JP2007034810A - Content download system, content server, mobile communication terminal and content download method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content download system, a content server, a mobile communication terminal and a content download method, allowing designation of a communication system used for a download of a content on a provision side of the downloaded content. <P>SOLUTION: In this content download system, the mobile communication terminal 20 includes communication system identification information showing use communication system used for the download of the content among a plurality of communication systems, and receives meta information showing a characteristic of the content. The mobile communication terminal 20 selects the communication system used for the download of the content on the basis of the communication system identification information included in the received meta information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content download system, a content server, a mobile communication terminal, and a content download method for downloading content via a communication network, and more particularly, a content download system, content server, The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and a content download method.

  In recent years, with the advancement of wireless communication technology such as third generation mobile communication system (3G) and wireless LAN system, high-speed data communication is possible even in mobile communication terminals.

  In such a mobile communication terminal capable of high-speed data communication, various contents via a communication network such as the Internet, specifically, a background image of a display screen (so-called “wallpaper”), a ring tone (so-called “incoming call”). Downloading content such as a melody "), a moving image, and a Java application (for example, a game) from a content server provided on the communication network is widely performed.

  As one technique for downloading such content to a mobile communication terminal, “OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) download” is known (for example, Non-Patent Document 1). OMA download is designed so that arbitrary content can be efficiently downloaded to a mobile communication terminal.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a communication procedure according to OMA download. As shown in FIG. 1, in step S10, the download agent installed in the mobile communication terminal 20P finds content to be downloaded by browsing or the like by the user of the mobile communication terminal 20P.

  In step S20, the mobile communication terminal 20P (specifically, a download agent, hereinafter the same) acquires “DD” (Download Descriptor), which is meta information of the content, from the content server 30P. In the DD, information such as content size (size), type (type), and content URL (objectURI) is described.

  The user of the mobile communication terminal 20P can determine whether to download the content to the mobile communication terminal 20P based on information described in the DD.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows an example of the contents of the DD. As shown in FIG. 2, the DD content type is shown in the row L1, and the contents of the DD, that is, the above-mentioned size (size), type (type), and content URL (objectURI) are shown in the block B1. Etc. are shown.

  When the user requests download of the content based on the information described in the DD, the mobile communication terminal 20P downloads the content from the content server 30P in step S30.

  In step S40, the mobile communication terminal 20P receives an installation completion notification (Install-Notify) indicating that the download of the content and the installation of the content have been completed (for example, delivery to an appropriate application for processing the content). Is transmitted to the content server 30P.

  That is, in OMA download, a new function is added as compared with a simple download method using HTTP. For this reason, according to OMA download, it is possible to provide a content download method that is particularly effective for mobile communication terminals that are often limited in communication speed, communication cost, and the like as compared with the wired communication method.

  Furthermore, recently, mobile communication terminals that can use a plurality of communication methods, for example, a mobile communication system (mobile phone system) and a public wireless LAN system have been provided. The mobile communication terminal that can use such a plurality of communication methods generally uses the OMA download described above.

A user of such a mobile communication terminal designates an appropriate communication method in consideration of functions necessary for downloading contents, communication costs, and the like. Alternatively, the mobile communication terminal selects an appropriate communication method based on the priority of the communication method defined in advance.
“OMA Download Enabler Release, Approved Version 1.0, OMA-DL-V1_0-20040625-A”, [online], June 2004, Open Mobile Alliance, [searched July 20, 2005], Internet <URL: http: // www. openmobilealliance. org / release_program / download_v10.html>

  In the case of a mobile communication terminal that can use the above-described multiple communication methods, the communication method used by the mobile communication terminal for downloading content is selected based on the user of the mobile communication terminal or the priority of the communication method defined in advance. To do. That is, the communication method used on the content download side is specified.

  For this reason, the content download side, that is, the content server that provides the content has a problem that even if it is desired to specify the communication method used for downloading the content, the communication method cannot be specified. .

  For example, the content server may specify the communication method in the following cases. (1) Specify a communication method that supports high-speed data communication in order to complete the content download in a short time. (2) Specify a high-security communication method to improve download reliability and safety. (3) When a communication method in which traffic on the communication network is not crowded is designated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and a content download system and a content server that can specify a communication method used for downloading the content on the provider side of the content to be downloaded An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication terminal and a content download method.

