JP2003330884A - Time authentication system, network system, server device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately and fairly authenticate a response time to information distributed to a network. <P>SOLUTION: When the information provided form a contents providing part 11 is displayed on a display part 21, the user of a client device 2 inputs a response to the information from an input part 22. An operating time calculation part 23 calculates a time that elapsed before the response is inputted after the information is displayed and, after the time together with the ID of the client device 2 are ciphered by an enciphering part 24, the ciphered data are delivered to a communication schedule part 25. The communication schedule part 25 schedules the transmission of ciphered data to a server device 1. Upon receiving the ciphered data, the server device 1 decodes the data by a decoding part 12. Also, a program audit part 15 audits whether a program for constructing the operating time calculation part 23 provided from a program providing part 16 is altered or not. An operating time authentication part 13 authenticates the response time based on the decoded data and the results of the audit. <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 time authentication system, a network system, a server device applied to the system, a program therefor, which is suitable for authenticating a response time to information provided online. The present invention relates to a recorded recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of computers, various kinds of information have been provided via the Internet. Conventionally, the provision of information via the Internet has generally been one-way from a server device to a client device, but recently, there has been a technique in which a user participates in information provided by two-way communication. Has appeared. When such an interactive system is used, information requiring a user's response, for example, a quiz can be provided as information.

[0003] Here, by taking a step further and measuring the response time from the time when the information is provided to the time when there is a response, for example, a quick-press quiz can be realized. As a method of measuring the response time in such a case,
Conventionally, it has been considered to measure the time from the distribution of information from the server device to the client device via the Internet until the server device receives a response input by the client device to the information. That is, the response time is measured by the server device.

[0004]

However, there is a difference in the time from the distribution of information from the server device to the actual reception of the information by the client device, depending on the condition of the communication path and the performance of the client device. sell. Also, the time from the input of the response from the client device to the actual reception of the response by the server device may differ due to the same problem.

However, in the server device, it is difficult to separate the time required for the communication process via the Internet from the time required for the process in the client device. Therefore, the response time measured by the server device cannot be said to be the time required for the user to input a response, and the measurement result is unfair.

Further, when trying to measure the response time by the above method, the responses from the client devices are concentrated at once and reach the server device. Therefore, the above method also has a problem that an excessive load is applied to the communication path and the server device, communication congestion occurs, and the server device goes down.

As described above, conventionally, there has been no system capable of accurately measuring the time until the user inputs a response from the client device to the information distributed from the server device and collecting the time by the server device. . For this reason, for example, you can test online with a limited time,
It was not possible to carry out a business transaction that is tight in time authentication via a network.

An object of the present invention is to fairly and accurately authenticate the time until a response is input for information distributed via a network.

Another object of the present invention is to collect responses to information distributed via a network without imposing an excessive load on resources such as the network.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the time authentication system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A server device that delivers information that requires a response, and a plurality of client devices that are connected to the server device via a network and that inputs responses to the delivered information, each of the client devices including the server Information receiving means for receiving information distributed from the device via the network, output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, and response input means for inputting a response to the information output by the output means , Time measurement means for measuring the time from the output of information from the output means until the response is input to the response input means, and time data including the time measured by the time measurement means via the network Time data transmitting means for transmitting to the server device, and the server device for time data by the time data transmitting means. And a scheduling unit that schedules the transmission timing to the server device such that the timing at which the server device receives the time data from the plurality of client devices is distributed. Information distribution means for distributing information requiring a response to be received via the network, time data receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the time data transmitting means via the network, and the time Time authentication means for authenticating the time from the output of the information in the client device to the input of the response based on the time data received by the data receiving means.

In order to achieve the above object, the time authentication system according to the second aspect of the present invention is connected to a server device for distributing information requiring a response and the server device via a network for distribution. A plurality of client devices for inputting responses to the information, a relay device existing on the network between the server device and the client device, and relaying transmission of time data from the client device to the server device; The client device includes an information receiving unit that receives information distributed from the server device via the network, an output unit that outputs the information received by the information receiving unit, and an output unit. Response input means for inputting a response to the output information, and the response after the information is output from the output means And a time data transmitting means for transmitting time data including the time measured by the time measuring means to the server device via the network. The server device transmits information requiring a response to be received by the information receiving device of the client device via the network, and information transmitted from the time data transmitting device via the network. Time data receiving means for receiving time data, and time authentication means for authenticating the time from the output of information to the input of a response in the client device based on the time data received by the time data receiving means. And the relay device stores the time data sent from the time data transmitting means to the network. The means for transmitting the time data received by the means to the server device from the network, and the timing of transmission of the time data by the means to the server device, from the plurality of client devices to the server device. It is characterized by comprising a scheduling means for scheduling such that the timings of receiving the time data of are distributed.

