JP2002297156A - Data distribution system, data processing terminal, data distributing device, and data distributing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data distribution system which enables a user to optionally set whether various data attached to main data have been transferred. SOLUTION: This data distribution system has a distributing server 1 and a receiving terminal 2 connected through a network 3. The receiving terminal 2 specifies the rejection of reception of unnecessary attached data by a reception rejection specification part 23 when the contents data distributed by the distributing server 1 have the unnecessary attached data. Then the receiving terminal 2 when downloading the desired contents informs the distributing server 1 that the reception of the specified attached data is rejected together with a request to transfer the contents data. A distribution control part 11 of the distributing server 1, on the other hand, reads the contents data out of a distribution data file 13 when receiving the notice and sends the data except the attached data to the receiving terminal 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data distribution system for transmitting and receiving content data composed of main data such as music data and ancillary data such as image data accompanying the data, a data processing terminal, a data distribution device, and data. More particularly, the present invention relates to a data distribution system, a data processing terminal, a data distribution device, and a data distribution method that allow a user to arbitrarily set whether to transfer various attached data accompanying main data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the improvement of data communication technology has been remarkable, and with the widespread use of personal computers for individuals, various businesses utilizing the Internet have been devised. One of the representative products is a content distribution service that distributes content data such as music data in response to a user request.

In this content distribution service, a server computer holding content data such as music data returns the requested content data to the client computer in response to a request from the client computer transmitted over a network, for example. I do. On the other hand, the client computer requests transmission of desired content data to the server computer via the network, receives the content data returned in response to the request, and stores the content data in a storage medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk. This acquisition of content data by the client computer is called, for example, download.

[0004] Further, the client computer is provided with software for utilizing (for example, reproducing) content data stored in a storage medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk. It is possible to acquire content data via a network and use the acquired content data as many times as necessary.

[0005]

By the way, recently,
Content data is often composed of a plurality of data of main data and at least one or more attached data attached to the main data. For example, in the case of a service for distributing music data, one piece of content data is created by using the music data as main data and attaching various attached data such as text data containing the lyrics and image data used for an album jacket. And so on.

However, for example, a user who needs only music data and does not need any other attached data, or a user who wants music data and text data containing lyrics, etc. Conventionally, main data and all attached data have been uniformly distributed to all users as a set, despite the fact that some users have had various requests.

Therefore, depending on the user, download time is wasted due to unnecessary data, or free space for storing main data in a storage medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk barely exists. However, if there is not enough free space to store the entire content data, including all attached data attached to the main data, even if the user needs only the main data, I had to give up downloading.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a data distribution system and a data processing terminal which allow a user to arbitrarily set whether or not to transfer various attached data accompanying main data. And a data distribution device and a data distribution method.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention allows a user to arbitrarily set whether or not to transfer each of various types of attached data accompanying main data. is there. For this purpose, the present invention provides a data distribution system in which a server computer and a client computer are connected via a network, wherein the server computer includes:
Content storage means for storing content data including main data and at least one or more ancillary data attached to the main data; and content data stored in the content storage means in response to a request from the client computer. A distribution prohibition setting means for setting any of the attached data included in at least one or more included data to distribution prohibition, and the content storage means except for the auxiliary data set to distribution prohibition by the distribution prohibition setting means. Content distribution means for distributing the stored content data to the client computer, wherein the client computer rejects reception from at least one or more attached data included in the content data distributed from the server computer. Optional data Providing selection means for-option, a data distribution system, characterized in that the fact that the distribution prohibited adjunct data that has been selected and and a request means for requesting the server computer by said selection means.

[0010] In the data distribution system of the present invention, the user himself / herself can arbitrarily select, from at least one or more pieces of additional data included in the content data, the additional data to be rejected for reception. It is possible to prevent the download time from being wasted and the valuable storage medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk from being wasted.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this data distribution system, a distribution server 1 and a receiving terminal 2 are connected via a network 3 such as the Internet. Distribution server 1
In response to a request from the receiving terminal 2 that stores a large number of content data, that is, distribution data, consisting of main data and at least one or more attached data accompanying the main data, The distribution data is returned to the receiving terminal 2. On the other hand, the receiving terminal 2 transmits the transmission of the desired distribution data to the distribution server 1 via the network 3 and, in response to this request,
Receives, stores and reproduces the distribution data returned from.

The distribution server 1 is under overall control by a distribution control unit 11 and communicates with the receiving terminal 2 via a communication unit 12 while transmitting a large number of distribution data stored in a distribution data file 13. Execute distribution. Here, it is assumed that the distribution server 1 distributes music data. In addition, music data is used as main data, and one piece of distribution data is configured by adding four auxiliary data of jacket data, text data, moving image data, and profile data to the main data.

The jacket data is, for example, an image file of a photograph used as an exterior of a storage medium for recording the song, and the text data is, for example, a document file containing lyrics of the song. The moving image data is
For example, it is an image file containing promotion video data of the artist, and the profile data is, for example, a document file containing the history of the artist.

On the other hand, the reception terminal 2 has a reception control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a reception refusal designation unit 23, a communication unit 24, a detachable memory 25, a distribution data reproduction unit 26, an LCD 27, and a speaker 28.

