JP5037541B2 - Management apparatus and content status notification method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for managing the status (hereinafter also referred to as “acquisition status”) of an operation related to acquisition or use of content provided to a plurality of communication terminals via a network.

  For example, a communication terminal such as a mobile phone or a personal computer having a packet communication function can download various contents such as programs, image data, and music data from a server connected to the Internet. On the other hand, a content provider that provides content using a server designs a server or a site so that it can collect various information about the usage status of the content, such as the number of accesses to the server and the number of content downloads. . The content provider uses the information regarding the usage status of the content collected in this way when determining a business plan related to the content.

  By the way, there is a wide variety of information about the usage status of content that is considered useful for reference in determining business plans related to content, and there may be aggregated results from various angles. desirable. However, such information collection and aggregation imposes a corresponding burden on the content provider, such as a change in server design and the addition of a program for managing collection and aggregation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to enable a content provider to easily obtain the acquisition status of content provided via a network in each communication terminal. .

According to the present invention, a management apparatus that manages information related to content provided to a plurality of communication terminals via a network by a provider is provided for each communication terminal for which a usage contract for the content is concluded with the provider. , as required by the provider, a first process of registering in association with the communication terminal and a link related to identification information and the content identifying the content, wherein the management apparatus, the content from the communication terminal In response to a request including the identification information, a second process of transmitting the link corresponding to the identification information associated with the communication terminal, and the management apparatus transmits the link in the second process. Monitor communication related to the status of operations related to the acquisition or use of the content from the selected communication terminal, and change the management information indicating the status in stages A content status notification method comprising: a third step, and a fourth step in which the management device notifies the communication device designated in advance by the content provider of the status indicated by the management information. .

Further, the present invention is agreement for each communication terminal tied used for the content with the provider, in response to a request by the provider of the content, and a link related to identification information and the content identifying the content Registration means for associating the communication terminal with the communication terminal, storage means for storing management information stepwise indicating the status of operation related to acquisition or use of the content, and the identification information of the content from the communication terminal. In response to the request, the transmission unit that transmits the link corresponding to the identification information associated with the communication terminal, and the communication related to the situation from the communication terminal to which the link is transmitted by the transmission unit are monitored. Change means for changing the management information stored in the storage means, and the content provider indicates in advance the situation indicated by the management information. Providing a management device and a notification unit configured to notify the communication device.

  According to the present invention, the management device can monitor communication regarding content acquisition by each communication terminal, detect the content acquisition status in each communication terminal, and notify the content provider.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile phone according to the embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an execution environment of JavaAP in the mobile phone according to the embodiment. It is a block diagram which illustrates the hardware constitutions of AP management server concerning the embodiment. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a My Box DB stored in HD in the AP management server according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating operations of the AP management server and the development machine until Java AP is master-registered in the AP management server as a program to be managed by the program management service according to the embodiment. 4 is a sequence chart illustrating an operation of each part of the communication system until link information related to Java AP is registered in a My Box according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence chart (part 1) illustrating the operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads Java AP, which is the management target of the program management service, according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence chart (part 2) illustrating the operation of each unit of the communication system when the mobile phone downloads Java AP, which is the management target of the program management service, according to the embodiment. It is a screen display example (part 1) of the mobile phone according to the embodiment. It is a screen display example (the 2) of the mobile phone which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a screen display example (the 3) of the mobile phone which concerns on the embodiment. It is a screen display example (the 4) of the mobile phone which concerns on the same embodiment. It is a screen display example (the 5) of the mobile phone which concerns on the same embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of report notification processing executed by a CPU in the AP management server according to the embodiment. It is a figure which illustrates the content of the report which the AP management server which concerns on the embodiment produces. It is a block diagram which illustrates the composition of the communications system concerning modification 1 of the present invention. The sequence chart which illustrates operation | movement of each part of a communication system when a mobile telephone downloads JavaAP which is a management object program of a program management service, and is a certification | authentication organization's certification | regulation program according to the modification 1 (the 1) It is. The sequence chart which concerns on the modification 1 and illustrates operation | movement of each part of a communication system when a mobile telephone downloads JavaAP which is a management object program of a program management service, and is a certification program of a certification | authentication organization (the 2) It is.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the common part in each figure.

[A-1. Configuration of Embodiment]
<1. Configuration of communication system>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in the figure, the communication system 1 includes a mobile phone 10, a base station 20, a gateway exchange 30, a gateway server 40, and a mobile packet communication network 80 having an AP (Application Program) management server 50, The Internet 60, the content server 70, and the development machine 75 are included. Although the communication system 1 originally accommodates a large number of mobile phones, only one mobile phone 10 is shown in order to prevent the drawing from becoming complicated. For the same reason, only one base station 20, gateway exchange 30, gateway server 40, content server 70, and development machine 75 are shown.

  The mobile packet communication network 80 is a communication network that provides a packet communication service to the mobile phone 10 accommodated in the mobile packet communication network 80. The communication system 1 has a mobile telephone network (not shown) in addition to the mobile packet communication network 80. This mobile telephone network provides a general mobile telephone call service to the mobile phone 10.

  The mobile phone 10 performs wireless communication with a base station 20 that covers a wireless cell in which the mobile device 10 is located, among a large number of base stations 20 installed in the communication service area of the mobile packet communication network 80. The cellular phone 10 has a function of performing packet communication with the content server 70 via the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60.

