JP2004164440A - Data distribution system, server device to be used for the system, method for distributing data, and data distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten communication time required for the purchase of contents and to enable a user to view required contents any time freely. <P>SOLUTION: Contents selected by clients 101, 102 are transferred from a contents DB 24 of a server 103 to a user's data storage part 27 and registered, and then the contents registered in the user's data storage part 27 are distributed from the server 103 to the clients 101, 102 in accordance with a request outputted at optional timing, so that necessity for downloading and recording purchased contents to and in the clients 101, 102 at the purchase of the contents can be eliminated. Since required contents are registered in the user's data storage part 27, the required contents can be freely received and viewed any time without duplicate charge of the same contents. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a data distribution system, a server device used for the system, a data distribution method, and a data distribution program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, media of various standards, such as CDs (Compact Discs) and DVDs (Digital Video Discs), exist as music sources and video sources. When viewing these source data, the media is directly inserted into a dedicated playback device such as a CD player or a DVD player for playback.
[0003]
It is also possible to record or record the source data of a CD or DVD on another medium such as an MD (Mini Disc), a cassette tape, a video tape, or a semiconductor memory. After recording on another medium, it can be played back using a playback device dedicated to that medium.
[0004]
Recently, a reproducing apparatus equipped with a hard disk has also been provided. In this type of playback device, it is possible to connect a communication device such as a mobile phone, download music data or video data from an external server, record it on a hard disk, and play it back. Further, it is also possible to perform streaming reproduction in which the reproduction device side sequentially reproduces data while receiving data (for example, see Patent Document 1). Usually, such downloading of music or video or streaming reproduction is managed by a specific service provider, and data distribution is charged.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-357222 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when performing playback using a dedicated playback device, there is a problem in that media must be brought to a viewing location one by one. For example, when listening to a CD indoors using a home audio device, listening to a CD outdoors using a portable playback device, or listening to a CD in a vehicle using an on-board device, hold a CD at each viewing location. I had to go and was very troublesome. In addition, it is necessary to switch the source one by one in order to view desired music or video, and the operation is complicated.
[0007]
On the other hand, when music data and video data are downloaded from an external server to the playback device and played back, the amount of data to be downloaded is large and communication takes time, so playback starts after the download to the hard disk is completed. There was a problem that it took a lot of time before. In this regard, in the case of streaming reproduction of music data and video data, the reproduction can be started without waiting for a very long time.
[0008]
However, in the streaming reproduction method, in order to receive data distribution on the reproduction apparatus side, it is necessary to perform a data purchase procedure each time, and billing is performed each time. Therefore, for example, even if the data is once downloaded to a personal computer (personal computer) at home, when the same data is later downloaded to the vehicle-mounted device, the billing is performed again. Therefore, there is a problem that the user cannot freely view desired data at any time.
[0009]
If the data downloaded to the personal computer is once copied to a semiconductor memory such as a memory card and transferred from the semiconductor memory to the hard disk of the vehicle-mounted device, only one charge is required at the time of downloading. However, the data to be downloaded may be provided with a copy protection function. In this case, the data cannot be copied, so that the transfer from the personal computer to the vehicle-mounted device cannot be performed at all.
[0010]
Even when data is not copy-protected, data with a large data amount or a large amount of data cannot be transferred due to the limitation of the capacity of the semiconductor memory. Further, even if the transfer can be performed, it is necessary to perform the copy operation from the personal computer to the semiconductor memory and from the semiconductor memory to the hard disk of the vehicle-mounted device many times, which is very troublesome.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and it is possible to obtain desired music or video without complicated operation of bringing media to a viewing location one by one or switching sources one by one. The purpose is to be able to watch.
In addition, the present invention avoids a lot of communication time when purchasing music data and video data, and allows the user to freely select desired music and video at any time without being charged twice for the same music and video. The purpose is to be able to watch.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, a user recording area is prepared in advance on the server device side in response to a request from the client device. At this time, a billing process is performed according to the capacity of the area to be secured. Then, in response to a request given from the client device to the server device, the content selected by the client device is acquired from the content storage means storing various contents and registered in the user recording area. Further, in response to a request given from the client device to the server device at an arbitrary timing thereafter, the content registered in the user recording area is distributed from the server device to the client device.
