JP2004320510A - Video rental system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a video rental system capable of renting a desired file such as video via the Internet by using simple management data without increasing traffic on a network. <P>SOLUTION: In the video rental system, desired software starts, confirms whether or not there is alteration of a time stamp indicating video reproduction period downloaded from a server (YES in S42) and when the present time is before the time specified by the time stamp (YES in S43), reproduction of a video file is permitted (S44). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a video rental system via the Internet, and more particularly to a video rental system in which rental management is easy.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A video rental distribution system that is of interest to the present invention is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. According to Patent Literature 1, video software is rented using the Internet of a large capacity line. Video packets rented by the user are identified by the flow label of the Ipv6 protocol, and only the packets are buffered in the gateway device (paragraph numbers 0025, 0032, etc.).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-176639
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional video rental distribution system was configured as described above. In the conventional method, when a user wants to watch a video more than once, a new packet has to be transmitted each time. Therefore, there is a problem that traffic on the network increases.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a video rental system capable of renting a desired file such as a video via the Internet using simple management data without increasing traffic on a network. The purpose is to provide.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A video rental system according to the present invention is a system in which a user rents a video file on a server for a predetermined period using a terminal connected to the server via the Internet. The terminal accesses a server to perform predetermined authentication, a means for specifying a desired title from rentable videos presented by the server, a means for specifying a rental period, and a means for specifying a title specified by the server. Means for receiving a time stamp identifying the video file and the rental period. The server includes means for determining whether the authentication request from the terminal is correct, means for displaying the title of a rentable video on the terminal in response to the request from the terminal when the authentication is correct, and specific information from the terminal. Means for transmitting the specified video file and the time stamp to the terminal in accordance with the time stamp, and the reproduction of the video file is permitted on the terminal until the time specified by the time stamp.
[0007]
In this system, the playback of a video file on a terminal is specified by a time stamp that specifies the rental period transmitted from the server. A video rental system capable of renting a desired file via the Internet can be provided.
[0008]
Preferably, the means for transmitting the video file and the time stamp transmits the video file after transmitting the time stamp. Since the video file is transmitted after transmitting the time stamp, there is no problem that only the video file is downloaded first, and the terminal is disconnected afterward and only the video file is taken into the terminal.
[0009]
More preferably, when the server transmits the time stamp to the terminal, the time stamp is transmitted together with predetermined application software, the time stamp includes an end time of the rental period and a download time of the time stamp, and the application software transmits the time stamp to the terminal. When stored, the difference between the time of the terminal and the time at the time of downloading is detected and stored in the storage device of the terminal.
[0010]
Since the application software downloaded from the server detects the difference between the time possessed by the terminal and the time at the time of downloading, it is possible to reliably manage the period during which the rental reproduction can be performed.
[0011]
More preferably, the application software does not permit the reproduction of the downloaded video file when the data indicating the time of the terminal is altered.
[0012]
If the data indicating the time of the terminal is altered, the downloaded video file cannot be reproduced, so that the abuse of the video file can be prohibited.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment to which a video rental system according to the present invention is applied.
[0014]
Referring to FIG. 1, a video rental system includes a video rental server that rents a video file via the Internet in response to a request from a user and a game machine 10 or a personal computer 20 of a user connected via the Internet 40. 30.
[0015]
FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a configuration of the game machine 10 used by the user. Referring to FIG. 2, a game machine 10 includes a CPU 11 for controlling the entire game machine 10, a display interface 12 for connecting to a display such as a TV connected to the CPU 11 via an interface (not shown), A remote controller interface 13 for connecting a remote controller 17 for operating the game machine 10, a storage device 14 for downloading and storing files such as video files, which will be described later, from a server 30, and a game device 10 for connecting the game machine 10 to the Internet 40. And a communication device 15.
[0016]
FIG. 2B is a plan view showing the remote controller 17. Referring to FIG. 2 (B), remote controller 17 has buttons 18 and 19 arranged on the left and right on the plane, and allows a plurality of selections displayed on the screen of TV 16 to be moved up and down and left and right. The desired one can be selected by pressing. Therefore, a desired selection can be easily made using the screen.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the personal computer 20 used by the user. Referring to FIG. 3, the personal computer 20 includes a CPU 21 for controlling the entire personal computer 20, a display 22 connected to the CPU 21 via an interface (not shown), an input device 23 such as a mouse or a keyboard, and It includes a storage device 24 for recording files such as videos, and a communication device 25 such as a modem for connecting the personal computer 20 to the Internet 40.
[0018]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the server 30. Referring to FIG. 4, a server 30 includes a CPU 31 for controlling the entire server 30, a display 32 connected to the CPU 31 via an interface (not shown), an input device 33 such as a mouse or a keyboard, and a video file. And the like, and a communication device 35 such as a modem for connecting the server 30 to the Internet 40. The server 30 has basically the same configuration as a personal computer, but its performance is far superior to that of a personal computer.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the video rental system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of a game machine or a personal computer or the like used by the user and a server corresponding thereto in the video rental system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
Here, it is assumed that each user has registered in advance the server 30 and an individual for renting a video. It is assumed that the user ID (identification number) and the password are registered in the server 30 together. Specifically, by setting the user's name, address, e-mail address, credit card number, ID number, password, and the like, information for identifying the user is transmitted to the server 30, and the server 30 performs user registration. It is assumed that
[0021]
Hereinafter, an example in which the user accesses the server 30 using the game machine 10 will be described.
[0022]
Referring to FIG. 5, when the user accesses server 30 via communication device 15, the user is asked for the user ID and password on the TV 16 screen. On the other hand, a user ID and a password are input by selecting alphanumeric characters on the screen with the remote controller (step S11, steps are abbreviated below). This information is received by the server 30 (S21), and it is determined whether or not the user ID and the password are correct. If the user ID and the password are correct, the video rental screen is displayed (YES in S22, S23, S12). The user selects a desired video from the file list displayed on the TV 16 screen and hierarchized by genre or the like (an example of an initial screen when a video file is selected is shown in FIG. 6) using the remote controller 17 (S13). The rental period is input (S14).
[0023]
FIG. 7 shows a screen display example in this case. The current time is displayed, and the rental end period can be entered. A charge table or the like may be displayed together with this screen.
[0024]
These conditions are received by the server 30 (S24, S25), and a fee corresponding to the conditions is transmitted to the user (S26). The user confirms the fee (S15) (the fee confirmation screen is shown in FIG. 8) and transmits the fee payment method (S16). More specifically, a credit card number is input. 9 and 10 show screen display examples in this case. Here, data having a value available on the web such as web money may be usable.
[0025]
On the server side, when the charging conditions for the user are satisfied by the input of the credit card or the like from the user, a necessary file is transmitted to the user (S28), and the user receives the file (S17).
[0026]
Next, the contents of the file receiving step shown in S17 of FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 11, in the file receiving process, first, a time stamp defining a rental period and predetermined application software are received from server 30 and stored in storage device 14 of game machine 10 (S31).
[0027]
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of the time stamp file 50 transmitted from the server 30. Referring to FIG. 12, time stamp file 50 includes a transmission time stamp 51 indicating a transmission time, a rental start time stamp 52, and a rental end time stamp 53.
[0028]
Returning to FIG. 11, the application software transmitted at the same time as the time stamp file 50 automatically starts up and first checks whether the transmission time stamp 51 is different from the time stamp of the game machine 10 (S32). . If they are different (YES in S32), a difference from the time stamp of the game machine 10 is written in the storage device 14 of the game machine 10 and a file for recording the elapsed time from the transmission time is created (S33). When this is completed, the video file is received and stored in the storage device 14 (S34). As described above, in order to receive the video file after receiving the time stamp 50, the server 30 transmits the video file first and disconnects the communication there, so that only the video file is taken into the user's game machine 10. There is no problem of being lost.
[0029]
Next, the video playback processing will be described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure performed by application software when a user requests video reproduction. When the video file is stored in the storage device 14, its icon is displayed on the TV 16 screen by the function of the application software.
[0030]
Referring to FIG. 13, when the user wants to view the rented video file, the user clicks an icon on the TV 16 screen. In response, the application software starts up (S41). The software first determines whether or not the time stamp in the game machine 10 has been altered (S42). This refers to the transmitted time stamp 50 stored in the storage device 14, the time difference data confirmed at the time of receipt of the game machine 10, and the file that records the time elapsed from the transmission time. 10 is calculated by comparing the time data of the game machine 10 with the current time data of the game machine 10.
[0031]
If there is no change in the time stamp (YES in S42), it is determined whether the current time is before the rental end time (S43). If the current time is before the rental end time (YES in S43), the video file can be reproduced (S44).
[0032]
If there is a change in the time stamp (NO in S42), or if the current time is later than the rental end time (NO in S43), the process ends. Thus, the user can freely view the rented video file as many times as long as the time stamp is not changed within the rental period.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a desired video is rented from the Internet using a game machine. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and rental using a personal computer or the like is also possible.
[0034]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which a desired video is rented from the Internet.
[0035]
One embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Various changes can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same or equivalent scope as the present invention.
[0036]
One such example is described below.
[0037]
A server for a video rental system in which a user rents a video file on the server via the Internet using a terminal for a predetermined period,
Means for determining whether the terminal is a registered user,
Means for transmitting a rentable video title to the terminal in response to a request from the terminal when the terminal is confirmed to be a registered user,
Means for transmitting the video file and the time stamp specified to the terminal according to the specific information from the terminal,
A server for permitting reproduction of the video file on the terminal until a time specified by the time stamp.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a video rental system using the Internet.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the game machine.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a server.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the game machine of the user and the server when the user rents a video from the server on the network.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a screen display example when selecting a video to rent.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example when a video rental period is input.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when a fee is checked at the time of video rental.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen display example when confirming a payment method at the time of video rental.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when a credit card number is input.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a file receiving process shown in S17 of FIG.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of a time stamp file.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a video browsing process.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 game machines, 20 personal computers, 30 servers, 40 Internet, 50 time stamps

