JP2003308645A - Additional information read/write system, additional information read/write method, additional information read/write program, computer-readable program storage medium storing additional information read/write program, id/additional information distribution apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reproduce an optical disk while revising contents of the disk in various ways even in the case of the contents having the same title so as to stimulate a customer's desire to buy optical disks. <P>SOLUTION: The additional information read/write system 41 has an ID/additional information distribution apparatus 20 including: ID/additional information management means 16, 32 for managing IDs postscribed to optical disks and additional information for updating contents read from each of the optical disks 3; and a distributing unit 34 for distributing the IDs and the additional information corresponding to the IDs, and a drive system 11 including: a transmitting and receiving unit 28 for transmitting the IDs read from the optical disk 3 to the ID/additional information distribution apparatus 20 and receiving the additional information distributed from the ID/additional information distribution apparatus 20; and a playback/control unit 22 for playing back contents while adding the additional information read from the recording medium for recording the additional information to contents of the disk or revising the contents. <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 an additional information recording / reproducing system and an additional information recording / reproducing system having a drive device for reproducing an ID and additional information from an additional information distribution device while adding the contents or changing the contents. The present invention relates to a recording / reproducing method, an additional information recording / reproducing program, a computer-readable program storage medium recording the additional information recording / reproducing program, and an ID and an additional information distribution device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of the information industry in recent years, various content data (hereinafter referred to as "content") are distributed in a state of being stored in a recording medium such as an optical disk. The contents include, for example, electronic data regarding copyrighted works, such as electronic data regarding movies, music, and videos. When such a content is reproduced by a drive device (not shown), it is displayed on a display device provided in the drive device or is output as audio by an audio output device. For example, if there are a plurality of conventional optical discs and the same title content is recorded in each, the same content is reproduced from each optical disc. In other words, in the conventional optical disc, if the content has the same title, the customer can only enjoy the determined uniform content.

[0003]

However, in the case of the content having the fixed uniform content as described above, when a plurality of optical disks in which the content of a certain title is recorded are owned by a friend, the operation ends first. It is conceivable that the content will be understood from the information provided by the person concerned and the interest will be halved. Moreover, since the same title has the same content, it is common sense that one household or individual purchases a plurality of the same title.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and even if the contents have the same title, by changing the contents, an additional information recording / reproducing system, an additional information recording / reproducing method, and an additional information recording / reproducing method can be added. An object is to provide an information recording / reproducing program, a computer-readable program storage medium recording the additional information recording / reproducing program, and an ID and additional information distribution device.

[0005]

According to the invention of claim 1, the above object is to add or change the identification number (individual ID) additionally recorded on the optical disk and the content reproduced from the optical disk. Management means for managing additional information for each of the identification numbers attached to the optical disc, and an ID and an additional information distribution device having a distribution means for distributing the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number. An individual ID recording device having a transmitting / receiving means for requesting and receiving the identification number to the ID and additional information distribution device, and an additional writing means for additionally writing the received identification number to the optical disc, and the identification number read from the optical disc Is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device, and is also transmitted from the ID and the additional information distribution device. A drive device having a transmitting / receiving means for receiving the additional information, and a reproducing means for reproducing the additional information read from a recording medium in which the received additional information is recorded while adding the additional information to the content or changing the content. This is achieved by an additional information recording / reproducing system characterized by comprising: Claim 1
According to this configuration, first, the ID and the identification number distributed by the additional information distribution device are additionally recorded on the optical disc by the individual ID recording device. Next, the customer's drive device reads the identification number attached to the optical disk, and the read identification number is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device. The additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is managed for each identification number, and is delivered to the drive device in association with the received identification number. This drive device is
D and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device are received and recorded in a recording medium. And the drive device
The additional information read from the recording medium is added while being added to the contents, or the contents are changed and reproduced.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the structure of claim 1, the content is software relating to a game. According to the configuration of claim 2, in addition to the operation of claim 1, game contents recorded in a plurality of optical discs on which software related to the game is recorded and which are sold in plural are reproduced.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the additional information is information about another development that replaces a development of a part of the game. According to the configuration of claim 3, in addition to the operation of claim 1, a development of a part of the game is replaced with another development of each optical disc, so that, for example, a customer who purchases a plurality of discs gets tired. You can enjoy it without.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, the additional information is information regarding a character or an appearance item of the game. According to the structure of claim 4, in addition to the operation of claim 1, the characters or characters of the game can be changed or added to each of the optical discs, so that, for example, a customer who purchases a plurality of images can enjoy it without getting tired. be able to.

