JP2002141941A - Distribution device, communication terminal device, and content distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a content distribution apparatus and a distribution method capable of prompting the purchase of content and appropriately increasing the sales performance of the content by appropriately allocating communication resources. SOLUTION: A communication resource management means 14 stores a download communication history for each user when a content trial request is made from a plurality of communication terminal devices in a state where congestion has occurred in a communication band for stream communication. Based on the configuration, the order in which the communication bands are secured is determined. Further, the communication resource management means 14 reduces the already-secured communication band for download when a request for downloading the content is made from the communication terminal device in a state where the communication band for download has been congested. Is configured to secure the communication band for download requested by.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a distribution apparatus and a distribution method for distributing music, voice, and other contents via a mobile communication network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a content distribution method for distributing paid music content to a portable communication terminal device via a mobile communication network has been proposed. Such a conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a distribution server 10 is a device for distributing music content, a gateway 20 is a device for relaying communication between the Internet and a mobile communication network, and a communication terminal device 30 receives music content. It is a device that plays back.

In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, when a user operates the communication terminal device 30 to request a trial listening (trial) of the content, the distribution server 10 transmits the requested content to the communication terminal device by stream communication. 30. At this time, the communication terminal device 30 reproduces the received portion in real time while receiving the content. Here, the stream communication is based on IETF (Inte
rnet Engineering Task Force (RTP)
ransport Protocol) and RTSP (Real Time Strea)
ming Protocol), and is a communication for transmitting and receiving contents in order from the beginning with a time constraint so that the communication terminal device 30 can reproduce the contents in real time.

Further, in the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, when a user operates the communication terminal device 30 to request a download of the content, the distribution server 10
The requested content is transmitted to the communication terminal device 30 by the download communication. After the download is completed, the user operates the communication terminal device 30 at an arbitrary time, so that the communication terminal device 30 reproduces the downloaded content. Here, the download communication is WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol) Forum WS
P (Wireless Session Protocol) and WTP (Wirel
ess Transaction Protocol) or IETF (Inte
rnet Engineering Task Force (HTTP) (Hyper Tex)
t Transfer Protocol) and TCP (Transmission Co)
In this communication, all necessary contents are downloaded so that the communication terminal device 30 can repeatedly reproduce the contents.

Next, a conventional distribution server will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, a distribution server 10 includes a gateway interface 11 for communicating with a communication terminal device via a gateway, a stream communication unit 12 for controlling stream communication, a download communication unit 13 for controlling download communication, Communication resource management means 14 for managing bandwidth and other communication resources; communication reservation queue management means 15 for managing communication waiting as a queue when communication waiting occurs due to congestion; storage means for storing communication setting information and music content 16 are provided.

The distribution of communication resources in such a conventional distribution server will be described with reference to FIG. here,
Communication resources refer to resources necessary for performing communication. Hereinafter, among these communication resources, a communication band secured according to the communication speed of the communication terminal device will be described. The communication band is an output performance necessary for the distribution server to secure the content to reach the communication terminal device normally, and is expressed in units of bit / s.

[0007] When the communication terminal device requests a trial listening, the distribution server 10 secures a communication band for stream communication.
For example, when the communication speed of the communication terminal device is 64 kbit / s, and the user listens to 64 kbit / s content, the distribution server 10 secures a communication band of 64 kbit / s (or more). Specifically, first, the stream communication unit 12
Inquire whether the required communication band can be secured. Next, the communication resource management unit 14 determines whether a necessary communication band can be secured. For example, the distribution ratio between the communication band for stream communication and the communication band for download communication is 1: 1.
50% allocated for stream communication
When there is room to secure a newly required communication band of 64 kbit / s from among the above, a communication band for stream communication is newly secured irrespective of congestion of download communication. When a new communication band can be secured, the stream communication unit 12 transmits music contents in order from the beginning by stream communication. So even when download requests are concentrated,
The user can audition regardless of the congestion of the download communication.

