JP2010231691A - Content selling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content selling device which easily deals with packed merchandise and prevents a viewer from being uselessly conscious of whether content has been purchased. <P>SOLUTION: A program content selling device 1 is provided with: a storage means 11 for storing merchandise information showing a plurality of program contents constituting packed merchandise and sale history information being history showing that the packed merchandise is sold to a viewer; a retrieval condition input means 12; a retrieval means 13; a list screen output means 14; a sale scheduled merchandise input means 15; a sale checking means 16 for checking overlapping sale between the packaged merchandise and single item merchandise; a detail picture output means 17; a program content selling means 18; and a program content view request means 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content sales apparatus that sells a single product composed of one content and a packed product composed of a plurality of contents to a viewer.

  In recent years, the integration of broadcasting and the Internet has progressed, and video-on-demand (VOD) for distributing program contents over the Internet in response to viewer demand has become popular. Generally, since it is necessary for a viewer to purchase program content to be viewed in advance, an invention has been proposed in which a viewer purchases program content via a network such as the Internet (for example, Patent Document 1). .

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, when a duplicate sales check is performed and a program content already purchased by a viewer is to be purchased again, a purchased message indicating that the viewer has already purchased the program content is displayed. It is presented to the viewer.

JP 2003-23531 A

  However, the invention described in Patent Document 1 does not assume a packed product in which a plurality of program contents are grouped, and performs a duplicate sales check only between single product products that use a single program content as a product. Absent. For this reason, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, even when the viewer purchases a packed product, the viewer may purchase the program content included in the packed product as a single product again. For this reason, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is not only unkind to the viewer, but also develops a financial trouble between the seller and the viewer, making handling of packed products difficult. Yes.

  Furthermore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, when a program content has been purchased by a viewer, a purchased message is presented to the viewer and the viewer is prompted to confirm the message. For this reason, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, even if the viewer wants to view the program content immediately after selecting it, the purchased message must be confirmed before that, which is extremely troublesome for the viewer. There's a problem.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a content sales apparatus that facilitates handling of packed products and reduces the troublesomeness of viewers.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the content sales apparatus according to the first invention of the present application is a content sales apparatus that sells a single product composed of one content and a packed product composed of a plurality of contents to a viewer. And a storage means, a sales schedule product input means, a sales history information search means, a duplicate sales determination means, and a detailed screen output means.

  According to such a configuration, the content sales apparatus stores the configuration information indicating a plurality of contents constituting the packed product and the sales history information that is a history of selling the packed product to the viewer by the storage unit. In the content sales apparatus, information for identifying a single product for sale which is a single product to be sold is input by the sales product input means. In addition, the content sales apparatus searches for sold packed products sold to the viewer by referring to the sales history information by the sales history information search means. In addition, the content sales device can be viewed when the plurality of contents constituting the sold packed product includes one content constituting the single product to be sold by referring to the configuration information by the duplicate sales determination unit. In the case where one content is not included in the plurality of contents, it is determined that the contents can be sold. When the detailed screen output means determines that the content can be viewed by the duplicate sales determination means, the content sales apparatus outputs a viewing screen on which a viewing request for one content constituting the single product to be sold is input, and the sales If it is determined that it can be performed, a sales screen for outputting a sales request for a single item to be sold is output.

  Thus, the content sales apparatus can prevent the viewer from purchasing the sold pack product and the single product to be sold, and presents a viewing screen when the single product to be sold has been sold.

  In the content sales apparatus according to the second invention of the present application, the storage means stores, as configuration information, information for identifying one piece of content that constitutes a single product, and the history of selling the single product to the viewer as sales history information. The sales information input is stored in the sales schedule product input means, and the sales history information search means refers to the sales history information, and the sales are sold to the viewer. Can be viewed if a single content that constitutes a sold single item product is included in a plurality of contents that constitute a planned sale product, with reference to the configuration information. If the one content is not included in the plurality of contents, it is determined that the content can be sold, and the detailed screen output means When it is determined that the content can be viewed by the means, a viewing screen for inputting a viewing request for one content constituting the sales planned packed product is output. When it is determined that the sales can be performed, a sales request for the sales scheduled packed product is input. The sales screen is output.