The above object is, in the invention of claim 5,
In the individual ID recording device, an additional recording step of additionally recording the ID and the identification number (individual ID) distributed by the additional information distribution device on the optical disc, and a drive device for reproducing the content from the optical disc having the identification number, A reading step of reading the identification number; a transmitting step of transmitting the identification number to the ID and the additional information distribution device; and a step of adding to the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc in the ID and the additional information distribution device, or A distribution step of distributing additional information managed for each identification number for changing it to the drive device in association with the identification number; and the ID and additional information distribution device in the drive device. Recording step of receiving the additional information distributed from and recording it on a recording medium And a reproducing step of reproducing the additional information read from the recording medium while adding the additional information to the content of the content or changing the content of the content in the drive device. Is achieved. According to the configuration of claim 5, first, the ID and the identification number distributed by the additional information distribution device are additionally recorded on the optical disc by the individual ID recording device. Next, the customer's drive device reads the identification number attached to the optical disk, and the read identification number is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device. The additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is managed for each identification number, and is delivered to the drive device in association with the received identification number. The drive device receives the ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device,
Record on a recording medium. Then, the drive device reproduces while adding the additional information read from the recording medium to the content or changing the content.

The above object is, in the invention of claim 6,
In the ID and additional information distribution device, an identification number (individual ID) additionally recorded on the optical disc and the identification number attached to the optical disc with additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc. The individual ID recording device requests the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number. Then, the drive device functions as a transmitting / receiving unit for receiving the received identification number and as a write-once unit for additionally writing the received identification number on the optical disc, and the drive device transmits the identification number read from the optical disc to the ID and the additional information distribution device. , The ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device And transmitting and receiving means for receiving the additional information, and reproducing means for reproducing the additional information read from a recording medium in which the received additional information is recorded while adding the additional information to the content or changing the content. This is achieved by the additional information recording / reproducing program. According to the configuration of claim 6, first, the ID
The identification number distributed by the additional information distribution device is additionally recorded on the optical disc by the individual ID recording device. Next, the customer's drive device reads the identification number attached to the optical disk, and the read identification number is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device. The additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is managed for each identification number, and is delivered to the drive device in association with the received identification number.
The drive device receives the ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and records the additional information on a recording medium. Then, the drive device reproduces while adding the additional information read from the recording medium to the content or changing the content.

The above object is, in the invention of claim 7,
In the ID and additional information distribution device, an identification number (individual ID) additionally recorded on the optical disc and the identification number attached to the optical disc with additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc. The individual ID recording device requests the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number. Then, the drive device functions as a transmitting / receiving unit for receiving the received identification number and as a write-once unit for additionally writing the received identification number on the optical disc, and the drive device transmits the identification number read from the optical disc to the ID and the additional information distribution device. , The ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device And transmitting and receiving means for receiving the additional information, and reproducing means for reproducing the additional information read from a recording medium in which the received additional information is recorded while adding the additional information to the content or changing the content. This is achieved by a computer-readable program storage medium characterized in that the additional information recording / reproducing program is recorded. According to the structure of claim 7, first, the ID and the identification number distributed by the additional information distribution device are additionally recorded on the optical disc by the individual ID recording device. Next, the customer's drive device reads the identification number attached to the optical disk, and the read identification number is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device. The additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is managed for each identification number, and is delivered to the drive device in association with the received identification number. The drive device receives the ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and records the additional information on a recording medium. Then, the drive device reproduces while adding the additional information read from the recording medium to the content or changing the content.

