JP2003308397A - Content acquiring state reporting method, management device, program and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a content provider to easily obtain the acquiring state of a content provided through a network in each communication terminal. <P>SOLUTION: An AP management server 60 detects the acquiring state of Java AP in a cellular phone 10 based on a communication related to acquisition of Java AP performed by the cellular phone 10, such as the communication performed by the cellular phone 10 with the AP management server 50 to obtain the link information to a content server 70, the communication performed by the cellular phone 10 with the AP management server 50 to acquire SCF of Java PA, or the communication performed by the cellular phone 10 with the AP management server 50 to report the download completion of Java AP. The AP management server 50 performs the same processing every cellular phone 10, detects the acquiring state in each cellular phone 10 with respect to Java AP, and makes a report for the state, and reports it to the content provider. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for managing the acquisition status in each communication terminal of content provided to a plurality of communication terminals via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, communication terminals such as mobile phones and personal computers having a packet communication function can download various contents such as programs, image data and music data from a server connected to the Internet. On the other hand, a content provider that provides contents using a server is designing the server or the site so as to collect various information about the usage status of the contents such as the number of accesses to the server and the number of downloads of the contents. . The content provider uses the information about the usage status of the content collected in this way when determining a business plan for the content.

[0003]

By the way, there is a wide variety of information on the usage status of contents, which is considered to be useful for reference when deciding a business plan or the like regarding the contents, and there is a wide variety of information on the information. It is desirable to have the aggregated results from the angles. However,
Such information collection and aggregation imposes a corresponding burden on the content provider, for example, by changing the design of the server and adding a program for managing the collection and aggregation.

The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the present invention to make it easy for a content provider to obtain the acquisition status of the content provided via a network at each communication terminal. Has an aim.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, according to the present invention, a management device for managing information relating to content provided by a content provider to a plurality of communication terminals via a network is provided by each communication terminal. A first step of monitoring a communication regarding acquisition of the content and detecting an acquisition status of the content in each of the communication terminals;
A second aspect in which the management device notifies the content provider of the acquisition status of the content detected in the first step.
And a method of notifying the acquisition status of contents, which comprises the steps of

Further, according to the present invention, in a management device for managing information about contents provided by a contents provider to a plurality of communication terminals via a network, the communication concerning acquisition of the contents by each communication terminal is monitored,
Management including detection means for detecting the acquisition status of the content in each of the communication terminals, and transmission means for transmitting the acquisition status of the content detected by the detection means to a communication device previously designated by the content provider Provide a device.

Further, according to the present invention, a management device that manages information related to content provided by a content provider to a plurality of communication terminals via a network, monitors communication regarding acquisition of the content by each communication terminal, and For executing a detection function of detecting the acquisition status of the content in the communication terminal and a transmission function of transmitting the acquisition status of the content detected by the detection function to a communication device previously designated by the content provider Offer the program.

According to the present invention, the management device monitors the communication related to the content acquisition by each communication terminal, detects the content acquisition status of each communication terminal, and notifies the content provider.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to common portions in each drawing.

[A-1. Configuration of Embodiment] <1. Configuration of Communication System> FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the communication system 1 includes a mobile phone 10, a base station 20, a gateway exchange 30, a gateway server 40, and a mobile packet communication network 80 having an AP (Application Program) management server 50. It has an Internet 60, a content server 70, and a development machine 75. In addition, in this communication system 1,
Originally, a large number of mobile phones are accommodated, but only one mobile phone 10 is shown in order to prevent the drawing from being complicated. For the same reason, one base station 20, one gateway switching station 30, one gateway server 40,
Only the content server 70 and the development machine 75 are shown.

The mobile packet communication network 80 is a communication network that provides a packet communication service to the mobile phone 10 accommodated in the mobile packet communication network 80. In addition to the mobile packet communication network 80, this communication system 1
It has a mobile telephone network (not shown). This mobile telephone network provides the mobile telephone 10 with a general mobile telephone call service.

The mobile telephone 10 is a mobile packet communication network 8
Among the many base stations 20 installed in the communication service area of 0, wireless communication is performed with the base station 20 that covers the wireless cell in which the own device 10 is located. The mobile phone 10 also has a function of performing packet communication with the content server 70 via the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60.

The gateway server 40 is the gateway exchange 3
0 and the Internet 60. The gateway server 40 mutually converts data having different communication protocols, such as a communication protocol for the mobile packet communication network 80 and a communication protocol for the Internet 60, and relays data exchange between the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60. To do.

The AP management server 50 is connected to the gateway server 40 by a dedicated line. A telecommunications carrier operating the mobile packet communication network 80 uses this AP management server 50 to provide a program management service.
In this program management service, the content provider 70 uses the content server 70 and the mobile packet communication network 8
Regarding the application programs provided to the large number of mobile phones 10 accommodated in 0, the acquisition status of the application programs in each mobile phone 10, such as how many mobile phones 10 the application program has been downloaded to, is tabulated. It is a service that reports the report based on the aggregation result to the content provider. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the telecommunications carrier operating the mobile packet communication network 80 operates the program management service. However, the program management service may be operated by an operator other than the communication operator.

The AP management server 50 detects the acquisition status of the application program in each mobile phone 10 and creates a report for the application program for which the service contract of the program management service has been concluded between the communication carrier and the content provider. Then, the report is transmitted to the communication device (for example, the development machine 75) notified in advance by the content provider.

The content server 70 is a mobile phone 10.
It has a function to perform packet communication with mobile phone 1
Java (registered trademark) application program (hereinafter abbreviated as Java AP)
I remember. This Java AP is a Java applet or Ja
It is an application program for the mobile phone 10 written in the Java programming language, such as a va application. Further, this Java AP is created by the development machine 75.