  According to such a configuration, the content sales apparatus can prevent the viewer from purchasing multiple purchases between the scheduled pack product and the sold single product in addition to the sold pack product and the planned single product.

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the first invention of the present application, it is possible to prevent the viewer from purchasing duplicated between the sold packed product and the single product scheduled to be sold, so that the handling of the packed product is facilitated. In addition, according to the first invention of the present application, since the viewing screen is displayed when the single item to be sold is already sold, the viewer is not unaware of whether or not the content has been purchased, Annoyance can be reduced.

  According to the second invention of the present application, in addition to the sold packed product and the planned single item product, it is possible to prevent the viewer from purchasing duplicates between the planned packed product and the sold single item product. It becomes easier.

It is the schematic which shows the outline of the program content provision system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the program content sales apparatus of FIG. It is a figure explaining the 1st example of the metadata which the memory | storage means of FIG. 2 memorize | stores, (a) is a figure which shows the data structure of merchandise information, (b) is a figure which shows sales history information. It is a figure explaining the 2nd example of the metadata which the memory | storage means of FIG. 2 memorize | stores, (a) is a figure which shows the data structure of merchandise information, (b) is a figure which shows sales history information, c) is a diagram showing a data structure of configuration information. It is a figure which shows an example of the search screen in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the list screen in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the viewing-and-listening screen in this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the sales screen in this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the list screen output process of the program content sales apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the duplication sales check process of the program content sales apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the program content sales process of the program content sales apparatus of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the program content provision process of the program content sales apparatus of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In each embodiment, means having the same function and the same member are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

[Outline of program content provision system]
With reference to FIG. 1, an outline of a program content providing system according to this embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, a program content providing system 100 is a video-on-demand system that distributes program content via a network N such as the Internet, and includes a program content sales device 1, one or more client devices 2, and the like. And a program content providing apparatus 3. The program content sales apparatus 1 corresponds to the content sales apparatus described in the claims.

  A program content providing system 100 connects a program content sales apparatus 1 and a client apparatus 2 via a network N. In addition, the program content providing system 100 connects the program content selling apparatus 1 and the program content providing apparatus 3 by, for example, a LAN or a WAN. The program content sales apparatus 1 and the program content providing apparatus 3 are operated and managed by, for example, a broadcast station or a service provider that provides program contents.

  The program content sales apparatus 1 sells a single product composed of one program content and a packed product composed of a plurality of program contents to viewers. Here, the program content sales apparatus 1 is a Web server that includes storage means such as a database for storing metadata to be described later, and outputs each screen to be described later in an HTML format. Details of the program content sales apparatus 1 will be described later.

  The client device 2 is a terminal device used when a viewer purchases and views program content. Here, the client device 2 is, for example, a personal computer (PC) or a mobile phone terminal that includes a network communication function, a browser that displays a homepage via the network, and video playback software that plays back purchased program content. .

  The program content providing apparatus 3 provides the program content to the viewer according to the single product or the packed product purchased by the viewer. Here, the program content providing apparatus 3 includes a database for storing various program contents. When a program content viewing request is received from the client apparatus 2 via the program content sales apparatus 1, the program content sales apparatus 1 is displayed. Then, the program content corresponding to the viewing request is output to the client device 2.

  Hereinafter, a procedure for the viewer to view and purchase the program content in the program content providing system 100 will be described. First, the viewer operates the client device 2 to access a program content site (homepage) provided by the program content sales device 1. Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 outputs a search screen (see FIG. 5) to the client apparatus 2 in addition to various information such as popular program contents and program contents scheduled to be distributed in the near future. Then, when the search screen is displayed on the client device 2, the viewer inputs the name of the program content (for example, XX Princess) to be viewed in the text box T of the search screen as a search condition, and clicks the search button B1. click. Then, the client device 2 outputs this search condition to the program content sales device 1.

  When the search condition is input from the client device 2, the program content sales apparatus 1 outputs a list screen (see FIG. 6) displaying the single product and the packed product that satisfy the search condition to the client device 2. When the list screen is displayed on the client device 2, the viewer selects any one single product or packed product including the program content of interest from the list screen. Then, the client device 2 outputs a product ID indicating the selected single product (sale planned single product) or pack product (sale planned pack product) to the program content sales device 1.

