JPH07182837A - Testing service system for recording medium commodity - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply enable testing service with device constitution of a small scale by bringing the commodity required for testing to a place where a testing service terminal device is mounted and inputting commodity identification information from a commodity package. CONSTITUTION:A customer selects the commodity A101, and makes read the bar code of the commodity A101 by a bar code reader 301 in a CD audition service device. The device converts it to an identification code by a bar code decoder, and obtains recording position information corresponding to the identification code from a retrieving RAM in which a CPU 303 reads in retrieval information beforehand. A data read command is sent from the recording position to a CD-ROM drive 305, and the data read out of an intensive recording medium 104 are stored in a buffer RAM 306. The data are transferred to an ADPCM decoder 307 periodically, and are returned to the PCM data, and are D/A converted to be outputted from a speaker or a headphone 310. Thus, the testing is performed without using the medium itself.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a service for retailing or renting recording medium products such as music and images,
This is related to a trial service system for products in stores.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example will be shown regarding a trial listening of a CD, which is a music recording medium product.

[0003] At CD retailers and rental stores, a large number of products are lined up on display shelves, but in reality, the listening service for these products is not generally provided. The following is a description of the audition service methods that are used in some areas and the methods that are performed using existing equipment.

(1) There is a dedicated audition room in the store, and several CDs for audition placed in the room are selected and auditioned using a normal CD player. Or, with the permission of the clerk, bring the CD of the product to the listening room and listen to it.

(2) Generally, there is a CD player with a mechanical disc exchange device called a jukebox, which selects a song from a list of song names and inputs a song number for trial listening.

(3) There is a CD player installed on the side of a display shelf or the like, and one disc for trial listening is set, and listening with headphones or the like. However, although the operation is free, disc exchange is not allowed.

(4) There is a trial-listening disc in which many trial-listening songs are put together on one disc, and in a normal CD player,
Listen by entering the song number with reference to the song name list.

Although the above is an example of the CD, the situation is similar in that the trial service is not generally provided for recording medium products such as video and game software. In most cases, the commercial medium itself is used.

On the other hand, a video library system, a karaoke system, etc. can be regarded as a database of music, images, etc., although not for trial purposes.

As a conventional search operation method for these databases, (1) a method of searching from a catalog, which is a printed matter in which work names and song names are arranged by item, and inputting a corresponding code with a key input device (catalog method) And (2) In the input / output device consisting of the keyboard or touch panel and the display device, the search item is sequentially selected by the input device according to the menu displayed on the screen, and finally the work name or song name is selected. There is (menu method).

For example, music digital data and information such as corresponding music titles are recorded on a CD-ROM so that the music titles can be displayed on the display device of the player for selection, and music code input from a music title list as a printed matter can be performed. An unnecessary device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-67490.

[0012]

If the music recording medium product is not listened to, the video recording medium product is not seen,
I cannot judge its value. Moreover, the judgment criteria also largely depend on the subjectivity of the individual. Although it is a recording medium product with such characteristics (hereinafter abbreviated as medium product), the trial service for confirming the recorded information, which is the essence of the product, is rarely performed at retail stores or rental stores. It is in. This is because the conventional trial service form has the following problems.

(1) Use of medium product itself In the conventional example, a method of providing a trial service using the product medium itself in which music, images, etc. are recorded is adopted. For this reason, when a normal CD player is used, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to set a medium in the device and a clerk must accompany the player to explain the operation method of the reproducing device. Also, there are cases where a jukebox type device that is automated by a dedicated device is used, but this device becomes large-scale, expensive, requires a large installation space, and is used for mechanical medium exchange. It has a problem that the response speed is slow.

In any case, since the product value of the product once opened for the purpose of trial is reduced, the retailer must bear a large amount of medium cost when trying the trial service for all the products. I have to.

It should be noted that the audition device, in which the normal CD player is fixedly used and the medium cannot be exchanged, does not cost the medium, but cannot be independently selected by the customer, and should therefore be considered as an advertising device. Yes, it is not desirable as a listening service.

