JP5922208B2 - Application program and content acquisition system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a connection device, an application program, and a content acquisition system using a new power acquisition method that can be used to acquire content such as music and user information using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

Currently, music distribution using a mobile terminal such as a smartphone is performed, and there is a content distribution system described in Patent Document 1 as an example. The content distribution system includes master ID information (user ID that can uniquely identify a user, user authentication ID) and slave ID information (unique information that can uniquely identify an information processing terminal used by a service user (IP The content distribution service is authenticated using an ID (device ID, device authentication ID) including an address, a domain name, a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), a Mac address, a serial number, and the like.
Therefore, such a content distribution system uses information that can identify a user or an information processing terminal as authentication information. Therefore, when the user is different or the information processing terminal to be used is changed, a different ID is used. Authentication is required.

International Publication WO2009 / 057485

A general multifunctional mobile terminal such as a smartphone has a mini-plug socket for inputting and outputting audio signals in addition to a connector for transmitting and receiving data. The audio signal socket is normally connected to an earphone, a microphone, or the like, and is not intended to connect other devices. In addition, there is no device that uses the audio signal output from the audio signal socket as drive power.
In addition, since the above-described conventional content distribution system is a service that can be received only by contracted mobile terminals and users, it is not possible to share or exchange content such as music among multiple people. .

The present invention has been invented in view of the above problems, and can stream content such as photos, images, texts, music, etc. by mounting on a mobile terminal without requiring authentication depending on a specific mobile terminal or user. Alternatively, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connection device, an application program, and a content acquisition system that can be downloaded and played back on the mobile terminal.
In addition, the present invention provides a new power supply method for devices that are used by being mounted on a portable terminal, including a connection device that can be used for the above-mentioned purposes.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A connection device with a built-in IC that is detachably connected to a mobile terminal having a communication function,
A plug terminal connected to the earphone socket of the mobile terminal;
The plug device uses an audio signal output from an earphone socket as power for driving the IC.

Moreover, this invention has the following structures. That is,
A connection device that stores unique identification information that is detachably connected to a mobile terminal having a communication function,
A plug terminal connected to the earphone socket of the mobile terminal;
The plug device is configured to obtain power from an audio output channel of an earphone socket and to output the identification information via a microphone channel of the earphone socket.

Moreover, this invention has the following structures. That is,
An application program executed on a mobile terminal having an earphone socket,
Acquire unique identification information stored in the connected device from the connected device connected to the earphone socket,
Based on the acquired identification information, information related to the acquisition destination of content that can be output from the management server connected to the Internet via the display means or the audio output means or the display means and the audio output means of the mobile terminal. Acquired,
An application program that acquires the content based on the acquired information and outputs the content through the display unit, the audio output unit, or both the display unit and the audio output unit.

Moreover, this invention has the following structures. That is,
A management server that provides a mobile terminal with connection information to a content server that distributes content that can be output via display means, audio output means, or both display means and audio output means;
A connection device storing unique identification information detachably connected to the mobile terminal;
Having an application program executed on the mobile terminal;
The application program acquires information about a content acquisition destination from the management server based on unique identification information acquired from the connected device, and can be reproduced by the portable terminal from the content server based on the acquired information A content acquisition system configured to acquire content.

  The connection device according to the present invention can be supplied with electric power through an earphone socket of the portable terminal, and can provide unique identification information to the portable terminal through the earphone socket. By providing the unique identification information, various services and contents can be acquired via the Internet.

  The application program according to the present invention acquires unique identification information of a connected device via an earphone socket of a portable terminal, acquires information related to acquisition of the content based on the acquired identification information, There is an effect that content such as a moving image can be reproduced. In addition, an open server that can be freely used by general users can be used as the content server, and the management server itself does not need to have content.

  The content acquisition system according to the present invention can acquire information related to content acquisition, and acquire and reproduce content such as music and moving images. As the content server, an open server that can be freely used by general users can be used, and the management server itself does not need to have content.

