JP4826652B2 - Digital content distribution method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for facilitating presentation of usage conditions for digital contents and redistribution of purchased digital contents in an electronic mall system for selling digital contents.

  With the spread of the Internet, it is possible to establish a World-Wide Web (WWW) based electronic mall. Electronic malls are now selling digital contents in addition to selling goods. Digital content refers to content (works) that can be delivered through a network, such as image files, audio files, software, or WWW web pages.

  There are two ways to purchase digital content. The first method is a method of delivering a copy of purchased digital content to a purchaser's computer. With this purchase method, digital content is delivered through the network, so delivery may fail. If delivery of digital content fails, the purchaser typically needs to re-run the purchase process. However, if the purchase price has already been paid, it is necessary to be able to re-execute the purchase process without paying the purchase price again.

  For example, with ASCII Digital Novels (http://www.ascii.co.jp/hirai/), where novels can be purchased as chapter-based document files, if the document file download fails, it will be re-stored within 72 hours from the time of purchase. Once purchased, you will not be charged again.

  Similarly, in the Gumantan shop (http://shop.aplix.co.jp/shops/apjapan), where images can be purchased in file units, if the image file download fails, it will be re-sold within 72 hours from the time of purchase. Once purchased, you will not be charged again. However, repurchase can only be done up to three times.

  If you fail to download software at buydirect.com (http://www.buydirect.com), where you can purchase software online, you will not be charged again if you repurchase within 30 days of purchase. Basically, you can only re-purchase up to three times, but if you fail to re-purchase three times, you can contact Customer Service to increase the download limit.

  The second method is a method in which a purchaser browses purchased digital content through a WWW browser. With this purchase method, when access to a WWW page displaying digital content fails, the digital content cannot be browsed. However, if the digital content is a subscription-type digital content such as a news service subscription, there is no additional charge even if the content is viewed again.

http://www.ascii.co.jp/hirai http://shop.aplix.co.jp/shops/apjapan http://www.buydirect.com

  In the above prior art, when digital content delivery fails, the procedure for repurchasing digital content is limited to the number of times that redelivery can be performed and the period during which repurchase can be performed, which is a troublesome procedure for the purchaser. Yes.

  According to the present invention, even when delivery of purchased digital content fails, at the time of re-purchasing digital content, the purchaser information is re-entered only by selecting the digital content desired to be re-delivered without paying the product price again. The purpose is to provide an electronic mall system in which digital contents are redistributed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention selects a digital content to be distributed by a digital content distribution server (that is, a first area for which normal distribution is the main purpose) and a purchased digital that has been purchased by a user. A top page screen having a second area for selecting contents (that is, for redistribution) is provided, and normal distribution and redistribution are controlled in accordance with the selection of each area. The present invention also includes providing usage conditions for digital content. The use conditions of digital content are access restriction conditions for the digital content body and precautions for access.

  The access restriction conditions for digital contents include access control on the cyber mall server side and physical action restrictions on the cyber mall client side. For example, the access control on the cyber mall server side has restrictions on the period and the number of times that the purchased digital content can be accessed. The physical action restrictions on the cyber mall client side include actions that can be compulsorily controlled on the cyber mall client side for actions that can be performed on digital content, for example, printing and copying.

  The precautions when accessing digital content include logical action restrictions on the cyber mall client side. The logical behavior restrictions on the cyber mall client side include precautions related to the use of digital content, such as secondary usage and commercial usage that cannot be controlled on the cyber mall client side and can only be restricted by law (i.e. (Gentlemen agreement).

  The digital content is associated with a price paid by the purchaser when purchasing the digital content. In addition to payment of the product price of the digital content, the consideration includes input of purchaser information and consent to a contract regarding the use of the digital content. For example, the purchaser information includes a name and an electronic mail address which are personal information of the purchaser. The contract regarding the use of digital content is an agreement that the purchaser agrees to observe the copyright of the digital content and the use conditions of the digital content.

  The above usage conditions and consideration are set together with the product attributes when the store manager of the electronic store defines the digital content as a product. By registering different usage conditions and different prices for a certain digital content, it becomes possible to provide one digital content as a plurality of products.

  Furthermore, when the electronic mall server sells digital contents, in addition to the information on the products to be sold and the information on the purchaser, the digital contents are based on information obtained by replacing the variable part of the usage conditions and consideration with a fixed value Generate and store personal usage conditions that serve as proof that the purchaser has purchased digital content.

  When the personal use conditions are generated, the cyber mall server delivers a copy of the sold digital content to the cyber mall client. If physical action restrictions on the electronic mall client side are defined in the digital content, the physical action restrictions are incorporated into the digital content for delivery.

  Digital content usage conditions and personal usage conditions are managed on the electronic mall server side. When delivery of digital content fails, the digital content purchaser purchases the digital content again. The cyber mall server searches the personal use conditions generated for the digital content that the digital content purchaser desires to purchase again. If the digital content purchaser has valid personal use conditions for the digital content to be re-purchased, the cyber mall server will send a copy of the digital content to the cyber mall client without collecting the fee for the digital content again. Redeliver.

  In addition, as a feature of the present invention, physical action restrictions are incorporated into digital content and distributed in both the purchase (distribution and transmission) of digital content and the repurchase (redistribution and retransmission). Is also included.

  Further, in the above digital content distribution method, a configuration for receiving, from the client device, a login request for a user who uses the client device to the distribution server and including identification information for identifying the user. You may take

  According to the present invention, distribution and redistribution can be realized more easily.

