JP2005085001A - Method and device for managing content and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable users to intuitively determine valuable contents, while also enabling content providers to evaluate the contents in a fair manner for the resulting activation of sites. <P>SOLUTION: A content utilization history managing part 35 receives events detected by a content utilization history detecting part 34, evaluates contents on the basis of use histories such as the number of times that corresponding contents are browsed, the number of times that the corresponding contents are edited, the number of registrations as related contents, and evaluations provided to the corresponding contents, and presents the evaluation results to the users. Also, as to contents whose values obtained through digitization of the utilization histories by the content utilization history managing part 35 exceed a predetermined value, a content processing part 36 moves their storage locations from a certain terminal that provides the contents to another particular terminal or server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content management method, an apparatus thereof, and a computer program, in which each terminal that provides or uses content is connected by a communication network and manages the content that is disclosed and used via the communication network.

With the spread of the Internet, it has become possible to browse and use content registered on certain sites, such as music and video.
In addition to simply enjoying the content, let users or critics evaluate the content or the content provider, reflect the evaluation results on the popularity chart, and present it to the user, bringing vitality to the entire site The content providing system has been filed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the system includes a critic terminal in addition to the content providing terminal and the user terminal, and this critic terminal can also be connected to the processing unit of the server. That is, the critic can operate the critic terminal to transmit the content or the evaluation point for the content provider to the processing unit. The processing unit makes it possible to view the evaluation points transmitted via the critic terminal from the content providing terminal or the user terminal, and also ranks the popularity chart using the evaluation points and presents it to the user. We are trying to activate the site.
JP 2002-189793 A

According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, content evaluation is presented to the user as additional information separate from the content in the form of popularity ranking. However, the popularity ranking here is based on critics' criticism, and its popularity is not directly reflected in the evaluation.
Further, such additional information is recorded as information different from the content and is not directly reflected on the content itself, so the user has to examine the information. Therefore, the user cannot intuitively determine the use value of the content, and it is still difficult to search for the desired work. Also, for content providers, unless their work is supported by critics, active registration gradually decreases, and as a result, the liveliness of the site itself declines.

  The present invention has been made to solve the various problems described above, and the user can intuitively evaluate and present the content based on the utilization history of the content such as the number of browsing and the number of downloads. Content management method and apparatus, and computer program capable of discriminating valuable content and enabling fair evaluation for content providers and consequently activating the site For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a content management method in which each of terminals that provide or use content is connected by a communication network, and the content that is disclosed and used through the communication network is managed. The process of receiving the utilization request of the content via the certain terminal utilizing the content, detecting the utilization history of the content updated every time the content is utilized, and quantifying the utilization history of the detected content And storing the content in association with each content.

  The present invention also includes a step of registering content provided on the communication network.

  Further, in the present invention, the method further includes a step of moving the storage location of the content whose numerical value exceeds a predetermined value from the certain terminal that provides the content to another specific terminal or server. Features.

  In the present invention, the utilization history is the number of browsing of the corresponding content.

  In the present invention, the utilization history is the number of edits of the corresponding content.

  In the present invention, the utilization history is the number of corresponding contents registered as related contents in the certain terminal utilizing the contents.

  In the present invention, the utilization history is the number of evaluations given to the corresponding content.

According to the present invention, for example, the content is evaluated based on the utilization history such as the number of browsing of the corresponding content, the number of editing of the corresponding content, the number of registrations as related contents, the evaluation given to the corresponding content, and presented to the user Therefore, the user can intuitively discriminate the valuable content, and the content provider can make a fair evaluation, and as a result, the site can be activated.
In addition, for content whose digitized value exceeds a predetermined value, the storage location may be transferred from one terminal that provides the content to another specific terminal or server. Since the storage locations of the content whose value was originally recognized are concentrated in one place, the user can be identified more easily.

