JP2003228656A - Information present system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information present system capable of presenting data designated by a client such as data having a copyright through a communication network to a third person. <P>SOLUTION: In the information present system where a service server 1, a client terminal 2, and a receiver terminal 3 are data-communicatively connected through a communication network, the service server 1 generates address information set for making data designated by the client terminal 2 receivable, and transmits it to the client terminal 2, and the client terminal 2 transmits the address information received from the service server 1 to the receiver terminal 3, and in response to connection based on the address information from the receiver terminal 3, the service server 1 transmits the data of the address to the receiver terminal 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information present system which utilizes a communication network such as the Internet to deliver data such as music, moving images and images designated by a requester to a recipient as a present.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of general-purpose communication networks such as the Internet, contents such as music, moving images and images are stored as digital data in a server on the Internet, and a client terminal that can access the server stores a content such as a browser. There is provided a distribution service in which a data list is browsed via browsing software, and requested data is downloaded from a client terminal or viewed by streaming.

In addition, if the digital data to be distributed has a copyright, a charging process is performed on the operator of the client terminal.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional technique is a one-to-one service system in which a server delivers requested data to a client terminal requesting digital data. The data could not be delivered as a gift to a different third party.

If the requested data is charged,
Most of the data is copyrighted, and the data downloaded to the terminal by the requester could not be passed to a third party via the communication network. This is because even if the digital data is purchased, passing it through the communication network is copying the data, which may result in copyright infringement.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an information present system capable of presenting data designated by a requester, such as copyrighted data, to a third party via a communication network.

[0007]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides a service server via a communication network,
This is an information present system in which the requester terminal and the recipient terminal can perform data communication, and the service server generates address information in which the data specified by the requester terminal is set to be receivable and transmits it to the requester terminal, The person terminal sends the address information received from the service server to the recipient terminal, and the service server sends the data of the address to the recipient terminal when there is a connection based on the address information from the recipient terminal.

As a result, the data designated by the requester, such as copyrighted data, can be transferred to the third party via the communication network.
An information presenting system that can be given to a person can be obtained.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a service server, a requester terminal, and
This is an information present system in which the recipient terminal can perform data communication, and the service server generates address information that sets the data specified by the requester terminal to be receivable and sends it to the requester terminal, and the requester terminal provides the service. The address information received from the server is sent to the recipient terminal, and when the service server has a connection based on the address information from the recipient terminal, the data of the address is sent to the recipient terminal. There is no need for the recipient other than the recipient to receive the data via the communication network and to register the recipient's private information in the intermediary server.

In the invention according to claim 2 of the present application, in the invention according to claim 1, the service server transmits password information in addition to the address information to the requester terminal, and the connection based on the address information is made from the recipient terminal. Then, after confirming the password, the data of the address is transmitted to the recipient terminal, whereby the recipient of the present can be specified.

The invention according to claim 3 of the present application is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the service server transmits the data name to the requester terminal in addition to the address information, and the requester terminal receives the address information. To the recipient's terminal after sending to
With the configuration in which D and the data name are held in association with each other, the requester can confirm the present history on his or her own device.

Each embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information present system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a service server 1 is capable of data communication with a requester terminal 2 operated by a requester and a recipient terminal 3 operated by a recipient via a communication network such as the Internet. Data communication is also possible between the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3.

Service server 1 according to the present embodiment
Is realized by executing various programs in an information processing device that has a processor and a memory and is capable of data communication with other devices via a communication network such as the Internet. Further, the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3 are data-communicable, are realized by an information processing device having an input device and a display device, and display the contents provided from the service server 1 to service the input data. It only needs to have a function of communicating with the server 1 or another device. Therefore,
A personal computer or a mobile information terminal having a communication function can be considered.

Further, in the present embodiment, the Internet is assumed as a communication network, and TCP / IP is used as a communication protocol between the respective devices for mutual communication.
When the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3 display the information provided from the service server 1, the information is displayed using a browsing application such as a browser. Regarding the e-mail function between each device, each device is equipped with an application called a mailer, and a general STMP server, PO
Communication is performed via the P3 server.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the service server according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the functional configuration of the service server 1 in FIG.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 11 provides the requester terminal 2 with an interface for registration procedures, and the requester terminal 2
The user information of the requester sent from the user DB 20
It is a registration procedure means to register with.

