JP2005100113A - Information service system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote the sales of packaged media by continuously providing each user who duly purchased the packaged media with not only the contents stored in the packaged media but also a variety of information services accompanying the media, thus differentiating the users from other users. <P>SOLUTION: A unique ID is added to the packaged media 50. Based on the unique ID and a user ID for identifying the user who purchased the packaged media 50, an authentication server 41 authenticates the user as the authorized user 100 who duly purchased the packaged media 50. Thereafter, the variety of services are provided to the authorized user 100 from an information service server 43 as the authorized user 100 requests so as to differentiate the user from other users. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a package media information service system that conducts a package media sales business represented by CDs and DVDs, and in particular, develops business by differentiating between users who have purchased package media and other users. It relates to information service methods.

  (1) The conventional package media is only a medium for storing data such as music. For this reason, the media was not indispensable for users, and the data itself was valuable. This has been one of the reasons why the use of peer-to-peer music data exchange represented by Napstar has increased, leading to a decrease in sales of package media.

  (2) Conventional package media are inconvenient because they cannot basically enjoy content unless they have the media. In other words, it was difficult to enjoy content purchased by yourself on other devices. For this reason, in recent years, a method has been considered in which only content information recorded on media is digitized and extracted, and the content can be freely carried. Also, sharing these digitized data has created a peer-to-peer content exchange service represented by Napstar. Such a method eliminates the difficulty of secondary use of the package media, and therefore has been one of the reasons for the decline in sales due to the withdrawal of purchase of package media.

  (3) When a large amount of package media is purchased, it becomes difficult to centrally manage all the content purchased by the user, and even if content is purchased, the user can fully enjoy his content. There wasn't. This inconvenience was one of the reasons for the decline in sales of package media.

  (4) In the conventional business model for packaged media such as CDs and DVDs, there is no service that allows you to purchase software at a low price next time. It was. For this reason, even if the user purchases the media, the user cannot enjoy any special service other than enjoying the content, and there is no difference from a pirated user who illegally copied the content. This difference between legitimate users and pirated users was one of the reasons for the decline in package media sales.

(5) In the conventional business model for package media such as CDs and DVDs, the copyright holder could continue to make a profit every time he used the copyrighted work. In addition, a business model is known in which the business is continued by continuing the distribution of the recording medium on which the content information is recorded even if the content information is distributed via the communication network (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ). However, record companies that provide packaged media have so far had no means of making profits other than the media fee at the time of sales, and have had to be completely reluctant to sell out.
JP 2001-236391 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1)

  However, in order to solve the conventional problem (1), it is necessary to provide the user with added value other than enjoying the content on the package medium. In order to solve the problem (2), it is necessary to provide the user with means for enabling secondary use of the package media purchased by the user without inconvenience. In order to solve the problem (3), it is necessary to provide convenience that enables the user to enjoy the package media purchased by the user without inconvenience. In order to solve the problem of (4), it is necessary to provide a system that can be enjoyed only by users who have purchased the package media and differentiate it from users other than the regular users. In order to solve the problem (5), it is necessary to provide a system in which a record company can obtain profits even at a time other than the point of sale of media.

  The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to distinguish between a user who has purchased a package media and other users in order to solve the above problems, On the other hand, an information service system and information that can promote the sale of package media by continuously providing various information services associated with the media in addition to the content recorded in the package media to differentiate from other users To provide a service method.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a recording medium purchased by a user to which unique identification information is added, user identification information for identifying the user, and unique identification information added to the recording medium. Authentication means for authenticating the recording medium as a legitimate user who has purchased the recording medium, user identification information for identifying the user and storage means for accumulating service information in association with the unique identification information, in response to a request from the legitimate user Service providing means for reading the service information from the storage means and transmitting the service information to an information terminal used by the authorized user.

  The present invention is also an information service method in a system in which a center and a plurality of information terminals are connected via a network, wherein the center is purchased by a user who has been transmitted from one information terminal via the network. If the user is authenticated as the authorized user who has purchased the recording medium by the unique identification information added to the recorded medium and the user identification information for specifying the user, the service is provided via the information terminal of the authorized user. According to a request, corresponding service information is transmitted from the service identification information recorded in association with the user identification information and the unique identification information to the information terminal via the network.