Here, “content” means any file, such as music, novel, embroidery, video, etc., hair design, cooking recipe, actor / designer, cook's own profile, etc. There may be. The “content provider” includes all persons belonging to the content provider, such as creators, performers, singers, music bands, actors, designers, and cooks of the content.
Here, the “content management device” is a LAN (Local Area Network) in which all terminals are placed in an equal position without using a server, such as a server in a client server system or P2P (Peer to peer). Each connected terminal may be used. Also, here, the terminals are shown separately on the content providing side and the content utilizing side. However, here, depending on whether the terminal plays a role as a content provider or a content user, Therefore, in some cases, it becomes a content providing terminal, and in other cases, it becomes a content utilization terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is a content management apparatus for managing content that is provided and utilized via a communication network in which terminals that provide or utilize content are connected to each other. A content utilization history detection unit that receives a utilization request of the content via the certain terminal utilizing the content and detects a utilization history of the content that is updated every time the content is utilized; and A content utilization history management unit that digitizes the utilization history and stores it in association with each content.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is used in a content management apparatus that manages content that is provided and utilized via a communication network in which each terminal that provides or uses content is connected via the communication network. A computer program that receives a request for utilizing the content via the certain terminal that utilizes the content, detects a utilization history of the content that is updated each time the content is utilized, and the detected content The utilization history is digitized and stored in association with each content, and is executed by a computer.

According to the present invention, a user can intuitively discriminate valuable content by evaluating and presenting the content based on the utilization history of the content such as the number of browsing times and the number of downloads.
In addition, since the content itself is processed according to the usage status and evaluation of the content by the user, even if there are too many content or content providers and it is not clear where to start the search, the content user It is possible to discriminate valuable content intuitively and to improve the interface for content search. Furthermore, since content is also evaluated for content providers based on content usage history by users such as the number of browsing, fair evaluation is possible, resulting in an increase in the number of registrations and activation of the site. Can do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a connection configuration of a content management apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a content management apparatus, and terminals (content provision terminal 1 and content utilization terminal 2) that provide or use content are connected via a communication network 5. Further, the content registered by the content providing terminal 1 is made public via the communication network 5 and is used by the content utilization terminal 2 for browsing, related information registration, evaluation, and the like.
A selected content storage device 4 is connected to the communication network 5 like the content management device 3, and valuable content is collectively registered therein.

Here, the content management device 3 and the content management device 4 are here realized by a server, but may be realized by a PC (personal computer) or the like like the content providing terminal 1 and the content utilization terminal 2. The former has a server-client connection, and the latter has a P2P connection configuration.
In addition, here, the terminals 1 and 2 are shown separately for the content providing side and the content using side, but here, the terminal 1 or 2 is assumed to play a role as a content provider or a content user. Thus, the type of terminal is differentiated, and accordingly, the terminal is the content providing terminal 1 in some cases and the content utilization terminal 2 in other cases.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional development of the configuration of the content management apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention.
The content management apparatus 3 includes a communication network connection processing unit 31, a content registration unit 32, a content DB 33, a content utilization history detection unit 34, a content utilization history management unit 35, and a content processing unit 36.

When the content management device 3 uses, for example, the Internet as the communication network 5, the communication network connection processing unit 31 implements TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol), the content providing terminal 1, the content utilization terminal 2. I manage the interface with.
The content registration unit 32 has a function of registering content provided by the content providing terminal 1 via the communication network 5, and the content utilization history detection unit 34 utilizes content from the content utilization terminal 2 that utilizes content. It has a function of receiving a request and detecting a utilization history of content that is updated each time the content is utilized. The content utilization history is managed by the number of browsing of the corresponding content, the number of editing of the corresponding content, the number of the corresponding content registered as related content in the content utilization terminal 2, the number of evaluations of the corresponding content, and the respective requests are notified as events. Is detected.

The content utilization history management unit 35 has a function of digitizing the utilization history of the content detected by the content utilization history detection unit 34 and storing it as metadata of the content DB 33 in association with each content.
The content processing unit 36 sends the content storage location where the value quantified by the content utilization history management unit 35 exceeds a predetermined value from the content providing terminal 1 to the selected content storage device 4 which is another specific terminal or server. It has a function to perform control for transition.

