JP2005339026A - Content distribution system, content transmitting device, content receiving device and content distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the distribution of a content according to the duration of a use or the like. <P>SOLUTION: On receiving the download of a content with a portable receiving terminal 2 mounted to an end transmitter 3, for instance, duration during which each portable receiving terminal 2 has been set to the end transmitter 3 or the like is totaled and managed. Benefit such as the download of the content at no charge is offered if the duration of predetermined operation reaches a previously defined value. Moreover, the duration of the predetermined operation performed when the portable receiving terminal 2 is used as a single unit or the like is totaled, when the portable receiving terminal 2 is set to the end transmitter 3, information is notified from the portable receiving terminal 2 to the end transmitter 3 and such benefit is offered that permits the download of the content at no charge. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a content distribution system that distributes content, a content transmission device and a content reception device that constitute the content distribution system, and a content distribution method. Specifically, the distribution of content can be controlled according to the usage period and the like.

  In order to realize content distribution in a highly public place such as a street, since it is used by an unspecified number of users, it is required to distribute the content with a simple operation and in a short time.

In a method using an electric cable as a content transmission means, a large volume of content cannot be delivered in a short time. In view of this, a content distribution system using optical communication has been proposed. In a method using optical communication as a content transmission means, first, the use of an optical fiber cable can be considered. However, the connector of the optical fiber cable has low durability against repeated attachment and detachment, and is not suitable for a system used by an unspecified number of users.

  For this reason, a system that enables optical communication without contact has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-258737 A

  Large-capacity content can be distributed by performing communication between the content distribution side and the reception side by optical communication. However, in order to receive frequent content distribution, a function that promotes use is required.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a content distribution system capable of controlling the distribution of content according to a usage period, a content transmission device and a content reception device constituting the content distribution system It is an object to provide a content distribution method.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a content distribution system according to the present invention establishes a connection between a content transmission device and a communication unit included in the content reception device, and distributes the content from the content transmission device to the content reception device. In the content distribution system, an event that occurs due to the use of the content receiving device is detected, and a period accumulating unit that accumulates execution period information for each predetermined operation, and according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating unit, And a distribution management means for changing distribution conditions.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, when a content receiving device is used, events that occur due to the use of the content receiving device are detected, and execution period information for each predetermined operation is accumulated. Then, the content distribution condition is changed according to the execution period information for the predetermined operation.

  In addition, the content distribution system according to the present invention detects an event that occurs when the content receiving apparatus is used in a content distribution system that performs communication between the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus and distributes the content, and performs a predetermined operation. A period accumulating unit for accumulating each execution period information, a distribution managing unit for changing content distribution conditions in accordance with the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating unit, and a first communication unit for communicating from the content transmitting apparatus to the content receiving apparatus. 1 communication means and at least a second communication means for communicating from the content receiving device to the content transmitting device.

  In the content distribution system according to the present invention, when a content receiving device is used, events that occur due to the use of the content receiving device are detected, and execution period information for each predetermined operation is accumulated. Then, the content distribution condition is changed according to the execution period information for the predetermined operation.

  The content transmission device according to the present invention establishes a connection with a communication means provided in the content reception device, and in the content transmission device that distributes the content to the content reception device, an event that occurs due to the use of the content reception device. Detecting and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation for each content receiving device, and changing content distribution conditions for the corresponding content receiving device according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating unit And a distribution management means.

  In the content transmission device according to the present invention, when the content reception device is used, an event that occurs due to the use of the content reception device is detected, and execution period information for each predetermined operation is accumulated. Then, the content distribution condition is changed according to the execution period information for the predetermined operation.

  In addition, the content transmission apparatus according to the present invention establishes a connection with a communication unit included in the content reception apparatus and distributes the content to the content reception apparatus. The execution period information for each predetermined operation that is detected and accumulated by the use of the content receiving apparatus is notified by the means, and the content distribution condition for the corresponding content receiving apparatus is determined according to the notified execution period information Distribution management means for changing the.

  In the content transmission device according to the present invention, when the content reception device is used, and an event that occurs due to the use of the content reception device is detected and the accumulated execution period information is notified, according to the notified execution period information , Change the content distribution conditions.

  The content receiving apparatus according to the present invention establishes a connection with the communication means provided in the content transmitting apparatus, and the content receiving apparatus that receives distribution of the content from the content transmitting apparatus causes an event that occurs due to the use of its own device And accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation, and period information notifying means for notifying the content transmitting apparatus of the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulation means.

  The content receiving apparatus according to the present invention detects events that occur due to the use of its own device, and accumulates execution period information for each predetermined operation. When the content transmission device and the content reception device are connected, the execution period information is notified to the content transmission device.

  In addition, the content receiving apparatus according to the present invention is generated by the use of its own device in the content receiving apparatus that establishes a connection with the communication means provided in the content transmitting apparatus and receives distribution of the content from the content transmitting apparatus. Period accumulating means for accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation, and distribution management means for changing content distribution conditions according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating means. Is.

  The content receiving apparatus according to the present invention detects events that occur due to the use of its own device, and accumulates execution period information for each predetermined operation. Then, the content distribution condition is changed according to the execution period information for the predetermined operation.

  The content distribution method according to the present invention occurs when the content receiving apparatus uses the content receiving apparatus in the content distribution method of establishing a connection between the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus and distributing the content from the content transmitting apparatus to the content receiving apparatus. An event is detected, execution period information for each predetermined operation is accumulated, and content distribution conditions are changed according to the accumulated execution period information.

  In the content distribution method according to the present invention, when a content receiving device is used, an event that occurs due to the use of the content receiving device is detected, and execution period information for each predetermined operation is accumulated. Then, the content distribution condition is changed according to the execution period information for the predetermined operation.

  According to the present invention, an event that occurs due to the use of the content receiving device is detected, the execution period for each predetermined operation is accumulated, and the content distribution condition is switched according to the execution period of each operation. Accordingly, the use can be promoted by giving a privilege to the user.

  For example, a privilege can be given based on the total number of periods in which the content receiving device is attached to the content transmitting device, and the use can be promoted by guiding the content receiving device to be frequently attached to the content transmitting device.

  In addition, since the execution period can be accumulated for the operation information when the content receiving device is used alone and a privilege can be given when the content receiving device is attached to the content transmitting device, the content receiving device alone can be used for reproduction of the content. Use can also be promoted.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a content distribution system, a content transmission device, a content reception device, and a content distribution method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Outline of content distribution system>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a content distribution system according to the present embodiment. The content distribution system 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to distribute content such as video and music to a mobile receiving terminal 2 owned by a user of a content distribution service using a terminal transmitter 3 installed on a street or the like.

  In the content distribution system 1, which mobile receiving terminal 2 is requesting which content to be distributed is notified by the user of the mobile receiving terminal 2, the service provider, etc., and registered in advance in the data file update distribution center 4. .

  In the data file update distribution center 4, each terminal transmitter connected via the network 5 creates distribution management information by associating the information for specifying the portable receiving terminal 2 that requests download with the content to be distributed. Deliver to 3.

