JP2018045429A - Distribution apparatus, distribution method, and distribution program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase viewing opportunities.SOLUTION: A distribution apparatus includes: a determination unit which determines whether to provide a user with an unpurchased content, which is a content that has not been purchased by the user yet, on the basis of information on the user; and a provision control unit which displays the unpurchased content on a list screen of contents purchased by the user when the unpurchased content is determined to be provided to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a distribution device, a distribution method, and a distribution program.

  In recent years, information distribution via the Internet has been actively performed. As an example of such information distribution, a technique for distributing contents such as an electronic book, music, or a moving image is known. For example, in such a distribution technique, a thumbnail of content is displayed on a website, and content data selected by the user is transmitted to the terminal device of the user. Then, the user selects content to view from the content distributed to the terminal device.

JP 2012-113590 A JP2015-158817A

  However, in the above-described conventional technology, there are cases where the viewing opportunity is lost.

  For example, in the above-described conventional technology, the content selected by the user on the website is only distributed. For this reason, when a user who has viewed past contents of a plurality of contents issued in a predetermined period, such as a plurality of volumes of electronic books and serial dramas, does not notice the start of distribution of new contents, In some cases, new content is not distributed and the viewing opportunity is lost.

  The present application has been made in view of the above, and aims to improve viewing opportunities.

  The distribution apparatus according to the present application includes a determination unit that determines whether to provide unpurchased content, which is content that the user has not purchased, to the user based on information about the user; A provision control unit that displays the unpurchased content on a list screen of content purchased by the user when it is determined that the purchased content is to be provided to the user;

  According to one aspect of the embodiment, viewing opportunities are improved.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of distribution processing executed by the distribution device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the distribution apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the purchase content database according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the distribution content database according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the user information database according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of distribution processing executed by the distribution apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration.

  Hereinafter, a mode for carrying out a distribution device, a distribution method, and a distribution program according to the present application (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the distribution device, the distribution method, and the distribution program according to the present application are not limited by this embodiment. In the following embodiments, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[Embodiment]
[1-1. Example of distribution device)
First, an example of distribution processing executed by the distribution apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of distribution processing executed by the distribution device according to the embodiment. In FIG. 1, the distribution device 10 is an information processing device that distributes various contents, and is realized by, for example, a cloud system or a server device. In addition, the distribution device 10 can communicate with the terminal device 100 used by the user U01 via a predetermined network N such as the Internet.

  The terminal device 100 is a terminal device used by the user U01, and is realized by, for example, a mobile mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet, a PC (Personal Computer) terminal, a server device, or the like. For example, the terminal device 100 has a screen capable of displaying any content, and can display information regarding the content to the user U01 by displaying the content accepted from the distribution device 10.

  Here, the distribution device 10 can distribute any content purchased by the user U01 to the terminal device 100. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 can distribute various contents such as electronic books obtained by digitizing books such as comics, magazines, and novels, music data, and moving image data such as movies. On the other hand, the terminal device 100 realizes viewing of the distributed content by executing an arbitrary application corresponding to the content to be distributed. For example, the terminal device 100 allows the user U01 to audition various contents by executing an application having an electronic book reader function or an application for reproducing music data or moving image data.

  Here, the terminal device 100 displays a list screen of contents purchased by the user U01. For example, the terminal device 100 downloads content purchased by the user U01 via the terminal device 100 or another information processing device. In such a case, the terminal device 100 displays a thumbnail of purchased content such as a cover image of an electronic book or a photograph of an artist on the list screen. Then, the terminal device 100 causes the user U01 to view the content by displaying and reproducing the content corresponding to the thumbnail selected by the user among the content whose thumbnails are displayed on the list screen.

  In the following description, processing for distributing an electronic book purchased by the user U01 to the terminal device 100 and displaying the electronic book by the terminal device 100 will be described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. Absent. That is, the following description is applicable not only to electronic books but also to distribution of various contents such as music data, moving image data, and applications such as games.

[1-2. About distribution processing)
Here, in the above-described technique, the content purchased by the user is merely distributed to the terminal device 100, and thus the content viewing opportunity may be lost. For example, a plurality of contents (hereinafter referred to as “continuous contents”) that are continuously issued with a predetermined period, such as a plurality of volumes of electronic books and moving images of continuous dramas, are known. If a user who is watching such continuous content does not notice the presence of continuous content that has been newly distributed or has forgotten to watch continuous content, In some cases, the continuation content that has started to be distributed is not purchased and the viewing opportunity is lost.

