JP2002288461A - Device for contents distribution membership system and method for contents distribution membership - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for contents distribution membership system and a method for contents distribution membership which realize a service environment which can satisfy both the contents purchaser side and the shop side of a contents distribution source. SOLUTION: A membership center 9 is provided, which is used for service to download contents to a PC terminal 5 connected to an IP network 7 and is interposed between a PC terminal 2 operated by a contents purchaser 2 and a shop 21 of the contents distribution source and acts for the purchaser 2 to retrieve contents, to negotiate about conditions of contents purchase, and to pay the price for contents purchase.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to music, pictures, books, educational materials, and games using a personal computer terminal (hereinafter, referred to as "PC terminal") and the Internet (hereinafter, referred to as "IP network"). Related to services that download content, such as between the purchaser of the content and the store that distributes the content,
The present invention relates to a content distribution member system apparatus and a content distribution member method which are provided for performing services such as content search, price negotiation, and payment agency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a content distribution service in which a purchaser searches for contents such as music, pictures, books, educational materials, and games using a PC terminal and downloads favorite contents from a specific homepage. This has been realized as a result of significant advances in music coding, image compression technology, PC terminals and network technology. It is considered that due to future technological innovation, content distribution via such a network and electronic transactions such as electronic settlement and e-commerce will be frequently performed.

[0006] Here, the mechanism and procedure to be processed between the purchaser and the content distribution store are as follows. 1) First, the purchaser searches for necessary content. 2) For the distribution store hit in the search, confirm whether the desired content is owned or not, and negotiate conditions such as price. 3) If the terms are agreed, the purchaser downloads the content. 4) Then, the buyer processes payment.

[0004]

Next, various concrete scenarios assumed when a purchaser purchases content will be described, and these problems will be described. FIG. 6 is a conceptual schematic diagram showing the most typical purchase scene in the related art.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a content to be purchased, 2 denotes a purchaser, 3 denotes a clerk, and 4 denotes a store.
The purchaser 2 goes directly to the store 4 holding the content 1 and inquires of the clerk 3 about the presence or absence of the content 1. here,
If the stock of the CD or DVD or the like on which the content 1 is recorded can be confirmed, negotiation of conditions such as price is performed. If the terms are agreed, the purchaser 2 obtains the content 1 and pays money for it.

[0006] In such a purchasing method, in order for the purchaser 2 to obtain the content 1, it is necessary for the purchaser 2 to search for the content, negotiate a condition such as a price, and perform a payment process. Therefore, the purchaser 2 must select the store 4 by looking at the telephone directory, the advertisement guide, and the like, and check whether the desired content is in stock in the store 4 by going to the store 4 by himself. As a matter of course, it is necessary to negotiate the price directly with the clerk 3 and process the payment of the price.

[0007] As in this example, it is the most certain method for the purchaser 2 to go directly to a specific store 4 to obtain the contents. However, the work of searching for and selecting the store 4 having the necessary contents is generally performed. It becomes extremely complicated. Further, since the store 4 to be purchased is almost determined at the time of visiting, negotiations on conditions such as price cannot be favorably advanced. On the other hand, the store 4 has the advantage that the negotiation is face-to-face, so that it can respond promptly and the risk of being spoofed or mischief is relatively low.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing another conventional purchase scene. In this figure, 5 is a PC terminal, and 6 is a service management server holding the content 1. This figure is
The purchaser 2 uses the PC terminal 5 to operate the service management server 6
An example of negotiating with is shown. That is, the purchaser 2
The user does not go to the office, but uses the PC terminal 5 and the Internet to search for contents and negotiate conditions such as prices.

[0009] Specifically, a content sales service is provided in the following procedure. 1) First, the purchaser 2 uses the PC terminal 5 and the IP network to search for the store 4 holding the necessary content 1. 2) Then, the buyer 2 checks the mail address or the homepage of the store 4 and then contacts the store 4. In particular, it confirms the presence or absence of the content, then negotiates with the store 4 about desired conditions such as price, and if there are conditions, a contract is made.

