JP2002342591A - Method and system for distributing digital contents - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent problems of a copyright law by facilitating charge payment, improving security, and eliminating the need for data conversion of contents. SOLUTION: A supplier-side computer system (a) prepares an occupied storage area where digital contents by user-side computers are stored as a set, (b) presents digital contents which can be distributed to the user-side computers to prompt the user sides to generate a set of desired digital contents to be used, (c) presents charging conditions for using the set of the digital contents to the user sides, (d) confirms payment by the users based upon the charging conditions and stores sets of contents by the users in the occupied storage areas set by the users, and (e) sends arbitrary contents in an occupied storage area to the user-side computer according to an application for use sent from the user side.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital content distribution method for distributing digital content such as music to a user via a digital communication network such as the Internet, and a distribution system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital content data such as music and electronic publications (hereinafter simply referred to as digital content) has been conventionally distributed to users via digital communication networks such as the Internet.

In this case, conventionally, a usage fee is paid each time digital content is distributed to a user.
That is, the user designates the title (title) of the digital content desired to be used, while the content supplier distributes the content to the user after confirming the payment of the user's fee. As a settlement system (billing system) for paying a fee, various systems such as a prepaid card system, an automatic debit system from a bank account, and a credit settlement system are used.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art However, each time a charge is made, the user must perform a predetermined procedure such as inputting his / her ID code, personal identification code (password, etc.) and possibly a credit card number. Was troublesome. In addition, since an ID code, a personal identification code, a credit number, and the like must be input frequently, there is a security problem that these ID codes, personal identification codes, credit numbers, and the like are easily known to others.

[0005] On the other hand, there is known a server management operation for storing and storing contents from an individual. This is called a so-called private electronic bookshelf or electronic record shelf, which stores content on behalf of an individual and allows individuals to freely download and use content from their own electronic bookshelf or electronic record shelf. .

[0006] However, even in this method, the content to be put in the electronic bookshelf or the like must be once downloaded to the computer by other means.
In order to use this content properly, a billing system must be used at this time. For this reason, payment processing is troublesome as in the above-mentioned method, and there is a security problem. Further, in the electronic bookshelf method, when an individual sends content downloaded from somewhere to the electronic bookshelf, data conversion or the like is required in some cases, and the work is troublesome.

Furthermore, in the conventional method, since the contents downloaded to the personal computer can be freely copied by the individual or used for producing a secondary work, there is a possibility that a problem in the copyright law may arise. Was.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and eliminates the need for complicated processing such as paying a fee each time the content is used. It is a first object of the present invention to provide a digital content distribution method that eliminates the need for data conversion and eliminates the possibility of causing a problem under copyright law. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a digital content distribution system directly used for implementing the method.

[0009]

According to the present invention, a first object is to provide a digital content distribution method for distributing digital content from a digital content provider computer system to a digital content user side computer. The supplier computer system prepares an occupied storage area for storing a plurality of digital contents for each user computer as a set. (B) The supplier computer system prepares digital content that can be distributed to the user computer. Present the content and encourage the user's computer to create a set of desired digital content. (C) The supplier's computer system sets the user computer to Provide the billing conditions for use, and (d) the supplier The computer system confirms the payment based on the charging condition by the user side computer, and accommodates a set of digital contents for each user side computer in the exclusive storage area set for each user side computer, (e) A digital content distribution method characterized in that any digital content in the occupied storage area is transmitted to the user side computer in accordance with a use application sent from each user side computer.

[0010] In this case, the user pays a usage fee for the set of digital contents, and can freely access the contents included in the set included in the occupied storage area for free and take it out to his / her personal computer. It is better to The number and period of free access may be determined in advance, or the number and period may be changed depending on the contract fee. At this time, if the stream is distributed to the user, there is no possibility that a problem such as a copy or a use for a secondary copyrighted work occurs, and a problem such as copyright infringement does not occur.

[0011] Further, the content to be sent to the user can be encrypted so that it can be used for a limited period of time. In this case, copyright problems such as production of secondary works are also reduced. Can be prevented.

The occupied storage area may be set in advance as an independent storage area in the main server on the supplier side, or may be a virtual storage area. In other words, the title of the content (to identify the title of the song, the title of the book, etc.) to be stored in the occupied storage area for each user,
(May be a symbol), and when there is a request for use from a user (such as a request for music), the desired content may be called from a main server or the like and distributed. .

A second object is to provide a digital content distribution system for distributing digital content from a digital content supplier computer system to a digital content user computer, wherein (a) the supplier computer system is a user Presenting digital content that can be distributed to the side computer, prompting the user side computer to create a set of digital content desired to be used, and presenting a billing condition; and (b) the billing condition. A charging server that manages payment from the user-side computer based on the following: (c) a set setting unit that receives an application to set a set of digital content from the user-side computer; and (d) a digital content that is received by the set setting unit. Proprietary storage for creating and storing sets consisting of combinations Rear, (e) a receiving unit for receiving a use application for digital content desired to be used from the user's computer, and (f) a receiving unit for receiving the use application from the user's computer. And a distributing unit for distributing to the user from the occupied storage area.

