JPH11288556A - Information providing system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system capable of recording information desired by a customer in a recording medium with a simple procedure. SOLUTION: This information providing system is provided with a center part 1 for controlling the whole system, a data providing part 2 provided for every local area in a prescribed range, and a local controlling part 4 for controlling plural stores 3 within each local area. These parts 1, 2 and 4 transmit and receive various kinds of information through a network 5. In this case when information desired by the customer is not in the stores, it is supplied from the part 1 or the part 4 through the network 5. At the time of recording information in the recording medium, label information concerning the information is also stuck, etc., to the recording medium together. In addition, in order to easily retrieve information, index information consisting of contents information, introduction information, etc., is provided for the customer and information whose sales is restricted by a law, etc., in each local area is excluded form index information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for arbitrarily selecting various information such as music information and video information according to a customer's request and recording the information on a recording medium such as a CD-R.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various digital information such as AV (Audio & Visual) information and game software specified by a customer is recorded on a CD.
A system for recording on -R (Compact Disc Recordable) or the like has been proposed (USP 4,528,643). In the system disclosed in this publication, a customer selects desired information using a touch screen or the like at a booth provided at a retail store, and records the selected information on a recording medium such as a CD-R on the spot. I do. When a customer requests information that is not stored in the information recording device installed in the retail store, the information is provided from the master site via the network.

According to this system, a customer can arbitrarily select only desired information from a wide range of information and manufacture his or her own recording medium.

[0004]

Various types of information such as music and video are subject to copyright and industrial property protection, and must be licensed by a copyright holder or other right holder before copying. In the case of the system provided by the above-mentioned publication, various information such as music CDs are sold and sold. As a prerequisite, it is necessary to obtain permission to sell and sell from the right holder. In addition, it is necessary to appropriately pay an information provision fee (such as a copyright fee) to a copyright holder or other right holder for each piece of information sold and sold. However, in the above publication, handling of copyright and the like is not particularly defined, and there is a possibility that protection of a right holder such as a copyright holder may not be sufficiently achieved.

Further, in the system disclosed in the above publication, when the information desired by the customer is not available at the retail store, the information is provided to the retail store via the network. And confidentiality is not considered much. In the system of the above publication,
When recording information on a recording medium, a copy protection signal is recorded to prevent illegal copying.However, when the recording medium needs to be duplicated, such as when the recording medium is damaged or information is partially replaced. It is possible.

When information desired by a customer is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R, it is desirable to attach a label describing the title of the recorded information to the recording medium. Affixing a label is time-consuming and unattractive. The above publication also mentions the production of labels, but does not disclose a specific label production method.

If there are many types of information that can be selected, it may take time to search for the desired information. Therefore, a search means for easily and quickly selecting arbitrary information is provided. Is desirable. In addition, depending on the type of information, sales may be restricted by local laws and customs, but the above-mentioned publication does not take measures to provide information in consideration of these special circumstances.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information providing system capable of recording information desired by a customer on a recording medium by a simple procedure. is there.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an information storage unit for storing various types of information recordable on a recording medium, and an information storage unit for storing information stored in the information storage unit. An information selection unit that selects at least a part of the information, an information recording unit that records the selected information on a recording medium, and the information storage unit according to a use frequency of each information stored in the information storage unit. An information erasure determination unit that determines whether or not the stored information is to be erased.

[0010] Here, erasing means rewriting recorded contents in a rewritable RAM or the like, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which information cannot be rewritten.
Ory) or a recording medium such as an optical disk means that the recording medium is exchanged.

The present invention also includes a step of storing various types of information recordable on a recording medium in an information storage unit, and a step of selecting at least a part of the information from the information stored in the information storage unit. Recording the selected information on a recording medium, and deciding whether to delete the information stored in the information storage unit according to the frequency of use of each information stored in the information storage unit And.

[0012] Further, the information processing apparatus may further include a totalizing unit for totalizing an information provision fee to be paid to a right holder or a provider of each information recorded on the recording medium.

According to the present invention, there is provided an information storage unit for encrypting and storing various types of information recordable on a recording medium, and information for selecting at least a part of the information stored in the information storage unit. A selection unit, an information recording unit that records the selected information on a recording medium, a decryption providing unit that provides decryption information used to decrypt the selected information, and the decryption providing unit includes the decryption providing unit. A number measuring unit that measures the number of times the decoding information is provided, and an information use frequency determining unit that detects a use frequency of the information stored in the information storage unit based on the number of times measured by the number counting unit, The information stored in the information storage unit can be decrypted only once by the decryption information.

A wired or wireless network for transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of stores and a center unit for controlling all the stores is provided.
A first random number generator that generates a random number; and an encryption unit that encrypts the decryption information using a random number generated by the first random number generator.
A second random number generator for generating a random number in synchronization with the first random number generator, and decryption information encrypted by the encryption unit using the random number generated by the second random number generator May be provided.

Further, a wired or wireless network for transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of stores and a center unit for controlling all the stores is provided, and each of the plurality of stores stores information requested by a customer. If it does not exist in its own store, the corresponding information may be provided from another store or the center unit via the network.

