JP2002197017A - Network system, data processing device, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide a network system capable of exchanging meaningful messages more. A server (103) includes a network (101).
To the user of the terminal device 102 connected via
Provide music data distribution service and bulletin board service. After the music data is distributed by the music data distribution service, the user of the terminal device 102 that has distributed the music data is inquired about whether to use the bulletin board service. Continue to provide bulletin board service. In this manner, the opportunity to use the bulletin board service is automatically set to the terminal device 102.
To offer to users.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for supporting exchange between users of a terminal device that can be connected to a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, the Internet is rapidly developing as a global information infrastructure. For this reason, its use has attracted attention and has been used for various purposes. One of them is an electronic bulletin board service. In this service, a user writes messages or prepares a bulletin board for viewing the messages, so that messages can be exchanged between strangers via the bulletin board.

[0003] The electronic bulletin board service is designed to select and use one of various prepared themes so that people who are more topical can interact with each other. However, even if it can be used for each theme, it is not always possible to exchange a message with a desired person (here, a person who can send a meaningful message). For this reason, it has been desired that users can exchange more meaningful messages.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a network system capable of exchanging more meaningful messages.

[0005]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a network system includes a server for distributing information and a terminal device for receiving the information distributed by the server. Assuming that the terminal device and the server are constructed, the terminal device and the server respectively have the following means.

[0006] In the network system of the first aspect,
The terminal device includes: an information requesting unit for the user to request the server to distribute information; an information receiving unit receiving the information requested by the information requesting unit from the server; and an information receiving unit receiving the information. Message input means for inputting the applied message, and message transmitting means for transmitting the message input by the message input means to the server, the server comprising: an information distribution means for distributing information to the terminal device; The system includes a message receiving unit that receives a message transmitted from the terminal device, and a message storage unit that stores the message received by the message receiving unit.

[0007] In the network system of the second aspect,
The terminal device includes: an information requesting unit for the user to request the server to distribute information; an information receiving unit receiving the information requested by the information requesting unit from the server; and the information receiving unit receiving the information. A server comprising: a message receiving unit for receiving a message assigned to another person by a person who has already acquired from a server; and a display control unit for displaying a message received by the message receiving unit on a display device. Information distributing means for distributing information to the terminal device, message storing means for storing a message applied to another person by the information distributing means in the past, and distributing the information to the terminal device by the information distributing means. Message transmission means for reading a message corresponding to the information from the message storage means and transmitting the message to the terminal device; Comprising.

[0008] The data processing apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention is premised on being used as a server or a terminal in the network system according to the first or second aspect. Is provided. The data processing device according to the first aspect is presumed to be used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, and includes an information requesting unit for a user requesting the server to distribute information, and an information requesting device. Means for receiving information requested by the means from the server, a message input means for inputting a message addressed to another person after the information receiving means receives the information, and a message input by the message input means. And a message transmitting means for transmitting the message.

The data processing device of the second aspect is premised on being used for distributing information to terminal devices connected to a network, and comprises an information distributing means for distributing information to a terminal device, and an information distributing device. Message receiving means for receiving a message sent from a terminal device that has delivered information to another user of the user, message storing means for storing the message received by the message receiving means,
Is provided.

[0010] The data processing apparatus of the third aspect is premised on being used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, and includes an information request means for requesting a user to distribute information to the server. Information receiving means for receiving the information requested by the information requesting means from the server; and, after the information receiving means receives the information, receiving from the server a message assigned to another person by the person who has already obtained the information. The system includes a message receiving unit, and a display control unit for displaying a message received by the message receiving unit on a display device.

The data processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is premised on being used for distributing information to a terminal device connected to a network, and includes an information distributing means for distributing information to the terminal device, and an information distributing means. A message storage unit that stores a message applied to another person from a person who has delivered information in the past, and after the information delivery unit has delivered information to the terminal device,
Message transmission means for reading out a message corresponding to the information from the message storage means and transmitting the message to the terminal device.

The recording medium according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention includes:
Each of the data processing apparatuses according to the first to fourth aspects is readable, and stores a program for realizing a function mounted thereon. In the present invention,
After the server distributes the information to the terminal device, the user of the terminal device is prompted to input (transmit) a message addressed to another person, and the input message is transmitted from the terminal device to the server and stored in the server.

[0013] By automatically providing an opportunity to input a message in a form that prompts the user to input (send), more messages can be transmitted from the terminal device to the server as compared to when the message is not input. Become. This means that the bulletin board service will post more messages.

In the present invention, after the server distributes information to the terminal device, a person who has already acquired the information prompts the user of the terminal device to browse a message addressed to another person, and the user wishes to browse. The transmitted message is transmitted from the server to the terminal device for viewing.

[0015] By automatically providing an opportunity to view a message in a manner that prompts the user to view the message, more messages are transmitted from the server to the terminal device than when the message is not viewed. This means that in the bulletin board service, more posted messages will be viewed.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to the present embodiment. The system shown in FIG. 1 is for distributing music data for reproducing music using the network 101 or providing an electronic bulletin board service to users of the terminal device 102 who has registered as a member. . A plurality of terminal devices 102 used by a registered user and a server 103 for providing music data distribution service and electronic bulletin board service are connected to the network 101.

The network 101 collectively represents, for example, the Internet, public lines, and LANs. For example, the terminal device 102 is an ISP that provides a connection service with a public line and the Internet.
(Internet Service Provider) and connected to the Internet. The terminal device 102 is, for example, a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated as PC), P
DA (Personal Digital Assistants) or a mobile phone. The server 103 is connected to the Internet via a LAN. The server 103
May be realized by a plurality of computers (data processing devices).

