JP4690980B2 - Content distribution control system, location information server, content server, content requester device, location information program, content program, and content requester program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution control system, a location information server, a content server, a content requester device, a location information program, a content program, and a content requester program.

  2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of IP networks (Internet Protocol networks) and wider bandwidth, businesses such as service providers (SP: Service Provider) have been distributing a wide variety of content to users. . Among them, the “IP retransmission service” (content distribution that transmits the same program as terrestrial digital broadcasting over the IP network) emerged as one of the countermeasures for the hard-to-view households who cannot receive terrestrial digital broadcasting. Along with the broadcast stoppage, it is drawing attention rapidly.

  More specifically, the “IP retransmission service” generally employs a technique called IP multicast. In IP multicast, first, a content server that transmits a program transmits a multicast address assigned to each broadcast channel to a content requester device (receiver) identified by the IP address. Next, the content requester device (receiver) uses a protocol such as “Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP)” or “Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD)” for the multicast address assigned to the broadcast channel to be received. As a result, the data is transmitted to the routers constituting the IP network. Subsequently, the router determines a route for transmitting the IP packet between the routers based on the transmitted multicast address. As a result, the content requester device (receiver) receives a broadcast channel (program) to be received from the content server.

  Further, in Patent Document 1, a user who wants to connect to an incoming contractor is registered in advance on the network side, and when the connection is started, the incoming contractor selects a user to be connected from among the registered users. A technique is disclosed. According to such a method, for example, a content requester device (receiver) that desires to receive a program from a content server as an incoming subscriber is registered in advance on the network side, and triggered by the start of connection. However, the program is distributed to the registered content requester apparatus (receiver).

JP-A-7-321921

  By the way, in the above-described conventional technology, as will be described below, content distribution provided specifically for a region is distributed to content requester devices in other regions (devices that request content from a content server). There is a problem of providing it. That is, it is desirable that the “IP retransmission service” should have the same area as the content distribution target area (for example, prefecture) by the original radio wave as the content distribution target area because of the nature of content distribution as described above. The However, when the “IP retransmission service” is performed in the IP network, the content server transmits a program to the content requester device identified by the IP address. Content distribution in which a program is transmitted to a user device is also established, and there is a problem in that content distribution provided specifically for a region is provided to content requester devices in other regions.

  Further, according to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since a program is transmitted to a registered content requester device, the program is certainly transmitted to content requester devices all over the world identified by an IP address. For example, each time the content distribution target area is changed, the user registration on the network side must be changed for each individual user. It's not a solution. In addition, the above-mentioned problem is not limited to the “IP retransmission service” in which programs are provided specifically for the region, for example, “weather forecast service” in which detailed weather forecast information is provided specifically for the region, The same applies to other content distributions provided specifically for the region, such as “Disaster Information Service”, which provides quick disaster information specifically for the region.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and content distribution provided specifically for a region can be appropriately provided to a content requester device in the target region. An object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution control system, a position information server, a content server, a content requester device, a position information program, a content program, and a content requester program.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a content distribution of the content server in which the content requester device and the content server are communicably connected to distribute content to a predetermined content requester device. The location information server that is communicably connected to the content requester device is distributed to the content requester device in advance as information indicating the location of the content requester device. Position information holding means for holding position information, and position information transmission means for transmitting the position information held by the position information holding means to the content requester device in response to a request from the content requester device. The content requester device requests content delivery from the content server. A position information acquisition unit that acquires the position information from the position information holding unit when the content request is received at a predetermined input unit, and the position information acquisition unit when the content request is transmitted to the content server. Content request transmission means for adding the position information acquired by the content request to the content request and transmitting the content request, and when the content server receives the content request transmitted by the content request transmission means, Content distribution control means for controlling content distribution to the predetermined content requester apparatus using the position information added to the request is provided.

Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the content server further comprises determination information holding means for holding determination information for determining whether to permit content distribution from the position information, and the content distribution control means includes the content request By comparing the position information added to the determination information held by the determination information holding means, it is determined whether or not the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is permitted. Is obtained, the content delivery is controlled so as to deliver the content to the predetermined content requester device.

Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the content server further comprises content information holding means for holding information relating to correspondence between the position information and predetermined content specified from the position information, and the content distribution The control means distributes the predetermined content specified from the association held by the content information holding means and the position information added to the content request to the predetermined content requester device. It is characterized by controlling content distribution.

Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the position information holding means holds the position information in a verifiable format, and the position information acquisition means can verify the position information from the position information holding means. The content request transmitting unit adds the position information to the content request in a verifiable format and transmits the content request, and the content distribution control unit verifies the position information added to the content request. Then, content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is controlled.

Further, the present invention is the above-described invention, wherein a communication device other than the content requester device connected to be communicable with the content requester device is a user who uses the content requester device. User information holding means for holding user information regarding, wherein the position information acquisition means acquires the user information from the user information holding means in addition to the position information, and the content request transmission means includes: In addition to the location information, the user information is added to the content request for transmission, and the content distribution control unit receives the content request when the content request transmitted by the content request transmission unit is received. Content delivery to the predetermined content requester device using the user information added to And controlling.

Further, the present invention is the above invention, wherein the location information acquisition unit acquires the user information from the user information holding unit in a verifiable format, and the content request transmission unit acquires the user information. The content distribution control means verifies the user information added to the content request and controls the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device in a verifiable format. It is characterized by that.

Further, the present invention is a content distribution control system for controlling content distribution of a content server that connects a content requester device and a content server so that they can communicate with each other and distributes the content to a predetermined content requester device. The location information server communicatively connected to the content server includes location information holding means for holding location information preliminarily distributed to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device. When the content server receives a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server from the content requester device, the content server acquires the location information from the location information holding unit; and the location information acquisition When the position information is acquired by means, Characterized in that and a content distribution control means for controlling the content delivery to the predetermined content requestor device using a broadcast.

Further, the present invention provides the above-described invention, wherein a communication device other than the content requester device connected so as to be communicable with the content requester device or the content server is used for a user who uses the content requester device. User information holding means for holding user information, wherein the position information acquisition means acquires the user information from the user information holding means in addition to the position information, and the content distribution control means includes the position information Content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is controlled by further using the user information acquired by the information acquisition means.

The present invention is also a location information server that is communicably connected to a content requester device that transmits a content request for requesting content delivery and location information to the content server and receives the content delivery. Position information that is preliminarily distributed to the content requester device as information indicating the position of the content requester, and holds the position information transmitted from the content requester device to the content server; and the content In response to a request from the requester apparatus, the apparatus further comprises position information transmitting means for transmitting the position information held by the position information holding means to the content requester apparatus.

The present invention is also a content server that is communicably connected to a content requester device and distributes content to a predetermined content requester device, and receives a content request for content distribution from the content requester device. In response to a request from the content requester device, the location information server holds the location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device. Content that is acquired by the information server transmitting to the content requester device, and that controls content distribution to the predetermined content requester device using the location information added to the content request Delivery control means is provided.

Further, the present invention is a content requester device communicably connected to the content server for delivering content, when a content request that requests the content delivery to the content server accepts the predetermined input unit, those The location information server that holds the location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device requests the location information as information indicating the location of the content requester device, and the location information server responds to the request in response to the request. By transmitting to the content requester device, the location information acquisition means for acquiring the location information, and the location information acquired by the location information acquisition means when the content request is transmitted to the content server. Content request transmission means for transmitting in addition to the request. .

In addition, the present invention provides a position requesting a computer as a position information server to execute a method of communicably connecting to a content requester apparatus that receives a content distribution by transmitting a content request for requesting content distribution and position information to the content server. An information program, which is position information allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the position of the content requester device, and the position information transmitted from the content requester device to the content server A location information holding procedure for holding the location information, and a location information transmission procedure for transmitting the location information held by the location information holding procedure to the content requester device in response to a request from the content requester device. It is characterized by being executed by a computer as a server.

The present invention is also a content program that is communicably connected to a content requester device and causes a computer as a content server to execute a method of distributing content to a predetermined content requester device, and requests content distribution. the content request when receiving from the content requester apparatus, as information indicating the position of the content requester device, from the location information server for holding position information that has been distributed in advance to the content requester device, the content request The location information acquired by the location information server transmitting to the content requester device in response to a request from the requester device, the predetermined content using the location information added to the content request Content distribution that controls content distribution to requester devices Characterized in that to execute a control procedure in the computer as the content server.

Further, the present invention is a content requester program that causes a computer as a content requester device to execute a method of being communicably connected to a content server that distributes content, and that requests a content distribution from the content server to upon receiving a predetermined input unit, the location information server for holding position information that has been distributed in advance to the person the content requester apparatus, the location information requested as information indicating the position of the content requester device The position information server transmits the position information to the content requester apparatus in response to the request, the position information acquisition procedure for acquiring the position information, and the position information when transmitting the content request to the content server. The location information acquired by the acquisition procedure is included in the content request. A content request transmission procedure for pressurization and send, characterized in that to be executed by a computer as a content requestor device.

According to the present invention, there is provided a content distribution control system for controlling content distribution of a content server that connects a content requester device and a content server so as to be communicable and distributes content to a predetermined content requester device. The location information server connected to be communicable with the requester device holds location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device. When a content request for requesting content distribution is received at a predetermined input unit, the position information is acquired, and when the content request is transmitted to the content server, the position information is added to the content request and transmitted. When content requests that have been sent are received, Since the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is controlled using the position information added to the request, the content server uses the location information (for example, administrative divisions, prefectures, etc.) allocated in advance to the content requester device. Location information), and the location information transmitted from the content requester device added to the content request is used to control content delivery. It is possible to appropriately provide the content requester device.