It is a block diagram of the digital content sales electronic mall system of a present Example. It is a related figure of the process part and management table of the digital content sales electronic mall system of a present Example. It is a digital content utilization condition related figure. It is a related figure of a digital content product definition attribute. It is a figure which shows the step at the time of digital content goods definition. It is a figure which shows a digital content goods definition screen. It is a figure which shows a digital content utilization condition definition screen. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated digital content goods management table. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated digital content utilization condition definition table. It is a figure which shows the step of digital content purchase. It is a figure which shows the step which searches the image file to purchase. It is a figure which shows the step of purchase price settlement processing. It is a figure which shows the step of digital content delivery. It is a figure which shows an electronic mall login screen example. It is a figure which shows the example of a login user top page screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an image store list screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an image store top page screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an image list screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a usage condition summary sentence display screen of a purchase image. It is a figure which shows the example of a use condition agreement display screen of a purchase image. It is a figure which shows the example of an image purchase price settlement screen. It is a figure which shows the example of an image purchaser information input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a download start screen of a purchase image. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated personal use condition table. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated purchaser information management table. It is a figure which shows the step which looks for the news to purchase. It is a figure which shows the example of a news subscription service list screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a news service top page screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a news service list screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a usage condition summary sentence display screen of a purchase news service. It is a figure which shows the example of a usage agreement consent display screen of purchase news service. It is a figure which shows the example of a news service purchase price settlement screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a news service purchaser information input screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a browsing start screen of purchase news service. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated personal use condition table. It is a figure which shows the entry of the produced | generated purchaser information management table. It is a figure which shows the step of goods repurchasing. It is a figure which shows the example of a purchased personal use condition list screen.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital content sales electronic mall system which is an embodiment of the present invention. 100 is an electronic store client, 110 is an electronic mall server, and 130 is an electronic mall client. 101 is a digital content, 102 is a digital content product attribute that is a product attribute of the digital content 101, 103 is a digital content price that is a price of the digital content 101, and 104 is a digital content usage condition that is a usage condition of the digital content 101. The digital content product attribute 102, the digital content consideration 103, and the digital content usage condition 104 are defined when the electronic store client 100 registers the digital content 101 in the electronic mall server 110.
111 is a digital content product information management for managing product information of the digital content 101, 112 is a digital content use condition information management for managing the use condition information of the digital content 101, and 113 is a personal use given to a purchaser of the digital content 101. Digital content personal usage condition management for managing usage condition information, 114 for digital content collection consideration information management for managing digital content consideration 103 collected at the time of selling digital content 101, 115 for WWW server, 116 for digital content 101 A delivery item 117 incorporating physical action restriction information of the digital content 101 is a downloader for generating a delivery item. 131 is a WWW browser, and 132 is a viewer for displaying the delivery 116. The viewer 132 is controlled by physical action restriction information of the digital content 101 incorporated in the delivery 116.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the processing unit and the management table of the digital content sales electronic mall system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 100 is an electronic store client, 201 is an input device of the electronic store client 100, 202 is an input processing unit that processes input from the input device 201, 203 is an output device of the electronic store client 100, and 204 is an output to the output device 203. An output processing unit to process.
110 is an electronic mall server, 211 is a digital content product definition processing unit that defines the digital content product attribute 102 and the digital content consideration 103, 212 is a digital content use condition definition processing unit that defines the digital content use condition 104, and 213 is digital content 101 is a digital content product management table for storing product definition information 101, 214 is a digital content use condition table for storing digital content use conditions 104, and 215 is a digital content personal use condition definition for generating personal use conditions for the digital content 101. A processing unit 216 is a digital content collection processing unit that collects the digital content consideration 103, and 217 is a piece of digital content that accumulates personal use conditions for the digital content 101. Usage condition management table 218 is a purchaser information management table for storing digital content purchaser information, which is one of the digital content considerations 103, and 219 is a digital content personal use for searching the digital content personal use condition management table 217. A condition search processing unit 220 is a page template information table for storing page templates for generating input / output pages, and 221 is a page creation processing unit for generating input / output pages from the page template information table 220.

  130 is an electronic mall client, 231 is an input device of the electronic mall client 130, 232 is an input processing unit that processes input from the input device 231, 233 is an output device of the electronic mall client 130, 234 is an output to the output device 233 An output processing unit to process.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the dependency relationship between the digital content usage conditions 104. 300 is access control on the cyber mall server 110 side, 310 is physical action restriction on the cyber mall client 130 side, and 320 is logical action restriction on the cyber mall client 130 side.
The access control 300 on the cyber mall server 110 includes an access period control 301 for the purchased digital content 101. In this example, it is possible to select either limiting the access period or not limiting the period. The physical action restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side includes: 311 which is an action that can be performed on browser non-display content such as software; 313 that is an action that can be performed on stream type content; and browser display type such as an image file. There are viewing 312, printing 314, saving 315, and cutting and pasting 316 that are actions that can be performed on the content. Dependencies of actions that can be performed on browser display type contents are as follows. Viewing 312 is a prerequisite for printing 314 and storage 315, respectively. In other words, the digital content 101 cannot be printed or saved without the authority to view the digital content 101. The cut and paste 316 is a precondition for saving 315. That is, the digital content 101 cannot be cut and pasted without the authority to save the digital content 101.
The logical action constraint 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side includes a use 321 and an action 325. The usage 321 is a purpose of using the digital content 101 and includes a commercial 322 and an individual 323. The action 325 is an action performed on the digital content 101, and includes sales distribution 326, duplication 327, processing 328, and printing 329. The dependency relationship between the physical action restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side and the logical action restriction 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side is as follows. For the processing 328, the replica 327 is a prerequisite. That is, the digital content 101 cannot be processed without the authority to copy the digital content 101. The copy 327 is premised on the storage 316. That is, the digital content 101 cannot be copied without the authority to save the digital content 101. The process 328 is precondition for cutting and pasting 317. That is, the digital content 101 cannot be processed without the authority to cut and paste the digital content 101.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between attributes defined when registering the digital content 101 with the electronic mall server 110. 102 is a digital content product attribute, 103 is a digital content consideration, and 104 is a digital content usage condition. The digital content product attribute 102 includes, for example, the product name of the digital content 101 and the type of the digital content 101. The digital content consideration 103 includes an agreement 411 to a digital content usage agreement, which is a contract related to the use of the digital content 101, and purchase of the digital content that is personal information (for example, name and email address) of the purchaser of the digital content 101. Person information 412 and product price 413 of the digital content 101. The digital content use condition 104 includes an access control 300 on the cyber mall server 110 side, a physical action restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side, and a logical action restriction 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side.
With the combination of the digital content product attribute 102, the digital content consideration 103, and the digital content usage conditions 104, the digital content 101 is registered as a product. Therefore, even if the digital content product attribute 102 is the same, the digital content 101 can be registered as a plurality of products by defining different digital content consideration 103 or digital content usage conditions 104.
Next, the product definition step of the digital content 101 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The product definition steps are as follows. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the product definition is interactively input by the store manager using the electronic store client 100.
First, the online store client 100 transmits a product definition page request command to the electronic mall server 110 (501). The cyber mall server 110 receives the product definition page request command (502), creates the product definition page (503), and transmits the product definition page to the online store client 100 (504). After receiving the product definition page (505), the electronic store client 100 displays the product definition page (506). FIG. 6 shows an example of the product definition page.
The store manager inputs the product definition information of the digital content 101 on the product definition page (507). In the product definition page, the definition information of the digital content product attribute 102 and the digital content consideration 103 is input. In this embodiment, an apple image file is registered as a product, “Apple” is used as the product name 601 that is the digital content product attribute 102, and “100 yen” is used as the product price 602 that is the product price 413 of the digital content 101. Are set as e-mail address 603 as digital content purchaser information 412, and 604 as consent 411 of consent form.

