JPH08191358A - Communication information offer system and information offer terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate the trouble for collection of the charge, to select the optional information at the side of an information offer terminal, and also to always carry out the normal charging despite the use of an information communication network that is suitable for distribution of the information. CONSTITUTION: A KARAOKE terminal 10 is connected to an information center 20 via a communication controller 15 to transmit a distribution request, receives a list of distribution object information from the center 20 and also select the information out of the received list to send it to the center 20. Thus time terminal 10 receives the information from the center 20. Then the terminal 10 is connected to a charging center 30 to receive the charging information equivalent to the value of the received information and carries out the charging.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is from an installer of an information providing terminal adapted to receive information from an information center that stores information through an information communication network and provide the user with the information. The present invention relates to a communication type information providing system including an accounting system for collecting the fee of the distributed information and an information providing terminal used for the communication type information providing system, and more particularly to a technology using an accounting communication network such as Videotex.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A communication karaoke system which has become widespread in recent years is configured so that a large number of music data are stored in advance in a communication karaoke terminal installed in a store or the like, and new music is distributed from a host computer through a telephone line. ing. The charge for the distribution of the new song is obtained by a method in which the music data distribution business operator directly goes to a store of a business operator who installs a karaoke terminal or has the money transferred to a bank account.

However, if the karaoke terminal installation company that uses the karaoke terminal on the side of the song data distributor becomes unable to manage due to resale of the karaoke terminal, etc. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to collect fees for the service.

Further, such management of a karaoke terminal installation business operator and collection of charges for music data distribution are also a heavy burden on the music data distribution business operator side.

[0005]

Therefore, the applicant decided to consider the construction of a charge collection system using a charge line network such as a videotex system and a dial queue to system which have been put into practical use in recent years.

As this videotex system, a captain system is well known in Japan. This system is put to practical use as conversational image information communication in which a user terminal is connected to an information center via a videotex communication network, and character information is provided from the information center in response to a request from the user terminal. ing. Then, in order to collect the fee of the information provided from the information center, the above-mentioned videotex communication network has a charging function, and the fee can be collected in units of information.

The dial queue-to-system connects a user terminal and an information center through a public line, and adds an information charge per unit time set for each information center to a public line usage charge to make a metered amount. The charge is collected by calculation. However, when a system using such a billing communication network is adopted, these existing communication networks are not necessarily suitable for distribution of music data for karaoke performance.

Therefore, a method of separating the communication network for billing and the communication network for data distribution from each other was also examined. Then, since it is not possible to charge together with the distribution of the song data, when considering the management of a large number of terminals, despite the distribution of the song data, the charging is not normally executed,
There is a possibility that there will be a shortage of toll collection.

These problems are not limited to the online karaoke system, but are common to various information providing systems in the future multimedia society. Therefore, the present invention is not only troublesome in collecting fees, but also allows arbitrary information to be selected on the information providing terminal side, and always performs normal charging while using an information communication network suitable for information distribution. It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication-type information providing system and an information providing terminal capable of performing.

[0010]

A communication type information providing system according to claim 1, which is made in order to solve the above object, has an information center that stores information and information from the information center. An information providing terminal adapted to execute an information providing service to a user based on information distributed via a communication network, and the information providing terminal when the information providing terminal receives information from an information center. A billing center for connecting to a terminal through a billing communication network, and billing the terminal by transmitting billing information corresponding to the price of the distributed information to the information providing terminal; The terminal is a communication type information providing system including distribution requesting means for requesting the distribution of information from the information center, and the information communication network is a billing communication network. And a data inventory notifying means for notifying the information providing terminal side of the list of information to be delivered from the information center in response to the delivery request by the delivery requesting means. The information center is provided with an information selecting means for selecting information from the information list and transmitting the selection result to the information center, and the charging center executes the charging on the condition that the information distribution by the information center is completed. It is characterized by being configured.

According to this information providing system, when the information center distributes information to the information providing terminal, the information providing terminal and the billing center are connected. Here, since the calling side (calling side) is charged in the charging communication networks such as the current captain system and dial queue two, the information providing terminal calls the charging center to connect. Will be done. However, as has already been put to practical use in public telephone lines, it is possible to change the configuration of the charging communication network so as to charge the called side (the side receiving the call) by the collect call method. Therefore, the connection here may be made by the terminal side or the charging center side as long as the information providing terminal side is charged.