(2) Correspondence and operability with the actual product A trial listening system is conceivable in which a trial listening disc containing a large number of songs on one disc is used and can be played back by a normal CD player for listening. The number of songs is small (about
The problem is that there is no correspondence between 100 songs) and the actual product, and it is a trial listening of a specific music, not a trial of a CD that is a commercial product.

Further, in the conventional music image database system such as the jukebox type video library or karaoke system, the input is performed by the catalog method or the menu method, but in the field of the product trial service, these methods are not used. There is a problem that it is difficult to grasp the correspondence with the actual product. The search operation method is too complicated and too difficult to target ordinary customers.

In the example of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-67490 in which music data and search information are recorded on a CD-ROM, the search information is a song title and the operation method is a menu system, which is not beyond the ordinary database system. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems,
An object of the present invention is to provide a system in which anyone can easily and comfortably try out a medium product by a customer's voluntary selection with a relatively small device configuration.

[0020]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Since it is possible to perform a trial reading (standby reading) at a bookstore, it is meaningful to display products. This allows the customer to judge the value based on the subjectivity of the customer. However, there is absolutely no need to place CDs that cannot be listened to, video cassettes that cannot be seen, and so on. Therefore, the inventory list of products handled by the store or C
It is conceivable to present the catalog with photos of D or the like to the customer and sell the product without displaying it. However, in reality, there are very few stores except the mail order store.

The reason for this is that media products are treated as tangible products called media, even though they are essentially intangible products called information. Therefore, just like other products, "take and confirm what you want, This is because it depends on the behavioral psychological pattern of human beings who make a purchase decision. That is, the sales form of display shelves has an important meaning in conforming to this style.

On the other hand, it can be said that the display rack in which the commodities are classified and arranged has the simplest and clearest search function that anyone can understand. That is, it is possible to perform a search only by human hands, feet and eyes without relying on a special device.

The present invention conforms to the conventional sales form, utilizes the display shelf search function, and with a simple operation, the media product selected by the customer's initiative, such as music or video which is the essence of the product. Providing a trial service system that presents.

As a realization means, first, a part of recorded information (music, video, etc.) of a large number of medium products is extracted,
Create aggregated recording media as a trial database. At this time, the record information is largely omitted and compressed only for the purpose of trial use.

In order to make use of the simple and clear display shelf search method and to easily grasp the correspondence relationship between the record information of the product and the actual product (medium product), the identification information is directly read from the product package and coded to make a database. Is used as the search key for the record information. In order to realize this method, search information that associates a recording position of information with a table identification code is added to the aggregate recording medium. This search information is recorded on an integrated recording medium or another recording medium. As the identification information, a barcode, a character symbol, an image, etc. printed on the product package are used.

An apparatus for performing an actual trial service is a reproducing apparatus for an aggregate recording medium which is a database, a control means for searching and controlling the same, an input means for reading identification information and converting it into an identification code, and a voice which can be judged by humans. And an output device for converting into a video or the like.

[0027]

[Action]

(User side) The customer selects a product to be tried out from the media products arranged on the display shelves of the store. Pick up the product, take it to the place where the trial service terminal is installed, and enter the product identification information from the product package using the input device (bar code reader, character reader, image reader, etc.) of the terminal device. .

By this operation, the output device of the terminal device outputs the music, video, etc. recorded in the product, and the customer receives a trial service such as listening and watching.

(Apparatus side) As a trial database, a part of recording information of medium products such as music and video is gathered in advance to create an integrated recording medium, and search information which associates the recording position with a product identification code is added. I'll do it. The product identification information input from the input device of the trial service terminal device is coded and sent to the trial service center device as a product identification code. The control means of the center device searches for the product identification code in the search table in which the search information has been read in advance, and obtains the recording position information of the corresponding product information. The control means instructs the reproducing device of the aggregate recording medium to reproduce and output from the position, and the product information is sent to the terminal device. The output device outputs the product information in the form of music or video.

