JPH09233452A - Communication information presenting system and information service terminal equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a user from being handicapped by discriminating whether or not information is final information corresponding to final unit charging period whose charging processing is finished and selecting the mode not distributing information to an information providing terminal equipment so as to allow the user receives all of charged information even after station closing processing. SOLUTION: An information center distributes information together with identification information D2 to be used to identify whether or not the distributed information is final information D1 for each unit charging period. In the execution of station closing processing, when a charging mode revision means revises the mode into a mode not executing the charging processing, a discrimination means discriminates whether or not the information to be distributed from the information center to the information service terminal equipment after the mode revision is final information corresponding to the final unit charge period whose charging processing is finished based on the identification information D2. When the discrimination means discriminates it that the final information is finished, the mode is revised into a mode where no information is distributed from the information center to the corresponding information terminal equipment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information distributed by an installer of an information providing terminal capable of providing information by receiving information from an information center that stores information via an information communication network. The present invention relates to a communication type information providing system provided with a charging system for collecting charges and an information providing terminal used for the communication type information providing system, and more particularly to a technique using a charging communication network such as a videotex network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a communication karaoke system that has become widespread has a configuration in which a large number of music data is 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 distributor cannot sell the karaoke terminal to the karaoke terminal installation company, the karaoke terminal installation company can no longer manage the karaoke terminal installation company. There is a problem that it will be difficult to collect the fee.

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. Therefore, the applicant has considered the construction of a fee collection system using a charging communication network such as a videotex system or a dial queue two system which has been put into practical use in recent years.

[0005] This videotex system is well known in Japan as a captain system.
This system has been put to practical use as interactive 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 billing function, and the fee can be collected for each information unit.

The dial queue two system connects a user terminal to an information center via a public line, and adds an information fee per unit time set for each information center to a public line usage fee to be used. The charge is collected by calculation.

[0007]

However, even if a system using such a billing communication network is adopted,
There were the following problems. That is a problem when the closing process is performed. In the conventional system, if the information providing terminal performs the closing process, the communication with the information center will stop at that point, so the post-delivery by so-called pre-payment, which charges the provided information before the information is provided. In the above information providing system, it is necessary to perform the closing process immediately before the charging process is performed. The closing process is a process necessary for preventing communication from the center side thereafter, and not charging the information or distributing the information.

However, in general, in order to properly operate the information providing system, it is often set such that the charging process is dispersed for each information providing terminal, and the information is distributed every two to three days, for example. It is executed and the fee is charged once a month at the beginning of the month.
For example, if you want to acquire karaoke songs led by the terminal,
Every few days, we ask the information center for new songs, and if any, get them. On the other hand, the charging center is accessed once a month to execute a predetermined charging process. If you do this,
It is possible that the next billing process is performed before the information for the previously billed amount is received. Then, when the closing process is performed after the charging process is performed, there is a possibility that a part of the charged information cannot be received although the charged amount is received.

These problems are not limited to the online karaoke system, but are common to various information providing systems in the future multimedia society. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even if the closing process is performed in the information providing system in which the charging process for the information provision is performed before all the corresponding information is provided. The purpose is to be able to receive all the charged information and not to cause any disadvantage to the user.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problem and Effect of the Invention The invention as set forth in claim 1 made in order to solve the above-mentioned object, an information center for accumulating information and an information communication network from the information center. An information providing terminal adapted to execute an information providing service to a user based on the distributed information, and the information providing terminal is regularly connected via a billing communication network, and corresponds to the price of information. What is claimed is: 1. A communication-type information providing system, comprising: a billing center for billing a terminal by transmitting billing information to the information providing terminal, wherein the information center distributes information for each predetermined unit billing period. The identification information for identifying the last information is also distributed, and the closing process executing means for executing a predetermined closing process and the closing process is executed by the closing process executing means. In this case, the billing mode changing means for changing to a mode in which the billing process is not executed by the billing center, and when the billing mode changing means changes to a mode in which the billing process is not executed, the information is sent from the information center thereafter. The information to be delivered to the providing terminal is determined based on the identification information whether the information is the last information corresponding to the last unit billing period for which the billing process has been completed, and the last information by the determining means. When it is determined that the distribution of the information has been completed, the communication type information providing system is provided with a distribution mode changing means for changing to a mode in which the information is not distributed from the information center to the corresponding information providing terminal. .

According to this communication type information providing system, the information providing terminal executes the information providing service to the user based on the information distributed from the information center storing the information via the information communication network. However, a charging center is also regularly connected via a charging communication network for charging.

Here, in the current charging communication networks such as the captain system and the dial queue two, the calling side (the side that made the call) is charged, so the information providing terminal calls the charging center. Connection.
However, it is possible to change the configuration of the charging communication network so that the receiving side (the side receiving the call) is charged by the collect call method, as is already in practical use in public telephone lines. Therefore, the connection here may be a call originating from the terminal or a call originating from the charging center as long as the information providing terminal 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 information to the information providing terminal. by this,
The billing to the information providing terminal via the billing communication network is executed. Although such basic information distribution and billing processing is executed, this system is characterized by information distribution and billing when a predetermined closing process is performed. That is, when the predetermined closing processing is executed by the closing processing executing means, the charging mode changing means changes the mode so that the charging processing by the charging center is not executed. When the charging mode changing means changes the mode to the mode in which the charging process is not executed, the information to be distributed from the information center to the information providing terminal thereafter corresponds to the last unit charging period for which the charging process has been completed. The determination means determines whether the information is the last information based on the identification information. The information center also distributes identification information for identifying that the information to be distributed is the last information for each predetermined unit billing period, and the determination means makes a determination based on this identification information. For example, if the fee is charged on a monthly basis, the “unit fee period” is one month, and the last information for January, the last information for February, and the like, for each “unit fee period”. The identification information indicates that it is the corresponding last information. The identification information may be distributed in a state of being added to the main information, or may be distributed subsequently to the main information.

