JP3861243B2 - Content sales system and content sales method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a content sales system and a content sales method, for example, a time accumulation type content sales system and a content sales method in which usage time is accumulated by the number of purchasers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a content sales system and a content sales method are applied to sales promotion of predetermined content, for example. In this application, the user purchases predetermined content based on a certain contract. Thereafter, the user can freely use the content less than the purchased amount. For such content sales promotion, the content provider generally expands sales using a large amount of sales promotion costs.
[0003]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-237458 discloses a “game device” as a first invention example 1 in the technical field similar to the present invention. In the first invention example 1, when a plurality of players play at the same time, at least one of the game setting conditions or part of the game contents is given to the player as a service, compared to the case where only one player plays. Service providing means for changing to an advantageous one is provided in the game device.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above prior art involves the following problems.
First, the user can only use the content less than the purchased amount, and the user must pay a separate usage fee beyond that.
Secondly, the content provider needs a large amount of sales promotion expenses in order to expand sales of the content.
[0005]
An object of this invention is to provide the content sales system and content sales method which heightened the attractiveness of early purchase.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the content sales system of the present invention includes a content control function unit that requests / receives content from a content database that stores content, and transmits the content to the user terminal, and the content available time of the user Billing member management having a charge management function unit for writing / reading purchase information to / from a content management server that calculates and sets a time management function unit for calculating and setting billing information / time information for each user A content sales system in which a server is connected to a user terminal via an Internet network, and the content server is configured to store billing information by a billing management function unit based on a purchase request received from the user terminal via the Internet network . Writing to the user management database And the purchase instruction to the charging member management server including delivery to the contents server of the billing completion information, performs the transmission by the content control module of the content available only set time by the time management function unit, user content When another user purchases the same content after purchasing the content, the time management function unit changes the user's content use end time to the other user's content use end time, and the content control function unit changes the other user's content. The content is used until the use end time .
[0007]
A user who can use the content until the content usage end time of the other user is a user who purchased the content before the other user who is using the same content in parallel, and within the usage time of the content. When a new user who purchased the content appears, it is preferable that the user is using the content .
[0008]
Furthermore, the time during which the content can be used until the content usage end time of another user is preferably variable according to the number of new users who have purchased the content.
[0009]
The content sales method of the present invention includes a content control function unit that requests / receives content from a content database that stores content, and transmits the content to the user terminal, and time management that calculates and sets the user's content availability time. A billing member management server having a charge management function unit for writing / reading purchase information to / from a content management server having a function unit and a user management database for storing charge information / time information for each user via an Internet network Te a content sales method in the content sales system configured is connected to a user terminal, the content server, the content control module unit, the use of the user of the content in response to access content purchase from the user terminal by the user Possible The Rutotomo, by the time management function unit, create a content usage time information based on the purchase information of the content from the user terminal, the usage time management step of managing the content usage time information, the user can use the content In the separate purchaser presence / absence management process for managing the occurrence of the same content purchase event by other users within the period of time, and in the separate purchaser presence / absence management process, an event for the purchase of content by another user was recognized In such a case, the time management function unit converts the content usage time information based on the content purchase information in the usage time management step into the content usage time information created by the usage time management step based on the purchase of the same content by another user. And an available time extension processing step to be changed .
[0010]
The user and the content server are users who have purchased the same content before other users who are using the same content in parallel when the content usage time information is changed by the available time extension processing step. In addition, when a new user who has purchased the content appears within the usage time of the content, the user may have been using the content .
[0011]
The content usage time information changed by the above available time extension processing step may be variable depending on the number of new users who have purchased the content.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of a content sales system and a content sales method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of a content sales system and content sales method of the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a content sales system and content sales method of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing service procedures of the content sales system and the content sales method.
[0013]
The content sales system and content sales method of the present embodiment is a sales method that can be used continuously while another user is using the same content in a time-sale type service such as a network game even when a certain user purchases it. It is. For example, the user who first purchased the content can use the content during the time according to the purchase amount. Furthermore, if a user who newly purchases content appears within the content usage time, the user who first purchased the content will extend the content usage time until the end time of the user who newly purchased the content.
