JP2003030459A - Method for totalizing contents recording results, method for distributing contents use charge and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose a method for distributing a contents use charge to a contents provider in accordance with contents recording capacity by including the contents use charge in a recording medium in advance. SOLUTION: A contents managing company 110 preliminarily collects the contents use charge by including the contents use charge in a storage medium 106 to sell the storage medium 106 to a retail store 108. Furthermore, the contents managing company 110 distributes contents use charge to a contents provider in accordance with recording capacity by managing identification information of contents data recorded by an information terminal 104 with a server device 109 through a network 112.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of distributing a usage fee to content data providers according to the number of times data is recorded on a recording medium in the distribution of pay content data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, users of information services and contents have been spreading to general households due to the spread of telephones with browsers and receiving terminals for BS digital broadcasting. Against this background, various charging methods for information services and content use have been proposed. For example, JP 20
The invention of 01-60286 relates to a storage medium in which fee balance information is written in a predetermined area in accordance with a prepaid amount of a content usage fee, and an amount equivalent to a content usage fee when writing content in the storage medium. It proposes a method of charging by subtracting from the charge balance information.

An example of an audio CD-R is intended to protect the copyright of music. CD-R for audio
The CD contains special identification information to distinguish it from the data CD-R, and compensation is added to private recordings. This deposit is distributed to the right holders by a designated organization such as the Private Recording Deposit Management Association.

[0004]

However, in the invention of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-327862, the charge balance is 0 even if the recording medium has a margin, or the recordable remaining capacity is present even if the charge balance has a margin. There is a problem that there is a discrepancy between the recordable remaining capacity and the charge balance even if it is small. Of course, it is possible to add a charge balance by paying new money or to transfer the charge balance to a new storage medium, but this is not a preferable method considering the convenience of the user. Further, since the charge balance of the recording medium can be rewritten, there is a possibility that the balance of the storage medium may be tampered with as a fundamental problem.

Further, in the same method as the audio CD-R,
Since there is no means for collecting information about which content data was recorded and how many times, there is a problem that the content usage fee cannot be distributed to the content providers according to the recording capacity and the number of recordings of the content data.

Therefore, in the present invention, a content usage fee corresponding to the capacity is added to a dedicated recording medium in advance, the identification information of the content recorded by the user is managed by the server on the network, and the user records it in the recording medium. We propose a method of allocating content usage fees to content providers according to the capacity. In this method, the above-mentioned inconsistency does not occur because the recordable remaining capacity and the balance match.
In addition, there is an advantage that the system can be simplified, for example, there is no need to manage the charge balance on the terminal side that records the content.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of downloading paid contents, wherein the paid contents of a contents provider are registered in a server device, and the information terminal used by a user who purchases the recording medium identifies the contents. A step of notifying the server device of information; a step of the server device determining whether or not the notified identification information matches the registered identification information; and To allow the download of the paid content to the server, the server device counts the number of times of downloading the paid content, and the server device determines a distribution amount to the content provider according to the number of downloads. Is characterized by. This has the advantage that the user does not need to pay for each use of the content, and the content provider does not need an individual contract with the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a server device that distributes pay content means to a user by using communication means registers unique identification information attached to a recording medium that is sold at a price including a content usage fee. Means, means for registering paid content from a content provider, means for receiving the identification information from an information terminal used by a user who purchased the recording medium, means for counting the number of downloads of the paid content, It is characterized by causing it to function as a means for deciding the distribution money to the content provider according to the number of downloads. As a result, the server device via the network can grasp the statistical information of what content is recorded and how much is recorded, and the fair charge can be distributed to the content providers.

The recording medium according to claim 4 is registered in advance in the recording medium server device, and is used by the content recording device for determining whether or not to permit the download of the pay content to the information terminal or the recording of the pay medium into the recording medium. It is characterized by having readable identification information. As a result, it is possible to suppress the use of an unauthorized storage medium that does not include the content usage fee.

