JP2003157335A - Device and method for managing contents usage rights - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for managing the remaining amount of usage rights capable of eliminating such a situation that there is no more remaining amount of the usage rights when a user realizes it and the contents can not be used without applying a processing load to a terminal device. SOLUTION: The license information table 421 of the license DB 42a of a license managing center terminal device 4a stores a piece of license information including expiration date and specifying contents of a license for every contents of each user. A license information investigating part 47 calculates residual time until the expiration date per each piece of license information of each user on the basis of the expiration date and a date and hour at that point. When the residual time calculate by the license information investigating part 47 becomes a predetermined threshold or less, a notification information preparing part 46a generates information notifying that the expiration date is approaching.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for managing usage rights such as the expiration date of a license for using content, the number of times of usage, the time of usage, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a business model is generally used in which contents are distributed on the Internet, packaged contents are attached to a magazine or the like, and the user is allowed to purchase a license for the distributed contents. It is becoming. However, in the event of fraud, such as purchasing only one license, copying the content, and distributing the copy to others,
The profit of the content provider is unduly hindered.

Therefore, under such a business model, in order to protect the profits of the content provider, the expiration date defined by the license is embedded in the content installed in the user's personal computer, and the content is reproduced. In addition, measures are being taken such that viewing and viewing can be done only until the expiration date.

[0004]

However, the management of the expiration date is usually left to the user who purchased the license. As a result, when the user notices, the expiration date has passed and the content cannot be used. Such a situation
The larger the number of contents managed by the user, the more frequently it occurs.

In order to prevent such an unnecessary deadline, it is conceivable that the user's terminal device manages the license expiration date, but the processing load on the terminal device increases due to the management. . Such a situation is not limited to the expiration date, and is generally applicable to the remaining amount of the usage right such as the number of times of use and the time of use.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and does not impose a processing load on the terminal device,
Moreover, it is possible to provide a device and a method for managing the remaining amount of the usage right, which can eliminate the situation that the expiration date has passed when the user noticed, that is, the remaining amount of the usage right is exhausted and the content cannot be used. With the goal.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a content usage right management apparatus according to the present invention uses a content usage right for a terminal of a user who has purchased the usage right. Is a device that manages the remaining amount of the content usage right for each user while issuing a license ticket that enables the user to obtain the license information including the remaining amount and specifying the content of the usage right. License information storage means for storing each
And a notification information generating unit that generates notification information indicating that the remaining amount has decreased when the remaining amount becomes less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.

Further, the content usage right management device further includes, in the license information stored in the license information storage means, an identifier of a terminal device that uses the content to be licensed as a notification destination of the notification information. A configuration may also be provided that includes a first notification destination storage unit that stores the first notification destination storage unit and a first notification unit that notifies the notification destination stored in the first notification destination storage unit of the notification information. Good.

Further, the content usage right management device further stores a second notification in which the identifier of the terminal device designated by the user is stored as the notification destination of the notification information in the license information stored in the license information storage means. The configuration may include a destination storing unit and a second notifying unit configured to notify the notification destination stored in the second notification destination storing unit of the notification information. Also,
The first and second notifying means may be configured to notify by embedding notification information in the license ticket.

The present invention can also be realized as a license management method having the above-mentioned means as steps, or as a program including those steps. The program can be distributed via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a communication network.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system 1a according to the first embodiment. The license management system 1a centrally manages content usage conditions (licenses) on the server side, and stores, on the terminal side, usage conditions (cutout usage conditions) obtained by cutting out a part of the usage conditions in response to a request from the user. Is a communication system that manages the expiration date defined by the license while sending a license ticket (hereinafter, referred to as “LT”) that is licensed. Kind of terminal device,
That is, the content provider terminal device 2 used by the content provider, the content distribution center terminal device 3 used in the content distribution center, and the license management center used in the center for managing the license for using the content. Terminal device 4a, a user terminal device 5a used by a user who uses the licensed content, and a mobile phone 6a.

The contents include music, movies, books, etc., and the contents are digitized and encrypted to prevent unauthorized use.

The content provider terminal device 2 provides the content and the usage conditions, which are the contents of the license,
The content distribution center terminal device 3 is a computer device used by a content provider who registers a valid period or extends the valid period which is the end of the valid period.
Also, it has a Web browser function for accessing the license management center terminal device 4a.

The content distribution center terminal device 3 is a computer device that distributes content to users in the license management system 1a, and has a Web page for receiving registration of content from a content provider.

The license management center terminal device 4a is
It is a computer device used in a center that manages licenses licensed for contents in the license management system 1a. Specifically, the license management center terminal device 4a receives a license purchase from the user terminal device 5a or the like, or issues a license ticket issuance request from the user terminal device 5a or the like (hereinafter referred to as "LT issuance request"). (Hereinafter, described)) and issues an LT including the content decryption key and the cut-out usage condition (reproduction of content once in this embodiment) to the terminal, the user terminal device 5a, the mobile phone 6a, and the content. It has a Web page for accepting a request for extension of the expiration date from the terminal device 2 for the provider, and when the expiration date is approaching, it is valid by e-mail or the like to the terminal device that reproduces the content or the terminal device specified in advance by the user. It has a function such as a mailer that sends notification information about deadlines.

User terminal device 5a and mobile phone 6
Reference numeral a is a computer device and a telephone for the user to receive and use the content. In particular,
The user terminal device 5a and the mobile phone 6a are licenses for receiving content from the content distribution center terminal device 3 in the license management system 1a and for using predetermined content for the license management center terminal device 4a. To obtain an LT issuance request including the client ID pre-embedded in the user terminal device 5a and the content ID of the content when the content is reproduced, or from the license management center terminal device 4a. Decrypt the content encrypted with the LT content decryption key,
It is used as a device for reproducing within the range of LT cut-out usage conditions, and has functions such as a Web browser and a mailer for accessing and communicating with the content distribution center terminal device 3 and the license management center terminal device 4a. .

In this embodiment, the mobile phone 6
The a operates as a notification terminal that receives an e-mail containing the notification information regarding the expiration date of the license for using the predetermined content installed in the user terminal device 5a.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functions of the content provider terminal device 2, the content distribution center terminal device 3, the license management center terminal device 4a and the user terminal device 5a shown in FIG. It should be noted that the mobile phone 6a serving as a notification terminal and the communication network 7 are also shown in the figure. The content provider terminal device 2 includes a license information creation unit 21, a communication unit 22 and the like. The license information creation unit 21 creates license information (for example, a valid period) for using the content according to the operation of the content provider.

The communication unit 22 uses browser software or the like,
It is a communication interface that communicates with the terminal device 3 for the content distribution center and the terminal device 4a for the license management center via the communication network 7, and distributes the content created by the content provider to the terminal device 3 for the content distribution center, The license information created by the license information creation unit 21 is distributed to the license management center terminal device 4a.

The content distribution center terminal device 3 comprises a content DB 31, a communication section 32 and the like. The content DB 31 stores a content table 311 for each content in which encrypted content distributed in the license management system 1a and a content ID that is an identifier of this content are stored in association with each other, and content decryption for decrypting the encrypted content. A content decryption key table 312 that stores the key and the content ID of the content decrypted by this content decryption key in association with each other.
And a content list table 313 that associates the “song number” corresponding to the content ID of this content, the “song name” of the content, the “license content” such as the validity period, and the “selling price” with each other. is there. The content of the license is updated by the license management center terminal device 4a as necessary.

The communication unit 32 is a communication interface realized by a script or a program described in a Web page that communicates with the content provider terminal device 2, the user terminal device 5a, and the mobile phone 6a. Content DB 31 by encrypting the content sent from the content provider of the personal terminal device 2
Content list table 31 or when accessed by a user such as the user terminal device 5a.
3, a content list screen is created and sent to the user terminal device 5a or the like, a download request is accepted, and the requested content is distributed.

The user terminal device 5a includes an operation unit 55,
Communication unit 54, data reproduction unit 51, data management unit 52
And a notification information reading unit 53 for reading notification information about the expiration date.

The operation unit 55 is a user interface that receives user's operations and displays the Web pages of the content distribution center terminal device 3 and the license management center terminal device 4a.

The communication unit 54 uses the content distribution center terminal device 3 or the like by using browser software, mail software, or the like.
It is a communication interface for communicating with the license management center terminal device 4a via the communication network 7, and analyzes commands and data transmitted from the content distribution center terminal device 3 and the license management center terminal device 4a, and The operation unit 55, the data reproducing unit 51, the data managing unit 52, and the notification information reading unit 53 according to the result.
Request processing, or the operation unit 55 or the data reproducing unit 5
1. The data passed from the data management unit 52 is transmitted to the content distribution center terminal device 3 and the license management center terminal device 4a.