3) Based on the contract, the purchaser 2 downloads the content 1 to the PC terminal 5 of the purchaser 2. 4) After confirming the downloaded contents, Buyer 2
Payment is made by depositing the account or by credit card.

In the conventional example, a condition such as a price is negotiated between the purchaser 2 and the service management server 6. And PC
By using the terminal and the IP network, the purchaser 2 does not need to actually go to the store 4 and the convenience of the purchaser 2 is improved. In addition, since the purchaser 2 accesses the service management servers 6 of the plurality of stores 4 to have more options for purchase, it is advantageous to negotiate a condition with the store 4.

On the other hand, the store 4 from which the content 1 is distributed
However, since the company deals with an unspecified number of buyers 2 in a non-face-to-face manner, the risk of mischief and the like cannot be avoided. In the method of paying the purchaser 2 using credits on the Internet, there is a problem in security such as spoofing, and a more secure payment method is required.

As described above, in the content distribution service in which the purchaser searches for the content 1 such as music, pictures, books, educational materials, and games, and downloads the favorite content 1 from a specific homepage,
The issues seen from the side include the following.

1) Content retrieval is complicated and time-consuming. Further, it is troublesome to check the stock of the content 1 with the store 4. 2) In the content distribution service, there is an inconvenience that time is spent in negotiating conditions such as prices with the store 4 and the like. Also, it is difficult to obtain information that is advantageous to the purchaser, such as seasonal discounts and event benefits. 3) There are only risky payment methods such as credit payment via the Internet.

There are the following problems as viewed from the store 4 from which the content 1 is distributed. 1) There is anxiety that an unspecified large number of purchasers 2 must be dealt with in a non-face-to-face manner. 2) Risks such as mischief occur. 3) The service management server 6 must be installed, and the burden for capital investment is large.

[0016] With the advancement and development of the technology in the future, it is expected that more convenient content distribution services that do not require physical distribution will increase more and more, and a proposal for a technology to solve the above-mentioned problem has been strongly desired. .

Here, the main objects to be solved by the present invention are as follows. That is, a first object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution service that downloads various types of content using a PC terminal or the like and an IP network, so that both the content purchaser and the content distribution source store can be satisfied. It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution member system apparatus and a content distribution member method capable of realizing a service environment.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution service for downloading various types of content using a PC terminal or the like and an IP network.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution member system apparatus and a content distribution member method capable of acting on behalf of price negotiations and payment of the price.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a purchaser with
Content can be searched easily and quickly, the burden of negotiating conditions such as prices is reduced, the price can be paid safely and easily, and even for unspecified large numbers of purchasers, for the content distribution store Transaction security can be secured,
It is another object of the present invention to provide a content distribution member system apparatus and a content distribution member method capable of reducing the burden of capital investment.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the specification, the drawings, and particularly the description of each claim in the claims.

[0021]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the apparatus of the present invention intervenes between a content purchaser and a content distribution source to search for the content by the purchaser,
It has a feature that a member center for executing a condition for content purchase and payment for the content purchase as a proxy for the purchaser is constructed and configured.

The method of the present invention solves the above problems.
A content distribution member method used for a service that downloads content using a terminal and the Internet. The content distribution member method is used to search for content, negotiate terms for content purchase, and pay for content purchase on behalf of the purchaser. It has the feature of taking on a configuration method.

More specifically, in solving the problem, the present invention achieves the above object by adopting a novel characteristic configuration means or technique ranging from the upper concept to the lower concept, which are enumerated below. It is done as follows.

That is, a first feature of the apparatus of the present invention is a content distribution member system apparatus for downloading a content to a terminal connected to the Internet, wherein the content is operated between the terminal operated by a content purchaser and the content distribution source. , The buyer may search for content,
Another object of the present invention is to adopt a configuration of a content distribution member system device configured to construct a member center that executes a condition negotiation for content purchase and a payment for content purchase on behalf of the purchaser.