An information storage unit for storing various types of information recordable on a recording medium; an information selection unit for selecting at least a part of the information stored in the information storage unit; An information recording unit that records information on a recording medium, and an index providing unit that provides index information for identifying information stored in the information storage unit, the index providing unit includes: Of the information stored, contracts between sellers, age of customers,
For information whose sales are restricted by sales restrictions including at least one of the sales regions, provide index information that clearly indicates this, or provide index information excluding the information that restricts sales. You may.

A wired or wireless network for transmitting and receiving data between a plurality of stores and a central unit for controlling all the stores is provided, and the index providing unit stores information for each sales area or each store. May be aggregated, and index information on the hot selling information may be provided based on the aggregation result.

Further, the index providing unit may set a display order of the index information based on the hot selling information.

Further, the index providing section provides at least one of summary information indicating an outline of each information included in the index information and introduction information which is a part of each information included in the index information. Is also good.

The present invention further comprises a re-recording unit for recording the same information as the information recorded on the recording medium, or information related to the information recorded on the recording medium, on a separate recording medium. The unit, when recording the information selected by the information selection unit on a recording medium, records identification information indicating that the recording medium has been properly purchased, on the recording medium, the re-recording unit, the recording medium The designated information is recorded only when the identification information is recorded in the information.

Further, a recording control unit may be provided for permitting at least one of the information recording unit and the re-recording unit to re-record when the recording on the recording medium cannot be normally performed.

Also, when recording on a recording medium by the information recording section and the re-recording section, label information for creating label information related to information recorded on the recording medium and adding the label information to a predetermined portion of the recording medium. A unit may be provided.

The apparatus further includes a label presence / absence selection unit for selecting whether or not to add a label to the recording medium, and a label type selection unit for selecting a type of label to be added to the recording medium. When adding a label is selected by the label presence / absence selection unit, the label of the type selected by the label type selection unit may be added to the recording medium.

A portable history information storage device for storing history information of information provided to the customer; a history information display control unit for displaying the history information stored in the history information storage device on a display device; May be provided.

Further, an information provision control unit for reading information related to the history information stored in the history information storage device from the information storage unit and providing the information to a customer may be provided.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an information providing system according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection form of the information providing system of FIG.

The information providing system according to the present embodiment includes a center section 1 for controlling the entire system, a data providing section 2 provided for each area within a predetermined range, a plurality of stores 3 provided for each area, A local control section 4 for controlling the store 3 is provided. The center unit 1, the data providing unit 2, the store 3, and the local control unit 4
Various kinds of information are transmitted via the.

As shown in FIG. 2, the local control section 4
Information is transmitted and received to and from the store 3 in the area in charge through the network 5. The center unit 1 and the local control unit 4 may be integrated, or the local control unit 4 and the data providing unit 2 may be integrated according to the scale of the system. Or,
All stores 3 may be integrally controlled by the center unit 1 alone.

In the center section 1, as shown in FIG.
A decryption key table 11, a decryption key encryption circuit 12, a first random number generator 13, a charging device 14, a communication circuit 15, and a store ID table 16 are provided.
Store information may be used to encrypt the decryption key. In this case, when decrypting at each store, it is also possible to use the own store ID to decrypt the code.

The decryption key table 11 stores a plurality of decryption keys necessary for decrypting a cipher. The decryption key encryption circuit 12 performs a process of encrypting the decryption key based on the random number generated by the first random number generator 13. The billing device 14 performs a billing process for the information provision fee provided to the customer. The store ID table 16 stores ID information unique to each store connected to the network.

As shown in FIG. 3, a communication circuit 21 for performing data communication with the center unit 1 and the like is provided in the store.
An operation terminal 22 for selecting information, a display device 23 for displaying index information and the like, an output device 24 for outputting information and the like requested by the customer, and a decryption key decryption circuit 25 for decrypting the decryption key A second random number generator 26 for generating a random number used for decryption of a decryption key, a data decryption circuit 27, an information storage device 28 for storing various information to be provided to the customer, and various information before purchase. Information viewing apparatus 29 for providing summary information, introduction information, and the like to a customer, a data conversion apparatus 30 for converting information selected by the customer into data recordable on a recording medium, and an index information storage apparatus 31 for storing index information A charge management device 32 for counting information provision charges (charges charged to customers); a recording medium manufacturing device 33 for recording on a recording medium; The label creating apparatus 34 to create a label to be affixed such body, and a control unit 35 for controlling the whole is provided.

The operation terminal 22 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a touch screen, etc., and takes in the contents of instructions from the customer.
The display device 23 displays a menu selection screen, index information indicating a list of information to be provided, and the like. The output device 24 includes, for example, a printer, and prints out information selected by the customer, index information, billing information, and the like.

The decryption key decryption circuit 25 decrypts the encrypted decryption key into the original decryption key using the random number generated by the second random number generator 26. The random numbers generated by the second random number generator 26 and the first random number generator are:
It has the same or certain regularity within a certain time.

The data decryption circuit 27 decrypts the encrypted information transmitted from the center using the decryption key decrypted by the decryption key decryption circuit 25.

The information storage device 28 is composed of a large-capacity recording device such as a hard disk device (HDD), a duke box containing a plurality of optical disks, and the like, and stores various types of information provided to customers in an encrypted state. Since the data capacity of the information storage device 28 is limited, information frequently used is mainly stored.

