a condition of the user (hereinafter, referred to as a user policy), and a condition of a use environment (hereinafter, referred to as a system profile) is set RRDS transmitting means for transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus; resolve result receiving means for receiving a resolve result from the content-related information providing apparatus; and the content-related information providing apparatus, wherein the attribute information of the content is stored. Attribute information Database, a service provider information database in which service provider information is stored, an RRDS receiving means for obtaining an RRDS from the DCD handler, and an attribute information database and a service provider information database according to the RRDS. RRDS interpreting means for generating the obtained result as a resolve result, and resolve result transmitting means for transmitting the resolve result by the RRDS interpreting means to the DCD handler.

According to the present invention (claim 21), the service provided by the service provider 300 is a content data distribution service.

According to the present invention (claim 22), means for assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing apparatus 100, means for receiving content attribute information and service provider information from the content data owner, Means for issuing content to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus 100, and registering the content ID and content attribute information in the attribute database 110, and performing DCD based on the content attribute information.
And send it to the content owner,
The service provider 300 further includes a device for registering information in the attribute information database 110 and the service provider information database 120 of the content-related information providing device 100. When the service provider 300 is a content data distribution provider, the service provider 300 Means for acquiring data and DCD, associating the content data with the DCD and requesting the content-related information providing device to register attribute information and service provider information, and providing the content of the service provided by the provider to the content-related information Means for transmitting to the device,
The content-related information providing apparatus 100 has means for registering and updating the contents of the attribute information database and the service provider information database in response to a request from the service provider.

According to the present invention (claim 23), when there is one or more content-related information providing devices on the network, the content-related information providing device group can store the content-related information provided by each content-related information providing device. I
D, means for distributing and coordinating and outputting a resolve result while exchanging attribute information and service provider information.

According to the present invention (claim 24), the user terminal 20
0 has a local resolver, and the local resolver
An attribute information database storing content attribute information, a service provider information database storing service provider information, and means for inputting RRDS;
Means for searching the attribute information database and the service provider information database according to the RRDS; means for outputting the search result as a resolve result; and managing the content ID for the content data in the user terminal. Means for issuing to the content using the number and the management number of the local resolver; means for registering the content ID and attribute information in the attribute information database in the local resolver; and means for registering the content ID and attribute information based on the registered content ID and attribute information. Means for issuing a DCD, and the content-related information providing apparatus 100
Means is provided for assigning a unique management number to the local resolver in the content-related information providing device.

According to the present invention (claim 25), in the content-related information providing apparatus 100, when the RRDS is received from the DCD handler 230 and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the content in the DCD included in the RRDS is transmitted. Referring to the attribute information associated with the ID,
There is means for transmitting a DCD including more detailed attribute information and service provider information to the DCD handler.

According to the present invention (claim 26), in the content-related information providing apparatus 100, a means for adding a signature to the DCD issued by itself and the R
According to the signature attached to the DCD in the RDS, the DC
It has means for verifying the validity of D.

According to the present invention (claim 27), in the DCD handler 230, the DCD
There is provided a means for verifying the validity of the DCD using a signature given by the content-related information providing device.

According to the present invention (claim 28), in the content-related information providing apparatus 100, when the RRDS is acquired from the DCD handler 230 and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the contents of the DCD in the RRDS are transmitted. There is provided a means for updating to the latest information, newly issuing a DCD, and transmitting it to the DCD handler 230.

According to the present invention (claim 29), in the user interface means 233 of the DCD handler 230, means for displaying a service as a service icon, means for displaying a content as a content icon, and an operation for linking the content icon and the service icon And a means for inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler, and a means for activating an application in response to a resolve obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus and receiving a service.

According to the present invention (claim 30), the user interface means of the DCD handler inputs a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking a content icon and a service icon when a plurality of services are available for the content. Means for presenting a plurality of services to a user in accordance with a resolve result and allowing the user to select a service.

According to the present invention (claim 31), in the user interface means 233 of the DCD handler 230, means for inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation for linking a content icon and a service icon, and other functions associated with the content. And a means for presenting a service relating to the content to the user and allowing the user to select the service.

According to the present invention (claim 32), when the interface means 233 of the DCD handler 230 is operated to display a menu on a content icon, a list of available services, content attribute information, Means is provided for presenting the content described in the attribute information of the content to the user as a menu, and allowing the user to select the menu.

According to the present invention (claim 33), the content-related information providing apparatus 100 has means for externally referencing a service provider information database provided externally to its own apparatus as necessary.

According to the present invention (claim 34), in the DCD handler 230, a means for authenticating a user and, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, when the user uses a service, the user is required to authenticate the user. Means for performing the settlement procedure of the user in response.

The present invention (claim 35) provides means for managing the service provider information database 120 using information representing a service function, information on a data interface of the service function, and information on a data protocol of the service function. Have.

The present invention (claim 36) is a storage medium for storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information and services for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is stored in the storage medium. A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided in response to an inquiry from the user A program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminal on the system that provides the information by receiving the service request from the user and obtaining a resolve result as a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus; Based on the application A user interface process for activating the application, providing attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result to the application, and providing the user with content data obtained from the service provider by the application; An RRDS generation process for generating an RRDS in which a data set including a user policy and a system profile is set, an RRDS transmission process for transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing device, and a resolve result for receiving a resolve result from the content-related information providing device And a receiving process.

The present invention (Claim 37) is a storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data. And a data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing available services and available services is provided on a network, and a DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing the DCD is provided on a user terminal connected to the network to provide information on contents and A program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminal on a system in which a content-related information providing device on the network for providing service provider information to the user terminal provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user includes: Service request from Resolve results, which are search results obtained from the content-related information providing device, are narrowed down using a user policy and a system profile, an application is started based on the narrowed-down resolve results, and the application is included in the resolve results. A user interface process for providing attribute information and service provider information and providing content data obtained from the service provider to the user by the application, a held DCD, conditions of the user (hereinafter, referred to as a user policy), and a use environment. R as a set of data sets consisting of conditions (hereinafter, referred to as system profiles)
It has an RRDS generation process of generating an RDS, an RRDS transmission process of transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing device, and a resolve result receiving process of receiving a resolve result from the content-related information providing device.

According to the present invention (claim 38), the user terminal includes:
When a local resolver is provided, a program installed in the local resolver includes a process of searching an attribute information database storing content attribute information and a service provider information database storing service provider information according to the RRDS; A process of outputting the result as a resolve result, a process of issuing a content ID to the content data in the user terminal using the management number of the content-related information providing device and the management number of the local resolver, and a local resolver It has a process of registering the content ID and the attribute information with respect to the attribute information database therein, and a process of issuing the DCD based on the registered content ID and the attribute information.

According to the present invention (Claim 39), a DCD input by a user is given by a signature attached to the DCD.
Has a process to verify the validity of

According to the present invention (claim 40), in the user interface process, a DCD is performed by a process of displaying a service as a service icon, a process of displaying a content as a content icon, and an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon.
A process of inputting a DCD and a request to a handler;
A process of activating an application in accordance with the resolve obtained from the content-related information providing device and receiving a service.

According to the present invention (claim 41), in a user interface process, when a plurality of services are available for a content, an operation for linking a content icon and a service icon is performed by a DCD handler.
D and a process of inputting a request, and a process of presenting a plurality of services to a user in accordance with a resolve result and causing the user to select a service.

According to the present invention (claim 42), in a user interface process, a process of inputting a DCD and a request to a DCD handler by an operation of linking a content icon and a service icon, and a service related to another content associated with the content are performed. Presenting to the user and having the user select a service.

According to the present invention (claim 43), in the interface process, when an operation for displaying a menu is performed on a content icon, an available service list, content attribute information, and attribute information of the content are displayed. It has a process of presenting the described contents to a user as a menu and allowing the user to select a menu.

The present invention (Claim 44) provides a process for authenticating a user and, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, when the user uses a service, the user is required to use the service. And a process for performing a settlement procedure.

The present invention (claim 45) is a storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is stored in the storage medium. A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user is provided in response to an inquiry from the user. The program installed in the content-related information providing device on the system for providing the information includes an RRDS receiving process for obtaining an RRDS from the DCD handler, and an attribute information database storing attribute information of the content according to the RRDS. And the service provider It has a RRDS interpretation process of searching the service provider information database Da of information is stored, and a resolve result sending process of sending the search results by RRDS interpretation process in DCD handler as resolving result.

The present invention (claim 46) is a storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information and services for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is stored in the storage medium. A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to a user is provided in response to an inquiry from the user. The program installed in the content-related information providing device on the system for providing the information includes an RRDS receiving process for obtaining an RRDS from the DCD handler, and attribute information in which attribute information of the content is stored according to the RRDS. Database and service professional An RRDS interpretation process for searching a service provider information database in which information of the ID is stored and generating a resolve result matching the inquiry request from the searched result, and a resolve for transmitting a resolve result by the RRDS interpretation process to the DCD handler And a result transmission process.

According to the present invention (claim 47), when one or more content-related information providing apparatuses are present on a network, the content ID, attribute information, and service provider stored in each content-related information providing apparatus are provided. It has a process of outputting a resolve result in a distributed and cooperative manner while exchanging information.

According to the present invention (claim 48), when the user terminal has a local resolver having the same function as that of the content-related information providing device, the local resolver is uniquely provided in the content-related information providing device. A process for assigning an appropriate management number.

According to the present invention (claim 49), the RR received from the DCD handler is transmitted in the resolve result transmission process.
There is a process of referring to attribute information associated with a content ID in the DCD included in the DS, and transmitting a DCD including more detailed attribute information and service provider information to the DCD handler.

The present invention (Claim 50) provides a process for attaching a signature to a DCD issued by itself and a process for verifying the validity of the DCD based on the signature attached to the DCD in the RRDS obtained from the DCD handler. Having.

According to the present invention (claim 51), the RR received from the DCD handler is transmitted in the resolve result transmission process.
Update the contents of DCD in DS to the latest information and
It has the process of issuing a CD and sending it to the DCD handler.

The present invention (Claim 52) has a process for referring to a service provider information database provided externally to the apparatus as required.

The present invention (claim 53) is a storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information and services for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is stored in the storage medium. A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing apparatus on the network for providing content data and information on the content to a user is provided in response to an inquiry from the user. On a system for providing information, a program installed in a management device that manages the content-related information providing device includes: a process of assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing device; Information and service providers Information, a process of issuing a content ID, which is information uniquely indicating the content, to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing device, and registering the content ID and the content attribute information in the attribute database. And issuing a DCD based on the content attribute information and transmitting the DCD to the content owner.

The present invention (claim 54) is a storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information and services for the content data, wherein the DCD is distributed through a network, and the DCD is stored in the storage medium. A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided in response to an inquiry from the user. On a system for providing the information, the program installed in the service provider that provides the service obtains the content data and DCD from the owner of the content when the provider is a content data distribution provider, and obtains the content data. Passing Having the content information provision device in association with the DCD, the process of requesting the registration of the attribute information and service provider information, and a process of sending the contents of the service provided by the own provider content information provision device. As described above, in the present invention,
By distributing the DCD on the network, the content can be handled in a unified manner irrespective of its form or providing method. In addition, the content-related information providing device can centrally manage information about content.

Also, by providing means for uniformly describing the functions of the services provided to the user, the content-related information providing device can provide the user with actual content data and services from the DCD. Become.

Furthermore, the DCD handler on the user terminal realizes a user interface between the user and the content-related information providing device, and can process content data and service requests in a form conforming to the user environment. .

[0077]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Prior to the following description, terms used in the following description will be explained.

The "content" is a certain piece of music (not a technical meaning such as a data format) such as "music of XX", "TV drama of △△", and "game of XX". Refers to individual works identified in a sensory sense, such as television dramas and certain games.

The “content type” includes images, music,
This is information indicating a content type in an abstract sense, such as software.

The “content data” is obtained by encoding the content so that it can be handled on a computer.
More specifically, codes such as “song XX encoded by PCM”, “TV drama △△ encoded by MPEG2”, and “game program XX that runs on a specific game machine” Information.

The “content ID” indicates a number that uniquely indicates the content.

“Service” refers to the function of processing performed on content data. Specifically, it refers to individual functions such as content distribution and format conversion.

The “service type” indicates individual service information described by a service description method as shown in FIG.