A second feature of the present invention is that the member center in the first feature of the present invention is the information on the member who is the purchaser and has made a predetermined contract with the member center. A content distribution member comprising: a member management server for managing member information consisting of: and member information stored in an IC card given to each of the members; and a common service management server for managing services for the member. The configuration of the system unit is adopted.

A third feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the member management server according to the second feature of the device of the present invention is characterized in that the member information includes at least one of a name, an address, and a telephone number of the member. , And at least one of a serial number of the IC card, a number of the member, and an expiration date of the IC card, as the card information. The present invention resides in the configuration and adoption of a content distribution member system device that is a server that holds the content.

A fourth feature of the device of the present invention is that the terminal according to the second or third feature of the device of the present invention,
The member management server has or is connected to a reader / writer that reads / writes data from / to the card, and receives data read by the reader / writer via the Internet and authenticates the IC card. The present invention is to adopt a configuration of a content distribution member system device having a functional configuration.

A fifth feature of the device of the present invention is that the member management server according to the second, third or fourth feature of the device of the present invention is arranged so that the member information is stored in advance in the member center as a membership fee. Another object of the present invention is to employ a content distribution member system apparatus having a functional configuration for holding a paid membership amount and a prepaid balance formed by subtracting the content purchase price of the member from the membership amount.

A sixth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the member management server according to the fifth feature of the device of the present invention is arranged such that when the prepaid balance falls below a predetermined amount, the prepaid balance is sent to the purchaser. The present invention resides in a configuration adoption of a content distribution member system device which also has a functional configuration for notifying.

A seventh feature of the apparatus of the present invention resides in that the common service management server according to the second feature of the present invention is arranged such that communication between the terminal and the member center and communication between the distribution source and the member center are performed. A server for controlling communication, a service performed in common for a plurality of the members,
And a configuration of a content distribution member system device that manages services commonly performed for a plurality of the distribution sources.

An eighth feature of the device of the present invention resides in that the common service management server according to the second or seventh feature of the device of the present invention is adapted to specify a content desired by the member and a condition for purchasing the content. Questions and
An answer column provided for each of the plurality of questions, a search sheet consisting of, to send to the terminal, the functional configuration, and information that the member answered using the search sheet, via the terminal and the Internet And a function configuration for receiving the content.

A ninth feature of the apparatus of the present invention resides in that the common service management server according to the eighth feature of the above-described apparatus of the present invention transmits a plurality of pieces of information of answers made by the member using the search sheet to the plurality of distribution sheets. To the source, receive estimates for each of the answers from the multiple sources, select a source that can distribute content to the member based on the estimates, and select The present invention is to adopt a configuration of a content distribution member system device having a functional configuration for transmitting the distributed source and the estimate of the distributed source to the terminal of the member.

A first feature of the method of the present invention is a content distribution member method used for a content distribution service for downloading a content to a terminal connected to the Internet. The purpose of the present invention is to adopt a configuration of a content distribution member method in which negotiation of conditions for purchase and payment for content purchase are performed on behalf of the purchaser.

A second feature of the method of the present invention is that the proxy in the first feature of the method of the present invention is such that a plurality of purchasers have contracts as members and members who have contracted with content distribution sources. The center resides in adopting a configuration of a content distribution member method executed by using the Internet.

[0035] A third feature of the method of the present invention is that the content distribution member method according to the second feature of the present invention includes an IC card storing information indicating that the member is a specific one of the members. , Distributed to each member, and the member transmits the possession information of the IC card to the member center by using a reader / writer which the terminal has or is connected to, and the member center receives the IC received by the member center. The present invention resides in the configuration and adoption of a content distribution member method in which authentication of the member is performed based on the card holding information.

A fourth feature of the method of the present invention is that the member center in the third feature of the method of the present invention inquires, via the terminal, about the type of content that the purchaser desires to distribute, and Responds to the member center using the terminal with respect to the question, and the member center
Again, based on the answer, create a search sheet including a plurality of questions for specifying the content desired by the member and the conditions for purchasing the content, and an answer column provided for each of the plurality of questions. , Send it to the terminal, return the buyer, fill in the desired items in the answer field of the received search sheet, and use the terminal to reply to the member center. is there.