It is explanatory drawing showing the outline | summary of the content acquisition system which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit block diagram of a connection device according to the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the structure of the portable terminal used for this invention. It is a flowchart of the application program which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing regarding the usage example of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall outline of a content acquisition system (hereinafter referred to as “the present system”) 1 according to the present invention. The system 1 uses a smartphone as an example of the mobile terminal 2 to display video and music from a content distribution server (hereinafter referred to as “content server”) 4 (4a, 4b, 4c...) 4 connected to the Internet 3. By streaming or downloading content including data, the content is reproduced using the smartphone 2. The content acquired by the mobile terminal 2 includes not only video and music data but also digital data including a user ID, an identification number, and personal information.

In addition, the system 1 is connected to an application server 5 that provides predetermined application software (hereinafter referred to as “app”) to the mobile terminal 2, a management server 6 that manages access information to the content server 4, and the mobile terminal 2. The connection device 7 is provided.
Each of the application server 5 and the content server 4 is hardware means having a configuration that should be provided as a computer, such as a means for connecting to the Internet, a CPU, a memory, a storage means, a keyboard, and a display.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a circuit included in the connection device 7, and FIG. 2A is a circuit block diagram in which a detailed circuit configuration is omitted. The connection device 7 is formed in an external shape like a small doll provided with an IC 8 which is a microcomputer (IC) provided therein and a plug terminal 9 connected to the IC 8. The appearance is not limited to this, and a plurality of designs, materials, and shapes are assumed. The plug terminal 9 is formed in a specification that can be attached to the earphone socket of the mobile terminal 2 having four poles of ground, right voice, left voice, and microphone, and has three poles (ground, left voice, and microphone) of the socket. Alternatively, all four poles are electrically connected. The IC 8 is driven by a current supplied from the left audio terminal, and outputs a unique identification information ID (Gadget ID) stored in the IC 8 via a microphone (MIC) terminal.

  As described above, the plug terminal 9 is a mini plug having four poles of left sound (Lch), right sound (Rch), ground (Gch), and microphone (Mch) corresponding to the socket of the mobile terminal 2. Is formed. Each electrode of the plug terminal 9 is connected to each terminal of the IC 8 through the predetermined circuit which is omitted in detail. In the present embodiment, when the above-described application is activated or a predetermined mode of the application is executed in the mobile terminal, a sine wave whose output level is adjusted is output from the left audio channel. When the voltage waveform of the signal input to the left audio (Lch) is represented, it becomes the waveform before rectification in the upper part of FIG. 2B, but when the negative component of the signal is converted into the positive component and the positive component is extracted, FIG. (B) A waveform after rectification as shown in the lower part. In addition, you may acquire a positive component only by removing a negative component from the waveform before the rectification | straightening of the upper stage of FIG.2 (b) (not shown).

The identification information ID stored in the IC 8 is output to the portable terminal 2 by using the signal rectified as described above as a voltage for driving the IC 8.
The signal output by the application is an audio signal, but an audio signal having a frequency outside the audible band or in a band that does not feel noise (for example, 50 Hz or less) is output. If the output level (signal amplitude) is small, the signal voltage is insufficient and the signal cannot be used as a power source. For this reason, the signal level output from the mobile terminal 2 is controlled by the application so as to become a maximum or a constant value.
Note that even when the signal level is weak, in order to stabilize the power, a capacitor or the like may be provided in the circuit to perform power storage or reduce voltage fluctuation.

In the above example, the driving power is obtained only from the left audio (Lch). However, the right audio (Rch) channel is also used as shown by the wavy line in FIG. Both the (Lch) channel and the power source for driving may be used. In this case, a sine wave signal is output to both the right audio channel and the left audio channel by the application described above.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the phases of the sine waves output to the right audio channel and the left audio channel are made to differ by 90 degrees, and the negative component of each sine wave is converted into a positive component. By using a composite component (Lch + Rch), the DC component after rectification may be maintained at 0 volts or more, and adjustment may be made so that voltage fluctuation is minimized.