[0013]
According to the present invention configured as described above, when an instruction to purchase desired content is issued from the content list presented by the server device, the purchased content is automatically stored in a user recording area secured in advance in the server device. be registered. As a result, it is not necessary to download and record the purchased content to the client device, and it is not necessary to worry about the time required for the communication at all. Further, the trouble of uploading once downloaded content to the user recording area of the server device can be omitted.
[0014]
Further, according to the present invention, if desired content is registered in the user recording area of the server device, the content can be freely received and viewed from the client device at any time. You will not be charged for each time.
[0015]
Further, according to the present invention, a client device at an arbitrary location can freely receive and reproduce desired content registered in advance in a user recording area of a server device at any time. You don't have to bring it. Furthermore, when the content is reproduced on the client device, the desired content may be selected and notified to the server device, and it is not necessary to perform the source switching operation one by one.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a data distribution system according to the present embodiment.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the data distribution system according to the present embodiment includes a personal computer 101 and an in-vehicle device 102 used by a user, and a server 103 such as a service provider, and these are wired via a network such as the Internet 110. Alternatively, it can be connected wirelessly.
[0018]
The server 103 includes a recording area 104 prepared for each user. _-1 , 104 _-2 ,..., And a folder 105 for music, video, etc. is provided in each user recording area. _-1 , 105 _-2 ,... Are formed.
In FIG. 1, a personal computer 101 and an in-vehicle device 102 correspond to a client device of the present invention, and a server 103 corresponds to a server device of the present invention.
[0019]
Here, the personal computer 101 and the in-vehicle device 102 are used as client devices, but only one of them may be used. Further, any electronic device having a communication interface that can be connected to the server 103 or an electronic device that can be connected to a relay having the communication interface can be used as a client device. For example, mobile devices such as a notebook computer, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a digital camera, a video camera, and a game machine may be used as the client device.
[0020]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the client device and the server device. As shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer 101 and the on-vehicle device 102, which are client devices, include a transmission / reception unit 11, a CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, a plurality of decoders 15, an amplifier 16, a display control unit 17, an operation unit 18, a speaker 19, and a monitor. 20.
[0021]
The transmitting and receiving unit 11 transmits and receives data to and from the server 103. The data to be transmitted to the server 103 includes personal information of the user (name, address, telephone number, credit card number for billing, etc.) input through an input screen displayed on the monitor 20, and content selection information. is there. The data that the transmission / reception unit 11 receives from the server 103 includes a list of contents that can be selected by the clients 101 and 102, data of a content selected from the list, and the like.
[0022]
The CPU 12 controls the entirety of the clients 101 and 102. The ROM 13 stores various programs. The RAM 14 temporarily stores data obtained in the course of various processes and data obtained as a result of various processes. The above-described CPU 12 performs various processes necessary for receiving and reproducing the content desired by the user according to various programs stored in the ROM 13 while using the RAM 14 as a work memory.
[0023]
A plurality of decoders 15 are provided corresponding to a plurality of types of media such as CDs, SACDs, DVDs, MDs, radios, and televisions. One of the plurality of decoders 15 selectively operates according to the medium of the data received from the server 103, and decodes and outputs the data. When the decoded data is audio data, the amplifier 16 converts the audio data into an analog audio signal, amplifies the analog data by a predetermined amount, and outputs the amplified signal from the speaker 19.
[0024]
When the data decoded by the decoder 15 is video data, the display control unit 17 controls the video data to be displayed on the monitor 20. The display control unit 17 also controls a user registration screen, a content list screen, and the like presented from the server 103 to be displayed on the monitor 20.
[0025]
Here, an example in which a plurality of types of decoders 15 are provided corresponding to various types of media has been described. However, one decoder that performs a decoding process according to a decoding program in the ROM 13 is provided, and a plurality of types of decoders corresponding to a plurality of types of media are provided. The program may be stored in the ROM 13 and a decoding program corresponding to the medium may be selectively applied to the one decoder to perform the decoding process. In this case, only one decoder is required, and the hardware configuration can be simplified. Further, it is possible to easily cope with a new standard medium only by changing or adding a program.