  In order to solve the problems described above, the present invention has the following features. First, the first feature of the present invention is that a content server (content server 30) is used for a mobile communication terminal (mobile communication terminal 20) that can use a plurality of communication methods (for example, a mobile phone system and a public wireless LAN system). ), Which is a content download system for downloading content (content C1) stored in the communication system, and indicates a communication method used for downloading the content (for example, a public wireless LAN system) among the plurality of communication methods. A meta information processing unit (content handler 301) for transmitting meta information (DD (Download Descriptor)) including the method identification information and indicating the characteristics of the content to the mobile communication terminal, and a meta information receiving unit (for receiving the meta information) Before the download agent 201) and the meta information receiver The gist of the present invention is to include a communication method selection unit (communication method selection unit 203) that selects a communication method used for downloading the content based on the communication method identification information included in the meta information.

  According to such a content download system, the mobile communication terminal selects a communication method used for content download based on the communication method identification information included in the received meta information.

  For this reason, on the provider side (for example, content provider) of the content to be downloaded, it is possible to specify a communication method used for downloading the content.

  That is, according to such a content download system, since the content providing side can flexibly specify the communication method used for content download, the download time, the reliability and safety of the communication method, and It becomes easy for the mobile communication terminal to select an appropriate communication method according to the traffic state.

  A second feature of the present invention relates to the first feature of the present invention, wherein the communication method identification information is used to indicate whether or not downloading of the content using the used communication method is compulsory. The gist is to include morphological information.

  A third feature of the present invention relates to the first feature of the present invention, in which an information transmission unit (communication method selection unit 203) that transmits usable communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal is provided. Further, the meta information processing unit is characterized by selecting the used communication method from the communication methods included in the available communication method information transmitted by the information transmitting unit.

  A fourth feature of the present invention is a content server that provides content to be downloaded by a mobile communication terminal that can use a plurality of communication methods, and uses communication for use in downloading the content among the plurality of communication methods. The gist of the present invention is to include a meta information processing unit that includes communication method identification information indicating a method and transmits meta information indicating characteristics of the content to the mobile communication terminal.

  A fifth feature of the present invention relates to the fourth feature of the present invention, wherein the meta information processing unit receives available communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal from the mobile communication terminal. Then, the gist is to select the used communication method from the communication methods included in the received usable communication method information.

  A sixth feature of the present invention is a mobile communication terminal that can use a plurality of communication schemes and downloads content stored in a content server, and can download the content among the plurality of communication schemes. Meta information receiving unit that includes communication method identification information indicating a communication method to be used and that receives meta information indicating characteristics of the content; and the communication method included in the meta information received by the meta information receiving unit The gist of the present invention is to include a communication method selection unit that selects a communication method used for downloading the content based on the identification information.

  A seventh feature of the present invention relates to the sixth feature of the present invention, wherein the communication method identification information is used to indicate whether or not downloading of the content using the used communication method is compulsory. The gist is to include morphological information.

  The eighth feature of the present invention is related to the sixth feature of the present invention, and is characterized in that it further comprises an information transmitting unit that transmits usable communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal. .

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content download method for downloading content stored in a content server to a mobile communication terminal that can use a plurality of communication methods. Transmitting meta information indicating communication method identification information indicating a communication method used for downloading the content and indicating the characteristics of the content to the mobile communication terminal; receiving the meta information; and the meta information And a step of selecting a communication method to be used for downloading the content based on the communication method identification information included in the received meta information.

  According to the features of the present invention, a content download system, a content server, a mobile communication terminal, and a content download method that can specify a communication method used for downloading the content on the content providing side are provided. be able to.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and ratios of dimensions and the like are different from actual ones.

  Accordingly, specific dimensions and the like should be determined in consideration of the following description. Moreover, it is a matter of course that portions having different dimensional relationships and ratios are included between the drawings.

(Overall configuration of content download system)
FIG. 3 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the content download system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the content download system according to the present embodiment includes a mobile communication terminal 20 and a content server 30. Of course, a plurality of mobile communication terminals 20 or content servers 30 may be included in the content download system.

  The mobile communication terminal 20 and the content server 30 can execute communication via the communication network 11 or the communication network 12.

  The communication network 11 is a communication network configured by a so-called third generation mobile communication system (cellular phone system).

