KR20090082018A - Method for providing e-book distribution service and service providing server thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An Ebook distribution service providing method and a service providing server thereof are provided to encrypt an Ebook file, thereby enabling an Ebook selling company and a copyrighter not to concern about the illegal distribution of the Ebook file itself. A service providing server stores a key file(S110). The key file includes the intrinsic access information of an Ebook file and a key for decoding an encrypted Ebook file. The service providing server authenticates the access value of the Ebook file received from one or more connected client(S120). The service providing server transmits the key to the authenticated client and converts the Ebook file into a decoding state(S130).

Description

Method for providing e-book distribution service and server for providing the service {Method for providing e-book distribution service and service providing server

The present invention relates to a method for providing an e-book distribution service and a service providing server thereof, and more particularly, to a method for providing a practical distribution service for an e-book by approving and controlling the reading of the e-book via a network and performing the same. It relates to a service providing server.

Recently, with the development of the Internet and mobile environment, there is an increasing number of consumers who want to purchase books in the form of e-books. Accordingly, there has been a technical need for book sellers to effectively protect copyrights and copyrights of books for sale.

In detail, e-books have been widely distributed in two forms. First, when a purchaser of an e-book pays a fee, the e-book file is downloaded from an Internet site and stored on a personal computer or a mobile device such as a PDA. However, this is a problem that the e-book file is distributed without permission to an unspecified number.

The second method is to access a predetermined service providing server through a network and receive the book in streaming form after the buyer pays for the e-book. However, this method has a problem that excessive load may be applied to the server when a large number of buyers access the service providing server at the same time, and the server operation is expensive.

A first object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a method for providing an e-book distribution service that can be read at any time at the time desired by the buyer of the book while effectively protecting the copyright and copyright of the e-book. .

In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide a service providing server suitable for implementing the above-described method for providing an e-book distribution service.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing an e-book distribution service, a key including a key for decrypting an encrypted e-book file and a unique access information of the e-book file. Storing a file, authenticating the e-book file access value received from at least one client to which the service providing server is connected, and wherein the service providing server transmits the key to the authenticated client to provide the key. And converting the e-book file into the decrypted state.

A service providing server according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the second object includes storing a key file including a key and unique access information for decrypting an encrypted e-book file generated by an e-book production computer. A storage unit for receiving, the receiving unit for receiving the e-book file access value from at least one client, an authentication unit for authenticating the received access value based on the unique access information, and the key for the authenticated client. It may include a decoding unit for decoding the e-book file using.

According to the present invention, since the e-book file is encrypted, e-book vendors and copyright holders do not have to worry about the unauthorized distribution of the e-book file itself, but rather can be actively utilized in marketing by distributing the encrypted e-book file. There is an advantage to that. In addition, since the service providing server only needs to store a key file for the corresponding e-book file, there is no burden on server operation.

Hereinafter, an e-book distribution service providing method and a service providing server according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and Those skilled in the art may implement the present invention in various other forms without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. In addition, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and configurations that may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention will be omitted. In the present invention, one component may be formed above or below the other component, or another component may be additionally formed on the other component. In addition, it is to be noted that the respective components are referred to as "first", "second", and / or "third", not merely to limit each component. Thus, "first", "second" and / or "third" can be used selectively or interchangeably for each component.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing an e-book distribution service according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an e-book distribution service providing system according to the present invention includes a client 110 for reading an e-book, a computer for producing an e-book 120, and a service providing server 130 for providing an e-book distribution service. It may include.

A company producing an e-book may produce an e-book file in an encrypted form using the e-book manufacturing computer 120. When the e-book file is produced, a predetermined key file for decrypting the encrypted e-book file is also generated. The key file may include not only access information such as ID and password, but also public information (distribution) such as the start point of the publication (distribution) of the corresponding e-book.

Meanwhile, the e-book production company may distribute the produced e-book file through a storage medium such as an online form or a CD, and the generated key file may be provided separately from the e-book file. Will be sent to.

Here, since the e-book is in an encrypted file state and cannot be viewed without the key file, the e-book may be distributed freely to an unspecified number. In this case, in order to increase the user's desire to purchase the free e-book file, some contents may be set to be viewable without the key file.

The user may access the service providing server 130 through the client 110 to purchase the obtained e-book. For example, the purchase of an e-book may be access information, i.e., an ID and a password, that can actually read the e-book when the e-book file is distributed free of charge. Alternatively, the user may purchase the e-book either offline, such as a bookstore, or through another online / offline route linked with the e-book maker or book vendor.

Here, the client 110 is a terminal of various types connected to the service providing server 130 and the network such as the Internet network, for example, a personal computer, a server terminal, etc. Unlike this, a network such as a mobile phone, a PDA, etc. May have a possible mobile form.