A fifth feature of the method of the present invention is that the member center according to the fourth feature of the above-described method of the present invention uses the plurality of information obtained by using the search sheet to determine that the information is highly relevant to the information. To the distribution source, and the plurality of distribution sources reply to the member center regarding the presence or absence of the content corresponding to the information and the estimate, and the member center again performs the above-mentioned operation based on the plurality of estimates. Select a distribution source that can distribute the contents to the member, negotiate the conditions for purchasing the content with the selected distribution source, and as a new estimate, enter the selected distribution source and the new estimate The content distribution member method transmitted to the member terminal is adopted.

A sixth feature of the method of the present invention is that, when the member in the fifth feature of the method of the present invention agrees on the received estimate, a reply of an acknowledgment is transmitted from the terminal to the member center. When the member center receives the answer of the consent, the member center transmits information for identifying the terminal of the agreed member to the distribution source that has provided the estimate, and the distribution source determines that the agreed member has In the content distribution member method of distributing the content to the terminal of the above.

Thus, according to the present invention, the terminal (P
When implementing the content distribution service using the C terminal) and the Internet (IP network), the member center
Acting for content search, negotiating conditions such as prices between buyers and content distributors, and acting for payment of fees,
Can be performed. In addition, by connecting an IC card reader to the terminal, user authentication using the IC card can be performed at the member center.

Therefore, according to the present invention, on the purchaser side, it is possible to reduce the trouble of content search, the trouble of negotiating conditions such as price, and the trouble of paying the price. Since desired content can be selected from distribution sources, content can be purchased at a lower price. Also, from the distributor's point of view, since sales are conducted through the membership center, the risk of collection of money and the trouble of authenticating the purchaser are greatly reduced even if a large number of unspecified purchasers are set as business partners. can do.

In addition, by using a prepaid system in which a fixed amount is paid in advance to the member center for payment, it is possible to prevent a credit number or the like from flowing over the Internet as in the credit system, and it is possible to avoid the purchaser's payment. Privacy can be protected, and transaction security can be ensured.

Further, the common service management server of the member center manages communication control with each distribution source and each member and manages services commonly performed by each member, thereby reducing the burden on capital investment at each distribution source. be able to.

Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a system in which each distribution source individually provides a content distribution service has been constructed. As in the present invention, a plurality of fields and the same industry are integrated and provided to members. A system capable of providing a delivery service has not been realized.

[0044]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to an example of an apparatus and an example of a method.

According to the present invention, the server in the member center acts as a member to perform a content search, a condition for content purchase, and a payment for content purchase to a purchaser who is a member. In the embodiment, the mode of distributing content via the Internet will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various communication networks other than the Internet. In addition, although the store is exemplified as the distribution source, the present invention is not limited thereto, and naturally includes a direct sales maker (SPA), shipping cooperatives and agricultural cooperatives in each region, individual producers, wholesalers, and the like.

(Example of Apparatus) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an example of the apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 2 is a purchaser who wants to purchase content, and 5 is a P operated by the purchaser 2.
C terminal, 7 is an IP network, 8 is an IC card for certifying that the purchaser 2 is a member, 9 is a member center where the purchaser 2 is registered as a member, and 21 is a store from which content is distributed. .

Here, the PC terminal 5 can be connected to the member management server 10 and the common service management server 11 of the member center 9 via the IP network 7.
Can be connected to a plurality of stores 21 via the Internet. A reader / writer (not shown) for reading and writing data from and to the IC card 8 is connected to the PC terminal 5.

The member center 9 includes a member management server 10,
It has a common service management server 11. In addition, the member center 9 is connected via the IP network 7 to a plurality of stores 21 which are respectively classified into a plurality of content distribution fields, for example, a music field, a teaching material field, a book field, a game field, a painting field, and the like. ing.

The member center 9 performs a series of processes related to content distribution on behalf of the purchaser 2 who has joined the member center 9. That is, the member center 9 searches for the desired content from among the plurality of stores 21 constituting a plurality of fields, negotiates the price with the store 21 for the purchase of the content, downloads the content to the PC terminal 5, and sets the price. The payment is performed on behalf of the purchaser 2.

