JP5132949B2 - Data transfer device, external terminal device, data transfer system, data transfer method, and transfer control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a data transfer apparatus for transferring data relates to the data transfer system and data transfer method.

  Improvements in video and audio compression technologies and digital signal processing technologies in the broadcasting and communication fields have made it possible to realize services that distribute digital data such as so-called VOD (Video On Demand) and MOD (Music On Demand). .

  Conventionally, as an example of a service form for supplying digital data, for example, the receiving side designates a specific genre on the host side on the Internet or the like, and the host side searches the database for data on the genre and receives the data. In other words, a so-called push-type service for transferring data one after another has been performed.

JP-A-8-242437 JP-A-7-250316

  However, in the conventional data transmission / reception system, for example, there is no system that automatically downloads data of new information that has just been released or released on the receiving side. For example, in the conventional MOD system, there is no system that can automatically download data about a new score on the receiving side. In addition, in the conventional MOD system, there is no system that can switch and reproduce the data for the new music on the receiving side between low quality reproduction and high quality reproduction. Furthermore, in the conventional MOD system, the user side stays in a system where data is acquired by paying uniformly, for example, by listening to a part of the new music and paying only for what the user likes. There was no system to get all the data related to the new music.

An object of the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and is a data transfer device , a data transfer system, and a data transfer method that enables a receiver to automatically download data of new information. Is to provide.

A data transfer apparatus according to the present invention includes a recording medium on which a plurality of data and identification data for identifying whether the data is newly recorded within a predetermined period corresponding to each of the plurality of data, and a data relay apparatus receiving means and said receiving means for the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal apparatus transmitted from the external terminal device detachably connected with the request information from the user received via the data relay apparatus Based on the request information from the user received together with the index data, the search means for searching the data recorded in the recording medium, and the external terminal device based on the index data received together with the request information by the receiving means If the data is not recorded on the Transfer means for transferring automatically via the data relay apparatus to the apparatus, based on the data transferred, and a charging means for charging to the external terminal device, said receiving means, particular as the request information The genre specifying information for requesting the transfer of data for the genre is received together with the index data, and the search means relates to the data belonging to the genre specified by the genre specifying information, the data recorded on the recording medium. The searching means transfers the billing process when the billing means performs billing processing for the new music data determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal device, and when the billing means performs billing processing. It is characterized in that the sound quality is switched and transferred to the external terminal device when it is not performed .

Further, the present invention is a data transfer system comprising a data transfer device and an external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay device, wherein the data transfer device includes a plurality of data and a plurality of data, respectively. Correspondingly, a first recording medium on which identification data for identifying whether the data is newly recorded within a predetermined period is recorded, and the external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay device Based on the receiving means for receiving the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal device together with the request information from the user via the data relay device, and the request information from the user received together with the index data by the receiving means, A search means for searching for data recorded on the first recording medium and a request by the receiving means. Based on the index data received together with the information, a first transfer means for automatically transferring the discriminated data as data which is not recorded in the external terminal unit via the data relay apparatus to the external terminal device And charging means for charging the external terminal device based on the transferred data, and the receiving means uses genre designation information for requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information as index data. And the search means searches for data recorded on the first recording medium for data belonging to the genre designated by the genre designation information , and the first transfer means Billing by the above billing means for new music data determined to be data not recorded in the terminal device And if the management is being performed, in a case where the accounting process by the accounting means has not been performed it is transferred to the external terminal unit by switching the sound quality, the external terminal device, the second recording a plurality of data And a second transfer means for transferring the index data of the data recorded on the second recording medium to the data transfer apparatus together with request information from the user when connected to the data transfer apparatus. And control means for recording the data not recorded on the second recording medium transferred from the data transfer apparatus as a result of transferring the index data together with the request information from the user onto the second recording medium. Genre designation information for requesting data transfer for a specific genre as the request information. And the data transfer device together with the data transfer device.
Furthermore, the present invention, the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal apparatus transmitted from the external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay apparatus with the request information from the user via the data relay apparatus Based on the request information from the user received by the receiving means and received by the receiving means, a plurality of data and new data recorded in a predetermined period corresponding to the plurality of data are identified. Data that is recorded in the first recording medium in which the identification data is recorded is retrieved by the retrieval means, and data that is not recorded in the external terminal device based on the index data received together with the request information by the reception means via the data relaying apparatus by the determination data to be the first transfer means Automatically transferred to Kigaibu terminal device, a data transfer device for charging to the external terminal device by the charging means based on the data transferred, when connected to the data transfer device via the data relay apparatus In addition, the index data of the data recorded on the second recording medium for recording a plurality of data is transferred to the data transfer device by the second transfer means together with the request information from the user, and the index data is received from the user. As a result of transferring together with the request information, the data transferred from the data transfer device and not recorded on the second recording medium is recorded with the external terminal device by the control means on the second recording medium. a method of transferring data to be transferred, when connected to the data transfer device via the data relay apparatus A first transfer step of transferring, from the external terminal device to the data transfer device together with the index data, genre specifying information for requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information by the second transfer means; A receiving step for receiving, together with the index data, genre specifying information for requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information by the receiving means of the data transfer apparatus; and the receiving means by the search means of the data transfer apparatus A search step for searching data recorded in the first recording medium with respect to data belonging to the genre designated by the genre designation information received together with the index data by the first data of the data transfer device; By transfer means The data that is determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal device based on the index data received together with the genre specifying information by the receiving means is automatically transferred to the external terminal device. Data transfer step, and a charging processing step of charging the external terminal device by a charging unit based on the transferred data. In the second data transfer step, the data not recorded in the external terminal device The sound quality is switched and transferred to the external terminal device between the case where the billing means is charged for the new music data determined to be and the case where the billing means is not charged. It is characterized by doing.

