WO2004079577A1

WO2004079577A1 - Information processing system, information processing apparatus, method and program

Info

Publication number: WO2004079577A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/002640
Authority: WO
Inventors: Megumi Tokita; Tsuyoshi Nakayama; Yoshimasa Tai; Kaori Ando
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 2003-03-04
Filing date: 2004-03-03
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: JP2004265334A; JP3821294B2; KR20050118102A; CN1698039A

Abstract

An information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method and an information processing program for allowing contents to be purchased in a more convenient manner. During presenting content data, a presenter side transmits first information for identifying the presenter side, second information for identifying a presented side, and third information for deciding content data to be presented. When such information is transmitted, an e-mail inquiring whether the presentation is accepted or not is sent, based on the second information, to the side that may potentially receive the presentation. Only when a positive reply is made in response to the inquiring e-mail, the processing of the presentation is executed. This invention can be applied to a server for executing processings related to content data.

Description

Specification

Information processing system, information processing apparatus and method, and program

The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program, and more particularly to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program suitable for use in purchasing content data. Background art

In recent years, with the spread of networks such as the Internet, it has become common to purchase various products (perform the procedures for such purchases) on such networks. There are various types of products that can be purchased on the network. Examples of intangible objects include music data and video data.

Some intangible goods are not only purchased, but also rented. In either case, the purchaser can select the desired music without going to a music store that sells compact discs that store content data or a rental store that rents compact discs. It is said that content data such as data and video data can be purchased from home computers. Unlike intangible goods, these intangible goods are easy to copy and the like, and one buyer may give a copy of the goods to another person. Undesirable actions may be taken. Therefore, it is common for intangible goods to have a mechanism to prevent such undesired acts such as copying.

For example, along with the content data, license (use right) data is also provided (transmitted). According to the license data, the user By controlling the reproduction of the content data provided to the user, undesirable actions such as copying are prevented.

When a user purchases content data via a network, for example, first, the user accesses a site handling the content data via a network and inputs predetermined information according to the instructions of the site. And the like, and perform processing related to the purchase of content data.

When the processing for purchasing such content data is completed, the content data is downloaded from the site to a device on the user side via the network. The downloaded content data is stored together with the license data on a recording medium such as a hard disk drive in the device. After the license data is downloaded to the user's device, it is associated (bound) with the unique ID information of the device storing the content data. Due to the association, even if the content data is copied, the copied content data may be played back on a device that cannot perform the association based on the license data other than the device that downloaded the content data. It is possible to prevent things from happening.

In this way, the content data is downloaded to the device where the purchase processing has been performed, and is reproduced on the device. Therefore, if the user purchases the content data on a device different from the device at home, such as when away from home, the purchased content data is reproduced on a device at home different from the device that performed the purchase processing. There was a problem that they could not.

In other words, the user may perform a process for storing desired content data in a device at home using a device different from the device at home, such as when going out. It is a problem that it cannot be done. Therefore, there has been a problem that the user cannot purchase the content data with a device other than the device that desires the reproduction of the content data.

This is because the content data (license data) is This means that it is not possible to play on other devices, for example, it means that User A cannot give up to User B when presenting content data (license data). In other words, there is a problem that the person who pays for the purchase of the content data and the person who obtains the purchased content data cannot be different people.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and enables a user to perform a content data purchase process on a device desired by a user from a device different from the device. The purpose is to be able to give presents to other users.

The first information processing device of the information processing system according to the present invention includes a first management means for managing a first ID for identifying content, and a second management device for identifying a second information processing device. A second management means for managing the ID of the third information processing device and a third ID for identifying the third information processing device; and Supply means for supplying the first ID managed by the management means to the second information processing device; information for identifying the first ID and the second ID from the second information processing device; And, when the information for identifying the third ID is received, the identification means for respectively identifying the second ID and the third ID managed by the second management means from the information. And the third information processing device corresponding to the third ID specified by the specifying means, A delivery unit that delivers the content identified by the ID, the second information processing device responds to the first information processing device with a requesting device that requests the content to be distributed, and responds to the request by the requesting device. Transmitting the first ID corresponding to the content selected by the user among the first IDs supplied by the supply means, and specifying the information for specifying the second ID and the third ID. And a transmission means for transmitting information for each of the third information processing apparatuses. Storage means for receiving and storing the content distributed by the means.

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a first management unit that manages a first ID for identifying a first device, and a second management unit that manages a second ID for identifying a second device. Management means, third management means for managing a third ID for identifying the content, and when the first device receives a request for distribution of the content, the third management means manages the content. Supply means for supplying the third ID to the first device, information from the first device for identifying the first ID, information for identifying the second ID, and When the third ID is received, the first ID managed by the first management unit and the second ID managed by the second management unit are obtained from the information. A third ID is assigned to the identifying means for identifying each and the second device corresponding to the second ID identified by the identifying means. Characterized in that it comprises a distribution means for distributing the content identified.

The information processing apparatus may further include charging means for charging a user of the first device identified by the first ID specified by the specifying means, for a fee of the content distributed by the distribution means.

After the second ID is specified by the specifying means, an inquiry means for inquiring a user of the second device identified by the second ID as to whether or not to receive content distribution; and When a response to the inquiry that the content is to be received is received from the user of the second device as a response to the inquiry, the second device corresponding to the second ID specified by the specifying means transmits the second device to the second device. The information processing apparatus may further include creating means for creating a schedule for distributing the content identified by the ID of 3, and the distributing means may distribute the content based on the schedule created by the creating means.

When the user of the first device or the user of the second device has designated a time to distribute the content, the creating means creates a schedule for distributing the content at the designated time. be able to. When there is a request to provide a schedule from the second device, and when a schedule for the second device has been created by the creating device, the device further includes a providing unit that provides the schedule to the second device. You can do so.

The first management means and the second management means manage the same table, and the table includes an ID including a first ID and a second ID, a user ID for identifying a user, and a password. And the e-mail address are associated with each other, and the specifying means is used as information for specifying the first ID, and specifies the second ID using at least one of the user ID and the password. The e-mail address can be used as the information for performing the operation.

An information processing method according to the present invention includes: a first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first device; and a second management step of managing a second ID for identifying a second device. A management step; a third management step for managing a third ID for identifying the content; and a request for content distribution from the first device, managed by the processing of the third management step. Supplying the third ID to the first device, and information from the first device for identifying the first ID, information for identifying the second ID, and When each of the third IDs is received, from the information, the first ID managed in the process of the first management step and the ^second ID managed in the process of the second management step are obtained. Each specific step and the second ID specified in the processing of the specific step To the second device to respond, you; and a distribution control step of controlling the delivery of Konten' identified by the third ID.

Recording medium program of the present invention, the managing ^second ID for identifying a first management step of managing first ID for identifying the first device, the second device 2 A third management step for managing a third ID for identifying content, and a third management step when a first device requests content distribution. Supplying the first ID to the first device, and information for identifying the first ID from the first device; When the information for identifying the ID and the third ID are received, respectively, the first ID managed in the processing of the first management step and the processing of the second management step are obtained from the information. A third step for specifying the second IDs managed by the second step and a third step for the second device corresponding to the second ID specified in the processing of the second step.

And a distribution control step for controlling distribution of the content identified by the ID.

A program according to the present invention includes a first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first device, and a second management step of managing a second ID for identifying a second device. And a third management step of managing a third ID for identifying the content, and when the first device receives a request for distribution of the content, the third device is managed in the process of the third management step. Supplying a third ID to the first device, information from the first device for identifying the first ID, information for identifying the second ID, and When each of the third IDs is received, from the information, the first ID managed in the process of the first management step and the second ID managed in the process of the second management step are obtained. Each specific step identified and the second I identified in the processing of the specific step And a distribution control step of controlling distribution of the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to D.

In the present invention, when a 1D for determining an apparatus to which content data is to be transmitted is managed, an ID for identifying content is managed, and a request for content distribution is issued from the first apparatus. An ID for identifying the managed content is supplied to the first device. Then, when the information from the first device is received, the transmission destination of the content data and the billing destination of the fee for purchasing the content data are determined from the information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a service provider.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the STB.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a PC.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the appearance of a mobile phone.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a mobile phone.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functions of the service provider.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the function of the STB.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a process related to device registration.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the television receiver. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of the transmission destination table.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining another process related to device registration.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another configuration of the transmission destination table.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the process related to the change of the registered information.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another configuration of the transmission destination table.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to purchase.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for describing data stored in the content database.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining data stored in the license issuing unit. FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining the schedule data.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating another process related to purchase. FIG. 24 is a flowchart for explaining the processing performed by the service provider.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display.

2 7 0 Oh a flowchart for explaining processing by the service provider performs ₀

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the STB.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart for explaining the processing performed by the service provider.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a process related to a present ₍ FIG. 31 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display).

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display.

FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining a transmission reservation table related to schedule reservation.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for explaining scheduling. FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by the service provider. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an information processing system including an information processing device to which the present invention is applied. The network 1 is a network composed of the Internet LAN (Local Area Network). The service provider 2 is connected to the network 1. Here, it is assumed that the service provider 2 is a provider that provides a service of providing content data to a device on the user side.

User A possesses a set top box (STB) 11, a personal computer (PC) 12, and a mobile phone 13 as devices that can be connected to the network 1. Similarly, user B owns ST B 21, PC 22, and mobile phone 23 as devices that can be connected to network 1. STBs 1 1 and 2 1 and PCs 1 and 2 2 are connected to network 1 while being installed in the homes of user A and user B, respectively. It is configured to be connected to the network 1 in places other than the home of the user B.

The basic configurations and functions of the STB 11 and STB 21, PC 12 and PC 22, and mobile phone 13 and mobile phone 23 owned by user A and user B are the same. In the following description, when describing these devices in the following description, STB 11, PC 12, and mobile phone 13 will be described as examples unless otherwise necessary, and ST B 21, Descriptions of the PC 22 and the mobile phone 23 are omitted because they are the same.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the service provider 2. The service provider 2 includes a computer and the like. A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41 of the service provider 2 executes various processes according to a program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 43 appropriately stores data, programs, and the like necessary for the CPU 41 to execute various processes. The input / output interface 45 is connected to an input unit 46 composed of a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 46 to the CPU 41. The input / output interface 45 is also connected to an output unit 47 including a display, a speaker, and the like.

Further, the input / output interface 45 exchanges data with other devices (for example, STB 11) via a storage unit 48 composed of a hard disk or the like and a network 1 composed of the Internet or the like. Communication unit 4 9 is also connected ing. The drive 50 is used when reading data from or writing data to a recording medium such as the magnetic disk 61, the optical disk 62, the magneto-optical disk 63, and the semiconductor memory 64.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the STB 11. The CPU 81 expands the control program stored in the ROM 82 into the RAM 83, and controls the entire operation of the STB 11 based on an instruction from the user supplied from the infrared light receiving unit 84. For example, the CPU 81 does not show an EPG (Electronic Program Guide), but when the user instructs to display it on the monitor connected to the STB 11, the CPU 81 supplies the EPG supplied from the demultiplexer 87. Executes processing to display a screen based on PG data on the monitor.

The infrared light receiving unit 84 receives infrared light emitted from a remote controller (not shown) for the STB 11 and outputs a command corresponding to an instruction from the user to the CPU 81.

The storage unit 85 stores information of a program for which a recording reservation or a viewing reservation has been set, and information such as an ID supplied from another device (in this case, the service provider 2). The communication unit 86 extracts a signal of a predetermined channel based on an instruction from the CPU 81, and performs analog-to-digital conversion processing, QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) demodulation processing, or error correction processing on the signal. Then, the obtained transport stream is output to the subsequent demultiplexer 87.

In addition, the communication unit 86 exchanges data with the service provider 2 via the network 1, and also performs processing on the exchanged data.

The demultiplexer 87 temporarily stores the supplied transport stream in the buffer memory 88, and descrambles the transport stream using, for example, a descrambling key supplied from an IC card (not shown). Then, the demultiplexer 87 extracts, from the descrambled data, packets constituting the video data of the program designated by the CPU 81 based on the identifier, and extracts the extracted packets from the video decoder 8. Output to 9. The demultiplexer 87 is Extract a bucket storing a set of audio data and convert it to an audio decoder

Output to 90.

