JP2009026084A - Network av content playback terminal, network av content distribution server and network av content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an easily understandable GUI cannot be materialized by only distributing a content and a URL concerned with the content together when performing license update such as period extension in WEB in a rental system for permitting the view of a content only for a limited period by using a DRM technique for service for downloading the content through a network. <P>SOLUTION: When a content metadata includes a URL for repurchase, a guidance screen to the URL is displayed before expiration or deletion. In a URL of a page only for content purchase, a cooperated I/F of playback players of a browser and a resident is added to smoothly perform status confirmation → license updating → reconfirmation and playback. In the license updating, a server 102 stores purchase history, and when the same user selects the same content, generates a new license condition of a wider claim range condition (extension from rental or purchase, etc.). A terminal 101, when receiving the new license condition, overwrites the new license condition on an old license condition to rewrite the old one. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network AV content reproduction terminal, a network AV content distribution server, a network AV content distribution system, and the like that can download and reproduce video and audio content via a network.

  In recent years, with the development of the Internet, techniques for downloading and playing back movies, music, and the like are becoming common. There are many services for downloading content from a server that distributes content such as movies and music to a PC, AV device, portable terminal, or portable device via a network.

  By applying the DRM technology to such a content distribution service, it was possible to realize a content rental system that permits viewing with a limited viewing time limit.

  An example of the operation sequence of such a system is shown in FIG. The operation of the first conventional example will be described below with reference to FIG.

  The terminal 101 and the server 102 are connected via the Internet and can communicate with each other. In such a configuration, a user can operate the terminal 101 to connect to the server 102 using a Web browser or other communication application, and send a content purchase and download instruction 202.

  Here, when the server 102 receives the content purchase and download instruction 202, in step 203, the server 102 generates and stores in the server 102 deadlines t1 to t2 for renting the content. The server 102 then distributes DL control information to the terminal 101 in step 204 as a response to the content purchase and download instruction 202. Here, the DL control information is information for acquiring a content and a license for the content, and includes, for example, a content URL and a license ID. In step 205, the terminal 101 that has received the DL control information stores the DL control information in the terminal.

  Next, the terminal 101 downloads the content in step 206 according to the DL control information. The download is performed, for example, by issuing an HTTP GET command for the URL of the content, and is completed by acquiring all of the content and storing it in the terminal 101.

  When the download is completed, the terminal 101 acquires a license from the server 102 in step 207. The server 102 distributes the license in the license acquisition request 207. Here, the license is information for limiting the content reproduction time limit, and includes, for example, an encryption key for decrypting the encrypted content and a use time limit of the encryption key. Since the server 102 has generated the time limits t1 to t2 for renting the content in step 203, it is assumed that t1 to t2 are distributed as reproduction time limit information in the license. The terminal 101 that has received the license stores the license in the terminal.

  The content download and the license acquisition are completed by the sequence as described above.

  Next, it is assumed that the user instructs the reproduction of the downloaded content by operating the terminal 101 in step 208. At this time, the terminal 101 retrieves the license stored in step 207, collates the reproduction time limit information t1 to t2 in the license with the current time, and if it is within the time limit, decrypts the content using the encryption key in the license. To start. The content playback 209 can be performed by the sequence as described above.

  Further, when the user gives an instruction to reproduce the content after the rental period has expired, it is determined that the rental deadline has expired as a result of checking the reproduction deadline information t1 to t2 in the extracted license with the current time. Therefore, it is displayed that the user has expired without performing the reproduction.

  By the sequence as described above, it was possible to realize a content rental system that allowed viewing with a limited viewing time limit.

  However, in the above sequence, since it cannot be played after the expiration date, in order to use the same content again, the user has to go through the purchase and download procedures again, which is not convenient. It is also conceivable to add a re-purchase or extended purchase function to this. The procedure for such repurchase or extended purchase will be described below.

  When re-purchasing, the user can operate the terminal 101 to connect to the server 102 using a Web browser or other communication application and send a content re-purchase instruction 211 in the same manner as at the time of purchase. .

  Next, when the server 102 receives the content re-purchase instruction 211, it is assumed that, in step 212, the time limits t <b> 3 to t <b> 4 for renting the content are generated and stored in the server 102. The server 102 then redistributes the license to the terminal in step 213 as a response to the content repurchase instruction 211. The server 102 distributes t3 to t4 as reproduction time limit information in the license.

  The terminal 101 that has received the license stores the license in the terminal. With the sequence as described above, content viewing can be newly permitted for a period from t3 to t4, and the content can be reproduced in steps 214 and 215.

  The feature of the first conventional example is that it can be rented, the period can be updated by the server, and the period on the terminal side can be updated without downloading the content. However, the first conventional example has a problem that it tends to be a complicated and difficult to understand GUI for the user.

  As such a first problem, the user himself / herself determines whether or not the content has expired. If the content has expired, the browser is started to search for a WEB site from which the content has been obtained, There was a problem that it was necessary to search for the content.