[0030]

【Example】

1. Method of creating trial database The trial database consists of an aggregate recording medium and search information.

[Aggregate recording medium] A part of the recording information of the medium product is extracted and used as the representative product information of the medium product.
Product information of a large number of media products is collected to create an integrated recording medium in which the product information is integrated and recorded in one medium. A method of creating this aggregate recording medium will be described below.

(Medium and Recording Method) The aggregate recording medium does not need to be the same medium as the commercial medium, and need not have the same recording method. As a practical integrated recording medium, it is portable because it is provided as a trial database to retailers, and it is a disk shape that can be randomly accessed to obtain high-speed response, and handles large-capacity information such as audio and video. An optical disk (CD, LD) or a magneto-optical disk (MO) having a characteristic that the medium itself has a large capacity is suitable. It should be noted that a fixed magnetic disk (H
It is also possible to copy the data to D) and use it.

As a recording method, a method of digitizing music or video and compressing data is suitable.

(Data omitted) Since the purpose is for trial use, it is not necessary to reproduce and provide all the information of the product, and it is sufficient to show or hear a part of the product. Therefore, even if the recorded information is largely omitted, the effect of the trial service is not lost.

For example, in the case of a CD, a sample song for listening (a main song like the title of a product) is selected from one CD, and the intro part of the song, the rust part, etc. are saved for about tens of seconds. Excerpt and record. The video will record a digest version, like a movie trailer for a few minutes to watch.

(Data Compression) In general, data obtained by digitizing video and audio has redundancy in the amount of information and data compression is possible. When the compression degree is increased, an error becomes large at the time of expansion, which causes some deterioration of sound quality and image quality. However, when selecting a medium product, since the music and the story are prioritized over the image quality over the sound quality, the deterioration due to the data compression does not pose a problem in the present system intended for trial use. Therefore, if the record information is digitized, data compression can be performed and more product information can be recorded.

To give a concrete example, a CD-ROM is used as an integrated recording medium, and ADPCM (adaptive differential pulse code modulation) standardized by CD-ROM XA is used.
If C-mode stereo (1/8 compression) is used for data compression according to the method, 600 minutes of music information, which is about 75 times the longest recording time of a normal music CD, can be recorded.
If one song is 40 seconds, there are 900 songs, and if one song is selected and recorded from one CD, 900 listening discs can be realized with one CD-ROM.

Regarding the recorded information of video, a moving image compression technique is used in which a display device is a small low resolution liquid crystal display (for example, about 128 × 96 dots) and the moving image is digitized according to the resolution to reduce the number of display frames. It is possible to compress the recorded information by using.

(When compression and omission are unnecessary) When the information of the large-capacity recording medium of music video is converted into a trial database as described above, it is necessary to omit the recording information, but it is not always necessary to compress the data by digitization. Not necessarily.
For example, it is possible to use a medium such as an LD or a video cassette tape for recording a video signal in an analog manner as an integrated recording medium, and use a normal analog reproducing apparatus as a reproducing apparatus for the recording medium.

In addition, regarding media products such as game software ROM cassettes that are not music or images, the amount of information is extremely small compared to music or images, so compression is not particularly necessary, and the program code is, by its nature, It cannot be omitted. There is also game software that uses a CD-ROM as a medium containing a lot of video and audio data, but in this case, by omitting the function such that only a part of the game can be executed, the part of the music and video data can be omitted. It is possible.

[Search Information] The identification information associated with the product package is coded to create a table in which the recording positions of the corresponding product information on the aggregate recording medium are associated with each other and used as search information in the trial database.

(Identification Information) The identification information is information obtained from the package of the medium product and capable of specifying the individual product.

The product bar code used in the POS system satisfies this condition and can be used in the present system most easily.

The OCR (optical character reader) can read alphanumeric characters and symbols. The character product code printed on the product package can be used as identification information.