When the input is completed, when the transmission button 610 is pressed, the electronic shop client 100 transmits the product definition information to the electronic mall server 110 (508). The cyber mall server 110 receives the product definition information (509), creates a digital content use condition definition page (510), and transmits the digital content use condition definition page to the electronic store client 100 (511). After receiving the digital content use condition definition page (512), the electronic shop client 100 displays the digital content use condition definition page (513). FIG. 7 shows an example of the digital content usage condition definition page.
The store manager inputs the digital content use condition 104 on the digital content use condition definition page. First, the access control 300 on the cyber mall server 110 side is set (514). There are three types of period settings: a relative deadline 701, an absolute deadline 702, or an unrestricted 703. The relative time limit 701 sets a period during which the digital content 101 can be accessed from the date when the digital content 101 is purchased. The absolute expiration date 702 sets the last date when the purchased digital content 101 can be accessed. If no period setting is provided, the non-limitation 703 is selected. In this example, the non-limitation 703 is selected.
Next, a logical action constraint 320 for digital contents on the cyber mall client 130 side is set (515). First, as an expression method of the digital content 101, one of viewing 704, executing 705, and reproducing 706 is selected. In the case of the browser non-display type content, the viewing 704 is selected. In the case of the browser display type content, the execution 705 is selected. In the case of the stream type content, the reproduction 706 is selected. In the embodiment, since the product to be registered is an image file, “view 704” is selected.
Next, one of an individual 707 and a commercial 708 is selected as an application permission for the digital content 101. An individual 707 is selected when the digital content 101 is used individually, and a commercial 708 is selected when the digital content 101 is used commercially. In this example, an individual 707 is selected.
Next, as the use permission range of the digital content 101, sales distribution is prohibited (commercial) 709, sales distribution is permitted (commercial) 710, duplication is prohibited 711, duplication is allowed 712, processing is prohibited 713, processing The corresponding item is selected from among 714 for permitting printing, 715 for prohibiting printing, and 716 for permitting printing. In this example, sales distribution is prohibited (commercial) 709, copying is permitted 712, processing is prohibited 713, and printing is permitted 716.
Next, the presence / absence of forced enforcement of the logical action constraint 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side is set. Here, one of forced exercise 717 and no forced exercise 718 is selected. When the forced exercise 717 is selected, a physical action constraint 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side that does not contradict the set logical action constraint 320 on the cyber mall client 130 side is set. In this example, the forced exercise 717 is selected.
Finally, additional items are set (516). In the additional item 719, an additional usage condition is input when a usage condition other than the above selection items is set.
When the input is completed, when the transmission button 720 is pressed, the electronic shop client 100 transmits the input information to the electronic mall server 110 (517). The cyber mall server 110 receives the input information (518). The digital content use condition definition processing unit 212 creates an entry in the digital content use condition table 214 (519). The digital content product definition processing unit 211 creates an entry in the digital content product management table 213 (520).
FIG. 8 is an example of entries in the digital content product management table 213. As representative fields of the table, the product name 801 of the digital content, the member store ID 802 that is the ID of the electronic store, the use condition ID 803 that is an identifier of the use condition defined for the digital content 101, the product price of the digital content 101 There is a price 804 that is 413 and purchaser information 805 that is digital content purchaser information 412.