In the present invention, genre specifying information for requesting data transfer for a specific genre is recorded in the external terminal device as request information from a user transmitted from an external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay device. The data is received together with the index data of the existing data, the data recorded on the recording medium is searched based on the received genre specifying information, and the external terminal device is searched based on the index data received together with the genre specifying information. Switching the sound quality between the case where the charging process is performed by the charging unit and the case where the charging unit is not performing the charging process on the new music data determined to be unrecorded data, and the above the new album data from the data transfer device to the external terminal device via the data relay apparatus It can be dynamically transferred, automatically it is possible to download the data of the new information, only by connecting the external terminal device to the data transfer device, to download only data which is not recorded on the recording medium Therefore, it is possible to reduce the troublesomeness when downloading data and to improve the convenience for the user.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A data transmission / reception system 1 shown in FIG. 1 to which the present invention is applied is a so-called music-on-demand system. A data transmission device 2, which is a server-side terminal device, is connected to a data reception device 4 via a communication network 3. It is configured to be connected to. Here, the data receiving device 4 includes a data relay device 5 connected to the communication network 3 via a terminal 21a, and a mobile terminal which is a user-side terminal device detachably connected to the data relay device 5. 6.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each side portion of the casing of the mobile terminal 6 is attached so as to be fitted into a mounting portion 7 that is recessed in the casing of the data relay device 5. A connection between the relay device 5 and the portable terminal 6 is achieved. That is, in the data transmission / reception system 1, the data transmission device 2 is connected to the data relay device 5 via the communication network 3, and the data relay device 5 and the portable terminal 6 are further connected, so The terminal 6 is connected.

  Here, the data transmission device 2 is provided in a data management center, for example, on the server side, and accesses the billing communication network 10 to perform predetermined billing processing for the user. Further, the data relay device 5 relays the request information from the portable terminal 6 and supplies it to the data transmitting device 2, and also relays the data transmitted from the data transmitting device 2 and supplies it to the portable terminal 6. For example, the device is installed in a store, convenience store, public telephone, home, etc. at each station. Furthermore, the portable terminal 6 is owned by each user and is a portable terminal that is convenient to carry.

  In FIG. 1, only one data relay device 5 and one portable terminal 6 are shown for convenience of explanation, but actually, a plurality of data relay devices 5 and portable terminals 6 are connected to the server side data via the communication network 3. The transmitter 2 is connected.

  As the communication network 3 and the billing communication network 10, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), a telephone line, etc. are used. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the communication network 3 and the data transmission device 2 and the communication network 3 and the data relay device 5 are connected by wires such as communication cables and optical fibers. However, the connection may be made by radio such as radio waves. Further, in the data transmission / reception system 1, for example, a broadcasting satellite may be used for data transmission from the data transmission device 2 to the data reception device 4 without using the communication network 3. In this case, the communication network 3 is used to transmit request information (described later) from the data receiving device 4 side to the data transmitting device 2.

  The server-side data transmission device 2 receives the request information supplied from the user-side mobile terminal 6 via the data relay device 5 and the communication network 3, searches the corresponding data based on the received request information, This is a device for transferring retrieved data to the data relay device 5 and / or the mobile terminal 6 via the communication network 3 in a predetermined manner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the data transmission device 2 is connected to the data relay device 5 through the communication network 3 and has a modem 11 for transmitting and receiving data, and a large-capacity data storing a plurality of music data. A hard disk array 12, a data search processing unit 13 for searching for the corresponding data from the hard disk array 12, and a charging process for accessing the charging communication network 10 and performing a predetermined charging process for a user to be charged And a control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 15 that controls the entire apparatus, and these blocks are connected to each other via a bus 20.

  The modem 11 is connected to the data relay device 5 via the communication network 3, receives request information including data designation information and user ID information transmitted from the portable terminal 6, and supplies this request information to the CPU 15. To do. The modem 11 transmits data such as music output from the data search processing unit 13, which will be described in detail later, to the data relay device 5 via the communication network 3. Each operation of the modem 11 is executed based on a control signal from the CPU 15.

  The hard disk array 12 stores music data of various genres, music guide data, other audio data, etc. for realizing music on demand in the form of compressed data. In addition, the hard disk array 12 stores music data (hereinafter referred to as new music data) for a new music, with an identifier (hereinafter referred to as a new music identifier) indicating that it is a new music. Here, the new music data means, for example, music data about a new music that is within a predetermined period (for example, within one month) since it was released, and the specific definition is appropriately determined or changed on the host side. It becomes.

  The data search processing unit 13 receives the request information from the portable terminal 6 received by the modem 11 via the CPU 15, and based on this request information, from among a lot of data such as music stored in the hard disk array 12. A search process for searching for the corresponding data is performed. The data search processing unit 13 is provided with a memory for temporarily storing data, and the retrieved data is read from the hard disk array 12 and temporarily stored in this memory. Further, the data search processing unit 13 supplies the data stored in the memory to the modem 11.