[0012] For example, the server device causes a client device to include, via a network, a time measurement program for measuring a response time of a user to the information requiring the response and the information requiring the response at the client device. An information distribution means for distributing, receiving time data and the time measurement program from the client device, determining whether the transmitted time measurement program and the received time measurement program match, and if they match, Alternatively, the received time data may be authenticated as valid.

In order to achieve the above object, a server device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a server device connected to a client device via a network, and the client device is provided with information that requires a response. Information distribution means for distributing, via a network, a time measuring program for measuring a response time of a user to information requiring a response in the client device, and a response transmitted from the time data transmitting means via the network. And a time for authenticating the time from the output of the information requiring a response to the input of the response in the client device based on the time data received by the time data receiving means and the time data received by the time data receiving means. Authentication means, and time data from the client device and the time measurement program Is received, and it is determined whether or not the transmitted time measurement program and the received time measurement program match, and if they match, the received time data is authenticated as valid. .

[0014] The information distribution means may be provided to a plurality of client devices or relay devices on a network so that the timings of receiving time data from a plurality of client devices are distributed together with the information and the time measuring program. A scheduling program for scheduling the timing for transmitting time data to the server device is transmitted.

The time measurement program is, for example, a non-reexecutable program.

In order to achieve the above object, a network system according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of client devices which are connected to a server device via a network and input a response to information distributed from the server device. A relay device that is connected to the server device and the client device via a network and relays transmission of time data from the client device to the server device, wherein the client device includes: An information receiving means for receiving information distributed from the server device via the network, an output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, and a response for inputting a response to the information output by the output means The response after the information is output from the input means and the output means Time measuring means for measuring the time until a response is input to the force means, and time data transmitting means for transmitting time data including the time measured by the time measuring means to the server device via the network. The relay device comprises means for receiving the time data transmitted from the time data transmitting means to the network, means for transmitting the time data received by the means to the server device, and the means. A scheduling unit that schedules the transmission timing of the time data to the server device so that the timing at which the server device receives the time data from the plurality of client devices is distributed, and an overload of the server device is prevented. While the information is being output on the client device by the server device, Response was to allow authentication of time until the input, characterized in that.

To achieve the above object, a recording medium according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a client device in which a computer is connected to a server device via a network, and the computer device connects the computer to the server device via the network. Information receiving means for receiving information distributed to a plurality of client devices, output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, and response input means for inputting a response to the information output by the output means. Time measurement means for measuring the time from the output of the information from the output means to the input of the response to the response input means, and the time data including the time measured by the time measurement means via the network. Time data transmitting means for transmitting to the server device, and transmission of time data by the time data transmitting means to the server device Scheduling means for scheduling iming so that timings at which the server device receives time data from the plurality of client devices are distributed, and the client device by the server device prevents the server device from being overloaded. The computer program for functioning as a client device is characterized in that the authentication from the time the information is output to the time the response is input is recorded.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the time authentication system according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this time authentication system is composed of a server device 1 and a plurality of client devices 2 connected to the server device 1 via the Internet 3.

The server device 1 is composed of a general-purpose computer system including a processor, a memory, a communication device, etc., and has a content providing unit 11, a decrypting unit 12, an operation time authenticating unit 13, a result processing unit 14, and a program inspecting unit 15. The program providing unit 16, the system adjusting unit 17, and the communication processing unit 18 have respective functions.

When the content providing unit 11 needs the client device 2 logically connected to the server device 1 to store the content previously stored in the fixed disk or the like according to the instruction from the result processing unit 14, With modifications
provide. The provided content is passed to the communication processing unit 18 and distributed to the client device 2. The content provided by the content providing unit 11 includes information that requires the user of the client device 2 to input a response to the content, as described later.

The decryption unit 12 decrypts encrypted capsule data, which will be described later, received by the communication processing unit 18 from the client device 2, and passes it to the operation time authentication unit 13. The operation time authentication unit 13 authenticates the operation time (described later) in the client device 2 based on the content of the decrypted data and the inspection result by the program inspection unit 15.

The result processing section 14 gives the content providing section 11 an instruction for adjusting the information provided as the content, according to the result of the operation time authentication section 13 authenticating the operation time in the client device 2.