  As described above, according to the present invention, identification information unique to a recording medium (package medium) purchased by the user is allocated, and the user who has purchased the package media is authorized by the user identification information for identifying the user and the user identification information. By authenticating as, we distinguish between users who have purchased the package media and other users and continue to use various information services attached to the media other than the recorded contents of the package media purchased by this user. Can be used to differentiate them from other users and promote the sale of packaged media.

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by adding identification information unique to a package medium, it is possible to distinguish a user who has purchased a package medium that has been purchased normally from other users, and thereby to a genuine purchase user. In addition to the contents recorded on the package media, various information services associated with the media can be continuously provided, which enables differentiation from other users and promotion of sales of package media. .
In addition, the record company can change the package media business from a “sold-out” business to a “continuous” business by providing information services to users after selling package media to users. By paying a part of the service, profits can be gained through the information service in addition to the conventional media sales fee.
In addition, by making the information service available only to authorized users who have been authenticated by user identification information and identification information unique to the package media, it is possible to differentiate the content recorded on the package media from illegally copied users. Thus, illegal copying can be suppressed.
In addition, by managing the usage status of regular user information and information services based on user identification information and identification information unique to the package media, one-to-one efficient marketing can be performed in accordance with user preferences.

  Distinguish between users who have purchased packaged media and other users and continuously provide various information services associated with the media in addition to the recorded content of packaged media to authorized users. For the purpose of promoting the sale of packaged media by adding data, unique identification information (unique ID) is added to the packaged media, and the media is officially identified by this unique ID and the user ID assigned to each user. This is realized by authenticating that the user is an authorized user who has purchased the product and providing a service associated with the content of the media in addition to the content recorded on the purchased package media.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information service system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The information service system includes an information terminal 2 used by an authorized user 100, a package media additional service center 4 connected to the information terminal 2 via a network, and a CD or DVD connected to the package media additional service center 4 via a dedicated line. And the record company 6 that sells package media 50 such as the above. However, the recording medium in the claims corresponds to the package medium 50, the authentication means corresponds to the authentication server 41, the storage means corresponds to the user ID database 42 and the information service database 44, and the service providing means corresponds to the information service server. The center corresponds to the package media additional service center 4.

  The package media additional service center 4 includes an authentication server 41 and a user ID database 42 connected thereto, an information service server 43 and an information service database 44 connected thereto. Further, a unique ID (hereinafter referred to as a unique ID) is recorded in advance on the package medium 50, and this unique ID is identification information uniquely assigned to each individual disk, and is used for normal information processing. In a device or an audio device, music information recorded on the package medium 50 can be copied, but a unique ID is recorded on the package medium 50 so that it cannot be copied.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a connection relationship among the information terminal 2, the authentication server 41, the user ID database 42, the information service server 43, and the information service database 44 in the system described above. The information terminal 2 is connected to an authentication server 41 via a network 30 such as the Internet. The authentication server 41 connects a user ID database 42 and an information service server 43 via a LAN or the like. Further, the information service server 43 is connected to the information service database 44 via a LAN or the like. The package medium 50 is attached to and detached from the information terminal 2 by the authorized user 100.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the user ID database 42 and the information service database 44 described above. In the user ID database 42, a user ID for identifying the authorized user 100 and a unique ID of the package medium 50 that is normally purchased by the authorized user 100 specified by the user ID are linked and recorded. In the information service database 44, service A, service B, service C,... Associated with the package medium 50 specified by the unique ID are linked and recorded, and these services A, B, C,. Application A, B, C,...

  The user ID database 42 and the information service database 44 are linked to each other. The user ID database 42 can search for a unique ID linked to this user ID using the user ID as a key, while the information service server 44 uses this unique ID as a key to search for this unique ID. An information service provided accompanying the package medium 50 specified by the ID can be searched.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the operation sequence of FIG. When the authorized user 100 who has purchased the package media 50 properly inserts the package media 50 into the information terminal 2 connected to the network 30, the information terminal 2 reads the unique ID recorded in the package media 50, and the authentication server 41 (step 401). Along with this, since the authorized user 100 inputs the user ID separately assigned to the user from the package media additional service center 4 to identify the user to the information terminal 2, the information terminal 2 transmits this to the authentication server 41. (Step 402).