Specifically, when the user downloads the content, the communication section 54 accesses the content distribution center terminal device 3 to display a content list screen, and the content specified by the user is selected from the list. Requesting and receiving Web distribution, the content is reproduced by the data reproducing unit 51.
It is stored in the content DB 511. Further, when the user performs a license purchase operation, the license management center terminal device 4a is accessed and the license purchase is registered in the license management center terminal device 4a. Further, when the user performs a content reproduction operation by designating a specific content, the data management unit 52 is searched for an LT. If there is no LT, the client ID is read from the data management unit 52 and Data reproducing unit 51
The content ID of the content subjected to the reproduction operation is read out from the content DB 511, and an LT issue request including the client ID and the content ID is issued to the license management center terminal device 4a. When the LT is received from the license management center terminal device 4 a, the received LT is stored in the data management unit 52. When a mail containing the notification information about the expiration date is received from the license management center terminal device 4a, the notification information about the expiration date, which is the content of the email, is passed to the notification information reading unit 53. Furthermore, when the user performs an expiration date update request operation, the communication unit 54 determines that the content I
D, an expiration date update request including the update period is issued to the license management center terminal device 4a.

The data reproducing section 51 is provided with a content DB 511 that stores and holds the content distributed from the content distribution center terminal device 3 and the content read out from the package in association with the content ID, and the encrypted content. Is decrypted with the content decryption key received from the data management unit 52, and the content is reproduced under the control of the data management unit 52.

The data management unit 52 holds the client ID embedded in the user terminal device 5a in advance, and temporarily stores the LT required for the content reproduction by the data reproduction unit 51. In addition, the data management unit 52
From the LT received via the communication unit 54, extracts and temporarily retains the cut-out usage condition (in this embodiment, reproduction of the content once) and the content decryption key associated with the content ID. To do. Then, the content decryption key is passed to the data reproducing section 51, the content reproduction by the data reproducing section 51 is cut out, and it is monitored whether or not the usage condition is adhered to.
Extinguish. If the LT includes notification information regarding the expiration date, the data management unit 52
Extracts the notification information related to the expiration date and passes it to the notification information reading unit 53.

The notification information reading unit 53 reads the notification information regarding the expiration date contained in the mail delivered from the communication unit 54 and the notification information regarding the expiration date contained in the LT delivered from the data management unit 52, and monitors it. To be displayed.

The license management center terminal device 4a is
Broadly speaking, a data section (user DB4) realized by a data file stored in a hard disk or the like.
1. License DB 42a) and a processing unit (communication unit 44, LT creation unit 45, notification information creation unit 46a, license information investigation unit 47, license information realized by a script or program written in a Web page, mail software, etc. Management unit 48a).

The user DB 41 is a storage such as a hard disk for storing a plurality of user tables 411 for specifying the user ID of the user who owns the terminal device from the client ID unique to the terminal device used in this license management system 1a. It is a department. User table 411
As shown in FIG. 3, user information (“name”, “address”, “telephone number 1”, “telephone number 2”, ..., “E-m” of a user who has joined the license management system 1a.
“Ail1”, “E-mail2”, ...) And information on the client ID of the terminal device used by this user in this license management system 1a (“Client ID1”,
“Client ID 2”, ...) Is accumulated and held for each user ID.

The license DB 42a is a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores a plurality of license information tables 421a for managing licenses purchased by the user for each content and notifying the remaining number of days until the license expiration date. is there. License information table 4
21a, as shown in FIG. 4, the expiration date of the license purchased by the user for each content ID, the client ID of the representative terminal that uses the content (for example, the client ID of the terminal that purchased the license), and another by the user. If the terminal is designated, the client ID of the notification terminal that sends the notification information regarding the expiration date is accumulated and held for each user ID. Even if the terminal is not designated as the representative terminal that uses the content in the license information table 421a, the user table 4
As long as 11 is registered as the terminal of the user, the license information can be used at the terminal.

The communication unit 44 is a communication interface for communicating with the content provider terminal device 2, the user terminal device 5a, and the mobile phone 6a via the communication network 7 by means of a script or a program forming a Web page. The LT creator 45 analyzes a command transmitted from the content provider terminal device 2, the user terminal device 5a, or the mobile phone 6a, and depending on the result.
And the notification information creation unit 46a and the license information investigation unit 4
7, request processing to the license information management unit 48a,
The data passed from the LT creation unit 45 or the notification information creation unit 46a is transmitted to the user terminal device 5a or the mobile phone 6a.

The LT creating section 45 issues an LT based on the LT issue request received via the communication section 44. Specifically, the LT creation unit 45 acquires the client ID and the content ID included in the LT issue request. Then, the user DB 41 is searched to search the user table 411.
The user ID corresponding to the client ID acquired from is acquired. Then, based on the acquired user ID, content ID, and client ID, the usage conditions (UR-) stored in the license information table 421a, licensed by the content provider as a license, and managed by the license management center terminal device 4a. Us) is specified. Then, from these usage conditions (UR-Us), the cut-out usage conditions (UR-U) necessary for the terminal that issued the LT issue request
c) While extracting the content reproduction once in this embodiment, the content decryption key table 312 is accessed to read the content decryption key corresponding to the content ID, and the content decryption key and the excision use condition (U
R-Uc) is sent to the terminal that issued the LT issue request.

The license information examining unit 47 refers to the current date and time by a built-in calendar timer and the expiration date of the license information table 421a to determine the remaining time until the expiration date (in the first embodiment, Calculate the remaining days).

When the number of remaining days until the expiration date calculated by the license information investigation unit 47 becomes less than or equal to a preset threshold value, the notification information creation unit 46a determines the expiration date of the LT created by the LT creation unit 45. , All the information destined for the terminal that is approaching is embedded in this LT, notification information relating to the expiration date indicating the number of days remaining until the expiration date is embedded, and the LT in which the notification information is embedded is issued to the terminal that issued the LT issue request. It sends or sends an email containing the notification information to a terminal device whose expiration date is approaching or to a terminal device (designated terminal) designated in advance.

Specifically, the notification information creating section 46a
Two different dates are preset as the threshold for the remaining days until the expiration date: the LT embedding start date with the remaining days set to 10 days and the email transmission start date with the remaining days set to 5 days. ing. The number of remaining days until the expiration date calculated by the license information research unit 47 is 1
When it is less than or equal to 0 days, the notification information creating unit 46a uses the LT created by the LT creating unit 45 until the expiration date expires.
Among these, all those destined for terminals with expiry date are acquired, the notification information regarding the expiry date indicating the remaining number of days until the expiry date is embedded in this LT, and the LT with the embedded notification information regarding the expiry date is LT issued. Send to the requesting terminal.

When the number of remaining days until the expiration date calculated by the license information investigation unit 47 becomes 5 days or less, the notification information creating unit 46a
If there is no designated terminal in the license information table 421a, if there is no designated terminal, an e-mail containing the notification information regarding the expiration date is sent to the terminal device whose expiration date is approaching, and if there is a designated terminal. To the designated terminal.

The license information management unit 48a writes or updates the license information in the content list table 313 or the license information table 421a when requested by the content provider terminal device 2 or the user terminal device 5a. Or

Specifically, when there is a license purchase request from the user terminal device 5a or the like, the license information management unit 48a reads the content list table 313 and creates the license purchase screen shown in FIG. It is sent to the mobile terminal device 5a and the mobile phone 6a, and the purchase of the content is accepted from this purchase screen. Then, the user ID is obtained from the client ID of the terminal device, and the content ID for which the purchase is accepted, the license information, the client ID of the destination terminal of the notification information, and the like in the license information table 421a of the user ID, for each accepted license information. Or to register. When the user or the content provider requests extension of the expiration date, the expiration date of the license information table 421a is extended or the license information of the content list table 313 is updated.

Next, the overall operation of the license management system 1a configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main processing flow in the license management system 1a for a license from the purchase of a license required for content use to the expiration of the license expiration date, and FIG. 6 shows notification information. It is a timing chart of the notification information creation processing regarding the expiration date by the creation unit 46a.

Here, the user terminal device 5a used by the user (Oho □ Δ) who has completed the membership registration in advance and preinstalled the songs 2 and 4 and this user designated as the notification terminal for the song 4. Communication exchanges among the mobile phone 6a, the license management center terminal device 4a, and the content provider terminal device 2 used by the provider of the music 4 are shown.

When the user terminal device 5a is used to access the license purchase page of the website located in the license management center terminal device 4a, the license purchase screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. When the user “Oho □ Δ” of the user terminal device 5a purchases the license A of the song 2 “papilio insect” and the license B of the song 4 “deep forest”, the communication unit 54 is operated to move the cursor to the column of the song 2. And purchase the license A of song 2 by pressing the purchase button,
Further, the cursor is moved to the column of the song 4 and the purchase button is pressed to purchase the license B of the song 4 (S1).

