JP2010108127A - Next story retrieval method, next story retrieval server, and next story retrieval program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to conveniently download next story content, in distribution of a series of content. <P>SOLUTION: A next story retrieval method includes: a step (S1) where a mobile terminal transmits a request to download content; a step (S2) where a front server distributes content to the mobile terminal according to the received download request; a step (S3) where the front server transmits download history information about download to a next story retrieval server; a step where the next story retrieval server stores the received download history information; a step (S6) where the mobile terminal transmits the next story retrieval request to the next story retrieval server; a step (S8) where the next story retrieval server transmits the next story retrieval request on the basis of the download history information; a step (S9) where the front server transmits the next story retrieval result; and a step (S10) where the next story retrieval server transmits the next story retrieval result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for searching for a next story of a series such as a comic viewed using a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.

  With the development of mobile communication, not only phone calls but also electronic books such as comics and novels can be viewed using a mobile phone. Electronic books can be viewed by streaming or downloading. This electronic book has a series of stories, such as a first story and a second story, such as a comic book, a novel, and a photo book, and many of them are in series. Normally, the first story and the second story are different files (called content files) themselves, and charging is often performed for each of the first story and the second story. For example, some contents are free only for the first episode and charged for the second and subsequent episodes.

  The first episode of an electronic book, such as comic X, is provided by a provider of digitized information called a content provider (CP). The same content is provided by a plurality of content providers.

  When the user finishes viewing the first episode of the comic X in the series and then wants to browse the second episode, the user accesses the web page of the content provider that provides the comic X, and the user desires Search for episode 2 and download it. This operation is complicated for a user who wants to view the second episode immediately. On the other hand, the user can of course download the first episode of the comic X from the content provider A and download the following second episode from another content provider B. However, if the download destination URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of company A that downloaded the first episode can be provided to the user when downloading the second episode, the user does not bother to search on the Web. The second episode can be downloaded easily and directly.

  Here, in order to provide the download destination URL of company A who downloaded the first episode, there is a method of embedding information about the download destination URL of company A in the content file of the first episode. This method has the following problems. The first problem is that the content is subjected to DRM (Digital Rights Management) with different specifications for each mobile phone carrier (carrier). It is necessary to remanufacture from the stage. The second problem is that it is necessary to re-create the content even in the case of agency-type distribution. The third problem is that it usually affects the capacity of content files that are often used to the limit.

  An object of the present invention is to specify what kind of content is currently being browsed by a user and “from which content provider” in order to search for next-story content. Is to provide a method. Here, instead of embedding the information about what kind of content and the information about which content provider is distributed from the content file to be transmitted, Determine from download history.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a next story search method according to the present invention includes a step of a mobile terminal transmitting a content download request to a front server, and an instruction from the front server or the front server based on the received download request. The distribution server that receives the content distributes the content to the mobile terminal, and the front server transmits the download history information related to the download to the next story search server that searches for the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content. Storing the download history information received by the next story search server; and for requesting the download of the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal A step of transmitting a search request to a search server, and the next story search server that has received the search request creates a next story request including at least a part of information included in the search request, and is included in the search request Transmitting the next talk request by designating a front server to which the next talk request is to be transmitted according to information obtained by searching the download history information using the search information as a search condition, and the front server Processing a next story request and transmitting a next story search result to the next story search server; a step in which the next story search server sends the next story search result to the mobile terminal; and Displaying the next story search result, and receiving the approval of the next story search result by the user; There and sending a download request of Tsugihanashi content to the front server.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the next story search server according to the present invention provides a mobile terminal that downloads content from a front server of a content provider or a distribution server that has received an instruction from the front server. Download history data storage means for receiving data related to download and storing it in a database; and a search request related to the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal is received from the mobile terminal and included in the search request Search request processing means for searching the database using the information to be searched as a search condition, and creating a next talk request including at least a part of the information included in the search request, and depending on the information obtained by the search, Talk requests A next-story request creating means for designating a front server as a transmission destination, a database for storing the data relating to the download, the download history data storing means, the search request processing means, Database communication means for communicating next database search request means with the database, front server communication means for communicating the download history storage means and next talk request creation means with the front server, and search request processing Means comprises mobile terminal communication means for communicating with said mobile terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a computer program for next story search according to the present invention, when a mobile terminal downloads content from a front server of a content provider or a distribution server that receives an instruction from the front server, Download history data storage means for receiving data related to the download from the front server and storing it in a database; and receiving a search request for the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal, Search request processing means for searching the database using information included in the search request as a search condition, and a next talk request including at least a part of the information included in the search request are created, and the information obtained by the search is generated. A next-story request creating means for designating a front server to which the next-story request is to be transmitted in response to the request and transmitting the next-story request, a database for storing the data relating to the download, and a download history data storing means, Database communication means for the search request processing means and the next story search request means to communicate with the database, front server communication for the download history storage means and the next story request creation means to communicate with the front server And a mobile terminal communication means for the search request processing means to communicate with the mobile terminal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the method of the present invention includes a step in which a mobile terminal installed with a viewer for displaying content content on a display screen downloads content from a server, and the viewer downloads the downloaded content. A step of displaying on the display screen, a step of transmitting a search request for the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content to a server on which the mobile terminal is located, and a server receiving the search request, the download destination URL of the next story content Or a step of returning information including a display indicating details of the next story content to the mobile terminal, a step of displaying the download destination URL included in the received information on the display screen, and a step by the user With approval of story search results And a step that the following story content you have downloaded the steps of downloading the following story content the mobile terminal to access to the download destination URL is the viewer displayed on the display screen.