  When the portable receiving terminal 2 is set in the terminal transmitter 3, it makes a download request to the terminal transmitter 3. The terminal transmitter 3 downloads the data file of the corresponding content to the mobile receiving terminal 2 in response to a download request from the mobile receiving terminal 2.

  And in the content delivery system 1 of this Embodiment, when a certain condition is achieved, the operation at the time of achievement determined beforehand is started. A typical operation at the time of achievement is a change in distribution conditions such as whether or not the mobile receiving terminal 2 can download a certain content from the terminal transmitter 3.

  A typical condition is that the duration of a certain event that occurs when the mobile reception terminal 2 is used reaches a predetermined value. Examples of the target event include an operation of setting the mobile receiving terminal 2 to the terminal transmitter 3 and an operation of trying to connect.

  As a result, the portable receiving terminal 2 defines the duration set in the terminal transmitter 3 as a condition, and if it is detected that the condition is met, the current downloadability related to a certain data file is reversed, and the condition is If they do not match, the download permission is continued with the current settings.

  For example, when the cumulative set period of any mobile receiving terminal 2 to a specific terminal transmitter 3 reaches a specified period of, for example, 2 hours, for example, the mobile receiving terminal 2 stores a specific data file as an achievement operation. Benefits such as free download can be given.

  In addition, as will be described later, when the cumulative number of connection trial periods of any mobile receiving terminal 2 reaches, for example, 10 minutes, which is a specified period, it is possible to give a privilege such as preferentially permitting connection as an achievement operation. .

<Specific Configuration Example of Content Distribution System of First Embodiment>
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content distribution system 1A according to the first embodiment. First, specific configuration examples of the terminal transmitter 3A and the portable reception terminal 2A will be described.

  Here, communication from the terminal transmitter 3A to the mobile receiver terminal 2A is referred to as downlink, and communication from the mobile receiver 2A to the terminal transmitter 3A is referred to as uplink. In this example, the downlink channel is realized by optical communication using spatial transmission, and the uplink channel is realized by wireless communication. In this way, by making the downlink channel and the uplink channel asymmetric, the portable receiver terminal 2A and the terminal transmitter 3A can be detachable using an optical coupling means with a simple configuration, and the terminal transmitter The content can be distributed from 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A by high-speed communication.

  If it demonstrates from the structure of 3 A of terminal transmitters, 3 A of terminal transmitters will be provided with the light emission part 11, the cache memory 12, bridge | bridging IC13, and the serializer 14. FIG. The light emitting unit 11 is an example of a downlink transmission device and constitutes a first communication unit. The light emitting unit 11 includes a laser diode 15 as light emitting means, converts an electrical signal into an optical signal, and outputs the optical signal.

  The cache memory 12 is an example of a so-called high-speed storage device, is constituted by a RAM or the like, and stores a data file of content output from the laser diode 15.

  The bridge IC 13 reads the data file from the cache memory 12. In addition, the data file is written in the cache memory 12.

  The serializer 14 converts the data file read from the cache memory 12 by the bridge IC 13 from parallel data to serial data and sends the data file to the laser diode 15.

  The terminal transmitter 3A includes a main storage device 16, a system controller 17, a memory 18, and an external I / O 19. The main storage device 16 is an example of a so-called low-speed storage device, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD) and stores data files to be stored in the cache memory 12.

  Here, the input / output control of the data file is performed between the cache memory 12 and the main storage device 16 in response to the download frequency or the like. Also, at a predetermined timing, update control is performed to delete the data files in the main storage device 16 and the cache memory 12 and update the data files with new contents from the data file update management center 4 shown in FIG.

  The system controller 17 is composed of a CPU and the like, and controls content distribution. The memory 18 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 17. The external I / O 19 is an example of an input / output unit, and is an operation unit, for example.

  Furthermore, the terminal transmitter 3A includes a wireless communication unit 20 and a network communication unit 21. The wireless communication unit 20 is an example of an uplink receiving device and constitutes a second communication unit. Since the wireless communication unit 20 communicates with the mobile receiving terminal 2A, it is only necessary to be able to perform near field communication. For example, use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable. Note that since Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 do not interfere, two communication functions may be provided.

  For example, the network communication unit 21 is connected to the data file update distribution center 4 shown in FIG. 1 via the Internet, a dedicated line, or the like.

  The terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A includes a detection switch 22 and a display 24. The detection switch 22 is an example of a mounting detection unit, and is configured by, for example, an optical sensor having a pair of light emitting / receiving elements. The detection switch 22 only needs to detect the attachment of the mobile reception terminal 2A, and does not need to detect whether communication with the mobile reception terminal 2A can be performed.

  The display 24 is an example of notification means, and notifies the user of operations that can be executed according to the usage status of the mobile reception terminal 2A.

  The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A performs an event detection function as a function realized by executing a program in order to perform content distribution control according to an execution period of various events generated by using the mobile receiving terminal 2A. 17a, an execution period counting function 17b, a trigger condition detection function 17c, and an achievement operation activation function 17d.

  Further, in order to store data used in these functions, the memory 18 stores a period defining table 101 and a period recording table 102.

  The event detection function 17a is a function for determining whether a target event has been detected. The execution period counting function 17b is a function for counting the execution period of events. The trigger condition detection function 17c is a function that determines whether the execution period of the target event has reached the target period. The achievement operation operation function 17d is a function that enables execution of a designated operation when the execution period of the target event reaches the target period. These functions constitute period accumulating means and distribution management means.

  FIG. 3 is an example of the period definition table. The period definition table 101 is a table in which event names, target periods, and achievement actions are associated with each other. As a target event to be detected, for example, a set period of the mobile receiving terminal 2A and a connection trial period are defined.

  In addition, a target period is registered for each event, and an operation that permits execution when the target period is reached for each event is defined.

  For example, in the first row of the period definition table 101 shown in FIG. 3, when the cumulative set period of one portable receiving terminal 2A to the terminal transmitter 3A is 20 minutes, as an achievement operation, a privilege data file It is defined that download of (DF-00845) is permitted.

  Similarly, the second line stipulates that when the cumulative number of connection trial periods of one portable receiving terminal 2A to the terminal transmitter 3A reaches 10 minutes, the subsequent 5 connections are preferentially connected. Here, the second line is a rule used when the portable reception terminal 2 uses the period definition table, as will be described later.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a period recording table. The period recording table 102 is a table in which the execution period information of the target event is recorded for each portable receiving terminal 2A. Each mobile receiving terminal 2A is managed by a unique terminal number, and for each mobile receiving terminal 2A that has an uplink as described later, the terminal number, the detected event name, and the cumulative period of execution of the event are recorded. Is done.

  Next, the configuration of the mobile receiving terminal 2A will be described. The mobile receiving terminal 2A includes a light receiving unit 25, a cache memory 26, a bridge IC 27, and a deserializer 28. The light receiving unit 25 is an example of a downlink receiving device, and is paired with the light emitting unit 11 to constitute a first communication unit. The light receiving unit 25 includes a photodetector 29 as a light receiving means, and converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal.

