JP2003308274A - Content supply system and server used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To supply a plurality of types of contents to a user using a plurality of supply methods. SOLUTION: A content type selection page and a content selection page are displayed on a computer 22 of a user 20 from a reception server 32 to select a content type and content, and an output condition input page is displayed to input an output condition. . Then, a supply method selection page is displayed, and the content is distributed to the computer 22 of the user 20 via the Internet 10 as data matching the output condition, or the processing machines 44, 50 of the processing centers 40, 50, based on the output condition of the content. The user is allowed to select one of processing and delivery at 54. When the delivery / supply method is selected, the reception server 32 outputs the content ID, the output condition, and the personal information of the user 20 to the servers 42 and 52 corresponding to the type of the content. , Delivered to the user 20.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content supply system and a server used for the same, and more specifically, a reception server that receives a content supply request to a user via a network, and a reception server for each type of content. The present invention relates to a content supply system including at least one processing device that is communicatively connected, and a server used for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, various content supply systems of this type have been proposed which deliver contents such as image data, voice data, character data, computer software, etc. selected by a user via a communication network. . In such a content supply system, the content selected by the user can be directly supplied to the user when the user desires.

[0003]

However, in such a content supply system, there are cases where the user who receives the supply of the content cannot fully utilize the content. For example, when a user who is supplied with image data as content prints out the image data, the size and degree of printing of the printed matter depend on the performance of the printer owned by the user. Can't get In addition, when a user who receives music data supplied as content reproduces the music data with an audio device, the audio data is reproduced if the user does not have a device or software for converting the supplied music data into a data format that can be reproduced by the audio device. Music data cannot be played depending on the device.

The content supply system of the present invention and the server used for the same aim to supply the content to the user by using a plurality of supply methods. Also,
One of the purposes of the content supply system and the server used for the same of the present invention is to supply the content so that the user can use the content in a desired form.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action / Effect The content supply system of the present invention and the server used for the same have adopted the following means in order to achieve at least a part of the above-mentioned object.

The content supply system of the present invention comprises a reception server that receives a content supply request to a user via a network, and at least one processing device communicably connected to the reception server for each type of content. In the content supply system, the reception server receives the supply request accompanied by selection input of a content to be supplied by a user and a supply method of the content, and a supply method related to the received supply request. And a supply request transfer unit that transfers the supply request to a processing device corresponding to the type of content related to the supply request, the processing device including the content related to the supply request transferred by the supply request transfer unit. Processing means for performing processing corresponding to the supply method relating to the supply request to the The content workpieces processed is summarized as further comprising an instruction output means for instructing an output to be supplied to the user according to the supply request.

In the content supply system of the present invention, a content supply request accompanied by a selection input by a user is accepted, the supply request is transferred to a processing apparatus corresponding to the type of content related to the received supply request, and the processing apparatus is processed. Since the content is processed according to the supply method and the content processed product is instructed to be supplied to the user, the content can be processed and supplied by the supply method selected by the user.

In the content supply system of the present invention as described above, the processing device includes processing information transmitting means for transmitting processing information regarding processing possible by the processing means to the reception server, and the reception means of the reception server is the processing means. The supply method that can be accepted based on the processing information transmitted by the information transmitting means may be a means that allows the user to selectably display and output.

Further, in the content supply system of the present invention, the supply method is a distribution / supply method in which the content is supplied by distribution of the content via the network, and a distribution / supply in which the processed material obtained by processing the content is distributed by distribution. And a delivery means for delivering the content of the supply request to the user of the supply request via the network when the supply method of the supply request is a distribution supply method. Can also be With this configuration, when the delivery / supply method is selected, the content is delivered using the network, and when the delivery / supply method is selected, the content processed by the processing device can be delivered to the user.

In the content supply system of the present invention, the content is digital data such as image data, audio data, character data, computer software, and the content processed product is a content storage in which the content is stored in a predetermined format. The content may be a medium, the content may be a type of image data or character data, and the content processed product may be a printed product obtained by printing out the content.

