JP2002236768A - Method, system and program for providing contents and recording medium for recording program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the illegal distribution of contents and also to enhance convenience in a user. SOLUTION: A contents distribution server 2 discharges a contents usage right concerning a new contents usage right request from a user terminal 3 and adds it to a contents usage right management database 6 In this case, contents usage charge is collected from the user terminal 3. After the user terminal 3 requests the contents, the contents distribution server 2 recognizes that the contents usage right is registered in the contents usage right management database 6, obtains a contents location from a contents location information management database 7, reports it to the user terminal 3 and also adds the user terminal 3 which requests the contents in the database 7 as the new location. The user terminal 3 obtains the contents from the reported location.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a content providing method and system for delivering content owned by a content provider server to user terminals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of the Internet and the like, content such as music has been easily available through a communication network.

[0003]

However, on the other hand, in a music file exchange service called Napster or a peer-to-peer type content distribution form using a software called Gnutella, it is easy to do so. It is also possible to illegally spread the contents, which is a problem in copyright protection. In addition, distribution of contents via a communication network has a problem that the number of downloads and recording of contents are restricted by the user.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a content providing method and system for protecting the copyright of the content and distributing the content correctly while ensuring user convenience.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems A content distribution server operated by a content intermediary manages the right to use and the location of each content on behalf of the content provider server which is the content distributor.

[0006] The content distribution server pays out the content usage right in response to a new content usage right request from the user terminal, and adds it to the content usage right management database. At this time, a content usage fee is collected from the user terminal. Thereafter, when the user terminal requests the content, the content distribution server confirms that the content usage right is registered in the content usage right management database, obtains the location from the content location information management database, and obtains the location. Notify the user terminal and add the user terminal that requested the content to the content location information management database as a new location.

[0007] The user terminal obtains the content from the notified location.

[0008] Therefore, the content is distributed only to the user terminal having the right to use the content.

[0009]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] The content providing system according to the present embodiment comprises:
Content provider server 1 that is the content provider
And a content distribution server 2 that is actually operated by a content distribution management company, and user terminals 3 and 4, and a content provider server 1,
Content database 5, 8 attached to user terminal 4
Both are attached to the content distribution server 2 and are composed of a content usage right management database 6 and a content location information management database 7 managed by a content distribution manager.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. 1. Until the User Terminal 3 Acquires the Right to Use the Content A (FIG. 1) First, the content distribution server 2 makes a contract with the content provider server 1 and secures the right to pay out the right to use the content A to the user terminal 3. The location information of the content A is obtained and managed (steps 11 and 12). On the other hand, the user terminal 3 requests the use right of the content A from the content distribution server 2 (step 13), and has it paid out (step 14). At this time, the usage fee for the content A is also paid (step 15). The content distribution server 2 writes in the content usage right management database 6 that the user terminal 3 has acquired the usage right of the content A, and manages it (step 16). Here, the user terminal 4
Has already obtained and has content A. 2. After the user terminal 3 obtains the right to use the content A, until the user actually obtains the content A (FIG. 2). When the user terminal 3 requests the content A from the content distribution server 2 (step 17), the content distribution server 2 Searches the content use right management database 6 (step 18) and checks whether the user terminal 3 has the use right of the content A. In this case, since it has, the location of the content A is searched from the content location information management database 7 (step 19), and a location (for example, the user terminal 4) close to the user terminal 3 is sent to the user terminal 3 as location information ( Step 20). The user terminal 3 acquires the content A from the location (for example, the user terminal 4) based on the location information (step 2).
1). The content distribution server 2 registers the user terminal 3 as a new owner of the content A in the content location information management database 7 (step 22).

According to the above operation, the distribution of the content A is managed by the content distribution server 2, so that the leakage of the content location information and the unauthorized distribution from the user to another user does not occur. .

The processing of the content distribution server 2 described above is performed by a content providing program as a floppy disk, CD-ROM, magneto-optical disk, DVD, or the like.
Or the like, and can be executed on a computer such as a personal computer.

[0015]

As described above, the present invention has an advantage that by managing the right to use the content and the location information, the unauthorized distribution of the content is not performed and the right such as the copyright of the content is protected. Also, the user who uses the content can receive the content any number of times according to the usage right, which has the advantage of increasing convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a content providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a diagram showing a flow of processing until a user terminal 3 acquires a right to use content A.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of processing in the content providing system of FIG. 1 from when the user terminal 3 acquires the right to use the content to when the content A is actually acquired.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content provider server 2 Content distribution server 3, 4 User terminal 5, 8 Content database 6 Content usage right management database 7 Content location information management database 11 to 21 steps

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution server manages a content use right and a location on behalf of a content provider server, and pays out a content use right in response to a new content use right request from a user terminal. A content providing method for writing in a content usage right management database that a content usage right has been acquired and for collecting a content usage fee from the user terminal. 2. When a user terminal requests content,
The content distribution server searches the content usage right management database, confirms that the user terminal has the usage right of the content, searches the content location information management database for the location of the content, and Notifying the terminal of the location of the content to a terminal, and when the user terminal obtains the content from the notified location, registers the user terminal in the content location information management database as a new owner of the content. Item 7. The method according to Item 1. 3. A content usage right management database in which the usage right of the content is registered, a content location information management database in which the location of each content is registered, and a usage right and the location of the content in place of the content provider server. Manages and pays out the content usage right in response to a new content usage right request from the user terminal, writes in the content usage right management database that the user terminal has acquired the content usage right, and uses the content usage right from the user terminal. A content providing system having a content distribution server that collects fees. 4. When a user terminal requests content,
The content distribution server searches the content usage right management database, confirms that the user terminal has the usage right of the content, searches the content location information management database for the location of the content, and Notifying the user terminal of the location of the content, and when the user terminal obtains the content from the notified location, registers the user terminal in the content location information management database as a new owner of the content, The system according to claim 3. 5. A content providing program for implementing the method according to claim 1. 6. A recording medium on which the content providing program according to claim 5 is recorded.