The video decoder 89 converts the supplied bucket into, for example, MPEG (Moving

Picture Experts Group) Plays back based on the 2 method, and supplies the played back video signal to a monitor (not shown) for display. The audio decoder 90 reproduces the supplied packet in the same manner, and supplies the reproduced audio signal to a speaker (not shown) for output.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the PC 12. The CPU 101 of the PC 12 executes various processes according to a program stored in the ROM 102. The RAMI 03 stores data, programs, and the like necessary for the CPU 101 to execute various types of processing. The input / output interface 105 is connected to an input unit 106 composed of a keyboard and a mouse, and outputs a signal input to the input unit 106 to the CPU 101. The input / output interface 105 is also connected to an output unit 107 including a display, a speaker, and the like. Further, the input / output interface 105 exchanges data with other devices (for example, the service provider 2) via a storage unit 108 composed of a hard disk and the like, and a network 1 composed of the Internet and the like. Communication department

1 09 is also connected. The drive 120 is used when reading data from or writing data to a recording medium such as a magnetic disk.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an external configuration of the mobile phone 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the mobile phone 13 is divided into a display part 122 and a main body 123 with a center hinge part 121 as a boundary, and is formed to be foldable via the hinge part 121. ing.

The display unit 122 has an antenna 124 for transmission and reception attached to the upper left side of the display unit so that it can be pulled out and stored, and is connected to a base station that controls connection to the network 1 via the antenna 124. Transmit and receive radio waves between The display unit 122 is provided with a camera unit 125 that is rotatable in an angle range of approximately 180 degrees at the center of the upper end. Thus, a desired imaging target can be imaged by the CCD camera 126 of the camera unit 125.

When the camera section 125 is rotated, a speaker (not shown) appears instead of the CCD camera 126, and the user can hear the call sound from the speaker.

In addition, the display unit 122 is provided with a liquid crystal display 127 in front of it, the reception status of the radio wave, the remaining battery level, the destination name and telephone number registered in the phonebook, and the call history. In addition to the above, it displays the contents of e-mail, a simple homepage, images captured by the CCD camera 126 of the camera section 125, and the like.

On the other hand, the main unit 1 2 3 has operation keys such as numeric keys of “0” to “9”, a call key, a redial key, an end and power key, a clear key, and an e-mail key. Are provided, and various instructions can be input using the operation keys 128.

The main body 123 is provided with a microphone 129, and the microphone 129 collects the voice of the user during a call. On the main body 123, a rotatable jog dial 130 is provided above the operation keys 128 so as to slightly protrude from the surface of the main body 123, and the like. Various operations such as a telephone directory list displayed on the liquid crystal display 127, an e-mail scrolling operation, a simple homepage page turning operation, and an image sending operation are executed in response to the turning operation on.

The main body 1 2 3 has a memory stick slot 1 3 1 at the top of the left side of the main body 1 2 3 for inserting a removable memory stick (trademark of Sony Corporation) 140. It is configured to be able to record e-mail, simple homepage, and images captured by the CCD camera 126 in response to user operations.

In addition, since the mobile phone 13 is configured so that the memory stick 140 can be attached thereto, data can be shared with other electronic devices via the memory stick 140. Can be planned. As shown in FIG. 6, the mobile phone 13 has a power supply circuit section 161, an operation input, and a main control section 160, which controls the display section 122 and the main body 123, respectively. Control unit 16 2, Image encoder 16 3, Camera interface unit 16 4, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) control unit 16 5, Image decoder 16 6, Demultiplexing unit 16 7, Recording and playback unit 16 8. Modulation / demodulation circuit section 169, and audio codec 170 are connected to each other via main path 171.Image encoder 163, image decoder 166, demultiplexing section 167 The modulation / demodulation circuit section 169 and the audio codec 170 are connected to each other via a synchronous bus 172.

The power supply circuit section 16 1 activates the mobile phone 13 to an operable state by supplying power from the battery pack to each section when the call end and the power key are turned on by a user operation. .

Under the control of the main control unit 160 composed of a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc., the mobile phone 13 converts the audio signal collected by the microphone 12 9 in the voice call mode into a digital signal by the audio codec 170. The data is converted into audio data, which is subjected to spectrum spread processing in the modulation / demodulation circuit section 169, subjected to digital / analog conversion processing and frequency conversion processing in the transmission / reception circuit section 173, and then transmitted via the antenna 124. . Also, the mobile phone 13 amplifies the received signal received by the antenna 124 in the voice communication mode, performs frequency conversion processing and analog-to-digital conversion processing, and transmits the spectrum in the modulation / demodulation circuit section 169. After despreading and converting to an analog audio signal by the audio codec 170, this is output via the speaker 174.

When the mobile phone 13 receives data of a moving image file linked to, for example, a simple homepage in the data communication mode, the mobile phone 13 modulates a received signal received from a base station via the antenna 124 to the modem circuit 16. At 9, spectrum despreading processing is performed, and the resulting multiplexed data is sent to the demultiplexing section 167.

The demultiplexer 167 separates the multiplexed data into coded image data and audio data, and supplies the coded image data to the image decoder 166 via the synchronous bus 172 And supplies the audio data to the audio codec ₁₇₀ The image decoder 1 6 6 converts the encoded image data into MPEG (Movig Picture

(Experts Group) 2 and MPEG 4 to generate playback moving image data by decoding with a decoding method corresponding to a predetermined coding method, etc., and send this to the liquid crystal display 127 via the LCD control unit 165. Supply, whereby, for example, moving image data included in a moving image file linked to the simplified home page is displayed.

At this time, at the same time, the audio codec 170 converts the audio data into an analog audio signal, and then supplies the analog audio signal to the speaker 174 so that, for example, a moving image file linked to a simple home page can be obtained. The included audio data is reproduced.

The mobile phone 13 can record the received data linked to the simplified homepage or the like on the memory stick 140 via the recording / reproducing unit 168 by the operation of the user.

The functions for realizing the present embodiment in each device having the above-described configuration will be described below. FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the service provider 2 showing functions necessary for the service provider 2 to perform processing described later.

The content transmission reservation unit 201 of the service provider 2 accepts a reservation or purchase request for content transmission from the user. The content database 202 stores data of the content itself (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as content data) and data related to the content data, for example, data such as the size of the content data and the expiration date (hereinafter, the content accompanying data, as appropriate). ) Are stored in association with each other.

The transmission destination database 203 stores information (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as user information) regarding users who have made a prior contract regarding the purchase of content data and the like. When receiving a reservation or purchase request for content transmission from the user, the content transmission reservation unit 201 stores the content accompanying data stored in the content database 202 and the transmission destination database 203 It is determined whether or not the request is accepted by referring to the user information that has been entered. as a result, If it is determined that the information is to be accepted, predetermined information is output to the schedule creation unit 204.

The content transmission reservation unit 201 also manages data relating to sites (homepages that can be browsed on the network 1) that accept requests such as transmission reservation and purchase of predetermined content from the user A (Fig. 1). In addition, such data is provided to the accessing user, and the user can request a reservation or purchase by referring to a screen based on the data.

The schedule creation unit 204 creates a transmission schedule such as when to provide content data for content requested by the user to the user. Based on the created schedule, the content transmission unit 105 reads out the content data from the content database 202 and transmits the content data to the user device.

The license issuance unit 206 stores license (usage right) data in the content data to be provided to the user so that the content data can be correctly reproduced by the user while preventing the content data from being illegally reproduced. Is issued and added. The communication control unit 2007 controls transmission and reception of data via the network 1 in the service provider 2.

To explain the correspondence between the service provider 2 shown in FIG. 2 and the service provider 2 shown in FIG. 7, the content data 202 and the destination database 203 are provided in the storage unit 48, respectively. Database. Further, a portion for storing data relating to a site managed by the content transmission reservation unit 201 may be provided in the storage unit 48.

The content transmission reservation unit 201, schedule creation unit 204, content transmission unit 205, and license issuing unit 206 start programs stored in the ROM 42 and the storage unit 48, respectively. This is a function realized by the CPU 41 executing a process according to the activated program. Therefore, programs and data are developed and stored in RAM 43 as necessary. The communication control unit 207 is a function for controlling data transfer performed by the communication unit 49.

The function of the STB 11 for exchanging data with the service provider 2 having such a function will be described. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing functions necessary for exchanging data with the service provider 2 and performing processing to be described later among the functions of the STB 11. The communication control unit 221 controls transmission and reception of data with the service provider 2 via the network 1. The data controlled by the communication control unit 222 is supplied to the transmission control unit 222.

The transmission control unit 222 controls transmission and reception of content data and data relating to a transmission schedule with the service provider 2. The storage unit 222 stores the content data and the like supplied from the transmission control unit 222. The license management unit 224 stores the license data supplied from the transmission control unit 222, and based on the stored license data, stores the content data in the storage unit 223 and the reproduction unit 224. 26 manages the playback of the content data. The device ID management unit 2 25 manages the device ID supplied from the service provider 2 as information for identifying the STB 11.

Here, the correspondence between the STB 11 shown in FIG. 3 and the STB 11 shown in FIG. 8 will be described. The communication control unit 22 1 controls the communication in the communication unit 86 by a function. is there. The storage section 223, the section for storing license data of the license management section 224, and the section for storing the device ID of the device ID management section 225 are provided in the storage section 85, respectively. I have.

The transmission control unit 222, the license management unit 222, and the device ID management unit 222, respectively, activate a program stored in the ROM 82 or the storage unit 85, and execute the activated program. This is a function realized by the CPU 81 executing the processing according to the following. Therefore, programs and data are developed and stored in RAM 83 as necessary. The reproduction unit 222 is a function executed by a part related to reproduction, such as the demultiplexer 87, the video decoder 89, and the audio decoder 90.

Next, the data exchange between the service provider 2 and the STB 11 will be described. In order for STB 11 to download content data from service provider 2, it is assumed that STB 11 (user A) has contracted with service provider 2 (the company that manages service provider 2). There is a need. Here, when the contract is made, a device ID for identifying the STB 11 is given from the service provider 2, and the STB 11 is given to the service provider 2 by giving the device ID. Description will be made assuming that the information is registered.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9, a process for registering the STB 11 with the service provider 2 will be described. In step S11, the STB 11 accesses the service provider 2. This access is performed via the network 1 by the user A performing a predetermined operation on the STB 11.

Upon receiving the request for access from the STB 11 in step S21, the service provider 2 transmits data on the registration form in step S22. Before sending the data related to the registration form, the STB I1 requesting access shall be provided with a process to determine whether or not it has already been registered. You may not send the registration form data to 1 1. Here, in order to explain the registration process, it is assumed that the data of the registration form is transmitted.

The process in step S22 is performed in the content transmission reservation unit 201 (FIG. 7). That is, the access request from the STB 11 is a request for registration as a result. In this case, the request is made under the control of the communication control unit 207 of the service provider 2, Supplied to 1. The content transmission reservation section 201 manages the data of the initial screen as an initial screen that is always provided when an access request is made or as a dedicated initial screen at the time of registration. And send the registered data as registration form data. In step S12, the data of the initial screen transmitted from the service provider 2 is received by the STB 11. The data of the initial screen received under the control of the communication control 222 of the STB 11 is supplied to the transmission control unit 222. When the transmission control unit 222 determines that the supplied (transmitted) data is data relating to the initial screen, the transmission control unit 222 supplies the data to the reproduction unit 222.

The reproducing unit 226 reproduces the supplied data. As a result, a screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the screen of, for example, the television receiver connected to the STB 11. Fig. 10 shows the initial screen for registration. The screen includes a user ID input field 25 1 for entering a user ID, a password input field 25 2 for entering a password, Also, an e-mail address input box 253 for inputting an e-mail address is provided.

The user ID is an ID that can be arbitrarily assigned by the user, and is a character string having a predetermined number of digits including alphabets, numbers, and kana characters. Similarly, the password is a character string having a predetermined number of digits that can be arbitrarily assigned by the user. The email address has a function for the STB 11 to send and receive e-mails such as e-mail, and when an address is assigned to the STB 11, the address may be used.

However, in performing the processing described later, the mail address input to the mail address input field 25 3 is the mail address assigned to a device other than the STB 11, for example, the mail assigned to the PC 12 or the mobile phone 13. A dress is better. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 10, the item above the e-mail address input box 25 3 is not "e-mail address" but is specifically described as "e-mail address of PC or mobile phone". You may do it.

Here, such user ID, password, and e-mail address are entered. However, information other than these information is entered, or information other than these information is entered. May be. The information entered on such a screen may be any information that can uniquely distinguish STB 11; here, The user ID is used to distinguish STB 11 of user A from other STBs (eg, STB 21 (FIG. 1)).

Since the user ID is used to distinguish the STB 11 intentionally, a mail address may be used as the user ID. That is, the STB 11 may be uniquely distinguished by the mail address. When the user ID is an e-mail address, it is not necessary to provide the user ID input field 2 51 and the e-mail address input field 2 53 separately on the screen of the television receiver 24 1 shown in FIG. Only one of them may be provided.

Also, it is assumed that the screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the television receiver 241 on the user side, but the timing at which such a screen is displayed on the television receiver 241 is as follows. Alternatively, an item such as “registration” may be provided as one selection item in the initial screen provided by the service provider 2, and the item may be displayed when the item such as “registration” is selected. Even in such a case, the transmission is basically performed by exchanging data regarding the screen between the STB 11 and the service provider 2 as described above.