  The gateway server 40 is provided between the gateway exchange 30 and the Internet 60. This gateway server 40 mutually converts data having different communication protocols, such as a communication protocol for the mobile packet communication network 80 and a communication protocol for the Internet 60, and relays data exchange between the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60. To do.

  The AP management server 50 is connected to the gateway server 40 via a dedicated line. A telecommunications carrier operating the mobile packet communication network 80 provides a program management service using the AP management server 50. In this program management service, a content provider downloads an application program provided to a large number of mobile phones 10 accommodated in a mobile packet communication network 80 using the content server 70 to the number of mobile phones 10. This is a service that aggregates the acquisition status of the application program in each mobile phone 10 such as whether it has been done and reports a report based on the aggregation result to the content provider. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a communication carrier that operates the mobile packet communication network 80 operates the program management service. However, a form in which a provider other than the communication provider operates the program management service may be used.

  The AP management server 50 creates a report by detecting the acquisition status of the application program in each mobile phone 10 for the application program for which the service contract of the program management service is concluded between the telecommunications carrier and the content provider. The report is transmitted to a communication device (for example, the development machine 75) notified in advance from the content provider.

  The content server 70 has a function of performing packet communication with the mobile phone 10 and stores a Java (registered trademark) application program (hereinafter abbreviated as Java AP) as content to be provided to the mobile phone 10. This Java AP is an application program for the mobile phone 10 written in the Java programming language, such as a Java applet or a Java application. The Java AP is created by the development machine 75.

  JavaAP is a JAR (Java Archive) file that combines a JavaAP main body program and image files and audio files used in accordance with the execution of the main body program, installation and activation of the JAR file, network And an ADF (Application Descriptor File) in which control information for controlling access and the like is described. When this Java AP is a program to be managed by the program management service, the Java AP further has an SCF (Status Control File) indicating that it is a program to be managed. This SCF is created by the AP management server 50, and the communication address (URL: Uniform Resource Locator of the AP management server 50 in this embodiment) of the notification destination device to which the mobile phone 10 notifies the download completion of the Java AP, etc. is described.

  The JAR file and the ADF are stored in the content server 70, but the SCF is stored in the AP management server 50. When downloading the Java AP that is the program to be managed by the program management service, the mobile phone 10 acquires the JAR file and the ADF from the content server 70 and acquires the Java CF SCF from the AP management server 50.

<2. Configuration of mobile phone>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the mobile phone 10. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 10 includes a wireless communication unit 101, an operation input unit 102, a call processing unit 103, a CPU 104, a liquid crystal display unit 105, and a storage unit 106. Each unit is connected by a bus 110.

  The wireless communication unit 101 includes an antenna 101 a and controls wireless communication performed with the base station 20. Under the control of the CPU 104, the wireless communication unit 101 generates a transmission signal by superimposing data related to transmitted voice, data for packet communication, and the like on a carrier wave, and transmits this signal to the base station 20. Further, the wireless communication unit 101 receives a wireless signal transmitted from the base station 20 via the antenna 101a, demodulates this signal, and receives data related to the received voice addressed to the own device 10 or data for packet communication. obtain.

  The operation input unit 102 has a plurality of keys for inputting numbers, characters, operation instructions, and the like, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation of these keys to the CPU 104. The call processing unit 103 includes, for example, a microphone, a speaker, a voice processing unit, and the like, and performs call processing including call connection / disconnection under the control of the CPU 104. The CPU 104 controls each unit connected via the bus 110 by executing various programs stored in the storage unit 106. The liquid crystal display unit 105 includes a liquid crystal display panel and a drive circuit that performs display control of the liquid crystal display panel.

  The storage unit 106 includes a ROM 107, a RAM 108, and a nonvolatile memory 109 such as an SRAM (Static-RAM) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable-ROM). The ROM 107 stores, for example, an operating system (hereinafter abbreviated as OS) for the mobile phone 10, a Web (World Wide Web) browser, software for constructing a Java execution environment, and the like. The RAM 108 is used as a work area for the CPU 104, and temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU 104 and various data.

  The nonvolatile memory 109 stores Java AP downloaded from the content server 70. Further, the nonvolatile memory 109 stores a terminal ID 109a for identifying the mobile phone 10. In the present embodiment, the telephone number of the mobile phone 10 is used as the terminal ID 109a.

<3. Configuration of Java execution environment>
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an execution environment of JavaAP in the mobile phone 10. Note that the mobile phone 10 according to the present embodiment includes a Java Virtual Machine (KVM) as a software for constructing an execution environment for Java AP and a Java 2 Java (J2ME) equipped with a Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) as a configuration. 2 Micro Edition).

  In the figure, KVM is a JVM (Java Virtual Machine) redesigned for small electronic devices, and bytecodes that are JavaAP executable file formats are converted into instruction codes that the CPU 104 can interpret / execute via the OS. Convert. The CLDC class library has a class library for CLDC.

  Next, JAM (Java Application Manager) has functions of downloading JavaAP and managing JavaAP installed in the nonvolatile memory 109 under the control of the OS. For example, JAM has a function of installing and deleting JavaAP, a function of displaying a list of JavaAPs stored in the nonvolatile memory 109, and a function of performing execution management (startup, forced termination, etc.) of JavaAP.