  In addition, the data search processing unit 13 can read only new music data from the hard disk array 12 by searching for the new music identifier, for example. Each operation of the data search processing unit 13 is performed based on a control signal from the CPU 15.

  The charging processing unit 14 receives the request information from the portable terminal 6 received by the modem 11 via the CPU 15, specifies the charge collection target person based on the request information, and accesses the charging communication network 10. A predetermined billing process is performed for the billing target person.

  The CPU 15 executes a transmission control program for transmitting data such as corresponding music to the data relay device 5 based on the request information from the mobile terminal 6 sent via the data relay device 5 and the communication network 3. The modem 11, the hard disk array 12, the data search processing unit 13, and the charging processing unit 14 are controlled based on this transmission control program.

  Specifically, the CPU 15 receives the request information transmitted from the portable terminal 6 via the data relay device 5 and the communication network 3 and controls the modem 11 so as to supply the received request information to the CPU 15. The CPU 15 temporarily stores the request information supplied from the modem 11 and supplies the request information to the data search processing unit 13 and the billing processing unit 14.

  Further, the CPU 15 performs the above-described search processing based on the data designation information in the request information, reads out the searched data from the hard disk array 12 and temporarily stores the data in the memory of the data search processing unit 13. The processing unit 13 is controlled.

  Then, the CPU 15 refers to the user ID information in the request information, and supplies the data once stored in the memory of the data search processing unit 13 to the modem 11, and this data is connected to the portable terminal 6. The data search processing unit 13 and the modem 11 are controlled so as to be transmitted to the relay device 5. Thereby, in the data transmission / reception system 1, data such as music is transferred from the data transmission device 2 to the portable terminal 6.

  The transmission control program includes a program for performing a so-called push-type service as a subroutine. As a program for performing this push-type service, based on genre designation information for designating a specific genre sent from the mobile terminal 6, genre for sequentially transmitting music data in the genre to the mobile terminal 6 A transmission program is provided.

  Further, as a program for performing the push-type service, new music data transmission for sequentially transmitting only new music data to the mobile terminal 6 based on new music request information instructing transfer of only new music data sent from the mobile terminal 6 is performed. The program is embedded. The details of the control performed by the CPU 15 when these push-type services are performed will be described later.

  In the data transmission / reception system 1 in this embodiment, a packet switching method is used, and data is transmitted in units of data packets. As shown in FIG. 4, the format of each data packet sent from the data transmission device 2 to the data reception device 4 is such that data such as music as the main body is ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding). ) The compressed data is in a format compressed by 2 etc., and the new data flag, music ID, etc. are added to this compressed data.

  Here, the new score flag is a flag indicating whether or not the compressed data is a new score, and is added as a header of each data packet. The song ID includes data indicating the genre of music, the name of the artist performing the song, the title of the song, and the like. By adopting such a data format, in the data transmission / reception system 1, when data is transmitted from the data transmission device 2 to the data reception device 4 side using the broadcasting satellite as described above, or when data is transmitted by the push method. However, it does not cause any trouble.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the data relay device 5 includes a modem 21, a hard disk drive (HDD) 22, a read only memory (ROM) 23, a random access memory (RAM) 24, an operation input unit 25, a display Unit 26, interface (I / F) 27, charging unit 28, and control unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 29, and these blocks are connected to each other via a bus 30. Yes.

  The modem 21 is connected to the data transmission device 2 via the communication network 3 and receives data transmitted from the data transmission device 2. The received data is temporarily stored in the RAM 24. In the data relay device 5, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a terminal 21 a provided on the upper part of the housing is an input / output terminal of the modem 21.

  The HDD 22 includes a hard disk (not shown), and records data stored in the RAM 24 under the control of the CPU 29.

  The ROM 23 stores a relay control program for controlling the operation of the data relay device 5. In the data relay device 5, each block of the data relay device 5 is controlled by the CPU 29 reading and executing this relay control program stored in the ROM 23.

  The RAM 24 temporarily stores data supplied from the data transmission device 2 via the communication network 3. The RAM 24 temporarily stores request information supplied from the mobile terminal 6 via the I / F 27.

  The operation input unit 25 supplies an operation input signal to the CPU 29, and includes a plurality of operation buttons 25a as shown in FIG.

  The display unit 26 includes, for example, an LCD panel, and is provided on the top of the housing as shown in FIG. The display unit 26 displays an operation input signal from the operation input unit 25 by operating the operation button 25a, a data reception state from the data transmission device 2, request information from the portable terminal 6, and the like.

  The I / F 27 is an input / output interface for the mobile terminal 6, and receives request information from the mobile terminal 6 via the I / F 31 by being connected to the I / F 31 of the mobile terminal 6. The I / F 27 supplies data such as music transferred from the data transmission device 2 to the portable terminal 6 via the I / F 31. The I / F 27 of the data relay device 5 and the I / F 31 of the portable terminal 6 are, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a terminal 27a on the side of the data relay device 5 connected to each I / F and a portable device. Connection is achieved via the terminal 31a on the terminal 6 side.