The image of the product package can also be used as the identification information. The trial service may not be available,
Media products tend to be judged more by appearance than by contents, and packaging design is very elaborate to appeal visually.
It is characteristic of each product. Therefore, the product can be identified by inputting the package image with an input device such as an image reader and digitally compressing and coding the image data by a certain algorithm. For example,
Still image compression algorithm is standardized DC
There is a JPEG method using T (discrete cosine transform). Since the purpose of this system is to identify an image and there is no need to restore it, it can be coded at a high compression rate for use. A simpler algorithm is to simply sample a specific score on the image plane. Besides, color spectrum analysis, contour extraction,
There are various methods such as shape analysis.

(Creation of Search Information) When a part of the record information of a large number of medium products is extracted and collectively recorded on the recording medium,
Retrieval information that associates the identification code of each medium product with the recording position information on the aggregate recording medium is simultaneously created.

As a specific example, when a bar code is used as the identification code and a CD-ROM is used as the aggregation medium,
The search information is a table of a numerical string represented by a barcode and a time (or logical block address) indicated by minutes / seconds / frames.

The CD-ROM has directory information that associates a file name with a recording address.
If the music data is handled as a file, the search information can be a table of the numerical string represented by the barcode and the file name of the music data.

When a music CD is used as an integrated recording medium, a TO that associates track numbers with recording position information
Since it is managed by C information, the search information can be a correspondence table of bar codes and track numbers. In these cases, the search procedure is an indirect reference method.

(Recording of retrieval information) The aggregate recording medium is a CD
In the case of a digital information recording medium such as ROM or MO, this search information can be digitally coded and recorded on the same medium. Further, the search information may be provided in a separate medium such as a floppy disk in addition to the aggregate recording medium.

(Description of Drawings) FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of creating a trial database for a CD listening service system, in which a CD-ROM is used as an aggregate recording medium.

In this figure, the CDs are product A101 and product B10.
Although only two products, product C103 and product C103, are shown, it is assumed that there are several hundred CDs between product B and product C. Each CD
Select one of the sample songs from the
The music for a second is extracted, and each is designated as a song, b song, and c song. These are digitally sampled and ADPCM-compressed data are packed into one CD-ROM in order from the inner periphery and collectively recorded. In this way, the aggregate recording medium 104 in which a part of the information of the plurality of medium products is extracted, collected, and recorded
To create.

Each product case has a bar code used in the POS system, which is used as product identification information. The numerical code represented by this bar code is used as an identification code and tabulated together with the recording position information of the corresponding product information on the integrated recording medium to form a search information 105.
To create. Here, the 13-digit number string represented by the bar code is the identification code, which indicates the address of the CD-ROM.
Recording position information is seconds and frames.

This search information 105 is stored in the C
Since it is a digital information recording medium called D-ROM,
It is possible to record on the same medium, for example, the innermost peripheral portion as shown in the figure.

2. Configuration of Trial Service Device (Basic Configuration Diagram of Device) The basic configuration of the trial service device will be described with reference to FIG.

The input means 11 reads the identification information s1 of the product package 01, converts it into the identification code s2, and sends it to the control means 12.

The control means 12 obtains the recording position information s3 corresponding to the identification code from the search information d1 to obtain the recording medium reproducing device.
Instruct 13 to play from that position.

The recording medium reproducing device 13 reads the recording information from the aggregate recording medium d2 and outputs it as the product information s4.
Send to.

The output device 14 outputs the product information s4 to the voice, video, etc.
Set it to 02 and show it to the user.

The trial service device 30 is functionally classified into a terminal device 21 that serves as an information input / output unit and a center device 22 that includes a product information recording medium, a playback device, and its control unit.

(Specific Configuration Example 1) FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a bar code input type CD listening service device.

The bar code reader 301 reads the bar code of the CD case (in this example, the product A101 shown in FIG. 1), and the bar code decoder 302 converts the bar code into a numeric string identification code. The CPU 303, which is the control means, receives this identification code, and acquires the recording position information corresponding to the identification code from the search RAM 304 that has been loaded with the search information in advance. A data read command from this recording position is sent to the CD-ROM drive 305, and the data read from the aggregate recording medium 104 shown in FIG.
Store in AM306.

