JP2001350478A - Music distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a music distribution method permitting to provide musical pieces desired by a user, even if a music distribution company does not possesses digital data of the musical pieces. SOLUTION: In this music distribution method, the music distribution company receives music name information for identifying a music piece from the user who desires it to be distributed; judges whether the data of the music piece corresponding to the music name information are stored as analog data or digital data; converts the analog data of the music piece corresponding to the music name information into digital data when the music data corresponding to the music name information are stored as analog data; and transmits the converted digital data to the user who desires the distribution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a music distribution method for distributing music song data using a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been a service for distributing music data of music using a communication line such as the Internet. This is because a user who wishes to distribute music song data accesses a music distribution site from his / her personal computer (PC) or mobile terminal via the Internet, and downloads music data from the music distribution site. Downloaded and stored in the memory of PC or mobile terminal,
The stored music data is reproduced using specific reproduction software.

[0003]

In such a conventional music distribution service, music data held by a music distribution site is a major music data that most users want to distribute. Only song data. Therefore, even if the user wishes to distribute music in the era when only LP records or SP records existed, minor songs, and information other than music, for example, past broadcast records on radio and television, even if the user wishes to distribute, Was never done.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and is intended to provide a music desired by a user even if a music distribution company does not own digital music data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a music distribution method.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a music distribution method according to the present invention receives song name information for specifying a song desired to be distributed from a user desiring distribution, and stores the title information in the song name information. When it is determined whether the data of the corresponding song is stored as analog data or stored as digital data, and it is determined that the data of the song corresponding to the song title information is stored as analog data Is characterized in that analog data of a song corresponding to song title information is converted into digital data, and the converted digital data is transmitted to a user who desires distribution.

Further, when it is determined that the music data corresponding to the music title information is stored as analog data, a different charging process is performed than when it is determined that the music data is stored as digital data. It is preferred to do so. In addition, information for performing different charging processing is transmitted to a user who desires distribution, and distribution of digital data converted in response to a response from the user who desires distribution to information for performing different charging processing. Is preferably performed.

Further, when it is determined that the music data corresponding to the music title information is not stored as analog data and not stored as digital data, the music data corresponding to the music title information is deleted. It is preferable to transmit the fact that the user does not exist to the user who desires the distribution. Further, it is preferable that the server has a database that stores song name information of songs stored or stored and information indicating whether the song name information is analog data or digital data.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a music distribution method according to the present invention is a music distribution method in a music distribution company server, wherein a music title for specifying a music desired by a user who desires distribution. Receives the information and determines whether the song data corresponding to the song title information is stored in the company as analog data, stored as digital data in the company, or owned by another company, If it is determined that the song data corresponding to the song title information is stored in the company as analog data, the analog data of the song corresponding to the song title information is converted to digital data, and the converted digital data is converted. Send the data to the user who wants to distribute the data, and if another company owns the song data corresponding to the song title information, Receiving the data, and transmits to the user wishing to distribute the received data.

Further, when it is determined that the music data corresponding to the music title information is stored in the company as analog data, and when the music data corresponding to the music title information is owned by another company, It is preferable to perform a charging process different from the case where it is determined that the data is stored as digital data. In addition, information for performing different charging processing is transmitted to a user who desires distribution, and distribution of digital data converted in response to a response from the user who desires distribution to information for performing different charging processing. Is preferably performed.

[0010] Further, it is determined that the music data corresponding to the music title information is not stored in the company as analog data, is not stored in the company as digital data, and is not owned by another company. In this case, it is preferable to transmit to the user who desires distribution that there is no music data corresponding to the music title information. Further, it is preferable that the server has a database that stores song name information of the song that is stored or stored, and information indicating whether the song title information is analog data, digital data, or another company.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment according to the music distribution method of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a system according to the first embodiment. Reference numeral 10 denotes a network such as the Internet, reference numeral 20 denotes a server of the distribution company A connected to the network 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as "server"), reference numeral 30 denotes a provider connected to the network 10, and reference numeral 50 denotes a financial institution terminal connected to the network 10. It is. Provider 30
Is connected to a plurality of user terminals 40 using a telephone line or the like.
Are connected so that they can be accessed. The user terminal 40
It is a PC or a mobile phone.

