JP5140619B2 - Content usage right management system, content usage right management device and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a content usage right management system, a content usage right management apparatus and method, and more particularly, a content usage right management system for managing a plurality of users sharing a digital content usage right and managing the usage right. The present invention relates to a content usage right management apparatus and method.
The present invention provides, for example, an acquisition status / usage status of a digital content usage right acquired when using digital content such as music, images, moving images, and electronic books on a terminal device such as a PC or a mobile phone, and the digital content. A digital content copyright management system that generates and distributes a usage key for use. When a plurality of users jointly acquire the same digital content usage right, This is a system that performs management and determines whether or not to lend in accordance with restrictions set for the digital content usage right.

  With the spread of the Internet, it is now possible to acquire and use various digital contents such as music, images, videos, and electronic books from websites. In addition, for digital content that claims copyright in its creation and production, for example, a method for distributing and obtaining encrypted decryption keys for using digital content In addition, there are methods that place restrictions on the browser software for using digital content and make it usable under specific conditions. In this way, copyrighted digital content is distributed using various digital content copyright management schemes for distributing digital content usage right objects that embody digital content usage rights.

  The digital content copyright management method and the structure of the digital content are standardized by known technologies such as OMA DRM (Open Mobile Alliance Digital Rights Management) and Microsoft Windows (registered trademark) Media DRM. Is realized by a known technique such as RSA (Rivest Shamir Adleman), DES (Data Encryption Standard), AES (Advanced Encryption Standard).

  For example, when a certain user uses encrypted digital content with copyright, the digital content can be used in the following procedure.

(1) Acquisition of encrypted digital content:
A user acquires encrypted digital content with copyright from the Internet or an electronic medium. The acquisition method is arbitrary, and the encrypted digital content is stored in the terminal device by downloading the encrypted digital content using an Internet browser or copying the encrypted digital content by operating the terminal device.

(2) Acquisition of a decryption key for decrypting encrypted digital content:
When the user uses the encrypted digital content with copyright, the user acquires a decryption key for decryption as a digital content usage right object. The acquisition method is arbitrary, acquisition of the digital content usage right object via the Internet, distribution by e-mail from a digital content copyright management system that manages the digital content with copyright, or by human intervention using a telephone or the like By providing a digital content usage right object, the digital content usage right object is stored in the terminal device.

(3) Decryption of encrypted digital content:
The user decrypts the copyrighted digital content encrypted in the terminal device using the decryption key stored as a digital content usage right object in the terminal device, and uses the copyrighted digital content. To do. The decryption method at the time of use is arbitrary, a method in which a digital content usage right object is managed by specific browser software registered in the terminal device, and decryption is performed each time the digital content with copyright is used, The digital content with copyright can be used by decrypting the digital content with copyright encrypted by specific software and storing the decrypted digital content with copyright in the terminal device.

  When the copyrighted digital content is shared and used by a plurality of terminal devices owned by a single user, it can be realized based on the terminal usage restrictions set in the digital content usage right. When permitted, the digital content with copyright can be shared and used within the range permitted by the user's terminal device operation. Such a method is standardized by a known technique such as OMA DRM Version 2 or later or Microsoft PlayReady.

JP 2002-133205 A JP 2005-222334 A

  Regarding the use of copyrighted digital content, it is possible to distribute copyrighted digital content by lending the digital content usage right to the user, but the digital content usage right is a specific one owned by one user It is limited to the terminal device, and it is assumed that the digital content usage right is lent to a specific user. In addition, when a specific user acquires a digital content usage right, the digital content usage right is usually lent by the user purchasing the digital content usage right, and the terminal that performed the purchase operation A decryption key serving as the right to use the digital content is stored in the apparatus.

The conventional method is a method in which a specific user acquires using a specific terminal device. Therefore, when a high usage right is set for the use of a certain copyrighted digital content, the user's ability to pay in particular. In some cases, it may be determined whether or not the purchase action is performed, and the digital content usage right seller may cause a loss of opportunity to provide the digital content usage right. As a means for solving this, there is a method for reducing the burden per user and promoting sales by acquiring digital content usage rights through joint investment of a plurality of users. It is necessary to realize means for distributing the right to use digital contents in each terminal device owned by the user.
In addition, there are currently aggregates (community groups) through the Internet due to the spread of SNS (Social Network System), etc., and the added value by the collective use of digital content by such aggregates such as information propagation and digital content spread However, it is an important factor for sales promotion for digital content usage right sellers. For sales promotion, for example, it is necessary to realize means to lend digital content usage rights to multiple users. It is.

In view of the above, the present invention shares a digital content usage right of a digital content with copyright among a plurality of users, and reduces the financial burden on the user. Content usage right management system and content usage right management An object is to provide an apparatus and method. Further, the present invention provides a content usage right management system, a content usage right management device and a method in which digital content usage right sellers of copyrighted digital content can promote sales and increase the distribution amount. The purpose is to provide.
In addition, according to the present invention, a digital content usage right seller increases the amount of viewing and consumption of copyrighted digital content by allowing a plurality of users to use copyrighted digital content, It is an object of the present invention to provide a content usage right management system, a content usage right management device, and a method capable of obtaining an advantage over the mass market due to side effects of consumer-generated media such as reviews and recommendations. .

The present invention provides, for example, means for managing the association between a digital content usage right and a plurality of users sharing the digital content usage right in digital content usage right management required when using digital content with copyright. , Means for determining whether or not a digital content usage right can be supplied to a user with usage restrictions set in the digital content usage right when using the shared digital content usage right, and a user who shares the digital content usage right It is possible to provide a digital content usage right management apparatus characterized by having distribution management for each time and means for controlling the supply of digital content usage rights.
In addition, the present invention recruits a plurality of jointly acquired users when acquiring digital content usage rights in the management of digital content usage rights required when using digital contents with copyright. And a means for forming an aggregate composed of a plurality of users who share the digital content usage right management device.

The present invention, when trying to acquire a digital content usage right of a certain digital content with copyright,
Usage right acquisition group generation means for forming information on a plurality of users (hereinafter referred to as groups) performing joint acquisition;
Usage right acquisition history management means for managing the association between the usage right acquisition history indicating that the group has acquired the digital content usage right and the group information acquired from the digital content usage right;
Usage right acquisition request receiving means for receiving a digital content usage right acquisition request transmitted when a user belonging to the group uses the copyrighted digital content;
Whether or not the digital content usage rights can be distributed to each user belonging to the group based on the usage status of the users belonging to the group or the entire group and the digital content sharing usage restrictions set for the digital content usage rights. A usage right provision judging means;
Digital content usage having usage right distribution request transmitting means for transmitting a digital content usage right distribution request to the user to a digital content copyright distribution device that generates and distributes a digital content usage right object for digital content usage The right management device realizes sharing of digital content usage rights within a group.