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the server 103. As shown in FIG. 2, the server 103 exchanges data with the terminal device 102 or the financial institution (server installed by) 220 via the communication control unit 201. The financial institution 220 is, for example, a credit card company or a bank, and is connected thereto via a dedicated line (public line) 221.

On a recording medium provided in the recording device mounted on the server 103, for example, a hard disk provided in a hard disk device, a member database 202,
A song database 203 and a post database 204 are constructed. Each database (hereinafter abbreviated as DB) 202 to 204 is constructed on a recording medium of a recording device connected to the server 103 or on a recording medium of a recording device accessible by another device connected thereto. You may. There may be a plurality of such recording devices.

The member DB 202 authenticates the user of the terminal device 102 who has registered as a member, and provides a service that can be provided in response to a request. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the DB 202 stores “I
Data such as "D", "password", "name", "address", "mail address" (in the figure, "denoted as e-mail"), and "credit information" are stored. The “song password” and the “song ID” are data added and registered in accordance with the purchased music data every time the member purchases (downloads) the music data. The song ID is identification data representing music data purchased by the member.

The music DB 203 is prepared for distributing (downloading) music data to members. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the DB 203, in addition to a song list screen on which a list of songs to which music data can be distributed is arranged,
Music data is stored in song units. In the present embodiment, MIDI data (for example, SM
F (data compiled in the form of a standard MIDI file) is distributed, and each MIDI data is added with a song ID representing a song reproduced by the MIDI data. Hereinafter, the MIDI data is also referred to as music data.

The posting DB 204 is prepared to provide an electronic bulletin board service to members. As shown in FIG. 5, in the DB 204, a writing area for storing a message from the poster is secured for each song (MIDI data) in message units. In the writing area, as shown in FIG.
D ”,“ poster name ”, and“ e-mail address ”(“ e-
The data of “title” and “content” are stored. Note that, in a narrow sense, each data of “title” and “content” corresponds to the message. In a broad sense, in addition to them, data of “poster name” and “mail address” also correspond.

Each of the units 205 to 210 shown in FIG. 2 accesses at least one of the above DBs 202 to 204 and performs the following processing. Thereby,
A service is provided to the user of the terminal device 102 accessing the server 103. Each of the units 205 to 210 is, for example, a CPU (not shown).
Is realized by executing a program stored in the hard disk of the hard disk device while using a memory (main storage device) or the like.

The member registration unit 205 is a terminal unit 102
The processing corresponding to the application for membership registration from the user is performed. Specifically, the communication control unit 201 is
26, a registration screen as shown in FIG. 26 is transmitted to prompt the user to input data. If data is transmitted from the terminal device 102, an area for storing the data is secured in the member DB 202. Processing such as storage is performed (see FIG. 3). It should be noted that the server 103 performs the membership registration for the newly connected terminal device 102,
Alternatively, a screen (hereinafter, referred to as an initial screen) on which an icon for selecting whether to request the service as a member is transmitted to the terminal device 102. As a result, the application for membership registration is made by clicking on the icon for requesting membership registration on the initial screen. The member registration unit 205 transmits the registration screen to the terminal device 102 when the click is performed.

The member authentication unit 206 performs authentication for confirming whether or not the user of the terminal device 102 accessing the server 103 is a member. In the authentication, an ID / password input screen as shown in FIG. 28 is transmitted to the terminal device 102 via the communication control unit 201, and the ID and password transmitted from the terminal device 102 are stored in the member DB 202 thereafter. This is performed by comparing the ID and the password. When the user of the terminal device 102 clicks an icon for requesting a service as a member on the initial screen, the member authentication unit 206 transmits the ID / ID.
The password input screen is transmitted to the terminal device 102.

The ID management unit 207 is a member of the member registration unit 20
5 transmits the data transmitted from the terminal device 102 to the member D
When stored in B202, an ID and a password are issued to the user of the terminal device 102 and stored in the member DB 202 (see FIG. 3). The terminal device 1
In step 02, the communication control unit 201 transmits an ID / password transmission screen as shown in FIG. 27 generated using the issued ID and password.

The music data management unit 208 is a terminal device 102
Performs a process for responding to the music data distribution request from. The music data desired to be distributed is specified by specifying a music ID, and the music ID transmitted from the terminal device 102
Is processed by the ID management unit 201. When the distribution (download) of the music data is requested from the terminal device 102, the music data management unit 208 converts the music data, to which the music ID received from the ID management unit 201 is assigned, into the music DB.
203, and transmits it to the terminal device 102. When the song data is transmitted to the terminal device 102 in this manner, the ID management unit 207 issues a song password,
Using the password and the song ID, a download end screen as shown in FIG.
To be sent. On the other hand, the song I is added to the member DB 202 in a form added to the data of the user of the terminal device 102.
D and the music password are stored (see FIG. 3).

The post management unit 209 performs a process involving access to the post DB 204. When the member posts on the bulletin board, the data is stored in the post DB 204 in association with the music (see FIGS. 5 and 6). When the member desires to view the message (writing), data corresponding to the desired message is read from the member DB 204 to generate a post display screen as shown in FIG. 34, and the member uses the post display screen. Cause the terminal 102 to transmit.

When a paid service including distribution of music data is provided to a member, the charging unit 210 performs processing for collecting the cost from the member. The collection is performed, for example, every time a paid service is provided to a member.
1 and the dedicated line 221 to request payment of the payment to the financial institution 220 designated by the member's credit information stored in the member DB 202.