The reception control unit 21 controls the entire reception terminal 2 and drives each unit according to an instruction from the operation unit 22. The operation unit 22 controls input of the user interface of the receiving terminal 2.
For example, it notifies the reception control unit 21 of the operation contents of various buttons provided on the front of the housing.

The rejection designation section 23 is for setting any of the ancillary data out of a plurality of ancillary data accompanying the main data to the rejection, and sets the attached data from the operation section 22 to the rejection. When receiving the instruction to perform the reception, the reception control unit 21 causes the reception rejection designation unit 23 to hold the instruction.

The communication section 24 controls communication between the receiving terminal 2 and the distribution server 1 via the network 3. The detachable memory 25 is a memory device that is removably stored in the receiving terminal 2.
Used to store distribution data downloaded from. Then, the distribution data reproducing unit 26 reproduces the distribution data stored in the detachable memory 25, and outputs images and sounds from the LCD 27 and the speaker 28.

Now, the size of the distribution data stored in the distribution data file 13 of the distribution server 1 is assumed as follows. First, it is assumed that music data as main data is about 2 Mbytes. Also, it is assumed that the jacket data, which is the attached data, is about 100 Kbytes, the text data is about 200 Kbytes, the moving image data is about 1 Mbytes, and the profile data is about 100 Kbytes. That is, each distribution data is assumed to have a size of about 3.5 Mbytes. On the other hand, it is assumed that the storage capacity of the removable memory 25 of the receiving terminal 2 is about 32 Mbytes.

In this case, assuming that the distribution data is downloaded with all attached data attached, the user
One detachable memory 25 can store music data for nine songs. Also, the user can download music data of a new song only when the free space of about 3.5 Mbytes or more remains in the removable memory 25.

On the other hand, for a user who wants jacket data but considers that other text data, moving image data and profile data are unnecessary, the time spent for downloading them is simply useless. Therefore, if this transfer can be eliminated, the time required for downloading can be reduced by about 1.4 Mbytes out of about 3.5 Mbytes, that is, about 40%, and communication costs can be reduced. . Also, if this transfer can be eliminated, music data of a new song cannot be downloaded unless about 3.5 Mbytes or more of free space remains in the removable memory 25 until now.
If free space of 1 Mbyte or more remains in the removable memory 25, music data of a new music can be downloaded.

This data distribution system is characterized in that, in order to meet such a demand, the user himself / herself can arbitrarily set whether or not to transfer each of various attached data accompanying the main data. Yes,
Hereinafter, this point will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the receiving terminal 2 when setting any of the at least one additional data included in the distribution data to the rejection.

When the user performs a button operation to set the rejection of the attached data, the operation unit 22 notifies the reception control unit 21 of the button operation. A list of data is displayed on the LCD 27 (step A1).

When the user receives this display and performs a button operation for selecting and instructing any one of the attached data (step A2), the reception control unit 21 notified of this from the operation unit 22 makes the selection. The designated attached data is stored in the reception refusal designation unit 23 to reject the reception (step A3).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a process of transmitting desired distribution data to the distribution server 1.
5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the receiving terminal 2 when downloading from a terminal.

When the reception control unit 21 is instructed to download certain distribution data from the operation unit 22, first, the reception control unit 21 sends a transmission request for the distribution data via the communication unit 24 to the distribution server 1.
(Step B1).

Subsequently, the reception control unit 21 inquires of the reception refusal designation unit 23 whether any of the attached data is set to rejection of reception (step B2), and sets any of the attached data to rejection of reception. If it has been done (YES in step B2), the distribution server 1 is notified of the refusal of the attached data via the communication unit 24 (step B3).

The reception control unit 21 transmits, via the communication unit 24, the distribution data returned from the distribution server 1 in response to the notification of the transmission request, and excluding the attached data indicating the rejection of the reception. And stores the received distribution data in the removable memory 25 (step B4).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the distribution server 1 when the distribution of distribution data is requested from the receiving terminal 2.

When the distribution control unit 11 receives a distribution data request notification from the receiving terminal 2 via the communication unit 12 (step C1), the distribution control unit 11 does not receive a notification of rejection of reception of attached data from the receiving terminal 2. It is checked whether it is (Step C2). At this time, if a notification of rejection of reception for any of the attached data has been received (Y in step C2)
ES), the distribution control unit 11 sets the attached data to transmission prohibition (step C3).

Then, the distribution control unit 11 reads the distribution data requested by the receiving terminal 2 from the distribution data file 13 and transmits the distribution data to the receiving terminal 2 via the communication unit 12 except for the attached data set to prohibit transmission. (Step C
4).

As described above, in this data distribution system, the user himself / herself can freely set whether or not to transfer each of the attached data attached to the main data, thereby flexibly responding to various requests of the user. It is possible to provide a content distribution service that has been implemented.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the user specifies ancillary data that is not required and notifies the reception rejection. May be notified.