  The cache memory 26 is an example of a high-speed storage device, is configured with a RAM or the like, and stores a data file received from the terminal transmitter 3A. The bridge IC 27 writes the data file to the cache memory 26. Further, the data file is read from the cache memory 26.

  The deserializer 28 converts the data file converted into the electrical signal by the photo detector 29 from serial data to parallel data and sends the data file to the bridge IC 27.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2A includes a system controller 30, a memory 31, and an external I / O 32. The system controller 30 is composed of a CPU or the like, and controls the storage of the data file received by the photodetector 29 in the cache memory 26, the reading of the data file stored in the cache memory 26, and the like. The memory 31 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 30. The external I / O 32 is an example of an input / output unit, and is an operation unit such as an operation button constituting the operation unit, for example.

  Further, the mobile reception terminal 2 </ b> A includes a laser sensor 33 and a display 34. The laser sensor 33 is an example of a light detection unit, and detects whether or not the photodetector 29 has received laser light. The display 34 is an example of a notification unit, and notifies the user of an operation that can be executed according to the usage status notified from the terminal transmitter 3A, for example.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2 </ b> A includes a wireless communication unit 35. The wireless communication unit 35 is an example of an uplink transmission device, and forms a second communication unit in a pair with the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A. The wireless communication unit 35 only needs to have the same communication function as that of the wireless communication unit 20. For example, the use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 can be considered. Note that since Bluetooth and IEEE 802.11 do not interfere, two communication functions may be provided.

  The mobile reception terminal 2A may include a main storage device 36. The main storage device 36 is an example of a low-speed storage device, is configured with a hard disk drive device or the like, and stores data files stored in the cache memory 26.

  The main storage device 36 has a larger capacity than the cache memory 26, and the content data file distributed from the terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A and stored in the cache memory 26 is moved to the main storage device 36 and stored therein. Content can be saved with 2A.

  The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A includes an achievement operation operation function 30a as a function realized by executing a program in order to perform content distribution control according to an event execution period. The achievement operation operation function 30a enables the operation designated by the end transmitter 3A when it is notified from the end transmitter 3A that the execution period of the target event has reached the target period.

  FIG. 5 is an external perspective view showing a configuration example of the mobile receiving terminal, FIG. 5A shows the configuration of the front side of the mobile receiving terminal 2A, and FIG. 5B shows the configuration of the back side of the mobile receiving terminal 2A. Show.

  The portable receiving terminal 2A includes a display 34 on the front of the housing, for example. In addition, an operation unit 44 is provided for specifying content to be reproduced on the display 34. Furthermore, the portable receiving terminal 2A includes a light receiving unit 25 on the back surface of the housing.

  FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing a configuration example of the terminal transmitter 3A, FIG. 6A shows a state of the terminal transmitter alone, and FIG. 6B shows a state where the portable receiving terminal 2A is mounted.

  The terminal transmitter 3 </ b> A includes a mounting portion 45 of the portable receiving terminal 2 </ b> A on the upper surface, and the mounting portion 45 includes the light emitting unit 11. Moreover, the display 24 is provided along with the mounting portion 45. As shown in FIG. 6B, the arrangement of each part is set so that the display 24 is not hidden in the state where the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the attachment part 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A.

  Further, the terminal transmitter 3A includes the detection switch 22 described in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the portable receiving terminal 2A is attached to the attaching portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A, the detection switch 22 can detect the presence of the portable receiving terminal 2A.

  5 and the light emitting unit 11 of the terminal transmitter 3A shown in FIG. 6 are detachably coupled, and the laser beam emitted from the terminal transmitter 3A is received by the portable receiver terminal 2A. Receive light. Then, when the user sets the portable receiving terminal 2A on the mounting portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A, the optical axis on the light emitting side and the light receiving side coincide with each other if roughly aligned and set. .

  For example, a convex holder and a concave holder are provided as optical coupling means. The convex holder is composed of, for example, a hemispherical convex spherical surface, and when fitted into the concave holder, alignment is performed in a direction in which the optical axes coincide. In addition, an abutting surface that holds the convex holder and the concave holder to hold each other without being inclined is provided.

  As a result, a system is constructed in which content can be distributed to the mobile receiving terminal 2A simply by placing the mobile receiving terminal 2A on the mounting portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A.

<Operation Example of Content Distribution System of First Embodiment>
The outline of the operation of the content distribution system 1 described above will be described. In order to specify the mobile reception terminal 2A that enables content download, information for specifying the mobile reception terminal 2A that is the content distribution target in advance is the terminal transmitter. Registered in 3A. The terminal transmitter 3A distributes the corresponding content in response to the download request from the specific mobile receiving terminal 2A.

  FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts showing examples of distribution processing from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A. First, an operation for distributing contents from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A will be described.

  Step A1: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A stops driving the laser diode 15 until the detection switch 22 detects the portable receiving terminal 2A, and enters a standby state in which no data file is transferred.

  Step A2: The user of the portable receiving terminal 2A who is a user of the content distribution service sets the portable receiving terminal 2A to the terminal transmitter 3A in order to set the terminal receiving terminal 2 in the mounting portion 45 of the terminal transmitter 3A shown in FIG. Move closer to.

  Step A3: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A checks whether the detection switch 22 detects the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A.

  Step A4: If the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A cannot detect the mounting of the mobile receiving terminal 2A, it determines that the mobile receiving terminal 2A is not mounted on the terminal transmitter 3A and returns to Step A1.

  Step A5: If the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A can detect the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A, it causes the laser diode 15 to emit light with a predetermined intensity as a downlink carrier. The output here does not need to have a meaning as data.

  Step A6: The portable receiving terminal 2A checks whether a downlink carrier from the terminal transmitter 3A has been detected. That is, since the laser diode 15 of the terminal transmitter 3A emits light, the laser light is incident on the photodetector 29 when the portable receiving terminal 2A is correctly attached to the terminal transmitter 3A.

  In the portable receiving terminal 2A, the system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A detects the presence or absence of a down carrier by detecting whether the laser beam is incident on the photodetector 29 by the laser sensor 33.

  Step A7: When the laser beam is not incident on the photodetector 29 and the downlink carrier cannot be detected, the system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A determines that the portable receiving terminal 2A is not correctly set in the terminal transmitter 3A. Then, the process returns to step A1.

  Step A8: If the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A detects the downlink carrier in Step A7, it determines that the mobile receiving terminal 2A is correctly set in the terminal transmitter 3A and registers it in the memory 31 or the like in advance. The terminal number of the own device is transmitted to the terminal transmitter 3A via the wireless communication unit 35. The terminal number is an example of identification information, and is a number unique to each mobile reception terminal 2A. The terminal transmitter 3A can identify the mobile reception terminal 2A.

  Step A9: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A checks whether the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the distribution permission terminal number table. The distribution permission terminal number table 103 is a table in which the terminal number of the mobile receiving terminal 2A registered in advance and permitted to distribute contents is associated with the data file name of the specified content.

  Step A10: If the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is not registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 103, the process of step A11 is performed, and if it is registered, the process of step A12 is performed.

  Step A11: If the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is not registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 103, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A registers the terminal number as the distribution permission information on the display 24. It is displayed that the distribution is not permitted and the processing is terminated.

