JP2005004332A - Musical material providing and selling system, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a musical material providing and selling system and method, and a musical material providing and selling program, that accurately check the status of use of musical materials by a user and accurately charge accordingly by counting the types and number of times of use of musical materials actually used by the user. <P>SOLUTION: When a user 100 creates a musical piece on terminal equipment 110 of the user, times of use of musical materials 600 downloaded from a musical material providing and selling center 200 via a network 300 are counted by every type of musical material every time they are used not only for embedding in the musical piece but also for processing and copying in the musical piece. When the musical piece is saved, the terminal equipment sends use information 610 including the times of use to the musical material providing and selling center 200 via the network 300, and the musical material providing and selling center 200 creates charging information 241 according to the use information 610 and sends it to a charging center 400 via a network 500. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a technique for providing and selling music material by providing music material to a user's terminal device via a network and charging a user for the music material actually used.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, music creators create music material by cutting out a part of a piece of music or a specific part, or by cutting out a specific phrase and combining these music materials to create a new piece of music. Is widely practiced.
Such music material is commercially available, for example, in the form of audio files or data files, recorded on various storage media such as CDs, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, etc., or downloaded via a network. Has been.
[0003]
By the way, in such a sales form, each music material is not sold individually, but a large number of music materials are recorded on the storage medium or are collectively given up in an archive file. Are sold.
For this reason, music creators search for music materials that they want to use from the enormous number of music materials they have obtained, but there are often few music materials that fit their intentions, In some cases, there is no music material you want to use.
[0004]
In this regard, for example, in the case of download sales that can be pre-listen via a network, although it can be solved to some extent, all downloaded music materials are rarely used.
On the other hand, it is necessary to pay for these music materials in a lump by purchasing or downloading them in a state of being recorded on a storage medium.
For this reason, there is a problem that the music producer has to pay for the music material that is not used, and is forced to purchase the music material that is not actually used.
[0005]
On the other hand, for example, in Patent Document 1, when providing information such as images and music contents from a server to a user, software is embedded in the information, and when the user accesses the information, By automatically executing the software embedded in the information, the data indicating the usage status is stored in the storage means of the server, so that the usage of the user's information is accurately grasped.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-175603 A
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Patent Document 1 described above, the user's use of information is checked by checking that the user has accessed information such as an image or music content. Once the information is obtained, no matter how many times the user uses the information, for example, if it is processed or copied in a song or reused in another song, the so-called secondary use of the information is grasped. Can not do it.
Accordingly, since the user cannot check the number of times the information has been actually used, the correct usage situation cannot be grasped, and for example, it has been difficult to charge a usage fee without omission.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and by grasping the exact usage status of the music material by the user by counting the type and frequency of the music material actually used by the user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a music material provision / sales system and method, and a music material provision / sales program that enable accurate billing.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the music material provision / sales system according to claim 1 of the present invention receives an instruction sent from the user's terminal device via the first network at the music material provision / sales center. Based on this instruction, the search result of music material, trial listening data, and data of the music material itself are transmitted, and usage information including the type and frequency of use of the music material used by the user on the terminal device is received. Then, a music material providing and selling system that creates billing information for the user based on the use information and transmits the billing information to the billing center via the second network, wherein the terminal device of the user A sequencer unit that creates music based on music material downloaded from the material supply / sales center via the first network. -The Kensa Department searches for, listens to, and downloads the desired music material based on the data transmitted from the music material provision and sales center via the first network, and also selects the music material used when creating the music. The type and the number of times of use are transmitted as usage information to the music material provision / sales center via the first network together with the user-specific identification ID, and the music material provision / sales center transmits the user's information via the first network. Based on the usage information sent from the terminal device, the user is identified by the identification ID, and the charging information of the user is created according to a predetermined charging rule.
[0010]
When the music material provision / sales system is configured as described above, the user's terminal device accesses the music material provision / sales center, searches for the music material registered in the music material provision / sales center, and obtains the search results. , And based on the search results, specify the music material of interest and receive sample data to listen to the music material and specify the required music material, Receive data. Thereby, the user can download a desired music material as needed from the music material registered in the music material providing / sale center.