When the communication terminal device requests download, the distribution server 10 secures a communication band for download communication. For example, if the communication speed of the communication terminal device is 6
When it is 4 kbit / s, the distribution server 10
A communication band of kbit / s (or less) is secured. Specifically, first, the download communication means 13
An inquiry is made to the communication resource management means 14 as to whether a necessary communication band can be secured. Next, the communication resource management unit 14 determines whether a necessary communication band can be secured. For example, the distribution ratio between the band for stream communication and the communication band for download communication is set to 1: 1, and the newly required 64% of the 50% allocated for download communication is used.
When there is room to secure a communication band of kbit / s,
Regardless of the congestion of the stream communication, a communication band for download communication is newly secured. When a new communication band can be secured, the download communication unit 13
By the download communication, all the music contents are distributed in packets and transmitted. Therefore, even when the trial listening requests are concentrated, the user can perform the download regardless of the congestion of the stream communication.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional technology, when a request for trial listening is concentrated, on the other hand, a user who only listens to a trial and does not request downloading (that is, a user who has not purchased anything). Even if there is a request for a preview, a preview can be performed if a preview request has been made beforehand. On the other hand, even if a user requests download frequently (that is, a user who has purchased and has a strong desire to purchase), congestion may occur. As a result, there is a problem that the preview cannot be performed, and there has been a problem that the sales performance of the content does not grow as expected.

[0010] In addition, in response to a request for preview, stream communication is immediately performed in response to the request, and in response to a download request, download communication is performed to more communication terminal devices by efficiently using communication resources. Is preferably performed. However, in the conventional technology, when there is no available communication band for download communication, a new download is not started, and the user refrain from downloading, and the sales performance of the content does not grow as expected. was there.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and a distribution apparatus and a content distribution apparatus capable of prompting purchase of contents and extending sales performance of contents by appropriately allocating communication resources. It provides a method.

[0012]

A distribution device of the present invention is a distribution device for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network.
A stream communication means for transmitting the content to the communication terminal device by stream communication when a request for trial of the content is issued from the communication terminal device; and a content download request for the content from the communication terminal device. Download to the communication terminal device, storage means for storing a communication history for each user, and communication resource management means for securing a communication band based on the communication history, wherein the communication resource management means comprises: When there is a request for trial of the content from a plurality of communication terminal devices in a state where congestion has occurred in a communication band for stream communication, the communication band is secured based on a communication history of download for each user. In order to determine the order. With this configuration, it is possible to provide trial listening of the content in the order of users who have a proper distribution of communication resources and have a track record of downloading, promote purchase of the content, and increase the sales performance of the content.

A distribution apparatus according to the present invention is a distribution apparatus that distributes music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network, and downloads the content from the communication terminal device. When requested
A download unit that downloads the content to the communication terminal device; and a communication resource management unit that secures a communication band, wherein the communication resource management unit performs the communication in a state where the download communication band is congested. When the terminal device requests the download of the content, the communication band for download already secured is reduced to secure a communication band for download newly requested. With this configuration, communication resources can be appropriately distributed and downloaded to more communication terminal devices, so that purchase of content can be promoted and sales performance of content can be increased.

[0014] The communication terminal device of the present invention is a communication terminal device receiving distribution of music, voice, and other contents from the distribution device via a mobile communication network, wherein the content trial use request and the download request are downloaded. Operating means for performing the operation of, and communication means for making the request to the distribution device and receiving the content from the distribution device,
And a reproducing means for reproducing the received content. With this configuration, the distribution device can receive content distribution in which communication resources are appropriately distributed.

[0015] The content distribution method of the present invention is a content distribution method for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network. Receiving a trial request for the content, providing the user with a trial of the content at the communication terminal device by stream communication, receiving a download request for the content from the communication terminal device, and transmitting the content to the communication device. Downloading to the terminal device; and storing the download communication history for each user, wherein the provision of the trial is performed by a user who provides a trial based on the communication history of the download for each user. Are determined. With this configuration,
Content can be previewed in the order of users who have properly downloaded and downloaded communication resources,
The purchase of the content is encouraged, and the sales performance of the content can be increased.