  Further, the terminal number is registered by using the communication function from the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A to the wireless communication unit 35 of the portable receiving terminal 2A or the communication function from the light emitting unit 11 to the light receiving unit 25. By notifying the mobile receiving terminal 2A of the information indicating that there is no information, it can be displayed on the display 34 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A that the terminal number is not registered.

  Step A12: If the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 103 in the determination of step A10, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A displays the distribution permission / inhibition information as information 24 indicates that the terminal number is registered and distribution is permitted.

  Also in this case, the terminal number is registered by notifying the mobile receiving terminal 2A of the information that the terminal number is registered by using the communication function from the terminal transmitter 3A to the mobile receiving terminal 2A. It can also be displayed on the display 34 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A.

  Step A13: When the terminal number notified from the portable receiving terminal 2A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 103, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table 103. The data file specified by the data file name corresponding to the corresponding terminal number is transmitted.

  That is, the corresponding data file stored in the cache memory 12 is read by the bridge IC 13, converted from parallel data to serial data by the serializer 14, and an electric signal is converted into an optical signal by the laser diode 15 and transmitted.

  Step A14: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A stores the data file received from the terminal transmitter 3A in the cache memory 26. That is, the received optical signal is converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector 29, converted from serial data to parallel data by the deserializer 28, and stored in the cache memory 26 by the bridge IC 27.

  Step A15: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2A checks whether the received data file is normal.

  Step A16: If the received data file is not normal, for example, the process returns to Step A13, and the transmission of the data file is repeated until it is normally received or until the detection switch 22 does not detect the mounting of the portable receiving terminal 2A. It is.

  Step A17: If the received data file is normal, the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A notifies the terminal transmitter 3A via the uplink that the download has ended, and ends the receiving process.

  Now, in the content distribution process from the terminal transmitter 3A to the portable receiving terminal 2A described above, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A detects whether a predetermined event has occurred, and performs distribution control according to the event execution period. To be able to

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a first processing example of distribution control according to an event execution period. Next, an event execution period generated by use of the mobile receiving terminal 2A is managed and distributed on the terminal transmitter 3A side. An operation example in the case of performing control will be described.

  Step B1: The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3A checks whether an event defined in the period definition table 101 registered in the memory 18 has occurred by using the event detection function 17a.

  For example, in the period definition table 101 of FIG. 3, the set period of the mobile receiving terminal 2A is defined as a detection target event. For this reason, when the detection switch 22 detects the wearing of the mobile reception terminal 2A, the event detection function 17a determines that the target event has occurred.

  Step B2: If the event defined in the period defining table 101 has not occurred, the process returns to Step B1.

  Step B3: When an event defined in the period defining table 101 occurs, it is checked whether the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2A is already registered in the period recording table 102.

  Step B4: If the notified terminal number is not registered, the process of step B5 is performed, and if the terminal number is already registered, the process of step B6 is performed.

  Step B5: If the notified terminal number is unregistered, an item of the terminal number is added to the period recording table 102, and the detected event name and the initial period counted are recorded.

  Step B6: If the terminal number is already registered, it is checked whether the detected event has occurred with the mobile receiving terminal 2A of the terminal number.

  Step B7: If the detected event has not occurred in the terminal number, the process of step B8 is performed, and if the event has been generated, the process of step B9 is performed.

  Step B8: If the detected event has not occurred, the event name corresponding to the terminal number in the period recording table 102 is added, and the measured initial period is recorded.

  Step B9: If the detected event has already occurred, the execution period counting function 17b adds the current period to the period of the event name corresponding to the terminal number in the period recording table 102 and records it.

  Step B10: The system controller 17 checks whether or not the execution period of the event has reached the target period defined in the period definition table 101 by the trigger condition detection function 17c.

  Step B11: If the execution period of the event does not reach the target period, the process returns to Step B1.

  Step B12: When the execution period of the event has reached the target period, the achievement operation defined in the period definition table 101 is executed by the achievement operation activation function 17d.

  Here, the communication function from the wireless communication unit 20 of the terminal transmitter 3A to the wireless communication unit 35 of the portable receiving terminal 2A or the communication function from the light emitting unit 11 to the light receiving unit 25 is used. The system controller 17 notifies the mobile receiving terminal 2A that the achievement operation activation function 17c has been activated.

  In response to this notification, the system controller 30 of the mobile receiving terminal 2A activates the achievement operation operation function 30a.

  Thereby, it will be in the state which can perform the operation | movement at the time defined by the period prescription | regulation table 101 by cooperation of 3 A of terminal transmitters, and 2 A of portable receiving terminals.

<Specific Configuration Example of Content Distribution System of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the content distribution system 1B according to the second embodiment, and another configuration example of the content distribution system 1 will be described. In the content distribution system 1B shown in FIG. 11, content distribution control corresponding to the execution period of an event that occurs in the mobile receiving terminal 2B alone can be performed by the terminal transmitter 3B.

  Here, in FIG. 11, the same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here.

  The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2B manages the execution period of events that occur when the device itself is used without being set in the terminal transmitter 3B, and is a function that is realized by executing a program. As means and period information notification means, an event detection function 30b, an execution period counting function 30c, and a local event reporting function 30e are provided.

  Further, in order to store data used in these functions, the memory 31 stores, for example, the period definition table 101 described with reference to FIG. 3 and a period recording table 103 described later.

  The event detection function 30b is a function for determining whether a target event has been detected. The execution period counting function 30c is a function for counting the execution period of events. The local event reporting function 30e is a function for notifying the terminal transmitter 3B of an execution period or the like for each event of the own device managed by the mobile receiving terminal 2B.

  The system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3B is a function realized by executing a program in order to perform content distribution control upon receiving notification of an execution period of an event that occurs when the mobile receiving terminal 2B is used alone. As a distribution management means, an event detection function 17a, a trigger condition detection function 17c, and an achievement time operation activation function 17d are provided.

  Further, in order to store data used in these functions, the memory 18 stores the period defining table 101 and the period recording table 102 described with reference to FIG.

  The event detection function 17a is a function for determining whether a target event has been detected. The trigger condition detection function 17c is a function that determines whether the execution period of the target event has reached the target period. The achievement operation operation function 17d is a function that enables execution of a designated operation when the execution period of the target event reaches the target period.

  FIG. 12 is an example of a period recording table. The period recording table 103 managed by the portable receiving terminal 2B is a table in which the target event and its execution period are recorded. In the example of FIG. 12, the reproduction period and the connection trial period of the specific content are recorded.

<Operation Example of Content Distribution System of Second Embodiment>
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are flowcharts showing a second processing example of distribution control according to the event execution period. Next, the mobile reception terminal 2B manages the event execution period, and the terminal transmitter 3B executes the event. An operation example for performing content distribution control according to a period will be described. The general flow of distribution processing from the terminal transmitter 3B to the portable receiving terminal 2B is as described in the flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, a process for managing an event execution period in the mobile receiving terminal 2B will be described with reference to FIG.