  The charging unit 28 is for charging the battery 39 of the mobile terminal 6. Specifically, when the data relay device 5 and the mobile terminal 6 are connected, the output terminal 28a of the charging unit 28 and the input terminal 39a of the battery 39 come into contact with each other as shown in FIGS. The power is supplied from the charging unit 28 to the battery 39 under the control of the CPU 29.

  The CPU 29 controls each block as described above by reading and executing the relay control program stored in the ROM 23.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the portable terminal 6 includes an interface (I / F) 31, a hard disk drive (HDD) 32, a read only memory (ROM) 33, a random access memory (RAM) 34, an operation input unit. 35, a display unit 36, an interface (I / F) 37, a data decompression unit 38, a battery 39, a D / A conversion unit 41, and a CPU 42. These blocks are connected via a bus 40. It is the structure connected mutually.

  The I / F 31 is an input / output interface for the data relay device 5, and outputs request information to the data relay device 5 by being connected to the I / F 27 of the data relay device 5. The I / F 31 receives data such as music from the data transmission apparatus 2 supplied from the data relay apparatus 5 via the I / F 27. The received data such as music is temporarily stored in the RAM 34.

  The HDD 32 includes a hard disk (not shown), and records data such as music from the data transmission device 2 stored in the RAM 34 on the hard disk based on the control of the CPU 42.

  The ROM 33 stores a control program for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 6. In the mobile terminal 6, each block of the mobile terminal 6 is controlled by the CPU 42 reading and executing the control program stored in the ROM 33.

The RAM 34 temporarily stores data supplied from the data relay device 5 and various data supplied from the CPU 42.

  The operation input unit 35 supplies an operation input signal to the CPU 42, and includes various operation buttons 35a to 35d as shown in FIGS. Specifically, the operation buttons 35a and 35b are selection keys for moving the cursor displayed on the display unit 36 and selecting various functions, and the operation button 35c is a determination key for determining various settings. It has become. The operation buttons 35d including a plurality of operation keys include various operation keys for performing basic operations such as reproduction, stop, pause, cue and review when reproducing data recorded on the hard disk. In the mobile terminal 6, by pressing these various operation buttons, an operation input signal corresponding to the press is supplied to the CPU 42 via the bus 40.

  The display part 36 consists of LCD panels, for example, and is provided in the upper part of the main surface of a housing | casing, as shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. The display unit 36 displays the request information generated by the CPU 42 by the operation input signal from the operation input unit 25 based on the pressing operation of the various operation buttons 35a to 35d, the data reception state from the data transmission device 2, and The connection status with the data relay device 5 is displayed.

  The I / F 37 is an input / output interface for an external input / output device such as a keyboard, a modem, or a display. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 6 is provided with a connection terminal 37 a for connecting the I / F 37 and the external input / output device on the lower side of the side of the casing.

  The data decompression unit 38 performs decompression processing on the compressed data supplied from the RAM 34 or the HDD 32.

  The battery 39 supplies power to each block of the mobile terminal 6, and for example, a battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged, such as a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery, is used. In this embodiment, the battery 39 is automatically charged when power is supplied from the charging unit 28 of the data relay device 5 when the portable electronic terminal 6 is connected to the data relay device 5. Yes.

  The D / A converter 41 converts the digital data output from the data decompressor 38 into an analog reproduction signal. The reproduction signal generated by being converted by the D / A conversion unit 41 is supplied to the terminal 41a, and is output as voice or music from an external speaker 43 or the like connected to the terminal 41a.

  The CPU 42 reads out and executes the control program stored in the ROM 33, thereby outputting a control signal to each block of the portable terminal 6 to perform a predetermined process. Specifically, the CPU 42 performs control to generate request information based on an operation input signal from the operation input unit 35 and transmit the request information to the data relay device 5. Further, the CPU 42 performs control to decode data such as music from the data transmission device 2 supplied via the data relay device 5 and store the data in the RAM 34. Further, the CPU 42 controls reproduction processing for outputting the decoded data stored in the RAM 34 to the external speaker 43 or the like via the data decompression unit 38 and the D / A conversion unit 41. Furthermore, the CPU 42 performs control to supply the decoded data stored in the RAM 34 to the HDD 32 and record it on the hard disk in the HDD 32.

  In addition, as request information which the portable terminal 6 sends to the data transmission device 2, as shown in FIG. 3, user ID information for identifying a user, data designation information for specifying data to be acquired, and willingness to pay The billing payment information for indicating the presence or absence of such information is included. Here, in order to automatically generate user ID information, the user ID is previously registered in the memory of the CPU 42 or the like.

  Further, as the request information, when the data transmission device 2 executes the above-described genre-specific transmission program, genre designation information for specifying the genre of music data to be acquired is transmitted instead of the data designation information. The data is sent to the device 2. Further, when the data transmission apparatus 2 executes the above-mentioned new music data transmission program, new data request information for requesting that only new music data should be transferred is sent to the data transmission apparatus 2 instead of the data designation information. To send. At this time, in order to acquire only new music data in a specific genre, the above-mentioned genre designation information may be sent together with new music request information.