  As a conventional example for solving the first problem, it has been considered that the terminal previously acquires the URL of a WEB page for re-purchasing as meta information of content. As meta information that can be used for such purposes, for example, it is possible to use a RelatedMaterial description in BasicDescription defined in ProgramInformation metadata proposed by TV anytime Forum. According to this method, since the browser can be started using RelatedMaterial information described in a format such as a URL, it is possible to reduce the trouble of searching for contents.

  However, even with this method, it is necessary to start the browser after determining whether the content has expired and checking whether RelatedMaterial information has been assigned. There is a problem that it is complicated, and there is another second problem related to reproduction after license renewal.

  That is, after re-purchasing the content using the browser and renewing the license, the user himself / herself exits the browser, searches the content list in the terminal again for the content desired to be reproduced, and updates the license. There was a problem that it was necessary to confirm and reproduce, and it was still inconvenient. This issue is particularly noticeable when the number of contents is large, and when the license renewal page is displayed, if the user follows a related link and moves to another WEB site, the UI of content playback is increasingly increased. There is a problem that the relationship of the web for license purchase is difficult to memorize and becomes troublesome.

  Furthermore, in FIG. 2, when it is desired to extend or re-purchase in advance before reaching the first purchase deadline t2, there is a conflict between the existing license remaining on the terminal and the newly purchased license. Therefore, there has been a third problem that the GUI becomes increasingly complicated by preparing the selection GUI.

  For the above reasons, in the system of the conventional configuration, it is possible to rent, update the period on the server, and provide the function to update the period on the terminal side without downloading the content, and at the same time the user procedure Therefore, it has been difficult to provide a network content rental system that can provide an easy-to-understand GUI.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problems described above. That is, the present invention can provide a license condition such as rental to a user, update the license from a server, provide a function for updating a license without downloading contents, and at the same time, has a small number of user procedures. An object of the present invention is to provide a network AV content reproduction terminal, a network AV content distribution server, a network AV content distribution system, and the like that can provide an easy GUI.

  The invention of the present application comprises a terminal having a server and a storage device connected via a network, distributes AV content from the server to the terminal, issues a license for the AV content from the server to the terminal, and the terminal is issued It is assumed that the system stores a license and uses the AV content for a certain period based on the stored license.

  1st invention of this application connects with the server on a network, acquires AV content using a connection, acquires the license of the said AV content from a server, preserve | saves it in a terminal, and is based on the conditions of the preserve | saved license. Based on the above, if the terminal uses the AV content for an indefinite period or a fixed period, and the license condition is not indefinite, the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content is acquired from the server, and the license is acquired. A network AV content playback terminal, wherein a license acquisition page is acquired and displayed to a user according to the page acquisition destination information, and a license corresponding to the AV content is acquired and updated in response to a user operation. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network AV content reproduction terminal according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the network AV content reproduction terminal has a storage device, acquires AV content and stores the AV content in the storage device.

  In the third invention of the present application, when the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content is acquired from the server, at the same time, the type information indicating that the page is the acquisition destination information of the license acquisition page is received. The network AV content playback terminal according to the second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that it is stored separately from the acquisition source information of other types of page information corresponding to the AV content.

  The fourth invention of the present application displays a guidance screen to the license acquisition page for the user when the license condition is not indefinite and when it is determined that the expiration date is approaching according to a certain standard, The network AV content playback terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that display transition is made from a guidance screen to a license acquisition page.

  The fifth invention of the present application is characterized by having a license reacquisition function ON / OFF setting function by a user and displaying a guidance screen only when the license reacquisition function is ON by the user. A network AV content playback terminal according to a fourth aspect of the invention.

  The sixth invention of the present application has a function of automatically erasing expired contents, and before the contents are automatically erased, a guidance screen to the license acquisition page is displayed to the user, and the license acquisition is performed from the guidance screen. The network AV content playback terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that display transition is made to a page.

  The seventh invention of the present application starts the page display application in the first mode when the license acquisition page is acquired and displayed to the user in accordance with the license acquisition page acquisition destination information. Then, according to the description of the license acquisition page, the page display application is terminated and the function of returning to the display before starting the page display application is enabled, and when other types of page information corresponding to AV contents are displayed, The network AV content playback terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an application is started in an arbitrary mode.

  The eighth invention of the present application starts the page display application in the first mode when the license acquisition page is acquired and displayed to the user according to the license acquisition page acquisition destination information. Then, the page display application is terminated according to the description of the license acquisition page, the function for branching the display generated by the terminal according to the execution result of the description of the license acquisition page is enabled, and other types of page information corresponding to AV contents are obtained. The network AV content playback terminal according to the third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that an application is activated in an arbitrary mode when displayed.

  A ninth invention of the present application is a server that connects to a terminal on a network and distributes AV content. The server issues a license for AV content to the terminal, and the license type specifies at least an available time limit. The server distributes the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content and the acquisition destination information of other types of page information corresponding to the AV content. The network AV content distribution server is characterized in that a license acquisition page is provided in response to a request, and the license acquisition page provides at least a user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the license acquisition page does not transition to a page that provides other general information without an explicit warning to the user. The network according to the ninth aspect of the present invention AV content distribution server.

