KR20070030888A - Content providing device and method and content providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A content providing device that provides content converted into a format different from the format provided upon request by a party purchaser of the content, and performs user registration by associating user information with content information, and registering user authentication according to the user's access. In accordance with the authentication result, the module converts the content according to the format requested by the user, or the content is converted according to the format requested by the user, and the converted content is provided.

User information, content, user registration, authentication results

Description

Content providing device and method, content providing system {CONTENT PROVIDING DEVICE AND METHOD AND CONTENT PROVIDING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a content providing device and method for providing content converted into a format different from the format provided at the time of request by a party purchaser of the content, and a content providing system.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-207024 for which it applied on July 14, 2004 in Japan, This application is integrated in this application by reference.

Currently, content data such as music, video, movies, and the like are transmitted via a network or sold as packaged media. These contents data and the package media on which the contents data is recorded are prescribed in a predetermined format.

Therefore, the user needs to confirm whether the content format to be purchased corresponds to the device owned by the user. If the owning device does not have a suitable content format, the user needs to purchase a device suitable for the content format. In addition, if the format of the content is old, there is a problem such that it is impossible to purchase a device suitable for the content format.

Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-143125 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-150178 disclose a method in which a device does not need to be changed even if the content format is changed.

The methods disclosed in these publications are limited to those in which the change in the content format can be applied in an application manner, that is, in response to an upgrade of a module or the like, and the external format such as the shape and size of the package has changed. In this case, the user had to purchase a device suitable for the content format. In some cases, there has been a problem such that a suitable device is discontinued.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the present invention provides a content providing apparatus that enables a user to play or read content purchased by a user without requiring the user to replace the device even when the content format is changed in appearance. And a method and a content providing system.

The content providing apparatus according to the present invention is based on the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the predetermined content, the registration means for associating and registering the content information of the content, and the purchaser information registered by the registration means. The registration means according to the authentication means for performing the authentication inquiry, the confirmation means for confirming the format format of the content required by the inquired buyer when the authentication is inquired by the authentication means, and the format format of the content confirmed in the confirmation means. A module for converting the content corresponding to the content information registered in association with the purchaser information or providing means for providing the converted content to the purchaser whose authentication has been queried by the authentication means.

In the present invention, the registration means associates the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the content made by the audio data, the operation image data, the still image data, or the predetermined program defined by the predetermined format with this content information. Register.

The registration means may register the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the recording medium or the communication medium on which the content defined in the predetermined format is recorded in association with the content information.

The recognizing means also identifies a format format different from the format of the content defined at the time of purchase, in sound quality, image quality, recording method, delivery method, or attribute information.

In addition, the content providing method according to the present invention is based on the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the predetermined content, the registration step of registering the content information of the content in association with the purchaser information and the purchaser information registered by the registration step. According to the authentication process for performing the authentication inquiry, the confirmation process for confirming the format format of the content required by the purchaser whose certification has been queried when the authentication is inquired by the authentication process, and the format format of the content confirmed in the confirmation process, A module for converting the content corresponding to the content information registered in association with the purchaser information in the registration process or the providing process for providing the converted content to the purchaser whose authentication has been queried by the authentication process.

In the content providing method, the registration step includes the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the content made of the audio data, the motion image data, the still image data, or the predetermined program defined by the predetermined format. Register in association.

In addition, the registration process may register the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the recording medium or communication medium on which the content prescribed | regulated in the predetermined format was recorded in association with this content information.

The confirmation step confirms a format format different from the content format defined at the time of purchase, in sound quality, image quality, recording method, delivery method, or attribute information.

A content providing system according to the present invention is a content providing system comprising a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that transmit and receive content via a network, wherein the first information processing apparatus is a predetermined content. A registration means for associating and registering the purchaser information of the purchaser who has purchased the content with the content information of this content, an authentication means for conducting authentication inquiry of the purchaser based on the purchaser information registered by the registration means, and authentication by the authentication means. When this is inquired, the confirmation means for confirming the format format of the content required by the purchaser whose authentication has been queried, and the content information registered in association with the purchaser information in the registration means in accordance with the format format of the content confirmed by the confirmation means. A module for converting the content corresponding to the buyer or the purchaser whose authentication is queried by the authentication means. Having a providing means for it provides, and the information processing apparatus of claim 2, having a first means for accessing a network accessible to the information processing apparatus 1 and a specifying means for specifying the format of the content purchased through a network.

In the present invention, in accordance with the request of the user who purchased the content, the user registration is performed by associating the user information with the content information, and the user is registered and authenticated according to the access from the user. The module converts the content according to the required format, or converts the content according to the format requested by the user, and provides the converted content. Therefore, the user can play or read the content owned by the user. Even when it becomes difficult due to this, the burden of purchasing a device and the like is not caused at the time of reproduction or reading of this content.

Therefore, when the format has evolved with the times, it is possible to cope with the new format without burdening users to exchange hardware or software.

Another object of the present invention, the specific advantages obtained by the present invention will become more apparent from the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a content providing system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic device of the content providing system shown in FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a server of the content providing system shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing a registration list generated by the registration program.