The license information management unit 48a of the terminal device 4a for the license management center that has accepted the purchase of the licenses A and B determines the user ID from the client ID "nat01" of the user terminal device 5a of the user table 411.
“Pana01” is specified. Then, the songs 2 and 4 are stored in the content ID column of the license information table 421a, and the expiration dates “7/31” of the songs 2 and 4 are stored in the license information column for each content ID. Further, the license information management unit 48a uses the device name (for example, "PC" or "mobile phone") owned by the user corresponding to the client ID of the user table 411.
Etc.) to identify the representative terminal that uses song 2 and song 4, so that the client ID “nat01”
When the expiration date of songs 2 and 4 is approaching by displaying the device name (for example, "cell phone") owned by a user other than the terminal that uses the song for songs 2 and 4 An inquiry is made as to whether or not a device for notifying that is to be specified. As a result of the inquiry, if there is a specification, the specified terminal is set as the notification terminal and the client ID of the specified terminal (for song 4, the telephone number "090 ○ × □ ○ △ ”), and if there is no designation, the representative terminal is set as the notification terminal, the designated terminal field is blanked, the creation of the license information table 421a is completed, and songs 2 and 4 are used. Prepare

Although the user specifies the representative terminal that uses songs 2 and 4 here, the license purchasing terminal for songs 2 and 4 may be automatically set as the representative terminal. This is because, in general, the terminal from which the license is purchased is often set as the representative terminal, and if the setting is made automatically, it will be a troublesome operation for the user.
This is because it will decrease. Further, when the user does not particularly specify the notification terminal, the representative terminal is set as the notification terminal here, but the present invention is not limited to this, and all terminals owned by the user may be set as the notification terminal. If all the terminals can be set as the notification terminals in this way, it becomes possible to check the remaining rights of all the rights owned by the user at all the terminals owned by the user.

Song 2 performed by the user "Oho □ △"
When the communication unit 54 accepts the reproduction operation of, the communication unit 54 of the user terminal device 5a confirms that the data management unit 52 does not have the LT for song 2, and then the content ID
An LT issuance request accompanied by "Song 2" and client ID "nat01" is issued to the license management center terminal device 4a (S2).

The LT creation unit 45 of the terminal device 4a for the license management center, which has received the LT issuance request for the license A, searches the user table 411 and searches from the client ID "nat01" to the user ID "pana01".
The license information table 421a of the license DB 42a, and the license information (UR-U managed by the license management center terminal device 4a based on the user ID "pana01" and the content ID "song 2".
s) is valid, that is, after it is confirmed that the expiration date has not been reached, the cut-out use condition (UR-Uc) (here, once) of the music 2 in the user terminal device 5a is cut out, and the content decryption key table 312 is set. A search is performed to read the decryption key of the content ID “Song 2”. Then, the LT storing the cut-out use condition and the decryption key is transmitted to the user terminal device 5a (S3).

It should be noted that the notification information creation unit 46a has confirmed from the notification from the license information investigation unit 47 that the expiration date has more than 10 days. In this case, since it is not necessary to notify the remaining days, the notification information creation unit 46a
Stops the acquisition of LT from the LT creation unit 45.

Upon receiving the LT issued for the license A, the data management unit 52 of the user terminal device 5a takes out the content decryption key and the cut-out usage condition from the LT and passes the content decryption key to the data reproducing unit 51. The data reproducing unit 51 calls the song 2 from the content DB 511 and decrypts it with the content decryption key, and the data managing unit 52
Cutout 2 "Papilio bug" under the management according to the usage conditions
To play.

When the communication unit 54 accepts the reproduction operation of the song 4 performed by the user "Oho □ Δ", the communication unit 54 operates in the same manner as the case of the song 2 except that the license and the content ID are different. , Request the LT issue of the license B to the license management center terminal device 4a (S
4), the LT creation unit 45 of the license management center terminal device 4a sends the license B to the user terminal device 5a.
Is issued (S5). As a result, the data reproducing unit 51 calls the song 4 from the content DB 511, decrypts the song 4 with the content decryption key, and plays the song 4 “Deep Lin” under the management of the cut-out usage condition of the data managing unit 52. Such processing of steps S2, 3 and S4
The process of No. 5 is performed every time the user “Oho □ Δ” performs the reproduction operation of the songs 2 and 4.

And the song 2 performed by the user "Oho □ △"
Is accepted by the communication unit 54, and the communication unit 54 requests the license management center terminal device 4a to issue the LT for the license A (S6). If this request is within 10 days until the expiration date, as usual, The LT creating unit 45 of the license management center terminal device 4a issues the LT for the license A to the user terminal device 5a.

On the other hand, the license information investigation unit 47 confirms that the expiration date is approaching within 10 days, and notifies the notification information creation unit 46a. Upon receiving the notification, the notification information creation unit 46a confirms in the license information table 421a that the LT issuance destination is the same client ID “nat01” as the notification destination of the notification information regarding the expiration date, and then the LT creation unit 45 issues it. The acquired LT is acquired, and after the processing for incorporating the notification information regarding the expiration date is performed, the LT including the notification information regarding the expiration date is incorporated into the user terminal device 5
It is transmitted to a (S7). Such processing is performed until the expiration date expires.

As a result, the data management unit 52 of the user terminal device 5a receives the LT, passes the content decryption key included in the LT to the data reproduction unit 51, and reproduces the music 2 by the data reproduction unit 51 under the cut-out use condition. Manage.
Then, the data management unit 52 passes the notification information regarding the expiration date included in the LT to the notification information reading unit 53 and displays the notification information regarding the expiration date.

Therefore, even if the user of the user terminal device 5a forgets that the license of the song 2 expires on 7/31 days, this expiration date can be heard while listening to or after listening to the song 2 "papilio bug". It is possible to reliably notify the expiration date and the number of remaining days until the expiration date by the notification information regarding. In addition, by embedding the notification information regarding the expiration date in the LT, it is possible to save the trouble of sending an email having the notification information regarding the expiration date. In addition,
If there is an LT issue request for song 4, even if it is confirmed that the expiration date is close to 10 days before, the notification destination of the LT is different from the notification destination of the expiration date. Stops the acquisition of LT.

When the license information investigation unit 47 receives the notification that the remaining number of days until the expiration date of the license A and music 2 of the user terminal device 5a is 5 days or less,
The notification information creation unit 46a uses the license information table 42.
It is confirmed that 1a does not have a column of the designated terminal for notifying the remaining number of days until the expiration date, and the client ID of the user terminal device 5a from the user table 411 of the user DB 41.
E-mail address "ooho @" corresponding to "nat01"
× △ □. □ △ ×. ne. jp ”is read out and an e-mail containing the notification information about the expiration date of the license A is transmitted to the e-mail address (S8). Such emails are sent daily until they expire.

User terminal device 5 for receiving this mail
The notification information reading unit 53 of a reads the notification information related to the expiration date and displays the expiration date and the number of remaining days until the expiration date on the monitor. Therefore, even if the song 2 is not reproduced, the user can obtain the license of the song 2 7
Even if you forget that it will expire in 31 days, you can know that license A is about to expire.

Upon receiving a notification from the license information investigation unit 47 that the remaining number of days until the expiration date of the license B and music 4 of the user terminal device 5a has become 5 days or less, the notification information creation unit 46a License information table 421
It is confirmed that a has a column of the designated terminal for notifying the number of remaining days until the expiration date, and the user table 4 of the user DB 41
11 to the client ID of the mobile phone 6a "090 ○
E-mail address "090 ○ × □ ○" corresponding to × □ ○ △
△ @ codomo. ne. jp ”is read out, and an e-mail containing the notification information regarding the expiration date of the license B is transmitted to the e-mail address (S9). Such emails are sent daily until they expire.

The mobile phone 6a which received this mail,
The notification information relating to the expiration date is read out, and as shown in FIG. 8, the expiration date and the number of remaining days until the expiration date are displayed on the monitor. Therefore, even if the user forgets that the license of the song 4 will expire on 7/31 days, the user can read the notification information regarding the expiration date on the go,
It is possible to know that the license B is about to expire.

The user who knows that the license B is about to expire accesses the Web page of the terminal device 4a for the license management center on the Internet with the mobile phone 6a and requests the update of the valid period (S10). When the request for updating the valid period is made, the license information management unit 48a of the terminal device 4a for license management center specifies the user ID from the client ID of the mobile phone 6a, that is, the telephone number, and the license B of the license information table 421a. , Extend its validity period, for example, for one month. Therefore, the license B of the song 4 is extended until August 31st, and the user can listen to the song 4 until August 31st.