  Therefore, the distribution device 10 executes the following distribution process. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not to provide the user U01 with unpurchased content that is content that the user U01 has not purchased based on information about the user U01. If the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the distribution device 10 displays the unpurchased content on the purchase content list screen purchased by the user.

  For example, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether to provide unpurchased content for which distribution has been newly started to the user U01. If the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 transmits a thumbnail of the unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 of the user U01, and a list of purchased contents purchased by the user U01. Display thumbnails of unpurchased content on the screen.

  As a more specific example, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether the user U01 is interested in unpurchased content or can be estimated to purchase unpurchased content based on the information about the user U01. It is determined whether or not the impression of the user U01 deteriorates when the purchased content is distributed. Then, based on the determination result, the distribution device 10 makes a push notification on the purchase content list screen displayed by the terminal device 100. More specifically, the distribution device 10 push-distributes a sample including a thumbnail of unpurchased content and a sample including a predetermined range (for example, the beginning portion) of the unpurchased content.

  As described above, since the distribution apparatus 10 displays the content that the user U01 will view on the list screen, the user U01 has to search for unpurchased content and the like among new content and continuous content. Can be omitted. As a result, the distribution apparatus 10 can make the user aware of the content that the user has forgotten to purchase or the presence of new content, thereby improving the viewing opportunity of the content.

[1-3. About judgment mode]
Here, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine provision of unpurchased content based on arbitrary information as long as it is information on the user U01. For example, the distribution device 10 can determine the content of unpurchased content based on user attribute information such as demographic attributes such as the age, age, sex, and address of the user U01, psychographic attributes such as a favorite genre, etc. You may decide to provide.

  Further, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine whether to provide unpurchased content to the user U01 based on at least one of the purchase history of the user U01 and the viewing history of the user U01. For example, when the unpurchased content has a predetermined relationship with the purchased content of the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine that the user U01 provides the user with the unpurchased content when the user U01 has already listened to the content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content among the purchased content. Good. More specifically, the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01 when the user U01 has already sampled the entire content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content. May be.

  Here, the purchased content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content is, for example, an electronic book of the same series as the unpurchased content, an electronic book of the same author as the unpurchased content, or a composer or group of the same as the unpurchased content. Music content, movie content of the same director as unpurchased content, and the like. The purchased content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content is a purchased content of the same genre as the unpurchased content, such as a sports cartoon or an SF (Science Fiction) novel. That is, the distribution apparatus 10 sets purchased content that can be an index as to whether or not a user is interested in unpurchased content as purchased content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content.

  Here, when the user U01 continuously purchases the same series of comics and novels from the first publication, it is predicted that the new publication will also be purchased continuously. Further, for example, when the user U01 continuously purchases a book of a predetermined writer, it is predicted that the new publication of the writer will also be purchased continuously. In addition, for example, when the user U01 frequently purchases comics and novels of a predetermined genre such as sports-related comics and novels, it is predicted that there is a high possibility of purchasing unpurchased content of that genre. The In addition, when the user U01 continuously purchases music content of a predetermined composer or group, it is predicted that there is a high possibility of purchasing unpurchased content of the composer or group.

  As described above, the purchase history of the user U01 can be an index for determining whether or not the user U01 purchases unpurchased content. In addition, information on purchased content purchased by the user U01 can be an index for determining whether the user U01 is interested in unpurchased content. Therefore, the distribution apparatus 10 refers to the purchase history of the user U01, and determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user when the unpurchased content has a predetermined relationship with the purchased content of the user U01. May be. For example, when the user has purchased all the electronic books of the same series as the unpurchased content, the distribution device 10 may determine that the unpurchased content is to be distributed. In other words, the distribution device 10 may determine to distribute the unpurchased content when the user is predicted to be interested in the unpurchased content or when the possibility of purchase is high.