  As shown in the figure, a native application that provides a telephone directory function, a browser function, a network communication function, and the like directly operates under the control of the OS.

<4. Configuration of AP management server>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the AP management server 50. As shown in the figure, the AP management server 50 includes a communication interface 501, an operation input unit 502, a display unit 503, a printer driver 504, a CPU 505, a ROM 506, a RAM 507, and an HD 508. These units are connected by a bus 509.

  The communication interface 501 controls communication performed with the gateway server 40. The operation input unit 502 includes a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to these operations to the CPU 505. The display unit 503 is configured by a CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube), an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like. Further, the printer 90 is connected to the printer driver 504, and the AP management server 50 can print a report indicating the acquisition status of Java AP and a bill relating to the program management service using the printer 90.

  The CPU 505 controls each unit connected via the bus 509 by executing a program stored in the ROM 506, the HD 508, or the like. The ROM 506 stores a program that controls basic control of each unit of the AP management server 50. The RAM 507 is used as a work area for the CPU 505, and temporarily stores programs executed by the CPU 505 and various data.

  The HD 508 stores a My Box DB (Data Base) 508a and a master registration DB 508b. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the mybox DB 508a. Note that the My Box refers to the URL of the Web site (content server) that provides JavaAP with a usage contract between the mobile phone 10 and the content provider as the link information for the mobile phone 10 and the AP management server 50. The AP management server 50 provides a function similar to a bookmark to the mobile phone 10.

  As shown in the figure, in the My Box DB 508a, for each terminal ID 109a of each mobile phone 10, a Java AP in which a usage contract and a registration contract for My Box are concluded between the user of the mobile phone 10 and the content provider. Various information (APID, link destination URL, CUID, SCF flag, registration date, status management flag) is stored.

  Here, the APID (Application Program ID) is a program identification code for identifying a Java AP registered in My Box. The link destination URL is the URL of the content server 70 that is the link destination, and the CUID (Contents provider-User ID) is a user identification code assigned by the content provider to the user of the mobile phone 10. In the “SCF flag” item, “1” is stored when this Java AP is a program to be managed by the program management service, and “0” is stored otherwise. Furthermore, the registration date indicates the date on which the link information is registered in My Box.

  Next, when “1” is stored in the “SCF flag” item, that is, when this Java AP is a program to be managed by the program management service, the acquisition status of this Java AP is displayed in the “status management flag” item. Information to be stored is stored. For example, in this “status management flag” item, the JavaAP acquisition status is managed by dividing it into four statuses: “accessed”, “download requested”, “downloaded”, and “deleted”.

  Here, when the flag indicating “accessed” is “1”, the mobile phone 10 has accessed the content server 70 at least once using a link related to this Java AP registered in My Box. Indicates the state. In addition, when the flag indicating “download request is present” is “1”, this indicates a state in which the mobile phone 10 has downloaded this Java AP. When the flag indicating “downloaded” is “1”, this Java AP is downloaded to the mobile phone 10 and installed in the nonvolatile memory 109. Further, when the flag indicating “deleted” is “1”, this indicates a state in which link information related to this Java AP is deleted from the My Box in accordance with an instruction from the mobile phone 10.

  For example, in the same figure, link information for Java AP assigned with the APID “10000945” is registered in the My Box of the mobile phone 10 having the terminal ID 109a “0906-111-2222”. Since this Java AP stores “1” in the “SCF flag” item, it is understood that this Java AP is a program to be managed by the program management service. Furthermore, since each flag of the “status management flag” item is “0”, it can be seen that the link information has been registered in the My Box, but the link has never been used.

  Next, returning to FIG. 4, the master registration DB 508b stores the Java AP, the link destination URL, and the report submitted by the content provider for each Java AP for which a service contract for the program management service is concluded between the communication carrier and the content provider. This is a database in which information relating to the transmission destination and billing destination, and the APID and SCF issued by the AP management server 50 for this Java AP are registered as a master. The above is the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the present embodiment.

[A-2. Operation of the embodiment]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
<1. Master registration process>
First, operations of the AP management server 50 and the development machine 75 until Java AP is master-registered in the AP management server 50 as a program to be managed by the program management service will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the content provider creates a Java AP to be provided to the mobile phone 10 using the development machine 75. Next, the content provider transmits a master registration request for this Java AP from the development machine 75 to the AP management server 50 in order to have the created Java AP managed by the AP management server 50 as a program to be managed by the program management service (step S40). S101).

  The master registration request includes JavaAP, the URL (link destination URL) of the content server 70 that provides the JavaAP, information on the report transmission destination and the billing destination (for example, the company name of the content provider, the person in charge Name, address, e-mail address, FAX number) and the like. In addition, the master registration request transmitted from the development machine 75 to the AP management server 50 may not include the Java AP itself as long as there is information specifying the Java AP.

  When receiving the master registration request from the development machine 75 via the communication interface 501, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 performs a master registration process (step S102). In this master registration process, the CPU 505 first issues an APID to be assigned to the Java AP included in the master registration request and generates an SCF for this Java AP. In this SCF, at least the URL of the AP management server 50 is described.