Further, according to the present invention , the content server holds the determination information for determining whether or not the content distribution is permitted from the position information, and compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information. The content distribution is controlled so that the content is distributed to a predetermined content requester device when the permission of content distribution is determined by the determination and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination. By not providing the content distribution to the content requester apparatus outside the target area, it is possible to appropriately provide the content requester apparatus in the target area.

Further, according to the present invention , the content server holds information related to the correspondence between the position information and the predetermined content specified from the position information, and from the held correspondence and the position information added to the content request. Since the content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the predetermined content to be specified to the predetermined content requester device, the content distribution provided specifically for the region is specified from the region of the content requester device. By providing, it becomes possible to provide appropriately to the content requester apparatus in the target area.

Further, according to the present invention , the location information server holds the location information in a verifiable format, and the content requester device acquires the location information in a verifiable format, and the content in a format in which the location information can be verified. In addition to the request, the content server verifies the location information added to the content request and controls the content distribution to the predetermined content requester apparatus. Based on the highly reliable position information, the content requester device in the target area can appropriately provide the information.

Further, according to the present invention , the communication device other than the content requester device or the content requester device connected so as to be communicable with the content requester device holds user information regarding a user who uses the content requester device. The content requester device acquires user information in addition to the location information, transmits the content request with the user information added to the content request, and the content server receives the transmitted content request. At this time, since the user information added to the content request is further used to control the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device, the content distribution provided specifically for the region is transferred to the content requester device in the target region. Not only can it be provided appropriately, but also content distribution can be controlled based on user information

Further, according to the present invention , the content requester device acquires the user information from the user information holding unit in a verifiable format, and transmits the user information in a verifiable format added to the content request. Since the content server verifies the user information added to the content request and controls the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device, the content server provides the content distribution specialized for the region to the content requester device in the target region. Content delivery can be controlled based on highly reliable user information.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided a content distribution control system for controlling content distribution of a content server that connects a content requester device and a content server so as to communicate with each other and distributes content to a predetermined content requester device. The location information server communicatively connected to the content server holds location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device. When receiving a content request requesting distribution from the content requester device, the position information is acquired, and when the position information is acquired, the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is controlled using the position information. In the content server, the content requester device Since the location information is classified (for example, location information of administrative divisions, prefectures, etc.) and content delivery is controlled using location information added to the content request from the content requester device and transmitted. Thus, it becomes possible to appropriately provide the content distribution provided specifically for the region to the content requester device in the target region.

Further, according to the present invention , the communication device other than the content requester device communicably connected to the content requester device or the content server holds the user information related to the user who uses the content requester device, and The server acquires user information in addition to the location information, and further controls the content distribution to a predetermined content requester device using the acquired user information. Not only can it be appropriately provided to the content requester apparatus in the target area, but also content distribution can be controlled based on user information.

  Exemplary embodiments of a content distribution control system, a location information server, a content server, a content requester device, a location information program, a content program, and a content requester program according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. . In the following, a content distribution control system including a location information server, a content server, and a content requester device will be described as an example. In the following, main terms used in the embodiment, outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment, configuration of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment, and processing of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment The procedure and the effects of the first embodiment will be described in order, and then the other embodiments will be described.

[Explanation of terms]
First, main terms used in the following examples will be described. “Content distribution” means “content server” that is operated by a service provider (SP: Service Provide) or the like on a network such as an IP network (Internet Protocol network) and holds “content”. This is a service for distributing “content” to “content requester apparatus” on the network. The “content” refers to digital data such as news, television programs, music, movies, novels, and comics, and digital data such as portal sites and company top pages.

  In the following embodiments, devices such as personal computers and information appliances that request content distribution are referred to as “content requester devices”, and general-purpose computer devices that distribute content to “content requester devices” are referred to as “content requester devices”. It is called a “server”. In other words, the “content distribution control system” means that a “content requester device” that requests content distribution and a “content server” that distributes content are communicably connected on a network, and the content of the “content server” A system that controls distribution.

  Here, “content distribution” is classified into “content distribution” provided without specializing in a region and “content distribution” provided specially in a region according to the nature. Specifically, for example, “content distribution” such as a normal “music distribution service” that distributes music as content is “content distribution” provided without specializing in a region. is there. On the other hand, for example, “content distribution” such as “IP re-transmission service” is preferably set to the same area as the content distribution target area by the original radio wave. “Content distribution” provided specially, and for example, “content distribution” such as “weather forecast service” provides detailed weather forecast information specialized for the region. “Content distribution” provided specifically for

  In this way, “content distribution” provided specifically for a region is, for example, “IP retransmission service”, in the “content server” so that content is not distributed to content requester devices outside the target region. Content distribution must be controlled. Also, for example, in the case of “weather forecast service”, content distribution is performed in the “content server” so that a “weather forecast service” specialized for that area is distributed to the content requester device in the specific area. Must be controlled. For this reason, in the “content distribution control system”, it is important to control the content distribution so that the content of the “content server” is distributed to a predetermined “content requester device”.

[Outline and Features of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 1]
Next, the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment. In the following embodiment, a content distribution control system including one “location information server”, one “content server”, and one “content requester device” will be described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to other configurations such as a content distribution control system including one “location information server”, a plurality of “content servers”, and one “content requester device”. The same can be applied.

  In the following embodiments, a description will be given on the assumption that a location information server, a content server, and a content requester device are connected to an IP network (Internet Protocol network) as the Internet. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The location information server is connected to the IP network as the Internet, the content server and the content requester device are connected to the IP network as the telephone network, and the location information server is connected to the IP network as the Internet. A configuration in which a content server and a content requester device are connected to a public switched telephone network, a location information server is connected to an IP network as the Internet, a content server is connected to a public switched telephone network, and content is connected to a mobile communication network. The location information server and the connection to the requester's device connection and the IP network as the Internet Ceiling server and connects, and configuration content requester apparatus to the mobile communication network is connected, in such other configurations, it is possible to apply the present invention likewise.

  As described above, the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment controls the content distribution of the content server that distributes the content to the predetermined content requester device by connecting the content requester device and the content server so that they can communicate with each other. The main feature is that content distribution provided in a specific area is appropriately provided to a content requester device in the target area.

  Briefly describing this main feature, the location information server of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment is distributed in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device, as shown in FIG. A position information database (corresponding to “position information holding means” described in the claims). For example, the location information database of the location information server includes location information such as “section A” that is allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device when contracting for an Internet service. It is stored as the location information of the content requester device identified by the IP address “10.10.XX”.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the content server of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment has a determination information database (determination information database for storing determination information for determining whether content distribution is permitted or not from position information). Corresponding to “determination information holding means”. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the determination information database of the content server holds determination information for determining whether or not the content distribution is permitted from the position information “section A”.

  In the following embodiments, a method of holding “section A” indicating a content distribution target area or the like as position information has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a prefecture The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where other position information such as position information to be identified and position information by latitude and longitude is held. In the embodiment, for convenience of explanation, an IP address “10.10.X.X” or the like is described. However, in actuality, this is a general IP address that is issued from a telecommunications carrier, and includes numbers and alphabets. There is no special meaning.

  With such a configuration, the content requester apparatus according to the first embodiment first receives location information from the location information database of the location information server when a content request for requesting content delivery from the content server is received by the input unit. Obtain (see (1) in FIG. 1). For example, the content requester apparatus according to the first embodiment registers the address of the content server (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) in the Web browser in advance, and when this address is clicked by the mouse, for example. It is assumed that a program such as a bookmarklet is incorporated so as to acquire position information from the position information server. Therefore, the content requester device acquires location information such as “section A” from the location information server when the address of the content server is clicked with the mouse.

  Next, when transmitting the content request to the content server, the content requester device adds the acquired position information to the content request and transmits the content request (see (2) in FIG. 1). For example, the content requester device transmits position information such as “section A” to the content request.

  Then, when the content server receives the content request, the content server compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held in the determination information database to determine whether the content requester is permitted to distribute the content. If the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination, the content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the content to the content requester apparatus (see (3) in FIG. 1).

  For example, the content server compares the position information “section A” added to the content request with the determination information (determination information for determining whether content distribution is “permitted” from the position information “section A”). When it is determined whether or not content distribution is permitted for the content requester device, the content server obtains permission for content distribution. As a result, the content server controls the content distribution so as to distribute the content to the content requester device.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the position information added to the content request is “section A” has been described. For example, the position information allocated in advance to the content requester device is “section B”. When the location information added to the content request is “section B”, the result that the content server does not obtain permission for content distribution by comparing the position information “section B” with the determination information. The content server controls the content distribution so that the content is not distributed to the content requester device.

  In this way, the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment does not provide content distribution specifically provided for a region to a content requester device outside the target region, thereby allowing the content requester device in the target region to It becomes possible to provide appropriately.

[Configuration of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 1]
Next, the configuration of the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment includes the location information server 100, the content server 200, and the content requester device 300, the location information server 100, the content server 200, and the content requester are described below. The apparatus 300 will be described in order. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the location information server in the first embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the location information holding unit, and FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of the content server in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the determination information holding unit, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the content requester apparatus according to the first embodiment.