The identification information reading device according to claim 5 is
The identification information is read from a recording medium that is registered in advance in the server device and that has identification information used to determine whether to permit the download of the pay content to the information terminal or the recording on the recording medium. To do. As a result, the identification information of the recording medium can be read out immediately before writing the pay content.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the content recording apparatus, the identification information reading means for reading the identification information from the recording medium having the identification information registered in advance in the server apparatus and the collation of the identification information in the server apparatus. It is characterized by comprising a recording permission means for receiving the result and permitting the recording of the pay content. As a result, it is possible to check the recording medium at the time of recording and determine whether or not to record the paid content already downloaded or accumulated in the terminal.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 101 is a content provider that provides various contents such as music and video, 102 is a content DB that stores the content owned by the content provider, and 103 is the data of the content DB 102, which is a server of a content management company. A content registration terminal to be registered in the apparatus, 104 is an information terminal such as a mobile phone or a digital STB that receives an operation input from a user to display and control the content, and 105 is an information terminal 104.
A content recording device for recording content by connecting to the recording medium, 106 a dedicated recording medium used in the content recording device 105, 107 a recording medium manufacturer that manufactures the dedicated recording medium 106, 108 a dedicated recording medium 106 for each home A retail store for sale to the user of 109, the content registered from the content registration terminal 103 is added with individual identification information and distributed, and when the content is recorded by the content recording device 105 of each home, the information terminal A server device that receives and manages the identification information of the content and the information of the number of recorded sheets transmitted from 104;
Is a content management company that operates the server device 109, 1
Reference numeral 11 is a network used for communication between the content registration terminal 103 and the server device 109, and 112 is an information terminal 104.
And a server device 109 for communication. Each network has a dedicated line,
It goes without saying that any type of ISDN or analog public line network may be used. Also, the protocol for exchanging information on the network may be a BASIC procedure or an internet protocol, or may be an original protocol. In addition, the recording medium manufacturer 107, the retail store 108,
It goes without saying that the content management company 109 does not necessarily have to be an independent business entity.

(Content Usage Fee Collection Method) The content portal company 109 collects the content usage fee (unit price c yen) added to the dedicated recording medium by the following procedure.

(1) The content portal company 109
The production of the dedicated recording medium 106 is ordered from the recording medium manufacturer 107 at a unit price of a yen.

(2) The content portal company 109
The dedicated recording medium 106 received from the recording medium manufacturer 107 is wholesale-sold to a retail store at a unit price a + b + c yen including the content usage fee c yen, the server operation cost b yen, and the recording medium manufacturing unit price a yen.

By including the content usage fee in the dedicated recording medium in advance, the content management company can collectively manage the content usage fee and distribute it to the content provider 101.

For example, a 600 MB CD-R is sold with a content usage fee of 1200 yen added to it for sale.
If you download 9 to 50MB of music content and write it to this CD-R, it costs 1200 yen x (50MB /
600 MB) = 100 yen is the content usage fee paid to the content provider. By recording the application code on a blank disc, the CD-R distinguishes between audio, photo, and PC. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dedicated application code for the CD-R with the added content fee and use this as the identification information. The corresponding CD-R recorder is a CD
-The dedicated application code recorded in -R shall be confirmed to operate, and it shall be guaranteed that the data write operation is not executed for a CD-R in which any other application code is recorded.

(Content Registration Method) Next, a procedure for the content provider 101 to register content in the server device 109 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

<Step a1> Content Provider 101
Accesses the server device 109 using the content registration terminal.

<Step a2> The content provider identification information and password are input to the server device 109.

<Step a3> If the entered password is correct, the user logs in and proceeds to step a4. If not, end the step.

<Step a4> Content Provider 101
Uses the content registration terminal 103 to specify the file name of the content to be registered from the content DB 102. In the case of content such as HTML composed of multiple files, a folder containing multiple files may be specified. If you specify a folder, repeat step a5 for all files in the folder.

<Step a5> The file selected in step a4 is transmitted to the server device 109. Server device 10
9 stores the received file together with the newly added content identification information, file name, and identification information of the currently logged-in content provider in the content management table shown in FIG.

<Step a6> If there are other contents to be registered, the process proceeds to step a4. If not, end the step.

Through the above steps, the content provider 101 can register the content data in the server device 109 through the network.