12 is a content D for the requester terminal 2.
It is a purchase procedure means for displaying a list of data based on the contents of B21, providing an interface for the purchase procedure, and receiving the designated data and the purchase procedure instruction from the requester terminal 2 and executing the purchase procedure processing.

Reference numeral 13 is an address generation means for receiving the instruction from the requester terminal 2 received by the purchase procedure means 12, setting the instructed data to be downloadable, and generating address information and password information.

Reference numeral 14 is an address transmitting means for transmitting the address information and password information generated by the address generating means 13 to the requester terminal 2. Specifically, in the present embodiment, electronic mail information including address information and password information is generated and transmitted to the requester terminal 2 via the communication means 18.

Reference numeral 15 calculates a charge based on the contents received by the purchase procedure means 12, and informs the operator of the requester terminal 2 who purchased the data based on the payment method of the user information registered in the user DB 20. It is a charging means for performing charging processing.

Reference numeral 16 confirms the password information input from the recipient terminal 3 connected to the address information generated by the address generating means 14, and transmits the data purchased by the requester to the recipient terminal 3. It is a present means.

Numeral 17 is receipt notifying means for notifying the requester terminal 2 of the present completion after the presenting means 16 transmits the data to the recipient terminal 3. Specifically, this embodiment is realized by electronic mail.

Reference numeral 18 is an interface for communicating various data, and is a communication means for performing data communication by a predetermined communication protocol. TC for Internet
P / IP is used.

Reference numeral 19 is a control means for controlling the flow of data between each means and the DB.

A user DB 20 holds the user information from the requester terminal 2 received by the registration procedure means 11.
Is.

Reference numeral 21 is a content DB that holds digital data of various contents such as music, moving images, and images.

The function provided by the service server 1 may be realized by one device, or may be realized by cooperating with different devices for each function to some extent. .

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the user DB in the first embodiment of the present invention, and shows the contents held in the user DB 20 shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the user DB 20,
User information to be registered is stored. As the items, "user name" for specifying the operator of the requester terminal 2, "e-mail address" for contact, and "credit card number" for payment method are listed as examples, but other information is also included. It may be included.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the content DB according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the content D shown in FIG.
The content held in B21 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 4, the content DB 21 is categorized into "item" of content, "title" of data, and "charge" of data. further,
Other information may be included.

The operation of the information present system configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the overall flow of the information present system according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and the outline of the exchange between the service server 1, the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3 will be described. .

(A) A user registration procedure and a data purchase procedure are performed between the service server 1 and the requester terminal 2. If you have already registered as a user, you only need to purchase.

(B) When the data to be purchased is confirmed, the service server 1 generates address information as a download destination of the data and password information for confirming the recipient,
The data can be downloaded. Then, this address information is transmitted to the requester terminal 2 by e-mail, and at the same time, charging processing for the fee for the purchased data is executed.

(C) The requester terminal 2 which has received the address information and the password information attaches the message information,
It is sent as an electronic mail to the recipient terminal 3 which is the recipient of the gift. Needless to say, the message is arbitrary by the user.

(D) The recipient terminal 3, which has received the e-mail from the requester terminal 2, accesses the service server 1 based on the address information included in the e-mail and inputs the password information. The service server 1 confirms the password information.

(E) The service server 1 transmits the data to the recipient terminal 3 if the password information is correct.

The overall operation shown in FIG. 5 will be described in more detail, focusing on the operation of the service server 1.
In the following description, music data will be described as an example.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the purchase procedure process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, at step 11, the purchase procedure means 12 of the service server 1 refers to the data of the content DB 21 to create a list of contents,
It is displayed on the requester terminal 2 as shown in FIG. In the case of music, the title of the song and its amount are displayed, and the selection of song data from the requester terminal 2 is waited for.

At step 12, when "OK" is input from the requester terminal 2 on the screen shown in FIG. 8, it is judged that the music data is selected, and at step 13, the user registration confirmation screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed. Output to the requester terminal 2.
Here, if the requester terminal 2 is not registered as a user, "N
"O" and if yes, select "YES" to instruct.

In step 14, it is judged whether or not the user is registered according to the instruction from the requester terminal 2,
If not registered, the process proceeds to step 15 described later, and if registered, the process proceeds to step 16.

In step 16, the address generation means 13 of the service server 1 creates a site where the designated song data can be downloaded in order to download the designated song data, and downloads the address information of the site and the download. Generate password information for permission.