  Step C1: The system controller 30 of the portable receiving terminal 2B checks whether or not an event defined in the period defining table 101 registered in the memory 31 has occurred by using the event detection function 30b.

  Here, the reproduction of the specific content is set as an event to be detected. For example, when the specific content stored in the cache memory 26 or the main storage device 36 is received by the portable receiving terminal 2B upon receiving the download from the terminal transmitter 3B, the event detection function 30b determines that the target event has occurred.

  Step C2: If the event defined in the period defining table 101 has not occurred, the process returns to Step C1.

  Step C3: It is checked whether the detected event is registered in the period recording table 103 and has been generated.

  Step C4: If the detected event has not occurred, the process of step C5 is performed, and if the event has been generated, the process of step C6 is performed.

  Step C5: If the detected event has not occurred, the corresponding event name is added to the period recording table 102, the time period is recorded, and the process returns to Step C1.

  Step C6: If the detected event has already occurred, the execution period counting function 30c adds the current period to the period of the corresponding event name in the period recording table 103, and returns to Step C1.

  With the above processing, the mobile reception terminal 2 </ b> B accumulates the event execution periods defined in the period definition table 101 and records them in the period recording table 103.

  Next, a process of performing content distribution control in accordance with the event execution period in the terminal transmitter 3B will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 14 is executed by, for example, receiving the download by setting the portable receiving terminal 2B in the terminal transmitter 3B, and the terminal number is notified from the portable receiving terminal 2B to the terminal transmitter 3B. Suppose that

  Step D1: The portable receiving terminal 2B is set, and it is checked whether the content of the period recording table 103 is notified to the terminal transmitter 3B by the local event reporting function 30e on the uplink and copied to the period recording table 102 of the memory 18.

  Step D2: If the period recording table has not been copied, the process returns to Step D1.

  Step D3: When the period recording table managed by the portable receiving terminal 2B is copied, the system controller 17 of the terminal transmitter 3B scans the period recording table 102 by the trigger condition detection function 17c, and the execution period is the period. It is checked whether there is an event that has achieved the target period defined in the regulation table 101.

  Step D4: If there is an event whose execution period has reached the target period, the process of step D5 is performed.

  Step D5: When there is an event in which the execution period has reached the target period, the achievement operation specified in the period definition table 101 is activated by the achievement operation activation function 17d.

  Step D6: Check whether the trigger condition detection function 17c has scanned the entire period recording table 102.

  Step D7: If the trigger condition detection function 17c has scanned all the period recording table 102, the process ends. If not, the process returns to Step D3.

  With the above processing, for example, after the specific content is played back by the mobile receiving terminal 2B for a specified period, the content subsequent to the specific content can be downloaded by setting the terminal transmitter 3B. Thereby, for example, it is possible to provide a service that allows the user to proceed to the next step by learning content for a specified period using an educational program or the like.

  Therefore, based on the execution period of a local event that occurs in the mobile reception terminal 2B, it is possible to execute a predetermined achievement operation when set in the terminal transmitter 3B.

  Here, in the above example, an example of a target event in which the playback period of one content is to be detected is taken as an example, but a playback period of group-managed content can also be set as a target event to be detected.

  For example, it is assumed that the mobile receiving terminal 2B can download continuous lesson data as content twice. Since lesson 1 and lesson 2 are learned according to the prescribed contents of the period prescribed table, downloading the contents of subsequent lessons can be permitted when the respective contents are reproduced for the prescribed period. Thereby, although lesson 2 has been learned (reproduced) for a specified period, lesson 1 can be provided with a service that prevents the lesson from proceeding to the next lesson.

  Thereby, it is possible to check on the terminal transmitter 3B side whether or not a series of contents are reproduced in a predetermined order on the mobile receiving terminal 2B, and to control the distribution of the contents.

  Furthermore, as a local event that occurs in the mobile receiving terminal 2B, it is possible to target a pressing period of an operation button (not shown).

<Other configuration examples of content distribution system>
In the above example, the downlink channel is realized by optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser, and the uplink channel is realized by wireless communication, but the downlink channel is realized by optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser, The uplink channel may be realized by another optical communication using infrared rays. Further, the downlink channel and the uplink channel may be realized by bidirectional optical communication by spatial transmission using a laser.

  Further, both the downlink channel and the uplink channel may be realized by wireless communication, or may be realized by wired communication using an electric cable or the like.

  Next, an example of a terminal transmitter and a portable receiving terminal that realizes a downlink channel by wireless communication will be described.

  FIG. 15 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a content distribution system according to the third embodiment. The terminal transmitter 3C constituting the content distribution system 1C according to the third embodiment includes a transmission unit that transmits a millimeter-wave charging wave such as 60 GHz. Further, the portable receiving terminal 2C includes a receiving unit that receives a millimeter wave charging wave, and laser light emitting means for an index laser that allows the user to recognize whether the terminal is facing the terminal transmitter 3C.

  The millimeter wave is straight and can transmit a large amount of information. However, since the directivity is high, alignment between the transmission side and the reception side is important. In this example, assuming that the portable receiving terminal 2C is directed in the direction in which the index laser irradiates the terminal transmitter 3C, the contents can be distributed with a simple configuration so as to be in a positional relationship where radio waves from the terminal transmitter 3C can be received. Make it possible.

<Specific Configuration Example of Content Distribution System of Third Embodiment>
16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a content distribution system 1C according to the third embodiment. FIG. 17 is a partially broken perspective view showing a configuration example of a terminal transmitter. Next, the terminal transmitter 3C and a portable receiving terminal are shown. A specific configuration example of 2C will be described.

  The terminal transmitter 3C is installed on a ceiling, a wall surface, a floor surface, or the like, and includes a transmission unit 51, a cache memory 52, a bridge IC 53, and a serializer 54. In addition, in FIG. 15, the example installed in the ceiling is shown.

  The transmission unit 51 is an example of a downlink transmission device and constitutes a first communication unit. The transmission unit 51 includes an antenna that outputs a millimeter-wave charging wave such as a 60 GHz band.

  The cache memory 52 is an example of a so-called high-speed storage device, and includes a RAM or the like, and stores a data file of content output from the transmission unit 51.

  The bridge IC 53 reads the data file from the cache memory 52. In addition, the data file is written in the cache memory 52.

  The serializer 54 converts the data file read from the cache memory 52 by the bridge IC 53 from parallel data to serial data and sends the data file to the transmission unit 51.

  The terminal transmitter 3C includes a main storage device 56, a system controller 57, a memory 58, and an external I / O 59. The main storage device 56 is an example of a so-called low-speed storage device, and is composed of, for example, a hard disk drive device (HDD) and stores data files to be stored in the cache memory 52.

  The system controller 57 is composed of a CPU or the like, and controls content distribution. The memory 58 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 57. The external I / O 59 is an example of an input / output unit, and is an operation unit, for example.

  Furthermore, the terminal transmitter 3C includes a wireless communication unit 60 and a network communication unit 61. The wireless communication unit 60 is an example of an uplink receiving device and constitutes a second communication unit. Since the wireless communication unit 60 communicates with the portable receiving terminal 2C, it is only necessary to be able to perform near field communication. For example, use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable.

