JP2011193264A - Content distribution system, content server, client device, content distribution method, content distribution method of the content server, content acquisition method of client device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a content distribution system, a distribution method, a server for distribution and a program which enable a client to use desired content on a sale date, while preventing saturation of traffic of a communication line even when much download request access concentrates on the sale date in download distribution of large capacity content. <P>SOLUTION: A content file is downloaded, in a state where it does not function, as it is, prior to a preset time that is required information, when the downloaded content functions is provided after the set time, and a client device acquires content function recovery information to be provided for making the content file function work. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system and method for distributing content files such as game software to a large number of users via communication means.

Conventionally, video / audio image data such as game software and dramas are usually recorded and sold on a disk storage medium or memory medium, but in recent years, a service that is downloaded to a user's client device via a communication line such as the Internet. Came to be done.
As a conventional game software sales method, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. This is to check whether or not the user's favorite game content is available for purchase. The game software provided to the user is a trial version and a full version encapsulated. If the user who has run the trial version wants to purchase the full version of the content, the electronic ticket for opening the encapsulated full version Is acquired from the content supply side.
Similarly, Patent Document 2 proposes a software execution management method, a sales method, a sales system, and a recording medium that can be purchased only for the content that the user likes while checking the content.

By the way, on the release date of popular games and new computer software, there are many scenes where many users who want to enjoy the game as soon as possible or execute software with a new function are queued for purchase at the storefront.
However, assuming that these contents are downloaded and sold via the above-mentioned communication line such as the Internet, the communication line is saturated as a result of a large number of download requests, or the download server cannot cope. In addition to the impossibility of providing a satisfactory service, various troubles may be caused.
Even now, the capacity of games and other contents is increasing, and with the current network infrastructure, it is difficult to smoothly handle files with a capacity of several gigabytes for access from tens of thousands of clients. . In the future, if the transition from physical media to download sales proceeds, it is clear that the above-described problems caused by the rush of download requests on the content sales date will become a bottleneck in the download sales of large-capacity content.

Regarding download sales of these contents, for example, in Patent Document 3, when file data is transmitted via the Internet, time information is embedded in the header of the file data, and the file is automatically stored when the time described in the information is reached. Something to remove is proposed. However, Patent Document 3 is mainly intended to prevent information leakage, and is not effective in avoiding problems when download requests are concentrated on the release date.
Further, Patent Document 4 proposes an electronic information public certification system that provides public certification to a complex web page that dynamically changes. The object of the present invention is also the means described in this literature. The effect is not obtained.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a content distribution system that can provide large-capacity content without unnecessarily overloading a content providing server or network while preventing leakage of content before the release date.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is a content including a plurality of client devices connected via a network, and a content server that provides a content file in response to a request from the client device. In the distribution system, the content server provides the content file to the client device in a state where it does not function as it is before a preset time, and the content file functions after the preset time. And providing the client apparatus with necessary activation information, and the client apparatus is characterized in that the content file acquired from the content server functions based on the activation information.
The invention according to claim 2 is the content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the validation information is a current time, and the content file is provided together with information including the preset time, The client device is characterized in that the content distribution system is capable of executing the content file when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the content delivery system according to claim 2, wherein the content file is executed when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time. It is characterized by a content distribution system that switches an enable / disable flag to be executable.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a content server that provides a content file in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network, the content is not functioning as it is before a preset time. File providing means for providing a file, and after the preset time, the file providing means provides activation information necessary for the function of the content file to execute the content file to the client device It is characterized by a content server.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the content server according to the fourth aspect, the validation information is a current time, and the file providing means includes the content file together with information including the preset time. A content server is provided that causes the client device to execute the content file when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a client device that accesses a content server connected via a network and obtains a content file downloads from the content server in a state that does not function as it is before a preset time. To obtain the activation information necessary for the functioning of the acquired content file from the content server after the preset time, and the acquisition based on the activation information And a means for causing the content file to function.