The usage right acquisition group generation unit realizes formation of a group indicating a sharing range when a digital content usage right is to be shared by a plurality of users when acquiring the digital content usage right.
For example, when a user tries to jointly acquire the right to use digital content, an acquaintance registered in a communication device for community formation via the Internet, such as SNS, or a group having a common hobby, Targeting a specific person, a recruitment for acquiring the right to use the digital content is performed. Restrictions such as the number of applicants and the application deadline may be specified for this recruitment. This recruitment information can be browsed within the range specified by the user, and a third party user who has browsed can apply for the recruitment. An application request for a certain offer is stored in the digital content usage right management apparatus as one set. If the conditions specified by the applicant are met, the application will be automatically closed.

Through such a procedure, a user who is a digital content usage right joint acquisition request source and a third party user who is a joint acquirer are formed as a group for the digital content usage right joint acquisition of the digital content. The The formed group acquires the digital content usage right of the digital content by an arbitrary method.
For example, if a usage fee is required to use the digital content with copyright, purchase is performed using a known charging authentication platform that implements authentication, charging, settlement, and storage services for acquiring digital content usage rights. The digital content usage right is acquired. At this time, the price set for acquiring the right to use digital contents may be divided by the number of users who form a group to reduce the price per person, thereby reducing the individual burden. Alternatively, a specific individual or a plurality of users in the group may pay the price set for acquiring the digital content usage right and share the digital content usage right within the group.

  The usage right acquisition history management means includes usage right acquisition history information such as a purchase history generated in response to acquisition of the digital content usage right, and user information belonging to the group that acquired the related digital content usage right. To manage the association between the digital content usage right and the available group. Further, when the digital content usage right object is distributed to any user belonging to the group, the number of distributions, the distribution date and time, and the usage right lending end date and time are recorded as distribution history information, and the usage right acquisition history information In addition, by managing it together with user information, group usage status management for each digital content usage right is realized.

The usage right acquisition request accepting means is a digital content usage right such as a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted digital content with copyright when a user belonging to a certain group uses the digital content with copyright. Realize object distribution request.
For example, when a user uses a terminal device and makes a distribution request for digital content usage rights to the usage right acquisition request receiving means, a list of digital content usage rights acquired by the group to which the user belongs is displayed. And let the user select the necessary digital content usage rights. The selected information is information for identifying the necessary digital content usage right, and the selection result is notified from the user terminal device to the usage right acquisition request receiving means.
For example, when a certain user uses a terminal device and makes a distribution request for the digital content usage right to the usage right acquisition request receiving means, the user terminal device uses the copyrighted digital content. By operating the browser software, the usage right acquisition request receiving means is notified of information that can be specified by the user and information that can identify the digital content usage right necessary for using the digital content with copyright.

In response to the digital content usage right acquisition request received from the user, the usage right provision determining means is configured to purchase status and usage status in the user or a group to which the user belongs, and simultaneously set the digital content usage right. Based on the digital content sharing usage restrictions such as the number of users, the number of usage limits, the usage period, and the usage time limit, it is determined whether or not the digital content usage right object can be distributed.
The usage right provision determining means first identifies the acquisition history of the digital content usage right and the group to which the user belongs, and determines whether or not the digital content usage right of the group has been acquired. Next, the distribution status of the digital content usage right object to the users and users belonging to the group is confirmed. Next, the digital content sharing usage constraint set for the digital content usage right is acquired, and it is determined whether or not the digital content usage right object can be distributed to the user.
For example, when a user makes a distribution request for a digital content usage right, the digital content usage right has already been acquired in the group to which the user belongs, and other users in the group In the situation where the digital content usage right has been lent, if the number of concurrent users is set in the digital content sharing usage constraint set in the digital content usage right, the digital content usage right in the group is being lent If the user is within the range of the number of restrictions, the user is permitted to lend digital content usage rights.
For example, when a certain user makes a distribution request for a digital content usage right, the digital content usage right has already been acquired in the group to which the user belongs, and the digital content has been acquired from the user in the past. In a situation where there is a history of distributing the content usage right object, if the usage limit number is set in the digital content sharing usage constraint set in the digital content usage right, the user's past digital content usage right object If the number of distributions is within the limit number, the user is permitted to lend digital content usage rights.
For example, when a certain user makes a distribution request for a digital content usage right, the digital content usage right is set in a situation where the digital content usage right is already acquired in the group to which the user belongs. If the date and time indicating a specific usage time limit is specified in the digital content sharing usage constraint, if the user's digital content usage right request reception date and time is within the range, the digital content usage right is given to the user. Allow lending.

When the usage right distribution request transmitting unit determines that the digital content usage right can be lent to the user by the usage right provision determining unit in response to the digital content usage right acquisition request received from the user. The digital content usage right distribution device that distributes the digital content usage right object can be transmitted to the terminal device used by the user to use the digital content with the copyright of the user. To.
At this time, the digital content copyright distribution apparatus to which the usage right distribution request transmitting means is connected is arbitrary, and is assumed to be a digital content copyright distribution apparatus using a known digital content copyright management system.
Further, the terminal usage restriction, which is attribute information of the digital content usage right object held in the terminal device referred to by the browser software for using the copyrighted digital content in the terminal device, is the digital content copyright. It is specified by the format specified in the management method such as the number of times of use, the period, the time limit, whether to copy, whether to move between terminals, and restricts the method of using the copyrighted digital content in the terminal. The right distribution request transmitting means notifies the digital content copyright distribution apparatus of the terminal use restriction of the digital content use right specified in the digital content sharing use restriction. In this way, the terminal usage restriction set in the digital content usage right object generated / distributed by the digital content copyright distribution apparatus is controlled, and the individual use of the shared digital content usage right is restricted. be able to.
For example, when a certain user makes a distribution request for a digital content usage right, when the usage right provision determining means determines that the digital content usage right can be lent to the user, the digital content usage right When the use limit upper limit value is specified for the terminal usage limit of the digital content usage right object for each distribution in the digital content sharing usage constraint set in the right, the usage right distribution request transmitting means transmits the digital content copyright distribution to be connected The terminal usage restriction information is notified to the device, and the digital content copyright distribution device generates and distributes the digital content usage right object according to the content notified from the usage right distribution request transmitting means.
For example, when a certain user makes a distribution request for a digital content usage right, when the usage right provision determining means determines that the digital content usage right can be lent to the user, the digital content usage right When the date and time indicating a specific usage period is specified in the digital content sharing usage constraint set in the right and the period or time limit is specified in the terminal usage restriction of the digital content usage right object for each distribution, the usage right distribution The request transmission means processes the terminal so that the user can exercise the right to use the digital content within the range of the digital content sharing usage constraint, such as generating a period or time limit that does not exceed the usage expiration date of the digital content sharing usage constraint, Notify the digital content copyright distribution device to be connected as usage restriction information, and Generating a digital content usage rights object according to the content copyright delivery apparatus notified from the usage right distribution request transmission means, to deliver.