In this case, the occupied storage area may be provided as an independent storage area, but may be a virtual storage area. The virtual occupation storage area may be formed by a title storage unit that stores the title of the content included in the set, and the content for which the user has applied for use may be distributed from the main server to the user's computer. .

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a procedure performed between a user and a supplier, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operation. First, the concept of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a computer system of a content supplier (hereinafter, also referred to as a supplier CS), which manages a main server 12 accommodating a large number of digital contents. Further, the supplier side CS 10 includes a contract / charging server 14 for managing the contents of the contract and the charging process status, etc., and a large number of occupied storage areas 16 (16A, 1A).
6B,...). The occupied storage area 16 may be formed by allocating a part of the storage area in the main server 12. Actually, the supplier side CS1
0, as shown in FIG. 2, the presentation unit 18 and the set setting unit 2
0, a reception unit 22, a distribution unit 24, and the like.

Reference numerals 26 (26A, 26B,...) Denote user-side computers (hereinafter also referred to as user-side PCs), which are formed by personal computers owned by the respective users. Each personal computer is connected to the supplier side CS10 via the Internet 28.

Each user PC 26 signs a license agreement with the supplier CS 10 separately, and the supplier CS 10
To make the set of contents prepared by the user freely available to users. For example, in the case of music, the supplier who manages the supplier side CS10 prepares many kinds of music sets classified by the genre of the music, the composer, the performer, and the like, and prepares the owner of the user PC 26 ( The user) selects a favorite set so that the songs included in the set can be used freely.

In this case, the set selected by the user PC 26 is stored in the exclusive storage area 16 set for the user PC 26. The user's PC 26 (for example, 26A) recalls and uses a favorite song from the private storage area 16 (for example, 16A) at any time. A set of songs may be prepared in advance on the supplier side CS10, or a set of songs selected in advance on the user side CS26 may be used.

Next, the supplier side CS10 and the user side PC 26
2 and 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the supplier side CS10 stores a large number of digital contents (songs) in the main server 12 (step S1 in FIG. 3).
00). The main server 12 does not need to be gathered in one place, and the Internet 28
The information may be appropriately obtained through the Internet. For example, different digital content copyrights (digital sound,
(Including books, moving images, still images, etc.), a distribution consignment contract may be concluded, and content masters may be lent by a number of copyright owners and collected by the main server 12. In addition, the supplier CS 10 may create a large number of sets in advance using the large number of contents (songs) stored in the main server 12.

The supplier CS 10 first presents the distributable contents (songs) stored in the main server 12 to the user PC 26 by the presentation unit 18 (step S in FIG. 3).
102), prompt the user PC 26 to create a set of contents desired to be used. At this time, a billing condition for using the content as a set is also presented (step S104). As the usage condition, a right to use the content for a certain period (a period-limited use right) may be given.

The user examines the contents of the contents and the charging conditions, and when using this system, concludes a license agreement with the supplier (step S106). That is, the supplier CS 10 sends a presentation screen such as a list of contents and a fee, a contract screen, and the like to the user PC 26, and the user inputs necessary items to the contract screen on the user PC 26 and Return to CS10.

This contract is managed by the contract / charging server 14 of the supplier CS 10. In this server 14, when there is an application for a contract, a billing process is performed on the user PC 26 (S108). This billing process is a known method, for example, a prepaid method, a bank account automatic debit method,
This is performed by a credit settlement method or the like. At this time, the server 14 may have a function as a personal authentication server.

When the fee is paid and the contract is established, the supplier CS 10 sets the occupation storage area 16 in the user PC 26 (step S 110), and the set setting unit 20 sets the occupied storage area 16 in the user PC 26. Prompt for settings. The user PC 26 sets the set according to the instruction given by the set setting unit 20 of the supplier CS 10 (
Step S112).

When selecting a set of contents (songs), one or more sets may be selected from a number of sets prepared in advance by the supplier side CS10,
The user-side PC 26 may determine a favorite content (song) by himself and set it as a set. If there is no user's favorite content in the main server 14, a service may be provided in which the supplier CS10 searches for this content and presents it to the user.

The supplier CS 10 transfers a set of contents (songs) selected from the user PC 26 to this user P
It is stored in the occupation storage area 16 provided for C26 (step S114). When using the content (song) that the user likes, the user sends the title (song name or code indicating the song) of the content (song) from his / her PC 26 to the supplier side CS10 (step S116). The supplier CS 10 sends the requested content (song) from the occupied storage area 16 to the distribution unit 24, and the distribution unit 24 distributes the contents (song) to the user PC 26 (step S118). For example, streaming distribution.

Here, the streaming distribution is a system in which digital signals of one content (song) are sequentially transmitted while being used (reproduced) by the user PC 26, and data is lost after the use (reproduction). It is not what is collectively downloaded to the user PC 26. For this reason, copying of the contents and use of the contents for secondary works are prevented. Here, the case where music music is distributed has been described, but the content is not limited to music. It may be a book, a movie, a moving image, a still image, or the like.