[0011]
When the user operates the terminal device and creates a song by the sequencer unit, the sequencer unit uses the downloaded music material as described above, or if it is processed or copied in the song For each type of music material, the number of times of use is counted each time it is used, and after the user creates a song on the terminal device, the sequencer section selects the type of music material used when creating this song. And the number of times of use together with the identification ID unique to the user is transmitted as usage information to the music material providing and sales center via the first network.
[0012]
Therefore, the music material provision / sales center identifies the user by its identification ID based on the usage information transmitted from the user's terminal device, and charges the user according to a predetermined charging rule. Create information and send it to the billing center via the second network.
In response to this, the billing center charges each user based on the billing information transmitted from the music material providing and selling center via the second network, and the music material providing and selling center gives the user a charge. Collect usage fees for the music material provided.
[0013]
In this way, according to the present invention, the sequencer unit in the user's terminal device includes, for example, processing, copying, etc. in the music when the music material downloaded from the music material providing / sales center is created. By counting the number of times of use each time it is used, the usage of the music material of the user is strictly counted, and the number of times of use is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center.
As a result, the music material provision / sales center can accurately check the use of music material by individual users and reflect it in the billing. The usage fee can be collected accurately.
[0014]
The music material providing and selling system according to claim 2 is configured such that the sequencer unit in the user terminal device counts and stores the number of times of use for each type of music material.
[0015]
When the music material providing and selling system has such a configuration, the sequencer section reads out and transmits the number of times of use for each type of stored music material when transmitting the usage information to the music material providing and selling center. Can do.
[0016]
4. The music material providing and selling system according to claim 3, wherein when the music piece is stored in the middle of creation, the sequencer unit stores the usage information of the type and the number of times of use of the music material stored at that time. At the same time, the first usage information is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center via the first network.
[0017]
If the music material providing and selling system has such a configuration, if the user saves the music in the middle of creating the music, it is determined that the music is not released because the music is incomplete. The sequencer section is in a state where the music material used in the music is simply being used, so the first usage information is sent to the music material provision and sales center as the music storage method during music creation. Send. As a result, the music material provision / sales center can determine that “the material is being used” for the music material in the first usage information.
[0018]
The music material providing and selling system according to claim 4, wherein when the music piece is saved after completion of the music piece, the type of music material saved at that time and the usage information on the number of times of use are stored together with the music saving method. The second usage information is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center via the first network.
[0019]
If the music material provision and sales system has such a configuration, when the user saves the completed music, the music is completed, the music is released, and the copyright as a music producer is given to the user. Since the sequencer unit is in a state in which the music material used in the song has a possibility of obtaining copyright revenue, the method for saving the song as a save after completion of the song, The second usage information is transmitted to the music material providing sales center. As a result, the music material providing / sale center can determine that the music material in the second usage information is “copyrighted”.
[0020]
The music material provision / sales system according to claim 5 is configured such that when the music material provision / sales center receives first usage information from a terminal device of a user, billing information is created as a material usage fee of the music material. is there.
[0021]
When the music material provision / sales system has such a configuration, the music material provision / sales center determines that the music material is based on the first usage information sent from the user's terminal device via the first network. Since “material usage” is performed, billing information is created as “material usage fee” for the music material.
[0022]
The music material provision / sales system according to claim 6 is configured such that when the music material provision / sales center receives the second usage information from the terminal device of the user, the billing information is created as a copyright usage fee of the music material. It is as.
[0023]
When the music material providing / sale system has such a configuration, the music material providing / selling center determines that the music material is based on the second usage information sent from the user's terminal device via the first network. Since “copyright use” is used, billing information is created as “copyright use fee” for the music material.
[0024]
In the music material providing and selling system according to claim 7, the sequencer unit erases the music material downloaded from the music material providing and selling center when the creation of the music is interrupted or terminated, or when the use of the sequencer unit or the terminal device itself is terminated. As a configuration.
[0025]
When the music material provision / sales system has such a configuration, when the user interrupts or terminates the creation of the music, or when the use of the sequencer unit or the terminal device itself is terminated, the sequencer unit is disconnected from the music material provision / sales center. By erasing the downloaded music material, the user cannot use the music material once downloaded from the music material provision and sales center to create other music, and unauthorized use of the music material It can be prevented.