Claims (4)

A video rental system in which a user rents a video file on the server for a predetermined period using a terminal connected to the server via the Internet,
The terminal is
Means for accessing the server and performing predetermined authentication;
Means for specifying a desired title from rentable videos presented by the server;
Means for determining the rental period,
Means for receiving a video file of the title identified by the server and a time stamp identifying a rental period,
The server comprises:
Means for determining whether the authentication request from the terminal is correct,
Means for displaying, on the terminal, a title of a rentable video in response to the request of the terminal when the authentication is correct;
Means for transmitting the video file and the time stamp specified to the terminal according to the specific information from the terminal,
A video rental system, wherein reproduction of the video file is permitted on the terminal until a time specified by the time stamp. The video rental system according to claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting the video file and the time stamp transmits the video file after transmitting the time stamp. When the server transmits the time stamp to the terminal, the server transmits the time stamp together with predetermined application software;
The time stamp includes an end time of a rental period and a download time of the time stamp, and when stored in the terminal, the application software detects a difference between the time of the terminal and the time of the download. The video rental system according to claim 1, wherein the video rental system stores the video rental in a storage device of the terminal. 3. The video rental system according to claim 1, wherein the application software does not permit reproduction of the downloaded video file when data indicating the time of the terminal is altered. 4.

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