  When the product ID is input from the client device 2, the program content sales device 1 performs a duplicate sales check to be described later with respect to a single product to be sold or a packed product indicated by the product ID. Then, when it is determined that the program content sales apparatus 1 can be viewed, that is, sold in duplicate, the viewing screen (see FIG. 7) is output to the client apparatus 2 for sale, that is, it is not sold in duplicate. If determined, the sales screen (see FIG. 8) is output to the client device 2.

  When the viewing screen is displayed on the client device 2, the viewer operates the client device 2 and clicks the viewing button B2 in FIG. Then, the client device 2 outputs a viewing request including the program content ID indicating the program content, the IP address of the client device 2, the port number, and the like to the program content sales device 1. In response to this, the program content sales apparatus 1 transfers this viewing request to the program content providing apparatus 3. Thereafter, the program content providing device 3 outputs (on-demand distribution) the program content to the client device 2 in response to the viewing request.

  When the sales screen is displayed on the client device 2, the viewer operates the client device 2 and clicks the purchase button B3 in FIG. Then, the client device 2 outputs a sales request including a product ID indicating a single product or a packed product to the program content sales device 1. And the program content sales apparatus 1 performs a sales process according to a sales request. In such a procedure, the program content providing system 100 allows the viewer to view and purchase the program content.

[Configuration of Program Content Sales Device]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the program content sales apparatus in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the program content sales apparatus 1 includes a storage unit 11, a search condition input unit 12, a search unit 13, a list screen output unit 14, a sales scheduled product input unit 15, and a sales check unit 16. A detailed screen output unit 17, a program content sales unit 18, and a program content viewing request unit 19. In FIG. 2, the network N is omitted.

  The storage unit 11 is a database that stores, as metadata, product information indicating a plurality of program contents constituting a packed product and sales history information that is a history of selling the packed product to a viewer. A specific example of metadata will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 (see FIG. 2 as appropriate).

<First example of metadata>
As shown in FIG. 3A, the product information is metadata having information on individual products, and as data items, a product ID that uniquely identifies the product, a product name that is the name of the product, and a product Of the product, the sale start time of the product, the sale end time of the product, the price of the product, and the constituent program ID. This constituent program ID includes one or more program content IDs constituting the product. That is, a product that includes only one program content ID in the constituent program ID is a single product, and a product that includes two or more program content IDs in the constituent program ID is a packed product. In the example of FIG. 3A, a product ID of 3 digits is a single product, and a product ID of 4 digits is a packed product. An “unlimited viewing pack” with a product ID of “9999” includes all program content IDs in the constituent program ID, and indicates that the viewer can watch all program content. In FIG. 3A, the product ID and the configuration program ID of the product information constitute the configuration information.

  The program content ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the program content stored in the program content providing apparatus 3, and is different from the product ID. The program content is, for example, content such as a drama program, a variety program, a documentary program, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the sales history information is metadata indicating products sold to the viewer, and as data items, a viewer ID for uniquely identifying the viewer and products sold to the viewer. And a sales time indicating the time when the product was sold. In the example of FIG. 3B, a certain viewer (viewer ID = α) purchases “history pack”, and another viewer (viewer ID = β) purchases “XX Princess 3rd”. Indicates that The sales history information only needs to have at least a viewer ID and a product ID, and the data items are not limited to this.

<Second example of metadata>
Hereinafter, a second example of metadata will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 shows the configuration information extracted from the product information of FIG. That is, it is composed of three pieces of metadata, that is, product information of FIG. 4A, sales history information of FIG. 4B, and configuration information of FIG. 4C (omitted in FIG. 2). Here, the data items of each information in FIG. 4 are the same as those in FIG. In FIG. 2, the configuration information of FIG. 4C is omitted. Thus, by extracting the configuration information from the product information, the maintenance of the configuration information becomes easy.

Hereinafter, returning to FIG. 2, the description of the configuration of the program content sales apparatus 1 will be continued.
The search condition input unit 12 receives the above-described search conditions from the client device 2. Then, the search condition input means 12 outputs this search condition to the search means 13.