The program inspecting section 15 includes a communication processing section 18
Decompresses the program capsule data, which will be described later, received from the client device 2, and uses this to decompress it.
By comparing with the program provided by No. 6, the provided program is inspected for unauthorized alteration.
The program inspection unit 15 passes the inspection result to the operation time authentication unit 13.

The program providing unit 16 provides an operation time measurement program, an encryption program, and a scheduling program (all will be described later) to the client device 2 logically connected to the server device 1. These programs to be provided are delivered to the communication processing unit 18 and distributed to the client device 2.

The system adjusting section 17 includes a content providing section 11, a program inspecting section 15, and a program providing section 16.
Control the behavior of. Specifically, the content providing unit 11
The program providing unit 16 is caused to provide the operation time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program prior to providing the information requiring the response as the content. Further, when the program inspecting unit 15 inspects the validity of the program, the program providing unit 16
The program inspection section 15 to hand over the program.

The communication processing unit 18 includes the content providing unit 11
And the operation time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program provided by the program providing unit 16 are transmitted to the client device 2 via the Internet 3. Communication processing unit 18
Also, the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data (both of which will be described later) transmitted from the client device 2 via the Internet 3 are received and passed to the decryption unit 12 and the program inspection unit 15, respectively.

The client device 2 is composed of a terminal device including a processor, a memory, an input device, a display device, a communication device, etc., and has a display unit 21, an input unit 22, an operation time calculation unit 23, an encryption unit 24, a communication schedule. Part 2
5, each function of the program management unit 26 and the communication processing unit 27 is provided.

The display unit 21 displays the content provided by the content providing unit 11 of the server device 1. The display unit 21 uses the display switching input from the input unit 22 as a trigger to switch the content of the displayed content from the information as it is on the initial page to the information that the user needs to respond to.

The input unit 22 inputs a display switching input for switching the content of the content displayed on the display unit 21 by a user operation. The input unit 22 also inputs a response to information that requires a response displayed as content in response to a user operation.

The operation time calculation unit 23 is constructed by a time calculation program managed by the program management unit 26,
For example, an internal timer is used to calculate a time (hereinafter, referred to as an operation time) from a time when the user of the client device 2 performs a start operation to the input unit 22 to a response operation.
The operation time calculation unit 23 uses the calculated operation time as the encryption unit 2
Pass to 4.

The encryption unit 24 is constructed by an encryption program managed by the program management unit 26, and uses the operation time passed from the operation time calculation unit 23 as the content identification information and the identification information of the client device 2 or its user. If necessary, it is combined with the information indicating the input response and encrypted. Hereinafter, this encrypted data will be referred to as encrypted capsule data. The encryption unit 24
Communication schedule unit 2 uses the generated encrypted capsule data
Pass to 5.

The communication schedule unit 25 is constructed by a scheduling program managed by the program management unit 26, and stores the encrypted capsule data transferred from the encryption unit 24 and the program capsule data (described later) transferred from the program management unit 26. The transmission timing to the server device 1 is scheduled.

The program management unit 26 manages the operation time calculation program, the encryption program and the scheduling program provided by the program providing unit 16 of the server device 1 and received by the communication processing unit 27, and operates using these programs. The time calculation unit 23, the encryption unit 24, and the communication schedule unit 25 are constructed. The program management unit 26 also combines the program with the identification information of the content and the identification information of the client device 2 or the user thereof when the processing for calculating the operation time or the encryption is performed, and Compress. Hereinafter, this compressed program is referred to as program capsule data.
The program management unit 26 passes the generated program capsule data to the communication schedule unit 25.

The communication processing unit 27 receives the content and each program transmitted from the server device 1 via the Internet 3, and passes them to the display unit 21 and the program management unit 26, respectively. The communication processing unit 27 also transmits the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data passed from the communication schedule unit 25 to the server device 1 via the Internet 3.

The operation of the time authentication system according to this embodiment will be described below. First, the processing executed to authenticate the operation time in each of the server device 1 and the client device 2 that constitute this time authentication system will be described.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing in the server device 1 of FIG. When distributing information that requires a user's response as content to the connected client device 2, first, the program providing unit 1
6 provides the time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program, and causes the communication processing unit 18 to transmit them (step S101).

Next, the content providing unit 11 provides information that needs to be answered by the user and is stored in the fixed disk device or the like in advance, and all the client devices 2 connected to the server device 1 are provided. Is sent to the communication processing unit 18 (step S102).

Thereafter, the server device 1 has the communication processing unit 18
The process of waiting for reception of the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data from the client device 2 is started.
That is, the receiving operation of the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data from the client device 2 is continued for a predetermined time in consideration of the transmission schedule set by the distributed scheduling program and the delay time of communication on the Internet 3 ( Step S103,
S104).