[Location Information Server 100]
The location information server 100 according to the first embodiment is communicably connected to the content requester device 300 and is, for example, a general-purpose computer that operates an RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management System) program, and is particularly closely related to the present invention. As related items, as shown in FIG. 2, a communication unit 111, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130 are provided.

  The communication unit 111 includes a general interface and library for IP (Internet Protocol) communication, and transmits and receives control messages and data to and from the content requester device 300. Specifically, the communication unit 111 transmits a position information request (position information to the content requester device 300) that the content requester device 300 transmits to the position information server 100 between the position information server 100 and the content requester device 300. Message requesting the location information server 100 to transmit to the location information server 100), location information acquired by the content requester device 300 from the location information server 100, and the like.

  The storage unit 120 stores data used for various controls in the control unit 130. In particular, the storage unit 120 includes a position information holding unit 121 as shown in FIG. The position information holding unit 121 corresponds to “position information holding unit” recited in the claims.

  The position information holding unit 121 holds position information of the content requester device 300. Specifically, the position information holding unit 121 holds position information allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 as information indicating the position of the content requester device 300, and the held position information is communication control described later. This is used for processing by the unit 131.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the position information holding unit 121 holds an IP address and the position information of the content requester device 300 in association with each other as identification information for identifying the content requester device 300. 3, the position information holding unit 121 associates the content requester device 300 identified by the IP address “10.10.X.X” with the position information “section A”. Hold. For example, the location information holding unit 121 uses the location information such as “section A” allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 when the Internet service contract is made. Received from the user (or the telecommunications carrier uses the Internet line to which the content requester device 300 is connected to extract legitimate location information in which the content requester device 300 is accommodated) ) Is held.

  In the first embodiment, the position information holding unit 121 holds the position information as a method for holding the position information. However, the present invention describes a method in which the position information holding unit 121 holds the position information at the time of an Internet service contract. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, when an Internet service contract is changed when a user who uses the content requester device 300 moves to a different area, or when the content requester device 300 is activated (for example, a content request For example, a user using the content requester device 300 may register the location information in the location information holding unit 121 when the user device 300 is activated, and the location information holding unit 121 may hold the location information. The present invention can be similarly applied.

  In the first embodiment, the method of holding “section A” meaning a content distribution target area or the like as position information has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a prefecture is identified. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case of holding other position information such as position information to be performed and position information by latitude and longitude. In the first embodiment, the position information holding unit 121 has described the method of holding the IP address as information for identifying the content requester device 300. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, Other information such as a credit card number of a user who uses the content requester apparatus 300 may be used. In this case, the content requester device 300 includes such information in the position information request transmitted to the position information server 100.

  The control unit 130 performs various controls in the location information server 100, and particularly includes a communication control unit 131 as shown in FIG.

  The communication control unit 131 includes a general library for HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) communication, and controls transmission and reception of control messages and data with the content requester device 300. Specifically, the communication control unit 131 receives a location information request for requesting the location information server 100 to “transmit location information to the content requester device 300” from the content requester device 300 using HTTP. Or the position information held by the position information holding unit 121 is transmitted to the content requester apparatus 300 by HTTP.

[Content Server 200]
The content server 200 according to the first embodiment is a general-purpose computer or the like that is communicably connected to the content requester device 300. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 211, a storage unit 220, and a control unit 230.

  The communication unit 211 includes a general interface and library for IP communication, and transmits and receives control messages and data to and from the content requester device 300. Specifically, the communication unit 211 sends a content request (message requesting content delivery to the content server 200) that the content requester device 300 transmits to the content server 200 between the content server 200 and the content requester device 300. Send and receive etc.

  The storage unit 220 stores data used for various controls in the control unit 230, and particularly as closely related to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 4, a position information temporary storage unit 221 and a determination information storage unit 222. The determination information holding unit 222 corresponds to “determination information holding means” described in the claims.

  The position information temporary holding unit 221 temporarily holds the position information acquired from the content requester device 300. Specifically, the position information temporary storage unit 221 temporarily stores the position information acquired from the content requester device 300 by the position information acquisition unit 232 described later, and the stored position information is the content distribution control described later. This is used for processing by the unit 233. For example, the position information temporary holding unit 221 holds position information such as “section A” shown in FIG. Note that the location information held by the location information temporary holding unit 221 is used for processing by the content distribution control unit 233 and then appropriately deleted, or a method for holding for a certain period, or the like. As long as the method is used, the length of the period for holding the position information may be any.

  The determination information holding unit 222 holds determination information for determining whether or not content distribution is permitted based on position information. Specifically, the determination information holding unit 222 holds the determination information in advance, and the held determination information is used for processing by the content distribution control unit 233 described later.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the determination information holding unit 222 holds position information and content distribution permission / inhibition in association with each other. Referring to the first line in FIG. 5, if the position information of the content requester device 300 that has transmitted the content request to the content server 200 is “section A”, the determination information holding unit 222 determines whether or not the content distribution is permitted. The determination information for determining “possible” is shown. Further, the second line in FIG. 5 will be described. When the position information of the content requester device 300 that has transmitted the content request to the content server 200 is “section B”, the determination information holding unit 222 performs content distribution. Judgment information for determining whether the permission is “impossible” is shown.

  Here, the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222 is held in advance according to the content distribution target area or the like. However, when the content distribution target area is changed, the determination information is also changed. Become. That is, for example, “if the location information of the content requester device 300 that transmitted the content request to the content server 200 is“ section A ”, the content distribution permission is determined as“ impossible ””. If the target area is changed, the determination information holding unit 222 changes the determination information so as to hold “section A” and “content distribution impossible” in association with each other.

  In the first embodiment, a method has been described in which the determination information holding unit 222 holds the position information and content distribution permission / inhibition in association with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content information is determined based on the position information. Any database construction method may be used as long as it holds determination information for determining whether or not to permit distribution.

  In the first embodiment, “section A” is exemplified as the position information, and the same position information as the position information held by the position information holding unit 121 of the position information server 100 is held by the determination information holding unit 222. Although the method has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position information held by the position information holding unit 121 of the position information server 100 and the position information held by the determination information holding unit 222 are not necessarily limited. The location information need not be the same. For example, even if the position information held by the position information holding unit 121 is “section A” and the position information held by the determination information holding unit 222 is “Tokyo-ku-ku-ku”, the position information “section A” Determination information for determining whether content distribution is permitted or not (for example, if “Tokyo xxx ward” includes “sector A” separately, whether or not content delivery is permitted from “Tokyo xxx ward”) Position information held by the position information holding unit 121 and the position information held by the determination information holding unit 222 are different position information. Good.

  The control unit 230 performs various controls in the content server 200, and particularly those closely related to the present invention include a communication control unit 231, a position information acquisition unit 232, and a content distribution control unit as shown in FIG. 233. The content distribution control unit 233 corresponds to “content distribution control means” described in the claims.

  The communication control unit 231 includes a general library for HTTP communication, and controls transmission and reception of control messages and data with the content requester device 300. Specifically, the communication control unit 231 performs general HTTP communication when the content requester device 300 transmits a content request to the content server 200 between the content server 200 and the content requester device 300. Data transmission and reception is controlled by a simple library.

  The location information acquisition unit 232 acquires location information from the content requester device 300. Specifically, the position information acquisition unit 232 acquires the position information added to the content request transmitted from the content requester device 300, and temporarily stores the acquired position information in the position information temporary storage unit 221. Let

  The content distribution control unit 233 controls content distribution to the content requester device 300 using the position information. Specifically, the content distribution control unit 233 compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222 when the content server 200 receives the content request. Thus, whether or not content distribution to the content requester device 300 is permitted is determined, and when the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination, the content stored in the storage unit (not shown) is distributed to the content requester device 300. Control content delivery.

  For example, when the content distribution control unit 233 receives the content request, the content server 200 receives the position information “section A” added to the content request and the determination information (position information “section information” in the first line in FIG. 5). A determination is made as to whether or not content distribution is permitted to the content requester apparatus 300 by comparing the content distribution permission / inhibition information from “A” with the determination information that determines whether or not the content distribution is permitted. The distribution control unit 233 controls content distribution so that the content is distributed to the content requester device 300.

  Further, for example, when the position information allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 is “section B” and the position information added to the content request is “section B”, the content distribution control unit 233. However, by comparing the position information “section B” with the determination information shown in the second line of FIG. 5 (determination information for determining whether or not content distribution is “impossible” from the position information “section B”), As a result that the distribution permission is not obtained, the content distribution control unit 233 controls the content distribution so that the content is not distributed to the content requester device 300.

[Content Requester Device 300]
The content requester device 300 according to the first embodiment is a device (personal computer, information home appliance, etc.) having a function of using an Internet service, and particularly as closely related to the present invention, as shown in FIG. , An input unit 311, an output unit 312, an input / output control I / F unit 313, a communication unit 314, a storage unit 320, and a control unit 330.

  The input unit 311 inputs data used for various processes by the control unit 330, operation instructions for performing various processes, and the like using a keyboard or a mouse. Specifically, the input unit 311 accepts an input by a user of a content request using a keyboard, and activates a position information acquisition unit 332 described later.