The above object is, in the invention of claim 8,
A drive device that distributes identification information (individual ID) for additional recording to an optical disc to an individual ID recording device, and also reproduces the additional information for adding to or changing the contents reproduced from the optical disc. And an additional information delivery device for delivering to the optical disc, the ID and the additional information managing means for managing the identification number attached to the optical disc and the additional information corresponding to each identification number, and the individual ID recording device. The identification number according to the request sent by the individual ID
And an additional information distribution device, which distributes to the recording device, and distributes the additional information corresponding to the identification number read from the optical disc by the drive device to the drive device. Achieved by According to this claim 8, first, the ID
The identification number distributed by the additional information distribution device is additionally recorded on the optical disc by the individual ID recording device. Next, the customer's drive device reads the identification number attached to the optical disk, and the read identification number is transmitted to the ID and the additional information distribution device. The additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is managed for each identification number, and is delivered to the drive device in association with the received identification number.
The drive device receives the ID and the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and records the additional information on a recording medium. Then, the drive device reproduces while adding the additional information read from the recording medium to the content or changing the content.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention,
Although various technically preferable limitations are given, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these forms unless otherwise specified in the description below.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of an additional information recording / reproducing system 41 including an optical disc 3 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The additional information recording / reproducing system 41 is at least the server 20 (I
D and additional information distribution device) and a store server 18 (individual ID recording device), and a drive device 1 owned by the customer
Including 1. The additional information recording / reproducing system 41 has a function of providing additional information to the drive device 11 for the customer to reproduce the content from the optical disc 3, for example. This additional information is, for example, information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced in the drive device 11.

The store server 18 includes a display means 4 and an individual I.
The D writer 6, the control means 8 and the communication means 10 are provided as software (individual ID recording program). Needless to say, the display unit 4, the individual ID writer 6, the control unit 8, and the communication unit 10 may be wholly or partially configured by hardware instead of software.

The optical disc 3 has a structure in which a predetermined content is recorded in its program area, and the content is reproduced by the drive device 11 of the customer. Further, the optical disc 3 has an individual ID (IDentification) as a unique identification number.
Is attached. (In the following description, an individual ID is used instead of an identification number.) For example, the optical disc 3 is manufactured in large quantities by copying contents having the same content.

The optical disc 3 is, for example, a read-only optical disc, but the optical disc 3 is not limited to this and may have a write-once area so that predetermined information can be additionally recorded. An example of the optical disc 3 having such an additional recording area is, for example, a DVD (Digital Versa).
Tile Disc: trade name) BCA (Burst)
A method such as Cutting Area) is defined, and in addition to this, there are techniques disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-173781 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-269100. According to this technique, a normal ROM (Read
Since the data can be reproduced by the Only Memory drive, it can be recorded in the program area (additional recording area).

Content is already recorded on the optical disc 3, and no additional information is recorded. Although the details will be described later, the additional information is recorded on an information recording medium such as the hard disk 26 built in the drive device 11. Further, it goes without saying that the additional information may be constantly recorded in the non-volatile information recording medium or may be temporarily recorded in the volatile information recording medium. Also,
In the following description, it is assumed that the content recorded on the optical disc 3 is game-related software (hereinafter referred to as “game software”).

The control means 8 has a function of judging whether or not the individual ID is already recorded on the optical disc 3.
The control means 8 also records the individual ID so that the individual ID is recorded when the individual ID is not recorded on the optical disc 3.
Control the D-writer 6.

The selling server 20 is the store server 1
When there is a request for an individual ID from 8, the required number of individual I
It has a function of delivering D to the store server 18. Further, the sale source server 20 has a function of, when a customer requests additional information, searching for additional information corresponding to the individual ID of the optical disc 3 owned by the customer and delivering it to the drive device 11 of the customer.

The selling server 20 has at least the database 16 and the communication means 34 as software (additional information management program), and preferably the communication means 1
2. The database control unit 14, the authentication unit 30, and the database control unit 32 are provided as software (ID and additional information management program). In addition, these communication means 12, database control means 14, database 1
Needless to say, the authentication unit 30, the database control unit 32, and the communication unit 34 may be wholly or partially configured by hardware instead of software.