  The communication network 12 is a communication network configured by a public wireless LAN system compliant with IEEE802.11a / b / g or the like.

  The mobile communication terminal 20 receives content C1 (not shown in FIG. 3, see FIGS. 4 and 5) stored in the content server 30 via the communication network 11 (mobile phone system) or the communication network 12 (public wireless LAN system). ).

  That is, the mobile communication terminal 20 can use a plurality of communication methods of a mobile phone system and a public wireless LAN system. As the mobile communication terminal 20, a mobile phone terminal compatible with a wireless LAN, a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a communication function, or the like can be used.

  The content server 30 stores the content C1 downloaded by the mobile communication terminal 20. Specifically, the content server 30 includes a background image (a so-called “wallpaper”), a ring tone (a so-called “ring melody”), a moving image, and a Java application (for example, a game) on a display screen (not shown) of the mobile communication terminal 20. ) And other content.

(Logical block configuration of content download system)
Next, the logical block configuration of the mobile communication terminal 20 and the content server 30 configuring the content download system according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a logical block configuration diagram of the mobile communication terminal 20. FIG. 5 shows a logical block configuration of the content server 30.

  Hereinafter, portions related to the present invention will be mainly described. Therefore, it should be noted that the mobile communication terminal 20 and the content server 30 may include a logic block (power supply unit or the like) that is not shown in the drawing or that is omitted from description in order to realize the function of the device.

(1) Mobile Communication Terminal As shown in FIG. 4, the mobile communication terminal 20 includes a download agent 201, a content storage unit 202, a communication method selection unit 203, and an application execution unit 204.

  The download agent 201 communicates with the content server 30 and downloads the content C1 stored in the content server 30.

  Prior to the download of the content C1, the download agent 201 is “DD” which is information such as the size (type), type (type), and content URL (objectURI) of the content C1, that is, meta information indicating the characteristics of the content C1. "(Download Descriptor according to OMA download) is received from the content server 30. In the present embodiment, the download agent 201 constitutes a meta information receiving unit.

  In the present embodiment, the DD indicates “communication method identification” indicating a communication method to be used for downloading the content C1 among a plurality of communication methods (mobile phone system and public wireless LAN system) that can be used by the mobile communication terminal 20. Information "(see FIGS. 9A to 9C) is included. Details of the communication method identification information will be described later.

  The content storage unit 202 stores the content C1 downloaded by the download agent 201.

  The communication method selection unit 203 selects a communication method used for downloading the content C1 based on the communication method identification information included in the DD (meta information) received by the download agent 201.

  Further, the communication method selection unit 203 can transmit “available communication method information” indicating communication methods (mobile phone system and public wireless LAN system) that the mobile communication terminal 20 can use. In the present embodiment, the communication method selection unit 203 constitutes an information transmission unit.

  The application execution unit 204 executes an application corresponding to the type (for example, a moving image or a game) of the content C1 stored in the content storage unit 202.

(2) Content Server As shown in FIG. 5, the content server 30 includes a content handler 301, a content storage unit 302, and a communication method processing unit 303.

  The content handler 301 communicates with the mobile communication terminal 20 and provides the content C1 stored in the content server 30 to the mobile communication terminal 20.

  Further, the content handler 301 transmits DD (meta information) indicating the feature of the content to the mobile communication terminal 20 prior to providing the content C1 to the mobile communication terminal 20. In the present embodiment, the content handler 301 constitutes a meta information processing unit.

  As described above, in this embodiment, “communication method identification information” (see FIGS. 9A to 9C) indicating the communication method used for downloading the content C1 is included.

  Further, the communication method identification information can include “usage mode information” indicating whether or not it is compulsory to download the content C1 using the specified communication method (used communication method). Details of the communication method identification information will be described later.

  Further, the content handler 301 uses the mobile communication terminal 20 for downloading from the communication methods included in the “available communication method information” transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 20 (communication method selection unit 203). A communication method can be selected.

  The content storage unit 302 stores the content C1 provided to the mobile communication terminal 20.

  The communication method processing unit 303 generates communication method identification information in accordance with an instruction from the content handler 301. Specifically, the communication method processing unit 303 generates communication method identification information including an appropriate communication method according to the request condition on the content server 30 side.