When a predetermined time of waiting for reception has elapsed, in the server device 1, the decryption unit 12 decrypts each of the received encrypted capsule data and passes it to the operation time authentication unit 13 (step S105). Further, the program inspecting unit 15 decompresses each of the received program capsule data,
By comparing with the program provided by the program providing unit 16, whether or not the program used for measuring the operation time in the client device 2 is authentic is inspected, and the inspection result is passed to the operation time authenticating unit 13 ( Step S106).

Next, the operation time authentication unit 13 authenticates the operation time measured by the client device 2 based on the decrypted capsule data and the inspection result of the program inspection unit 15. Specifically, when the encrypted capsule data can be correctly decrypted and the audit result indicates that the programs match, the operation time measured by the client device 2 is authenticated as valid (step S10).
7).

Next, the result processing unit 14 receives the authentication result of the operation time in the operation time authentication unit 13 and performs a predetermined process based on it (step S108). Then, based on the result of the processing, it is determined whether or not the content of the content provided by the content providing unit 11 needs to be updated (step S109).

When it is necessary to update the content, the result processing section 14 passes the processing result to the content providing section 11, and based on this, the content providing section 1
1 updates the content (step S11)
0). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.
On the other hand, if it is not necessary to update the content, the process of this flowchart is ended.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing in the client device 2 of FIG. First, the communication processing unit 27 receives the time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program distributed from the server device 1 in step S101, and passes them to the program management unit 26 (step S201). Program management unit 2
6 receives the time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program from the communication processing unit 27, the operation time calculation unit 2 based on the respective programs.
3, the encryption unit 24 and the communication schedule unit 25 are constructed (step S202).

Next, the communication processing unit 27 causes the step S10.
2 receives the content distributed from the server device 1,
It is passed to the display unit 21 (step S203). Display unit 21
Displays the received content. However, although the received content includes information that requires a response from the user, such information is not displayed on the display unit 21 at this stage (step S20).
4).

Next, the user of the client device 2 operates the input unit 22 to perform display switching input (step S).
205). The input unit 22 determines whether or not there is a display switching input (step S206). Until the display switching input is made, the processes of steps S205 and S206 are repeated.

When it is determined that the display switching input has been made, the input unit 22 transfers information indicating that to the operation time calculation unit 23 and the display unit 21. As a result, the operation time calculation unit 23
Acquires the current time measured by the internal timer (step S207), and the display unit 21 switches the display to display the information requiring the user's response (step S208).

Next, the user of the client device 2 operates the input unit 2 according to the displayed information to input a response (step S209). The input unit 22 determines whether this response is input (step S21).
0). Until a response is input, steps S209, S
The processing of 210 is repeated.

When it is determined that the response is input, the input unit 2
2 passes information indicating that fact to the operation time calculation unit 23.
As a result, the operation time calculation unit 23 acquires the current time counted by the internal timer (step S211) and calculates the operation time by obtaining the difference between the current time and the time acquired in step S207. Then, the calculated operation time is passed to the encryption unit 24 (step S212).

Next, the encryption unit 24 is operated by the operation time calculation unit 2
The operation time received from 4 is combined with the identification information of the content and the identification information of the client device 2 or its user, and if necessary, the information indicating the response input from the input unit 22 in step S209. Then, the encryption unit 24 encrypts the combined information to generate encrypted capsule data, and passes the encrypted capsule data to the communication schedule unit 25 (step S213).

Further, the program management unit 26 uses the program actually used to calculate the operation time used to construct the operation time calculation unit 23 and the encrypted capsule data used to construct the encryption unit 24. Get the required module from the program used to generate. And
The program management unit 26 compresses the acquired module to generate program capsule data, and transfers it to the communication scheduling unit 25 (step S214).

When the encrypted capsule data is received from the encryption unit 24 and the program capsule data is received from the program management unit 26, the communication scheduling unit 25 determines whether or not the transmission timing set by the scheduling program has been reached ( Step S2
15). Until the transmission timing, this step S
The processing of 215 is repeated.

When it is determined that the transmission timing has come, the communication schedule unit 25 sends the encrypted capsule data received from the encryption unit 24 and the program capsule data received from the program management unit 26 to the communication processing unit 27.
From the server to the server device 1 via the Internet 3 (step S216). Then, the process of this flowchart is ended.