  The eleventh invention of the present application terminates the page display application of the terminal when the license acquisition page specifies that license reacquisition or license renewal is performed, or that the user specifies neither reacquisition nor renewal. The network AV content distribution server according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized by including an instruction to

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, when a license reacquisition or license renewal is specified on the license acquisition page, or the user specifies neither reacquisition nor renewal, an operation designated by the user The network AV content distribution server according to the ninth aspect of the present invention includes an instruction for branching the display generated by the terminal after the page display application of the terminal is terminated in accordance with the result of executing.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is a server that connects to a terminal on a network and distributes AV content. The server issues a license for AV content to the terminal, and the license type designates at least an available time limit. The server distributes license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to AV content and acquisition destination information of other types of page information corresponding to AV content, and the server responds to a request from the terminal. The license acquisition page provides at least the user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content, and the server keeps a history of the licenses for each content issued to the user. License reacquisition or license renewal on the license acquisition page If so, the usage conditions of the license added at that time and the usage conditions of the license history are collated, and a new license including both usage conditions is generated and distributed as a new license to the terminal. This is a featured network AV content distribution server.

  A fourteenth invention of the present application connects to a server on a network, acquires AV content using the connection, has a storage device, acquires AV content, stores it in the storage device, and stores the AV content from the server. A license is acquired and stored in the terminal, and the AV content is used for an indefinite period or a fixed period based on the stored license conditions. Acquire the corresponding license acquisition page acquisition destination information from the server, acquire the license acquisition page according to the license acquisition page acquisition destination information, display it to the user, and re-acquire it by the server in response to the user's operation. Acquire an updated license, and use the acquired license for the content. Is a network AV contents playback terminal, characterized in that the write to update.

  A fifteenth aspect of the present invention includes a terminal having a server and a storage device connected via a network, distributes AV content from the server to the terminal, issues a license for the AV content from the server to the terminal, Is a system that stores issued licenses and uses the AV content for a certain period of time based on the stored licenses. The server issues a license for the AV content to a terminal, and the license type is at least available. Including a time limit type for specifying a time limit, the server distributes the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content and the acquisition destination information of other types of page information corresponding to the AV content; If the license is not indefinite, the license acquisition page corresponding to the AV content is sent to the server. The server provides a license acquisition page in response to a request from the terminal, and the license acquisition page provides at least the user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content. The terminal acquires the license acquisition page according to the license acquisition page acquisition destination information and displays it to the user. The server holds the license history of each content issued to the user. When a license is reacquired or renewed on the page, the usage conditions of the license added at that time are checked against the usage conditions of the license history, and a new license including both usage conditions is generated and the terminal Distributed as a new license, and if the terminal acquires a new license, License is a network AV contents distribution system and updates by overwriting the license was already obtained for the content.

  A sixteenth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute each operation step of the network AV content reproduction terminal according to any one of the first to eighth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention.

  A seventeenth invention of the present application is a program for causing a computer to execute each operation step of the network AV content distribution server of any of the ninth to thirteenth inventions of the present application.

  An eighteenth invention of the present application is a program for causing a computer to execute each operation step of the network AV content distribution system of the fifteenth invention of the present application.

  A nineteenth invention of the present application is a recording medium on which a program according to any of the sixteenth to eighteenth inventions of the present application is recorded, and is a recording medium that can be used by a computer.

  As described above, according to the present invention, license conditions such as rental can be provided to the user, the license can be updated from the server, and a function for updating the license without downloading content can be provided, while at the same time It is possible to provide a network AV content playback terminal, a network AV content distribution server, a network AV content distribution system, and the like that can provide an easy-to-understand GUI with few procedures. Only when there is re-purchase information at that time, it can be efficiently guided to the re-purchase page, and the operation procedure is reduced by automatically prompting the user to confirm before deletion or expiration, etc. The user does not need to make a transition, and after re-purchasing, it automatically returns to the playback screen of the original content that was re-purchased, making the operation steps easy to understand and eliminating the need to hold multiple licenses on the device side. There are many significant effects, such as eliminating the need to choose license terms and simplifying operations.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram premised on the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The terminal 101 and the server apparatus 102 are connected via the network 116. The terminal 101 is generally connected to the network 116 via a router 118 that relays IP communication. It is assumed that a plurality of terminals having the same configuration as the terminal 101 are connected to the network 116. The terminal 101 includes a network IF 103, a content acquisition unit 104, a storage unit 105, a reproduction unit 106, a license acquisition / storage unit 107, a browser 108, a reproduction application 109, and an operation input / output unit 110.

