JP2000076339A - Contents operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a content operation method capable of smoothly distributing contents. When a system operator receives content from a content holder, the content is converted into digital data and stored in a database. The user operates the user terminal to search for content that matches the desired use condition. If the content that matches the condition is stored in the database, the user performs a procedure for using the content, and the system operator requests the content. The content is provided in the format described above and notified by a charging process, and a usage fee is paid to a system operator by a usage fee collection process. If the content holder deposits the content with the system operator, the content holder can receive a return of the price from the system operator by the payment processing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention uses a computer system to convert content into multimedia information, which is digital data, and store the converted multimedia information. Regarding the operation method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the data processing capability of computer equipment has been improved, materials such as still images, moving images, characters, figures, and sounds have been converted into digital data and can be comprehensively handled as so-called multimedia information. Is being done. Along with that, not only digital data of materials but also contents of information having added value (hereinafter referred to as contents) have been handled. As a technique for providing multimedia information to general users, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-302243 discloses a technique for providing multimedia information through a network. According to this technique, a user can easily obtain content through a terminal connected to a network without owning a large-capacity storage medium.

[0003] However, each material constituting the content has a content holder as a copyright owner or a proprietor of the material. In other words, copyright and other intellectual property rights exist. Therefore, those who wish to use the contents of others need to pay for royalties and other fees separately to the legitimate content holder even if the multimedia information can be easily obtained. Met. In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-302244 has been proposed.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H11-15064 discloses a technique relating to payment for a content holder when a copyrighted work is obtained through a network.

[0004]

However, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-302244, every time the content is used, information on payment of the price is presented to the user, and information on the amount presented is provided. Is merely stored as a history for each user, so that there is a problem that it takes a lot of trouble for the content holder to collect a fee. In other words, when content is used by an unspecified number of users, it is necessary to check the history of many users who have used the content, and it is difficult to grasp the overall price for the content. there were. As described above, the conventional technology does not provide a system that satisfies the requirements of both the user and the content holder and that can smoothly distribute the content.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a content operation method capable of smoothly distributing contents.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a content operation method using a computer system, wherein content instruction information indicating desired content information and a usage mode indicating a content usage mode are provided. A desired content input step of prompting a user to input instruction information; and a content output step of outputting content information corresponding to the content instruction information input in the desired content input step in accordance with an output format corresponding to the use form information. Calculating the usage fee of the content information corresponding to the content instruction information and the usage mode instruction information input in the desired content input step, based on usage fee data stored in advance,
A charge output step of outputting the calculated amount; and a value output step of monitoring the usage status of the same content information and calculating and outputting a price for the content holder based on the monitoring result. .

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A: System configuration of the embodiment Overall Configuration FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment. In the present system, contents owned by a content holder are digitized by a system operator and stored in a database 101 in a host computer 100, and by accessing the database 101 by a user, desired contents can be used. It is configured so that payment for use can be paid.

The host computer 100 creates a database 101, which will be described in detail later, and transmits and receives data to and from a terminal used by a user. It is composed of a recording medium for storing programs, control programs and various data. The system operator is a person who manages the host computer 100 and receives a content management deposit from a content holder. The content holder includes, for example, a creator, a copyright holder, and an owner of a content such as an art museum, a museum, a publisher, a newspaper, an individual, an organization, and the like. On the other hand, users include publishers, editorial productions, advertising agencies, software houses, general companies, broadcasters, museums, museums, and individuals. In this case, the user uses, for example, a terminal or the like connected to a public line to connect to the host computer 10.
Access 0. Also, the host computer 100
Collects consideration such as a license fee from the user who received the content, and also performs processing and data creation for returning profits to the content holder.

[0010] 2. Next, the configuration of the database 101 will be described. The database 101 includes a plurality of files having various types of digital data, and is constructed as a multimedia integrated database in which digital data such as moving images, still images, sounds, and characters are integrated (see FIG. 1). In particular,
A real database 110 integrating contents (multimedia information) obtained by converting contents such as copyrighted works into digital data such as moving images, still images, sounds, characters, etc., and a content management database and 11 used for content management.
1. It comprises a user management database 112 used for user management and a content holder management database 113 used for managing content holders. Each of these databases stores an identification number assigned to one content in advance. This is for managing the data stored in each database in an integrated manner by using the identification number.

(1) Content Management Database 111 The content management database 111 includes a usage condition database 111a and a usage fee database 111b. In each database, various data related to the content are stored in association with the content in the actual database.

FIG. 2A shows the contents of a use condition database 111a used for managing use conditions. The use condition database 111a stores a content name, a content holder name, a use condition,
Stores usage fee data. Terms of use and fees data are further divided into terms of use,
The data is subdivided into the data of the area, the prohibited matter, and the charge per unit and stored. The use category corresponds to, for example, a case of providing as a printed matter or a CD-ROM, and a case of providing through the Internet. In the illustrated example, when the content with the identification number 0001 is used in a printed material, the use area is limited to Japan and trimming is prohibited. The fee is 1,000 yen for every 100 copies.