When the information providing terminal and the billing center are connected in this manner, the billing center transmits billing information corresponding to the price of the distributed information to the information providing terminal.
As a result, the charging of the information providing terminal via the charging communication network is executed. Here, the information transmitted from the billing center to the information providing terminal is merely dummy data when the actual information is distributed from the information center. Further, the scrambled actual information may be transmitted from the information center, and the decryption key for descrambling this may be transmitted together with the billing information. The actual information referred to here is information that is finally used, such as song data for karaoke performance and game software for game play.

In this system, since the information communication network and the billing communication network are different communication networks, the following actions and effects are particularly excellent. That is, the actual information or the actual information with scramble is, for example, new song data for karaoke performance or game software,
When it is assumed that the amount of information is quite large, using a communication network suitable for delivering such large information is faster than delivering real information using a billing communication network. This is because, in terms of high reliability of data, an optimal system configuration according to the type of information to be received by the information providing terminal becomes possible.

In the system of the present invention, the billing center connected via the billing communication network charges a fee equivalent to the information fee on condition that the distribution of information by the information center is completed. The billing center and the information center may exist as separate independent centers, or both functions may be provided in one center. In any case, it can function as an information center when it is connected to the information providing terminal via the information communication network that can deliver information, and when it is connected via the billing communication network. Can function as a charging center, and as long as the completion of charging by the part having a function as a charging center is transmitted to the part having a function as an information center by some means, both centers are separate. It doesn't matter whether it's one or the other. That is, in the present invention, the information center and the billing center are expressed separately as concepts, and do not mean only when they are separated as things.

Here, as a more specific means for the information center to deliver the information on the condition that the billing center completes the billing, for example, if the billing center and the information center are integrated, directly inside the billing center, A method of confirming the completion of the processing for billing may be adopted. Further, in the case of being configured separately, both centers may be connected using a communication network or the like, and the completion of charging may be notified from the charging center to the information center. Alternatively, instead of exchanging information between the two centers, when the information providing terminal receives dummy data with billing information or data as a decryption key, this may be notified to the information center. . Of course, other methods are not excluded as long as they are technically feasible.

In the information providing system,
It is provided with a data inventory notifying means for notifying the information providing terminal side of the list of information to be distributed from the information center and information selecting means for selecting information from the notified information inventory and transmitting the selection result to the information center. Therefore, it becomes possible for the information providing terminal side to select and receive an arbitrary song.

Here, as described in claim 2, the distribution request from the information providing terminal is made to the charging center,
The notification of the information list may be configured to be made by the billing center. In this case, first, a distribution request is processed between the charging center and the information providing terminal, and the information center notifies the charging center of the completion of the information distribution as a result, or the information providing terminal notifies the charging center. become. Then, upon receiving the notification of the completion of the information distribution, the billing information is transmitted from the billing center to the information providing terminal.

In the case of this system, the information is received first, and thereafter the billing is executed. Therefore, for example, only the information from the information center is acquired, and the billing is not executed. It is also conceivable that fraud, such as the work of, will be carried out. The third aspect of the present invention has been made as a countermeasure, and the structure is the same as that of the first or second aspect.
In the communication type information providing system according to the item (1), the information distributed from the information center is in an unusable state as it is for at least a part of the information providing terminal, and the information providing terminal is charged by the charging center. On the condition that the information is completed, the communication type information providing system is configured to release the unusable state of the information and enable the information.

In this way, even if the actual information is acquired in advance, in order to use it, it is necessary to perform a billing process, so that the above-mentioned fraud can be prevented.
On the other hand, the information providing terminal used in such a system is
It can be configured as follows.

For example, the information providing terminal according to claim 4 is:
Information communication network connection means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, information storage means for storing information distributed from the information center, and billing communication for connecting to a billing center via a billing communication network. An information providing terminal, comprising: a network connecting unit; and a distribution requesting unit for requesting a distribution of the information from the information center, wherein the distribution requesting unit uses the information communication network connecting unit. It is provided with an information selecting means for connecting to the information center, transmitting a distribution request, receiving a list of information to be distributed from the information center, selecting information from the received information list, and transmitting the selected information to the information center. Characterize.

In this case, as described in claim 5, after receiving the information from the information center, the billing communication network connecting means connects to the billing center, and the billing information corresponding to the price of the received information is displayed. It may be configured to request transmission. Further, the information providing terminal according to claim 6,
Information communication network connection means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, information storage means for storing information distributed from the information center, and billing communication for connecting to a billing center via a billing communication network. An information providing terminal, comprising: a network connecting means; and a distribution requesting means for requesting a distribution of the information from the information center, wherein the distribution requesting means uses the charging communication network connecting means. Connect to a billing center to receive a list of information to be distributed from the billing center, select information from the received list of information, connect to the billing center by the billing communication network connecting means, and bill the selection result of the information. The information providing terminal is characterized by comprising information selecting means for transmitting to the center.

