JP3627848B2 - Content distribution system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content distribution system and a content distribution server, and more particularly to a content distribution system and a content distribution server that provide content to a remote user.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method for providing content such as application software from a content provider to a user, a method is known in which content is stored in an external recording medium and the recording medium is delivered to an address designated by the user. The user downloads content from the recording medium to the information processing apparatus to be used. Content is required to be provided earlier. In such a content providing method, a time lag due to delivery occurs. If the provision of content is delayed, the user's work may stop.
[0003]
As a content delivery method, a remote installation system (RIS system) that automatically delivers content via a communication line is known. This RIS system comprises a server, a user terminal, and a communication line connecting them, and the user selects a desired content from a content group possessed by the server and notifies the server. The server retrieves the content selected by the user and stores it in the hard disk of the user terminal.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system that quickly distributes content to a user who is remote from the content provider.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system that distributes content quickly and reliably to a user who is remote from the content provider.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system in which a user can grasp the contents before the contents are distributed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system in which a user can refuse to download content from a content provider.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Means for solving the problem is expressed as follows. Technical matters appearing in the expression are appended with numbers, symbols, etc. in parentheses (). The numbers, symbols, and the like are technical matters constituting at least one embodiment or a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, or a plurality of embodiments, in particular, the embodiments or examples. This corresponds to the reference numbers, reference symbols, etc. attached to the technical matters expressed in the drawings corresponding to. Such reference numbers and reference symbols clarify the correspondence and bridging between the technical matters described in the claims and the technical matters of the embodiments or examples. Such correspondence and bridging does not mean that the technical matters described in the claims are interpreted as being limited to the technical matters of the embodiments or examples.
[0006]
A content distribution system according to the present invention includes a management terminal (1), a distribution server (2) that receives and registers content and a network address of the distribution destination of the content from the management terminal (1), and a user who is the distribution destination. The terminal (3), the user terminal (3) transmits authentication information indicating that the user terminal (3) is a distribution destination to the distribution server (2), and the distribution server (2) In response to the information, the content is downloaded to the user terminal (3). The management terminal (1), the distribution server (2), and the user terminal (3) are connected to each other by a network (4). The management terminal (1) registers content in the distribution server (2), and the distribution server (2) automatically downloads the content to the user terminal (3). Thus, the provision of content via the network (4) is faster than the provision by mail. Furthermore, since the management terminal (1) does not directly provide the content to the user terminal (3), the content of the management terminal (1) can be provided and the content of the user terminal (3) can be downloaded at any time. . Since the user terminal (3) does not transmit authentication information, it is possible to refuse content download.
[0007]
The management terminal (1) generates the content content and transmits it to the distribution server (2), the distribution server (2) transmits the content to the user terminal (3), and the user terminal (3) In response to the content, the authentication information is transmitted to the distribution server (2). The user can check the content and determine whether to refuse the content download.
[0008]
The management terminal (1) generates other authentication information, transmits the other authentication information to the distribution server (2), the distribution server (2) registers the other authentication information, and transmits the other authentication information to the user. The distribution server (2) provided to the terminal (3) does not download the content to the user terminal (3) if the authentication information is different from the other authentication information. The user terminal (3) returns the other received authentication information as authentication information to the distribution server (2) as it is. Such authentication processing ensures that the distribution server (2) downloads the content only to the distribution destination.
[0009]
The user terminal (3) transmits information indicating whether or not the content download has been executed normally to the distribution server (2), and the distribution server (2) transfers the information to the management terminal (1). The management terminal (1) can manage whether content has been downloaded to the user terminal (3).
[0010]
A content distribution server according to the present invention is a content distribution server (2) connected to a management terminal (1) and a user terminal (3), and content registration means for registering content transmitted from the management terminal (1) And authentication means for determining whether or not the user terminal (3) is the distribution destination of the content, and download means for downloading the content to the user terminal (3) only when the user terminal (3) is the distribution destination. . The content provider registers the content in the distribution server (2), and the distribution server (2) automatically downloads the content to the user terminal (3). The provision of content by the content provider and the downloading of the user terminal (3) can be executed at any time. Since the user terminal (3) does not transmit authentication information, it is possible to refuse content download. Since the user terminal (3) receives the content after being authenticated by the authentication means, the content is downloaded only to the content distribution destination.
[0011]
It further includes content information transfer means for transferring the content transmitted from the management terminal (1) to the user terminal (3). The user can check the content and determine whether to refuse the content download.
[0012]
Authentication information registration means for registering the first authentication information transmitted from the management terminal (1), authentication information transfer means for transmitting the first authentication information to the user terminal (3), and transmitted from the user terminal (3) Authentication information receiving means for receiving the second authentication information. The authentication means determines that the user terminal (3) is the distribution destination when the first authentication information matches the second authentication information. The user terminal (3) transmits the received first authentication information as it is to the content distribution server (2) as second authentication information.
[0013]
It further includes download management means for notifying the management terminal (1) whether or not the user terminal (3) has downloaded the content. The management terminal (1) can manage whether content has been downloaded to the user terminal (3).