Note that the JavaAP is a J program in which the main program of the JavaAP and the image files and audio files used according to the execution of the main program are put together into one.
An ADF (Applicatio) that describes an AR (Java Archive) file and control information for controlling the installation, activation, network access, etc. of this JAR file.
n Descriptor File). Also this Java
When the AP is a managed program of the program management service, the Java AP further has an SCF (Status Control File) indicating that it is a managed program. This SCF is created by the AP management server 50, and the communication address of the notification destination device that notifies the completion of downloading of the Java AP by the mobile phone 10 (in this embodiment, the URL of the AP management server 50: Uniform Resour).
ce Locator) is described.

The JAR file and the ADF are stored in the content server 70, but the SCF is the AP.
It is stored in the management server 50. The mobile phone 10
Ja, a program managed by the program management service
When downloading vaAP, the content server 70
While getting the JAR file and ADF from
The SCF of this Java AP is acquired from the AP management server 50.

<2. Configuration of Mobile Phone> FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the mobile phone 10. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 10 includes a wireless communication unit 1
01, the operation input unit 102, the call processing unit 103, and C
It has a PU 104, a liquid crystal display unit 105, and a storage unit 106, and these units are connected by a bus 110.

The radio communication unit 101 has an antenna 101a and controls radio communication with the base station 20. Under the control of the CPU 104, the wireless communication unit 101 superimposes, for example, data related to transmitted voice and data for packet communication on a carrier wave to generate a transmission signal, and transmits this signal to the base station 20. In addition, the wireless communication unit 10
1 receives a wireless signal transmitted from the base station 20 via the antenna 101a, demodulates this signal, and transmits its own signal 10
The data related to the received voice and the data for packet communication are obtained.

The operation input unit 102 has a plurality of keys for inputting numbers, characters, operation instructions, etc., and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation of these keys to the CPU 104. The call processing unit 103 has, for example, a microphone, a speaker, a voice processing unit, and the like.
Under the control of 104, call processing including call connection / disconnection is performed. The CPU 104 executes various programs stored in the storage unit 106 to control each unit of the apparatus connected via the bus 110. Further, the liquid crystal display unit 105 has a liquid crystal display panel and a drive circuit that controls the display of the liquid crystal display panel.

The storage unit 106 includes a ROM 107 and a RAM.
108, for example, SRAM (Static-RAM) or EEP
ROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable-ROM)
And a non-volatile memory 109 such as. ROM1
07 includes, for example, an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) for the mobile phone 10 and a Web (World).
Wide Web) Browser, software for building the Java execution environment, etc. are stored. Also, the RAM 108
Is used as a work area of the CPU 104, and CP
A program executed by U104 and various data are temporarily stored.

The non-volatile memory 109 stores JavaAP downloaded from the content server 70. The non-volatile memory 109 also stores a terminal ID 109a that identifies the mobile phone 10.
In this embodiment, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 is used as the terminal ID 109a.

<3. Configuration of Java Execution Environment> FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the execution environment of the JavaAP in the mobile phone 10. The mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment has a KVM (K Virtual Machine) as software for constructing a JavaAP execution environment and a CLDC (Connected Limited Device) as a configuration.
J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edi) with Configuration
and) are incorporated.

In the figure, KVM is a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) whose design has been changed for small electronic devices, and the CPU 104 can interpret / execute bytecodes, which are the execution file format of JavaAP, via the OS. Convert to instruction code. Also, the CLDC class library is
It has a class library for CLDC.

Next, JAM (Java Application Manage)
r) is a Java application downloaded under the control of the OS or a Java installed in the non-volatile memory 109.
It has a function of managing the AP. For example, JAM
It has a function of installing and deleting Java APs, a function of displaying a list of Java APs stored in the non-volatile memory 109, and a function of performing Java AP execution management (startup, forced termination, etc.).

Further, as shown in the figure, a native application providing a telephone directory function, a browser function, a network communication function, etc. directly operates under the control of the OS.

<4. Configuration of AP Management Server> FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a P management server 50. As shown in the figure, the AP management server 50 is
Communication interface 501, operation input unit 502, display unit 503, printer driver 504, CPU 50
5, a ROM 506, a RAM 507, and a HD 508, and these units are connected by a bus 509.

The communication interface 501 controls communication with the gateway server 40. Also,
The operation input unit 502 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and outputs operation signals corresponding to these operations to the CPU 505. The display unit 503 is a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tub).
e) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). A printer 90 is connected to the printer driver 504, and the AP management server 50 uses Ja
A report showing the acquisition status of the vaAP and a bill relating to the program management service can be printed using the printer 90.

The CPU 505 is a ROM 506 or HD 50.
By executing the program stored in 8 or the like, each unit of the device connected via the bus 509 is controlled. The ROM 506 stores a program that controls the basic control of each unit of the AP management server 50. The RAM 507 is used as a work area for the CPU 505, and temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU 505 and various data.

The HD 508 has a My Box DB (Data
Base) 508a and master registration DB 508b are stored. FIG. 5: is a figure which illustrates the data structure of my box DB508a. What is My Box?
The URL of the website (content server) that provides the JavaAP for which the usage contract has been made between the mobile phone 10 and the content provider is registered in the AP management server 50 as link information for this mobile phone 10, and is similar to a bookmark. This function is provided to the mobile phone 10 in the AP management server 50.

As shown in the figure, My Box DB50
8a, for each terminal ID 109a of each mobile phone 10,
Various information (APID, link destination URL, CUID, SCF flag, registration date, state management flag) about the Java AP for which the user of the mobile phone 10 and the content provider have a usage contract and a registration contract in My Box. ) Is stored.

Here, APID (Application Program
ID) is a program identification code for identifying the Java AP registered in My Box. Also, the link URL
Is the URL of the content server 70 that is the link destination, and CUID (Contents provider-User ID) is the user identification code assigned to the user of the mobile phone 10 by the content provider. In the "SCF flag" item, "1" is stored when this Java AP is a program to be managed by the program management service, and "0" is stored otherwise. Furthermore, the registration date indicates the date when the link information was registered in My Box.

