JP2005094557A - Distribution method and distribution server - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain equality of information downloading among a plurality of users when distributing information from a distribution server to a plurality of terminals. <P>SOLUTION: A distribution system is constituted by connecting the distribution server and the plurality of terminals via the Internet. When users X, Y, Z simultaneously apply to purchase three pieces of music (for 500 yen), one piece of music (for 100 yen) and seven pieces of music (for 900 yen) from their own terminals, the distribution server makes highest a rate of communications with the terminal of the user Z, makes medium a rate of communications with the terminal of the user X and makes lowest a rate of communications with the terminal of the user Y and distributes to the terminals music data requested from the terminals. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for distributing and downloading information such as music data and video data from a distribution source to a user according to a user's purchase application.

  Services that distribute various data and computer programs using a network such as the Internet are becoming widespread. For example, in a music distribution service, when a user selects a desired music piece by a music list, a music search function, recommended information, etc., and applies for purchase to the distribution source, the music is sent from the distribution source server to the user's terminal. Data is transmitted and music data can be downloaded.

  However, as such distribution services become widespread, purchase applications from many users are concentrated at the same time, and information must be distributed to many users.

  Therefore, for example, a user who purchases several songs at a time is several times longer than a user who purchases only one song at a time, and the user who purchases many songs with a large amount of money, The result is that the download takes time.

  In Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-355346), in order to avoid an increase in the load on the distribution server due to the concentration of data distribution in time, a distribution request and a desired distribution time are transmitted from the terminal to the distribution server. A method is shown in which information is transmitted and the distribution server determines a distribution scheduled time according to the state of the transmission path and the like, notifies the terminal, and distributes data at that time.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-45230) discloses a network system in which a plurality of servers and a plurality of clients (terminals) are connected via a plurality of routers. The server is overloaded by receiving the information indicating the transmission bandwidth of the server, distributing the server transmission bandwidth to the router, making a reservation, and receiving data from the server with the reserved transmission bandwidth. There is shown a method for distributing data without falling into a state and without reducing the quality of the data.

The prior art documents listed above are as follows.
JP-A-11-355346 JP-A-11-45230

  However, even in the method described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, there are cases where it is unavoidable to distribute to many terminals from the same server at the same time. Users who purchase purchases several times longer than users who purchase only one song at a time, and users who purchase a large number of songs with a large amount of money are likely to take longer to download. A fair result.

  In view of this, the present invention is designed to ensure fairness in downloading information among a plurality of users when distributing information from a distribution server to a plurality of terminals.

The delivery method of this invention is
A method of sending information to a device in response to a purchase application from the device,
The information is transmitted by changing the communication capacity in accordance with the purchase amount so that the communication capacity is increased stepwise or continuously as the purchase amount or purchase amount of information increases.

  In the distribution method of the present invention having the above-described configuration, for example, in the case of a music distribution service that distributes music data from a distribution server to a terminal, the purchase amount, the number of purchased songs, or the terminal (user) with a large amount of purchased data Since music data is distributed with an increased communication capacity (communication speed), for example, between a user who purchases 500 yen or 3 songs at a time and a user who purchases only 150 yen or 1 song at a time For example, the time required for downloading is the same, and the user who purchases more or purchases more time can eliminate the unreasonable / unfairness that the time required for downloading becomes longer. It can be fair to download information.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the unreasonableness and unfairness that a user with a large purchase amount takes a long time to download, and to achieve fairness in downloading information among a plurality of users. be able to. Further, since the communication capacity is changed in this way, the communication load can be distributed.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a distribution system for executing the distribution method of the present invention.

  The distribution system in this example is configured by connecting a distribution server 2 and a plurality of terminals 3x, 3y, 3z,.

  Assuming that the terminals 3x, 3y, 3z,... Are terminals 3, this terminal 3 includes, for example, a CPU 11 as shown in FIG. 1, a communication unit 14 that communicates with the distribution server 2 via 1, an HDD (hard disk drive) 16 that drives a hard disk 15 as a built-in storage device, an operation unit 18 that includes various keys, and a display such as a liquid crystal display. The display unit 19 and the reproduction processing unit 21 are connected.

  The compression-coded music data distributed from the distribution server 2 via the Internet 1 and received by the communication unit 14 is recorded on the hard disk 15, read out from the hard disk 15, and reproduced by the reproduction processing unit 21. The decompressed and decoded music data is converted into an analog signal by the reproduction processing unit 21 and supplied to the speaker 23 through the audio amplifying circuit 22, so that the music distributed from the distribution server 2 in the terminal 3 can be obtained. Can be played.