A content distribution method according to the present invention is a content distribution method for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network. Receiving the download request and downloading the content to the communication terminal device, wherein the download is performed when the communication terminal device receives the content download request in a state where there is no free communication band for download. In such a case, the download communication band already allocated is reduced to secure a newly requested communication band for download. With this configuration, communication resources can be appropriately distributed and downloaded to more communication terminal devices, so that purchase of content can be promoted and sales performance of content can be increased.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a content distribution system according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a distribution server (distribution device) 10 is a device that distributes music content, a gateway 20 is a device that relays communication between the Internet and a mobile communication network, and a communication terminal 30 is a device that distributes music content. It is a device that receives and reproduces music content.

Here, the communication terminal device 30 is provided with operating means for performing a trial listening (trial) request and download request for music content, and a communication means for issuing a trial listening request and download request to the distribution server 10 and receiving the music content. And playback means for playing back the received music content (not shown).

In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, when a user operates the communication terminal device 30 to request a trial listening (trial) of music content, the distribution server 10 communicates the requested music content by stream communication. It transmits to the terminal device 30. At this time, the communication terminal device 3
0 reproduces the received portion in real time while receiving the music content. Here, the stream communication is I
RTP of Internet Engineering Task Force (ETF)
(Real-time Transport Protocol) and RTSP (Re
al Time Streaming Protocol), and is a communication for transmitting and receiving music contents in order from the top with a time constraint so that the communication terminal device 30 can play back in real time.

In the content distribution system shown in FIG. 1, when a user operates the communication terminal device 30 to request download of music content, the distribution server 10
Transmits the requested music content to the communication terminal device 30 by download communication. After the download is completed, the user operates the communication terminal device 30 at an arbitrary time, so that the communication terminal device 30 reproduces the downloaded music content. Here, the download communication is performed by WSP (Wireless Application Protocol) forum WSP (Wireless Session Protocol) and WTP (Wireless Transaction Protocol) or ITP.
HTF of Internet Engineering Task Force (ETF)
P (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) and TCP (Tr
In this communication, all necessary music contents are downloaded so that the communication terminal device 30 can repeatedly reproduce the music contents.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a distribution server (distribution device) in the present embodiment. In FIG. 2, a distribution server 10 includes a gateway interface 11 for communicating with a communication terminal device via a gateway, a stream communication unit 12 for controlling stream communication, a download communication unit 13 for controlling download communication,
Communication resource management means 14 for managing communication bandwidth and other communication resources, and communication reservation queue management means 15 for managing communication waiting as a queue when communication waiting occurs due to congestion.
And storage means 16 for storing communication setting information, music content, and communication history. Here, the communication resource refers to a resource necessary for performing communication. Less than,
Among these communication resources, a communication band secured according to the communication speed of the communication terminal device will be described. This communication band is an output performance required by the distribution server to secure the content to reach the communication terminal device normally, and b
It is expressed in units of it / s.

In the present embodiment, the storage means 16 stores the communication history of the trial listening and the communication history of the download by the stream communication for each communication terminal device corresponding to the user. That is, the communication history is stored for each user. Each communication history includes statistical information such as a total number of trial listenings and a total number of downloads, in addition to history information for each communication such as a content ID indicating a music content communicated, a communication time, and a required communication time. These communication histories are stored in the storage unit 16 for each communication terminal device (that is, for each user) in association with a terminal number for identifying the communication terminal device.

In the present embodiment, when securing communication resources for stream communication, the communication resource management unit 14 secures communication resources by giving priority to users who have a high track record of downloading, based on the communication history. It has become.
Specifically, when congestion occurs in the trial listening request and there is no available communication bandwidth for the trial listening, the communication history is referred to and the communication bandwidth for the stream communication is secured in the order of the user who has the largest total download count.