According to the first solution of the present invention,
A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
A content usage right management system comprising:

The content usage right management device includes:
A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A usage right management table including a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage state;

The recruiter terminal device receives a list of commodities that can be jointly purchased including a product ID, product name, price, joint purchase conditions, or application termination conditions from the communication device in order to solicit content usage rights joint acquisition. , Input a product ID to be recruited and an application termination condition, send a solicitation request for joint use acquisition including the recruiting user ID and product ID and the application termination condition to the content usage right management device,

The content use right management device receives a request for joint use right acquisition including a solicitation user ID and a product ID and an application termination condition from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content usage right management device is provided with a content usage right management system that causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content usage rights to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device.

According to the second solution of the present invention,
A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
The content use right management device in a content use right management system comprising:

A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A usage right management table including a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage state;

The content usage right management device, from the horn collector terminal apparatus to recruit usage right joint acquisition of content, receiving the recruitment requirements of the usage right joint acquisition including recruitment user ID and product ID and application ending condition,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content usage right management device is provided with the content usage right management device that causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content usage rights to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device.

According to the third solution of the present invention,
A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
A content usage right management system comprising:

The content usage right management device includes:
A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A content usage right management method using a content usage right management system having a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage right management table including a usage state,

The recruiter terminal device receives a list of commodities that can be jointly purchased including a product ID, product name, price, joint purchase conditions, or application termination conditions from the communication device in order to solicit content usage rights joint acquisition. , Input a product ID to be recruited and an application termination condition, send a solicitation request for joint use acquisition including the recruiting user ID and product ID and the application termination condition to the content usage right management device,

The content use right management device receives a request for joint use right acquisition including a solicitation user ID and a product ID and an application termination condition from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content usage right management device is provided with a content usage right management method that causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content usage rights to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to share a digital content usage right of a digital content with a copyright among a plurality of users, thereby reducing the financial burden on the users. As a result, the digital content usage right seller of the digital content with copyright can promote the sales, which has the effect of increasing the distribution amount.
Digital content usage rights sellers allow multiple users to use copyrighted digital content, which increases the amount of viewing and consumption of the copyrighted digital content, resulting in consumption such as reviews and recommendations. Due to the secondary effect of the person-forming media, an advantage over the mass market can be obtained.

It is a schematic diagram of the digital content usage right management system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram of the digital content utilization right management apparatus of this Embodiment. It is an example of composition of a goods master table. It is a structural example of a shared use restriction master table. It is a structural example of a terminal use restriction master table. It is a structural example of a recruitment management table. It is a structural example of an application management table. It is an example of a structure of a usage right management table. It is a processing sequence of a usage right acquisition group production | generation process part. It is an example of a usage right joint acquisition goods list screen generated with a system of this embodiment. It is an example of a notification of a usage right joint acquisition request (recruitment) generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is an example of the screen of the utilization right joint acquisition response produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of notification of the utilization right joint acquisition state search request produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of the screen of the utilization right joint acquisition state search result produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of a notice of a use right joint acquirer addition request (application) generated with a system of this embodiment. It is an example of the screen of the utilization right joint acquisition response produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is a processing sequence of a usage right acquisition history management processing part. It is an example of the utilization right joint acquisition possible notification produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of the use right joint acquisition possibility notification response produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of the screen of the utilization right joint acquisition notification possibility notification produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of a notice of utilization right joint acquisition history transmission generated with the system of this embodiment. It is a notification example of a usage right joint acquisition history response generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is an example of the screen of the utilization right joint acquisition notification produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is a processing sequence of a usage right acquisition request reception processing unit, a usage right provision determination processing unit, and a usage right distribution request processing unit. It is an example of a notification of the usage right joint acquisition reception request | requirement produced | generated with the system of this Embodiment. It is an example of a screen of a jointly acquired use right list response generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is a notification example of a usage right distribution request generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is an example of a screen of the usage right distribution availability response generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is an example of a usage right distribution request transmission notification generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is a notification example of a usage right distribution request response generated by the system of the present embodiment. It is a flow of use right provision judgment processing. It is an example of a structure of the joint purchaseable goods table.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
1. System FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital content usage right management system according to the present embodiment.
The terminal devices 0101 to 0105 are terminal devices equipped with browser software capable of using copyrighted digital content in terminals such as PCs, mobile phones, PDAs, and mobile terminals, and communicate with each other by operating a user's Web browser or the like. Connect to device 0107. The billing device 0106 is realized by, for example, a known authentication / billing / settlement / storage technology, and performs billing authentication / settlement when a user acquires a digital content usage right in cooperation with the communication device 0107.
The communication device 0107 is realized by a known general-purpose Web technology such as CMS (Contents Management System), and provides a screen to the terminal devices 0101 to 0105 and cooperates with the authentication device 0108 to perform user authentication and between users. Can handle related information. The communication device 0107 can access (read and write) the jointly purchaseable product table 0114. The joint purchaseable product table 0114 can be omitted, and the product master table can be substituted. In this case, the communication device 0107 can access the product master table. The communication device 0107 is premised on having a general-purpose communication interface such as an HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) protocol with the digital content usage right management device 0111.
The authentication device 0108 is realized by a known general-purpose user authentication technology such as LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol), and in response to an inquiry from the communication device 0107, information necessary for user authentication is registered in the user DB 0109. respond.
The digital content copyright distribution device 0110 is realized by a known digital content copyright management technology such as OMA DRM, Marlin, and Windows (registered trademark) Media, and each digital content copyright management technology is applied to the terminal devices 0101 to 0105. The digital content usage right object is distributed by the distribution method defined in the above. The digital content usage right management apparatus 0111 is assumed to have a general-purpose communication interface such as an HTTP protocol.
The digital content usage right management apparatus 0111 includes a product master DB 0112 for managing product information that can be shared in a group composed of a plurality of users, and digital content usage for managing the relationship between the acquired digital content usage right and the group. A right management DB 0113 is provided. The digital content usage right management device 0111 is an interface for acquiring digital content usage rights from the terminal devices 0101 to 0105 via the communication device 0107, and digital content for distributing digital content usage right objects to the terminal devices 0101 to 0105. A digital content usage right distribution request interface to the copyright distribution apparatus 0110 is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the digital content usage right management apparatus of the present embodiment. The charging device 0106, communication device 0107, authentication device 0108, user DB 0109, and digital content copyright distribution device 0110 in FIG. 2 are the same as those in FIG.