  Next, a basic operation in each apparatus when the user acquires music data or the like by the so-called MOD method in the data transmission / reception system 1 will be described. A user operates each operation button 35a thru | or 35c etc. which comprise the operation input part 35 of the portable terminal 6, designates one or more desired data, and the new data is included in the designated data. Determines whether or not to pay the bill by inputting the billing payment information described above. Thereby, in the mobile terminal 6, request information is generated by the CPU 42, and this request information is stored in the RAM 34.

  In specifying the data, an outline and a list of data registered in the hard disk array 12 of the data transmission device 2 are stored as a database menu in the ROM 33 or RAM 34, for example, and the operation buttons 35a to 35c are operated. The desired data may be selected from this database menu. At this time, the portable terminal 6 does not have to be connected to the data relay device 5 yet.

  Then, by attaching the mobile terminal 6 in which the request information is generated to the mounting portion 7 of the data relay device 5, the CPU 29 of the data relay device 5 reads the relay control program from the ROM 23 and starts executing it. As a result, the portable terminal 6 is connected to the data transmission device 2 via the data relay device 5 and the communication network 3. In the data transmission / reception system 1, the request information stored in the RAM 34 is supplied from the I / F 31 to the data relay device 5 under the control of the CPU 42. Further, the data relay device 5 that has received the request information transmits the request information to the data transmission device 2 via the communication network 3 under the control of the CPU 29.

  In the data transmission device 2, the request information is input by the modem 11, and the input request information is supplied to the CPU 15 and the data search processing unit 13. Based on the control of the CPU 15, the data search processing unit 13 refers to the data designation information in the request information and performs a process of searching for and reading the corresponding data from the hard disk array 12. Then, the CPU 15 controls the modem 11 to transmit the data read from the hard disk array 12 to the data relay device 5 via the communication network 3 based on the user ID information in the request information. Thereby, data such as music designated by the user is received by the data relay device 5.

  The data relay device 5 that has received the data controls each block so that the CPU 29 transfers the received data to the portable terminal 6. Specifically, the CPU 29 supplies the data input from the modem 21 to the portable terminal 6 via the I / F 27 and processes this data to be stored in the hard disk in the HDD 22. As a result, even if the connection between the data relay device 5 and the portable terminal 6 is disconnected during data transfer, the data is backed up by the HDD 22.

  Next, a basic operation in each apparatus when the user acquires new musical score data in the data transmission / reception system 1 will be described with reference to flowcharts.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where a plurality of data is specified in the data specification information of the request information transmitted from the mobile terminal 6 to the data transmission device 2, and a case where new data is specified in the data specification information. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the data transmission device 2, the data relay device 5, and the portable terminal 6 in FIG. Specifically, this flowchart shows an example of a process of switching the sound quality of new music data that the data transmitting device 2 transfers to the data receiving device 4 side depending on whether or not the new music data is charged.

  In step S1, the CPU 15 of the data transmission device 2 that has received the request information refers to each data designation information of the request information and controls the data search processing unit 13 to store each data designated by the user in the hard disk array 12. Search and read from.

  In the subsequent step S2, the CPU 15 determines whether each data read from the hard disk array 12 is new music data. If YES, that is, if it is determined that the data is new music data, the process proceeds to step S3. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the data is not new music data, the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S <b> 3, the CPU 15 determines whether or not there is an intention to pay for the new music data specified by the user by referring to the charge payment information in the request information. If YES, that is, if it is determined that there is an intention to pay, the process proceeds to step S4. If NO, that is, if it is determined that there is no intention to pay, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S4, the CPU 15 controls the charging processing unit 14 so as to perform a predetermined charging process for the new music data, and the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S5, the CPU 15 performs a process of transferring the new music data or other data subjected to the billing process to the data receiving device 4 side with high sound quality, and proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, in step S6, the CPU 15 performs a process of transferring new music data, which the user does not intend to pay, to the data receiving apparatus 4 side with low sound quality, and proceeds to step S7. Here, when the new musical score data is transferred in step S5 or step S6, as shown in FIG. 4, the new musical score flag is set in the header of each data packet and transferred.

  As the processing of these steps S5 and S6, the new music data read from the hard disk array 12 or other data is transferred as it is as the processing of step S5, while the new music data is transferred to, for example, monaural audio as the processing of step S6. Or by limiting the S / N ratio and frequency range. Further, as the process of step S6, for example, only new musical data for one chorus may be transferred without degrading the sound quality.

  By performing the process of step S6 in this way, the data transmission device 2 can transfer the new music data as so-called sample data even to a user who does not pay.

  Each data transferred from the data transmission device 2 in this way is once received by the data relay device 5 (step S7), and further transferred to the portable terminal 6 under the control of the CPU 29 of the data relay device 5.

  The mobile terminal 6 that has received each data from the data relay device 5 in step S8 detects the header of each data packet shown in FIG. 4 by the CPU 42, thereby determining whether or not the data is new music data. Perform (step S9). If YES, that is, if it is determined that the data is new music data, the process proceeds to step S10. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the data is not new music data, the process proceeds to step S11.

  In step S <b> 10, the CPU 42 supplies the new music data to the HDD 32 and controls the HDD 32 to record it on the hard disk in the HDD 32.