  The content DB 33 includes a content body and metadata. The metadata indicates attributes corresponding to each content as information. For example, as shown in FIG. It consists of data items of “creator”, “last update date / time”, “file type”, “file name”, “file size”, “storage location”, “comment”, “related information”, and “point”. These data items are all updated by the system based on predetermined settings.

Here, “comment” refers to information expressed in the longest X characters described by the content utilization terminal 2 regarding impressions, opinions, questions, etc. with respect to the corresponding content, and “related information” refers to information related to the content Specifically, copied content with the same content, content with similarities, content with the opposite content, content referenced when creating the content, content before the change, content for supplementary explanation, reference And the like, and file names (content IDs) are registered respectively. The “comment” and “related information” shown here can also be updated by the content user.
The “point” is a numerical expression of the degree to which the content is used. One point is added when the corresponding content is used. Operations to which points are added include copying such as downloading, registration of related information, and input of comments. The initial value is 0 points, and is updated in units of 1 point. The “point” shown here is automatically updated when the system recognizes an action given to the content, such as downloading or browsing.
The content user can select the content to be browsed by browsing only the above-described metadata.

4 to 7 are flowcharts cited for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, content registration processing (FIG. 4) and content utilization history detection processing (FIG. 4) in the computer program of the present invention are shown. 5) Process procedures of content utilization history management processing (FIG. 6) and content processing (FIG. 7) are shown.
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described in detail below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, the content provider operates the content providing terminal 1 to generate content, and performs system registration. The content registration unit 32 also generates and registers metadata when generating and registering content. The metadata generated and registered here includes a creator, a file type, a file name, a file size, a location, and the like. Further, when the content is modified and the attribute information (last update date and time) is changed, the metadata is changed accordingly.
Specifically, the content registration unit 32 generates and outputs a content registration screen (not shown) based on a request from the content providing terminal 1 when the content is generated and registered or changed (S401, S402). The data is output for display on the requested content providing terminal 1 via the network connection processing unit 31. The content registration unit 32 waits for new content input or editing completion using the content registration screen displayed on the content providing terminal 1 by the content provider (S403, S404). Further, the content provider subsequently inputs each data item shown in FIG. 3 using the metadata registration screen displayed on the content providing terminal 1 (S405).
Here, the content registration unit 32 registers the metadata generated previously when the metadata is newly registered or when the content is changed and the corresponding metadata is changed (S406, S407). If the metadata does not need to be changed even if the content is changed, the content registration process is terminated because the previously registered metadata can be continuously used.
The content registered as editable at the content providing terminal 1 can be edited by anyone other than the registrant, and the content provider restricts the users (content utilization terminal 2) who can edit the content. You can also

Note that the metadata is deleted at the same time when the content provider deletes the content.
Specifically, when deleting the content, the content registration unit 32 generates and outputs a content deletion screen (not shown) (FIG. 4, S401, S408), and the content provider deletes the content displayed on the content provider terminal 1 The deleted content is selected with reference to the screen (S409). The content selected here is deleted by the content registration unit 32 (S410), and the content provider clicks the confirmation button on the metadata deletion confirmation screen that is subsequently displayed, whereby the corresponding metadata by the content registration unit 32 is displayed. Are deleted (S411, S412).

On the other hand, when the content is registered as related content via the content utilization terminal 2, the content utilization history unit 34 detects the content. Further, the content registered as editable in the content providing terminal 1 can be edited by anyone other than the registrant, and the content utilization history unit 34 also detects when the content is edited.
The content utilization history detection unit 34 detects that the content has been utilized in some form by receiving an event issued from the content utilization terminal 2 and activates a point addition process by the content utilization history management unit 35.
Specifically, the content utilization history detection unit 34 receives an event indicating a browsing action in response to a content browsing request by the content utilization terminal 2 or a subsequent download action (FIG. 5, S501, S502), and content utilization history management. The unit 35 is instructed to update the point value of the corresponding content (S503), and the corresponding item data of the metadata corresponding to the corresponding content is updated with the tabulated points (S508). Similarly, for related information registration and comment input, an event notification is received from the content utilization terminal 2 (S504, S506), and the content utilization history management unit 35 instructs to update the point value of the corresponding content (S505, S507). The corresponding item data of the metadata corresponding to the corresponding content is updated with the tabulated points (S508).