  Thereafter, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 registers the Java AP, APID, link destination URL, SCF, and information on the report transmission destination and the bill transmission destination in the master registration DB 508b. In addition, the CPU 505 transmits a master registration completion notification to the development machine 75 (step S103). This master registration completion notification includes an APID issued to this Java AP and a URL indicating the storage location of the SCF, in addition to a message indicating that master registration has been completed.

  On the other hand, when the development machine 75 receives the master registration completion notification from the AP management server 50, the content provider stores the URL indicating the SCF storage location included in the master registration completion notification in the Java AP ADF. Then, the content provider transfers the ADF and the JAR file from the development machine 75 to the content server 70 so that the Java AP can be provided to the mobile phone 10.

  In addition, the information regarding the master registration transmitted / received between the AP management server 50 and the development machine 75 in the above steps S101 and S103 is not limited to transmission / reception via communication, but is a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-ROM). It is also possible to use a form that is exchanged between a communication carrier and a content provider using a recording medium such as Furthermore, the form exchanged between a content provider and a communication carrier by a document may be sufficient. In particular, when information related to master registration is submitted from a content provider to a telecommunications carrier using a document, the telecommunications carrier inputs necessary information described in the document submitted from the content provider to the AP management server 50 to obtain a master. Perform the registration process.

<2. Mybox registration process>
Next, operations of the AP management server 50 and the development machine 75 until link information related to Java AP is registered in My Box will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user of the mobile phone 10 concludes a usage contract for Java AP and a registration contract for My Box with a content provider. The usage contract and the registration contract may be in an online form between the mobile phone 10 and the content server 70, or a contract application form may be submitted from the user of the mobile phone 10 to the content provider. It may be in the form of being tied. In addition, when a registration contract for My Box is made between the user of the mobile phone 10 and the content provider, the user ID of the mobile phone 10 is notified from the user of the mobile phone 10 to the content provider. Further, the content provider issues a CUID to the user of the mobile phone 10 that has signed a registration contract.

  Next, the content provider transmits a mybox registration request from the development machine 75 to the AP management server 50 (step S201). This my-box registration request includes an APID that identifies Java AP, a terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10 that specifies the registered My Box, a CUID issued by the content provider to the user of the mobile phone 10, and the like.

  When receiving the my box registration request from the development machine 75, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 performs my box registration processing (step S202). In this mybox registration process, the CPU 505 first searches the master registration DB 508b using the APID included in the mybox registration request as a key, and transmits the master registered data (Java AP, link destination URL, SCF, report). And the data corresponding to the APID are identified from the information on the billing address.

  Next, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 sets item data for link information to be newly registered based on the identified data and the terminal ID 109a and CUID included in the mybox registration request, as shown in FIG. 5)). At this time, the CPU 505 determines whether or not the specified master registration data includes SCF, and sets the value of the “SCF flag” item according to the determination result. Further, the CPU 505 stores information indicating the current date in the “registration date” item and sets each flag of the “status management flag” item to “0”.

  Thereafter, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 transmits a mybox registration completion notification indicating that the registration to the mybox has been completed to the development machine 75 (step S203).

<3. Download>
Next, with respect to the operations of the mobile phone 10, the AP management server 50, and the content server 70 when the mobile phone 10 downloads Java AP that is the management target of the program management service, FIG. 8 and FIG. Description will be made with reference to screen display examples of the mobile phone 10 shown in FIGS.

  First, when a web browser is activated by the user on the mobile phone 10 and My Box is selected from the menu, an image shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 105. When the my menu list is selected by an operation input according to this display, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 transmits a connection request to the AP management server 50 from the wireless communication unit 101 (step S301). This connection request is transmitted to the AP management server 50 via the base station 20, the gateway exchange 30 and the gateway 40. Further, the connection request includes a command for requesting screen data of the My Box and the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10.

  When receiving the connection request from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the my box DB 508 a using the terminal ID 109 a included in the connection request as a key, and specifies my box data for the mobile phone 10. . Next, the CPU 505 creates my box screen data based on the specified my box data, and transmits the screen data to the mobile phone 10 (step S302).

  When receiving the mybox screen data from the AP management server 50 via the wireless communication unit 101, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 displays the image shown in FIG. 11 on the display screen based on the screen data. In the display example shown in the figure, “New!” Indicates that this link information is newly registered. When, for example, a ticket application (Java AP) is selected by an operation input in response to this display, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 transmits a link information acquisition request to the AP management server 50 (step S303). This link information acquisition request includes an APID of the selected Java AP, a terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10, a command requesting the URL of the linked content server 70, and a command requesting a CUID.

  When receiving the link information acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 first searches the mybox DB 508a using the terminal ID 109a and the APID included in the link information acquisition request as keys, and the corresponding “state” In the “management flag” item, the “access present” flag is set to “1”. That is, the CPU 505 detects that the mobile phone 10 has accessed the content server 70 at least once using the Java AP link in the My Box, and registers it in the My Box DB 508a.

  As a result, if the flag “accessed” is switched from “0” to “1”, the acquisition state of the Java AP managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 is changed from “not accessed”. Move to “Accessed”. When the “accessed” flag is set to “1”, the display of “New!” Displayed beside the link information disappears when the mobile phone 10 displays the mybox image after the next time.

  Further, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the mybox DB 508a using the terminal ID 109a and the APID included in the link information acquisition request as keys, and reads out the corresponding link destination URL and CUID. Next, the CPU 505 transmits a link information acquisition response including the read link destination URL and CUID and screen data indicating a message for switching the connection to the link destination site to the mobile phone 10 (step S304).