  The digital content usage right management apparatus 0111 includes a usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 201 that realizes formation of a group composed of a plurality of users in joint acquisition of digital content usage rights, and links between acquired digital content usage rights and groups. Usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 for managing attachments, usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203 for receiving digital content usage right acquisition requests, and usage right provision determination processing unit 0204 for determining digital content usage right distribution. , And a usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 for transmitting a distribution request for the jointly acquired digital content usage right. These processing units are realized on the apparatus by executing a program stored in an external storage device in the digital content usage right management apparatus 0111.

Information about the digital content usage right is managed by a product master table 0206, a shared usage restriction master table 0207, and a terminal usage restriction master table 0208. Information relating to group and digital content usage rights and group linking is managed by a recruitment management table 0209, an application management table 0210, and a usage right management table 0211.

2. Table FIG. 3 is a configuration example of the product master table.
The product master table 0206 manages copyrighted digital content information that can be jointly acquired by digital content usage rights. The product ID column 0301 is an identifier that can uniquely identify the digital content with copyright, that is, the digital content usage right. Recorded in the item description column 0307. The shareability column 0303 is a flag indicating whether the digital content usage right of the digital content with copyright uniquely specified in the product ID column 0301 can be shared within the group. The shared use constraint ID column 0304 is an identifier that can uniquely identify a constraint when the digital content use right is shared within a group. The terminal usage restriction ID column 0305 is an identifier that can uniquely identify a terminal usage restriction that is attribute information of the digital content usage right object when the digital content usage right object is provided to the user. In the price column 0306, a price when a consideration is involved in acquiring the digital content use right is recorded. The product name column 0302, the product description column 0307, and the price column 0306 are attached information for acquiring the digital content use right, and the contents are arbitrary.

FIG. 4 is a configuration example of the shared usage constraint master table.
The shared usage constraint master table 0207 is related to the shared usage constraint ID column 0304 of the product master table 0206, and manages sharing constraint information when the digital content usage right of the digital content with copyright is shared. The number of simultaneous users column 0401 is an upper limit value of the digital content usage right that can be lent simultaneously among all users in the group. The distribution usage limit number column 0402 is an upper limit value of the digital content usage right distribution number for each user in the group. The delivery time limit column 0403 indicates the lending time limit of the digital content use right for all users in the group (date and time, etc.). The usage period column 0404 is a period during which lending is permitted to all users in the group after acquiring the digital content usage right. The shared usage constraint uniquely identified by the shared usage constraint ID column 0304 can be set in plural or non-set among the concurrent user number column 0401, the distribution usage limit number column 0402, the distribution time limit column 0403, and the usage period column 0404. It is. In the case of multiple settings, distribution of digital content usage rights is not performed if any column condition is exceeded. In the case of no setting, sharing usage restrictions are treated as unlimited, and users in the group can exercise the right to use digital contents without restriction.

FIG. 5 is a configuration example of the terminal use restriction master table.
The terminal use restriction master table 0208 is related to the terminal use restriction ID column 0305 of the product master table 0206, and the terminal when the digital content use right of the digital content with copyright is distributed to the terminal device as the digital content use right object. Manage internal usage constraint information. In the terminal usage count column 0501, the usage count of the constraint specified in the digital content usage right object distributed to the user's terminal is specified, and the copyrighted digital content can be used within the range of the usage count. In the in-terminal use time limit column 0502, the use time limit of the digital content use right object restriction is designated, and the digital content with copyright can be used within the time limit. The in-terminal use period column 0503 designates the use period of the digital content use right object constraint, and the use of copyrighted digital content can be performed within the period. The copy permission / inhibition column 0504 is a flag indicating whether or not the digital content usage right object constraint can be copied. Based on the flag setting value, it is determined whether or not the copyrighted digital content can be copied between terminal devices or to a movable playback device. The The movement permission / inhibition column 0505 is a flag indicating whether or not the digital content usage right object restriction can be moved. Based on the flag setting value, it is determined whether or not the copyrighted digital contents can be moved between terminal apparatuses or to a movable playback apparatus. The
The terminal use restriction uniquely specified in the terminal use restriction ID column 0305 has different designation contents for each digital content copyright management system, and the setting contents and the operation in the terminal in the setting value depend on the digital content copyright management system. It can be a prerequisite.

FIG. 6 is a configuration example of the recruitment management table.
The recruitment management table 0209 is associated with the product ID column 0301 of the product master table 0206, and includes primary information for managing the digital content usage right joint acquisition request from the user that is an opportunity when forming a group. accumulate. The recruiting user ID column 0601 is an identifier that can uniquely identify the first user who desires joint acquisition of the digital content usage right. The group ID column 0602 is an identifier that is assigned, for example, every time a new entry is added to the recruitment management table 0209 and can uniquely identify a group for joint acquisition of digital content usage rights. The application end condition column 0603 indicates the end condition of application for the digital content use right joint acquisition request solicited by the entry, and allows arbitrary settings such as the number of applicants, the period, and the deadline. The recruitment status column 0604 indicates the status flag of the entry, which means that the digital content use right joint acquisition is desired, and manages the status such as being accepted and completed.

FIG. 7 is a configuration example of the application management table.
The application management table 0210 is related to the group ID column 0602 of the recruitment management table 0209, and a specific group is obtained by applying a third user to the digital content usage right joint acquisition request stored in the recruitment management table 0209. The primary information for forming is stored. The application user ID column 0701 is an identifier that can uniquely specify a user indicating a desire to share with respect to the digital content usage right joint acquisition request in the recruitment management table 0209 uniquely specified by the group ID. The usage right acquisition status column 0702 is a flag indicating whether or not a user belonging to the group has acquired the digital content usage right, and the digital content usage right acquired in the usage right management table 0211 and the group At the time when the link information is generated, it is in an acquired state.

  The recruitment management table 0209 shown in FIG. 6 and the application management table 0210 shown in FIG. 7 are primary storage areas for forming a group for registration in the usage right management table 0211 shown in FIG. A group may be formed with an arbitrary data structure.