The membership fee paid by the purchaser 2 to the member center 9 is
Considering that some music stores, book stores, etc. currently have a membership system, and that if the present invention is used, the merits of the member are large, the purchaser 2 who is a member bears the burden. No problem. On the other hand, the member center 9 also has a property of enclosing the purchaser 2 by the store 21 that is the distribution source of the content, that is, securing the purchaser 2 by the store 21. It is operated as a form of joint investment or business consignment by a plurality of stores 21.

Next, a specific functional configuration of the member center 9 will be described. The member management server 10 is a member center 9
And the card information stored in the IC card 8 to be given to each of the purchasers 2 who have joined as members. The card information includes an ID number and the like as a member, and is used for member authentication.

The member information managed by the member management server 10 includes personal information such as the name, address, and telephone number of the purchaser 2 as a member, and information on the purchase history of the purchaser 2 as a member. It is. The card information includes a serial number of the IC card 8, a member number, an expiration date of the IC card 8, and the like.

The member management server 10 is connected to the PC terminal 5
Card 8 read by a reader / writer connected to
Is received via the IP network 7 and the IC card 8
Has a functional configuration to authenticate

Further, the member management server 10 stores the membership fee paid by the purchaser 2 as a member to the membership center 9 in advance as a membership fee, and the prepaid balance which is the amount obtained by subtracting the content purchase price from the membership fee. Hold as member information. The member management server 10 has a functional configuration for notifying the purchaser 2 of the prepaid balance when the prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount.

On the other hand, the common service management server 11 controls and manages services for the purchaser 2 who is a member. Specifically, the common service management server 11 communicates between the PC terminal 5 and the member center 9 and
A service that controls communication between each store 21 and the member center 9 and that is commonly performed for a plurality of purchasers 2 who are members and a service that is commonly performed for a plurality of stores 21 To manage.

The common service management server 11 stores a search sheet as shown in FIG.
It has a functional configuration for transmitting to the terminal 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the search sheet includes a plurality of questions for specifying the content desired by the purchaser 2 as a member and the conditions for purchasing the content, and answer columns provided for each of the plurality of questions. Have been.

In this figure, the answer (example) is already described in the answer column, but when transmitted to the PC terminal 2, the answer column is blank. Then, the common service management server 1
1 has a functional configuration in which a purchaser 2 as a member operates the PC terminal 2 to receive an answer written in a search sheet via an IP network.

Further, the common service management server 11
Replies the answer received using the search sheet to a plurality of stores 21
, And receive an estimate issued by each store 21 for the answer. Then, based on the estimate,
A store 21 that can distribute contents to the purchaser 2 as a member is selected, and the selected store 21 and the store 21 are selected.
Is transmitted to the purchaser's 2 PC terminal.

Thus, according to the present apparatus example, for the purchaser 2 as a member, complicated processing such as content search, inventory check at the store 21, and price negotiation with the store 21 is performed by the member center 9. Can be left to
Since the desired content can be easily selected from a large number of stores 21, it is possible to negotiate conditions more advantageously for the purchaser 2 than before.

On the other hand, for the store 21, the purchaser 2 who is a member registered in the member center 9 is a sales partner and the trust relationship is guaranteed, so that mischief, spoofing, and others peculiar to non-face-to-face sales are provided. Is reduced, and the common service management server of the member center 9 processes the service common to each store 21 or each purchaser 2, so that the capital investment can be reduced more than before.

(Example of Method) An example of the method of the present embodiment applied to the above example of the apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. In this method example, a case where the purchaser 2 desires to download music content will be described.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection state between the store 21 in the music field and the member center 9 and the like. The individual service management server 13 is located in the A store 21 that distributes content in the music field. In addition, the individual service management server 13 is also arranged at the B store 21 that distributes contents in the music field. Each individual service management server 13 connects to the member management server 10 and the common service management server 11 of the member center 9 via the IP network 7.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a first processing procedure according to this example of the method. First, the purchaser 2 inserts the IC card 8 into a reader / writer connected to the PC terminal 5 and notifies the member center 9 of the ID number and the like as a member. In the member center 9, the member management server 10 inquires and authenticates the member based on the ID number or the like, and succeeds the subsequent processing to the common service management server 11 (ST).
1).