[0014]
A content distribution method according to the present invention is a content distribution method for distributing content using a content distribution system including a distribution server (2) and a user terminal (3). It includes authenticating whether the terminal (3) is a content distribution destination, and downloading the content from the distribution server (2) to the user terminal (3) based on the authentication result. Registration of contents in the distribution server (2) and downloading of the user terminal (3) can be executed at any time. Since the user terminal (3) receives the content after being authenticated, the user terminal (3) more reliably downloads the content only to the user terminal (3) to which the content is distributed.
[0015]
It further includes notifying the content provider whether or not the user terminal (3) has downloaded the content. The content provider can manage whether the content has been downloaded to the user terminal (3).
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of a content distribution system according to the present invention is formed from a management terminal, a distribution server, and a user terminal. The management terminal 1, distribution server 2, and user terminal 3 are connected to each other via a network 4 as shown in FIG. 1. The network 4 is exemplified by the Internet.
[0017]
The management terminal 1 is arranged at a point remote from the user terminal 3. The management terminal 1 is used by a content provider. The management terminal 1 is an information processing device. An example of the information processing device is a personal computer. The management terminal 1 transmits authentication information, content information, and content to the distribution server 2 via the network 4 and receives a download completion status from the distribution server 2. The authentication information is formed from a user name, a password, and a notification destination. The content information includes content version information, content details, distribution destination, file name, and the like. The distribution destination is the network address of the user terminal 3. The download end status indicates whether or not the user terminal 3 has successfully downloaded the content.
[0018]
The management terminal 1 has an authentication information input screen 11 and a content information input screen 21. The authentication information input screen 11 is a screen for inputting authentication information provided to the user terminal 3 by the content provider. As shown in FIG. 2, the authentication information input screen 11 includes a field 12 for inputting a user name, a field 13 for inputting a password, a field 14 for inputting a notification destination, and a registration button 15. When the registration button 15 is clicked, the input authentication information is transmitted to the distribution server 2.
[0019]
The content information input screen 21 is a screen for inputting content information. The content information input screen 21 includes a column 22 for inputting version information, a column 23 for inputting a delivery destination, a column 24 for inputting file information, a content registration button 25, and a content information registration button 26. The file information is formed from the file name, time stamp, etc. of the file in which the content is recorded. When the content information registration button 26 is clicked, the content information is transmitted from the management terminal 1 to the distribution server 2. When the content registration button 25 is clicked, the content is transmitted from the management terminal 1 to the distribution server 2.
[0020]
The distribution server 2 is an information processing apparatus exemplified by a workstation server. The distribution server 2 receives and registers the authentication information, content information, and content transmitted by the management terminal 1, and transfers the authentication information and content information to the user terminal 3. The distribution server 2 further transmits a release notification that prompts the user to download content to the user terminal 3 by e-mail. The distribution server 2 receives the authentication information and the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 and determines whether or not the authentication information matches the registered authentication information. Download to terminal 3. The distribution server 2 further receives the download completion status from the user terminal 3 and transfers the download completion status to the management terminal 1.
[0021]
The user terminal 3 is an information processing apparatus including a display unit and an input unit. A personal computer is exemplified as the information processing apparatus. The user terminal 3 is used by a user. The user terminal 3 receives and holds the authentication information, the content information, and the release notification from the distribution server 2 and transmits the authentication information to the distribution server 2.
[0022]
The user terminal 3 has a content distribution request screen 31. As shown in FIG. 4, the content distribution request screen 31 has a reception button 32. When the reception button 32 is clicked, the user terminal 3 transmits a content distribution request to the distribution server 2. The user terminal 3 downloads the content from the distribution server 2, and then transmits the download completion status to the distribution server 2.
[0023]
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a content distribution method according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the content provider inputs the authentication information of the user whose content is distributed to the management terminal 1 (step S1). At this time, the authentication information input screen 11 is displayed on the display unit of the management terminal 1. The content provider inputs authentication information on the authentication information input screen 11 and clicks the registration button 15. When the registration button 15 is clicked, the management terminal 1 transmits authentication information to the distribution server 2.
[0024]
The distribution server 2 receives the authentication information from the management terminal 1 (step S2), and registers and holds the authentication information (step S3). The distribution server 2 transmits the authentication information to the user terminal 3 that is the notification destination described in the authentication information (step S4). The user terminal 3 receives the authentication information from the distribution server 2 (step S5) and holds the authentication information.
[0025]
The content provider inputs content information to the management terminal 1 (step S6). At this time, the content information input screen 21 is displayed on the display unit of the management terminal 1. The content provider inputs content information on the content information input screen 21, clicks the content information registration button 26, and clicks the content registration button 25. The content information is transmitted to the distribution server 2, and the content body, that is, the file described in the content information is transmitted to the distribution server 2.
[0026]
The distribution server 2 receives the content information and the content (step S7), and registers and holds the content information and the content (step S8). The distribution server 2 transmits the content information and the release notification to the user terminal 3 that is the distribution destination described in the content information (step S9). This release notification prompts the user to download content.