The "service description method" is a method for describing a service in an abstract manner. As shown in FIG.
It is expressed in a format in which a service type and a format and a protocol of input / output content data necessary for receiving the service are paired and described in a continuous manner.

The “service descriptor” is a specific service described by a service description method.

The “service provider” refers to a server that provides the above service.

The “service provider information” is, as shown in FIG. 4, information relating to the service provider, such as the location of the service provider and a service descriptor indicating a service provided by the service provider.

[Service Provider Information Database]
Is a database storing various service provider information as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the “attribute information database” is, as shown in FIG. 5, attribute information (content name, production date, copyright owner name, location of content data, ie, location of content data delivery service provider). Etc.) for each content ID.

"DCD (Distributed Content Dscripto
r: distribution content identifier)], as shown in FIG.
Data including a content ID and a set of service descriptors (referred to as service list information) representing services for the content specified by the content ID, and a subset of attribute information described in the attribute information database. is there.

"Request" is service request information presented by the user, and is described by a service description method. Specifically, it is "want to see" or "want to listen".

[0092] "User policy" is information specified by the user and representing conditions for restricting the service. For example, charge conditions, location conditions, etc. Specifically, "service can be provided at a charge of XX yen or less",
"Only domestic service providers" and "payment methods that do not use credit cards".
"Application" means software that runs on a user terminal and is used to receive services, or
Hardware, or both. It is registered as a system profile in the DCD handler.

The “system profile” is information indicating a function level of a terminal, an operating system, an application, or the like. For example, the type of the user terminal, communication speed, processing speed, display function, operating system, registered application information, and the like. Also, the system profile is stored in the terminal as a GP.
When a module such as S is provided, it also includes geographical position information.

[RRDS (Resolve Request Data Set)]
Is a data set composed of a DCD, a request, a user policy, a system profile, and the like, as shown in FIG.

An outline of the content providing system of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the content providing system of the present invention.

The content providing system shown in FIG.
It is composed of a content-related information providing device 100 which is a server to which RDS is input, a user terminal 200, and a service provider 300.

It is assumed that the user terminal 200 has a DCD 220 obtained in some form, such as manual input by the user 10 or download from the World Wide Web (WWW). A user who wishes to deliver the content data represented by the content ID described in the DCD 220 requests the request.

The DCD handler 230 is connected to the user terminal 20
This is a mechanism that operates on 0 and receives a DCD 220 and a request 210 as inputs. The DCD handler 230 has a user policy and a system profile.
The DCD handler 230 generates an RRDS by combining a DCD, a request, a user policy, and a system profile, and transmits the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100 includes an attribute information database 110 and a service provider information database 120. The content-related information providing apparatus 100 searches the attribute information database 110 for attribute information of the content corresponding to the DCD in the RRDS,
The service provider information that is the delivery source of the content data is obtained. Further, a service provider that satisfies the conditions described in the content attribute information, the request (content distribution request) information in the RRDS, the user policy, and the system profile is selected. The selected service provider information and the attribute information of the content are transmitted to the user terminal 200 as a resolve result. User terminal 20
When the zero DCD handler 230 acquires the resolve result including the service provider information and the content attribute information from the content-related information providing apparatus 100, the DCD handler 230 presents the resolve result to the user 10. DCD handler 230
Waits for an input from the user 10, performs the same processing again in response thereto, and inquires of the content-related information providing apparatus 100 about information. Or service provider 30
If 0 is uniquely specified, the application corresponding to the 0 is activated and necessary information such as content attribute information is passed to the application.

The application makes a service request to the service provider 300 specified above,
The service provider 300 distributes content data to an application in response to a service request. This allows the user to receive the content data from the service provider through the application.

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing an outline of the operation of the content providing system of the present invention.

Step 101) The user terminal 200
The input of the DCD and the request from the user 10 is received. In addition, regarding DCD, besides the user 10, WW
It can also be obtained by downloading from W or the like.

Step 102) D of the user terminal 200
The RRDS is set by the CD handler 230 by combining the DCD, the request, the user policy, and the system profile.
Generate

Step 103) DCD handler 230
RRDS generated by the content-related information providing device 1
Send to 00.

Step 104) The content-related information providing apparatus 100 searches the attribute information database 110 for individual attribute information corresponding to the DCD in the RRDS, acquires the service provider information of the delivery source of the content data, and issues a content distribution request. A service provider that satisfies the conditions described in the information and the user policy and the system profile is searched.

Step 105) The search result is resolved together with the content attribute information as a resolve result by the user terminal 20.
Send to 0.

Step 106) The user terminal 200 presents the result of the resolve to the user 10, and when receiving the DCD or the request from the user again, performs the same processing as the processing from the step 101 described above. If the service provider is uniquely determined in step 104, the application corresponding to the service provider is started.

Step 107) The application in the user terminal 200 issues a service request to the specified service provider 300.

Step 108) Service provider 3
00 transmits the content data corresponding to the service request to the user terminal 200.

Thus, the user terminal 200 can present the content data to the user 10.

[0112]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] The configuration of the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of the DCD handler of the user terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DCD handler 23
0 is the system profile 231, user policy 23
2. User interface unit 233, RRDS generation unit 2
34, RRDS transmitting section 235, resolve result receiving section 23
6, and converts a request from the user 10 from a human-readable format to a machine-readable format.

The user interface unit 233 receives a request for content distribution from the user 10 and a DCD for specifying the content as inputs. Here, the request is represented by a set of a service type, an input format, an input protocol, an output format, and an output protocol as shown in FIG.

The content distribution request is, for example, assuming that the service description method is described as “service type / input format / input protocol / output format / output protocol”. Specifically, “GET_FILEaudio” / GET_FILE_audio /-/-/ mp3 / ftp "and" GET _ * _ audio /-/-/ * / * ". Here, "." Is a sign indicating that there is nothing, and "*" is a sign indicating that it is arbitrary. In other words, “GET_FILE_audio /-/-/ * / *” indicates that “music data encoded by an arbitrary encoding method is obtained in a file format using an arbitrary protocol for a content indicated by DCD. I want to do it ". Similarly, "GET _ * _ audio /-/-mp3 / ftp" is used to obtain music data encoded by the mp3 encoding method for content indicated by DCD in an arbitrary format using the ftp protocol. I want to do it ".

The input DCD and request are transmitted together with the user policy 232 and the system profile 231 together with the R
The data is sent to the RDS generator 234.

The RRDS generation unit 234 includes a DCD, a request, a user policy 232, and a system profile 23.
RRDS is generated by combining the RRDS with the RRDS transmission unit 23.
Send to 5.

[0119] The RRDS transmission section 235 outputs the received RR.
The DS is transmitted to the content-related information providing apparatus 100 connected via a network or the like, and a response from the content-related information providing apparatus 100 is awaited.

[0120] The resolve result receiving section 236 receives the resolve result returned from the content-related information providing apparatus 100. The resolve result is composed of content attribute information and service provider information. Resolve result receiving unit 2
36 passes the received resolve result to the user interface unit 233, and presents the resolve result information to the user 10.

The user interface unit 233 waits for a user interaction input from the user 10, performs the same processing again in response thereto, and inquires the content-related information providing apparatus 100 about information. Alternatively, when the service provider 300 is uniquely specified, an application start command is sent to the application corresponding to the service provider 300, the application is started, and the specified service provider information, content attribute information, and the application receive the content distribution service. Pass the application reference information required for the application to the application.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the user interface unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The user interface unit 233 has a DC
D, request, resolve result, and user interaction are input, and DCD, request, application start instruction, and application reference information are output.

Step 201) The user interface unit 233 receives a DCD and a request from the user 10.

Step 202) The user interface unit 233 transmits the received DCD and the request to the RRD.
Output to the S generator 234.

Step 203) The user interface unit 233 acquires a resolve result from the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

Step 204) The user interface unit 233 presents the obtained resolve result to the user.

Step 205) The user inputs user interaction with respect to the resolve result.

Step 206) The user interface unit 233 outputs an application start command and application reference information to the application based on the user interaction.

Next, the configuration of the content-related information providing apparatus 100 in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the configuration of a content-related information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The content-related information providing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes an attribute information database 110, a service provider information database 120,
It comprises an RRDS interpreter 130, an RRDS receiver 140, and a resolve result transmitter 150.

[0132] The RRDS receiving section 140 is connected to the user terminal 20.
The RRDS is received from the DCD handler 230 of No. 0 and the received RRDS is transferred to the RRDS interpreting unit 130.

The RRDS interpreter 130 is shown in FIG.
This will be described together with the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the RRDS interpretation unit according to the first embodiment of this invention.

Step 301) RRDS receiving section 140
The received RRDS is input. Step 302)
The RRDS interpretation unit 130 extracts the DCD in the RRDS, and searches the attribute information database 110 for attribute information of the content corresponding to the content ID in the DCD.

Step 303) The attribute information searched in the attribute information database 110 is input.

Step 304) Further, from the information on the location of the service provider in the attribute information, information on the content provider that can provide the content requested by the user is stored in the service provider information database 1.
Search from 20.

Step 305) The retrieved service provider information is input.

Step 306) The service provider is narrowed down by comparing the input service provider information with the service descriptor of the request information in the RRDS. For example, the DCD in the RRDS is "content ID =
1020304050, content name = nutcracker, request is "GET_FILE_audio /
-/-/ * / * ". Attribute information database 1 using this content ID as a key
10 to extract service provider information that can provide the content from the service provider information database 120. For example, as service provider information, "GET_STREAM_audio, none, none, x-reealau
dio, RealAudio, www.aa.ne.jp/a.ra, fee ¥ 100 ",
"GET_FILE_audio, NULL, NULL, mp3, ftp, www.xxx.com/
b.mp3, fee $ 100 "," GET_FILE_audio, none, none, mp3, ftp , www.yyy.com/c.mp3 , fee $ 1000 ", and some service provider information are obtained. By pattern matching the attribute information and the request, the service provider information can be found at www.xxx.com/b.mp3, www.yyy.co
m / c.mp3

Finally, for the narrowed down service provider information, the most likely service provider (may not be one) is selected from the conditions of the user policy and the system profile in the RRDS. Explaining with the above example, the service provider information that matches the request is “GET_FILE_audio, none, none, mp3, ftp , www.xxx.com
/b.mp3, fee $ 100 "" GET_FILE_audio, none, none, mp3, ftp , www.xxx.com
/c.mp3, fee $ 1000 ". In each of the remarks, there is a description of the fee. The former is described as "charge $ 100", and the latter is described as "charge $ 1000". At this time, if the user policy describes the condition of "desirable service as low as possible", only the former service provider information is selected. In the system profile, "Upper limit of communication speed of user terminal is 56 Kbps", "User terminal is mobile phone", "Registered application is BMP dedicated viewer"
In such a case, the service provider information is narrowed down by the same method.

Step 306) The selected service provider information and content attribute information are sent to the resolve result transmitting section 150.

[0141] The resolve result transmitting section 150 converts the service provider information and the content attribute information into a prescribed format, and transmits them to the DCD handler.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the DCD
Content data in various forms can be distributed and obtained in a unified manner based on information associated with the content. Also, a content ID, which is a unique identifier, is assigned to the content, and attribute information on the content can be managed using the content ID. The content data and the attribute information can be obtained in a unified manner using DCD. Further, it is possible to provide content data in accordance with the usage environment of the user.

[Second Embodiment] This embodiment is the same as the above-described first embodiment, except for the following points.

In this embodiment, the DCD of the user terminal 200
RRD of handler and content-related information providing apparatus 100
The processing of the S interpreter is different.

FIG. 13 shows the configuration of the DCD handler in the user terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 9, the same components as those in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the configuration is such that a resolve result selection unit 237 is added to the configuration of FIG. In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, the RRDS generation unit 234 stores the system profile 23
Although 1 and the user policy 232 are input, in this embodiment, they are input to the resolve result selection unit 237.

In FIG. 13, the DCD handler 230
Is the system profile 231, the user policy 23
2. User interface unit 233, RRDS generation unit 2
34, RRDS transmitting section 235, resolve result receiving section 23
6. It comprises a resolve result selection unit 237.

The user interface unit 233 receives, as inputs, the request from the user 10 and the DCD for specifying the content.
The data is sent to the RDS generator 234.

The RRDS generating section 234 generates an RRDS by combining the DCD and the request, and transmits the RRDS to the transmitting section 2.
Send to 35.