  Further, instead of using the right audio (Rch) channel as a power source, the right audio (Rch) channel may be connected to the signal channel of the IC 8 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. In this case, an authentication signal or the like can be output to the right audio (Rch) channel by the application. By doing so, only when a specific signal from the right audio (Rch) channel is received, the identification information ID of the IC 8 is output or access by the application is enabled, so that an unauthorized application or connection device is used. It can be used as a means for restricting.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the main hardware configuration of the mobile terminal 2. The mobile terminal 2 is a communication device called a so-called smartphone as an example, and is a hardware means having a configuration such as a CPU 2a, a RAM 2b, a keypad 2c, a display 2d, a battery 2e, a communication module 2f, an earphone socket 2g, and the like. . The communication module 2f has a wireless communication function for connecting to a public line and a wireless connection function for connecting to a LAN device such as WiFi. The portable terminal 2 is formed as a device that can be connected to the Internet in addition to a telephone by voice call.

The identification information ID stored in the IC 8 of the connection device 7 is data having a start bit 5 bits, a stop bit 5 bits, and data 40 bits different for each connection device 7. The identification information ID is serially transmitted via the (MIC) terminal. An error detection code may be added so that data correction can be performed.
The identification information ID transmitted from the connection device 7 is used by an application (application program) separately downloaded from the application server 5 to the mobile terminal 2.
The application communicates with the management server 6 via the Internet, and acquires information from various databases provided in the management server 6 using the identification information ID. Based on the acquired information, screen display on the portable terminal 2 and access to the content server 4 are performed.

  The management server 6 can also be accessed from a general personal computer. After authentication using a user identification information (UserID) and password registered in advance, content that can be viewed on the mobile terminal 2 to which the connection device 7 is attached is added. And can be organized.

The management server 6 has a management table (1), an avatar table (2), a user table (3), a content table (4), a content acquisition destination table (in addition to a program for performing communication and control with the application as a database DB. 5).
The management table (1) is a data table that associates the identification information ID of the connected device 7 with the avatar ID that specifies the avatar displayed on the mobile terminal 2 by the application. The avatar ID may be provided in a one-to-one relationship with the identification information ID, or one avatar ID may be associated with a plurality of identification information IDs.

  The avatar table (2) is a table in which information associated with the ID is associated with the avatar ID and the user ID. As a result, a predetermined avatar is displayed on the mobile terminal 2, and content associated with the avatar can be displayed and streamed (reproduced).

The user table (3) is a data table that stores a unique user ID, a user name, a usage status, and the like.
The content table (4) is a data table in which the user ID, the avatar ID, and the content acquisition destination ID provided for each content acquisition destination (the acquisition destination may be different even if the content has the same content). It is.
The content acquisition destination table is a table in which data including the content acquisition destination ID described in the information specifying the content acquisition destination or the URL is associated.

Next, operations of the connection device and the content acquisition system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The mobile terminal 2 accesses the application server 5 in advance and downloads the application described above.
“Gadget mode” for starting the application and using the connection device 7 is selected (S1). “Gadget mode” is one of the functions of the application and is a function for using the identification information ID of the connected device 7. When the mode is executed, the process waits until the identification information ID can be received (S2). That is, it waits for the connection device 7 to be connected to the mobile terminal 2. At this time, the application outputs an audio signal having a volume suitable for use as a power source to the earphone socket, and supplies power to the connection device 7 connected to the earphone socket.
When the plug 9 of the connection device 7 is inserted into the earphone socket of the mobile terminal 2 in the standby state, the mobile terminal 2 acquires the identification information ID of the connection device 7. The application monitors the microphone terminal of the earphone socket and waits for the identification information ID of the connection device 7 to be transmitted from the microphone terminal. If the identification information cannot be acquired, it waits for the identification information to be repeatedly transmitted (S3).