The invention of claim 7 is the client device according to claim 6, wherein the validation information is a current time, and the preset time provided from the content server together with the content file The client device is capable of executing the content file when the current time based on the validation information has elapsed.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a content distribution method for providing a content file from a content server to each client device in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network. A step of providing a content file to the client device in a state that does not function as it is before a set time, and an effective necessary for the content server to function after the preset time The content distribution method includes: providing information to the client device; and causing the client device to function the content file acquired from the content server based on the validation information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the content distribution method of the content server for providing content files to the client device in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network, a time before a preset time is set. Providing the content file in a state where it does not function as it is, and providing the validation information necessary for the content file to function by the file providing means after the preset time, A content delivery method of a content server, including the step of causing the content file to be executed.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in a content acquisition method of a client device that accesses a content server connected via a network and acquires a content file, the content server functions as it is before a preset time from the content server. Acquiring a content file that is downloaded in a state where the content file is not downloaded, acquiring activation information necessary for the functioning of the acquired content file after the preset time from the content server, and the validation And a step of causing the acquired content file to function based on the information.
The invention according to claim 11 is characterized by a program for causing a computer to realize the content distribution method in the content server according to claim 9.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to implement the content acquisition method according to the tenth aspect.

  With the above configuration, according to the present invention, when downloading and selling large-capacity content, in order not to concentrate a large number of download request accesses on the sales day, prior download of a file that cannot be operated alone is permitted and released. By downloading a file that is much smaller than the content that contains the information to execute the file after the date, it is possible to prevent leakage of content before the release date, and also to the content providing server or network Large-capacity content can be provided without overloading.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a content distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram which shows the structural example of the client apparatus of this invention. The block block diagram which shows the structural example of the content server of this invention. 1 is a functional block diagram of a content server and a client device that constitute a content download distribution system according to the present invention. The figure explaining the process example of the file preparation part of the content server in this invention. The figure explaining the process example of the time certificate preparation part of the content server which concerns on this invention. The figure which shows the example of the file conversion process performed in a client apparatus.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a content distribution system according to the present invention.
The content distribution system shown in this example is mainly composed of a plurality of client devices (hereinafter also referred to as clients) 1, 1, 1,... Connected via a communication line (NW) such as the Internet. And a content server 2 that provides a required content file download service in response to the request. As will be described later, the content server 2 may include a time server 3 for acquiring real time.
In this example, the client (device) 1 is assumed to be a normal personal computer (PC) based on the assumption that a general user starts game software. However, the present invention is not limited to this, but a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or mobile phone.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram when a personal computer is used as a client.
As is well known, a central processing unit (CPU) 4, a hard disk 5 as a mass storage device capable of storing a program for realizing the functions of the present invention and a content file received from the content server 2, and the Internet are connected. A network I / F 6 that is an interface and various programs that implement the functions of the present invention are expanded from the hard disk 5 and a RAM (Random) that is a writable / readable memory that temporarily stores files received from the content server 2 Access Memory) 7, a display device 8 that provides a man-machine interface for operation to a user who uses the client 1, displays an image of a reproduction content, a keyboard 9 for input and operation, and a mouse 10 If necessary, joystick, touch Wherein the display device, writing pad, the sound output device, etc., can also be added to convenient devices and equipment on enjoy the game.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content server 2.
The content server 2 shown in the example of FIG. 3 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 21 necessary as a computer as with the client 1 and a hard disk 22 as a mass storage device storing content files to be provided to the client device 1. A network I / F 23 that is an interface connected to the Internet, a RAM 24 that is a writable / readable memory, a display device 25, a keyboard 26 for performing input and operations, and a mouse 27. In addition, RTC (Real Time Clock) 31 for acquiring real time.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a content server and a client device constituting the content download distribution system according to the present invention, (a) is a functional block diagram of the content server, and (b) is a functional block diagram of the client. Show.
The function shown in FIG. 4A is realized as a program that is developed and executed in the RAM 24 by the CPU 21 provided in the server 2 shown in FIG. Similarly, the function shown in FIG. 4B is also realized as a program that is developed and executed in the RAM 7 by the CPU 4 provided in the client apparatus shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, in the content server 2, a file creation unit 101 that creates a download file including a content file (original file) that does not function as it is, and is periodically acquired by the RTC 31 as described later. The time certificate creating unit 102 that creates a time certificate that is a key for restoring the content file functionally on the client 1 side based on the actual time that is provided, and the download file and the time certificate are provided to the client 1 A file providing unit 103 is executed.