Hereinafter, in the time authentication system according to this embodiment, the server device 1 to the client device 2
The flow from distribution of information to authentication of the operation time of each client device 2 for the information will be described based on the timing chart of FIG. Here, it is assumed that four client devices 2 from A to D are connected to the server device 1, and the time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program are distributed in advance, and the four client devices 2 from A to D are distributed.
It is assumed that the operation time calculation unit 23, the encryption unit 24, and the communication schedule unit 25 are built in.

At time 0, the server device 1 delivers the information, which requires the user's response, as the content to the four connected client devices 2 (indicated by ◯ in the figure). The distributed information will be received by the communication processing unit 27 of each client device 2 via the Internet 3, but the communication path on the Internet 3 and the communication processing unit 27 (more specifically, the communication that constitutes this). The time required for the four client devices A to D to complete the reception of information is 4t, 3t, and 2, respectively, due to the difference in the performance of the devices).
t and 2t (indicated by ● in the figure).

At this stage, in each of the client devices A to D, information requiring a response is not displayed on the display section 21, and each user needs to perform display switching input from the input section 22. . Here, it is assumed that the time at which the display switching is input by the four client devices A to D is 7t, 6t, 5t, and 4t, respectively (indicated by ♦ in the figure). Only at this point of time, the information that requires a response is displayed on the display unit 21 of each of the four client devices A to D.

Next, the user of each of the client devices A to D operates the input unit 22 based on the information displayed on the display unit 21 to input a response. Where 4 from A to D
It is assumed that the time at which the response is input by one of the client devices 2 is 20t, 20t, 19t, 19t (indicated by ⋄ in the figure). As a result, the operation time calculation units 23 of the four client devices 2 A to D respectively
t, 14t, 14t, and 15t are obtained as the operation time.

Next, four client devices 2 of A to D
The encryption unit 24 generates the encrypted capsule data including the calculated operation time and passes it to the communication schedule unit 25. In addition, the program capsule data also includes the communication schedule unit 2.
Passed to 5. The communication scheduling unit 25 of each of the client devices A to D schedules the transmission timing and transmits the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data to the server device 1 at 27t, 30t, 24t, and 21t, respectively (in the figure, (Shown by Δ).

The server device 1 receives the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data transmitted from the respective client devices A to D, depending on the length of the communication path on the Internet 3 and the situation thereof, 31t and 33t, respectively.
It is received at t, 26t, and 23t (indicated by ▽ in the figure). Then, in the server device 1, the operation time authentication unit 13 sets the operation time of each of the four client devices A to D to 13t, 14t, 14t, based on the received encrypted capsule data and program capsule data. 1
Authenticate as 5t.

As can be seen from the above description, the temporal order in which the response is input from the input unit 22 in each client device 2 is C and D (simultaneous) and A and B (simultaneous). The temporal order in which the server apparatus 1 receives the data from each client apparatus 2 is D, C, A, and B. However, the operation time in each client device 2 authenticated by the server device 1 is equal to the time from the display switching input to the input of the response, in the order of A, B and C (simultaneous), and D.

The time when a response is input from the input unit 22 in each of the client devices A to D is 20.
Although very close to t, 20t, 19t, and 19t, the time required for the server apparatus 1 to receive the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data from each of the client devices A to D by the scheduling by the communication scheduling unit 25 is 31t. , 33t, 26t, 23t are dispersed.

As described above, according to the time authentication system of this embodiment, from the time when the information that requires a response is displayed on the display unit 21 to the time when the response is input from the input unit 22. The operation time is calculated by the operation time calculation unit 23 built in the client device 2. Therefore, depending on the performance of the communication path of the Internet 3 and the communication processing unit 27 of the client device 2,
Even if there is a delay in the time until the distributed information is displayed on the display unit 21 or there is a delay in the time until the data is returned to the server device 1, in the server device 1, the actual time in the client device 2 is reduced. Only the operation time can be authenticated. Therefore, the operation time authentication unit 13 can accurately and fairly authenticate the time from the output of information to the input of a response.

Further, a program inspecting section 15 is provided in the server device 1 to inspect whether the program or the like for which the operation time has been calculated in the client device 2 has been altered. As a result, it becomes possible to authenticate an illegally calculated operation time as a valid operation time, so that the operation time authentication unit 13 can more accurately determine the time from the output of information to the input of a response. And can be authenticated fairly.

Further, the encryption unit 24 is constructed by the encryption program distributed from the server device 1 to the client device 2, and the data including the operation time calculated by the operation time calculation unit 23 is encrypted. As a result, the operation time data can be prevented from being tampered with on the Internet 3, and the operation time authentication unit 13 can more accurately and fairly authenticate the time from the output of the information to the input of the response. can do.