  The output unit 312 outputs the results of various processes by the control unit 330 and operation instructions for performing various processes to a display, a speaker, a printer, or the like.

  The input / output control I / F unit 313 controls data transfer among the input unit 311, the output unit 312, the communication unit 314, the storage unit 320, and the control unit 330.

  The communication unit 314 includes a general interface and library for IP communication, and transmits and receives control messages and data to and from the location information server 100 and the content server 200. Specifically, the communication unit 314 performs a position information request transmitted from the content requester apparatus 300 to the position information server 100 between the content requester apparatus 300 and the position information server 100, or the position of the content requester apparatus 300. The location information acquired from the information server 100 is transmitted and received. Further, the communication unit 314 transmits / receives a content request or the like transmitted from the content requester device 300 to the content server 200 between the content requester device 300 and the content server 200.

  The storage unit 320 stores data used for various controls in the control unit 330, and particularly includes a position information temporary holding unit 321 as shown in FIG.

  The position information temporary holding unit 321 temporarily holds the position information acquired from the position information server 100. Specifically, the position information temporary storage unit 321 temporarily stores the position information acquired from the position information server 100 by the position information acquisition unit 332 described later, and the stored position information is a content request transmission unit described later. 333 is used for processing by 333. For example, the position information temporary holding unit 321 holds position information such as “section A” shown in FIG. Note that the location information held by the location information temporary holding unit 321 is used for processing by the content request transmission unit 333 and then appropriately deleted, or a method for holding for a certain period, or the like. As long as the method is used, the length of the period for holding the position information may be any.

  The control unit 330 performs various controls in the content requester apparatus 300, and particularly those closely related to the present invention include a communication control unit 331, a position information acquisition unit 332, a content request, as shown in FIG. A transmission unit 333. The position information acquisition unit 332 corresponds to the “position information acquisition unit” described in the claims, and the content request transmission unit 333 corresponds to the “content request transmission unit” described in the claims.

  The communication control unit 331 includes a general library for HTTP communication, and controls transmission and reception of control messages and data with the location information server 100 and the content server 200. Specifically, the communication control unit 331 is configured when the content requester device 300 transmits a location information request to the location information server 100 between the content requester device 300 and the location information server 100, or when the content requester device 300 When the location information is acquired from the location information server 100, transmission / reception is controlled by a general library for HTTP communication. The communication control unit 331 uses a general library for HTTP communication when the content requester device 300 transmits a content request to the content server 200 between the content requester device 300 and the content server 200. Control transmission and reception.

  The position information acquisition unit 332 acquires position information from the position information server 100. Specifically, the position information acquisition unit 332 acquires position information from the position information server 100 when the input unit 311 receives a content request for requesting content distribution, and temporarily stores the acquired position information. The part 321 is temporarily held.

  Here, in the content requester apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment, the address of the content server 200 (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)) is registered in the Web browser in advance, and this address is clicked by the mouse. In this case, it is assumed that a program such as a bookmarklet is incorporated so as to acquire position information from the position information server 100. Then, for example, when the address of the content server 200 is clicked with the mouse, the location information acquisition unit 332 requests the location information server 100 to “send location information to the content requester device 300”. An information request is transmitted to the position information server 100 by HTTP, and position information is received from the position information server 100 by HTTP.

  In the first embodiment, the content requester device 300 has been described with a method in which a program such as a bookmarklet is incorporated so that the position information acquisition unit 332 acquires position information from the position information server 100. The present invention is not limited to this, and a content requester such as a method in which the content server 200 is redirected to acquire position information from the position information server 100 when the content requester device 300 accesses the content server 200. As long as the apparatus 300 receives the content request at the input unit 311 and acquires the position information from the position information server 100, any implementation method may be used.

  The content request transmission unit 333 transmits the position information added to the content request. Specifically, the content request transmission unit 333 is the position information acquired by the position information acquisition unit 332 when transmitting the content request to the content server 200, and the position stored in the position information temporary storage unit 321. Information is added to the content request and transmitted.

  For example, the content request transmission unit 333 first receives a content request from the location information server 100 by the location information acquisition unit 332 every time the content requester device 300 receives a content request by clicking the address of the content server 200 with a mouse. Next, the content request transmission unit 333 transmits the acquired position information by embedding it in a Web page transmitted to the content server 200.

  In the first embodiment, the method in which the position information is acquired from the position information server 100 and transmitted to the content server 200 each time a content request is received by the content requester apparatus 300 has been described. For example, if a valid period is specified in the position information acquired by the content requester device 300 from the position information server 100 and held in the position information temporary holding unit 321, the content requester apparatus 300 may be within the valid period. For example, the content request transmission unit 333 can similarly apply the present invention to a method of transmitting the position information already stored in the position information temporary storage unit 321 to the content server 200.

[Processing Procedure by Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 1]
Next, a processing procedure by the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure performed by the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, a configuration in which the location information server 100, the content server 200, and the content requester device 300 are connected to an IP network (Internet Protocol network) serving as the Internet will be described. 200 and the content requester apparatus 300 are premised on HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) communication, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations and other communication are premised. In addition, the present invention can be similarly applied.

  In addition, the location information server 100 according to the first embodiment includes a location information holding unit 121 that holds location information that is allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 as information indicating the location of the content requester device 300. For example, the location information holding unit 121 uses the IP address as the location information such as “section A” allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 as information indicating the location of the content requester device 300 when an Internet service contract is made. It is held as position information of the content requester apparatus 300 identified by “10.10.X.X”.

  Further, the content server 200 according to the first embodiment includes a determination information holding unit 222 that holds determination information for determining whether or not content distribution is permitted based on position information. For example, the determination information holding unit 222 of the content server 200 holds determination information for determining whether content distribution is permitted or not from the position information “section A”. Further, for example, the determination information holding unit 222 of the content server 200 holds determination information for determining whether or not the content distribution is permitted or not from the position information “section B”.

  First, the content requester device 300 receives a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server 200 at the input unit 311 (step S1). Next, the content requester device 300 transmits a position information request to the position information server 100 (step S2). For example, the content requester device 300 sends a content request for requesting the location information server 100 to “send location information to the content requester device 300” to the location information server 100 in the location information acquisition unit 332. And transmit using HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

  Then, the content requester device 300 acquires position information from the position information server 100 (step S3). For example, the content requester apparatus 300 acquires the position information “section A” from the position information server 100 by using the HTTP in the position information acquisition unit 332.

  Subsequently, when transmitting the content request to the content server 200, the content requester device 300 adds the acquired position information to the content request and transmits it (step S4). For example, the content requester device 300 transmits the position information in the content request transmission unit 333 by embedding the position information in a Web page transmitted to the content server 200.

  Then, when the content server 200 receives the content request, the content server 200 compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222, so that the content server 200 can obtain the content. It is determined whether or not the distribution is permitted, and the content distribution is controlled so that the content is distributed to the content requester device 300 when the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination (step S5).

  For example, when the content server 200 receives the content request at the content distribution control unit 233, the position information “section A” and the determination information (position information “section A” indicating whether the content distribution is permitted or not) added to the content request. When the content distribution permission to the content requester device 300 is determined by comparing the content information with the determination information for determining “OK”, the content distribution control unit obtains the content distribution permission as a result of the determination. In 233, the content distribution is controlled, and the content is distributed to the content requester apparatus 300 by a communication protocol such as RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) (step S6).

  In the first embodiment, the case where the position information added to the content request is “section A” has been described. However, for example, the position information allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 is “section B”. When the position information added to the content request is “section B”, the content server 200 compares the position information “section B” with the determination information in the content distribution control unit 233. As a result of the content distribution permission not being obtained, the content server 200 causes the content distribution control unit 233 to control the content distribution so that the content requester device 300 is not distributed.

  In this way, the content distribution control system according to the first embodiment does not provide content distribution specifically provided for a region to a content requester device outside the target region, thereby allowing the content requester device in the target region to It becomes possible to provide appropriately.

[Effect of Example 1]
As described above, according to the first embodiment, the content requester device and the content server are communicably connected to each other, and the content distribution of the content server that distributes the content to the predetermined content requester device is controlled. A position information server that is a control system and is communicably connected to a content requester device holds position information that is allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the position of the content requester device, The requester device acquires position information when a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server is received at a predetermined input unit, and adds the position information to the content request when transmitting the content request to the content server. And the content server sends the transmitted content request Since the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device is controlled using the position information added to the content request when the information is received, the content server assigns the position information (for example, the content requester device). Location information such as administrative divisions and prefectures), and content delivery is controlled by using location information added to the content request from the content requester device and transmitted. Distribution can be appropriately provided to the content requester device in the target area.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, the content server holds determination information for determining whether or not content distribution is permitted from the position information, and compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information, thereby determining the predetermined content. The content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the content to a predetermined content requester device when the content distribution permission to the requester device is determined and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination. By not providing the provided content distribution to the content requester device outside the target region, it is possible to appropriately provide the content requester device in the target region.

  Explaining with a specific example, when “IP retransmission service” is performed in a network such as an IP network, it is different from a conventional method in which a program is transmitted to a content requester device identified by an IP address. The content server is location information (for example, location information of administrative divisions, prefectures, etc.) that has been allocated to the content requester device in advance, and is sent from the content requester device in addition to the content request. Since the content distribution is controlled by using the IP, the same area as the content distribution target area by the original radio wave is desired to be the content distribution target area. The content distribution provided in the target area is not provided to content requester devices outside the target area. Suitably it is possible to provide the Ntsu claimant device.