In the content supply system of the present invention, the processing device may be connected to the reception server via the network.

The program of the present invention stores a computer
The gist is to function as a reception server in the content supply system of the present invention in any one of the above-described aspects. According to the program of the present invention, the computer is caused to function as a reception server in the content supply system of the present invention, so that the effect of the reception server in the effects of the content supply system of the present invention can be achieved.

The reception server of the present invention comprises a reception server that receives a content supply request to a user via a network, and at least one processing device communicably connected to the reception server for each type of content. The reception server in the content supply system, comprising: a reception unit that receives a content supply request to a user accompanied by selection input of a content to be supplied by a user and a method of supplying the content; and the received supply request. A supply request transfer means for transferring the supply request to a processing device corresponding to the type of content related to the supply request based on the supply method.

The reception server of the present invention receives a content supply request accompanied by a selection input by the user,
Since the supply request is transferred to the processing device corresponding to the type of the content related to the received supply request, the content processed product processed by the processing device according to the supply method can be supplied to the user.

In the acceptance server of the present invention, the acceptance means is means for accepting the supply request by displaying and outputting to the user a supply method corresponding to the processing that can be performed by the processing device. You can also

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a system configuration including a content supply system 30 which is an embodiment of the present invention. The content supply system 30 of the embodiment provides contents to the computer 22 of the user 20 via the Internet 10 based on the request of the user 20.
A reception server 32 that functions as a content supply site that can be distributed to a user, and a network 38 in the reception server 32.
Print server 4 of the print center 40 connected via the
2 and a CD processing server 52 of a music CD processing center 50 which is also connected to the reception server 32 via the network 38. In addition to the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52, the reception server 32 is also used as a center processing server for processing various contents such as a DVD processing server at a movie DVD processing center and a book processing server at a book processing center. Although connected through the network 38, other centers and servers are not shown for convenience of illustration.

The acceptance server 32 stores image data, music data, moving picture data such as movies, character data such as books, etc. as a large number of contents with IDs in an external storage device such as a hard disk (not shown), It provides a content supply site that supplies content via the Internet 10 to a user 20 who has registered as a member by inputting personal information such as name, address, and e-mail address. At the content supply site, the user 20
According to the selection by the user, the corresponding content data and control signal based on the output condition of the selected content are transmitted via the Internet 10 to the computer 2 of the user 20.
2 of the selected content, the output condition of the selected content, and the delivery information such as the delivery destination to the user 20 corresponding to the type of content. The data is output to a processing server such as the CD processing server 52 via the network 38.

The computer 22 of the user 20 has an A4 size
A general printer 24 capable of color printing up to size B4 or B4 and other peripheral devices (not shown) are connected to the printer 24 and corresponding peripheral devices based on control signals of the content data distributed from the reception server 32. Can be output from.

The printing server 42 of the printing center 40 is
Of the many contents stored in the reception server 32, the same data as the image data is stored together with its ID in an external storage device such as a hard disk (not shown), and the content ID output from the reception server 32 and its output condition are output. The stored image data is adjusted on the basis of, and A0 size or B connected to the printing computer 42 is adjusted.
An image is printed using the large size printer 44 capable of color printing up to 0 size. And the printed matter that printed the image is
It is delivered to the user 20 based on the delivery information of the user 20 output from the reception server 32.

The CD processing server 52 of the music CD processing center 50 stores the same data as the music data among the many contents stored in the reception server 32 together with its ID in an external storage device such as a hard disk (not shown). Content I output from the reception server 32
The stored music data is adjusted based on D and its output condition, and the music data is stored in the CD by using the CD processor 54 connected to the CD processing server 52.
Adjust. Then, the adjusted music CD is delivered to the user 20 based on the delivery information of the user 20 output from the reception server 32.