Further, in the time authentication system according to the present embodiment, the scheduling program is distributed from the server device 1 to the client device 2, and the communication schedule unit 25 is built in the client device 2. Then, the constructed communication schedule unit 25 is used by the server device 1
The transmission of encrypted capsule data and program capsule data to the client is scheduled. Therefore, the server device 1 does not concentrate the reception of the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data, so that the server device 1 and the communication path connected thereto are not overloaded and the system is down. It is possible to prevent the situation that it ends up.

In particular, in the time authentication system according to this embodiment, the data transmitted from the client device 2 to the server device 1 is determined as a time measurement result, and is encrypted encrypted capsule data. In, the data is suitable for scheduling the transmission timing.

In many cases, the time measured by the internal timer of the client device 2 does not match. However, since the operation time calculation unit 23 acquires the time when the display switching input is made and the time when the response is inputted from the internal timer and obtains the difference as the operation time, the internal timer counts the time. There is no problem caused by the discrepancy in the time of execution. Further, since the internal timer usually measures the time by a crystal pulse oscillator whose oscillation cycle is quite accurate, a problematic error does not occur during the time from the display switching input to the response input.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications are possible. Hereinafter, a modification of the time authentication system according to the above embodiment will be described.

In the above embodiment, the operation time calculation unit 2
In No. 3, the operation time is calculated by acquiring the time measured by the internal timer when there is a display switching input from the input unit 22 and when there is a response input, and obtaining the difference between them. However, obtaining the operation time is not limited to this method. For example, the operation time calculation unit 23 may include a counter that counts up or counts down at predetermined time intervals. It is possible to compare the length of operation time by simply using the count value of this counter.

In the above-described embodiment, the display switching input from the input unit 22 is used as a trigger to display information requiring a response on the display unit 21. However,
The display of information requiring a response is not limited to the case where such input is used as a trigger.

In the above embodiment, the server device 1 is used to verify that the operation time measurement is not fraudulent.
The program inspecting section 15 is provided to inspect the program or the like used to construct the operation time calculating section 23 of the client device 2. On the other hand, in order to prevent fraud in the measurement of the operation time, the program providing unit 16 of the server device 1 measures the time immediately before the content providing unit 11 provides the information requiring the response. The program may be provided and the time measurement program may not be re-executable.

In the above-described embodiment, the program management unit 26 only compresses the necessary modules of the program used to construct the operation time calculation unit 23 and the like, and generates the program capsule data, to thereby establish the communication schedule. I handed it to part 25. On the other hand, the program management unit 2
The program capsule data generated by
It may be encrypted before being passed to the communication schedule unit 25. Further, the program management unit 26 may pass the program capsule data to the communication scheduling unit 25 without compressing or encrypting it, especially when the data amount is small.

In the above embodiment, the server device 1 is
The content including the information that requires a response is to be delivered all at once to all the client devices 2 that are also logically connected via the Internet 3. However, the server device 1 may deliver the content including the information that requires a response when the client device 2 makes a request.

In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the program for constructing the operation time calculation unit 23, the encryption unit 24 and the communication schedule unit 25 in the client device 2 is distributed from the server device 1 via the Internet 3. I was there. However, these programs
It may be provided by being stored in a recording medium such as a D-ROM. In this case, the server device 1 includes an encryption key used when the encryption unit 24 performs encryption and a communication schedule unit 25.
The information indicating the transmission schedule according to the above can be transmitted to the client device 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the content providing unit 11 provides information requiring a response and the program providing unit 16 provides the operation time calculation program, the encryption program, and the scheduling program separately. I was trying. However, such information and a program may be delivered as one piece from the server device 1 to the client device 2 via the Internet 3.

For example, contents that operate on browser software, information that requires a response, and Java (registered trademark) S
It is also possible to realize the above-mentioned time authentication system by configuring the program including both programs described in cript and the like and executing this under the control of the browser software of the client device 2. This content is
It is stored in the fixed disk of the server device 1, read from there, and delivered to the client device 2. Also in this case, the program related to the time measurement
It can be non-redoable.

In the above embodiment, the time authentication system will be described on the assumption that there is only one type of information that requires a response and that the user of the client device 2 inputs the response once. It was However, it is also possible to realize a type in which there are a plurality of types of information that require a response and the user must enter the response multiple times. For example, when display switching input is performed from the input unit 22, information that requires a plurality of types of responses is sequentially displayed on the display unit 21 and the user is prompted to input a response to each information. Alternatively, when a display switching input is made, the first information that requires a response is displayed on the display unit 21, and the next information is displayed on the display unit 21 each time a response is input from the input unit 22. And
The operation time calculation unit 23 acquires the time measured by the internal timer at the stage when all the responses are input, and obtains the difference between this time and the time acquired when the display switching input is made. The operation time may be calculated.