Then, when the judging means judges that the distribution of the last information has been completed, the distribution mode changing means changes the mode in which the information is not distributed from the information center to the corresponding information providing terminal. For example, if the billing process has been completed until February, the time when the identification information indicating the last information for February is distributed (when the identification information is viewed from the information providing terminal side). Then, after that, the information distribution is prevented from being executed.

The information distribution and billing process may be performed by the information providing terminal side or the center side (information center and billing center).
According to claim 2, the information providing terminal side takes the initiative, the information distribution processing is executed by the information center in response to a distribution request from the information providing terminal, and the charging processing is in response to a charging request from the information providing terminal. The charging center is configured to execute. The information providing terminal is provided with the closing processing executing means, the charging mode changing means, the judging means and the distribution mode changing means for changing the charging mode and changing the distribution mode to the charging center and the information center. This is supported by changing to a mode that does not request delivery to.

On the other hand, the third aspect is a case where the center side takes the initiative, in which the information distribution process is led by the information center and the billing process is led by the billing center. The billing center includes the closing processing executing means and the billing mode changing means, the information center includes the determining means and the distribution mode changing means, and the billing mode and the distribution mode are changed by the billing center and the information center. This is dealt with by changing to a mode in which charging processing and information distribution processing to the information providing terminal are not performed.

As described above, according to the communication type information providing system of the present invention, before the information providing terminal receives all the relevant information from the information center, the charging process for the information providing is performed, and the closing process is performed. Even if is performed, it is possible to receive all the charged information, that is, the information for which the information providing terminal side has the right to receive the distribution, and prevent the user from being disadvantageous. Especially,
In order to properly operate the information providing system, the timing of the charging process is often set to be dispersed for each information providing terminal. In this case, the charging is performed first and In many cases, all or part of the information is distributed after the billing process. Therefore, if the information distribution from the information center to the information providing terminal is prohibited by the closing process, it may not be possible to receive the information for which the distribution right is received. All can be received, and there is no disadvantage to the user.

The same effect can be obtained whether the information providing terminal takes the initiative as shown in claim 2 or the center takes the initiative as shown in claim 3, but the information providing is provided. If the system is led by the terminal, it is particularly effective in the following points. In other words, when the center side takes charge of the charge and stops the information distribution, whether or not the closing process is executed and the unit charge period for which the charge process is completed are stored for each connected information providing terminal. In addition, the identification information corresponding to the last unit charging period is likely to be different for each information providing terminal, and it is necessary to execute the judgment by the judging means for each information providing terminal. The processing load increases. In a system to which a large number of information providing terminals are connected, the burden becomes very large. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to reduce the burden on the center side by executing each of the above processes on the information providing terminal side.

The information transmitted from the billing center to the information providing terminal may be actual information to be distributed as in the case of a normal videotex system, but it has an information communication network and a billing communication network separately. In this case, just dummy data is sufficient. The information transmitted by the charging center to the information providing terminal may be, for example, information as a decryption key. This is because information is stored in the information providing terminal in advance as scramble information, and the information is decrypted or converted into a form that can be provided by receiving a decryption key for descrambling and provided to the user. This is because it is possible to do so.

In this system, if the information communication network and the billing communication network are different communication networks, the following actions and effects are particularly excellent. That is, the information used for the information providing service in the information providing terminal is assumed to be, for example, new music data for karaoke performance or a case where the amount of information is considerably large, such as game software. When distributing information itself from an information center, using a communication network suitable for the distribution may be faster than distributing such information using a billing communication network. This is because an optimum system configuration according to the type of information to be received by the providing terminal can be realized.

As can be seen from the above description, in the case of a system having an information center, the billing center and the information center may exist as separate independent centers, or both functions may be provided in one center. You may be prepared. In any case, when connected via the information communication network capable of distributing information to the information providing terminal, it can function as an information center, and when connected via the charging communication network As long as the function of the billing center can be fulfilled and the completion of the billing by the part having the function of the billing center is transmitted to the part having the function of the information center by some means, the two centers are separate entities. It doesn't matter whether you are one or the same. That is, in the present invention,
The information center and the billing center are only expressed separately as concepts, and do not mean only when they are separated as things.

On the other hand, the information providing terminal used in such a system can be constructed as follows. For example, the information providing terminal according to claim 5 is an information communication network connecting means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, and an information distribution requesting that information distribution from the information center. Requesting means, information storing means for storing information for service provision distributed from the information center, charging communication network connecting means for connecting to the charging center via the charging communication network, and charging communication network connecting means And a billing requesting unit for periodically requesting the transmission of billing information, and capable of executing an information providing service to the user based on the information stored in the information storage unit. In the information providing terminal described above, a closing process executing means for executing a predetermined closing process, and, in the case of executing the closing process by the closing process executing means, charging to the charging center If the charging mode changing means changes the mode to a mode in which the request is not made and the mode in which the charging processing is not executed by the charging mode changing means, the charging processing is completed for the information distributed from the information center thereafter. Determining means for determining whether or not the information is the last information corresponding to the last unit charging period based on the identification information for identifying that the information to be distributed is the last information for each predetermined unit charging period. And a delivery mode changing means for changing to a mode in which a delivery request is not made to the information center when the determination means determines that the delivery of the last information is completed.