Next, the operations of the server 103 and the terminal device 102 having the above-described functional configuration, and the services provided to the member who is the user of the terminal device 102 by those operations will be described with reference to FIGS. This will be described in detail with reference to various flowcharts shown in FIG. 25 and various explanatory diagrams shown in FIGS.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the terminal device 102 and the server 103 when the user of the terminal device 102 registers as a member. Focusing on the processes related to member registration, the processes executed by them are extracted and the flow is shown. First, with reference to FIG. 7, the details of the processing executed by the terminal device 102 and the server 103 when the user registers as a member and the flow thereof will be described in detail.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 shows, for example, the CPU mounted on the terminal device 102 and the server 1
03 is implemented by executing a program stored in a hard disk of a hard disk device mounted on each of the CPUs. Terminal device 102
The program executed by the CPU mounted on the CPU is, for example, O
An S (operating system) and a browser, and the program executed by the CPU mounted on the server 103 is, for example, a network OS. This is the same in other flowcharts.

As described above, the connection (establishment of a link) between the terminal device 102 and the server 103 is established by, for example, connecting the terminal device 102 to the ISP by dial-up connection, specifying the URL of the server 103, and connecting to the ISP. This is done by instructing. When the communication is established in this manner, the server 103 transmits the initial screen (HTML data) to the terminal device 102. When the user clicks on the icon for requesting membership registration on the initial screen, a signal indicating that is clicked is transmitted from the terminal device 102 to the server 103. Server 1 that received the signal
03 corresponds to, for example, FIG.
Is read by the hard disk device and transmitted to the terminal device 102 which has transmitted the signal (step SS1).

The terminal device 102 that has received the registration screen from the server 103 executes a registration process for inputting the data requested to be input on the screen and transmitting the input data to the server 103 ( Step SY
1). Hereinafter, data input on the screen, that is, data of name, address, mail address, and credit information will be collectively referred to as registration data.

After inputting data in all the input boxes arranged on the registration screen and clicking (turning on) the “OK” icon, the terminal device 102 transmits the registration data to the server 103. The server 103 that has received the registration data stores it in the member DB 202 (see FIG. 3) (step SS2). When the registration data is stored, an ID and a password are created (issued) and stored in the member DB 202 in a form added to the registration data (step SS3). After that, I
ID and password as shown in FIG.
A password transmission screen (HTML data) is created and transmitted to the terminal device 102 (step SS4). In order to create the ID and password, the CPU mounted on the server 103 causes the hard disk device to read the original ID / password screen stored on the hard disk, for example, and places the created ID and password on the screen. It is done by doing.

The terminal device 102 that has received the ID / password sending screen displays it on the display device (step SY2). Thus, the user who has been notified that the member registration has been completed can receive the service as a member thereafter. Terminal device 102 and server 1
The description of the processes executed thereafter is omitted for both of the 03.

Here, the registration process executed by the terminal device 102 as step SY1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step 801, the registration screen (see FIG. 26) received from the server 103 is displayed on the display device. In a succeeding step 802, data designated by a user's operation on an input device (a keyboard, a pointing device, or the like) is input, and the input data is displayed at a display position of a cursor. After that, the process moves to step 803.

In step 803, it is determined whether or not the "OK" icon is clicked (turned on) in a state where all the data has been entered in each input box. If the user clicks the icon in that state, the determination is Y
ES, the process proceeds to step 804, and the data displayed in each input box is registered data as the server 1
03, and deletes the currently displayed registration screen, and thereafter ends a series of processing. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 802 to cause the user to input data.

As described above, in this embodiment,
The user of the terminal device 102 can perform online member registration. This allows the user of the terminal device 102 to easily receive the service provided by the server 103. 9 to 12 show the terminal device 1
11 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing executed by the terminal device 102 and the server 103 when a user No. 02 requests a service for a member. Focusing on the processing related to the service provision to one member, the processing executed by them is extracted and the flow is shown. next,
Referring to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, when the user requests a service as a member, the terminal device 10
2 and the contents of the processing executed by the server 103 and the flow thereof will be described in detail.

As described above, the communication between the terminal device 102 and the server 103 is established (link is established), and the user (member) of the terminal device 102 transmits the service as a member on the initial screen transmitted from the server 103. Is clicked, a signal indicating this is transmitted from the terminal device 102 to the server 103. Upon receiving the signal, the server 103 reads, for example, an ID / password input screen as shown in FIG. 28 from the hard disk, and transmits the screen to the terminal device 102 that has transmitted the signal (step SS11).

Upon receiving the ID / password input screen, the terminal device 102 inputs data to an input box arranged on the screen and inputs an ID / password for realizing transmission of the input data to the server 103. The process is executed (Step SY11).

The server 103 that has received the ID and the password from the terminal device 102 refers to the member DB 202 and
Authentication is performed to confirm whether or not there is a member to which a match has been issued (step SS12). As a result, when it is confirmed that the user of the terminal device 102 that has transmitted the ID and the password is a member, a menu screen (eg, HTML data) as shown in FIG.
02 (step SS12). On the menu screen, as shown in FIG. 29, "Purchase music" is displayed as an icon for selecting the content of the requested service.
And "view the bulletin board".

The terminal device 10 receiving the menu screen
2 executes a process selection process for selecting a service, that is, a process for requesting the server 103 to execute, by causing the user to click any of the icons arranged on the icon (step SY12). Here, it is assumed that the user has clicked the "buy song" icon on the menu screen. When the user clicks on the icon, the terminal device 102 transmits a song purchase request, which is a signal indicating that the user has requested a service related to song purchase, to the server 103.

Upon receiving the music purchase request, the server 103 reads a music list screen (for example, HTML data) as shown in FIG. 30 stored in the music DB 203 (see FIG. 4) and transmits the request. Terminal device 10
2 (step SS13 in FIG. 10). The terminal device 102 that has received the song list screen executes a song selection process for allowing the user to select a song (song name) of song data desired to be purchased from the song list (step SY13 in FIG. 10). The music data to be purchased is selected by clicking on the music title of the desired music data from the music list, and then clicking the "OK" icon. When the music data is selected in this manner, the terminal device 102 transmits the music ID assigned to the music data to the server 103.