In this example, the product name 801 is assigned “apple” of the product name 601 input by the store manager on the product definition page of FIG. The ID of the electronic store is assigned to the member store ID 802. A usage condition ID 901 that is automatically assigned in the digital content usage condition table 214 is assigned to the usage condition ID 803. The price 804 is assigned “100 yen” of the product price 602 input by the store manager on the product definition page of FIG. 6, and the “e-mail address” 604 is assigned to the purchaser information 805.
FIG. 9 is an example of entries in the digital content usage condition table 214. As typical fields of the table, a usage condition ID 901 that is an identifier of a usage condition defined for the digital content 101, a server access right 902 that indicates whether access control is performed on the cyber mall server 110 side, and the cyber mall server 110 A relative deadline 903 that is a deadline when performing relative access period control on the side, a relative deadline unit 904 that is a unit of relative deadline (for example, month or day), and a logical action constraint 320 on the electronic mall client side It represents the presence or absence of the gentleman agreement act 906, which is an action that can be performed on the digital content 101, and the physical act restriction 310 on the electronic mall client side, which is defined by the logical action system 320 on the electronic mall client side. There is forced exercise 907.
In this example, the use condition ID 901 is automatically given by the use condition processing unit. The server access right 902, the gentleman agreement use 905, the gentleman agreement action 904, and the forced use 905 are unrestricted 703, individual 707, print 712, copy 716, and forced use that are entered by the store manager on the use condition definition screen of FIG. 717 is assigned. Since the server access right 902 is unrestricted 703, nothing is assigned to the relative time limit 903 and the relative time limit unit 904.
Next, a step of purchasing the digital content 101 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the purchaser purchases an image file of an apple registered as a product in the flowchart of FIG. The purchase steps are as follows.
First, the purchaser logs in to the electronic mall (1001). FIG. 14 is an example of a login screen. When logging in, the user ID 1401 and password 1402 are input, and then the login button 1403 is pressed.
After logging in, the user searches for the digital content 101 purchased at the mall (1002). FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing detailed processing in step 1002.
The cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page request command of the logged-in user who is a purchaser to the cyber mall server 110 (1101). The top page is a personal login user page that is displayed first after logging in to the electronic mall. The cyber mall server 110 receives the login user's top page request command (1102), creates the login user's top page (1103), and transmits the login user's top page to the cyber mall client 130 (1104). After receiving the top page of the login user (1105), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the login user (1106). FIG. 15 shows an example of a login user top page.
In this embodiment, since an image file is purchased, the logged-in user selects the image store list 1501 on this page (1107). The cyber mall client 130 transmits an image store list page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1108). The cyber mall server 110 receives the image store list page request command (1109), creates the image store list page (1110), and transmits the image store list page to the cyber mall client 130 (1111). After receiving the image store list page (1112), the electronic mall client 130 displays the image store list page (1113). FIG. 16 shows an example of a login user top page.
On this page, one image store is selected from the image store list. The login user selects the image store CardHouse 1601 (1114). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a CardHouse top page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1115). The cyber mall server 110 receives the CardHouse top page request command (1116), creates a CardHouse top page (1117), and transmits the CardHouse top page to the cyber mall client 130 (1118). After receiving the CardHouse top page (1119), the cyber mall client 130 displays the CardHouse top page (1120). FIG. 17 shows an example of a CardHouse top page.
On this page, select one menu to find the image file to purchase. The logged-in user selects a recent popular image 1701 (1121). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a recent popular image page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1122). The cyber mall server 110 receives a recent popular image page request command (1123), creates a recent popular image page (1124), and transmits the recent popular image page to the cyber mall client 130 (1125). After receiving the recent popular image page (1126), the cyber mall client 130 displays the recent popular image page (1127). FIG. 18 shows an example of a recent popular image page.
On this page, select one image you want to purchase. The logged-in user presses a purchase button 1802 below the apple image 1801 to be purchased. This completes the process of the flowchart of FIG.
The cyber mall client 130 transmits information of the digital content 101 purchased by the login user to the cyber mall server 110 (1003). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information of the digital content 101 purchased by the login user (1004), and searches the digital content usage condition table 214 for 104 digital content usage conditions based on the received information (1005).
The cyber mall server 110 creates a digital content usage condition summary description page based on the digital content usage conditions 104 (1006), and then transmits the digital content usage condition summary description page to the cyber mall client 130 (1007). . After receiving the digital content use condition summary sentence explanation page (1008), the cyber mall client 130 displays the digital content use condition summary sentence explanation page (1009). FIG. 19 is an example of a digital content usage condition summary description page.
The logged-in user reads the summary 1901 of the usage conditions of the image to be purchased, and presses the consent button 1902 if the usage conditions are agreed (1010). If the user does not agree, the user clicks a reject button 1903 and ends the process.
When the consent button 1902 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits to the cyber mall server 110 that the logged-in user has agreed to the summary 1901 of the use conditions (1011). After receiving the consent information (1012), the cyber mall server 110 creates a digital content usage condition consent form explanation page based on the digital content usage condition 104 (1013), and then transmits the digital content usage condition consent form to the cyber mall client 130. An explanation page is transmitted (1014). The cyber mall client 130 receives the digital content use condition consent form explanation page (1015), and then displays the digital content use condition consent form explanation page (1016). FIG. 20 is an example of a digital contents use condition agreement explanation page.
The logged-in user reads the agreement 2001 for the terms of use of the image to be purchased, and presses the consent button 2002 if he agrees with the contents of the agreement (1017). If the user does not agree, the user clicks a reject button 2003 and ends the process.