The information providing terminal according to claim 6 is the information providing terminal according to claim 5, wherein the information communication network connecting means is not connected to the charging communication network to which the charging communication network connecting means connects. It is characterized in that it is a connection means to an information communication network which is a different communication network.

Of course, in realizing the communication type information providing system of the present invention, it is not limited to these terminals, but the terminals of the above-mentioned two examples as long as they have the same purpose, action and effect. Needless to say, it includes one using a terminal different from. For example, after the closing processing is done, it is not prohibited to issue the billing request itself from the information providing terminal, but the billing center side does not accept it, and similarly the distribution request itself is issued from the information providing terminal. However, after distributing the last information to be distributed, the information center may perform control such that the distribution request is not accepted.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration when the communication-type information providing system of one embodiment is applied to a system related to karaoke, and a configuration of a karaoke terminal 10 as an information providing terminal which is a component of the system.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the system of this embodiment, a charging center 1 in charge of charging-related processing and a karaoke terminal 10 are connected via a charging communication network 5 and information on karaoke pieces is displayed. An information center 3 in charge of transmission-related processing and a karaoke terminal 10 are connected to each other via an information communication network 7. The charging center 1 and the information center 3 are also connected. The system shown in FIG. 1 is a minimum configuration example including one karaoke terminal 10, one billing center 1 and one information center 3. In reality, there may be a plurality of each of the above devices, and in general, there are a plurality of karaoke terminals 10 for each one billing center 1 and one information center 3.

The charging communication network 5 has a function of charging for an information fee, such as a videotex communication network or a dial queue two communication network. In Japan today, the Videotex network and the dial queue two network are known as typical examples. The dial queue network is basically a pay-as-you-go calculation in units of time, and the videotex network can set an arbitrary fee for each content of information, and is used for a so-called captain system or the like.

A videotex communication network will be described as an example of the charging function. Specifically, the videotex communication network includes, for example, a public telephone line connected to each karaoke terminal 10, a videotex communication processing device, and the like. It consists of a Videotex communication processor and a dedicated line between the charging centers. This Videotex communication processing device connects / exchanges a public telephone line trying to access the Videotex communication network to the charging center 1, manages the karaoke terminal 10 as a user device, and manages subscribers to the charging center 1. It provides communication processing functions such as charging of communication charges and information provision charges collected by the telephone company, communication control between the karaoke terminal 10 and the charging center 1, and conversion processing such as protocol conversion and code / pattern conversion.

Next, the configuration of the karaoke terminal 10 will be described. The central control unit 31 corresponding to the "closing process executing means", "billing mode changing means", "judging means" and "delivery mode changing means" in the present invention has multiple purposes as input means for inputting various instructions. Input key 32,
A hard disk 33 as an information storage means, a calendar clock 34 that constantly counts the current date and current time and notifies the central control device 31, a voice reproduction circuit 35, a screen display control device 26, and an information communication network 7 can be connected. The first communication control device 27a corresponding to the "information communication network connecting means" and the second communication control device 27b corresponding to the "charge communication network connecting means" that can be connected to the first communication control device 27a are connected. The audio reproduction circuit 35 has a mixer amplifier 38, and the screen display control device 26 has a television monitor 29 as display means.
Are connected respectively. Further, a speaker 41 and a microphone 43 are connected to the mixer amplifier 38.

Then, the central control device 31 executes a predetermined accounting control process. This charging control process will be described later in detail, but is different from the conventional method of using the charging communication network 5, so that the point will be described. Conventionally, a user terminal receives information via the accounting communication network 5 and executes a predetermined process using the information. Then, the accounting communication network 5 charges a predetermined fee (a predetermined fee set for each information content) as a price for the information. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the information used by the karaoke terminal 10 for the karaoke performance processing is stored in the hard disk 33. On the hard disk 33, karaoke song information of about several thousand songs is stored in advance. In addition, the karaoke terminal 10
This is the management of the karaoke terminal installation business, and the music data can be supplied from the music data distribution business every time new music data is released. In the system of the present embodiment, the new music data is connected to the information communication network 7 via the first communication control device 27a, the new music data is received from the information center 3, and can be stored in the hard disk 33 later. I have.

The karaoke song information stored in the hard disk 33 is composed of song number information, which is identification information for identifying songs, and entity information.
The substantive information is MIDI information of accompaniment music.
(Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard performance information, lyrics information and background video information. The background video information is obtained by encoding video information corresponding to each song.

The karaoke song information cannot be used as it is. To use it,
By connecting to the charging communication network 5 through the second communication control device 27b and executing the charging control program by the central control device 31, a predetermined charging process using the charging function of the charging communication network 5 is performed, and the karaoke music is performed. The information can be used.

For example, in the non-charged state, if scramble information is added to the karaoke piece information and it cannot be used as it is, the release key is distributed by the charge processing, and the scramble information is released by the release key. It is possible to permit the use by doing. Also, instead of making the karaoke piece information itself unusable, such as adding scramble information, even if the karaoke piece information itself is physically usable, but the billing state is not billed, A use prohibition flag may be set, and control may be performed such that the karaoke song information is not accepted even if requested. Then, when the charge is completed, the control can be implemented by changing the use prohibition flag to the usable flag.