  When receiving the link information acquisition response from the AP management server 50, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 first displays, for example, the image shown in FIG. 12 on the display screen based on the screen data included in the link information acquisition response. To do. When a connection to the link destination is instructed by an operation input according to this display, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 transmits a download request to the content server 70 using the link destination URL included in the link information acquisition response. (Step S305). This download request is transmitted to the content server 70 via the mobile packet communication network 80 and the Internet 60. The download request includes a CUID and an APID that identifies the Java AP to be downloaded.

  Note that the following control may be performed. That is, first, in the “CUID” item in the My Box DB 508a stored in the AP management server 50, in addition to the CUID, for the personal authentication decided in advance between the content provider and the user of the mobile phone 10. Store the password. In step S304, the mobile phone 10 is notified of the password together with the CUID by a link information acquisition response. In step S305, the cellular phone 10 transmits the CUID and password to the content server 70 using the POST method as a download request.

  When the content server 70 receives a download request from the mobile phone 10, the content server 70 first performs personal authentication using a CUID, a password, etc., and checks the number of downloads. Next, the content server 70 identifies the corresponding Java AP based on the APID included in the download request, and sends a response notification including the download screen data of the Java AP and a URL indicating the storage location of the Java ADF. It transmits to the mobile phone 10 (step S306).

  When receiving the response notification from the content server 70, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 displays the image shown in FIG. 13 on the display screen based on the screen data included in the response notification. When consent for the use of JavaAP is given according to this display, and execution of download is instructed by an operation input, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 first activates JAM. Next, the CPU 104 transmits an ADF acquisition request to the content server 70 using the URL indicating the storage location of the ADF in accordance with JAM (step S307). In the display example shown in FIG. 13, when the consent regarding the use of JavaAP is not obtained, that is, when “I disagree” is clicked by the operation input, the mobile phone 10 and the content server 70 download the JavaAP. Cancel.

  When the content server 70 receives the ADF acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the content server 70 reads the ADF designated by the ADF acquisition request from the memory and returns it to the mobile phone 10 (step S308). Further, when receiving the ADF from the content server 70 (step S302), the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 first checks the file content of the ADF according to JAM, and determines whether or not the JAR file can be downloaded to the mobile phone 10. Is determined. As a result, if the CPU 104 determines that the JAR file cannot be downloaded to the mobile phone 10 due to, for example, insufficient memory capacity, the CPU 104 displays a message to that effect on the display screen, and then stops the Java AP download.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 104 determines that the JAR file can be downloaded, the CPU 104 then determines whether the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF is described in the ADF according to the JAM. In the present embodiment, the case of downloading Java AP, which is the management target of the program management service, has been described. Naturally, the ADF describes the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF. Therefore, the CPU 104 transmits an SCF acquisition request to the AP management server 50 using the URL indicating the storage location of the SCF in accordance with JAM (step S309). This SCF acquisition request includes a command for requesting acquisition of SCF, the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10, and the APID.

  When receiving the SCF acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the my box DB 508 a using the terminal ID 109 a and the APID included in the SCF acquisition request as keys, and the my box of the mobile phone 10. It is confirmed whether or not the link information of the corresponding Java AP is registered.

  Then, after confirming that the corresponding Java AP is registered, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 first sets the “download request present” flag in the “status management flag” item in the My Box DB 508a to “ Set to 1 ”. In other words, the CPU 505 detects that the mobile phone 10 has executed this Java AP download and registers it in the My Box DB 508a. As a result, if the flag of “download request present” is switched from “0” to “1”, the acquisition state of the Java AP managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 is “access present”. To “Download Request Available”.

  Next, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 reads the corresponding Java AP SCF from the master registration DB 508b and transmits it to the mobile phone 10 (step S310). In addition, when the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 receives the SCF from the AP management server 50, the URL indicating the download request destination of the JAR file described in the ADF is then used in accordance with JAM, and the JAR file is sent to the content server 70. An acquisition request is transmitted (step S311).

  Upon receiving the JAR file acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the content server 70 reads the JAR file specified by the JAR file acquisition request from the memory and transmits it to the mobile phone 10 (step S312). In the present embodiment, the case where both the JavaAP ADF and the JAR file are stored in the content server 70 has been described. However, the JAR file and the ADF may be stored in different servers.

  When receiving the JAR file from the content server 70, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 first installs the JavaAP (ADF, SCF, and JAR file) downloaded this time in the nonvolatile memory 109 according to JAM. Next, the CPU 104 transmits a download completion notification to the AP management server 50 using the URL described in the SCF in accordance with JAM (step S313). This download completion notification includes information indicating that the download has been completed, the terminal ID 109a of the mobile phone 10, and the APID of the downloaded Java AP. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 displays a message indicating that the Java AP download is completed on the display screen.

  When receiving the download completion notification from the mobile phone 10, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 searches the mybox DB 508a using the terminal ID 109a and the APID included in the download completion notification as keys, and the corresponding “status management flag”. In the item, the “downloaded” flag is set to “1”. That is, the CPU 505 detects that this Java AP has been downloaded to the mobile phone 10 and has been installed in the nonvolatile memory 109, and registers it in the My Box DB 508a. As a result, if the “downloaded” flag is switched from “0” to “1”, the acquisition state of the Java AP managed by the AP management server 50 for this mobile phone 10 is “download request present”. To “Downloaded”.