[0150] The RRDS transmission section 235 transmits the received RR.
The DS is transmitted to a content-related information providing device connected via a network or the like, and a response from the content-related information providing device is waited for.

The resolve result receiving section 236 receives the resolve result returned from the content-related information providing apparatus 100 and sends it to the resolve result selecting section 237.

The resolve result selection unit 237 performs the first
RRD of the content-related information providing apparatus 100 of the embodiment
Similar to the processing of the S interpreting unit 130, a user policy in the resolve result and service provider information that satisfies the conditions described in the system profile are selected. After the selection, the resolve result information is transmitted to the user interface unit 23.
Pass to 3.

The user interface unit 233 presents the selected resolve result to the user, waits for a user interaction input from the user, performs the same processing again in response thereto, and inquires the content-related information providing apparatus 100 for information. . Alternatively, if the service provider is uniquely specified, an application start command is sent to the corresponding application to start the application, and the application receives the service such as the service provider information and the content attribute information specified above. Pass the required application reference information to the application.

Next, a content-related information providing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 14 shows the configuration of a content-related information providing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

A content-related information providing device 1 shown in FIG.
00 is the same as the configuration shown in FIG.
The DS interpreter 130 eliminates the need for user policies and system profiles, and uses only requests.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 14 includes an attribute information database 110, a service provider information database 120, an RRDS receiving section 14,
0, RRDS interpreter 130, resolve result transmitter 150
Consists of

[0158] The RRDS receiving section 140 receives the user's DCD.
RRDS is received from the handler, and the received RRDS is
Send to RDS interpreter 130.

The RRDS interpretation unit 130 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Step 401) RRDS receiving section 140
RRDS is input.

Step 402) The DCD in the RRDS is extracted, and the attribute information of the content corresponding to the DCD is retrieved from the attribute information database 110.

Step 403) The searched attribute information is input.

Step 404) Further, the service provider information database 120 is searched for service provider information that satisfies the conditions described in the request, using the request in the RRDS as a key.

Step 405) Information of the service provider is inputted by the search.

Step 406) The attribute information of the content and the service provider information are paired and transferred to the resolve result transmitting section 150 as a resolve result.

[0166] The resolve result transmitting section 150 converts the service provider information and the content attribute information into a prescribed format, and transmits them to the DCD handler 230.

Briefly, the difference from the first embodiment is that the RRDS interpreting unit 130 in the content-related information providing apparatus 100 performs the narrowed down service provider information in the RRDS. The process of selecting the maximum likelihood service provider (may not be one) from the user policy and the system profile condition is implemented in the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 100.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the DCD
Content data of various forms can be distributed and obtained in a unified manner based on information associated with the content. Also, a content ID, which is a unique identifier, is assigned to the content, and attribute information on the content can be managed using the content ID. The content data and the attribute information can be obtained in a unified manner using DCD. Further, it is possible to provide content data in accordance with the usage environment of the user.

In this embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the service provider information is narrowed down by the user's request at the user terminal, so that the processing of the content-related information providing apparatus can be reduced. it can.

[Third Embodiment] The service providing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the configuration diagram shown in FIG.

This embodiment corresponds to the general form of the first embodiment. While the first embodiment is a system specialized in content data distribution services, this embodiment is a system for providing various services related to contents to users.

First, an outline of the system will be described.

It is assumed that the user terminal 200 has a DCD 220 obtained in some form, such as manual input by the user or download from the World Wide Web (WWW). A user who wants to enjoy the service related to the content represented by the content ID described in the DCD 220 requests the request.

The DCD handler 230 is connected to the user terminal 20
This is a mechanism that operates on 0 and receives a DCD 220 and a request 210 as inputs. Further, a user policy 232 and a system profile 231 exist in the DCD handler 230. The DCD handler 230 sets a DCD, a request, a user policy, and a system profile,
An RRDS is generated and transmitted to the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100
It is a server that receives RDS as input. The content-related information providing apparatus 100 has an attribute information database 110 and a service provider information database 120. The content-related information providing apparatus 100 searches the attribute information database 110 for attribute information of content corresponding to DCD in the RRDS, and obtains service provider information that is a delivery source of the content data. Further, the service provider 300 that satisfies the condition information described in the content attribute information, the request information in the RRDS, the user policy, and the system profile is selected. The selected service provider information and content attribute information are transmitted to the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200 as a resolve result.

DCD handler 230 of user terminal 200
Presents the resolve result to the user. The DCD handler 230 waits for an input from the user and performs the same processing again in response to the input from the user.
Ask for information. Alternatively, when the service provider 300 is uniquely specified, the application 240 corresponding to the service provider 300 is started and necessary information such as content attribute information is passed to the application. The application 240 is the service provider 3 identified above.
In response to the service request, the service provider 300 provides the content service to the user. As a result, the user can access the service provider 30 through the application 240.
From 0, the service can be received.

Next, details of the system of this embodiment will be described.

The configuration of the DCD handler in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The DCD handler 230 comprises a system profile 231 and a user policy 232, a user interface unit 233, an RRDS generation unit 234, an RRDS transmission unit 235, and a resolve result reception unit 236.

The user interface unit 233 will be described with reference to FIG.

Step 201) The user interface unit 233 provides a D for specifying content from the user.
Receive CD and service request for it. The service request is converted by the DCD handler 230 from a new man-readable format to a machine-readable format. Basically, the request is expressed by a set of the service type, the input format of the content data necessary for enjoying the service, the input protocol, the output format, and the output protocol as shown in FIG. For example, assuming that the service description method is described as “service type / input format / input protocol / output format / output protocol” as in the first embodiment, specifically, “GETFILEaudio / -/-/ * / * "" CONVERT _FILE_image _bmp? Http, ftp / png / http / ft
p ”and so on. Here, "-" means nothing, "*" means arbitrary, and "A, B" means A or B.

Regarding "GET_FILE_audio /-/-/ * / *", it is the same as the interpretation of the first embodiment described above, and "CONVERT_FILE_image / bmp / http, ftp / png / http, ftp"
”,“ Bmp format image data is http or ft
Send it with the p protocol, convert it to png format image data, and receive it with the http or ftp protocol. "

Step 202) The input DCD data and request are sent to the RRDS generator 234 together with the user policy and the system profile.

Step 203) The resolve result is obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus 100 via the resolve result receiving unit 236.

Step 204) The resolve result is presented to the user 10.

Step 205) The user interaction with the resolve result presented to the user 10 is obtained.

Step 206) Service provider 3
00 is uniquely specified, an application start command is sent to the application 240 corresponding thereto, the application 240 is started, and the user 10 transmits the specified service provider information and content attribute information to the service provider through the application 240. The application reference information necessary for receiving the service from the application 300 is passed to the application 240.

The RDDS generation unit 234 generates an RRDS by combining the DCD and the request acquired from the interface unit 233, the user policy 232, and the system profile 231 and sends the RRDS to the RRDS transmission unit 235. R
The RDS transmission unit 235 transmits the received RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus 100 connected via a network or the like, and waits for a response from the content-related information providing apparatus.

[0189] The resolve result receiving unit 236 receives the resolve result returned from the content-related information providing device. The resolve result is composed of content attribute information and service provider information. The received resolve result is passed to the user interface unit 233, and the resolve result information is presented to the user. Thus, the user interface unit 233 waits for a user interaction input from the user, performs the same processing again in response thereto, and inquires of the content-related information providing apparatus about information. Alternatively, when the service provider 300 is uniquely specified, an application start command is sent to the application 240 corresponding to the service provider 300, the application 240 is started, and the user can input the service provider information and content attribute information specified above. Application 2
The application reference information necessary for receiving the service from the service provider through 40 is passed to the application 240.

Next, a content-related information providing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 of the first embodiment.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100 comprises an attribute information database 110, a service provider information database 120, an RRDS interpreter 130, an RRDS receiver 140, and a resolve result transmitter 150.

The RRDS receiving section 140
The RRDS is received from the DCD handler 230 of “0”, and the received RRDS is sent to the RRDS interpreting unit 130.

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, RRDS interpreting section 130 transmits RRDS from RRDS receiving section 140 to RRDS.
When the DS is input (step 301), the DCD in the RRDS is extracted, and the attribute information of the content corresponding to the content ID in the DCD is searched from the attribute information database 110 using the DCD as a key (step 30).
2, 303). The RRDS interpreting unit 130 detects and extracts, from the service provider information, information about a service provider that can provide a service related to the content requested by the user 10 from the information about the service provider in the attribute information (steps 304 and 305). Further, R
The RDS interpretation unit 130 narrows down the service providers by comparing the extracted service provider information with the service descriptor of the request information in the RRDS (step 306).

For example, the DCD in the RRDS is described in the format of “content ID = 2040305060, content name = mona Lisa”, and the request is described in the format of “CONVERTFILE_image / bmp / http, ftp / png / http, ftp” as described above. Assume that The content ID is used as a key to access the attribute information database 110 to obtain information necessary for service provision determination, such as the content type. Then, the service provider information database is accessed, and based on the content attribute information and user request information, Obtain a service provider that can provide the service requested by the user. For example, as service provider information, "CONVERT_FILE_image, jpeg, ftp, bmp, ftp , www.fff.c
om / fap.cgi , connection required over 1Mbps line '' CONVERTFILEimage, bmp, ftp, png, ftp, www.ggg.com / ga
p.cgi, connection required at 1Mbps line or more "" CONVERT_FILE_image, bmp, http, png, http, www.hhh.
com / hap.cgi, connection required with 56kbps line ". These attribute information and the requested pattern matching, service providers, Www.Ggg.Com/gap.Cgi,
www.hhh.com/had.cgi

Finally, for the narrowed-down service provider information, the maximum likelihood service provider (may not be one) is selected from the conditions of the user policy and the system profile without RRDS. Explaining in the above example, the service provider information that matches the request is “CONVERT_FILE_image, bmp, ftp, png, ftp, www.ggg.co.
m / gap.cgi, connection required at 1Mbps line or more "" CONVERT_FILE_image, bmp, http, png, http, www.hhh.
com / hap.cgi, connection required with 56kbps line ". In each remarks column, the condition of the connection line between the user's DCD handler 230 and the content-related information providing apparatus 100 is described. For example, a description that "the upper limit of the communication speed of the user terminal is 56 kbps" is described in the system profile in the RRDS. Since the latter satisfies the condition, the latter service providers are narrowed down in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The selected service provider information and content attribute information are transmitted to the resolve result transmitting unit 150. The resolve result transmitting unit 150 converts the service provider information and the content attribute information into a prescribed format, and transmits the format to the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above-described first embodiment, it is possible to provide not only content data but also services to the user in a unified manner.

[Fourth Embodiment] The present embodiment is the same as the above-described third embodiment, except for the points described below.

The DC of the user terminal 200 in this embodiment
The configuration of the D handler will be described with reference to FIG. 13 of the second embodiment.

The DCD handler 230 includes a system profile 231, a user policy 232, an interface unit 233, an RRDS generation unit 234, and an RRDS transmission unit 23.
5, a resolve result receiving unit 236 and a resolve result selecting unit 237.

[0200] The user interface unit 233 receives a request from the user and a DCD for specifying the content as an input. The input DCD and request are RR
It is sent to DS generation section 234.

The RRDS generation section 234 generates an RRDS by combining the DCD and the request, and
Send to 5.

[0202] The RRDS transmitting section 235 transmits the received RR
The DS is transmitted to the content-related information providing apparatus 100 connected via a network or the like, and a response from the content-related information providing apparatus 100 is waited for.

[0203] The resolve result receiving section 236 receives the resolve result returned from the content-related information providing apparatus 100, and outputs the resolve result to the resolve result selecting section 237.
Send to

[0204] The resolve result selection unit 237 performs
In the same manner as the processing of the RRDS interpretation 130 in the embodiment of the present invention, the user having the user policy in the resolve result and the service provider information satisfying the conditions described in the system profile are selected, and after the selection, the resolve result information is transmitted to the user interface unit. 233.

The user interface unit 233 presents the selected resolve result information to the user 10 and
Waits for an input of a user interaction from the server, performs the same processing again in response thereto, and inquires of the content-related information providing apparatus 100 for information. Alternatively, when the service provider 300 is uniquely specified, an application start command is sent to the application 240 corresponding to the service provider 300, and the application 240 is started, and the application 240 such as the specified service provider information and content attribute information described above is executed. The application reference information necessary for receiving the service is passed to the application 240.

