JPH05165781A - Information selling terminal equipment information selling system and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly provide charged information for a user after the conclusion of a sales commitment by writing in beforehand the charged information and free information in a CD-ROM, and making the charged information capable of being read by the input of a pass word after the conclusion of the sales commitment. CONSTITUTION:A personal computer 100 and a CD-ROM system 200 constitute information selling terminal equipment, and an information read-out means for reading the charged information out of the loaded CD-ROM, a collating means to collate the given pass word with a predetermined registered pass word, and a control means to permit the read-out of the charged information only in the case that both the pass words coincide with each other are provided. Then, after the conclusion of the commitment with a software/data-base sales company, an arithmetic pass work is sent to the telephone set 160 of a user side. Besides, the free information is stored in the CD-ROM, and the read-out of the free information is permitted without the collation of the pass words.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information selling terminal device, an information selling system, and methods thereof, which are capable of selling information for a fee and providing it for free.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a user receives a service for selling information such as software programs and databases, there are the following two selling methods.

(1) An information service company sells a portable storage medium in which software program information is stored, and the user purchases this portable storage medium. After mounting the purchased portable storage medium on an information processing device such as a personal computer, the user reads information from the portable storage medium by the information processing device.

(2) A host computer installed in an information service company and a terminal device installed on the user side are connected by a communication line. The user uses the terminal device to notify the host computer of the information service company of the contents of the database to receive the service.

The host computer on the information service company side searches the database that has been contacted, transmits the information obtained as a result of the search to the communication terminal device on the user side, and at the same time, charges the information service sales price and sales price. The necessary user information is stored inside the device. The information service company charges the user for the price by mail or the like based on the sales price information and the user information stored in the host computer.

[0006]

In the first method described above, it is easy to add free information, such as program price information, to the information that is sold for a fee. With regard to this, there is an advantage that the cost borne by the information service company is small. Moreover, since the user receives the portable storage medium by mail or the like, there is a drawback that it takes time from the purchase application to the receipt.

The second method has an advantage that the user can quickly receive the information, while
When a large amount of information is received by the user, it takes a long time to communicate the information, and the communication line usage fee is high.

Therefore, the second method cannot be said to be suitable for the information service company because the information service company cannot guide the provided information for free.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide a user with free information, and an information sales terminal device capable of promptly selling information if necessary,
It is to provide an information sales system and methods thereof.

[0010]

The first invention device is equipped with a storage medium in which pay information to be sold for pay is stored in advance,
An information reading means for reading the pay information from the mounted storage medium, a password input means for inputting a password given to deliver the pay information, and a password input from the password input means. A password collating means for collating with a predetermined registration password, and only when a coincidence judgment of the password and the registered password is obtained as a result of the password collation, the information reading for delivery of the pay information is carried out. And a control means for permitting the pay information to be read by the means.

In addition to the first invention apparatus, the second invention apparatus further stores free information provided for free in the storage medium, and the control means stores the password of the free information. It is characterized in that reading by the information reading means is permitted without collation.

The third invention apparatus is a password storing the type information input means for inputting the type of paid information ordered and the password given for handing over the information corresponding to salable pay information. The information processing terminal device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a host device having a storage means, an extraction means for extracting a password corresponding to the type content input from the type information input means from the password storage means by a search. It is characterized by

In a fourth invention method, a recording medium in which pay information to be sold for a fee is stored in advance is attached to an information reading device of an information selling terminal device, and a password given for delivering the pay information is input. Then, for the input password, a password collation with a predetermined registration password is executed, and only when a coincidence judgment of the password and the registration password is obtained by the password collation, for information delivery. The pay information is read from the storage medium by the information reading device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the password given for delivering the pay information is stored in the host device, and the type of the pay information ordered is input to the host device. It is characterized in that the password corresponding to the type content is extracted by a search, and the pay information read by the method of the fourth invention is delivered to an external device.

[0015]

In the first and fourth aspects of the invention, the pay information can be read from the storage medium by using the password given to the user after the sales contract is concluded. Therefore, the storage medium can be distributed to the user before the sales contract, and the user can purchase the pay information on the storage medium as needed.

In the second invention, the free information on the storage medium can be freely read and viewed without password verification.