  Note that the content distributed by the distribution device 10 may have the same transaction target. For example, electronic books may be sold with the same content, and music content and moving image content may be sold with the same content. For this reason, even if the user U01 is interested in new content to be distributed, if the transaction target having the same content has already been purchased, there is a high possibility that the new content will not be purchased. Accordingly, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine that the unpurchased content is not provided when the user U01 has already purchased a transaction target having the same content as the unpurchased content. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 acquires the purchase history of the user U01 from an EC server (Electronic Commerce) (not shown) or the like, and whether or not the user U01 has already purchased a transaction target having the same content as the unpurchased content. It may be determined. In other words, the distribution device 10 determines whether to provide unpurchased content based not only on the purchase history of the content distributed by the distribution device 10 but also on the transaction history purchased by the user U01 in the real world. May be.

  Further, for example, information such as what content the user U01 has viewed and how much of the content has been viewed can be an index indicating what content the user U01 is interested in. For example, when the user U01 is viewing the entire content or viewing the content multiple times, it is predicted that the user U01 likes the content. On the other hand, when the user U01 stops viewing the content halfway or when a predetermined period has elapsed after stopping viewing the content halfway, it is predicted that the user U01 does not like the content.

  Thus, the viewing history of the user U01 can be an index for determining whether or not the user U01 purchases unpurchased content. Therefore, the distribution apparatus 10 refers to the viewing history of the user U01 and determines whether to provide unpurchased content based on the viewing history of the purchased content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content. Good. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine that the unpurchased content is provided to the user when the entire purchased content of the same series as the unpurchased content is being browsed. In addition, the distribution device 10 is a purchase content of the same series as the unpurchased content, and is browsing the entire purchase content (for example, the previous volume) whose distribution is disclosed before the unpurchased content When browsing a predetermined range, it may be determined that unpurchased content is provided to the user.

[1-4. About delivery mode]
Here, the distribution apparatus 10 may display unpurchased content on the purchase content list screen in an arbitrary manner. For example, if the distribution device 10 determines that the user U01 is to provide unpurchased content, the distribution device 10 distributes the data of the unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 used by the user U01, and the purchase content list screen May be displayed. Further, for example, the distribution apparatus 10 may transmit content that displays a purchase screen of unpurchased content when viewed to a predetermined range as unpurchased content. For example, when the user selects a thumbnail of unpurchased content on the list screen, the distribution device 10 may instruct the terminal device 100 to shift the display to the purchase screen of unpurchased content.

  For example, when the content to be distributed is an electronic book, the distribution device 10 may distribute an instruction to change the display to the purchase screen when browsing the first 10 pages together with the unpurchased content. Further, the distribution apparatus 10 may transmit a predetermined range of unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 and display the unpurchased content on the list screen. For example, the distribution device 10 extracts a predetermined range of unpurchased content as a sample, and extracts the extracted sample and an instruction to shift the display to the purchase screen of the unpurchased content when browsing the entire sample. You may distribute to the terminal device 100.

  If the content to be distributed is music data or moving image data, the distribution device 10 may distribute a part of the beginning or a digest version to the terminal device 100. Further, when the content to be distributed is an application such as a game, the distribution device 10 may distribute a so-called trial version to the terminal device 100.

  Further, the distribution device 10 pushes and distributes all or part of the unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 and also pushes the user U01 with information on the unpurchased content in the form of an email or a short message. Good. For example, the distribution device 10 may distribute a message indicating that the unpurchased content has been push-distributed or a purchase prompt.

[1-5. (About an example of distribution processing)
Next, an example of distribution processing executed by the distribution device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the user U01 has purchased content # 1-1, content # 1-2, content # 1-3, content # 2-1, and content # 3-1. And Further, it is assumed that the contents # 1-1 to # 1-4 are contents of the same series, that is, contents having a predetermined relationship.

  For example, the terminal device 100 displays the purchase content list screen C10 when an application for browsing each content is launched by the operation of the user U01. More specifically, the terminal device 100 displays a thumbnail C11 of content # 1-1, a thumbnail C12 of content # 1-2, a thumbnail C13 of content # 1-3, and a content # 2- on the purchase content list screen C10. 1 thumbnail C14 and thumbnail C15 of content # 3-1 are arranged and displayed.

  Here, it is assumed that distribution of content # 1-4 is started as new content. In such a case, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not to distribute the content # 1-4, which is unpurchased content, based on the purchase history and viewing history of the user U01 (step S1). For example, the distribution apparatus 10 refers to the purchase content database indicating the purchase history of the user U01 and the viewing ratio (that is, the viewing history) indicating how much the user U01 has viewed each purchase content. Then, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not the user U01 has purchased content having a predetermined relationship with the content # 1-4, and all the content distributed by the user U01 before the content # 1-4. Whether content # 1-4 is to be provided to user U01 is determined based on whether or not browsing is performed.