The communication means 12 has a function of performing data communication with the communication means 10 on the dealer server 18 side, and the communication means 34 performs data communication with the communication means 28 on the drive device 11 side. Have a function. The database control means 14 and 32 each have a function of performing control such as data search, update, addition, and deletion with the database 16. Further, the authentication means 30 has a function of authenticating the optical disc 3 of the customer.

The database 16 manages individual IDs and additional information so as to correspond to the manufactured optical disc 3. This additional information is information that can give individuality to each of the optical discs 3 storing the same content.

The database 16 may be managed so that a plurality of parameters (additional information) are associated with one individual ID as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, one different scene (additional information) may be managed so as to correspond to each individual ID. Specifically, this additional information is, for example, information on the development of a part of the game for each individual ID. In this way, each optical disc 3 becomes a scene in which the development of a part of the game becomes a scene obtained by the additional information, so that the content is developed, for example, even if the customer purchases a plurality of optical discs 3, they will not get tired of each. You will be able to enjoy the contents of.

Further, it goes without saying that the additional information may instead be, for example, information about the characters or the characters appearing in the game. In this way, the characters or characters in the game can be changed or added to each optical disc 3, so that customers who have purchased a plurality of discs can enjoy it without getting tired.

The drive device 11 also has at least a communication unit 28 and a reproduction / control unit 22 as software (additional information recording / reproduction program), a hard disk 26, and preferably a display unit 24.

The communication means 28 has a function of performing data communication with the communication means 34 on the selling source server 20 side as described above. The reproduction / control unit 22 controls the display unit 24, the hard disk 26, and the communication unit 28, and has a function of reproducing the content from the optical disc 3. The reproducing / control means 22 also has a function of reading the individual ID from the optical disc 3 to which the individual ID is attached.
The playback / control means 22 may be connected to a network (not shown) at all times, and may be configured to exchange information at any time.

The reproduction / control means 22 obtains additional information from, for example, the selling server 20 via the communication means 28,
It has a function of recording on a hard disk 26 as an example of an information recording medium. The reproduction / control means 22 has a function of adding the additional information read from the hard disk 26 to the contents of the game software (content) on the optical disc 3 or reproducing the contents while changing the contents. Incidentally, the communication means 28 and the reproduction / control means 22.
Needless to say, all or part of the above may be configured by hardware instead of software.

The display means 24 has a function of performing a predetermined display based on the game software reproduced from the optical disk 3 by the reproduction / control means 22. This display means 4
For example, liquid crystal display, organic EL (Electro
Luminescence), CRT (Cathode
Ray Tube).

2 to 6 are diagrams showing examples of individual IDs and additional information. The additional information shown in FIGS.
For example, it is assumed that the database 16 in FIG. 1 is managed for each individual ID. 2 and 3 are information in which the individual IDs already recorded on the optical disc 3 by the control means 8 are managed, respectively.
In No. 6, the same management is performed. That is, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are diagrams showing examples of whether or not the individual IDs are used in the optical discs 3 sold for each store, for example. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the individual ID already recorded on the optical disc 3 is applicable, “●” is shown in the “use” column. The information as to whether or not the used individual ID is used for authentication by the authentication means 30, for example.

For example, a list of individual IDs assigned to each store is as shown in FIGS. Here, for example, it is determined that each retailer is identified by the first four characters of the individual ID and the title is identified by the next one character. By using the remaining five numbers as serial numbers, it becomes possible to assign a completely unique number to each store or title.
The database 16 can manage which individual ID has already been used, for example, by providing a use column and checking.

At this time, a sufficient individual ID may be sent to the store server 18 in advance, but instead, a disk is purchased and the individual ID writer 6 is used.
It is also possible to exchange with the server each time you use and get an individual ID. By doing so, it becomes possible for the distributor side to know the actual number of purchased discs in real time. In addition, it is possible to give the merit that the sale source server 20 side can grasp the actual sales amount for each store and the number of sales for each title in real time. By doing so, such information can be obtained in real time, so that the selling server 20 can make a sales strategy.

The additional information is information for allowing a character as a character in the content to be changed or added as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

Further, the additional information may be information for enabling addition of a part of the scenes developed in the content as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the additional information is information for causing characters (characters) having the same power, attack power, and defense power to appear in the game when, for example, the end numbers of individual IDs are the same. It may be.