As will be described later, the download file includes information on the time at which execution of the content file is permitted. In the content distribution system according to the present embodiment, the user causes the client 1 to obtain a download file in advance, and after the execution permission time of the content file elapses, the client 1 also downloads a time certificate based on real time. When the real time (current time) at that time has passed the execution permission time, the restoration and execution of the content file in the client 1 is permitted.
As the file providing unit 103, a web server that provides a request file in response to a request from the client 1 can be applied.
The time certificate may be created by the time certificate creating unit 102 of the content server 2 or may be provided from a third party.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, in the client device 1, a file acquisition unit 105 for acquiring a download file and a time certificate from the content server 2 and combining the acquired download file and the time certificate. A file conversion unit 106 that converts the download file into an executable original file (content file) and a file execution unit 107 that executes the converted original file are executed.
As the file acquisition unit 105, a web browser that requests and acquires a file from a web server as the file providing unit 103 executed by the content server 2 can be applied.
Note that the file conversion unit 106 and the file execution unit 107 may be configured integrally or as one functional block.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of processing for creating a download file in the file creation unit 101 of the content server 2.
In FIG. 5, first, an executable time setting file 201 representing a time at which execution of a preset content file is permitted is prepared as information that enables execution of the content file. This is information necessary for the client device to function the content file downloaded in such a state that it cannot function as it is.
The executable time setting file 201 creates a signed executable time setting file 202 by adding a digital signature of the provider so that the executable time setting file 201 cannot be easily forged or altered.
The downloadable file 204 is created by archiving (collecting together) the executable executable time setting file 202 thus obtained and the content file (original file) 203 to be downloaded in response to a user request.
Note that the executable time setting file 201, the signed executable time setting file 202, and the original file 203 which are created here are assigned ID numbers (ID: 001) as identifiers. This is to prevent illegal operations such as taking out the executable time setting file with signature used in the above and making the content file function.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the time certificate creation process performed in the time certificate creation unit 102 of the content server 2.
The time certificate 302 is obtained by giving the file provider's electronic certificate to the current time setting file based on the real time obtained from the RTC 31 of the content server 2 itself.
Note that the current time setting file can also be obtained from a time server on the provider's internal network or a third party's time server provided on the inner network so as to be accessible from the outside.
Further, the time certificate itself may be provided from a reliable time certificate providing service.
In this way, the content server 2 creates a time certificate based on the current time every specific time (time) or at a certain period, and is ready for downloading in response to a request from the client 1.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of file conversion processing performed in the client device 1.
In this example, in the client device 1, the file acquisition unit 105 accesses the content server 2 and downloads the download file 401 as described above before the file execution time (content sales date).
The content file included in the download file 401 cannot be executed as it is as described above. Therefore, since a service that can be downloaded before the release is possible, even the large-capacity content file can be downloaded over a relatively long period before the release date, and the content server 2 or the The load can be distributed to the network NW.
Then, after the executable time of the content file such as a release date that is known in advance (publicized), the time certificate 404 is downloaded again from the content server 2 by the file acquisition unit 105. Since the data amount of such time certificate 404 is usually extremely small, no trouble occurs even if download requests from a large number of users are concentrated on the release date.

When the time certificate 404 and the download file 401 obtained in this way are input to the file conversion unit 106, the file conversion unit 106 performs processing as shown in FIG.
First, when the downloaded download file 401 is compressed, it obtains the original signed executable time setting file 402 by performing decompression and decryption, and confirms that the executable time setting file 403 is correct. .
Similarly, the time certificate 404 is verified to confirm that the current time file is correct. After confirming that both are correct in this way, the times described in both are compared, and if the time described in the time certificate has passed the time described in the executable time setting file, the file execution unit 107 Content files can be used.
In this example, the executable file (file execution unit 107) is configured to be switched or controlled without performing processing such as encryption of the executable file. Not only the function but also a method of adding an encryption means and decrypting the encrypted execution file using the signed time information, or a method of using both of them together may be used.

As described above, the content distribution system according to the present invention downloads a content file in a state in which it does not function before a preset time such as a release date, and if the downloaded content file is after the release date, A means for providing information necessary for functioning, for example, signed time information from the content server 2 is provided. On the other hand, the client device 1 is configured to store and save the downloaded content file, and to obtain means necessary to make the content function and to make the content file function.
Accordingly, it is possible for a large number of users to download almost all of the content before the content is released, and by providing only information necessary for functioning the content after the release date, the user can play games, etc. It is possible to enjoy the content. Note that the amount of information provided by downloading on the content release date is extremely small, so that no problem occurs even when there is a flood of requests.