  However, the reproduction output device such as the reproduction processing unit 21, the audio amplification circuit 22, and the speaker 23 may be configured to be connected to the terminal 3 as a device different from the terminal 3.

  On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the distribution server 2 includes a CPU 31, and communicates with the terminal 3 via the bus 32, a memory (RAM) 33 in which programs and data are expanded, and the Internet 1. The communication unit 34, the software storage unit 35, the data storage unit 36, and the member information database 37 are connected.

  The software storage unit 35 includes a homepage presentation mechanism 35a for presenting a homepage on the terminal 3, and a terminal 3 for downloading music data to the terminal 3 when a download button is pressed on the homepage as described later. The download mechanism 35b and software (program) such as a communication capacity adjusting mechanism 35c for adjusting the communication capacity (communication speed) with the terminal 3 as described later are stored.

  The data storage unit 36 stores basic data 36a constituting a home page, music data 36b to be distributed, and the like.

  In the member information database 37, for each user who uses the distribution system as a member, basic data such as the user's name, age, address, e-mail address, payment information, and the title of the music downloaded by the user in the past. The accumulated points and remaining points under the point system, which will be described later, are stored in the database as member data 37a.

  In the distribution system described above, when the user inputs the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) address of the distribution source music purchase portal site with a predetermined browser on the terminal 3, the distribution server 2 uses the homepage presentation mechanism 35a to 3 presents a portal site for purchasing music.

  The user selects a music to purchase by using a music list, a music search function, recommended information, etc., and makes a transition to a download home page. As a result, a home page as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 19 of the terminal 3.

  Specifically, on the home page 5 in this case, the title of the song selected by the user is displayed as the purchased song list 5a, and the total purchased amount 5b is the number of purchased songs such as “total: 3 songs ¥ 500” and the like. The purchase amount is displayed, and below that, a download button 5c for downloading the music data purchased by the user in a batch is displayed, and as the communication capacity display 5d, “400 yen or less is“ low ”, 401 yen”. From “1” to “800”, “Medium” is displayed, and “High” is displayed for 801 yen and above, indicating that the communication capacity changes according to the total purchase amount. A guide to the time required for downloading is displayed.

  In the example of FIG. 4, since the total purchase amount is 500 yen, an arrow 5f indicating that it is applicable is attached to the “¥ 401 to ¥ 800 middle” column in the communication capacity display 5d. .

  When the user presses the download button 5c while the home page 5 is displayed as shown in FIG. 4, the distribution server 2 causes the communication capacity adjustment mechanism 35c to set the total communication capacity of the distribution server 2 and the distribution server 2 at that time. Based on the total number of connected terminals 3 for downloading music data, the communication capacity of each terminal 3, and the purchase amount of each terminal 3 (user), the communication capacity (with each terminal 3) ( (Communication speed) is determined, and the music data is transmitted to each terminal 3 by the download mechanism 35b in accordance with the determined communication capacity.

  The communication capacity of each terminal 3 is registered in advance in the member information database 37 of the distribution server 2 when the user registers as a member in the distribution server 2, or communication between the terminal 3 and the distribution server 2 at the time of music purchase. To be detected by the distribution server 2.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a distribution download process performed by the distribution server 2 and the terminal 3.

  First, in the terminal 3, in step 51, the URL address of the portal site of the distribution server 2 is input by the user's operation as described above, whereby the distribution server 2 presents the portal site in step 61.

  Next, in the terminal 3, the portal site is displayed on the display unit 19 in step 52, and further, the user selects the music to be purchased, so that the transition to the homepage 5 is made in step 53.

  Further, when the user selects the download button 5c on the home page 5 in step 54, the distribution server 2 adjusts the communication capacity with the terminal 3 in step 64 as described above, and the determination is made in step 65. The music data is transmitted to the terminal 3 according to the communication capacity.

  In the terminal 3, in step 55, the music data transmitted from the distribution server 2 is received and recorded in the hard disk 15.

  Although the payment processing associated with the paid distribution service is omitted in FIG. 5, it is executed before the transition to the home page or after the download button 5c is pressed and before the download starts. To do.

  Specifically, adjustment of communication capacity (communication speed) is performed by controlling the number of transmission packets per unit time.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the user X of the terminal 3x purchases three songs A, B, and C, and the user Y of the terminal 3y purchases only one song E. The total purchase amount is 500 yen for user X and 150 yen for user Y.