5 is a flowchart provided to explain the procedure of user registration.

6 is a flowchart provided to explain the procedure of providing content.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is applied to a content providing system for providing content to a user will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content providing system 1 to which the present invention is applied includes an electronic device 10 on the client side and a content service server for providing content to the electronic device 10 via the network 2 (hereinafter, referred to as FIG. 1). (Called a server) (11). In addition, it is assumed that a plurality of electronic devices 10 are connected to the server 11 via a network. The electric device 10 is, for example, a personal computer (PC) or an audio visual device.

The electronic device 10 is a device that provides content from the server 11 through a network, and performs predetermined information processing on the provided content, as shown in FIG. 2, and a RAM 20 for temporarily storing data; The ROM 21 in which predetermined data is stored, the CPU 22 which performs predetermined arithmetic processing, and the input / output interface 23 are connected to each other on the bus A.

The input / output interface 23 is connected to an input unit 24 composed of a keyboard or a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 24 to the CPU 22. The input / output interface 23 is also connected to an output section 25 composed of a display, a speaker, and the like.

In addition, the input / output interface 23 includes a storage unit 26 composed of a hard disk or the like, and a communication unit 27 for exchanging data with another device, for example, the server 11, via a network 1 such as the Internet. ) And a drive 28 to which various media are attached and detached are also connected. The drive 28 is used when reading data from or recording data from a magnetic disk, an optical disk, an IC card, a semiconductor memory (flash memory), or the like as a recording medium.

The server 11 further includes an interface (I / F) 30 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the electronic device 10 via a network as shown in FIG. 3, and a program unit 31 in which various programs are stored. And each part constituting the RAM 32 which temporarily stores data, the CPU 33 which performs predetermined arithmetic processing, the database 34 which stores and holds various data, and the server 11 The control part 35 is connected to each other on the bus B, and is comprised.

The program unit 31 includes a registration program for performing a predetermined registration operation, an authentication program for performing authentication inquiry of a user ID, a confirmation program for confirming the format format of the content requested by the user, and content in the requested format format. It has a module such as a decoder for converting or a program providing the converted content to the user.

When a user purchases content, the registration program receives user registration, issues predetermined user information (hereinafter referred to as a user ID), and stores the user ID and content information (hereinafter referred to as content ID). Perform association work. The registration program generates a list of user IDs and content IDs, for example, as shown in FIG. The list generated by the registration program is stored in the database 34.

When there is access from the user, the authentication program requests input of a user ID, refers to a list stored in the database 34 of the user ID input in response to the request, and an appropriate user ID is registered. Perform an authentication inquiry operation.

When the user's authentication by the authentication program is inquired, the confirmation program requests input of the format format of the content requested by the user, and performs the operation of confirming the input format format for the request.

The providing program converts the content or the module such as a decoder for converting the content corresponding to the content information related to the user information from the list generated by the registration program according to the format format confirmed by the confirmation program, and converts the content after conversion. The operation of supplying content to the user is performed.

The database 34 also stores a list of user IDs and content IDs generated by the registration program. The database 34 stores the content and a module such as a decoder for converting the content into a predetermined format.

Here, the procedure of user registration performed by the content providing system 1 is demonstrated according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step ST1, the electronic device 10 accesses the server 11. When the electronic device 10 accesses the server 11, the electronic device 10 makes a request to register a user. The server 11 reads the registration program stored in the program part 31 in accordance with the access by the electronic device 10, and activates the read registration program.

In step ST2, the server 11 issues a user ID. The electronic device 10 receives a user ID issued by the server 11. In addition, the server 11 issues a unique user ID by the activated registration program.

When the user purchases, for example, a packaged medium in which content is recorded, the user acquires an ID (content ID) unique to the packaged media imprinted in a place that cannot be visually recognized from the outside. The server 11 requests the user to input the content ID according to the registration program started in accordance with the user's access by the step ST1, and when the user has input the content ID, the content ID is normal. Check if the card has been issued and issue a user ID.

Next, after the user registration is completed as described above, the procedure of providing the content performed by the content providing system 1 will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In step ST3, the electronic device 10 accesses the server 11. When the electronic device 10 accesses the server 11, the electronic device 10 makes a request to receive the contents converted into a predetermined format. The server 11 reads the authentication program stored in the program part 31 in accordance with the access by the electronic device 10, and activates the read authentication program.

In step ST4, the server 11 requests the electronic device 10 to input a user ID.

In step ST5, the electronic device 10 inputs the user ID issued in the step ST2 in response to a request of the server 11.

In step ST6, the server 11 performs the authentication work based on the user ID input from the electronic device 10. The server 11 refers to the list stored in the database 34 to determine whether the user ID supplied from the electronic device 10 is registered. When the user ID is not registered, the server 11 may prompt the electronic device 10 to input the user ID again, or may supply a message indicating that the user ID cannot be authenticated.

When the server 11 confirms the registration of the user ID, the server 11 reads the confirmation program stored in the program unit 31, starts the read confirmation program, and proceeds to step ST7.

In step ST7, the server 11 requests the electronic device 10 to input a format format.

In step ST8, the electronic apparatus 10 inputs the format of a format according to the request of the server 11.