  Here, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the user U01 has purchased all of the contents # 1-1 to # 1-3, which are contents in the same series as the contents # 1-4. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, since the viewing ratios of the contents # 1-1 to # 1-3 are all 100%, the user U01 browses the entire contents # 1-1 to # 1-3. Can be determined. In such a case, the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the user U01 is highly likely to purchase the content # 1-4. Then, the distribution apparatus 10 transmits a sample of content # 1-4 that is unpurchased content to the terminal device 100, and displays the content C # 1-4 that is unpurchased content on the list screen C10 (step S2). . As a result, the terminal device 100 displays the thumbnail C16 of the content # 1-4 that is unpurchased content on the list screen C10 (step S3).

  In addition, when the user U01 selects the thumbnail C16, the terminal device 100 displays a sample of content # 1-4. Further, when the user U01 views the content # 1-4 up to a predetermined range, the terminal device 100 displays a purchase screen for the content # 1-4 that is not purchased yet (step S4). When the user U01 instructs the purchase of the content # 1-4, the terminal device 100 transmits a purchase request for the content # 1-4 to the distribution device 10 (step S5).

  In such a case, the distribution apparatus 10 executes a purchase process for content # 1-4 that is unpurchased content (step S6). For example, the distribution apparatus 10 associates the content # 1-4 with the user U01 as purchase content. Then, the distribution device 10 distributes the content # 1-4 as purchase content to the terminal device 100 (step S7).

  As described above, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not to provide unpurchased content based on the information related to the user U01. If it is determined to provide the content, the distribution device 10 displays the unpurchased content on the purchased content list screen C10. Display. As a result, the distribution apparatus 10 can make the user U01 aware of the presence of unpurchased content, thereby improving viewing opportunities.

[2. Configuration of distribution device]
Hereinafter, an example of a functional configuration of the distribution device 10 that realizes the above-described distribution processing will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the distribution apparatus according to the embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distribution device 10 includes a communication unit 20, a storage unit 30, and a control unit 40.

  The communication unit 20 is realized by, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card). The communication unit 20 is connected to the network N by wire or wirelessly and transmits / receives information to / from the terminal device 100.

  The storage unit 30 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 30 also stores a purchase content database 31, a distribution content database 32, and a user information database 33 (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as “each database 31 to 33”).

  In the purchase content database 31, information indicating the purchase content of the user U01 is registered. For example, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the purchase content database according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, information having items such as “user ID (Identifier)”, “purchased content”, and “viewing ratio” is registered in the purchased content database 31.

  Here, the “user ID” is an identifier indicating the user who purchased the purchased content. The “purchased content” is an identifier for identifying the content purchased by the user indicated by the associated user ID, that is, the purchased content. The “viewing ratio” is information indicating a ratio of viewing performed by the user indicated by the associated user ID in the associated purchased content, and is an example of a viewing history.

  For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the user ID “user # U01”, the purchased content “content # 1-1”, and the viewing ratio “100 percent” are registered in association with each other. Such information is viewed by the user indicated by “User # U01” in which the content indicated by “Content # 1-1” has been purchased and the user indicated by “User # U01” among the content. The ratio is “100 percent”, that is, the total.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, conceptual values such as “user # U01”, “content # 1-1”, and the like are described, but in actuality, texts and numerical values indicating each item are registered. It will be. In addition to the “viewing ratio”, the purchased content database 31 includes, for example, information such as “viewing count” that is the number of times the user U01 has viewed the purchased content, and “viewing date and time” that indicates the viewing date and time. Suppose that a viewing history is registered.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. In the distribution content database 32, various types of information related to distribution content are registered. For example, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the distribution content database according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, information having items such as “content ID” and “content information” is registered in the distribution content database 32.