(Embodiment 1) First, by using a device such as a mobile phone as the information terminal 104 for acquiring content data via a network and a CD-R as a recording medium 106, identification information of the content recorded by the user. An example in which a server on the network is managed will be described with reference to the drawings. Connect the mobile phone (information terminal 104) and the CD-R recorder (content recording device 105) to the server device 10
FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram when recording the contents of FIG.
Shown in. 4, 201 is a communication control unit that transmits and receives data via a network, 202 is a content data storage unit that stores content data registered by a content provider in the format of the content management table shown in FIG. 3, and 203 is A content data transmission unit that transmits the content data of the content data storage unit 202 to the information terminal 104, 204 is a user operation input unit that receives an operation input from the user such as execution of display and recording of the content data, and 205 is content data Transmitter 2
03 is a content data receiving unit for receiving the content data transmitted from 03, and 206 is a content data receiving unit 2.
A content data storage unit that stores the content data received in 05, a content data processing unit 207 that retrieves and processes content data from the content data storage unit 206 in response to an operation input from a user operation input unit, and a content data processing unit 208. A display control unit that expands the data processed by the unit into a bitmap, a liquid crystal display unit 209 that displays the bitmap expanded by the display control unit 208, and a content recording device 210 that stores the data processed by the content data processing unit. A recording control unit that generates a control command to be output to the content recording device 105 and transmits the control command to the content recording device 105, and receives information from the content recording device 105. Controlling and operating state of the content recording device 105 Which internal information recording control unit 210
The recording controlled unit 212 notifies the recording medium 106,
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the recording medium identification information 213 embedded as an application code in the CD-R is a record for reading the identification information of the recording medium from the recording medium identification information storage 212 and notifying the controlled unit as internal information. The medium identification information reading unit 215 is the content recording device 105.
When the recording medium is connected or when the dedicated recording medium 106 is replaced, the recording medium identification information is acquired from the recording control unit 210,
A recording medium identification information notification unit for notifying the server device 109,
Reference numeral 216 is a recording medium identification information DB that stores a list of recording medium identification information (64-bit application code) that permits the content recording device 105 to record the content data. Reference numeral 217 is recording medium identification information transmitted from the information terminal 104. Receiving and recording medium identification information DB21
The recording medium identification information confirming unit 218 that collates with the identification information registered in No. 6 detects the timing of recording completion of the content recording apparatus 105 from the recording control unit 210, and the content identification information of the recorded content is recorded as the record record in the server apparatus. A record performance notifying unit for notifying 109, 219 is a record performance DB that stores content identification information and the number of recordings as a set as shown in FIG. 6, and 220 is a record composed of content identification information transmitted from the information terminal 104 and the number of records. It is a record result update unit that receives a result and updates the record result DB. The recording medium identification information 212 can be recorded in the application code in the case of CD-R and in the burst cutting area in the case of DVD-R. Also, the recording medium identification information 2
Of course, 12 may be provided as a dedicated bar code and given at a predetermined position, or in the case of a recording medium such as a DVD-RAM which is contained in a jacket, the IC memory may be attached to the jacket portion. As the recording medium, a semiconductor memory or a hard disk may be used in addition to the optical disc and the magneto-optical disc as long as the recording medium identification information can be added.

The procedure for managing the record performance when recording the content acquired from the server device 109 by the mobile phone in the content recording device will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

<Step b1> The user selects the cross key and the enter key (user operation input unit 2) of the mobile phone (information terminal 104).
04) is used to specify the content to be displayed. A screen image of the mobile phone is shown in FIG.

<Step b2> The server device 109 is accessed from the mobile phone via the network, and the content data designated in step b1 is acquired from the content data storage unit 202. Figure 8 shows the screen image of a mobile phone
Shown in (b).

<Step b3> Select the submenu of the mobile phone, and select the recording with the cross key and the decision key.

A screen image of the mobile phone is shown in FIG. 8 (c).

<Step b4> Recording control unit 21 of mobile phone
At 0, a control command for recording the content is generated and output to the content recording device 105. A screen image of the mobile phone is shown in FIG.

<Step b5> Recording control unit 21 of mobile phone
0 checks whether the content recording device 105 has completed recording. When recording is completed, the process proceeds to step b6.

<Step b6> The identification information of the recorded content is notified to the server device 109 as a record record.

<Step b7> The record result update unit 219 of the server device 109 receives the record result transmitted in step b6, searches the record result DB, and sets the value of the record count attribute of the record of the corresponding content identification information. Add one and finish the step.

The content data is the server device 10.
9 may be accessed and interactively selected and downloaded, or may be delivered as an attached file of an electronic mail.