  In this case, the distribution server 2 basically sets a medium communication speed for the terminal 3x as shown in the communication capacity display 5d on the homepage 5 shown in FIG. Although the communication speed is low, specifically, the total communication capacity of the distribution server 2, the total number of terminals 3 that are connected to the distribution server 2 and download music data at that time, and the communication capacity of each terminal 3 Also, the communication speed with each terminal 3 is determined.

  As a result, in the example of FIG. 6, the communication speed with the terminal 3 x is three times the communication speed with the terminal 3 y, and the packet data Pa, This is a case where the packet data Pe of the music piece E is transmitted for one packet from the distribution server 2 to the terminal 3y while transmitting Pb or Pc for three packets.

  As a result, if the data amounts of the music pieces A, B, C, and E are the same, the time required for downloading all data of the music pieces A, B, and C purchased by the user X to the terminal 3x and the user Y The time required for downloading all data of the purchased music E to the terminal 3y is the same.

  Actually, since the data amount of each song is not the same, the time required for downloading all data of the songs A, B, C to the terminal 3x is required for downloading all the data of the song E to the terminal 3y. Although it may be longer than the time, the time required for downloading all data of the music pieces A, B, and C to the terminal 3x as compared with the case where the communication speed with each terminal 3 is the same. Can be significantly shortened, and it is possible to eliminate the unreasonable / unfairness that the user who purchases more money has a longer download time.

  Although the above example is a case where the communication capacity is increased as the total purchase price is larger, the communication capacity may be increased as the number of purchased songs is larger. Although the price of one song is not necessarily the same, the purchase price tends to increase as the number of purchased songs increases. Therefore, even when the communication capacity is determined based on the number of purchased songs, the purchase price is used as a reference as described above. The same effect as when determining the communication capacity can be obtained.

  Further, the communication capacity may be determined in consideration of the purchase price or the number of purchased songs of the past purchase record, or based on the purchase price or the purchased song number of the past purchase record. The following is an example of this in relation to the point system.

  There are also several point systems. The first is a system that records a user's past purchase record with a certain amount as one point, and provides goods and services to the user free of charge when a predetermined score is reached.

In this case, for example, together with the provision of the product or service, or instead of the provision of the product or service, the communication capacity is determined in consideration of the past purchase score Po. Specifically, if the point when the current purchase amount is converted into points is Pn, the purchase amount of the user is
P = Kn · Pn + Ko · Po (1)
The communication capacity is determined based on the purchase amount P.

  The coefficient Kn is Kn ≧ 0. Kn = 0 is a case where the communication capacity is determined based on only the score Po of past purchase results without considering the score Pn of the current purchase price. On the other hand, Ko = 0 is a case where the above-mentioned past purchase record is not taken into consideration, and therefore the coefficient Ko is set to Ko> 0.

  The second point system is a system in which a certain percentage of a user's past purchase price can be applied to the purchase price this time, with a certain price as one point. In this system, for example, when a user purchases 1,000 yen this time after purchasing 10,000 yen for the first time last time and purchases 1,000 yen this time, part of the accumulated 1000 points Or, the whole can be used for part or all of the purchase price of 1,000 yen. Of course, the points earned are deducted from the accumulated points.

  In the second point system, how to grasp past purchase results becomes a problem. If this is measured with the remaining points, the user who applies the remaining points at each purchase will be able to reduce the remaining points even if the cumulative purchase amount in the past is large. You will be disadvantaged.

Therefore, in this case, for example, the accumulated points are considered as points when the past accumulated purchase amount is converted into points, and the communication capacity is determined in consideration of the accumulated points. Specifically, if the conversion point of the current purchase price is Pn, the past cumulative points are Pr, and the remaining points are Ps, the purchase amount of the user is
P = Kn · Pn + Kr · Pr (2)
The communication capacity is determined based on the purchase amount P.

  The coefficient Kn is Kn ≧ 0. Kn = 0 is a case where the communication capacity is determined based on only the past accumulated points Pr without taking into account the points Pn of the current purchase amount. On the other hand, since Kr = 0 is a case where the above-mentioned past purchase record is not taken into consideration, the coefficient Kr is set to Kr> 0.

  In addition, when part or all of the remaining points Ps is applied to part or all of the purchase price at the time of this purchase, the points Pu acquired by this purchase are the remainder after deducting the appropriate amount from the purchase price. Although a certain percentage of the price, for example, 10%, the converted point Pn is a point when the current purchase price itself is converted into points.