  The terminal 101 displays information to the user from the operation input / output unit 110, receives an operation input from the user, downloads an AV content file from the server 102 by the network IF 103 and the content acquisition unit 104 according to the operation input, and stores the storage unit 105 And a function for playing back the AV content file stored in the storage unit 105 by the playback unit 106 and outputting it to the playback output 111. Here, the AV content file is real-time data including video, audio, and the like, and corresponds to files such as MPEG2 and MP3, for example. The reproduction output 111 corresponds to an AV terminal such as HDMI, for example. Further, the terminal 101 acquires license information for the AV content file from the server 102 and stores it in the license acquisition / storage unit 107, and the playback of the playback unit 106 based on the license information stored in the license acquisition / storage unit 107. And the playback application 109 has a function of displaying a list of contents and various information such as a playback time limit and playback permission associated therewith to the user.

  The server device 102 includes a content distribution unit 113, a storage device 114, a license distribution unit 115, a router 112, and a LAN 117. The content distribution unit 113 and the license distribution unit 115 are each a server group that includes a CPU and operates independently. The content distribution unit 113 and the license distribution unit 115 are connected to each other via a LAN 117 installed in the server site to perform a cooperative operation. Is to provide. The content distribution unit 113 is equipped with a storage device 114 and can download the AV content file stored in the storage device 114 to the terminal 101 via the network 116. The server of the first embodiment includes an HTML server and a database as other elements not shown, and performs provision of HTML content purchase pages to users, user account management, content viewing time limit management, and the like. The server apparatus 102 has a function of issuing both a period-type license that specifies a period during which content can be used and a permanent license that does not specify a period during which content can be used as a type of content viewing period management. It is assumed that the rental is performed under any kind of license condition according to the request of the person and the individual contents.

  FIG. 3 shows the operation and communication sequence of the terminal and the server device when the user rents a content with a period license in the first embodiment. The operation and communication procedure will be described below in order according to FIG.

  In FIG. 3, since the terminal 101 and the server apparatus 102 have the same configuration as in FIG. 1, they are denoted by the same symbols, and components such as a network that perform only general operations are not shown.

  First, the user operates the terminal 101 according to the purchase / DL instruction 301 to connect to the server 102 using a Web browser or other communication application, and includes an instruction to download an AV content file under a period rental condition. AV content file purchase / DL instruction 302 is transmitted. Upon receiving the content purchase and download instruction 302, the server 102 generates a license permitting the use of the content for the user's account under the term rental conditions in step 303. Specifically, this license generation procedure is performed by determining the available date and time range t1 to t2 and describing them in the license and storing them in the license distribution unit 115 in the server. As other information, the ID of the terminal that has given permission, the ID of the AV content file, the encryption key of the AV content file, and the like are described in the license.

  Next, the server 102 generates DL control information. Here, the DL control information is information for acquiring a content and a license and meta information regarding the content, and includes a content URL, a license ID, a metadata acquisition ID, and the like. Thereafter, the server 102 delivers DL control information to the terminal 101 in step 304 as a response to the content purchase and download instruction 302. In step 305, the terminal 101 that has received the DL control information stores the DL control information in the terminal.

  Next, the terminal 101 downloads the content in step 306 according to the DL control information. The download is performed by issuing an HTTP GET command for the URL of the content described in the DL control information, and is completed by acquiring all the portions of the content and storing them in the storage unit 105 in the terminal 101.

  When the content download is completed, the terminal 101 next acquires a license in step 307. In step 307, the server 102 searches the license distribution unit 115 to identify the license by comparing the ID of the terminal that has given permission and the ID of the AV content file, and distributes the license. The terminal 101 that has received the license stores the license in the license acquisition / storage unit 107 in the terminal.

  Next, in step 308, the terminal 101 acquires license update page information. The license update page information is, for example, a URL to a web page described in the metadata related to the AV content file. Here, the description in the metadata is not the URL of another general content information site, It is assumed that type information indicating the license update page information of the AV content is described. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the URL of another general content information site is also described in the metadata separately from the license update page information. The terminal 101 that has received the license update page information described above distinguishes it from other URL information and stores it in the terminal 101 in association with the content. The terminal completes the download of the content and the acquisition of the license and metadata by the sequence as described above.

  Next, it is assumed that a list of contents downloaded by the user by operating the terminal 101 in step 309 is displayed. As a result, the user can select the content while referring to necessary information such as the title of the content and time limit information, and instruct the reproduction. Next, it is assumed that the user operates the terminal 101 in step 310 to instruct playback of the downloaded content. At this time, the terminal 101 retrieves the license stored in step 307, checks the reproduction expiration information t1 to t2 in the license against the current time, and if it is within the expiration date, uses the encryption key in the license in step 311. Start decrypting content. The content playback 311 can be performed by the sequence as described above.

  Note that the content DL execution step 306, the license acquisition step 307, and the license update page information acquisition step 308 are not limited to the order shown in FIG. 3. For example, the license acquisition timing is changed as described above, and the license type determination is performed immediately before the download starts. You may make a license acquisition request. Further, the configuration of the meta information is not limited to the above description. For example, the license update page information may be described in the AV content itself by multiplexing or multipart.

  Next, in the first embodiment, a re-purchase procedure after the time limit t2 determined by the first purchase is exceeded will be described.