[0026]
In addition, the server 103 converts the content selected by the user into data in a predetermined format (for example, a compressed file in the MP3 format for audio and an MPEG4 format for video), and converts the converted data into the clients 101 and 102. May be transmitted. In this case, the decoder 15 may be one that supports only MP3 and MPEG4. In the case of such a configuration, the clients 101 and 102 do not need to have a decoder or a decoding program corresponding to a large number of media, and the configuration can be further simplified.
[0027]
The operation unit 18 includes a remote controller (remote controller), a touch panel display on a monitor 20, and the like. The user uses the operation unit 18 to input the personal information of the user on the user registration screen displayed on the monitor 20. The operation unit 18 is also used to select and purchase desired content on the content list screen displayed on the monitor 20. The user's personal information and content selection information input using the operation unit 18 are transmitted to the server 103 via the transmission / reception unit 11 as described above.
[0028]
Next, the server 103 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 21, an information registration unit 22, a user information storage unit 23, a content database (DB) 24, a list presentation unit 25, a data registration unit 26, a user data storage unit 27, a content acquisition unit 28, It comprises a purchase processing unit 29, a charging processing unit 30, and a charging DB 31.
[0029]
The transmission / reception unit 21 transmits and receives data to and from the clients 101 and 102. For example, the transmission / reception unit 21 receives the user's personal information and content selection information transmitted from the personal computer 101. The transmitting / receiving unit 21 transmits a list of contents selectable by the clients 101 and 102, data of the content selected from the list, and the like.
[0030]
The information registration unit 22 registers the personal information of the user sent from the personal computer 101 in the user information storage unit 23. The content DB 24 stores various contents prepared on the server 103 side. The content to be stored includes music data sourced from a CD, SACD, MD, cassette tape, etc., video data sourced from a DVD, video tape, etc., music files compressed in a format such as MP3 (MPEG-Audio Layer 3), There are various types such as a video file compressed in a format such as MPEG.
[0031]
The list presenting unit 25 presents a list of contents that can be selected by the user when purchasing the content to the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 via the transmitting / receiving unit 21 based on the data stored in the content DB 24. The list presenting unit 25 also transmits a list of contents that can be viewed by the user to the clients 101 and 102 via the transmission / reception unit 21 based on data registered in a certain user recording area of the user data storage unit 27. On the monitor 20.
[0032]
The data registration unit 26 acquires the purchased content from the content list from the content DB 24 and registers it in the user data storage unit 27. The user data storage unit 27 stores a different recording area for each user (the user recording area 104 in FIG. 1). _-1 , 104 _-2 ,...) Are secured in the server 103 in advance in response to requests from the clients 101 and 102. The data registration unit 27 stores the content purchased by each user in each recording area.
[0033]
The content acquisition unit 28 acquires the content selected by the clients 101 and 102 and notified via the transmission / reception unit 21 from the user data storage unit 27. The transmission / reception unit 21 transmits the content acquired by the content acquisition unit 28 to the requesting clients 101 and 102.
[0034]
The purchase processing unit 29, when notified through the transmission / reception unit 21 that any content has been selected from the content list, performs a purchase process of the selected content. The purchase processing here is the same processing as online shopping (electronic commerce) using the Internet.
[0035]
That is, the selected content is put into a virtual shopping basket, and a fee or the like is presented on the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 to confirm the user. Then, when the user is confirmed, the charging processing unit 30 performs a charging process according to the content of the content (for example, 800 yen for CD quality and 300 yen for MP3 format).
[0036]
The billing processing unit 30 uses the billing DB 31 to perform a billing process according to the capacity of the area to be reserved when the clients 101 and 102 make an application for the rental service of the user recording area. Further, when the desired content is purchased as described above, the charging processing unit 30 performs the charging process according to the content of the purchased content. This billing process is automatically executed based on the user's personal information stored in the user information storage unit 23.
[0037]
The functions of the clients 101 and 102 and the server 103 shown in FIG. 2 are actually provided with a CPU or an MPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like of the computer, and the programs stored in the RAM and the ROM are operated. realizable. Therefore, the present invention can be realized by recording a program that causes a computer to perform the functions of the present embodiment on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, and reading the program into the computer.
[0038]
As a recording medium for recording the program, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a DVD, a nonvolatile memory card, and the like can be used in addition to the CD-ROM. Further, the present invention can also be realized by downloading the program to a computer via a network such as the Internet 110.