The decryption key encryption circuit 12 corresponds to a decryption providing unit and an encryption unit. The first random number generator 13 corresponds to a first random number generator. The operation terminal 22 corresponds to an information selection unit, a label presence / absence selection unit, and a label type selection unit. The decryption key decryption circuit 25 corresponds to a decryption unit. The second random number generator 26 corresponds to the second random number generator. The information storage device 28 corresponds to an information storage unit. The fee management device 32 corresponds to a tallying unit. Recording medium manufacturing device 33
Corresponds to the information recording unit and the re-recording unit. Label making device 3
4 corresponds to a label adding unit. The control device 35 corresponds to an information deletion determining unit, a frequency counting unit, an information use frequency determining unit, a recording control unit, a history information display control unit, and an information provision control unit. The IC card corresponds to a history information storage device.

If the information requested by the customer is in the information storage device 28 in the store, each store 3 stores the information in a recording medium such as a CD-R and provides the information to the customer. ,
Inquire to the nearest local control department 4. The local control unit 4 searches whether or not the information inquired from the store 3 is in the nearest data providing unit 2, and if there is such information, reads out the data from the data providing unit 2 and provides it to the store 3. On the other hand, if there is no such information, an inquiry is made to the other data providing unit 2 or the center unit 1.

The index information storage device 31 stores, in an unencrypted state, table of contents information, summary information, introduction information, preview information, and the like of information to be provided to customers (hereinafter, these information are collectively referred to as index information). .

The store 3 shown in FIG. 2 is, specifically, a convenience store, a restaurant such as a pizza, a parcel delivery service provider, various vending machines installed in stations and the like, and various retailers such as a record store and a bookstore. Consists of shops, karaoke boxes, etc.

As a method for selecting information in the store 3,
A method in which a customer operates an operation terminal 22 provided in a store or in a store to select information, a method in which information is selected through various communication media such as a telephone, a fax, the Internet, and an IT (Information Technology) vision, A method in which a customer verbally places an order at a store or a method in which a sales person directly visits a customer to receive an order can be considered.

When a customer's order is received via a communication medium such as a telephone or verbally, a booklet (catalog) containing a list of information that can be provided or an Internet You only need to prepare a homepage. Further, a reservation order may be received before the sale of new information is started. If you accept a pre-order,
The new information can be provided to the customer immediately after the sales start.

When the operation terminal 22 is installed in a store or in a store, it is desirable to provide a touch panel display such as an automatic teller machine at a bank or a terminal with an automatic voice recognition function that does not require key operation.

In the operation terminal 22, music information such as the latest hit song or music for advertising a hit game is constantly played, and if possible, it is desirable to display an image related to the content displayed on the screen.

A sensor for detecting the presence of a person, such as infrared rays or ultrasonic waves, is attached to the operation terminal 22. When a person is within a range detected by the sensor for a certain period of time, the display screen is switched to a customer correspondence screen. You may. Also, when the sensor detects the presence of a person, it provides audio guidance information such as `` welcome '' to stop the music information that has been played and draw the attention of the customer to the customer response screen. You may.

The customer-facing screen is in the form of a menu, and it is desirable to be able to jump to the music or advertisement content display screen provided immediately before the customer-facing screen is displayed.

Further, it is desirable to provide at least one headphone at the operation terminal 22 and to provide a switch or volume which can adjust the volume, or an operation member corresponding thereto. Note that it is desirable to provide the external speaker with a volume at a position where the customer cannot access it so that the customer does not adjust the volume without permission.

However, when only a customer who wants the same information is in a closed space, such as a karaoke box, it is desirable to arrange the volume for adjusting the volume of the speaker at a position where the customer can normally access.

The operation terminal 22 may settle the fee and issue a voucher, and the customer may pass the voucher to a clerk to receive a recording medium on which desired information is recorded. If the information requested by the customer is not in the store 3, the information is provided via the network 5 or
Alternatively, it may be delivered to the customer at a later date by a courier service.

Representative methods for paying for the information purchased by the customer include loan payment using a credit card or the like and cash payment, and if the recording medium is delivered by courier, cash-on-delivery may be used. Also, the price is PO
It is desirable to link with S (Point of Sales).

The selling price of each piece of information is determined by the center unit 1 and the local control unit 4 in FIG.
May be determined by its own judgment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the information providing system of FIG. This flowchart is
An example is shown in which a customer operates a terminal provided in any of the stores 3 to receive provision of information.

The processing in the flowchart of FIG.
The process is started when the ID card provided for each store is inserted into the card reader in the store 3 and the ID verification is successful.

First, it is determined whether or not the ID input by the customer via the operation terminal 22 has already been registered (step S1). Instead of inputting the ID by the customer himself, the ID may be collated by reading an IC card, a magnetic card, or the like on which the ID is recorded with a card reader.

If the ID has not been registered, the customer is asked to confirm whether or not to set the non-member mode in which the information provided to the customer is limited to the maximum (step S2). If the customer denies the non-member mode, the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, when the customer affirms the non-member mode, the mode is set to the non-member mode (step S3).