FIG. 2B shows a charge database 1 for managing charge when content is used.
11b shows the contents. Usage fee database 11
In 1b, data on usage history, usage amount, usage fee, etc. is subdivided and stored according to the usage category for one identification number. In the illustrated example, the content with the identification number 0001 is used twice as a CD-ROM (title xxxx, $), the total usage is 2,000 copies, and the usage fee is 20,000. It is a circle.

(2) User Management Database 112 The user management database 112 stores data necessary for a process of accepting use from a user, a process associated with provision of contents, and a process related to payment of a usage fee. . These data are used to manage the usage status and usage fee of the user. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a usage fee database 112a in the user management database 112 that stores data on usage fees. The usage fee database 112a includes, for one user,
Data such as the used content name, identification number, usage amount and usage fee for each usage category are stored. In the example shown in the figure, the user BBB uses 10,000 copies of the content XX with the identification number 0001 as a printed matter, and the usage fee is 10,000.
Use 1,000 cards as D-ROM and charge 10
This indicates that the price is 000 yen.

(3) Content Holder Management Database 113 The content holder management database 113 stores data necessary for processing associated with the deposit of content and processing relating to payment of the compensation (return profit) to the content holder. FIG. 4 is a view showing a price database 113a in the content holder management database 113 which stores data relating to price payment. The consideration database 113a stores, for one content holder, data such as the identification number of the deposited contents, the usage amount for each usage category, the payment rate of the consideration, and the payment amount. In the illustrated example, the content holder xxx is depositing the content with the identification number 0001. In the case of using it in printed matter, the payment rate is 60% and the payment amount is 6,000 yen because 10,000 copies are used, and CD
-When using a ROM, the payment rate is 40%, and the payment amount is 4,0
It shows that the price is 00 yen.

As described above, the contents (multimedia information) converted into digital data and various data relating to the contents are stored in the database 101. The present system is operated by the host computer 100 executing the processing described below according to a content operation program.

B: Operation of the Embodiment Operation in Each Procedure When operating this system, there are mainly the following four procedures, and the accompanying operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 8.

(1) Database Creation Procedure This procedure is a procedure in which the system operator creates a database by receiving content from a content holder. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the database creation procedure. From the content holder,
When the system operator receives the content, the content is converted into multimedia information, which is digital data (S101). For example, still images and figures such as paintings and photographs (including negatives and positives) are converted to digital image data using a scanner or digital camera, and audio for music and movies is converted from analog signals to digital data. I do. Also, sentences such as novels and news are converted into text data. In the case of content that has been digitized from the beginning, the database 1
01 is stored. Next, an identification number is assigned to the created multimedia information and stored in the real database 110 (S102). At this time, the data may be compressed and stored in order to reduce the storage capacity.

Next, use conditions are input (S10).
3). Data relating to usage conditions is input by a system operator via a user interface such as a keyboard of the host computer 100 or terminal. The usage conditions may be those presented when the system operator has received the deposit of the content, or may be predetermined conditions. When the data relating to the usage condition is input, the same identification number as that of the content converted into the multimedia information in step S101 is added, and the input usage condition data is stored in the usage condition database 111a (S101).
104). As a result, the data stored in the use condition database 111a shown in FIG.
The data stored in 10 is stored in association with the identification number. Then, the database creation procedure is completed, and it becomes possible to accept a request for use from the user.

(2) Procedure for Providing Content to User Next, a procedure for supplying content to the user will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The content supply procedure to the user is a procedure in which the user receives a use request from the user, searches the database for multimedia information satisfying the use request, and supplies the searched multimedia information to the user. First, a use request from a user is received (S201). Here, the desired data input by the user via the user interface using the keyboard or touch panel of the user terminal is stored in the host computer 1.
00 is input. For example, when the user inputs conditions such as a content holder name and a content name from the user terminal as desired use data, the conditions are input to the host computer 100. The user terminal and the host computer are connected via a network such as the Internet, for example.

The data desired to be used is stored in the host computer 10.
When 0 is input, multimedia information corresponding to the use request is searched (S202). Then, it is determined whether or not there is data matching the input desired data, and it is determined whether the corresponding multimedia information is stored in the real database 110 (S203). If the relevant multimedia information is not stored in the searched database (NO), then another database is searched (S
204). That is, the multimedia information matching the desired use data specified by the user is stored in the real database 11.
If it is not stored in 0, another database such as a database (not shown) in the host computer 100 or a database owned by another system operator is sequentially searched. Note that the host computer 100
It is possible to search a database other than the database 101 and read multimedia information. And
If the corresponding multimedia information is not retrieved from any of the databases (S205: NO), the user is prompted to set new conditions (S20).
6), the process returns to step S201 to accept a use request input. As an example of prompting a new condition setting, a message such as "There is no desired content. Please enter new search conditions." Is displayed on the display of the user terminal.