When the consent button 2002 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits to the cyber mall server 110 that the logged-in user agrees to the agreement for use conditions 2001 (1018). After receiving the consent information (1019), the cyber mall server 110 searches the digital content product management table 213 for the product price 413 of the digital content and the digital content purchaser information 412 (1020). The payment for the purchase price is made by the digital content value collection processing unit 216 based on the product price 413 of the digital content (1021). FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 1020. In this embodiment, payment is made with a credit card.
The cyber mall server 110 creates a purchase price settlement page (1201), and transmits the purchase price settlement page to the cyber mall client 130 (1202). After receiving the purchase price settlement page (1203), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase price settlement page (1204). FIG. 21 shows an example of a purchase price settlement page.
On the purchase price settlement page, the login user inputs the credit card type 2101, credit card number 2102, credit card expiration date 2103, and card name 2104, and presses the settlement button 2105 (1205). When the settlement button 2105 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the settlement information input to the cyber mall server 110 (1206). After receiving the settlement information (1207), the cyber mall server 110 performs a credit card settlement process (1208). This completes the processing of the flowchart of FIG.
If the purchase price settlement process ends normally, the digital content consideration collection processing unit 216 collects the digital content purchaser information 412. The cyber mall server 110 creates a purchaser information input page based on the digital content purchaser information 412 (1021), and transmits the purchaser information input page to the cyber mall client 130 (1022). After receiving the purchaser information input page (1023), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchaser information input page (1024). FIG. 22 shows an example of a purchaser information input page.
The logged-in user inputs the e-mail address 2201 and presses the send button 2202 (1025). When the send button 2202 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the purchaser information input to the cyber mall server 110 (1026). The cyber mall server 110 receives the purchaser information (1027). The digital content personal use condition definition processing unit 215 creates an entry in the digital content personal use condition management table 217 (1028). The digital content value collection processing unit 216 creates an entry in the purchaser information management table 218 (1029).
FIG. 24 shows an example of entries in the digital content personal use condition management table 217. As representative fields of the table, a user ID 2401 that is an identifier of a user who has purchased the digital content 101, a personal use condition ID 2402 that is an identifier of a digital content personal use condition given to a digital content purchaser, and a purchased digital The product name 2403 of the content 101, the name of the member store 2404 that sold the purchased digital content 101, the purchase date 2405 that is the date of purchase of the digital content 101, the expiration date 2406 that is the time limit for accessing the purchased digital content 101, and these terms of use There is a use condition status 2407 that is a status (for example, valid or expired).
In this example, the user ID 2401 is assigned the user ID 1401 input when logging in to the electronic mall. An identifier automatically assigned by the digital content personal use condition processing unit 215 is assigned to the personal use condition ID 2402. A product name 801 in the entry of the digital content product management table 213 in FIG. 8 is assigned to the product name 2403, and a member store name 802 is assigned to the member store name 2404. The date of purchase of the digital content 101 is assigned to the purchase date 2405. The expiration date 2406 is calculated and assigned based on the expiration date information of the entry in the use condition table 214 of FIG. In this example, since the server access right 902 is “unlimited”, “indefinite” is assigned to the expiration date 2406. The use condition status 2407 is set to “valid”. In addition to this, the value of the use condition status 2406 may be “expired” or “revoked”.
FIG. 25 shows an example of entries in the user information management table. As representative fields of the table, a user name 2501 that is the name of the user who purchased the digital content 101, an e-mail address 2502 that is the e-mail address of the user who purchased the digital content 101, and the address of the user who purchased the digital content 101 Address 2503 and a telephone number 2504 which is the telephone number of the user who purchased the digital content 101. In this example, the e-mail address 2501 assigned on the purchaser information input page of FIG. 22 is assigned to the e-mail address 2502.
Finally, the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital content 101 purchased by the logged-in user (1030). FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 1030. In this example, since the purchased digital content 101 is an image file, the cyber mall server 110 delivers a copy of the image file to the cyber mall client 130.
The cyber mall server 110 creates a delivery start page for purchase images (1301), and transmits the delivery start page for purchase images to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After receiving the purchase image delivery start page (1304), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase image delivery start page (1305). FIG. 23 is an example of a delivery start page for purchased images.
When the logged-in user presses a download button 2301 that is a delivery start delivery button for purchased images (1036), the cyber mall client 130 transmits a digital content delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1306). After the digital mall server 110 receives the digital content delivery request command (1307), the downloader 117 includes the physical content restriction 310 information on the cyber mall client 130 side in the copy of the digital content 101 that is the purchased image. 116 is delivered to the cyber mall client 130 (1308).
The cyber mall client 130 receives the delivery (1309), and the digital content purchase process ends. In the cyber mall client 130, the digital content 101 in the delivery 116 is displayed on the viewer 132. The viewer 132 is controlled by information on the physical action restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side incorporated in the delivery 116. This completes the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 10.
Next, a case where the digital content 101 purchases “daily stock price information for three months”, which is one of news services, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The digital content purchase steps are as follows.
First, the purchaser logs in to the electronic mall (1001). FIG. 14 is an example of a login screen. When logging in, the user ID 1401 and password 1402 are input, and then the login button 1403 is pressed.
After logging in, search for digital content 101 to be purchased at the mall (1002). FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 1002.
The cyber mall client 130 transmits a top page request command of the logged-in user who is a purchaser to the cyber mall server 110 (2601). The top page is a personal login user page that is displayed first after logging in to the electronic mall. The cyber mall server 110 receives the login user's top page request command (2602), creates the login user's top page (2603), and transmits the login user's top page to the cyber mall client 130 (2604). After receiving the top page of the login user (2605), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the login user (2606). FIG. 15 shows an example of a login user top page.
In this example, since stock price news is purchased, the logged-in user selects the news subscription service list 1502 on this page (2607). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a news subscription service list page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (2608). The cyber mall server 110 receives the news subscription service list page request command (2609), creates a news subscription service list page (2610), and transmits the news subscription service list page to the cyber mall client 130 (2611). After receiving the news subscription service list page (2612), the cyber mall client 130 displays the news subscription service list page (2613). FIG. 27 shows an example of a news subscription service list page.
On this page, one news service is selected from the news subscription service list. The logged-in user selects stock price news 2701 (2614). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a stock price news top page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (2615). The cyber mall server 110 receives the stock price news top page request command (2616), creates a stock price news top page (2617), and transmits the stock price news top page to the cyber mall client 130 (2618). After receiving the stock price news top page (2619), the cyber mall client 130 displays the stock price news top page (2620). FIG. 28 shows an example of the stock price news top page.
On this page, select one menu to find stock price news to buy. The logged-in user selects the daily stock price information 2801 (2621). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a daily stock price information page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (2622). The cyber mall server 110 receives the daily stock price information page request command (2623), creates a daily stock price information page (2624), and transmits the daily stock price information page to the cyber mall client 130 (2625). After receiving the electronic mall client 130 daily stock price information page (2626), the daily stock price information page is displayed (2627). FIG. 29 is an example of a daily stock price information page.
On this page, select the subscription period for the daily stock price information you wish to purchase. The logged-in user presses the purchase button 2902 next to the three-month subscription 2901 that he / she wishes to purchase. This completes the processing of the flowchart of FIG.
The cyber mall client 130 transmits information of the digital content 101 purchased by the login user to the cyber mall server 110 (1003). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information of the digital content 101 purchased by the login user (1004), and searches the digital content usage condition table 214 for 104 digital content usage conditions based on the received information (1005).
The cyber mall server 110 creates a digital content usage condition summary description page based on the digital content usage conditions 104 (1006), and then transmits the digital content usage condition summary description page to the cyber mall client 130 (1007). . After receiving the digital content use condition summary sentence explanation page (1008), the cyber mall client 130 displays the digital content use condition summary sentence explanation page (1009). FIG. 30 is an example of a digital content usage condition summary description page.
The logged-in user reads the summary statement 3001 of the usage conditions of the image to be purchased, and presses the consent button 3002 if the usage conditions are agreed (1010). If you do not agree, click the reject button 3003 to end the process.
When the consent button 1902 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits to the cyber mall server 110 that the logged-in user has agreed to the summary 1901 of the use conditions (1011). After receiving the consent information (1012), the cyber mall server 110 creates a digital content usage condition consent form explanation page based on the digital content usage condition 104 (1013), and then transmits the digital content usage condition consent form to the cyber mall client 130. An explanation page is transmitted (1014). The cyber mall client 130 receives the digital content use condition consent form explanation page (1015), and then displays the digital content use condition consent form explanation page (1016). FIG. 31 shows an example of the digital contents use condition agreement explanation page.
The logged-in user reads the agreement 3101 of the usage conditions of the image to be purchased, and presses the agreement button 3102 if the user agrees with the contents of the agreement (1017). If the user does not agree, the refusal button 3103 is clicked to end the process.
When the consent button 3102 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits to the cyber mall server 110 that the logged-in user has agreed to the agreement for use conditions 2001 (1018). After receiving the consent information (1019), the cyber mall server 110 searches the digital content product management table 213 for the product price 413 of the digital content and the digital content purchaser information 412 (1020). The payment for the purchase price is made by the digital content value collection processing unit 216 based on the product price 413 of the digital content (1021). FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 1020. In this embodiment, payment is made with a credit card.
The cyber mall server 110 creates a purchase price settlement page (1201), and transmits the purchase price settlement page to the cyber mall client 130 (1202). After receiving the purchase price settlement page (1203), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase price settlement page (1204). FIG. 32 shows an example of a purchase price settlement page.
The logged-in user inputs the credit card type 3201, the credit card number 3202, the credit card expiration date 3203, and the card name 3204 on the purchase price settlement page, and presses the settlement button 3205 (1205). When the settlement button 3205 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the settlement information input to the cyber mall server 110 (1206). After receiving the settlement information (1207), the cyber mall server 110 performs a credit card settlement process (1208). This completes the processing of the flowchart of FIG.
If the purchase price settlement process ends normally, the digital content consideration collection processing unit 216 collects the digital content purchaser information 412. The cyber mall server 110 creates a purchaser information input page based on the digital content purchaser information 412 (1021), and transmits the purchaser information input page to the cyber mall client 130 (1022). After receiving the purchaser information input page (1023), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchaser information input page (1024). FIG. 33 shows an example of a purchaser information input page.
The logged-in user inputs a name 3301 and an e-mail address 3302 and presses a send button 3303 (1025). When the send button 3303 is pressed, the cyber mall client 130 transmits the purchaser information input to the cyber mall server 110 (1026). The cyber mall server 110 receives the purchaser information (1027). The digital content personal use condition definition processing unit 215 creates an entry in the digital content personal use condition management table 217 (1028). The digital content value collection processing unit 216 creates an entry in the purchaser information management table 218 (1029).