  The above is the operation when the mobile phone 10 downloads the Java AP that is the management target of the program management service. In addition to this, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 relates to Java AP from the My Box in accordance with an instruction from the mobile phone 10. When the link information is deleted, the “delete” flag is set to “1” in the corresponding “status management flag” item in the My Box DB 508a. That is, the CPU 505 detects that the link information regarding this Java AP has been deleted from the My Box, and registers it in the My Box DB 508a.

<4. Report notification processing>
Next, an operation of report notification processing executed by the CPU 505 in the AP management server 50 will be described with reference to FIG. This report notification process is executed by the CPU 505 when a predetermined date and time such as the 25th of every month is reached.

  As shown in the figure, first, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 selects one Java AP to be processed from all Java APs registered in the master registration DB 508b and managed by the program management service. (Step S401).

  Next, the CPU 505 searches the My Box DB 508a using the APID of the selected Java AP as a key, and totals the value of the state management flag of each mobile phone 10 for this Java AP (step S402). In this counting process, the CPU 505 counts the number of mobile phones 10 corresponding to each acquisition state, such as “not accessed”, “accessed”, “download requested”, “downloaded”, and “deleted”. Further, the CPU 505 performs a process of acquiring the CUID of the mobile phone 10 that does not use a link or download request even if a predetermined period has elapsed from the registration date when the link information related to Java AP is registered in the My Box.

  Thereafter, the CPU 505 creates a report indicating the acquisition status of each mobile phone 10 for this Java AP based on the result of counting the state management flag (step S403). For example, the CPU 505 creates a report as shown in FIG. 16 using a graph or a table. The report shown in the figure is only an example. For example, when a communication carrier has signed a packet communication service subscription contract with the user of the mobile phone 10, it acquires various information such as the user's age and gender. Therefore, using these pieces of information, for example, statistical data such as the age group and sex of the user who acquired Java AP may be further added to the report.

  Next, the CPU 505 reads information (for example, an e-mail address) indicating the corresponding report transmission destination from the master registration DB 508b. Then, the CPU 505 transmits the report created in step S403 to the development machine 75 based on the information indicating the report transmission destination (step S404). As a result, the content provider can obtain a management report regarding the acquisition status of Java AP. Note that the communication carrier may print the report created by the AP management server 50 from the printer 90 and send the printed report to the content provider by mail or facsimile.

  Next, the CPU 505 calculates a service fee for the program management service for the Java AP that has finished transmitting the report (step S405). Here, the fee for the program management service may be a predetermined monthly fixed fee, or the number of mobile phones 10 in which link information related to this Java AP is registered in My Box may be counted. The service fee according to the number may be calculated.

  Thereafter, the CPU 505 reads out information necessary for issuing the invoice, such as the company name of the content provider, the name of the person in charge, the shipping address of the invoice, from the master registration DB 508b, and the information calculated in step S405 above. Invoice data is created based on the fee (step S406). Next, the CPU 505 prints the created bill data by the printer 90 (step S407). Then, the telecommunications carrier sends the printed bill to the content provider, and collects the service fee of the program management service from the content provider periodically, for example, every month.

  Thereafter, the CPU 505 determines whether or not JavaAP to be processed still remains (step S408), and if it remains, returns to step S401. If the CPU 505 determines that there is no JavaAP to be processed, the CPU 505 ends the report notification process.

  The service fee for the program management service is calculated according to the management period requested by the content provider when a JavaAP service contract is signed between the carrier and the content provider. It may be a form that is paid to a person in a lump. In this case, the CPU 505 of the AP management server 50 calculates a service fee according to the management period applied by the content provider, and creates and prints bill data related to the fee.

  In addition, the above-described report notification process is not started when a predetermined date and time is reached, such as every month, but can be arbitrarily started by an operation input or the like in the AP management server 50. Of course, a report target period, a service charge calculation target period, and the like can be arbitrarily set by an operation input.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the AP management server 50 communicates with the AP management server 50 in order to obtain link information to the content server 70 by the mobile phone 10 or the SCF of the Java AP by the mobile phone 10. Communication related to the acquisition of JavaAP performed by the mobile phone 10, such as communication performed with the AP management server 50 to acquire the mobile phone 10 or communication performed with the AP management server 50 to notify the download completion of the JavaAP by the mobile phone 10. Based on this, the Java AP acquisition status in the mobile phone 10 is detected. In addition, the AP management server 50 performs the same processing for each mobile phone 10, detects the acquisition status of each Java phone 10 for Java AP, summarizes this in a report, and notifies the content provider.

  Therefore, by subscribing to the program management service, the content provider can obtain a report in which the details of the acquisition status in each mobile phone 10 are aggregated and analyzed for the Java AP provided by the content provider.

  The AP management server 50 executes the above-described processing according to a program stored in the HD 508. A program for executing such processing is provided to the AP management server 50 by communication. It may be. Furthermore, for example, the program may be provided to the AP management server 50 using a recording medium such as an optical recording medium, a magnetic recording medium, or a semiconductor memory.