In step 17, the address transmitting means 14 of the service server 1 uses the address information and the password information generated in step 16 as the text and sets the destination to the user D.
The electronic mail information is created by searching from B20 and sent as electronic mail to the requester terminal 2. FIG. 11 shows a display example of the requester terminal 2 that has received this e-mail.

At step 18, the charging means 15 of the service server 1 calculates the charge for the music data purchased by the operator of the requester terminal 2 from the charge information registered in the content DB 21 and is registered in the user DB 20. Settlement is performed based on the payment method of the operator of the requester terminal 2.

The user registration procedure in step 15 of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of user registration procedure processing in the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step 21, the registration procedure means 11 of the service server 1 causes the requester terminal 2 to display the screen as shown in FIG. In response to this, the requester terminal 2 inputs the “user name”, the “email address”, and the “payment method”, and when all the input is completed, instructs “OK”.

At step 22, the registration procedure means 11 of the service server 1 confirms whether or not "OK" is instructed, and if so, at step 23, the requester terminal 2
Judge whether the items entered from meet the essential requirements for registration. If not satisfied, a screen for inputting again is displayed on the requester terminal 2.

If it is determined in step 23 that the requirements are satisfied, the process proceeds to step 24, in which the entered items are entered by the user D.
Store in B20.

The operation of the service server 1 and the requester terminal 2 has been described above. Next, the operation of the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3 will be described.

Requester terminal 2 which received address information and password information from service server 1 by e-mail
The operator transfers the address information and the password information to the recipient terminal 3 that is a recipient of the present by e-mail. At this time, whether or not the operator of the requester terminal 2 attaches the message information is arbitrary.

In particular, the address information and the password information are not directly transmitted from the service server 1 to the recipient terminal 3 as described above, but are transmitted from the requester terminal 2 to the recipient terminal 3 to be received by the service server 1. It is not necessary to register private information such as destination information (e-mail address, etc.) of the third party terminal 3, and the privacy of the third party can be protected.

Next, the operation of the service server 1 and the recipient terminal 3 after receiving the address information and the password information from the requester terminal 2 by e-mail will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart of present processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12, in step 31, the presenting means 16 of the service server 1 is the site created in step 16 of FIG. 6 when the recipient terminal 3 connects to the designated address. The screen shown in 14 is displayed on the recipient terminal 3. The operator of the recipient terminal 3 inputs the password information in the displayed password input field and instructs "OK".

In step 32, the service server 1
The presenting means 16 confirms whether or not “OK” is instructed, and determines whether or not the password input in step 33 is correct. If the password information input from the recipient terminal 3 is incorrect, the process proceeds to step 34, and a screen for entering the password information again is displayed on the recipient terminal 3.

When the password input in step 33 is correct, the music data is transmitted to the recipient terminal 3 in step 35. When the requester terminal 3 receives the music data, it can listen to the music data by reproducing the music data.

In step 36, the reception notifying means 17 of the service server 1 notifies the requester that the transmission of the music data to the receiver terminal 3 is completed, that is, the present is completed, as shown in FIG. E-mail information is created and transmitted to the requester terminal 2. By receiving the e-mail at the requester terminal 2, the requester can confirm that the recipient has received the present.

In the above description, the service server 1 generates the password information in addition to the address information and sends it to the requester terminal 2, but it is possible that the password information is not sent. In this case, the service server 1 will perform the operation of permitting the person who accessed first to download.

Further, when the address information of the service server 1 is generated, it is possible to omit the password input work of the recipient by generating the address information to which the password information is added.

Further, in order to further improve the usability, when the service server 1 sends the address information to the requester terminal 2, the service server 1 also sends the title of the song data and the like, and the requester terminal 2 receiving this sends the address information. A means for automatically linking and storing the ID (e-mail address or the like) of the recipient terminal 3 and the title of the music data after the transmission to the recipient terminal 3 may be provided. By doing so, the operator of the requester terminal 2 can keep a history of who sent what, and avoid duplication of presents.

In the above description of the operation, there is a portion where information is transmitted between the service server 1, the requester terminal 2 and the recipient terminal 3 using electronic mail, but the communication is not limited to electronic mail. The object of the present invention can be achieved by using a tool.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the service server 1 can download the song data specified by the requester terminal 2 to generate the address information and send it to the requester terminal 2. And charge.
The requester terminal 2 sends the address information to the recipient terminal 3. The recipient terminal 3 accesses the service server 1 based on the address information and downloads the song data. This allows a person who purchases copyrighted data on the communication network to give a present to a third party different from himself.