When the processing in step S1 or S3 is completed, index information indicating a list of information that can be provided to the customer is displayed (step S4).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the index information. The index information usually has a hierarchical structure. First, the index information of the highest hierarchy is displayed. When the customer selects any of A to G shown in the drawing using the operation terminal 22, index information of a lower hierarchy is displayed as shown in FIG. Alternatively, information can be selected by inputting a keyword and pressing a search button B1 on the screen of FIG. When the "return" button B3 in FIG. 6 is pressed, the index information of the next higher hierarchy is displayed. Alternatively, a search button B1 may be pressed after a keyword is input on the screen of FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the customer has selected the information to be provided (step S5). If the customer has not selected the information yet, the process stays at step S5. When the customer selects the information, it is determined whether or not the information exists in the information storage device 28 in the store 3 (step S6).

If the information requested by the customer does not exist in the information storage device 28 in the store 3, the center 1 is requested to provide the information (step S7). In response to this request, the center unit 1 searches for the requested information (step S8). The center unit 1 reads out the requested information when the requested information exists in the center unit 1, and
If the information does not exist in the center unit 1, an inquiry is made to the data providing unit 2 or the local control unit 4.

Next, the center unit 1 encrypts the requested information and transmits it (step S9). Next, the store 3 that has requested the information receives the encrypted information transmitted from the center unit 1 (step S10).

If it is determined in step S6 that the information requested by the customer is present in the information storage device 28, or if the processing in step S10 is completed, it is necessary for the center unit 1 to decrypt the encrypted information. The first decryption key is encrypted using the first random number generator 13 (step S11).

Here, the decryption key corresponding to the information requested by the customer is referenced from the decryption key table 11,
The encrypted decryption key is referred to by using the random number (number, character, etc.) output from the first random number generator 13 by the encryption circuit 12.
To encrypt. Here, the first random number generator 13
A new random number is generated every fixed time (for example, every minute), and the process of step S9 is performed every time a new random number is generated.

Next, the encrypted customer-provided information and the decryption key are transmitted to the store 3 via the network (step S12). After receiving the encrypted customer-provided information and the decryption key (step S13), the store 3 decrypts the decryption key using the random number generated by the second random number generator 26 (step S14). . Here, the second random number generator 26 in the store 3 is synchronized with the first random number generator 13 in the center unit 1 and is generated by the first random number generator 13 in the center unit 1. Store 3 is related to random numbers
Are generated by a second random number generator 26.

Next, using the decrypted decryption key, the encrypted customer-provided information is decrypted and provided to the customer (step S15).

In the present embodiment, the type of recording medium, type of provided information, update of provided information, index information, label creation, communication mode, information encryption, information storage, copy prevention,
It is characterized by recording on a recording medium, selling information, reselling / renting information, presence / absence of CM information, version upgrade of provided information, and a form of network. These will be described in detail below in order.

[Types of Recording Medium] Recording media provided to customers include CD-R, MD (Mini Disc), PD, DVD-R (Digital Video).
In addition to digital recording media such as Disc Recordable, analog recording media such as cassette tapes and video tapes may be used.
Further, an arbitrary recording medium may be selected from a plurality of types of recording media according to the customer's request. In that case, it is necessary to convert the data into a format according to the recording medium desired by the customer by the data conversion device 30 of FIG.

[Type of Provided Information] Information sold at the store 3 is not particularly limited, and includes, for example, music information (including data such as commercially available CDs as well as self-produced data produced by individuals), Game console software, computer software, movie information, TV program information (dramas, varieties, documents, sports, news, etc., mainly without commercials), TV and radio commercials, newspapers, magazines, etc. Book information, map information for car navigation, sightseeing guide information, and the like can be considered.

The information storage device 28 in the store 3 mainly stores best-selling data. This is because the recording capacity of the information storage device 28 is reduced as much as possible, and the equipment cost of the entire system is reduced. When the information requested by the customer is not stored in the information storage device 28, the information is provided from the data providing unit 2 or the center unit 1 shown in FIG. Or DVD-RAM
The latest selling data may be stored in a large-capacity recording medium such as a magnetic tape or a magnetic tape, and may be periodically delivered to each store 3 by a home delivery service or the like. In this case, the store clerk sets the transported recording medium in the information storage device 28 and updates the information.
At this time, it is desirable to automate the operation of deleting unnecessary information and the operation of storing the selling information so that the clerk does not mistake the operation.

[Update of Provided Information] When new information is delivered via a large-capacity recording medium such as a DVD-RAM, the cost is increased more than when information is updated via the network 5. For this reason, in the former case, instead of making the information provider's registration fee higher than in the latter case, the information provider may receive more information provision fee than the latter.

For AV (Audio & Visual) information such as music and video, new information is periodically (for example, once a day) provided from the local control unit 4 via the network because the selling data frequently changes. It is desirable. The new information is stored in the information storage device 28 for a certain period, and is deleted when the frequency of use is low. The determination as to whether or not to delete the information may be made by the center unit 1 or the local control unit 4 in principle, and each store 3 may make its own judgment for information having a high locality.

In order to reduce the cost of the entire system, it is necessary not only to reduce the amount of data stored in the information storage device 28 but also to reduce the amount of data stored in the data providing unit 2 and the center unit 1. Therefore, a plurality of adjacent data providing units 2 and stores 3 share and own different information, respectively.
Information not owned by itself may be provided in real time from another data providing unit 2 or the store 3 via the network 5. As a result, it is not necessary to own duplicate data, and the equipment cost of the entire system can be reduced.