[0014]
As a result, the user who first purchased the content can use the content free of charge if the new user purchases it. According to the present embodiment, in order to see that the content is long at a low price, the user only has to appear as a new purchaser, so that the user himself / herself performs a viral promotional activity.
[0015]
In the sales system according to the present invention, a content server 300 connected to a content database (DB) 400 is connected to a billing member management server 500 connected to a user management database (DB) 600, and the content server 300 connects to the Internet network 200. The user terminal A100 and the user terminal B101 are connected to each other via a network to constitute a system.
[0016]
The content server 300 includes a content control function unit 301 and a time management function unit 302. The charging member management server 500 also has a charging management function unit 501.
[0017]
The user terminal A100 and the user terminal B101 configured as described above correspond to the user within the time allocated to the user for the purchased content by accessing the content server 300 via the Internet network 200 in order for the user to purchase and use the content. It has a function that can use contents.
[0018]
Based on the purchase request accessed from the user terminal 100 via the Internet network 200, the content server 300 inquires the charging member management server 500, reads the content to the content DB 400, and supplies the content to the user terminal A100. .
The time management function unit 302 sets an available time after receiving a notification of completion of charging from the charging member management server 500. The content control function unit 301 makes a content request / reception to the content DB 400 and transmits the content to the user terminal A100 via the Internet network 200.
[0019]
The content DB 400 supplies the accumulated content based on a request from the content server 300.
The charging member management server 500 receives the purchase information received by the content server 300, and writes / reads the purchase status of the user in the user management DB 600 by the charging management function unit 501.
The user management DB 600 receives user purchase information write / read requests from the charging member management server 500 and accumulates charging / time information for each user.
[0020]
(Operation example)
The sales system of the present embodiment based on FIG. 1 is applied to a time selling service such as a network game. In the operation example of this application, an example that can continue to be used while there is another user even after the time purchased by a certain user is shown below.
[0021]
The user A can purchase content from the user terminal A 100 (for example, a device that can access the Internet, such as a personal computer, a PDA, a mobile phone, an Internet TV, or a game device that can be connected to the Internet) via the Internet network 200.
[0022]
The content server 300 issues a purchase instruction to the charging member management server 500. The charging member management server 500 writes the charging information to the user management DB 600 and returns the write completion information to the charging member management server 500. The billing member management server 500 sends billing completion information to the content server 300. After the accounting process is completed, the content server 300 uses the time management function unit 302 to calculate the time during which the user's content can be used.
[0023]
The content server 300 accesses the content DB 400 based on the content usage time provided by the time management function unit 302, and the user controls the content usage time at the user terminal A100 by starting / ending from the content server 300. Is done.
The above is referred to as “purchase processing”.
[0024]
As the purchase order, user A is the first user and user B is the second user. Assume that user A performs the same “purchase process” after the above “purchase process”. When the “purchase process” of the user B is completed, the user A can use the content until the use end time of the content purchased by the user B.
[0025]
After performing the purchase completion processing of the user B, the content server replaces the usage time information of the user A with the end time of the user B in the charging member management server 500.
The operation of extending the time is applied to all users who have purchased content before the user purchase event occurs.
[0026]
An application example of service use in the implementation of the content sales method will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 2, a predetermined user accesses a content server that manages content in order to purchase and use predetermined content from a user terminal (step S1).
The content server makes the content available to the user in response to the above access, and starts managing the available time with a pre-assigned charge (step S2).
[0027]
The presence or absence of purchase of the same content by another user is managed within the time when the user who has made the access can use the content (step S3).
In the management of the presence / absence of a separate purchaser, when there is a new purchaser of the same content (step S3 / YES), the available time within the initial charge for the user who originally accessed is available in advance. The time is extended from a certain time (step S4).