Although not shown in the figures, the servers of the centers for processing various contents such as the DVD processing server of the movie DVD processing center and the book processing server of the book processing center, which are not shown, have different types of contents and output conditions.
It functions similarly to the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52, and adjusts the content processed product using the content processing machine connected to the server. Then, each center delivers the adjusted content processed product to the user 20.

Next, the content supply system 3 of the embodiment
The content reception processing at the content supply site provided by the reception server 32 in No. 0 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of content reception processing executed by the reception server 32. This content reception process is executed after logging in from the computer 22 of the user 20 to the content supply site provided by the reception server 32 via the Internet 10. Note that the user 20 logs in to the content supply site by inputting the ID and password given by the membership registration. In the following description, a case where a still image as content is supplied to the user 20 will be described as a specific example.

In the content reception process, first, the user 2
A content type selection process based on 0 is executed (step S100). The content type selection processing is performed using the content type selection page displayed and output from the reception server 32 to the computer 22. FIG. 3 shows an example of the content type selection page. When the content type is selected, the content selection process by the user 20 is subsequently executed (step S11).
0). The content selection process is performed using a content selection page that displays a plurality of contents. FIG. 4 shows an example of a content selection page displayed when a still image is selected as the content type. In the example of FIG. 4, the user 20 can select a still image as the content by selecting one of the displayed thumbnails with a pointing device or the like.

When the content is selected by the user 20, the process of inputting the output condition of the content is executed by the output condition input page (step S12).
0). When the content is a still image, the output conditions of the still image data include input of an output target such as paper type, print size, ink type, and the like. FIG. 5 shows an example of the print size input field on the output condition input page for this still image. When the content is music, the output condition of the music data is a data format such as MP3 data or music C
This is a process of inputting an output target such as D or a flash memory.

When the content output conditions are input in this way, processing for selecting the content supply method is executed on the content supply method selection page (step S13).
0). As a method of supplying contents, the reception server 32
A delivery and supply method performed by delivering content data matching a content output condition to a computer 22 of a user 20 from the Internet via the Internet 10,
It is possible to select a delivery and supply method performed by delivering a content processed product in which the content is processed by a processing machine of each center based on the output condition of the content. In the example of the still image, the delivery / supply method is to deliver the image data that matches the output condition of the still image from the reception server 32 to the computer 22 of the user 20 via the Internet 10, and the delivery / supply method is the output condition of the still image. Based on the above, the printed matter on which the still image is printed is delivered by the large printer 44 of the printing center 40. FIG. 6 shows an example of the content supply method selection page. In the example of the content supply method selection page of FIG. 6, the user 20 can select the distribution supply method by operating the “distribution” button, and select the distribution supply method by operating the “delivery” button. be able to.

When the content supply method is selected, the acceptance server 32 inputs on the output condition input page when the distribution supply method is selected, that is, when the "distribution" button is operated in the example of FIG. When the delivery / supply method is selected, that is, when the “delivery” button is operated in the example of FIG. 6, the content data according to the output condition of the content is delivered to the computer 22 of the user 20 via the Internet 10. The ID of the content selected on the content selection page, the output condition of the content input on the output condition input page, and the personal information of the user 20 are output to the server of the center corresponding to the type of content.
In the example of the still image, the selected ID, its output condition, and the personal information of the user 20 are output to the printing computer 42 of the print center 40 via the network 38.

In the computer 22 of the user 20, when the content data is distributed, the content data is output by a peripheral device (a printer 24 in the case of a still image) connected to the computer 22 using the output condition of the input. The output of the content data by the peripheral device is controlled by a control signal distributed from the reception server 32 to the computer 22 together with the content data, and the number of outputs is also controlled.

At the server of each center, the content I
When D, the output condition of the content and the personal information of the user 20 are input, the content specified by the ID is adjusted according to the output condition and processed and output by the processing machine. Then, the center delivers the processed content, which is the processed content, based on the personal information of the user 20. In the example of the still image, the image data specified by the ID is adjusted according to the output condition (print condition), and the large printer 44
It is printed with and delivered to the user 20.