Here, the screen as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the user's television receiver 241, and the following description is based on the assumption that the user inputs a user ID, password, and e-mail address, respectively. I do.

Returning to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 9, in step S13, when the user inputs a desired character string on the screen as shown in FIG. 10, the data is transmitted to the service provider 2. Sent to In step S24, the service provider 2 that has received the data related to the user ID and the like in step S23 stores the user ID, password, and mail address based on the received data in step S24.

Here, the storage process performed in step S24 will be described. Data related to the user ID and the like from the STB 11 is received by the communication control unit 207 of the service provider 2 and supplied to the content transmission reservation unit 201. Above As described above, the content transmission reservation unit 201 also performs a process related to registration as one of the processes.

When the content transmission reservation unit 201 determines that the data supplied from the communication control unit 207 is data from the STB 11 (user) that has newly requested registration, the content transmission reservation unit 201 transmits the data. Write (remember) to destination database 203. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the data of the transmission destination database 203. As shown in FIG. 11, in the transmission destination database 203, a device ID, a user ID, a password, and an e-mail address are managed in association with each other. Here, the data stored in the destination database 203 as shown in FIG. 11 is appropriately described as a destination table.

The device ID is described in the destination table in advance. In the destination table shown in FIG. 11, “00001” to “999999” are described (prepared) in advance as the device ID. Here, description will be made assuming that the device ID is stored in the transmission destination table in advance. However, when such registration is performed, the device ID may be generated and the generated device ID may be used.

Such destination table, the user ID received in step S 2 3, password, and e-mail addresses, respectively, where _c is written into the corresponding portion, as the user ID "Aiu", as the password "XXXX" , And the mail address “ΔΔΔ @@. Co.jp” is received and written in the column of the device ID “0 0 0 0 0 1”.

Such writing (storage) to the transmission destination database 203 is performed in step S24, and when the processing is completed, the device ID is transmitted in step S25. The device ID transmitted from the service provider 2 in step S25 is the device ID corresponding to the column in which the writing has been performed. That is, in this case, “00001” is read as the device ID and transmitted to the STB13L. When the service provider 2 terminates the transmission of the device ID, it means that the process related to the registration of the STB 11 has been completed. At 26, notification of registration completion is provided.

As a notification of the completion of the registration, a message such as “registration completed” may be simply displayed on the screen of the television receiver 241 connected to the STB 11, Other messages and images may be displayed.

Also, for example, if the user ID requested to be registered is already stored in the destination database 203, a message instructing to change the user ID will be displayed after the user ID is changed. The message may be transmitted together with a message for recognizing the user.

Here, the reason that the same user ID does not exist in the destination template is because, as described above, the STB 11 is uniquely distinguished by the user ID. Therefore, if the same user ID exists, it is not possible to uniquely distinguish the STB I1, and it is necessary to perform processing that does not cause such a situation. On the other hand, the STB 11 receives the device ID from the service provider 2 in step S14, and receives a completion notification in step S15. The device ID received in step S14 is stored in the device ID management unit 225 (FIG. 8) of the STB 11 in step S16. Based on the completion notification received in step S15, processing such as ending the registration processing and changing the user ID is performed. If the change of the user ID is executed, the storage of the device ID in step S16 is performed only when the change of the user ID is permitted by the service provider 2.

By the way, in STB 11, when a character string is input in each field provided on the screen as shown in FIG. 10, the processing of inputting the character string is instructed to STB 11. Is performed by a remote controller (not shown) The remote control is not usually configured for character input. In addition, there is a possibility that the STB 11 itself does not have a function of inputting a character string. Therefore, as described above, rather than performing the registration process in STB 11, the STB 11 can be registered in the service provider 2 by another device configured to be more suitable for inputting a character string. It would be easier for the user to perform the registration process if the process could be performed. Therefore, here, as an example, a case where PC 12 is used as a device having a configuration suitable for character input is described. For the process of registering STB 11 with service provider 2, refer to the flowchart of FIG. 12. Will be explained. In step S41, the STB 11 accesses the service provider 2. The service provider 2 receives the access request from the STB 11 in step S61. The processing related to the connection between the STB 11 and the service provider 2 is performed in the same manner as the processing in step S11 and step S21 shown in FIG.

In step S62, the service provider 2 transmits a device ID and an alias ID to the STB 11. The device ID is an ID that is not provided to the user, and the user cannot recognize the device ID. On the other hand, the alias ID is an ID provided to the user and an ID that can be known by the user.

Here, the device ID and the alias ID will be described as being supplied from the service provider 2. The device ID and the alias ID are associated and stored in the service provider 2 in advance. Therefore, the device ID can be uniquely specified by the alias ID.

In step S62, when the device ID and the alias ID are transmitted from the service provider 2 to the STB 11, the STB 11 transmits the device ID and the alias ID in step S42. Receive. This reception is performed under the control of the communication control unit 221 and is supplied to the transmission control unit 222. The transmission control unit 22 In step S43, the supplied device ID and alias ID are supplied to the device ID management unit 225 to be managed (stored).

In this way, when the device ID and the alias ID are stored in the device ID management unit 225, the stored alias ID is transmitted (provided) to the PC 12 in step S44. The provision of this alias ID to PC 12 may be direct or indirect.

First, the case where the alias ID is directly provided from the STB 11 to the PC 12 will be described. For example, when the STB 11 and the PC 12 are connected via a home network, an alias ID is transmitted / received via the network. The transmission and reception may be performed when the alias ID is stored in the STB 11 or when the PC 12 is started. As will be described later, when the PC 12 accesses the service provider 2 (when it is connected), the PC 12 stores the data in the STB 11 from the STB 11 via the home network. Alternatively, the alias ID may be obtained.

Alternatively, the alias ID may be transmitted from the STB 11 to the PC 11 by e-mail or the like. In any case, the alias ID is directly transmitted and received from the STB 11 to the PC 12.

The case where the alias ID is provided indirectly from STB 11 to PC 12 will be described. For example, first, when the alias ID is stored in STB 11, a message for recognizing the user that the alias ID has been stored and the stored alias ID are transmitted to the connected television. Display it on the screen of the receiver 2 4 1. The user records the alias ID displayed on the screen of the television receiver 241 on a paper medium or the like.

Then, the user stores the alias ID recorded on the paper medium or the like in the PC 12 (as described later, inputs it in a predetermined column). The timing for this storage may be, for example, when the PC 12 accesses the service provider 2 (when it is connected). Since it is conceivable to provide the alias ID from the STB 11 to the PC 12, the timing at which the alias ID is received by the PC 12 is determined by the step S 5 as shown in FIG. The timing may be before or after the processing of step 2 is performed, and such timing may be appropriately changed according to the method of providing the alias ID.

Here, since an example in which the processing is performed by the PC 12 is described, the above-described method is conceivable. However, when the processing is performed by the mobile phone 13, the C of the mobile phone 13 is used. The CD camera 1 26 (FIG. 5) captures an alias ID displayed on the television receiver 24 1, and the captured alias ID is recognized and stored by processing in the mobile phone 13. You may do it.

Further, in an apparatus having an imaging device such as a CCD camera 126, for example, a code for presenting information called a two-dimensional bar code is used, and the alias ID is used by the user. It may be provided to the device on the side.

Regardless of the timing at which the alias ID is provided from STB 11 to PC 12 (or mobile phone 13), the time after the alias ID is stored in STB 11 Then, the PC 12 starts access to the service provider 2 in step S52. The service provider 2 manages sites that can be browsed on the network 1 as described above. The user operates the PC 12 so that the site can be browsed.

In this way, when the site managed by the service provider 2 can be browsed on the PC 12, the data of the registration form is transmitted from the service provider 2 to the PC 12 in step S 64. Sent. The transmitted registration form data is received by the PC 12 in step S53. Then, a registration screen based on the received data is displayed on a display as the output unit 107 (FIG. 4) of the PC 12.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the registration form displayed on the display 26 1 of the PC 12. The registration form displayed on the display 26 1 shown in Figure 13 The system has a configuration in which an alias ID input field 254 for inputting an alias ID is added to the registration form displayed on the television receiver 241 shown in FIG.

The user operates a keyboard (not shown) as the input unit 106 of the PC 12 and inputs information (character string) into each column of the registration form shown in FIG. When the alias ID of the STB 11 has already been acquired in the alias ID input field 254, the alias ID may be displayed regardless of the user's input.

Normally, the PC 12 has a keyboard for inputting character strings as the input unit 106, and is considered to be more suitable than the STB 11 for inputting the character strings required for the registration form. Can be Therefore, the process of registering the STB 11 with the service provider 2 can be performed by the PC 12 which is a device different from the STB 11, which has an advantage that the user can easily perform the registration process.

When various types of information are entered in predetermined fields of the registration screen as shown in FIG. 13, the information is transmitted from the PC 12 to the service provider 2 in step S54. When the service provider 2 receives the information from the PC 12 in step S65, the service provider 2 stores the received information in step S66. Then, when the storage of the information is completed, in step S67, a notification of registration completion is transmitted to PC12.

In step S55, when the PC 12 receives the registration completion notification from the service provider 2, the PC 12 performs processing corresponding to the notification, for example, to notify the user that the registration processing has been completed. The message is displayed on the display 26 1.

The processing performed on the STB 11 side, the PC 12 side, and the service provider 2 side in FIG. 12 as described above is described as one time here, but may be repeated a plurality of times. By being repeated a plurality of times, for example, it becomes possible to register a different user ID and password for each family on one terminal. In other words, in this case, a plurality of users can register with the STB 11.

When multiple users register with one device, this can be realized by repeating the processing performed on the STB 11 side, PC 12 side, and service provider 2 side multiple times in Fig. 12. It is. When the processing is repeatedly performed a plurality of times, the processing may be performed continuously, or may be performed with a time interval. However, as described later, if the alias ID is deleted (changed), processing must be performed before the change is made. However, if the alias ID is not changed, or if the user can be registered with information other than the alias ID, such restrictions can be removed.

Returning to the description of the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the storage processing performed by the service provider 2 in step S66 and the completion notification of the registration performed in step S67 are notified in step S24 in FIG. The processing performed in step S26 is basically the same as the processing performed in step S26, and the processing performed on the PC 12 side as the processing corresponding to the processing in step S67 is the same as the processing performed in step S26 in FIG. Since the processing corresponding to the processing is basically the same as the processing performed on the STB 11 side, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, since the storage processing performed in step S66 on the service provider 2 side includes processing different from the storage processing performed in step S24 in FIG. 9, the different processing will be described here. to add. First, FIG. 14 shows a destination table of the destination database 203 (FIG. 7) of the service provider 2 when processing is performed based on the flowchart of FIG.

The destination table of the destination database 203 shown in FIG. 14 has a configuration in which a column for writing “alias ID” is provided in the destination table shown in FIG. As described above, the alias ID is an ID associated with the device ID and provided to uniquely specify the device ID. Further, the alias ID is an ID provided to the user as information that can be known by the user. Therefore, send In the preceding table, the alias ID is written in association with the device ID in advance.

The service provider 2 manages the destination table as shown in Fig. 14, but in the process of step S62 (Fig. 12), the data sent to the STB 11 side is The device ID and the alias ID associated with the device ID in the destination table. That is, a set of a device ID and an alias ID is provided to the STB 11 before the PC 12 accesses the service provider 2.

In such a state, the service provider 2 receives the user ID, password, e-mail address, and alias ID information from the PC 12 on the user side. The content is controlled by the unit 207 and supplied to the content transmission reservation unit 201.

The content transmission reservation unit 201 reads out the alias ID from the supplied information. Then, the content transmission reservation unit 201 refers to the transmission destination table in the transmission destination table managed by the transmission destination database 203 in which the read alias ID is written, with reference to the transmission destination table. decide.

The content transmission reservation unit 201 writes the supplied user ID, password, and e-mail address in the column of the determined destination table. In this way, information of each user who has requested registration is written in each column of the destination table as shown in FIG.

In this way, by providing an ID called an alias ID, it does not disclose inconvenient information known to the user as a device ID, and also uses a device other than the device (in this case, STB 11) that requests registration. The registration of the specified device can be performed from the device (in this case, PC 12).

By the way, the device ID is basically a finite number of IDs. However, referring again to the flowchart of FIG. 12, after the device ID power STB 11 is stored in step S 43, the user does not necessarily use the device such as the PC 12. Therefore, when the STB 11 is registered with the service provider 2, the processing is not always performed. In other words, there is a possibility that the state in which the user information is not written in the transmission destination tape column corresponding to the device ID assigned to the STB 11 may be continued for a long time.

This suggests that there is a possibility that there is a useless device ID in a limited number of device IDs. Therefore, if the device ID is stored in the STB 11 and the registration process is not performed within a predetermined period, the device ID is assigned to another device. May be assigned, and the device ID may be assigned efficiently.