  In the present specification and claims of the present application, “content” refers to information viewed by humans such as comics, novels, photo collections, moving images, and other electronic books.

  In this specification and the claims of this application, a “viewer” is a piece of software that displays content on the display screen of a mobile phone or other mobile terminal owned by a customer so that the user can view the contents of the content. That means. Normally, the viewer is installed in a mobile phone or other mobile terminal, and can be activated and terminated by the user operating the mobile terminal.

  According to the present invention, the user can easily download the next story content, and the user can download the next story content continuously as well as a certain content, so that the user can access first. Content providers can continuously make a profit. Further, the next story search method of the present invention can be applied to any mobile phone operator and can be introduced and operated without imposing additional burdens such as embedding additional data in the content provider. .

  Next, assuming that the user who downloaded and viewed the first episode of comic X searches for and downloads the second episode of comic X, one embodiment for carrying out the next episode search method of the present invention will be described. Will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 shows a next story search system 1. The next story search system 1 includes a mobile terminal 2, a front server 3, a distribution server 4, and a next story search server 5. The mobile terminal 2 is communicably connected to the front server 3, the distribution server 4, and the next story search server 5 through the network 6. Further, the front server 3 is communicably connected to the distribution server 4 and the next story search server 5. The network 6 can be configured by a communication line such as a WAN (Wide Area Network), and is different for each different mobile phone company, for example.

  The mobile terminal 2 is a normal mobile phone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or other mobile terminal, and includes a processor, a memory, operation buttons, a display screen, and the like. A folder for storing content files is provided in the memory. The mobile terminal 2 is installed with a viewer that is software for browsing content and a web browser that is software for browsing web pages.

  The front server 3 is a server managed by a content provider (CP) that is a business provider that provides content. The front server 3 can receive the request from the mobile terminal 2 and distribute the content. Depending on the content provider, the content can be distributed from the distribution server 4 instead of the front server. The distribution server 4 is usually managed by a content provider or an agency that distributes content, and holds the content.

  A functional block diagram of the next story search server 5 is shown in FIG. The next story search server 5 includes processing means 51, mobile terminal communication means 52, database communication means 53, database 54, and front server communication means 55. A mobile terminal communication unit 52 and a front server communication unit 55 are connected to the processing unit 51. The processing means 51 can communicate with the mobile terminal 2 and the front server 3 through the mobile terminal communication means 52 and the front server communication means 55, respectively. Further, database communication means 53 connected to the database 54 is connected to the processing means 51. The processing unit 51 can access the database 54 through the database communication unit 53.

  Although the database 54 is arranged in the next story search server 5 according to FIG. 2, it can be arranged outside the next story search server 5.

  The processing unit 51 includes a download history data storage unit 511, a search request processing unit 512, and a next story request creation unit 513. Details of these three means will be described later.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing sequence for operating the next story search system of FIG. 1 including the next story search server 5 shown in FIG. 2 to perform the next story search. First, in step S1, the mobile terminal 2 transmits a download request to the front server 3. For example, the user can press a button “download content” displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 2 by the browser, receive the result, and transmit the result by the function of the browser. The download request includes a user ID that identifies the user and a content ID that identifies the content (the first episode of Manga X).