Next, the content-related information providing apparatus 100
Will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 14 of the second embodiment and the flowchart of FIG.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100
It comprises an RDS receiving unit 140, an RRDS interpreting unit 130, a resolve result transmitting unit 150, a service provider information database 120, and an attribute information database 110.

[0208] The RRDS receiving section 140 receives the user's DCD.
RRDS is received from the handler 230, and the received RRD
S is transmitted to the RRDS interpretation unit 130.

The RRDS interpreting section 130 receives the RRDS from the RRDS receiving section 140 (step 40).
1) Extract the DCD in the RRDS and store the content attribute information corresponding to the DCD in the attribute information database 110
(Steps 402 and 403). Also, RR
The DS interpreter 130 searches the service provider information database 120 using the request in the RRDS as a key (steps 404 and 405), and retrieves the attribute information of the content and the service provider information satisfying the condition described in the request information in the RRDS. Select (Step 40)
6).

[0210] The selected service provider information and content attribute information are sent to the resolve result transmitting section 150.

[0211] The resolve result transmitting section 150 converts the service provider information and the attribute information of the content into a prescribed format, and transmits them to the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200.

[0212] The present embodiment will be briefly described. The RRD inside the content-related information providing apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described.
The part for selecting the maximum likelihood service provider (may not be one) from the conditions of the user policy and the system profile in the RRDS with respect to the narrowed down service provider information performed by the S interpretation unit 130 is the present embodiment. In the case of the example, the difference from the third embodiment described above is that it is mounted inside the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200.

As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, it is possible to provide not only content data but also services for users in a unified manner.

[Fifth Embodiment] In this embodiment, a procedure for registering contents in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an RA according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
(Registration Authority) and the relationship between the content-related information providing device.

[0216] RA 400 is an institution that uniquely manages the content-related information providing device group. The content-related information providing device managed by the RA 400 is uniquely managed by a management number (or a symbol) (A, B,... N in the figure).

Hereinafter, a procedure for issuing a DCD in this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 17 shows a DCD according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure for explaining an issuing procedure.

The content owner 500 who has newly created content data sends the attribute information of the content to the content-related information providing apparatus #n (management number by RA), and requests registration of the attribute information and issuance of the DCD. The content-related information providing device n is a content owner 5
In response to the request from 00, a new content ID is issued. The content ID is composed of, for example, a set of a management number (n in this case) of the content-related information providing apparatus by RA400 and a unique issue number in the content-related information providing apparatus. Can uniquely represent the issue. For example, when the content to be registered is the m-th registered content in the content-related information providing device No. n, the content ID of the content is expressed as n, m, or the like. The content-related information providing device sets the issued content ID and attribute information as a set, registers them in the attribute information database 110, generates a DCD from the contents, and sends this to the content owner. A service contract procedure between the content owner 500 and the content delivery service provider in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a contract procedure between the content owner and the content delivery service provider according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0220] The content owner 500 sends the content data and the DCD of the content to the content delivery service provider 300 that has concluded the contract. The service provider 300 sends the content I from the received DCD.
D is extracted, and the number of the content-related information providing device that stores the attribute information of the content is acquired from the content ID.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure for adding attribute information between the content owner 500 and the content-related information providing apparatus 100 and a service registration procedure between the service provider 300 and the content-related information providing apparatus 100 in this embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an attribute information adding procedure and a service registering procedure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The content owner 500 requests the content-related information providing device to add content attribute information corresponding to the content passed to the content delivery service provider 300. Further, the content delivery service provider 300 requests the content-related information providing device having the content attribute information corresponding to the DCD received from the content owner 500 to update the service provider information.

The content-related information providing device registers content attribute information and service provider information in response to requests from the content owner 500 and the service provider 300.

Specifically, the content-related information providing device is:
In response to the request for adding the content attribute information, the service provider 3 newly permitted the content delivery service is added to the service provider information portion of the content attribute information.
00 information is added. In response to the service provider information registration request, a new content delivery service is added to the service provider information database 120. However, if the service provider 300 has already registered the same service, there is no need to perform the service provider information registration process.

Similarly, with regard to registration of service provider information for performing a service other than content delivery, the service provider 300 particularly registers the content owner 500
Since it is not necessary to make a contract with the content-related information providing apparatus 100, service provider information may simply be registered.

More specifically, the service provider 300
Stores the service descriptor, the location information of the service provider 300, and other remarks information in the service provider information database 1 of the content-related information providing apparatus 100.
20, a registration request is issued to the content-related information providing apparatus
00 registers the service provider information when the request is appropriate.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since there is not only one content-related information providing device but a plurality of content-related information providing devices, it is possible to disperse the addition of the content attribute information registration processing. Further, uniqueness of a content ID can be realized even when a plurality of content-related information providing devices are provided.

[Sixth Embodiment] In this embodiment, a method of generating a resolve result by the content-related information providing apparatus in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a resolve result according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the DCD handler 230 is
The RRDS is transmitted to the content-related information providing device n1 connected via a network or the like, and the resolve result is awaited. At this time, when the content-related information providing device n1 does not have the attribute information corresponding to the content ID in the RRDS in the attribute information database 110 or cannot respond to the user's request, the RA4
The RRDS is transmitted to another content-related information providing device (content providing n2) registered at 00, and the resolve result is awaited. The above is the outline.

Here, the details of data exchange between the content-related information providing apparatuses will be described. Here, two examples (a specific method using a content-related information providing device number,
(Bucket relay method) will be described.

[0233] The specification method using the content-related information providing device number is based on the RRD transmitted from the DCD handler 230.
If the number system of the content ID in S is described as “content related information providing device number, content related information providing device management number” as in the fifth embodiment, which content related information providing device Indicates that the attribute information of the content is registered, the RRDS is transmitted to the content-related information providing apparatus, and the resolve result is waited.

The bucket relay method uses the DCD handler 23
The content related information providing device n1 having no attribute information of the content for the RRDS transmitted from 0 transmits the RRDS and the log information to another content related information providing device n2 registered in the RA 400, Wait for the resolve result. However, the content-related information providing device n2 is not described in the log information. Here, the log information is a description of the content-related information providing device number for which the resolve result could not be generated.
The content-related information providing device number that has received the RDS is written. The content-related information providing device that has failed to generate the resolve result adds its own content-related information providing device number to the log information. In this way, the RRDS and the log information are sent one after another to arrive at the content-related information providing device nk in which the attribute information is registered. However, the content-related information providing devices other than the content-related information providing device n1 do not need to wait for the resolve result. The content-related information providing device No. nk generates a resolve result, and returns the resolve result from the log information to the content-related information providing device No. n1.

[0235] By defining the upper limit of the number of inquiries between the content-related information providing devices, it is possible to improve the response of the resolve result.

As described above, in this embodiment, since there are not only one content-related information providing device but a plurality of devices,
The processing load for the inquiry from the CD handler 230 can be distributed.

[0237] Even if there are a plurality of content-related information providing devices, uniqueness of the content ID can be realized.

[Seventh Embodiment] In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a content registration procedure and a method of generating a resolve result of the content-related information providing apparatus in the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining a content registration procedure and a method of generating a resolve result according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the user terminal 200
It has a mechanism called a local resolver 250. Local resolver (local content related information providing device) 2
Reference numeral 50 has the same configuration as the content-related information providing apparatus 100 in the first to sixth embodiments described above, and has the same functions. The attribute information database and the service provider information database in the local resolver 250
For example, it is configured by caching a result of a resolve performed in the past.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a registration procedure from the local resolver to the content-related information providing apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The local resolver 250 makes a registration request to the content-related information providing apparatus 100. The content-related information providing apparatus 100 that has received the request adds a new local resolver number (“x-th” in the figure) so as not to overlap with the local resolver 250 number that has already been issued.
No.)), and notifies the local resolver 250.
Next, the content owner 500 sets his / her own user terminal 20
A procedure for registering the content in the local resolver 250 located in the area 0 will be described.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a procedure of registering a content with a local resolver in a user terminal of the content owner according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The content owner 500 sends the attribute information of the content created by the content owner 500 to the local resolver 250 in the user terminal 200 and requests registration of the content.

The local resolver 250 issues a new content ID in response to the registration request. The content ID is a set of the number of the content-related information providing device in which the local resolver 250 is registered, the number of the local resolver 250 managed in the content-related information providing device 100, and the number of the content in the local resolver 250. In the example of FIG. 23, for example, n. x. It is described in the form of m. Next, the local resolver 250 stores the issued content ID and attribute information in a set in the attribute information database 110,
A CD is generated and returned to the content owner 500.
Subsequent exchanges with the service provider 300 are the same as in the above-described fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, the content owner provides a service on his or her own user terminal. That is, the service provider and the content owner may be the same, or may be different as in the fifth embodiment.

[0246] Processing performed when the DCD thus issued is distributed and another user requests some service based on the DCD will be described.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining processing when a service request is issued by a user according to the seventh embodiment of this invention.

[0248] The user has the content ID: nk. x. m
Is sent to the DCD handler 230 in order to request some service based on the DCD including the DCD. The DCD handler 230 generates an RRDS, as in the first to fourth embodiments, and first checks the local resolver 250 for attribute information corresponding to the content ID. The example of FIG. 24 shows a case where there is no attribute information. In this case, the RRDS is sent to the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

[0249] The content-related information providing apparatus that has received the RRDS is the n1th one in the figure, but the content ID in the DCD is nk. x. m, the RRDS is sent to another content-related information providing apparatus 100 by the same processing as in the sixth embodiment described above, and finally R
The RDS is the nk-th content-related information providing device 1
Reach 00. The nk-th content-related information providing device attempts to connect to the user terminal 200 having the x-th local resolver 250 with reference to the content ID. If the user terminal 20 having the nkth and xth local resolvers 250,
If 0 cannot be communicated, a resolve result indicating that the resolve was not possible is returned. When the user terminal 200 having the content-related information providing device nk and the x-th local resolver 250 can communicate, the content-related information providing device nk sends the RRDS to the x-th local resolver. The x-th local resolver 250 has a content ID: nk. x. m has attribute information corresponding to the DCD handler 23 that generates a resolve result based on the attribute information and finally generates the RRDS first.
Return to 0. After that, the user 10 can enjoy the service by the same processing as in the above-described first to fourth embodiments.

It is assumed that the registration relationship of the local resolver 250 registered in the content-related information providing apparatus 100 can be canceled according to the intention of the user having the local resolver or the operation policy of the content-related information providing apparatus.

As described above, according to this embodiment, registration of content attribute information and D
Since the issuing of a CD and the inquiry of attribute information can be performed, the content owner 500 can easily obtain the DCD for its own content without exchanging with the content-related information providing device, and the information transmission becomes easy.

[0252] It is also possible to share contents between users.

[Eighth Embodiment] In this embodiment, a method of generating a resolve result by the content-related information providing apparatus 100 in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.

In this embodiment, a case is considered where the DCD in the user terminal 200 is composed of only the content ID. At this time, since the DCD has no detailed attribute information, the user does not know what the content indicated by the content ID is. Therefore, the user makes a resolve request as a request by requesting that “the DCD consisting of only the content ID be converted to a DCD containing more detailed attribute information and service provider information”.

The content-related information providing apparatus 100 having received the RRDS including the request searches the attribute information database 110 and the service provider information database 120 using the content ID as a key, and obtains more detailed attribute information related to the content ID. And obtains the service provider information, converts the information into a DCD form as a resolve result, and returns the result to the DCD handler 230 of the user terminal 200. At this time, how detailed items are described in the DCD is specified by a request, a user policy, and a system profile. For example, "Communication time may take longer, but I want as detailed information as possible."
If the user policy to be used is in the RRDS, the content-related information providing device describes as detailed items as possible in the DCD. Also, if the RRDS has a system profile of “the user terminal is a mobile phone and want to describe only price information”, the content-related information providing apparatus 100
Generates a new DCD according to the contents.

A user who obtains a DCD in which more detailed attribute information is described as described above from a DCD having only a content ID enjoys services according to the procedures shown in the first to fourth embodiments. .

According to the above-described embodiment, since various services can be performed only from the content ID, the content I
Even if D is distributed as a barcode, or the content ID is manually input using a key type or the like, the user can enjoy the same service as in the case of DCD having more attribute information.

[Ninth Embodiment] In this embodiment, a method of generating a resolve result by the content-related information providing apparatus in the first to fourth embodiments will be described.