As described above, from the table of the number of recordings for each content recorded in the recording result DB 220 of the server device 109 (FIG. 6) and the table of the content data storage unit (FIG. 3), the content for each content provider can be obtained. The total data recording size can be obtained. Depending on the total recording size of each content provider, the content usage fee can be distributed to the content providers from the fees collected by the content management company 110 in advance on the dedicated recording medium 106. According to this method, the content provider can collect the content usage fee without individually charging the user each time the content is recorded. When distributing music data,
By recording data in a predetermined format using CD-R or DVD-R as a recording medium, the recorded content data can be listened to by a commercially available audio CD player or DVD player.

The copyright protection of the content provider is one of the reasons that there has not been provided a device for outputting content data to the outside such as a semiconductor memory which can be used by connecting to a mobile phone. By using the method of the present invention, it is possible to pay a uniform content usage fee to the content provider as a copyright fee, and the convenience of the mobile phone can be expanded.

As a method of suppressing the unauthorized use of the dedicated recording medium 106, the recording medium identification information 21 is stored in the server device 109.
We propose a method to check 2. Here, a method of confirming the recording medium identification information 212 in the server device 109 will be described with reference to an example of the operation of the mobile phone when a new dedicated storage medium 106 is inserted in the content recording device 105 connected to the mobile phone. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of.

<Step c1> Mobile phone (information terminal 10
In step 4), it is checked whether or not a recording medium is set in the content recording device 105. When it is detected that the recording medium is set, the process proceeds to step c2. If not, detection of the recording medium is continued.

<Step c2> The mobile phone transmits a control command to the content recording device 105 to read the recording medium identification information 212.

<Step c3> If the recording medium identification information cannot be read in step c2 or the read recording medium identification information does not follow a predetermined format, the process proceeds to step c7. If not, proceed to step c4.

<Step c4> The mobile phone accesses the server device 109 and notifies the recording medium identification information read in step c2.

<Step c5> The server device 109 checks whether or not the recording medium identification information received from the mobile phone is registered in the recording medium identification information DB 215.
If registered, proceed to step c6. If not, proceed to step c7.

<Step c6> The server device 109 transmits a recording permission message to the mobile phone and ends the step.

<Step c7> A message indicating that recording is prohibited is sent to the mobile phone, and the fact that the recording medium is defective is displayed on the screen of the mobile phone. An example of a screen of a mobile phone is shown in FIG.

By the above procedure, it is possible to confirm whether or not a dedicated recording medium is used on the server device side. This makes it possible to detect the use of a recording medium other than the dedicated recording medium on the server device side and prohibit the use. In the above procedure, the content recording device 1
Although the method of automatically detecting that the recording medium is set and confirming the identification information is shown in 05, the identification information may be confirmed when the recording is performed from the mobile phone to the recording medium. Not to mention good things.

(Second Embodiment) Next, an example will be described in which a device (hereinafter, digital STB) that acquires content data via a broadcast wave such as STB of digital CS broadcast is used as the information terminal 104. Digital STB
FIG. 11 shows a system configuration diagram when the content recording device 105 is connected to the (information terminal 104) and the content of the server device 109 is recorded. Note that FIG. 11 includes the same components as in FIG. 4, and the same components are assigned the same numbers and their explanations are omitted. In FIG. 11, 3
Reference numeral 01 is a content data transmission unit that performs predetermined processing such as channel codec and modulation, 302 is an up converter that converts the output from the content data transmission unit 301 into a predetermined high frequency, and 303 is an up converter for the communication satellite 30. A transmitting antenna that outputs an output, 305 is a receiving antenna that receives content data from the communication satellite 304, 306 is a down converter that converts the satellite wave received by the receiving antenna 305 into a predetermined low frequency, 30
Reference numeral 7 is a digital CS tuner for extracting content data from the output of the down converter 306, 309 is a recording result temporary storage unit for temporarily storing the recording result from the recording control unit 210, and 310 is stored in the recording result temporary storage unit 309. A record result notification period management unit 311 that manages a period for notifying the server device 109 of the record result and notifies a timing for notifying the record result notification unit 311 is a TV monitor that outputs a video signal from the display control unit 208 on the screen. It goes without saying that instead of digital CS broadcasting, digital BS broadcasting, digital terrestrial broadcasting, or other analog broadcasting may be used as a medium for content data transmission.