In such a case, first, the service provider 2 does not perform the registration process. (In spite of providing the device ID and alias ID pair, the information such as the user ID is written in the corresponding field. No) Detects device IDs that are determined to have passed the specified period. Then, as a result of the detection, the alias ID associated with the device ID determined to have passed the predetermined period is changed.

In this way, by changing the alias ID, even if the registration process is performed by the user of the STB 11 that has stored the pre-change AV ID after a predetermined period has elapsed, Since the alias ID at the time is different, it is possible to execute processing such as not permitting the registration. Also, by changing the alias ID, it is possible to provide the changed alias ID to other STBs, and it is possible to effectively use the device ID.

By the way, based on the flow chart shown in FIG. 12, at the time after STB 11 is registered in service provider 2, as information for uniquely identifying the device ID assigned to STB 11, There will be two pieces of information, an alias ID (referred to as information 1) and a user ID (referred to as information 2). Therefore, after STB 1 1 is registered with service provider 2, it does not matter which device ID is specified using information 1 or device ID is specified using information 2. . Considering this, if the device ID is specified by the user ID as information 2, the alias ID as information 1 is stored in the destination table (Fig. 14) (managed No need. Therefore, among the alias IDs, the alias IDs for which registration processing has already been performed and user information such as a user ID is written in the corresponding column may be deleted. If deleted, the alias ID can be reused, such as associating the deleted alias ID with other device IDs.

Basically, device IDs must be prepared in order to pass on contracts with many users (equipment), and it is necessary to ensure that many IDs do not have the same ID. To do this, a character string with a large number of digits will be used. If the device ID and the alias ID are associated one-to-one, the alias ID must be prepared in the same number as the device ID, and consists of a character string with the same number of digits as the device ID Will be.

However, the alias ID is an ID provided to the user side, and is a character string that the user must input as necessary. Considering that a situation may occur when the user himself / herself inputs the alias ID, it is preferable that the number of digits of the character string constituting the alias ID be short. Therefore, as described above, if alias IDs are reused, the number of alias IDs that need to be prepared in advance can be smaller than the device IDs (one-to-one correspondence). It is not necessary to do so), and the number of alias IDs can be reduced. If the number of alias IDs can be reduced, it is possible to allocate alias IDs so that the same alias ID does not exist even if the number of digits of the character string constituting the alias ID is reduced.

The alias ID will be further explained. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is conceivable that user A has a plurality of devices that can receive content data, such as STB 11, PC 12, and mobile phone 13. In other words, one user must own multiple devices to receive content data. Conceivable. In such a case, one user performs the above-described registration processing for each device to be registered.

As a result, it is necessary to register the alias ID, user ID, password, and e-mail address for each device. As described above, if the device ID is uniquely specified by the user ID, the same user ID cannot be registered even if the user is the same. Therefore, if a user registers multiple devices, it must register with multiple user IDs and remember it. Even if the device ID is uniquely specified by the alias ID, similarly, the user must remember a plurality of alias IDs.

This is not user-friendly for the user. Therefore, the following processing is further provided to improve usability. Of course, the processing described below is unnecessary if there is a rule such that one user can register only one equipment with the service provider 2. .

As described above, after a predetermined device is registered with the service provider 2, the alias ID assigned to the device does not need to be managed by the service provider 2. Therefore, by making the alias ID changeable on the user side, the usability on the user side is improved.

Here, it is assumed that the STB 11 already stores the device ID and the alias ID, and the PC 12 has already stored (acquired) the alias ID assigned to the STB 11. I do. The processing up to the storage (acquisition) is performed in the same manner as the processing performed between the STB 11 and the service provider 2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, for example. Description is omitted.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 15, a process when the PC 12 registers the STB 11 with the service provider 2 will be described. Steps S81 to S833 as processing on the PC 12 side and Steps S91 to S93 as processing on the service provider 2 side are respectively steps in the flowchart of FIG. S 5 Since the processing is the same as steps S63 to S54 and steps S63 to S65, the description thereof is omitted.

In step S93, the service provider 2 receives, from the PC 12, the user ID, the password, the e-mail address, and the information of the alias ID assigned to the STB 11 at that time. User authentication (confirmation of the password) is performed in S94.This is a process in the case where access is made to change the registered user ID from the registered user ID to the terminal name. Recognition and proof are performed.

In step S94, if the same user ID as the received user ID is stored in the transmission destination table and it is determined that the passwords match, that is, it is determined that user authentication has been performed. If so, the process proceeds to step S95, and the data of the change form is read. Here, the change form is a form for changing the alias ID to a terminal name, and the terminal name is a name given by the user to a device (here, STB11) registered by the user.

On the other hand, in step S94, when it is determined that there is no user ID identical to the received user ID in the destination table or that the passwords do not match, that is, when it is determined that the user authentication has failed. Proceeding to step S96, the data of the re-input form is read. This re-entry form is a form for recognizing that the user could not be authenticated because the user ID or password was entered incorrectly, and asking the user to enter the user ID and password again. is there.

In step S97, the read data of the changed form or the re-input form is transmitted to the PC 12. The data is received by the PC 12 in step S84. The PC 12 displays a screen as shown in FIG. 16 or FIG. 17 on the display 261, as a screen based on the received data. The screen shown in Fig. 16 is a screen for change based on the data of the change form, and the screen shown in Fig. 17 is a screen for S input based on the data of the re-input form. The change screen shown in FIG. 16 is provided with a column 281 for displaying the alias ID before the change and a column 282 for inputting the terminal name after the change. The screen for re-entry shown in Fig. 17 has columns for entering the user ID and password, respectively.

The alias ID displayed in the column 2 82 on the screen shown in FIG. 16 is, for example, when the service provider 2 transmits the data of the change form in step S97, in step S93, Received and sent with the stored alias ID. By doing so, a screen in which the alias ID has been input is displayed on the display 26 1 of the PC 12 on the user side.

The user inputs a desired name in the field 282 of the screen as shown in FIG. For example, in this case, since processing is performed when the STBI 1 is registered with the service provider 2, a name such as "STB" is entered in the field 282. Field 2 8 2 where the terminal name is entered is a field in which characters can be entered, and it is possible for the user to freely assign (enter) a name. However, the state may be such that a desired name can be selected from the pull-down menu.

In any case, when the user inputs (selects) a desired terminal name on the screen as shown in FIG. 16 and also inputs other information as necessary, the information is input in step S84. Sent from the PC 1 2 to the service provider 2. The service provider 2 receives the data regarding the change from the PC 12 in step S98.

If the user re-enters the user ID and password on the screen as shown in FIG. 17, the service provider 2 repeats the processing from step S94 again. It is.

The service provider 2 executes the change process in step S99, and stores the changed data in step S100. This change and storage process determines the corresponding column of the destination table from the received alias ID before change. Then, the new terminal name is newly written in the column where the alias ID is written.

Here, the description will be made assuming that the alias ID is rewritten to the terminal name. However, the alias ID may be stored as it is, and the terminal name may be additionally stored. Further, when the alias ID is stored as described above, the alias ID may be used in a process described later. When the changed information is stored in the service provider 2 in this manner, a completion notification is sent to the PC 12 in step S10: U. The processing performed in step S101 and the processing in step S85 on the PC 12 side corresponding to the processing include the processing performed in step S67 and the processing performed in step S85 on the PC 12 corresponding to the processing in FIG. Since the processing is the same as the processing in 55, its description is omitted.

When the processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 15 is performed, the destination table stored in the destination database 203 of the service provider 2 is schematically shown in FIG. Become. In the example of the destination table shown in FIG. 18, the user with the user ID S “ID”, the pass V-word “XXXX”, and the mail address “rum Δ @@. Co.jp” is the terminal name. As a result, two devices, "STB" and "PC", are registered. The device ID "000001" is assigned to the device "STB", and the device "PC" is allocated to the device. Indicates that the device ID "010021" is assigned.

Also, a user with a user ID of “power”, a password of “ΌΟΟΟ”, and an e-mail address of “ΔΔ @ X. The device ID "001 234" is assigned to the device "PC", and the device ID "001235" is registered to the device "STB". Equipment 1 D is assigned, and "0 0 1"

2 3 6 "indicates that the device ID is assigned.

In this way, a plurality of devices (terminal names) are associated with one user ID, and the device ID is associated with each device. By using such a destination table, one user can transmit content data to a desired device from a plurality of devices owned by the user with the same user ID. It is possible to receive (purchase). In the following, a process related to the purchase of content data will be described using a case where a transmission table as shown in FIG. 18 is used as an example.

First, a case where a device storing the device ID purchases content data from the service provider 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. Here, as an example of the device that stores the device ID, the STB 11 will be described as an example, and the case where the STB 11 purchases content data from the service provider 2 will be described.

In step S 121, ST B 11 starts access to service provider 2. This access is started according to a user's instruction. In step S131, the service provider 2 receives a request for access from STB11.

When the service provider 2 determines that the access request from the STB 11 is a request related to the purchase of content data, in step S132, the information about the content data is transmitted to the STB 1 which has requested the access. Send to 1. The data transmitted here is content accompanying data stored in the content database 202. FIG. 20 shows an example of the configuration of the content accompanying data stored in the content database 202.

The content accompanying data includes a content ID assigned to each content data in order to uniquely identify the content data, and a size of the content data. Information, such as the fee for purchasing the content data and the content of the content provided by the content data.

In step S122, the STBI 1 that has received the data from the service provider 2 displays a screen based on the received data on the connected television receiver 241. The user refers to the screen displayed on the television receiver 241, and determines the content data to be purchased.

When the content data to be purchased is determined by the user, the content ID assigned to the determined content data is transmitted to the service provider 2 together with the device ID. As the device ID, the device ID managed by the device ID management unit 225 of the STB 11 is read out and transmitted together with the content ID.

In step S133, service provider 2 receives data from STB11. In step S134, the service provider 2 extracts the device ID included in the received data. Then, based on the extracted device ID, the destination database 203 determines whether or not the device having the device ID is a device having a legitimate right to purchase the content data requested for purchase. The determination is made with reference to the stored data and the content accompanying data stored in the content database 202.

If it is determined in step S134 that the purchase of the content data is permitted, the process proceeds to step S135. If it is determined that the purchase of the content data is not permitted, the content data shown in FIG. Processing related to the purchase is terminated. If it is determined in step S134 that the purchase of the content data is not permitted, it is better to transmit a message for recognizing the fact to the user.

In step S135, the content data and the license data are transmitted to STB11. This transmission is performed according to the schedule created by the schedule creating unit 204. Although details will be described later, the schedule creation unit 204 Determines the timing of providing the content data to the user, creates a schedule based on the determination, and controls the content data to be transmitted based on the schedule.

When transmitting the content data, the schedule creating section 204 instructs the license issuing section 206 to issue license data. The license data is data relating to usage conditions, including data for preventing unauthorized copying and reproduction, and is data provided to the user along with the content data.

The license issuing unit 206 stores a table in which data as shown in FIG. 21 is described. That is, it is a table in which the license ID, the usage condition identified by the license ID, and the content ID to which the usage condition is applied are associated with each other. The terms of use include any conditions such as purchase, rental, and one-time copying.

One license ID is assigned to one use condition, but a plurality of content IDs can be associated with one license ID. This is so that the same usage conditions can be applied to multiple contents. One license ID may be associated with a plurality of usage conditions. That is, one license data may be generated by a combination of a plurality of usage conditions, and one license ID may be allocated to the one license data.

The license issuing unit 206 issues license data using such data. Note that the content accompanying data shown in FIG. 20 and the license data shown in FIG. 21 are merely examples, and data other than those data may be additionally stored. Also, the processing may be performed using the added data. The schedule creating unit 204 creates a schedule from the content accompanying data stored in the content database 202 and the data stored in the license issuing unit 206. Fig. 22 shows an example of the created schedule. In the schedule, when a content data transmission request is made, a schedule corresponding to the request is created at any time. The transaction ID for distinguishing the multiple schedules is set at the beginning of the schedule. It is provided in.

The content ID for identifying the content requested by the user is read from the content database 202 (FIG. 20), and is associated with the transaction ID. As for the license ID, the ID corresponding to the usage conditions applied to the content requested by the user is read from the license issuing unit 206 and associated therewith. The destination device ID is a device ID assigned to the device specified by the user as the destination of the content data, and is read from the destination database 203 as necessary.

The billing destination user ID is the ID of the user who charges the fee generated by purchasing the content data. When the transmission time is specified by the user, the specified time is basically set. If the user does not specify or if transmission cannot be performed at the time specified by the user, the time set by the service provider 2 is set. In the transmission state, information relating to the transmission state, such as the content data has not been transmitted yet, is being transmitted, or has been transmitted, is written. The transmission of the content data is performed based on the schedule information. In this case, the request is from STB 11 and if there is no request (necessity) to be transmitted at a later point in time, the request may be responded immediately. The created time may be written.