  First, the user operates the terminal 101 according to the list display instruction 312 to display a list of accumulated contents in the storage unit 105 of the terminal 101. Since this function displays content in the terminal 101, unlike in the case of connecting to the server 102, display is performed by a resident application in the terminal 101, not a WEB browser. Hereinafter, this resident application is called a playback player.

  FIG. 4 is a GUI transition diagram starting from the list display screen, and the content list screen 401 is displayed by the playback player in response to a list display instruction 312 from the user. Here, if the content that the user wants to play is “title 1”, the time limit of t2 has been exceeded, so “expired” is displayed in the corresponding time limit display column of the list. After confirming this, the user displays a submenu for “title 1” by remote control operation or the like, and the terminal GUI transits from the content list screen 401 to the submenu screen 402 by transition 406. It is assumed that “delete”, “re-purchase”, and “view related information” operations are possible as operations that can be performed on “title 1” on the submenu screen 402. If the user selects the submenu and performs “delete”, the license corresponding to the content is deleted from the terminal, but this is not described in detail here. Also, when there is no repurchase information for the content while selecting the content, the user can be efficiently guided by making it impossible to select the “repurchase” operation.

  Here, when the user selects the submenu and performs “view related information”, the playback player uses the URL of a general content information site described and acquired in the metadata by the sequence described above. In the transition 408, the browser is simply started, and the related information screen 404 of the title 1 is transitioned to. The related information screen 404 of the title 1 is displayed by an HTML page provided from the server. For example, a description about the title and a link to information retrieved from the Internet regarding the title are described. Since the related information screen 404 is a page that complies with general HTML specifications, it may move to an arbitrary Internet site like the transition 411, and in this case, the transition to an arbitrary page other than that prepared by the server 102 There is.

  In addition, once the user transitions to the related information screen 404, the screen transition is performed in accordance with general HTML specifications. Therefore, when the user exits the browser and executes another resident application, the user explicitly uses the remote control or the like. When another resident application is started, when the user explicitly exits the browser with a remote control, etc., when the screen is changed to an arbitrary resident screen, when the browser is terminated by a script that closes the HTML page in the HTML content It can be divided into cases such as transition to an arbitrary resident screen.

  On the other hand, when the user selects a submenu on the submenu screen 402 in FIG. 4 and performs “repurchase”, that is, when the user issues a repurchase screen display instruction in step 313 in FIG. Using the URL of the license update page information of the AV content acquired and described in the metadata by the sequence described above, the browser is started in the repurchase mode in transition 407, and the title 1 is repurchased. The screen transitions to a screen 403. The repurchase screen 403 of the title 1 is displayed by the HTML page provided from the server. In the transition 407, the browser performs both communication of the repurchase screen acquisition instruction and the repurchase screen distribution in steps 314 and 315. In 316, the re-purchase screen is displayed and presented to the user. The re-purchase screen 403 describes at least information on the current license status of the content, information on the license status when updated, and an interface for instructing the update. The current license status information is “expired” here, and the license status information when renewed is “until August 3” after the expiration date, and the interface for instructing renewal is here Then, “Extended Purchase” button. Here, the current license status information can be displayed by the license history stored in the server 102. The updated license status information includes both license information to be added by updating (assuming that the viewing period is extended for 7 days here) and current license status information (here, expired). Assuming that the condition of “until August 3” seven days after today is calculated and displayed by the server. The “extended purchase” button is linked to the CGI or the like of the server 102 and provides a license update function.

  Here, as one feature of the present invention, it is assumed that the HTML page for repurchasing does not transition to a page that provides other general information without an explicit warning to the user. In order to realize this, the server 102 may provide a re-purchased HTML page that does not transition to another page, or the terminal 101 transitions to another domain in the browser that is activated in the re-purchasing mode. It is possible to provide a function for checking the above, or to use both.

  Further, as another feature of the present invention, the license acquisition page displays a browser when the license is renewed by the “extended purchase” button or the user designates not to renew the license by the “cancel” button. And a script for returning to the original playback player screen. This script may specify that the browser that was started in the re-purchase mode is terminated and the playback player screen before the activation is returned to by closing the browser with a javascript such as window.close (), for example. In addition, it may be specified that the application to be returned after the end is a playback player by the dedicated definition javascript, or the application to be returned after the end may be specified by the dedicated definition plugin.

  However, if this kind of application specification is allowed for a general WEB site, there is a risk that the terminal 101 can be operated by an arbitrary site. A configuration such as allowing only the URL of page information is particularly suitable.

  According to the configuration as described above, the content list screen 405 after the transition 410 is performed by the “cancel” button to return to the content list screen 401 or the license is updated by performing the transition 409 by the “extended purchase” button. It can transition to. According to this transition sequence, it is possible to directly transition from the playback player screen to the HTML page for re-purchasing the content, and then return to the original playback player screen for playback. Even when the user is present, it is possible to achieve viewing by updating the license with the minimum transition without searching for the content using different applications many times.