According to the above procedure, when a new user occurs in addition to the user who originally accessed, the available time purchased by the originally accessed user is extended, and the predetermined available time of the same content is extended. Even after that, it can still be used.
[0028]
In FIG. 3, when the user A who operates the user terminal A100 purchases content (such as a network game played by a plurality of people via the Internet), the user terminal A accesses the content server 300 on the Internet (step 501). ).
In response to this, the content server 300 sends a purchase screen to the user terminal A100 and waits for a reply of user input information (step 502).
[0029]
If the user A inputs information necessary for content purchase according to the screen of the user terminal A100 and clicks the purchase confirmation button, the user terminal A100 transmits the data input to the content server 300 (step 503). ).
[0030]
The content server 300 transmits the received purchase information of the user A and content usage time information created based on the purchase information to the charging member management server 500 (step 504).
The billing member management server 500 stores the received purchase information and content usage time information, and returns a purchase process end notification to the content server 300 (step 505).
[0031]
The content server 300 calls the content and transmits the content and available time notification to the user terminal A100 (step 506).
User A receives the content and the available time from the content server 300, and starts using the content (step 507).
[0032]
When the user B operating the user terminal B101 purchases content (such as a game played by a plurality of people via the Internet), the user B B101 accesses the content server 300 on the Internet (step 508).
In response to this, the content server 300 sends a purchase screen to the user terminal B101 and waits for a reply of user input information (step 509).
[0033]
If the user B inputs information necessary for content purchase according to the screen of the user terminal B101 and clicks the purchase confirmation button, the user terminal B101 transmits the data input to the content server 300 (step 510). ).
The content server 300 transmits the received purchase information of the user B and the content usage time information created based on the purchase information to the charging member management server 500 (step 511).
The billing member management server 500 stores the received purchase information and content usage time information, and returns a purchase processing end notification to the content server 300 (step 512).
[0034]
The content server 300 calls the content and transmits the content and available time notification to the user terminal B101 (step 513).
User B receives the content and the available time from the content server 300, and starts using the content (step 514).
[0035]
After the content purchase of the user B is confirmed, the content server 300 uses the time management function unit 302 to change the content usage end time of the user A to the user B usage end time. The billing member management server 500 is notified of the changed information for changing the information of the user A (step 515).
The charging member management server 500 updates the content usage time of the user A based on the notification of the information update of the user A. After the update is completed, a notification of the end of work is sent to the content server 300 (step 516).
[0036]
After receiving the notification from the billing member management server 500, the content terminal usage time change notification is sent to the user terminal A100 (step 517).
After the user B purchases the content, if the content is not purchased by a new user, the content control function ends the use of the content with the purchase time of the user B. In addition, the user A and user B are notified of the end of content (step 518).
[0037]
(Explanation of effect)
If the user purchases the content early, the user can use the content until the use end set time of the user who purchased the content after that, which is advantageous in that the content can be used for a longer time than the time paid by the user. In addition, if the user wants to use the content for a long time at a low price, the user himself / herself increases the number of purchasers, so a viral sales effect is produced. Even for a newly purchased user, the content can be used for the time of purchase, and if a new user purchases the content, the content can be used until the end time of the user, so there is no loss. The content provider leads to cost reduction of content sales promotion.
[0038]
(Application examples)
The first application example is an example where the proportion of content use time is increased. According to the first application example, when a user who newly purchases content while the user who is first purchased is using the content, the content usage time of the user who has purchased first is a certain percentage You can increase it.
[0039]
The second application example is an example in which the available time varies depending on the number of purchasers. According to the second application example, a special time of a certain time is provided after the first purchase user, and the content usage time can be extended by the number of users who newly purchase content during that time. .
[0040]
The third application example is an embodiment in which the use time by calling is changed. According to the third application example, as a condition for adding the time of the user who purchased first, the identifier that the user who first purchased is called into the service is input at the time of purchase. The content usage time can be extended.
[0041]
The fourth application example is an embodiment in which usage time is increased by simultaneous purchase by a plurality of people. According to the fourth application example, when a plurality of people purchase contents together with the content usage time, the content usage time for a plurality of people can be assigned to all of the plurality of people.