Thereafter, the common service management server 11 of the member center 9 inquires the buyer 2 about the type of content (eg, music, book, etc.) desired to be distributed. Buyer 2
Operates the PC terminal 5 and answers the content type (ST2).

The common service management server 11 transmits a search sheet as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, for the music distribution service, the search sheet describes, for example, a distribution content, an artist, a distribution maker, a desired price, a payment condition, and the like as question items.
The purchaser 2 who has received the search sheet at the PC terminal 5 operates the PC terminal 5 to fill in the necessary items on the search sheet and returns (replies) to the common service management server 11 (ST).
3).

The common service management server 11 sets the conditions for the content desired to be distributed acquired in ST3 to the A stores 21 and B in the music field which are determined to satisfy the conditions.
It is presented to the store 21 and the presence / absence of the target content and an estimate are requested. A store 21 and B store 21
A reply is made to the common service management server 11 about the presence / absence of the target content and the estimation (ST4).

The common service management server 1 of the member center 9
1 collects the estimates received from a plurality of stores (A store 21 and B store 21), and selects a content distribution store in consideration of the desired conditions of the purchaser 2 (ST5). Here, the common service management server 11 negotiates a condition for content purchase with a plurality of stores 21 based on the plurality of received estimates, and sets a new estimate (a combined condition).

Next, the second processing procedure is executed. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram showing a second processing procedure according to the example of the method. The second processing procedure is executed as a continuation of the first processing procedure.

The common service management server 1 of the member center 9
1 notifies the purchaser 2 of the conditions rubbed with the store selected in ST5, and prompts the determination of the content distribution store. Buyer 2 replies that he is satisfied with the conditions notified,
On the other hand, if there is dissatisfaction, a reply is made to the common service management server 11 to select again.

After the content distribution store is determined in this way, the common service management server 11
The service processing number and the like are written in the C card 8 (ST6). The service processing number written on the IC card 8 is used for trouble management and service progress management.

The common service management server 1 of the member center 9
1. After receiving the approval of the purchaser 2 in ST6, the determined content distribution store (for example, A store 21)
Information such as a mail account necessary for distributing the content to the purchaser 2 is provided (ST7).

The A store 21 provided with the information such as the mail account in ST7 transmits the IP address to the PC terminal 5 of the purchaser 2.
The required music contents are downloaded (content distribution) via the network 7 (ST8).

The purchaser 2 confirms the downloaded content and notifies the member center 9 of permission to pay for the content. Member management server 10 of member center 9
Debits the prepaid charge of the purchaser 2 as a member by the amount of the current payment (payment processing).

Here, the prepaid charge means that the purchaser 2 who is a member is charged to the account of the purchaser 2 by a fixed value by a membership fee paid at the time of renewal of a member or at the time of joining. If the prepaid charge has been lost due to the purchase, or has fallen below a certain value, the member management server 10 notifies the purchaser 2 of the fact and recharges it by the transfer process again. Further, the member management server 1
In the case of 0, payment is made to the stores 21 at once at the end of the month (ST9).

The above is a specific example of the procedure of the present method example. The operation procedure of the member center 9 which performs complicated content search, condition negotiation, and payment between the purchaser 2 and the store 21 of the content distributor is performed. is there.

In this example of the method, an example of requesting distribution of music content has been described.
The present invention can also be executed in a similar procedure for processing of teaching material contents, game software, contents corresponding to paintings such as personal computer wallpaper, and the like. Furthermore, not limited to the exemplified fields, naturally, content distribution and various content distribution reservations in all fields, regardless of finance, securities, construction, transportation, tourism, medical care, and business, are also included.