Next, when "1" is stored in the "SCF flag" item, that is, when this JavaAP is a program to be managed by the program management service, the "state management flag" item contains this JavaAP. Information indicating the acquisition status is stored. For example, this "state management flag"
In the item, the acquisition status of the Java AP is managed by being divided into four states of “accessed”, “download requested”, “downloaded” and “deleted”.

Here, if the flag indicating "accessed" is "1", this Ja registered in My Box is selected.
A state in which the mobile phone 10 has accessed the content server 70 at least once or more using the link related to vaAP is shown. When the flag indicating "download request" is "1", it indicates that the mobile phone 10 has downloaded this JavaAP. Also, the flag indicating "downloaded" is "1"
In this case, the Java AP is downloaded to the mobile phone 10 and installed in the non-volatile memory 109. When the flag indicating “delete” is “1”, it indicates that the link information related to this Java AP has been deleted from My Box by an instruction from the mobile phone 10.

For example, in the figure, the terminal ID 109a
Mobile phone 1 having "0906-111-2222"
The link information for the Java AP to which the APID “1000945” is assigned is registered in the My box of 0. Since “1” is stored in the “SCF flag” item of this Java AP, it can be seen that it is a program to be managed by the program management service. Further, since each flag of the “state management flag” item is “0”, it is understood that although the link information is registered in My Box, this link has never been used.

Next, returning to FIG. 4, the master registration DB 508
b) Information about the Java AP submitted by the content provider, the link destination URL, the destination of the report, the destination of the bill, etc. for each Java AP for which the service contract of the program management service has been signed between the telecommunications carrier and the content provider. And the AP management server 50 for this Java AP
Is a database in which the APID and SCF issued by are registered as a master. The above is the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[A-2. Operation of Embodiment] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. <1. Master Registration Process> First, the AP management server 50 until the Java AP is master-registered as a managed program of the program management service in the AP management server 50.
The operation of the development machine 75 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the content provider uses the development machine 75 to create a JavaAP to be provided to the mobile phone 10. Then the content provider creates the Ja
To have the AP management server 50 manage the vaAP as a program to be managed by the program management service,
A master registration request for the Java AP is transmitted from the development machine 75 to the AP management server 50 (step S10).
1).

Note that the JavaA
P, U of the content server 70 that provides this Java AP
It includes information such as RL (link URL), report sending destination and bill sending destination (for example, company name of the content provider, person in charge, address, mail address, FAX number). Also, from development machine 75 to A
The master registration request sent to the P management server 50 includes Ja
The Java AP itself does not have to be included as long as there is information that identifies the vaAP.

Upon receipt of the master registration request from the development machine 75 via the communication interface 501, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 performs master registration processing (step S102). C in this master registration process
The PU 505 first checks Ja included in the master registration request.
The APID assigned to the vaAP is issued, and the SCF for this JavaAP is generated. In addition, this S
At least the URL of the AP management server 50 is described in the CF.

After that, the CPU 50 of the AP management server 50
Reference numeral 5 registers information regarding the Java AP, APID, link destination URL, SCF, report transmission destination, and bill transmission destination in the master registration DB 508b. Also, the CPU 50
5 transmits a master registration completion notification to the development machine 75 (step S103). In this master registration completion notification,
In addition to the message indicating that the master registration is completed, the APID issued to this Java AP and the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF are included.

On the other hand, the development machine 75 is the AP management server 5
Upon receiving the master registration completion notification from 0, the content provider notifies the SC included in the master registration completion notification.
The URL indicating the storage location of F is stored in the ADF of JavaAP. And the content provider is ADF and JAR
Files and development machine 75 to content server 70
And the Java AP is ready to be provided to the mobile phone 10.

Incidentally, the above steps S101 and S10.
3, the information about the master registration transmitted / received between the AP management server 50 and the development machine 75 is not limited to the transmission / reception by communication, but a CD-ROM (Compac
A communication medium and a content provider may be exchanged using a recording medium such as t Disk-ROM). Further, it may be a form in which documents are exchanged between the content provider and the communication carrier. In particular, when the content provider submits information regarding master registration to the telecommunications carrier by means of a document, the telecommunications carrier inputs the necessary information described in the document submitted by the content provider to the AP management server 50 and the master Perform the registration process.

<2. My Box registration process> Next, Java
The operations of the AP management server 50 and the development machine 75 until the link information regarding the AP is registered in My Box will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

First, the user of the mobile phone 10 concludes a use contract for Java AP and a registration contract for My Box with a content provider. The use contract and the registration contract may be in the form of online connection between the mobile phone 10 and the content server 70, or the contract application form must be submitted from the user of the mobile phone 10 to the content provider. It may be in the form of being tied by. Further, when a registration contract for the My Box is made between the user of the mobile phone 10 and the content provider, the terminal ID of the mobile phone 10 is sent from the user of the mobile phone 10 to the content provider.
109a is notified. Further, the content provider issues the CUID to the user of the mobile phone 10 that has a registration contract.

Next, the content provider sends a My Box registration request from the development machine 75 to the AP management server 5.
It is transmitted to 0 (step S201). In this My Box registration request, the APID specifying the Java AP, the terminal ID 10 of the mobile phone 10 specifying the My Box to be registered
9a, the CUID issued by the content provider to the user of the mobile phone 10 and the like are included.

Upon receiving the My Box registration request from the development machine 75, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 performs My Box registration processing (step S20).
2). In this my box registration process, the CPU 50
5 is the AP included in the My Box registration request.
The master registration DB 508b is searched using the ID as a key, and the master registered data (JavaAP, link destination UR
L, SCF, information about transmission of report, destination of bill, and the like), and specify data corresponding to the APID.

Next, the CPU 50 of the AP management server 50
5 is based on the specified data and the terminal ID 109a or CUID included in the My Box registration request,
Item data about newly registered link information is added to the My Box management DB 508a (see FIG. 5). At this time, the CPU 505 determines whether or not the specified master registration data includes SCF, and sets the value of the “SCF flag” item according to the determination result. Also, C
The PU 505 stores information indicating the current date in the “registration date” item and sets each flag of the “state management flag” item to “0”.