FIG. 8 is a configuration example of the usage right management table.
The usage right management table 0211 is related to the product ID column 0301 of the product master table 0206, and manages the acquired digital content usage rights and groups, and association information of users belonging to the groups. The group ID column 0801 is an identifier that can uniquely specify a group for digital content usage right joint acquisition. This is synonymous with the group ID 0602 numbered in the recruitment management table 0209. The user ID column 0802 is an identifier that can uniquely identify the users constituting the group. It is synonymous with recruitment user ID 0601 in the recruitment management table 0209 and application user ID 0701 in the application management table 0210. The usage status column 0803 is a digital content usage right specified by the product ID 0301 to a user uniquely specified in the user ID column 0802 in a period between a post-delivery date / time column 0805 and a post-loan end date / time column 0806. Is a flag that holds the state of lending, and is a flag that can identify a user who is in use. The distribution count column 0804 records the distribution count when the digital content usage right object of the digital content usage right specified by the product ID 0301 is distributed to the user uniquely specified in the user ID column 0802. . The delivery date / time column 0805 records the last delivery date / time when the digital content usage right object of the digital content usage right specified by the product ID 0301 is distributed to the user uniquely specified by the user ID column 0802. The loan end date / time column 0806 indicates that the terminal usage limit column 0502 or the terminal usage period column 0503 of the terminal usage restriction master table 0208 associated with the digital content usage right identified by the product ID 0301 is specified. The scheduled date and time when the digital content usage right object after the last delivery date and time expires in the terminal device is recorded.

FIG. 32 is a configuration example of a jointly purchaseable product table.
The jointly purchaseable product table 0114 stores a product ID, a product name, a price, a joint purchase condition, or an application end condition corresponding to a jointly purchaseable product.

3. Processing The processing sequence and details of the processing unit will be described below with reference to the drawings.

3-1. Usage Right Acquisition Group Generation Processing Sequence FIG. 9 is a processing sequence of the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 for forming a group for jointly acquiring digital content usage rights. This shows processing by a user who recruits joint use rights and processing by other users who apply for the solicitation.

The S1 sequence and the S2 sequence in FIG. 9 are processes for selecting a product for performing joint acquisition of a digital content use right, that is, a digital content use right, and registering a joint purchase offer. In this process, as shown as an example in FIG. 10, the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 transmits a use right jointly acquired product search to the communication device 0107 (S1). The communication device 0107 stores a jointly purchaseable product table 0114 that stores a product ID, a product name, a price, a joint purchase condition, or an application end condition corresponding to a jointly purchaseable product. A list of shared use right products is generated and returned to the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 (S2).
It should be noted that the jointly purchaseable product table 0114 is common (omitted) with the product master table 0206 so that the communication device 0107 can access the product master table 0206 and generate a joint use right acquisition product list. You may comprise. The digital content usage right management device 0111 may generate a usage right jointly acquired product list with reference to the product master table 0206 and send it back to the terminal device (recruiter) 0101.
On the other hand, the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 displays a product 1001 that can be jointly purchased based on the list, selects a product product ID 1002 from the product 1001, enters a registration deadline 1003, and registers it. At the time of registration, “friend”, “family”, etc. may be designated by the recruitment range 1004, and the communication device 0107 or the digital content usage right management device 0111 may be limited to this. In this way, the corresponding usage right jointly acquired product list is returned by the communication device 0107 or the like, and the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 selects the digital content usage right to be jointly acquired by an arbitrary method. If the application deadline does not match the joint purchase conditions, they may be rejected or automatically set to the same content.

  Next, in the S3 sequence of FIG. 9, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 passes through the communication device 0107 from the terminal device (recruiter) 0101, and as shown in FIG. , Receiving an acquisition request (recruitment) such as a product ID 1103 and a recruitment deadline 1104. At this time, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 sets the product ID 0301 column, the recruitment user ID 0601 column, and the group ID 0602 column of the recruitment management table 0209 (an arbitrary number is set according to a predetermined procedure / rule (eg, sequential). )), The application termination condition 0603 column, the recruitment status 0604 column (set during reception), and the like are newly added. Further, in the S4 sequence of FIG. 9, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 displays the group ID 0602 belonging to the recruited product ID 1002 in the usage right joint acquisition product list as a group ID as shown in FIG. 12 as a response example. 1201 and a joint purchase offer including information such as product ID 0301, group ID 0602, offer status 0604, and offer status (in this example, the number of applicants is set to 1) in the offer management table 0209 related to the group ID 1201 A use right joint acquisition response indicating display 1202 is returned to the terminal device (recruiter) 0101.

  On the other hand, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 receives the usage rights including the recruitment search 1301 and the response user ID 1302 from the terminal device (applicant) 0104 as shown in FIG. 13 in the S5 sequence of FIG. A joint acquisition status search request is received. At this time, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 refers to the recruitment management table 0209, extracts an entry in which the recruitment status 0604 column is in the “accepting” state, and in FIG. As shown as a response example, information such as a product ID, a group ID, a recruitment user ID, an application end condition, and a recruitment status is obtained, and information such as a product name 0302 and a price 0306 is obtained from the product master table 0206 based on the product ID 0301 Ask for. The usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 replies with a search result indicating the jointly-purchasable product 1401 being recruited and the application group ID 1402 including the obtained information.

Next, when the terminal device (applicant) 0104 selects a group ID, inputs it to the application group ID list 1402, and registers it, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 performs terminal processing in the S7 sequence of FIG. From the device (applicant) 0104, as shown as an example in FIG. 15, a user addition request (application) to a group indicating an application 1501, an application user ID 1502, a group ID 1503, and the like is received. At this time, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 adds new entries such as a group ID 0602, an application user ID 0701, and a usage right acquisition state 0702 to the application management table 0210. Here, the usage right acquisition state 0702 can be determined by, for example, a usage right acquisition history management processing sequence or a usage right acquisition request reception processing sequence described later. The default value may be “x”. Also, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 extracts an entry uniquely specified by the group ID 1503 in the addition request in FIG. 15 from the recruitment management table 0209, and satisfies the condition of the application end condition column 0603 The recruitment status column 0604 is changed to an end status. Thereafter, in the S8 sequence of FIG. 9, as shown as a response example in FIG. 16, group number 1601, product ID, group ID, recruitment status, recruitment status (in this example, one person is added to the number of applicants and 2 A processing result indicating the joint purchase offer 1602 including the name) is returned. The terminal device (applicant) 0104 displays according to the acquisition response as shown in FIG.
In this way, the usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0201 receives a group generation and applicants gathering in the group each time. Therefore, each time it is received, whether or not the application end condition 0603 in FIG. If it is checked and satisfied, the state is set to “finished”, and if not satisfied, it remains “accepting”.