  For example, if a request condition such as “designate a communication method that supports high-speed data communication in order to complete the download of the content C1 by the mobile communication terminal 20 in a short time” on the content server 30 side is determined. The method processing unit 303 generates communication method identification information including a communication method (public wireless LAN system) associated with the request condition in advance.

  Further, when a requirement condition such as “designate a communication method with high security in order to improve the reliability and safety of downloading of the content C1 by the mobile communication terminal 20” is defined on the content server 30 side, communication method processing The unit 303 generates communication method identification information including a communication method (mobile phone system) associated with the request condition in advance.

  Further, the communication method processing unit 303 identifies communication methods including communication methods that are not crowded based on a plurality of communication methods that can be used by the mobile communication terminal 20, that is, traffic volumes of the mobile phone system and the public wireless LAN system. Information may be generated.

  In this case, the communication method processing unit 303 may acquire data indicating the amount of traffic communicated in the communication network 11 (mobile phone system) and the communication network 12 (public wireless LAN system) at an appropriate timing. The communication method processing unit 303 may compare the traffic amount communicated in each system with the threshold value associated with each system and select a communication method that is not crowded.

(Operation of content download system)
Next, operations of the content download system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, an operation in which the mobile communication terminal 20 downloads the content C1 stored in the content server 30 via the communication network 11 or the communication network 12 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in step S10, the mobile communication terminal 20 finds the content C1 stored in the content server 30 by using a homepage on the Internet or a URL included in an e-mail.

  In step S20, the mobile communication terminal 20 obtains DD (Download Descriptor according to OMA download), which is meta information of the content C1, by prompting the user of the mobile communication terminal 20 or by the application execution unit 204. It is determined whether there is an instruction.

  When there is an instruction to acquire DD (YES in step S20), the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits a DD acquisition request to the content server 30 in step S30. In step S30, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits “available communication method information” indicating communication methods (mobile phone system and public wireless LAN system) that can be used by the mobile communication terminal 20 together with the DD acquisition request. May be.

  Further, the mobile communication terminal 20 may transmit model information indicating the model of the mobile communication terminal 20 to the content server 30 instead of the available communication method information. Although the available communication methods may differ depending on the model of the mobile communication terminal 20, the content server 30 refers to the communication method associated with the model by acquiring the model information of the mobile communication terminal 20. A communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal 20 may be determined.

  For example, User Agent Profile (UAProf) can be used as a specific format for expressing usable communication method information and model information.

  On the other hand, when there is no instruction to acquire DD (NO in step S20), the mobile communication terminal 20 repeats the processing from step S10.

  In step S40, when the content server 30 receives a DD acquisition request from the mobile communication terminal 20, the content server 30 determines whether to include communication method identification information in the DD of the content C1.

  Specifically, the content server 30 determines whether to include communication method identification information in the DD based on the following determination condition. That is, (1) when the available communication method information is included in the DD acquisition request received from the mobile communication terminal 20, (2) the mobile communication terminal is determined by the model information of the mobile communication terminal 20 or information from the communication operator. 20 is a case where a communication method that can be used can be determined, and (3) a case where there is a communication method recommended for use when downloading the content C1 to the mobile communication terminal 20.

  When the communication system identification information is included in the DD (YES in step S40), in step S50, the content server 30 generates communication system identification information.

  Here, Fig.9 (a)-(c) has shown the example of communication system identification information. FIG. 9A shows an example in which the communication method used by the mobile communication terminal 20 is specified by XML using “ProvURL” of WAP Provisioning as communication method identification information.

  Note that “ProvURL” specifies a provisioning context that uniquely identifies the communication method used by the mobile communication terminal 20. That is, by specifying ProvURL, the communication method used by the mobile communication terminal 20 can be uniquely specified.

  The “provurl” attribute indicates that ProvURL is used as communication method identification information, and an actual value is indicated by the attribute value (“http://www.operator.com/FOMA/”).

  FIG. 9B shows an example in which a bearer type can be arbitrarily described as communication method identification information. The “bearer” attribute indicates that a bearer type is directly described as communication method identification information, and a mobile phone system or a public wireless LAN system (communication method) depending on the attribute value (“UMTS”, “IEEE802.11b”). Is shown.