  The search means 13 refers to the product information in the storage means 11 and searches for products that satisfy the search condition from the search condition input means 12. Here, the search means 13 uses, for example, the product ID of the single product and the packed product that include the name of the program content input as the search condition in the product name of the product information as the search result. For example, when the search condition is “XX princess”, the search means 13 searches for product IDs “101, 102, 103, 1001” including “XX princess” in the product name, and uses these product IDs as search results. To do. At this time, for example, the search means 13 may refer to the program ID of the product information and add the packed product including the product ID included in the search result to the search result. For example, since “product ID = 101” is included in the history pack, the search unit 13 adds the product ID “2001” of the history pack to the search condition. Thereafter, the search means 13 outputs the search result to the list screen output means 14.

  The list screen output unit 14 generates a list screen that displays a list of single-item products and packed products indicated by the product ID included in the search result, and outputs the list screen to the client device 2. Here, the list screen output unit 14 will be described using an example in which a product ID “101, 102, 103, 1001, 2001” is input as a search result. In this case, the list screen output unit 14 refers to the product information stored in the storage unit 11 and stores information such as the product content, the sales start time, the sales end time, and the price of the product ID “101, 102, 103, 1001, 2001”. get. And the list screen output means 14 produces | generates a list screen in an HTML format using the acquired merchandise information.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, the list screen displays the packed product “XX Princess Pack, History Pack” included in the search result at the top. In addition, the list screen displays a single product “XX princess 1st, XX princess 2nd, XX princess 3rd” included in the search result at the bottom. At this time, the list screen may display a title image G of a packed product or a single product. In this case, on the list screen, when the title image G is clicked, a script for outputting the product ID of the product (single product to be sold and pack product to be sold) to the program content sales apparatus 1 is embedded. The title image G is stored in advance in a predetermined directory of the program content sales apparatus 1 with a file name including a product ID of a packed product or a single product. The list screen output unit 14 acquires a title image having a file name including the product ID to be displayed on the list screen, and generates a list screen including the title image G.

  The sales planned product input means 15 is for inputting information for identifying a single product planned for sale, which is a single product planned for sale. Here, in the list screen displayed on the client device 2, the sales planned product input unit 15 inputs the product ID of the single product corresponding to the title image G clicked by the viewer as information for identifying the planned sales single product. Is done. Then, the sales planned product input means 15 outputs the sales planned single product to the sales check means 16. In addition, the information (product ID of a sales plan pack product) for identifying the sales plan pack product which is a pack product to be sold may be input to the sales plan product input unit 15.

  The sales check means 16 performs a duplicate sales check process, and includes a sales history information search means 16a and a duplicate sales determination means 16b. Here, an example will be described in which a certain viewer (viewer ID = α) in the product information and sales history information in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 intends to purchase a single item “XX Hime 1”.

  The sales history information search means 16a refers to the sales history information stored in the storage means 11 to search for sold packed products sold to the viewer. Here, for example, the sales history information search unit 16a searches the sales history information for data with the viewer ID “α” as a sold packed product. In this example, the sales history information search unit 16a acquires the product ID “2001” of “history pack” as the search result as the sold packed product of the viewer.

  When the duplicate sales determination unit 16b refers to the configuration information, the plurality of program contents constituting the sold packed product searched by the sales history information search unit 16a include one program content constituting the single product to be sold. Is determined to be viewable. Then, the duplicate sales determination unit 16 b outputs a determination result indicating that viewing is possible or a determination result indicating that sales are possible to the detailed screen output unit 17.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3A or 4C, the configuration information includes the configuration program ID “AAA” in the product ID “2001”. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the viewer (viewer ID = α) has already purchased the product ID “2001”. As described above, this viewer is going to purchase the single item “XX Hime 1” composed of the constituent program ID “AAA”. For this reason, the duplicate sales determination means 16b determines that this viewer (viewer ID = α) can view the program content “AAA” that constitutes the single item “XX Hime 1”.