  By the way, as a first embodiment so far, the location information server does not hold the location information of the content requester device in a verifiable format (or even if the location information server holds the location information in a verifiable format). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the position information server holds the position information in a verifiable format and verifies the position information in the content server. The present invention can be similarly applied to the technique. In the following, as a second embodiment, a method in which the position information server holds the position information in a verifiable format and the position information is verified in the content server will be described.

[Outline and Features of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 2]
First, the outline and characteristics of the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment.

  The main characteristics of the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 8, the location information server of the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment is a content requester as in the first embodiment. As information indicating the position of the apparatus, a position information database that holds position information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester apparatus is provided. Unlike the first embodiment, the position information is stored in a verifiable format. For example, the position information database of the position information server uses, as information indicating the position of the content requester device, position information such as “section A” allocated in advance to the content requester device, with an electronic signature attached by the position information server. Stored in SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) format.

  With this configuration, the content requester device according to the second embodiment first detects the location of the location information server when the input unit receives a content request for content delivery from the content server, as in the first embodiment. The position information is acquired from the information database. Unlike the first embodiment, the position information is acquired in a verifiable format (see (1) in FIG. 8). For example, the content requester device acquires location information such as “section A” in the SAML format with an electronic signature by the location information server.

  Next, as in the first embodiment, the content requester device transmits the content request to the content server by adding the acquired position information to the content request. Is added to the content request in a verifiable format and transmitted (see (2) in FIG. 8). For example, the content requester device adds location information such as “section A” to the content request in the SAML format with an electronic signature by the location information server and transmits the content request.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, when the content server receives the content request, the content server compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held in the determination information database, thereby The content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the content to the content requester apparatus when the content distribution permission is determined and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination, but unlike the first embodiment, the position information is verified. The content distribution is controlled (see (3) in FIG. 8).

  For example, in the content server, it is verified that the location information is surely issued from the location information server as a fact about the location information (verification that the location information is guaranteed by the location information server), and It is verified that the location information has not been tampered with. It is also verified that the location information server does not deny the fact that the location information has been transmitted. After that, when the content server determines whether or not the content requester device permits content distribution by comparing the verified location information “section A” with the determination information, the content distribution permission is obtained as a result of the determination. The server controls the content distribution so as to distribute the content to the content requester device.

  In this way, the content delivery control system according to the second embodiment appropriately provides content delivery provided specifically for a region by a content requester device in the target region based on highly reliable location information. It becomes possible.

[Configuration of Content Distribution Control System According to Second Embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the content server in the second embodiment, FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining location information in a verifiable format, and FIG. 11 is a location information server public key holding unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the content distribution control unit. Here, the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment includes the position information server 100, the content server 200, and the content requester device 300 as in the first embodiment, but the position information server 100 holds the content distribution control system. The position information is in a verifiable format, the position information server public key holding unit 223 is added to the content server 200 (see FIGS. 4 and 9), and the like. Therefore, in the following, the position information in a verifiable format held by the position information server 100 and temporarily held in the content server 200 via the content requester device 300 is referred to as the position information of the content server 200. In addition to the description in the information temporary storage unit 221, the description of the devices and units configured almost in the same manner as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[Content Server 200]
The position information temporary holding unit 221 of the content server 200 in the second embodiment temporarily holds the position information acquired from the content requester device 300 as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the position information is temporarily stored. Store in a verifiable format. Specifically, the location information temporary storage unit 221 temporarily stores the location information acquired from the content requester device 300 by the location information acquisition unit 232 as in the first embodiment, and the stored location information is the content. Although used for processing by the distribution control unit 233, unlike the first embodiment, the location information acquired in a verifiable format is held.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the position information temporary holding unit 221 is position information that is preliminarily distributed to the content requester device 300 as information indicating the position of the content requester device 300, and the position information server 100. The position information in the format of SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) with the electronic signature is held. The position information shown in FIG. 10 will be briefly described. First, SAML is a protocol designed for the purpose of exchanging information for authentication with data described in XML (Extensible Markup Language). Therefore, all the position information shown in FIG. 10 is also described in XML. The part shown in (1) of FIG. 10 describes the version of the SAML assertion (providing the location information of the subject to be verified), the identification ID, the issuer, and the issue time specification. In addition, in the part shown in (2) of FIG. 10, designation of the validity period of this SAML assertion, designation of the recipient (Audience), and the like are described. Further, in the part shown in (3) of FIG. 10, authentication information called an authentication statement is described, and the position information in the present invention is described in the part shown in (3). Become. In the example of FIG. 10, “A” is described as the position information.

  In addition, an electronic signature called an XML signature is described in the part shown in (4) of FIG. This XML signature is arbitrary information in the SAML format. For example, if an electronic signature by the location information server 100 is attached as an XML signature, the content server 200 that acquires the location information in the SAML format As the facts regarding the information, it is surely the position information issued from the position information server 100, the position information has not been falsified, and the fact that the position information server 100 has transmitted the position information is not denied. Can be verified. In the second embodiment, the case where the position information temporary holding unit 221 holds the position information in the SAML format with the electronic signature by the position information server 100 has been described. For example, in the location information server 100, the location information is stored in the X.X format. If it is held in the format of the 509 certificate or the like, the position information temporary holding unit 221 displays the X.509 certificate. The present invention can be similarly applied to other formats such as holding position information in the format of a 509 certificate.

  The location information server public key holding unit 223 of the content server 200 according to the second embodiment holds the public key of the location information server 100. Specifically, the location information server public key holding unit 223 uses the location distribution control unit 233 (described later) to verify the facts regarding the location information received from the content requester device 300 in a verifiable format. The public key of the information server 100 is held, and the held public key is used for processing by the content distribution control unit 233.

  For example, the location information server public key holding unit 223 holds the identification information of the location information server 100 and the public key in association with each other as shown in FIG. In addition, the location information server public key holding unit 223 according to the second embodiment holds the public key of the reliable location information server 100 in advance. In the second embodiment, the method in which the location information server public key holding unit 223 holds the public key of the location information server 100 in advance has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content server 200 When the content distribution request is received from the content requester device 300, the content server 200 acquires the public key from the location information server 100, and after the content distribution is controlled in the content server 200, the acquired public key is discarded. -Any method that holds the public key may be used as long as the method conforms to the operation mode, such as a deletion method.

  The content distribution control unit 233 of the content server 200 in the second embodiment controls the connection to a predetermined receiver device specified from the position information, as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the first embodiment, the content distribution control unit 233 responds to the content distribution request. The added location information is verified to control content distribution.

  For example, the content distribution control unit 233 verifies the facts regarding the position information as shown in FIG. The verification method shown in FIG. 12 will be briefly described. First, the position information held in the position information temporary holding unit 221 is position information in the SAML format with an electronic signature by the position information server 100. In the SAML format position information, although it is arbitrary information, an electronic signature called an XML signature is described.

  In the example of FIG. 12, an electronic signature of the position information server 001 is described in the position information. As shown in FIG. 12, the content distribution control unit 233 first decrypts the digital signature of the location information server 001 with the public key held in the location information server public key holding unit 223. Then, the content distribution control unit 233 takes out the hash value of the position information. On the other hand, the content distribution control unit 233 calculates a hash value from the position information as shown in FIG. That is, two hash values of the hash value extracted from the electronic signature and the calculated hash value are acquired. The content distribution control unit 233 compares the two hash values and has the same hash value. Verify whether or not.

  When the two hash values are the same hash value, the content distribution control unit 233 is surely the position information issued from the position information server 100 as the fact regarding the position information (the position information is the position information server 100). It is possible to verify that the location information has not been tampered with. It can be verified that the location information server 100 does not deny the fact that the location information has been transmitted. In the second embodiment, the case where the position information temporary holding unit 221 holds the position information in the SAML format with the electronic signature by the position information server 100 and the content distribution control unit 233 verifies the electronic signature has been described. However, the format of the location information depends on the format in which the location information is stored in the location information server 100. For example, the location information is stored in the location information server 100 as X.X. If it is held in the format of the 509 certificate or the like, the content distribution control unit 233 displays the X. When the location information in the format of the 509 certificate is verified, the location information server 100 holds the location information in association with the address of the location information server 100 (for example, URL (Uniform Resource Locator)). If the content distribution control unit 233 holds in another format, such as when verifying by the method of verifying whether or not the location information exists at the address of the acquired location information server 100, the other format is used. The present invention can also be applied in the same way when verification is performed using a method adapted to the above.

[Processing Procedure by Content Distribution Control System According to Second Embodiment]
Next, a processing procedure performed by the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure performed by the content distribution control system according to the second embodiment.

  In addition, the position information server 100 according to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, includes a position information holding unit that holds position information that is allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 as information indicating the position of the content requester device 300. However, unlike the first embodiment, the position information is held in a verifiable format. For example, the position information holding unit 121 uses, as information indicating the position of the content requester device 300, position information such as “section A” allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 as SAML with an electronic signature by the position information server. Stored in the format of (Security Assertion Markup Language).

  First, the content requester device 300 accepts a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server 200 in the input unit 311 (step S1), as in the first embodiment. 1, a position information request is transmitted to the position information server 100 (step S <b> 2).