  The DD can include a plurality of pieces of communication method identification information. For example, when a plurality of communication method identification information is included in the DD, the mobile communication terminal 20 may determine that the communication method identification information described first in the DD has high priority. That is, the content server 30 can instruct the mobile communication terminal 20 of the priority of the communication method to be used.

  Furthermore, information other than the above-mentioned “ProvURL” and bearer type may be included in the communication method identification information. For example, (1) a recommended / mandatory flag indicating whether use of a specified communication method is mandatory or recommended, and (2) designated communication carrier information indicating a communication carrier providing a communication method to be used. It may be included in the identification information. Furthermore, the proxy server address to be used may be included in the communication method identification information as a parameter related to communication other than the communication method.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9C, “usage mode information” indicating whether or not it is compulsory to download the content C1 using the specified communication method can be included in the communication method identification information. .

  More specifically, the “usage” attribute is used to specify whether the use of the communication method specified by the “provurl” attribute is “required = must”, “recommended = should”, or “option = may”.

  By the method as described above, the content server 30, specifically the communication method processing unit 303, generates communication method identification information.

  On the other hand, when the communication method identification information is not included in the DD (NO in step S40), the content server 30 executes the process of step S60.

  In step S60, the content server 30, specifically the content handler 301, generates meta information (DD). When the communication method identification information is generated in step S50 described above, the content handler 301 generates a DD including the generated communication method identification information.

  Here, FIG. 10 shows an example of items included in the DD generated by the content handler 301. As shown in FIG. 10, items included in the DD include a content type, a size, a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) of an existing location, and the like.

  Further, FIG. 10 shows items that can include communication method identification information. Specifically, “objectURI”, “infoURI”, “iconURI”, “installNotifyURI”, “downloadNotifyURI”, “next”, and “deleteNotify” can include communication method identification information.

  Further, as described above, in this embodiment, the basic processing follows OMA download, and DD (Download Descriptor) corresponds to the description format of meta information.

  In step S <b> 70, the content server 30 transmits the generated meta information (DD) to the mobile communication terminal 20.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, in step S80, the mobile communication terminal 20 analyzes the received meta information (DD). Specifically, the download agent 201 determines whether or not there is a problem with downloading the content C1 based on the contents of the received DD.

  For example, the download agent 201 determines whether the size of the content C1 is a size that can be stored in the content storage unit 202 based on the contents of the received DD, and the type of the content C1 is appropriately used in the mobile communication terminal 20. Determine whether or not it can be done.

  In step S90, the mobile communication terminal 20 determines whether or not the user of the mobile communication terminal 20 prompts input or the application execution unit 204 has instructed acquisition of the content C1.

  When there is an instruction to acquire the content C1 (YES in step S90), in step S100, the mobile communication terminal 20 determines whether the received DD includes communication method identification information.

  On the other hand, when there is no instruction to acquire the content C1 (NO in step S90), the mobile communication terminal 20 repeats the processing from step S80.

  If the communication method identification information is included in the DD (YES in step S100), in step S110, the mobile communication terminal 20, specifically, the download agent 201 sends the content to the communication method selection unit 203. Queries the communication method used for downloading C1.

  In response to the inquiry from the download agent 201, the communication method selection unit 203 refers to the communication method identification information included in the DD and selects a communication method (a mobile phone system or a public wireless LAN system) to be used for downloading the content C1.

  Furthermore, the communication method selection unit 203 prepares necessary for downloading the content C1 by the selected communication method, specifically, via a communication network (communication network 11 or communication network 12) corresponding to the selected communication method. Then, a bearer used for downloading the content C1 is opened (including authentication).

  If the communication method identification information includes “usage mode information” indicating whether or not the content C1 is to be downloaded using the specified communication method, the communication method selection unit 203 The usage mode information (required / recommended / optional) and conditions on the mobile communication terminal 20 side (for example, the user of the mobile communication terminal 20 selects “a communication method with a low communication cost even if the download time is long”). The communication method to be used for downloading the content C1 is selected in accordance with (setting conditions).

  That is, the communication method selection unit 203 may download the content C1 using a communication method different from the communication method included in the communication method identification information.

  On the other hand, when the communication method identification information is not included in the DD (NO in step S100), the mobile communication terminal 20 executes the process in step S120.

  In step S <b> 120, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits an acquisition request for content C <b> 1 to the content server 30. If the mobile communication terminal 20 has established a bearer in step S110, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits a content C1 acquisition request to the content server 30 using the bearer.