3-2. Usage Right Acquisition History Management Processing Sequence FIG. 17 is a processing sequence of the usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 for managing the association between acquired digital content usage rights and groups.
This figure shows a process for obtaining a right to obtain a right to use the content and a notification to all the applicants thereafter for a group in which the recruitment status 0604 of the recruitment management table 0209 is in the “finished” status.
Here (for example, paragraphs 0041 to 0042, S3 to S4, etc.) “acquisition of content usage right acquisition right” means that “tangible” “content usage right” is not acquired. For example, in a simple example, it can be considered that an item has not yet arrived just by making a “purchase” in online shopping.

In the S1 sequence of FIG. 17, the usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 refers to the recruitment management table 0209 at a predetermined timing or cycle, and the product ID 0301 of the entry in which the recruitment status column 0604 is in an end state. The recruitment user ID 0601, the group ID column 0602, and the application end condition 0603 are extracted, and based on the extraction result, one or a plurality of the application user ID columns in which the group ID column 0602 is the same from the application management table 0210 The user by 0701 is extracted. Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the digital content usage right management apparatus 0111 sends to the communication apparatus 0107 as a notification including information such as an acquisition possible notification 1801, a product ID 1802, a group ID 1803, one or a plurality of user IDs 1804, and application end conditions. Send. At this time, the usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 may include the product name 0302 and the price 0306 for the product ID 0301 with reference to the product master table 0206 as the notified information.
The communication device 0107 returns a processing result 1901 indicating an HTTP response result as shown in FIG. 19 as a response example in the S2 sequence of FIG.

Next, the communication device 0107 performs the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 or one or more terminal devices (applicants) based on the user ID included in the information notified in the S1 sequence in the S3 sequence of FIG. ) Notify a plurality of users such as 0104 that joint acquisition is possible.
The contents notified to each of the terminal devices 0101 and 0104 are shown in FIG. 20 as an example of a notification 2001 of products that can be jointly purchased including information such as a product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application end conditions. . The S3 sequence in FIG. 17 is notified by an arbitrary method such as mail or message transmission.

  Thereafter, the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 and the terminal device (applicant) 0104 that have received the notification in the S3 sequence of FIG. 17 acquire the digital content usage right acquisition right in the communication device 0107 by user operation. Do. The acquisition method is arbitrary, and acquisition may be performed by a known charging authentication method in cooperation with the charging device 0106.

  When the communication device 0107 completes the digital content usage right acquisition operation by all users notified and transmitted in the S3 sequence of FIG. 17, or the digital content usage right acquisition right is obtained for the group notified and transmitted in the S3 sequence. When the group acquires the digital content usage right acquisition right by an arbitrary method, such as when granting is permitted, the acquisition history notification 2101, as shown in FIG. An example of a digital content usage history having a product ID 2102 and a group ID 2103 is notified to the usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202. The usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 extracts the user ID of the user that matches the group ID 2103 in the digital content usage history example shown in FIG. 21 from the recruitment management table 0209 and the application management table 0210, and uses the usage right. Register the entry in the management table 0211. Further, the usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0202 returns the processing result shown as the response example shown in FIG. 22 to the communication device 0107 in the S5 sequence of FIG. 17 in the registration result in the usage right management table 0211.

  Thereafter, the communication device 0107 gives the right to use the digital content to a plurality of users such as the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 and the terminal device (applicant) 0104 notified in the S3 sequence in the S6 sequence of FIG. Notification that the acquisition right has been jointly acquired (that is, that the tangible content use right can be acquired). FIG. 23 shows a notification content example 2301 of a jointly purchased product having a product number, a product name, a price / person, a group number, a recruiter, and an expiration date. The S6 sequence in FIG. 17 can be notified by any method such as mail or message transmission.

3-3. Usage Right Acquisition Request Reception Processing Sequence FIG. 24 is a processing sequence of the usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203, the usage right provision determination processing unit 0204, and the usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 of the digital content usage right management apparatus 0111. This indicates processing for acquiring a digital content usage right object after the recruitment status 0604 of the usage rights joint acquisition management table 0209 has ended. That is, a process for obtaining a tangible “content usage right”, for example, a decryption key (for example, a 128-bit character string) for decrypting encrypted digital content is shown.

The S1 sequence in FIG. 24 is processing when a certain user uses the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 and makes a digital content usage right distribution request to the digital content usage right management device 0111 via the communication device 0107. It is. The usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203 receives a usage right joint acquisition reception request as shown in FIG. At this time, the usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203 extracts the product ID column 0301 and the group ID column 0801 of the entry in which the user ID 2502 of FIG. 25 and the user ID column 802 of the usage right management table 0211 match, and extracts the product The product name 0302, the price 0306, and the product description 0307 are acquired from the master table 0206 from the entry having the same product ID column 0301, and the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 in FIG. As shown as a response example, a list of jointly acquired digital content usage rights is returned.
Next, in the S3 sequence of FIG. 24, the usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203 receives the reception request 2701, the user ID 2702, and the product ID 2703 from the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 as shown in FIG. The usage right distribution request (product designation) having the above is received, and the usage right provision determination processing unit 0204 performs processing for determining whether or not the digital content usage right is lent.

FIG. 31 is a flow of the usage right provision determination process.
In the following, a process for determining whether or not to grant a digital content usage right is described with reference to this flowchart.
The usage right provision determination processing unit 0204 first acquires the product ID 2703 from the usage right distribution request (product specification) (3101), then acquires the user ID 2702 (3102), and acquires the user ID from the usage right management table 0211. The group ID of the usage right distribution request is extracted (3103), and if the group ID does not exist, the digital content usage right cannot be lent to the user ID (3113). On the other hand, if the group ID exists in step 3103, the number of lenders in use corresponding to the group ID is totaled (extracted) based on the usage status 0803 from the usage right management table 0211 (3104). Next, the usage right distribution count 0804 for the user ID is extracted from the usage right management table 0211 (3105). Next, a shared usage constraint ID 0304 is extracted from the product master table 0206 using the product ID as a key (3106). Next, shared usage constraint information (simultaneous user number 0401, distribution usage limit number 0402, distribution time limit 0403, usage period 0404) is extracted from the shared usage constraint table 0207 using the shared usage constraint ID 0304 as a key (3107). If the number of lenders exceeds the number of simultaneous users 0401 (3108), the digital content usage right cannot be lent to the corresponding user ID (3113). If the number of distribution of usage rights exceeds the distribution usage limit 0402 (3109), the digital content usage right cannot be lent to the corresponding user ID (3113). If the distribution deadline 0403 and the usage period 0404 are not valid (3110), the digital content usage right cannot be lent to the corresponding user ID (3113). In other words, if the number of lenders does not exceed the number of concurrent users, the number of distributions of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit, and the distribution deadline and usage deadline are valid, The lending of the digital content use right is permitted (3112).
As shown in FIG. 28, in the S4 sequence of FIG. 24, as shown in FIG. 28, a display 2801 indicating that the use right joint acquisition request has been accepted as a result of the use right distribution request (product specification) determination result. Based on the merchandise ID, a merchandise ID, a merchandise name, a merchandise description, a price obtained by searching the merchandise master table 0206, and a use right distribution permission / rejection response indicating a list of available rights to use 2802 having already extracted group numbers. Send back.