  The content requester device 300 acquires the position information from the position information server 100 as in the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the content requester apparatus 300 acquires the position information in a verifiable format (step S3). For example, the content requester device 300 acquires the position information “section A” in the position information acquisition unit 332 from the position information server 100 in the form of SAML with an electronic signature by the position information server 100 using HTTP.

  Subsequently, as in the first embodiment, the content requester device 300 transmits the content request to the content server 200 by adding the acquired location information to the content server 200. Unlike the first embodiment, The position information is added to the content request in a verifiable format and transmitted (step S4). For example, the content requester apparatus 300 transmits, in the content request transmission unit 333, position information in the SAML format with the electronic signature by the position information server 100 is embedded in a Web page transmitted to the content server 200.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, when the content server 200 receives the content request, the content server 200 compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222, thereby The content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the content to the content requester device 300 when the content distribution permission to the requester device 300 is determined and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination. In contrast, the position information added to the content request is verified to control content distribution (step S5).

  For example, the content server 200 determines whether or not the content distribution control unit 233 holds the public key of the location information server 100 in the location information server public key holding unit 223 when the content server 200 receives the content request. If it is confirmed and not held, or if the validity period of the public key has expired, the public key is acquired from the location information server 100 by HTTP (step S51 and step S52). Then, in the content distribution control unit 233, the content server 200 decrypts the electronic signature described in the location information with the public key of the location information server 100, extracts the hash value of the location information, and calculates the hash value from the location information. Then, the fact regarding the position information is verified by comparing the extracted hash value with the calculated hash value.

  Subsequently, in the content distribution control unit 233, the content distribution control unit 233 determines whether the content distribution is permitted or not based on the verified position information “section A” and determination information (position information “section A”). When the content distribution permission to the content requester apparatus 300 is determined by comparing the determination information with the determination information), the content distribution control unit 233 causes the content distribution control unit 233 to obtain the content distribution. And the content is distributed to the content requester device 300 by a communication protocol such as RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) (step S6).

  In this way, the content delivery control system according to the second embodiment appropriately provides content delivery provided specifically for a region by a content requester device in the target region based on highly reliable location information. It becomes possible.

[Effect of Example 2]
As described above, according to the second embodiment, the location information server holds the location information in a verifiable format, and the content requester device acquires the location information in a verifiable format and verifies the location information. It is added to the content request in a possible format and transmitted, and the content server verifies the location information added to the content request and controls the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device, so it is provided specifically for the region. Content distribution can be appropriately provided by the content requester device in the target area based on highly reliable location information.

  Specifically, when the content server acquires location information in the form of a certificate as a verifiable format, the content server will surely hold the location information held by the location information server as a fact about the location information. The location information obtained from the information database is verified (verification that the location information is guaranteed by the location information server), and it is verified that the location information has not been tampered with. By controlling the content distribution to the requester device, it is possible to appropriately provide the content distribution provided specifically for the region by the content requester device in the target region based on highly reliable location information. Become. It is also verified that the location information server does not deny the fact that the location information has been transmitted.

  By the way, as the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a method has been described in which the content requester device transmits only the location information to the content request and transmits the content request, and the location information is verified in the content server. In addition to the location information, the content requester device transmits the content request with user information related to the user added to the content request, and controls the content distribution by further using the user information in the content server. The present invention can be similarly applied to the technique. In the following, as the third embodiment, the content requester device transmits the content request with the user information related to the user added to the location information, and controls the content distribution by further using the user information in the content server. The method to do is explained.

[Outline and Features of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 3]
First, the outline and characteristics of the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment.

  The main features of the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 14, the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment is configured so that the location information server receives a content request as in the first embodiment. Unlike the first embodiment, the user information server uses the content requester device, in addition to a location information database that holds location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the requester device. A user information database (corresponding to the “user information holding means” described in the claims). For example, the user information database of the user information server identifies user information such as “age” and “gender” by IP address “10.10.XX” as user information related to the user. Stored as user information of a user who uses the content requester device.

  In the third embodiment, a method will be described in which a user information server provided in a telecommunications carrier or the like includes a user information database that holds user information related to a user who uses the content requester device. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention is similarly applied to a method in which another subject holds user information, such as a method in which the content requester device itself holds user information. Can do.

  With this configuration, the content requester device according to the third embodiment first detects the location of the location information server when the input unit receives a content request for requesting content delivery from the content server, as in the first embodiment. In addition to acquiring location information from the information database (see (1) -1 in FIG. 14), unlike the first embodiment, use of a user information server that holds user information related to users in addition to location information User information is acquired from the user information database (see (1) -2 in FIG. 14). For example, the content requester device acquires user information such as “age” and “sex” in addition to position information such as “section A”. In the third embodiment, for the convenience of explanation, “age”, “sex”, and the like are written, but in reality, information such as specific “age” and specific “sex” is used.

  Next, when transmitting a content request to the content server, the content requester device transmits the content request in addition to the content request when transmitting the content request to the content server. The user information is added to the request and transmitted (see (2) in FIG. 14). For example, the content requester device transmits user information such as “age” and “gender” to the content request in addition to the position information such as “section A”.

  Then, as in the first embodiment, when the content server receives the content request, the content server compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held in the determination information database, thereby In addition to controlling the content distribution so that the content distribution is distributed to the content requester device when the content distribution permission is determined and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination, the content distribution is added to the content request unlike the first embodiment. The content distribution is controlled by further using the user information thus obtained (see (3) in FIG. 14).

  For example, the content server compares the position information “section A” added to the content request with the determination information (determination information for determining whether content distribution is “permitted” from the position information “section A”). When it is determined whether content distribution is permitted or not for the content requester device, the content server obtains permission for content distribution. As a result, the content server controls the content distribution so as to distribute the content to the content requester device, and user information Confirm “age” or “gender” and control content distribution according to “age” or “gender” (for example, confirm that the age is not in conflict with the content distribution regulations, For example, distributing content suitable for “sex” as promotional content to be attached when distributing content).

  As described above, the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment can appropriately provide the content distribution provided specifically for the region to the content requester device in the target region. Content distribution can be controlled based on the user information.

[Configuration of Content Distribution Control System According to Third Embodiment]
Next, the configuration of the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a content server according to the third embodiment. Here, the content distribution control system according to the third embodiment includes a user information server in addition to the position information server 100, the content server 200, and the content requester device 300, as in the first embodiment. Consists of. Therefore, in the following, the user information held by the user information holding unit included in the user information server, which is temporarily held in the content server 200 via the content requester device 300, The user information temporary holding unit 224 of the content server 200 will be described. In addition, description of devices and units configured in substantially the same manner as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

[Content Server 200]
The user information temporary holding unit 224 of the content server 200 in the third embodiment temporarily holds user information acquired from the content requester device 300. Specifically, the user information temporary storage unit 224 temporarily stores the user information acquired from the content requester device 300 by the position information acquisition unit 232, and the stored user information is stored in the content distribution control unit. This is used for processing by H.233. For example, the user information temporary storage unit 224 stores user information such as “age” and “sex” shown in FIG. 14, authentication information, attribute information such as “preference”, and the like. It should be noted that the user information held by the user information temporary holding unit 224 is used in a form of operation such as a method of appropriately deleting the user information after being used for processing by the content distribution control unit 233 and a method of holding for a certain period. As long as it is a suitable method, the length of the period for holding the user information may be any.

  Unlike the first embodiment, the content distribution control unit 233 of the content server 200 according to the third embodiment controls the content distribution, and unlike the first embodiment, the content distribution control unit 233 further uses the user information added to the content request to distribute the content. To control. When the content server 200 receives the content request, the content distribution control unit 233 compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222 to thereby obtain the content requester device. Unlike the first embodiment, in addition to controlling the content distribution so as to distribute the content to the content requester device 300 when the content distribution permission to the content requester 300 is determined and permission of the content distribution is obtained by the determination. The user information held in the person information temporary holding unit 224 is further used to control the content distribution.

  For example, the content distribution control unit 233 compares the position information “section A” added to the content request with the determination information (determination information that determines whether content distribution is permitted or not based on the position information “section A”). Thus, when it is determined whether or not the content requester device 300 is permitted to distribute the content, the content distribution control unit 233 distributes the content so that the content requester device 300 is distributed. Control and confirm user information “age” and “gender” and control content distribution according to “age” and “gender” (for example, “age” that does not violate regulations for content distribution) Confirm that the content is appropriate, or use content appropriate for "gender" as promotional content to be attached when distributing content To such as Shin). Further, for example, when the attribute information such as “preference” is received as the user information, the content distribution control unit 233 controls the content distribution by selecting content according to “preference”.

[Effect of Example 3]
As described above, according to the third embodiment, the content requester device or the communication device other than the content requester device connected to be communicable with the content requester device is used for the user who uses the content requester device. The content requester device acquires the user information in addition to the location information, adds the user information to the content request in addition to the location information, and transmits the content request. When the content request is received, the user information added to the content request is further used to control the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device. Not only can it be properly provided to the content requester device, but it also controls content distribution based on user information Door is possible.

  Specifically, when an “IP re-transmission service” is performed in a network such as an IP network, the content server performs user information (for example, authentication information, attribute information, and preferences regarding individual users). Since content distribution is controlled based on information, etc., it becomes possible to provide users with programs and the like specialized for individual users.