In the present embodiment, either the usable flag or the use-prohibited flag is set for each music in the music correspondence table, and the use is permitted or prohibited according to the flag. Has been done. The song correspondence table stored in the hard disk 33 includes a table including, for each piece of karaoke song information, items of the song number, song title, reception date, charging status, and use permission prohibition flag.

The charging status is either "charged" for which predetermined charging processing has been completed or "uncharged" for which charging processing has not been completed. As the use permission prohibition flag, the permission or prohibition flag is set as described above. First, when the charge state is "uncharged", the use prohibition flag is set and the music is prohibited. It is in a locked state that cannot be used. Then, when it becomes "charged" by a predetermined charging process, the use permission flag is set, the locked state is released, and the music information can be freely used.

In the present embodiment, "charge unit period"
Is one month, for example, the billing information is received at the beginning of the month, and the information distributed within that month is set to be “billed” immediately after receiving the distribution. Therefore, since the use permission flag is set, the service can be executed immediately. This is for the following reasons.

That is, in the field of online karaoke, new songs are often delivered every few days, so it is preferable that the new songs thus delivered can be used immediately as an information providing service. Then, if the billing process is executed each time information is distributed, the communication fee will be charged accordingly, so the billing for one month will be charged first, and the ones that have been distributed during the following month will be automatically charged. It is intended to be made available. As described above, the following embodiments will be described on the premise of a system in which the fee for one month is charged first and the corresponding song data is distributed later.

When the use permission flag is set and the karaoke piece information becomes available, the user operates the multipurpose input key 32 to select the piece to be sung. Then, the central controller 31 executes a karaoke performance process according to a predetermined karaoke performance program. In brief, the central control unit 31 reads performance information, lyrics information, and background video information corresponding to the selected song from the hard disk 33, and sends the performance information to the audio reproduction circuit 35.
The lyrics information and the background video information are transferred to the screen display control device 26, respectively.

The performance information output to the voice reproduction circuit 35 is converted into an analog performance signal, which is then sent to the mixer amplifier 38 to be electrically amplified and input through the microphone 43 by the user's singing voice. And is mixed in a proper ratio. The mixed audio signal is output to the outside as a performance sound by the speaker 41.

On the other hand, the lyrics information which is output in synchronization with the performance information is displayed on the television monitor 29 after being combined (superimposed) with the background image signal described later in the screen display control device 26. Thereby, the TV monitor 29
Is displayed in a state where the lyrics telop is combined with the background video.

Next, the structure of the charging center 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The billing center 1 is a host computer 5
1, a storage device 53, an input device 55, a communication control device 57, a printer 59, and a CRT 61.
The storage device 53 stores various control programs for operating the host computer 51 and the karaoke terminals 1
It is for storing the billing record and the like for each 0. In other words, something similar to the above-described music correspondence table is stored corresponding to each karaoke terminal 10.

Various commands can be input from the input device 55. For example, a billing record or the like can be created based on billing information for each karaoke terminal 10 stored in the storage device 53, or can be created. It can be printed by the printer 59 or displayed on the CRT 61.

Next, the structure and function of the information center 3 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the information center 3 includes a communication control device 77 connected to the karaoke terminal 10 via the information communication network 7, and a storage device 73 for storing karaoke music data to be distributed to the karaoke terminal 10. Are controlled by a host computer 71 as a central control device. Various devices such as an input device 75, a printer 79, and a CRT 81 are connected to the host computer 71. The storage device 73 also stores various control programs for operating the host computer 71 in addition to the karaoke song data.

The information center 3 thus configured delivers the karaoke piece data to each karaoke terminal 10 via the information communication network 7. This distribution is performed from the information center 3 at a rate of about every few days to add new song data. In the present embodiment, the karaoke terminal 10 periodically (for example, once a day) updates new songs. In response to the inquiry, if there is a new song to be distributed, the distribution process is performed.

Next, the operation of the present system having the above configuration will be described. First, the operation of the karaoke terminal 10 will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. When the power is turned on, the main routine of FIG. 3 is started.

First, in the first step S1, the entire device is initialized, such as resetting the communication control devices 27a and 27b. Next, in S2, it is checked whether or not the karaoke performance mode is specified as the operation specification of the karaoke terminal 10. If the karaoke terminal installation company specifies the karaoke performance mode, the process proceeds to S3, and if not, the process proceeds to S4.

At S3, a subroutine is called to perform karaoke performance processing. This karaoke performance process will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S30 of the karaoke performance process, a key input from the multipurpose input key 32 is waited for, and if there is a key input (S30: YES), S
At 31, it is determined whether it is a request number input. If the request number is input, S
The process shifts to 32 and it is determined whether or not the song is a lock target. This is determined based on whether or not the use prohibition flag is set in the item of the use permission prohibition flag in the above-described song correspondence table.

If the use permission flag is set, the process proceeds to S33, and the music of the requested number is executed, but if the use prohibition flag is set, it is a lock target. The process moves to S35, and a display indicating that the TV monitor 29 is unavailable is displayed. This S
After the process of 33 or S35, the process proceeds to S34.

On the other hand, if it is determined in S31 that the request number has not been input, in S36, the process corresponding to the other key input is executed and then the process proceeds to S34. S3
In step 4, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the karaoke mode. If there is no end instruction, the process returns to step S30. If there is an end instruction, the karaoke performance process is ended and step S4 in the flowchart of FIG. Transition.