  It should be noted that the operation for reading the unique ID only needs to be used when the package media 50 is first attached to the information terminal 2 and accessed to the package media supplementary service center 4. Authentication is performed only with the user ID.

  When the unique ID and the user ID are input to the information terminal 2, these two pieces of information are transmitted from the information terminal 2 to the authentication server 41 in the package media additional service center 4 via the network 30. When the user ID input by the authorized user 100 is searched from the user ID database 42 and there is a unique ID read from the package media 50 linked to the searched user ID, the authentication server 41 performs user authentication and Disk authentication is performed and the result is notified to the information terminal 2 (step 403).

  If the user ID input in the user ID database 42 does not exist, the authentication server 41 creates a user ID at that time, records the user ID in the user ID database 42, and links to this user ID. Then, the unique ID read from the package medium 50 is recorded. Thereby, user authentication and disk authentication are completed.

  The user authentication needs to be performed every time the user uses the service, but the disk authentication is performed once the authentication operation is performed based on the package medium 50 that the authorized user 100 has purchased normally. It can be omitted only. Thus, the preparation for receiving the information service related to the package medium 50 by the authorized user 100 is completed.

  After the authentication work is completed, the authentication server 41 reads information services that can be provided to the authorized user 100 from the information service database 44 via the information service server 43 and sends them to the information terminal 2 via the network 30. It is presented to the regular user 100 (step 404). At this time, if a new user ID is created, this is sent to the information terminal 2 to inform the authorized user 100.

  The authorized user 100 selects a desired information service from the presented information services, and requests the package media supplementary service center 4 from the information terminal 2 (step 405). When the requested information service is authenticated by referring to the user ID database 42 by the authentication server 41 and comparing the user ID with the unique ID, the request for providing the information service requested by the authorized user 100 is transmitted to the information service server 43. (Step 406).

  The information service server 43 refers to the information service database 44 using the unique ID as a key, checks whether there is a requested information service among the information services recorded linked to the unique ID, The application for realizing the information service is started (step 407). The authentication server 41 receives the activated application data from the information service server 43 and provides it to the information terminal 2 via the network 30 (step 408). Note that a part of this information service can be charged.

  Here, in the above information service system, the record company 6 sells the package media 50 with the unique ID added to the user through the record store, and receives the sales price of the package media 50 as a price. The user obtains the potential qualification to become the authorized user 100 when paying the price of the package medium 50 to the record store. The package media additional service center 4 is operated and managed by the record company 6, and the information service provided from the package media additional service center 4 to the information terminal 2 used by the authorized user 100 through the network 30 is charged. Charges for this and receives an information service provision fee from the authorized user 100.

  Next, the contents of the information service for the authorized user 100 by the package media additional service center 4 operated and managed by the record company 6 will be described. This information service provides a service that promotes secondary use of the package media 50 purchased by the authorized user 100 and improves the portability of the media. With conventional package media 50 such as CDs, if you do not have the media in hand, you will not be able to enjoy it even though you have purchased it, or there is no other way than to enjoy it by dubbing it on your own MD etc. The portability of was poor.

  In this information service, after authenticating once with the user ID and unique ID, next time the user ID is entered, the content of the media corresponding to the unique ID stored in the information service server 43 (this is the authorized user) 100, which is the same as the content recorded on the package media 50 purchased), so that the authorized user 100 can purchase the authorized media purchased as the package media 50 regardless of the presence or absence of the media. Can be enjoyed anywhere. It is assumed that the transferred content is prevented from creating a pirated version by transferring the transferred content to another medium by using a copyright protection technology.

  In addition, this information service provides a music list presentation service for purchased package media 50. When the number of purchased package media 50 increases, the purchased person becomes confused about what kind of content is available, and eventually ends up dying. Therefore, when the authorized user 100 accesses the authentication server 41, a service for presenting a list of contents purchased by the authorized user 100 can be received. That is, the authentication server 41 searches the contents recorded in all package media 50 purchased by the user from the user ID database 42 based on the user ID, creates the list, and stores the list in the information terminal 2. Send. Thereby, the authorized user 100 can enjoy the content purchased by himself / herself without dying. Furthermore, if the list presentation to the authorized user 100 and the search system are combined, the authorized user 100 can easily select and enjoy his / her favorite song.