In the third and fifth inventions, since the password corresponding to the pay information of the order is automatically extracted, the waiting time for the user to purchase the pay information can be shortened.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the system configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a telephone 160 is connected to a public line 250 and a telephone reception operation center 300 of a software / database sales company.

The telephone reception operation center 300 is L
Communication line 35 such as AN (local area network)
It is also connected to a plurality of communication terminal devices 400 and 410 via 0.

Personal computer 100 and CD
-ROM system 200 constitutes a local information sales terminal device.

Prior to the description of the system operation, the circuit and operation of each of the above components will be described.

The telephone reception operation center 30 of FIG.
The circuit configuration of 0 is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, the host computer 30
1, first to third sub-computers 302 to 305, keyboard 306 and CRT (cathode ray tube) display device 307
Are commonly connected to the bus.

The host computer 301 is a CD-ROM
User information for each user who distributes
The name, address, credit card number, and serial (identification) number are stored in the internal storage device. The storage device also stores database-related service information provided to the user.

The host computer 301 performs collation processing for user information in the storage device and search processing for service information.

The first sub-computer 302 is connected to the automatic voice response exchange 303, receives the order information and the user (related) information via the automatic voice response exchange 303, and registers the user information in the host computer 301. While instructing the inquiry, whether to sell the information is determined based on the inquiry result. When it is determined that the product can be sold, the operation password and the sales charge relating to the present invention are sent as a response to the telephone 160 on the user side via the automatic voice response exchange 303.

Further, the first sub-computer 302, after the contract for the information service with the software / database sales company is established, an operational password (described later) for reading information from a specific portion of the CD-ROM. , The telephone 160 on the user side via the automatic voice response exchange 303
Send to.

The second sub-computer 304 sends and receives information to and from the first and second communication terminal devices 400 and 410 installed at the store side.

The third sub computer 305 stores the price information of the service provided and the system maintenance information in its internal storage device, and exchanges these information with other computers.

From the keyboard 306, operation instructions for the above-mentioned computers and the above-mentioned information to be registered are input. The CRT display device 307 is used to display information input from the keyboard 306 and information output from each computer.

Next, the personal computer 10 shown in FIG.
0 and the CD-ROM system 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

Since a well-known personal computer can be used as the personal computer 100, its explanation will be briefly described. In FIG. 2, a personal computer 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101 and a read only memory (ROM).
102, random access memory (RAM) 103, keyboard 104, CRT display device 105, floppy disk drive (FDD) 106, expansion slot 10
7. The hard disk drive (HDD) 108 is mainly included.

The CPU 101 executes the system control of the entire apparatus according to the system program stored in the ROM 102, and also the floppy disk (FD) 206 and the CD.
-Read the application program stored in the ROM 205 and perform arithmetic processing.

The RAM 103 temporarily stores the application program and input / output information for the CPU 101. Information is input to the CPU 101 from the keyboard 104.

The CRT 105 displays input information from the keyboard 104 and calculation results of the CPU 101.

The FDD 106 reads / writes information from / to the mounted FD 206 according to an instruction from the CPU 101.

An input / output interface for connecting to a peripheral device is attached to the expansion slot 107. In this embodiment, the interface board 2 dedicated to the CD-ROM system
01 is mounted in the expansion slot 107.

The HDD 108 stores free information and pay information transferred from the CD-ROM 205.

Next, the CD-ROM system 200 according to the present invention will be described.

The CD-ROM system 200 includes a dedicated interface board 201 and a CD-ROM drive 20.
2. The system password memory 204, the FD 206 and the CD-ROM 205 are mainly included, and also have a power supply adapter (not shown).

The CD-ROM drive 202 and the system password memory 204 are stored in one case.

The decryption IC 201A is mounted on the dedicated interface board 201, and only when instructed by the CPU 101 of the personal computer 100,
The decryption processing for the information read from the CD-ROM 205 is performed by the decryption IC 201A.

The CD-ROM drive 202 is a CD-RO drive according to an instruction from the CPU 101 of the personal computer 100.
Read / write information from / to M205.

The system password memory 204 stores a system password and a verification registration password. The verification registration password is used for password verification according to the present invention.

Next, the CD-ROM 205 shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

FIG. 4 shows the structure of the storage area of the CD-ROM 205.

In FIG. 4, the storage area A stores the first information written in the standard logical format. In the storage area B, a second dedicated logical format different from the standard logical format is written.
Information is stored.