  Then, in the subsequent step S11, the CPU 42 supplies new music data or other data to the data decompression unit 38, and performs control so that each data is sequentially reproduced. Thereby, in the portable terminal 6, each data requested by the user is sequentially reproduced, and only new music data is automatically downloaded to the hard disk. Further, in the portable terminal 6, the new music data for which a charge is paid can be heard as high-quality sound, and the new music data for which no charge is paid can be heard as so-called sample data.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the data transmission device 2, the data relay device 5, and the portable terminal 6 when the data transmission device 2 performs a so-called push-type service similar to broadcasting. Here, in this flowchart, when the portable terminal 6 designates a specific music genre, the data transmission device 2 activates the above-described genre-specific transmission program, and the music reception data in the specific genre is sequentially received by the data reception device. The process in the case of transferring to 4 side is shown.

  When such a push-type service is performed, the mobile terminal 6 transmits the user ID information and the genre designation information shown in FIG. For the new music data in a specific genre transferred from the mobile phone 6, the expansion is controlled for each new music data on the mobile terminal 6 side.

  In step S21, the CPU 15 of the data transmitting apparatus 2 that has received the genre designation information sequentially controls the data search processing unit 13 with reference to the genre designation information in the request information, thereby sequentially obtaining music data in the genre designated by the user. Processing to retrieve and read from the hard disk array 12 is performed. Here, the read music data includes not only new music data but also other music data.

  In subsequent step S22, the CPU 15 performs a process of sequentially transferring the read music data to the data receiving device 4 side. In this case as well, when new musical score data is transferred, a new musical score flag is set in the header of each data packet as shown in FIG.

  The music data transferred from the data transmission device 2 in this way is once received by the data relay device 5 (step S23), and further transferred to the portable terminal 6 under the control of the CPU 29 of the data relay device 5.

  The portable terminal 6 that has received the music data from the data relay device 5 in step S24 detects the header of each data packet shown in FIG. 4 by the CPU 42, thereby determining whether or not the data is new music data. This is performed (step S25). If YES, that is, if it is determined that the data is new music data, the process proceeds to step S26. If NO, that is, if it is determined that the data is not new music data, the process proceeds to step S27.

  In step S <b> 26, the CPU 42 supplies the new musical score data to the HDD 32 and controls the HDD 32 to record it on the hard disk in the HDD 32.

  Then, in step S27, the CPU 42 supplies new music data or other music data to the data decompression unit 38 and performs control so that each data is sequentially reproduced. Thereby, in the portable terminal 6, music data in the genre designated by the user is sequentially reproduced, and only new music data is automatically downloaded to the hard disk.

  In the next step S28, the CPU 42 waits for an input as to whether or not to pay for each new musical piece data recorded on the hard disk. Here, if YES, that is, if an input for paying is performed, the process of step S29 is performed to enable high-quality reproduction of the new music data. On the other hand, if NO, i.e., an input not paying, is entered, the process is terminated with no intention of performing high-quality reproduction.

  In step S <b> 29, the CPU 42 of the mobile terminal 6 transmits request information to the data transmission device 2 via the data relay device 5. In this case, information for specifying new music data to be charged is transmitted as data designation information.

  In step S30, the CPU 15 of the data transmission device 2 that has received such request information controls the charging processing unit 14 to perform a predetermined charging process for the specified new music data.

  In step S31, the CPU 42 of the portable terminal 6 that has completed the transmission of the request information performs control for setting a charging flag indicating that the charging process has been completed for the music data stored in the hard disk of the HDD 32. . For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a flag is added to the head of the data, or the TOC area of the hard disk is rewritten, or a table corresponding to the data name of the music data stored in the hard disk is stored in the CPU 42. This can be done by setting a pointer in this table.

  In addition, a new step is provided between step S30 and step S31, and when the accounting process in step S30 is completed, data indicating that the accounting process has been completed is transferred from the data transmission device 2 to the portable terminal 6. The portable terminal 6 may detect the data to execute the process of step S31.

  Through the processing as described above, in the portable terminal 6, the billing flag is set only for the new music data for which charging has been performed among the new music data recorded on the hard disk in the HDD 32.

  In the above description, the process in the case where the data transmission apparatus 2 starts the genre-specific transmission program by the mobile terminal 6 transmitting the genre designation information has been described. When the data transmission apparatus 2 starts the new music data transmission program by transmitting, it can be realized by the same processing. That is, in this case, the CPU 15 of the data transmitting apparatus 2 that has received the new music piece request information performs a process of sequentially searching for and reading new music data from the hard disk array 12 by searching for the new music identifier in step S21. Just do it.

  Further, when the CPU 15 receives the genre designation information together with the new score request information, in this step S21, the new score data in the genre designated by the user may be sequentially retrieved from the hard disk array 12 and read out. . When the data transmission apparatus 2 executes such a new music data transmission program, the mobile terminal 6 does not need the process of step S25 for determining whether the data is new music data.

  Next, a description will be given of a reproduction process in the case where new portable music data recorded on the hard disk is reproduced in the portable terminal 6. When reproducing the new music data recorded on the hard disk, as shown in FIG. 8, the portable terminal 6 is detached from the data relay device 5 and the headphones 44 are connected to the terminal 41a, so that the portable terminal 6 is carried. You can listen to music about the acquired new music data. Hereinafter, the reproduction process of the new music data in the portable terminal 6 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S41 at the time of transition to the new music data reproduction mode, the CPU 42 of the portable terminal 6 waits for a new music data reproduction request, and this step is continued until an operation input signal indicating the reproduction request is supplied from the operation input unit 35. If the reproduction request is received in S41, the process proceeds to step S42. Specifically, in step S41, all data names of new music data stored in the hard disk are displayed on the display unit 36, and the user selects one or a plurality of new music data to be reproduced from among the operation buttons 35a to 35a of the operation input unit 35. Selection and determination are performed by the operation of 35c.