  The network communication unit 61 is connected to, for example, the data file update distribution center 4 shown in FIG. 1 via the Internet or a dedicated line.

  The terminal transmitter 3C includes an index sensor 62, a visual light 63, and an indicator 64. The index sensor 62 is an example of a mounting detection unit, and is arranged adjacent to an antenna (not shown) of the transmission unit 51 as shown in FIG. The index sensor 62 is constituted by, for example, an optical sensor provided with a light receiving element.

  Here, by superimposing a terminal number or the like on an index laser to be described later, the index sensor 62 can receive a control signal such as a terminal number. For this reason, the index sensor 62 may constitute the second communication means.

  The visual light 63 is an example of a position confirmation unit, and is arranged adjacent to an antenna (not shown) of the transmission unit 51 as shown in FIG. Here, the terminal transmitter 3 </ b> C includes a light guide 55 as shown in FIG. 17 in order to restrict the position where the visual light 63 can be viewed within the radio wave receivable range.

  The light guide 55 is a conical or cylindrical cover. When the terminal transmitter 3C is installed on the ceiling as shown in FIG. 15, the user can view the light 63 when positioned under the terminal transmitter 3C. Will be visible.

  At a position where the user can visually recognize the light 63 for viewing, the mobile receiving terminal 2C is arranged at a predetermined position, so that a radio wave with high directivity from the transmitter 51 can be received. On the other hand, it can be recognized that the radio wave from the transmission unit 51 cannot be received at a position where the light 63 for viewing cannot be seen by the light guide 55.

  The indicator 64 is an example of a notification unit and notifies the user of a communication state and the like.

  Here, when the index sensor 62 detects an index laser beam from the portable receiving terminal 2C described later, the lighting state of the visual light 63 may be changed. In this case, the light 63 for visual recognition becomes a notification means. Therefore, in this example, the viewing light 63 is configured to emit light of two different colors.

  The system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C includes an achievement operation operation function 57a as a distribution management means that is a function realized by executing a program in order to perform content distribution control according to an event execution period. The achievement operation operation function 57a is a function that enables a specified operation to be executed when an execution period of a target event reaches a target period.

  Next, the configuration of the mobile receiving terminal 2C will be described. The portable receiving terminal 2C includes a receiving unit 65, a cache memory 66, a bridge IC 67, and a deserializer 68. The reception unit 65 is an example of a downlink reception device, and forms a first communication unit in a pair with the transmission unit 51. The receiving unit 65 includes an antenna or the like that receives a millimeter-wave charging wave such as a 60 GHz band.

  The cache memory 66 is an example of a high-speed storage device, and is composed of a RAM or the like, and stores a data file received from the terminal transmitter 3C. The bridge IC 67 writes the data file into the cache memory 66. Further, the data file is read from the cache memory 66.

  The deserializer 68 converts the data file received by the receiving unit 65 from serial data to parallel data and sends it to the bridge IC 67.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2C includes a system controller 70, a memory 71, and an external I / O 72. The system controller 70 is constituted by a CPU or the like, and controls the storage of the data file received by the receiving unit 65 in the cache memory 66, the reading of the data file stored in the cache memory 66, and the like.

  The memory 71 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores programs executed by the system controller 70. The external I / O 72 is an example of an input / output unit, and is an operation unit, for example.

  Further, the portable receiving terminal 2 </ b> C includes an index laser 69, a radio wave sensor 73, and a display 74. The index laser 69 is an example of a position confirmation means, and irradiates a visible light laser or directional visible light.

  Here, when the index laser light irradiates the index sensor 62 of the terminal transmitter 3C, the arrangement of each part is determined so that the receiving unit 65 can receive the radio wave from the transmitting unit 51 correctly. For this reason, for example, the antenna unit (not shown) of the receiving unit 65 and the laser beam emitted from the index laser 65 are arranged so as to be vertical.

  Here, by superimposing a terminal number or the like on the laser light from the index laser 69, the index laser 69 can transmit a control signal such as a terminal number. For this reason, the index laser 69 is an example of an uplink transmission device and constitutes the second communication means.

  The radio wave sensor 73 is an example of a detection unit, and detects whether or not the radio wave is received by the receiving unit 65. The display 74 is an example of a notification unit, and notifies the user of a communication state, for example.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2 </ b> C includes a wireless communication unit 75. The wireless communication unit 75 is an example of an uplink transmission device, and forms a second communication unit in combination with the wireless communication unit 60 of the terminal transmitter 3C. The wireless communication unit 75 only needs to have the same communication function as the wireless communication unit 60. For example, the use of Bluetooth or IEEE802.11 is conceivable.

  The mobile receiving terminal 2C may include a main storage device 76. The main storage device 76 is an example of a low-speed storage device, is configured with a hard disk drive device or the like, and stores data files stored in the cache memory 66.

  The main storage device 76 has a capacity larger than that of the cache memory 66, and the content data file distributed from the terminal transmitter 3C and stored in the cache memory 66 is moved to the main storage device 76 to be stored therein. Content can be saved in 2C.

  Since the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C performs content distribution control according to the execution period of the event, an event detection function 70a as a period accumulating unit and a distribution management unit which are functions realized by executing a program, It includes an execution period counting function 70b, a trigger condition detection function 70c, and an achievement operation operation function 70d.

  Further, in order to store data used in these functions, the memory 71 stores a period defining table 101 shown in FIG. 3 and a period recording table 103 shown in FIG.

  The event detection function 70a is a function for determining whether a target event has been detected. The execution period counting function 70b is a function for counting the execution period of events. The trigger condition detection function 70c is a function that determines whether the execution period of the target event has reached the target period. The achievement-time operation operation function 70d is a function that enables a specified operation to be executed when an execution period of a target event reaches a target period.

<Operation Example of Content Distribution System of Third Embodiment>
The outline of the operations of the terminal transmitter 3C and the portable receiving terminal 2C will be described. First, the system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C turns on the visual light 63 in red, for example.

  The user of the portable receiving terminal 2C moves to a position where the visual light 63 can be seen. As described above, the light guide 55 provided in the end transmitter 3C cannot allow the user to visually recognize the visual light 63 unless the user comes to a predetermined position with respect to the end transmitter 3C. As a result, it is possible to recognize whether or not it is in a position where it can receive content distribution using the mobile receiving terminal 2C.

  The user of the portable receiving terminal 2C adjusts the orientation of the portable receiving terminal 2C so that the index laser 69 can be irradiated at the position where the visual light 63 can be seen and the terminal transmitter 3C can be irradiated with the laser light of the index laser 69. To do.

  Since the laser beam of the index laser 69 is visible light, the user can easily adjust the portable receiving terminal 2C to a predetermined direction.

  When the index sensor 62 detects light, the system controller 57 of the terminal device 3C determines that the mobile reception terminal 2C is located in a radio wave receivable range, and switches the lighting color of the visual light 63 to, for example, green.

  As a result, the user can recognize that the mobile receiving terminal 2C is ready to receive radio waves.