The server 20 is composed of a CPU and the like, and has a processing unit 21 having various communication functions and data processing functions.
The input unit 22 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and can input various data. The input unit 22 includes a display, a printer, and the like. The output unit 23 can display or print out various data, and the memory. Has a storage unit 24 capable of storing the information.

The input section 22 has an A / D converter, and is configured to be capable of converting analog data from a record player or the like into digital data and inputting it. Further, the storage unit 24 stores a main program and a user database 25 (hereinafter referred to as “user D”).
B), a charge data database 26 (hereinafter referred to as "charge DB"), a song title database 27 (hereinafter referred to as "song title DB"), and a song data database 2
8 (hereinafter referred to as “song data DB”).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a procedure when the user receives distribution of music data from the server 20. Note that this procedure is executed by the processing unit 21 in the server 20 according to the main program. First, the user terminal 40 communicates with the server 20 via the provider 30 or the like.
, And transmits the user ID, the password, and the title of the song desired to be distributed to the server 20, and the server 20 receives these data (step 202). The server 20 compares the received user ID and password with the user DB 25 in which information such as a user ID, a password, and a distribution history is stored.
Is a registered member. If it is not a member, it transmits so and requests transmission of various data necessary for registration (not shown).

Next, the server determines that the received song title is a song title D
B27 is searched to determine whether it is stored (step 2).
03). The song title DB 27 has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3 in the present embodiment. The song title DB 27 includes data items such as a song title 301 and a data format 302. “D” in the data format 302 indicates that the corresponding song name is stored in the song data DB as digital data. “A” in the data format 302 indicates that the data is stored in the distribution company A as analog data. The analog data means LP records, SP records, magnetic tapes on which radio and television broadcasts are recorded, and the like.

Next, as a result of the search, it is determined whether or not the received song title is applicable in the song title DB (step 20).
4). If there is no corresponding, there is no digital data and analog data corresponding to the received song title, so the accessing user terminal 40
Transmit data indicating that distribution is not possible (step 20)
5), a series of processing ends (step 213).

If it is determined in step 204 that the data is present, it is next determined whether or not the data format is digital data based on the data format 302 of the song title DB 27 (step 206). If the data is not digital data, that is, if the data is stored as analog data in the distribution company A, the data cannot be distributed immediately. You. "Distributable date" means a date after a predetermined date and time, and "predetermined date and time" means that the distribution preparation of analog data shown below is completed in the distribution company A by a normal procedure. It is determined based on the time required to do so. Here, it is also possible to transmit only data relating to a predetermined period without designating a specific date and time.

Next, the analog data is converted into digital data at the input section 22 (step 20).
8). For example, if the analog data is an SP record, the record player plays the corresponding SP record, and the output analog data from the record player is converted into digital data by the A / D converter of the input unit 22. .

The converted digital data is stored in a predetermined format, for example, MP3 (MPEG1 Audio Layer).
r3), and is stored in the song data DB 28 together with the song title (step 209). It is also possible to adopt a data format compressed by another compression technique, for example, TwinVQ, Windows (registered trademark) Media Technologies, ATRAC (registered trademark) 3, or the like. Also, the user terminal 4
According to the instruction from 0, when distributing, it is also possible to change the compression format and transmit. The song data DB
Reference numeral 28 denotes a configuration as shown in FIG. 4, which is composed of data items such as a song title 401 and song data 402.

Next, the data format 302 corresponding to the corresponding song title in the song title DB 27 is changed from "A" to "D" (step 210), and a series of processing ends. With this setting, if the user accesses again after the date specified in step 207, it is possible to receive distribution of music data having a desired music title. Step 2
If it is determined in step 06 that the corresponding song name is already stored as digital data in the song data DB 28, the song data DB 28 is searched (step 21).
1) Predetermined music data is extracted and transmitted to the user-side terminal that has been accessed (step 212), and a series of processing ends (step).

[0021] The fee for distribution is settled by a predetermined settlement method. For example, in response to a request for payment of a fee from the distribution company A to the affiliated financial institution terminal 50 (credit card company or the like), the financial institution pays a fee to the distribution company A, and the financial institution terminal 50 transmits the user terminal 40 A method of making a request for payment can be adopted. In this case, when performing distribution based on analog data, A / D
Since it takes time and effort to carry out the conversion work, a higher fee may be required for a song already stored as digital data. For example, the cost based on digital data is 200 yen / song, whereas the cost based on analog data is 300 yen / song.