  When the transition 409 is performed in the GUI transition sequence, a repurchase instruction 318 from the terminal 101 to the server 102 and a license update process 319 in the server 102 are performed using a repurchase instruction 317 from the user as a trigger. . Here, as described above, the license update process 319 includes both license information to be added by updating (assuming that the viewing period is extended for 7 days) and current license status information (here, expired). As a license to be included, a condition of “until August 3” after 7 days from today is calculated by the server. Thereafter, in step 320, a license is acquired from the server 102 to the terminal 101. As a result, the old license (time limit is t1 to t2) in the terminal 101 is overwritten, and the updated license (time limit is t3 to t4) is overwritten. The content list screen 405 is displayed as a result of the reproduction list display 321 being performed after the replacement. When the user issues a reproduction instruction again on the content list screen 405, the reproduction instruction in step 322 is performed, and the reproduction in step 323 is performed in accordance with the updated license.

  Note that if “deletion” of content is performed on the submenu screen 402, it is impossible to re-purchase only by updating the license, which is inconvenient because the content needs to be downloaded again. Therefore, when the license update page information of the AV content is accumulated, a deletion confirmation screen is provided like the deletion confirmation screen 412. When the user selects the extension purchase, the title is displayed by transition 414. It is also a particularly preferable configuration to transition to one re-purchase screen 403. Here, the deletion confirmation screen 412 is displayed when the user instructs deletion, but in addition to this, the terminal 101 may display a similar confirmation screen before automatically deleting expired content. Needless to say, it has the same effect.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, a license condition such as rental can be provided to the user, the license can be updated from the server, and the function of updating the license without downloading the content is provided. At the same time, it is possible to provide a terminal, a server, and a system that can provide an easy-to-understand GUI with few user procedures. Only when there is re-purchase information at that time, it can be efficiently guided to the re-purchase page, the operation risk is reduced by prompting the user to re-purchase before erasure, and the page is not unnecessarily shifted to a page other than re-purchase, After re-purchasing, it automatically returns to the playback screen of the original content that was re-purchased, so the operation steps are easy to understand, and there is no need to hold multiple licenses on the terminal side, so the user needs to select the license conditions Many remarkable effects can be obtained, such as a simple operation.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A system configuration diagram premised on the second embodiment is also shown in FIG. 1 as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 5 shows an operation and a communication sequence of the terminal and the server device when the user rents a content with a term license and updates the license to a content purchase contract with no expiration date during the expiration date in the second embodiment.

  In FIG. 5, since the terminal 101 and the server apparatus 102 have the same configuration as in FIG. 1, they are denoted by the same symbols, and components such as a network that perform only general operations are not shown. In FIG. 5, steps 301 to 311 have the same contents as those in the first embodiment and FIG.

  In the second embodiment, it is assumed that the terminal 101 automatically performs a license update guidance screen display step 501 for the user when a certain time has passed before the time limit t2. This screen display is displayed by the playback player application, warns the user that the time limit for viewing the content is approaching, and indicates a transition button. Next, when the user presses the transition button to instruct the re-purchase screen display in step 502, the playback player re-uses the URL of the license update page information of the AV content that has been acquired in step 308. The browser is activated in the purchase mode, a re-purchase screen acquisition instruction is issued for the URL in step 503, the HTML page of the re-purchase screen is acquired in step 504, and the browser is used for the user in step 505. Display the re-purchase screen. Further, when the user gives a repurchase instruction in step 506, in step 507, a repurchase instruction is given to the server 102 as a request from the HTML page. Here, the server 102 has a license including both license information to be added by updating (in this case, indefinite viewing) and current license status information (in this case, limited viewing until t2). The server calculates the indefinite condition.

  Thereafter, in step 509, the license is acquired from the server 102 to the terminal 101, and as a result, the old license (time limit t1 to t2) in the terminal 101 is overwritten and replaced with the updated license (no time limit). The playlist display 510 is performed above. The user gives a playback instruction in the playback list display, thereby giving a playback instruction in step 511 and playing back in step 512 in accordance with the updated license.

  In the second embodiment, the license update guide screen display step 501 is automatically performed. However, if all guide displays for each content are performed, it becomes complicated, and therefore ON / OFF setting of the guide display function is provided. In addition, a configuration that displays a guidance screen display only when there is a discount if you set a filtering condition in the content metadata and repurchase within the due date for paid content, users can also utilize the meta information for repurchase This is a particularly preferable configuration.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, license conditions such as rental can be provided to the user, the license can be updated from the server, and the function of updating the license without downloading the content is provided. At the same time, it is possible to provide a terminal, a server, and a system that can provide an easy-to-understand GUI with few user procedures. Only when there is re-purchase information at that time, it can be efficiently guided to the re-purchase page, the operation procedure is reduced by automatically prompting the user to confirm before the expiration date, and unnecessary transition to the non-re-purchase page Without re-purchasing and automatically returning to the playback screen of the original content that was re-purchased, the operation steps are easy to understand, and there is no need to hold multiple licenses on the terminal side. There are many remarkable effects, such as eliminating the need to select and simplifying the operation.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the operation of each operation step of the network AV content playback terminal described above, and is a program that operates in cooperation with the computer.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing the computer to execute the operation of each operation step of the network AV content distribution server described above, and is a program that operates in cooperation with the computer.