On the other hand, from the content (song 2) provider,
When the license information management unit 48a receives a notification that the validity period of the license A will be updated for another month as a service due to an event or the like, the license information management unit 48a reads the content list table 313 from the content DB 31 of the terminal device 3 for the content distribution center, A license information table for updating all the valid periods of the license A from "7/1 to 7/31" to "7/1 to 8/31" and writing back the data, and for all users who hold the license A 42
1a is read and the content of the license A is changed to "7/1
~ 8/31 "and write back. Therefore, the license A of the song 2 is extended until 8/31 days, and the user can listen to the song 2 until 8/31 days, even if the license A of the song A is not requested to be updated.

In the first embodiment, the update of the valid period is accepted only until the valid period. However, in the case where the user who issued the notification information about the valid period issues an LT issue request after the valid period elapses. May consider the intention to renew the validity period and renew the validity period ex post facto. When handling in this way,
It is possible to omit complicated work such as the procedure for purchasing a license again, and the burden on the user is reduced.

In the first embodiment, when there is an LT issue request for song 4, the expiration date is set to 1
When it was confirmed that it was approaching 0 days ago, the notification information creation unit 46a stopped the acquisition of the LT, but did not stop, and after incorporating the notification information about the expiration date, incorporated the notification information about the expiration date. The LT may be transmitted to the user terminal device 5a. In this case, it is possible to increase the opportunity to notify that the license is about to expire.

In the first embodiment, the cut-out use condition is "reproduction of content once" and the LT is immediately consumed. However, the cut-out use condition is "reproduction of content plural times". Alternatively, the data management unit 52 of the user terminal device 5a may store the acquired LT until it is actually consumed.

In this case, for example, although the user has acquired the LT, the content is not immediately played back, or the number of cut-out usage conditions is too large, so that the LT is stored in the data management unit 52. There may be a state in which the deadline for using the LT defined in the cut-out usage condition as it is stored is approaching. The deadline may be the same as the expiration date of the usage right managed by the license management center terminal device 4b, or may be earlier than this expiration date. Hereinafter, this deadline is also referred to as “LT usage deadline” or simply “deadline”. If such a state is left as it is, the LT on hand may become a paper waste like a non-deliverable bill. Therefore, even in such a state, it can be said that giving some notification is a more user-friendly system.

By the way, the license management center terminal device 4a knows the information as to which user terminal device 5a acquired the LT for which content. Further, the user terminal device 5a also includes the data management unit 52.
Stores (manages) the acquired LT.

Therefore, when the expiration date of the acquired LT approaches, the license management center terminal device 4a notifies the user terminal device 5a that the expiration date is approaching (this notification will be referred to as "additional service notification" below). ].) May be performed. Then, the user terminal device 5a that has received this notification confirms whether or not the target LT exists in the data management unit 52, so that the acquired and unused LTs also expire. Alternatively, a certain warning may be issued. Further, in this case, the additional service notification and the normal (the expiration date is approaching) notification may be distinguishable. With such identification, the above processing can be skipped in a terminal device that does not want to apply a processing load.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a license management system 1b according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The license management system 1b according to the second embodiment transmits not only the remaining valid period but also the remaining number of reproductions and the remaining reproduction time to the terminal, and in addition to the specific fixed notification terminal designated by the user, This is different from the license management system 1a of the first embodiment in that the latest access terminal, which is a dynamically designated terminal, and the terminal with the highest access frequency can be designated. It should be noted that, in this figure, the content provider terminal device 2 and the content distribution center terminal device 3 have the same configuration as in FIG. Further, the user terminal device 5b and the mobile phone 6b are different only in their owners and the like, but the user terminal device 5a of FIG.
Since it has the same configuration as that of the mobile phone 6a, the description of these configurations will be omitted.

The license management center terminal 4b is
It has substantially the same configuration as the license management center terminal device 4a, but instead of the license DB 42a, a license DB 42
b replaces the notification information creation unit 46a with the notification information creation unit 4
6b is configured by using the license information management unit 48b instead of the license information management unit 48a, and further configured by using the access history DB 43.

By the way, the content provider can add, as the contents of the license, not only the validity period but also a time limit such as a usage time, a number limit, and the like. It is possible to attach a combination of frequency restrictions. On the other hand, one of the family members or friends may become a member, and the family members or friends may share the content. In the case of joint use under the limitation of such usage time and number of times of use, family members and friends use (play) the content without the member user knowing,
When the member user intends to use the service, the number of times of use and the time of use may already be “0” and the license (use right) may have disappeared.

In order to eliminate such a situation, it is considered that the number of times of use and the time of use are set in advance with family and friends, and the number of times of use and the time of use of the content are managed according to this agreement. However, this management is more complicated than the management of the expiration date, and the agreement is often broken. Even in this case, it is desired that the user, who is a member, listens to the song the last several times or plays the game for the last few minutes. Therefore, in the license management center terminal device 4b of the license management system 1b of the second embodiment, in addition to the valid period supported in the first embodiment, the number of times of use and the time of use are also notified, and When the threshold value becomes less than or equal to the threshold value designated by the user, not only the remaining time until the expiration date, but also the remaining number of times of use and the remaining amount such as the remaining time of use are notified. This notification enables the member user to quickly obtain the last usage right before the extinction.

In the first embodiment, the notification terminal can only be designated. However, in the license management center terminal device 4b, the terminal with the highest access frequency among the terminals owned by the user member or the latest terminal is used. It is configured so that the access terminal can be dynamically specified.

The license information management unit 48b of the license management center terminal device 4b creates a notification condition setting screen when the request condition setting request is issued from the user terminal device 5b or the mobile phone 6b, and the communication unit 44 is activated. To the requested terminal via.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the notification condition setting screen 481. As shown in FIG. 10, the notification condition setting screen 481 is roughly divided into a notification terminal setting unit 482, a notification start threshold setting unit 483, an OK button 484, and a cancel button 485.

The notification terminal setting unit 482 has a check box 4821 for specifying a specific terminal and a check box 4 for specifying a terminal with the highest access frequency.
822 and a check box 4823 for designating the latest access terminal, and the user can enter a check mark in any one of the check boxes 4821 to 4823.

When the check box 4821 is checked, the client I of the terminal to be notified is
A list box 4821a for designating D is activated, and a user (for example, Yukari Koara (User I
D: pana72)) owned and user table 411
A list of client IDs of user terminals registered in is displayed. The user can place the cursor on a desired terminal to be notified from the list and specify the terminal to be notified. Within a predetermined period of time among terminals owned by the user (in the second embodiment, the latest 1
In the case of receiving notification from the terminal with the highest frequency of access to the license management center terminal device 4b, the check box 4822 may be checked. Further, if the terminal that has accessed the license management center terminal device 4b most recently among the terminals owned by the user receives the notification, a check mark may be put in the check box 4823.

More specifically, the user exclusively uses only a specific terminal among a large number of terminals, and this specific terminal most frequently accesses the license management center terminal device 4b, and this specific terminal is seasonal. If it does not change, the terminal with the highest access frequency may be designated, and if it does not change, that particular terminal may be designated. If the user uses many terminals in various ways and the specific terminal cannot be determined, the latest access terminal may be designated.

The notification start threshold value setting section 483 is provided with a spin box 4831 for designating the remaining effective period which is a trigger (threshold value) for the notification, and a spin box for designating the remaining number of times of reproduction which is the trigger for the notification. Box 4832,
It is composed of a spin box 4833 for designating the remaining reproduction time which serves as a notification trigger. The user can click the triangle marks of all the spin boxes 4831 to 4833 to specify a desired numerical value or directly input and specify a numerical value.

When the OK button 484 is clicked, the license information management unit 48b acquires the setting contents of the notification terminal setting unit 482 and the setting contents of the notification start threshold setting unit 483 via the communication unit 44. , The license information table 421b of the license DB 42b
Register with. The license DB 42b is a storage unit such as a hard disk that stores a plurality of license information tables 421b.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the license information table 421b stored in the license DB 42. In addition, "-" shown in the figure indicates no designation,
Alternatively, it represents no limit.

The license information table 421b manages, for each user (user ID), the licenses purchased by the user collectively by the user ID, and the remaining amount until the license designated by the user is expired (up to the expiration date of the license). 11 is a table for managing the remaining days, etc. by the user ID. As shown in FIG. 11, the user ID 422 (for example, pana72 (Yukari Koara)) and this license management center terminal device are roughly divided. 4b
Of licenses managed by (Usage conditions) "UR-U
UR-U that is an identifier that is collectively assigned to "s"
sID423 (eg NetDRM_server_
01-716), UR-Us 424, and notification condition 42
5 records.