  Here, the “content ID” is an identifier for indicating the content, and is the same information as the “purchased content” shown in FIG. The “content information” is content information indicated by the associated “content ID”. For example, “content information” is information of a right holder such as an author, a creator, a composer, a performer, a publisher, or the like of the content. In addition, for example, “content information” refers to which series, what number (for example, the number of volumes) of content, and what genre (for example, SF or mystery). This is information indicating whether it is content or the like. The “content information” is information such as a content distribution start date and time, a transaction target of the same content, a price, a form (for example, whether it is a novel or a magazine), and the like. Note that any information other than the information described above may be registered in the distribution content database 32 as “content information” as long as the information is related to the content.

  For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, information such as a content ID “content # 1-4” and content information “content information # 1-4” is registered in association with each other. Such information indicates that the content information indicated by “content # 1-4” is “content information # 1-4”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, conceptual values such as “content information # 1-1” are described, but actually, various texts and numerical values indicating the content information are registered. Further, in the distribution content database 32, information having arbitrary items other than the items shown in FIG. 4 may be registered. In addition, when the right holder who has the right to distribute content accepts registration of content to be distributed from a predetermined information processing device (not shown), the distribution device 10 registers the registered content in the distribution content database 32. Will be.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. In the user information database 33, various types of information related to users, that is, user information is registered. For example, FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information registered in the user information database according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the user information database 33 includes information having items such as “user ID”, “gender”, “age”, “address”, “terminal device”, “purchase history”, and the like. It is registered.

  Here, “sex”, “age”, “address”, “terminal device”, and “purchase history” are user information of the user indicated by the associated “user ID”, each of which is a user. Information indicating the gender, age, address, terminal device used by the user, and purchase history. In the example shown in FIG. 5, conceptual values such as “gender # U01”, “age # U01”, “address # U01”, “terminal # U01”, “purchase history # U01”, and the like are described. However, in practice, various texts and numerical values indicating user information are registered.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the description will be continued. The control unit 40 is a controller. For example, various programs stored in a storage device inside the distribution device 10 are stored in a RAM or the like by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). This is realized by being executed as a work area. The control unit 40 is a controller, and may be realized by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 40 includes a determination unit 41, a provision control unit 42, a settlement acceptance unit 43, and a distribution unit 44.

  The determination unit 41 determines whether or not to provide the user U01 with unpurchased content, which is content that the user U01 has not purchased, based on information about the user U01. For example, the determination unit 41 determines whether or not to provide the user U01 with content newly started to be distributed (that is, new content) as unpurchased content.

  For example, the determination unit 41 determines whether or not to provide unpurchased content to the user U01 based on at least one of the purchase history of the user U01 and the viewing history of the user U01 as information regarding the user U01. judge. The determination unit 41 determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01 when the unpurchased content has a predetermined relationship with the purchased content of the user U01. For example, the determination unit 41 provides the user U01 with the unpurchased content when the user U01 has already listened to the content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content among the purchased content of the user U01. Judge that. More specifically, the determination unit 41 determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01 when the user U01 has already sampled the entire content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content. .

  Hereinafter, an example of the determination process performed by the determination unit 41 will be described. In addition, the determination part 41 shall perform the following determination processes for every user at a predetermined time interval. Moreover, in the following description, an example of a determination process for determining whether or not to distribute unpurchased content to the user U01 will be described. For example, the determination unit 41 refers to the purchase content database 31 and extracts the content ID of the purchase content associated with the user ID “user # U01” of the user U01. Subsequently, the determination unit 41 refers to the distribution content database 32 and identifies a content ID that has not been extracted from the purchase content database 31, that is, a content ID of unpurchased content that has not been purchased by the user U01.

  Subsequently, the determination unit 41 compares the content information associated with the content ID associated with the content ID of the unpurchased content and the content information associated with the content ID of the purchased content of the user U01. . And the determination part 41 specifies the unpurchased content which has a predetermined relationship with the purchase content of the user U01 among unpurchased content based on a comparison result. For example, the determination unit 41 identifies unpurchased content in the same series as the purchased content.

  Further, the determination unit 41 extracts user information such as purchase history from the user information database 33 and extracts viewing history from the purchase content database 31. Based on the extracted user information and viewing history, the determination unit 41 determines whether to provide to the user U01 for each unpurchased content having a predetermined relationship with the purchased content of the user U01. judge. For example, if the user U01 has already purchased all the content of the same series as the unpurchased content and the user U01 is viewing all of the content, the determination unit 41 provides the unpurchased content. You may judge. For example, the determination unit 41 may determine to provide unpurchased content when it is estimated that the user has a high probability of purchasing unpurchased content based on user information. Moreover, the determination part 41 may determine not to provide unpurchased content when the purchase history indicates that the user U01 has already purchased a transaction target having the same content as the unpurchased content.