When this data is periodically transferred to the ADPCM decoder 307, the decoder restores the real-time PCM data. Then, the D / A conversion and the low pass filter circuit 30
It becomes an analog signal via 8 and is amplified by the amplifier 309,
The sound is output from the speaker or the headphone 310 as a voice (a piece of music that is the extracted record information of the product A). The local buffer RAM 311 is used by the ADPCM decoder for conversion into real-time data. The buffer RAM306 is
The difference between the data read speed from the drive and the conversion speed of the ADPCM decoder is adjusted.

In this bar code input type CD listening service apparatus, the correspondence with the basic configuration diagram of FIG. 2 will be described.

The product package 01 is a plastic CD
In this case, the identification information s1 is a barcode.

The input means 11 is a bar code reader and a bar code decoder, and the identification code s2 is a numeral or an alphabetic code indicating the identification number of the product.

The control means 12 is a microprocessor (CP
U), a search memory for holding search information d1, and a control program.

The aggregate recording medium d2 is a CD-ROM, and the recording medium reproducing device 13 is a CD-ROM drive, a buffer RAM, an ADPCM decoder, a D / A converter, and a frequency filter.

The product information s4 is an analog voice signal, and the output device 14 is an audio device such as an amplifier and a speaker or headphones.

Further, the product information s4 may be regarded as digital data read from the CD-ROM drive instead of an analog audio signal. In this case, the recording medium reproducing device 13 is a CD-ROM drive, and the output device 14
Is an apparatus in which an audio apparatus and a conversion apparatus for converting a voice signal such as a buffer RAM, an ADPCM decoder, a D / A converter, and a frequency filter are combined.

(Specific Configuration Example 2) FIG. 4 shows a configuration diagram of an image input type video trial service device.

The image information of the case of the video product 400 is read by the image reader 401 and digitized. This image data is compressed by the image compression encoder 402 and becomes an identification code. The CPU 403, which is the control means, receives this identification code, and acquires the recording position information corresponding to the identification code from the search RAM 404 that has been loaded with the search information in advance. The CPU 403 sends a data read command from this recording position to the CD-ROM drive 405, reads the data from the aggregate recording medium 410 that aggregate-records the video, and stores it in the buffer RAM 406. The data is periodically transferred to the MPEG decoder 407 and converted into image data for each frame. This data is the video RAM40
It is written in 8 and is output as an image on the liquid crystal display 409. The buffer RAM 406 adjusts the difference between the data read speed from the drive and the conversion speed of the MPEG decoder.

(Examples of Other Trial Service Devices) In the examples of other trial service devices, only the output device is different,
The other parts have the same configuration as the trial service device, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The output device of the game trial terminal is a game device including a game device, a main body, a RAM cassette having a data communication function as a substitute for the ROM cassette, and a display device. Further, for game software and the like, a simplified trial method may be adopted in which a demonstration video is recorded in an integrated recording medium and is reproduced and presented. in this case,
The output device is only the display device, and the game device is not required.

Also in the case of computer software, an introduction video explaining operations and functions may be simply recorded on an aggregate medium and reproduced and presented, or an application program serving as product information so that actual operations can be performed. May be recorded in an aggregation medium and transferred to a personal computer serving as an output device for trial use. In this case, the trial center device is functionally similar to a general file server, except that it does not specify a file name but inputs identification information associated with a product package.

(Summary of Specific Examples) The above is merely a specific example, and the trial service device of the present invention is not limited to these configurations, and the device, means, recording medium, recording Various combinations of methods, identification information, and identification methods can be adopted.

The point of the present invention is common in that the identification information associated with the product package is input, the product information is retrieved and acquired from the trial database, and is output in the form of information that can be judged by a person.