Thereafter, the CPU 50 of the AP management server 50
No. 5 transmits to the development machine 75 a My Box registration completion notification indicating that registration to the My Box has been completed (step S203).

<3. Download> Next, download the Java AP that is the management target of the program management service to the mobile phone 10.
FIG. 1 is a sequence chart showing the operations of the mobile phone 10, the AP management server 50, and the content server 70 in the case of downloading by FIG.
0 to the screen display example of the mobile phone 10 shown in FIG. 14 will be described.

First, when the user activates the Web browser on the mobile phone 10 and selects My Box from the menu, the liquid crystal display unit 105 displays the screen shown in FIG.
The image shown in is displayed. When the My Menu list is selected by operation input according to this display, the mobile phone 1
The CPU 104 of 0 transmits a connection request to the AP management server 50 from the wireless communication unit 101 (step S30).
1). This connection request is transmitted to the AP management server 50 via the base station 20, the gateway exchange 30 and the gateway 40. Further, this connection request includes a command for requesting screen data of My Box and the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10.

Upon receiving the connection request from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the My Box DB 508a by using the terminal ID 109a included in the connection request as a key, and the My Box data for this mobile phone 10. Specify. Then, the CPU 50
5 creates screen data of the My Box based on the specified My Box data and transmits the screen data to the mobile phone 10 (step S302).

When the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 receives the My Box screen data from the AP management server 50 via the wireless communication unit 101, the image shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the display screen based on the screen data. In the display example shown in the figure, “New!” Indicates that this link information is newly registered.
When, for example, a ticket application (JavaAP) is selected by an operation input according to this display, C of the mobile phone 10 is selected.
The PU 104 sends the link information acquisition request to the AP management server 5
It is transmitted to 0 (step S303). This link information acquisition request includes the APID of the selected Java AP, the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10, the command requesting the URL of the linked content server 70, and the command requesting the CUID.

When the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 receives the link information acquisition request from the mobile phone 10,
First, the terminal ID 10 included in the link information acquisition request
Mybox DB50 with 9a and APID as keys
8a is searched, and the flag of “accessed” is set to “1” in the corresponding “state management flag” item. That is, the CPU 505 is the Java A in the My Box.
It is detected that the mobile phone 10 has accessed the content server 70 at least once more using the link regarding P, and the My Box DB 50 is detected.
Register with 8a.

As a result, if the "accessed" flag is switched from "0" to "1", the Ja managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 will be described.
The acquisition state of the vaAP shifts from “not accessed” to “accessed”. When the flag of "accessed" is set to "1", when the mobile phone 10 displays the My Box image from the next time onward, "New!" Displayed next to the link information disappears.

Further, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50
Is the terminal ID 109 included in the link information acquisition request.
Mybox DB508 with a and APID as keys
A is searched and the corresponding link destination URL and CUID are read. Next, the CPU 505 transmits a link information acquisition response including the read link destination URL and CUID and screen data indicating a message to switch the connection to the link destination site to the mobile phone 10 (step S304).

When the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 receives the link information acquisition response from the AP management server 50,
First, for example, the image shown in FIG. 12 is displayed on the display screen based on the screen data included in the link information acquisition response. When a connection to the link destination is instructed by an operation input according to this display, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10
The link destination URL included in the link information acquisition response is used to transmit the download request to the content server 70 (step S305). This download request
It is transmitted to the content server 70 via the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60. In addition, this download request includes the CUID and the Ja to be downloaded.
The APID that identifies the vaAP is included.

The following control may be performed. That is, first, "CUI" in the My Box DB 508a stored in the AP management server 50 is stored.
In the “D” item, in addition to the CUID, a password for personal authentication pre-arranged between the content provider and the user of the mobile phone 10 is stored. Also,
In step S304, the mobile phone 10 is notified of the password as well as the CUID by the link information acquisition response. Then, in step S305, the mobile phone 10 sends a POS as a download request.
The CUID and password are transmitted to the content server 70 using the T method.

When the content server 70 receives the download request from the mobile phone 10, first, C
Performs personal authentication and checks the number of downloads using UID and password. Next, the content server 70 identifies the corresponding Java AP based on the APID included in the download request, and sends a response notification including the download screen data of the Java AP and the URL indicating the storage location of the ADF of this Java AP. The data is transmitted to the mobile phone 10 (step S306).

When receiving the response notice from the content server 70, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 displays the image shown in FIG. 13 on the display screen based on the screen data included in the response notice. Java A according to this display
When the user consents to the use of P and the execution of the download is instructed by the operation input, the CPU of the mobile phone 10
The 104 first activates the JAM. Then CPU1
04 is a UR indicating the storage location of the ADF according to JAM
Using L, the ADF acquisition request is transmitted to the content server 70 (step S307). Note that, in the display example shown in FIG. 13, when the consent regarding the use of the JavaAP is not obtained, that is, when the user does not agree with the operation input, the mobile phone 10 and the content server 70 download the JavaAP. To cancel.

The content server 70 is the mobile phone 10.
When the ADF acquisition request from is received, the ADF specified by the ADF acquisition request is read from the memory and returned to the mobile phone 10 (step S308). In addition, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 is the content server 70.
When receiving the ADF from (step S302), first, according to JAM, confirm the contents of the ADF file,
It is determined whether or not the JAR file can be downloaded to the mobile phone 10. As a result, when the CPU 104 determines that the JAR file cannot be downloaded to the mobile phone 10 due to insufficient memory capacity, for example, it displays a message to that effect on the display screen,
Stop downloading Java AP.

On the other hand, when the CPU 104 determines that the JAR file can be downloaded, then
According to JAM, the URL indicating the storage location of SCF is AD
It is determined whether or not it is described in F. In this embodiment, a Java AP that is a management target of the program management service
Since the case of downloading is described, naturally, the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF is described in the ADF. Therefore, the CPU 104 transmits the SCF acquisition request to the AP management server 50 by using the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF according to JAM (step S3).
09). This SCF acquisition request includes a command for requesting SCF acquisition and the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10.
And APID are included.