[0042]
The fifth application example is an example of streaming broadcasting. According to the fifth application example, when the present invention is adapted to a streaming service, the content server 300 is replaced with a streaming server, and a time management mechanism is embedded in the streaming software or the like by plug-in or the like. Can be adapted to the content sales system and the content sales method.
[0043]
The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, the content sales system and content sales method of the present invention access a content server that manages content in order for a predetermined user to purchase and use predetermined content from a user terminal. The server makes the content available to the user in response to the access and starts managing the available time with a pre-allocated charge, and purchases the content by other users within the time the user can use the content. Manage presence or absence. In this separate purchaser presence / absence management, when there is a new purchaser of content, the available time within the charge for the user is extended from the predetermined available time. As a result, when a new user is generated in addition to the predetermined user, the use can be continued even after a predetermined available time has passed by extending the available time purchased by the predetermined user. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a content sales system of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure of the content sales method of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of service usage of a content sales system and a content sales method.
[Explanation of symbols]
100 User terminal A
101 User terminal B
200 Internet Network 300 Content Server 301 Content Control Function Unit 302 Time Management Function Unit 400 Content DB
500 Billing member management server 501 Billing management function unit 600 User management DB

Claims (8)

A content server having a content control function unit that requests / receives content from a content database that stores content and transmits the content to the user terminal, and a time management function unit that calculates and sets the content available time of the user , And a billing member management server having a billing management function unit for writing / reading purchase information to / from a user management database for storing billing information and time information for each user , connected to the user terminal via the Internet network A content sales system,
The content server
The charging member management including writing of charging information into the user management database by the charging management function unit and transmission of charging completion information to the content server based on a purchase request received from the user terminal via the Internet network A purchase instruction to the server and transmission by the content control function unit of content that can be used only for the time set by the time management function unit ,
When another user purchases the same content after purchasing the content, the time management function unit changes the content usage end time of the user to the content usage end time of the other user, and the content A content sales system in which a control function unit allows the content to be used until the content usage end time of the other user . The user who can use the content until the content usage end time of the other user is a user who purchased the same content before the other user who is using the same content in parallel. The content sales system according to 1. A user who can use the content until the content usage end time of the other user is a user who has used the content when a new user who has purchased the content appears within the content usage time. The content sales system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The content sales system according to claim 3 , wherein a time period during which the content can be used until the other user's content use end time is variable in accordance with the number of new users who have purchased the content. A content server having a content control function unit that requests / receives content from a content database that stores content and transmits the content to the user terminal, and a time management function unit that calculates and sets the content available time of the user, And a billing member management server having a billing management function unit for writing / reading purchase information to / from a user management database for storing billing information and time information for each user, connected to the user terminal via the Internet network A content sales method in the content sales system,
In the content server,
By the content control module unit, to together the corresponding access content purchase from the user terminal by the user to enable use of the content of the user, by the time management function unit, the purchase of the content from the user terminal A usage time management step of creating content usage time information based on the information and managing the content usage time information ;
A separate purchaser presence / absence management step for managing the presence / absence of the occurrence of an event for purchasing the same content by another user within the time when the user can use the content;
The content usage time based on the purchase information of the content in the usage time management step by the time management function unit when an event of the purchase of the content by the other user is recognized in the separate purchaser presence / absence management step A content sales method comprising: an available time extension processing step of changing information to content usage time information created by the usage time management step based on purchase of the same content by the other user . The user when the content usage time information is changed by the available time extension processing step is a user who purchased the same content before another user who is using the same content in parallel. The content sales method according to claim 5. The user when the content usage time information is changed by the available time extension processing step is a user who has used the content when a new user who has purchased the content appears within the usage time of the content. The content sales method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the content sales method is provided. 8. The content sales method according to claim 7 , wherein the content usage time information changed by the available time extension processing step is variable according to the number of new users who have purchased the content.

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