  By the way, although the method in which the content requester device acquires the position information from the position information server has been described as the first to third embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content server is the position information server. The present invention can be similarly applied to a method of acquiring position information from the same. In the following, as a fourth embodiment, a method in which the content server acquires position information from the position information server will be described.

[Outline and Features of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 4]
First, the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the outline and features of the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment.

  The main features of the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment will be briefly described. As shown in FIG. 16, the location information server of the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment is the content requester. As information indicating the position of the apparatus, a position information database is provided that holds position information allocated in advance to the content requester apparatus. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the content server of the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment includes a determination information database that holds determination information for determining whether to permit content distribution from position information, as in the first embodiment.

  Under such a configuration, the content requester apparatus according to the fourth embodiment first accepts a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server at the input unit, and transmits the content request to the content server ((1 in FIG. 16). )).

  Next, when the content server receives the content request, the content server acquires location information from the location information database of the location information server (see (2) in FIG. 16). For example, the content server acquires position information such as “section A”.

  Then, when the content server obtains the position information, the content server compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held in the determination information database, thereby determining whether the content requester is permitted to distribute the content. If the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination, the content distribution is controlled so as to distribute the content to the content requester device (see (3) in FIG. 16).

  For example, the content server compares the position information “section A” added to the content request with the determination information (determination information for determining whether content distribution is “permitted” from the position information “section A”). When it is determined whether or not content distribution is permitted for the content requester device, the content server obtains permission for content distribution. As a result, the content server controls the content distribution so as to distribute the content to the content requester device.

  In the fourth embodiment, the case where the acquired position information is “section A” has been described. However, for example, the position information allocated in advance to the content requester device is “section B” and acquired. If the position information is “section B”, the content server cannot compare the position information “section B” with the determination information, so that content distribution permission cannot be obtained. The content distribution is controlled so that the content is not distributed to the requester device.

  In this way, the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment can appropriately provide content distribution provided specifically for a region to a content requester device in the target region.

  In the fourth embodiment, the method is described in which the content server acquires the location information and the content delivery is controlled using only the location information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the location information server has the location information. Information is stored in a verifiable format, location information is acquired in a format that can be verified by the content server, content distribution is controlled by verifying the location information, and the content server further acquires and uses user information A method of controlling content distribution by further using user information, a user information server holding user information in a verifiable format, acquiring user information in a format verifiable by the content server, and The present invention can be similarly applied to a technique for verifying and controlling content distribution.

[Processing Procedure of Content Distribution Control System According to Embodiment 4]
Next, a processing procedure by the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram illustrating a processing procedure performed by the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment.

  First, the content requester apparatus 300 receives a content request for requesting content distribution from the content server 200 at the input unit 311 as in the first embodiment (step S1). Next, unlike the first embodiment, the content requester device 300 transmits a content request to the content server 200 (step S2). For example, the content requester device 300 transmits a content request to the location information server 100 using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) in the content request transmission unit 333.

  Then, the content requester apparatus 300 acquires location information from the location information server 100 when receiving the content request (steps S3 and S4). For example, in the location information acquisition unit 232, the content server 200 sends a location information request for requesting the location information server 100 to “transmit location information to the content server 200” to the location information server 100 using HTTP. Next, the location information “section A” is acquired from the location information server 100 by HTTP.

  Then, when the content server 200 acquires the position information, the content server 200 compares the acquired position information with the determination information held by the determination information holding unit 222 to determine whether or not the content requester device 300 is permitted to distribute the content. The content distribution is controlled so that the content is distributed to the content requester apparatus 300 when the determination is made and permission of the content distribution is obtained by the determination (step S5).

  For example, when the content server 200 receives a content request at the content distribution control unit 233, the acquired position information “section A” and determination information (from the position information “section A”, permission / inhibition of content distribution is “permitted”). When the content distribution permission to the content requester apparatus 300 is determined by comparing the determination information with the determination information), the content distribution control unit 233 causes the content distribution control unit 233 to obtain the content distribution. And the content is distributed to the content requester device 300 by a communication protocol such as RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) (step S6).

  In the fourth embodiment, the case where the position information added to the content request is “section A” has been described. However, for example, the position information allocated in advance to the content requester device 300 is “section B”. When the acquired position information is “section B”, the content server 200 compares the position information “section B” with the determination information in the content distribution control unit 233, so that the content distribution As a result of the permission not being obtained, the content server 200 causes the content distribution control unit 233 to control content distribution so that the content is not distributed to the content requester device 300.

  In this way, the content distribution control system according to the fourth embodiment can appropriately provide content distribution provided specifically for a region to a content requester device in the target region.

[Effect of Example 4]
As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the content requester device and the content server are communicably connected to each other, and the content distribution of the content server that distributes the content to the predetermined content requester device is controlled. A position information server, which is a control system and is communicably connected to a content server, holds position information that has been distributed in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the position of the content requester device. When the content request for requesting content distribution to the content server is received from the content requester apparatus, the position information is acquired, and when the position information is acquired, the content distribution to the predetermined content requester apparatus is performed using the position information. In the content server, the content Content distribution is performed using location information (for example, location information of administrative divisions, prefectures, and the like) that has been allocated to the requester device in advance and transmitted from the content requester device added to the content request. By controlling, it becomes possible to appropriately provide the content distribution provided specifically for the region to the content requester device in the target region.

  By the way, although the content delivery control system which concerns on Example 1-Example 4 was demonstrated until now, this invention may be implemented with a various different form other than an above-described Example. Therefore, different embodiments will be described below as the content distribution control system according to the fifth embodiment.

[Content delivery control]
In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the content server holds determination information for determining whether or not to permit content distribution from the position information, and when receiving a content request, the content server determines whether or not the content requester is permitted to distribute content. Although the method of determining and controlling content distribution has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the content server stores information related to the correspondence between position information and predetermined content specified from the position information. The content server, such as a method for controlling content distribution so that content specified from the association and the position information added to the content request is distributed to the content requester device when the content request is held, Content using location information added to content request when content request is received As long as it is a method for controlling the signal, it is possible to apply the present invention likewise.

  In the following, the content server retains information related to the correspondence between the location information and the predetermined content specified from the location information, and from the correspondence and the location information added to the content request when the content request is received. A method for controlling the content distribution so as to distribute the specified content to the content requester apparatus will be described with a specific example. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining the content information holding unit.

  The content server according to the fifth embodiment includes a content information holding unit (corresponding to the “content information holding unit” described in the claims) that holds information related to the correspondence between the position information and the content specified from the position information. Prepare. For example, the content information holding unit holds position information and content information in association with each other as shown in FIG. As shown in the first line of FIG. 18, the content information holding unit holds the position information “section A” and the content information “Tokyo weather forecast” in association with each other, as shown in the second line of FIG. By associating and holding the position information “section B” and the content information “Kanagawa weather forecast”, information on the correspondence between the position information and the content specified from the position information is held.

  With such a configuration, when the content server in the fifth embodiment receives the content request, the content server determines the content specified from the association held by the content information holding unit and the position information added to the content request. The content delivery is controlled to be delivered to the content requester device. For example, the content server stores the association (association between the location information “section A” and the content information “Tokyo weather forecast”) held by the content information holding unit, and the location information (“section” A ”) and content distribution (“ Tokyo weather forecast ”) are controlled so as to be distributed to the content requester device.

  In such a case, the content server holds information related to the correspondence between the location information and the predetermined content specified from the location information, and is specified from the held correspondence and the location information added to the content request. Content distribution is controlled so as to distribute predetermined content to a predetermined content requester device, so that content distribution provided specifically for the region is specified and specified from the region of the content requester device By doing so, it is possible to appropriately provide the content requester device in the target area.

  That is, as described above, when a “weather forecast service” that provides detailed weather forecast information specialized for a region is performed in a network such as an IP network, the content server is allocated to the content requester device in advance. Location information (for example, location information of administrative divisions, prefectures, etc.), and content delivery is controlled using location information added to the content request from the content requester device, so that a specific region It is possible to appropriately provide a “weather forecast service” specializing in the area to the content requester apparatus in FIG.

[System configuration, etc.]
In the above first to fourth embodiments, the description has been made on the assumption that the location information server, the content server, and the content requester device are connected to the IP network (Internet Protocol network) as the Internet. The configuration is not limited, and the location information server is connected to the IP network as the Internet, the content server and the content requester device are connected to the IP network as the telephone network, and the location information server is connected to the IP network as the Internet. A configuration in which a content server and a content requester device are connected to a public switched telephone network, a location information server is connected to an IP network as the Internet, a content server is connected to a public switched telephone network, and a mobile communication network The location information server is connected to the content requester device connected to the IP network as the Internet. Content to the server and the connection, and configuration content requester apparatus to the mobile communication network is connected, in such other configurations, it is possible to apply the present invention likewise.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, communication between the position information server, the content server, and the content requester device is based on HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) communication. However, the present invention is not limited to this. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a case where other configurations and other communications are assumed.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, whether or not the location information is in a verifiable format, whether or not the user information is in a verifiable format, and further using the user information in addition to the location information. The content distribution control system configured based on a predetermined selection as to whether or not to control content distribution has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the first to fourth embodiments described above Even in a configuration that has not been described (for example, a configuration in which user information in a verifiable format is verified in the content distribution control apparatus), the present invention can be similarly applied as long as the configuration conforms to the mode of operation. it can.