Thus, the purchaser 2 who wishes to distribute contents in a specific field can request an estimate from a plurality of stores 21 that can be connected to the member center 9, and each store 21 can independently execute the estimate. It is possible to receive optimal services that take into account seasonal discounts and event discounts at that time. In addition, since the purchaser 2 does not need to operate the PC terminal 5 to search for the content by himself or to check the stock of the store 21, he / she greatly reduces the labor and time for purchasing the content. be able to.

On the other hand, the store 21 serving as the content distribution source is paid through the member center 9 even if the unspecified unspecified large number of purchasers 2 are set as sales partners.
The trust relationship of the transaction is guaranteed, and the content distribution service can be provided with security.

Further, by using the system according to the present embodiment as described above, the following secondary effects can be obtained.

1) As a service for members, it becomes possible to manage common points given in accordance with the purchase amount and the like, and it is possible to restrict the potential buyers 2 to members and to provide discounts and member benefits.

2) For the store 21 serving as the content distribution source, it is possible to advertise only to the purchaser 2 who is a member who has a high possibility of purchasing compared to the advertisement for an unspecified number of people, and the cost is reduced. A high-performance advertisement can be displayed, and an effect of enclosing the buyer can be obtained.

3) Since many stores 21 in a plurality of different industries provide support by membership system, it is possible to obtain more satisfactory services and advantageous negotiation conditions for the purchaser 2, and to obtain information. Each store 21 that is a provider
It is possible to reduce costs related to member management and system operation in.

4) The purchaser 2 stores his / her preferences and purchase history by using the IC card 8 that proves that he / she is a member, so that the member center 9 can provide more detailed services. It is possible to receive.

5) The member center 9 processes the processing history collected from each store 21 and each purchaser 2 and provides information to each store 21 as statistical data. It is possible to acquire information of a kind of antenna shop using the materials. Professional membership center 9 acts as an intermediary for e-commerce and has high expertise,
As a result, transaction troubles due to misunderstandings, mistakes or mistakes are reduced as much as possible, and the resolution process accompanying clarification of responsibilities can be promptly performed, so that a high level of transaction stability can be achieved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned items, and can be appropriately changed and implemented within the scope of achieving the objects of the present invention and having the following effects. It is.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the mode in which the purchaser 2 communicates with the member center 9 using the PC terminal 5 (personal computer terminal) has been described, but instead of the PC terminal 5, a mobile phone, a PHS, Electronic organizer with communication function, game device with communication function, TV with communication function,
A car navigator or the like may be used.

[0087]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Using interactive information media such as the Internet, content search, negotiation of transaction conditions, and payment processing between the buyer and the store from which the content is distributed can be implemented as a service for members. For buyers, it is possible to improve convenience, acquire more advantageous transaction conditions and receive simple and reliable payment processing, and reduce risks such as mischief and store equipment costs for stores. It becomes possible. Therefore,
It is possible to realize a service environment that is satisfactory not only for the purchaser but also for the store that distributes the content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an example of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual schematic diagram showing a connection state between a store 21 and a member center 9 in the above.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing a first processing procedure according to a method example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a second processing procedure according to a method example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a search sheet used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual schematic diagram showing a conventional typical purchase scene.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram showing another conventional purchase scene.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content 2 ... Buyer 3 ... Clerk 4 ... Store 5 ... PC terminal 6 ... Service management server 7 ... IP network 8 ... IC card 9 ... Member center 10 ... Member management server 11 ... Common service management server 13 ... Individual service management Server 21… Store