Instead of streaming distribution, in order to limit the time during which the content can be used, the content may be encrypted, or the content may be distributed with an electronic watermark or the like. In this case, it is also possible to prevent the content from being diverted to a secondary work or the like.

[0029]

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the procedure of another embodiment. In this embodiment, a virtual occupation storage area 16a is used instead of the occupation storage area 16 described with reference to FIGS.

That is, based on the set setting () by the user PC 26, the titles of the contents (songs) included in this set are stored in the title storage unit 16 a, and the contents (contents) desired to be used from the user PC 26. If there is an application for song) (), this title storage unit 1
6a calls the content (song) from the main server 12 based on the title of the content (song) and distributes it to the user through the distribution unit 24 (). Therefore, according to this embodiment, the title storage section 16a has the function of the virtual occupation storage area 16.

In FIG. 4, the same portions as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same operation processes are denoted by the same reference numerals, so that the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0032]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user's PC
Sets a plurality of contents in the occupied storage area of the supplier side CS and stores them in a set. The contents included in the set are made freely available to the user. There is no need to pay the fee, and security problems are less likely to occur. In addition, as in the case of renting an electronic bookshelf,
Since there is no need to convert data when importing the content into C, the trouble of using the content can be saved. Further, since the content used by the user is charged as a set, there is no possibility that a problem under the copyright law occurs.

If the content is distributed to the user by streaming distribution, the secondary use of the content can be prevented (claim 2). Similarly, if the content is encrypted so that the user can use the content only for a certain period of time and distributed to the user, the secondary use of the content can be similarly prevented (claim 3).

If the user is charged as a set in the occupied storage area and the user can use the content free of charge from the occupied storage area, the user is substantially free of charge. This is no different from using the content owned by the user, and the use of the content can be promoted (claim 4). The occupied storage area may be set in a physically independent memory area (claim 5), but it is also possible to use a virtual storage area having substantially the same function as this (claim 6). ).

According to the seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects of the present invention, there is provided a digital content distribution system used directly for implementing these methods.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a procedure performed between a user and a supplier.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Supplier computer system (CS) 12 Main server 14 Contract / charging server 16 Occupied storage area 16a Title storage unit (virtual occupied storage area) 18 Presentation unit 20 Set setting unit 22 Reception unit 24 Distribution unit 26 User side Computer (PC) 28 Internet

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04N 7/173 640 H04N 7/173 640A

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A digital content distribution method for distributing digital content from a digital content provider computer system to a digital content user computer, wherein: (a) the supplier computer system is provided for each user computer; (B) The supplier's computer system presents the digital content that can be distributed to the user's computer, and the user's computer (C) The supplier's computer system presents to the user's computer the billing conditions for using multiple digital contents as a set, d) The supplier's computer system is the user Confirming the payment based on the charging condition by the computer and storing the set of digital contents for each user computer in the occupied storage area set for each user computer, (e) the supplier computer system, A digital content distribution method, comprising sending arbitrary digital contents in an occupied storage area to a user side computer according to a use application sent from each user side computer. 2. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the supplier computer system sends the digital content to the user computer by a streaming distribution technique. 3. The supplier computer system according to claim 1, wherein the supplier computer system prompts the user computer to use the set of digital contents for a certain period of time in step (b), and transmits the digital contents in step (e). A digital content distribution method that encrypts data so that it can be used for a limited time and sends it to the user's computer. 4. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the computer on the user side can use the digital content in the set exclusive storage area free of charge. 5. The supplier computer system manages a main server that stores a large number of digital contents, and transfers and stores the digital contents for which the user computer has applied for use from the main server to an occupied storage area. A digital content distribution method according to any one of 1 to 4. 6. An occupation storage area is a virtual occupation storage area formed by a title storage unit that stores a title of digital content stored in each occupation storage area,
5. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the supplier computer system reads the digital content of the title corresponding to the use application based on the use application sent from the user computer, and sends the digital content to the user computer. . 7. A digital content distribution system for distributing digital content from a digital content supplier computer system to a digital content user computer, wherein: (a) the supplier computer system transmits a digital content to the user computer; Presenting digital content that can be distributed by the user, prompting the user-side computer to create a set of desired digital content, and presenting a billing condition; and (b) a user based on the billing condition. A billing server that manages payment from the computer on the side, (c) a set setting section that accepts an application for setting a set of digital content from the user's computer, and (d) a set that includes a combination of digital content that is accepted by the set setting section. Occupational memory area to create and memorize (e) a receiving unit for receiving a use application for digital content desired to be used from the user's computer; and (f) receiving the use application from the user's computer, whereby the receiving unit occupies the desired digital content. A digital content distribution system, comprising: a distribution unit that distributes from a storage area to a user. 8. The digital content distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the supplier computer system has an occupied storage area formed of an independent storage area. 9. The occupancy storage area according to claim 7, wherein the occupancy storage area is formed by a storage unit that stores a title of the content included in the set, and the title storage unit reads out the content requested to be used and sends it to the user computer. A digital content distribution system that forms a virtual occupation storage area.