The communication control unit 2007 sends the content data and the license data (usage conditions) to the STB 11 based on the schedule created by the schedule creation unit 204. In step S 124, STB 11 receives data from service provider 2. The STB 11 stores the data received in step S125. In the storage process, first, data received under the control of the communication control unit 221 is supplied to the transmission control unit 222. The transmission control unit 222 supplies the content data of the supplied data to the storage unit 222, and supplies the license data to the license management unit 224.

The storage unit 223 and the license management unit 224 each store the supplied data. In this way, the content data is purchased in the STB 11. The billing process is not described, but when such a purchase process is performed, the billing process is also performed on the service provider 2 side. In the following description, although the description is omitted, when the process of purchasing the content data is performed, the process of charging is also performed.

Next, a description will be given of a process when the content data is purchased in the PC 12 and the purchased content data is stored in the STB 11. In this case, the device that performs the purchase process is different from the device that stores the purchased content data. The processing in such a case will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the description with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 23, first, an outline of the entire process will be described, and then, a detailed process in each device will be described.

The processing of steps S 15 1 to S 15 3 in PC 12 is basically the same as the processing performed by STB 11 in steps S 12 1 to S 12 3 of FIG. 19, and Steps S 16 1 to S 16 3 performed by the service provider 2 in response to the processing are basically the same as those performed by the service provider 2 in steps S 13 1 to S 13 2 in FIG. Therefore, the description is omitted.

However, in step S153, the PC 12 transmits only the content ID for identifying the content data for which the user has decided to purchase, and does not transmit the device ID. This is the device ID is the ID assigned to STB 11 This is because the ID managed by the STB 11 cannot transmit the device ID of the STB 11 from the PCI 2 power.

The service provider 2 that has received the data from the PC 12 in step S166 transmits the data of the purchase form to the PC 12 in step S164. The service provider 2 determines that a request to purchase content data has been issued from a device that does not have a device ID because the device ID is not included in the received data, and transmits the content data after purchase. The purchase form data is sent in order to send the information of the previous device and the information to confirm whether the user is a legitimate user with a contract.

In step S154, the PC 12 having received the data of the purchase form displays a screen for purchase based on the data on the display 261. The user refers to the screen and inputs necessary items, for example, a user ID and a password. The input user ID and password data are transmitted from PC 12 to service provider 2 in step S155.

In step S166, the service provider 2 receives the data from the PC12, and in step S166, stores the received data and performs scheduling based on the data. Although details will be described later, when processing such as scheduling to create a schedule as shown in Fig. 22 is executed, processing such as authentication processing using a password and determination of the device to which content data is to be transmitted is performed. And so on. Here, a description will be given assuming that such processing has been completed and the processing has proceeded to step S167.

In step S167, the service provider 2 notifies the user that the processing related to the purchase of the content, that is, the reception of the purchase of the content has been completed. Upon receiving the notification in step S156, the user's PC 12 displays a process based on the notification, for example, a message such as "The content purchase acceptance process has been completed" on the display 26. Perform the process of displaying on top of 1. On the other hand, the STB 11 queries the service provider 2 for the schedule in step S181. STB 11 inquires as to whether a schedule addressed to itself (a schedule in which the user is designated as a content data transmission destination) has not been created. Such an inquiry is made from the STB 11 to the service provider 2 every hour, for example. Here, as a result of execution of the above-described processing, STB 11 makes an inquiry to service provider 2 at a point in time after the schedule for STB 11 is created, and the inquiry is The case where the service provider 2 has received the information in step S168 will be described as an example.

When the service provider 2 determines that the schedule addressed to the STB 11 exists in response to the inquiry from the STB 11, the service provider 2 transmits the schedule addressed to the STB 11 in step S169. For example, when the STB 11 makes an inquiry, the STB 11 transmits its own device ID, and the service provider 2 creates (stores) the schedule associated with the device ID in the schedule creation unit 204. This is done by judging whether or not it has been done.

The schedule transmitted from the service provider 2 in step S169 is received by the STB 11 in step S182. The received schedule also contains information about the scheduled transmission time. At the time indicated by the information, the STB 11 requests the service provider 2 to transmit the content data. The request is received by the service provider 2 in step S170, and the service provider 2 responds to the request and starts transmitting content data in step S171.

When the transmission of such content data is started, the service provider 2 notifies the PC 12 that transmission of the purchased content data to the STB 11 has started in step S172. Notice. When the transmission of the content data to STB 11 is completed (step S173), the transmission is started. PC 12 is notified of the termination. This notification is performed, for example, by electronic mail.

On the other hand, STB 11 stores the transmitted content data in step S185.

In this way, the content purchase processing is performed in the PC 12, and the purchased content data is stored in the STB 11.

Next, the details of the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 23 will be described for each device. First, the process performed by the PC 12 will be described. The process performed by the PC 12 is basically to display a screen based on data from the service provider 2 and to display information input corresponding to the screen. Since the process such as transmission is repeated, its description is omitted, but it will be described together with the process of the service provider 2 as necessary.

With reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 24, among the processes performed by the service provider 2, a process related to the purchase of the content (a process related to the exchange with the PC 12 in the above description) will be described. In step S201, the service provider 2 determines whether or not access has been made from another device. Until it is determined that an access has been made from another device, the process of step S201 is repeated, and the standby state is maintained.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that access has been made from another device, the flow advances to step S202 to read the content accompanying data from the content database 202, Transmitted to the device. In this way, when the content accompanying data is transmitted, the service provider 2 determines the content that the user desires to purchase, and maintains the standby state until the content ID of the determined content is received.

The content accompanying data transmitted from the service provider 2 to another device (for example, the PC 12) includes the content ID. Then, a content ID corresponding to the content determined to be purchased by the user is transmitted to at least the service provider 2 and received as a purchase request from the user. The service provider 2 determines in step S203 whether or not such a content purchase request has been received from the user side.

In step S203, the standby state is maintained until it is determined that the content purchase request has been received. If it is determined that the content purchase request has been received, the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, it is determined whether or not the device ID is included in the received content purchase request.

As described above, when a purchase request is issued from a device such as STB 11 (a device that acquires and stores a device ID) that is a device that receives content data, the device ID and the device ID are used together. When a purchase request is issued from a device that does not become a content data receiving device (a device that does not have a device ID), such as a PC 11 or a mobile phone 13 Only the content ID is sent.

Therefore, as a process of step S204, it is determined whether or not the received request (data) includes the data of the device ID. With this determination, it can be determined whether or not the device that has issued the content purchase request is a device that has already been registered as a device that can receive content data.

The processing in step S204 may be omitted, and the purchase form may be transmitted without fail. This is because, for example, in a situation where the PC 12 has acquired and memorized the device ID assigned to itself, the purchase processing of the content data has been performed on the PC 12 but the purchase has been completed. This is in order to meet the user's request to store the content data itself in the STB 11. Alternatively, another method may be used to include a process for causing the user to specify the destination of the purchased content data.

If it is determined in step S204 that the received data does not include the device ID, the process proceeds to step S205, where the data of the purchase form is transmitted. The data of this purchase form is the screen shown in Figure 25 This is data to be displayed on a device, for example, the display 26 1 of the PC 12.

As shown in FIG. 25, the screen based on the data of the purchase form has a column for inputting a user ID and a column for inputting a password. The user ID and password are input because the device ID is specified by the user ID and the user is authenticated by the password. When the alias ID is stored in the destination table of the service provider 2, the alias ID may be transmitted and received.

When the user inputs a user ID and password with reference to the screen shown in Fig. 25 on the device on the user side, the information is sent to Service Provider 2, and Service Provider 2 sends the information. The information of the user ID and the password thus received is received in step S206. In step S207, the service provider 2 specifies the device ID from the received user ID.

The destination database 203 of the service provider 2 stores a destination table as shown in FIG. 18, and the device ID is specified by referring to the table. For example, if the received user ID is “ID” and the passcode is “XXXX”, as shown in FIG. 18, as device IDs “0 0 0 0 0 1” and “0 1 0” Two device IDs of 0 2 1 "are specified.

In step S208, it is determined whether or not there are a plurality of specified devices ID. In the situation described above, since two devices ID are specified, it is determined in step S208 that there are a plurality of specified devices ID, and the process proceeds to step S209. In step S209, the data of the destination determination form is transmitted. The data of the transmission destination determination form means that a screen that allows the user to select (decide) which device should receive and store the content data is displayed on the user's device. This is the data for

The data transmitted as the destination determination form data includes at least the terminal name (Fig. 18) corresponding to the device ID specified in step S207. It is. FIG. 26 shows an example of a screen displayed on the display 26 1 of the PC 12, for example, a device in which the user's purchase processing is being performed at that time. If the screen shown in FIG. 26 is processed based on the destination table shown in FIG. 18, the device IDs “0 0 0 0 1” and “0 1 0 0 2 1” The corresponding terminal names "STB" and "PC" are displayed, and a radio button for selecting each terminal name is provided in front of each name. If a user who has requested content purchase registers multiple devices as devices to which content data is to be transmitted, the content data of the purchased content is stored under the terminal name assigned by the user. The device to be memorized (down-loaded) can be selected.The information of the terminal name selected by referring to the screen as shown in Fig. 26 is transmitted to the service provider 2. You.

It should be noted that, as a download destination device, the user may be set so that only one device can be selected, or may be set so that a plurality of devices can be selected. Such settings may be set by the service provider 2 according to the billing process.

The service provider 2 receives the information of the terminal name selected as the transmitted download destination in step S210. By receiving the terminal name information, the service provider 2 can specify the device ID of the device to which the purchased content data is to be transmitted.

In step S211 the received data is stored and scheduling based on the data is performed. Scheduling means that the schedule creating unit 204 creates data having a data structure as shown in FIG. 22 relating to the content requested to be purchased.

The processing in step S211 in which such scheduling processing is performed includes, when it is determined in step S204 that the received request (data) includes the device ID, or In 208, the identified device ID is one Also comes when it is determined that. In any case, as a result, the scheduling process is executed when the device ID of the device to which the content data is to be transmitted is specified as one.

When the scheduling process is performed, it is necessary to obtain information on the transmission time of the content data. Therefore, for example, as shown in Fig. 26, a message such as "Please enter the time you want to send" is displayed on the screen displayed on the display 261 on the user side. Below, a column in which the user can input a desired time may be provided. Then, when a time is entered in the space provided, the time may be written as the scheduled transmission time.

In this case, if the user does not specify the transmission time, the service provider 2 may set and write the transmission time. Alternatively, the setting may not be made by the user and the setting may be made only by the service provider 2 side.

When the scheduling process is executed, the user who has requested the purchase of the content data is determined whether or not the user who has received the service provided by the service provider 2 is properly registered as a user who can receive the service provided by the service provider 2. The scheduling process is executed only when it is determined that the user has been registered. Of whether the users who are registered in the normal decision, the received password, the _c scheduling performed by determining whether or not it is registered in the destination table is associated with the user ID When the process is completed, in step S212, a notification of the completion of the purchase acceptance is sent to the device on the user side. In this manner, the processing related to the purchase is performed on the service provider 2 side.

Next, with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 27, a process related to the transmission of content data performed on the service provider 2 side (the process performed with the STB 11 in the above description) will be described. Service Provider 2 In step S231, it is determined whether an inquiry about a schedule or a request for transmission of content data has been received from another device.

In step S231, the standby state is maintained until it is determined that an inquiry or request has been received from another device.If it is determined that an inquiry or request has been received from another device, the process proceeds to step S232. Processing proceeds. In step S232, it is determined whether the inquiry or request from another device is an inquiry relating to a schedule. If it is determined in step S232 that the inquiry is for a schedule, the process proceeds to step S233. In step S233, it is determined whether or not a schedule corresponding to the device ID of the device that has inquired about the schedule has been created and stored by the schedule creation unit 204. The other device (for example, STB 11) makes an inquiry about the schedule at a predetermined interval to the service provider 2. When making the inquiry, the device transmits its own device ID.

Therefore, the service provider 2 uses the transmitted device ID to determine whether or not the schedule related to the device ID is stored in the schedule creation unit 204. The schedule creation unit 204 stores a plurality of schedules having the data structure shown in FIG. 22. The schedule creation unit 204 refers to the “destination device ID” in the data of the schedule and transmits the schedule. It is determined whether there is a "destination device ID" that matches the received device ID.

If it is determined in step S233 that there is no schedule for the received device ID (device), the process returns to step S231 and the subsequent processing is repeated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 233 that there is a schedule related to the received device ID, the process proceeds to step S 234, and the determined schedule is sent from the schedule creation unit 204. It is read out and sent to the device that made the schedule inquiry.