  On the other hand, when the communication method identification information is not included in the DD, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits the content C1 via the communication network (communication network 11 or communication network 12) selected based on the conditions on the mobile communication terminal 20 side. Is sent to the content server 30.

  In step S <b> 130, when the content server 30 receives the content C <b> 1 acquisition request from the mobile communication terminal 20, the content server 30 extracts the content C <b> 1 from the content storage unit 302.

  In step S140, the content server 30 transmits the extracted content C1 to the mobile communication terminal 20 via the communication network (bearer) that has received the acquisition request for the content C1.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, in step S150, the mobile communication terminal 20 analyzes the received content C1. Specifically, the download agent 201 determines whether or not the size of the content C1 is the same as the size value included in the DD. Also, when an electronic signature is added to the content C1, the download agent 201 performs verification of the electronic signature.

  In step S160, the mobile communication terminal 20 prompts the user of the mobile communication terminal 20 to input or the application execution unit 204 gives an instruction to install the content C1 (for example, storage of the content C1 in the content storage unit 202). It is determined whether or not there was.

  If there is an instruction to install the content C1 (YES in step S160), in step S170, the mobile communication terminal 20 determines whether communication method identification information is included in the already received DD (see step S70). .

  On the other hand, when there is no instruction to acquire the content C1 (NO in step S160), the mobile communication terminal 20 repeats the processing from step S150.

  If the communication method identification information is included in the DD (YES in step S170), in step S180, the mobile communication terminal 20, specifically the download agent 201, determines the communication method in the same manner as in step S110 described above. The selection unit 203 is inquired about the communication method used for downloading the content C1.

  The communication method selection unit 203 prepares for transmitting an installation completion notification to the content server 30 according to the selected communication method, specifically, a communication network (communication network 11 or communication network 12 corresponding to the selected communication method). ) To establish (including authentication) a bearer used for transmission of the installation completion notification.

  On the other hand, when the communication method identification information is not included in the DD (NO in step S170), the mobile communication terminal 20 executes the process in step S190.

  In step S190, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits a content C1 installation completion notification to the content server 30. If the mobile communication terminal 20 has established a bearer in step S180, the mobile communication terminal 20 transmits an installation completion notification to the content server 30 using the bearer.

  On the other hand, when the communication method identification information is not included in the DD, the mobile communication terminal 20 completes the installation via the communication network (communication network 11 or communication network 12) selected based on the conditions on the mobile communication terminal 20 side. A notification is transmitted to the content server 30.

(Action / Effect)
According to the content download system according to the present embodiment described above, the mobile communication terminal 20 uses the communication method used for downloading the content C1 based on the communication method identification information included in the received meta information (DD). Select.

  For this reason, the provider of the content C1 to be downloaded, specifically, the content provider operating the content server 30 can specify the communication method used for downloading the content C1.

  In other words, according to such a content download system, the content C1 provider can flexibly specify the communication method used for downloading the content C1, so that the download time, the reliability and safety of the communication method can be specified. In addition, it becomes easy for the mobile communication terminal 20 to select an appropriate communication method according to the traffic state.

  In addition, according to the content download system according to the present embodiment, the usage form indicating whether or not it is compulsory to download the content C1 using the communication system (utilization communication system) specified by the communication system identification information. Information can be included in the communication scheme identification information.

  Specifically, as described above, the use of the communication method specified by the “provurl” attribute using the “usage” attribute is “required = must”, “recommended = should”, or “option = may”. Is specified.

  For this reason, the mobile communication terminal 20 (or the user of the mobile communication terminal 20) selects the usage mode information and the conditions on the mobile communication terminal 20 side (for example, a communication method with a low communication cost even if the download time is long). The communication method suitable for downloading the content C1 can be selected more flexibly.

  Furthermore, according to the content download system according to the present embodiment, the content server 30 (communication method processing unit 303) is included in the “available communication method information” transmitted by the mobile communication terminal 20 (communication method selection unit 203). Select the communication method to be used from the available communication methods. For this reason, the content server 30 can reliably specify a communication method applicable to the download of the content C1 according to the condition on the mobile communication terminal 20 side.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the contents of the present invention have been disclosed through one embodiment of the present invention. However, it should not be understood that the description and drawings constituting a part of this disclosure limit the present invention. From this disclosure, various alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, DD (Download Descriptor) is transmitted from the content server 30 to the mobile communication terminal 20, but the DD is transmitted from a server other than the content server 30 to the mobile communication terminal. 20 may be transmitted.