  In addition, this information service provides a transfer service to a third party of songs owned by the authorized user 100. This is a service for recommending and transferring a song owned by the authorized user 100 to a friend or the like, and the authorized user 100 pays a fee for providing the song to the record company 6 when transferring the song. In addition, since the transferred person is the provision and recommendation of content from a person whom he / she knows, there is a high possibility that the content related to the content will be newly purchased, and the business opportunities for the record company 6 can be expanded. it can.

  Further, the information service provides an upgrade service for content purchased by the authorized user 100. This information service includes an upgrade service as a privilege for authorized users, and this service is cheaper than general users when the new version of content is released next time, and in some cases is provided earlier. In other words, the record company 6 can grasp what content the authorized user 100 has purchased and own from the user ID database 42, so when a new score comes out, provide the content as soon as possible to general customers. It is possible to carry out efficient sales according to individual user preferences. In addition, a service that provides new music at a low price may be provided as a privilege for continuously purchasing content. Thereby, differentiation between the authorized user 100 and the user who owns the pirated edition can be achieved, and the regular purchase of the package media 50 can be promoted.

  In addition, this information service provides an extended content service for content purchased by the authorized user 100. For example, on CDs, etc., as a bonus track, record 1-2 songs in addition to the normal recordings to differentiate from the imported board, or record about 5 minutes of video as a CD extra. Attract customers. The same content is provided to the authorized user 100.

  In the information service system, the service can be further expanded. That is, content other than the content recorded in the package medium 50 is provided to the user 100 who has been purchased in a regular manner. For example, various versions of the same song, music clips, concert images, and the like. These specially provided contents are stored in a server (not shown) connected on the network 30 so that there is no limitation on the media storage capacity as in the prior art, and high-quality video comparable to a DVD is also available. It is possible to provide. Further, the degree of freedom of the content to be added is high, the added value of becoming a regular user 100 can be increased, and the regular purchase of the content can be promoted. Also in this case, a part of the content (for example, an online concert for authorized users) is charged, and the record company 6 can also obtain a sales profit.

  According to the present embodiment, the authorized user 100 and other users are authenticated by performing authentication for receiving services on the network 30 using unique ID numbers individually assigned to package media 50 such as CDs and DVDs. The user can be easily and quickly discriminated, and various information services associated with the package medium 50 can be provided to the authorized user 100 through the network 30 only for the authorized user 100. As a result, the regular user 100 can continue to enjoy the information service provided on the network 30 while the content can be enjoyed with the dedicated playback device as before.

  Further, by allowing the authorized user 100 who has purchased the package medium 50 to use the network service, the sales of the package medium 50 of the record company 6 can be promoted, and even after the package medium 50 is sold. By providing the purchaser with the information service through the network 30, it is possible to continue to have a relationship with the authorized user 100, and in addition, by paying a part of the information service, profit is obtained through the information service. be able to.

  Further, the record company 6 accesses the user ID database 42 and the information service database 44 and obtains data managed for each user, thereby enabling marketing according to the user's preference and efficient package media 50. Using the authentication server 41 that stores the data managed for each user ID, and the information service use support system provided to the network indicated by the proposal number (200112-0214) It is also possible to expand.

  The various information services by the information service system can be enjoyed only by the authorized user 100 who has purchased the package medium 50, and the user who illegally copied the authorized package medium 50 may copy the unique ID. In addition, since the user who borrows the media does not have a user ID, only the content recorded on the package media 50 can be enjoyed, so that the user can be differentiated from the regular user 100 and the increase in the use of music data can be stopped. Sales of the package medium 50 can be increased.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not deviate from the summary, it can implement also with another various form in a concrete structure, a function, an effect | action, and an effect. For example, the system of the above embodiment has a configuration in which the information terminal 2 and the authentication server 41 are connected to a wide area network 30 such as the Internet. In addition to the information terminal 2 and the authentication server 41, a user ID database 42 is provided. The system can also be configured by connecting all or part of the service server 43 and the information service database 44 to the network 30, and the same effect can be obtained.