[0026]
The music material providing / sale system according to claim 8 is connected to the first network, provided with a UDDI registry unit that provides search information of the web service of the music material providing / sale center, and the terminal device of the user is By connecting to the UDDI registry unit via a single network, the Web service provided by the music material providing and selling center is searched, and the Web service search result provided by the music material providing and selling center is received from the UDDI registry unit. Thus, the music material is searched by using the searched Web service.
[0027]
When the music material provision / sales system is configured as described above, when a plurality of music material provision / sales centers are connected to the first network and a plurality of music material provision Web services are provided, a desired music material is provided. In order to search for a web service provided by a desired music material provision / sales center, the terminal device of the user accesses the UDDI registry unit without accessing each music material provision / sales center. . Then, based on the search result sent from the UDDI registry unit via the first network, the user's terminal device accesses the Web services of a plurality of music material provision / sales centers listed in the search result. Accordingly, the music material provided by the Web service provided by all the music material providing / sales centers can be auditioned or downloaded.
Therefore, the user can access each music material providing / sale center separately from the terminal device and access the UDDI registry unit from the terminal device without searching for the desired music material. It is possible to search for a music material registered in a Web service provided by the music material providing and sales center, find a desired music material, and audition or download it.
When a terminal device connected only to a specific music material providing / sale center is used, the user must prepare a dedicated terminal device for each music material providing / sale center. In this case, the UDDI registry part is set. Thus, it becomes possible to search, audition and download music materials registered in a plurality of music material providing and selling centers as if they were music materials registered in one music material providing and selling center.
[0028]
In order to achieve the above object, the music material providing and selling method according to claim 9 of the present invention provides music material providing and selling based on an instruction sent from the terminal device of the user via the first network. In addition to transmitting music material search results, audition data, and the music material itself at the center, the type of music material used by the user from the terminal device and the number of times it is used are included. A method of providing and selling music material based on usage information and transmitting it to a charging center via a second network, and providing and selling music material at the terminal device of the user Based on data sent from the center via the first network, search for desired music material, listen to it, download it, and use it when creating music The type of music material and the number of times it is used are transmitted as usage information to the music material provision / sales center via the first network together with a user-specific identification ID. In this method, the user is identified by an identification ID based on the usage information sent from the user's terminal device, and billing information for the user is created according to a predetermined charging rule.
Thus, the present invention can also be realized as a music material providing and selling method.
[0029]
Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the music material providing and selling program according to claim 10 of the present invention provides music material providing and selling based on an instruction sent from the user's terminal device via the first network. In addition to transmitting music material search results, audition data, and the music material itself at the center, the type of music material used by the user from the terminal device and the number of times it is used are included. A music material providing and sales program for causing a computer to execute processing for creating billing information for the user based on the usage information and transmitting the billing information to the billing center via the second network. Based on the data transmitted from the music material provision / sales center through the first network, search for the desired music material, audition and In addition to downloading, the type of music material used at the time of creating the music and the number of times of use are transmitted as usage information to the music material provision and sales center via the first network together with the user-specific identification ID. Based on the usage information sent from the terminal device of the user via the first network at the providing sales center, the user is identified by the identification ID, and the usage is performed according to a predetermined charging rule. Billing information is created.
Thus, the present invention can also be realized as a music material provision and sales program.
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Note that the processing in the information management apparatus of the music material provision / sales center in the following embodiment is executed by a computer controlled by a program. As the recording medium, for example, a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or any other computer-readable medium can be used. Further, the program recorded on the recording medium may be directly loaded into the computer and read by the computer, or may be read by the computer via a communication line.
[0031]
A first embodiment of the music material provision and sales system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a music material providing and sales system according to this embodiment.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 1, the music material providing and selling system 10 includes a user 100, a music material providing and selling center 200, a first network 300, a charging center 400, and a second network 500. is there.
In FIG. 1, only one user 100 is illustrated, but the number is not limited to one.
[0033]
Here, the first network 300 is, for example, a network such as the general public line network or a dedicated line network including the Internet and mobile phones, and connects the terminal device of the user 100 and the music material provision / sales center 200 to each other. And providing an Internet connection service.