In the above-described embodiment, the communication schedule unit 25 is built in the client device 2 and the server device 1 for the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data is constructed.
The client device 2 schedules the transmission timing to the client device 2. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the relay device 4 provided on the communication path between the client device 2 and the server device 1 schedules the transmission timing of the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data. Good.

In this case, the server device 1 may distribute the scheduling program to the relay device 4 so that the communication schedule unit is built in the relay device 4. Then, the relay device 4 receives the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data transmitted from the client device 2, the communication schedule unit schedules the transmission timing of the encrypted capsule data and the program capsule data, and transmits them to the server device 1. it can.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the client-server system connected via the Internet 3 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is directed to a client-server system or LAN connected via a closed commercial network.
It can also be applied to a client-server system connected via (Local Area Network).
Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a case where a mobile phone network is used as a network and a mobile phone is used as a client device.

Further, the time authentication system described above is
It can be applied to various network systems that provide services through networks such as the Internet. Hereinafter, an example of a network system to which the time authentication system described above is applied will be described.

First, the above-mentioned time authentication system can be applied in order to realize a quick-press quiz by bidirectional communication utilizing a network system. That is, the question of the quiz distributed from the server device is displayed on the client device, the time from the display until the answer is input is measured, and the person who has the shortest time among the correct answers is recognized as the winner of the quiz. You can

Secondly, the above-mentioned time authentication system can be applied when a quiz or test is conducted with a time limit. That is, the time from when the question is presented on the client device until the answer is input is measured, and the answer is validated only when the server device determines that the measured time is within the time limit. You can In this case, a plurality of questions may be provided and an answer for each question may be sought.

Thirdly, in the auction, when there is competition in bidding at the same price for the purchase of goods, the above time authentication system can be applied to determine the winning bidder. That is, the time from when the new offer price is displayed on the client device together with the information indicating the intention to bid and the information indicating the intention to bid is input,
The person with the shortest time can be determined as the winning bidder. Also, when selling only the first X items,
It can be applied similarly.

Fourthly, in the processing in which the operation time has a deadline,
The time authentication system described above can be applied. For example, in the case of selling an item handled in online shopping only when the user intends to purchase the item within a predetermined time, the item information is displayed on the client device and then the intention to purchase the item is displayed. It is possible to measure the time until the information is input and to sell the product only to the person who can authenticate that this time is within the predetermined time in the server device.

Fifth, the above time authentication system can be applied to the process of canceling a specific operation within the time limit. For example, in online securities trading, if a cancellation input is made within a predetermined time for a decision to buy or sell, the cancellation is permitted. In this case, the time measured by the internal timer at the time of inputting the information indicating the buying and selling decision and the input of the cancellation in the client device may be acquired, and the time between them may be measured.

Sixthly, by configuring the input unit 22 using a special input device, the above-mentioned time authentication system can be applied even in the case of determining the determination of the exercise ability. For example, by measuring the time from the display of a specific movement instruction until the user completes the input according to the instruction, and by authenticating this in the server device,
It is also possible to determine the athletic ability based on the authenticated time.

[0088]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It becomes possible to accurately and fairly authenticate the time from the output of information to the input of a response.

By encrypting the time data including the measured time, it is possible to prevent the time data from being tampered with on the network or the like.

Further, by scheduling the transmission timing of time data, it is possible to prevent the system from going down due to an excessive load on resources such as a network.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a time authentication system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the server device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the client device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a flow of time authentication in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a time authentication system according to a modification of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 server device 2 Client device 3 Internet 4 Repeater 11 Content Provider 12 Decoding section 13 Operation time authentication section 14 Result processing section 15 Program Audit Department 16 Program Provider 17 System adjustment section 18 Communication processing unit 21 Display 22 Input section 23 Operation time calculator 24 Encryption part 25 Communication Schedule Department 26 Program Management Department 27 Communication processing unit