Since the sales data may vary depending on the region, the amount of data stored in each data providing unit 2 or the store 3 may be dynamically switched according to the sales performance of each region. In that case, it is desirable to select the data amount using time as a weighting function. In general, since the communication fee varies depending on the communication transmission distance, the amount of data stored in each of the data providing units 2 and the stores 3 may be distributed in consideration of the communication fee.

[Index Information] Store 3 shown in FIG.
The display (not shown) of the information viewing device 29 in the
Index information indicating a list of selectable information is displayed. This index information is updated at the same time as new information is provided. For example, for information provided with new information every day, such as AV information and newspaper information, it is desirable to periodically update the index information at least once a day, for example. When updating the index information, only the difference information may be transmitted via the network 5, or if the total amount of the index information is small, all the information may be replaced.

Further, the new information and the latest index information may be delivered to each store 3 by home delivery or the like. Alternatively, serial number information and index information for identifying information to be recorded on the recording medium are transmitted via the network 5, and the content itself of the information is transmitted to each store 3 using a courier service or the like.
Or to the customer.

It should be noted that there is a case where it is not possible to accurately judge whether or not to select information only by index information such as a title. For this reason, it is desirable to include, for example, introduction information and summary information in the index information so that the information can be viewed on the spot.
In this case, it is necessary to provide the information viewing device 29 with an AV device such as a headphone, a speaker, and a display.

It is desirable to provide a search engine similar to that for searching the homepage on the Internet and to provide various search functions such as genre, keyword, and creator so that the desired information can be searched easily and quickly. . Further, when searching for music information, a phrase or rhythm input by a customer through a microphone by voice may be subjected to feature extraction using a voice recognition function to perform a search.

When a plurality of pieces of information of the same type are searched, it is desirable to display the information in descending order of use frequency. In the case where a large amount of sales is predicted from before the release, as in the case of game software, the display priority may be raised in advance without depending on the purchase results.

Further, since the selling information may differ for each region and each store 3, the sales results are sent to the local supervision unit 4 and the center unit 1 for each store 3, and the sales results are compiled by the center unit 1 and the like. The display priority of the index information may be determined, or the display priority may be set for each region or for each store 3.

Since the information to be sold may include area-limited information, the index information should also include information on available areas and affiliated stores, and store information on non-saleable areas and affiliated stores. In 3, some index information may not be displayed. If the range for limiting the area is wide, such as by prefecture or country, separate index information may be created for each area.

It is preferable that the index information is translated into a plurality of languages in advance, and the index information is provided in a language that is standardly used in each region. Further, it may be possible to switch to another language at the request of the customer.

The information to be sold includes information whose sale is restricted by laws and customs in each region, contracts between business operators, and the like, such as sexual and violent descriptions. For this reason, it is desirable to display index information in consideration of these laws and customs. For example, it is desirable not to provide index information for specific information to a customer who is not allowed to purchase the information. Alternatively, when displaying the index information, the sales restrictions may be highlighted to draw the customer's attention.

Further, in order to thoroughly restrict the sales of information, a check may be performed at a cash register or the like of each store 3 with a customer's membership card, credit card, or the like. This check may be performed by a clerk or may be automated. Also,
If these cards cannot be used to make a proper decision, sales may be banned or an identification card or the like may be required.

The decision as to whether or not to permit the sales of various information included in the index information is made at the stage when the latest index information is created, by the center unit 1 which manages each store 3.
And the local supervision unit 4, and each store 3 sells information according to the result of this determination.

[Label Creation] The label creation device 34 shown in FIG. 3 creates a label describing the title of the information recorded on the recording medium, image information attached to the title, information desired by the customer, and the like. This label is automatically attached to a recording medium on which information ordered by the customer is recorded. Alternatively, only the label may be given to the customer separately.

When the recording medium is a disc such as a CD-R, a donut-shaped label seal is desirable. It is desirable to use an easily peelable adhesive material for the label seal member so that the label can be easily replaced when a part of the information to be recorded on the recording medium is added or deleted.

It is desirable to print on the label such that information such as the serial number and the date of sale can be visually confirmed. As a result, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the recording medium has been purchased through a legitimate route, and it is possible to reliably prevent duplication for misuse. Further, an identification image such as a barcode may be printed in the label.

The label is not limited to a sheet, and the ink material once printed on the transfer paper may be transferred to the outer surface of the recording medium by heat or the like. Alternatively, printing may be performed directly on a recording medium using a sublimation printer or the like.
In this case, it is more desirable to make the base of the disc matte white, since the color development is excellent.

Further, a label for a case for storing a recording medium may be created. In this case, a special paper having a size corresponding to the size of the case and having a cut in a predetermined position is used, and information such as a title is printed on the special paper by a printer or the like, and then cut out at the cut position and fitted into the case.
It is desirable that the area to be actually printed is set to a range slightly larger than the size of the special paper. In addition, it is desirable to make a fold or a cut at a cutting position by a dedicated punching device so that the special paper can be easily cut after printing.

Further, it is desirable to print the attached printed matter such as a lyrics card on a sheet folded in a folding screen shape so that it can be easily stored in the case.

Further, a notice such as the designation of adult or the location of the copyright may be written on the label. In this way, it is possible to prevent the sale of videos or the like designated to adults to minors.