  The program of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute the operation of each operation step of the network AV content distribution system described above, and is a program that operates in cooperation with the computer.

  The recording medium of the present invention is a recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to execute the operation of each operation step of the above-described network AV content playback terminal, network AV content distribution server, or network AV content distribution system. There is a recording medium that can be read by a computer and the read program is used in cooperation with the computer.

  The “step operation” of the present invention means the operation of all or part of the step.

  Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM readable by a computer and operates in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, one use form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium such as the Internet or a transmission medium such as light / radio wave, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer. .

  The computer of the present invention described above is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, DSP, FPGA, and may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

  As described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized by software or hardware.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a content rental service that downloads video and audio content via a network and permits reproduction with a viewing time limit. At that time, it is possible to provide a terminal, a server, and a system that can update the license from the server, provide a function for updating the license without downloading content, and provide an easy-to-understand GUI with few user procedures. . In particular, it can be efficiently guided to the repurchase page only when there is repurchase information, and the operation procedure is reduced by automatically prompting the user for confirmation before deletion or expiration, etc., and unnecessary for pages other than repurchase Without re-purchasing, and after re-purchasing, the user automatically returns to the playback screen of the original content that was re-purchased, making the operation steps easy to understand and eliminating the need to hold multiple licenses on the terminal side. There are many significant effects, such as eliminating the need to select license conditions and simplifying operations.

  Therefore, the present invention is useful as a network AV content reproduction terminal, a network AV content distribution server, a network AV content distribution system, and the like that can download and reproduce video and audio content via a network.

System configuration diagram premised on Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of the present invention The figure which showed the communication sequence between the terminal of conventional example, and a server Communication sequence diagram between terminal and server in Embodiment 1 of the present invention GUI transition diagram of terminal in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Communication sequence diagram between terminal and server in Embodiment 2 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

101 terminal 102 server (device)
103 Network IF
104 Content Acquisition Unit 105 Storage Unit 106 Playback Unit 107 License Acquisition / Storage Unit 108 Browser 109 Playback Application 110 Operation Input / Output Unit 111 Playback Output 112 Router 113 Content Distribution Unit 114 Storage Device 115 License Distribution Unit 116 Network 117 LAN
118 router 201 content purchase and download instruction 202 content purchase and download instruction 203 license expiration generation step 204 DL control information distribution 205 DL control information storage step 206 content download 207 license acquisition 208 content playback instruction 209 content playback 210 content Re-purchase instruction 211 Content re-purchase instruction 212 License expiration generation step 213 License acquisition 214 Content reproduction instruction 215 License reproduction step 301 Content purchase and download instruction 302 Content purchase and download instruction 303 License expiration generation step 304 DL control information Distribution 305 DL control information storage step 306 Content download 307 License acquisition 308 License update page information acquisition 309 List display instruction 310 Content reproduction instruction 311 Content reproduction 312 List display instruction 313 Repurchase screen display instruction 314 Repurchase screen acquisition instruction 315 Repurchase screen distribution 316 Repurchase screen display 317 Repurchase Instruction 318 Re-purchase instruction 319 License update processing 320 License acquisition 321 List display instruction 322 Content playback instruction 323 Content playback 401 Content list screen 402 Submenu screen 403 Title 1 re-purchase screen 404 Title 1 related information screen 405 Content list screen 406 GUI transition 407 GUI transition 408 GUI transition 409 GUI transition 410 GUI transition 411 GUI transition 412 Deletion confirmation screen 413 GU Transition 414 GUI transition 501 License renewal guidance screen display 502 Repurchase screen display instruction 503 Repurchase screen acquisition instruction 504 Repurchase screen distribution 505 Repurchase screen display 506 Repurchase instruction 507 Repurchase instruction 508 License update process 509 License acquisition 510 Playlist Display 511 Content playback instruction 512 Content playback

Claims (19)