The UR-Us 424 is a content ID 424 for identifying the content that is the subject of the license.
1, license valid period start time 4242, valid period end time 4243, action ID 4244 for identifying the usage mode of the content (actions such as reproduction and printing), and the number of times the content can be used. 4245, a usage time 4246 indicating the remaining time that the content can be used, and the like.

The effective period is represented by two of the effective period start time 4242 and the effective period end time 4243. However, for example, if UR-Us is valid for January, but LT is valid for only one day, the UR-U
A validity period shorter than s can be specified. If no expiration date is set, both times 4242 and 4243 are set.
Can be stored as unlimited.

The action ID 4244 stores, for example, "2" in the case of content reproduction (Reproduction) and "5" in the case of content printing (Print).

The values of the number of times of use 4245 and the time of use 4246 are sequentially decremented from the initial value by the usage conditions and license information cut out in response to the LT issuance request of the user.

For example, Yukari Kohara (user ID
"Pana72") is song 1 "Wave Ride George", movie 584 "Spider Musume", dictionary 213 "Shinjien 5th Edition", and game 857 "Hyottoko Chutaro".
When a usage right for one content is purchased, an initial value (UR-C) set in each record of content ID 4241 to usage time 4246 by the content provider or server administrator for each content according to the content attribute
Is stored. Then, the number of times of use and the time of use are reduced as a result of using these contents. Note that FIG. 11 shows the usage conditions managed by the license management center terminal device 4b at, for example, 2002/6/7.

The notification condition 425 is a record for holding the notification condition designated by the user on the notification condition setting screen 481.
Notification terminal 4251 for holding information set in the notification terminal setting unit 482 of No. 1 and notification start threshold setting unit 4
83 Notification start threshold value 425 holding set information
It consists of two records.

The notification terminal 4251 is the designated destination 4251a.
And the latest access terminal 4251b and the terminal 4251c with the highest access frequency. Further, the notification start threshold value 4252 is equal to the remaining valid period 425.
2a, the number of remaining times 4252b, and the remaining time 4252c.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, a check mark is put in the check box 4822 of “specify the terminal with the highest access frequency”, so that the record of the terminal 4251c with the highest access frequency is indicated as “◯”. "
Is stored, and the records of other designated destinations 4251a and the latest access terminal 4251b store "-" indicating no setting. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 10, "30 days" is specified in the remaining valid period spin box 4831, "2 times" is specified in the remaining reproduction number spin box 4832, and "5 minutes" is specified in the remaining reproduction time spin box 4833. Since it has been done, the record of the remaining valid period 4252a is "30 days".
However, “2 times” is stored in the record of the remaining count 4252b, and “5 minutes” is stored in the record of the remaining time 4252c.

In the notification condition setting screen 481, check box 4 for "specify terminal to receive notification"
List box 4 with a check mark in 821
When the client ID of the terminal to be notified is designated in 821a, the client ID is stored in the record of the designated destination 4251a. If a check mark is put in the check box 4823 of “Specify latest access terminal”, the latest access terminal 425
“O” indicating validity is set in the 1b record.

The access history DB 43 stores, for each user (user ID), access history table 4 for managing access history information for each terminal owned by the user.
Hold 31.

FIG. 12 shows the access history table 43.
It is a figure which shows the structural example of 1. In addition, "-" shown in the figure indicates that the data of the access date and time is not stored. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the access history table 431 includes a user ID 432 that is a record that stores a user ID, and an access terminal 4 that is a record that can store a plurality of access terminals (client IDs).
33, an access date and time 434 that is a record that can store a plurality of access dates and times for each client ID, and an access frequency 435 that is a record that stores an access frequency for each client ID.

When the license information management unit 48b receives an access such as an LT issuance request or a license update request from the terminal, the client I included in these requests.
D (eg, nat3939) and this client I
A user ID associated with D (for example, pana72
(Yukari Koara)) and access date / time data (eg, 2002/6/7 12:03) is stored in the top record of access date / time 434, and access date / time data older than that (eg, , 2002/6/2
8:45, ...) is shifted one by one to the record below. Then, the data of the access frequency 435 is incremented by "1". The license information management unit 48b
Deletes the data of the access date and time 434 which has been standing for one month or more, and decrements the data of the access frequency 435 by the deleted amount. The rest of the configuration of the license information management unit 48b is the same as that of the license information management unit 48a of the first embodiment.

According to this access history table 431,
Among the terminals used by the user (Yukari Koara), a terminal with a high access frequency and the latest access terminal can be easily found, and a terminal to be notified can be dynamically determined based on the access history information. it can.

The notification information creation unit 46b periodically searches the license information table 421b of each user and acquires the usage right of each user whose remaining amount is less than the threshold value. That is, for each content ID of each user,
The remaining time until the expiration date calculated by the license information investigation unit 47 is less than or equal to the threshold value (remaining effective period) specified by the user, or the number of times of use is the threshold value specified by the user (remaining number of times). ) Periodically acquire the following items and those whose usage time is less than the threshold (remaining time) specified by the user. Then, the notification information creation unit 46b, when the LT creation unit 45 sends the LT, the client ID of the terminal that sends the LT and the notification terminal (specified terminal, designated by the user,
It is determined whether or not the client IDs of the latest access terminal and the terminal with the highest access frequency) match. If they match, the notification information creation unit 46b creates the notification information creation unit 45b by the LT creation unit 45 if the usage right of the user of the terminal transmitting this LT has a remaining amount less than the threshold value. The notification information, which is a message including the remaining amount, invitation to update the license, etc., is created and embedded (attached) in the LT. Further, the notification information creation unit 46b sends an email containing the notification information to the notification terminal (designated terminal, latest access terminal, terminal with the highest access frequency) specified by the user.

The notification information creating unit 46a used different thresholds for sending notification information between LT and mail, but this notification information creating unit 46b uses the same threshold for LT and mail. It is configured. The configuration of the notification information creation unit 46b other than the above is the same as that of the notification information creation unit 46a.

Next, the overall operation of the license management system 1b configured as above will be described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a main processing flow in the license management system 1b for a license from the designation of the notification condition to the update of the license. Note that the timing chart of the notification information creation processing by the notification information creation unit 46b is substantially the same in the case of LT and the case of mail, and therefore its illustration is omitted.

Here, a communication exchange is shown between the license management center terminal device 4b and the user terminal device 5b and the mobile phone 6b used by the user (Yukari Koara) who has completed membership registration. There is. It is assumed that the registration procedure of the user terminal device 5b and the mobile phone 6b used by this user (Yukari Koara) and the purchase procedure of the license necessary for using the content have already been performed.

When the user's terminal device 5b is used to access the notification condition setting page of the Web site placed on the license management center terminal device 4b (S11), FIG.
The notification condition setting screen shown in 0 is transmitted from the license management center terminal device 4b to the user terminal device 5b (S12), and this screen is displayed on the monitor of the user terminal device 5b. After the user “Yukari Koara” of the user terminal device 5b has specified the notification terminal setting unit 482 and the notification start threshold value setting unit 483, the OK button 48.
4 is clicked, the information designating the notification condition is transferred from the user terminal device 5b to the license management center terminal device 4
It is transmitted to b (S13).

The license information management section 48b of the license management center terminal device 4b which has received the designation of the notification condition.
Is the user ID “p” from the client ID “nat3939” of the user terminal device 5b of the user table 411.
ana72 "is specified. Then, the designation terminal, the latest access terminal, or the terminal with the highest access frequency is stored in the column of the notification terminal 4251 of the license information table 421b, and the remaining valid period, the number of remaining times, and the remaining number are stored in the column of the notification start threshold 4252. Store each time. further,
When the notification terminal 4251 is designated as either the latest access terminal or the terminal with the highest access frequency,
The license information management unit 48a uses the access history DB 43.
An access history table 431 for the user ID “pana72” is prepared in order to prepare for access to the user terminal device 5b and the mobile phone 6b.

Then, when the communication unit 54 of the user terminal device 5b accepts the reproduction operation of the content (for example, song 1) performed by the user "Yukari Koara" or his family, the communication unit 54 causes the data management unit to operate. After confirming that there is no LT for song 1 in 52, the content ID "song 1"
LT with the client ID "nat3939"
An issue request is issued to the license management center terminal device 4b (S14).

The LT creation unit 45 of the terminal device 4b for the license management center that has received the LT issue request for the content ID "song 1" searches the user table 411 and searches the user ID "nat3939" for the user ID.
“Pana72” is searched, the license information table 421b of the license DB 42b is searched, and the user ID
The license information (UR-Us) managed by the license management center terminal device 4b based on "pana72" and the content ID "song 1" is valid, that is, the expiration date has not been reached and the number of times of use remains (" Not "0")
After confirming that, song 1 on the user terminal device 5b
Cut-out use condition (UR-Uc) (here, for example, 1
Times), the content decryption key table 312 is searched, and the decryption key of the content ID “Song 1” is read. Then, L that stores the cut-out usage condition and the decryption key
Issuing T to the user terminal device 5b (S1
5).