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 408 G06F 17/60 408 (72) Inventor Naofumi Suzuki 2-chome Otemachi 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 1 Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Yasuhiro Nagai 2-3-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution member system apparatus for downloading content to a terminal connected to the Internet, wherein the content is distributed by the content distributor and the terminal operated by a content purchaser. A content distribution member system device, wherein a member center is constructed to execute a search, a condition negotiation on content purchase, and a payment for content purchase on behalf of the purchaser. 2. The member center comprises: member information comprising information on members who are purchasers who have made a predetermined contract with the member center; and a card stored in an IC card given to each of the members. The content distribution member system device according to claim 1, comprising: a member management server that manages information; and a common service management server that manages a service for the member. 3. The member management server holds, as the member information, personal information including at least one of a name, an address, and a telephone number of the member, and information on a purchase history of the member. 3. The server according to claim 2, wherein the card information is a server that holds at least one of a serial number of the IC card, a number of the member, and an expiration date of the IC card. Content distribution member system device. 4. The terminal has or is connected to a reader / writer for reading / writing data from / to the IC card, and the member management server receives data read by the reader / writer via the Internet. The content distribution member system device according to claim 2, wherein the content distribution member system device authenticates the IC card and adopts a functional configuration. 5. The member management server, as the member information, a prepaid balance consisting of a membership fee paid by the member to the member center as a membership fee in advance, and an amount obtained by subtracting the content purchase price of the member from the membership fee. 5. The content distribution member system device according to claim 2, wherein a functional configuration for retaining 6. The function according to claim 5, wherein the member management server also has a functional configuration for notifying the purchaser of the prepaid balance when the prepaid balance becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount. The described content distribution member system device. 7. The common service management server is a server that controls communication between the terminal and the member center and communication between the distribution source and the member center. Common services, and
The content distribution member system device according to claim 2, wherein the content distribution member system device manages a service commonly performed for a plurality of the distribution sources. 8. A search sheet comprising: a plurality of questions for specifying contents desired by the member and conditions for purchasing the contents; and an answer field provided for each of the plurality of questions. And a function configuration for transmitting, via the terminal and the Internet, information returned by the member using the search sheet, to the terminal. 8. The content distribution member system device according to 2 or 7. 9. The common service management server transmits information of an answer made by the member using the search sheet to a plurality of distribution sources, and receives information on the answer issued from the plurality of distribution sources. After receiving each quote, based on that quote,
Claims: A function that selects a distribution source that can distribute content to the member, and transmits the selected distribution source and an estimate of the distribution source to the terminal of the member, wherein the functional configuration is provided. 9. The content distribution member system device according to item 8. 10. A content distribution service for downloading a content to a terminal connected to the Internet,
A content distribution member method used for the content purchaser, wherein a content search requested by a content purchaser, negotiation of conditions for purchase of the content, and payment for the purchase of the content are performed on behalf of the purchaser. Content distribution member method. 11. The agency, wherein a plurality of purchasers have contracted as members and a member center contracting with a content distribution source executes the substitution using the Internet. Content distribution member method described in. 12. The content distribution member method according to claim 1, further comprising: distributing, to each member, an IC card storing information indicating that the member is a specific one of the members; Using the connected reader / writer, transmitting the possession information of the IC card to the member center, and the member center authenticates the member based on the received possession information of the IC card. The content distribution member method according to claim 11, wherein 13. The member center inquires through the terminal about the type of content that the purchaser desires to distribute, and the purchaser answers the question using the terminal to the member center. The member center again includes a plurality of questions for specifying the content desired by the member and the conditions for purchasing the content based on the answer, and an answer column provided for each of the plurality of questions. A search sheet is created and transmitted to the terminal, and the purchaser returns, fills in the desired items in the response column of the received search sheet, and uses the terminal to reply to the member center. The content distribution member method according to claim 12, wherein 14. The member center transmits information acquired using the search sheet to a plurality of distribution sources determined to be highly relevant to the information, and the plurality of distribution sources include The member center responds to the member center regarding the presence or absence of the applicable content and the estimate, and the member center again selects a distribution source that can distribute the content to the member based on the plurality of estimates, and 14. The selected distribution source and the new estimate are transmitted to the member's terminal as a new estimate by negotiating a condition for content purchase with the distribution source. Content distribution member method. 15. The member, when agreeing on the received estimate, transmits a response of approval from the terminal to the member center, and when the member center receives the response of the approval, the member center transmits the estimate. Transmitting the information identifying the agreed member's terminal to the distributing source issuing the content, and the distributing source distributes the content to the agreed member's terminal. Content distribution member method described.