  On the other hand, the duplicate sales determination unit 16b sells the program when the plurality of program contents constituting the sold packed product searched by the sales history information search unit 16a do not include one program content constituting the single product to be sold. Judge that it is possible. A case will be described where the viewer is going to purchase a single item “XX Hime 2nd” composed of the constituent program ID “BBB”. Here, since the configuration information does not include the configuration program ID “BBB” in the product ID “2001”, the duplicate sales determination unit 16b gives the viewer (viewer ID = α) a single product “XX Princess”. It is determined that the program content “BBB” constituting “twice” can be sold.

  The sales history information search means 16a searches for sold single-item products sold to the viewer with reference to the sales history information, and the duplicate sales determination means 16b searches for the product ID of the sold single-item products and the sales-sold single-item products. It may be determined whether or not the product ID matches (duplicate sales check for the same single product). In this case, the duplicate sales determination unit 16b determines that the product can be viewed when both the product IDs match, and determines that the product can be sold when the product IDs do not match. Furthermore, the duplicate sales determination unit 16b may determine whether or not both product IDs match for packed products as well as single product, and may determine whether the product can be viewed or sold (for the same packed product). Duplicate sales check).

The detailed screen output unit 17 outputs a detailed screen such as a viewing screen or a sales screen, and includes a viewing screen output unit 17a and a sales screen output unit 17b.
When the determination result indicating that viewing is possible is input from the duplicate sales determination unit 16, the viewing screen output unit 17a generates a viewing screen on which a viewing request for one program content constituting the single product to be sold is input, and the client This is output to the device 2. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, the viewing screen output means 17a generates a viewing screen with the title image G displayed at the top and the viewing button B2 at the bottom in the HTML format. In this case, the viewing screen output means 17a, when the viewing button B2 is clicked on the viewing screen, outputs a viewing request including the program content ID, IP address, port number, etc. of the program content to the program content sales apparatus 1. Embed.

  The sales screen output unit 17b generates a sales screen on which a sales request for a single product to be sold is input and outputs it to the client device 2 when a determination result indicating that the sales can be performed is input from the duplicate sales determination unit 16. is there. Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the sales screen output means 17b displays the sales screen in which the title image G is displayed in the upper part, information such as product contents is displayed in the center, and the purchase button B3 is displayed in the lower part. Generate in format. In this case, when the purchase button B3 is clicked on the sales screen, the sales screen output means 17b embeds a script that outputs a sales request including the product ID of the single product to be sold to the program content sales apparatus 1.

  The program content sales means 18 receives a sales request via the sales screen displayed on the client device 2. Then, the program content sales means 18 performs sales processing for single-item products or packed products in accordance with the input sales request. Here, the program content sales means 18 uses the viewer ID of the sales history information as the viewer ID that has input the sales request, the product ID included in the sales request, and the time when the sales request is input. The product ID and the sales time are registered. Further, the program content sales means 18 may perform billing processing as in the conventional case.

  The program content viewing request means 19 is for receiving a viewing request via the viewing screen displayed on the client device 2. Then, the program content viewing request means 19 transfers this viewing request to the program content providing server device 3. In response to this, the program content providing server device 3 distributes the program content to the client device 2 on demand.

[Operation of Program Content Sales Device]
<List screen output processing>
Hereinafter, the list screen output process of the program content sales apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 9 (see FIG. 2 as appropriate). First, the program content sales apparatus 1 receives a search condition from the client apparatus 2 by the search condition input means 12 (step S11). Further, the program content sales apparatus 1 uses the search means 13 to refer to the product information in the storage means 11 and search for a product that satisfies the search condition input in the process of step S11 (step S12). Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 uses the list screen output means 14 to generate a list screen of the single product and the packed product indicated by the product ID searched in the process of step S12, and outputs this list screen to the client device 2. (Step S13).

<Duplicate sales check process>
Hereinafter, the duplicate sales check process of the program content sales apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 10 (see FIG. 2 as appropriate). First, in the program content sales apparatus 1, information for identifying a single product to be sold, which is a single product to be sold, is input by the sales plan product input means 15 (step S 21).

  Subsequent to the processing of step S21, the program content sales apparatus 1 searches for sold single item products sold to the viewer by the sales history information search means 16a. Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 determines that the product ID input in step S21 and the product ID of the sold single product match can be viewed by the duplicate sales determination unit 16b, and the product IDs do not match. If so, it is determined that it can be sold (step S22). Here, when it is determined that viewing is possible (viewing in step S22), the program content sales apparatus 1 proceeds to the processing in step S25. On the other hand, if it is determined that sales are possible (sale in step S22), the program content sales apparatus 1 proceeds to the process of step S23.