  In step S42, the CPU 42 determines whether or not the accounting flag shown in FIG. Here, the process of step S43 is performed for new music data that is determined as YES, that is, the charging flag is set, and then the process proceeds to step S45. The process of step S44 is performed for new music data that is determined as NO, that is, there is no charging flag. After that, the process proceeds to step S45.

  In step S43, the CPU 42 performs high quality playback mode setting processing. On the other hand, the CPU 42 performs a low quality playback mode setting process in step S44. Here, as the setting process of the low quality reproduction mode, for example, the data expansion rate by the data expansion unit 38 is set to be lowered. Further, the setting process of the low quality playback mode may be set to monaural playback when the new music data is stereo data, or may be set to limit the playback time such as playback of so-called one chorus.

  In step S <b> 45, the CPU 42 controls the data decompression unit 38 so as to perform the reproduction process of the new music data according to each set mode. Thereby, in the data transmission / reception system 1, when reproducing the new music data stored in the hard disk of the HDD 32, when reproducing the music data in which the accounting flag is set, the high quality reproduction is performed and the accounting flag is set. When playing back music data, sample playback is performed by performing low-quality playback as described above.

  In the next step S46, the process waits for completion of the reproduction process or not, and remains in this step S46 until the reproduction process for all designated new music data is completed. When the data reproduction process is completed, the process returns to step S41. The above-described processing from step S41 to step S46 is repeated.

  Thus, in the data transmission / reception system 1, when reproducing new music data stored in the hard disk of the HDD 32, when reproducing the new music data with the accounting flag set, high-quality reproduction is performed and the accounting flag is set. When reproducing new music data that has not been recorded, sample reproduction is performed with low quality reproduction, so that it is possible to repeatedly perform trial listening on music data of new music that was not charged. Also, if there is something that you like by this trial listening, new music data that can be reproduced with high sound quality can be acquired by performing the MOD processing described above with reference to FIG.

  In the above-described embodiment, the mobile terminal 6 and the data transmission device 2 are connected via the data relay device 5. However, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a modem that can access the communication network 3 46 can be connected to the I / F 37 shown in FIG. 3 via the connection terminal 37a of the mobile terminal 6 described above, so that the mobile terminal 6 and the data transmission device 2 can be connected without using the data relay device 5. It is. In this case, the keyboard 45, the display 47, and the like are connected to the connection terminal 37a to facilitate the input operation and display.

  In the above-described embodiment, the data relay apparatus in which one mobile terminal 6 and the data transmission apparatus 2 are connected is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, FIG. A data relay device 50 capable of connecting a plurality of portable terminals 6 as shown in FIG. Specifically, in the data relay device 50, a plurality of attachment portions 7 for connecting the portable terminal 6 are provided on the casing, and the operation buttons 25a and the display portions 26 corresponding to the attachment portions 7 are provided. ing. That is, in this data relay apparatus 50, a plurality of blocks 22 to 30 constituting the data relay apparatus 5 shown in FIG. 3 are provided inside, so that many users can acquire new music data at once. .

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the music data for a new score within a predetermined period (for example, within one month) after being released is defined as new score data. However, the present invention is not limited to this and the user is not limited to this. New information for the user, that is, music data that the user has not received so far, may be defined as new music data.

  In this case, the index information of the data stored in the HDD 32 of the current portable terminal 6 is transmitted to the data transmission device 2 side together with the request data described above, and it is determined whether or not the data transmission device 2 side is new information. Thus, only music data that is not stored in the HDD 32 of the mobile terminal 6 may be transferred to the mobile terminal 6. Or, after the data requested by the user is transferred from the data transmission device 2 to the portable terminal 6, the portable terminal 6 side compares the data stored in the HDD 32 with the data transferred from the data transmission device 2, Only music data that is not stored in the HDD 32 may be recorded.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the data transmission / reception system to which this invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view for demonstrating the case where a portable terminal is loaded in a data relay apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structural example of a data transmission / reception system. It is the figure which showed an example of the format of the data sent from the data transmitter to the data receiver side. It is a flowchart showing each processing of the data transmission device, the data relay device, and the mobile terminal when the data specification information of the request information transmitted from the mobile terminal to the data transmission device includes the new music data, 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for switching the sound quality of new music data transferred from the data transmitting apparatus to the data receiving apparatus side depending on whether or not there is a charge for the data. It is the flowchart which showed the processing content of the data transmission apparatus, data relay apparatus, and portable terminal in case a data transmission apparatus performs a push-type service. It is the figure which showed an example in the case of setting a charge flag with respect to the said music data stored in the hard disk of HDD. It is an external appearance perspective view for demonstrating the case where the new music data recorded on the hard disk is reproduced | regenerated in a portable terminal. It is the flowchart which showed the processing content in the case of reproducing | regenerating the new music data recorded on the hard disk in the portable terminal. It is a figure explaining the case where a portable terminal accesses a data transmission device, without using a data relay apparatus. It is the external appearance perspective view which showed the other structural example of the data relay apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Data transmission / reception system, 2 Data transmission apparatus, 3 Communication network, 4 Data reception apparatus, 5,50 Data relay apparatus, 6 Portable terminal, 7 Mounting part, 11 Modem, 12 Hard disk array, 13 Data search processing part, 14 Billing process Part, 15 CPU, 21 modem, 22 HDD, 23 ROM, 24 RAM, 25 input part, 26 display part, 27 I / F, 28 charging part, 29 CPU, 31 I / F, 32 HDD, 33 ROM, 34 RAM, 35 operation input unit, 36 display unit, 37 I / F, 38 data decompression unit, 39 battery, 41 D / A conversion unit, 42 CPU