  In the embodiment of the present invention described above, as a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal 20, a third generation mobile communication system (mobile phone system), a public wireless LAN compliant with IEEE802.11a / b / g, etc. Although the system has been described as an example, other communication methods may be used.

  For example, instead of the public wireless LAN system, UWB conforming to the IEEE 802.15 series may be used, or a so-called fixed communication system may be used.

  Further, the functions of the download agent 201, the communication method selection unit 203, and the application execution unit 204 of the mobile communication terminal 20 can be provided as programs that can be executed in the mobile communication terminal 20.

  Similarly, the functions of the content handler 301 and the communication method processing unit 303 of the content server 30 can also be provided as programs that can be executed in the mobile communication terminal 20.

  As described above, the present invention naturally includes various embodiments that are not described herein. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined only by the invention specifying matters according to the scope of claims reasonable from the above description.

It is a figure which shows the outline of the communication procedure according to OMA download. It is a figure which shows an example of meta information (Download Descriptor) according to OMA download. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a content download system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a logic block block diagram of the mobile communication terminal which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a logic block block diagram of the content server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a mobile communication terminal downloads the content stored in the content server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a mobile communication terminal downloads the content stored in the content server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement which a mobile communication terminal downloads the content stored in the content server which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the communication system identification information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the item contained in the meta information (Download Descriptor) of the content which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 12 ... Communication network, 20, 20P ... Mobile communication terminal, 30, 30P ... Content server, 201 ... Download agent, 202 ... Content storage part, 203 ... Communication system selection part, 204 ... Application execution part, 301 ... Content handler , 302 ... content storage unit, 303 ... communication method processing unit, C1 ... content

Claims (9)

A content download system for downloading content stored in a content server to a mobile communication terminal capable of using a plurality of communication methods,
A meta information processing unit including communication method identification information indicating a communication method used for downloading the content among the plurality of communication methods, and transmitting meta information indicating the feature of the content to the mobile communication terminal;
A meta information receiving unit for receiving the meta information;
A content download system comprising: a communication method selection unit that selects a communication method to be used for downloading the content based on the communication method identification information included in the meta information received by the meta information receiving unit.   The content download system according to claim 1, wherein the communication method identification information includes usage form information indicating whether or not downloading of the content using the use communication method is compulsory. An information transmission unit that transmits usable communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal;
The content download system according to claim 1, wherein the meta information processing unit selects the use communication method from communication methods included in the available communication method information transmitted by the information transmission unit. A content server that provides content to be downloaded by a mobile communication terminal that can use a plurality of communication methods,
A content including a meta information processing unit that includes communication method identification information indicating a communication method used for downloading the content among the plurality of communication methods, and transmits meta information indicating characteristics of the content to the mobile communication terminal. server.   The meta information processing unit receives usable communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal from the mobile communication terminal, and includes the communication method included in the received usable communication method information. The content server according to claim 4, wherein the communication method to be used is selected. A mobile communication terminal that can use a plurality of communication methods and downloads content stored in a content server,
A meta information receiving unit that includes communication method identification information indicating a communication method used for downloading the content among the plurality of communication methods, and receives meta information indicating characteristics of the content;
A mobile communication terminal comprising: a communication method selection unit that selects a communication method to be used for downloading the content based on the communication method identification information included in the meta information received by the meta information receiving unit.   The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, wherein the communication method identification information includes usage form information indicating whether or not downloading of the content using the use communication method is compulsory.   The mobile communication terminal according to claim 6, further comprising an information transmission unit that transmits usable communication method information indicating a communication method that can be used by the mobile communication terminal. A content download method for downloading content stored in a content server to a mobile communication terminal capable of using a plurality of communication methods,
A step of transmitting meta information indicating characteristics of the content to the mobile communication terminal, including communication method identification information indicating a communication method used for downloading the content among the plurality of communication methods;
Receiving the meta information;
A content download method comprising: selecting a communication method to be used for downloading the content based on the communication method identification information included in the meta information received in the step of receiving the meta information.

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