Further, as the additional information, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to weight the occurrence probability of the characters and the appearing characters appearing in the content by the individual IDs. By doing so, it is possible to create a character with a rare value (low occurrence probability), and it is possible to increase the commercial value of the optical disc 3 in which the content is recorded. Also, the customer can enjoy various characters.

The additional information recording / reproducing system 41 has the above-mentioned configuration. Next, an operation example (an example of the additional information recording / reproducing method) will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for recording the individual ID on the optical disc 3. In step ST1, for example, an unrecorded optical disc 3 having an individual ID is set.
Next, in step ST2, it is determined whether or not the individual ID already exists on the optical disc 3. If it is determined that this individual ID already exists, the recording process of the individual ID is stopped in step ST3. On the other hand, in step 4, the individual ID is recorded in the additional recording area of the optical disc 3, for example. Next, in step ST5, the individual ID attached to the optical disc 3 is confirmed. Therefore, for example, when a customer purchases the optical disk 3, the retailer attaches the individual ID to the optical disk 3.

Needless to say, the individual ID may be recorded in advance at the disc factory instead of being attached when the optical disc 3 is purchased. Further, if the drive device 11 or a set top box having almost the same function as the drive device 11 is provided with the individual ID recording function, the individual ID can be attached to the optical disc 3 by an individual, for example.

As described above, the individual ID is assigned to the optical disc 3.
Is attached. Next, the issue management of this individual ID will be described. The store server 18 is connected to the selling server 20 via a network (not shown), and the communication means 1
0 has a function of performing data communication with the communication means 12 on the selling source server 20 side. This store server 1
8, the individual ID to be attached to the optical disc 3, for example, can be obtained from the selling server 20. In other words, the sale-source server 20 manages the individual IDs assigned to the optical discs 3 so as not to overlap, and has a function of issuing a unique individual ID at the request of the store server 18.

In the store server 18, for example, a sufficient number of individual IDs are allocated in advance. However, if there is a shortage, the selling server 20 is sold via a network (not shown).
Is configured to request an additional individual ID.

The individual ID is issued and managed as described above. Next, an example of a procedure when the optical disk 3 is reproduced by the customer will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure when the content of the optical disc 3 is reproduced. The case where the content of the optical disc 3 is game software will be described below.

In step ST11, the customer reproduces the purchased optical disk 3 by the drive device 11, and the drive device 11 accesses the content. Specifically, the drive device 11 is, for example, a personal computer, plays the optical disc 3 purchased by the customer, and starts playing the game. In addition, this drive device 11
Needless to say, is not limited to a personal computer, and may be, for example, a game device that can be connected to a network (not shown) or an electronic device such as a set top box.

Next, in step ST12, when additional information is required, for example, when the game starts or when the game is in progress, new additional information is required. At this time, the additional information may be, for example, information for making a new character appear, or may be information for developing a new scene, for example.

First, in step ST13, the drive device 11 reads the individual ID of the optical disc 3. Next, in step ST14, for example, it is determined whether or not the additional information is already recorded on the hard disk 26, that is, whether or not the additional information has been acquired. If the additional information has already been obtained, the drive device 11 reads it from the hard disk 26,
The process is continued while adding the additional information to the game contents or changing the game contents (step ST15).

If not obtained, the drive device 11 is automatically connected to a network (not shown) by the communication means 28, and for example, the URL (Uniform Resource) of the server 20 that sells the content is used.
Access to Locator (step ST1)
6).

Next, in step ST17, the individual ID of the optical disk 3 is transmitted from the drive device 11 to the sale-source server 20 via a network (not shown) in response to a request from the sale-source server 20, for example. The selling source server 20 authenticates the transmitted individual ID by authenticating means 30.
(Step ST18).

If the individual ID is not authenticated, an error message is output in step ST19 and the work is stopped. If the individual ID is successfully authenticated by the authenticating means 30, in step ST20, the selling server 20 manages the database 16 for managing additional information.
To search for related additional information corresponding to the individual ID.

Next, in step ST21, the retrieved additional information is transmitted to the customer's drive device 11 side via a network (not shown), is temporarily stored in the hard disk 26 in step ST22, and then is stored in step ST23.
Then the game continues.