  In the above embodiment, only when the user first accesses the package media supplementary service center 4, both the unique ID and the user ID are used for authenticating the authorized user. However, even if the configuration requires both a unique ID and a user ID all the time, the burden on the user increases, but the same effect can be obtained and the security of authenticating the authorized user can be improved. Can do.

It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the information service system which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a connection relationship among an information terminal 2, an authentication server 41, a user ID database 42, an information service server 43, and an information service database 44 in the system shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed the structure of the user ID database 42 and the information service database 44 which were shown in FIG. It is a sequence diagram explaining the flow of operation | movement of the system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Information terminal, 4 ... Package media supplementary service center, 6 ... Record company, 30 ... Network, 41 ... Authentication server, 42 ... User ID database, 43 ... Information service server, 44 ... Information Service database, 50 ... package media.

Claims (18)

A recording medium purchased by the user and provided with unique identification information;
Authentication means for authenticating the user as a regular user who has purchased the recording medium by the user identification information for identifying the user and unique identification information added to the recording medium;
Storage means for storing service information in association with user identification information for identifying the user and the unique identification information;
Service providing means for reading out the service information from the storage means in response to the service provision request of the authorized user and transmitting it to the information terminal used by the authorized user;
An information service system comprising:   The authentication means authenticates the user once as a regular user who has purchased the recording medium by the user identification information for identifying the user and the unique identification information added to the recording medium. 2. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the user is authenticated as an authorized user who has purchased the recording medium.   The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the unique identification information is read from the recording medium by an information terminal used by the authorized user and transmitted to the authentication unit.   The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the user identification information is transmitted to the authentication unit by being input to the information terminal by a user.   2. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the authentication unit reads a list of service information that can be provided from the storage unit using the unique identification information as a key, and transmits the list to an information terminal used by the authorized user. .   The authorized user requests service information desired to be provided by selecting desired service information from a list of service information displayed on the information terminal and transmitting it to the service providing means. Item 6. The information service system according to Item 5.   Billing means for receiving usage information indicating that the authorized user has used paid service information among the service information provided by the service providing means, and charging the authorized user who has enjoyed the service information based on the usage information. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the information service system is provided. Providing a collecting means for collecting the type of service information provided by the service providing means for each user identification information or for each unique identification information;
2. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the information collected by the collecting means is reflected in the production and sale of content recorded in the recording medium.   2. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the service information provided by the service providing means is content recorded on a recording medium purchased by a regular user identified by the user identification information.   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the service information provided by the service providing means is list information of contents recorded in all recording media purchased by an authorized user specified by the user identification information. Service system.   The service information provided by the service providing means is content transferred to a location specified by the authorized user specified by the user identification information, and this content is content recorded on a recording medium that has already been purchased by the authorized user. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein:   2. The information according to claim 1, wherein the service information provided by the service providing means is a new version of content recorded on a recording medium purchased by an authorized user identified by the user identification information. Service system.   2. The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the service information provided by the service providing means is content other than content recorded on a recording medium purchased by a regular user identified by the user identification information. .   The information service system according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is an optical disk. An information service method in a system in which a center and a plurality of information terminals are connected via a network,
The center uses the unique identification information added to the recording medium purchased by the user transmitted from one information terminal via the network and the user identification information for identifying the user to identify the user as the recording medium. When authenticating as a legitimate user who purchased the legitimate user, according to the request of the legitimate user via the information terminal, the corresponding service information from the service information recorded in association with the user identification information and the unique identification information Is transmitted to the information terminal via the network.   Once the user is authenticated as the authorized user who has purchased the recording medium by the user identification information for identifying the user and the unique identification information added to the recording medium, the user is identified only by the user identification information from the next time. The information service method according to claim 15, wherein the recording medium is authenticated as a regular user who has purchased the recording medium.   When receiving usage information indicating that the authorized user has used paid service information among service information provided by the center, the authorized user who has enjoyed the service information is charged based on the usage information. The information service method according to claim 15. 16. The information service method according to claim 15, wherein the network is the Internet.

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