[0039]
Further, the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized not only by the computer executing the supplied program, but also the program cooperates with an operating system (OS) or other application software running on the computer. When the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, or when all or a part of the processing of the supplied program is performed by a function expansion board or a function expansion unit of a computer to realize the functions of the above-described embodiments. Such a program is also included in the embodiment of the present invention.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the data distribution system according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an initial registration operation performed between the personal computer 101 and the server 103.
[0041]
In FIG. 3, the user accesses the homepage provided by the server 103 from the personal computer 101 to apply for the rental service of the recording area (step S1). According to the input screen of a predetermined format displayed on the homepage, the user inputs personal information using the operation unit 18 and registers the personal information in the user information storage unit 23 (step S2).
[0042]
When the registration of the personal information is completed, the server 103 secures a user recording area of a predetermined capacity in the user data storage unit 27 (step S3). At this time, folders for music and video are also created in the secured user recording area. The capacity of the user recording area can be increased or decreased as desired by the user.
[0043]
When the user recording area is secured, the billing processing unit 30 performs a billing process according to the capacity secured as the user recording area (step S4). Finally, the server 103 issues an ID and a password to the registered user (step S5), and ends the initial registration operation. Note that the above-described user registration operation may be performed from the vehicle-mounted device 102.
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a content purchase operation performed between the clients 101 and 102 and the server 103. In FIG. 4, when an ID and a password are input from the clients 101 and 102 to log in to the server 103 and access a predetermined URL (Uniform Resource Locator) (step S11), the list presenting unit 25 is stored in the content DB 24. A list of contents that can be purchased by the user is presented on the monitor 20 of the client 101 or 102 based on the stored data (step S12).
[0045]
In response to this, the user uses the operation unit 18 to select a desired content from the list presented on the monitor 20 (Step S13). When the desired content is selected, the purchase processing unit 29 performs a predetermined purchase process on the content, and the charging processing unit 30 performs a charging process according to the content of the content (step S14). Then, the data registration unit 26 acquires the purchased content from the content DB 24 and registers it in the corresponding user recording area of the user data storage unit 27 (step S15).
[0046]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a content distribution operation performed between the clients 101 and 102 and the server 103. In FIG. 5, when an ID and a password are input from the clients 101 and 102 to log in to the server 103 and a predetermined URL is accessed (step S21), the list presenting unit 25 stores the log-in user in the user data storage unit 27. A list of contents registered in the user recording area corresponding to is displayed on the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 (step S22).
[0047]
In response to this, the user uses the operation unit 18 to select desired content from the list presented on the monitor 20 (Step S23). When the desired content is selected, the transmission / reception units 11 of the clients 101 and 102 request the server 103 to transmit the selected content (step S24).
[0048]
The content acquisition unit 28 of the server 103 acquires the requested content from the user data storage unit 27 and transmits the requested content to the clients 101 and 102 via the transmission / reception unit 21 (Step S25). Then, in the clients 101 and 102, the content transmitted from the server 103 is received by the transmission / reception unit 11, and is decoded and reproduced by the decoder 15 corresponding to the medium (step S26).
[0049]
In the present embodiment, since the content purchased by the user is recorded in the user data storage unit 27 of the server 103, a hard disk for recording the content is not provided on the client 101 or 102 side. Therefore, when the server 103 receives and reproduces its own content from the server 103 to the clients 101 and 102, it performs streaming reproduction for sequentially reproducing the content while receiving the content. To perform this streaming reproduction, a memory such as the RAM 14 is sufficient.
[0050]
As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, when purchase of desired content is instructed from the clients 101 and 102, the purchase content is automatically registered in the user recording area reserved in advance in the server 103. I am trying to do it.
[0051]
Thus, it is not necessary to download and record the purchased content to the clients 101 and 102, and it is not necessary to worry about the time required for the communication at all. In addition, there is no need to perform a troublesome operation of once downloading the purchased content to the personal computer 101 and uploading the content to the server 103, and the purchase procedure can be performed extremely easily. Furthermore, since the content is stream-reproduced at the time of viewing, the user does not have to worry about the time required for communication at the time of reproduction.