In this embodiment, the standard logical format is a logical format called High Shera format determined by ISO (International Standard Organization).

In the specific area in the storage area B, the third information encrypted as shown in FIG. 5 is written in a dedicated logical format.

In this embodiment, the first data stored in the storage area A is
The information is information indicating the directory information, the contents of the sales program that the user can view for free, and the list price. The directory information is composed of identification names of a plurality of program information stored in the CD-ROM, storage addresses of each program, and parameter information indicating the identification names of the storage areas A, B and C. Referenced when reading information.

The second information stored in the storage area B is a trial program that the user can execute on the personal computer free of charge. The third information stored in the storage area C is
These are paid programs and data that are transferred to the personal computer side after the sales contract is concluded. The third information is encrypted in advance.

The operation of the system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention will be described below.

(A) User registration process When a user purchases the CD-ROM 205, FD 206, package software and CD-ROM system main body (see FIG. 3), a registration postcard containing user information is sent to a software / database sales company. (See Fig. 6). At the software database sales company, when the operator receives the registration postcard, the operator operates the keyboard 306 shown in FIG.
The user information described in the registration postcard is input from and registered in the storage device (not shown) in the host computer 301.

After this, the second and subsequent CD-ROMs 205
Is distributed to users free of charge from software and data sales companies.

(B) Display of sales guide information in CD-ROM 205 The user can purchase the purchased CDROM or the distributed CDR.
The OM is mounted in the CD-ROM drive 202 of the CD-ROM system main body, and the FD 206 that was initially purchased is mounted in the FDD 106 of the personal computer 100. Next, the keyboard 104 of the personal computer 100
Instructs the CPU 101 to activate the system program (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) for the CD-ROM on the FD 206. In the CPU 101, the control procedure of FIGS.
After reading on 108, the operation is started.

That is, the CPU 101 reads the processing menu information stored on the FD 206 and displays it on the CRT display device 105 (S10 in FIG. 8). In this embodiment, the following processing is prepared.

(1) Display processing of sales program guide information on CD-ROM 205 (2) Transfer (installation) processing of trial program on CD-ROM 205 to personal computer (3) Sales program on CD-ROM 205 Purchase procedure display processing and transfer processing of the sales program to the personal computer after the sales contract is concluded. Therefore, the user looks at the display on the display screen and displays instruction information for selecting the display processing of the sales program guide information on the personal computer 100. Input from the keyboard 104 (step S20 in FIG. 8). Based on this instruction information, the CPU 101 of the personal computer 100 sets the standard logical format as the read format and reads the program guide information on the CD-ROM 205 (step S30 → S100 in FIG. 8).

More specifically, the CPU 101 is a CD-R.
After referring to the directory information on the OM 205 and detecting the storage address of the program guide information, the read address and the read command are instructed to the CD-ROM drive 202. The CD-ROM drive 202 reads the storage information (program guide information) at the read address designated according to the read command and transfers it to the CPU 101. CPU10
1 is the HDD 10 for the program guide information that is sequentially transferred.
8, the program guide information is displayed on the CRT display device 105 (step S110 in FIG. 8 →
S120).

As a result, the user can see the program guide information on the display screen to know the programs that can be sold and the programs that can be tried.

Thereafter, the CPU 101 ends this control procedure in response to the end instruction from the keyboard 104 (step S130 → end).

(C) Execution of Trial Program After displaying the above-mentioned processing menu on the display screen of the CRT display device 105 (step S10 in FIG. 8), the user uses the keyboard to execute the transfer processing of the trial program in the processing menu. An instruction is given from 104 (step S20 in FIG. 8).

In response to this instruction, the CPU 101 shifts to the program selection mode, and subsequently, the user inputs the identification name or the like of the trial program to be tried by the keyboard 104.
Input instructions from (step S20 → S30 → S in FIG. 8)
40 → S200).

After that, the CPU 101 sets a dedicated logical format, and according to this dedicated logical format, the instructed trial program is sent to the CD-ROM drive 20.
2 from the CD-ROM 205 via the HDD 10
8 (step S210 → S220 in FIG. 8).

Thereafter, the user inputs a program execution command from the keyboard 104 to cause the CPU 101 to execute the HDD operation.
A trial program on 108 can be run.