  Next, when the usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0203 determines that the digital content usage right can be lent, the usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 displays the product ID 2703 in FIG. 27 and the product ID column in the product master table 0206. The terminal usage restriction ID column 0305 is extracted from the entry with the matching 0301, and the terminal usage frequency column 0501 of the entry with the terminal usage restriction ID column 0305 that matches the terminal usage restriction master table 0208, the intra-terminal usage time limit 0502, The in-terminal usage period 0503, copy permission / inhibition 0504, and movement permission / inhibition 0505 are acquired.

  Note that when both the intra-terminal usage period 0502 and the intra-terminal usage period 0503 are specified, the shared usage constraint ID is determined from an entry in which the product ID 2703 in FIG. 27 and the product ID column 0301 in the product master table 0206 match. A column 0304 is extracted, and a delivery time limit column 0403 and a usage period 0404 are acquired from an entry that matches the shared usage constraint ID column 0304 of the shared usage constraint table 0207. At this time, if any of the intra-terminal usage period 0502 and the intra-terminal usage period 0503 exceeds the period specified in the distribution period column 0403 and the usage period 0404, the distribution period limit column 0403 and the usage period 0404 are set in the intra-terminal usage limit and terminal. Treated as an internal use period.

In the S5 sequence of FIG. 24, processing for transmitting a usage right distribution request is performed as shown in FIG. 29 for the digital content copyright distribution apparatus 0110 as an example. 29. In-terminal restrictions 2904 to 2908 to be given to the digital content usage right object specified in FIG. 29 are obtained from the terminal use restriction master table 0208, and the digital content copyright distribution apparatus 0110 is When the digital content usage right object uniquely specified by the 29 product IDs 2903 is generated, the in-terminal restrictions 2904 to 2908 in FIG. 29 are referred to. The usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 adds the distribution number 0804 of the corresponding user ID to the usage right management table 0211 when the digital content is distributed. Further, when the usage right can be acquired, the usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 sets the usage right acquisition state column 0702 of the application management table 0210 to “○” at an appropriate timing, and uses the usage right management table 0211. The status column 0803 can be set to “in use”.
The digital content copyright distribution device 0110 sends a usage right distribution request response indicating an HTTP response 200 OK3001 as an example in FIG. 30 to the usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0205 in the S6 sequence, and the terminal device (recruiter). For 0101, the distribution processing of the digital content usage right object is performed.
Similarly, a digital content usage right object is distributed to the terminal device (applicant) 0104.
In this way, the terminal device (recruiter) 0101 or another terminal device (applicant) 0104 can use the predetermined content using the digital content usage right object.

  The present invention can be widely applied to acquisition of digital content usage rights in various systems when using digital content such as music, images, moving images, and electronic books on a terminal device such as a PC or a mobile phone. .

0101 Terminal device 0001
0102 Terminal device 0002
0103 Terminal device 0003
0104 Terminal device 0004
0105 Terminal device 0005
0106 Billing device 0107 Communication device 0108 Authentication device 0109 User DB
0110 Digital content copyright distribution device 0111 Digital content usage right management device 0112 Product master DB
0113 Digital content usage right management DB
0201 Usage right acquisition group generation processing unit 0202 Usage right acquisition history management processing unit 0203 Usage right acquisition request reception processing unit 0204 Usage right provision determination processing unit 0205 Usage right distribution request transmission processing unit 0206 Product master table 0207 Shared usage constraint master table 0208 Terminal use restriction master table 0209 Recruitment management table 0210 Application management table 0211 Usage right management table

Claims (10)

A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
A content usage right management system comprising:

The content usage right management device includes:
A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A usage right management table including a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage state;

The recruiter terminal device receives a list of commodities that can be jointly purchased including a product ID, product name, price, joint purchase conditions, or application termination conditions from the communication device in order to solicit content usage rights joint acquisition. , Input a product ID to be recruited and an application termination condition, send a solicitation request for joint use acquisition including the recruiting user ID and product ID and the application termination condition to the content usage right management device,

The content use right management device receives a request for joint use right acquisition including a solicitation user ID and a product ID and an application termination condition from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content use right management device is a content use right management system that causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content use right to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device.
Communication device
For products that can be purchased jointly, it has a product table that stores the product ID, product name, price, joint purchase conditions, or application termination conditions correspondingly,
When receiving a product search request for joint use right acquisition to the communication device from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
A product list including a product ID, a product name, a price, a joint purchase condition, or an application end condition is created for a product that can be purchased jointly with reference to the product table, and transmitted to the recruiter terminal device. The content usage right management system according to claim 1. Communication device
When receiving a product search request for joint use right acquisition to the communication device from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
A product list including a product ID, a product name, a price, a joint purchase condition or an application end condition is created for a product that can be purchased jointly with reference to the product master table, and transmitted to the recruiter terminal device. The content usage right management system according to claim 1. For the shared use constraint ID, further comprising a share constraint table for storing shared use constraint information including any one or more of the number of concurrent users, the number of distribution usage limits, and the delivery usage time limit,
The usage right management table further includes the number of distributions of usage rights for the user ID,
The product master table further includes a shared use constraint ID for the product ID,

The content usage right management device acquires a product ID and a user ID from the usage right distribution request received from the terminal device, extracts a group ID from the usage right management table, and is in use corresponding to the corresponding group ID. Aggregate the number of lenders,
The content usage right management device extracts the usage rights distribution count for the user ID from the usage right management table,
The content usage right management device extracts a shared usage constraint ID from the product master table using a product ID as a key, extracts shared usage constraint information from the shared constraint table using a shared usage constraint ID as a key,
2. The content usage right management system according to claim 1, wherein the content usage right management device determines whether or not to lend according to the number of lenders, the number of distributions, and the joint use restriction information.   If either the expiration date in the terminal or the usage period within the terminal exceeds the period specified in the delivery deadline column and usage period, the delivery deadline column and the usage period are treated as in-terminal usage restrictions and in-terminal usage periods. The content usage right management system according to claim 1. In addition to the terminal usage restriction ID, it further includes a terminal usage restriction master table that stores the number of times of terminal use, the use time limit / period within the terminal, whether copying is possible, and whether movement is possible,
The product master table further includes a terminal use restriction ID for the product ID,