In S4, it is checked whether or not the closing processing mode is designated as the operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. If there is a mode designation for executing the closing process by the karaoke terminal installation company, the process proceeds to S5, and if not, the process proceeds to S6. In S5, a predetermined closing process is executed. This closing process is a process for stopping the access with the center side so that the charging process and the information distribution are not performed. Generally, if you want to access with the center side, a predetermined opening process is performed, and if you want to stop the access, a closing process is performed, but this is a contract with the song data distributor. Therefore, it is often done in a formal written form. However, in the case of writing in writing, there is a time lag between the application for closing the station and the actual charging process being canceled, which may result in the charging process not being desired by the karaoke terminal installation business operator. There is. Therefore, even if the formal closing contract is separately written as described above, the closing process is performed by the karaoke terminal 10 so that a new charge that is not desired is not made for the time being.

In the closing process of S5 in the present embodiment, for example, the intention of the karaoke terminal installation business operator is confirmed and the fact that the closing process is instructed is stored. Since this is an important mode designation, for example, an explanation of the handling when the station closing process is performed is displayed on the television monitor 29 or the like,
It is preferable that the karaoke terminal installation business operator can confirm it and specify the final closing process.

After the processing of S5, the process proceeds to S6. In S6, it is checked whether or not it is a predetermined time for charging as an operation designation of the karaoke terminal 10. This is because in the present system, each karaoke terminal 10 is obliged to perform the charging process once a month. For example, on the 1st day of every month, the charging center 1 sends predetermined charging information. Request. If it is a predetermined time for charging, the process proceeds to S7, and if not, the process proceeds to S8. It should be noted that the calendar clock 3 determines whether this predetermined time is reached.
Judgment is made based on the time information from 4 and the like.

In step S7, a subroutine is called to perform billing-related processing. This charging-related processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the first step S50,
Check if closing processing is instructed. When the process of S5 of FIG. 3 described above is executed, the closing process is instructed, so that an affirmative determination is made in S50, and the process proceeds to S55. Since the closing process is a process for preventing new charging, in S55,
From now on, the charging center 1 is set not to make a call, and the main charging-related processing is ended. It should be noted that the processing of S55 is, for example, setting such that a negative determination is always made in the determination of whether or not it is the predetermined time for charging in S6 of FIG.

On the other hand, if the closing process has not been completed (S5
0: NO), in S51, a calling process is performed to connect to the charging center 1. Then, in S52, it is determined whether or not the connection with the charging center 1 is successful. If the connection with the charging center 1 fails (S52: NO), S5
Move to 3. In S53, the retry counter is counted up, and then it is determined whether the number of retries exceeds a predetermined number. If it is less than or equal to the predetermined number of times (S5
3: NO), returns to S51, and tries to connect to the charging center 1 again. If it is not possible to connect to the billing center 1 even after repeating the predetermined number of times (S53: YES), this processing is ended, and the process proceeds to step S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, if the determination in S52 is affirmative, that is, if the connection to the charging center 1 is successful, (S52: YE
In S) and S57, billing information request / reception processing is performed. The price for enabling the new song to be distributed is set, for example, monthly fixed amount or monthly, and the price is grasped by the charging center 1 side. Therefore, in this S57, there is no request regarding the amount of money, but only a request to have the charging information (for this month) transmitted. Then, the billing information transmitted in response to the request is received. When the billing information is received in the process of S57, the history of the number of months of billing information received is stored in a predetermined table. Therefore, by referring to this table, it is possible to determine up to which month the billing information has been received.

When the process of S57 is completed, the process proceeds to S58, the connection with the billing center 1 is released in S58, and then S
Move to 59. In S59, it is determined whether or not the charging information has been normally acquired, and if the acquisition of the charging information has failed (S59: NO), the process proceeds to S60. In S60, the retry counter is counted up, and then it is determined whether or not the number of retries exceeds a predetermined number. If it is less than the predetermined number of times (S60: NO), the process returns to S51, and the connection to the charging center 1 is tried again. If the billing information cannot be obtained from the billing center 1 even after repeating the predetermined number of times (S60: YES), the present process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S8 in the flowchart of FIG.

On the other hand, if the billing information has been acquired (S59: YES), this process is terminated and the process proceeds to step S8 in the flowchart of FIG. Returning to FIG. 3, S8
Then, as the operation specification of the karaoke terminal 10, it is checked whether it is a predetermined time for inquiring about a new song.
This is for inquiring whether or not there is music data to be distributed from the information center 3 once a day, for example, in order to acquire data of a new music as soon as possible. If it is a predetermined time for inquiring about a new song, the process proceeds to S9 to execute a new song inquiry process. If it is not the predetermined time for inquiring about a new song, the process proceeds to S2. Note that whether or not the predetermined time is determined based on time information from the calendar clock 34 and the like.

At S9, a subroutine is called to perform a new song inquiry / reception process. This new song inquiry / reception processing will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First step S68 of new song inquiry / reception processing
Then, it is checked whether the closing process is instructed. When the process of S5 in FIG. 3 described above is executed, the closing process is instructed, so that an affirmative determination is made in S68, and the process proceeds to S69. On the other hand, if the closing process is not instructed (S68: NO), S69 is skipped and the process proceeds to S70.