  At the time of sale in step S22, the program content sales apparatus 1 uses the sales history information search means 16a to search for sold packed products sold to viewers. Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 determines that it can be viewed by the duplicate sales determination means 16b when a plurality of program contents constituting the sold packed product includes one program content constituting the single product to be sold. (Step S23). Here, if it is determined that viewing is possible (viewing in step S23), the program content sales apparatus 1 proceeds to processing in step S25. On the other hand, if it is determined that sales are possible (sale in step S23), the program content sales apparatus 1 proceeds to the process in step S24.

  When selling at step S23, the program content selling apparatus 1 outputs a sales screen by the sales screen output means 17b (step S24). When viewing at step S22 or step S23, the program content sales apparatus 1 outputs a viewing screen by the viewing screen output means 17a (step S25).

<Program content sales processing>
Hereinafter, the program content sales process of the program content sales apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 11 (see FIG. 2 as appropriate). First, in the program content sales apparatus 1, a sales request is input by the program content sales means 18 via the sales screen displayed on the client apparatus 2 (step S31). Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 registers (updates) the sales history information in accordance with the sales request input in step S31, and performs a sales process for single-item products or packed products (step S32).

<Program content provision processing>
Hereinafter, the program content providing process of the program content sales apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 12 (see FIG. 2 as appropriate). First, in the program content sales apparatus 1, a viewing request is input by the program content viewing requesting means 19 via the viewing screen displayed on the client apparatus 2 (step S41). Then, the program content sales apparatus 1 transfers the viewing request to the program content providing server apparatus 3 by the program content viewing requesting means 19 (step S42).

  As described above, the program content sales apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment of the present invention can prevent the viewer from making a duplicate purchase between the sold packed product and the planned single sale product by the above-described duplicate sales check, Easy handling of packed products. In addition, the program content sales apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment of the present invention presents the viewing screen of FIG. 7 without displaying a purchased message when a single product to be sold has been sold. Therefore, the program content sales apparatus 1 can reduce the annoyance of the viewer without unnecessarily making the viewer aware of whether or not the program content has already been purchased.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 (a) or FIG. 4 (c), a “history documentary” that is a documentary program, and “XX Hime 1” and “Sengoku warlords Δ △” that are drama programs, etc. In addition, a duplicate sales check is also performed on a packed product “history pack” composed of program contents belonging to different genres. In this way, packed products made up of program content belonging to different genres are often difficult for viewers to grasp the individual program contents that make up the packed product, so there are many cases where they are trying to purchase duplicates. It is confusing for the person. Even in such a case, the program content sales apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment of the present invention can prevent viewers from making duplicate purchases, resulting in higher viewer satisfaction.

  Although the program content sales apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described as an independent apparatus, in the present invention, a general computer can be operated by a program that functions as each unit of FIG. This program may be distributed via a communication line, or may be distributed by writing in a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a flash memory.

<Modification>
Hereinafter, returning to FIG. 2, a modification of the program content sales apparatus 1 will be described. In this modified example, the program content sales apparatus 1 also performs a duplicate sales check between a scheduled product to be sold and a single item that has already been sold.

  Here, an example will be described in which a certain viewer (viewer ID = β) in the product information and sales history information of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 intends to purchase a packed product “XX Hime Pack”.

  The sales history information search means 16a refers to the sales history information stored in the storage means 11 and searches for sold single item products sold to the viewer. Here, for example, the sales history information search means 16a searches the sales history information for data with the viewer ID “β” as a sold single item product. In this example, the sales history information search means 16a acquires the product ID “103” of the sold individual product “XX Princess 3rd” of the viewer as a search result.