  In step S <b> 2, the front server 3 distributes the content to the mobile terminal 2 in response to the download request received from the mobile terminal 2. Alternatively, upon receiving an instruction from the front server 3 that has received the download request, the distribution server 4 distributes the requested content to the mobile terminal 2.

In step S <b> 3, the front server 3 transmits download history data to the next story search server 5. This download history data includes a user ID, a content ID, and a CP-ID that identifies the CP. Table 1 shows the structure of the download history data. Even if the distribution server 4 distributes content in step S2, it is the front server 3 that transmits the download history data in step S3.

  Similarly, in step S3, the next story search server 5 receives the download history data through the front server communication means 55. Then, the download history data storage unit 511 accesses the database 54 through the database communication unit 53, and uses the user ID, content ID, and CP-ID included in the received download history data as a key in the database 54. Create and save a record in the download history table.

Table 2 shows the download history table. The download history table has a “creation date” column, a “user ID” column, a “content ID” column, and a “CP-ID” column. The “creation date” column is a column for storing the date and time when the record was created. The “user ID” column and the “content ID” column are columns for storing a user ID and a content ID, respectively. The “CP-ID” column is a column for storing a CP-ID that is an ID for specifying a content provider.

  Here, in order to save the storage capacity of the database 54, the upper limit of the number of records per user can be set to 100, for example. When the number exceeds 100, the download history data storage unit 511 can delete the records in order from the oldest record based on the “creation date” column of the user so that the number of records of the user does not exceed 100.

  In step S4, the viewer is activated by the user's terminal operation, and in step S5, the user browses the downloaded content (the first episode of the comic X) with the viewer.

After browsing the first episode of the comic X, the mobile terminal 2 of the user who intends to browse the second episode transmits a search request to the next story search server 5 in step S6. This can be transmitted, for example, by the user pressing a “Read more” button displayed at the end of the first episode. The search request includes a user ID and a content ID that identifies the first episode of comic X. Table 3 shows the data structure of the search request.

  Here, the mobile terminal 2 differs from step S1 in that the browser accesses the front server 3 in step S1 as described above, whereas the viewer accesses the next story search server in step S6. Please keep in mind. That is, when the user selects the button “download content” displayed on the display screen by the browser, the user accesses the front server 3 in step S1 and clicks the “Read more” button displayed by the viewer. If selected, the next story search server 5 is accessed in step S6. This access destination can be controlled by a viewer function.

  Similarly, in step S <b> 6, the next story search server 5 receives the search request through the mobile terminal communication unit 52. Next, in step S7, the search request processing unit 512 accesses the database 54 through the database communication unit 53, and searches the download history table in the database 54 using the user ID and content ID included in the search request as search keys. Then, the search request processing unit 512 acquires the CP-ID of the corresponding record.

  Here, if the content ID is 9 digits in total, for example, the upper 7 digits of the content ID can be the same if the content is the same series. That is, the upper 7 digits of the content ID specify the content series, and the lower 2 digits specify the episode number of the content. Therefore, the search request processing means 512 in the next story search server 5 can perform the search while ignoring the lower two digits of the content ID when searching the database 54. As a result, all the digits of the content ID are searched. The search processing load can be reduced as compared with the case of using the search.

In step S8, the next story request creation means 513 in the next story search server 5 creates a next story request. This next talk request includes the content ID (content ID of the first episode of comic X) included in the search request. Table 4 shows the data structure of the next talk request. Then, the next story request creation unit 513 transmits a next story request to the front server 3 of the content provider corresponding to the CP-ID acquired in step S7 through the front server communication unit 55.

In step S9, the front server 3 receives the next talk request. Then, the next episode content (for example, the second episode of comic X) corresponding to the content ID included in the next episode request (here, the first episode of comic X) is searched. Similarly, in step S9, the search result data is returned to the next story search server 5. The search result data includes a search result, a next-story content ID corresponding to the next-story content, and a next-story induction URL that is a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for downloading the next-story content. Table 5 shows the structure of the search result data.

  In step S10, the next story search server 5 transfers the result data received in step S9 to the viewer of the mobile terminal 2. Next, in step S11, the viewer receives the result data.