At S68, an affirmative decision is made, that is, at S69, where the closing process is instructed, it is determined whether or not all the final song data to be distributed for the month for which the billing process is completed have been acquired. , Checks whether predetermined identification information (final data identification information) has been received. Here, the “final data identification information” will be described.
In the present system, the charging unit period is "1 month" as described above. Therefore, in the information center 3, when delivering the final music data to be delivered for that month, the final data identification information is given. I am trying to add and deliver it.
As described above, the new song data is distributed every few days, so normally, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), 1 should be distributed at that time.
One or a plurality of song data D1 are distributed. On the other hand, when delivering the final song data to be delivered for that month, as shown in FIG. 9B, the final data identification information D2 is added after one or more song data D1 to be delivered. What was done will be delivered. The final data identification information D2 is designed so that the corresponding "month" can be identified.

Returning to FIG. 6, if the final data identification information has been received (S69: YES), the process proceeds to S78. In step S78, the information center 3 is set not to be called, and the new song inquiry / reception process is terminated. The processing of S78 is, for example, such that the determination as to whether or not it is the predetermined time for the new song inquiry in S8 of FIG. The new song inquiry / reception processing ends, and the process proceeds to S2 in FIG.

On the other hand, if not yet received (S69: N
O), and shifts to S70. Then, in S70, the information center 3 is connected via the information communication network 7. After the connection process with the information center 3 is completed, the process proceeds to S71. In S71, the information center 3 is inquired about the presence or absence of a new song, and in S72, the answer to the inquiry is received. If it is determined from the answer that there is new song data to be distributed (S7
(3: YES), the process proceeds to S74, and a request to acquire all the new songs to be distributed is transmitted to the information center 3.

In subsequent S75, as a response to the all song acquisition request, the karaoke song information about the new song transmitted from the information center 3 is received and the built-in hard disk 33 is received.
Save to In addition, along with the saving to the hard disk 33, the song number, song name, and reception date of the saved song are written in the song correspondence table, and "charged" is automatically written in the charging status item. Then, the “use permission flag” is set in the item of the use permission prohibition flag.

When the saving to the hard disk 33 is completed in S75, the process proceeds to S76, and the connection release process with the information center 3 is performed. If it is determined in S73 that there is no new song data to be distributed (S73: NO), the process proceeds to S73.
The process moves to S77 to store that there is no new music data, and then moves to S76. In this case, the fact that there is no new music data may be displayed on the television monitor 29.

After the completion of the disconnection with the information center 3 in S76, the process proceeds to S2 in the flowchart of FIG. The above is the operation of the central control unit 31 of the karaoke terminal 10. The karaoke performance process, the closing process, the charging-related process for enabling or disabling the karaoke song information, the karaoke song information related to the delivered new song, and the like. Performs each reception process.

Next, the operation of the charging center 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the power is turned on, the charging center 1 executes the processing from step S100. In S100,
Initialization of the entire device such as resetting of the communication control device 57 is performed. After the process of S100 is completed, the process proceeds to S101, and it is checked whether or not there is a connection request from the karaoke terminal 10.
If there is a connection request, the process proceeds to S102; otherwise, S101.
Is repeated to enter a standby state.

In S102, 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 S103, and the charging request information from the karaoke terminal 10 is received. The billing request information is the information requested in S57 shown in FIG.

At S104, the predetermined charging information is transmitted to the corresponding karaoke terminal 10 in response to the request. After the transmission is completed, the process proceeds to S105, and the connected karaoke terminal 10
Disconnect with. After the disconnection is completed, the process proceeds to S101. The above is the operation of the host computer 51 of the charging center 1, and performs processing of receiving charging request information from the karaoke terminal 10 and transmitting predetermined charging information. Here, a supplementary description of the communication sequence between the two will be given.

The karaoke terminal 10 makes a call to the billing center 1, and after connecting, sends the password to the billing center 1. The billing center 1 receives this via the communication control device 57, and the host computer 51 performs terminal verification using a telephone number, password, etc., and returns normal verification if the karaoke terminal 10 is registered in the charging center 1. To do. The karaoke terminal 10 transmits the charging information request after the charging center 1 is set in the accepting state after receiving the verification result.

This billing information request is, as described above, "a request to send billing information for this month", and the information providing fee in this case is basically a fee determined by the billing center 1 side. No charge is specified from 10. In the fee collection agency system that constitutes the charging communication network 5, which karaoke terminal 10 has transmitted the charging information from the charging center 1 via the charging communication network 5 is acquired as a charging record. The telephone operator, based on this billing record,
A service is provided in which the information providing fee is collected in the form of being added to the telephone fee billed to the operator who installs the corresponding karaoke terminal 10 and is handed to the music information distributing operator who is the information provider. This is itself well known as Videotex performed by NTT.

In the storage device 53 of the billing center 1, a table for storing the transmission record of billing information (that is, billing record) for each month is stored corresponding to each karaoke terminal 10. If there is a billing request from the karaoke terminal 10, the billing information is transmitted and the billing status of the corresponding month is set to billed.

Next, the operation of the information center 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After turning on the power, the information center 3 executes the processing from step S120. In S120, initialization of the entire device such as resetting of the communication control device 77 is performed. Then, the flow shifts to S121, where the karaoke terminal 10
Check if there is a connection request from. If there is, S122
If not, the process of S121 is repeated to enter a standby state.

In S122, the karaoke terminal 10 is connected to the karaoke terminal 10 in response to the connection request from the karaoke terminal 10.
After the connection is completed, the process proceeds to S123. In S123, an inquiry about the presence or absence of a new song from the karaoke terminal 10 is received, and in S1
At 24, the answer is transmitted. If the answer is no new song data (S125: NO), the karaoke terminal 10 is disconnected from the karaoke terminal 10 as described above, and no further communication is required, so that the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is released. Then (S140), the process returns to S121.