Note that the schedule read out in step S 234 is one of the information in the schedule, “transmission state” (FIG. 22) 1 Still transmitting the content data Is only information indicating that the process has not been performed. Also, even if the information indicates that the content data has not been transmitted yet, if the schedule itself has already been transmitted, it is not necessary to transmit the same schedule again. Since there is no such schedule, such a schedule may not be read.

To prevent the same schedule from being transmitted again, for example, prepare a flag that indicates whether the schedule itself has been transmitted and include that flag as one of the schedule data shown in Fig. 22. Such information may be included in the “transmission state”.

When the transmission of the schedule is completed in step S2334, the process returns to step S231, and the subsequent processing is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S232 that the inquiry or request from another device is not a schedule inquiry, that is, if it is determined that the inquiry or request is a content data transmission request, Processing proceeds to 235. In step S235, transmission of the requested content data is started.

A device that issues a request for transmission of content data (eg, STB 11) transmits at least the information of the transaction ID when issuing the request. By transmitting the transaction ID, the service provider 2 can specify which of the schedules stored in the schedule creation unit 204 is being executed.

Then, by specifying the schedule being executed, the content ID of the content to be transmitted can be specified. The content data associated with the specified content ID is read from the content database 202 (FIG. 7) and transmitted.

In step S235, when the transmission of the content data is started, in step S236, the start of the transmission of the content data is notified by the user. A notification is sent to a predetermined device. The predetermined device is a device to which a mail address (FIG. 18) registered in the destination table of the service provider 2 is assigned.

In step S237, the service provider 2 determines whether or not all the content data has been transmitted, that is, whether or not the transmission has been completed. Until it is determined in step S237 that the transmission of the content data has been completed, the process of step S237 is repeated. If it is determined that the transmission of the content data has been completed, the process proceeds to step S233. Processing is advanced to 8.

When content data is transmitted, license data is also transmitted. Content data cannot be played without license data. For example, when content data is transmitted to a device on the user side, the content data is encrypted and transmitted, and data for removing the encryption is included in the license data. Therefore, both the content data and the license data need to be transmitted to the user side (STB 11). The transmission timing does not have to be simultaneous. That is, the content data and the license data may be transmitted at the same time, or may be transmitted at different times (separately).

For example, since the content data has a relatively large data amount, the license data is transmitted during a time when the transmission line for transmission is free, for example, at night, and at a later or earlier time, the license data having a relatively small data amount May be transmitted in time for viewing by the user.

In step S 238, the information of “transmission state” in the schedule data shown in FIG. 18 is replaced with information indicating that the transmission of the content data has been completed. Instead of rewriting the information, the corresponding schedule may be deleted. Such information of the “transmission state” is rewritten to the information indicating that the transmission of the content data has been completed, since the information is performed in order to execute the charging process. Then, it may be deleted. Then, in step S239, a notification indicating that the transmission of the content data has been completed is made. This notification process is performed in the same manner as the notification process in step S236.

In this way, the service provider 2 controls processing related to transmission of content data. Note that the notification processing in step S 236 and the notification processing in step S 239 are not necessarily required processing, so that notification may not be performed, or only one of the notifications may be performed. May be performed.

With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 28, a description will be given of a process of the device receiving the content data, which is performed in response to the process of the service provider 2. Here, the process in STB 11 will be described as an example.

The STB 11 determines whether or not it is time to inquire the service provider 2 of the schedule in step S2 51. The STB 11 is set in advance so as to execute an inquiry at a predetermined time interval, for example, every one hour.

It is determined whether or not the time to execute the inquiry has come because the set time interval has elapsed. If it is determined in step S251 that it is the time of the inquiry, in step S252, the device ID is read from the device ID management unit 225 (FIG. 8) and Sent. When the device ID is transmitted, the above-described processing is performed on the service provider 2 side. As a result, when schedule information is transmitted, the schedule is transmitted in step S253. Received.

The received schedule, for example, the delivery control unit 2 2 2 (transmitted) _c is the storage is stored in (Figure 8) schedules, at least, includes a transaction Chillon ID, information about the transmission time Have been. In step S254, the distribution control unit 222 refers to the "transmission time" included in the stored schedule and determines whether or not the transmission time has come. Whether the sending time has arrived The determination is for the STB 11 to determine whether or not the time to request transmission of the content data has come.

In step S254, the process of step S254 is repeated until it is determined that the time to request the transmission of the content data has been reached. The processing proceeds. In step S255, the transaction ID is read and transmitted to the service provider 2.

When the transaction ID is transmitted, the content data is transmitted as a result of the processing of the corresponding service provider 2 side. The transmitted content data is received by the STB 11 in step S256 and stored.

In this way, the STB 11 stores the content data processed for purchase by another device.

In this way, the individual who receives the transmission of the content data (in this case, STB 11) requests the service provider 2 to inquire the schedule and to request the transmission of the content data. This is because the STB 11 side is not always ready to receive schedules and content data. In other words, the power supply of the STB 11 is not always turned on, but may be turned off. In such an off state, the service provider 2 side Therefore, even if the schedule and the content data are transmitted, the STB 11 cannot receive and store the schedule and the content data. In consideration of such a situation, an inquiry of a schedule / a transmission request of content data is issued from the STB 11.

If the STB 11 has a function to receive content data etc. even when the STB 11 is always on or off, a service provider 2 may transmit the schedule to the STB 11 when the schedule is created. Also, the content data At the point in time when the transmission time comes, even if there is no request from STB 11, the transmission may be made from the service provider 2 side.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the purchase process is executed by the PC 12 and downloaded to the STB 11. However, the purchase process may be executed by the mobile phone 13. When the purchase process is executed by the mobile phone 13, the process is performed in the same manner as when the purchase process is executed by the PC 12.

In this way, by performing a purchase process using a predetermined device and allowing other devices to store the purchased content data, for example, when a user goes out of home or the like, a desired device can be stored in a device at home. It becomes possible to download the content data of the content, and the user can easily obtain the desired content data.

In the above-described embodiment, basically, the user who purchases the content data and the user who enjoys the content based on the content data are the same. In other words, it has been described that the user who pays for the purchased content data (the user to be charged) and the user who acquires the content data are the same. In other words, it has been described that the device that executes the process related to the purchase of content data and the device that stores the purchased content data are devices owned by the same user.

Next, user A (Fig. 1) processes the purchase of content data, and user B can do things such as enjoying the content data purchased by user A on a device owned by user B. I do. In other words, this is an act in which user A presents content data (license data) to user B.

In addition, as described above, the content data cannot be reproduced without the license data. For example, the content data does not need to be provided via the network 1, but is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and the recording medium is used as a recording medium. The license data may be provided via the network 1 to the device from which the recording medium is played back, and even if this is done, it is not possible to apply the following processing. It is possible.

Considering the meaning of the license data, when the content data is distributed free of charge, the license data is not always required, and the content data may be reproduced only.

In consideration of this, it may be preferable that the license data be presented as a gift. In the following description, the content data is described as being presented, but this means that the content data and the license data are presented, and that only the license data is presented.

A process related to such a gift of content data will be described. Here, a case where user A executes the process of purchasing (present) content data on PC 12 and user B obtains (stores) the content data presented by user A in STB 21 (FIG. 1). Will be described as an example. In other words, the service provider 2 performs a billing process for the user A and transmits the content data to the user B.

First, the overall processing flow (PC 12, Service Provider 2, and ST B 2

The flow of the processing performed between 1) is basically the same as the flow chart processing shown in FIG. 23 described above. In the flowchart of FIG. 23, the process of PC is a process performed by PC 12 of user A, and the process of STB is a process performed by STB 21 of user B.

However, if the process related to the present is enabled, the service provider 2 must perform the process related to the present. Therefore, the processing on the service provider 2 side will be described. First, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 29 and 30, a description will be given of the processing related to the purchase of the content, including the processing of the present, on the service provider 2 side. The flowchart shown in FIG. 29 has a configuration obtained by adding the processing of step S307 and step S308 to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the processing of steps S301 to S306 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 29 is basically the same as the processing of steps S201 to S206 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The same is true. The processing of steps S309 to S314 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 29 is basically the same as the processing of steps S207 to S212 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The same is true.

Here, the processing of the service provider 2 already described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 24 will be omitted as appropriate, and the processing required to execute the present processing will be described. When the service provider 2 executes the present process, the data of the purchase form transmitted in step S305 is different from that in the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, the screen based on the data of the purchase form has been described as the screen as shown in FIG. 25. However, when the present processing is performed, the screen as shown in FIG. 31 is displayed. Is displayed on the user's device (in this case, the display 26 1 of the user A's PC 12), the data of the purchase form is transmitted in step S 305.

The screen shown in Fig. 31 is provided with a field for entering a user ID, a field for entering a password, and a radio button that is checked when the message "Present?" ing. If the user intends to present the purchased content data to another user, check the radio button corresponding to the message "Is it a present?" The screen example shown in FIG. 31 shows a state where the radio button is checked.

When the purchase form data for displaying such a screen on the user's display 26 1 is transmitted, the service provider 2 refers to the purchase form and waits for reception of the information input by the user. State. And step S When information on the purchase form is received in 310, the process proceeds to step S307.

The received information includes at least the information of the user ID and the password, and the information indicating that the content data to be subjected to the purchase processing is subject to the present as necessary. Among these pieces of information, the content data targeted for purchase processing uses information indicating whether or not the content data is a gift target, and the processing in step S307 is executed.

If it is determined in step S307 that the content data to be purchased is the target of the present (including such information), the process proceeds to step S308, where the content data to be purchased is purchased. If it is determined that the content data is not the target of the present (such information is not included), the process proceeds to step S309.

When the process proceeds to step S309, that is, since the content data to be purchased is not the target of the present, the same as the state described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 24 is used. the state, whereas _c the process is performed in the same manner, if the process is advanced to step S 3 0 8, processing related to a present is executed. Before describing the processing in step S308, the handling of the user ID and password information among the information received in step S306 will be described.

When the process proceeds to step S309, as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 24, the user ID and the passcode information are transmitted to the device to which the purchased content data is transmitted. It is used as information for specifying the password and information for performing user authentication. When the process proceeds to step S308, as described later, the information on the user ID and the password is used as information for specifying the user to be charged.

The present process in step 308 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In step S321, the data of the present form is Sent. FIG. 32 shows an example of a screen displayed on the device on the user side, in this case, the display 26 1 of the PC 12 of the user A by performing the processing based on the data of the present form.

The screen shown in FIG. 32 is provided with a column for inputting “e-mail address of the user of the present destination” and a column for inputting “desired date and time of the present”. The mail address of the user of the present destination is input because it is used as information for specifying the user (device) to which the content data to be presented is transmitted.

The user is requested to input the desired date and time of the present, for example, in order to respond to a user's request to supply content data as a present on a specific day such as a birthday. The desired date and time of the present is not a required item, and the user can execute the subsequent processing without inputting it. Here, the mail address is used to identify the user to be given a gift, but other information may be used. Here, it is assumed that the information shown in Fig. 18 has been written in the destination table, so the information in that information is to identify the user whose e-mail address is the best gift. Since it seems to be suitable, the case where an e-mail address is used is described here as an example.

In the case where control is performed such that the same user ID does not exist in the transmission destination table as in the present embodiment, the presentation 1 is uniquely determined by the user ID. Since the user can be specified, the user ID may be used as information for specifying the presenting user. In such a case, the user ID of the present user may be input instead of the mail address on the screen shown in FIG. Also, if the destination table contains the user's real name, telephone number, address, etc. (or as another table in the service provider 2), the real name, telephone number, address, etc. , Identify the user to be presented May be used as information for the purpose. Further, the user may be specified by a combination of these pieces of information.

The information input by the user who presents the content data with reference to the screen as shown in FIG. 32 is received by the service provider 2 in step S322. The service provider 2 extracts the mail address information included in the information received in step S322. In step S332, it is determined whether or not the extracted e-mail address is stored (registered) in a destination table (for example, a destination template shown in Fig. 18).

In step S32, if it is determined that the extracted e-mail address is registered in the destination table, the process proceeds to step S324, and if it is determined that the e-mail address is not registered, The presentation process based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 30 ends. If the extracted e-mail address is not registered in the transmission destination table, the device (user) to which the content data as a present is transmitted cannot be specified. The present process is terminated.

If it is determined that the extracted e-mail address is not registered in the destination table, a process for requesting the user to input an e-mail address may be performed again. Also, in this way, when the present processing is terminated because the transmission destination cannot be determined, it is determined in step S314 (FIG. 29) that the purchase processing was not performed normally. A message is sent to the user's device so that the user requesting the purchase can be recognized.