The point is one of data items as content attribute information (metadata), and is a numerical value representing the degree to which the content is used. Every time the content is used, that is, every time the content usage history detection unit 34 receives an event generated due to browsing, related information registration, and comment input, the content usage history management unit 35 automatically counts the content. .
Information handled as points is “browsing”, “related information registration”, and “comment input”. Regarding “browsing”, the number of times the content is referred to by another user, that is, the content utilization terminal 2, “related information registration” Is the number of times the content is registered as related information by another user. The same applies to “comment input”. For this reason, the content utilization history management unit 35 adds 1 point to the point item data of the metadata every time the content is referred to by other users, and the content is registered as related information to other users, or Every time an event with a comment input is received, 1 point is added to the point item data of the metadata.

  Specifically, when referring to the content, the user selects a reference content based on a content list screen (not shown) generated and output by the content utilization history management unit 35 (FIGS. 6, S601 and S602). The content referred to here is utilized by the content utilization terminal 2 in the form of download, related information registration, and comment input (S603), and the content utilization history management unit 35 waits for completion of operations for utilization, respectively. One point is added to the point item data of the metadata corresponding to the content of (S604, S605).

On the other hand, the content processing unit 36 has a function of processing the content in accordance with the points added and totaled by the content utilization history management unit 35. Here, the content processing unit 36 refers to the metadata of the content DB 33 (FIG. 7, S701). ), When the point exceeds a predetermined value (α) (S702), a process for moving the corresponding content to the selected content storage device 4 is performed (S703).
In other words, the content that has been counted points exceeding a predetermined value by browsing, downloading, and related information registration is content that is useful, and content that has received comments from many users is content that has attracted interest. Since the content has room for improvement, the storage location is moved to the selected content storage device 4 in order to promote further comments from other users and direct improvement.
Note that when the content that has obtained points exceeding the predetermined value is transferred to the selected content storage device 4, the content processing unit 36 performs control to transfer the metadata along with the content.

9 to 11 show processing procedures in each of the related information registration processing (FIG. 9), addition processing (FIG. 10), and deletion processing (FIG. 11). The relationship between the related information registration process and the point totaling process will be described with reference to FIGS.
Registration of related information is a function to register information related to the registered content in the metadata, and as described above, it corresponds to all acts that show the relationship between content such as similar content, reference content, spread content, etc. This is a process that occurs.

For registration of related information, the content registration unit 32 waits for the end of content registration to output a metadata registration screen (FIG. 8, S801 to S803), and the user registers the related information displayed on the content utilization terminal 2. It is activated by pressing the search button (S804). Here, the screen is changed to a search screen on which a content list is displayed, and the user searches for content to be registered as related information via the search screen (S805).
The content registration unit 32 registers the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the search content as related information in the corresponding related information data item of the metadata (S806), and an event generated upon completion of registration by the content utilization history detection unit 34 Then, the point data item of the metadata corresponding to the corresponding content in the content DB 33 is updated (S807, S808).

The related information adding / editing process is started by pressing a related information registration button on the search result screen (FIG. 9, S901, S902). Subsequently, a metadata editing screen is generated and output by the content registration unit 32 (S903), and editing is performed when the user selects related information and data items (S904). If not selected first, the registration destination content is also selected. Then, after the notification of the registration completion event by the content utilization history detection unit 34, the content utilization history management unit 35 performs point addition processing of the corresponding content (S905, S906).
The related information deletion process is started by pressing a related information deletion button on the search result output screen (FIGS. 10, S101, and S102). Specifically, a metadata deletion screen is generated and output by the content registration unit 32 (S103), and when the user selects related information and data items to be deleted (S104), deletion processing is performed and metadata is updated. Is performed (S105).