On the other hand, when the answer is that there is new song data (S125: YES), there is a request from the karaoke terminal 10 and it is received (S126). S7 in FIG. 6 above
As described in 4, the request is a request to acquire all songs, so in S127, all karaoke song information relating to the new song to be distributed is transmitted. In this case, as described above, when the final song data to be delivered as the month is to be delivered, as shown in FIG.
One or a plurality of pieces of music data D1 to which the final data identification information D2 is added is distributed, and other than that, FIG.
As shown in (A), only the song data D1 is distributed.

When the transmission of the new song data is completed in S127, the process proceeds to S128 and the connection with the karaoke terminal 10 is released. After the connection release processing is completed, the process proceeds to S121, and the above processing is repeated. The operation of the host computer 71 of the information center 3 has been described above.
If there is new song data to be delivered in response to a new song inquiry from 0, a process of delivering the new song data is executed.

This processing is executed in connection with the new song inquiry / reception processing on the karaoke terminal 10 side shown in FIG. 7, and the communication sequence of both will be supplementarily described. The karaoke terminal 10 makes a call to the information center 3 via the information communication network 7, and after the connection is established, the password is transmitted to the information center 3.

At the information center 3, the information is received via the communication control device 77, and the host computer 71 performs terminal verification using a telephone number, password, etc. If the karaoke terminal 10 is registered in the information center 3, verification is performed. Return normal. The karaoke terminal 10 inquires about the presence or absence of a new song after the information center 3 becomes ready to receive the collation normality.

The information center 3 receives the inquiry, searches for new song data for the karaoke terminal 10 and sends the inquiry response to the karaoke terminal 10.
That is, it is an answer indicating whether or not there is new song data.
The karaoke terminal 10 determines whether or not there is new song data based on the answer result, and if there is new song data, sends a request for obtaining all songs of the new song data to the information center 3. Then, the information center 3 that has received this request transmits the corresponding new song data, that is, karaoke song information, to the karaoke terminal 10. The karaoke terminal 10 receiving and saving this disconnects the connection with the information center 3.

According to the embodiment described above, the karaoke terminal 10 first receives the billing information for the month from the billing center 1 at the beginning of the month, and thereafter is delivered from the information center 3 during the month. When the song information is received and stored in the hard disk 33, it is automatically stored in the song correspondence table as being charged, and the use permission flag is automatically set in the song correspondence table, so that the song can be used freely. .

The processing relating to such information distribution and billing is executed, but this system is characterized by the information distribution and billing when a predetermined closing process is performed. That is, in the case where the closing process is performed, the charging center 1 is set not to be called in S55 of FIG. 5 so that the charging process thereafter is not executed. Also, regarding information distribution, in S78 of FIG. 6, it is set not to call the information center 3 in the future so that the music data for which the charge is not charged is not distributed.

However, the setting for not making a call to the billing center 1 (FIG. 5: S55) is executed immediately after the next connection timing to the billing center 1 after instructing the closing process. The setting (S78 in FIG. 6) for not calling 3 is not necessarily executed immediately after the next connection timing to the information center 3 after instructing the closing process. This is because this system presupposes pre-payment and post-delivery, so that not all the music data for which the pre-payment has been charged is acquired at that time. Therefore, the karaoke terminal 10 in the present system receives predetermined identification information (final data identification information) as to whether or not all the final song data to be distributed for the month when the billing process is completed have been acquired. The determination is made based on whether or not it has been completed, and after all the information has been acquired, the information center 3 is set so as not to make a call (FIG. 6: S78). Therefore, even if the closing process is performed, all the charged information, that is, the song data that the karaoke terminal 10 side is naturally entitled to receive, can be received, and the karaoke terminal installation business operator is not disadvantaged. can do.

The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment as described above, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the information center 3 executes new song distribution in response to a distribution request from the karaoke terminal 10, and the charging center 1 executes charging processing in response to a charging request from the karaoke terminal 10. It had been. That is, the karaoke terminal 1
Although the 0 side has been initiative in making various requests, a mode in which the centers 1 and 3 are initiative may be employed.

In the case where the information center 3 is led by the centers 1 and 3, the information center 3 is connected to each karaoke terminal 10 to deliver song data when the new song is delivered, and the billing center 1 is delivered to each karaoke terminal 10 when the billing time is reached. It is premised to connect to and send the billing information. Therefore, the closing process is executed as follows, for example. For example, when the karaoke terminal 10 notifies the charging center 1 side that the user wants to close the station, the charging process is set not to be executed for the karaoke terminal 10 in the future in response to the notification. This can be realized by setting a closing flag or the like in the table for managing each karaoke terminal 10 in the charging center 1. on the other hand,
The billing center 1 notifies the information center 3 of the information of the last month for which the billing process has been completed for the karaoke terminal 10 at the time when the closing flag is set. The information center 3 continues to deliver the new song data to the karaoke terminal 10 until all the final song data to be delivered as the notified month is delivered, and delivers all the final song data to be delivered. In the case (as in the above embodiment, FIG.
When the final data identification information of (B) is added and distributed, it is set not to execute the subsequent music data distribution processing.

