JP2003150484A - Contents providing system and contents providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents providing system and a contents providing method providing a user with contents satisfying conditions desired by the user. SOLUTION: An image provider terminal 101 owned by an image provider providing images, a user terminal 102 owned by the user desiring to purchase an image, and an image distribution server 104 storing the images sent from the image provider terminal 101 in states where they can be browsed by the user terminal 102 and distributing the image requested by the user are mutually connected via a network 103. The user makes a request for an image which the user wants to purchase not stored in the image distribution server 104 to the image provider terminal 101 via the image distribution server 104. The image provider sends the image satisfying the request to the image distribution server 104 and the requested image is downloaded to the user terminal 102.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content providing system and a content providing method for providing content satisfying a desired request.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Nowadays, with the spread of the Internet, it is possible to obtain various information on a website. As an example, a system in which an image taken by a digital camera or the like can be purchased on a website will be described. In this system, first, an image purchase applicant (hereinafter, referred to as a user) uses a communication terminal to access a website on the Internet and browses an image published on the website. The published image is an image registered in advance on the website by an image provider who provides the image. When the user desires to purchase the image, the user makes a purchase request for the image to the administrator of the website, and downloads the image for which the purchase is requested to the communication terminal owned by the user. In this way, the user can purchase the image published on the website via the Internet.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the image published on the website is
It was unilaterally registered by the intention of the image provider, and in many cases, images satisfying the user's request were not published. In other words, if an image that meets the user's request (I want such an image, wants an unusual image, wants an image provided by anyone, etc.) is not published on the website, the user can purchase the desired image. I had to give up. Therefore, there has been a demand for a system in which a user can purchase an image that is not published on the website, that is, an image that satisfies the user's request.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a content providing system and a content providing method capable of providing a user with content satisfying a condition requested by the user. .

[0005]

A contents providing system of the present invention is a contents providing system for providing contents satisfying a desired request, and a contents providing means for providing contents by using software and a contents providing means. And a script transmitting unit for transmitting a script to the content providing unit, the script generating unit generating a script executable by the software based on the content of the content providing request. When the content providing means provides the content satisfying the content providing request, the content receiving means receives the script from the script transmitting means and executes the script by the software to obtain the content satisfying the content providing request. And providing to the destination.

According to the present invention, when a user of the content providing system makes a content providing request, the content satisfying the request is provided to the user.

Further, according to the present invention, the content providing means executes the software to provide a script execution function for executing the script, and a content providing for providing the content satisfying the content providing request to the predetermined destination. It is characterized by having a computer that realizes the function.

[0008] A content providing method of the present invention is a content providing method for providing a content satisfying a desired request, and when a content providing request for providing content is received, based on the content of the content providing request, A script generation step of generating a script executable by software included in the content providing means for providing content, a script transmission request receiving step of receiving a transmission request of the script from the content providing means, and the script to the content providing means. A content transmitting step of transmitting the script, and a content providing step of executing the script by the software and providing the content satisfying the content providing request to a predetermined destination. To.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image distribution system according to this embodiment. In the network 103 such as the Internet, the image provider terminal 101 and the user terminal 102 corresponding to the content providing means in the claims, and the image distribution server 104 corresponding to the script generating means and the script transmitting means in the claims.
Are connected, and the request from the user terminal 102 is transmitted to the image provider terminal 101 via the image distribution server 104. The image distribution server 104 also corresponds to a predetermined destination in the claims.

The image provider terminal 101 is a communication terminal such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a PC (personal computer) carried by an image provider who provides images.
An image is registered in the image distribution server 104, or an image satisfying the request is transmitted to the image distribution server 104 and registered in accordance with the request from the image distribution server 104. The user terminal 102 is a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, or a PC owned by a user who desires to purchase an image.
Is a communication terminal, etc., which accesses the image distribution server 104 and requests an image desired to be purchased. The image distribution server 104 registers the image transmitted from the image provider terminal 101 in a state in which it can be viewed on the user terminal 102, and distributes the image in response to an image purchase request from the user.