The server 103 having received the song ID,
For example, a song purchase screen from a hard disk (eg, HTML
Data) is read out, the song name of the song to which the song ID is assigned is arranged on the screen as shown in FIG. 31, and transmitted to the terminal device 102 that transmitted the song ID (step SS14).

Upon receiving the song purchase screen, the terminal device 102 displays the song purchase screen on the display device to make a final confirmation of the purchase intention of the song data selected on the song list screen (see FIG. 30). Execute purchase decision processing (step S
Y14). The final confirmation, that is, the decision to purchase song data,
Clicking the “OK” icon arranged on the song purchase screen is performed. When the user clicks on the icon, the terminal device 102 transmits an OK signal indicating that the user has instructed the purchase of the music data to the server 103.

The server 103 that has received the OK signal reads out the music data (MIDI data) to which the music ID already assigned from the terminal device 102 is assigned from the music DB 203 and transmits it (step SS15). The one terminal device 102 receives the music data thus downloaded from the server 103 and stores it in, for example, a hard disk (step SY15).

When the download of the music data is completed, the server 103 creates (issues) a music password (step SS16). Next, with reference to the registered data of the member who downloaded the music data, a billing process for requesting the financial institution 220 designated by the member to pay the price is executed (step SS17). After executing the charging process, the song password created in step SS16 and the song ID are stored in the member DB 202 in such a manner that the song data to which the song ID is assigned is added to the registration data of the downloaded member (step SS18). Further, a download end screen (for example, HTML data) as shown in FIG. 32 in which the song password and the song ID are arranged is created and transmitted to the terminal device 102 (step SS1).
9). The creation is performed, for example, by a CPU mounted on the server 103 arranging a song password and a song ID on an original download end screen read from the hard disk.

On the download end screen, as shown in FIG. 32, “view bulletin board” and “end” icons are arranged as icons. "View bulletin board"
The icon is for requesting a bulletin board service for members who have purchased the same song data after purchasing (downloading) the song data, and the "end" icon selects not receiving the service. It is for doing.

In this embodiment, when the member purchases (downloads) the music data by transmitting the download end screen as described above, the member is asked whether or not he wishes to provide the bulletin board service following the purchase. ing. This automatically increases the opportunities for members to request the service.

When the opportunity is automatically provided, some people use the bulletin board service as a trigger. As a result, more members use the service more frequently, resulting in an increase in the number of messages posted and the number of times the messages are viewed. For example, people with similar values, people with similar purposes, or people who need some information and who can provide the information, through a bulletin board This means that the possibility of exchanging meaningful messages is improved. This means that a person who is looking for a keyboard player is more likely to find a more appropriate person as the player. For this reason, the bulletin board service functions more effectively for the user.

The bulletin board service is provided in such a manner that song data purchased by members is divided as a theme. This is because it is considered that there is a relatively high possibility that members who have purchased the same music data (information) have a common part in hobbies, interests, values, and the like. As a result, the possibility of exchanging meaningful messages for the user is further increased, and the bulletin board service functions more effectively.

The download completion screen is displayed on the server 10
3 receives the instruction from the user and executes a download end process for receiving an instruction from the user (step SY16). When the user who is a member clicks the “view bulletin board” icon at the time of the execution, a bulletin board request, which is a signal for requesting the provision of the bulletin board service, is transmitted to the server 103.

The request is accompanied by a song ID and a song password on the download end screen. Therefore, the server 103 that has received the post DB 204
, The song ID of the song data that has been downloaded
Is read from the writing area in which is stored the "title" and "poster name", and the read data is arranged on the original bulletin board list screen read out from the hard disk, for example. A bulletin board list screen as shown in FIG. 33 is created, and the created screen is transmitted to the terminal device 102 (step SS20).

On the bulletin board list screen, the title of the posted posting and the name of the poster are displayed in a list, and a “view contents” icon and a “post” icon are arranged as icons. As a result, if you want to see the posted post, select it by clicking on the title you want to see or the name of the contributor, and then click on "View Contents".
Just click the icon. If you want to post, simply click the "post" icon.

The bulletin board list screen is displayed on the server 1
The terminal device 102 received from the terminal 03 executes the bulletin board display process for receiving the user operation as described above (step SY17). At the time of the execution of the process, when the user who is a member clicks the “view contents” icon, the identification information of the currently selected post (for example, the address of the link destination linked to the post or the poster of the poster thereof) Server 1 as the post ID
03.

Upon receiving the post ID, the server 103 reads the data stored in the corresponding write area in the post DB 204, and arranges the data on the original post display screen read from the hard disk, for example. A post display screen as shown in FIG. 34 is created and transmitted to the terminal device 102 (step SS21 in FIG. 12).

On the post display screen, a "return" icon and a "post" icon are arranged. The "return" icon is for requesting a return to the previous state, and when clicked, a bulletin board list screen as shown in FIG. 33 is displayed again. The other “post” icon is for requesting posting to the writing displayed on the posting display screen.

Upon receiving the post display screen from the server 103, the terminal device 102 displays the post display screen on the display device and executes a post display process for receiving a user's instruction (step SY18 in FIG. 12). At that time, when the user clicks the "Post" icon,
A posting request, which is a signal for requesting posting, is transmitted to server 103. Since the post is a post for a post (a write) whose contents have been browsed, information indicating the post is also added to the post request transmitted at this time.