In this case, as described in claim 7, after receiving the information from the information center, the billing communication network connecting means connects to the billing center to complete the information distribution by the information center. It may be possible to provide an information distribution completion notifying means for notifying the charging center. That is, in this case, since the information to be distributed is notified to the charging center, only the charging center side can prepare to transmit the charging information corresponding to the price of the information. Therefore, first, the billing center instructs the information center to deliver the corresponding information, and the information providing terminal notifies the billing center of the completion of the information delivery as a result, thereby transmitting the prepared billing information. Will be done.

Then, as an information providing terminal considering the point of preventing fraud as described in the description of claim 3,
As described in claim 8, in the information providing terminal according to any one of claims 4 to 7, at least a part of the information distributed from the information center is unusable as it is. When the billing information stored in the storage means and corresponding to the price of the received information is received from the billing center, the unusable state of the billed information is released to enable it. It is conceivable to provide control means.

Of course, in realizing the communication type information providing system of the present invention, it is not limited to these information providing terminals, and the above six examples are provided as long as they have the same purpose, action and effect. Needless to say, it includes terminals using terminals different from the above terminals.

According to the communication type information providing system and the information providing terminal of the present invention as described above, not only is there no trouble in collecting the fee, but also the information providing terminal side can select any information and is suitable for information distribution. It is possible to achieve a remarkable effect that the charging can always be normally executed while using the information communication network.

In the system of the present invention, it is needless to say that the information center may take the initiative in the distribution of information without making a distribution request. When the above-mentioned present invention is applied to a communication karaoke system, the information center is a "song data distribution center", the "information providing terminal" is a "communication karaoke terminal", and the "information center is stored. "Information" as "song data accumulated at the song data distribution center", "information provision service" as "karaoke performance service",
You can read them differently. Further, in this case, if "song data" is read as "game software" and "communication karaoke terminal" is read as "communication game terminal", it can be understood as a communication type game providing system.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in a network karaoke system will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 1, a configuration of a network karaoke system and a telephone company side equipment as an embodiment will be described.
The left side of FIG. 1 is the network karaoke system of the present invention, and the right side is the telephone operator side equipment.

The network karaoke system shown in FIG. 1 is a minimum configuration example, and is composed of one information center 20, one karaoke terminal 10, and one charging center 30. In reality, there may be a plurality of the above-mentioned devices 10, 20, and 30, respectively, and it is general that a plurality of karaoke terminals 10 exist for one information center 20. The karaoke terminal 10 can be connected to the information center 20 and the billing center 30 via the public line network 50 by the telephone company. Further, at this time, the charging center 30 and the karaoke terminal 10 are configured to be connected to each other via a dedicated line 52 connected to a fee collection agency system 51. In this embodiment, a videotex communication network is assumed as the fee collection agency system 51 and the dedicated line 52.

First, the structure and function of the karaoke terminal 10 will be outlined. Karaoke terminal 10 is RO
The M11, the RAM 12, the input device 13, the CPU 14, the communication control device 15, the hard disk (HDD) 16 and the karaoke performance control unit 17 are included.

The ROM 11 stores the operation program of the CPU 14. The RAM 12 is a work area for the CPU 14. The input device 13 is provided with various keys to select a karaoke piece, perform information center 20 and charge center 3
Used for operations such as connection with 0. The CPU 14 controls the operation of the entire karaoke terminal device. The communication control device 15 is for performing data communication with the billing center 30 and the information center 20 through a public line network, which is a facility of the telephone carrier, and modulates digital data into a voice band and receives a voice band signal. Demodulate to digital data. The hard disk 16 is for storing and accumulating song data necessary for performance. The karaoke performance control section 17 is for converting the music data into an audio signal and a caption display and outputting the audio signal. Therefore, the karaoke performance control section 17 is connected to the CRT 18, the speaker 19a, the microphone 19b, and other devices necessary for the karaoke performance service.

The karaoke terminal 10 is a device for actually performing karaoke performance, having the above-mentioned configuration.
The music data required for performance is supplied from the information center 20 for a fee, and stored / stored in the built-in hard disk 16. Then, in response to the request from the karaoke user, the song data is read from the hard disk 16, converted into an audio signal and caption display, and output.