At this time, the associated additional information may be prepared for each individual ID.
By doing this, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
One character and development scene will be assigned to one. At this time, each character has different characteristics (for example, different power), so that customers can enjoy the game with it, and if it is a development scene, even if the disc of the same title has a different story You can enjoy the development.

A limited number of additional information may be prepared. Specifically, as the additional information, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to prepare 10 characters including the individual numbers 0 to 9 of the individual ID. Therefore, if the end of the individual ID is the same, the same character is assigned. Further, the additional information can be weighted with respect to its occurrence probability as shown in FIG. That is, according to this additional information, it is possible to create a character that appears at a certain frequency even if there is a character (character or appearance) that rarely appears.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a different character for each optical disk 3 and to stimulate the user's desire to own by having a rare character due to the difference in the occurrence probability. be able to. As a result, it becomes possible to promote sales by having one customer purchase a plurality of discs having the same title.

The above-mentioned additional information does not necessarily have to be recorded in the hard disk or the like, and may be acquired under a constant connection environment in the world where broadband has spread. Further, in the above embodiment, the individual ID is set in the store server 18, but it is also possible to set the individual ID in the disc manufacturing factory in advance. Also, the optical disc 3
Needless to say, the individual IDs may be personally recorded in a managed state by a predetermined method so that the individual IDs do not overlap.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, even in the optical disc 3 having the content of the same title, the reproduced content can be different for each disc, and the content individuality can be provided. Therefore, the plurality of optical discs 3 having the same title and the same content can be made to have different personalities, and the enjoyment can be given to the customer. Further, by doing so, it is possible to stimulate the customer's willingness to purchase, and thus it is possible for one customer to purchase a plurality of optical disks 3 having the content of the same title, thereby promoting sales of the optical disks 3. be able to.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, when the drive device 11 is a game machine other than a PC,
Similarly, the hard disk 26 of the drive device 11 can be replaced with a removable recording medium such as a memory card, CD-R / RW, DVD ± R / RW / RAM or the like.

As a program storage medium used to install the program for executing the above-described series of processes in a computer so that the program can be executed by the computer, a flexible disk such as a floppy (registered trademark) or a CD-ROM is used. ROM (Compac
t Disc Read Only Memory),
DVD (Digital Versatile Dis)
Not only the package medium such as c) but also a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk in which the program is temporarily or permanently stored may be realized.

As means for storing the program in these program storage media, wired and wireless communication media such as local area networks, the Internet and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and various communication interfaces such as routers and modems may be interposed. You may make it store it.

Further, the above-mentioned additional information recording / reproducing system 41 may be provided with a drive device capable of reading at least the data such as the program in the program storage medium. Further, it goes without saying that the program for exhibiting the above-mentioned functions may be in a form not only stored in the program storage medium but also data-transmitted via various communication means such as the Internet. Nor.

A part of each structure of the above-mentioned embodiment can be omitted, or can be arbitrarily combined differently from the above.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Record additional information recording / reproducing system, additional information recording / reproducing method, additional information recording / reproducing program, and additional information recording / reproducing program that can change the content of the same title and arouse customer's willingness to purchase. It is possible to provide the computer-readable program storage medium and the ID and additional information distribution device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration example of an additional information recording / reproducing system including an optical disc as a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an individual ID.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an individual ID.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of additional information.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of additional information.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of additional information.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of additional information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure for recording an individual ID on an optical disc.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure when content on an optical disc is reproduced.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 ... Individual ID writer (additional writing means), 11 ... Drive device, 14 ... Database control means (individual ID)
Management means), 16 ... Database (ID and additional information management means), 18 ... Distributor server (individual ID recording device), 20 ... Distributor server (ID and additional information distribution device), 22 ... ..Playback / control means (playback means), 26 ... Hard disk (recording medium), 10 &
28 ... Communication means (transmission / reception means), 32 ... Database control means (additional information management means) 12 & 34 ...
Communication means (distribution means), 41 ... Additional information recording / reproducing system