Further, since the requester terminal 2 sends the address information to the recipient terminal 3, it is necessary to register the destination of the receiving terminal 3, the message from the requester to the recipient, etc. in the service server 1 which is an intermediary. It is possible to realize a system that fully considers the recipient's privacy protection.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an information present system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 16, 51 is a service server that exists on the Internet and controls distribution of content data such as music data, 52 is telephone communication (telephone exchange) and data of requester telephone terminal 53 and recipient telephone terminal 54. The service station 52 controls communication.

The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the terminals used by the requester and the recipient are telephone terminals capable of data communication, and in the first embodiment, the service server 1 (see FIG. 1). While the requester terminal 2 (see FIG. 1) and the recipient terminal 3 (see FIG. 1) can directly communicate with each other,
The service station 52 exists between the service server 51, the requester telephone terminal 53, and the recipient telephone terminal 54.

Since the telephone communication system can be used with the system configuration as in this embodiment, the service station 52 knows in advance the user information and who is the accessing user, and requests it. There is an advantage that the person does not need to register as a user to present the music data, the present price can be charged together with the communication charge of the telephone, and there is no concern about security in credit card settlement.

Further, by disposing the service server 51 on the Internet, which is a general-purpose network, the business operator can efficiently perform maintenance such as addition and deletion of content data. Further, when the telephone service provider and the content provider are different, there is an advantage that it is not necessary for the content provider to access the device (service station 52) holding the user information.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an information present system in which a service server, a requester terminal and a recipient terminal can perform data communication via a communication network, and the service server is designated by the requester terminal. The generated address information is set to be receivable and sent to the requester terminal, the requester terminal sends the address information received from the service server to the recipient terminal, and the service server sends the address information from the recipient terminal. When there is a connection based on the above, the data of the address is transmitted to the recipient terminal, so that the recipient other than the data purchaser is presented with the data via the communication network and is sent to the intermediary server. Since it is not necessary to register the recipient's private information, the recipient can be protected.

Further, the service server transmits password information in addition to the address information to the requester terminal, and when there is a connection from the recipient terminal based on the address information, after confirming the password, the data of the address is sent to the recipient terminal. By transmitting the present, the recipient of the present can be specified, and the present cannot be stolen.

Further, the service server sends the data name to the requester terminal in addition to the address information, and the requester terminal sends the address information to the recipient terminal and then the sending ID of the recipient terminal.
Since the requester can confirm the present history on his or her own device, the requester can avoid duplication of presents.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information present system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a service server according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a user DB according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a content DB according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Configuration diagram of

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the overall flow of the information present system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of purchase procedure processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of user registration procedure processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on the requester terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on the requester terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on the requester terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on the requester terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation flowchart of present processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on a recipient terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on a recipient terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example displayed on the requester terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a configuration diagram of an information present system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 service server 2 Requester terminal 3 Recipient terminal 11 Registration procedure means 12 Purchase procedure means 13 Address generation means 14 Address transmission means 15 Billing means 16 means of present 17 Receipt notification means 18 Communication means 19 Control means 20 user DB 21 Content DB

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Tomomi Yao             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Rumi Odo             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Hirano             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuo Uchida             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An information present system in which a service server, a requester terminal, and a recipient terminal can perform data communication via a communication network, and the service server is an address set to receive data specified by the requester terminal. Generates information and sends it to the requester's terminal, the requester's terminal sends the address information received from the service server to the recipient's terminal, and when the service server has a connection based on the address information from the recipient's terminal, An information present system characterized by transmitting data to a recipient terminal. 2. The service server sends password information in addition to the address information to the requester terminal, and when there is a connection based on the address information from the recipient terminal, the password is confirmed and then the data of the address is sent to the recipient terminal. The information present system according to claim 1, wherein the information present system transmits. 3. The service server transmits the data name to the requester terminal in addition to the address information, and the requester terminal sends the address information to the receiver terminal and then associates the transmission ID of the receiver terminal with the data name. The information present system according to claim 1, which is held. 4. The information present system according to claim 1, wherein transmission from the requester terminal 2 to the recipient terminal 3 is performed by electronic mail.