FIG. 25 shows an example in which the content-related information providing apparatus group according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention is managed by RA.

[0260] The example shown in the figure shows a situation in which the content-related information providing apparatus group is managed by the RA 400, as in the fifth embodiment described above.
No. 0 issues and sends a public key certificate to the content-related information providing apparatus that has been authorized by itself.

The certificate referred to here is a certificate in ISO X.509 or the like, and is information for certifying that the content-related information providing apparatus has been certified by the RA400.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining DCD issuance of the content-related information providing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, and issuance of a DCD by the content-related information providing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. Are shown.

[0263] The content-related information providing device No. n for which the DCD is to be issued has a certificate endorsed by RA400. ISO X.5 from this certificate
A digital signature for the DCD issued by itself is generated by a procedure such as 09, and this is included in the DCD to issue a DCD with a digital signature. The digital signature attached to the DCD states, "Certifies that the content of this DCD has been issued by the content-related information providing device n, and the content-related information providing device n has been certified by the RA. Content related information providing device. "

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining an RRDS processing method by the content-related information providing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. The DCD verification unit 16 shown in FIG.
This is a configuration in which 0 is added. FIG. 2 shows how the content-related information providing apparatus 100 processes RRDS including DCD with a digital signature. When the digital signature is attached to the DCD in the input RRDS, the content-related information providing apparatus 100
Verify the validity of The means of verification is omitted because it depends on the method of constructing the digital signature.
It is specified by X.509 and the like. If it is determined that the DCD is not valid, that is, falsified,
It returns a CD indicating that it is a CD. Legitimate D
If it is a CD, the same processing as in the first to fourth embodiments is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the content-related information providing apparatus does not return a resolve result from a falsified DCD with a digital signature, and such a DCD is worthless to a user. Thereby, the distribution of legitimate DCD can be promoted, and the soundness of the system can be improved.

[Tenth Embodiment] In this embodiment, the DCD of the user terminal 200 in the first to fourth embodiments is described.
The processing of the handler 230 will be described.

FIG. 28 shows the configuration of the DCD handler of the user terminal according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention. DC shown in FIG.
The D handler 230 is provided with a DCD verification unit 238, and the DCD with the digital signature is transferred to the DCD handler 232.
At the time of verification at 30, it is determined whether or not the DCD input according to an instruction from the user has been falsified by a digital signature. The means for determination is omitted because it depends on the configuration method of the digital signature, but is specified by, for example, ISO X.509. Finally, the result of determining whether or not tampering has been performed is presented to the user via the user interface unit 233. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the validity of the content of the DCD with the digital signature can be confirmed on the user terminal 200.

[Eleventh Embodiment] This embodiment describes a method of generating a resolve result and the processing of the DCD handler 230 in the first to fourth embodiments.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the content attribute information and the service provider information registered in the content-related information providing apparatus 100 can be changed by the content owner 500 and the service provider 300 at any time. ing. However, the DCD is issued with the contents at a certain point in the past, and the contents may be already old when making an inquiry.

[0270] Therefore, when the user sends the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus 100, the content-related information providing apparatus 100 compares the DCD content in the RRDS with the content currently registered in the attribute information database 110. If the contents of the DCD are old, the contents of the DCD are updated, and this is included in the resolve result and returned to the user.

[0271] The DCD handler 230 receiving the resolve result including the updated DCD, for example, informs the user that "the DCD has been updated and the old DCD has been updated.
And replace the old DCD with the new DCD, or obtain the new DCD while keeping the old DCD according to the user's instructions. Alternatively, if the user policy says "Always new DCD
Is performed, processing such as automatically replacing the old DCD with the new DCD is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even if the user has an old DCD, the service can be enjoyed and the DCD updated to the latest information can be obtained.

[Twelfth Embodiment] In this embodiment, the DCD
The user interface unit in the handler 230 will be described.

FIG. 29 shows a display screen image by the user interface unit according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention. DCD is displayed as an icon on the display screen. In addition, service functions such as “see”, “listen”, and “edit” are displayed as icons. The design of the DCD icon may be changed according to the content described in the DCD. For example, content ID
DCD consisting of only a blank icon, a movie,
For example, the icon of a film, or the icon of a record for music, is displayed. The service function icon is an icon of a service description such as “play_audio /-/-/ * / *”.

Now, as shown in FIG. 30, when the DCD icon is dragged and dropped on the service function icon (the service function icon may be dragged and dropped on the DCD icon), the service function is displayed. As a request, the DCD and the request are sent to the DCD handler 230. Thereafter, the processing relating to the resolve is performed in the same manner as in the first to fourth embodiments.

If the service provider is not uniquely determined by the resolve result, a service provider group that matches the request is displayed together with the detailed information as shown in FIG. 31 to urge the user to select or further narrow down.

When a service provider is finally determined, a service desired by the user is provided as shown in FIG. In the case of the example of FIG.
I dropped it on the "view" service function icon. "
Order photo image content data from a delivery provider that provides photo content linked to DCD,
This is displayed by the image browser in the user terminal 200.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the user requests the content for the DCD handler 23.
Convenience when inputting 0 is improved.

[Thirteenth Embodiment] In this embodiment, the DCD
This relates to the user interface unit 233 in the handler 230. This embodiment is different from the twelfth embodiment in that the user interface unit 23 has basically the same functions as those of the twelfth embodiment.
For No. 3, an embodiment will be described in a more sophisticated form. FIG.
17 shows an example of a display screen by the user interface unit according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. DCD is displayed as an icon on the display screen. In addition, service functions such as “see”, “listen”, and “edit” are displayed as icons. The design of the DCD icon may be changed according to the content described in the DCD. For example, a DCD consisting only of a content ID is
A blank icon, a film icon for a movie, and a record icon for music are displayed. The service function icon is “play_audio /
-/-/ * / * ”, Etc., are iconified. Movie D "Gone with a cold"
Drag and drop the CD icon to the "View" service function icon.
(You can drag and drop on the icon.)
Then, by the same processing as in the twelfth embodiment,
Movie content can be viewed on the user terminal 200. FIG. 34 shows an example in which the DCD icon according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention is dropped on the service function icon. This figure shows a case where the movie DCD icon of "Gone with a cold" is dropped on the "listening" service function icon (the service function icon may be dragged and dropped on the DCD icon). In this case, the user is requesting a service of "listening" for "movie". The DCD handler 230
An RRDS is generated from the DCD and the request, and an inquiry is made to the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

FIG. 35 shows an example of the contents of the attribute information database according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. The figure is a part of the content of the attribute information database 110 on the content-related information providing apparatus 100 relating to the movie DCD "Gone with a cold". The attribute information database 110 has a column called "related content ID". The content ID of the content related to the content represented by the content ID can be entered. Now, it can be seen that the content "cod theme" is associated with "Gone with a cold". Upon receiving the RRDS, the content-related information providing apparatus 100 first obtains, from the attribute information database 110, the attribute information of the content indicated by the content ID described in the DCD in the RRDS. Now, since the content "Gone with a cold" is a movie, its content type is "video"
And "Play_audio /-/
-/ * / * "Does not match the content in the service type. In this case, the content-related information providing apparatus 100 refers to the related content ID column in the attribute information, and searches for the attribute information of the content indicated by the content ID described therein, in which the content is “audio”. When the related content that matches the condition is found, the DCD of the related content is returned to the DCD handler 230 as a resolve result. If not found, the DCD handler 2 informs that fact as a resolve result.
Return to 30.

Thereafter, the user can enjoy the service by the same processing as in the twelfth embodiment.

As described above, according to the present invention, a more complicated request can be specified more easily than in the twelfth embodiment.

[Fourteenth Embodiment] The fourteenth embodiment relates to the user interface unit 233 in the DCD handler 230, and has basically the same functions as those of the twelfth to thirteenth embodiments. An example of a more advanced form of the user interface unit having the following will be described.

FIG. 36 is an example of a display screen image by the user interface unit according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. DCD is displayed as an icon on the display screen. Also, service functions such as "see", "listen", and "edit" are displayed as icons. now,
A situation in which a pop-up menu is opened by an operation such as right-clicking the mouse on the DCD icon is shown. The pop-up menu includes menus for displaying various service functions and attribute information, obtaining the related DCD, updating the DCD, and the like. When each of the menus is selected, the menu is set according to the above-described first to thirteenth embodiments. Processing is performed. In particular, when a description indicating that a function item is added to the DCD pop-up menu is described as attribute information, the contents of the pop-up menu are expanded accordingly as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the user requests the content for the DCD handler 23.
Convenience when inputting 0 is improved. Further, since the content of the menu changes according to the attribute information, the content owner or service provider can set the content of the menu for the purpose of advertisement, marketing, and the like.

[Fifteenth Embodiment] This embodiment relates to the service provider information database 120 in the content-related information providing apparatus 100.

In the present embodiment, the service provider information database in the content-related information providing device (or local resolver) is configured as a distributed database as shown in FIG. That is, an operation on the service provider information database 120 in a certain content-related information providing apparatus is equivalent to an operation on all the service provider information databases 120.

Further, as shown in FIG. 39, the service provider information database is outside the content-related information providing apparatus 100,
00 may access the service provider information database as needed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the service provider information database is configured as a distributed database, the content-related information providing apparatus 1
00 can provide a service that meets the user's request from all services.

Also, the content-related information providing apparatus 100
If there is no service provider information database, the content-related information providing apparatus 100 does not maintain and manage the service provider information database, but another organization performs the maintenance. With this configuration, the processing of the content-related information providing apparatus 100 can be reduced.

[Sixteenth Embodiment] The present embodiment relates to the function of the DCD handler 230.

FIG. 40 shows a DC of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining user authentication by a D handler.

The user presents a password, fingerprint, etc.
The DCD handler 230 uses this to authenticate the user.

The DCD handler 230 that has performed user authentication
Are delegated the scope of authority allowed by the user. For example, when the content data delivery service provider 300 provides a paid service, a billing process is required when receiving the service, and this can be performed by the DCD handler on behalf of the user.
FIG. 41 shows the configuration of the content providing system according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration shown in FIG.
Until the resolve result is obtained by the exchange between the handler 230 and the content-related information providing apparatus 100,
This is the same as the first to fourth embodiments. User terminal 2
When the application reference information is passed to the application No. 00 and service transfer is performed between the application and the service provider, the DCD handler 230 intervenes between the application and the service provider 300. In this way, the DCD handler 230 can appropriately perform the settlement processing on behalf of the user in the case where the service is charged during the service.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when it is necessary to perform processing such as authentication between the service provider 300 and the user such as billing processing, the user authenticates with the DCD handler 230 and the user's authority Is delegated to the DCD handler 230, so that the user does not have to go through the authentication procedure each time, so that the convenience of the user can be improved.

The operations of the content-related information providing apparatus, the user terminal, the RA, the service provider, and the like according to the first to sixteenth embodiments are constructed as a program, and a disk device connected to each device and a floppy disk are connected. The present invention can be easily realized by storing it in a portable storage medium such as a (registered trademark) disk or CD-ROM and installing it when implementing the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described first to sixteenth embodiments.
Various changes and applications are possible.

[0298]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

[0299] A DC that describes information on a content data acquisition destination, information on contents, and available services.
By distributing a data format called D through a network, contents can be handled uniformly regardless of the form or providing method.

[0300] In the content-related information providing apparatus, by holding the attribute information database and the service provider information database, it is possible to centrally manage the content data and the information related to the content.

By providing means for uniformly describing the functions of the services provided to the user, the content-related information providing apparatus can provide the user with actual content data and services from the DCD.

[0302] Further, the DCD handler on the user terminal realizes a user interface between the user and the content-related information providing apparatus, and can process content data and service requests in a manner conforming to the user environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining service types according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a service provider information database and a service description method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an attribute information database according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining RRDS of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a content providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing an outline of the operation of the content providing system of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a DCD handler of the user terminal according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the user interface unit according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a content-related information providing apparatus according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an RRDS interpretation unit according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a user terminal according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of a content-related information providing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an RRDS interpretation unit according to the second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between an RA and a content-related information providing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a DCD issuing procedure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a contract procedure between a content owner and a content delivery service provider according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining an attribute information adding procedure and a service registration procedure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining a method of generating a resolve result according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a content registration procedure and a method of generating a resolve result according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a registration procedure from a local resolver to a content-related information providing apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explaining a content registration procedure in which a content owner according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention registers a local resolver in his / her own user terminal.