  If it is determined that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the provision control unit 42 displays the unpurchased content on the purchase content list screen C10 of the user U01. For example, if the determination unit 41 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the provision control unit 42 obtains the identifier of the mobile terminal associated with the user ID of the user U01 from the user information database 33. Identify. Then, the providing control unit 42 distributes the unpurchased content determined to be provided to the user U01 to the terminal device indicated by the identified identifier, that is, the terminal device 100.

  More specifically, the providing control unit 42 transmits unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 used by the user U01, and displays the unpurchased content on the list screen C10. The providing control unit 42 may transmit a predetermined range of unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 and display the unpurchased content on the list screen C10. That is, the provision control unit 42 may transmit a sample of unpurchased content. Further, the provision control unit 42 may transmit content that displays a purchase screen of unpurchased content when viewed to a predetermined range as unpurchased content.

  The settlement acceptance unit 43 accepts settlement processing for unpurchased content. For example, when the user performs an operation to settle unpurchased content, the terminal device 100 transmits a purchase request for unpurchased content to the distribution device 10. In such a case, the payment accepting unit 43 executes various payment processes for unpurchased content. For example, the payment accepting unit 43, in cooperation with a payment server (not shown), charges the payment amount of the unpurchased content to the user U01, and sets the content ID of the unpurchased content to be settled, The user ID of the user U01 is registered in the purchase content database 31 in association with the user ID.

  The distribution unit 44 distributes the unpurchased content for which payment has been made to the terminal device 100 as purchased content. For example, when the settlement processing of the unpurchased content is completed by the settlement accepting unit 43, the distribution unit 44 distributes all data of the unpurchased content to be settled to the terminal device 100 in a viewable format.

[3. Example of distribution process flow)
Next, a flow of distribution processing executed by the distribution device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of distribution processing executed by the distribution apparatus according to the embodiment. The distribution apparatus 10 executes the process illustrated in FIG. 6 for each user at a predetermined time interval.

  For example, the distribution apparatus 10 selects the user U01 as a user who determines whether to distribute unpurchased content (step S101), and specifies the unpurchased content (step S102). Further, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not the purchased content and the unpurchased content of the user U01 have a predetermined relationship (step S103). If it is determined that they have (step S103: Yes), the usage is performed. Based on information (for example, browsing history, purchase history, user information, etc.) regarding the person U01, it is determined whether or not to provide unpurchased content (step S104). If the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided (step S105: Yes), the distribution apparatus 10 transmits the unpurchased content to the terminal device of the user U01 and displays it on the purchased content list screen C10 ( Step S106) and the process ends. On the other hand, when the unpurchased content and the purchased content do not have a predetermined relationship (step S103: No) or when it is determined that the unpurchased content is not provided (step S105: No), the distribution apparatus 10 performs processing. Exit.

[4. (Modification)
In the above, an example of distribution processing by the distribution device 10 has been described. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. Hereinafter, the variation of the delivery process which the delivery apparatus 10 performs is demonstrated.

[4-1. About judgment contents)
In the above description, the distribution apparatus 10 provides unpurchased content based on information such as whether the user U01 has the same series as the purchased content or how much the user U01 has viewed the purchased content of the same series. Judged. However, the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 may make the determination based on whether or not the content is a genre that the user U01 frequently purchases content. Further, the distribution apparatus 10 may make the determination based on the evaluation of the purchase content of the user U01. For example, the distribution apparatus 10 may perform the determination based on whether or not the purchase content is similar to the purchase content that the user U01 has evaluated higher than a predetermined threshold.

  That is, the distribution apparatus 10 may determine whether to provide unpurchased content in an arbitrary determination mode based on arbitrary information regarding the user U01. For example, the distribution device 10 has a high possibility that the user U01 is interested in the unpurchased content based on any information related to the user U01, whether or not the possibility of purchasing the unpurchased content is higher than a predetermined threshold. If the possibility that the user U01 purchases the unpurchased content is high or the possibility that the user U01 likes it is high, it may be determined that the content is provided.