[0027]
When the user terminal 3 receives the content information, the user confirms the content information. If the content described in the content information is the desired content, the user inputs the authentication information acquired and held first. The user terminal 3 transmits the authentication information and the content distribution request to the distribution server 2 (Step S10). As described above, the user can confirm the content before downloading, and requests downloading after the confirmation. The user can refuse to download the content by not making a content distribution request.
[0028]
The distribution server 2 performs authentication processing on the authentication information transmitted from the user terminal 3 (step S11). If the transmitted authentication information matches the registered authentication information, the distribution server 2 makes the content downloadable to the user terminal 3. If they do not match, the distribution server 2 notifies the user terminal 3 of a message to refuse provision of the content (step S12). By such an authentication process, the content can be downloaded only to the designated user terminal 3.
[0029]
When the content is ready to be downloaded to the user terminal 3, the user terminal 3 displays a content distribution request screen 31. The user clicks the reception button 32 on the content distribution request screen 31 to download the content (step S13). At this time, when the download ends normally, a message indicating the normal end of download is displayed on the user terminal 3, and a download end status indicating that the download was successful is transmitted to the distribution server 2. When the download does not end normally, a message indicating that the download has failed is displayed on the user terminal 3, and a download end status indicating that the download has ended abnormally is transmitted to the distribution server 2.
[0030]
The distribution server 2 receives the download completion status from the user terminal 3, and transfers the download completion status to the management terminal 1 (step S14). By such notification of the download end status, the content provider can manage whether or not the user has successfully executed the download.
[0031]
The content distribution system according to the present invention can distribute content more quickly than by mailing a recording medium on which the content is recorded by distributing the content using the network 4. Further, by providing the distribution server 2 between the management terminal 1 that provides the content and the user terminal 3 that receives the content, the content can be provided and downloaded at different times. As a result, the operator can be downloaded at an arbitrary time without being restrained for downloading at a predetermined time.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
The content distribution system according to the present invention enables a content provider to quickly distribute content to users who are remotely located.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a content distribution system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an authentication information input screen.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a content information input screen.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a content reception screen.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a content distribution method according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Management terminal 2 ... Distribution server 3 ... User terminal 4 ... Network 11 ... Authentication information input screen 12-14 ... Input column 15 ... Registration button 21 ... Content information input screen 22-24 ... Input column 31 ... Content reception screen 32 ... Receive buttons S1-S15 ... Processing steps

Claims (9)

A content distribution server connected to multiple terminals,
  Authentication information registration means for receiving a notification destination and notification authentication information from the management terminal of the plurality of terminals;
  Authentication information transfer means for transmitting the notification authentication information to a notification destination terminal indicated by the notification destination of the plurality of terminals;
  Means for receiving a delivery destination, content, and details of the content from the management terminal;
  Content information transfer means for distributing the contents of the content to a delivery destination terminal indicated by the delivery destination of the plurality of terminals;
  Download means for transmitting the content to the distribution destination terminal when the reception authentication information received from the distribution destination terminal matches the notification authentication information
  A content distribution server comprising: In claim 1,
  Download management means for receiving a download completion status indicating whether or not the content has been downloaded from the terminal to which the content is transmitted among the distribution destination terminals
  A content distribution server further comprising: In claim 2,
  The download management means transfers the download completion status to the management terminal.
  Content distribution server. Multiple devices,
  A content distribution server connected to the plurality of terminals,
  The content distribution server is
  Authentication information registration means for receiving a notification destination and notification authentication information from the management terminal of the plurality of terminals;
  Authentication information transfer means for transmitting the notification authentication information to a notification destination terminal indicated by the notification destination of the plurality of terminals;
  Means for receiving a delivery destination, content, and details of the content from the management terminal;
  Content information transfer means for distributing the contents of the content to a delivery destination terminal indicated by the delivery destination of the plurality of terminals;
  Download means for transmitting the content to the distribution destination terminal when the reception authentication information received from the distribution destination terminal matches the notification authentication information.
  Content distribution system. In claim 4,
  Download management means for receiving a download completion status indicating whether or not the content has been downloaded from the terminal to which the content is transmitted among the distribution destination terminals
  A content distribution system further comprising: In claim 5,
  The download management means transfers the download completion status to the management terminal.
  Content distribution system. A content distribution method executed by a content distribution server connected to the plurality of terminals,
  Receiving a notification destination and notification authentication information from a management terminal of the plurality of terminals;
  Transmitting the notification authentication information to a notification destination terminal indicated by the notification destination of the plurality of terminals;
  Receiving a delivery destination, content, and details of the content from the management terminal;
  Delivering the content of the content to a delivery destination terminal indicated by the delivery destination of the plurality of terminals;
  A step of transmitting the content to the delivery destination terminal when reception authentication information received from the delivery destination terminal matches the notification authentication information.
  A content distribution method comprising: In claim 7,
  A step of receiving a download completion status indicating whether or not the content has been downloaded from a terminal to which the content is transmitted among the distribution destination terminals;
  A content distribution method further comprising: In claim 8,
  The download management means transferring the download completion status to the management terminal;
  A content distribution method further comprising:

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