The karaoke terminal 10 is managed by a karaoke terminal installation company. Then, new music data is supplied from the music data distributor for a fee, and is stored and accumulated in the hard disk 16 sequentially to enhance the number of music that can be played. Next, the configuration and function of the information center 20 will be outlined.

The information center 20 includes a ROM 21 and a RAM 2
2, CPU 23, communication control device 24, hard disk 2
5, an input device 26, a CRT 27 and a printer 28. The ROM 21 stores the operation program of the CPU 23. The RAM 22 is a work area for the CPU 23. The CPU 23 controls the operation of the entire information center device. The communication control device 24 is for performing data communication with the billing center 30 and the karaoke terminal 10 through the public line network 50 which is a facility of the telephone company.
Modulation of digital data into a voice band and demodulation of a received voice band signal into digital data are performed. The hard disk 25 stores and accumulates song data that can be distributed to the karaoke terminal 10. In addition, operation information and distribution records for each karaoke terminal 10 are also stored on the hard disk 2.
5 can be stored. The input device 26
Various commands can be input from, for example, operating information and distribution records for each karaoke terminal 10 stored in the hard disk 25 can be printed by the printer 28, or C
It can be displayed on the RT 27.

The information center 20 is configured as described above and functions as a device for supplying music data used by the karaoke terminal 10. In supplying the song data, in response to a request from the karaoke terminal 10, a list of information to be distributed, for example, a list of all new song data or a list of undelivered songs among them is transmitted, and the karaoke terminal 10 is selected from the list. The music data for the music designated by is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 10 through the public network 50. This is a facility managed by a music data distributor.

Next, the structure and functions of the billing center 30 will be outlined. The billing center 30 is a ROM
31, RAM 32, CPU 33, communication control device 34, hard disk 35, fee collection system communication unit 36,
It is composed of an input device 37, a CRT 38, and a printer 39.

The ROM 31 stores the operation program of the CPU 34. The RAM 32 is a work area for the CPU 33. The CPU 33 controls the operation of the entire billing center device. The communication control device 34 is for performing data communication with the information center 20 through the public line network, which is a facility of the telephone company, and modulates digital data into a voice band and converts the received voice band signal into digital data. Demodulate. The hard disk 35 stores a distribution record of music data to the karaoke terminal 10 or a charging record. The fee collection agent system communication unit 36 is connected to the fee collection agent system 51 by a dedicated line 52, and the karaoke terminal 10 is connected via the fee collection agent system 51.
Is for data communication with. Further, various commands can be input from the input device 37. For example, a charging record or the like can be created based on the charging information for each karaoke terminal 10 stored in the hard disk 35, and the recording result can be printed by the printer 39. , Can be displayed on the CRT 38.

The billing center 30 is also a facility of the music data distributor. Therefore, the computer may be integrated with the information center 20 or may be separately configured. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that they are installed in different places.

The billing center 30 receives a song data distribution request from a karaoke terminal installation company, executes a billing process for the karaoke terminal, and informs that the billing process is completed. Plays a role in notifying. The charging process associated with the music data distribution by the charging center 30 is executed using the Videotex communication system. That is, the charging center 30 is connected to each karaoke terminal 10 via the charging communication network through the dedicated line 52 and the fee collection agent system 51, and some information (charging information) is charged to each karaoke terminal 10. The fee is charged to the terminal by transmitting. This fee is collected on behalf of the telephone operator in addition to the telephone fee for the karaoke terminal 10, and the fee is deducted before being passed to the music data distributor.

In the network karaoke system of the present embodiment configured as described above, new music data is distributed from the music data distribution business operator to the karaoke terminal installation business operator as follows. First, the karaoke terminal 10 is connected to the information center 20. Then, it sends a request for its own ID code and new song data list. On the contrary,
The information center 20 identifies the karaoke terminal 10 by the received ID code, collates the past distribution record to the terminal with the music data currently stored in the center side, and creates a list of undelivered music. At this time, it is more convenient to create the catalog for each genre of music. Then, this list is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 10. Karaoke terminal 10
Then, a desired song is specified from the list and a distribution request is transmitted to the information center 20. This completes the specification of the music data to be distributed, and the specified music data is distributed to the corresponding karaoke terminal 10.