FIG. 35 is an example of entries in the digital content personal use condition management table 217. As representative fields of the table, a user ID 3501 that is an identifier of a user who has purchased the digital content 101, a personal use condition ID 3502 that is an identifier of a digital content personal use condition given to a digital content purchaser, and a purchased digital The product name 3503 of the content 101, the name of the member store 3504 that sold the purchased digital content 101, the purchase date 3505 that is the date of purchase of the digital content 101, the expiration date 3506 that is the time limit for accessing the purchased digital content 101, and these terms of use There is a usage condition status 3507 that is a status (for example, valid or expired).
In this example, a user ID 1401 input when logging in to the electronic mall is assigned to the user ID 3501.

  An identifier automatically assigned by the digital content personal use condition processing unit 215 is assigned to the personal use condition ID 3502. The product name 3503 is assigned the product name “Daily Stock Price Information 3 Months” in the entry of this product in the digital content product management table 213, and the member store name 3504 is assigned the member store name “Stock Price News”. The date of purchase of the digital content 101 is assigned to the purchase date 3505. The expiration date 3506 is calculated and assigned based on the expiration date information of the entry in the use condition table 214. In this example, the server access right is “limited”, the relative deadline is 3, and the relative deadline unit is month. Therefore, a date obtained by adding 3 months to the purchase date is assigned to the expiration date 3506. The use condition status 3507 is set to “valid”.

  FIG. 36 shows an example of entries in the user information management table. As representative fields of the table, a user name 3601 that is the name of the user who purchased the digital content 101, an email address 3602 that is an email address of the user who purchased the digital content 101, and the address of the user who purchased the digital content 101 Address 3603 and a telephone number 3604 which is the telephone number of the user who purchased the digital content 101. In this example, the user name 3601 is assigned the name 3301 entered on the purchaser information input page of FIG. 33, and the email address 3602 is assigned the email address 3302.

  Finally, the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital content 101 purchased by the logged-in user (1030). FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing detailed processing of step 1030. In this example, since the purchased digital content 101 is a news service, the cyber mall server 110 enables the cyber mall client 130 to browse a WWW page on which daily stock price information is displayed.