  The browser is started based on the result received by the viewer.

  In step S12, the web browser installed in the mobile terminal 2 is activated and, based on the received result data, displays the search result and the next story guidance URL or the series name related to the next story content and the display of some episodes on the display screen. indicate.

  In step S13, when the user approves the download of the next story content by operating the button on the display screen displayed by the web browser, the mobile terminal accesses the next story guidance URL.

  In step S <b> 14, as in step S <b> 1, the mobile terminal 2 transmits a download request for the next story content to the front server 3. Similarly to step S 1, the user can press the “download content” button displayed on the display screen of the mobile terminal 2, receive the result, and transmit the result using the browser function. In step S15, as in step S2, the mobile terminal 2 downloads the next story content from the front server 3 or the distribution server 4.

  As described above, the second episode corresponding to the first episode of the comic X can be downloaded. By repeating steps S6 to S15, the third and subsequent episodes can be downloaded in the same manner.

It is a conceptual diagram which shows an example of a next story search system. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a next story search server. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process and data flow of a mobile terminal, a next story search server, and a front server.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Next story search system 2 Mobile terminal 3 Front server 4 Distribution server 5 Next story search server 6 Network 51 Processing means 52 Mobile terminal communication means 53 Database communication means 54 Database 55 Front server communication means 511 Download history data storage means 512 Search request processing Means 513 Next story request creation means

Claims (4)

The mobile device sending a content download request to the front server;
A distribution server receiving an instruction from the front server or the front server based on the received download request distributes the content to the mobile terminal;
The front server sending download history information relating to the download to a next story search server that searches for the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content;
Storing download history information received by the next story search server;
The mobile terminal sending a search request to the next story search server to request the download of the next story content corresponding to the next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal;
The next story search server that has received the search request creates a next story request including at least a part of the information included in the search request, and uses the information included in the search request as a search condition to store the download history information. Designating a front server as a transmission destination of the next talk request according to information obtained by searching, and transmitting the next talk request;
The front server processes a next story request and sends a next story search result to the next story search server;
The next story search server transmitting the next story search result to the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal displaying the next story search result;
And receiving the approval of the next story search result by the user, and transmitting the next story content download request to the front server by the mobile terminal. Download history data storage means for receiving data related to the download from the front server and storing it in a database when the mobile terminal downloads the content from the front server of the content provider or the distribution server that has received an instruction from the front server; ,
A search request processing means for receiving a search request related to a next story content corresponding to a next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and searching the database using information included in the search request as a search condition;
Create a next talk request including at least a part of the information included in the search request, and specify a front server to which the next talk request is to be transmitted according to the information obtained by the search. Next story request creation means for sending
A database for storing the data relating to the download;
Database communication means for the download history data storage means, the search request processing means and the next story search request means to communicate with the database;
Front server communication means for the download history storage means and the next story request creation means to communicate with the front server;
A next story search server, wherein the search request processing means includes mobile terminal communication means for communicating with the mobile terminal. Download history data storage means for receiving data related to the download from the front server and storing it in a database when the mobile terminal downloads the content from the front server of the content provider or the distribution server that has received an instruction from the front server; ,
A search request processing means for receiving a search request related to a next story content corresponding to a next story of the content downloaded by the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal and searching the database using information included in the search request as a search condition;
Create a next talk request including at least a part of the information included in the search request, and specify a front server to which the next talk request is to be transmitted according to the information obtained by the search. Next story request creation means for sending
A database for storing the data relating to the download;
Database communication means for the download history data storage means, the search request processing means and the next story search request means to communicate with the database;
Front server communication means for the download history storage means and the next story request creation means to communicate with the front server;
A computer program for searching a next story, which causes a computer to realize mobile terminal communication means for the search request processing means to communicate with the mobile terminal. A mobile terminal installed with a viewer for displaying content on a display screen downloads content from the server;
The viewer displaying the downloaded content on the display screen;
Sending a next story content search request corresponding to the next story of the content to a server with the mobile terminal;
The server that has received the search request returns the information including the download destination URL of the next story content or the display indicating the content of the next story content to the mobile terminal;
The mobile terminal displaying the download URL included in the received information on the display screen;
Upon receiving approval of a next story search result by a user, the mobile terminal accesses the download destination URL to download the next story content, and the viewer displays the downloaded next story content on the display screen. A method comprising and.

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