The image delivery server 104 is provided with a storage unit (not shown), and the storage unit has an image provider management table, a user management table, an image request management table,
Image offer applicant management table, image information management table,
An image registration status management table, an image sales status management table, an image purchase status management table, an administrator profit management table, and an image transmission application are stored.
The image transmission application is the image provider terminal 101.
Is a program that can be operated in accordance with an operation definition script described later, and has a function of displaying the image request contents of the user on the display of the image provider terminal 101 and a function of transmitting an image to the image distribution server 104.
The image distribution server 104 also has a function of generating an operation definition script that can be executed by the image transmission application. The operation definition script describes a series of commands to be executed by the image transmission application.

Personal information of the image provider is registered in the image provider management table, and personal information of the user is registered in the user management table. The image request management table shows the requested contents of the image requested by the user, the image providing applicant management table shows a list of image providers who want to provide the image requested by the user, and the image information management table provides the image providing. The information of the image provided by the person is registered, and the registration status of the image satisfying the user's request is registered in the image registration status management table. Furthermore, the image sales history management table stores the image sales history and the accumulated image sales amount of the image provider, and the image purchase status management table stores the image purchase history and the accumulated image purchase amount of the user.
In the administrator profit management table, the total amount of system contract fees and image management fees obtained by the administrator of the image distribution server 104 are registered.

The flow of image distribution in the image distribution system of this embodiment will be described below. The flow of the entire system will be briefly described. First, the image provider performs image provider registration for registering registered image information, personal information and the like with the image distribution server 104, and the user with respect to the image distribution server 104. Perform user registration to register personal information. After that, the user accesses the image distribution server 104 and requests an image desired to be purchased. Here, the specific contents of the image request include, for example, an image taken by anyone, an image in which a black cat is sleeping, an image provider living near a tourist attraction, and a photograph of the tourist attraction. There are various demands such as wanting to be photographed. The image distribution server 104 that has received the image request requests the image provider to transmit an image that satisfies the request, and the image provider uses the image provider terminal 101 to obtain the image that satisfies the user's request. Upload to 104. After that, the user uses the user terminal 102 to download the image uploaded to the image distribution server 104.

First, the image provider sets the image distribution server 10
4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 until the image provider registration is performed on the image distribution server 4 and the user performs user registration on the image distribution server 104. FIG. 2 is a sequence chart illustrating the flow until the image provider registers with the image distribution server 104. When the image provider accesses the image distribution server 104 using the image provider terminal 101 (S201), the contract form for making an image provision contract shown in Table 1 is displayed on the display of the image provider terminal 101, and the provider. Items shown in Table 2 such as ID, password, name, address, telephone number, image registration genre (image provider terminal location information), terminal model, e-mail address, deposit bank account number, payment credit card number, etc. An image provider registration form for inputting is displayed (S202). The image provider is
Enter these items in the image provider registration form and
By agreeing to the contract shown in (S203), the image distribution server 104 displays the entered items and the contract form that agrees with the contract.
(S204). The image distribution server 104 registers each item input by the image provider in the image provider management table of the storage unit (S205).

[0015]

[Table 1]

[0016]

[Table 2]

In the items shown in Table 2, the image provider has a unique ID for the "provider ID" and an image genre to be registered for the "image registration genre (image provider terminal position information)" (for example, Position information (eg, address, landmark, etc.) where the image provider terminal 101 exists, such as animals, mountains, trains, etc., and the type of terminal used for the “terminal model” (the operating system of a PC, mobile phone) If the device is a phone or mobile information terminal), the "email address" is the email address assigned to the terminal model, and the "bank account number for payment" is the image paid by the user of the image distribution system administrator. Image delivery of compensation or image provision contract fee when the image is not provided to the bank account number for depositing the purchase fee, "credit card number for payment" The administrator of the stem to enter a credit card number for payment.

Next, the image delivery server 104 generates an operation definition script including image registration information such as destination server URL information, image size, genre, price, and detailed image information (comment to image) (S206), An electronic mail including URL information for downloading the image transmission application operable on the terminal model shown in Table 2 and its operation definition script is sent to the image provider terminal 101 by referring to the electronic mail address shown in Table 2. It is transmitted (S207). The image provider is the image provider terminal 101.
The image distribution server 104 indicated by the received URL using
(S208) to download the image transmission application and the operation definition script (S20).
9).