In step ST9, the server 11 confirms the format of the format supplied from the electronic device 10. When the format of the confirmed format is not compatible, the server 11 supplies the message to the electronic device 10 to that effect. If the confirmed format is compatible, the server 11 reads the provided program from the program unit 31, activates the read provided program, and proceeds to step ST10.

In step ST10, the server 11 converts the content based on the format format requested from the electronic device 10. FIG.

In step ST11, the server 11 supplies the electronic device 11 with the content converted by the step ST10.

In addition, the content providing system 1 may provide a module such as a decoder for converting the content into the required format format, rather than the content converted into the required format format.

In addition, the content providing system 1 may provide the electronic device 10 with a content converted into the required format format or a module for converting the content into the required format format to the electronic device 10 through a wired or wireless network, You may record and ship. In this case, for example, in the process of step ST7, when the electronic device 10 requests the input of the format format, the electronic device 10 is requested in an input of what type of content is to be provided. Provide content to

The content providing system 1 may also be configured to notify the electronic device 10 that a new format has been introduced when there is access by the electronic device 10. In this case, when there is access from the electronic device 10, the content providing system 1 notifies that a new format has been introduced, and confirms whether or not to convert to the new format. When the electronic device 10 desires to convert to a new format, the electronic device 10 supplies a message to the server 11 to that effect. The server 11 provides the electronic device 10 with a module for converting the content or the content converted based on the new format into the new format according to the process of step ST11 in step ST9.

The content providing system 1 configured as described above performs user registration in association with user information and content information according to a request of the user who purchased the content, and performs user registration authentication according to access from the user. According to the format required by the user, the content is converted according to the format requested by the user, and the converted content is provided, so that the user can play or read the content owned by the user. Even when it becomes difficult due to this content format, there is no burden of device purchase or the like at the time of reproduction or reading of this content.

In addition, the content providing system 1 has a burden on the purchase of a device by the user who owns the content when the format is changed due to the high quality, high definition, or the addition of attribute information with the change of the times. It does not occur

Thus, with the introduction of a new format of content that is increasingly performed in the digital age, users can enjoy high quality content in a new format without disadvantage.

In addition, the content providing system 1 may introduce a billing system. For example, the content is provided free of charge, charged according to the use, continuously operated at the annual service fee, or charged when providing a module such as a new decoder.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment demonstrated with reference to drawings, It is clear for those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions, or equivalent may be performed without deviating from the attached Claim and the meaning. Do.

Claims (9)

Registration means for registering the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the predetermined content with the content information of the content, and Authentication means for performing authentication inquiry of the purchaser based on the purchaser information registered by the registration means; Confirmation means for confirming the format format of the content required by the purchaser whose authentication has been queried, when authentication is queried by the authentication means; A purchaser whose authentication has been queried by the authentication means or a module for converting the content corresponding to the content information registered in association with the purchaser information in the registration means according to the format format of the content confirmed by the confirmation means; And providing means for providing to the content providing device. The method of claim 1, The registration means registers the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the content consisting of audio data, motion image data, still image data, or a predetermined program defined by a predetermined format in association with the content information. Content providing device. The method of claim 1, And the registration means registers the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the recording medium or the communication medium on which the content defined in the predetermined format is recorded in association with the content information. The method of claim 1, And said confirmation means identifies a format format different from the content format defined at the time of purchase, in sound quality, image quality, recording method, delivery method, or attribute information. A registration step of registering the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the predetermined content with the content information of the content, and An authentication step of performing an authentication inquiry of the purchaser based on the purchaser information registered by the registration step; A verification step of confirming the format format of the content required by the purchaser whose certification has been queried, when authentication is queried by the authentication process; A purchaser whose authentication has been queried by the authentication process or a module for converting the content corresponding to the content information registered in association with the purchaser information in the registration process according to the format format of the content confirmed in the confirmation process. Content providing method comprising the step of providing to the. The method of claim 5, The said registration process registers the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the content which consists of audio data, motion image data, still image data, or predetermined program prescribed | regulated by a predetermined format in association with this content information, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. How to provide content. The method of claim 5, And the registration step registers the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the recording medium or the communication medium on which the content defined in the predetermined format is recorded in association with the content information. The method of claim 5, And the confirmation step confirms a format format different from the content format defined at the time of purchase, in terms of sound quality, image quality, recording method, delivery method, or attribute information. A content providing system comprising a first information processing device and a second information processing device for transmitting and receiving content through a network, The first information processing apparatus, Registration means for registering the purchaser information of the purchaser who purchased the predetermined content with the content information of the content, and Authentication means for performing authentication inquiry of the purchaser based on the purchaser information registered by the registration means; Confirmation means for confirming the format format of the content required by the purchaser whose authentication has been queried, when authentication is queried by the authentication means; A purchaser whose authentication has been inquired by the authentication means for converting the content corresponding to the content information registered in association with the purchaser information in the registration means or the converted content according to the format format of the content confirmed in the confirmation means; Providing means for providing the The second information processing apparatus, Access means for accessing the first information processing apparatus via a network; And a designation means for designating a format format of content purchased through a network.

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