FIG. 24 is a diagram for describing processing when a service request is issued by a user according to the seventh embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 25 is an example in which the content-related information providing device group according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention is managed by RA.

FIG. 26 is a diagram for explaining DCD issuance of the content-related information providing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating an RRDS processing method performed by the content-related information providing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 shows a DC of the user terminal according to the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
It is a block diagram of a D handler.

FIG. 29 is a display screen image of a user interface unit according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a diagram for explaining the movement of an icon according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a display example when a service provider according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention is not uniquely determined.

FIG. 32 is a display example when a service provider is determined according to the twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a display screen image by a user interface unit according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an example of a case where a DCD icon according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention is dropped on a service function icon.

FIG. 35 is an example of the contents of an attribute information database according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is a display screen image by the user interface unit according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an example of a pop-up menu display according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating a service provider information database of the content-related information providing apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the service provider information database according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention is outside the content-related information providing apparatus.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining user authentication by the DCD handler according to the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a configuration diagram of a content providing system according to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 user 100 content-related information providing device 110 attribute information database 120 service provider information database 130 RRDS interpreting unit, RRDS interpreting unit 140 RRDS receiving unit, RRDS receiving unit 150 resolve result transmitting unit, resolve result transmitting unit 160 DCD verifying unit 200 user terminal 210 request 220 DCD 230 DCD handler 231 system profile 232 user policy 233 user interface unit, user interface unit 234 RRDS generation unit, RRDS generation unit 235 RRDS transmission unit, RRDS transmission unit 236 resolve result reception unit 237 resolve result selection unit 238 DCD verification Part 240 application 250 local resolver 300 service provider 310 service 20 content data 400 RA 500 content owner

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission Date] April 22, 2002 (2002.4.2
2)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Name of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Patent application title: METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING CONTENT
Content-related information providing device and content providing program
Storage medium storing program and content providing program

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a content providing method and system, and the content-related information providing apparatus and co
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content providing program and a storage medium storing the content providing program, and more particularly to a content providing method and system and a content-related information providing apparatus for providing users with digital content and related information and services via a communication network such as the Internet. And con
The present invention relates to a storage medium storing a content providing program and a content providing program.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0056

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 36), the content data
Data and information / services for the content data.
Provision of content to provide to usersProgram
hand, Distribute the DCD through the network and acquire the DCD
Connected to the network
Information on content and services
The network for providing service provider information to a user terminal.
The content-related information providing device on the network
The user on a system that provides the information in response to an inquiry
Program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminalTo
AndAccepts service requests from users and
Resol which is the search result acquired from the related information providing device
Application result based on the resolve result and the resolve result.
Launch the application and the resolution
Attribute information and service provider information included in the result
The service provider
User who provides the content data obtained from
The interfaceStepsAnd the DCD and
Data set consisting of user policy and system profile
RRDS generation to generate RRDS with a set ofSteps
And RRDS to the content-related information providing device
RRDS transmissionStepsAnd content-related information providing device
Resolve result reception to receive the resolve result fromSteps
And

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0057

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 37), there is provided a content providing program for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data.
Providing a DCD handler on a user terminal connected to the network for distributing the DCD to the network, obtaining and analyzing the DCD, and providing information on the content and service provider information to the user terminal. a program information providing apparatus is mounted on the DCD handler of the user terminal on the system that provides the information to the inquiry from the user
Receiving a service request from a user, narrowing down a resolve result, which is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing device, using a user policy and a system profile, and launching an application based on the narrowed-down resolve result; For
A user interface step of providing attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result, and providing the user with content data acquired from the service provider by the application;
An RRDS generation system for generating an RRDS in which a data set including a CD, a user policy , and a system profile is grouped .
A step, and RRDS transmitting step of transmitting RRDS the content information provision device, resolve result receiving scan for receiving resolve results from the content information provision apparatus
With Tep .

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0058

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 38), the user terminal includes:
When a local resolver is provided, in a program mounted on the local resolver, a step of searching an attribute information database storing content attribute information and a service provider information database storing service provider information according to the RRDS; and outputting the result as the resolve result, and issuing to the content using the content data in the user terminal, the content ID management number and management number of the local resolver content information provision device,
For the attribute information database in the local resolver,
The method includes a step of registering content ID and attribute information, and a step of issuing a DCD based on the registered content ID and attribute information.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0059

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (Claim 39), a DCD input by a user is given by a signature attached to the DCD.
Comprising the step of verifying the validity of.

[Procedure amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0060

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0060] The present invention (Claim 40), in the user interface step, and displaying the service as a service icon, and displaying the content as content icons, the operation of linking the content icon and service icons, DCD
Inputting the DCD and the request to the handler,
Stearyl serviced by starting the application in accordance with the resolved acquired from the content information provision apparatus
Tsu and a flop.

[Procedure amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0061

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 41), in the user interface step , when a plurality of services are available for the content, the DCD handler is connected to the DCD handler by an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon.
Inputting the D and the request to present a plurality of services to the user in response to resolve the result, and a step of selecting a said user service.

[Procedure amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0062

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 42), in the user interface step , a step of inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking a content icon and a service icon, and a service relating to another content associated with the content are performed. presented to the user, stearyl to select a service to the user
Have a top.

[Procedure amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0063

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (claim 43) provides an interface
In the step , when an operation for performing menu display is performed on the content icon, an available service list, attribute information of the content, and the content described in the attribute information of the content are presented to the user as a menu, comprising the step of causing a selection of a menu to the user.

[Procedure amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0064

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (claim 44) includes a step of authenticating a user and, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, when the user uses a service, the user is required to use the service. and a step of acting on behalf of the settlement procedure.

[Procedure amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0065

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 45), a content data
Data and information / services for the content data.
Provision of content to provide to usersProgram
hand,Distribute the DCD through the network and acquire the DCD
Connected to the network
Information on content and services
The network that provides service provider information to the user
The content-related information providing device above
The computer on the system that provides the information
A program installed in the content related information providing devicesmell
hand,RRDS reception for acquiring RRDS from DCD handler
FaithStepsAnd attribute information of the content according to the RRDS.
Information database that stores information and services
Service provider in which provider information is stored
RRDS interpretation to search information databaseSteps
And resolve the search result by the RRDS interpretation step
Resolve result sent to DCD handler as resultS
TepAnd

[Procedure amendment 14]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0066

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (claim 46) is a content providing program for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data.
A DCD handler for distributing the DCD through the network, acquiring and analyzing the DCD on a user terminal connected to the network, and providing the user with information on the content and service provider information on the network. providing apparatus, a program odor to be mounted on said content-related information providing apparatus on the system that provides the information to the inquiry from the user
Te, and RRDS reception acquiring RRDS from DCD handler, according to RRDS, searches the attribute information database that the attribute information of the content is stored, the service provider information database information service providers are stored RRDS for generating a resolve result that meets a query request from retrieved results
An interpreting step, and a resolve result transmitting step of transmitting a resolve result by the RRDS interpreting step to the DCD handler.
Tsu and a flop.

[Procedure amendment 15]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0067

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 47), when one or more content-related information providing apparatuses are present on a network, the content ID, attribute information, and service provider stored in each content-related information providing apparatus are provided. while exchanging information comprises the step of outputting the resolved results with distributed cooperative.

[Procedure amendment 16]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 48), when the user terminal has a local resolver having the same function as that of the content-related information providing device, the local resolver is uniquely provided in the content-related information providing device. comprising the step of applying a Do management number.

[Procedure amendment 17]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0069

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (Claim 49), in the resolve result transmitting step , the attribute information associated with the content ID in the DCD included in the RRDS is referred to,
Comprising sending DCD including more detailed attribute information and service provider information in DCD handler.

[Procedure amendment 18]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0070

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 50), a step of attaching a signature to a DCD issued by itself, and a step of verifying the validity of the DCD based on the signature attached to the DCD in the RRDS obtained from the DCD handler Having.

[Procedure amendment 19]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0071

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

According to the present invention (claim 51), the RR received from the DCD handler is transmitted in the resolve result transmitting step .
Update the contents of DCD in DS to the latest information and
Issue a CD, comprising sending to the DCD handler.

[Procedure amendment 20]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0072

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (Claim 52) has a step of referring to a service provider information database provided externally to the apparatus as required.

[Procedure amendment 21]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0073

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (Claim 53) is a content providing program for providing a user with content data and information and services for the content data.
A DCD handler for distributing the DCD through the network, acquiring and analyzing the DCD on a user terminal connected to the network, and providing the user with information on the content and service provider information on the network. On a system in which a providing device provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user,
A program installed in a management device that manages the content-related information providing device includes a step of assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing device, and receiving content attribute information and service provider information from a content data owner. And a step of issuing a content ID, which is information uniquely indicating the content, to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus .
And step, in the attribute database, and registers the content ID and the content attribute information, issues the DCD based on the content attribute information to the content owner stearate
Tsu and a flop.

[Procedure amendment 22]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name]