  The cyber mall server 110 creates a delivery start page for purchase news service (1301), and transmits the delivery start page for news service to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After receiving the news service delivery start page (1304), the cyber mall client 130 displays the news service delivery start page (1305). FIG. 34 is an example of a delivery start page of a news service.

  When the logged-in user presses a browse button 3401 that is a delivery start button of the news service (1036), the cyber mall client 130 transmits a digital content delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1306). After receiving the digital content delivery request command (1307), the cyber mall server 110 delivers the WWW page on which the daily stock price information is displayed (1308).

  The cyber mall client 130 displays the delivered WWW page (1309), and the digital content purchase process ends. This completes the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 and 10. As described above, even if the types of digital contents are different, the purchase steps are the same.

  Next, a step of re-purchasing the digital content 101 when delivery of the purchased digital content 101 fails will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this embodiment, the image file purchased in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is purchased again. The steps for re-purchasing the digital content 101 are as follows.

  First, the purchaser logs in to the electronic mall (3701). FIG. 14 is an example of a login screen. When logging in, the user ID 1401 and password 1402 are input, and then the login button 1403 is pressed.

  After logging in, the cyber mall client 130 transmits a login user top page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (3702). The cyber mall server 110 receives the login user top page request command (3703), creates the login user top page (3704), and transmits the login user top page to the cyber mall client 130 (3705). After receiving the top page of the login user (3706), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the login user (3707). FIG. 15 is an example of a login user top page screen.

  When re-purchasing the digital content 101, the login user selects the personal use condition list 1502 (3708). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a personal use condition list page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (3709). The cyber mall server 110 receives the personal use condition list page request command (3510). The digital content personal use condition search processing unit 219 searches the digital content personal use condition management table 217 based on the user ID of the login user, and extracts all the digital content personal use conditions purchased by the login user. (3711). The cyber mall server 110 creates a personal usage condition list page based on the extracted digital content personal usage conditions (3712), and then transmits the personal usage condition list page to the cyber mall client 130 (3713). . After receiving the personal use condition list page (3714), the cyber mall client 130 displays the personal use condition list page (3715). FIG. 38 shows an example of the personal use condition list page.

The first line of the personal use condition list shows the entry information of the digital content personal use condition management table 217 of FIG. 24, and the second line shows the entry of the digital content personal use condition management table 217 of FIG. Information is displayed. 3801 is a member store 2404, 3802 is a personal use condition ID 2402, 3803 is a product name 2403, 3804 is an expiration date 2406, 3806 is a member store 3504, 3807 is a personal use condition ID 3502 However, 3808 shows the product name 3503 and 3809 shows the expiration date 3506. In 3805 and 3810, a delivery method of the purchased digital content 101 is displayed. “Download” is displayed in 3805 because the image file is a digital content of a kind delivered to the purchaser, and “Read” is displayed in 3810 because the daily stock price information is WWW. This is because it is a kind of digital content for browsing pages.
The login user selects the access method 3806 to the image file that has failed to be delivered (3716). The cyber mall client 130 transmits the selected digital content personal use condition information to the cyber mall server 110 (3717). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information on the selected digital content personal use condition (3718), and then performs server-side access control based on the expiration date 2406 of the selected digital content personal use condition (3719). . If the expiration date 2406 is within the expiration date and the usage condition status 2407 of the selected digital content personal usage conditions is valid (3720), the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital content (3722). If the usage condition status of the selected digital content personal usage conditions is not valid, and the expiration date 2406 is not within the expiration date, the cyber mall server 110 does not deliver the digital content 101 (3721).

  A flowchart showing the detailed processing of step 3722 is the flowchart of FIG. In this example, since the digital content 101 to be purchased again is an image file, the cyber mall server 110 delivers a copy of the image file to the cyber mall client 130.

The cyber mall server 110 creates a delivery start page for purchase images (1301), and transmits the delivery start page for purchase images to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After receiving the purchase image delivery start page (1304), the cyber mall client 130 displays the purchase image delivery start page (1305). FIG. 23 is an example of a delivery start page for purchased images.
When the logged-in user presses a download button 2301 that is a delivery start delivery button for purchased images (1036), the cyber mall client 130 transmits a digital content delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1306). After the digital mall server 110 receives the digital content delivery request command (1307), the downloader 117 includes the physical content restriction 310 information on the cyber mall client 130 side in the copy of the digital content 101 that is the purchased image. 116 is delivered to the cyber mall client 130 (1308).