Connect to a server on the network, acquire AV content using the connection, acquire a license of the AV content from the server, save it in the terminal, and indefinitely based on the conditions of the stored license A terminal that uses the AV content for a certain period of time;
When the license condition is not indefinite, the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content is acquired from the server, and the license acquisition page is acquired according to the license acquisition page acquisition destination information. A network AV content playback terminal, wherein the license is displayed on a user and the license corresponding to the AV content is acquired and updated in response to the user's operation.   The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device, wherein the AV content is acquired and stored in the storage device before use.   When acquiring the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content from the server, simultaneously receives type information indicating that the page is the acquisition destination information of the license acquisition page, and corresponds to the AV content. The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 2, wherein the network AV content playback terminal is stored separately from the acquisition destination information of other types of page information.   When the license condition is not indefinite and when it is determined that the expiration date is approaching according to a certain standard, a guide screen to the license acquisition page is displayed to the user, and the guide screen displays the guide screen. 4. The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 3, wherein display transition is made to a license acquisition page.   5. The network AV content according to claim 4, wherein the user has a license reacquisition function ON / OFF setting function and displays a guidance screen only when the license reacquisition function is turned on by the user. Playback terminal.   It has a function to automatically delete expired content, and before the content is automatically deleted, a guide screen to the license acquisition page is displayed to the user, and the display transitions from the guide screen to the license acquisition page. The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 3, wherein:   When the license acquisition page is acquired and displayed to the user in accordance with the license acquisition page acquisition destination information, a page display application is started in the first mode, and the license acquisition page is acquired in the first mode. Enable the function to return to the display before starting the page display application by ending the page display application according to the description of the page, and to display other types of page information corresponding to the AV content, the application is optional 4. The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 3, wherein the network AV content playback terminal is activated in the mode.   When the license acquisition page is acquired and displayed to the user in accordance with the license acquisition page acquisition destination information, a page display application is started in the first mode, and the license acquisition page is acquired in the first mode. The page display application is terminated according to the description of the page, the function for branching the display generated by the terminal according to the execution result of the description of the license acquisition page is enabled, and other types of page information corresponding to the AV content are displayed. 4. The network AV content playback terminal according to claim 3, wherein the application is activated in an arbitrary mode. A server that connects to a terminal on the network and distributes AV content;
The server issues a license for the AV content to the terminal, and the license type includes at least a time limit type that specifies a usable time limit,
The server distributes time-based license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content and acquisition destination information of other types of page information corresponding to the AV content,
The server provides a license acquisition page in response to a request from the terminal, and the license acquisition page provides at least a user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content. AV content distribution server.   10. The network AV content distribution server according to claim 9, wherein the license acquisition page does not transition to a page providing other general information without an explicit warning to the user.   The license acquisition page includes a command to terminate the page display application of the terminal when it is designated that license reacquisition or license renewal is performed or the user does not perform reacquisition or renewal. The network AV content distribution server according to claim 9.   In the license acquisition page, depending on the result of executing the operation specified by the user when it is specified that the license is reacquired or renewed, or the user specifies neither reacquisition nor update. The network AV content distribution server according to claim 9, further comprising: an instruction for branching a display generated by the terminal after the page display application of the terminal is terminated. A server that connects to a terminal on the network and distributes AV content;
The server issues a license for the AV content to the terminal, and the license type includes at least a time limit type that specifies a usable time limit,
The server delivers license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content and acquisition destination information of other types of page information corresponding to the AV content,
The server provides a license acquisition page in response to a request from the terminal, and the license acquisition page provides at least a user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content,
The server holds a history of licenses of each content issued to the user. When the license is reacquired or renewed on the license acquisition page, the usage condition of the license added at that time A network AV content distribution server characterized by collating usage conditions of a license history, generating a new license including any usage conditions, and distributing the new license to the terminal as a new license. Connect to a server on the network, acquire AV content using the connection, have a storage device, acquire AV content and store it in the storage device, acquire a license for the AV content from the server, and terminal A terminal that uses the AV content indefinitely or for a certain period of time based on the conditions of the stored license.
When the license condition is not indefinite, the license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content is acquired from the server, and the license acquisition page is acquired according to the license acquisition page acquisition destination information. The license is re-acquired and updated by the server in response to the user's operation, and the acquired license is updated by overwriting the acquired license for the content. A network AV content playback terminal characterized by the above. A server having a server and a storage device connected via a network, delivering AV content from the server to the terminal, and issuing a license for the AV content from the server to the terminal; A system for storing a license that has been stored and using the AV content for a certain period of time based on the stored license,
The server issues a license for the AV content to the terminal, and the type of the license includes at least a time limit type that specifies a usable time limit, and the server acquires a license acquisition page acquisition destination corresponding to the AV content. Information and other types of page information acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content,
When the license condition is not indefinite, the terminal makes an acquisition request for license acquisition page acquisition destination information corresponding to the AV content to the server,
The server provides a license acquisition page in response to a request from the terminal, and the license acquisition page provides at least a user with a license reacquisition or license update function for the content,
In accordance with the license acquisition page acquisition destination information, the terminal acquires the license acquisition page and displays it to the user.
The server holds a history of licenses of each content issued to the user. When the license is reacquired or renewed on the license acquisition page, the usage condition of the license added at that time Check the usage conditions of the license history, generate a new license including any of the usage conditions, and distribute it as a new license to the terminal,
When the terminal acquires the new license, the terminal updates the new license by overwriting the license already acquired for the content.   The program for making a computer perform each operation | movement step of the network AV content reproduction terminal in any one of Claims 1-8, 14.   The program for making a computer perform each operation | movement step of the network AV content delivery server in any one of Claims 9-13.   The program for making a computer perform each operation | movement step of the network AV content delivery system of Claim 15.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 16 is recorded, the recording medium being usable by a computer.

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