Note that some customers consider labels unnecessary, so that the customer may arbitrarily select whether or not to create labels. If a label is not created, the selling fee may be reduced accordingly. Alternatively, a plurality of types of information and patterns to be printed on the label may be prepared so that the customer can arbitrarily select it.

[Communication Form] The network of this embodiment may be constituted by a wire such as an ISDN line, or may be constituted by a radio such as a satellite broadcast. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration in the store 3 that transmits and receives information to and from the center unit 1 and the local control unit 4 via satellite broadcasting.
As shown in FIG. 3, the communication device 18 of FIG.
Instead of a satellite antenna 41, a modem 42,
Decoder 43, encoder 44, data decompression circuit 4
5 and a data compression circuit 46 are provided. Anyone can receive a radio wave from a satellite as long as there is only the satellite antenna 41. Therefore, in order to maintain confidentiality, various kinds of information are encrypted and transmitted and received. The data received by the satellite antenna 41 is demodulated by the modem 42 and then decoded by the decoder 43. The decrypted data is restored to the original information by the data decompression circuit 45 and stored in the recording device 47. This recording device 47 corresponds to the data providing unit 2 in FIG. 1 and the information storage device 28 in FIG.

On the other hand, information transmitted from the store 3 to the center unit 1 and the like is compressed by the data compression circuit 46 to reduce the amount of data, and then encrypted by the encoder 44. The encrypted data is converted into a modulation signal by the modulation / demodulation circuit 42 and transmitted from the satellite antenna 41.

[Encryption] As one method of encryption, a method in which a decryption key that can be used only once is transmitted from the center unit 1 or the local control unit 4 and decrypted at each store 3 using this key. There is.

Here, when a request for predetermined information is issued from the store 3 to the center unit 1 or the local control unit 4, the decryption key is stored in the store requesting the request from the center unit 1 or the local control unit 4. Only for 3,
The decryption key required to decrypt only the requested information is delivered.

Note that the decryption key needs to maintain high confidentiality. For this reason, only for the decryption key, by using a “one-to-one” communication mode such as a telephone line,
This is more preferable because it can increase security certainty as compared with satellite broadcasting using a “one-to-many” communication mode.

Note that a specific method of encryption is shown in FIG.
Various types of information are encrypted and stored in the data providing unit 2 or the information storage device 28 of FIG. 3, and the information decrypted with the decryption key is stored in the recording medium.

In this manner, the encrypted information cannot be decrypted unless there is a decryption key, so that the confidentiality is improved. Further, when recording on a recording medium, if a copy protection signal is recorded, the confidentiality is further improved. Also, since the decryption key can be used only once, the center unit 1
By counting the number of times that the local control unit 4 sends the decryption key to each store 3, the use frequency of each information can be accurately grasped. Note that the decryption key is not only applicable when performing wireless communication, but is also applicable when performing wired communication via the network 5 in FIG.

[Storage of Information] The process of storing various types of information in the data providing unit 2 in FIG. 1 and the information storage device 28 in FIG.
This is performed by the center unit 1 or a data management company (not shown). Since customers have various tastes, it is desirable to store not only best-selling information but also information that is infrequently used as much as possible as long as the data capacity is sufficient. Further, information of various databases provided via the Internet or the like may be provided at the same time.

[0099] Also, a service for registering a music tape or the like produced by an amateur band or the like in the data providing unit 2 or the like may be provided on condition that a certain standard is satisfied. In this case, a fee is charged according to the size of the information amount and the registration period, and an information provision fee such as a copyright fee is paid to a right holder such as a copyright holder according to the sales amount.

[0100] Regarding the amount to be paid to the registrant, several options such as the following may be provided. Instead of lowering the registration fee (storage fee), the information provision fee is also reduced. Instead of increasing the registration fee (storage fee), increase the information provision fee.

[Prevention of Duplication] Information recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-R may be easily copied as it is. Therefore, when recording information on the recording medium, the recording medium manufacturing apparatus 33 in FIG. 3 desirably records a duplication preventing signal (water mark or the like) on the recording medium. Alternatively, a duplication prevention signal may be included in advance in each piece of information to be recorded so that recording on a recording medium cannot be performed unless a special recording device is used.

Alternatively, in each information to be sold, illegal sales prevention information different from the copy protection signal is incorporated in the form of encryption, and unless there is a decryption key given only to the authorized user, the information is recorded on the recording medium. May not be possible. As a result, illegal copying can be prevented, for example, when the software is upgraded.

As a specific example of the fraudulent sales prevention information, for example, a serial number may be written in a predetermined portion of the recording medium. It is more desirable to write this serial number in a plurality of locations on the disk because redundancy is improved. Further, the serial number itself may be encrypted.

For a recording medium such as a CD-R or MD which is not permitted to be copied with the same digital signal as the original data in the music CD format or the like, unique header information and an error correction code are added. It is desirable to perform recording by performing interleaving, signal modulation, and the like.

For a recording medium such as MO, which is permitted to be copied with the same digital signal as the original data,
It is desirable to add unique header information and an error correction code, perform interleaving, signal modulation, and the like, and further add and record a copy protection signal.

When recording music information or the like on an analog recording medium such as an analog tape, the information read from the information storage device 28 or the like is D / A converted, and then, according to the customer's request,
Record by applying noise reduction processing such as Dolby system.