In addition, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the content management apparatus of the present invention is applied to a server of a client server system has been described. Similarly, as in P2P, all terminals are equal without using a server. The present invention can also be applied to a LAN connection method placed in a position.
2 is a computer-readable recording medium for the procedures executed by the communication network connection processing unit 31, the content registration unit 32, the content utilization history detection unit 34, the content utilization history management unit 35, and the content processing unit 36 shown in FIG. It is assumed that the content management apparatus of the present invention is realized by reading the program recorded on the recording medium, causing the computer system to read the program, and executing the program. The computer system here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

Further, the “computer system” includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment) if a WWW system is used.
The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a flexible medium, a magneto-optical disk, a portable medium such as a ROM and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. Furthermore, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a volatile memory (RAM) inside a computer system that becomes a client or a system when a program is transmitted via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line. In addition, those holding programs for a certain period of time are also included.

The program may be transmitted from a computer system storing the program in a storage device or the like to another computer system via a transmission medium or by a transmission wave in the transmission medium. Here, the “transmission medium” for transmitting the program refers to a medium having a function of transmitting information, such as a network (communication network) such as the Internet or a communication line (communication line) such as a telephone line.
The program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above. Furthermore, what can implement | achieve the function mentioned above in combination with the program already recorded on the computer system, and what is called a difference file (difference program) may be sufficient.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and includes design and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows an example of the connection structure of the content management apparatus in this invention. It is the block diagram which expanded and showed the structure of the content management apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the data structure of the metadata shown in FIG. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment. It is the flowchart quoted in order to demonstrate operation | movement of this invention embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content provision terminal, 2 ... Content utilization terminal, 3 ... Content management apparatus, 4 ... Selection content storage apparatus, 5 ... Communication network, 31 ... Communication network connection process part, 32 ... Content registration part, 33 ... Content DB, 34 ... Content utilization history detection unit, 35 ... Content utilization history management unit, 36 ... Content processing unit

Claims (9)

A content management method for managing content that is provided or used by each terminal that provides or uses content, is connected via a communication network, and is made public through the communication network.
A process of receiving a utilization request of the content via the certain terminal utilizing the content, and detecting a utilization history of the content updated every time the content is utilized;
A process of digitizing the history of utilization of the detected content and storing it in association with each content;
A content management method comprising: Registering content provided on the communication network;
The content management method according to claim 1, further comprising: A process of transferring the storage location of the content whose digitized value exceeds a predetermined value from the certain terminal providing the content to another specific terminal or server;
The content management method according to claim 1, further comprising:   The content management method according to claim 1, wherein the utilization history is the number of browsing of the corresponding content.   The content management method according to claim 1, wherein the utilization history is the number of edits of the corresponding content.   The content management method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the utilization history is a number in which the corresponding content is registered as related content in the certain terminal that utilizes the content.   The content management method according to claim 1, wherein the utilization history is the number of evaluations given to the corresponding content. Each of the terminals that provide or use content is connected to a communication network, and is a content management device that manages the content that is published and used via the communication network,
A content utilization history detection unit that receives a utilization request of the content via the certain terminal utilizing the content and detects a utilization history of the content that is updated every time the content is utilized;
A content utilization history management unit that digitizes the utilization history of the detected content and stores it in association with each content;
A content management apparatus comprising: A computer program used for a content management apparatus that manages content to be used by a terminal that provides or uses content, is connected via a communication network, and is made public through the communication network,
A process of receiving a utilization request of the content via the certain terminal that utilizes the content, and detecting a utilization history of the content that is updated each time the content is utilized;
A process of digitizing the history of utilization of the detected content and storing it in association with each content;
A computer program that causes a computer to execute.

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