[0052]
Further, the user can automatically register the desired content in his / her user recording area simply by selecting the desired content on the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102, and thereafter can freely receive the content at any time thereafter. You will be able to watch. This eliminates the inconvenience of charging one content each time data is received. In addition, since charging is performed according to the capacity of the user recording area arbitrarily secured by the user, the user can use the service at a low fee by securing the necessary minimum capacity.
[0053]
Further, according to the present embodiment, the desired content registered in the user recording area of the server 103 can be freely received and reproduced at any time by the clients 101 and 102 at arbitrary locations. You don't need to bring each piece of media. Furthermore, when the clients 101 and 102 play back the content, it is sufficient to select the desired content and notify the server 103, and it is not necessary to perform the source switching operation one by one.
[0054]
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the overall configuration of the data distribution system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, components having the same functions as the components shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the computer 106 of the content provider is further connected to the Internet 110.
[0055]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the data distribution system shown in FIG. Note that in FIG. 7, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those illustrated in FIG. 2 have the same functions as each other, and thus redundant description will be omitted here. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the content DB 24 is provided in the computer 106 of the content provider.
[0056]
The computer 106 of the content providing company is configured to include a transmission / reception unit 51, a list generation unit 52, and a data acquisition unit 53 in addition to the content DB 24. Further, the server 103 includes an information registration unit 41, a list presentation unit 43, and a data registration unit 44 instead of the information registration unit 22, the list presentation unit 25, and the data registration unit 26 illustrated in FIG. Further, a list storage unit 42 is further provided.
[0057]
The transmission / reception unit 51 of the content provider 106 transmits / receives data to / from the server 103. For example, the transmission / reception unit 51 transmits a list of contents stored in the content DB 24 and the contents themselves to the server 103. The list generation unit 52 generates a list of contents stored in the content DB 24. The data acquisition unit 53 acquires the content requested by the server 103 from the content DB 24, and returns the content to the server 103.
[0058]
The information registration unit 41 of the server 103 registers the personal information of the user in the user information storage unit 23, and is generated by the list generation unit 52 of the content provider 106 and transmitted through the transmission / reception unit 51. Information on the content list is registered in the list storage unit 42.
[0059]
The list presenting unit 43 presents a list of contents that can be selected by the user when purchasing the content to the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 via the transmitting / receiving unit 21 based on the data stored in the list storage unit 42. The list presenting unit 43 also provides a list of contents that can be viewed by the user to the clients 101 and 102 via the transmitting / receiving unit 21 based on data registered in a user recording area of the user data storage unit 27. On the monitor 20.
[0060]
The data registration unit 44 acquires the content purchased from the content list by the user from the content DB 24 of the content provider 106 and registers the content in the user data storage unit 27. At this time, the data acquisition unit 53 of the content provider 106 acquires the content notified from the data registration unit 44 from the content DB 24 and returns it to the data registration unit 44 via the transmission / reception unit 51. The data registration unit 44 registers the content received from the data acquisition unit 53 in the user data storage unit 27.
[0061]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a content purchasing operation performed in the data distribution system shown in FIG. 8, an ID and a password are input from the clients 101 and 102 to log in to the server 103, and access a predetermined URL (step S31).
[0062]
When the login is performed, the list presenting unit 43 presents a list of contents that can be purchased by the user to the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 based on the data stored in the list storage unit 42 in advance (step S32). The user looks at the content list presented on the monitor 20 and selects a desired content from the content list (step S33). When the desired content is selected, the purchase processing unit 29 presents a fee or the like to the user for the selected content, performs a predetermined purchase process, and confirms the intention of the purchase (step S34).
[0063]
When the purchase intention is confirmed, the data registration unit 44 requests the data acquisition unit 53 of the content provider 106 to acquire the content (step S35). In response, the data acquisition unit 53 acquires the content requested by the data registration unit 44 from the content DB 24, and returns the content to the data registration unit 44 via the transmission / reception unit 51 (step S36).
[0064]
The data registration unit 44 registers the content received from the data acquisition unit 53 in a corresponding user recording area of the user data storage unit 27 (Step S37). Thereafter, the billing unit 30 performs a billing process according to the content of the registered content (Step S38).