Next, the processing method by the processing server and the registration of the content that can be provided will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of registration processing executed by the processing server. In the registration process, first, a content selection page is created (step S200). Although the content selection page differs depending on the content to be provided, it may be created as a web page for displaying a list of a plurality of contents hierarchically or over a plurality of pages. For example, in the case of a still image, the page illustrated in FIG. You can create it like this. Next, an output condition input page is created (step S210). The output condition input page also differs depending on the content to be provided, but it may be created as a web page that displays a list of processing methods that can be added to the content. For example, the page illustrated in FIG. 5 for selecting the print size in the case of a still image. You can create it like.

When the content selection page and the output condition input page are created in this way, the content server is connected to the reception server 32 (step S220), and the type of content to be displayed on the content type selection page requested by the reception server 32 is registered ( In step S230, the created content selection page and output condition input page are registered in association with the registered content type (step S24).
0), the registration process ends. Such types of registration and page registration can be performed in the same manner as the processing for creating a home page on the Internet. After the registration in this way, the user 20 accesses the content supply site to display the types registered in the content type selection page in a selectable manner (see FIG. 3). When the registered type is selected, it is associated with the type. The registered content selection page and output condition input page are displayed. When the content is selected using these pages, the output condition is input, and the delivery / supply method is selected, the selected content type is registered. The content ID, the output condition, and the personal information of the user 20 are output to the processed server.

According to the content supply system 30 of the embodiment described above, by connecting the reception server 32 and each processing server, a plurality of types of contents are received by a single content supply site, and the user 20 desires. The content can be processed and supplied. The user 20 receives a distribution of the selected content and outputs the content from a peripheral device connected to the computer 22 of the user 20, and a distribution and supply method, and a content processed product obtained by processing the selected content with a processing machine of the center. It is possible to select a delivery and supply method for delivery. As a result, the user 20 can output the selected content from the peripheral device connected to his / her computer 22 and also output the content by processing the content under the output condition that cannot be output by the performance of the peripheral device. It is also possible to receive a supply of processed products.

Further, the content supply system 3 of the embodiment
According to 0, from the processing server capable of supplying a new type of content to the reception server 32, the Internet 1
By performing the registration process for providing to the user 20 via 0, the acceptance server 32 can accept the supply of the new type of content.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, the content that can be distributed from the reception server 32 to the computer 22 of the user 20 via the Internet 10 has been described, but the content can be distributed from the reception server 32 via the Internet 10. It may not be delivered to the computer 22 of the user 20. That is, as the supply method, only the delivery / supply method in which the content is processed and delivered at the center may be selectable.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, the reception server 32 and the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52 are connected by the network 38 different from the Internet 10. However, the reception server 32 and the printing server 42 and the CD are connected. The processing server 52 and the Internet 10
It may be connected by. In this case, the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52 may directly receive the content supply request from the user 20. That is, the printing server 42 is a web server that provides a still image supply site that supplies still images to the user 20 via the Internet 10, and the CD processing server 52 supplies music to the user 20 via the Internet 10. It may be a web server that provides a music supply site.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, as a content supply method, there is one of two supply methods: a distribution / supply method for distributing content data and a distribution / supply method for delivering a content processed product by processing the content. We decided to select the supply method,
One supply method may be selected from among three or more supply methods.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, the reception server 32 is constructed by one computer in the figure, but the reception server 3 is constructed by a plurality of computers.
It may be a system for building 2. That is, the reception server 32 may be constructed by a plurality of computers having the same function for load distribution, or may be constructed by a plurality of computers for each role such as reception, distribution, and registration. Good.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, the reception server 32 has a hard disk as an external storage device and distributes the content data stored in the hard disk to the computer 22 of the user 20, but instead of the hard disk, Flexible disk, magneto-optical disk (MO), compact disk (C
D), a digital video disc (DVD), a PC card (a trademark of the International Association of Personal Computers / Memory Cards), a flash memory card, and the like, which is equipped with a removable disk drive that can be mounted on the removable disk drive, and is mounted on the removable disk drive. The content data may be read from and distributed.