(Multiple Terminals) The above-mentioned apparatus configuration of FIG. 3 and FIG.
In the description of the correspondence relationship of the basic configuration of, the division of the recording medium reproducing device 13 and the output device 14 is changed and becomes ambiguous depending on how the product information s4 is captured. This is functionally similar to other database systems in terms of the terminal device 21 and the center device 22.
In order to divide the trial service device into a plurality of terminals, one center device 500 and a plurality of terminal devices (terminal device 1 501, terminal device 2 502, terminal device 3 503 terminal device n The database can be shared by the configuration of 504 n terminals).

The digitized music and video data are
Read from the aggregate recording medium much faster than the actual playback time,
If it is stored in the buffer RAM, it is possible to provide simultaneous service to a plurality of terminals by the time sharing process.

For example, 1 / 8-compressed ADPCM data is recorded in continuous sectors (usually interleaved at a ratio of 1 sector to 8 sectors to match the actual reproduction time).
40 seconds for songs, double speed CD-ROM drive is used, and buffer RAM is set to 850 Kbytes per terminal.
Considering the case where reproduction requests are made from a plurality of terminals almost at the same time, one waiting time is only a seek time, and the reproduction is immediately started. The other waiting time can be suppressed to about 3 seconds by adding 2.5 seconds as the data reading time and the seek time. Music reproduction is performed in parallel with these processes, and is slowly taken out from the buffer RAM in real time and continued for 40 seconds.

Further, if the data is copied to a high-speed and large-capacity fixed magnetic disk (HD) and used, the waiting time is shortened and more terminal devices can be connected.

There is also a method of providing a service by using a digital communication line without placing a center device at a store.

(Small-scale device) FIG. 6 shows an external view of the CD audition service device of FIG. CD case 601, barcode 6
02, a bar code reader 603, a center device 604 housed in one housing, a CD-ROM disc 605 serving as a trial listening database, and headphones 606. Although it is as compact as a CD player that plays back one disc, you can listen to many discs.

If such a CD listening device is installed for each display rack or installed for each fine genre, the number of songs to be recorded is relatively small (1,000 songs or less) and can be recorded on one medium. This configuration is sufficiently practical.

(Multi-Drive) However, if all the CDs displayed in the store are to be covered, the amount of data is too large to fit on one disc. When the capacity of one aggregate recording medium is insufficient as described above, a multi-drive system is effective in which a plurality of aggregate recording media are created and a plurality of recording medium reproducing devices of the center device are used.

Since the search information is given for each aggregated recording medium, in the multi-drive system, as shown in FIG.
As shown in the explanatory diagram of the method for merging the search information, the extended recording position information (address) in the medium is added with the drive number in which the medium is set. Combine (merge). The drive number information is added to the search information 700 when the aggregate recording medium disc A is inserted in the drive of drive number 0 and the search information 701 when the aggregate recording medium disc B is inserted in the drive of drive number 1. Then, the search information 702 is merged and used in the multi-drive system.

3. Extended functions (usage management method) In the trial service system, if it is necessary to limit the number of times or time, or to charge the service and charge the fee, there is the usage management method described below.

(1) The administrator issues a personal identification card (ID card) containing a usage authorization code to the user. This usage permission code is registered in a storage device in the trial service device together with usage amount limitation information such as time or number of times.

(2) The user inputs the ID card use permission code before starting to use the trial service device.

(3) The trial service device confirms that the input use permission code is a registered regular code, and permits trial use.

(4) The trial service device cumulatively records and updates the usage amount and prohibits the trial when the preset usage amount limit value is reached.

A service can be obtained by issuing a card with a usage time set according to the purchase amount or providing the card for a fee to the person who purchased the product. .

If a personal identification card for recording the usage permission code as identification information of the same kind as the product identification information that can be identified by the input means of the trial terminal device is used, it is not necessary to add an extra device to the terminal device. That will be cheaper. For example, an identification barcode that encodes a store name, issue date, issuer, etc. can be printed on a paper card and used.