The server 103 that has received the posting request
Reads a posting input screen (see FIG. 35) for inputting the content to be posted, for example, from the hard disk, and transmits it to the terminal device 102 that has transmitted the request (step SS22). At this time, another new title is created from the title of the post specified from the information in the submission request, and the created title is automatically entered in the title input box on the post input screen, and then the post input Screen to terminal device 1
02. If the post is not a post, the post input screen is transmitted to the terminal device 102 without performing such automatic input of the title. The post input screen is associated with a song ID in order to accept a post by song data.

In the post input screen, in addition to the "title",
An input box for inputting data of each item of “poster name”, “mail address”, and “content” is arranged, and a “write” icon, a not-shown “return” icon, and the like are arranged as icons. Among the items, items other than "e-mail address" are mandatory items that must be entered. For this reason, a post is made by clicking at least a "write" icon after inputting data of at least essential items.

Terminal device 102 that has received the post input screen
Executes post input processing for realizing the post (step SY19). When the user clicks the “write” icon at the time of the execution, the data input to each input box is transmitted to the server 103 as post data. A song ID (or information for specifying the song ID) is added to the post data. A description of the processing executed thereafter is omitted.

Server 103 that has received the posted data
Executes the post store process of storing the post data in the post DB 204 in the form of writing the post data in the writing area of the music ID added thereto (step SS23). The description of the processing executed after updating the contents of the post DB 204 in this manner is omitted.

Next, the subroutine processing executed by the terminal device 102 or the server 103 in the above-described flowchart will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the ID / password input process executed by the terminal device 102 as step SY11 in FIG. Regarding the subroutine processing, first, referring to FIG.
-The password process will be described in detail.

First, in step 1301, the server 1
The ID / password input screen (see FIG. 28) received from the server 03 is displayed on the display device. Following step 1302
Then, a process of inputting data specified by a user operation to an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device and displaying the data in an input box is performed. After that, the processing shifts to step 1303.

In step 1303, it is determined whether the "OK" icon has been clicked (turned on). If the user has performed the click, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 1304, where the I displayed in the input box is displayed.
After transmitting D and the password to the server 103, a series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no
And returns to the step 1302 to execute the subsequent processing in the same manner.

The server 103, which has confirmed that the received ID and password belong to the member, transmits a menu screen as shown in FIG. 29 to the terminal device 102 which has transmitted the ID and password. Terminal device 102 to which the screen is transmitted
Executes a process selection process as step SY12 in FIG. Next, the process selection process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 1401, the server 1
A menu (MENU) screen (see FIG. 29) received from the display device 03 is displayed on the display device. Following step 1402
Then, the type of the icon clicked (turned on) among the icons arranged on the screen is determined. If a user clicks the "Buy song" icon,
After that, the process proceeds to step 1403, where a song purchase request, which is a signal indicating that a service related to song purchase has been requested, is transmitted to the server 103, and a series of processes ends. If the user clicks on the "view bulletin board" icon, that is determined and step 1
After proceeding to 404 and transmitting a bulletin board request, which is a signal indicating that the bulletin board service has been requested, to the server 103,
A series of processing ends. If the user has not clicked on any of the icons, that is determined and again
The processing of step 1402 is executed. Thereby, it waits until the user clicks any of the icons.

In this way, the terminal device 102 displaying the menu screen transmits a signal to the server 103 according to the icon clicked by the user among the icons on the screen. As a result, the member can purchase music data and use the bulletin board service at any time.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the music selection process executed by the terminal device 102 as step SY13 of FIG. Next, the music selection processing will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, in step 1501, the music list screen received from the server 103 (see FIG. 30)
Is displayed on the display device. In the following step 1502, a process is executed in which a song name listed on the screen is selected in response to a user operation on an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device.

In step 1503 executed after step 1502, it is determined whether or not the “enter” icon is clicked (turned on). If the user clicks on it, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 1504,
In order to request the download of the song data of the song name currently in the selected state, the song ID corresponding to the song title is transmitted to the server 103, and then a series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the above step 1
Returning to 502, the user is caused to select a song name.

The server 103 having received the music ID,
In order to confirm whether the purchase of the song data having the song ID is really desired, the terminal device 102 that has created the song purchase screen as shown in FIG.
Send to The terminal device 102 to which the screen is transmitted,
A purchase decision process is executed as step SY14 in FIG. Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The purchase decision processing will be described in detail.

First, in step 1601, the server 1
The music purchase screen (see FIG. 31) received from the display device 03 is displayed on the display device. In the following step 1602, "OK"
It is determined whether or not the icon has been clicked (turned on). If the user clicks the button, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 1603. After transmitting an OK signal indicating that the user desires to purchase song data to the server 103, the series of processes ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process of step 1602 is performed again. This waits for the user to click the "OK" icon.

Note that, in addition to the "OK" icon, an icon for instructing cancellation of purchase of the song data is also arranged on the song purchase screen. Therefore, in the purchase determination process, although not particularly illustrated, a process for responding to a click on the icon is actually executed.

The server 103 that has received the OK signal
After downloading (transmitting) the requested music data, it creates and transmits a download end screen as shown in FIG. The terminal device 102 to which the screen is transmitted,
A download end process is executed as step SY16 in FIG. Next, the download end process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step 1701, the server 1
Download end screen received from 03 (see Fig. 32)
Is displayed on the display device. In the following step 1702, the type of the icon clicked (turned on) among the icons arranged on the screen is determined. When the user clicks on the “end” icon, it is determined that this is the case, and the series of processing ends here. If the user clicks the "view bulletin board" icon,
After that, the process proceeds to step 1703, and after transmitting a bulletin board request, which is a signal indicating that the bulletin board service has been requested, to the server 103, a series of processes is terminated.
If the user has not clicked any of the icons, it is determined that the icon has not been clicked, and the process of step 1702 is executed again. Thereby, it waits until the user clicks any of the icons.