The second network 500 is a network such as a local area LAN or a dedicated line network, and connects the music material provision / sales center 200 and the charging center 400 to each other. Network.
[0034]
The user 100 is a music producer or the like who wants to receive a music material provision / sales service, and uses the first network 300 to search for the music material 600 from the music material provision / sales center 200 and to listen to it. By receiving sample data and further specifying and receiving music material, so-called music material data itself (for example, music material data such as MIDI data) can be downloaded.
[0035]
Note that the user 100 is connected to the first network 400 to receive data related to the music material 600 from the music material providing and selling center 200, and the received usage information 610 of the music material 600 is transmitted via the first network 400. The terminal device 110 can be used for transmission to the music material provision / sales center 200.
[0036]
As this terminal device 110, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a personal computer or a mobile phone terminal for receiving an Internet connection service, other various information terminal devices, or a dedicated terminal device can be used. The search instruction information 111, the trial listening instruction information 112, and the download instruction information 113 are transmitted in accordance with the screen display displayed on the screen, so that the desired music material 600 can be searched, auditioned, and downloaded.
[0037]
Here, the user 100 is given an identification ID 102 by registering user information (name, address, settlement account, etc.) 101 in advance.
Thereby, when the terminal device 110 accesses the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300, the user 100 can be uniquely specified by transmitting the identification ID 102.
The identification ID 102 may be assigned to the terminal device 110 itself.
Furthermore, in order to use the music material provision / sales center 200, the user 100 needs to register with the billing center 400 in advance for use fee settlement.
[0038]
In addition, the terminal device 110 is configured as a sequencer that is a terminal for music production itself, or a sequence software program for music production operates and functions as a sequencer to configure the sequencer unit 120. It has become.
As a result, the sequencer unit 120 can freely create a song based on the music material 600 downloaded from the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300, and also simply save the song being created. Or a completed music piece can be stored in an appropriate storage format, for example, SMF (Standard MIDI File) format, or can be mastered.
[0039]
Furthermore, the sequencer unit 120 includes a count unit 121 that counts the number of uses 601 of the music material 600 every time it is used when creating music using, for example, MIDI data of the downloaded music material 600. The number of uses 601 counted for each type of material 600 is sequentially registered in the storage unit 122.
At this time, the sequencer unit 120 counts the number of times of use 601 every time the music material 600 is used a plurality of times for creating a song, and also counts the number of times of use 601 when copying within the song. It is like that.
[0040]
Then, when the user 100 operates the terminal device 110, the sequencer unit 120 stores the created song or the completed song, or when the mastering is performed, the song registered in the storage unit 122. The number of uses 601 for each type of music material 600 is read out, and together with the identification ID 102 and its storage method 602 (that is, simple storage, SMF format storage or mastering) as usage information 610 via the first network 300. , To the music material provision sales center 200.
[0041]
Here, the sequencer unit 120 transmits the usage count 601, the identification ID 101 and the storage method 602 (simple storage) as the first usage information 611 when the music being created is simply stored.
On the other hand, when the completed music piece is stored or mastered in the SMF format, the sequencer unit 120 uses the usage count 601, the identification ID 101 and the storage method 602 (SMF format storage or mastering) as the second usage. Information 612 is transmitted.
[0042]
In addition, when the sequencer unit 120 stores the music that is being created or completed, the sequencer unit 120 stores data related to the music material 600 downloaded from the music material providing / sales center 200 regarding the music, that is, search result information 620, sample data 630, All the music material data 640 is deleted.
[0043]
The music material provision / sales center 200 is composed of an arbitrary number of servers as information management devices provided at appropriate locations. For example, middleware such as a WWW server, a Web application server, a database server, etc. The program is configured by installing a program as an application to be provided.
Here, the music material provision / sales center 200 includes an input / output unit 210, a storage unit 220, a processing unit 230, and a charging unit 240.
[0044]
The input / output unit 210 is connected to the first network 300 and the second network 500.
The input / output unit 210 receives the search instruction information 111, the audition instruction information 112, and the download information 113 transmitted from the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300, and receives the processing unit 230. And the search result information 620, sample data 630, and music material data 640 of the music material 600 from the processing unit 230 are transmitted to the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300.