The content usage right management device, when it is determined that the possible lend further refers to the product master table, the product ID is extracted terminal usage restriction ID column from the entry that matches, the terminal use restriction master table The terminal use restriction ID column matches, and obtains an in-terminal constraint including any one of a terminal use count column, an in-terminal use period, an in-terminal use period, copy availability, and migration availability,
The content usage right management device transmits a usage right distribution request including user ID and product ID terminal restrictions to the content copyright distribution device,
2. The content according to claim 1, wherein the content copyright distribution device performs a content usage right distribution process to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device when receiving the usage right distribution request. Usage rights management system.
A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
The content use right management device in a content use right management system comprising:

A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A usage right management table including a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage state;

The content usage right management device, from the horn collector terminal apparatus to recruit usage right joint acquisition of content, receiving the recruitment requirements of the usage right joint acquisition including recruitment user ID and product ID and application ending condition,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content usage right management device causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content usage rights to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device. For the shared use constraint ID, further comprising a share constraint table for storing shared use constraint information including any one or more of the number of concurrent users, the number of distribution usage limits, and the delivery usage time limit,
The usage right management table further includes the number of distributions of usage rights for the user ID,
The product master table further includes a shared use constraint ID for the product ID,

The content usage right management device acquires a product ID and a user ID from the usage right distribution request received from the terminal device, extracts a group ID from the usage right management table, and is in use corresponding to the corresponding group ID. Aggregate the number of lenders,
The content usage right management device extracts the usage rights distribution count for the user ID from the usage right management table,
The content usage right management device extracts a shared usage constraint ID from the product master table using a product ID as a key, extracts shared usage constraint information from the shared constraint table using a shared usage constraint ID as a key,
8. The content usage right management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the content usage right management apparatus determines whether or not to lend according to the number of lenders, the number of distributions, and the joint use restriction information. In addition to the terminal usage restriction ID, it further includes a terminal usage restriction master table that stores the number of times of terminal use, the use time limit / period within the terminal, whether copying is possible, and whether movement is possible,
The product master table further includes a terminal use restriction ID for the product ID,

The content usage right management device, when it is determined that the possible lend further refers to the product master table, the product ID is extracted terminal usage restriction ID column from the entry that matches, the terminal use restriction master table The terminal use restriction ID column matches, and obtains an in-terminal constraint including any one of a terminal use count column, an in-terminal use period, an in-terminal use period, copy availability, and migration availability,
The content usage right management device transmits a usage right distribution request including user ID and product ID terminal restrictions to the content copyright distribution device,
7. The content usage right management apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the content copyright distribution apparatus causes the recruiter terminal apparatus or the applicant terminal apparatus to perform distribution processing of content usage rights.
A communication device that provides a display screen to the terminal device and handles user authentication in cooperation with the authentication device;
A content copyright distribution device that distributes content usage rights to the terminal device;
A content usage right management device that executes processing for the terminal device to acquire content usage rights;
A content usage right management system comprising:

The content usage right management device includes:
A recruitment management table that stores a product ID, a recruitment user ID, a group ID, an application termination condition, and a recruitment status corresponding to a product for joint use,
A product master table storing product names and prices for product IDs;
An application management table for storing a group ID and an application user ID for which joint use has been applied;
A content usage right management method using a content usage right management system having a product ID, a group ID, a user ID, and a usage right management table including a usage state,

The recruiter terminal device receives a list of commodities that can be jointly purchased including a product ID, product name, price, joint purchase conditions, or application termination conditions from the communication device in order to solicit content usage rights joint acquisition. , Input a product ID to be recruited and an application termination condition, send a solicitation request for joint use acquisition including the recruiting user ID and product ID and the application termination condition to the content usage right management device,

The content use right management device receives a request for joint use right acquisition including a solicitation user ID and a product ID and an application termination condition from the recruiter terminal device for soliciting joint use right acquisition of content,
In accordance with the recruitment request, the content usage right management device stores the product ID, the recruitment user ID, and the application end condition in the recruitment management table, sets the group ID according to a predetermined procedure, and sets the recruitment status to accepting ,
When the content usage right management device receives a search request for the usage right joint acquisition status including the application user ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table and extracts the entry whose acceptance status is being accepted. The product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, the application end condition and the recruitment state are obtained, the product name and price are obtained from the product ID with reference to the product master table, the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application. The search result including the end condition, the recruitment status, the product name and the price is returned to the applicant terminal device,
Upon receiving an application request for a group including an application user ID and a group ID from the applicant terminal device, the content usage right management apparatus adds a new entry including a group ID and an application user ID to the application management table. ,
The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table, and if the application end condition for the applied group ID is not satisfied, the content use right management apparatus remains in accepting state. Change to the end state,
The content use right management device returns a use right joint acquisition response including a product ID, a group ID, and a recruitment status to the application terminal device,

The content usage right management device refers to the recruitment management table at a predetermined timing or cycle, and extracts the product ID, the recruitment user ID, the group ID, and the application termination condition of the entry whose recruitment state has been terminated. , One or more application users having the same group ID from the application management table, the product name and price for the product ID from the product master table,
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device of a possible use right joint acquisition including product ID, product name, price, group ID, recruiting user ID, and application termination condition. And
Possible notification has received the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device, when you get the content usage right obtaining rights similar communication device, the content usage rights management device, from the communication apparatus, product ID and group Receive content usage history including ID,
The content usage right management device extracts a user ID that matches a group ID of a content usage history from the recruitment management table and the application management table, and registers a product ID, a group ID, and a user ID in the usage right management table. And
The content usage right management device notifies the recruiter terminal device and the applicant terminal device that the content usage right acquisition right has been acquired,

When the content usage right management device receives a request for joint acquisition of content usage rights including a user ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device from which the content usage right acquisition right has already been acquired, refers to the usage rights management table, to extract the product ID and group ID from the entry of user ID matches, referring to the commodity master table, product name from the entry of the product ID are consistent, then to obtain a price, the In response to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, respond to the acquired content usage right list including the product ID, product name, price, group ID,
When the content usage right management device receives a usage right distribution request including a user ID and a product ID from the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device, the number of lenders does not exceed the number of simultaneous users. According to any one or a plurality of predetermined conditions, the number of distribution of usage rights does not exceed the distribution usage limit number, the distribution deadline and / or the usage deadline is valid, the corresponding user ID To determine whether to grant content usage rights to
The content usage right management device, if the result of the loan permission determination is possible, gives a usage right delivery permission response indicating a list of available usage rights including a product ID, a product name, a product description, a price, and a group ID. , Reply to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device,
The content usage right management device causes the content copyright distribution device to perform distribution processing of content usage rights to the recruiter terminal device or the applicant terminal device.

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