In the present embodiment, the communication resource management means 14 dynamically changes the communication band within a predetermined range set in the setting information. Specifically, for example, the ratio of the lower limit of the communication band to the communication speed of the communication terminal device is set to 50%. Then, a 100% (64 kbit / s) download communication band is secured for each of the first communication terminal device, the second communication terminal device, and the third communication terminal device whose communication speed is 64 kbit / s. And the communication speed is 64 kbit while the download communication band is fully used.
/ S, when there is a new download request from the fourth communication terminal, the communication band of the third communication terminal is changed from 100% (64 kbit / s) to 50% (32 k
bit / s) and the communication band of the fourth communication terminal device is secured as 50% (32 kbit / s).

Hereinafter, the operation of the distribution server according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining a normal download time in this embodiment.

In FIG. 3, first, the communication terminal 30
Requests the distribution server 10 to download the content (S301). At the time of the download request, the communication terminal device 30 notifies the distribution server 10 of the terminal number for identifying the communication terminal device 30 and the communication speed (for example, 64 kbit / s) of the communication terminal device 30.

In the distribution server shown in FIG. 2, the download communication means 13 accepts a download request, and the communication resource management means 14 refers to the vacant state of the communication band for download and the setting information, and It is determined whether a communication band can be secured.

For example, a communication band (for example, 64 kbit / s) corresponding to the communication speed (for example, 64 kbit / s) of the communication terminal device
When it is possible to secure (bit / s), the communication resource management unit 14 secures a communication band corresponding to the communication speed of the communication terminal device.

When the communication band can be secured, the distribution server 10 notifies the communication terminal device 30 that the download is possible (S302).

Next, the distribution server 10 establishes the communication terminal 3
0, the content is downloaded (S303).

[0033] The communication terminal device 30
Upon notifying the end of the download (S304), the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2 releases the communication band used by the communication resource management unit 14 for downloading. The storage unit 16 stores a download history. Specifically, while storing the terminal number of the downloaded communication terminal device, the ID of the downloaded content, and the history information for each communication such as the communication time and the required communication time, each communication terminal device (that is, each user) Update the total number of downloads for.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining the normal state of the trial listening in this embodiment.

In FIG. 4, first, the communication terminal 30
Requests the distribution server 10 to preview the content (S401). At the time of the trial listening request, the communication terminal device 30 sends the distribution server 10 a terminal number for identifying the communication terminal device 30 and the communication speed of the communication terminal device 30 (for example, 64 kbits).
/ S).

In the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2, the stream communication means 12 accepts the trial listening request, and the communication resource management means 14 refers to the vacant state of the communication resources and determines whether or not the communication band can be secured.

More specifically, when a communication band corresponding to the communication speed of the communication terminal device or more (for example, 64 kbit / s or more) can be secured, the communication resource management means 14 sets the communication speed of the communication terminal device or higher. To secure the communication band.

When the communication band can be secured, the distribution server 10 notifies the communication terminal device 30 that the trial listening is possible (S402).

Next, the distribution server 10 is connected to the communication terminal 3
0, the stream communication for the trial listening is performed (S40).
3). The communication terminal device 30 reproduces the received content while receiving the content in order from the top.

[0040] The communication terminal device 30
When the end of the trial listening is notified (S404), the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2 releases the communication band reserved for the trial listening by the communication resource management unit 14. The storage unit 16 stores the history of the trial listening.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining the occurrence of the congestion of the trial listening in this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, first, the communication terminal 30
Requests the distribution server 10 to preview the content (S501). At the time of the trial listening request, the communication terminal device 30 sends the distribution server 10 a terminal number for identifying the communication terminal device 30 and the communication speed of the communication terminal device 30 (for example, 64 kbit
/ S).

Here, in the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2, the stream communication means 12 accepts the trial listening request, and the communication resource management means 14 refers to the free state of the communication resources for stream communication and can secure the communication band. Is determined.