  For example, in a configuration in which user information in a verifiable format is verified in the content distribution control device, the content requester device acquires the user information in a verifiable format from the user information holding unit and verifies the user information. It is added to the content request in a possible format and transmitted, and the content server verifies the user information added to the content request and controls the content distribution to the predetermined content requester device, so it is provided specifically for the region Content distribution can be appropriately provided to content requester apparatuses in the target area, and content distribution can be controlled based on highly reliable user information.

  To give a specific example, when the content server acquires user information in the form of a certificate as a verifiable format, in the content server, the fact that the user information server is surely It is verified that the user information is obtained from the stored user information database (it is verified that the user information is guaranteed by the user information server), and the user information has been tampered with. Since it is verified that there is no content, the content distribution to the content requester apparatus is controlled, so that the content distribution can be controlled based on highly reliable user information. It is also verified that the user information server does not deny the fact that the user information has been transmitted.

  In addition, among the processes described in the present embodiment, the process described as being automatically performed (for example, the content requester device acquires user information and transmits the content request with the user information added) (For example, the content requester device acquires user information, outputs the acquired user information to a predetermined output unit, and accepts consent from the user) The user information can be added to the content request and transmitted). In addition, the processing procedure, control procedure, specific name, and information including various data and parameters shown in the above-described document and drawings can be arbitrarily changed unless otherwise specified.

  Further, each component of each illustrated apparatus is functionally conceptual, and does not necessarily need to be physically configured as illustrated (for example, FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 6, etc.). 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. The position information temporary holding unit 221 and the user information temporary holding unit 224 may be integrated and configured. Further, all or any part of each processing function performed in each device may be realized by a CPU and a program analyzed and executed by the CPU, or may be realized as hardware by wired logic.

  The content control method (for example, FIG. 7) described in the present embodiment can be realized by executing a program prepared in advance on a computer such as a personal computer or a workstation. This program can be distributed via a network such as the Internet. The program can also be executed by being recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-ROM, an MO, and a DVD and being read from the recording medium by the computer.

  As described above, in the content distribution control system, the location information server, the content server, the content requester device, the location information program, the content program, and the content requester program according to the present invention, the content requester device and the content server communicate with each other. It is useful for controlling the content distribution of a content server that is connected in a possible manner and distributes the content to a predetermined content requester device. In particular, the content distribution provided specifically for the region is the content request for the target region. It is suitable for providing it appropriately to a person's device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview and characteristics of a content distribution control system according to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the position information server in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a position information holding part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content server in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the determination information holding part. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content requester apparatus in Example 1. FIG. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the process by the content delivery control system which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary and characteristic of the content delivery control system which concern on Example 2. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content server in Example 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the positional information of the format which can be verified. It is a figure for demonstrating a positional infomation server public key holding | maintenance part. It is a figure for demonstrating a content delivery control part. It is a sequence diagram which shows the procedure of the process by the content delivery control system which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary and characteristic of the content delivery control system which concern on Example 3. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the content server in Example 3. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary and the characteristic of the content delivery control system which concerns on Example 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure of the process by the content delivery control system which concerns on Example 4. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating a content information holding part.

Explanation of symbols

100 position information server 111 communication unit 120 storage unit 121 position information holding unit 130 control unit 131 communication control unit 200 content server 211 communication unit 220 storage unit 221 position information temporary holding unit 222 determination information holding unit 223 position information server public key holding unit 224 User information temporary storage unit 230 Control unit 231 Communication control unit 232 Location information acquisition unit 233 Content distribution control unit 300 Content requester device 311 Input unit 312 Output unit 313 Input / output control I / F unit 314 Communication unit 320 Storage unit 321 Temporary location information storage unit 330 Control unit 331 Communication control unit 332 Location information acquisition unit 333 Content request transmission unit

Claims (12)

A content distribution control system for controlling content distribution of a content server that connects a content requester device and a content server so as to communicate with each other and distributes content to a predetermined content requester device,
The location information server that is communicably connected to the content requester device,
Position information holding means for holding position information allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the position of the content requester device ;
In response to a request from the content requester device, a location information transmission unit that transmits the location information held by the location information holding unit to the content requester device ,
The content requester device is:
Position information acquisition means for acquiring the position information from the position information holding means when a content request for requesting content distribution to the content server is received at a predetermined input unit;
Content request transmitting means for transmitting the content request by adding the position information acquired by the position information acquiring means to the content request when transmitting the content request to the content server;
The content server
When receiving the content request transmitted by the content request transmission unit, the content request control unit includes a content distribution control unit that controls content distribution to the predetermined content requester apparatus using the position information added to the content request. A content distribution control system characterized by that. The content server
It further comprises determination information holding means for holding determination information for determining whether content distribution is permitted or not from the position information,
The content distribution control means compares the position information added to the content request with the determination information held by the determination information holding means, thereby determining whether the content distribution is permitted to the predetermined content requester device. 2. The content distribution according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution is controlled so that the content is distributed to the predetermined content requester apparatus when the determination and the content distribution permission is obtained by the determination. Control system. The content server
Content information holding means for holding information relating to the correspondence between the position information and the predetermined content specified from the position information;
The content distribution control unit distributes the predetermined content specified from the association held by the content information holding unit and the position information added to the content request to the predetermined content requester device. The content distribution control system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution is controlled as described above. The position information holding means holds the position information in a verifiable format;
The position information acquisition means acquires the position information from the position information holding means in a verifiable format,
The content request transmission means transmits the location information in a verifiable format added to the content request,
4. The content delivery control means controls the content delivery to the predetermined content requester device by verifying the location information added to the content request. The content distribution control system described. A communication device other than the content requester device that is communicably connected to the content requester device or the content requester device,
User information holding means for holding user information relating to a user who uses the content requester device,
The position information acquisition means acquires the user information from the user information holding means in addition to the position information,
The content request transmission means adds the user information to the content request and transmits the content request in addition to the location information,
When the content distribution control unit receives the content request transmitted by the content request transmission unit, the content distribution control unit further uses the user information added to the content request to distribute the content to the predetermined content requester device. The content distribution control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the content distribution control system is controlled. The location information acquisition means acquires the user information from the user information holding means in a verifiable format,
The content request transmission means transmits the user information added to the content request in a verifiable format,
6. The content distribution control system according to claim 5, wherein the content distribution control unit verifies the user information added to the content request and controls content distribution to the predetermined content requester device. . A location information server that is communicably connected to a content requester device that receives content delivery by sending a content request for requesting content delivery and location information to the content server,
Position information holding that is position information that has been allocated to the content requester apparatus in advance as information indicating the position of the content requester apparatus, and that holds the position information that the content requester apparatus transmits to the content server Means,
Position information transmission means for transmitting the position information held by the position information holding means to the content requester apparatus in response to a request from the content requester apparatus;
A location information server comprising: A content server that is communicably connected to a content requester device and distributes content to a predetermined content requester device,
When a content request for requesting content distribution is received from the content requester device, a location information server that holds location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device From the position information server, the position information server acquires the position information acquired by transmission to the content requester apparatus in response to a request from the content requester apparatus, and uses the position information added to the content request. A content server comprising content distribution control means for controlling content distribution to the predetermined content requester device. A content requester device that is communicably connected to a content server that distributes content,
Upon reception at said predetermined input unit content request requesting the content distribution to a content server, the location information server for holding position information that has been distributed in advance to the person the content requester apparatus, of the content requester device Position information acquisition means for requesting the position information as information indicating the position, and acquiring the position information by transmitting the position information server to the content requester device in response to the request ;
Content request transmission means for adding the position information acquired by the position information acquisition means to the content request when transmitting the content request to the content server;
A content requester apparatus comprising: A position information program for causing a computer as a position information server to execute a method of communicably connecting to a content requester device that transmits a content request for requesting content distribution and position information to the content server and receives the content distribution,
Position information holding that is position information that has been allocated to the content requester apparatus in advance as information indicating the position of the content requester apparatus, and that holds the position information that the content requester apparatus transmits to the content server Procedure and
A location information transmission procedure for transmitting the location information held by the location information holding procedure to the content requester device in response to a request from the content requester device;
Is executed by a computer as a position information server. A content program that is communicably connected to a content requester device and causes a computer as a content server to execute a method of distributing content to a predetermined content requester device,
When a content request for requesting content distribution is received from the content requester device, a location information server that holds location information that has been allocated in advance to the content requester device as information indicating the location of the content requester device From the position information server, the position information server acquires the position information acquired by transmission to the content requester apparatus in response to a request from the content requester apparatus, and uses the position information added to the content request. A content program for causing a computer as a content server to execute a content distribution control procedure for controlling content distribution to the predetermined content requester device. A content requester program that causes a computer as a content requester device to execute a method of being communicably connected to a content server that distributes content,
Upon reception at said predetermined input unit content request requesting the content distribution to a content server, the location information server for holding position information that has been distributed in advance to the person the content requester apparatus, of the content requester device A location information acquisition procedure for requesting the location information as information indicating the location, and the location information server acquiring the location information by transmitting to the content requester device in response to the request ;
A content request transmission procedure for transmitting the location information acquired by the location information acquisition procedure in addition to the content request when transmitting the content request to the content server;
Is executed by a computer as a content requester device.

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