Upon receiving the SCF acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the My Box DB 508a by using the terminal ID 109a and APID included in the SCF acquisition request as keys, and this mobile phone 10 Ja in My Box
Check whether the link information of vaAP is registered.

Then, the CPU 50 of the AP management server 50
After confirming that the corresponding Java AP is registered, first, in the corresponding "state management flag" item in the My Box DB 508a, the flag "download request" is set to "1". That is, the CPU
505 detects that the mobile phone 10 has been in the state of having downloaded this Java AP, and registers it in the My Box DB 508a. As a result, if the “download request present” flag is switched from “0” to “1”, the acquisition status of the JavaAP managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 is
Transition from "with access" to "with download request".

Next, the CPU 50 of the AP management server 50
5 reads out the SCF of the corresponding Java AP from the master registration DB 508b and sends it to the mobile phone 10 (step S310). In addition, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10
Upon receiving the SCF from the AP management server 50, the JAR described in the ADF according to JAM is then received.
Use the URL that indicates the file download request destination,
A JAR file acquisition request is transmitted to the content server 70 (step S311).

The content server 70 is the mobile phone 10
When you receive a JAR file acquisition request from
The JAR file specified by the R file acquisition request is read from the memory and transmitted to the mobile phone 10 (step S312). In the present embodiment, A of Java AP
Both DF and JAR files are content server 7
Although the case where the JAR file and the ADF are stored has been described, the JAR file and the ADF may be stored in different servers.

When the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 receives the JAR file from the content server 70, first, according to JAM, the JavaAP downloaded this time is downloaded.
(ADF, SCF and JAR files) are installed in the non-volatile memory 109. Then the CPU 104
Transmits a download completion notification to the AP management server 50 using the URL described in the SCF according to JAM (step S313). In this download completion notification, information indicating that the download is completed,
The terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10 and the APID of the downloaded Java AP are included. In addition, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 has a Java function as shown in FIG.
A message indicating that the AP has been downloaded is displayed on the display screen.

Upon receiving the download completion notification from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 receives the terminal ID included in the download completion notification.
My Box DB with 109a and APID as keys
508a is searched and the "downloaded" flag is set to "1" in the corresponding "state management flag" item. That is, the CPU 505 downloads this Java AP to the mobile phone 10, and the nonvolatile memory 109
It is detected that it has been installed in the above, and it is registered in the My Box DB 508a. As a result, if the "downloaded" flag is switched from "0" to "1", the acquisition state of the Java AP managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 is "download request". To "downloaded".

The above is the operation when the mobile phone 10 downloads the Java AP which is the management target of the program management service. In addition to this, the C of the AP management server 50 is used.
When the PU 505 deletes the link information related to JavaAP from My Box according to an instruction from the mobile phone 10, the PU 505 sets the “Delete” flag to “1” in the corresponding “State management flag” item in the My Box DB 508a. To do. That is, the CPU 505 uses this Java AP
It is detected that the link information related to the item has been deleted from the My Box and is registered in the My Box DB 508a.

<4. Report Notification Process> Next, the operation of the report notification process executed by the CPU 505 in the AP management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The report notification process is executed by the CPU 505 at a predetermined date and time such as the 25th of every month.

As shown in the figure, first, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 selects a Java AP to be processed from all Java APs managed by the program management service registered in the master registration DB 508b. 1
Two are selected (step S401).

Next, the CPU 505 determines that the selected Java
My Box DB 508a with the APID of the AP as a key
Is searched and the value of the state management flag of each mobile phone 10 is totaled for this Java AP (step S402).
In this totaling process, the CPU 505 totals the number of mobile phones 10 corresponding to each acquisition state such as “not accessed”, “accessed”, “downloaded”, “downloaded”, and “deleted”. Also, the CPU 50
5 is the CUID of the mobile phone 10 for which there is no request for use of the link or a download request even if a predetermined period has elapsed from the registration date when the link information regarding this Java AP was registered in My Box
Is performed.

After that, the CPU 505 creates a report indicating the acquisition status of each JavaAP in each mobile phone 10 based on the result of counting the status management flags (step S403). For example, the CPU 505
Utilizing graphs and tables, a report as shown in FIG. 16 is created. The report shown in the figure is just one example. For example, when a telecommunications carrier makes a subscription contract for a packet communication service with a user of the mobile phone 10, the telecommunications carrier acquires various information such as the age and sex of the user. Therefore, by using these pieces of information, for example, statistical data such as the age group and gender of the user who acquired the Java AP may be further added to the report.

Next, the CPU 505 uses the master registration DB.
Information (for example, e-mail address) indicating the corresponding report transmission destination is read from 508b. And CPU
505 transmits the report created in step S403 to the development machine 75 based on the information indicating the report transmission destination (step S404). As a result, the content provider can obtain a management report regarding the acquisition status of Java AP. In addition, the telecommunications carrier is
The report created by the AP management server 50 may be printed from the printer 90, and the printed report may be sent to the content provider by mail or facsimile.

Next, the CPU 505 calculates the service charge of the program management service for the Java AP that has finished transmitting the report (step S405). Here, the charge for the program management service may be a fixed monthly fixed charge, or this Ja
The number of mobile phones 10 in which the link information regarding the vaAP is registered in the My Box is counted, and the service charge corresponding to the number may be calculated.

After that, the CPU 505 reads out from the master registration DB 508b information necessary for issuing the invoice, such as the company name of the content provider, the name of the person in charge, the shipping address of the invoice, etc., and these information and the above-mentioned step S405. Invoice data is created based on the calculated service charge (step S406). Then the CPU 505
Prints the created bill data by the printer 90 (step S407). Then, the telecommunications carrier sends the printed bill to the content provider, and collects the service charge of the program management service from the content provider on a regular basis, for example, every month.