[0045]
Further, the input / output unit 210 reads the user information 101 from the storage unit 220 based on the identification ID 102 transmitted from the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300, The user 100 is authenticated to the charging center 400 via the network 500.
Further, the input / output unit 210 transmits the charging information 241 from the charging unit 240 to the charging center 400 via the second network 500.
The input / output unit 210 receives usage information 610 transmitted from the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300 and transfers the usage information 610 to the charging unit 230.
[0046]
The processing unit 230 searches the music material 600 registered as a database in the storage unit 220 based on the search instruction information 111 transferred from the input / output unit 210, and uses the search result information 620 as the input / output unit 210. Forward to.
The processing unit 230 reads the sample data 630 of the designated music material 600 based on the trial listening instruction information 112 transferred from the input / output unit 210 and transfers the sample data 630 to the input / output unit 210.
Further, the processing unit 230 reads the designated music material data 640 based on the download instruction information 113 transferred from the input / output unit 210 and transfers it to the input / output unit 210.
[0047]
In the storage unit 220, sample data 630 and music material data 640 are registered as a database in association with the search keywords for various music materials 600, and the music material 600 can be searched using the search keywords. At the same time, the user information 101 and the identification ID 102 of each user 100 are registered as separate databases, and the user information 101 of the corresponding user 100 is stored by the identification ID 102 so that it can be read out.
[0048]
Based on the usage information 610 transferred from the input / output unit 210, the charging unit 240 uses the number of usages 601 for each type of music material 600 included in the usage information 610 according to a charging rule set in advance. The usage fee is calculated, and the user information 101 read from the storage unit 220 based on the identification ID 102 included in the usage information 610 is added to create billing information 241 and transferred to the input / output unit 210.
[0049]
Here, when the billing unit 240 creates the billing information 241, if the usage information 610 is the first usage information 611 (that is, the storage method 602 included in the usage information 610 is simply stored), If the billing information 241 is created as the “material usage fee” and the usage information 610 is the second usage information 612 (that is, the storage method 602 included in the usage information 610 is SMF format storage or mastering), It is determined that there is a possibility of obtaining copyright revenue for the music using the music material 600, and the billing information 241 is created as “copyright usage fee”.
[0050]
The billing center 400 is a settlement center such as a financial institution or a credit company. In this case, the user 100 who has accessed the music material provision / sales center 200 is authenticated and the music material provision / sales center 200 provides a second one. The usage fee is settled from the settlement account of the user 100 based on the billing information 241 sent via the network 500.
[0051]
Next, a music material providing and selling method by the music material providing and selling system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The music material providing and selling system is used in each step of the music production work using the music material shown in FIG.
[0052]
In FIG. 2, the user 100 accesses the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300 using the terminal device 110 and transmits the identification ID 102 as indicated by reference numeral A <b> 1.
As a result, the input / output unit 210 of the music material provision / sales center 200 receives the identification ID 102, reads the user information 101 corresponding to the identification ID 102 from the storage unit 220, and, as indicated by reference numeral A 2, The data is transmitted to the charging center 400 via the second network 500.
[0053]
In response to this, the charging center 400 authenticates the user 100 based on the user information 101 as indicated by reference numeral A3, and sends the authentication result via the second network 500 as indicated by reference numeral A4. To the music material provision / sales center 200.
As a result, the input / output unit 210 of the music material provision / sales center 200 permits the connection of the user 100, and the search screen information registered in the storage unit 220 is displayed as the first screen information as indicated by reference numeral A <b> 5. The data is transmitted to the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the network 300.
[0054]
Here, the user 100 inputs the search instruction information 111 based on the search screen displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 110, and the search instruction information 111 is input to the first network 300 as indicated by reference numeral A6. To the music material provision / sales center 200.
In response to this, the processing unit 230 of the music material providing and selling center 200 searches the database of the music material 600 registered in the storage unit 220 based on the search instruction information 111, as indicated by reference numeral A7, As indicated by reference numeral A8, the search result information 620 is transmitted to the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300 via the input / output unit 210.
[0055]
Thereby, the user 100 refers to the search result information 620 displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 110, for example, and if there is a music material 600 to be auditioned, the user 100 inputs the audition instruction information 112, and the code A9 As shown in FIG. 6, the trial listening instruction information 112 is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300.