[0065]
As described above, by configuring the data distribution system as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to cope with the case where the content provider and the recording area lending service provider are different. In the example of FIG. 7, the user only needs to access the same server 103 when purchasing the content or when receiving and playing back the purchased content, thereby improving the usability for the user. Further, both purchase and reproduction of the content can be performed using the ID and the password issued by the server 103, which has an advantage that security can be relatively easily constructed.
[0066]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional configuration of the data distribution system shown in FIG. In FIG. 9 as well, components denoted by the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 have the same functions as each other, and therefore, duplicate description will be omitted here.
[0067]
In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the server 103 includes a list presenting unit 61, a data registering unit 62, and a charging unit 63 instead of the list presenting unit 25, the data registering unit 26, and the charging unit 30 illustrated in FIG. ing. Further, the computer 106 of the content providing company includes a transmission / reception unit 71, a list presentation unit 72, a data registration unit 73, a purchase processing unit 74, a charging processing unit 75, and a charging DB 76 in addition to the content DB 24.
[0068]
The transmission / reception unit 71 of the content provider 106 transmits / receives data to / from the clients 101 and 102 and the server 103. For example, the transmission / reception unit 71 transmits a list of contents stored in the content DB 24 to the clients 101 and 102, and transmits the content itself to the server 103. The transmission / reception unit 71 also receives content selection information from the clients 101 and 102.
[0069]
The list presenting unit 72 of the content providing company 106 sends a list of contents that can be selected by the user at the time of content purchase to the monitor 20 of the clients 101 and 102 via the transmitting / receiving unit 71 based on the data stored in the content DB 24. Present. On the other hand, the list presenting unit 61 of the server 103 transmits a list of contents that can be viewed by the user to the client via the transmitting / receiving unit 21 based on data registered in a user recording area of the user data storage unit 27. The information is presented on the monitors 101 and 102.
[0070]
The billing processing unit 63 of the server 103 uses the billing DB 31 to perform a billing process according to the capacity of the area to be secured when the clients 101 and 102 make an application for the rental service of the user recording area. On the other hand, the billing processing unit 75 of the content provider 106 uses the billing DB 76 to perform a billing process according to the content of the purchased content when the client 101 or 102 purchases the desired content.
[0071]
The purchase processing unit 74 performs a purchase process of the selected content when it is notified via the transmission / reception unit 71 that any content has been selected from the content list presented by the list presentation unit 72. Do. The purchase processing here is the same processing as that performed by the purchase processing unit 29 described above.
[0072]
Further, the data registration units 62 and 73 provided in the server 103 and the content providing company 106 cooperate with each other to acquire the content purchased from the content list by the user from the content DB 24 and store the content in the user data storage unit 27. register.
[0073]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a content purchase operation performed in the data distribution system shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, when a predetermined URL provided by the content provider 106 is accessed from the clients 101 and 102 (step S41), the list presenting unit 72 allows the user to purchase based on the data stored in the content DB 24. A list of contents is presented on the monitor 20 of each of the clients 101 and 102 (step S42).
[0074]
The user looks at the content list presented on the monitor 20 and selects a desired content from the list (step S43). When the desired content is selected, the purchase processing unit 74 presents a fee or the like to the user with respect to the selected content, performs a predetermined purchase process, and confirms the purchase intention (step S44).
[0075]
When the purchase intention is confirmed, the data registration unit 73 inquires the clients 101 and 102 about the position information (ftp address, etc.) of the user recording area in the user data storage unit 27 where the content is recorded (step S45). ). In response to the inquiry, the user specifies the recording destination of the user recording area using the operation unit 18 (Step S46).
[0076]
Next, the data registration unit 73 requests the data registration unit 62 of the server 103 to record the content in the user recording area specified by the user (Step S47). In response, the data registration unit 62 requests the clients 101 and 102 to input an ID and a password (step S48). In response, the user uses the operation unit 18 to input the ID and password issued at the time of user registration in the server 103, and receives user authentication (step S49).
[0077]
If the user authentication is successful, the fact is notified to the content provider 106. In response to this, the data registration unit 73 acquires the purchased content from the content DB 24 and sends it to the server 103, and the data registration unit 62 registers this in the designated user recording area of the user data storage unit 27 ( Step S50). Thereafter, the billing processing unit 75 performs a billing process according to the content of the registered content (step S51).