For the case based on analog data,
When the fee based on the digital data is set high, in step 207, data indicating that the user terminal 40 is to be asked again whether or not the distribution of the music data is desired even based on the high fee. It is also possible to execute the subsequent steps 208 to 210 only when the data is transmitted and the desired data is received thereafter.

In the above procedure, all the digital data converted from the analog data is stored in the music data DB.
However, in the case of an old song or a minor song that is not accessed much, it may be automatically deleted from the song data DB 28 after distribution. In addition, a plurality of SP records are prepared in the juke box, and when the title of the song corresponding to the corresponding SP record is received, the performance of the SP record is automatically started in response thereto, and the playback from the juke box is performed. The analog data may be converted into digital data in real time and processed, and transmitted to the user terminal 40.

As described above, it has become possible to receive distribution of analog data which could not be received because it was not stored as digital data. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the music distribution method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a system according to the second embodiment. In the same configuration as FIG.
The same numbers are assigned. The difference from the system of FIG.
The point is that the server 60 of the distribution company B and the server 70 of the distribution company C are added to the system. Other configurations are the same as those in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure when a user receives distribution of music data from the server 20. This procedure is performed on the server 2
At 0, the processing unit 21 executes according to the main program.

First, the user terminal 40 is connected to the provider 3
The server 20 is accessed via 0 or the like, and the user ID, the password, and the title of the song desired to be distributed are transmitted to the server 20, and the server 20 receives these data (step 602). Next, the server determines that the received song title is song title D
B27 is searched for (Step 60)
3). In the present embodiment, the song title DB 27 has a configuration as shown in FIG. The song title DB 27 includes data items such as a song title 701, a data format 702, and a storage location 703. The storage location 703 indicates where the music data of the corresponding music title is stored.

Next, as a result of the search, it is determined whether or not the received song title is applicable in the song title DB (step 60).
4). If there is no corresponding, there is no digital data and analog data corresponding to the received song title, so the accessing user terminal 40
Transmit data indicating that distribution is not possible (step 60)
5), a series of processing ends (step 618).

If it is determined in step 604 that the data is present, it is determined based on the storage location 703 of the song title DB 27 whether or not the data exists in the company (step 606). If the data is in-house, it is next determined whether the data format is digital data based on the data format 702 of the song title DB 27 (step 607).

As a result of the determination in step 607, the digital
If the data is not data, that is, if the data is stored as analog data in the distribution company A, the data cannot be distributed immediately, and the date on which the data can be distributed is transmitted to the accessing user terminal 40. Next, analog
The data is converted into digital data in the input unit 22 (step 609), and the song data DB 28 is displayed together with the song title.
(Step 610). The music data DB 28 in the present embodiment has a configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and includes data items such as a music title 401 and music data 402, as in the first embodiment.

Next, the data format 702 corresponding to the corresponding song title in the song title DB 27 is changed from "A" to "D" (step 611), and a series of processing ends (step 618). With this setting, if the user accesses again after the date specified in step 608, it is possible to receive distribution of music data having a desired music title.

If it is determined in step 606 that the data corresponding to the received song name is not data to be stored in the company, the data cannot be distributed immediately. (Step 612). Next, data for requesting transmission of the song data of the received song title is transmitted to another distribution company having the corresponding data (step 6).
13).

In another distribution company receiving the data,
Step 6 if the digital data of the corresponding song title or its distribution company stores it as analog data
The digital data converted in the same manner as described in 08 to 609 is transmitted to the distribution company A (not shown).
It is preferable that a predetermined contract for mutually exchanging data with another distribution company has been concluded in advance.

Thereafter, the server 20 receives the music data from another distribution company (step 614), stores the received data in the music data DB 28 (step 610), and stores the music data in the music title DB2.
7 is changed to “own company” and the data format 7
If 02 is "A", it is changed to "D" (step 61).
1) A series of procedures ends (step 618). With this setting, if the user accesses again after the date specified in step 608, it is possible to receive distribution of music data having a desired music title.