When recording a video signal in an analog VTR or the like in an analog manner, the SVHS system or the normal VHS system can be selected, and a recording is performed with a copy protection signal added.

[Recording on Recording Medium] It is desirable that the recording medium manufacturing apparatus 33 shown in FIG. 3 perform verification at the time of recording on the recording medium to maintain the recording accuracy at or above a certain standard. Further, if a multi-head that performs verification at the same time as recording is employed, the recording time can be shortened. At that time, if a recording device capable of recording at a high speed is used, the waiting time of the customer can be shortened (for example, within 3 minutes).

When the recording medium manufacturing apparatus 33 shown in FIG. 3 records information on the recording medium, if the recording cannot be performed normally, the recording medium may be automatically replaced with another recording medium.

Further, in order to effectively use the recording medium, new information may be additionally recorded in a free area of the recording medium. Alternatively, compressed data may be stored in the information storage device 28, and the compressed data may be decompressed before being recorded on a recording medium. Further, since the image information and the audio information have a huge data amount, they may be compressed in a compression format desired by the customer and then recorded on a recording medium.

Also, some recording media such as CD-Rs are designed so that a pre-pit signal can be stamped on the inner or outer edge of the medium, so that special information (for example, a store, a sales country, Information such as the sales year) may be recorded as a pre-pit signal. Note that the pre-pit signal may or may not be visually confirmed. Further, a copy prevention measure may be taken using a pre-pit signal.

A recording medium such as a CD-R or the like rarely causes a reading error. Therefore, when a reading error occurs, it is desirable to provide a new recording medium to an authorized purchaser. However, in order to prevent illegal copying, the customer ID etc. is recorded on the label etc. of the original recording medium, and re-recording is performed only when the ID input to the customer who brought in the recording medium with poor reading matches. It is desirable to acknowledge.

Further, since the information requested by the customer may not be able to be stored in the recording medium due to overcapacity or the like, a conformity check is first performed before recording on the recording medium. It is desirable to give a warning such as a message.

[Selling Information] When selling music information in the store 3, it is desirable to select an arbitrary song from a commercially available disc such as a music CD so that a customer-specific album can be created. For this reason, it is desirable to assign a management number to each song on a commercially available disc and manage each song with a sub number such as "12345-1" or "12345-2".

[0115] However, since selling individual pieces of music on a commercially available disk causes a copyright problem, it is desirable to sell only those pieces that have been approved by the copyright holder.

[Resale / Rental of Information] A service to buy back information once sold may be provided. That is,
As with rental videos and rental CDs, information desired by customers may be lent for a certain period of time. In this case, the recording medium may be that of a customer or that of the store 3. However, when selling information and when renting information, the handling under copyright law is different, so it is necessary to obtain the permission of the copyright holder in advance. Different rates may be set for selling information and lending information.

The store 3 from which information is returned or deleted does not have to match the store 3 from which the information was lent. In such a case, a system that transfers the cashback amount paid to the customer from the store 3 from which the data was returned to the store 3 from which the data was lent, or a system that has equivalent functions to a clearing system such as a POS system It is desirable to incorporate.

A service for erasing part or all of the information once recorded may be provided. When the data is deleted, a part of the sales fee may be cashed back according to the usage period of the customer. Alternatively, when new information is recorded on the recording medium instead of the erased information, a cheap price may be set.

[Presence or absence of CM information] Further, when selling specific TV program information, it may be possible to select between a case with CM and a case without CM. In other words, some customers want to provide only the program contents and others want to provide the program contents at a low price. In that case, the fee may be set higher.

Information other than television programs, such as AV information and game software, may be sold with CM information included. For example, a trial version of a new game may be added to game software, or a preview of a new movie may be added to movie information. In this case, if the provision destination of the CM information bears a part of the copyright fee or the like, the provision price can be set lower accordingly.

[Upgrade of Information] When upgrading the software of a computer, a recording medium of a previous version becomes unnecessary, and a service for collecting the recording medium that is no longer needed may be provided. In this case, the collected recording medium may be returned to the copyright holder or destroyed, and a small fee may be paid back to the customer who returned the recording medium. Alternatively, a new version of the recording medium may be provided at a low price.

As described above, when information is returned, upgraded, or upgraded, and the recording medium is a rewritable medium, it is unnecessary immediately after the information is returned, upgraded, or upgraded. Erased information so that it cannot be restored, and if the recording medium is a non-rewritable medium, prevent the correct signal from being reproduced, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the waived information be able to.

In some cases, such as computer software and car navigation information, the version is updated based on the difference information. In this case, by referring to the serial number and the current recording medium version, the authorized purchaser can confirm the version. Only when it is confirmed that there is, difference information that can be upgraded to the latest information may be provided.

As described above, according to the information providing system shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, each store 3 does not need to have a large amount of stock, and there is no fear that the information will be sold out, and the store 3 will be provided to the customer in a very short time. A recording medium can be provided. Further, if information is exchanged via the network 5, the information shipping fee can be greatly reduced, and even if the recording medium is damaged and cannot be reproduced, illegal duplication can be prevented and inexpensive. You can easily make duplicates at a price,
Even rare information with little demand can be easily provided to customers.