[4-2. Device configuration〕
The distribution device 10 may realize the above-described distribution processing and learning processing by cooperation of a plurality of devices. For example, the distribution device 10 may operate with emphasis on the front-end server and the back-end server. More specifically, the distribution device 10 emphasizes a front-end server that distributes purchased content to the terminal device 100 and a determination server that determines whether to distribute unpurchased content to the user U01. By operating, the above-described distribution process may be executed. In such a case, the front-end server includes the provision control unit 42, the settlement reception unit 43, and the distribution unit 44 illustrated in FIG. 2, and the back-end server includes the determination unit 41.

  In addition, each of the databases 31 to 33 stored in the storage unit 30 may be stored in an external storage server, for example, instead of in the distribution device 10.

[4-3. Others]
In addition, among the processes described in the above embodiment, all or part of the processes described as being automatically performed can be performed manually, or the processes described as being performed manually can be performed. All or a part can be automatically performed by a known method. In addition, the processing procedures, specific names, and information including various data and parameters shown in the document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified. For example, the various types of information illustrated in each drawing is not limited to the illustrated information.

  Further, each component of each illustrated apparatus is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated. In other words, the specific form of distribution / integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or a part thereof may be functionally or physically distributed or arbitrarily distributed in arbitrary units according to various loads or usage conditions. Can be integrated and configured.

  In addition, the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined within a range in which processing contents are not contradictory.

[5. program〕
Further, the distribution apparatus 10 according to the embodiment described above is realized by a computer 1000 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 7, for example. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration. The computer 1000 is connected to an output device 1010 and an input device 1020, and an arithmetic device 1030, a primary storage device 1040, a secondary storage device 1050, an output IF (Interface) 1060, an input IF 1070, and a network IF 1080 are connected via a bus 1090. Have

  The arithmetic device 1030 operates based on a program stored in the primary storage device 1040 and the secondary storage device 1050, a program read from the input device 1020, and the like, and executes various processes. The primary storage device 1040 is a memory device such as a RAM that temporarily stores data used by the arithmetic device 1030 for various arithmetic operations. The secondary storage device 1050 is a storage device in which data used for various calculations by the calculation device 1030 and various databases are registered, and is realized by a ROM (Read Only Memory), HDD, flash memory, or the like.

  The output IF 1060 is an interface for transmitting information to be output to an output device 1010 that outputs various types of information such as a monitor and a printer. For example, USB (Universal Serial Bus), DVI (Digital Visual Interface), This is realized by a standard connector such as HDMI (registered trademark) (High Definition Multimedia Interface). The input IF 1070 is an interface for receiving information from various input devices 1020 such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a scanner, and is realized by, for example, a USB.

  The input device 1020 includes, for example, an optical recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and a PD (Phase change rewritable disk), a magneto-optical recording medium such as an MO (Magneto-Optical disk), and a tape. It may be a device that reads information from a medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like. The input device 1020 may be an external storage medium such as a USB memory.

  The network IF 1080 receives data from other devices via the network N and sends the data to the arithmetic device 1030, and transmits data generated by the arithmetic device 1030 to other devices via the network N.

  The arithmetic device 1030 controls the output device 1010 and the input device 1020 via the output IF 1060 and the input IF 1070. For example, the arithmetic device 1030 loads a program from the input device 1020 or the secondary storage device 1050 onto the primary storage device 1040, and executes the loaded program.

  For example, when the computer 1000 functions as the distribution device 10, the arithmetic device 1030 of the computer 1000 implements the function of the control unit 40 by executing a program loaded on the primary storage device 1040.

[6. effect〕
As described above, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether to provide the user U01 with unpurchased content, which is content that the user U01 has not purchased, based on information about the user U01. If the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 displays the unpurchased content on the purchase content list screen C10 of the user U01. As a result, for example, the distribution apparatus 10 can make the user aware of the presence of newly distributed continuous content, and therefore can improve the content browsing opportunity.

  Further, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether or not to provide unpurchased content to the user U01 based on at least one of the purchase history of the user U01 and the viewing history of the user U01 as information regarding the user U01. judge. For this reason, the distribution apparatus 10 can provide, for example, unpurchased content that is likely to be purchased by the user U01 or unpurchased content that is highly likely to be received without deteriorating the impression of the user U01. , Can improve the browsing opportunity of content.