After that, the CPU 505 becomes a processing target.
It is determined whether or not JavaAP still remains (step S
408), and when it remains, the process returns to step S401. Further, the CPU 505 is a JavaAP to be processed.
If it is determined that no report remains, the report notification process ends.

Note that the service charge of the program management service is Ja between the communication carrier and the content provider.
When the service contract for the vaAP is signed, the content provider may collectively pay the amount of money according to the management period applied by the content provider to the telecommunications carrier. In this case, the AP management server 5
The CPU 505 of 0 calculates the service charge according to the management period applied by the content provider, and creates and prints the bill data regarding the charge.

The report notification process described above is not activated at a predetermined date and time such as once a month, but can be arbitrarily activated by an operation input or the like in the AP management server 50. Of course, the target period of the report, the target period for calculating the service charge, and the like can be arbitrarily set by operation input.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The AP management server 50 uses the AP management server 5 so that the mobile phone 10 can obtain the link information to the content server 70.
0 communication with mobile phone 10 and SCF of Java AP
Communication with the AP management server 50 in order to obtain, or communication with the AP management server 50 in which the mobile phone 10 notifies the completion of downloading the Java AP,
Based on the communication regarding the JavaAP acquisition performed by the mobile phone 10, the JavaAP acquisition status of the mobile phone 10 is detected. Further, the AP management server 50 performs the same process for each mobile phone 10, detects the acquisition status of the Java AP in each mobile phone 10, summarizes this in a report, and notifies the content provider.

Therefore, by subscribing to the program management service, the content provider can obtain a report in which the details of the acquisition status of each mobile phone 10 are compiled and analyzed for the Java AP provided by itself.

The AP management server 50 executes the above-described processing in accordance with the program stored in the HD 508. The program for executing such processing is provided to the AP management server 50 by communication. It may be in the form described. Furthermore, for example, a recording medium such as an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory may be used to provide the program to the AP management server 50.

[B. Modifications] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention can be implemented in various other modes without departing from the main features thereof. The above-described embodiment is merely an example of one aspect of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is as shown in the claims, and the modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent range of the claims. Are all included within the scope of the invention. In addition,
For example, the following may be considered as modifications.

<Modification 1> FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system 2 according to Modification 1. In the first modification, the same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the above-described embodiment. Further, the description of the portions common to the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, the communication system 2 further includes an authorization server 65 in addition to the components of the communication system 1 described in the above embodiment. The certification server 65 provides a program certification service. This program certification service is a Java A for mobile phone 10 requested by the content provider for certification.
When a certification body examines P and Java AP meets a predetermined operation standard as a program for accessing the resource requested by the content provider, this Java
It is a service that certifies APs as programs that can access the resources requested by content providers.

The authorization server 65 has a file (for each SDP in this specification, an SDF in the present specification) in which information indicating a resource to which the mobile phone 10 is permitted to access during execution of this Java AP is described for each Java AP authorized by the authorization institution. : Security
Description File) is stored in the memory. In this SDF, information indicating the resource requested by the content provider is described. As a result, when the mobile phone 10 is executing the Java AP certified by the certification body, the resources permitted to access the mobile phone 10 are expanded to the resources described by the content provider and applied by the content provider. .

Further, in the first modification, it is assumed that the telecommunications carrier operating the mobile packet communication network 80 operates the certifying body and carries out the program certifying service using the certifying server 65. Of course, the certification body may be a carrier different from the carrier, but since the carrier is the provider of the packet communication service, for example, JavaAP examination and operation confirmation should be fair and accurate. It can be carried out.

Next, the operation of the first modification will be described. The master registration process, the My Box registration process, and the report notification process are the same as the processes described in the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 15), and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

The difference of the first modification from the above-described embodiment is that the JavaAP downloaded by the mobile phone 10.
Is a program managed by the program management service as well as an accreditation program of an accreditation body,
In addition to ADF, SCF, JAR files, certified server 6
The point is that the SDF must be acquired from 5.

Below, in the case where the mobile phone 10 downloads JavaAP which is a program to be managed by the program management service and is a certification program of a certification agency, the mobile telephone 10, the AP management server 50, the certification server 65 and the contents. The operation of the server 70 will be described with reference to the sequence charts shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. 18 and 19, the same steps as those in FIGS. 8 and 9 are designated by the same step numbers,
The description will be omitted.

As a premise that the Java AP is downloaded to the mobile phone 10, the accreditation body examines the Java AP requested to be accredited by the content provider and certifies the Java AP as an accreditation program of the accreditation body. To do. In addition, the Java AP certified by the certification agency in this way is applied from the content provider to the telecommunications carrier as a program to be managed by the program management service. In addition, the certification server 65
It is assumed that the SDF of the JavaAP is stored, and the URL indicating the storage location of the SDF is described in the ADF of the JavaAP stored in the content server 70.

First, in the sequence charts shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, steps S301 to S310, that is, the mobile phone 10 sets the SCF to the AP management server 50.
The operation from acquisition to is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

After obtaining the SCF, the C of the mobile phone 10 is
According to JAM, the PU 104 uses the URL indicating the storage location of the SDF described in the ADF, and transmits the SDF acquisition request to the authorization server 65 (step S50).
1). The authorization server 65 uses the SDF from the mobile phone 10.
When the acquisition request is received, the SDF designated by the SDF acquisition request is read from the memory and transmitted to the mobile phone 10 (step S502). In addition, the mobile phone 10
When receiving the SDF from the certification server 65, the CPU 104 of the next acquires the JAR file from the content server 70 according to JAM (step S311,).
S312). After that, the CPU 104 follows the JAM and downloads the Java AP (ADF, SCF,
SDF and JAR files) non-volatile memory 109
After the installation, the download completion notification is transmitted to the AP management server 50 (step S313).