(D) Purchase of sales program After displaying the above processing menu on the display screen of the CRT display device 105 (step S10 in FIG. 8), the user instructs the purchase processing in the processing menu from the keyboard 104. (Step S20 of FIG. 8).

When the CPU 101 identifies that the purchase processing instruction has been input (step S50 in FIG. 8), it shifts to the execution procedure in FIG. That is, the CPU 101 reads out the message guidance regarding the sales procedure from the FD 206,
It is displayed on the display screen of the CRT display device 105 (step S300 in FIG. 9).

The user makes a call to the telephone reception operation center 300 of the software / database sales company. At this time, the user inputs the purchase information as a number by the touch-tone of the telephone according to the guidance voice of the automatic voice response machine 303 of the telephone reception operation center 300.
User-related information required for this purchase is a CD-ROM
A serial number (ID number), a credit number required for payment of the price, an identification number indicating a purchase intention, and an identification number of a program or data desired to be purchased are prepared in advance, which are assigned to the system.

The automatic voice response exchange 303 transfers the received user-related information to the first sub computer 302 each time the user-related information is received.

The first sub computer 302 determines whether or not to permit the sale, based on the user information registered in the host computer 301 and the predetermined sale conditions. When the sale is permitted, the first sub-computer 302 instructs the automatic voice response exchange 303 to communicate by voice the operation password and the sale charge corresponding to the sale program or the sale data to the user's telephone.

The memory in the first sub computer 302 stores the identification number of the pay information and the password used for delivering the pay information in a table form, and the CPU of the first sub computer 302 searches to place an order. Extract the password corresponding to the identification number of the received pay information.

Therefore, the first sub computer 302
Operates as the host device of the present invention, and the automatic voice response exchange 303 operates as the type information input means of the present invention.

In response to this instruction, the search processing device in the automatic voice response exchange 303 selects and extracts the voice message corresponding to the instructed operation password and the sales fee from the voice messages stored in the memory of the device in advance. Then, the sales contract is terminated by sending a response to the telephone 160 on the user side.

If the first sub-computer 302 determines that the sale cannot be permitted, the automatic voice response exchange 303 is caused to respond with a message to that effect.

In this way, when the user is informed of the operation password for the delivery of pay information from the telephone reception operation center 300, the user inputs the operation password from the keyboard 104 (S320 in FIG. 9).

The CPU 101 reads the system password from the system password memory 204 in the main body of the CD-ROM system via the dedicated interface board 201. Next, the CPU 101 synthesizes the input operation password and the system password to create a verification password (step S330 in FIG. 9).

The CPU 101 reads out the collation registration password from the system password memory 204 and compares it with the collation password created (step S in FIG. 9).
340 → S350).

When the user is notified of the operation password by the regular sales acquisition, the CPU 101 activates the decryption IC 201A on the dedicated interface board 201 because the coincidence judgment can be obtained for both passwords (step S350 → S360).

The CPU 101 sets a dedicated logical format as a read format, then reads the program instructed to be purchased from the CD-ROM 205, and sets H
Transfer to DD 108. At this time, the encrypted program information read via the CD-ROM drive 202 is decrypted by the decryption IC 201A and converted into a general-purpose information processing code form. HDD at this time
Reference numeral 108 corresponds to the external device of the present invention.

After that, the CPU 101 makes the decryption IC 2
01A is stopped, and the information sale processing according to this control procedure is ended (steps S380 → S390 in FIG. 9).

As described above, in this embodiment, if the input operation password does not partially match the verification registration password, the pay information transfer process shown in FIGS. It is not transferred to the personal computer 100 side. Therefore, the CPU 101 of the personal computer 100 when executing the control procedure of the FD 206 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 operates as the password collating means and control means of the present invention.

Further, the calculated password is not notified to the user unless a sales contract is concluded between the software / database selling company and the user. Therefore, for example, C
Even if the user owns the D-ROM 205, the CD-RO
On the sales program on M205, it cannot be taken out unless the operation password is input.

In addition, the sales program is encrypted and written in the CD-ROM 205 in a dedicated format. Therefore, a CD-ROM 2 other than the CD-ROM 205 system of the present embodiment is used and the CD-ROM 2
Even if the stored information of 05 is read, the read information becomes meaningless data. Therefore, the confidentiality of the sales program on the CD-ROM 205 is protected.

In addition to the embodiments described above, the following examples can be implemented.