If it is determined in step 607 that the corresponding song name is already stored as digital data in the song data DB 28, the song data DB 28 is searched (step 615), and the predetermined song data is retrieved. Extracted,
It is transmitted to the user side terminal that has been accessed (step 616), and a series of processing ends (618). When receiving data from another distribution company, it takes time and effort to distribute the data, so it is necessary to request a higher fee than songs already stored as digital data in the company. You may do it. And in this case,
In step 612, the user terminal 40 is again asked whether or not the user wants to distribute the music data even if the fee is high, and only when the request data is received,
Subsequent steps 613 to 611 may be executed.

In the above procedure, all digital data received from another distribution company is stored in the song data DB 28. However, in the case of an old song or a minor song that is not accessed much, After distribution, it may be automatically deleted from the music data DB 28.

[0036]

According to the present invention, analog data which could not be received because it was not stored as digital data can be received. Also, analog data that could not be distributed because it was not stored as digital data by one distribution company can now be distributed via another distribution company. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a system for implementing a music distribution method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a distribution procedure in the music distribution method according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a music title DB.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a music data DB.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a system for implementing a music distribution method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a distribution procedure in a music distribution method according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of a music title DB.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network 20 ... Distribution company A server 30 ... Provider 40 ... User terminal 50 ... Financial term terminal

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masataka Mizuno 1-2-28 Gosho-dori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Ten Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuo Kawabata 1-chome, Gosho-dori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo No. 28 in Fujitsu Ten Limited

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A music distribution method in a music distribution company server, comprising: receiving song name information for specifying a song desired to be distributed from a user desiring distribution; Determining whether the data is stored as data or stored as digital data, and if it is determined that the data of the song corresponding to the song name information is stored as analog data, the song name information Converting the analog data of the song corresponding to the above to digital data, and transmitting the converted digital data to a user who desires the distribution. 2. In the determining step, if it is determined that the music data corresponding to the music title information is stored as analog data, it is further determined that the music data is stored as digital data. The music distribution method according to claim 1, wherein a different charging process is performed than when the music is distributed. 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting information indicating that the different billing process is to be performed to the user who desires the distribution; 3. The music distribution method according to claim 2, wherein the converted digital data is distributed. 4. In the determining step, when it is determined that the data of the song corresponding to the song title information is not stored as analog data and is not stored as digital data, The music distribution method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein information indicating that there is no music data corresponding to the music title information is transmitted to a user who desires the distribution. 5. In the determining step, the determination is performed in a database that stores song name information of a song stored or stored by the server and information indicating whether the song title information is analog data or digital data. The music distribution method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the music distribution method is performed based on the music distribution method. 6. A music distribution method in a music distribution company server, comprising: receiving song name information for specifying a song desired to be distributed from a user desiring distribution; -It is determined whether the data is stored in-house as data, stored as digital data in-house, or owned by another company, and the data of the song corresponding to the song title information is automatically stored as analog data. If it is determined that it is stored internally,
The analog data of the song corresponding to the song title information is converted into digital data, the converted digital data is transmitted to a user who desires the distribution, and the song data corresponding to the song title information is transmitted to another company. A music distribution method, receiving data of a song corresponding to the song title information from the other company, and transmitting the received data to a user who desires the distribution. 7. In the determining step, when it is determined that the data of the song corresponding to the song name information is stored in the company as analog data, and when the data of the song corresponding to the song title information is transmitted to another company. 7. The music distribution method according to claim 6, wherein when the user owns the music, a charging process different from a case where it is determined that the music data is stored as digital data is performed. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting information indicating that the different charging process is to be performed to the user who desires the distribution, and responding to the response from the user requesting the distribution that the information indicating that the different charging process is to be performed. 8. The music distribution method according to claim 7, wherein the converted digital data is distributed. 9. In the determining step, music data corresponding to the music title information is not stored in the company as analog data, is not stored in the company as digital data, and other companies 9. If it is determined that the music data is not owned by the user, the information that there is no music data corresponding to the music title information is transmitted to the user who desires the distribution. Music distribution method described in. 10. In the determining step, the determination stores song name information of a song stored or stored by the server and information indicating whether the song title information is analog data, digital data, or another company. The music distribution method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, which is performed based on a database.