When the mobile terminal 2 acquires the identification information ID via the microphone terminal, it determines whether or not there is an Internet connection (whether it is online) (S4), and if it is online, transmits the identification information ID to the management server 6 ( S5). If it is not online, the transmission waits with the identification information stored, and the identification information is transmitted when online (S6).
The management server 6 that has received the identification information acquires information corresponding to the identification information from the data table described above as avatar information (S7). The avatar information includes information associated with the avatar ID described above.
Based on the avatar information, the content is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal 2 (S8).

  The avatar information corresponding to the specific identification information ID is stored by the application even if the connection device 7 is extracted. When a connected device having other different identification information is used, new avatar information is added to the already acquired avatar information.

As described above, when the connection device 7 is inserted into the earphone socket of the mobile terminal in which the application has been activated in advance, the content can be displayed and reproduced as if the connection device 7 had the content. It is like that. Therefore, when the connection device 7 is lent and borrowed between friends, the connection device 7 itself provides music to other people as if renting or borrowing a CD, even though the connection device 7 does not own the content. It has become something that can be.
In the above example, music has been described as an example. However, it may be configured such that content such as movies and promotional videos, and content accompanied by exchange of contact information and personal information can be displayed on the mobile terminal 2.

Next, the relationship among the user (user ID), avatar (avatar ID), connection device 7 (identification information ID), and portable terminal will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 5, there are a plurality of users who are registered in the management server using the user ID. An avatar is a management concept that does not actually exist, is specified by an avatar ID, and is associated with an actual connection device 7 specified by the identification information ID described above. The mobile terminal uses the connection device 7 to activate the application to acquire, display, and reproduce the content.

  The users specified by the user IDs 10, 11, and 12 shown in FIG. 5 are associated with the avatar IDs 0, 1, and 2, respectively, on the management server 6. The avatar IDs 0, 1, and 2 are associated with the connection devices 7 that are integral with each other. This is the most general example, in which one user has one connection device 7 and displays and reproduces the content acquired by his / her own portable terminal.

In the case of a user specified by the user ID: 13, there is one avatar (ID: 3) associated with the management server 6, but there are 2 connection devices 7 corresponding to the avatar ID: 3. That's it. That is, regardless of whether or not the user is a registered user, a plurality of connection devices 7 are provided intended to be used in one or more portable terminals, and the same content is provided using the plurality of connection devices 7. It is to provide content.
For example, it is possible for an artist or a record company to distribute the connection device 7 to an unspecified number of users for the promotion of music to display promotional content or to listen to music. It has become.

  Further, in the case of a user specified by the user ID: 14, the user has two connection devices 7, and the avatar (ID: 4, 5) associated with each connection device 7 is stored on the management server 6. ing. When the two connection devices 7 are connected to one mobile terminal, the avatar information with the avatar ID: 4 associated with the one connection device 7 and the related content can be acquired. Further, when another connection device 7 is connected to the same mobile terminal, it is possible to additionally acquire the avatar information and the related content by the avatar ID: 5 associated with the connection device 7.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a connection device, an application program, and a content distribution system that can display and reproduce content such as music, video, and user information by being attached to a mobile terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Content acquisition system 2 Mobile terminal 3 Internet 4 Content distribution server 5 Application server 6 Management server 7 Connection device 8 IC
9 Plug terminal

Claims (2)

An application program executed on a mobile terminal having an earphone socket,
Acquire unique identification information stored in the connected device from the connected device connected to the earphone socket,
Based on the acquired identification information, information related to the acquisition destination of content that can be output from the management server connected to the Internet via the display means or the audio output means or the display means and the audio output means of the mobile terminal. Acquired,
An application program that acquires the content based on the acquired information and outputs the content through the display unit, the audio output unit, or both the display unit and the audio output unit. A management server that provides a mobile terminal with connection information to a content server that distributes content that can be output via display means, audio output means, or both display means and audio output means;
A connection device storing unique identification information detachably connected to the earphone socket of the mobile terminal;
Having an application program executed on the mobile terminal;
The application program acquires information on a content acquisition destination from the management server based on unique identification information acquired from the connected device via the earphone socket, and from the content server based on the acquired information. A content acquisition system configured to acquire content that can be displayed and reproduced by a portable terminal.