On the other hand, in step S323, it is determined that the extracted e-mail address is registered in the destination table, and when the process proceeds to step S324, the extracted e-mail address is added to the extracted e-mail address. In response, an e-mail is sent. Here, it is assumed that the extracted main addressing power is “ΔΧΔ@X.co.jp”. This e-mail address is the main address of the user whose user ID is "power", referring to the destination table shown in FIG. In this way, if the extracted e-mail address matches the e-mail address described in the destination table, it is determined to be YES in step S32, and the process proceeds to step S324. . If it is determined to be YES, the information written in the mail address column is also read out as necessary. In this case, at least the information "PC", "STB", and "keitai" written in the terminal name column are read. The read information is transmitted in the content of the mail.

The contents of the e-mail sent at this time are, for example, contents as shown in FIG. Here, a description will be given assuming that a mail is received by the PC 22 of the user B and the content (screen) shown in FIG. 33 is displayed on the display 301 of the PC 22.

In the screen shown in Fig. 33, a message such as "You have a content present from User A. Do you want to receive the present?" In the message "User A", the user ID of User A and the name of User A registered in advance by User A (for example, as one piece of information in the destination table, Etc.) are displayed. When the service provider 2 sends an e-mail to display such a screen, the present is sent from the user ID (or password or user ID and password) of the user who is submitting the presentation. Identify the user who made the request, and create the contents of the mail so that the character string indicating the identified user is displayed in the above message in the place of "User A".

The screen shown in Fig. 33 is further provided with a radio button for entering the answer to the message "Do you want to receive a gift?" Here, two radio buttons are provided, one for "YE S" and the other for "NO". If the radio button corresponding to "YE S" is checked, the message "Please select the receiving device" is displayed. The radio button for entering the answer to the message is enabled.

In the example shown in FIG. 33, radio buttons corresponding to three terminal names such as “PC”, “STB”, and “keitai” are provided, respectively. If the user who receives the gift only has one device (terminal) registered, only one terminal name will be displayed in the part where this terminal name is displayed. When only one such terminal name is displayed, the device corresponding to the terminal name must be specified as the destination of the content data. In other words, since there is no need to select and display the device, there is no need to display and select the device. Therefore, when only one terminal name is displayed, it may not be displayed.

Referring to the screen shown in FIG. 33, the information input by the user receiving the present is transmitted to the service provider 2. In step S325, the service provider 2 determines whether or not information has been received from the user who receives the present. If it is determined that the information has been received, the process is performed in step S325.

In step S326, the service provider 2 extracts the user's answer to the question "Do you want to receive a gift?" Included in the received information, and determines whether the extracted answer is "YES". That is, in step S3226, it is determined whether the user receiving the present has decided to accept the present.

If it is determined in step S3226 that the user to be presented does not receive the present, it is not necessary to execute the present, so the present process based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Will be terminated. In this way, if the user who receives the gift (in this case, user B) refuses the gift, the fact that the presenting user is A message that informs the user (in this case, user A) may be sent, for example, as an e-mail.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S326 that the user to be presented has accepted the present, the process proceeds to step S327, in which the content data targeted for the present is determined. A schedule is created for sending to the gift recipient. The schedule created at this time basically consists of the same information as the schedule as shown in FIG.

The contents of the schedule created in step S327 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a description will be given assuming that a gift is provided from user A to user B. In the “content ID”, an ID corresponding to the content specified by the user A to be presented to the user B is written. In the “destination device ID”, the device ID corresponding to the device (terminal name) specified by the user B received in step S325 is written.

In the “billing destination user ID”, the user ID of the user A who gives the present is written. The “transmission time” is basically the time specified by the user A as the time when the content data is presented to the user B. "Basically" is described because the service provider 2 may write (set) a time other than the specified time in the scheduling process described later.

When such a schedule is created, the process proceeds to step S314 (FIG. 29). In step S314, notification of the completion of the purchase is notified. When the present process is executed and the user who receives the present consents to receive the present, the user and the presenting user are notified.

Also, if the present process is executed, but the user receiving the gift decides not to receive the present, the user is notified that the present has been suspended, and the present is presented. The user performing the notification is notified that the present has been rejected. If the present processing is not executed, that is, if it is determined that the present is not a present in step S307, and the subsequent processing is performed, the steps of the flowchart shown in FIG. 24 are performed. Processing similar to the processing performed in S212 is performed.

In this way, the processing related to the purchase, including the processing related to the present, is performed on the service provider 2 side. Next, the processing related to the transmission of content data performed by the service provider 2 will be described. The processing relating to the transmission of the content data performed on the service provider 2 side is basically performed in the same manner as described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 27, and thus the description thereof is omitted. . However, in this case, the process is performed between the service provider 2 and the device on the user side that receives the present, for example, the STB 21. Further, when the content data related to the present is transmitted, the notification of the transmission end in step S239 is made not only to the presenting user but also to the presenting user. It is better to do. By giving notification to the user who made the presentation, it is possible to make the user surely recognize that the present has been completed and that the present has ended, and that billing will be incurred. .

The device that receives the present (in this case, for example, STB 21 of user B) executes the processing described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In other words, the same processing is basically performed regardless of whether the content data purchased by user B for himself or the content data presented by user A is received. Is executed.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the content data (license data) can be presented to another user.

Next, the scheduling performed by the service provider 2 will be described. This scheduling is, for example, a process performed in step S313 (FIG. 29), and is a process performed when an instruction to purchase new content is issued. Here, the situation where scheduling is performed is confirmed. First, there is a situation in which user A executes a purchase process on a device owned by user A and stores the content data in the device that has executed the purchase process. Further, there is a situation in which user A executes a purchase process on a device owned by user A and stores the content data in a device different from the device that has performed the purchase process.

Further, there is a situation in which user A executes a purchase process on a device owned by user A and stores content data in a device owned by user B different from user A.

As described above, there are various relationships between the device that executed the purchase process and the device that stores the content data purchased as a result of the process. The content data may be transmitted at a time specified by the user or at a time set on the service provider 2 side, for example.

In addition, the amount of content data to be transmitted is not constant, but varies, and varies from short-time transmission to long-time transmission.

Considering these various situations, it is necessary to determine the timing for transmitting content data. Such processing for determining the timing of transmission is scheduling.

The scheduling performed by the schedule creation unit 204 (FIG. 7) of the service provider 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 35. Before that, the schedule will be described with reference to FIG. 34. The table that is referenced when e-ling is performed is described. FIG. 34 shows a table that the schedule creation unit 204 refers to when creating a schedule. The table is such that the time at which a predetermined content is reserved for transmission is determined by referring to the table. Have been.

The transmission reservation table 3 21 shown in FIG. 34 is an example in which a reservation is made every 10 minutes, and 1:00:00, 1:10, 1:20. Minutes, 1:30 This is an example in which the minute portion is enlarged. In Fig. 34, the black circle Hata indicates that there is a reservation, and the white circle O indicates that there is no reservation (reservation is possible). Further, FIG. 34 shows that N reservations can be made, for example, between 0 and 10 minutes. The N specific number is determined based on the data amount of the content data transmitted at that time and the data amount (transmission capacity) that the service provider 2 can transmit in 10 minutes. Value. However, since the transmission capability (processing capability) is constant, the value is basically determined based on the data amount of the content data.

Therefore, when a large amount of content data is transmitted, the number N is small, and when a large amount of content data is transmitted, the number N is large. Is a value that fluctuates according to each time.

The value of N is determined variably in consideration of the amount of content data already reserved.

The transmission reservation table 3 21 has a fixed part 3 2 2 and an undetermined part 3 2 3. The confirmed part 3 2 2 is a part indicating the number of reservations confirmed as a schedule. The undecided part 3 2 3 cannot be reserved (determined) because there is a request for a present and the user who receives the present has not determined whether or not to receive the present. This part indicates the number of reservations. The schedule creation unit 204 executes a process related to scheduling based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 35 with reference to the transmission reservation table 32 1 shown in FIG. In the description with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 35, the processing related to the determination of the transmission time will be described, and the acquisition of other information will not be described, but the other information will be acquired as described above. Is written. In step S351, the schedule creation unit 204 determines whether there is a request to purchase new content and it is necessary to create a schedule for transmitting the content. As described above, the processing related to the purchase of the content is performed in the content distribution reservation unit 201. When the content distribution reservation unit 201 determines that the content reservation has been received (for example, when the step S211 in FIG. 24 is executed), the schedule creation unit 204 registers the new schedule. Give instructions to create. The schedule creating unit 204 determines whether or not such an instruction has been given, thereby performing the determination in step S355.

If it is determined in step S 351 that a new schedule is to be created, the process proceeds to step S 352, where it is determined whether the schedule to be created is a schedule related to a present. In step S 352, it is determined whether or not the present schedule is related to the present, because the user receiving the present determines the schedule related to the present (especially, until the user confirms to receive the present). , Content data transmission time) cannot be determined.

If it is determined in step S 352 that the newly created schedule is not a schedule related to a present, in step S 353, the time at which the content data of the purchased content is transmitted is determined by the user. It is determined whether it is specified. If it is determined in step S 353 that the transmission time is specified, the process proceeds to step S 354 and it is determined whether transmission is possible at the specified time.

This determination is made by referring to the transmission reservation table 3221 shown in FIG. For example, referring to the 1:00 time portion as the time, at 1:00, N reservations are made. Of these, reservations 0-1 to 0-3 have already been reserved, while reservations 0-4 to 0-N are in a state where reservations can be accepted. If the transmission time of the content data by the user is specified as 1:00, then in this case, it is determined that a reservation can be made in reservations 0-4, so that at the time specified by the user, It is determined that content data can be transmitted. For example, when referring to the portion of 1:10 as the time, N: 100 (a number different from 1: 0: 00) is reserved at 1:10. Of these, the reservations 10 — 1 to 10 — N are in a state where a reservation has already been made. In other words, the number that can be reserved is "not available". If the transmission time of the content data by the user is specified as 1:10, the reservation is already determined to be full, so it is impossible to transmit the content data at the time specified by the user. Is determined.

When it is determined that the content data can be transmitted at the time instructed by the user in step S355 according to such a determination method, the process proceeds to step S355 and the designated content is transmitted. The time is set as the transmission time of the content data. That is, referring to FIG. 22, the time specified by the user is written in "transmission time". At this time, information indicating "not transmitted" that has not been transmitted is written in "transmission state".

In this way, when the user specifies the transmission time of the content data and when it is determined that the transmission can be performed at that time, a schedule in which the time is written is created.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 354 that the content data cannot be transmitted at the time designated by the user, the process proceeds to step S356, and the process proceeds to step S356. The transmittable time is retrieved by referring to the transmission reservation table 32 1.

For example, referring again to FIG. 34, assuming that the time specified by the user is 1:10, the time specified by the user is 1:10 because the reservation is already full. It is determined that the content data cannot be transmitted. In such a case, the time before and after that is referred to. It is necessary to set in advance whether to search for the time before the specified time first or for the time after the specified time first. Basically good. However, if the time before the specified time is searched first, the time to be searched (time A) and the time at the time when the search is executed (current time) , And if time A is not later than current time, time A should not be the time to be searched. For example, if the specified time is 1:10, the previous time (ie, time A) will be 1:00, but the time at which the search is being performed (ie, the current time) However, if the time is 1:05, for example, it cannot be transmitted at time A (it is not possible to make a reservation).

In step S356, by referring to the transmission reservation table 321, the time at which transmission is possible closest to the time designated by the user is set as the transmission time. Then, the set time is written in the "transmission time" of the schedule (Fig. 22).

In this way, if the user specifies the transmission time of the content data, but it is determined that transmission is not possible at that time, a schedule is created in which the transmission time is written as close as possible to that time. Is done.

Such a process is performed when the user specifies the time. If it is determined in step S353 that the user has not specified the content data transmission time, the process proceeds to step S350. Processing proceeds to 357. In step S357, a process is executed in which the transmission time is set as the transmission time near the time when the schedule is created (current time) (basically, the later time). In this way, when the user does not specify the transmission time of the content data, the schedule creation unit 204 creates a schedule on which the transmittable time is written.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 352 that the newly created schedule is a schedule relating to the present, the process proceeds to step S 358. In step S 358 The schedule creation unit 204, as will be described with reference to FIG. 22 again, determines whether or not the information “transmission status” is still transmitted. Create a schedule with information that has not been finalized, for example, information that has not been finalized. 'At this time, the date and time (time) specified by the user as the date and time at which the present is given is written in the information “send time” of the schedule shown in FIG. Such a schedule is counted as one reservation of the undetermined portion 3 23 of the transmission reservation table 32 1.

The reason why the schedule cannot be determined even when the transmission time is specified is that the information on the decision to receive the present has not been received from the recipient of the present. Therefore, in step S359, it is determined whether or not information regarding a decision on whether or not to receive a gift has been received from the user receiving the present. This process is the same as the process performed as the process of step S325 of the flowchart shown in FIG. The schedule creation unit 204 performs the process of step S359 by determining whether or not information on the response from the side receiving the present has been supplied. If it is determined in step S359 that the information has been supplied, the process proceeds to step S360.