Here, when a communication band corresponding to the communication speed of the communication terminal device or more (for example, 64 kbit / s or more) cannot be secured, the communication reservation queue management means 15
Makes a communication reservation of the communication terminal device corresponding to the communication reservation queue of the stream communication based on the communication history. More specifically, the communication reservation is made by sorting the reservation order in descending order of the number of downloads corresponding to the terminal number of the communication terminal device requesting the trial listening. This communication reservation is performed by the communication reservation queue management means 15 under the control of the communication resource management means 14.

The distribution server 10 is a communication terminal device 3
0 is notified that congestion has occurred (S50).
2).

When the communication with the other communication terminal is completed and the communication resource management means 14 releases the communication band in the distribution server 10 and the congestion is released,
The communication reservation queue management unit 15 retrieves the communication reservation queue by searching the communication reservation queue of the stream communication, and determines whether the communication resource management unit 14 can secure the communication band.

When the communication band can be secured, the distribution server 20 notifies the communication terminal device 30 that the congestion has been released and the trial listening is possible (S503).

Next, the distribution server 10 determines that the communication terminal device 3
0, stream communication for preview is performed (S50).
4). The communication terminal device 30 reproduces the received content while receiving the content in order from the top.

[0049] The communication terminal device 30
When the end of the trial listening is notified (S505), the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2 releases the communication band reserved for the stream communication by the communication resource management unit 14. The storage unit 16 stores the history of the trial listening.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a time when the communication band of the download is changed in this embodiment.

In FIG. 6, first, the communication terminal 30
Requests the distribution server 10 to download the content (S601). At the time of the download request, the communication terminal device 30 notifies the distribution server 10 of the terminal number for identifying the communication terminal device 30 and the communication speed (for example, 64 kbit / s) of the communication terminal device 30.

Here, in the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2, the download communication means 13 receives the download request, and the communication resource management means 14 refers to the free state of the download communication band and the setting information, and It is determined whether or not can be secured.

More specifically, when there is no available communication band for download and a communication band corresponding to 100% of the communication speed of the communication terminal device (for example, 64 kbit / s) cannot be secured, the setting information is set in advance. The communication band is dynamically changed within a set ratio (for example, 50% or more). For example, the communication band for downloading to another communication terminal device is set to 100% of the communication speed (for example, 64 kbit /
s) to 50% of the communication speed (for example, 32 kbit / s)
Change to Thus, by dynamically changing the communication band,
A communication band corresponding to 50% (for example, 32 kbit / s) of the communication speed of the communication terminal device that has newly requested download is secured.

When the communication band can be secured, the distribution server 10 notifies the communication terminal device 30 that the download is possible (S602).

Next, the delivery server 10
0, the content is downloaded (S603).

The communication terminal device 30 transmits to the distribution server 10
Upon notifying the end of the download (S604), the distribution server 10 shown in FIG. 2 releases the communication band used by the communication resource management unit 14 for downloading. The storage unit 16 stores a download history.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when there is no available communication band for trial listening, the communication waiting queue is registered in the communication reservation queue based on the download communication history stored in the storage means for each download. In addition, since content previews are provided in order of users who have downloaded the content, a download request can be prompted, and the sales performance of the content can be increased.

Further, in the present embodiment, when there is no available communication band for download, the communication based on the ratio indicating the lower limit of the allowable communication band to the communication speed of the communication terminal device set in advance in the storage means. Since the band is dynamically changed, it can be downloaded to more communication terminal devices. In general, downloading is performed by transmission using packets and charging is performed per packet. Therefore, even if the communication band is reduced, the charging for downloading one content does not change. Also, unlike listening by stream communication, it is only necessary to play after downloading, so although the required time will be long, the download will be started reliably,
Playback can be enjoyed after downloading, and user dissatisfaction can be resolved.

In the present embodiment, the content is described as music content, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the content may be audio content or content including video. Is also good.