If it is found from any of the databases that the corresponding multimedia information exists, (S
203: YES or S205: YES), and receives the corresponding multimedia information (S207). That is, a process of reading multimedia information matching the condition data from the real database 110 is performed.

Next, the contents of the multimedia information are processed into a desired use form designated by the user (S208). Here, a process of converting the multimedia information received in step S207 into a data structure according to a use request and processing it into a data format suitable for a data providing medium is performed.
The data on the desired use form and the data providing medium are included in the desired use data input in step S201. For example, use category data stored in the content management database 111 is presented, and the user selects a use mode to generate desired use mode data.

As shown in FIG. 2 etc., there are various forms of desired use, such as a printed matter, a CD-ROM, and a form posted on a homepage on the Internet. Reference numeral 111 stores the category data. The data structure according to the use request corresponds to, for example, HTML data or the like if it is posted on a homepage on the Internet.

As a data providing medium, a network system provided via a network such as the Internet, a personal computer communication, a LAN, a WAN, a CD-RO
Examples include a package system of data storage media such as M, DVD, and DAT, and an analog system of paper media printed in formats such as catalogs, books, photo books, and encyclopedias.
Further, the suitable data format means, for example, when providing data as a printed matter, converting character data into font data to make it a printable format.

When the data processing is completed, a process of providing data to the user is performed using the data providing medium desired to be used (S209). For example, when providing via a network, the processed data is transmitted. Paper and CD-
When mailing a medium such as a ROM to a user, processing such as printing on paper or recording on a CD-ROM,
Print the address of the recipient. The data such as the address of the user to which the information is provided is transmitted by the user in step 20.
1 or may be based on data stored in the user management database 112 in advance.

Next, after performing the data providing process, a process of counting the usage fee is performed (S210). The usage fee of the provided content is calculated from the usage fee data stored in the usage condition database 111a and the data on the usage amount designated by the user. Then, the usage fee database 111b is updated (S211). The usage data stored in the usage fee database 111b is read, and a numerical value obtained by adding the usage of the provided content is stored as new usage data. Similarly, the usage fee data is read out, the numerical value calculated in step S210 is added, and stored as a new usage fee. Further, data related to the output destination of the provided data is also stored in the history data. Upon completion of the above-described processing, the process returns to step S201, and a use request input is accepted again.

(3) Procedure for collecting usage fee from user Next, the procedure for collecting usage fee from the user will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This routine is started each time the routine of the content supply procedure to the user makes one cycle (the process reaches step S211 in FIG. 6).
First, a process of notifying the usage fee is performed (S301). This process refers to reading the usage fee data calculated in step S210 in FIG. 6 into the routine. next,
A usage fee notification file is created (S302). Here, processing is performed for associating the usage fee read in step S301 with the user. Next, usage fee database 1
12a is updated (S303). That is, step S
The data created in 302 is stored in the usage fee database 112a shown in FIG.

Next, the user is notified (charged) of the usage fee (S304). That is, data for notifying the user of the usage fee is output based on the usage fee notification file created in step S302. For example,
Data indicating the usage fee of the provided content is output to the user terminal and displayed on the display of the user terminal.
Then, a usage fee is collected from the user (S305).
That is, based on the usage fee notification file created in step S302, a process for settingtle the usage fee between the system operator and the user is performed. For example, a usage fee collection procedure such as an electronic settlement process, an invoicing process, and a direct debit process is performed.

(4) Procedure for Payment for Content Holder Next, the procedure for payment for content holder will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the price for the content holder is calculated (S4
01). The price is calculated by reading payment rate data defined for each content and usage category, and multiplying the usage fee calculated in step S210 in FIG. Then, the value database 113a is updated (S402). That is, the usage status of the same content is monitored, and the calculated price is associated with the data on the content holder and stored in the price database 113a shown in FIG. Then, the user pays (returns) consideration to the content holder (S403).
That is, based on the data stored in the price database 113a, a process for outputting a price for the content holder and a process for settingtle the output price between the system operator and the content holder are performed. For example, a payment procedure for the content holder such as an electronic settlement process, a bank transfer process, and a payment statement creation process is performed.

2. Specific operation The system is specifically operated as follows by the above-described processing. When a system operator receives a deposit of content from a content holder of a content such as a picture or music, the content is converted into digital data, and is associated with data such as the name of the content holder who deposited the content and usage conditions, and the database 101
Is stored in When a user wants to use a certain content, the user operates the user terminal to search for a content that matches a desired use condition. If the content that matches the condition is stored in the database 101, the user can perform a procedure for using the content and receive the content from the system operator in a desired format. When the content is provided, the user is notified by the billing process, so that the user can know the usage fee and pay the usage fee to the system operator by the usage fee collection process. Further, if the content holder deposits the content with the system operator, it is used by an unspecified number of users, and can receive the return of the price from the system operator by the payment processing.