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The present invention (claim 54) is a content providing program for providing a user with content data and information and services for the content data.
Providing a DCD handler on a user terminal connected to the network for distributing the DCD to the network and obtaining and analyzing the DCD, and providing the user with information on the content and service provider information on the network. On a system in which a providing device provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user,
A program installed in a service provider that provides a service obtains content data and DCD from a content owner when the provider is a content data distribution provider, and obtains the content data and DCD.
Step of requesting the content-related information providing device to register attribute information and service provider information in association with a CD
It has a-up, and transmitting the contents of the service provided by the own provider content information provision device. The present invention (Claim 55) relates to content data and
Providing users with information and services for content data
For storing a content providing program to be provided
A medium that distributes DCD through a network,
DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D
On the user terminal connected to the
Providing information and service provider information to user terminals
The content-related information providing device on the network is
System that provides this information in response to inquiries from users.
A program mounted on the DCD handler of the user terminal on the program
The program receives a service request from the user and
Retrieval results obtained from the content related information providing device
A solve result and an application based on the resolve result.
Application and start the application for the application.
Attribute information and service provider included in the solve result
Information, and the service provider
Providing users with content data obtained from Ida
User interface steps and user policies and systems
RRD as a set of data sets consisting of system profiles
An RRDS generation step of generating S;
RRDS transmission step to transmit to the content-related information providing device
And a resolve result from the content-related information providing device.
Receiving a resolve result. The present invention
(Claim 56) relates to the content data and the content
To provide users with information and services on data
Is a storage medium that stores
To distribute the DCD through the network and acquire the DCD
Connected to the network
Information on content and services
The network for providing service provider information to a user terminal.
The content-related information providing device on the network
The user on a system that provides the information in response to an inquiry
Program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminal
Accepts service requests from users and
Resolve results, which are search results obtained from the
Results using user policies and system profiles.
Application based on the refined resolve results.
Application and start the application for the application.
Attribute information and service provider included in the solve result
Information, and the service provider
Providing users with content data obtained from Ida
User interface steps and user policies and systems
RRD as a set of data sets consisting of system profiles
An RRDS generation step of generating S;
RRDS transmission step to transmit to the content-related information providing device
And a resolve result from the content-related information providing device.
Receiving a resolve result. The present invention
(Claim 57) is that the user terminal uses the local resolver.
When having the program installed in the local resolver.
Stores attribute information of contents according to RRDS
Attribute information database and service provider information
Search the stored service provider information database
Steps and output search results as resolve results
Step and the content data in the user terminal
The content ID to the content-related information providing device
Using the logical number and the management number of the local resolver.
Steps to publish to Tenz and attribute in local resolver
Content ID and attribute for gender information database
The step of registering information and the registered content ID and
And issuing DCD based on attribute information
You. According to the present invention (claim 58), D
The validity of the DCD is determined by the signature attached to the CD
Verifying The present invention (Claim 59)
Is a service in the user interface step
To display as a service icon.
Displaying the content as a content icon;
Operation to link content icon and service icon
Input DCD and request to DCD handler
Steps from the content-related information providing device
Start the application according to the obtained resolve and
Receiving a service. The present invention (claim 6
0) in the user interface step
If more than one service is available for the content,
Icon and service icon.
To input DCD and request to DCD handler
Users and multiple services depending on the
And allowing the user to select a service.
Having. The present invention (claim 61) provides a user interface
Content icons and services
By connecting icons, the DCD handler
Inputting the DCD and the request, and the content
Subscribe to services related to other content associated with
Steps to present to the user and allow the user to select a service.
Have The present invention (claim 62) provides an interface
In the step, for the content icon,
When you perform an operation to display a menu, available services
List, content attribute information, content attribute
Present the contents described in the information to the user as a menu
Step for prompting the user to select a menu.
I do. The present invention (claim 63) provides a step for authenticating a user.
And some of the user's privileges have been delegated,
When the user uses the service, the user
Performing the settlement procedure of the user. The present invention
(Claim 64) relates to content data and the content
To provide users with information and services on data
Is a storage medium that stores
To distribute the DCD through the network and acquire the DCD
Connected to the network
Information on content and services
The network that provides service provider information to the user
The content-related information providing device described above
The computer on the system that provides the information
The program installed in the content related information providing device is D
RRDS receiving step for obtaining RRDS from CD handler
Attribute information of the content according to the
Attribute information database and service provider
Service provider information data in which
RRDS interpretation step of searching database and RR
Retrieval result by DS interpretation step as resolve result
Transmitting a resolve result to be transmitted to the DCD handler;
Having. The present invention (claim 65) provides content data
And information and services for the content data
Stores a content providing program to be provided to
Is a storage medium that distributes DCD to a network.
A DCD handler that acquires and analyzes the DCD.
Network on the user terminal connected to the network
Information and service provider information to users
Device for providing content-related information on the network
Provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user.
Installed in the content-related information providing device on the system
Program gets RRDS from DCD handler
RRDS receiving step to perform, and according to the RRDS,
Attribute information database that stores attribute information of tents
And the service that stores the service provider information.
Search service provider information database and search
Generates a resolve result that meets the
RRDS interpretation step to perform and RRDS interpretation step
That sends the resolve result by DCD handler to DCD handler
And transmitting the result. The present invention (Claim 66)
Provides one or more content-related information
If there is a mobile device,
Content ID, attribute information, and
Exchange service provider information and cooperate distributedly
Outputting the resolve result. The present invention (contract
Request 67) is a process in which the user terminal executes the content-related information.
Has a local resolver that has the same function as the
To the local resolver,
To assign a unique management number in the related information providing device.
Have a top. The present invention (claim 68) provides a resolve result.
In the transmission step, the DCD included in the RRDS
Refer to the attribute information linked to the content ID
And provide more detailed attribute information and service provider information
Including transmitting the DCD including the DCD to the DCD handler
You. The present invention (claim 69) provides a DCD issued by itself.
Signing and obtaining from the DCD handler
The signature attached to the DCD in the RRDS
And verifying the validity of the DCD. The present invention
(Claim 70) is resolved result Te Contact have <br/> the transmitting step, the DCD in RRDS received from DCD handler
Update the contents to the latest information, issue a new DCD,
Sending to the CD handler. The present invention (contract
Claim 71) is provided outside the own device as necessary.
Refer to the provided service provider information database
With steps. The present invention (claim 72) provides a content
Data and information / service for the content data
Contents providing program for providing users with resources
Is a storage medium for storing DCD in a network.
DCD handler that distributes, acquires and analyzes DCD
Provided on a user terminal connected to the network,
Information about tents and service provider information
Providing content-related information on the network to be provided to
The device provides the information in response to an inquiry from the user
System for providing the content-related information.
The programs installed in the management device that manages the
A process for assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing device
From the content data owner
Receiving sex information and service provider information
And a content ID that is information uniquely indicating the content
Using the management number of the content-related information providing device.
Steps for publishing content and attribute database
Register the content ID and content attribute information in the
DCD is issued based on the content attribute information,
Transmitting to the content owner. The present invention (contract
The request 73) is a method for storing content data and the content data.
To provide users with information and services for
A storage medium storing a content providing program,
Distribute the DCD through the network, acquire the DCD and solve
The DCD handler to be analyzed by a user connected to the network.
Information and services provided on the user terminal
On the network providing provider information to the user
The content-related information providing device is
Service on a system that provides this information
Programs installed in service providers that provide services
In the rum, the provider provides content data distribution
Data from the content owner
And the DCD, and the content data and the DCD
And attribute information to the content-related information providing device.
For requesting registration of service provider information
Content of the service provided by the provider
Transmitting to the related information providing device. As described above, in the present invention, by distributing DCD on a network, it is possible to uniformly handle contents regardless of the form or providing method. In addition, the content-related information providing device can centrally manage information about content.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ogawa 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yoichi Takashima 2-3-3, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Within Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Shinsuke Honjo 1099 Ozenji Temple, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Hitachi Systems Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Ryoichi Sasaki 1099 Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Address: Hitachi, Ltd., System Development Laboratory (72) Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshiura 1099, Ozenji, Aso-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan Hitachi, Ltd. System Development Laboratory: F-term (reference) 5B075 ND16 NK46 PQ05 5B082 GA02 HA05 5B085 BA07 BC01 BG02 BG03 BG07 CA04 CA07 5C064 BA07 BB10 BD02 BD08 BD09

Claims (54)