In response to this, the processing unit 230 of the music material providing / sale center 200 searches the database of the music material 600 registered in the storage unit 220 based on the audition instruction information 112, as indicated by reference numeral A10, The sample data 630 of the designated music material 600 is read, and the sample data 630 is transmitted to the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300 via the input / output unit 210 as indicated by reference numeral A11. To do.
Then, the user 100 reproduces the sample data 630 on the terminal device 110 to audition the music material 600.
[0056]
Here, referring to the search result by the search result information 620 and the audition by the sample data 630, the user 100 inputs the download instruction information 113 when there is a desired music material 600, and the code A12 As shown, the download instruction information 113 is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300.
[0057]
In response to this, the processing unit 230 of the music material providing and selling center 200 searches the database of the music material 600 registered in the storage unit 220 based on the download instruction information 113, as indicated by reference numeral A13, The music material data 640 of the designated music material 600 is read out, and the music material data 640 is read via the input / output unit 210 and the terminal device 110 of the user 100 via the first network 300 as indicated by reference numeral A14. Send to.
[0058]
As a result, the user 100 creates music by incorporating the downloaded music material data 640 in the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110, as indicated by reference numeral A15.
At this time, even when the user 100 processes the music material data 640 in the music piece or copies the music material data 640 in the music piece, the count unit 121 of the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 performs the music material 600 And the number of uses 601 are counted and registered in the storage unit 122.
[0059]
Then, when the user 100 interrupts or ends the creation of the music piece and simply saves the music piece being created as indicated by reference numeral A16, the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 is indicated by reference numeral A17. In addition, the type and the number of times of use 601 of the music material 600 used for the creation of the music are stored as the first usage information 611 together with the storage method 602 (simple storage) and the identification ID 102, via the first network 300. The information is transmitted to the providing sales center 200.
[0060]
In response to this, the billing unit 240 of the music material provision / sales center 200 creates billing information 241 as a “material usage fee” based on the usage information 611, as shown by symbol A 18, and at symbol A 19. As shown, the user information 101 is read from the identification ID 102, and the charging information 241 and the user information 101 are sent to the charging center 400 via the input / output unit 210 and the second network 500 as indicated by reference numeral A 20. Send to.
As a result, the charging center 400 settles the usage fee based on the charging information 241 to the user 100 specified by the user information 101, as indicated by reference numeral A21.
[0061]
Further, when the user 100 continues to create the music and then completes the music and stores or masters the completed music in the SMF format as indicated by reference numeral A22, the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 As shown by reference numeral A23, the type and the number of times of use 601 of the music material 600 used for the creation of the music are stored as the second usage information 612 together with the storage method 602 (SMF format storage or mastering) and the identification ID 102. The data is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300.
At the same time, the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 deletes the search result information 620, sample data 630, and music material data 640 related to the music material 600 downloaded from the music material provision / sales center 200, as indicated by reference numeral A24.
[0062]
In response to this, the billing unit 240 of the music material provision / sales center 200 creates the billing information 241 as “copyright usage fee” based on the usage information 612 and the symbol A26. The user information 101 is read from the identification ID 102, and the charging information 241 and the user information 101 are read via the input / output unit 210 and the second network 500 as indicated by reference numeral A27. 400.
As a result, the charging center 400 settles the usage fee based on the charging information 241 to the user 100 specified by the user information 101, as indicated by reference numeral A28.
[0063]
In this way, according to the music material provision / sales system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the music material downloaded from the music material provision / sales center 200 when the user 100 creates music by the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110. Each time 600 music material data 640 is incorporated into music, processed in the music, or copied, the sequencer unit 120 counts the number of uses 601 for each type of music material 600 by the counting unit 121 and stores it. Registered in the unit 122.
[0064]
When the user 100 finishes creating the music, the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 of the user 100 sets the usage count 601 for each music material 600 registered in the storage unit 122 to the first network 300. To the music material provision / sales center 200.
As a result, the music material provision / sales center 200 not only incorporates the music material 600 downloaded by the user 100 into the music to be created, but also processes or copies the music material 600 in the music each time the sequencer unit 120 Since the counting unit 121 counts the number of uses 601, it is possible to acquire the exact number of uses 601 related to the music material 600 of the user 100, and to perform correct charging.