The present invention need not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, a part of a content file to be downloaded in advance may be taken out and included in the “executable time setting file” as function recovery information. According to this method, it is possible to construct a content distribution system that is strong against unauthorized function recovery attacks as compared with the case of only time certification.
An example of a communication method when the client device 1 receives a content file and a time certificate from the content server 2 will be described.
As described above, a web browser can be applied to the file acquisition unit 105 of the client device 1, and a web server can be applied to the file providing unit 103 of the content server 2.
A communication method using such a configuration will be briefly described.
In the content server 2, a web server (file providing unit 103) is executed so as to be connectable from an external network.
When a predetermined URL (Universal Resource Locator) is designated to the web browser that is the file acquisition unit 105 of the client device 1, a page request is sent via the network I / F 6 of the client device 1 and the network I / F 23 of the content server. To be told. In response, a web page including a link for providing a content file and a time certificate stored in the hard disk 22 of the content server 2 is received by the client device and displayed in the display area of the web browser displayed on the display device 8. Is displayed.
Further, when a link in the web page is selected by the mouse 10 or the like, a request for the link destination file is transmitted to the web server 103 via the network I / F in the same manner as the display of the web page, and is requested as a response. The received file is received by the client device.

1 client device, 2 content server, 3 time server, 4 CPU, 5 hard disk, 7 RAM, 8 display device, 9 keyboard, 10 mouse, 21 CPU, 22 hard disk, 24 RAM, 25 display device, 26 keyboard, 27 mouse, 31 RTC, 101 File creation unit, 102 Time certificate creation unit, 10 File provision unit, 105 File acquisition unit, 106 File conversion unit, 107 File execution unit, 201 Executable time setting file, 202 Executable time setting file, 203 Original file, 204 Download file, 301 Current time file, 302 Time certificate, 401 Download file, 402 Executable time setting file, 404 Time certificate, 405 Current time file

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-6773 JP 2002-203120 A JP 2005-316903 A JP 2006-295565 A

Claims (12)

In a content distribution system including a plurality of client devices connected via a network, and a content server that provides a content file in response to a request from the client device,
The content server provides a content file to the client device in a state where it does not function as it is before a preset time, and is necessary for the content file to function after the preset time. Providing information to the client device;
The content distribution system, wherein the client device causes the content file acquired from the content server to function based on the validation information. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the validation information is a current time, and the content file is provided together with information including the preset time,
The content distribution system, wherein the client device is capable of executing the content file when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time.   3. The content distribution system according to claim 2, wherein when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time, the content file switches the execution flag to be executable. A featured content distribution system. In a content server that provides content files in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network,
A file providing unit that provides a content file in a state that does not function as it is before a preset time, and that is necessary for the content file to function by the file providing unit after the preset time; A content server, characterized in that the content information is provided to cause the client device to execute the content file. The content server according to claim 4,
The validation information is a current time, the file providing means provides the content file together with information including the preset time, and the current time based on the validation information is the preset time. A content server that causes the client device to execute the content file when the time has elapsed. In a client device that accesses a content server connected via a network and obtains a content file,
A content file that is downloaded in a state that does not function as it is before the preset time is acquired from the content server, and the necessary activation is necessary for the acquired content file to function after the preset time. Means for obtaining information from the content server;
Means for causing the acquired content file to function based on the validation information;
A client device comprising: The client device according to claim 6, wherein
The activation information is a current time,
The client device, wherein the content file can be executed when the current time based on the validation information has passed the preset time provided from the content server together with the content file . In a content distribution method for providing a content file from a content server to each client device in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network,
The content server providing a content file to the client device in a state that does not function as it is before a preset time;
The content server providing the client device with activation information necessary for the content file to function after the preset time; and
The client device causing the content file acquired from the content server to function based on the validation information;
A content distribution method comprising: In a content distribution method of a content server for providing a content file to the client device in response to requests from a plurality of client devices connected via a network,
Providing a content file in a state that does not function as it is before a preset time, and enabling information necessary for the content file to function by the file providing means after the preset time. And providing the client device with the content file to execute the content file. In a content acquisition method of a client device that acquires a content file by accessing a content server connected via a network,
A step of acquiring a content file downloaded in a state that does not function as it is before a preset time from the content server, and a function required for the acquired content file to function after the preset time. Obtaining validation information from the content server; causing the obtained content file to function based on the validation information;
A content acquisition method for a client device, comprising:   The program for making a computer implement | achieve the content delivery method in the content server of Claim 9.   A program for causing a computer to realize the content acquisition method according to claim 10.

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