In the content supply system 30 of the embodiment, the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52 are provided with a hard disk as an external storage device, and the still image data and the music data stored in this hard disk are used to drive the large-sized printer 44 and the like. Although it is assumed that the CD processing machine 54 prints or processes, the above-mentioned removable disk drive is used instead of the hard disk, and still image data and music data are read from the removable disk mounted in the removable disk drive to read the large printer 44 or the CD.
Printing or processing may be performed by the processing machine 54. Also,
Even if the removable disk drive is not included in the printing server 42 or the CD processing server 52, the large-sized printer 4
4 or the CD processing machine 54 may be provided. In this case, the printing server 42 and the CD processing server 52 assign the ID of the content data to be output to the large printer 44 or C
It may be output to the D processing machine 54.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the examples, the present invention is not limited to these examples, and various embodiments are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a system configuration including a content supply system 30 which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of content reception processing executed by a reception server 32.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a content type selection page.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a content selection page displayed when a still image is selected as a content type.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print size input field on an output condition input page when the content is a still image.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a content supply method selection page.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of registration processing executed by a processing server.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Internet, 20 users, 22 computers, 24 printers, 30 content supply system, 32 reception server, 38 network, 40 printing center, 42 printing server, 44 large printer, 50 music CD processing center, 52 CD processing server, 54 CD processing machine.

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Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A content supply system comprising a reception server that receives a content supply request to a user via a network, and at least one processing device communicably connected to the reception server for each type of content. The reception server receives the supply request with selection input of the content to be supplied by the user and the supply method of the content, and the supply request based on the supply method related to the received supply request. Supply request transfer means for transferring the supply request to a processing device corresponding to the type of content related to the supply request, and the processing device requests the supply request for the content related to the supply request transferred by the supply request transfer means. The processing means for performing the processing corresponding to the supply method according to the above and the content processed product that processed the content are in front. Content supply system comprising an instruction output means for instructing an output to be supplied to the user according to the supply request. 2. The content supply system according to claim 1, wherein the processing device includes processing information transmitting means for transmitting processing information regarding processing possible by the processing means to the reception server, The content supply system, wherein the accepting unit is a unit that selectively outputs to the user a supply method that can be accepted based on the modification information transmitted by the modification information transmitting unit. 3. The content supply system according to claim 1, wherein the supply method is a distribution / supply method in which the content is supplied by distribution of the content via the network, and a processed product obtained by processing the content. The delivery server supplies the content related to the supply request to the user related to the supply request when the supply method related to the supply request is the distribution supply method. A content supply system including a distribution means for distributing via a content distribution system. 4. The content is digital data such as image data, audio data, character data, and computer software, and the processed content is a content storage medium storing the content in a predetermined format. 3. The content supply system according to any one of 3 to 3. 5. The content supply system according to claim 1, wherein the content is a type of image data or character data, and the processed content product is a printed product obtained by printing out the content. 6. The content supply system according to claim 1, wherein the processing device is connected to the reception server via the network. 7. A program for causing a computer to function as a reception server in the content supply system according to claim 1. 8. A content supply system comprising: a reception server that receives a content supply request from a user via a network; and at least one processing device communicably connected to the reception server for each type of content. A reception server that receives a content supply request to a user with selection input of content to be supplied by the user and a method of supplying the content; and a supply method related to the received supply request. A reception server, comprising: a supply request transfer unit that transfers the supply request to a processing device corresponding to the type of content related to the supply request. 9. The acceptance server according to claim 8, wherein the acceptance unit is a unit that acceptably displays the supply request by displaying and outputting to a user a supply method corresponding to processing that can be performed by the processing apparatus.