[0065]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the music material providing and selling system of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, the music material provision / sales system 20 has substantially the same configuration as the music material provision / sales system 10 shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality of music material provision / sales connected to the first network 300. It has a configuration different from the music material providing and selling system 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that it has a center 200 and further includes a UDDI registry unit 800 connected to the first network 300. .
[0066]
The UDDI registry unit 800 is connected to a list 810 of Web services provided by each music material provision / sales center 200, for example, a list of URLs indicating registration locations of individual music materials 600, and each music material provision / sales center 200. Connection information 820 for registration is registered.
[0067]
According to the music material providing / sale system 20 having such a configuration, when searching for the music material 600, the user 100 accesses the UDDI registry unit 800 via the first network 300 using the terminal device 110, By transmitting the search instruction information 111, the Web service provided by the music material providing / sales center 200 registered in the UDDI registry unit 800 is searched, and search result information 620 is obtained.
Then, the user 100 uses the search result Web service list 810 and connection information 820 for each Web service to allow the terminal device 110 to connect the music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300. By connecting to the Web service and transmitting the search instruction information 114, the desired music material 600 can be searched and the search result information 650 can be acquired.
[0068]
In this case, the search result information 620 is different from the search result information 620 in the music material provision / sales system 10 shown in FIG. 1, and a list 810 of searched Web services and a music material providing the searched Web service are provided. Connection information 820 to the sales center 200 is included.
Then, the user 100 accesses the music material provision / sales center 200 based on the search result information 620 and transmits the search instruction information 114, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. Search result information 650, sample data 630 and music material data 640 regarding the desired music material 600 can be downloaded from the music material providing and selling center 200.
[0069]
Therefore, for example, even if the terminal device 110 used by the user 100 is configured to connect only to the specific music material provision / sales center 200 via the first network 300, the Web service technology is used. If possible, the Web service provided by the music material providing / sale center 200 is searched by the UDDI registry unit 800, and the connection information 820 included in the search result information 620 is used as the Web service provided by the music material providing / sale center 200. By connecting, transmitting the search instruction information 114, searching for the music material 600, and acquiring the music material 600 searched from the search result information 650, the music provided by the other music material providing and selling center 200 is provided. The material 600 can be auditioned or downloaded.
As a result, the user 100 does not replace the terminal device 110 and purchases the music material 600 registered in the other music material provision / sales center 200 as well as the music material provision / sales center 200 designated by the terminal device 110. Also, the music material 600 can be searched, auditioned, and downloaded.
[0070]
In the embodiment described above, the first network 300 for interconnecting the terminal device 110 of the user 100 and the music material provision / sales center 200, and the music material provision / sales center 200 and the charging center 400 are interconnected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the common first network 300 is used instead of the second network 500 as long as the security regarding the billing information 241 can be secured. You may do it.
[0071]
In the above-described embodiment, the user 100 creates music by the sequencer unit 120 of the terminal device 110 and saves the completed music in the SMF format. May be stored in other storage formats.
[0072]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, MIDI data is used as the data of the music material 600 itself, that is, the music material data 640. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the music material data 640 as data in other formats is used. Obviously it may be.
[0073]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the sequencer unit in the user's terminal device includes, for example, processing, copying, and the like in the music when the music material is downloaded from the music material provision / sales center. By counting the number of times of use each time it is used, the usage of the music material of the user is strictly counted, and the number of times of use is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center.