For example, a song ID and a song password on the download end screen are added to the bulletin board request transmitted to the server 103 when the process of step 1703 is executed. Accordingly, when the "view bulletin board" icon on the screen is clicked, a bulletin board list screen as shown in FIG. 33 is displayed on the display device. On the other hand, when the "bulletin board" icon on the menu screen as shown in FIG. 29 is clicked, such data is not added to the bulletin board request when the process of step 1404 in FIG. 14 is executed. For this reason, in that case, the server 103 reads out the song password input screen as shown in FIG. 36 from the hard disk, for example, to the terminal device 102 that has transmitted the bulletin board request, and transmits the screen. The theme (in this case, the song name) is queried.

Next, the bulletin board list screen is displayed on the server 1
The bulletin board display processing executed by the terminal device 102 when the message is transmitted from the terminal 03 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The bulletin board display processing
Step S in the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
This is executed as Y17.

First, in step 1801, the server 1
The bulletin board list screen (see FIG. 33) received from the display device 03 is displayed on the display device. In the following step 1802, it is determined whether or not any of the poster names arranged as a list on the screen has been selected. If the user clicks on the contributor's name or the title, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 1803, where the display of the selected contributor's name is changed, for example, after changing its display color, Move to 1804. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process moves to step 1806.

At step 1804, it is determined whether the "view contents" icon has been clicked (turned on). If the user clicks the icon, the determination is YES
Then, the process proceeds to step 1805, and the data indicating the posting of the poster name that is currently selected (for example, the user ID of the poster) is used as the posting ID by the server 103.
, And a series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 1802.

In step 1806 to which the determination in step 1802 is NO and the process proceeds, it is determined whether the “post” icon is clicked (turned on). If the user clicks the icon, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 1807, where a posting request for requesting posting is transmitted to the server 103, and a series of processes ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 1802.

As described above, in the bulletin board display processing, processing corresponding to the user's instruction by operating the bulletin board list screen is executed. Please note that the above posting request is not posted for the post you viewed.
No information indicating the post is added.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the posting display process executed by terminal device 102 as step SY18 of FIG. Next, the post display process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The post display process is a process to be executed after the bulletin board display process when the process of step 1805 is executed in the bulletin board display process of FIG.

First, in step 1901, a post display screen (see FIG. 34) received from server 103 is displayed on the display device by transmitting the post ID. In the following step 1902, the type of the icon clicked (turned on) among the icons arranged on the screen is determined. If the user clicks on the “return” icon, it is determined that this is the case, and the series of processing ends here. When the user clicks the “post” icon, it is determined that this is the case, and the process proceeds to step 1903, where a post request for requesting posting is transmitted to the server 103, and a series of processing is performed. finish. Otherwise, the determination is no and step 19
Return to 02.

Information indicating a post whose content is arranged on the post display screen is added to the post request transmitted when the process of step 1903 is executed. As a result, the server 103 processes the user of the terminal device 102 as a request for posting for the post being viewed, and displays the post input screen (see FIG. 35) on which the title has been input (see FIG. 35). Send to

Next, the post input process executed by the terminal device 102 to which the post input screen is transmitted will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The post input process is executed as step SY19 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. It is a process executed regardless of the type of screen on which the “post” icon clicked by the user is located.

First, in step 2001, a posting input screen (see FIG. 35) received from server 103 by transmitting a posting request is displayed on the display device. In the next step 2002 to be executed, the user operates an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device to display data instructed to be input in an input box arranged therein.

In step 2003 to which the process proceeds after execution of step 2002, it is determined whether the "write" icon has been clicked (turned on). If the user clicks the icon, the determination is YES,
The process proceeds to step 2004, where the data displayed in each input box is transmitted to the server 103 as post data, and then a series of processing ends. If not,
The determination is no and the process returns to step 2002. As a result, a state in which data can be input is maintained until the user clicks the “write” icon.

As described above, the post data is transmitted with the song ID added. A "return" icon is also arranged on the post input screen as an icon, but in FIG. 20, processing of a portion corresponding to clicking on the icon is omitted for convenience. Although a detailed description is omitted, if the user clicks the icon while the post input process is being executed as step SY19 in FIG. 12, the bulletin board display process (FIG. 1) is executed as step SY17.
8) is again executed, and the bulletin board list screen (FIG. 33)
Reference) is displayed. The bulletin board list screen is the one displayed immediately before.

Upon receiving the post data transmitted from terminal device 102 in this manner, server 103 executes a post store process of storing the post data in post DB 204 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). In the subroutine process executed by the terminal device 102 or the server 103 in the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, finally, the post store process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The post store process is shown in FIG.
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the process is executed as step SS23.

First, in step 2101, the received post data is stored in the post DB 20 based on the song ID added to the post data.
4 to specify the area to be stored. Next step 2
At 102, a writing area (see FIG. 6) is secured in the designated area, and the received posting data is stored therein. Thereafter, a series of processing ends.

By executing the above-described post store process, the post data is stored in the post DB 204 for each song. This allows members who have purchased the same music data to exchange messages via a bulletin board. In the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
The subsequent portion is a request for a service for purchasing a song on the menu screen (see FIG. 29), that is, when the "purchase song" icon is clicked. Next, a request for a bulletin board service on the screen, that is, when the “view bulletin board” icon is clicked, the terminal device 102 and the server 1
03 will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Note that the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 also show the flow of the processes executed by the processes, excerpting the processes related to providing the service to the members.

When the user of the terminal device 102 clicks the “view bulletin board” icon on the menu screen, FIG.
As a result of executing the process selection process in step SY12, a bulletin board request is transmitted from the terminal device 102 to the server 103. As noted above, the bulletin board request is
Unlike the bulletin board request transmitted by executing the download ending process as step SY16 of 1, the song ID
And the song password is not added.