(Song Selection) In the example of the CD listening system described above, one song is selected and recorded from one CD, and the identification code and the trial song are one-to-one. You can also select and record songs. In this case, a music selection operation is required at the time of reproduction and an input device for the music number is required, but the input operation may be performed with the same type of information as the information taken in from the input device for the identification information. For example, if the input method is a bar code, the bar code is also used for the operation panel, and the input device for selection operation becomes unnecessary by sharing the bar code. This operation code uses a code that does not overlap with the product identification code. FIG. 8 shows an example of an operation panel diagram of a CD audition service device using a bar code.

As a reproducing method, there is a method of reproducing the title music for the time being when the identification information is input, and reproducing the music when the music number is continuously input. That is, the previous identification information is held until the next identification information is input, and the music selection is regarded as performed for the CD having this identification information and is reproduced. The operation is << song number selection >>
Select the song number you want to hear from 801 and enter it with the barcode reader.

In order to support such a music selection operation method,
The search information includes the song number in addition to the identification code.

(Recording of Related Information) It is also effective to add and record the information directly related to the product in addition to the information such as music and video which are the essence of the medium product. For example, on a CD,
By including information such as song name, genre, artist name, maker name, and release date in the search information, the following item-specific search can be realized.

(1) Even if the identification information of a specific CD is not input, when a genre having an item of "Random selection of music by genre" 802 is selected from the operation panel, the music of that genre flows randomly. If you like a song, select <Song Information> 803 from the operation panel to
The above information about the CD is presented on the display device of the terminal device. The customer can search for the CD based on this information.

(2) After inputting the identification information of a certain CD, selecting <related song> 804 from the operation panel allows listening to another song of the artist. That is, it is possible to use it as a search key without having to enter the artist name as characters.

(3) When <Latest song> 805 is selected from the operation panel, the song on the new CD is searched by searching by the release date.

The related information, which is not the search information, is conventionally a simple description of the product written on the back of the CD case, the paper to be put in the packaging film, the sticker attached, the lyrics card inside, etc. There are contents introduction sentences. If this information is recorded on an integrated recording medium and the recording position information is included in the search information so that it can be searched by the identification code, the introduction information can be obtained and output by the same search method as the product information. Introduction information can be obtained by selecting <Introduction> 806 from the operation panel.

(Comprehensive database) It is possible to provide useful information for those who are interested in the artist at the same time as the selective listening of the CD. For example, it is information such as various event information, concert date and time, latest album release date, poster present, and hit chart ranking. These pieces of information are not directly related to the CD product itself and need to be updated one by one, and are recorded in a storage device (HD or the like) different from the aggregate recording medium together with the search information associated with the artist name. Then, this is used as a related information database. In a normal trial service, the identification code is used as a search key to output information such as music and video on the aggregate recording medium, and when the related information is continuously requested, the same identification code is used as a search key and the artist information is searched from the search information. The name is obtained, the artist name is searched from the related information database using the search key, and related information such as event information is acquired and output.

By thus combining with the related information database, it is possible to use not only as a trial service device but also as a comprehensive database for obtaining related information. The merit of this method is that it is not aimed at advertising to an unspecified number of people such as posters or in-store broadcasting, but to a specific person who is interested, and that it can effectively provide detailed information.

The main difference from the conventional database is that
This is an input method of the search key, and there is no need for troublesome and complicated direct keyword input or menu selection, and it is a simple and clear input method of only inputting identification information of the actual product. For example, the related information can be obtained by bringing the CD of the required artist from the display shelf, inputting the identification information into the trial service device, and selecting <event information> 807 from the operation panel.

The hit chart rank changes every moment, but if this information is constantly updated, it is possible to search by rank. The above-mentioned <latest song> was searched using the search information corresponding to the aggregate recording medium, but in the hit chart ranking search, the artist name and song name were obtained from the search information in the related information database, and these were used as search keys. Music recording position information is obtained from the search information of the aggregate recording medium, and is reproduced and output. Select <hit song> 808 as the operation method.