From the server device 109 to the digital STB
A procedure for recording the content acquired in step 1 in the content recording device 105 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

<Step d1 to Step d5> Step b1
Since the same processing as from step b5 is performed, the description will be omitted. FIG. 13 shows an image of a screen for executing recording. FIG. 13 shows an example in which one-day date plan information is browsed by the information terminal 104 and the one-day drive course and recommended spot map information are recorded in a dedicated disc.

<Step d6> Digital STB (information terminal 1
In 04), the record record is temporarily stored in the record record storage unit 309.

<Step d7> In the digital STB, the recording result notification cycle management unit 310 checks whether or not the notification date and time of the recording result has come. If the current date and time exceeds the notification date and time of the record result, the process proceeds to step d8. Otherwise, step d7 is continued.

<Step d8> The recording result stored in the recording result storage unit 309 is notified to the server device 109.

<Step d9> The record result update unit 219 of the server device 109 receives the record result transmitted in step d8, searches the record result DB, and sets the value of the record count attribute of the record of the corresponding content identification information. Add one and finish the step.

As described above, even when the information terminal 104 is a device that acquires content data via a broadcast wave, it is possible to record the data of the number of times of recording for each content in the recording record DB 220 of the server device 109. Generally, the digital STB is not always connected to the network, and is often connected by dial-up when it is necessary to connect to the server device 109. Therefore, by temporarily accumulating the record results in the record result temporary storage unit 309 and collectively transmitting them to the server device 109 at a certain fixed period,
It is possible to reduce the number of calls from the digital STB.
This method is very effective in reducing communication charges and avoiding competition with other communication such as telephone. In the embodiment, the method of notifying the recording record at a predetermined cycle has been described. However, the recording record is notified after the information terminal 104 accesses the server 109 for acquisition of related information and exchange of billing information. You can

The installation location of the dedicated recording device is as follows.
It may be a convenience store or a musical instrument store. For example,
Sell the CD-R at a convenience store and put the CD on the terminal in the store.
-By inserting R, you can take the sales format of the content that you write your favorite content on the recording medium while watching the screen. With this selling method, you can easily select songs from multiple CD singles and create one original CD-R at the store.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a device such as a mobile phone that acquires content data via a network is used as the information terminal 104, and the user identification information together with the content identification information is stored in a server on the network. An example of managing and acquiring statistical information about which content is used by which user will be described. In Figure 14,
Mobile phone (information terminal 104) and content recording device 10
5 shows a system configuration diagram when 5 is connected and the content of the server device 109 is recorded. Note that FIG. 14 includes the same components as in FIG. 4, and the same numbers are given to the same components and the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 14, 4
Reference numeral 01 is a user ID storage unit for recording the user identification information of the mobile phone, and 402 is a user record record D for storing the content identification information, the user ID and the number of recordings as a set as shown in FIG.
Reference numerals B and 403 denote a record ID update unit 404 that receives content identification information transmitted from a mobile phone, a user ID, and a record record including a record count and updates the record record DB. User attribute DB that stores data in association with each other, 405 is a user record record
A usage status recording unit that periodically generates a table of the number of recordings for each user profile as shown in FIG. 17 using a predetermined search expression from the DB 402 and the user attribute DB 404,
Reference numeral 406 is a usage status DB that stores the table generated by the usage status recording unit 405.

When the content obtained from the server device 109 by the mobile phone is recorded in the content recording device, the recording result management procedure is almost the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment. In step b6 and step b7, in addition to the content identification information, the part where the user ID is transmitted and received is different.

In the present embodiment, the actual usage record is performed by using the predetermined search expression designated in advance in the actual usage record section 405. However, by using the console connected to the server device 109, an arbitrary search condition is set. You may make it possible to acquire the actual usage data by inputting.

By using the above method, for example,
It is possible to offset the content usage fee with the usage survey cost. For example, if you want to distribute sample videos for the promotion of music artists and want to investigate the popularity of users in advance, you can simply provide it to the content management company 110 without investing in system development or other means. can do. Regarding the usage status survey cost, an additional fee will be charged by the content provider according to various usage conditions such as whether or not to transfer the secondary usage right of the usage status to the content management company 110 and the type of search conditions of the usage status. It goes without saying that you can flexibly decide to receive the information.