(1) The decryption IC 201A is not limited to the dedicated interface board 201, and may be mounted on the CD-ROM system main body side, for example, on the CD-ROM drive 202 or the personal computer 100 side. Further, when the decryption processing is executed by software, the decryption program is stored in the FD 206.

(2) In this embodiment, the sales program is C
Although stored in the D-ROM, other portable storage media, such as a floppy disk, can be used. In this case, a floppy disk drive is used as the reading device instead of the CD-ROM drive 202.

(3) When there are a plurality of types of storage programs in the dedicated logical format, if not only one type but a plurality of types are stored, the confidentiality of the programs is enhanced.

(4) In this embodiment, the guide information is stored in the CD-ROM 205 in a standardized logical format, and the trial program and the sales program are stored in a special special logical format, but the importance is low. A free trial program may be stored in a standardized logical format for the program, and a special logical format without encryption processing may be stored for the paid sales program. In this case, the CD-ROM system 200 has a decryption IC
Is not necessary.

(5) In this embodiment, the system password and the verification (registration) password are stored in the system password memory 204.
If it is stored on the D-ROM 205, the CD-ROM 20
The registration password for verification can be changed for each distribution of 5, and the confidentiality of the sales program is further enhanced.

If the password collation process is desired to be simplified, it is not necessary to provide the system password, and only the registered password may be collated.

(6) In this embodiment, the password collation process is executed on the personal computer side. However, the password collation process can be omitted if the confidentiality is not considered important or the FD 206 is not provided. In such a system, the content of the logical format of the information for free provision is informed to the user in the form of a printed matter in advance, and after the sales contract is established by telephone, the content of the dedicated logical format for pay is called or Notify by facsimile etc.

(7) As a method of encryption, there is also a method of using an encryption key code and encryption by an arithmetic processing such as exclusive OR by a program and using the encryption key code at this time as a password. In this case, the password input means and the password verification means of the present invention are provided not in the personal computer but in the CD-ROM body.

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention, free information and pay information can be provided to a user by one (portable) storage medium, and in addition, a sales contract for pay information can be provided. After establishment, it can be provided to the user promptly. Further, the selling price of the program or data is not constant, and the selling price can be changed by newly distributing the storage medium according to the price by another distribution method or the purchase frequency of the user.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a telephone reception operation center 300 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a personal computer 100 and C of FIG.
3 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a D-ROM system 200. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage area of a CD-ROM 205 of FIG.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing a storage area of a CD-ROM 205 of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a purchasing procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a purchasing procedure according to the embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by the CPU 101 of FIG.

9 is a flowchart showing a control procedure executed by a CPU 101 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Personal Computer 101 CPU 107 Expansion Slot 108 HDD 200 CD-ROM System 201 Dedicated Interface Board 201A Decoding IC (Integrated Circuit) 202 CD-ROM Drive 204 System Password Memory 250 Public Line 300 Telephone Reception Operation Center

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information reading means for mounting a storage medium storing pay information to be sold for a fee in advance and reading the pay information from the attached storage medium, and a means for delivering the pay information. A password input means for inputting the password, a password collation means for collating the password input from the password input means with a predetermined registered password, and the result of the password collation, the password and the registered password. An information selling terminal device, comprising: a control unit that permits reading of the pay information by the information reading unit in order to deliver the pay information only when a coincidence determination is obtained. 2. The storage medium further stores free information provided for free, and the control means permits the free information to be read by the information reading means without collating the password. The information selling terminal device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. A type information input means for inputting the type of paid information ordered, a password storage means for storing a password given for handing over the information corresponding to salable pay information, 2. The information sales terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a host device having extraction means for extracting a password corresponding to the type contents input from the type information input means from the password storage means by searching. And information sales system. 4. A recording medium in which pay information to be sold for a fee is stored in advance is attached to an information reading device of an information sales terminal device, and a password given for delivering the pay information is input. The password is compared with a predetermined registered password, and only when the password and the registered password are determined to match each other, the information reading device uses the information reading device to transfer the information. An information selling method for an information selling terminal device, characterized in that the pay information is read from the storage medium. 5. A password given for delivery of pay information is stored in a host device, and the type of pay information ordered is input to the host device, and the host device responds to the type of input. 5. The information selling method, wherein the password is extracted by a search, and the pay information read by the method according to claim 4 is delivered to an external device.