Server 103 that has received the bulletin board request
Transmits a song password input screen as shown in FIG. 36 to the terminal device 102 that has transmitted it (step S
S31). Thereby, the user of the terminal device 102 is inquired about the theme (song) of the bulletin board service.

As shown in FIG. 36, an input box for inputting a song password and a song ID and an "OK" icon are arranged on the song password input screen. A user who wishes to provide a bulletin board service can input a song password and a song ID in each of the input boxes, and then click the "OK" icon. Terminal device 10 that has received the screen
2 executes the music password input process for displaying the same on the display device and enabling the user to perform such an operation (step SY31). By executing the processing, the terminal device 102 transmits the song password input on the song password input screen and the song I to the server 103.
Send D.

The server 103 having received the song password and the song ID transmits the member DB 202 (FIG. 3) as the data of the user of the terminal device 102 which transmitted the password.
(See step SS32). As a result of performing the authentication, when it is confirmed that they are stored in the member DB 202, in other words, the user is notified of the music ID.
When it is confirmed that the song data having the song ID is purchased, the author name, title, and the like are extracted from the post data (data stored in the writing area (see FIG. 6)) corresponding to the song ID in the post DB 204. A bulletin board list screen as shown in FIG. 33 is created and transmitted to the terminal device 102 (step SS32a).

Terminal device 10 that has received the bulletin board list screen
2 executes the bulletin board display processing described with reference to FIG. 18 (step SY32). At that time, when the user clicks the “post” icon, the terminal device 10
2 transmits a posting request to the server 103. Since the posting request does not request posting for the post being viewed, data representing the post being viewed is not added.

Upon receiving the posting request, server 103 transmits a posting input screen as shown in FIG. 35 to terminal device 102 which has transmitted the posting request without automatically inputting data in the input box for inputting the title. (Step SS33 in FIG. 23). The terminal device 102 that has received the post input screen executes the post input process described with reference to FIG. 20 (step SY33). At this time, when the user clicks the “write” icon, the data input to the input box on the post input screen is transmitted to the server 103 as post data. The server 103 that has received the post data executes post store processing (see FIG. 21) for storing the post data in the post DB 204 (step SS34). The terminal device 102 executes step SY33
The processing to be executed thereafter and the server 103 execute step S
A description of the processing executed after S34 will be omitted.

As described above, a "return" icon is also arranged on the post input screen (see FIG. 35) as an icon. When the user clicks the icon, the terminal device 102 reads out the bulletin board list screen (see FIG. 33) displayed immediately before from the memory or the hard disk and displays the bulletin board display form as shown in FIG. The process (see FIG. 18) is executed (step SY41). Thus, even if the user clicks the "return" icon on the post input screen, the bulletin board service itself is provided continuously. After that, the terminal device 102 and the server 103 execute processing according to, for example, a flowchart shown in FIG.

Next, the music password input processing executed by the terminal device 102 as the above-mentioned step SY31 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, the input process is performed by the server 103 to enter the song password input screen (see FIG. 36) from the server 103 in response to the bulletin board request transmitted by the user clicking the “view bulletin board” icon on the menu screen (see FIG. 29). This is the process that is executed when it is received.

First, in step 2501, the server 1
Song password input screen received from 03 (see Fig. 36)
Is displayed on the display device. In the next step 2502 to be executed, data instructed by the user to input by operating an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device is displayed in an input box arranged therein.

At step 2503 to which the process proceeds after execution of the process at step 2502, it is determined whether or not the “OK” icon has been clicked (turned on). If the user clicks the icon, the determination is YES and the process moves to step 2504, where the song ID and song password entered by the user in each input box are stored in the server 103.
, And a series of processing ends. Otherwise, the determination is no and the process returns to step 2502. As a result, a state in which data can be input is maintained until the user clicks the “OK” icon.

In this embodiment, the bulletin board service is provided by focusing on music data (data for music reproduction). However, the information to be focused on providing the service is such music data. It is not limited. The information may be a book (including an electronic version), a video (a movie, a photograph, a moving image, or the like), software, or the like. Further, unlike the present embodiment, the information may be provided free of charge.

The terminal device 102 that has delivered such information
Although the user can perform both posting and browsing immediately after the distribution, only one of them may be performed. Alternatively, it may be possible to temporarily browse the post at a stage before distributing the information so that the evaluation of another person with respect to the information desired to be distributed can be confirmed. Thus, various modifications can be made to the way of providing the service. The roles of the terminal device 102 and the server 103 in providing the service can also be variously changed. The present invention
It can also be used to convey what you want to convey between the side that distributes information and the side that receives it.

A program for realizing the operation of the server 103 or the terminal device 102 as described above, or a modified example thereof, is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or a magneto-optical disk. May be distributed. Alternatively, part or all of the program may be distributed via a transmission medium used in a public network or the like. If you do so,
The user obtains the program and loads it on a computer (data processing device), whereby the computer,
Further, the present invention can be applied to a system in which a plurality of computers are connected to the system via a network. For this reason, the recording medium may be one that can be accessed by an apparatus that distributes the program.

[0106]

As described above, according to the present invention, after the server distributes information to the terminal device, the server prompts the user of the terminal device to input (transmit) a message addressed to another person, and the input message is Send it from the terminal device to the server and store it on the server. In that way, more messages can be stored on the server compared to when they are not, by automatically providing the opportunity to enter (send) messages.

In the present invention, after the server distributes information to the terminal device, a person who has already acquired the information prompts the user of the terminal device to browse a message addressed to another person, and the user wishes to browse. The transmitted message is transmitted from the server to the terminal device for viewing. In this way, the opportunity to view the message is automatically provided, so that more messages stored on the server can be viewed than when not.