Then, the information center 20 transfers this distribution record to the billing center 30 via the public line network 50, and confirms the completion of the distribution process. Based on the distribution record received from the information center 20, the billing center 30 calls the corresponding karaoke terminal 10 and provides dummy billing information for billing the data charge for the distributed song data via the videotex communication network. It is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 10. By executing the communication of the dummy data, the karaoke terminal 10
Will be charged on the Videotex communication system and will be deducted from the terminal installer's bank account with telephone charges at a later date. The results of this billing process (billing record) are the billing center 30 and the fee collection agency system 51.
Will be recorded in each.

Regarding the contents of concrete processing for achieving the above functions, the karaoke terminal 10 and the information center 20
The control processing executed by each of the CPUs 14, 23 and 33 of the charging center 30 will be described. First, the operation of the karaoke terminal 10 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the power is turned on, the execution of this main routine is started. First, in the first step S1, R
Initialization of the entire device such as initialization of the AM 12 and reset of the communication control device 15 is performed. Next, in S2, it is checked whether or not the karaoke performance mode is designated as the operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. If the karaoke terminal installation company specifies a karaoke performance mode, the process proceeds to S3,
If not specified, the process proceeds to S4.

At S3, the karaoke performance process is performed in which the music data selected by the input device 13 is read from the hard disk 16 and converted into a voice signal and caption display by the karaoke performance control section 17. In step S3, waiting for a request from a customer and execution of karaoke performance are repeated until the karaoke performance mode is released. The step of S3 ends when the karaoke terminal installation company cancels the karaoke performance mode, and the process proceeds to S4.

In S4, it is checked whether or not the karaoke terminal installation business operator has designated the song data request mode as the operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. If the song data request mode is designated, the process proceeds to S5, and if not, the process proceeds to S6. In S5, a subroutine is called to perform music piece data request processing. This song data request processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In the first step S10 of the main music piece data request process, the information center 20 and the public line network 50 are connected. After the connection processing with the information center 20 is completed, S1
Move to 1. In S11, the menu information is received from the information center 20. This menu information is automatically created by the information center 20 from the relationship between the past distribution record and the music data accumulated on the center side as described above, and it is not created for each terminal existing in the system. It is a list of distribution songs. The karaoke terminal 10 moves to S12 after the reception of this menu information is completed.

In S12, the menu information received in S11 is decoded, menu selection is executed so as to signify a distribution request of necessary music data, and the selected information is sent to the information center 20.
Send to. After the menu selection information transmission process is completed, the process proceeds to S13. In S13, as a response to the menu selection information, the music data transmitted from the information center 20 is received and recorded in the built-in hard disk 16. When the recording on this hard disk 16 is completed, S
Then, the process proceeds to step 14 to perform the connection release processing with the charging center 30.

When the music piece data request process is completed in this way, the process proceeds to S6 in the flowchart of FIG. In S6, it is checked whether or not a connection request from the billing center 30 has occurred. If so, the process proceeds to S7, and if not, the process proceeds to S2 and the above process is repeated.

In step S7, a subroutine is called to execute a process for receiving the billing information transmitted from the billing center 30 and a billing information receiving process is executed. This billing information receiving process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S20 of the charging information receiving process, the charging center 3
Connect in response to a call from 0. After connection is completed, S
21, the charging information transmitted from the charging center 30 is received. This billing information is dummy data that means that the data fee has been billed. After the billing information reception process is completed, the process proceeds to S22 and the connection with the billing center 30 is released.

After this, the main billing information receiving process is once terminated, and the process proceeds to step S2 in the flowchart of FIG.
Until the power is turned off, the processing from S2 onward is repeatedly executed. The above is the operation of the CPU 14 of the karaoke terminal 10, and performs the karaoke performance, the distribution request of the music data, and the reception of the distributed music data.

Next, the operation of the information center 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the information center 20,
After the power is turned on, the process is performed from step S30. In S30, initialization of the entire device such as initialization of the RAM 22 and reset of the communication control device 24 is performed. Then, the process proceeds to S31, and it is checked whether or not there is a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10. If there is, the process proceeds to S32, and if there is not, the process of S31 is repeated to enter the standby state.

In S32, the karaoke terminal 10 is connected to the karaoke terminal 10 in response to the connection request. After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S33, and the menu information of the undelivered song data is transmitted to the karaoke terminal 10. After the transmission process is completed, the process proceeds to S34, and the menu selection information which is a response from the karaoke terminal 10 is received. After receiving the menu selection information, the process proceeds to S35, the music data selected based on the menu selection information is specified, and the specified music data is transmitted.

When the transmission of the billing information is completed in S35, the process proceeds to S36 and the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is released. After the disconnection process is completed, the process proceeds to S37 and S3.
The record of the distributed song data, which is the result of the processing of 2 to S34, is recorded in the memory as song data distribution information. Also, addition to the distribution record in the hard disk 25 is executed. After this processing ends, the flow shifts to S38.