[Claims] 1. A content providing method for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data, comprising: a data format in which information on an acquisition source of the content data, information on the content, and available services are described. (Hereinafter referred to as DCD) through the network.
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by the user. On a system for providing the information in response to an inquiry, the DCD handler of the user terminal receives a service request from the user and holds the DC
D, by transmitting the user conditions (hereinafter, referred to as a user policy) and the use environment conditions (hereinafter, referred to as a system profile) to the content-related information providing apparatus, information on contents and usable service provider information To the content-related information providing device, and in the content-related information providing device,
In response to a request from the handler, more detailed content information and more detailed service
The content data from the service provider based on the service provider information transmitted from the content-related information providing device, performing necessary processing on the content data, A service providing method characterized by providing the service to a service provider. 2. In the DCD handler, when the user inputs the DCD and the request, the RRD is a data set in which the DCD, the request, the user policy, and the system profile are grouped.
S, and transmits the RRDS to the content-related information providing device. In the content-related information providing device, when the RRDS is acquired from the DCD handler, an attribute in which attribute information is stored according to the RRDS Search the information database and the service provider information database where the service provider information is stored,
A resolve result obtained in conformity with the inquiry request is generated from the plurality of retrieved results and transmitted to the DCD handler. In the DCD handler, the resolve result obtained from the content-related information providing device is transmitted to the user. Presenting, based on user interaction from the user,
In order to realize a service, an application corresponding to the service is started, and attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result are given to the application. In the application, a service provider is provided to the service provider based on the service provider information. 2. The service providing method according to claim 1, wherein a service request is made, and the service provider provides a service according to the request of the application. 3. In the DCD handler, when the DCD and the request are input from a user, R is a data set in which the DCD and the request are paired.
Generating an RDS, transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus, and acquiring the RRDS from the DCD handler in the content-related information providing apparatus, wherein attribute information in which attribute information is stored according to the RRDS is stored. A database and a service provider information database storing service provider information are searched, and a search result is provided to the DCD handler as a resolve result. In the DCD handler, the resolve result obtained from the content-related information providing device is obtained. Narrowing down by the user policy and the system profile, presenting the narrowed-down resolve result to the user, launching an application based on a user interaction from the user, Transmitting the attribute information and the service provider information included in the result, in the application, making a service request to the service provider based on the service provider information obtained from the DCD handler; and in the service provider, the service request from the application. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein a service is provided to the user based on the content. 4. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the service provided by the service provider is a content data distribution service. 5. When registering information in the attribute information database and the service provider information database of the content-related information providing device, a unique management number is assigned to the content-related information providing device, and the content data owner , Content attribute information and service provider information, and issues a content ID, which is information uniquely indicating the content, to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus. The ID and the content attribute information are registered, a DCD is issued based on the content attribute information, and transmitted to the content owner. If the service provider is a content data distribution provider, the service owner is the content owner. From content The content data and the DCD are obtained, the content data and the DCD are associated, a request is made to the content-related information providing device for registration of attribute information and service provider information, and the content of the service provided by the provider is displayed in the content-related information. The service provision according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the service is transmitted to a provision device, and the content-related information provision device registers and updates contents of the attribute information database and the service provider information database in response to a request from the service provider. Method. 6. When there is one or more content-related information providing devices on the network, the content-related information providing device group includes the content I stored in each content-related information providing device.
5. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the resolve result is output in a distributed and coordinated manner while exchanging D, the attribute information, and the service provider information. 7. When the user terminal has a local content-related information providing device (hereinafter, a local resolver) having the attribute information database of the content and the service provider information database, Assigning a unique management number within the content-related information providing device to the local resolver, the local resolver inputs the RRDS, and according to the RRDS, the attribute information database and the service provider information Search the database, output the search result as a resolve result, and issue a content ID to the content data in the user terminal using the management number of the content-related information providing device and the management number of the local resolver for the content data in the user terminal And said low 7. The content providing method according to claim 6, wherein the content ID and the attribute information are registered in the attribute information database of a cal resolver, and a DCD is issued based on the registered content ID and the attribute information. 8. In the content-related information providing device, when the RRDS is received from the DCD handler and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the RRDS is associated with a content ID in the DCD included in the RRDS. DCD containing more detailed attribute information and service provider information by referring to the
5. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the content is transmitted to a D handler. 9. The content-related information providing device, wherein the DCD issued by itself is given a signature, and the DC in the RRDS acquired from the DCD handler is provided.
5. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein the validity of the DCD is verified by a signature attached to D. 10. The content providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DCD handler verifies the validity of the DCD input from the user by using a signature given by the content-related information providing apparatus. Method. 11. In the content-related information providing device, when the RRDS is obtained from the DCD handler and the resolve result is transmitted to the DCD handler, the content of the DCD in the RRDS is updated to the latest information. The content providing method according to claim 1, wherein a new DCD is issued and transmitted to the DCD handler. 12. A user interface for interacting with a user of the DCD handler, wherein a service is displayed as a service icon, a content is displayed as a content icon, and the DCD handler is operated by linking the content icon and the service icon. 5. The content providing method according to claim 1, further comprising: inputting a DCD and a request to the application; 13. In the user interface of the DCD handler, when a plurality of services are available for a certain content, inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon; 13. The content providing method according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of services are presented to a user according to the result of the resolve, and the service is selected by the user. 14. The user interface of the DCD handler, wherein a DCD and a request are input to the DCD handler by an operation of associating the content icon with the service icon. 13. The content providing method according to claim 12, wherein a service relating to the other content is presented to the user, and the service is selected by the user. 15. In the interface of the DCD handler, when an operation for displaying a menu is performed on the content icon, a description is provided in a list of available services, attribute information of the content, and attribute information of the content. 13. The content providing method according to claim 12, wherein the content being presented is presented to a user as a menu, and the user is allowed to select a menu. 16. The service provider information database is provided outside the content-related information providing device, and the content-related information providing device refers to the external service provider information database as needed. 4. The service providing method according to 4. 17. In the DCD handler, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, the user is authenticated. When the user uses a service, a settlement procedure of the user is performed as necessary. The service providing method according to claim 1, wherein the service providing method is performed. 18. The service provision according to claim 1, wherein the service provider information database is managed using information representing a service function, information on a data interface of the service function, and information on a data protocol of the service function. Method. 19. A content providing system for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data, wherein information on an acquisition source of the content data, information on the content, and available services are described. Format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) through the network
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by the user. On a system that provides the information in response to an inquiry, the DCD handler of the user terminal receives a service request from the user, and executes an application based on a resolve result that is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus. User interface means for activating, giving attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result to the application, and providing the user with content data obtained from the service provider by the application; That DCD, the user condition (hereinafter, referred to as user policy), the conditions of use environment (hereinafter, referred to as the system profile) and a set of data set consisting RRDS
RRDS generating means for generating the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus; RRDS transmitting means for transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus; resolve result receiving means for receiving the resolve result from the content-related information providing apparatus; An attribute information database in which content attribute information is stored, a service provider information database in which service provider information is stored, and an RRD for obtaining the RRDS from the DCD handler.
S receiving means; the attribute information database according to the RRDS;
Searching the service provider information database,
RRDS interpreting means for generating a resolve result conforming to the inquiry request from the searched result; and
A service providing system, comprising: a resolve result transmitting unit for transmitting to a CD handler. 20. A content providing system for providing a user with content data and information / service for the content data, wherein information on an acquisition source of the content data, information on the content, and available services are described. Format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) through the network
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by the user. On a system that provides the information in response to an inquiry, the DCD handler of the user terminal accepts a service request from the user, and resolves a search result obtained from the content-related information providing device with the user policy and The system profile is narrowed down by the system profile, an application is started based on the narrowed down resolve result, attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result are given to the application, and the service profile is provided by the application. User interface means for providing the content data obtained from the user to the user, and data comprising the retained DCD, the conditions of the user (hereinafter, referred to as user policy), and the conditions of the use environment (hereinafter, referred to as system profile) RRDS as a set
RRDS generating means for generating the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus; RRDS transmitting means for transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing apparatus; resolve result receiving means for receiving the resolve result from the content-related information providing apparatus; An attribute information database in which content attribute information is stored, a service provider information database in which service provider information is stored, and an RRD for obtaining the RRDS from the DCD handler.
S receiving means, the attribute information database according to the RRDS,
Searching the service provider information database,
RRDS that generates searched results as resolve results
Interpreting means, and the resolve result obtained by the RRDS interpreting means in the D
A service providing system comprising: a resolve result transmitting unit that transmits to a CD handler. 21. The content providing system according to claim 19, wherein the service provided by the service provider is a content data distribution service. 22. A means for assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing apparatus; a means for receiving content attribute information and service provider information from a content data owner; and content which is information uniquely indicating the content. Means for issuing an ID to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus; registering the content ID and the content attribute information in the attribute database; and issuing a DCD based on the content attribute information And a device for registering information in the attribute information database and the service provider information database of the content-related information providing device by means of transmitting to the content owner, wherein the service provider has its own provider. Content data distribution In the case of a binder, means for obtaining content data and the DCD from the content owner, associating the content data with the DCD, and requesting the content-related information providing apparatus to register attribute information and service provider information; Means for transmitting the contents of the service provided by its own provider to the content-related information providing device, wherein the content-related information providing device, in response to a request from the service provider, the attribute information database and the service provider 2. A means for registering / updating contents of an information database.
22. The service providing system according to 9 to 21. 23. When there is at least one content-related information providing device on the network, the content-related information providing device group includes the content ID and the attribute information held by each content-related information providing device. , And while exchanging the service provider information,
22. The content providing system according to claim 19, further comprising means for outputting the resolve result in a distributed cooperative manner. 24. The user terminal has a local content-related information providing device (hereinafter, a local resolver), wherein the local resolver stores an attribute information database storing attribute information of content and service provider information. A service provider information database; a means for inputting the RRDS; a means for searching the attribute information database and the service provider information database according to the RRDS; a means for outputting a search result as a resolve result; and the user terminal Means for issuing a content ID to the content using the management number of the content-related information providing device and the management number of the local resolver, and the attribute information database in the local resolver, The said A means for registering the content ID and the attribute information; and a means for issuing a DCD based on the registered content ID and the attribute information. 24. The content providing system according to claim 23, further comprising means for assigning a unique management number in the content-related information providing device. 25. The content-related information providing device, when receiving the RRDS from the DCD handler and transmitting the resolve result to the DCD handler, is linked to the content ID in the DCD included in the RRDS. The DCD including the more detailed attribute information and service provider information is referred to by the DCD.
22. The content providing system according to claim 19, further comprising means for transmitting the content to a handler. 26. The content-related information providing device, further comprising: a unit for adding a signature to the DCD issued by itself, and a DC in the RRDS acquired from the DCD handler.
22. The content providing system according to claim 19, further comprising means for verifying the validity of the DCD with respect to D by using a signature given by the content-related information providing apparatus. 27. The content providing system according to claim 19, wherein said DCD handler has means for verifying the validity of said DCD based on a signature attached to said DCD input from said user. 28. The content-related information providing device, when acquiring the RRDS from the DCD handler and transmitting the resolve result to the DCD handler, updates the content of the DCD in the RRDS to the latest information. 22. The content providing system according to claim 19, further comprising means for issuing a new DCD and transmitting the DCD to the DCD handler. 29. The user interface means of the DCD handler includes: means for displaying a service as a service icon; means for displaying a content as a content icon; and an operation for linking the content icon and the service icon to the DCD handler. 22. The content providing system according to claim 19, further comprising: means for inputting a DCD and a request; and means for activating the application according to the resolve obtained from the content-related information providing device and receiving a service. 30. A means for inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon when a plurality of services are available for the content, wherein the user interface means of the DCD handler includes: 30. The content providing system according to claim 29, further comprising: means for presenting a plurality of services to a user in accordance with the result of the resolve, and allowing the user to select a service. 31. The user interface means of the DCD handler, means for inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon, and relating to other content associated with the content 30. The content providing system according to claim 29, further comprising means for presenting a service to a user and allowing the user to select a service. 32. The interface means of the DCD handler, when an operation to display a menu is performed on the content icon, an available service list, attribute information of the content, and attribute information of the content are displayed. 30. Means for presenting the described contents to a user as a menu and allowing the user to select a menu.
Content providing system as described. 33. The service providing system according to claim 19, wherein said content-related information providing device has means for externally referencing a service provider information database provided outside the device as necessary. 34. The DCD handler comprises: a unit for authenticating the user; and, when a part of the authority of the user is delegated, when the user uses a service, the user is required to authenticate the user. And means for performing a settlement procedure.
1. The service providing system according to 1. 35. The service provider information database according to claim 19, further comprising means for managing the service provider information database using information representing a service function, information on a data interface of the service function, and information on a data protocol of the service function. Service delivery system. 36. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, wherein information on an acquisition source of the content data, information on the content, Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by an inquiry from the user. A program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminal on the system that provides the information with respect to: a resolve result that is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus, receiving a service request from the user; and A user that starts an application based on the resolve result, gives the application attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result, and provides the user with content data obtained from the service provider by the application. RRDS, which is a set of data sets consisting of an interface process, DCD held, conditions of the user (hereinafter, referred to as a user policy), and conditions of a use environment (hereinafter, referred to as a system profile).
Generating an RRDS, an RRDS transmission process of transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing device, and a resolve result receiving process of receiving the resolve result from the content-related information providing device. A storage medium storing a content providing program. 37. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, wherein the content data acquisition source information, content information and available Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on contents and service provider information to the user terminal is provided by an inquiry from the user. A program installed in the DCD handler of the user terminal on the system that provides the information to the server, receives a service request from the user, and outputs a resolve result, which is a search result obtained from the content-related information providing apparatus, to the The application is narrowed down using the user policy and the system profile, an application is started based on the narrowed-down resolve result, attribute information and service provider information included in the resolve result are given to the application, and service is performed by the application. User interface process for providing the content data obtained from the provider to the user, DCD held by the user, conditions of the user (hereinafter, referred to as a user policy), and conditions of a use environment (hereinafter, referred to as a system profile). RRDS as a set of data sets
Generating an RRDS, an RRDS transmission process of transmitting the RRDS to the content-related information providing device, and a resolve result receiving process of receiving the resolve result from the content-related information providing device. A storage medium storing a content providing program. 38. When the user terminal has a local content-related information providing device (hereinafter, a local resolver), a program installed in the local resolver stores content attribute information according to the RRDS. Searching the attribute information database and the service provider information database storing the service provider information, outputting the search result as a resolve result, and, for the content data in the user terminal, the content ID is associated with the content. A process of issuing the content using the management number of the information providing device and the management number of the local resolver, a process of registering the content ID and the attribute information in the attribute information database in the local resolver, Before Content ID and a storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 37, further comprising a process of issuing a DCD based on the attribute information. 39. The storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 36, further comprising a process of verifying the validity of the DCD based on a signature attached to the DCD input by the user. 40. The user interface process comprising: a process of displaying a service as a service icon; a process of displaying content as a content icon; and an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon to request the DCD handler to perform a DCD request. 38. A storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 36 or 37, comprising: a process of inputting the content providing program; and a process of activating the application according to the resolve obtained from the content-related information providing device and receiving a service. 41. A process for inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of connecting the content icon and the service icon when a plurality of services are available for the content; 41. A storage medium storing a content providing program according to claim 40, further comprising: a process of presenting a plurality of services to a user according to the user and allowing the user to select a service. 42. The user interface process includes: a process of inputting a DCD and a request to the DCD handler by an operation of linking the content icon and the service icon; and providing a user with a service related to another content associated with the content. 41. The storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 40, further comprising a process of presenting and allowing the user to select a service. 43. The interface process, when the content icon is operated to display a menu, is described in a list of available services, attribute information of the content, and attribute information of the content. 41. The storage medium storing a content providing program according to claim 40, further comprising a process of presenting contents to a user as a menu and allowing the user to select a menu. 44. A process for authenticating the user, and, if a part of the authority of the user is delegated, performing a settlement procedure for the user when necessary when the user uses a service. A storage medium storing the service providing program according to claim 36 or 37, comprising a process. 45. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, wherein information on an acquisition source of the content data, information on the content, Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on content and service provider information to the user is provided by an inquiry from the user. A program installed in the content-related information providing device on the system that provides the information to the RRD is a program that obtains the RRDS from the DCD handler.
An RRDS interpretation process for searching an attribute information database storing attribute information of contents and a service provider information database storing service provider information in accordance with the RRDS; A resolve result transmitting process for transmitting a search result by the process as a resolve result to the DCD handler. 46. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, the content data acquiring source information, content information and available Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler for acquiring and analyzing D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network for providing information on content and service provider information to the user is provided by an inquiry from the user. A program installed in the content-related information providing device on the system that provides the information to the RRD is a program that obtains the RRDS from the DCD handler.
An S information receiving process, an attribute information database storing attribute information of contents, and a service provider information database storing information of service providers according to the RRDS, and an inquiry request based on the searched result. An RRDS interpretation process for generating a resolve result conforming to
A storage medium storing a service providing program, comprising: a resolve result transmitting process for transmitting to a CD handler. 47. When there are one or more content-related information providing devices on the network, exchange the content ID, the attribute information, and the service provider information held by each content-related information providing device. 47. The storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 45, further comprising a process of outputting the resolve result in a distributed and cooperative manner. 48. When the user terminal has a local resolver having the same function as that of the content-related information providing device, assigns a unique management number to the local resolver in the content-related information providing device. 47. A storage medium storing a content providing program according to claim 45 or 46 having a process. 49. The resolve result transmitting process refers to attribute information associated with a content ID in the DCD included in the RRDS, and converts the DCD including more detailed attribute information and service provider information into the DCD.
46. The method of claim 45, further comprising the step of sending to the handler.
A storage medium storing the content providing program according to 46. 50. A process for attaching a signature to the DCD issued by itself, and a DC in the RRDS obtained from the DCD handler.
47. The storage medium storing the content providing program according to claim 45, further comprising a process of verifying the validity of the DCD by using a signature attached to D. 51. The resolve result transmitting process includes a process of updating the content of the DCD in the RRDS received from the DCD handler to the latest information, newly issuing a DCD, and transmitting the new DCD to the DCD handler. 4
A storage medium storing the content providing program according to 5 or 46. 52. A storage medium storing the service providing program according to claim 45 or 46, further comprising a process for referring to a service provider information database provided outside the apparatus as necessary. 53. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, the content data acquiring source information, content information and available Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler that obtains and analyzes D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network that provides information on the content and service provider information to the user in response to an inquiry from the user. On a system that provides the information to the content-related information providing device, a program installed in a management device that manages the content-related information providing device includes: a process of assigning a unique management number to the content-related information providing device; A process of receiving content attribute information and service provider information from the server; a process of issuing a content ID, which is information uniquely indicating the content, to the content by using the management number of the content-related information providing apparatus; In addition, the content A content providing program for registering a content ID and the content attribute information, issuing a DCD based on the content attribute information, and transmitting the DCD to the content owner. 54. A storage medium storing content data and a content providing program for providing a user with information / service for the content data, the content data acquiring source information, content information and available Distribute the data format (hereinafter referred to as DCD) describing the service through the network,
A DCD handler that obtains and analyzes D is provided on a user terminal connected to the network, and a content-related information providing device on the network that provides information on the content and service provider information to the user in response to an inquiry from the user. On the system that provides the information, the program installed in the service provider that provides the service obtains the content data and the DCD from the owner of the content when the provider is a content data distribution provider. A process of requesting the content-related information providing device to register attribute information and service provider information by associating the content data and the DCD, and a process of transmitting the content of a service provided by the provider to the content-related information providing device. Storage medium storing the content providing program characterized in that it has.