As described above, according to the present invention, more messages can be collected or more messages can be browsed. Accordingly, when the present invention is applied to the provision of the bulletin board service, the number of users and / or the frequency of use thereof can be increased, and the service can function more effectively. As a result, the user can exchange more meaningful messages.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a network system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a server.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a member database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a music database.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of a posting database.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating data stored in a write area.

FIG. 7: When a user of a terminal device performs member registration,
It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process which the terminal device and server perform.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a registration process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a terminal device and a server when a user of a terminal device requests a service for a member.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the terminal device and the server when a user of the terminal device requests a service for a member (continuation 1).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the terminal device and the server when a user of the terminal device requests a service for a member (continuation 2).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by the terminal device and the server when a user of the terminal device requests a service for a member (continuation 3).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an ID / password input process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a process selection process.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a music selection process.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a purchase decision process.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a download end process.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a bulletin board display process.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a posting display process.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a post input process.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a post store process.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a terminal device and a server when a user of a terminal device requests a service for a member (when a bulletin board service is requested on a menu screen).

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing executed by a terminal device and a server when a user of a terminal device requests a service for a member (when a bulletin board service is requested on a menu screen: continued).

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing executed by the terminal device and the server in place of the flowchart of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of a music password input process.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an image of a registration screen.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an image of an ID / password sending screen.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an image of an ID / password input screen.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an image of a menu screen.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an image of a music list screen.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing an image of a music purchase screen.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an image of a download end screen.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an image of a bulletin board list screen.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an image of a post display screen.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an image of a post input screen.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an image of a music password input screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Network 102 Terminal Device 103 Server 201 Communication Control Unit 202 Member Database 203 Music Database 204 Post Database 205 Member Registration Unit 206 Member Authentication Unit 207 ID Management Unit 208 Music Data Management Unit 209 Post Management Unit 210 Billing Unit 220 Financial Institution 221 Private Line

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A system constructed by connecting at least a server that distributes information to a network and a terminal device that receives information distributed by the server, wherein the terminal device distributes information to the server by a user. Information requesting means for requesting, information receiving means for receiving the information requested by the information requesting means from the server, and after the information receiving means receives the information, for inputting a message assigned to another person Message input means, and a message transmitting means for transmitting a message input by the message input means to the server, wherein the server distributes information to the terminal device, and the terminal device; Message receiving means for receiving a message transmitted from And a message storage means for storing the message received by the stage. 2. A system constructed by connecting at least a server that distributes information to a network and a terminal device that receives information distributed by the server, wherein the terminal device distributes information to the server by a user. Information requesting means for requesting, information receiving means for receiving the information requested by the information requesting means from the server, and a person who has already obtained the information after the information receiving means has received the information. A message receiving means for receiving a message addressed to another person from the server; and a display control means for displaying a message received by the message receiving means on a display device, wherein the server comprises: Information distributing means for distributing information to the device; Message storing means for storing a message which has been stored, and message transmission for reading out a message corresponding to the information from the message storing means and transmitting the message to the terminal device after the information distribution means distributes the information to the terminal device. Means, and a network system. 3. An apparatus used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, comprising: an information request unit for requesting a user to distribute information to the server; and a request by the information request unit. Information receiving means for receiving the received information from the server; after the information receiving means receives the information, a message input means for inputting a message addressed to another person; and a message input by the message input means. A data processing device, comprising: a message transmission unit that transmits the message to the server. 4. An apparatus for distributing information to a terminal device connected to a network, comprising: an information distribution unit for distributing information to the terminal device; and a terminal device for distributing the information by the information distribution unit. A data processing device comprising: a message receiving unit that receives a message transmitted to a user of the terminal device and addressed to another person; and a message storage unit that stores the message received by the message receiving unit. . 5. An apparatus used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, comprising: an information requesting unit for a user requesting the server to distribute information; and a request by the information requesting unit. Information receiving means for receiving the received information from the server, and after the information receiving means receives the information, a message receiving means for receiving, from the server, a message assigned to another person by a person who has already acquired the information. And a display control means for displaying a message received by the message receiving means on a display device. 6. An apparatus used for distributing information to a terminal device connected to a network, wherein the information distributing means distributes information to the terminal device, and the information distributing means distributes information in the past. A message storage unit for storing a message applied from one person to another, and after the information distribution unit distributes information to the terminal device, reads a message corresponding to the information from the message storage unit and transmits the message to the terminal device. A data processing device comprising: 7. A recording medium readable by a device used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, wherein the function is for a user to request distribution of information to the server; Receiving the information requested by the server from the server; receiving the information by the receiving function; and inputting a message addressed to another person; and inputting the information by the input function. And a function of transmitting the message to the server. 8. A recording medium readable by a device used for distributing information to a terminal device connected to a network, wherein: a function of distributing information to the terminal device; A recording medium for recording a program for realizing: a function of receiving a message transmitted from a distributed terminal device and addressed to another user of the terminal device; and a function of storing a message received by the receiving function. . 9. A recording medium readable by a device used for receiving information distributed by a server via a network, wherein the function is to allow a user to request the server to distribute information; Receiving the information requested by the server from the server, and receiving the information from the server by the person who has already acquired the information after receiving the information by the receiving function. And a function of displaying a message received by the receiving function on a display device. 10. A recording medium readable by a device used for distributing information to a terminal device connected to a network, comprising: a function of distributing information to the terminal device; A function of storing, in a storage device, a message assigned to another person from a person who has delivered the information, and after distributing the information to the terminal device by the delivering function, reading a message corresponding to the information from the storage device and reading the message A recording medium storing a function for transmitting to a device and a program for realizing the function.