FIG. 3 is a sequence chart for explaining the flow until the user makes a user registration with the image distribution server 104. When the user accesses the image distribution server 104 using the user terminal 102 (S301), the contract form for concluding an image purchase contract having the items shown in Table 3 on the display of the user terminal 101, the user ID, the password, A user registration form for inputting items shown in Table 4 such as name, handle name, address, telephone number, terminal model, electronic mail address, and credit card number for payment is displayed (S302). The user fills in these items on the user registration form and
By agreeing to the contract shown in (S303), the image distribution server 104 displays the entered items and the contract form that agrees with the contract.
(S304). The image distribution server 104 registers each item input by the user in the user management table of the storage unit (S305).

[0020]

[Table 3]

[0021]

[Table 4]

In the items shown in Table 4, the user
A unique ID is input to the "user ID", and a credit card number to which the charge for purchasing the image is settled is input to the "credit card number for payment". For other items, the user inputs the same contents as those shown in Table 2.

The sequence from the user requesting an image to the purchase of an image satisfying the request will be described below with reference to FIG.
And FIG. 5 will be described. FIGS. 4 and 5 are sequence charts for explaining the flow from the user requesting an image to the download of an image satisfying the request to the user terminal 102. First, the user is the user terminal 1
When the image distribution server 104 is accessed using 02 (S401), the image registered on the image distribution server 104 (public image) is displayed on the display of the user terminal 102.
A registered image browsing page that allows browsing is displayed (S40
2). Here, the image purchase sequence when the image desired by the user has already been published is well known, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

When the image desired by the user is not displayed on the registered image browsing page or when the user cannot find the desired image, the user accesses the image request page linked from the registered image browsing page. (S403). The image request page includes the items shown in Table 5 such as user ID, requested image size, period, price, image provider designation (image registration genre ID or image provider terminal location information), and detailed conditions of the requested image. An image request form for inputting is displayed (S404). The user inputs these items into the image request form (S405),
When the input items are transmitted to the image distribution server 104 (S
406), in the image distribution server 104, the items shown in Table 6 that combine each item input by the user with items such as the image request ID, the request reception time, and the deadline are registered in the image request management table of the storage unit. (S407).

[0025]

[Table 5]

In the items shown in Table 5, the user
In "Requested image size", select the size of the requested image from the list, and in "Period", specify the period from the request for the image to the purchase. The "price" is automatically determined by the image size and the period. "Nomination of image provider (image registration genre ID or image provider terminal position information)" is
The user inputs any one of the three. When an image provider is designated to request an image, the image provider ID of the image provider is displayed. When an image registration genre is designated to request an image, the image registration genre ID is displayed on the image provider terminal 101. When requesting an image based on the position, enter each area. The image provider ID, the image registration genre ID, and the image provider terminal position information may be selected from a list or may be directly input. The user inputs detailed conditions of the requested image in the “detailed condition of the requested image”. For example, when the image registration genre is designated as animal, further input is made as "image of sleeping black cat" in the detailed condition to make a more detailed request.

[0027]

[Table 6]

In the items shown in Table 6, "Image request I"
"D" has an ID assigned to each request from the user,
In the "deadline", the deadline is added to the request reception time plus the "period" shown in Table 5. In “latitude / longitude”, the latitude / longitude of the designated area is calculated and registered based on the map database in the image distribution server 104.

Next, the image distribution server 104, the items registered in the image request management table, the entry items for inputting a simple comment, the handle name of the user who requested the image, the image provider ID, and the destination. An operation definition script including server URL information is generated (S408). Then, the image request management table, the image provider management table,
Also, referring to the user management table, URL information for downloading the operation definition script, a sentence indicating that an image request has been received, and details of the image request (requested image size, request acceptance time, deadline, user handle name) , Request image genre, price, etc.), and an image provider terminal 101 capable of providing an image satisfying the user's request with a notification mail.
(S409). The image provider terminal 101 capable of providing an image satisfying the user's request is the designated image provider when the provider is designated, and the image provider registered in the genre when the genre is designated, When the area is designated, it means a terminal owned by the image provider registered in the area.