[B. Modified example]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can be implemented with another various form, without deviating from the main characteristic. The above-described embodiments are merely examples of one aspect of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is as shown in the claims, and modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims. Are all included within the scope of the present invention. In addition, as a modification, the following can be considered, for example.

<Modification 1>
FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the communication system 2 according to the first modification. In addition, in this modification 1, the same code | symbol shall be used about the part which is common in embodiment mentioned above. Further, the description of the parts common to the above-described embodiment will be omitted.

  As shown in the figure, the communication system 2 further includes an authorized server 65 in addition to the components of the communication system 1 described in the above-described embodiment. The certification server 65 provides a program certification service. In this program certification service, the certification body examines the Java AP for the mobile phone 10 requested to be certified by the content provider, and the Java AP satisfies a predetermined operation standard as a program for accessing the resource requested by the content provider. In this case, this Java AP is a service that certifies the Java AP as a program that can access the resource requested by the content provider.

  The authorization server 65 is a file (hereinafter referred to as SDF: Security Description) in which information indicating resources that permit access to the mobile phone 10 during execution of the Java AP is described for each Java AP certified by the certification organization. (Described as “File”) is stored in the memory. In this SDF, information indicating a resource applied for by a content provider is described. As a result, when the mobile phone 10 is executing the Java AP certified by the accreditation organization, the resources permitted to access the mobile phone 10 are expanded to the resources requested by the content provider described in the SDF. .

  Further, in the first modification, it is assumed that a communication carrier that operates the mobile packet communication network 80 operates an accreditation organization and implements a program accreditation service using the accreditation server 65. Of course, the accreditation body may be a carrier other than the carrier, but since the carrier is the provider of the packet communication service, for example, the examination and the operation check of JavaAP are performed fairly and accurately. It can be carried out.

  Next, the operation of the first modification will be described. Note that the master registration process, mybox registration process, and report notification process are the same as the processes described in the above-described embodiments (see FIGS. 6, 7, and 15), and thus description thereof is omitted here.

  The difference from the above-described embodiment in the first modification is that the Java AP downloaded by the mobile phone 10 is a program to be managed by the program management service and a certification program of the certification organization, and includes an ADF, SCF, and JAR file. In addition, the SDF must be acquired from the authorized server 65.

  In the following, the cellular phone 10, the AP management server 50, the certification server 65, and the content server 70 in the case where the cellular phone 10 downloads Java AP that is a program to be managed by the program management service and is a certification program of the certification organization. The operation will be described with reference to the sequence charts shown in FIGS. In FIGS. 18 and 19, the same steps as those in FIGS. 8 and 9 are denoted by the same step numbers, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  Assuming that the Java AP is downloaded to the mobile phone 10, the accreditation body examines the Java AP requested to be accredited by the content provider and certifies the Java AP as an accreditation body accreditation program. In addition, the Java AP certified by the certification organization is applied to the communication provider from the content provider as a program to be managed by the program management service. Furthermore, the Java server SDF is stored in the authorization server 65, and the URL indicating the storage location of the SDF is described in the Java AP ADF stored in the content server 70. .

  First, in the sequence charts shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, steps S301 to S310, that is, the operation until the mobile phone 10 acquires the SCF from the AP management server 50 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

  After acquiring the SCF, the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 transmits an SDF acquisition request to the authorization server 65 using the URL indicating the storage location of the SDF described in the ADF according to JAM (step S501). Upon receiving the SDF acquisition request from the mobile phone 10, the authorization server 65 reads the SDF designated by the SDF acquisition request from the memory and transmits it to the mobile phone 10 (step S502). In addition, when the CPU 104 of the mobile phone 10 receives the SDF from the authorization server 65, the CPU 104 then acquires a JAR file from the content server 70 according to JAM (steps S311 and S312). Thereafter, the CPU 104 installs the Java AP (ADF, SCF, SDF, and JAR file) downloaded this time in the nonvolatile memory 109 according to JAM, and then transmits a download completion notification to the AP management server 50 (step S313).

  When the JavaAP downloaded in this way is executed in the mobile phone 10, first, the CPU 104 determines whether or not the JavaAP to be executed is an accreditation body accreditation program according to JAM. It is determined according to the above. As a result, when the Java AP to be executed is an accreditation program of the accreditation body, the CPU 104 describes the resources that can be accessed by the mobile phone 10 during the execution of the Java AP in the SDF of the Java AP according to the JAM. Extend to the scope of resources. On the other hand, if the Java AP to be executed is not the accreditation program of the accreditation body, the CPU 104 uses resources that can be accessed by the mobile phone 10 during the execution of this Java AP in accordance with JAM, for example, the data in the JAR file of this Java AP. The data is limited to resources within a very limited range, such as data in a storage area allocated to the Java AP and only a site providing the Java AP.

  As described above, the Java AP to be managed by the program management service may be a Java AP certified by an accreditation organization. In the first modification, the authorized server 65 may be installed in the mobile packet communication network 80. Further, the authorized server 65 and the AP management server 50 described in the above-described embodiment may be the same server. The SDF may be stored in the AP management server 50.

<Modification 2>
In the embodiment described above, the AP management server 50 creates a report indicating the acquisition status of Java AP and notifies the content provider of the report. However, when the AP management server 50 detects that the acquisition state of the Java AP to be managed has changed, the AP management server 50 notifies the content of the change in the acquisition state and the terminal ID 109a that identifies the mobile phone 10 whose acquisition state has changed. Alternatively, the CUID may be notified to the content provider.