The service providing server 130 stores key files for each e-book received from the e-book manufacturing computer 120. The key file includes e-book specific information, access information, e-book publication (distribution) period, and the like, and additionally includes the buyer information when the e-book buyer registers his or her personal information through the network. .

2 is a configuration diagram of a service providing server on an e-book distribution service providing system according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the service providing server 130 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a storage unit 132, a receiver 134, an authentication unit 136, and a decryption unit 138. have.

First, the storage unit 132 may store a key file including a key and unique access information for decrypting an encrypted e-book file generated by the e-book production computer 120. Meanwhile, the receiver 134 receives an access value for the e-book file from at least one client 110. Additionally, the receiver 134 may directly receive an e-book order through the client 110.

Meanwhile, the authentication unit 136 authenticates the access value received by the reception unit 134 based on the unique access information of the key file, and the decryption unit 138 is authenticated by the authentication unit 136. Decrypts the e-book file using the key for the client.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an e-book distribution service according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a method of providing an e-book distribution service according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In practicing the present invention, an e-book file is first generated using the e-book production computer 120. The generated file may be generated in the form of a file having various extensions for each device capable of viewing the generated file. At this time, the e-book file undergoes a predetermined encryption process, so that an unspecified number of the e-book file cannot be read.

For this reason, the e-book production computer 120 generates a key file for decrypting the encrypted e-book file together with the e-book file. The key file includes unique access information that limits the right to access the e-book file.

In addition, in the case of a newly published book in the practice of the present invention, encrypted e-book files including a preview before the publication date may be freely distributed to an unspecified number for marketing. Such a new publication should be published in accordance with the publication date. For this purpose, the publication period can be set to be published only in a predetermined period in the key file.

The service providing server 130 stores a key file including a key for decrypting the e-book file produced by the e-book production computer 130 and unique access information of the e-book file (S110). Here, since the e-book file is distributed free or with a predetermined limit to the interested buyer of the book by a plurality of vendors, the service providing server 120 does not need to store the entire e-book file, so the capacity of the stored file is increased. Very few

Next, the service providing server 130 authenticates an access value for the e-book file received from at least one client 110 connected through a network (S120). For example, when a buyer of an e-book, that is, a user who distributes an e-book file, executes the e-book file after purchasing access information, the e-book buyer automatically accesses the service providing server 130 through the service client 110. This is preferred. Then, the user inputs the access value, and the authenticator 136 of the service providing server 130 may compare the input access value with pre-stored unique access information to authenticate the purchase.

Subsequently, the service providing server 130 transmits the key to the client 110 that has passed the authentication process, thereby converting the e-book file into a decrypted state (S130). As such, the service providing server 130 transmits a key only to the client that has passed the authentication process through the network. Therefore, since the e-book file is encrypted, the e-book vendor and the copyright holder can solve the problem caused by unauthorized distribution of the e-book file itself.

On the other hand, the client 110 is provided with a predetermined authentication means such as the electronic authentication means of the bank, it will be possible to browse the e-book through the authentication means by using the key transmitted by the service providing server 130. . In this case, the purchaser of the e-book may allow the client 110 to read the e-book at any time after receiving the key while connected to the server.

Alternatively, the electronic device can be decrypted by storing the key file in a removable storage medium such as USB and storing the key file to change the client when necessary.

In addition, in the practice of the present invention, the service providing server may automatically terminate the decryption state using the key according to a preset condition including a viewing time. In addition, before performing the step S130, the service providing server 130 may perform a step (S125) to determine whether the point in time when the access value is received satisfies the publication period before decoding the e-book file. .

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be variously modified and modified within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the claims below. It will be appreciated that it can be changed.

Industrial Applicability The present invention will be appreciated in the field of e-book production and distribution service providing industries.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for providing an e-book distribution service according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a service providing server on an e-book distribution service providing system according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing an e-book distribution service according to the present invention.

Claims (4)

The service providing server storing a key file including a key for decrypting an encrypted e-book file and unique access information of the e-book file; The service providing server authenticating an access value for the e-book file received from at least one connected client; And And transmitting the key to the authenticated client to convert the e-book file into a decrypted state. The method of claim 1, wherein the service providing server automatically terminates the decryption state using the key according to a preset condition including time. The method of claim 1, wherein the key file includes information on a publication period, and the service providing server further includes determining whether a time point at which the access value is received satisfies the publication period before decrypting the e-book file. E-book distribution service providing method characterized in that. A storage unit for storing a key file including a key for decrypting an encrypted e-book file generated by the e-book producing computer and unique access information; A receiving unit for receiving the e-book file access value from at least one client; An authentication unit for authenticating the received access value based on the unique access information; And And a decryption unit for decrypting the e-book file using the key for an authenticated client.

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