The operation described in the item <Basic operation> 809 of FIG. 8 can be performed by inputting a bar code as in the search operation.

(Voice output of various information) If the related information is presented using the same type of information as the product information of the recording medium product, the device for outputting related information is not required in the trial terminal device. For example, in the case of a trial service device for music medium products, if the information is provided by voice, the display device becomes unnecessary. For this purpose, not only the character information but also the voice data may be stored in the aggregate recording medium or the storage device of the related information.

Further, in the case of an erroneous operation or when the identification code cannot be found, various messages are recorded as voice data in the HD or ROM so that the message can be notified by voice.
You can also put it in etc. You can also use voice to automatically explain the operation when wearing headphones.

(Separate Use of Trial Database) In the above embodiments, the trial database has been described on the assumption that it is used by the trial service device.
It can also be used for purposes other than trial purposes.

[0110]

According to the trial service system, the CD,
With respect to medium products such as LDs, video cassettes, game ROM cassettes, and the like in which music, images, and program information are recorded, it is possible to try them at a store or a rental store without opening the products and using the medium itself.

Further, the input method to the trial service device is a simple and clear method of directly reading the identification information attached to the product package, which is troublesome in direct keyword input and complicated in the conventional database system. Anyone can handle it without the need for a menu selection method.

It is possible to judge the value based on the subjectivity of the person himself, and to eliminate complaints such as disappointment and disappointment although he bought the product. In addition, since it can be easily used for trials, it encourages interest in the genres that he had been hesitant about, considering the purchase risks that he had never known before, and gives him the opportunity to select a wide range of medium products.

As an effect on the side of the store, labor costs can be reduced by automating a trial service that is partially performed by humans. In addition, since the trial service charge management is easy, it is possible to cover the device purchase cost and the operation cost. By providing additional information at the same time as the product information, the advertisement effect is obtained.

Furthermore, if this trial service spreads,
Although it is a medium product whose value cannot be judged without the use of a dedicated reproducing device, it is necessary to purchase the product without trial, which improves the current unnatural sales form.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a method of creating a trial database.

FIG. 2 is a basic configuration diagram of a trial service device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a CD audition service device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a video trial service device.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a trial service device of a plurality of terminals.

FIG. 6 is an external view of a CD audition service device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method for merging search information.

FIG. 8 is an operation panel diagram of the CD audition service device.

[Explanation of Codes] 01 ... Recording medium product package, 02 ... Audio and video, etc., 11 ... Input means, 12 ... Control means, 13 ... Recording medium reproducing device, 14 ... Output device, 21 ... Terminal device, 22 ... Center device , 30 ... Trial service device, d1 ... Search information, d2 ... Aggregate recording medium, s1 ... Identification information, s2 ... Identification code, s3 ... Recording position information, s4 ... Product information.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium product on which music, video, etc. are recorded, a part of the record information of the recording medium product is extracted, and the information is used as product information representative of the recording medium product, and a plurality of recording media are provided. Aggregate recording media that obtains merchandise information from merchandise and collects and records them in one medium, and search information for searching merchandise information corresponding to the recording medium merchandise from the aggregate recording media by the identification code unique to the recording medium merchandise. By using the search information and the input means for obtaining the identification information from the individual recording medium product packages and making the identification code, the product information is retrieved from the aggregate recording medium by using the identification code as the search key. By the trial service device including a recording medium reproducing device that reproduces the information by the recording medium reproducing device and an output device that outputs the product information reproduced by the recording medium reproducing device. Trial service system of recording media products, characterized in that the use of the scan. 2. The trial service system for a recording medium product according to claim 1, wherein a bar code attached to a package such as a packaging box or a packaging bag of the recording medium product is used as identification information of the recording medium product. 3. The trial service system for a recording medium product according to claim 1, wherein a character code attached to the package of the recording medium product is used as identification information of the recording medium product. 4. Image information of a package of a recording medium product,
The trial service system for a recording medium product according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium product identification information is coded by an image compression technique or the like to be used as identification information of the recording medium product.