Now, it is downloaded in this way
When the JavaAP is executed on the mobile phone 10, the CPU 104 first executes the Java executed according to JAM.
Whether the AP is an accreditation program of an accreditation body is determined according to, for example, the presence or absence of SDF. As a result, when the Java AP to be executed is an accredited program of an accreditation body, the CPU 104 describes, according to JAM, resources that the mobile phone 10 can access during execution of this Java AP in the SDF of this Java AP. Extend to the scope of resources. On the other hand, the Java AP that is executed
CPU104 is not a certification program of a certification body, CPU104
According to the JAM, the resources that the mobile phone 10 can access during execution of this Java AP, such as the data in the JAR file of this Java AP,
The data in the storage area allocated to the Java AP and only resources within a very limited range such as the site of the provider of this Java AP are limited.

As described above, the Java AP which is the management target of the program management service is the Java AP certified by the certification body.
It may be an AP. In the first modification, the authorization server 65 may be installed in the mobile packet communication network 80. Further, the authorization server 65 and the AP management server 50 described in the above embodiment may be the same server. Further, the SDF may be stored in the AP management server 50.

<Modification 2> In the above-described embodiment, A
The P management server 50 creates a report indicating the JavaAP acquisition status and notifies the content provider of the report. However, the AP management server 50
When detecting that the acquisition status of the managed Java AP has changed, the content provider provides a message notifying the content of the change in the acquisition status and the terminal ID 109a or CUID that identifies the mobile phone 10 whose acquisition status has changed. May be notified.

<Modification 3> In the above-described embodiment, the SCF is added to the Java AP that is the management target of the program management service.
However, instead of a file such as SCF, an identifier indicating that the program is managed by the program management service may be added to the Java AP. In this case, the notification destination URL such as download completion described in the SCF may be described in the ADF, or may be notified separately from the AP management server 50 or the content server 70 to the mobile phone 10. Good.

<Modification 4> In the embodiment described above,
The AP management server 50 uses the service charge calculated in step S405 of the report notification process (see FIG. 15),
Information needed to create an invoice for the fee (eg, content provider company name, contact name,
The billing destination) is sent to the charge center that manages the communication charge of the mobile phone 10, and the charge center prints the bill related to the program management service and collects the service charge. May be.

<Fifth Modification> In the master registration process (see FIG. 6) of the above-described embodiment, when the AP management server 50 receives the master registration request from the development machine 75 (step S101), the communication carrier registers the master. Source code inspection and operation confirmation test are performed on the Java AP included in the request to confirm that this Java AP does not cause a malfunction in the mobile phone 10, and the mobile phone 1
It may be possible to examine whether or not malicious operation such as illegally stealing the personal data in 0 and transmitting it to the outside via the network is performed, and the master registration may be performed only for the Java AP that has passed the examination. .

<Modification 6> In the above-described embodiment and modification 1, the order of downloading ADF, SCF, SDF, JAR files, etc. can be arbitrarily changed.
Also, the program provided as content is Java
The program is not limited to a program written in a programming language. Further, in the above-described embodiment and the first modification, the case where the program is provided as the content has been described, but the content may be, for example, image data or a ringing melody other than the program. Further, the content provider may be, in addition to the business operator, an individual user who provides the above-described various contents using a home page, for example.

<Modification 7> In the embodiment described above,
The gateway server 40 and the AP management server 50 are
Although the configuration is set inside the mobile packet communication network 80, of course, the configuration may be set outside the mobile packet communication network 80. In addition, the AP management server 50
It may be configured to be connected to the Internet 60. Similarly, the content server 70 may be directly connected to the gateway server 40 of the mobile packet communication network 80 via a dedicated line, or may be installed in the mobile packet communication network 80. It may be.

<Modification 8> In the above-described embodiment, the case where the mobile phone is used as the communication terminal has been described. However, the communication terminal may be, for example, a PHS (Personal Handyphon).
e System: registered trademark) terminal and PDA (Personal Digital)
Various electronic devices having a communication function such as an assistant), a car navigation device, and a personal computer may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the mobile packet communication network 80 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the mobile packet communication network 80, and may be applied to, for example, a public wireless LAN or a general LAN. Applicable.

[0104]

As described above, according to the present invention, the management device monitors the communication related to the content acquisition by each communication terminal, detects the content acquisition status at each communication terminal, and notifies the content provider. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile phone according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where the mobile phone according to the embodiment has Java
It is a figure for demonstrating the execution environment of AP.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an AP management server according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an AP management server according to the same embodiment.
It is a figure which illustrates the data structure of my box DB stored in HD.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart illustrating operations of the AP management server and the development machine until the Java AP is master-registered as a managed program of the program management service in the AP management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sequence chart illustrating an operation of each unit of the communication system until the link information regarding JavaAP is registered in My Box according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart (No. 1) illustrating an operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads a JavaAP that is a management target of the program management service according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sequence chart (No. 2) illustrating the operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads the JavaAP managed by the program management service according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a screen display example (No. 1) of the mobile phone according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a screen display example (No. 2) of the mobile phone according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a screen display example (No. 3) of the mobile phone according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a screen display example (No. 4) of the mobile phone according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a screen display example (5) of the mobile phone according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of report notification processing executed by a CPU in the AP management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram exemplifying contents of a report created by the AP management server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to a first modification of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a sequence chart illustrating an operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads JavaAP which is a program to be managed by the program management service and is a certification program of a certification body according to the first modification. (Part 1).

FIG. 19 is a sequence chart showing an operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads JavaAP which is a program to be managed by the program management service and is a certification program of a certification body according to the first modification. (Part 2).