As described above, the karaoke terminal 10 may take the initiative or the centers 1 and 3 may take the initiative in the charge and the distribution of the song data.
If the system is led by 0, it is effective in the following points. That is, when the centers 1 and 3 take charge of the charge and stop the distribution of the music data, the state of the above-mentioned closing flag and the month in which the charge process is completed are stored for each connected karaoke terminal 10. The final data identification information corresponding to the last month is likely to be different for each karaoke terminal 10. Therefore, it is necessary to judge for each karaoke terminal 10 when to stop distribution of the music data, and the processing load on the centers 1 and 3 increases. Especially, in the case of a system to which a large number of karaoke terminals are connected, the burden is very heavy. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable that the karaoke terminal 10 side takes the initiative in executing each process in order to reduce the burden on the centers 1 and 3.

Further, in the above embodiment, the karaoke piece information of the new piece is transmitted using the information communication network 7, but it may be transmitted using the charging communication network 5. However, when the information communication network 7 is a communication network different from the charging communication network 5 and the karaoke piece information is transmitted by the information communication network 7 as in the above-described embodiment, the following advantages are particularly excellent.
It works. That is, it is assumed that the karaoke song information has a considerably large amount of information, but when such large information itself is distributed, it is preferable to use a communication network suitable for the distribution. This is faster than distributing the karaoke song information itself using the billing communication network 5, so that an optimal system configuration according to the type of information to be received by the karaoke terminal 10 is possible. It is.

Needless to say, the application target of the present invention is not limited to the communication karaoke system, but may be applied to a distribution network of game software or the like.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration when a communication-type information providing system according to an embodiment is applied to a system related to karaoke, and a configuration of a karaoke terminal that is a component of the system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a billing center and an information center, which are components of the system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating main processing in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a karaoke performance process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing charging-related processing in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a new song inquiry / reception process in the karaoke terminal of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a main process in the charging center of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing main processing in the information center of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic explanatory diagram of music data distributed from an information center.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Billing center 3 ... Information center 5 ... Billing communication network 7 ... Information communication network 10 ... Karaoke terminal 26 ... Screen display control device 27a ... First communication control device 27b ... Second communication control device 29 ... Television monitor 31 ... Central control Device 32 Multi-purpose input key 33 Hard disk 34 Calendar clock 35 Audio reproduction circuit 38 Mixer amplifier 41 Speaker 43 Microphone 51, 71 Host computer 53, 73 Storage device 55, 75 Input device 57, 77 Communication Control device 59, 79 ... Printer 61, 81 ... CRT

Claims (6)

[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. And a billing center that periodically connects to the information providing terminal via a billing communication network and executes billing for the terminal by transmitting billing information corresponding to the price of the information to the information providing terminal. A communication type information providing system, wherein the information center also delivers identification information for identifying that the information to be delivered is the last information for each predetermined unit billing period, and the predetermined closing processing And a charging mode changing means for changing to a mode in which the charging processing by the charging center is not executed when the closing processing is executed by the closing processing executing means. And a mode in which the billing process is not executed by the billing mode changing unit, for the information to be distributed from the information center to the information providing terminal thereafter, in the last unit billing period in which the billing process has been completed. Determining means for determining whether or not it is the corresponding last information based on the identification information; and, when the determining means determines that the delivery of the last information is completed, the corresponding information from the information center A communication-type information providing system, comprising: a delivery mode changing means for changing to a mode in which information is not delivered to a providing terminal. 2. The communication type information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution process is executed by an information center in response to a distribution request from the information providing terminal, and the charging process is performed by the information providing terminal. The billing center is configured to execute in response to a billing request, and the information providing terminal includes the closing process executing means, the billing mode changing means, the judging means and the delivery mode changing means, and the billing mode. The communication-type information providing system is characterized in that the change of the above and the change of the distribution mode are changes to a mode in which the charging request to the charging center and the distribution request to the information center are not made. 3. The communication type information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information distribution process is led by an information center, and the billing process is led by a billing center. The billing center includes the closing process executing means and the billing mode changing means, the information center includes the determining means and the delivery mode changing means, and the billing mode and the delivery mode are changed by the billing center and the information. A communication-type information providing system characterized in that the center is changed to a mode in which charging processing and information distribution processing to an information providing terminal are not performed. 4. The communication type information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information communication network is a communication network different from a billing communication network,
The communication type information providing system, wherein the information transmitted from the billing center to the information providing terminal is dummy data including billing information. 5. An information communication network connecting means for connecting to an information center via an information communication network, an information distribution requesting means for requesting the distribution of information from the information center, and the information. Information storage means for storing information for service provision distributed from the center, billing communication network connecting means for connecting to the billing center via the billing communication network, and periodically through the billing communication network connecting means. An information providing unit configured to connect to the billing center and request billing information to be transmitted, and to provide a user with an information providing service based on the information stored in the information storage unit. A terminal, which is a terminal, executes a predetermined closing process, and a mode that does not issue a charging request to the charging center when the closing process is executed by the closing process executing unit. If the charging mode changing means changes to a mode in which the charging processing is not executed by the charging mode changing means, the last unit for which the charging processing has been completed for the information distributed from the information center after that. Determination means for determining whether or not the information is the last information corresponding to the charging period, based on the identification information for identifying that the information to be distributed is the last information for each predetermined unit charging period; An information providing terminal, comprising: distribution mode changing means for changing to a mode in which a distribution request to the information center is not made when it is determined that the distribution of the last information is completed. 6. The information providing terminal according to claim 5, wherein the information communication network connecting means is connected to an information communication network which is a communication network different from a charging communication network to which the charging communication network connecting means is connected. An information providing terminal characterized by being means.