Claims (4)

A recording medium on which a plurality of data and identification data for identifying whether the data is newly recorded within a predetermined period corresponding to each of the plurality of data;
A receiving means for the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal apparatus with the request information from the user received via the data relay apparatus to be transmitted from the external terminal device detachably connected to a data relay device,
Search means for searching data recorded on the recording medium based on request information from the user received together with index data by the receiving means;
Based on the index data received together with the request information by the receiving means, the data determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal device is automatically transferred to the external terminal device via the data relay device. Transfer means ;
Charging means for charging the external terminal device based on the transferred data, and
The reception means receives genre designation information requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information together with index data,
The search means searches for data recorded on the recording medium for data belonging to the genre designated by the genre designation information ,
The transfer means includes a case where the accounting process is performed by the accounting unit for the new music data determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal device, and a case where the accounting process is performed by the accounting unit. A data transfer device that switches sound quality and transfers it to the external terminal device when there is not .   The data transfer device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a hard disk. A data transfer system comprising a data transfer device and an external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay device ,
The data transfer device includes: a first recording medium on which a plurality of data and identification data for identifying whether the data is newly recorded within a predetermined period corresponding to the plurality of data; and a data relay device Receiving means for receiving the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal device transmitted from the external terminal device detachably connected together with the request information from the user via the data relay device, and the reception Based on the request information from the user received together with the index data by the means, search means for searching the data recorded in the first recording medium, and based on the index data received together with the request information by the receiving means, The data identified as data not recorded in the external terminal device A first transfer means for automatically transferring via the data relaying device to an external terminal device, based on the data transferred, and a charging means for charging to the external terminal device, said receiving means, As the request information, genre designation information requesting transfer of data for a specific genre is received together with index data, and the search means relates to data belonging to the genre designated by the genre designation information, and the first recording The data recorded on the medium is searched, and the first transfer means performs billing processing on the new music data determined to be data not recorded on the external terminal device by the billing means. Switching between the sound quality and the transfer to the external terminal device depending on whether the charging means is not charged.
When the external terminal device is connected to the second recording medium for recording a plurality of data and the data transfer device, the external terminal device requests the index data of the data recorded on the second recording medium from the user. As a result of transferring the index data together with the request information from the user as a result of transferring to the data transfer device together with the information, the data is not recorded on the second recording medium transferred from the data transfer device. A data transfer system comprising: control means for recording data on the second recording medium; and transferring genre designation information requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information to the data transfer device together with the index data . Receiving the index data of the data recorded in the external terminal apparatus transmitted from the external terminal device detachably connected to the data relay apparatus with the request information from the user by the receiving means for receiving via the data relay apparatus Then, based on the request information from the user received by the receiving means, a plurality of data and identification data for identifying whether the data is newly recorded within a predetermined period respectively corresponding to the plurality of data are recorded. The data recorded in the first recording medium is searched by the search means, and it is determined that the data is not recorded in the external terminal device based on the index data received together with the request information by the receiving means. the first transfer means data to the external terminal device via the data relay apparatus Dynamically transferred, when a data transfer device for charging to the external terminal device, via the data relay apparatus connected to the data transfer device by charging means based on the data transferred, a plurality of data The index data of the data recorded in the second recording medium for recording the data is transferred to the data transfer device by the second transfer means together with the request information from the user, and the index data is transferred together with the request information from the user. As a result, data transfer for transferring data to and from the external terminal device that causes the control means to record data not recorded on the second recording medium transferred from the data transfer device to the second recording medium. A method,
When connected to the data transfer device via the data relay device, genre specifying information for requesting data transfer for a specific genre as the request information from the external terminal device by the second transfer means A first transfer step for transferring to the data transfer device together with the index data;
A receiving step of receiving, together with the index data, genre specifying information for requesting transfer of data for a specific genre as the request information by the receiving means of the data transfer device;
The search means of the data transfer device searches the data recorded on the first recording medium for data belonging to the genre specified by the genre specifying information received together with the index data by the receiving means. A search step;
Based on the index data received by the receiving means together with the genre specifying information by the first transferring means of the data transferring apparatus, the data determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal apparatus is A second data transfer step of automatically transferring to an external terminal device ;
A charging processing step of charging the external terminal device by a charging unit based on the transferred data;
Including
In the second data transfer step, when the billing unit performs billing processing on the new music data determined to be data not recorded in the external terminal device, the billing unit performs billing processing. A method of transferring data in which the sound quality is switched and transferred to the external terminal device when the process is not performed.

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