[0078]
In the case where the data distribution system is configured as shown in FIG. 9, since the content provider 106 itself presents contents that can be purchased by the user, it is not necessary to register the content list in the server 103 one by one. In addition, since the user accesses the content providing company 106 when purchasing the content, no ID or password for the user recording area lending service is input at that time. However, since these inputs are prompted at the stage of registering data in the server 103 from the content provider 106, security can be ensured so that a third party cannot illegally access the user recording area.
[0079]
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the recording destination of the purchased content is designated by the user using the operation unit 18. However, when the user registers with the server 103, the location information on the recording area of the user is stored in the server. 103 may notify the content provider 106. By doing so, the procedures of steps S45 and S46 in FIG. 10 can be omitted.
[0080]
Further, in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, the user inputs an ID in response to a request from the server 103, but the server 103 can automatically acquire the ID from the communication history. For example, when the server 103 also functions as a user provider, when the clients 101 and 102 access the content provider 106 in step S41 of FIG. 10, the server 103 always passes through the provider. Therefore, the server 103 can automatically obtain the user ID by checking the communication history.
[0081]
On the other hand, if the server 103 does not match the provider of the user, the server 103 is not passed when the clients 101 and 102 access the content provider 106 in step S41 of FIG. In this case, the content provider 106 can only know the provider ID. In such a case, the ID issued at the time of user registration in the server 103 matches the ID of the provider, and the server 103 can automatically obtain the user ID by inquiring the content provider 106. .
[0082]
In the above embodiment, a list of contents that can be purchased by the user (a list of contents stored in the content DB 24) and a list of contents that the user has already purchased (a list of contents registered in the user data storage unit 27). Although the example of separately presenting (list) is described, both may be simultaneously presented on one screen.
[0083]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the clients 101 and 102 are not equipped with a hard disk at all, and the contents are played back by streaming. However, the clients 101 and 102 may be equipped with a small-capacity hard disk. In this case, the content is not downloaded at the time of purchase, but is downloaded to the hard disk at the time of viewing. In other words, it is also possible to use not to store all the contents purchased by the user in the clients 101 and 102, but to store only the contents to be viewed as appropriate.
[0084]
In addition, each of the above-described embodiments is merely an example of a specific embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted in a limited manner. That is, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit or main features thereof.
[0085]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention registers content purchased in a client device in a user recording area of a server device, and then, in response to a request given at an arbitrary timing, stores the content registered in the user recording area in the server device. Since the content is distributed to the client device, it is not necessary to download and record the purchased content to the client device when the content is purchased, and it is possible to save much communication time. Further, since it is not necessary to download the content once and upload it to the user recording area of the server device, the purchase procedure can be performed extremely easily.
[0086]
Further, according to the present invention, if desired contents are registered in the user recording area of the server device, desired contents can be freely received and viewed at any time without being charged twice for the same contents. Will be able to
[0087]
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to freely receive desired content at any time in a client device at an arbitrary location without performing a complicated operation of bringing media to a viewing location one by one or switching sources one by one. You can watch it. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the user's labor when reproducing the desired content.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a data distribution system according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the data distribution system illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an initial registration operation performed between a client and a server according to the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a content purchase operation performed between a client and a server according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a content distribution operation performed between a client and a server according to the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another example of the overall configuration of the data distribution system according to the embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the data distribution system illustrated in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a content purchase operation performed in the data distribution system shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of the functional configuration of the data distribution system shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a content purchasing operation performed in the data distribution system shown in FIG. 9;
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Transceiver
12 CPU
13 ROM
14 RAM
15 Decoder
16 amplifier
17 Display control unit
18 Operation unit
19 Speaker
20 monitors
21 Transceiver
22 Information Registration Department
23 User information storage
24 Content DB
25 List presentation section
26 Data registration section
27 User Data Storage Unit
28 Content Acquisition Unit
29 Purchase Processing Department
30 Billing unit
31 Billing DB
41 Information Registration Department
42 List storage unit
43 List presentation section
44 Data Registration Section
51 Transceiver
52 List generation unit
53 Data acquisition unit
61 List presentation section
62 Data registration section
63 Billing unit
71 Transceiver
72 List presentation section
73 Data Registration Section
74 Purchase Processing Department
75 Accounting section
76 Billing DB
101 PC (client device)
102 In-vehicle device (client device)
103 server
106 Computer of content provider
110 Internet

Claims (17)

A data distribution system configured so that a client device and a server device can be connected via a network,