[0063]

As described above, the contents fee is collected in advance on the storage medium, and the identification information of the contents recorded by the user is managed by the server on the network. Content usage fees can be distributed to content providers.

Further, when the user records the content, by managing the user identification information together with the content identification information in the network server, the content provider does not have to prepare a system for individually managing the user information. , Referring to the database in which the residence area, age, gender, etc. are registered in advance from the user identification information,
It is possible to obtain statistical information about which content is used by which user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration common to all embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a content data registration procedure common to all the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing data in a content data storage unit common to the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a system configuration diagram according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of a dedicated recording medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a record record DB table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of recording record management in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen flow of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of dedicated recording medium management according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a message screen of the mobile phone according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a system configuration diagram according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure of recording record management in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen flow of a mobile phone according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a system configuration diagram according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a user attribute according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Diagram showing DB table

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a table of a user recording result DB according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a usage status DB according to the third embodiment of this invention.
Figure showing a table

[Explanation of symbols] 101 Content Provider 102 content DB 103 content registration terminal 104 information terminal 105 content recording device 106 dedicated recording medium 107 recording medium manufacturer 108 retail stores 109 server device 110 Content management company 111,112 network 201 Communication control unit 202 Content data storage unit 203 Content data transmission unit 204 User operation input section 205 Content data receiver 206 Content data storage unit 207 Content data processing unit 208 display control unit 209 LCD display 210 recording control unit 211 Recording controlled part 212 recording medium identification information storage unit 213 Recording medium identification information reading unit 214 recording section 215 Recording medium identification information notification unit 216 Recording medium identification information DB 217 Recording medium identification information confirmation unit 218 Record performance notification section 219 Record database 220 Record performance update section 301 Content data transmission unit 302 upconverter 303 transmitting antenna 304 communication satellite 305 Receiving antenna 306 Down Converter 307 Digital CS Tuner 309 record record temporary storage unit 310 Record performance notification cycle management unit 311 monitor 401 user ID storage unit 402 user record achievement DB 403 User record performance storage unit 404 User attribute DB 405 Usage record section 406 Usage DB

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme Coat (reference) G06F 13/00 540 G06F 13/00 540R (72) Inventor Kenya Uomori 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Denki Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Imanaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B082 HA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Identification information unique to a recording medium is registered in advance in a server device, the recording medium provided with the identification information is sold at a price including a content usage fee, and the server device is charged using a communication means. A method of downloading content to an information terminal and recording the pay content to the recording medium by a recording device provided in or connected to the information terminal, wherein the server device registers the pay content of the content provider, An information terminal used by a user who purchases a recording medium notifies the server device of the identification information, and the server device determines whether the notified identification information matches the registered identification information. A step of allowing the server device to download the paid content to the information terminal when the identification information matches, Steps and, paid content download method server device comprises the step of determining the distribution paid to the content provider in response to the download count for over server device counts the number of times downloading of the paid content. 2. The recording of the paid content downloaded from the server device to the information terminal on the recording medium by the content recording device is performed only when the recording medium in which the unique identification information is registered in advance in the server device is used. The pay content download method according to claim 1, wherein the pay content is permitted. 3. A means for registering unique identification information attached to a recording medium for selling a server device for distributing pay content means to a user using a communication means at a price including a content usage fee, and a content provider. Means for registering the paid content, and means for receiving the identification information from an information terminal used by a user who purchased the recording medium,
A program that functions as a unit that counts the number of times of downloading the paid content and a unit that determines a distribution amount to the content provider according to the number of times of downloading. 4. A recording medium for recording pay contents distributed from a server device using a communication means, which is registered in advance in the server device, and downloads the pay contents to an information terminal or records the pay contents on the recording medium. A recording medium comprising identification information that can be read from a content recording device used for determining whether or not to permit. 5. The identification information is recorded from a recording medium which is registered in advance in the server device and which has identification information used for determining whether or not to allow the pay content to be downloaded to the information terminal or to be recorded on the recording medium. An identification information reading device characterized by reading. 6. A content recording device, identification information reading means for reading the identification information from a recording medium having the identification information registered in advance in the server device,
Accept the collation result of the identification information in the server device,
A content recording apparatus comprising a recording permission unit for permitting recording of pay content.