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Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A server device that delivers information that requires a response, and a plurality of client devices that are connected to the server device via a network and that inputs responses to the delivered information. , An information receiving means for receiving information distributed from the server device via the network, an output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, and a response to the information output by the output means, respectively. Response input means, a time measuring means for measuring the time from the output of the output means until the response is input to the response input means, and time data including the time measured by the time measuring means. Time data transmitting means for transmitting to the server device via the network; and time data transmitting means for transmitting time data by the time data transmitting means. Scheduling means for scheduling the transmission timing of data to the server device so that the timing at which the server device receives time data from the plurality of client devices is distributed. Information delivery means for delivering, via the network, information requiring a response to be received by the information receiving means, and time data reception for receiving time data transmitted from the time data transmission means via the network Means and a time authenticating means for authenticating a time from the output of the information in the client device to the input of the response based on the time data received by the time data receiving means. Time authentication system. 2. A server device that delivers information that requires a response, a plurality of client devices that are connected to the server device via a network and that inputs responses to the delivered information, the server device and the client. A relay device that is present on a network between the device and a relay device that relays the transmission of the time data from the client device to the server device, and the client device, respectively, via the network from the server device. Information receiving means for receiving the distributed information, output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, response input means for inputting a response to the information output by the output means, and information from the output means Time measuring means for measuring the time from the output until the response is input to the response input means; Time data transmitting means for transmitting time data including time measured by the interval measuring means to the server device via the network, wherein the server device needs a response to be received by the information receiving means of the client device. And information received by the time data receiving means, an information distributing means for distributing the information via the network, a time data receiving means for receiving time data transmitted from the time data transmitting means via the network, and A time authentication unit that authenticates the time from the output of information in the client device to the input of a response based on time data, wherein the relay device is transmitted from the time data transmission unit to the network. Means for receiving the time data, and the time data received by the means from the network. Scheduling means for scheduling the means for transmitting to the server device and the timing of transmission of the time data by the means to the server device so that the timing at which the server device receives the time data from the plurality of client devices is distributed. A time authentication system comprising: 3. The server device includes, in a client device, a time measurement program for measuring a response time of a user to the information requiring the response and the information requiring the response in the client device via a network. Information delivery means to deliver,
And receiving the time data and the time measurement program from the client device, determining whether the transmitted time measurement program and the received time measurement program match, and if they match, the received time data is The time authentication system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time authentication system is authenticated as legitimate. 4. A server device connected to a client device via a network, the client device measuring the response time of a user to information requiring a response and information requiring a response at the client device. With a time measurement program,
Based on the time data received by the time data receiving means, the information distributing means for distributing via the network, the receiving means for receiving the response and the time data transmitted from the time data transmitting means via the network A time authentication means for authenticating the time from the output of information requiring a response in the client device to the input of a response, and the time data and the time measurement program are received from the client device and transmitted. A server device, characterized in that it determines whether or not the time measurement program and the received time measurement program match, and if they match, authenticates the received time data as valid. 5. The information distributing means distributes timings of receiving time data from a plurality of client devices together with the information and the time measuring program,
The server device according to claim 4, wherein a scheduling program for scheduling the timing of transmitting the time data to the server device is transmitted to the plurality of client devices or the relay device on the network. 6. The server device according to claim 4, wherein the time measurement program is a non-reexecutable program. 7. A plurality of client devices connected to a server device via a network and inputting a response to information distributed from the server device, and the client device and the client device connected via the network. A network system comprising a relay device that relays transmission of time data from a device to the server device, wherein the client device receives information distributed from the server device via the network. Receiving means, output means for outputting the information received by the information receiving means, response input means for inputting a response to the information output by the output means, and response input means after the information is output from the output means Time measuring means for measuring the time until a response is input to the Time data transmitting means for transmitting time data including the time measured by the setting means to the server device via the network, the relay device being the time data transmitted to the network from the time data transmitting means. Means for transmitting the time data received by the means to the server device from the network, and the transmission timing of the time data to the server device by the means, the server device is configured to transmit the time data to the server device. Scheduling means for scheduling so that the timing of receiving time data from
And prevent the server device from being overloaded,
A network system characterized in that it is possible to authenticate the time from the output of information on the client device to the input of a response. 8. A client device in which a computer is connected to a server device via a network, and information receiving means for receiving information distributed from the server device to a plurality of client devices via the network, An output unit that outputs the information received by the information receiving unit, a response input unit that inputs a response to the information output by the output unit, and a response is input to the response input unit after the information is output from the output unit Time measuring means for measuring the time until the time is measured, time data transmitting means for transmitting time data including the time measured by the time measuring means to the server device via the network, and time by the time data transmitting means The transmission timing of data to the server device is determined by whether the server device is the plurality of client devices. Scheduling means for scheduling so that the timings of receiving these time data are distributed, and preventing overload of the server device by the server device,
A recording medium recording a computer program for functioning as a client device, which is capable of authenticating a time period from when information is output to when a response is input at the client device.