<Modification 3>
In the above-described embodiment, the SCF is assigned to the Java AP that is the management target of the program management service. However, the identifier indicating that the program management service is the management target is assigned to the Java AP, not a file like the SCF. You may do it. In this case, the notification destination URL described in the SCF, such as download completion, is described in the ADF, or is notified from the AP management server 50 or the content server 70 to the mobile phone 10 by separate communication. That's fine.

<Modification 4>
In the above-described embodiment, the AP management server 50 determines the service fee calculated in step S405 of the report notification process (see FIG. 15) and information necessary for creating a bill related to the fee (for example, the content provider's The company name, the name of the person in charge, and the invoice delivery address) to the charge center that manages the communication charge of the mobile phone 10, and the charge center prints the invoice for the program management service and the service charge. Collection management may be performed.

<Modification 5>
In the master registration process (see FIG. 6) of the above-described embodiment, when the AP management server 50 receives a master registration request from the development machine 75 (step S101), the communication carrier uses the Java AP included in the master registration request. Inspecting the source code and confirming the operation, this Java AP does not cause any trouble in the mobile phone 10, or maliciously steals personal data in the mobile phone 10 and sends it to the outside via the network. It may be determined that a certain operation is not performed, and master registration may be performed only for a Java AP that has passed the inspection.

<Modification 6>
In the embodiment and the first modification described above, the download order of ADF, SCF, SDF, JAR file, and the like can be arbitrarily changed. Further, the program provided as content is not limited to a program written in the Java programming language. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment and Modification 1, the case where a program is provided as content has been described, but the content may be other than the program, for example, image data, a ringing melody, or the like. The content provider may be an individual user who provides the above-described various contents using a homepage, for example, in addition to the business operator.

<Modification 7>
In the above-described embodiment, the gateway server 40 and the AP management server 50 are configured to be installed in the mobile packet communication network 80. Of course, the gateway server 40 and the AP management server 50 are configured to be installed outside the mobile packet communication network 80. Also good. The AP management server 50 may be configured to be connected to the Internet 60. Similarly, the content server 70 may be configured to be directly connected to the gateway server 40 of the mobile packet communication network 80 via a dedicated line, or may be configured to be installed in the mobile packet communication network 80. There may be.

<Modification 8>
In the above-described embodiment, the case where a mobile phone is used as the communication terminal has been described. However, the communication terminal may be, for example, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System: registered trademark) terminal, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a car navigation device, or a personal computer. For example, various electronic devices having a communication function may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the mobile packet communication network 80 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the mobile packet communication network 80, and may be applied to, for example, a public wireless LAN or a general LAN. Applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 ... Communication system 10 ... Mobile phone 20 ... Base station 30 ... Gateway exchange station 40 ... Gateway server 50 ... AP management server 60 ... Internet 65 ... Authorized server , 70 ... Content server, 75 ... Development machine, 80 ... Mobile packet communication network, 90 ... Printer, 101 ... Wireless communication unit, 101a ... Antenna, 102 ... Operation input unit, 103 ... Call processing , 104 ... CPU, 105 ... Liquid crystal display, 106 ... Memory, 107 ... ROM, 108 ... RAM, 109 ... Non-volatile memory, 109a ... Terminal ID, 110 ... Bus, 501 ... ... Communication interface, 502 ... Operation input section, 503 ... Display section, 504 ... Printer driver, 505 ... CPU, 506 ... ROM, 507 ... RAM, 08 ...... HD, 508a ...... My box DB, 508b ...... master registration DB, 509 ...... bus

Claims (4)

A management device that manages information related to content provided to a plurality of communication terminals via a network by a provider is provided for each communication terminal for which a contract for use of the content is concluded with the provider. as required by a first process of registering in association with the communication terminal and a link related to identification information and the content identifying the content,
A second process in which the management device transmits the link corresponding to the identification information associated with the communication terminal in response to a request including the identification information of the content from the communication terminal;
The management device monitors communication related to an operation status related to acquisition or use of the content from a communication terminal to which the link is transmitted in the second process, and includes management information indicating the status in stages. A third process to change,
A content status notification method comprising: a fourth step in which the management device notifies the communication device designated in advance by the content provider of the status indicated by the management information. The content is identification information indicating that it is a management target, and identification information including a communication address of the management device is assigned,
The status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal notifies the operation using identification information assigned to the content. The management information includes a state in which the link destination indicated by the link has not been accessed, a state in which the link destination has been accessed, a state in which the content has been downloaded, The status notification method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a state where the installation has been executed and a state where the link is deleted are indicated. For each communication terminal using contract is concluded for the content with the provider, in response to a request by the provider of the content, the correspondence between the communication terminal and a link related to identification information and the content identifying the content Registration means for registering,
Storage means for storing management information indicating the status of operations related to acquisition or use of the content in stages;
A transmission means for transmitting the link corresponding to the identification information associated with the communication terminal in response to a request including the identification information of the content from the communication terminal;
Changing means for monitoring communication related to the situation from the communication terminal to which the link is transmitted by the transmitting means and changing the management information stored in the storage means;
A notification unit configured to notify the communication apparatus designated in advance by the content provider of the status indicated by the management information.

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