  The duplicate sales determination unit 16b refers to the configuration information, and one program content constituting the sold single item product searched by the sales history information search unit 16a is included in a plurality of program contents constituting the sale planned packed product. In this case, it is determined that viewing is possible. Here, in the configuration information, the product ID “1001” includes the configuration program ID “CCC”. The viewer (viewer ID = β) has already purchased the product ID “103”. And this viewer is going to purchase pack product "XX Hime Pack" containing composition program ID "CCC". In this case, the duplicate sales determination means 16b determines that only the single product “XX Princess 3rd” can be viewed from the purchase planned pack product “XXX Princess Pack”, and the single product “XXX Princess 1st”. It is preferable to determine that the single item “Ohime Hime 2nd” can be sold.

  On the other hand, the duplicate sales determination means 16b determines that one program content that constitutes a sold single item product searched by the sales history information search means 16a is not included in a plurality of program contents that constitute a scheduled sale product. It is determined that it can be sold. If this viewer (viewer ID = β) intends to purchase a single product “Sengoku Busho △△” composed of the constituent program ID “EEE”, the constituent program ID is assigned to “XX Princess Pack”. Since “EEE” is not included, the duplicate sales determination unit 16b determines that the single product “Sengoku Busho ΔΔ” can be sold.

  When the determination result indicating that viewing is possible is input from the duplicate sales determination unit 16b, the viewing screen output unit 17a outputs a viewing screen on which a viewing request for one program content that constitutes the sales planned pack product is input. Further, the sales screen output unit 17b outputs a sales screen on which a sales request for a scheduled product to be sold is input when a determination result indicating that the sales can be performed is input from the duplicate sales determination unit 16b.

  The program content sales apparatus 1 according to the present modification of the present invention can prevent the viewer from making a duplicate purchase between the sold single product and the planned sale pack product by the above-described duplicate sale check, When sold, the viewing screen shown in FIG. 7 is presented without displaying a dialog or the like indicating that the product has already been purchased. For this reason, the program content sales apparatus 1 can handle a packed product more easily, and a viewer's satisfaction also becomes higher.

  In the embodiment and the modification of the present invention, the program content has been described as an example, but the content of the present invention is not limited to this. Examples of the content of the present invention include program content, still image content such as photographs, moving image content such as movies, and audio content such as music and reading.

1 Program content sales device (content sales device)
11 Storage means 12 Search condition input means 13 Search means 14 List screen output means 15 Sales planned product input means 16 Sales check means 16a Sales history information search means 16b Duplicate sales determination means 17 Detailed screen output means 17a Viewing screen output means 17b Sales screen Output means 18 Program content sales means 19 Program content viewing request means

Claims (2)

A content sales apparatus that sells a single product composed of a single content and a packed product composed of a plurality of the content to a viewer,
Storage means for storing configuration information indicating the plurality of contents constituting the packed product and sales history information which is a history of selling the packed product to the viewer;
Sales plan product input means for inputting information for identifying the single product to be sold that is the single product to be sold;
Sales history information search means for searching for sold packed products sold to the viewer with reference to the sales history information;
With reference to the configuration information, if the plurality of contents constituting the sold packed product includes the one content constituting the single product to be sold, the plurality of contents are determined to be viewable and If the content does not include the one content, a duplicate sales determination unit that determines that the content can be sold;
When it is determined by the duplicate sales determination means that it can be viewed, a viewing screen for inputting a viewing request for the one content constituting the single product to be sold is output, and when it is determined that the sales can be performed, the sales Detailed screen output means for outputting a sales screen on which a sales request for a planned single item product is input,
A content sales apparatus comprising: The storage means stores, as the configuration information, information for identifying the one content constituting the single product, and stores a history of selling the single product to the viewer as the sales history information.
The sales schedule product input means receives information for identifying a sales schedule pack product that is the pack product to be sold,
The sales history information search means refers to the sales history information and searches for sold single item products sold to the viewer,
The duplicate sales determining means refers to the configuration information, and can be viewed when the one content constituting the sold single item product is included in the plurality of contents constituting the sale planned packed product. And if the one content is not included in the plurality of contents, it is determined that it can be sold,
When the detailed screen output means determines that the duplicate sales determination means can view, the detailed screen output means outputs a viewing screen to which a viewing request for the one content constituting the sales-scheduled packed product is input, and can be sold. The content sales apparatus according to claim 1, wherein if it is determined, a sales screen on which a sales request for the sales planned packed product is input is output.

Images