Further, in the present embodiment, when a trial listening (trial) is requested from the communication terminal device, the terminal number and the communication speed are notified, but the present invention is not limited to this. According to the present invention, the communication terminal device may be configured to be identified by means other than the terminal number, or the communication history may be stored for each user by identifying the user by the user number for identifying the user. . In addition, the necessary communication band may be determined based on the content rate of the content instead of the communication speed of the communication terminal device.

In this embodiment, the setting information may be referred to only when the distribution server is started.

[0062]

According to the present invention, there is provided a content distribution apparatus and a content distribution method having an excellent effect that the purchase of content is promoted and the sales performance of the content can be extended by appropriately allocating communication resources. That can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a content distribution system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a distribution server according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram for explaining a normal time of download according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram for explaining a normal state of a trial listening of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram for explaining a time when a congestion occurs in a trial listening according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining a time when a communication band of download is changed according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a conventional content distribution server.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Distribution server (distribution apparatus) 11 Gateway interface 12 Stream communication means 13 Download communication means 14 Communication resource management means 15 Communication reservation queue management means 16 Storage means 161 Setting information 162 Contents 163 Communication history

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04L 13/00 311 (72) Inventor Koji Toda 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Matsushita Inside Communication Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Mitsuhiro Suzuki, Inventor 4-3-1 Tsunashima Higashi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Matsushita Communication Industry Co., Ltd. No. 1 Matsushita Communication Industrial Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5K030 GA19 HA05 HC01 HC09 HD01 KA01 KA02 5K035 AA06 DD01 EE22 EE25 FF02 FF03 HH06 HH08 KK01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A distribution device for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network, wherein a request for trial of the content is received from the communication terminal device. A stream communication unit that transmits the content to the communication terminal device by stream communication, a download unit that downloads the content to the communication terminal device when a request for downloading the content is received from the communication terminal device, Storage means for storing a communication history for each, and a communication resource management means for securing a communication band based on the communication history, wherein the communication resource management means has caused congestion in a communication band for stream communication. When there is a trial request for the content from the plurality of communication terminal devices in the state, A distribution apparatus for determining an order in which the communication band is secured based on a communication history. 2. A distribution device for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network, wherein a request for downloading the content is received from the communication terminal device. Download means for downloading the content to the communication terminal device, and communication resource management means for securing a communication band, wherein the communication resource management means A distribution apparatus characterized in that when a request for downloading the content is made from a communication terminal device, the already-downloaded communication band for communication is reduced to secure a newly requested communication band for download. 3. A communication terminal device which receives distribution of music, voice, and other contents from the distribution device according to claim 1 via a mobile communication network, wherein the content trial use request and the download request are downloaded. A communication terminal comprising: operating means for performing the above operation; communication means for making the request to the distribution device and receiving the content from the distribution device; and reproduction means for reproducing the received content. apparatus. 4. A communication terminal device which receives distribution of music, voice, and other contents from the distribution device according to claim 2 via a mobile communication network, wherein the operation of the download request for the contents is performed. A communication terminal device, comprising: an operation unit for performing the request, a communication unit for making the request to the distribution device and receiving the content from the distribution device, and a reproduction unit for reproducing the received content. 5. A content distribution method for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network, wherein a request for trial of the content is received from the communication terminal device. Providing the user with a trial of the content at the communication terminal device by stream communication; accepting a download request for the content from the communication terminal device; and downloading the content to the communication terminal device And storing the communication history of the download for each user, the provision of the trial is based on the communication history of the download for each user,
A content distribution method characterized by determining the order of users who provide trials. 6. A content distribution method for distributing music, voice, and other contents to a user's communication terminal device via a mobile communication network, wherein a step of receiving the content download request from the communication terminal device is performed. And downloading the content to the communication terminal device, wherein the download is performed when a request for downloading the content is issued from the communication terminal device in a state where congestion has occurred in a communication band for download. A content distribution method characterized in that a communication band for download already allocated is reduced to secure a communication band for download newly requested.