  For example, when the unpurchased content has a predetermined relationship with the purchased content of the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01. In addition, for example, when the user U01 has already auditioned the content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content among the purchased content of the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 transmits the unpurchased content to the user U01. It is determined that it will be provided. Further, for example, when the user U01 has already listened to the entire content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content, the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is provided to the user U01. Therefore, the distribution apparatus 10 can provide unpurchased content that is likely to be purchased by the user U01 and unpurchased content that is highly likely to be liked.

  Further, the distribution apparatus 10 transmits unpurchased content to the terminal device 100 used by the user U01, and displays the unpurchased content on the list screen C10. For example, the distribution device 10 transmits a predetermined range of unpurchased content to the terminal device used by the user U01, and displays the unpurchased content on the list screen C10. For this reason, the distribution apparatus 10 can make the user U01 aware of the presence of unpurchased content.

  In addition, the distribution apparatus 10 transmits, as unpurchased content, content that displays a purchase screen for unpurchased content when viewed to a predetermined range. For this reason, the distribution apparatus 10 can guide the user U01 to purchase unpurchased content.

  In addition, the distribution apparatus 10 determines whether to provide the user U01 with content that has been newly distributed as unpurchased content. For this reason, the distribution apparatus 10 can improve the browsing chance of content as a result of notifying the user of the existence of new content.

  If the distribution apparatus 10 determines that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user U01, the distribution apparatus 10 displays a thumbnail of the unpurchased content on the purchase content list screen C10 of the user U01. For this reason, the distribution apparatus 10 can make the user U01 aware of the presence of unpurchased content.

  As described above, some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and various modifications, including the aspects described in the disclosure section of the invention, based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, It is possible to implement the present invention in other forms with improvements.

  Moreover, the above-mentioned “section (module, unit)” can be read as “means”, “circuit”, and the like. For example, the classification unit can be read as classification means or a classification circuit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Distribution apparatus 20 Communication part 30 Storage part 31 Purchase content database 32 Distribution content database 33 User information database 40 Control part 41 Determination part 42 Provision control part 43 Settlement reception part 44 Distribution part 100 Terminal apparatus

Claims (12)

A determination unit that determines whether to provide unpurchased content, which is content that the user has not purchased, to the user based on information about the user;
If it is determined that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user, a provision control unit that displays the unpurchased content on a list screen of the content purchased by the user;
A distribution apparatus comprising: The determination unit determines whether to provide the unpurchased content to the user based on at least one of the purchase history of the user or the viewing history of the user as information on the user. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein: The said determination part determines to provide the said non-purchased content with respect to the said user, when the said non-purchased content has the predetermined relationship with the content which the said user purchased. Or the delivery apparatus of 2. If the user has already listened to content that has a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content among the content purchased by the user, the determination unit sends the unpurchased content to the user. It determines with providing. The delivery apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The determination unit determines to provide the user with the unpurchased content when the user has already auditioned the entire content having a predetermined relationship with the unpurchased content. The distribution apparatus according to claim 4. The said provision control part transmits the said non-purchased content to the terminal device which the said user uses, and displays the said non-purchased content on the said list screen. Any one of Claims 1-5 characterized by the above-mentioned. The distribution device described in one. The said provision control part transmits the predetermined | prescribed range among the said non-purchased content to the terminal device which the said user uses, and displays the said non-purchased content on the said list screen. Delivery device. The distribution device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the provision control unit transmits, as the unpurchased content, a content for displaying a purchase screen of the unpurchased content when viewed to a predetermined range. . The said determination part determines whether the content by which the delivery was newly started is provided with respect to the said user as the said unpurchased content. Any one of Claims 1-8 characterized by the above-mentioned. The delivery device described in 1. The provision control unit displays a thumbnail of the unpurchased content on a list screen of content purchased by the user when it is determined that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user. Item 10. The distribution device according to any one of Items 1 to 9. A determination step of determining whether or not to provide the user with unpurchased content that is content that the user has not purchased based on information about the user;
If it is determined that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user, a providing control step of displaying the unpurchased content on a list screen of the content purchased by the user;
Including a distribution method. A determination procedure for determining whether to provide the user with unpurchased content, which is content that the user has not purchased, based on information about the user;
If it is determined that the unpurchased content is to be provided to the user, a provision control procedure for displaying the unpurchased content on a list screen of the content purchased by the user;
Distribution program that causes a computer to execute.

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