If the image provider refers to the received notification mail and is willing to provide the requested image, the image provider accesses the image distribution server 104 indicated by the URL in the notification mail (S410). In the image distribution server 104, U
When the RL is accessed, the image provider ID of the image provider who accessed the URL is registered in the image provider applicant management table in which the items shown in Table 7 such as the image request ID and the image provider ID are registered. (S411). Next, the action definition script created in S408 is downloaded to the image provider terminal 101 (S412).

Further, the image distribution server 104 refers to the image provision applicant management table shown in Table 7, and a sentence to the effect that there is a request for image provision and an image for which image provision is desired. A notification mail including the provider ID is transmitted to the user terminal 102 (S413). Since the user makes a plurality of requests or the requests are different for each user, the number of operation definition scripts corresponding to the requests is downloaded to the image provider terminal 104. In the items shown in Table 7, a plurality of IDs of image providers who desire to provide the requested image indicated by the image request ID are registered in the “image provider ID”.

[0032]

[Table 7]

The image provider selects one from the plurality of action definition scripts in the image provider terminal 104 when preparing an image satisfying the user's request within the time period desired by the user (S414). , Select which user's request to provide the image. When the action definition script is selected, in the image provider terminal 101, the action definition script is executed by the image transmission application, and the requested image size, the requested acceptance time, the deadline, the user handle name, the requested image genre, the price, and the request. Request items such as detailed conditions of the image and entry items for inputting a simple comment on the image to be provided are displayed (S41).
5).

The image provider selects an image by referring to the request item and inputs a comment for the image in the entry item (S416). The image transmission application uses the selected image and the image provider I included in the action definition script.
The action definition script includes D, the requested image size, the image request ID, the image registration genre ID (image provider terminal position information), the price, and additional information such as a comment on the image entered in the entry items. Destination server U
It transmits to the image delivery server 104 which RL shows (S41.
7).

Upon receiving the image and its associated information, the image distribution server 104 generates a thumbnail image of the received image and registers it in a viewable state on the registered image browsing page (S418). Next, the items shown in Table 8 in which the registered image ID and the image registration date and time are added to the attached information are registered in the image information management table of the storage unit (S419). Further, the items shown in Table 9 such as the image registration status management ID for managing the image registration status, the image request ID, and the registered image ID corresponding to the image request ID are registered in the image registration status management table,
Registered image IDs shown in Table 8 in the image registration status management table
Is additionally registered (S420).

[0036]

[Table 8]

[0037]

[Table 9]

Next, the requested image is sent to the image delivery server 1.
04, a notification mail including the URL information of a page (hereinafter referred to as a requested image list page) for displaying the text that the file has been uploaded, the uploaded image, and its attached information, the user terminal 102 and the image provider. Terminal 10
1 (S421). The page for displaying the uploaded image and its attached information is the page on which the thumbnail image generated by the image distribution server 104 is displayed, and is shown in Table 8 and the image information management table shown in Table 8. It is generated based on the information in the image registration status management table.

When the user accesses the image distribution server 104 indicated by the URL in the notification mail (S422), the requested image list page is displayed on the display of the user terminal 102 (S423). The user selects an image desired to be purchased from the thumbnail images in the list of requested images, inputs the user ID and password on the image purchase page for purchasing the displayed image, and orders the image (S4).
24), the original image of the selected image is downloaded to the user terminal 102 (S425). After the download is completed, the image distribution server 104 sends a notification mail indicating that the image has been purchased to the image provider who provided the purchased image (S426).

After downloading the original image of the image requested by the user, the image purchase status management table of the user is displayed.
The amount of money for image purchase is added (S427).
Further, a part of the amount of money spent for the image purchase of the user is added to the administrator profit management table of the administrator of the image distribution server 104 as the image management fee, and the rest is added to the image sales status management table of the image provider. (S428).

The image distribution server 104 checks the cumulative image sales amount in the image sales status management table of the image provider once a month, and the image provider pays the administrator of the image distribution server 104 a contract for the system. If the accumulated image sales amount is larger than the fee, the amount obtained by subtracting the contract fee from the accumulated image sales amount is transferred to the deposit bank account specified in the image provider management table. On the other hand, when the contract fee is larger than the cumulative image sales amount, the amount obtained by subtracting the cumulative image sales amount from the contract fee is withdrawn by using the credit card number specified in the image provider management table. Furthermore, the accumulated image purchase amount in the image purchase status management table of the user is checked, and the accumulated image purchase amount is debited using the credit card number specified in the user management table shown in Table 4.