The notification information creating unit 46b determines that the remaining amount of the usage right for the content of the user "Yukari Koara" (George Nami, Spider Musume, Shojien 5th Edition, Hyottoko Chutaro) is less than the threshold value. It has been confirmed that there are many cases, and the embedding of notification information in the LT has been stopped. Further, the license information management unit 48b, if necessary, the access date and time 434 of the access terminal 433 (client ID: nat3939) of the access history table 431 provided for this user "Yukari Koara".
The access date and time is stored in the highest column of and the access frequency is 4
Increment the value in the column 35.

The process of steps S14 and S15 is performed by the user "Yukari Koara", his family, and the like on the user terminal device 5b and the mobile phone 6b in the song 1 and the movie 58.
4, every time the reproduction operation of the dictionary 213 and the game 857 is performed.

As described above, the notification information creating section 46b
Periodically searches the license information table 421b of each user, and acquires the license information of each user whose remaining amount is less than the threshold value by detecting the license information investigation unit 47. For example, on 2002/5/21, the remaining amount up to the expiration date of the content “Shinjien Fifth Edition” of the user “Yukari Kohara” who has reached the threshold of 30 days specified by the user is detected. Since there is no LT issuance request from the user "Yukari Koara" or his family on this day, the notification information creating unit 46b causes the notification terminal designated by the user (here, the access frequency is the highest at this time). The notification information is created for the terminal, for example, the user terminal device 5b), and the created notification information is sent by mail (S).
16). This notification information message says, for example, "Your purchased dictionary 213 Shojien 5th edition license will expire in 30 days. License (valid period 2003/6/20 1500 yen) Would you like to do this? Only for users who have completed the update procedure based on this notice, the new version of the 6th edition of Shojien (2002/1
A new version license (expiration date 2003/6/20) will be added as soon as it is released. Is the content. Such a process is performed every day until the right to use the content Shojien disappears.

Therefore, the dictionary 213 is not used, and the license of this dictionary 213 is 2002/6/20.
Even if you forget that it will expire in days, you can know that the license is about to expire.

[0107] Then, for example, the user "Yukari Furuara" was released on 2002/6/7 while the update procedure was not performed.
When the reproduction operation of the movie 584 (Spider Musume) is performed on the user terminal device 5b by the user or his family, the communication unit 54 of the user terminal device 5b confirms that there is no LT for the movie 584, and then the LT The issuance is requested to the license management center terminal device 4b (S17). The LT creation unit 45 of the license management center terminal device 4b displays the movie 584.
After confirming that the license information (UR-Us) is valid, the LT for the content "Spider daughter" is issued to the user terminal device 5b as usual (S18). On the other hand, the notification information creation unit 46b searches the license information table 421b, and
/ 7 means that the remaining content of the user "Yukari Koara" content "Sajien 5th Edition" and content "Namiride George" until the expiration date of the two contents is less than the threshold value specified by the user for 30 days or less. When it becomes, the notification information is created. Then, the notification information creation unit 46b uses the same client ID “nat3939” that the LT is issued to as the notification information notification destination (here, the terminal with the highest access frequency).
After the license information table 421b confirms that it is, the process of incorporating the created notification information into the LT issued by the LT creation unit 45 is performed. The LT including this notification information is transmitted by the LT creation unit 45 (S18).
That is, the notification information about the content unrelated to the content subject to the LT is also incorporated into the LT.

As a result, the data management unit 52 of the user terminal device 5b receives the LT, passes the content decryption key included in the LT to the data reproducing unit 51, and cuts the movie 584 (spider) by the data reproducing unit 51 under the use condition. Daughter) play management. Then, the data management unit 52
The notification information included in the LT is passed to the notification information reading unit 53 to display the notification information.

This notification information message has the same content as the notification information about Narrowjien, as well as, for example, "The license of the song you purchased 1 wave ride George will expire in 30 days. License (Number of uses:
10 times, expiration date: 2002/7/31) Why not renew? Only for users who have performed the update procedure based on this notification, the expiration date of the current usage right (number of uses: 3 times, expiration date: 2002/6/30) is 2002/7 /
Includes a privilege that extends to 31. Is the content.

Therefore, even if the user of the user terminal device 5b forgets that the license for the dictionary 213 expires on 2002/6/20 and the license for song 1 expires on 2002/6/30, the movie 584 " This notification information can be used to confirm the expiration date and the number of remaining days until the expiration date while watching or after seeing "Spider daughter". Also, by embedding the notification information in the LT,
It is also possible to save the trouble of sending an email containing the notification information.

As long as the notification terminal and the issuing destination of the LT match, such processing is performed until the usage right disappears. Also, if the notification terminal and the issuing destination of the LT are different,
If there is no request to issue the LT, notification by e-mail is performed as in the case of step S16.

Here, for example, while watching this movie 584 "Spider daughter" on 2002/6/7, the family of the user "Yukari Koara" (Furuaki Komei column (son)) is the property of the parent. It is assumed that the mobile phone 6b is taken out without permission of the parent and the reproduction operation of the content "Hyottoko Chutaro (content ID: game 857)" for 5 minutes is arbitrarily performed.

In this case, the communication unit of the mobile phone 6b, after confirming that there is no LT for the game 857, requests the license management center terminal device 4b to issue LT (S19). After confirming that the license information (UR-Us) for the game 857 is valid (use time is 10 minutes), the LT creation unit 45 of the license management center terminal device 4b sends the content “U” to the mobile phone 6b. Issue an LT for "Hyottoko Chutaro" as usual (S20). As a result, the data management unit of the mobile phone 6b receives the LT, passes the content decryption key included in the LT to the data reproduction unit, and the data reproduction unit performs the game 8 under the cut-out use condition (use time 5 minutes).
Manages playback of 57 (Hyottoko Chutaro). As a result, the Koura civilization section displays the game 857 on the mobile phone 6b.
You can enjoy (Hyottoko Chutaro).

On the other hand, the license information management unit 48b displays 1
The cutout amount of 5 minutes is subtracted from 0 minutes, and the usage time of the license information (UR-Us) for the game 857 is updated to 5. The notification information creation unit 46b searches the license information table 421b of the user "Yukari Koara" to acquire that the remaining usage time of the content "Hyottoko Chutaro" has reached the threshold value of 5 minutes specified by the user. . As described above, when new notification information is generated after the notification information is transmitted, the notification information creating unit 46b displays the notification terminal designated by the user (here, the terminal with the highest access frequency at this point, the user A mail containing the notification information is sent to the terminal device 5b) (S21).

The notification information message is, for example,
"The usage time of the game 857 Hyottoko Chutaro you purchased will expire in 5 minutes. Would you like to renew the license (use time 100 minutes 500 yen) for 1 year? User who updated based on this notification As long as it's like, there is an extra privilege to use Hyottoko Chutaro's usage right (10 minutes usage time). " Such processing is performed every day until the usage right of the content Hyottoko Chutaro disappears.

The user "Yukari Kohara" who is watching the movie 584 "Spider daughter" knows that the mail has arrived, and when he sees the mail, the game 857 Hyottoko Chutaro has only 5 minutes left to use. To know The impatient user "Yukari Koara" interrupts the viewing of "Spider Musume",
The user terminal device 5b performs a reproduction operation of the content "Hyottoko Chutaro (content ID: game 857)" for a usage time of 5 minutes.

In this case, the communication unit 54 of the user terminal device 5b, after confirming that there is no LT for the game 857, requests the license management center terminal device 4b to issue LT (S22). In the LT creation unit 45 of the license management center terminal device 4b, the license information (UR-Us) for the game 857 is valid (use time 5
User terminal device 5 after confirming that
An LT for the content "Hyottoko Chutaro" is issued to b as usual (S23). This allows
The data management unit 52 of the user terminal device 5b receives the LT, passes the content decryption key included in the LT to the data reproduction unit, and uses the data reproduction unit 51 to play the game 857 (hyottokochu) under the cut-out use condition (use time of 5 minutes). Taro) play management. As a result, the user “Yukari Koara” can enjoy the game 857 (Hyottoko Chutaro) on the user terminal device 5b.

Therefore, even if the family member or the like does not manage the usage time of the content "Hyottoko Chutaro", the user terminal device 5b has the highest access frequency with respect to the remaining usage time of the content "Hyottoko Chutaro". Since the notification is sent to the terminal by email, this notification allows the member user "Yukari Koara" who uses the terminal with the highest access frequency to quickly obtain the last usage right (5 minutes) before disappearance. be able to.