In S38, the billing center 30 is called via the public line and a connection for data transfer is established. After the connection processing is completed, the process proceeds to S39, and the "song data distribution information" = "song data distribution record" recorded in the memory in S37 is transmitted to the billing center 30. After completion of this transmission process, S
The process shifts to 40, and the connection with the charging center 30 is released. After the connection release process is completed, the process proceeds to S31 and the above process is repeated.

Next, the operation of the charging center 30 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. At the charging center 30,
After the power is turned on, the process starts from step S50. In S50, initialization of the entire device such as initialization of the RAM 32 and reset of the communication control device 34 is performed. After finishing the process of S50,
The process proceeds to S51, and it is checked whether or not there is a connection request from the information center 20. If so, the process proceeds to S52, and if not, S
The process of 51 is repeated.

In step S52, the connection with the information center 20 is performed in response to the connection request from the information center 20. More specifically, the charging center 30 first uses the dedicated line 52 to collect the fee collection system 5 according to a predetermined communication protocol.
The connection with the information center 20 is performed by connecting the information processing system 1 to the information collection system 1 and further connecting the fee collection agent system 51 and the information center 20 via the public line network 50.

After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S53, and the music data distribution information is received from the information center 20. The song data distribution information is information indicating the track record of the karaoke terminal 10 connecting to the information center 20 and receiving the desired song data as described above, and specifically, there are a plurality of karaoke terminals. At this time, the information is configured so that it is known which karaoke terminal 10 has received which song data.

Since the billing center 30 can perform the process of transmitting the billing information corresponding to the corresponding karaoke terminal 10 based on the song data distribution information corresponding to this delivery record received from the information center 20. is there. After the completion of receiving the music piece data distribution information, the process proceeds to S54, and the connection with the information center 20 is released. After the connection is released, the process proceeds to S55, and the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 to which the charging information should be transmitted is executed based on the music data distribution information. More specifically, the charging center 30 first connects to the fee collection agent system 51 through a dedicated line 52 according to a predetermined communication protocol, and further connects the fee collection agent system 51 and the karaoke terminal 10 with the public line network 50. The connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is performed by connecting via the connection.

After the connection processing with the karaoke terminal 10 is completed, S
In step 56, dummy data for executing the charging of the data charge for the music data specified by the music data distribution information is transmitted. Since this charging information is dummy data, it is meaningless for the karaoke terminal 10, but for the charging center 30 and the fee collection agency system 51, which karaoke terminal 10 was charged for which song data. It has important meaning as information for determining whether or not. The billing center 30 records this billing information as a billing record. Charge collection system 5 existing between the karaoke terminal 10 and the communication path of the charging center 30
Based on this billing information, 1 collects the information fee in the form of adding to the telephone fee to the operator who installs the corresponding karaoke terminal 10.

In this way, when the transmission of the billing information is completed in S56, the process proceeds to S57 and the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is released. After the disconnection is completed, the process proceeds to S51 and the above process is repeated. The above is the operation of the CPU 33 of the charging center 30, receives the music data distribution information from the information center 20, refers to the contents thereof, and then, to the karaoke terminal 10 that has received the music data distribution processing by the information center 20, The processing for transmitting the charging information for charging the amount of money corresponding to the data charge is performed.

Finally, the function of the charge collection agency system 51, which is a facility of the telephone company, will be described. As described above, the billing center 30 sends the song data distribution information to the information center 2.
When receiving from 0, this fee collection agency system 5
Via 1. At this time, charge collection system 5
1 acquires information about which song data is delivered to which karaoke terminal 10 as a delivery record from a position located in the middle of data exchange. Based on this delivery record, the information provision fee is calculated by referring to the fee list registered in advance as the one in this network karaoke system.

The telephone business operator collects the calculated information provision fee in a form to be added to the telephone fee charge request to the operator who installs the karaoke terminal who is the owner of the karaoke terminal 10 who has read the pay information, and provides the information. We provide a service to hand over to the music data distribution business that is the person who sells the music. As such, it is well known as a videotex conducted by NTT.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the karaoke terminal 10 can be connected to the information center 20 to request the distribution of desired song data. And the information center 20
The requested song data is distributed from the karaoke terminal 10 to the karaoke terminal 10, and the song data indicating which karaoke terminal 10 purchased which song data from the information center 20 to the billing center 30 via the fee collection agency system 51. Delivery information is automatically notified. Then, the charging center 30 having received the notification transmits the charging information to the corresponding karaoke terminal 10. As a result, the collection of the sales charge of the music data can be performed by the charge collection system 51 of the telephone company. As is clear from the above description, according to the network karaoke system of the present embodiment, the reception processing is automatically performed in response to the distribution request of the music data by the karaoke terminal installation business, and the music data distribution business With regard to the charge collection associated with the music data distribution by the telephone company, a substitute service by the telephone company can be used, and from this, the burden on the music data distributor can be reduced.