Finally, a description will be given of the flow of compensation payment in the case where, out of a plurality of image providers who desire to provide an image in response to a user's request, no image is provided within the period requested by the user. To do. FIG. 6 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow in the case where a plurality of image providers who desire to provide an image in response to a user request do not provide any requested image. If there is an image provider who wants to provide an image in response to a user's request, but no image is provided within the period requested by the user, the user will be compensated. Specifically, the image distribution server 1
In 04, the sum of the amount of the image requested by the user and the compensation fee paid to the administrator is divided by the number of image offer applicants registered in the image offer applicant management table shown in Table 7. The amount of money is subtracted from the cumulative amount of image sales in the image sales status management table of each image provider as compensation (S601).

The amount of the compensation fee to the administrator is added to the administrator profit management table, and the rest is deducted from the image purchase cumulative amount of the image purchase status management table of the requesting user (S602). If the cumulative image purchase amount becomes negative, the negative amount can be used as money when the user next downloads the image. After that, the image distribution server 104 sends a notification mail that the compensation has been generated to the user terminal 102 and the image provider terminal 10.
1 (S603).

In the above description, the image distribution is taken as an example, but the invention can be similarly applied to a system for distributing music and moving images. Further, it can be applied not only to selling data but also to a service in which designs attached to products (shirts, mugs, etc.) are disclosed, and products with the designs are delivered to users.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the user uses the user terminal 102 to make a request to the image distribution server 104, an action definition script based on the request is generated in the image distribution server 104. An image satisfying the request is uploaded to the image distribution server 104 by the image transmission application executing the operation definition script on the image provider terminal 101. After that, the user uses the user terminal 102 to download the image satisfying the request uploaded to the image distribution server 104. Therefore, the user is the image distribution server 104
By issuing a request to the image distribution server 104, it is possible to purchase an image that is not published on the image distribution server 104. Further, when the image provider provides an image peculiar to the area, the image of the area desired by the user can be purchased from the image provider in the area without going to the area.

On the other hand, since the image provider can receive a request for an image of a genre for which he is good, the image provider can provide an image that meets the user's needs. Further, even if the provided image is not purchased, the image is made public, so that it is possible to unintentionally increase the number of public images.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide an image distribution system which has advantages for both the user and the image provider.

[0048]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a content providing system, a content providing method, and a content providing program for providing a user with content satisfying a condition desired by the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow until an image provider registers with the image distribution server 104.

FIG. 3 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow until a user registers as a user with the image distribution server 104.

FIG. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow in which a user requests an image and the requested image is downloaded to the user.

FIG. 5 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow in which a user requests an image and the requested image is downloaded to the user.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart illustrating a flow of compensation payment when a plurality of image providers who have requested to provide an image in response to a user request does not provide any requested image.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Image provider terminal 102 user terminal 103 network 104 image distribution server

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 17/60 ZEC (72) Inventor Asao Asao Asahi Tsunashima East 4 in Kohoku Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture 3rd-3rd Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5B082 AA13 HA05

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A content providing system for providing a content satisfying a desired request, the content providing means for providing the content using software, and the content providing system for receiving the content providing request for requesting the content providing. The content providing means includes a script generating means for generating a script executable by the software based on the content of the request, and a script transmitting means for transmitting the script to the content providing means. When providing the content to be satisfied, the script is received from the script transmitting unit, and the script is executed by the software to provide the content satisfying the content providing request to a predetermined destination. Test system. 2. The content providing means realizes, by executing the software, a script executing function for executing the script and a content providing function for providing the content satisfying the content providing request to the predetermined destination. The content providing system according to claim 1, further comprising a computer. 3. A content providing method for providing a content satisfying a desired request, wherein when a content providing request for requesting the content is received, the content providing is based on the content of the content providing request. A script generation step of generating a script executable by software included in the means, a script transmission request receiving step of receiving a transmission request of the script from the content providing means, and a script transmission step of transmitting the script to the content providing means A content providing step, wherein the content providing means executes the script by the software and provides the content satisfying the content providing request to a predetermined destination.