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... Communication system, 10 ... Mobile phone, 20 ...
... base station, 30 ... gateway exchange, 40 ... gateway server, 50 ... AP management server, 60 ... Internet, 65 ... authorization server, 70 ... content server, 75 ... development machine, 80 ... Mobile packet communication network, 90 ... Printer, 101 ... Wireless communication section, 101
a ... antenna, 102 ... operation input section, 103 ... call processing section, 104 ... CPU, 105 ... liquid crystal display section,
106 ... storage unit, 107 ... ROM, 108 ... RA
M, 109 ... Nonvolatile memory, 109a ... Terminal I
D, 110 ... Bus, 501 ... Communication interface,
502 ... Operation input section, 503 ... Display section, 504 ...
Printer driver, 505 ... CPU, 506 ... RO
M, 507 ... RAM, 508 ... HD, 508a ...
My Box DB, 508b ... Master Registration DB, 50
9 ... bus.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takatoshi Itagaki             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Hisanori Sawada             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A management device that manages information related to content provided to a plurality of communication terminals by a content provider via a network, monitors communication related to acquisition of the content by each communication terminal, and manages the communication in each of the communication terminals. A first step of detecting the acquisition status of the content; and a second step in which the management device notifies the content provider of the acquisition status of the content detected in the first step.
And a method of notifying the acquisition status of contents. 2. The management device in the first step,
The communication related to the acquisition of the content by each communication terminal is monitored, and the acquisition status of the content in the communication terminal for each communication terminal is one of a plurality of kinds of acquisition statuses prepared in advance according to the content acquisition stage. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting which one of the following applies. 3. The content according to claim 1, wherein the management device performs the processes of the first process and the second process only on the content requested by the content provider. Acquisition status notification method. 4. A process performed between the first process and the second process, wherein the management device, based on an acquisition status of the content detected in the first process, The method further includes a third step of creating a report indicating the acquisition status of the content of each of the communication terminals within a predesignated period, and in the second step, the management device performs the third step. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the report created by the above is notified to the content provider. 5. In the third step, the management device,
Based on the content acquisition status detected in the first process, a report indicating the content acquisition status of each of the communication terminals within the period is created for each predetermined period. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 4. 6. The process, which is performed prior to the first process, wherein the management device provides the content when a content use contract is concluded between the user of the communication terminal and the content provider. Further comprising a fourth step of associating the communication address of the communication device with the terminal identification information for identifying the communication terminal and storing it as link information regarding the content, wherein in the first step, the management device The acquisition status of the content in each of the communication terminals is detected based on the communication performed by each of the communication terminals with the management device in order to obtain the link information for the own terminal. How to notify the acquisition status of the described content. 7. The process performed prior to the first process, further comprising a fifth process in which each communication terminal acquires a communication address of the management device, and the first process comprises: When the management device uses the communication address acquired in the fifth step to perform communication related to acquisition of the content with the management device, the communication device is configured to communicate with the management device based on the communication. 2. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the content acquisition status is detected. 8. The management device performs the processes of the first process and the second process only on the content requested by the content provider, and in the process performed prior to the first process. The management apparatus further includes a sixth step of calculating a fee charged to the content provider as a consideration for managing the acquisition status of the content according to a management period requested by the content provider. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, wherein: 9. The management device performs the processes of the first process and the second process only on the content requested by the content provider, and is a process performed after the second process. The management device further includes a seventh step of obtaining a fee for the period charged to the content provider as a consideration for managing the acquisition status of the content for each predetermined period. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1. 10. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the content is content that has been certified by an accreditation body to meet a certain standard. 11. The content acquisition status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the content is a program executable in each of the communication terminals. 12. A management device that manages information related to content provided to a plurality of communication terminals by a content provider via a network, monitors communication related to acquisition of the content by each communication terminal, and controls the communication in each of the communication terminals. A management device comprising: a detection unit that detects a content acquisition state; and a transmission unit that transmits the content acquisition state detected by the detection unit to a communication device designated in advance by the content provider. . 13. The detecting means monitors communication relating to acquisition of the content by each communication terminal, and the acquisition state of the content at the communication terminal is preliminarily determined according to the content acquisition step for each communication terminal. The management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the management apparatus detects which of a plurality of types of prepared acquisition statuses is applicable. 14. The management device according to claim 12, wherein the management device performs processing by the detection means and the transmission means only on the content requested by the content provider. 15. The apparatus further comprises a creation unit that creates a report indicating the acquisition status of the content of each of the communication terminals within a predetermined period based on the acquisition status of the content detected by the detection unit, 13. The management device according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting unit transmits the report created by the creating unit to a communication device designated in advance by the content provider. 16. The report which shows the acquisition status of the content of each of the communication terminals during the predetermined period based on the acquisition status of the content detected by the detection means, based on the acquisition status of the content. 16. The management device according to claim 15, wherein 17. When a content use contract is concluded between a user of a communication terminal and a content provider, a communication address of a communication device providing the content and terminal identification information for identifying the communication terminal are associated with each other. And further includes a storage unit that stores the content as link information regarding the content, wherein the detection unit is based on communication performed by each communication terminal with the management device to obtain the link information for its own terminal, The management device according to claim 12, wherein the acquisition status of the content in each of the communication terminals is detected. 18. The detecting means detects, when each of the communication terminals has performed communication related to acquisition of the content with the management device, the acquisition status of the content in each of the communication terminals based on the communication. The management device according to claim 12, wherein: 19. The management device performs processing by the detection means and the transmission means only on the content requested by the content provider, and charges the content provider as compensation for managing the acquisition status of the content. The management device according to claim 12, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a charge to be charged according to a management period requested by the content provider. 20. The management device performs processing by the detection means and the transmission means only on the content requested by the content provider, and manages the acquisition status of the content for each predetermined period. 13. The management apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a charge for the period charged to the content provider as a consideration. 21. The management apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the content is content that has been certified as meeting a certain standard by a certification body. 22. The management device according to claim 12, wherein the content is a program executable in each of the communication terminals. 23. A management device that manages information related to content provided by a content provider to a plurality of communication terminals via a network, monitors communication related to acquisition of the content by each communication terminal, and controls the communication in each of the communication terminals. A program for executing a detection function of detecting a content acquisition status and a transmission function of transmitting the content acquisition status detected by the detection function to a communication device designated in advance by the content provider. 24. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 23 is recorded.