Incidentally, in the case of content surfing George,
In addition to the expiration date, there are restrictions on the number of uses. Therefore, when the number of times of use is reduced to "2 times", the notification information creating unit 46b of the license management center terminal device 4b.
Sends a mail containing the notification information to the notification terminal designated by the user (here, the terminal with the highest access frequency at that time, the user terminal device 5b) or embeds the notification information in the LT. Or send it in. The message of this notification information is, for example, "Your purchased song 1 wave ride George is valid for XX, and will be used twice later. License (valid period 2002 /
Would you like to update the usage count to 10 times (¥ 500) until July 31st? Only users who renewed based on this notice will be able to use the remaining licenses (valid period 2002/6/30 2 times) even after the renewal period. Is the content. Such processing is performed every day until the usage right of the content Hyottoko Chutaro disappears.

The user "Yukari Koara" who received the notification information was moved by the greatness of the privilege, and the update procedure of the contents "Nageri George", "Nakojien 5th Edition", and "Hyottoko Chutaro". Perform (Purchase procedure). In this case, the communication unit 54 of the user terminal device 5b
Requests the license management center terminal device 4b to update (purchase) the content (S24). The license information management unit 48b of the terminal device 4b for the license management center rewrites the license information (UR-Us) for the content for which the update request has been made to the updated content, and then from the user terminal device 5b or the mobile phone 6b. To prepare for the LT issue request.

FIG. 14 shows the license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S11 to S13.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b. This figure illustrates a case where the server (license management center terminal device 4b) transmits the notification information to the terminal according to the status of the right managed by itself (valid period, remaining number of reproductions, remaining reproduction time). ing.

The license management center terminal device 4b of the license management system 1b transmits the notification condition setting screen 481 in step S12 (S12), and the notification start threshold value (remaining valid period, remaining number of times, specified by the user,
Remaining time) is accepted (S13). Then, the server (license management center terminal device 4b) transmits the notification information to the terminal according to the status of the right managed by itself (valid period, remaining playback count, remaining playback time), that is, the remaining amount. ing.

Therefore, when the right has not been used for a while or when the right is used jointly with a family or the like, it is possible to prevent the user from losing his right without knowing it. In addition, since the threshold value can be set for each parameter of the right state, that is, the valid period, the number of remaining reproductions, and the remaining reproduction time, it can be matched with the attribute of the user.

In the second embodiment, the user can uniformly specify the remaining number of uses, remaining valid period, and remaining use time threshold regardless of the contents to be used. The remaining usage count, remaining valid period, and remaining usage time threshold may be specified for each item. In this case, it is possible to match the attributes of individual contents.

Further, in the second embodiment, the notification is made when any one of the remaining usage count, remaining valid period, and remaining usage time reaches the threshold value. The threshold value may be set based on the AND condition of a combination of two or more usage times, or the threshold value may be set based on the priority.

Further, for a person who is confident that he / she can manage the remaining effective period, the remaining number of times, and the remaining time, "0" may be inserted into these threshold values. As a result, the transmission of the notification information to the terminal can be stopped. Also,
Remaining valid period, remaining number of times, remaining time threshold "0"
Depending on how to insert, it is possible to receive only the notification information of the remaining valid period or only the notification information of the remaining number of times.

FIG. 15 shows the license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S11 to S13.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b. In this figure, the case where the server (license management center terminal device 4b) determines the notification terminal to which the notification information is transmitted is illustrated.

The license management center terminal device 4b of the license management system 1b transmits the notification condition setting screen 481 in step S12 (S12), and the notification terminal (specified terminal, latest access terminal, access frequency most specified) designated by the user is transmitted. A high terminal) is accepted (S13). Then, the server (license management center terminal device 4b)
In addition to the designated terminal, the access history to the self is held in the access history DB 43, and a notification terminal (latest access terminal, terminal with the highest access frequency) that transmits notification information according to the access history is dynamically I'm trying to decide. Therefore, the number of terminals owned by member users,
Depending on the usage status of these terminals, etc., the terminal that gives the notification that this user is most likely to catch is fixedly specified according to the circumstances of the member user, or dynamically determined based on the access history information of the server. be able to.

Although the access history is held for one month in the second embodiment, it may be held for another period such as one year. In addition, the access frequency for each time zone and the access frequency for each season are obtained by collecting statistics for each time zone and each season, and the latest access terminal for each time zone, each season, and the access frequency It is also possible to identify the terminal with the highest number and determine the terminal that is most easily caught by the member user.

Further, the notification terminal is specified uniformly for all contents, but the notification terminal may be specified for each content to be used. Moreover, you may notify to all the terminals which a member user owns. However, in this case, the same notification is viewed many times, which increases the burden on the member user. In addition, the same notice can be seen by family members, and there is a risk that the remaining usage rights will be preempted.

FIG. 16 shows the license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S17 and S18.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b. In this figure, of the usage rights of the users managed by the server (license management center terminal device 4b), all of the usage rights that have reached the threshold value and are close to disappearance are all LT-related regardless of the LT rights.
The case of embedding in and notifying is shown. That is, when the license management center terminal device 4b of the license management system 1b issues an LT issuance request for the content "Spider-Daughter", all rights other than those subject to the LT, which are owned by the user, are close to extinction. I try to put it in the LT.

Therefore, the opportunity of notification in the LT is increased, and the opportunity of having to bother with the mail is greatly reduced. Also, the user is
It is possible to know all at once that the remaining amount has reached the threshold value. Needless to say, even in the case of an e-mail, the user is notified of all things owned by the user with the right to disappear.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing one of the features of the license management system 1b realized by the exchange in step S24. In this figure, the case of updating the right in response to the notification of the expiration date is illustrated.

That is, the license management center terminal device 4b of the license management system 1b determines that, for example, if there is an update request for the content "surfing George", the remaining right before the update and the usage period for three times are updated. For the same period,
It will be extended for free until 2002/7/31. Therefore, it is possible for the user to obtain the advantage of being extended for free, and for the server administrator, the benefit of the update can be obtained and the business opportunity can be expanded. Further, since it is only necessary to reflect the benefit on the updated information and there is no need to add a record for the benefit, the management cost in the server can be reduced.

In the second embodiment, the notification information creation unit 46b detects the notification timing by comparing the remaining number of times of use and usage time with the threshold value, but the license information investigation unit 47 detects it. May be. Further, in the second embodiment, the threshold value is set to the same date and time when the notification information is embedded in the license ticket and the notification is performed by another method, but it is set on a different day. You may do it.

In the first embodiment described above, the remaining valid period is the subject of notification, but the number of times of use and the time of use may also be the subject of notification. May be set.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, only when the terminal issuing the LT issue request (terminal A) and the terminal designated as the destination of the notification information (terminal B) are the same,
Although the notification information is transmitted together with the LT, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the users who own the terminals A and B are the same (the user IDs corresponding to the client IDs of the terminals A and B are the same). In some cases) the notification information may be transmitted.

[0138]

As is apparent from the above description, the content usage right management apparatus according to the present invention enables the usage of the content to the terminal of the user who has purchased the usage right for using the content. A device for managing the remaining amount of the content usage right for each user while issuing a license ticket for storing the license information including the remaining amount and specifying the content of the usage right for each user content. And a notification information generating unit that generates notification information indicating that the remaining amount is low when the remaining amount is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

This makes it possible to notify the user of the remaining expiration date, the remaining number of times of use, the remaining time of use, etc., via the terminal device of the user or directly. Therefore, when the user notices, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the expiration date has expired and the content cannot be used (duration of deadline), and the disappearance of the usage right. Moreover, since there is no need for expiration date management or the like in the terminal, no processing load is imposed on the terminal device.

Further, the content usage right management device further uses, in the license information stored in the license information storage means, the identifier of the terminal device that uses the content subject to the license as a notification destination of the notification information. It is characterized by comprising a first notification destination storage means for storing and a first notification means for notifying the notification destination stored by the first notification destination storage means of the notification information.

As a result, the notification information is notified to the terminal device itself which uses the content subject to the license having a strong relationship with the notification information, so that the user can be made aware of the remaining expiration date and the like.

The content usage right management device further stores a second notification in which the identifier of the terminal device designated by the user is stored in the license information stored in the license information storage means as a notification destination of the notification information. It is characterized by comprising a destination storing means and a second notifying means for notifying the notification destination stored by the second notification destination storing means of the notification information.

As a result, the fact that the expiration date of the usage right is approaching is also notified to a terminal different from the terminal that purchased the usage right. For example, the license is purchased at the home terminal and the notification is received. Enables convenient operations such as using a mobile terminal while you are out.