The cyber mall client 130 receives the delivery (1309), and the digital content purchase process ends. In the cyber mall client 130, the digital content 101 in the delivery 116 is displayed on the viewer 132. The viewer 132 is controlled by information on the physical action restriction 310 on the cyber mall client 130 side incorporated in the delivery 116. This completes the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS.
Next, based on the flowchart of FIG. 37, the re-purchase step when the delivery of the news service purchased in the flowchart of FIG. 10 has failed will be described. The repurchase steps are as follows:
First, the purchaser logs in to the electronic mall (3701). FIG. 14 is an example of a login screen. When logging in, the user ID 1401 and password 1402 are input, and then the login button 1403 is pressed.
After logging in, the cyber mall client 130 transmits a login user top page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (3702). The cyber mall server 110 receives the login user top page request command (3703), creates the login user top page (3704), and transmits the login user top page to the cyber mall client 130 (3705). After receiving the top page of the login user (3706), the cyber mall client 130 displays the top page of the login user (3707). FIG. 15 is an example of a login user top page screen.
When re-purchasing the digital content 101, the login user selects the personal use condition list 1502 (3708). The cyber mall client 130 transmits a personal use condition list page request command to the cyber mall server 110 (3709). The cyber mall server 110 receives the personal use condition list page request command (3510). The digital content personal use condition search processing unit 219 searches the digital content personal use condition management table 217 based on the user ID of the login user, and extracts all the digital content personal use conditions purchased by the login user. (3711). The cyber mall server 110 creates a personal usage condition list page based on the extracted digital content personal usage conditions (3712), and then transmits the personal usage condition list page to the cyber mall client 130 (3713). . After receiving the personal use condition list page (3714), the cyber mall client 130 displays the personal use condition list page (3715). FIG. 38 is an example of the personal use condition list page.
The logged-in user selects the access method 3810 to the news service that failed to be delivered (3716). The cyber mall client 130 transmits the selected digital content personal use condition information to the cyber mall server 110 (3717). The cyber mall server 110 receives the information on the selected digital content personal use condition (3718), and then performs server-side access control based on the expiration date 3506 of the selected digital content personal use condition (3719). . If the expiration date 3506 is within the expiration date and the usage condition status 3507 of the selected digital content personal usage conditions is valid (3720), the cyber mall server 110 delivers the digital content (3722). If the use condition status of the selected digital content personal use condition is not valid, and the expiration date 3506 is not within the time limit, the cyber mall server 110 does not deliver the digital content 101 (3721).
A flowchart showing the detailed processing of step 3722 is the flowchart shown in FIG. In this example, since the digital content 101 to be purchased again is a news service, the cyber mall server 110 enables the cyber mall client 130 to browse a WWW page on which daily stock price information is displayed.
The cyber mall server 110 creates a news service delivery start page (1301), and transmits the news service delivery start page to the cyber mall client 130 (1302). After receiving the news service delivery start page (1304), the cyber mall client 130 displays the news service delivery start page (1305). FIG. 34 is an example of a delivery start page of a news service.
When the logged-in user presses a browse button 3401 that is a delivery start button of the news service (1036), the cyber mall client 130 transmits a digital content delivery request command to the cyber mall server 110 (1306). After receiving the digital content delivery request command (1307), the cyber mall server 110 delivers the WWW page on which the daily stock price information is displayed (1308).
The cyber mall client 130 displays the delivered WWW page (1309), and the digital content purchase process ends. This completes the processing of the flowcharts of FIGS. As described above, the re-purchase step is the same even if the type of digital content is different.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by using the digital content usage conditions and the personal usage conditions, even if delivery of the purchased digital content fails, it is given to the purchaser when the digital content is repurchased. The digital content is redistributed simply by selecting the digital content to be redistributed from the personal use condition list of the digital content. If the personal use condition of the selected digital content is valid, the digital content is re-delivered without paying the product price again. When the digital content is repurchased, the purchaser information input as one of the considerations of the digital content at the time of purchasing the digital content is stored in the purchaser information management table, so that it is not necessary to reenter the purchaser information. These procedures are the same regardless of the type of digital content. Therefore, the usability of the electronic mall system is improved for the purchaser.
In general, the price of digital content sales varies depending on the usage conditions. For each digital content usage condition, defining the usage conditions with different action restrictions and the price corresponding to each usage condition for the same digital content. Realize sales and browsing according to your needs.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, not only can the product catalog of the digital content be created from the product definition information of the digital content, but also the personal use conditions of the digital content can be generated and given to the purchaser. There is no need, so the same information can be definitely promoted from digital content promotion, order to payment.

100. Electronic store client, 101. Digital content body, 102. Digital content product attribute, 103. Digital content consideration, 104. Digital content usage conditions, 110. Electronic mall server, 111. Digital content product management, 112. Digital content use condition information management, 113. Digital content personal use condition information management, 114. Digital content collection consideration information management, 115. WWW server, 116. Delivery items, 117. Downloader, 130. E-mall client, 131. WWW browser, 131. Viewer

Claims (5)

A digital content distribution method in a digital content distribution server connected to a client device via a network and transmitting digital content to the client device,
The digital content distribution server includes:
Identification information for identifying a user of the digital content, the user of the purchased digital content and digital content from the server has been purchased is information about the delivery control of the user of each digital content to the user digital Each content user's personal usage condition information is associated with each other and stored in the digital content personal usage condition management storage means.
From the client device, a login request to the distribution server of a user who uses the client device, the login request including identification information for identifying the user is received,
The top page screen corresponding to the user identified by the identification information, the first area for selecting the digital content to be distributed by the digital content distribution server and the purchased digital content that has been purchased by the user Transmitting a top page screen having a second area to the client device;
The digital content distribution server corresponds to a display request input to the top page screen from the user to the client device from the client device.
(1) receiving information indicating that either the first area or (2) the second area is selected;
(1) When information indicating that the first area has been selected is received, a screen for selecting digital content held by the digital content distribution server is transmitted to the client device,
(2) When information indicating that the second area has been selected is received, a screen for selecting the digital content that has been purchased by the user, including personal use condition information of the user, To the client device,
Identifying digital content in response to a selection from the user to the client device for any of the screens for selection;
Creating a delivery page in the identified digital content and sending it to the client device;
A digital content distribution method, wherein the specified digital content is distributed to the client device in response to a distribution request from the user to the client device for the distribution page. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1,
The digital content distribution server includes:
When information indicating that the second area has been selected is received, a personal use condition information corresponding to the user is displayed as a screen for the user to select purchased digital content. The user's purchased personal use condition information is extracted from the digital content personal use condition management storage means, and the extracted user's personal use condition information of the purchased digital content, A digital content distribution method, comprising: transmitting a personal use condition list page information screen for displaying personal use condition information for selecting the purchased digital content on the client device. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1 or 2,
The digital content distribution server includes:
A digital content distribution method, wherein the digital content is distributed to the client device when the personal use condition information displayed on the client device is valid. The digital content distribution method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The digital content distribution server includes:
The digital content distribution method, wherein the personal use condition information is generated every time the user purchases digital content and stored in the digital content personal use condition management storage means. The digital content distribution method according to claim 3.
A digital content distribution method, wherein physical action restriction information indicating action restrictions that can be controlled by the client device is embedded in the digital content to be distributed.

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