  In addition, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C transmits the terminal number of its own device via the uplink from the portable receiving terminal 2C by superimposing the terminal number recorded in the memory 71 etc. on the laser beam of the index laser 69. Notify unit 3C.

  Here, in the terminal transmitter 3C, the distribution permission terminal number table described in FIG. 9 and the content data main body are distributed and stored in the cache memory 52 or the like.

  The system controller 57 checks whether or not the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2C is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table.

  When the terminal number notified from the mobile receiving terminal 2C is registered in the distribution permission terminal number table, the data file of the corresponding content specified in the distribution permission terminal number table is output from the transmission unit 51.

  The data file output from the transmission unit 51 of the terminal transmitter 3C is received by the reception unit 65 of the mobile reception terminal 2C and stored in the cache memory 66 or the like.

  Thereby, content distribution is performed by wireless communication between the terminal transmitter 3C and the portable receiving terminal 2C.

  18 and 19 are flowcharts showing a third processing example of distribution control according to the event execution period. Next, the mobile reception terminal 2C manages the event execution period, and the mobile reception terminal 2C and the end transmitter An operation example of performing content distribution control according to the execution period of the event in cooperation with 3C will be described.

  Step E1: First, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C clears the cumulative value of the index laser irradiation period, which is the connection trial period in the period recording table 104 of the memory 71, to zero.

  Step E2: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C checks whether an operation button (not shown) for irradiating the index laser 69 has been pressed by the event detection function 70a. As described above, the user of the portable receiving terminal 2C moves to a position where the viewing light 63 can be seen, and presses an operation button (not shown) that irradiates the index laser 69, thereby causing the index laser 69 to emit light. Irradiate 3C direction.

  Step E3: If the event detection function 70a does not detect that the operation button (not shown) for irradiating the index laser 69 has been pressed, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C returns to step E1 here.

  Step E4: When an operation button (not shown) for irradiating the index laser 69 is pressed, the system controller 70 measures the irradiation period of the index laser 69 to be recorded in the period recording table 103 of the memory 71 by the execution period counting function 70b. Start. Here, since the irradiation period of the index laser 69 becomes a waiting time for connecting the portable receiving terminal 2C to the terminal transmitter 3C, it will be referred to as a waiting period in the following description.

  Step E5: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C repeatedly superimposes its own terminal number registered in advance in the memory 71 etc. on the laser light of the index laser 69 and transmits it to the terminal transmitter 3C.

  Step E6: The system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C checks whether the index sensor 62 has received the laser beam of the index laser 69.

  Step E7: The system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C returns to Step E6 when the index sensor 62 has not received the laser beam of the index laser 69.

  Step E8: When the index sensor 62 receives the laser beam of the index laser 69, the system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C analyzes the terminal number superimposed on the laser beam.

  Step E9: The system controller 57 of the terminal transmitter 3C transmits a selective laser stop signal from the transmitter 51 together with the terminal number received from the portable receiving terminal 2C. At the same time, the user is notified that the uplink with the mobile receiving terminal 2C has been established, for example, by changing the lighting color of the visual light 63.

  Here, if there are a plurality of users in the radio wave reception range shown in FIG. 14 and irradiation of the index laser 69 of each portable receiving terminal 2C is started almost simultaneously for a download request, the system controller 70 of the terminal transmitter 3C One of the portable receiving terminals 2C is selected, and the terminal number and a selective laser stop signal are transmitted.

  Then, by changing the lighting color of the visual light 63, a plurality of users in the radio wave reception range are notified that an uplink with any one of the mobile reception terminals 2C has been established.

  Step E10: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C checks whether the receiving unit 65 has received the terminal number and the selective laser stop signal.

  Step E11: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C returns to Step E10 when the receiving unit 65 has not received the terminal number and the selective laser stop signal.

  Step E12: When receiving the terminal number and the selective laser stop signal at the receiving unit 65, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C separates the terminal number from the received signal, and the received terminal number is stored in the memory 71 or the like. Check if it is the same as the stored terminal number.

  Step E13: If the received terminal number is different from the terminal number of the own device, the process of step E14 is performed, and if it is the same, the process of step E19 is performed.

  Step E14: When the received terminal number is different from the terminal number of the own device, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C temporarily stops the emission of the index laser 69. At the same time, the mobile receiving terminal 2C displays on the display 74 or the like to notify the user that it has entered a standby state waiting for establishment of an uplink communication.

  Step E15: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C continues to count the standby period to be recorded in the period recording table 103 of the memory 71.

  Step E16: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C checks whether the user has released an operation button (not shown) that irradiates the index laser 69.

  Step E17: When the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C determines that the user has released an operation button (not shown) that irradiates the index laser 69, the process ends. Here, the timing of the waiting period is also stopped.

  Step E18: When the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C determines that the user keeps pressing an operation button (not shown) that irradiates the index laser 69, the system controller 70 maintains the standby state. In the standby state, the index laser 69 is re-emitted at a predetermined timing according to a random number or the like so as not to overlap with the re-emission timing of the index laser 69 of the other portable receiving terminal 2C.

  Step E19: When the received terminal number is the same as its own terminal number, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C notifies the user that the uplink has been established on the display 74 or the like.

  Step E20: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 2C stops the emission of the index laser 69.

  Step E21: The system controller 70 of the mobile receiving terminal 2C stops measuring the standby period to be recorded in the period recording table 103 of the memory 71. As a result, the period from the start of irradiation of the index laser 69 to the establishment of the uplink is recorded in the period recording table 103 of the memory 71.

  Step E22: The system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 70 checks with the trigger condition detection function 70c that the standby period recorded in the period record table 103 has achieved the target period defined in the period definition table 101.

  Step E23: When the target period is achieved, the process of step E24 is performed. When the target period is not achieved, the process of step E24 is skipped and the process of step E25 is performed.

  Step E24: When the standby period has reached the target period, the system controller 70 of the portable receiving terminal 70 notifies the terminal transmitter 3C via the uplink and achieves the achievement operation defined in the period definition table 101. The time operation activation function 70d and the achievement operation operation function 57a of the terminal transmitter 3C are activated in cooperation. In addition, the display 74 or the like is notified to the user that the achievement operation has started. Note that the achievement processing here is processing such as shortening the waiting time for five times from the next time.

  Step E25: Distribution of the corresponding content specified by the terminal number is performed between the terminal transmitter 3C and the portable receiving terminal 2C.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is suitable for realizing a system in which an unspecified number of users own content reception devices, install content transmission devices on the streets, etc., and can deliver a large amount of content in a short time.

It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the content delivery system of this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content delivery system of 1st Embodiment. It is an example of a period regulation table. It is an example of a period recording table. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structural example of a portable receiving terminal. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the structural example of a terminal transmitter. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a delivery process from a terminal transmitter to a portable receiving terminal. It is a flowchart which shows the example of a delivery process from a terminal transmitter to a portable receiving terminal. It is an example of a distribution permission terminal number table.