The first and second notifying means are:
The notification information is embedded in the license ticket for notification. As a result, the user can be notified that the expiration date is approaching at the same time as the use of the content. In addition to the license ticket, the management device can save the trouble of transmitting only the notification information to the user by e-mail or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a license management system 1a according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functions of a content provider terminal device 2, a content distribution center terminal device 3, a license management center terminal device 4a, and a user terminal device 5a shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a user table 411.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a license information table 421a.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of main processing in the license management system 1a for a license from the purchase of a license required to use contents to the expiration of the license expiration date.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of a notification information creation process regarding an expiration date by the notification information creation unit 46a.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a license purchase screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of notification information regarding an expiration date.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a license management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a notification condition setting screen 481. FIG.

11 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a license information table 421b stored in a license DB shown in FIG.

12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an access history table 431 stored in the access history DB shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a main processing flow in the license management system 1b for a license from designation of a notification condition to update of a license.

FIG. 14 is a license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S11 to S13 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b.

15 is a license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S11 to S13 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b.

16 is a license management system 1 realized by the exchange of steps S17 and S18 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows one of the characteristics of b.

17 is a diagram showing one of the characteristics of the license management system 1b realized by the exchange in step S24 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b License information management system 2 Terminal device for content providers 4a, 4b terminal device for license management center 5a, 5b User terminal device 6a, 6b mobile phones 41 User DB 42a, 42b License DB 43 Access history DB 44 Communication unit 45 LT Creation Department 46a, 46b Notification information creation unit 47 License Information Research Department 48a, 48b License information management unit 411 user table 421a, 421b License information table 431 Access history table LT license ticket

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Katsumi Tokuda             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasushi Uesaka             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA06 BB10 CA16                 5B085 AA08 AC04 AC11 AE04 AE23                       BA07 BC02 BG02 BG07 CA02                       CA04

Claims (33)

[Claims] 1. A license ticket that enables use of the content is issued to a terminal of a user who has purchased the use right for using the content, and the remaining amount of the content use right is managed for each user. A device, a license information storage unit that stores the license information specifying the content of the usage right for each content of each user, including the remaining amount; and if the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. A content usage right management device, comprising: notification information generating means for generating notification information indicating that the remaining amount is low. 2. The content usage right management device further includes, in the license information stored in the license information storage means, an identifier of a terminal device that uses the licensed content as a notification destination of the notification information. The first notification destination storing unit for storing the notification destination, and the first notification unit for notifying the notification destination stored by the first notification destination storing unit of the notification information. Management device for the described content usage right. 3. The content usage right management device further comprises access history storage means for storing an access history for each terminal device owned by each user, and the first notifying means stores the access history in the access history storage means. 3. The content usage right management device according to claim 2, wherein the notification destination stored by the first notification destination storage means is dynamically determined based on the stored access history of each terminal device. 4. The content usage right management device according to claim 3, wherein the first notification unit determines a notification destination to be a terminal having the highest access frequency. 5. The content usage right management device according to claim 3, wherein the first notification means determines the notification destination to be the latest access terminal. 6. The content usage right management device according to claim 2, wherein the first notifying unit notifies by embedding notification information in the license ticket. 7. The content use right management device further stores a threshold for the remaining amount as a first threshold in the license information stored in the license information storage means. The content usage right management device according to claim 1, further comprising a value storage unit, wherein the notification information generation unit generates the notification information when the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a first threshold value. 8. The first threshold is the remaining time until the expiration date, and the content usage right management device further determines the remaining time until the expiration date based on the expiration date and the time at that time. Is provided for each user's license information, and the notification information generation means generates notification information based on the remaining time until the expiration date calculated by the remaining time calculation means. The content usage right management device according to claim 7. 9. The content according to claim 7, wherein the first threshold value is a remaining number of times of use, and the notification information generating unit generates the notification information based on the remaining number of times of use. Device for managing usage rights. 10. The content according to claim 7, wherein the first threshold value is a remaining usage time, and the notification information generation unit generates the notification information based on the remaining usage time. Device for managing usage rights. 11. The content usage right management device comprises:
Further, in the license information stored in the license information storage means, the second notification destination storage means stores the identifier of the terminal device designated by the user as the notification destination of the notification information, and the second notification destination storage means. The content usage right management device according to claim 1, further comprising: second notification means for notifying the stored notification destination of the notification information. 12. The content usage right management device comprises:
Further, an access history storage unit that stores an access history for each terminal device owned by each user is provided, and the second notification unit is based on the access history for each terminal device stored in the access history storage unit. 12. The content usage right management device according to claim 11, wherein the notification destination stored by the second notification destination storage means is dynamically determined. 13. The content usage right management device according to claim 12, wherein the second notifying unit determines the notification destination to be the terminal with the highest access frequency. 14. The content usage right management device according to claim 12, wherein the second notifying unit determines the notification destination to be the latest access terminal. 15. The content usage right management device according to claim 11, wherein the second notifying means notifies by embedding notification information in the license ticket. 16. The content usage right management device comprises:
The license information storage means further includes a second threshold value storage means for storing a threshold value for the remaining amount designated by the user as a second threshold value in the license information stored in the license information storage means. The content usage right management device according to claim 1, wherein the generation unit generates notification information when the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value. 17. The second threshold is a remaining time until the expiration date, and the content usage right management device further determines the remaining time until the expiration date based on the expiration date and the time at that time. Is provided for each user's license information, and the notification information generation means generates notification information based on the remaining time until the expiration date calculated by the remaining time calculation means. The content usage right management device according to claim 16. 18. The content according to claim 16, wherein the second threshold value is a remaining number of times of use, and the notification information generating unit generates the notification information based on the remaining number of times of use. Device for managing usage rights. 19. The content according to claim 16, wherein the second threshold value is a remaining usage time, and the notification information generating unit generates the notification information based on the remaining usage time. Device for managing usage rights. 20. The threshold value is set to a different value depending on whether the notification information is embedded in a license ticket for notification or is notified by another method. Content usage right management device. 21. The content usage right management device comprises:
Further, when a license update request is made by the user, the request receiving unit receives the request and individually updates the license information of the user stored in the license information storage unit. Claim 1
Management device for the described content usage right. 22. When the first updating means receives a license ticket issuance request after the usage right is extinguished from the user who has notified the notification information, the user is requested to update the usage right before the usage right is extinguished. 22. The content usage right management device according to claim 21, wherein the usage right is individually updated. 23. The content usage right management device comprises:
Further, when there is a request from the content provider to change the content of the usage right, the request is accepted, and all the license purchasers stored in the license information storage means are updated to the content of the request. The content usage right management device according to claim 1, further comprising a right updating unit. 24. The remaining amount of the content usage right is managed for each user while issuing a license ticket that enables the usage of the content to the terminal of the user who has purchased the usage right to use the content. A method of storing a license information storing license information specifying the contents of the usage right in the license information storage means for each user content, the remaining amount being predetermined. And a notification information generating step of generating notification information indicating that the remaining amount is low when the threshold value is not more than a threshold value. 25. A method of managing the content usage right is
Further, a first notification destination storing step of storing the identifier of the terminal device that uses the content subject to the license as a notification destination of the notification information in the license information stored in the license information storage means; 25. The content usage right management method according to claim 24, further comprising a first notification step of notifying the notification information stored in the notification destination storing step of 1. 26. The management method of the content usage right is
The license information storage means further includes a first threshold value storage step of storing the threshold value for the remaining amount as a first threshold value in the license information stored therein, and the notification information generation step includes: The notification information is generated when the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than the first threshold value.
How to manage the described content usage rights. 27. The management method of the content usage right is
Further, in the license information stored in the license information storage means, a second notification destination storing step of storing the identifier of the terminal device designated by the user as a notification destination of the notification information, and a second notification destination storing step. 25. The content usage right management method according to claim 24, further comprising a second notification step of notifying the stored notification destination of the notification information. 28. The management method of the content usage right is
The license information storage means further includes a second threshold value storage step of storing a threshold value for the remaining amount designated by the user as a second identifier in the license information stored in the license information storage step. 25 generates notification information when the remaining amount becomes equal to or less than a second threshold value.
Management device for the described content usage right. 29. The remaining amount of the content usage right is managed for each user while issuing a license ticket for enabling the usage of the content to the terminal of the user who purchased the usage right for using the content. 25. A program for causing a computer to execute the steps according to claim 24. 30. The program according to claim 25.
30. The program according to claim 29, which causes a computer to execute the described steps. 31. The program according to claim 26.
30. The program according to claim 29, which causes a computer to execute the described steps. 32. The program according to claim 27.
30. The program according to claim 29, which causes a computer to execute the described steps. 33. The program according to claim 28.
30. The program according to claim 29, which causes a computer to execute the described steps.