As a result, the music material provision / sales center can accurately check the use of music material by individual users and reflect it in the billing. The usage fee can be collected accurately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a music material providing and sales system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing music creation work in the music material providing and selling system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a music material providing and selling system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10,20 Music material provision and sales system
100 users
101 User information
102 Identification ID
110 Terminal equipment
111 Search instruction information
112 Audition instruction information
113 Download instruction information
114 Search instruction information
120 Sequencer section
121 Count section
122 storage unit
200 Music material supply and sales center
210 Input / output section
220 Storage unit
230 processor
240 Billing Department
241 Billing information
300 First network
400 billing center
500 Second network
600 music material
601 Use count
602 Save format
610 Usage information
611 First usage information
612 Second usage information
620 Search result information
630 sample data
640 music material data
650 Search result information

Claims (10)

The instruction sent from the user's terminal device via the first network is received at the music material provision and sales center, and based on this instruction, the search result of the music material, the audition data, and the data of the music material itself are received. And transmitting usage information including the type and number of usages of the music material respectively used by the user at the terminal device, and creating billing information for the user based on the usage information. Music material providing and selling system that transmits to the billing center via the network of
The terminal device of the user includes a sequencer unit that creates music based on the music material downloaded from the music material provision and sales center via the first network,
The sequencer section searches for, listens to, and downloads the desired music material based on the data transmitted from the music material provision and sales center via the first network, and uses the music material that was used when creating the music. Together with the user-specific identification ID and the usage information as the usage information via the first network to the music material provision and sales center,
Based on the usage information sent from the user's terminal device via the first network, the music material provision / sales center identifies the user by the identification ID and follows a predetermined charging rule. Create billing information for the user,
Music material provision and sales system characterized by that. The sequencer unit in the user terminal device counts the number of times of use for each type of music material, and stores the type and number of times of use of the music material. Music material offer sales system. When the sequencer unit stores the music in the middle of its creation, the first network uses the stored music material type and usage information as the first usage information along with the music storage method. The music material provision / sales system according to claim 1, wherein the music material provision / sales system is transmitted to the music material provision / sales center. When the sequencer section stores the music after completion, the usage information of the type and the number of times of use of the music material stored at that time is used as the second usage information along with the music storage method via the first network. The music material provision / sales system according to claim 1, wherein the music material provision / sales system is transmitted to a music material provision / sales center. 5. The music material provision according to claim 4, wherein when the music material provision sales center receives the first usage information from the terminal device of the user, it creates billing information as a material usage fee for the music material. Sales system. 5. The music material according to claim 4, wherein when the music material provision / sales center receives the second usage information from the terminal device of the user, the billing information is created as a copyright usage fee of the music material. Offer sales system. 7. The music material downloaded from the music material provision / sales center is erased when the sequencer unit suspends or ends the creation of music or when the sequencer unit or the terminal device itself ends use. Crab music material sales system. Provided with a UDDI registry unit connected to the first network and providing search information for the web service of the music material provision and sales center,
When the user's terminal device connects to the UDDI registry unit via the first network, it searches for the Web service provided by the music material providing and selling center, and the music material providing and selling center provides from the UDDI registry unit. The music material providing / sale system according to claim 1, wherein the music material is retrieved by receiving a search result of the Web service to be used and using the searched Web service. Based on the instructions sent from the user's terminal device via the first network, the music material providing / sale center sends the search results of the music material, the audition data and the music material itself, and the user. The billing information of the user is created based on the usage information including the type of music material used by the terminal device and the number of times the user has used the terminal device, and billed via the second network. A music material providing and selling method to be sent to the center,
Based on the data transmitted from the music material provision / sales center via the first network, the user's terminal device searches for, listens to, and downloads the desired music material.
The type of music material used at the time of song creation and the number of times of use are transmitted as usage information to the music material provision and sales center via the first network together with a user-specific identification ID,
Based on the usage information sent from the user's terminal device via the first network at the music material providing / sales center, the user is identified by the identification ID, and a predetermined charging rule is applied. Therefore, create billing information for the user,
A method for providing and selling music materials characterized by Based on the instructions sent from the user's terminal device via the first network, the music material providing / sale center sends the search results of the music material, the audition data and the music material itself, and the user. The billing information of the user is created based on the usage information including the type of music material used by the terminal device and the number of times the user has used the terminal device, and billed via the second network. A music material provision and sales program for causing a computer to execute processing to be transmitted to a center,
Based on the data transmitted from the music material provision / sales center via the first network, the user's terminal device searches for, listens to, and downloads the desired music material.
The type of music material used at the time of song creation and the number of times of use are transmitted as usage information to the music material provision and sales center via the first network together with a user-specific identification ID,
Based on the usage information sent from the user's terminal device via the first network at the music material providing / sales center, the user is identified by the identification ID, and a predetermined charging rule is applied. Therefore, create billing information for the user,
Music material offer sales program characterized by that.

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