The communication sequence diagram of this embodiment is as shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 shows a karaoke terminal 10
The communication sequence between the information center 20 and the information center 20 is shown. First, the karaoke terminal 10 makes a call to the information center 20 via the information communication network, and after connecting, the password is transmitted.

The information center 20 performs terminal verification based on this password, and if the terminal is registered as one in the network karaoke system, it returns that verification is normal. The karaoke terminal 10 inquires about the presence or absence of new song data after the information center 20 becomes ready to accept the collation normality.

The information center 20 accepts this inquiry, searches for new song data for the karaoke terminal 10 and transmits the answer to the inquiry to the karaoke terminal 10. In other words, with an answer indicating whether there is new song data,
If there is corresponding new song data, it is the menu.

The karaoke terminal 10 judges whether or not there is new song data based on the answer result, and if there is new song data, selects a desired song from the transmitted new song menu. A request corresponding to a purchase application for new song data is transmitted to the information center 20. Information center 20
Displays the song data corresponding to this selection result at the karaoke terminal 10
To send to. In response to this, the karaoke terminal 10 disconnects from the information center 20.

When the above processing is completed, the information center 20
The communication shown in FIG. 8 is executed between the
First, the information center 20 calls and connects to the information center 20 via the videotex communication network, and transmits the distribution record of new song data. When the information center 20 receives this delivery record, it returns a reception completion notice. In response to this, the information center 20 disconnects from the charging center 30.

When the above processing is completed, the communication shown in FIG. 9 is executed between the charging center 30 and the karaoke terminal 10 this time. First, the billing center 30 calls and connects to the karaoke terminal 10 via the Videotex communication network, and transmits billing information for billing the data fee determined by the distribution record. Then, upon receiving the reception completion from the karaoke terminal 10, the connection is disconnected.

In this way, "Karaoke terminal 10" → "Information center 20" → "Billing center 30" → "Karaoke terminal 1"
Communication is handed over in the order of "0", and pay distribution of new song data is being executed. Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, instead of the communication sequence of FIGS. 7 to 9 in the above embodiment, the following configuration can be adopted. FIG. 10 shows a communication sequence between the karaoke terminal 10 and the billing center 30 and the information center 20 as a modified example. The processing until the karaoke terminal 10 calls / connects to the information center 20 via the public network 50 to receive the new song data and disconnects is the same as in the above embodiment, but the processing after this is different. ing. Karaoke terminal 1
0 receives the new song data and disconnects from the public network 50, then calls the billing center 30 and connects by the videotex communication network. Then, the distribution record of the music data is transmitted. When receiving the delivery record, the billing center 30 determines the billing amount based on the delivery record, and transmits billing information for billing the decided amount. Then, the karaoke terminal 10 disconnects from the charging center 30 after receiving the charging information.

As described above, instead of passing information from the information center 20 to the billing center 30, the karaoke terminal 10 may directly send the delivery record to the billing center 30 and request the sending of billing information. Of. Besides the above,
Various communication sequences can be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the karaoke terminal 10
Although the distribution request of the song data from the request is made to the information center 20, the distribution request may be made to the charging center 30 and the notification of the menu information may be made from the charging center 30. . In this case, first, the distribution request is processed between the billing center 30 and the karaoke terminal 10, and the information center 20 notifies the billing center 30 of the completion of the resulting song data distribution, or the karaoke terminal 1
Notification will be made from 0 to the charging center 30. And
Upon receiving the notification that the song data has been distributed, the billing center 30
The charging information is transmitted from the karaoke terminal 10 to the karaoke terminal 10, and the charging is executed.

Although common to this other embodiment or the above-mentioned embodiment, in the case of this system, information is received first, and thereafter charging is executed, so that, for example, information from the information center 20 is received. It is conceivable that a fraudulent operation will be carried out, such as acquiring only the information, and making some kind of work so that the charging is not executed. As a countermeasure, for example, at least a part of the music data distributed from the information center 20 is in an unusable state as it is, and the karaoke terminal 10 indicates that the charging process is completed, that is, the charging center. On the condition that the billing information from 30 has been received, it is conceivable to cancel the unusable state of the music data and make it usable.