  FIG. 7 shows a specific example. This is a case where 10% of the purchase amount is recognized as a point, and the user X (terminal 3x) has a cumulative point Pr of 500 points (a past cumulative purchase amount of 5,000 yen) and a remaining point Ps of 500 points ( User Y (terminal 3y) has a cumulative point Pr of 5000 points (the past cumulative purchase amount is 50,000 yen) and a remaining point Ps of 100 points (100 yen can be used) And the user Z (terminal 3z) has 8,000 cumulative points Pr (the past cumulative purchase amount is 80,000 yen) and 4,000 remaining points Ps (4,000 yen worth).

  In this state, this time, user X purchases 3 songs, 500 yen, and applies the remaining points to the entire purchase price, and user Y purchases 1 song, 150 yen, and does not use the remaining points. It is assumed that the purchase price is paid and the user Z does not purchase anything. The points Pu acquired by this purchase are 0 points for the user X and 15 points for the user Y, but the conversion points Pn are 50 points for the user X and 15 points for the user Y.

In this case, the purchase amount Px of the user X is
Px = 50 × Kn + 500 × Kr (2x)
The purchase amount Py of the user Y is
Py = 15 × Kn + 5000 × Kr (2y)
It is.

  From the viewpoint of looking at the total purchase results including the current purchase amount, if Kn = Kr = 1, the purchase amount Px of the user X is 550 points (5500 yen worth), and the purchase amount Py of the user Y is 5015 points (50150 yen worth).

  Therefore, in this case, in the distribution server 2, contrary to the example shown in FIG. 6, the communication speed between the user X and the terminal 3 x is made higher than the communication speed between the user Y and the terminal 3 y. .

  The distribution server does not need to be physically configured by a single server, but determines the communication capacity between the main server that accepts distribution requests from the terminal and the terminal, and transmits music data to the terminal. Or a plurality of subservers, or a main server that receives a distribution request from a terminal and determines a communication capacity with the terminal, and one or more subservers that transmit music data to the terminal It may be configured. In this case, the sub server can be configured such that one sub server arranged near a plurality of terminals transmits music data to the plurality of terminals.

  Moreover, although the example mentioned above is a case where music data is distributed, this invention is not limited to music data, but also when distributing data such as video and news or programs such as game software for a fee. Can be applied.

It is a figure which shows an example of the delivery system which performs the delivery method of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a terminal. It is a figure which shows an example of a delivery server. It is a figure which shows an example of the homepage for music purchase. It is a figure which shows an example of the delivery download process which a delivery server and a terminal perform. It is a figure which shows an example of how to change communication capacity. It is a figure with which it uses for description when determining communication capacity under a point system.

Explanation of symbols

  Since all the main parts are described in the figure, they are omitted here.

Claims (8)

A method of sending information to a device in response to a purchase application from the device,
A distribution method for transmitting information by changing the communication capacity according to the purchase amount so that the communication capacity is increased stepwise or continuously as the purchase amount or purchase amount of information is larger. The delivery method according to claim 1,
The delivery amount is a delivery method in which the purchase amount or purchase amount at the time of purchase application is used. The delivery method according to claim 1,
The purchase amount is a distribution method in which a purchase amount or a purchase amount of a past purchase record is used. The delivery method according to claim 1,
The delivery method is a distribution method in which the purchase amount or purchase amount at the time of purchase application is added to the purchase amount or purchase amount of the past purchase record. Information storage means storing information to be distributed to the terminal;
Communication means for receiving a purchase application from a terminal and transmitting information stored in the information storage means to the terminal;
When a purchase application from a terminal is received by this communication means, the communication capacity is increased according to the purchase amount so that the communication amount is increased stepwise or continuously as the purchase amount of information or purchase amount is larger. Control means to change
A distribution server comprising: In the delivery server according to claim 5,
The control means is a distribution server that determines a communication capacity with the purchase amount or purchase amount at the time of purchase application as the purchase amount. In the delivery server according to claim 5,
It has a database that records the purchase amount or purchase amount of past purchase results,
The control means is a distribution server that determines a communication capacity based on a purchase amount or purchase amount of a past purchase record recorded in the database as the purchase amount. In the delivery server according to claim 5,
It has a database that records the purchase amount or purchase amount of past purchase results,
The control means is a distribution server that determines a communication capacity using the purchase amount or purchase amount of a past purchase record recorded in the database as a purchase amount when the purchase amount or purchase amount at the time of purchase application is taken into account.

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