In step S360, it is determined whether or not the supplied information is information for receiving a present (information for permitting a present). If it is determined that the supplied information is information for permitting the present, the process proceeds to step S355, and the subsequent processing is performed. Since the processing after step S355 has already been described, the description thereof will be omitted, but in the case of a schedule related to a present, a different processing is included. In step S353, the information for determining whether or not the time is specified is performed by referring to a schedule that has already been written as an undetermined schedule. In other words, the undetermined schedule has already been created as a schedule including the information as shown in FIG. 22. Among them, the information in “transmission time” is referred to, and the processing in step S 353 is performed. Done. If the predetermined time has been written as the information of "transmission time", the process proceeds to step S354. In step S354, the time written as the information of the "transmission time" is compared with the current time, and if the written time is a time later than the current time, and If transmission is possible at the written time, the process proceeds to step S355.

On the other hand, in step S 354, if the written time is compared with the current time and it is determined that the written time is earlier than the current time, This indicates that the written time has elapsed. In other words, it is determined that the time specified as the time for providing the present has passed.

In such a case, the process proceeds to step S356, and the time that can be transmitted at the time closest to the specified time is set at that time rather than set as the transmission time. It is better to set the transmission time as soon as possible as the transmission time.

In this way, the "transmission time" in the schedule is set, and when the set time is written, the "transmission status" information also indicates "not transmitted" from the information indicating "unconfirmed" In addition, the number of reservations written in the undetermined part 3 2 3 of the destination table 3 2 1 is subtracted by 1, and the number of reservations corresponding to the set time of the determined part 3 2 3 Is added by 1.

In this way, a schedule for the present is created.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S360 that the information from the user receiving the present is information not to receive the present, the process proceeds to step S365. In step S3661, the schedule that has been determined to be undetermined and corresponding to the content for which the present has been rejected is discarded. This discarding process includes a process in which the number of reservations in the undetermined portion 3 23 of the destination reservation table 32 1 is decremented by one. As described above, the schedule created in this way is provided, for example, when STB 11 inquires at a predetermined time interval whether or not a new schedule has been created for itself. Is done. The STB 11 requests transmission of content data based on the provided schedule, but the request is issued at a time after the time when the schedule was provided.

Consider that due to such a time lag, the status of STB 11 may have changed between the time when the schedule was provided and the time when the content data transmission request was actually issued. There is a need.

Specifically, the STB 11 has a storage unit 85 (Figure 3) having a finite capacity, and stores the received content data in its storage unit 85. At this point, even if the storage unit 85 has a capacity to store the data amount of the content data to be transmitted based on the schedule, the time until the actual transmission of the content data is requested. In addition, another content data may have been received and stored, so that the storage unit 85 may have run out of space.

Thus, even if the STB 11 requests the transmission of the content data based on the schedule and actually receives the content data, the storage unit 85 does not have the capacity to store the content data. As a result, things can happen if you can't remember. Further, in the case where the data cannot be memorized, or when the error occurs on the STB 11 side, for example, the service provider 2 needs to perform a process of retransmitting the data.

The processing related to the transmission of the content data performed on the service provider 2 side in consideration of the above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 36. _{c The} flowchart shown in FIG. The flow chart shown in FIG. 7 is configured such that the processing of step S385 and step S386 is added. That is, the processing of steps S3881 to S384 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 36 and the processing of steps S388 to S391 of the flowchart shown in FIG. Reference The processing in steps S231 to S234 and the processing in steps S235 to S239 are the same. Here, the description of the same processing has already been described, and thus will be omitted.

The process proceeds to step S385 when it is determined that the transmission of the STB 11 (here, STB 11 is described as an example) i content data has been requested. In step S385, when the content data requested to be transmitted is transmitted, it is determined whether or not the partner device can reliably store the content data. Information for making this determination needs to be transmitted from the STB 11 side.

The STB 11 transmits information on the remaining capacity of its own storage unit 85 to the service provider 2 when issuing a request for transmission of content data. The service provider 2 compares the remaining capacity of the received storage unit 85 with the data size of the content data requested to be transmitted, and determines that the remaining capacity of the received storage unit is equal to the transmission request. Only when it is determined that the data size is larger than the content data, the process proceeds to step S387, and the subsequent process, that is, the process related to the transmission of the content data is executed.

Alternatively, when the STB 11 issues a request for transmission of content data, the STB 11 transmits the remaining capacity of its own storage unit 85 and the data size of the content data requested to be transmitted. In the processing in step S253 of step 28, the information can be obtained by being included in the received schedule information), and the storage capacity for storing the content data remains in the storage unit 85. Information indicating whether or not the service provider 2 has been sent to the service provider 2 side.

The service provider 2 receives either the information indicating that the content data can be received or the information indicating that the content data cannot be received. Using such information, the service provider 2 may perform the process of step S385. In any case, the service provider 2 does not execute the processing after step S387 unless the STB 11 determines that the received content data can be stored. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience that occurs when the transmitted content data cannot be stored on the STB 11 side.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S385 that it is impossible to transmit the requested content data, the process proceeds to step S386. In step S386, the schedule is changed. That is, when the process comes to step S3886, it indicates that the content data that was to be transmitted could not be transmitted, and it is necessary to transmit again at another time.

To do this, the "send time" of the schedule needs to be rewritten (changed). This change may be made so that the transmission is executed again after a predetermined time elapses, for example, set one hour after the time at which the current time is written. In this case, the contents of the transmission schedule table 3 21 are also rewritten, and the reservation number of the newly set time portion is changed to a value obtained by adding one.

Alternatively, an instruction may be given to the user by e-mail or the like to change the transmission time, and the change may be made based on a response to the instruction. In this case, the "send status" of the corresponding schedule is changed to information indicating indefinite until the reply of the mail is received. With this change, the number of reservations in the undetermined portion 3 2 2 of the transmission reservation table 3 2 1 is changed to a value obtained by adding 1. After that, when the reply is received, the “transmission time” in the schedule is changed at the time indicated in the reply, and the number of reservations in the time portion of the transmission reservation table 3 2 1 at the corresponding time is 1 Is changed to the value added.

In this way, when the schedule is rewritten, the rewritten schedule is provided to the STB 11 again, and the STB 11 executes the processing based on the provided schedule, so that the content data is obtained. Is transmitted and received. Alternatively, a request for transmission of the content data may be issued again when the STB 11 is in a state capable of storing. In this case, the service provider 2 keeps the "send status" of the corresponding schedule as unsent, and does not do anything when the corresponding schedule is deleted. Such a process may be performed.

As described above, by transmitting necessary information on the STB 11 side and executing corresponding processing on the service provider 2 side, the content data received on the STB 11 side cannot be stored. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of such inconveniences as described above, and it is possible to prevent the service provider 2 from inconveniently performing processing related to transmission of content data.

In the above-described embodiment, the processing related to the purchase of one piece of content data has been described as an example.However, it is possible to execute the processing of purchasing a plurality of pieces of content data at the same time. It is also possible to send and receive multiple content data.

The series of processes described above can be executed by hardware having respective functions, but can also be executed by software. When a series of processing is executed by software, various functions are implemented by installing a computer in which the programs constituting the software are incorporated in dedicated hardware, or by installing various programs. It is installed from a recording medium into a executable personal computer, for example. As shown in FIG. 2, the recording medium is a magnetic disk 61 (a flexible disk) on which a program is recorded, which is distributed separately from a personal computer such as a service provider 2 to provide a program to a user. ), Optical disc 62 (including CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), magneto-optical disc 63 (MD (Mini-Disc) (registered trademark)). ) Or package media consisting of semiconductor memory 64, etc., as well as being provided to the user in a state where they are already built into the computer. It is composed of a ROM 42 storing a program and a hard disk including a storage unit 48.

In this specification, steps for describing a program provided by a medium are described in the order described, in addition to processing performed in chronological order, but not necessarily performed in chronological order. It also includes processes that are executed individually.

Also, in this specification, a system refers to an entire device including a plurality of devices. Industrial applicability

According to the present invention, according to _c present invention that can supply container N'data to the user side of the apparatus, it is possible to present the license data to be required when reproducing the content data and the content data Become like

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible for the presenting user to present the content data and the license data necessary for reproducing the content data at the time when the user wants to give the present.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. In an information processing system including a first information processing device that controls content distribution, a second information processing device that requests content distribution, and a third information processing device that receives content distribution. ,

The first information processing device,

First management means for managing a first ID for identifying the content, a second ID for identifying the second information processing device, and a first ID for identifying the third information processing device. A second means of managing a third identity;

Supply means for supplying the first ID managed by the first management means to the second information processing apparatus, when the content delivery request is received from the second information processing apparatus; When,

When the first ID, the information for identifying the second ID, and the information for identifying the third ID are received from the second information processing device, respectively, Identifying means for respectively identifying the second ID and the third ID managed by the second managing means,

Distributing means for distributing the content identified by the first ID to the third information processing device corresponding to the third ID specified by the specifying means,

The second information processing device includes:

Requesting means for requesting the first information processing apparatus to distribute the content; and responding to the request by the requesting means, and selecting the first ID supplied by the supplying means, Transmitting means for transmitting the first ID corresponding to the content, and transmitting information for specifying the second ID and information for specifying the third ID, respectively;

With

The third information processing device includes:

Storage means for receiving and storing the content distributed by the distribution means To

Prepare

An information processing system, comprising:

2. A first managing means for managing a first ID for identifying the first device, a second managing means for managing a second ID for identifying the second device, and A third management unit that manages a third ID for identification; and a third management unit that is managed by the third management unit when there is a request for distribution of the content from the first device. Supply means for supplying the ID of the first device to the first device;

From the first device, information for specifying the first ID, information for specifying the second ID, and the third ID, when each received, from the information, Identifying means for respectively identifying the first ID managed by the first managing means, and the second ID managed by the second managing means,

Distribution means for distributing the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to the second ID specified by the specifying means;

An information processing apparatus comprising:

3. A charging means for charging a user of the first device identified by the first ID specified by the specifying means, for a fee of the content distributed by the distribution means.

An information processing apparatus further provided.

4. After the second ID has been specified by the specifying means, an inquiry asking the user of the second device identified by the second ID whether or not to receive the distribution of the content. Means,

When a response to the inquiry by the inquiry means is received from the user of the second device, the response indicating that the content is to be distributed, Creating means for creating a schedule for delivering the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to the second ID specified by the means,

The distribution unit distributes the content based on the schedule created by the creation unit

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

5. The creation unit creates a schedule for delivering the content at the designated time when the user of the first device or the user of the second device specifies the time to deliver the content. Do

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

6. If there is a request from the second device to provide the schedule, and if the schedule for the second device has been created by the creating means, the schedule is provided to the second device. Offer means

5. The information processing device according to claim 4, further comprising:

7. The first management means and the second management means manage the same table, and the table includes an ID including the first ID and the second ID, and an ID for identifying a user. User ID, password, and e-mail address are associated with each other.

The specifying means uses information of at least one of the user ID and a password as information for specifying the first ID, and uses the mail address as information for specifying the second ID.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

8. The first management station that manages the first ID for identifying the first device

A second management step for managing a second ID for identifying a second device; a third management step for managing a third ID for identifying content; A supply step of supplying, to the first device, the third ID managed in the process of the third management step when the first device requests distribution of the content;

From the first device, information for specifying the first ID, information for specifying the second ID, and the third ID, when each received, from the information, A first step of managing the first ID managed in the processing of the first management step and a second step of identifying the second ID managed in the processing of the second management step,

A distribution control step of controlling distribution of the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to the second ID identified in the processing of the identifying step;

An information processing method comprising:

9. A first management step for managing a first ID for identifying a first device, and a second management step for managing a second ID for identifying a second device.

A third administration that manages a third ID to identify content.

A supply step of supplying, to the first device, the third ID managed in the process of the third management step, when the content delivery request is received from the first device;

A distribution control step of controlling distribution of the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to the second ID specified in the process of the specifying step; A recording medium on which a computer-readable program is recorded.

1 0. A first management step of managing a first ID for identifying a first device;

A second management step of managing a second ID for identifying a second device; a third management step of managing a third ID for identifying content; and Supplying a third ID managed in the process of the third management step to the first device when there is a request for distribution of the content;

From the first device, information for specifying the first ID, information for specifying the second ID, and the third ID, when each received, from the information, A specifying step of specifying the first ID managed in the processing of the first management step and the second ID managed in the processing of the second management step,

A delivery control step for controlling delivery of the content identified by the third ID to the second device corresponding to the second ID identified in the process of the identifying step;

Which causes a computer to execute the program.