In this way, even if the music data is acquired first, in order to use it, it is necessary to carry out a billing process, so that the above-mentioned fraud can be prevented. Further, in the embodiment, the distribution list to the karaoke terminal 10 is used to create and send a list of undelivered song lists, but only the new song data menu is stored in the information center 20. Alternatively, the new song menu may be immediately transmitted in response to the inquiry from the karaoke terminal 10. Alternatively, the information center 20
The menu may be transmitted in such a manner that arbitrary song data can be selected from all the songs stored / stored in.

Further, it goes without saying that the application target of the present invention is not limited to the network karaoke system and may be applied as a distribution network of game software.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a network karaoke system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing main processing in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing song data request processing in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a charging information receiving process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing main processing in the information center of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing main processing in the charging center of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a communication sequence diagram in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a communication sequence diagram in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a communication sequence diagram in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a communication sequence diagram in a modified example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Karaoke terminal 13 ... Input device 15 ... Communication control device 16 ... Hard disk 17 ... Karaoke performance control section 20 ... Information center 24 ... Communication control device 25 ... Hard disk 30 ... Charging center 34 ... Communication control device 35 ... Hard disk 36 ... Charge collection Agency system communication unit 50 ... Public line network 51 ... Charge collection agency system 52 ... Dedicated line

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An information center storing information, and an information providing terminal adapted to execute an information providing service to a user based on information distributed from the information center via an information communication network. When the information providing terminal receives information from the information center, the information providing terminal is connected to the information providing terminal through a billing communication network, and billing information corresponding to the price of the delivered information is provided to the information providing terminal. The information providing terminal includes a billing center that performs billing for the terminal by transmitting the information, and the information providing terminal includes a delivery requesting unit that requests the delivery of the information from the information center. In the system, the information communication network is a communication network different from a charging communication network, and in response to a distribution request by the distribution requesting means, a list of distribution target information from the information center is stored. The information providing terminal includes a data list notifying means for notifying the information providing terminal side, the information providing terminal includes information selecting means for selecting information from the notified information list and transmitting the selection result to the information center, The communication type information providing system, wherein the center is configured to execute charging on condition that the information distribution by the information center is completed. 2. The communication type information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution request is made to a billing center and the notification of the information list is made from the billing center. Communication type information providing system. 3. The communication type information providing system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the information distributed from the information center is in an unusable state as it is. The providing terminal is configured to release the unusable state of the information and enable the information on the condition that the billing by the billing center is completed. 4. An information communication network connecting means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, an information storing means for storing information distributed from the information center, and a charging center for charging via a charging communication network. An information providing terminal, comprising: a billing communication network connecting unit for connecting to the information center; and a distribution requesting unit for requesting the distribution of the information from the information center. An information selecting means for connecting to the information center by the communication network connecting means, transmitting a distribution request, receiving a list of information to be distributed from the information center, selecting information from the received information list, and transmitting the selected information to the information center. An information providing terminal characterized by being provided. 5. The information providing terminal according to claim 4, wherein after receiving the information from the information center, the billing communication network connecting means connects to the billing center to obtain billing information corresponding to the price of the received information. An information providing terminal, characterized in that it is configured to request transmission. 6. An information communication network connecting means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, an information storing means for storing information distributed from the information center, and a charging center for charging via a charging communication network. An information providing terminal, comprising: a charging communication network connecting unit for connecting to the information center; and a distribution requesting unit for requesting the distribution of the information from the information center. The list of information to be distributed is received from the billing center by connecting to the billing center by the communication network connecting means, the information is selected from the received information list, and the billing communication network connecting means connects to the billing center. An information providing terminal, comprising: an information selecting means for transmitting the selection result of 1. to an accounting center. 7. The information providing terminal according to claim 6, wherein after the information is received from the information center, the billing communication network connecting means connects to the billing center to complete the information distribution by the billing center. An information providing terminal, characterized in that it comprises an information delivery completion notifying means for making a notification to the user. 8. The information providing terminal according to claim 4, wherein the information distributed from the information center is stored in the information storage means in a state where at least a part of the information cannot be used as it is. When the billing information stored in the billing center is received from the billing center and corresponds to the price of the received information, a canceling control unit that cancels the unusable state of the billed information and enables it. An information providing terminal characterized by being provided.