As described above, since the content holder can greatly reduce the time and effort to provide the content and can appropriately obtain the price, a large number of content holders deposit the content with the system operator for convenience. As a result, many contents are stored in the database 101 owned by the system operator, so that the user can easily obtain desired contents. For system operators,
Using a general-purpose computer, a system for processing procedures such as data creation, search, supply, and payment of consideration can be constructed, so that content distribution becomes easier than before.

C: Modifications The above embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

For example, regarding the creation of multimedia information, a localization process such as translating a content created in a foreign language may be performed in conjunction with the conversion process described in the embodiment. Further, the content entrusted by a plurality of content holders may be edited by the system operator.

Regarding the method of providing contents,
The form illustrated in FIG. 9 may be used. For example, in the form shown as a cyber museum, if the user is a home or individual, the content is sold to an online service provider and provided via the Internet, or when the user is in a school or public institution. In some cases, an on-demand service that can immediately provide content according to a user's request via a network or by mailing printed content may be provided.

In the digital art gallery, the system operator creates theater software for each genre based on the deposited content. Then, the software is provided through a medium such as a CD-ROM or a network, and is provided in a showroom, a company,
In a museum, a museum, a public institution, etc., users are provided with content in the form of theaters, print services, on-demand services, etc. It may be provided in the form of a mobile art museum theater where the contents are carried to a place where the contents are to be published.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, in order for a user to search for desired content, title data of the content may be created and stored on a CD-ROM for sale. In this case, CD-ROMs are sold in the form of door-to-door sales, mail order sales, online sales, etc.
It may be sold via a publisher or sold together with a personal computer. Of course, it may be sold directly to users.

Further, in the above embodiment, the price for the content holder is a fixed ratio to the usage fee. However, another calculation method may be used. For example, it may be calculated from the number of times of use.

Further, as security processing of multimedia information, digital watermarking for preventing fraud, encryption such as a secret key / public key method for preventing alteration of a copyrighted work when using the Internet, Electronic authentication or the like may be performed to prevent a third party from impersonating the user or the content holder. In addition, a credit check of a user may be performed as member management.

In the embodiment, the system according to the present invention is operated using a host computer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a distributed system using a plurality of servers may be used.

[0041]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a content operation method capable of smoothly distributing content.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing contents of a content management database.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of a user management database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the contents of a content holder management database.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a database creation procedure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a procedure for supplying content to a user.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of a procedure for collecting a usage fee from a user.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of a procedure for paying a price to a content holder.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content providing method.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a content search method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 host computer 101 database 110 actual database 111 content management database 112 user management database 113 content holder management database

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Osamu Akita 890 Kashimada, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi System Plaza Shin Kawasaki Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Nobuo Kotatsu 890 Kashimada Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi System Plaza Shin Kawasaki Stock Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsu Yamamoto 890 Kashimada, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi System Plaza Shin-Kawasaki Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigeru Iida 890 Kashimada, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi System Plaza Shin-Kawasaki, Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuki Katsuya 890 Kashimada, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi System Plaza Shin-Kawasaki Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shusaku Endo 6-81 Ouecho, Naka-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Software Engineering Shikikai-house F-term (reference) 5B049 AA01 AA02 BB25 CC05 EE05 FF03 GG04 GG07 5B075 KK07 KK54 KK63 ND16 UU40

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A content operation method using a computer system, comprising: a desired content input step of prompting a user to input content instruction information indicating desired content information and usage mode instruction information indicating a usage mode of the content; A content output step of outputting content information corresponding to the content instruction information input in the content input step in accordance with an output format corresponding to the use form information; and the content instruction information and the use input in the desired content input step The usage fee of the content information corresponding to the form instruction information is calculated based on the usage fee data stored in advance, and the usage output relating to the same content information is monitored at the fee output stage of outputting the calculated amount. Based on the result, the content Content management method characterized by having a compensation output stage which calculates and outputs the compensation for loaders. 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of searching for desired content information from the content information stored in the computer system.
The content operation method described. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the use mode instruction information includes information on an output medium that outputs the content information, and the content output step outputs the content information in an output format corresponding to the output medium information. The content operation method according to claim 1, wherein 4. The content according to claim 1, further comprising a charge settlement step of performing a process for making a settlement between the system operator and the user with respect to the usage charge output in the charge output step. Operation method. 5. The content operation method according to claim 1, further comprising a value settlement step of performing a process for making a settlement between the operator and the content holder for the value output in the value output step.