[Form of Network] The form of the network 5 is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 1, but may be a LAN line, a telephone line, a telegraph line, a line switched line, a packet switched line, a frame relay switched line, a cell relay switched line, and an ISDN. Various lines such as lines can be used. For example,
When the size of the network 5 is small, a LAN line or a telephone line is used. When the size of the network 5 is large and a large amount of data needs to be communicated at high speed, an ATM (Asynchronous) using a cell relay switching line is used. Transfer Mod
es: Asynchronous transfer mode) Communication may be performed using an exchange. Various communication media such as a copper wire, a coaxial wire, and an optical cable can be applied to the communication medium of the line, and wireless communication such as microwave or millimeter wave may be performed.

[Aggregation of Provided Charges] In the store 3, a charge management device 32 is provided as shown in FIG. 3, and the charge management device 32 calculates an information billing charge for a customer, and the calculation result is shown in FIG. The local management section 4 and the center section 1 of each of the stores 1 and 3 collect data, but as shown in FIG.
May be provided on the network 5 separately from the center unit 1 and the like to collect the sales results of the above, and charge management may be performed. In addition, this accounting unit 6 is connected to a POS provided in each store 3.
By linking with the system, the total result may be notified to the center unit 1 and the local control unit 4 in real time.

[Storing of History Information] In step S1 of FIG. 4, when collating the customer ID, the customer ID information and the type of information provided to the customer so far (hereinafter referred to as history information) are stored. ID collation may be performed using the recorded IC card.

More specifically, such an IC card is shown in FIG.
Is inserted into a card reader 36 in the store 3 indicated by a dotted line, the control device 35 of FIG. 3 reads out the history information and displays it on the display device 23. Thereby, the customer can check the information provided so far.

The control device 35 shown in FIG. 3 reads the history information read from the IC card, judges the customer's taste, selects information that the customer desires, and displays the index information on the display device 23. I do. As a result, the customer can reliably obtain the latest information desired by himself without selecting the index information himself.

[Other Modifications] Although only one center unit 1 is provided in FIG. 1, a plurality of center units 1 providing different information may be provided. For example,
Center 1 that provides music data owned by Company A
And a center unit 1 for providing music data owned by the company B, and information provided from these two center units 1 may be transmitted to the data providing unit 2, the store 3, and the like.

[0131]

According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not information stored in the information storage unit is to be deleted according to the frequency of use of the information. The use efficiency of the information stored in the information storage unit can be improved.

Further, since the information encrypted by the decryption key is decrypted and recorded on the recording medium, the confidentiality is improved. In addition, since the decryption key is allowed to be used only once, by measuring the number of times the decryption key is transmitted, the use frequency of the information can be accurately and easily grasped.

In addition, since index information is created in consideration of contracts between business operators, ages of customers, and sales areas, there is no risk of selling information that violates laws and regulations.

In addition, since a new recording medium is manufactured after judging whether or not the recording medium is a genuine product based on the identification information recorded in the recording medium, duplication of the recording medium for the purpose of abuse is reliably prevented. it can.

According to the present invention, the outline of the information stored in the recording medium can be confirmed by automatically creating the label information. Further, by providing the tallying means, it is possible to appropriately protect the copyright holder and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an information providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a connection form of the information providing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration in a store.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a schematic operation of the information providing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the index information of the highest hierarchy.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of lower layer index information.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration in a store for transmitting and receiving information via satellite broadcasting.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example in which an accounting unit is provided separately from a center unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center part 2 Data provision part 3 Store 4 Local supervision part 5 Network 11 Decryption key table 12 Decryption key encryption circuit 13 First random number generator 14 Billing device 15 Communication circuit 16 Store ID table

Claims (7)

[Claims] An information storage unit configured to store various types of information recordable on a recording medium; an information selection unit configured to select at least a part of the information stored in the information storage unit; An information recording unit that records information on a recording medium; and an information erasure determination that determines whether to erase the information stored in the information storage unit according to a use frequency of each information stored in the information storage unit. And an information providing system. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising a totalizing unit for totalizing an information provision fee to be paid to a right holder or a provider of each information recorded on the recording medium. 3. A step of storing various types of information recordable on a recording medium in an information storage unit; a step of selecting at least a part of information from the information stored in the information storage unit; Recording information on a recording medium; and determining whether to delete the information stored in the information storage unit according to the use frequency of each information stored in the information storage unit. An information providing method comprising: Providing decryption information used for decrypting desired information; measuring the number of times the decryption information is provided; and measuring the number of times the decryption information is provided. Detecting the use frequency of the information stored in the information storage unit, wherein the information stored in the information storage unit is permitted to be decrypted only once by the decryption information. 4. The information providing method according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The information stored in the information storage unit,
For information whose sales are restricted due to sales restrictions including at least one of the contract between the business operators, the age of the customer, and the sales area, provide index information that clearly indicates that, or 5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: providing index information excluding information to be performed. 6. A step of recording the desired information on a recording medium and recording identification information indicating that the recording medium has been properly purchased on the recording medium, wherein the identification information is recorded on the recording medium. Only if
Recording the same information as the information recorded on the recording medium, or the information related to the information recorded on the recording medium, on a separate recording medium. Information providing method described in Crab. 7. History information of information provided to a customer is stored in a portable history information storage device, and history information of information provided to the customer stored in the history information storage device is displayed on a display device. The information providing method according to claim 3, wherein the information is provided.