The server device presents a list of selectable contents to the client device to prompt selection,
Data for acquiring the content selected by the client device from content storage means storing various contents, and registering the content in a user recording area prepared in advance for each user in response to a request from the client device. Registration means;
Charging means for performing a charging process according to the capacity of the area to be reserved when the client apparatus requests to reserve the user recording area;
Data transmission means for transmitting the content registered in the user recording area in response to a request from the client device,
Selecting means for selecting a desired content from a list presented by the list presenting means,
A data distribution system, comprising: data reception means for receiving the content transmitted by the data transmission means from the server device. 2. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein when the desired content is selected by the selection unit, the charging unit further performs a charging process according to the content of the selected content. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the server device includes the content storage unit. 2. The data distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content storage unit is provided in a computer of a content provider different from the server device. The server device is provided from the content provider, comprises a list storage means for storing list information of the content stored in the content storage means,
5. The data distribution system according to claim 4, wherein said list presenting means is configured to present a content list stored in said list storage means to said client device to prompt a selection. The data registration unit acquires the content selected by the client device from the content storage unit of the content provider computer and registers the content in the user recording area of the server device. 6. The data distribution system according to 5. A second list presenting unit that presents a list of contents stored in the content storing unit to the client device to prompt the client device to select, the computer of the content provider is provided instead of the list presenting unit;
The selecting means is configured to select a desired content from the list presented by the second list presenting means,
The data distribution system according to claim 4, wherein the data registration unit acquires the content selected by the selection unit from the content storage unit and registers the content in the user recording area. 8. The data distribution system according to claim 7, wherein the server device includes a user authentication unit that performs user authentication when registering the content selected by the selection unit in the user recording area. A server device configured to be connectable to a client device via a network,
List presenting means for presenting a list of selectable contents to the client device to prompt selection,
Data for acquiring the content selected by the client device from content storage means storing various contents, and registering the content in a user recording area prepared in advance for each user in response to a request from the client device. Registration means;
Charging means for performing a charging process according to the capacity of the area to be reserved when the client apparatus requests to reserve the user recording area;
A server device comprising: data transmission means for transmitting content registered in the user recording area in response to a request from the client device. 10. The server device according to claim 9, wherein when the desired content is selected by the client device, the charging means further performs a charging process according to the content of the selected content. A list storage unit for storing list information of the content stored in the content storage unit provided in the computer of the content provider different from the server device,
10. The server device according to claim 9, wherein the list presenting means is configured to present a content list stored in the list storage means to the client device to prompt a selection. The data registration unit is configured to select the content from a list of contents presented to the client device by the content provider computer based on data stored in the content storage unit provided in a content provider computer different from the server device. 10. The server device according to claim 9, wherein the content selected by the client device is obtained from the content storage means and registered in the user recording area. 13. The server device according to claim 12, further comprising a user authentication unit for performing user authentication when registering the content selected by the client device in the user recording area. In response to a request given to the server device from a client device configured to be connectable to the server device via a network, the server device stores the content selected by the client device and stores various contents. In response to a request from the client device, the content is registered in a user recording area prepared in advance for each user in response to a request from the client device. The content registered in the user recording area is transmitted from the server device to the client device, and when the user requests the user recording area to be reserved, the capacity of the reserved area is reduced. The feature is that the billing process is performed according to Data distribution method to. 15. The data distribution method according to claim 14, wherein when a desired content is selected by the client device, a billing process is further performed according to the content of the selected content. List presenting means for presenting a list of selectable contents from the server device to the client device to prompt the selection;
Selecting means for selecting desired content from the list presented by the list presenting means in the client device;
The server device obtains the content selected by the selection device from the content storage device storing various contents, and prepares a user recording area prepared in advance for each user in response to a request from the client device. Data registering means for registering, and charging means for performing charging processing in accordance with the capacity of the area to be reserved when reservation of the user recording area is requested from the client device;
A data distribution program to make a computer function as a computer. Charging means for performing a charging process according to the content of the selected content when a desired content is selected by the selecting means;
17. The data distribution program according to claim 16, which causes a computer to function as a computer.

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