The setting of rejection of the attached data may be performed each time the distribution data is downloaded on the receiving terminal 2 side (each setting is valid only for the download of the distribution data at that time). ), Until the setting is changed, it may be valid for all subsequent downloads. Further, the distribution server 1 may manage the setting status of reception rejection for each receiving terminal 2. That is, as long as the presence or absence of transfer can be arbitrarily set for each of at least one or more attached data associated with the main data, the present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and can be implemented in various modes.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the user can arbitrarily select, from at least one or more pieces of attached data included in content data, attached data to be rejected. As a result, it is possible to prevent the download time from being wasted due to unnecessary data, or from wasting a valuable storage medium such as a memory card or a magnetic disk.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a data distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the operation procedure of the receiving terminal when setting any of the at least one additional data included in the distribution data of the embodiment to reception rejection;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation procedure of the receiving terminal when downloading desired distribution data from the distribution server according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart showing the operation procedure of the distribution server when distribution of distribution data is requested from the receiving terminal of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Distribution server 2 ... Receiving terminal 3 ... Network 11 ... Distribution control part 12 ... Communication part 13 ... Distribution data file 21 ... Reception control part 22 ... Operation part 23 ... Rejection designation part 24 ... Communication part 25 ... Removable memory 26 ... Distribution data reproduction unit 27 LCD

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A data distribution system in which a server computer and a client computer are connected via a network, wherein the server computer includes main data and at least one or more attached data attached to the main data. Content storage means for storing, in response to a request from the client computer, distributing any of the at least one additional data included in the content data stored in the content storage means to be prohibited And a content distribution unit that distributes the content data stored in the content storage unit to the client computer except for the attached data that has been set to the distribution prohibition by the distribution prohibition setting unit. Client A computer for arbitrarily selecting, from at least one or more pieces of additional data included in the content data distributed from the server computer, additional data to be rejected; and the additional data selected by the selector. Requesting means for requesting the server computer to prohibit distribution of the data. 2. A data distribution system in which a server computer and a client computer are connected via a network, wherein the server computer has content data comprising main data and at least one additional data attached to the main data. Content storage means for storing, in response to a request from the client computer, any one of at least one piece of additional data included in the content data stored in the content storage means as a distribution target A distribution target setting unit that performs a distribution process of distributing content data stored in the content storage unit to the client computer by attaching only auxiliary data set as a distribution target by the distribution target setting unit to main data. Equipped with A selection unit for arbitrarily selecting ancillary data to be received from at least one or more ancillary data included in content data distributed from the server computer; Requesting means for requesting the server computer to distribute the attached data attached to the main data. 3. A data processing terminal connected to a server computer via a network, wherein reception is refused from at least one or more ancillary data attached to the main data included in content data distributed from the server computer. A data processing terminal comprising: selecting means for arbitrarily selecting additional data to be transmitted; and requesting means for requesting the server computer to prohibit distribution of the additional data selected by the selecting means. . 4. A data processing terminal connected to a server computer via a network, wherein the data to be received is selected from at least one or more ancillary data attached to the main data included in the content data distributed from the server computer. Selecting means for arbitrarily selecting the attached data to be attached, and requesting means for requesting the server computer to distribute the attached data selected by the selecting means with the main data. Data processing terminal. 5. A data distribution device connected to a client computer via a network, wherein the content storage means stores content data including main data and at least one additional data attached to the main data; A distribution prohibition setting unit configured to set, in response to a request from a client computer, arbitrary distribution data of at least one or more of the extension data included in the content data stored in the content storage unit to distribution prohibition; A data distribution device, comprising: a content distribution unit that distributes content data stored in the content storage unit to the client computer except for attached data set to be prohibited from distribution by the prohibition setting unit. 6. A data distribution device connected to a client computer via a network, wherein the content storage means stores content data including main data and at least one additional data attached to the main data; Distribution target setting means for setting, in response to a request from a client computer, arbitrary attached data among at least one or more attached data included in the content data stored in the content storage means as a distribution target; A data distribution unit for distributing the content data stored in the content storage unit to the client computer by attaching only the attached data set as the distribution target by the target setting unit to the main data. Delivery device. 7. A data distribution method for a data distribution system in which a server computer holding content data composed of main data and at least one additional data accompanying the main data and a client computer are connected via a network. In the above, the server computer, in response to a request from the client computer, sets any attached data among at least one or more attached data included in the held content data to distribution prohibition; Distributing the retained content data to the client computer except for the attached data set to prohibition, wherein the client computer includes at least one of the content data distributed from the server computer. Arbitrarily selecting ancillary data to be rejected from receiving, and requesting the server computer to prohibit the selected ancillary data from being distributed. Method. 8. A data distribution method for a data distribution system in which a server computer holding content data composed of main data and at least one additional data accompanying the main data and a client computer are connected via a network. In the above, the server computer, in response to a request from the client computer, sets arbitrary attached data among at least one or more attached data included in the held content data as a distribution target; Distributing the held content data to the client computer by attaching only the attached data set as the target to the main data, wherein the client computer includes the content data distributed from the server computer. Arbitrarily selecting ancillary data to be received from at least one or more ancillary data to be received; and requesting the server computer to distribute the selected ancillary data accompanying main data. A data distribution method comprising: