JP2003085451A - Charging system, charging method, contents distribution server, contents receiving terminal, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system and a charging method to contents, capable of reducing feelings of unfairness and poor-buy for a user who views and listens to the contents and to provide related technology. SOLUTION: In the charging method to the contents to be distributed by streaming via a network, it is characterized that the contents are divided into a plurality of parts by time, charges are set for the respective divided parts of the contents and the charges for the contents are calculated based on the charges set for the respective divided parts of the contents. Fine charge setting according to details of the contents by every part is enabled and the user can receive the contents without feeling the unfairness. In addition, distribution of the contents is enabled at the charges which are regarded as the most appropriate for a distribution server side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a billing system, a billing method, and related techniques in a service for streaming paying contents such as moving images and music via a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a service for delivering contents such as moving images and music by streaming via a network such as the Internet. Conventionally, in such a service, as a method of charging a usage fee paid by a user for contents, a method of allowing viewing within a fixed time at a predetermined charge (hereinafter referred to as time system) and a fixed charge at a predetermined charge A method that allows you to view the number of times (hereinafter referred to as the number of times system)
was there.

In the case of the time system, a content provider (content provider) distributes a user identifier, a password, an encryption key, etc., for a limited period of time to a user who has subscribed for content viewing, and is generally known to a system. By applying the authentication method of, it is possible to allow only registered users to access the content. The user can watch the content as many times as he / she wants to watch it within a certain period of time. If the provided content is delivered on demand by the user, such as video-on-demand, the user can repeatedly watch only the favorite part. In addition, even if you stop viewing in the middle, you can watch the continuation at another time. Even in the case of live broadcasting,
Turn on the client terminal at the time the user wants to see,
You can freely see the part you want to see.

In the case of the frequency system, the content provider is
Distribute user identifiers, passwords, encryption locks, etc. with limited access counts to users who have subscribed to view content. By applying a generally known authentication method to the system, only registered users can be permitted to access the content. The user is allowed only a predetermined number of accesses. If you want to view the same content more than a certain number of times, you need to pay the fee for that number of times.

[0005]

However, the above charging method has the following three major problems. First, in the case of the time system, for example, there is no difference in charge between a user who views only a part of the content only once and a user who repeatedly views the entire content many times. It is necessary to pay a predetermined fee regardless of whether the purchased content is useful to the purchasing user.
Generally, it is not possible to transfer the right to view content once purchased to another person. For this reason, users who did not view the content often felt a sense of unfairness because of dissatisfaction with the content.

Further, in the case of the number of times system, it is necessary to pay the same fee for viewing only a part of the content and viewing the entire content. For example, even if a user who purchased once wants to view only a part of the content again after viewing, it is necessary to pay a fee according to the number of views. In addition, even if you discontinue viewing due to dissatisfaction with the content, the price is the same as if you watched the entire content.
For such users, there was often a feeling that the fee was expensive.

As described above, the first problem is that the user may feel unfair or expensive in some cases as described above, and this may cause the user to hesitate to purchase the content. Was becoming.

The second problem is as follows. When the Internet or the like is used as a network for delivering contents, the quality of the contents provided to the user may be deteriorated, such as display delay or partial display failure due to changes in network congestion.

Even in such a case, the user is generally charged a predetermined fee. If the quality is too bad, the fee can be refunded by devising the service operation, but for the content provider, if the user stops viewing in the middle, the communication quality may be due to the user's own convenience. It is difficult to determine whether the fee should be refunded because it is bad and the reason why it was canceled is unknown.

For the user, even if most of the contents can be viewed with sufficient quality, if the user misses a portion such as the climax of a drama or a highlight scene such as sports, which is considered to be valuable, a fee is charged. There is resistance in paying. The dissatisfaction was especially great when the content could not be viewed again in live broadcasting.

As described above, the second problem is that, although the content is distributed through the network whose quality is difficult to guarantee, the fee setting according to the quality of the content actually viewed by the user is difficult. That was not possible.

The third problem is as follows. When the content is sold for a fee as described above, it is often the case that a means for trial viewing is provided in advance so as to motivate the user to purchase and to determine whether or not the user purchases the content. . In addition to the paid content that the content provider actually sells, the means for users to try and watch the content is
In some cases, you may create content with a quality different from that of the content that is actually sold, such as a short time or a small screen size, so that you can freely view it without restricting access. there were.

When free trial viewing content having a quality different from that of the paid content is prepared, the user cannot confirm the quality such as the image quality in advance. If part of the paid content is provided as free trial viewing content, the content provider decides the portion to provide, so create free trial viewing content that can meet the requests of individual users with different criteria. It was difficult to do. For content providers, it was necessary to create free trial viewing content separately from paid content. Also, in the case of live broadcasting, it was difficult to create content for free trial viewing in advance.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional charging system for streaming contents, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the unfair feeling and the expensive feeling for the user. It is to provide a new and improved charging system, charging method, and related technology.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved billing system, billing method, and related art capable of setting a fee according to the quality of contents actually viewed by a user. is there.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide means for allowing the user to preview the content in advance,
The user can check the quality such as image quality in advance,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved charging system, charging method, and related technology that enable a content provider to save time and effort for creating free trial viewing content.

[0017]

In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the present invention, a charging system (10) for contents distributed through a network is provided.
0) is provided. This billing system includes one or more distribution servers (110) for distributing contents by streaming, and one or more receiving terminals (120) for receiving contents distributed from the distribution server. Then, the distribution server divides the content to be distributed to the receiving terminal into a plurality of parts in terms of time, sets a charge for each of the divided parts of the content, and stores the charge as charge information. A user authenticating unit (14) for authenticating the user of the receiving terminal, a content delivering unit (13) for delivering the content to the receiving terminal, and content delivered to the receiving terminal based on the charge information And a charge calculation unit (16) for calculating a charge for.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a billing method for contents distributed by streaming via a network. This charging method divides the content into a plurality of parts in time, sets a charge for each divided part of the content, and based on the set charge for each divided part of the content, It is characterized in that a charge for the content is calculated.

According to such a billing system or billing method, it is possible to set a fine fee according to the contents of each portion of the contents, and the user can view the contents without feeling unfair. In addition, the content can be distributed at a rate that is considered most appropriate for the distribution server side.

Further, the receiving terminal comprises a display quality monitoring unit (22) for monitoring the quality of the received content, and the distribution server acquires the display quality information acquiring unit for acquiring the quality information regarding the quality of the content from the display quality monitoring unit. It is preferable that the fee calculation unit is provided with (18), and the fee calculation unit calculates the fee for the content distributed to the receiving terminal based on the quality information. Then, when the content is a moving image, the display quality monitoring unit preferably defines the quality of the content based on the number of frames per unit time or the amount of data received by the receiving terminal.

With such a configuration, even when the content is distributed through the network whose quality is difficult to guarantee, the receiving terminal can set the charge according to the quality of the content actually received, so that the network is congested. This makes it possible to reduce user dissatisfaction even if the content cannot be viewed with sufficient quality.

The fee calculation unit calculates the fee for the content distributed to the receiving terminal in real time, and further,
It is preferable to have a function of transmitting the charge information regarding the charge to the receiving terminal in real time, and the receiving terminal preferably includes a charge display unit (22) for displaying the charge information transmitted from the charge calculating unit in real time. According to this configuration, even for contents whose charge changes momentarily,
It becomes easy to determine whether to continue delivering the content.

[0023] It is preferable that the fee calculation unit subtracts the trial viewing fee set according to each content and calculates the fee for the content distributed to the receiving terminal. With this configuration, it is not necessary for the content provider to prepare the content for trial viewing separately from the paid content to be sold. Further, the user can trial-view any portion of the content within the allocated trial-view charge.

[0024] The content preferably includes a commercial message (CM) for reducing the charge for the content delivered to the receiving terminal. With such a configuration, the content provider can increase the number of users who watch the CM, and the user can view the paid content at a low charge. Also, in the case of video-on-demand streaming, for users who do not want to see the CM even if the charge becomes high, the CM can be skipped by an operation such as fast-forwarding, and the user who sees the CM cannot access the CM. A sense of impartiality is unlikely to occur.

It is preferable that the charge calculation unit calculates a charge for each content portion distributed to the receiving terminal according to the number of times the content portion is distributed to the receiving terminal. According to such a configuration, since the means for setting the charge according to the number of viewing times for each part of the content is provided, the content provider can change the viewing charge after the second time according to the content of each part of the content. It is possible to set finer charges such as.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a content distribution server and a content receiving terminal are provided as related technologies of the above-described charging system or charging method. These can also be used as the components of the above-mentioned charging system. Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to function as the content distribution server or the content receiving terminal, and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Preferred embodiments of a charging system, a charging method, a content distribution server, a content receiving terminal, a program, and a recording medium according to the present invention will be described in detail. In addition,
In the present specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of a charging system 100 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the billing system 100 includes a distribution server 110 and a receiving terminal 120, and the receiving terminal 120 is connected to the distribution server 110 via a network such as the Internet. There is.
In FIG. 1, one distribution server 110 and one reception terminal 120 are shown, but there may be two or more components each having the same function as the distribution server 110 and the reception terminal 120. In a realistic system, there are an extremely large number of components having the same functions as those of the distribution server 110 and the receiving terminal 120.
Those skilled in the art will easily understand from the following description.

(Distribution server 110) In this embodiment,
A workstation, a personal computer, or the like is assumed as the distribution server 110. Distribution server 11
0 is the content database 1 as shown in FIG.
1 and a content input unit 10 that holds the content fee list database 12, a content distribution unit 13, and a user authentication unit 1 that holds a user authentication information database 15.
4 and a charge calculation unit 16 that holds a user billing information database 17.

Each of these components of the distribution server 110 is
It can be understood as a function on a workstation or personal computer. A computer program for realizing such a function can be distributed by downloading it on a network, or can be distributed as a tangible object for commercial transaction by being recorded in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. . Each component (function) of the distribution server 110 will be described below.

(Content Input Section 10) The content input section 10 is means for holding a content database 11 and a content charge table database 12 for delivering content to a receiving terminal 120 described later. The contents stored in the contents database 11 are
In the present embodiment, contents distributed by streaming are assumed. The charge table stored in the content charge table database 12 is information regarding a charge for each part by logically dividing the content into a plurality of parts, assigning a charge to each part. In view of the fact that the content is streaming content, description will be made assuming the time-based division as the logical division here.

For example, the content is a moving image, and the total is 6
If it is 0 second, it may be divided into 6 parts of 10 seconds, or may be divided into 2 parts of 20 seconds and 40 seconds. The distribution server 110 can arbitrarily determine how to divide the position, depending on the content such as a scene break. For example, if the content is a baseball broadcast, it can be one part for each inning or for each batter. The fee associated with the portion can be arbitrarily determined on the distribution server 110 side.
For example, if the content is a song program, it is possible to set a relatively high fee for a portion where popular singers appear.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the charge table according to the present embodiment. In this example, the content of 70 seconds as a whole is divided into three parts by separating the 15th and 40th seconds. The second column of the rate table is the rate per unit time. If the receiving terminal 120 receives the content for the first 10 seconds, the charge is 50 yen (5 yen x 10
Second), if received from the beginning for 30 seconds 105 yen (5 yen x 1
5 seconds + 2 yen × 15 seconds). The charge may be calculated not by the charge per second but by the charge per part.

(User Authentication Unit 14) User Authentication Unit 14
Has a user authentication information database 15 in which user information is accumulated, and recognizes that the user who has accessed the distribution server 110 from the receiving terminal 120 is legitimate, so that the content of only the legitimate user can be stored. It is a means for providing. The user authentication unit 14 receives the user information sent from the receiving terminal 120, which will be described later,
The user authentication information database 15 is used to determine whether the access is from a valid user.

(Content Distributor 13) The content distributor 13 sends a title table of distributable contents to the receiving terminal 120 that has been authenticated by the user authenticator 14 as a valid access, and actually It is a means for delivering contents.

(Charge Calculation Unit 16) The charge calculation unit 16 determines the receiving terminal 1 based on the contents actually distributed and the charge table.
It is a means for calculating the amount to be charged to 20. The billing information for the receiving terminal 120 is stored in the user billing information database 17.

The distribution server 110 is configured as described above. Next, referring to FIG. 1 again, the receiving terminal 1
20 will be described.

(Reception Terminal 120) In the present embodiment, the reception terminal 120 is assumed to be a personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a palmtop computer, a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone, or the like. The receiving terminal 120, as shown in FIG.
0 and a content display 21 are included. The computer program for controlling each of these components of the receiving terminal 120 can be distributed by downloading it on a network, or for example, a CD-R.
By being recorded in a recording medium such as OM, it can be distributed as a target of commercial transaction in the form of a tangible object. Alternatively, in the case of a mobile terminal, it can be distributed as a product in which such a computer program is incorporated in advance. Each component of the receiving terminal 120 will be described below.

(Login operation unit 20) Login operation unit 2
0 is a means for inputting information regarding authentication and selecting the title of the content to be purchased. In the present embodiment, the login operation unit 20 is assumed to be a personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a keyboard in a palmtop computer, a dial button in a mobile phone, or the like.

(Content Display Section 21) The content display section 21 is means for displaying the purchased content. In the present embodiment, as the content display unit 21,
A monitor device connected to a personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a palmtop computer, a display unit in a mobile phone, etc. are assumed. It should be noted that the content display unit 21 has a speaker for outputting sound and the receiving terminal 120 depending on the type of content.
It is a concept that also includes a vibration function for generating vibrations.

Charging system 100 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the charging method according to the present embodiment. First, a user who wants to view contents inputs user information such as a user identifier and a password from the login operation unit 20 of the receiving terminal 120. The user information is sent to the user authentication unit 14 of the distribution server 110. The user authentication unit 14 performs user authentication based on the sent user information and the information stored in the user authentication information 15 (step S11). Here, if the legitimacy of the user is recognized, the user can use the service.

Information such as the title of the content is sent from the content distribution unit 13 of the distribution server 110 to the receiving terminal 120. The user selects the content he / she wants to view from among them. Information regarding the title selected by the user is sent to the content distribution unit 13. In this way, the content to be distributed from the distribution server 110 to the receiving terminal 120 is determined (step S12).

Content distribution unit 13 of distribution server 110
Reads the content and the price list of the content from the content input unit 10 (step S13), and the receiving terminal 1
20 starts distribution of the content to 20 (step S
14). In the content display section 21 of the receiving terminal 120,
The delivered content is displayed.

From the content distribution unit 13 to the receiving terminal 120
The content is continuously distributed until the user gives an instruction to stop viewing or the content reaches the end. In parallel with this, the charge calculation unit 16 receives the receiving terminal 120 based on the charge information for each part of the content.
Is calculated and stored in the user billing information 17 (step S15).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to set a fine charge according to the details of each part of the content, and the user can view the content without feeling unfair. In addition, the content can be distributed at a fee that is considered most appropriate for the distribution server 110 side.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the charging system 200 according to the present embodiment. Since the present embodiment is an application of the first embodiment, only changes from the first embodiment will be described.

Charging system 200 according to the present embodiment
In this case, as shown in FIG.
Is characterized by including a display quality information acquisition unit 18 in addition to the configuration of the distribution server 110 according to the first embodiment. Further, the receiving terminal 220 is characterized by including a display quality monitoring unit 22 in addition to the configuration of the receiving terminal 120 according to the first embodiment.

When the Internet or the like is used as a network for delivering contents, a display delay occurs, a part of frames cannot be displayed, or the quality of contents deteriorates due to changes in network congestion. There is. The display quality monitoring unit 22 of the receiving terminal 220 is a unit that acquires such information regarding the quality of the content and sends it to the display quality information acquisition unit 18 of the distribution server 110. The quality information includes the number of frames that can be displayed in one second and the amount of data actually received.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the charge table according to the present embodiment. In this example, three levels of charges (basic charge, level 1, level 2) corresponding to the quality level are set for each part of the content. A quantitative standard is set according to the quality information sent from the display quality monitoring unit 22 of the receiving terminal 220 to the display quality information acquisition unit 18 of the distribution server 110, and when the predetermined quality is not satisfied, the fee of the relevant portion of the content is charged. Indicates that a lower rate applies.

For example, for a moving image content composed of 30 frames per second, 25 per second
Basic charge when displaying more than one frame, 2 per second
Level 1 when less than 5 frames can be displayed
The level 2 is defined as the case where less than 20 frames can be displayed per second. In the example of Figure 5,
For the portion from the relative time 0 seconds to 15 seconds, the rate is 1 yen per second regardless of the display quality. For example, it is a set fee when the display quality is not so important as in a dialogue scene. In addition, for the relative time of 15 to 40 seconds, the basic charge is 7 yen per second,
Level 1 costs 4 yen per second, and level 2 costs 0 yen per second. In addition, for the portion of the relative time of 40 seconds to 70 seconds, the basic charge is 10 yen per second, and in level 1 and level 2, it is 0 yen per second. This is a set charge when display quality is extremely important, such as at a fireworks display.

Then, when the display quality monitoring unit 22 acquires the quality information regarding the content that can be actually displayed on the receiving terminal 220, the quality information is sent to the distribution server 110.
Is sent to the quality information acquisition unit 18 and is reflected in the charge calculation.

Charging system 200 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a charging method according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, regarding user authentication (step S21) to content distribution (step S24), steps S11 to S14 of the first embodiment described above are performed.
Is similar to

The content display section 21 of the receiving terminal 220 displays the distributed content. At this time, the display quality monitoring unit 22 acquires quality information regarding the content that can be actually displayed on the content display unit 21 of the receiving terminal 220. Then, the quality information is sent to the quality information acquisition unit 18 of the distribution server 210 (step S2
5).

The charge calculation unit 16 calculates the charge for the receiving terminal 220 based on the quality information and the charge information for each part, and stores it in the user charge information 17 (step S2).
6). (Step S24) to (Step S26) are repeated until the user gives an instruction to suspend viewing or the content reaches the end.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the content is distributed through the network where it is difficult to guarantee the quality, it is possible to set the charge according to the quality of the content actually viewed by the user. Therefore, the user's dissatisfaction can be reduced even if the content cannot be viewed with sufficient quality due to network congestion or the like.

(Third Embodiment) A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the charging system 300 according to the present embodiment. Since the present embodiment is an application of the first embodiment, only changes from the first embodiment will be described.

Charging system 300 according to the present embodiment
In this case, as shown in FIG.
Has the same configuration as the distribution server 110 according to the first embodiment. However, the charge calculation unit 16 in the distribution server 310 has a function of calculating the charge to be charged to the receiving terminal 320 in real time and transmitting the charge information regarding the charge to the receiving terminal 320 in real time. It has a feature.

Further, the receiving terminal 320 is characterized by being provided with a charge display section 23 in addition to the configuration of the receiving terminal 120 according to the first embodiment. Charge display section 23
Is a means for displaying information about charges in real time for each user. The information on the charge is a charge table for notifying the user of the charge for each part of the content, the total charge of the user's viewing and listening up to the present, and is used to determine whether or not the user continues to view the content. To be

Charging system 300 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a charging method according to this embodiment. In FIG. 8, regarding user authentication (step S31) to content distribution (step S34), steps S11 to S14 of the first embodiment described above are performed.
Is similar to

The charge calculation unit 16 calculates the charge for the user based on the quality information and the charge information for each part, and stores it in the user charge information 17 (step S3).
5). Also, the information regarding the charge calculated in step S35 is sent to the charge display unit 23 of the receiving terminal (step S3).
6). The fee display unit 23 presents the user with the information about the fee sent from the distribution server by displaying it.

Until the user gives an instruction to suspend viewing or the content reaches the end, steps S34 to S3.
6 is repeated repeatedly.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the receiving terminal 220 is provided with the means for displaying the information regarding the charge in real time, the content is changed even if the charge changes momentarily. Will be able to easily determine whether to continue the delivery of.

(Fourth Embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the charging system 400 according to the present embodiment. It should be noted that the third embodiment is provided with the charge display unit 23, and
Since the third embodiment is applied, only the changes from the third embodiment will be described.

Charging system 400 according to the present embodiment
, The delivery server 410, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the configuration of the distribution server 310 according to the third embodiment, the trial-viewed title list database 1
It is characterized by having 9.

In the content fee list database 12,
In addition to the charge table described in the first embodiment, a trial viewing charge table is stored. The trial viewing fee table is a table in which a maximum amount of free viewing fee is assigned to each content. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the charge table according to the present embodiment. In this example, the content of title A is up to 200 yen, and the content of title B is 30
It shows that content up to 0 yen and content up to 250 yen can be viewed free of charge.

Trial-viewed title list database 1
In FIG. 9, the title of the trial-viewed content and the remaining charge for free viewing of the content are accumulated for each user. As a result, it is possible to know whether or not the user has already tried and viewed the content, and it is possible to allow the user to try and watch the content up to the limit determined by the trial and viewing charge table.

The receiving terminal 420 has the same structure as the receiving terminal 320 according to the third embodiment.

Charging system 400 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 400 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the charging method according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 12, regarding user authentication (step S41) to content distribution (step S44), steps S11 to S1 of the first embodiment described above.
Same as 4.

In the charge calculation unit 16, if the remaining amount of the trial-viewing charge for the content of the user accumulated in the trial-viewed title list database 19 is not 0, the charge for the distributed content portion is divided into the trial-viewing charges. The charge is subtracted (step S45). When the remaining amount of the trial viewing charge is 0, the charge for the distributed content portion is added to the usage charge of the user (step S4).
6).

Steps S44 to S4 are performed until the user gives an instruction to interrupt viewing or the content reaches the end.
6 is repeated repeatedly. If the viewing by the user is interrupted, the remaining amount of the trial-viewing charge for the content viewed at this time is the trial-viewed title list database 19
Accumulated in.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is not necessary for the content provider to prepare the content for trial viewing separately from the paid content to be sold. Further, the user can trial-view any portion of the content within the allocated trial-view charge.

(Fifth Embodiment) A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the charging system 500 according to this embodiment. It should be noted that the third embodiment is provided with the charge display unit 23, and
Since the third embodiment is applied, only the changes from the third embodiment will be described.

Charging system 500 according to the present embodiment
, The delivery server 510, as shown in FIG.
Is characterized in that a CM content database 30 is provided in addition to the configuration of the distribution server 310 according to the third embodiment. CM content database 3
At 0, commercial message contents (CM contents) for advertisement are stored.

In the content fee list database 12,
In addition to the charge table described in the first embodiment, a charge table for CM content is stored. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the charge table according to the present embodiment. In this example, the content of 70 seconds as a whole is divided into three parts by separating the 15th and 40th seconds. The second column of the rate table is the rate per unit time. In this table, CM content is for 40 to 70 seconds, and it is shown that the fee is reduced by 10 yen for every 1 second of viewing. The charge may be calculated not by the charge per second but by the charge per part.

The receiving terminal 520 has the same structure as the receiving terminal 320 according to the third embodiment.

Charging system 500 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 500 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 13, user authentication (step S51) to content distribution (step S54) are the same as steps S11 to S14 of the first embodiment.

In the content distribution section 13 of the distribution server,
At the time of content distribution (step S54), if the content to be distributed is CM according to the price list, C
The CM content of arbitrary appropriate length stored in the M content database 30 is selected and distributed. The content display section 21 of the receiving terminal displays the distributed content.

The charge calculation unit 16 accumulates charges for paid contents for the user based on the quality information and the charge information for each portion (step S55),
And the charges for the CM are accumulated (step S56).

Steps S54 to S5 are executed until the user gives an instruction to stop viewing or the content reaches the end.
6 is repeated repeatedly.

When the user gives an instruction to suspend viewing, the fee for the paid content and the fee for the CM are added and stored in the user billing information 17 (step S57). At this time, if the final charge to the user becomes a negative value, the charge may be set to 0, that is, free.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, C
A means for delivering M is provided, and a means for reducing the viewing fee of the paid content to the user who has viewed the CM content is provided according to the viewing time. By this,
Content providers can increase the number of users who watch CM content, and users can view paid content at a low price. In the case of video-on-demand streaming, C
For a user who does not want to see M, the CM can be skipped by an operation such as fast-forwarding, and an unfair feeling is unlikely to occur with the user who sees the CM.

(Sixth Embodiment) A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the charging system 600 according to this embodiment. Since the present embodiment is an application of the first embodiment, only changes from the first embodiment will be described.

Charging system 600 according to the present embodiment
, The delivery server 610, as shown in FIG.
In addition to the configuration of the distribution server 110 according to the first embodiment described above, is provided with a viewing count management unit 31. The viewing count management unit 31 is a unit that manages how many times the user has viewed each content portion.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table accumulated in the content charge table database 12 according to the present embodiment. The fee can be set differently depending on how many times the user views the relevant portion of the content. In this example, for the portion from the relative time 0 seconds to 15 seconds, the first viewing is 5 yen per second, the second viewing is 1 yen per second, and the third and subsequent times, the portion is repeated. It's free to watch. It is a set fee when the value of viewing is significantly reduced after viewing the part once, such as the result of voting in an election. From 15 seconds to 40 seconds, the relative time is 7 seconds per second regardless of the number of viewings.
It is a circle. It is a set fee in the case where the value of viewing does not decrease even if the part is viewed repeatedly. Also, for relative time 40 to 70 seconds,
The first viewing is -10 yen per second, after the second,
No matter how many times you watch that part, it's free. For example, it is a set fee in the case of the CM described in the fifth embodiment.

The receiving terminal 620 has the same structure as the receiving terminal 120 according to the first embodiment. Note that the charge display unit 23 may be provided as in the third to fifth embodiments.

Charging system 600 according to the present embodiment
Is configured as described above. Next, a charging method in the charging system 600 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart showing a charging method according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 17, regarding user authentication (step S61) to content distribution (step S64), steps S11 to S of the first embodiment described above are performed.
Similar to 14,

The viewing count management unit 31 obtains the current distribution count of the user for the currently distributed portion of the content of the user and sends it to the charge calculation unit 16 (step S65).

The charge calculation unit 16 calculates the charge for the part for the user from the charge table of the content based on the number of times of distribution and the charge information for each part, calculates the charge for the user, and stores the charge in the user charge information 17. Save (step S66). Steps S64 to S66 are repeated until the user gives an instruction to suspend viewing or the content reaches the end.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the means for setting the charge according to the number of times of viewing for each part of the content is provided, the content provider can set the charge according to the content of each part of the content. It is possible to set finer charges, such as changing the viewing charges from the second time onward.

The preferred embodiments of the charging system, the charging method, and the related art according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications can be conceived within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and naturally, these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs.

[0097]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to reduce the unfair feeling and the expensive feeling for the user. Further, it is possible to set a charge according to the quality of the content that the user actually viewed. Furthermore, when a means is provided for the user to preview the content in advance, the user can check the quality such as image quality in advance, and the content provider does not have to create the content for free trial viewing. It is possible to omit.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a charging system according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a charge table according to the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a charging method according to the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Billing system 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610 Distribution server 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620 Receiving terminal 10 Content insertion unit 11 Content database 12 Content charge table Database 13 Content distribution unit 14 User authentication unit 15 User authentication information database 16 Fee calculation unit 17 User billing information database 18 Quality information acquisition unit 19 Trial viewing title list database 20 Login operation unit 21 Content display unit 22 Display quality monitoring unit 23 Fee Display unit 30 CM content database 31 Viewing count management unit

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Akira Okumura             1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric             Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tsutomu Tanaka             1-7-12 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Oki Electric             Industry Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C064 BA07 BB01 BC16 BC20 BC27                       BD04 BD07

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A charging system for contents distributed via a network, wherein one or more distribution servers distribute the contents by streaming, and one or more receptions receive the contents distributed from the distribution server. The distribution server divides the content to be distributed to the receiving terminal into a plurality of parts temporally, sets a charge for each divided part of the content, and holds the charge information as charge information. A content input unit, a user authentication unit that authenticates that the user of the receiving terminal is legitimate, a content delivery unit that delivers content to the receiving terminal, and a receiving unit based on the fee information. And a charge calculation unit for calculating a charge for the distributed contents. Billing system. 2. The receiving terminal includes a display quality monitoring unit that monitors the quality of received content, and the distribution server acquires quality information regarding the quality of the content from the display quality monitoring unit. The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising an information acquisition unit, wherein the charge calculation unit calculates a charge for the content distributed to the receiving terminal based on the quality information. 3. The content is a moving image, and the display quality monitoring unit defines the quality of the content based on the number of frames per unit time or the amount of data received by the receiving terminal. The charging system according to item 2. 4. The charge calculation unit has a function of calculating a charge for content distributed to the receiving terminal in real time, and further transmitting charge information related to the charge to the receiving terminal in real time. The terminal is
The charging system according to claim 1, further comprising a charge display unit for displaying the charge information transmitted from the charge calculation unit in real time. 5. The charge calculation unit calculates the charge for the content distributed to the receiving terminal by subtracting the trial viewing charge set according to each content. , 2, 3 or 4, the charging system. 6. The content according to claim 1, wherein the content includes a commercial message for reducing a charge for the content delivered to the receiving terminal.
The charging system according to any one of 2, 3, 4 and 5. 7. The charge calculation unit calculates, for each part of the content, a charge for the content distributed to the receiving terminal according to the number of times the part of the content is distributed to the receiving terminal. The charging system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. 8. A content distribution server, which distributes content by streaming via a network, divides the content to be distributed into a plurality of parts temporally, and sets a charge for each of the divided parts of the content. A content input section that holds information, a user authentication section that authenticates that the user of the receiving terminal that receives the content is valid, and a content distribution section that distributes the content to the receiving terminal, and A content distribution server, comprising: a charge calculation unit for calculating a charge for content distributed to the receiving terminal based on charge information. 9. A display quality information acquisition unit that acquires quality information relating to the quality of the content received by the reception terminal from the reception terminal, wherein the charge calculation unit is based on the quality information. The content delivery server according to claim 8, wherein a fee for the content delivered to the server is calculated. 10. The charge calculation unit has a function of calculating a charge for content distributed to the receiving terminal in real time, and further transmitting charge information related to the charge to the receiving terminal in real time. The content distribution server according to claim 8 or 9. 11. The fee calculation unit calculates the fee for the content distributed to the receiving terminal by subtracting the trial viewing fee set according to each content. , 9 or 10, the charging system. 12. The charge calculation unit calculates, for each part of the content, a charge for the content distributed to the receiving terminal according to the number of times the part of the content is distributed to the receiving terminal. The content distribution server according to claim 8, 9, 10, or 11. 13. A computer as claimed in claim 8, 9, or 1.
A program for functioning as the content distribution server according to any one of 0, 11, and 12. 14. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 13 is recorded. 15. A content receiving terminal that receives content distributed by streaming via a network, monitors the quality of the received content, and transmits quality information of the content to a distribution server that distributes the content. A content receiving terminal characterized by comprising a quality monitoring unit. 16. The display quality monitoring unit defines the quality of the content based on the number of frames per unit time or the amount of data received by the receiving terminal when the content is a moving image. , Claim 15
Content receiving terminal described in. 17. A charge display unit is further provided for displaying, in real time, charge information regarding a charge for the content distributed by the distribution server, which is transmitted from the distribution server. Item 15
Or the content receiving terminal described in 16. 18. A program for causing a computer to function as the content receiving terminal according to claim 15, 16 or 17. 19. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 18 is recorded. 20. A billing method for content distributed by streaming via a network, wherein the content is temporally divided into a plurality of parts, and a fee is set for each of the divided parts of the content. A charging method, wherein a charge for the content is calculated based on a charge set for each divided portion of the content.