It is a flowchart which shows the 1st process example of delivery control according to the execution period of an event. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content delivery system of 2nd Embodiment. It is an example of a period recording table. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of a delivery control according to the execution period of an event. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd example of a delivery control according to the execution period of an event. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of the content delivery system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the content delivery system of 3rd Embodiment. It is a partially broken perspective view which shows the structural example of a terminal transmitter. It is a flowchart which shows the 3rd processing example of the delivery control according to the execution period of an event. It is a flowchart which shows the 3rd processing example of the delivery control according to the execution period of an event.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Content delivery system, 2 ... Portable receiving terminal, 3 ... End transmitter, 11 ... Light emission part, 12 ... Cache memory, 13 ... Bridge IC, 14 ... Serializer , 15 ... Laser diode, 16 ... Main memory, 17 ... System controller, 18 ... Memory, 19 ... External I / O, 20 ... Wireless communication unit, 21 ... Network communication unit, 22 ... detection switch, 24 ... display, 25 ... light receiving unit, 26 ... cache memory, 27 ... bridge IC, 28 ... deserializer, 29 ... photo detector, 30 ... System controller, 31 ... Memory, 32 ... External I / O, 33 ... Laser sensor, 34 ... Display, 35 ... Wireless communication unit, 36 ... Storage

Claims (32)

In a content distribution system for establishing a connection between communication means provided in a content transmission device and a content reception device and distributing content from the content transmission device to the content reception device,
Period accumulating means for detecting an event that occurs by use of the content receiving device and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation;
A content distribution system comprising: distribution management means for changing content distribution conditions according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulation means. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the content transmission device and the content reception device includes a notification unit that notifies a user of a distribution condition of the content changed by the distribution management unit. . A wearing detecting means for detecting whether or not the content receiving device is attached to the content transmitting device;
The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates the wearing period detected by the wearing detecting unit as the execution period information. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates connection trial periods of the content receiving apparatus with respect to the content transmitting apparatus as the execution period information. The content transmission device includes the period accumulating unit and the distribution management unit,
The period accumulating unit accumulates execution period information for each content receiving device,
The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution management unit changes a content distribution condition for the corresponding content receiving device according to the execution period information. The content receiving device includes the period accumulating unit and the distribution management unit,
The period accumulating means accumulates the execution period information in the content receiving device,
The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the distribution management unit changes a content distribution condition according to the execution period information. The content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the content transmission apparatus is notified of content distribution condition information changed by the distribution management unit. The period accumulating unit is provided in the content receiving device, and the distribution management unit is provided in the content transmitting device,
The period accumulating means accumulates the execution period information in the content receiving device,
The distribution management means acquires the execution period information from the content receiving device when the content transmitting device and the content receiving device are connected, and changes the distribution condition of the content to the content receiving device. The content distribution system according to claim 1. In a content distribution system for distributing content by communicating between a content transmission device and a content reception device,
Period accumulating means for detecting an event that occurs by use of the content receiving device and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation;
Distribution management means for changing content distribution conditions according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulation means;
First communication means for communicating from the content transmitting device to the content receiving device;
A content distribution system comprising: at least a second communication unit that performs communication from the content reception device to the content transmission device. The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the content transmission device and the content reception device includes a notification unit that notifies a user of a content distribution condition changed by the distribution management unit. . A wearing detecting means for detecting whether or not the content receiving device is attached to the content transmitting device;
The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates the wearing period detected by the wearing detecting unit as the execution period information. The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates connection trial periods of the content receiving device to the content transmitting device by the second communication unit as the execution period information. The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the first communication unit is an optical communication unit, and the second communication unit is a wireless communication unit. The optical communication means includes a pair of light emitting means and light receiving means, and optical coupling means for detachably coupling the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus by guiding the light emitting means and the light receiving means to a facing position. The content distribution system according to claim 13, further comprising: The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the first communication unit is a wireless communication unit, and the second communication unit is an optical communication unit. The content transmission device includes the period accumulating unit and the distribution management unit,
The period accumulating unit accumulates execution period information for each content receiving device,
The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the distribution management unit changes a content distribution condition for the corresponding content receiving device according to the execution period information. The content receiving device includes the period accumulating unit and the distribution management unit,
The period accumulating means accumulates the execution period information in the content receiving device,
The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the distribution management unit changes a content distribution condition according to the execution period information. 18. The content distribution system according to claim 17, wherein the content transmission condition information changed by the distribution management unit is notified from the second communication unit to the content transmission device. The period accumulating unit is provided in the content receiving device, and the distribution management unit is provided in the content transmitting device,
The period accumulating means accumulates the execution period information in the content receiving device,
The distribution management means acquires the execution period information from the content receiving apparatus by the second communication means when the content transmitting apparatus and the content receiving apparatus are connected, and sets the content distribution conditions for the corresponding content receiving apparatus. The content distribution system according to claim 9, wherein the content distribution system is changed. In a content transmission device that establishes a connection with a communication means provided in a content reception device and distributes the content to the content reception device.
Period accumulating means for detecting an event that occurs when the content receiving apparatus is used and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation for each content receiving apparatus;
A content transmission apparatus comprising: a distribution management unit that changes a distribution condition of content to the corresponding content receiving device according to the execution period information accumulated by the period accumulation unit. 21. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising notification means for notifying a user of content distribution conditions changed by the distribution management means. A wearing detection means for detecting whether or not the content receiving device is worn;
The content transmission apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates the wearing periods detected by the wearing detecting unit as the execution period information. In a content transmission device that establishes a connection with a communication means provided in a content reception device and distributes the content to the content reception device.
The period accumulating means provided in the content receiving apparatus detects the event that occurs when the content receiving apparatus is used and notifies the execution period information for each predetermined operation accumulated.
A content transmission apparatus comprising: a distribution management unit that changes a content distribution condition for the content receiving apparatus according to the notified execution period information. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising notification means for notifying a user of content distribution conditions changed by the distribution management means. The content transmission apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates connection trial periods of the content receiving apparatus as the execution period information. In the content receiving device that establishes a connection with the communication means provided in the content transmitting device and receives the distribution of the content from the content transmitting device,
A period accumulating means for detecting an event that occurs by using the own device and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation;
A content receiving apparatus comprising: period information notifying means for notifying the content transmitting apparatus of execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating means. 27. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates an operation period of the operation unit as the execution period information. In the content receiving device that establishes a connection with the communication means provided in the content transmitting device and receives the distribution of the content from the content transmitting device,
A period accumulating means for detecting an event that occurs by using the own device and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation;
A content receiving apparatus comprising: distribution management means for changing content distribution conditions in accordance with execution period information accumulated by the period accumulating means. 29. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the content transmission apparatus is notified of content distribution condition information changed by the distribution management means. The content receiving apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the period accumulating unit accumulates an operation period of the operating unit as the execution period information. In a content distribution method for establishing a connection between a content transmission device and a content reception device and distributing content from the content transmission device to the content reception device,
Detecting an event that occurs when the content receiving device is used, and accumulating execution period information for each predetermined operation,
A content distribution method, wherein content distribution conditions are changed according to the accumulated execution period information. The execution period information is accumulated in each content receiving device,
32. The content distribution method according to claim 31, wherein the execution period information is notified from the content reception device to the content transmission device when the content transmission device and the content reception device are connected.

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