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Aida Kiri             6-7-35 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Sony Disc Technology (72) Inventor Akie Sugiyama             6-7-35 Kitashinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo Stocks             Company Sony Disc Technology F-term (reference) 2C001 BA06 BA07 CB01 CB02 CB03                       CB08 CC01                 5C052 AA01 AA02 AC08 DD10                 5D044 AB02 BC05 CC04 DE49 DE53                       EF05 FG18 GK12 HL11    (54) [Title of Invention] Additional information recording / reproducing system, additional information recording / reproducing method, additional information recording / reproducing program, additional information recording                     A computer-readable program storage medium storing a recording / playback program, and an ID and                     And additional information distribution device

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An identification number (individual I
D), management means for managing, for each of the identification numbers attached to the optical disc, additional information for adding to or changing the contents of the content reproduced from the optical disc, and the identification number and the identification number. An ID and an additional information distribution device having a distribution unit that distributes the corresponding additional information, a transmission / reception unit that requests and receives the identification number from the ID and the additional information distribution device, and adds the received identification number to the optical disc. Individual ID with additional writing means
The recording device and the identification number read from the optical disc
D and the additional information distribution device, and the ID
And a transmission / reception unit for receiving the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and adding or changing the content of the additional information read from the recording medium recording the received additional information to the content. An additional information recording / reproducing system comprising: a drive device having a reproducing means for reproducing the information. 2. The additional information recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the content is software related to a game. 3. The additional information recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is information on another development that replaces a development of a part of the game. 4. The additional information recording / reproducing system according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is information regarding a character or an appearance item of the game. 5. In the individual ID recording device, the identification number (individual ID) distributed by the ID and the additional information distribution device.
To the optical disc, a reading step of reading the identification number in a drive device for reproducing content from the optical disc having the identification number, and the identification number to the ID and the additional information distribution device. And a transmission step of transmitting the ID and the additional information managed for each identification number for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc by the ID and the additional information distribution device. And a recording step of receiving the additional information distributed from the ID and the additional information distribution device in the drive device and recording the additional information in a recording medium, The device reads the additional information read from the recording medium from the contents. Additional information recording and reproducing method characterized by comprising a reproduction step of reproducing and while or while changing the Contents added to. 6. The ID and additional information distribution device adds an identification number (individual ID) additionally recorded on the optical disc and additional information for adding or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc to the optical disc. Functioning as a management unit that manages each of the identification numbers that have been generated, and as a distribution unit that distributes the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number. The drive device functions as a transmission / reception unit for requesting and receiving the identification number and as a write-once unit for additionally writing the received identification number on the optical disc.
D and the additional information distribution device, and the ID
And a transmission / reception means for receiving the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and adding the additional information read from the recording medium recording the received additional information to the content or changing the content. An additional information recording / reproducing program characterized by causing it to function as a reproducing means for reproducing the information. 7. The ID and additional information distribution device attaches an identification number (individual ID) additionally recorded on the optical disc and additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc to the optical disc. Functioning as a management unit that manages each of the identification numbers that have been generated, and as a distribution unit that distributes the identification number and the additional information corresponding to the identification number. The drive device functions as a transmission / reception unit for requesting and receiving the identification number and as a write-once unit for additionally writing the received identification number on the optical disc.
D and the additional information distribution device, and the ID
And a transmission / reception means for receiving the additional information distributed from the additional information distribution device, and adding the additional information read from the recording medium recording the received additional information to the content or changing the content. A computer-readable program storage medium having an additional information recording / reproducing program recorded thereon, which is characterized by causing it to function as a reproducing means for reproducing. 8. The identification information (individual ID) for additional recording on the optical disc is distributed to the individual ID recording device, and the additional information for adding to or changing the content of the content reproduced from the optical disc is added to the content. An ID and additional information distribution device for distributing to the drive device for reproducing the ID, which manages the identification number attached to the optical disc and the additional information corresponding to each of the identification numbers, and additional information management means, The identification number is distributed to the individual ID recording device by a request transmitted by the individual ID recording device, while the additional information corresponding to the identification number read from the optical disc by the drive device is provided to the drive device. An ID and additional information distribution device having a distribution means for distributing.