JP2006129323A - Wireless network connection system and wireless network connection method - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve the convenience of content distribution by using a wireless LAN.
A regular usage right and a temporary usage right are granted to a mobile terminal. The regular use right permits the mobile terminal 10 to connect to the wireless LAN and communicate via the wireless LAN. The temporary use right is granted to the mobile terminal 10 together with a license necessary for content reproduction. The mobile terminal 10 requests the connection by transmitting the usage right granted by the wireless LAN α provider to the base station of the wireless LAN α. Connections using the temporary usage right are permitted within the range within the expiration date and within the range not exceeding the upper limit of the number of connections. The relay of communication by the base station 40 after connection with the temporary usage right is limited to, for example, acquisition of content that can be played back with a license set with the temporary usage right. By using the temporary use right, the range of wireless LAN options to which the mobile terminal 10 can be connected is expanded, and the degree of freedom of connection to the wireless LAN is increased.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for distributing content via a wireless network.

  In recent years, a large-capacity home data communication network called FTTH (Fiber To The Home) has become widespread. With the spread of such a broadband environment, services have been started to distribute various contents such as music, movies, and aired television programs. Since many of the distributed contents are protected by copyright, it is general that a DRM (Digital Rights Management) license is required to use the contents. The DRM license includes an encryption key for decrypting content encrypted under copyright protection. The DRM license may also include a condition for using the encryption key.

  On the other hand, the social broadband environment is also changing. For example, wireless LAN base stations are being installed in stores, stations, airports, hotels, and the like. Services that provide a function of connecting to the Internet via a base station are beginning to spread. From such a movement, it is expected that in the future, mobile terminals such as notebook personal computers, mobile phones, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistance) will receive content distribution services using wireless LAN.

Patent Document 1 describes a distributed content distribution system that distributes content to mobile terminals smoothly by distributing content using a wireless LAN network.
JP 2004-54792 A

  By the way, in order to connect to the Internet via a wireless LAN base station, the mobile terminal transmits a wireless LAN usage right to the base station. The wireless LAN usage right is represented by a MAC (Media Access Control) address or the like possessed by the wireless LAN card of the mobile terminal. The wireless LAN usage right may include a password as necessary.

  When transmitting the wireless LAN usage right from the mobile terminal to the base station, the base station verifies the received wireless LAN usage right. The base station permits connection of the mobile terminal based on the verification result. The mobile terminal permitted to connect accesses the content distribution server via the base station and downloads the content and the DRM license. Thereafter, the mobile terminal decrypts the content encrypted using the DRM license, and outputs the content to a display, a speaker, or the like. In the distributed content distribution system described in Patent Document 1 described above, access to the content distribution server and download of content are performed in the same procedure.

  Thus, a wireless LAN usage right is required for a mobile terminal to connect to a base station. This indicates that the user operating the mobile terminal must acquire a wireless LAN usage right by performing a registration procedure in advance for the wireless LAN to be used. For example, the user may register the MAC address of the wireless LAN card of the mobile terminal in advance in the wireless LAN. Further, for example, the user may acquire and store the SSID and ESSID from the wireless LAN to the mobile terminal.

  However, a base station that a user wants to use is not necessarily a base station that belongs to a wireless LAN that has been registered in advance. For example, even if the user registers as a user in the wireless LAN provided by the provider PA, there are cases where the user wants to use a wireless LAN base station provided by the provider PB. In such a case, the user cannot receive the content distribution service unless he / she newly registers with the wireless LAN.

  Then, for example, when the user is moving while listening to music as content, the following problems may occur. As the user moves, the base station accessed by the mobile terminal changes one after another. However, when the nearest base station belongs to a wireless LAN that has not acquired the right to use, the mobile terminal cannot connect to the optimal base station for communication. As a result, in the communication between the base station and the mobile terminal, data dropout occurs, which may cause sound interruption or noise.

  In the first place, since the mobile terminal is highly likely to be used while the user is moving, the need for a usage pattern in which content is distributed while connecting to the most suitable base station is expected to increase in the future. Then, if communication is possible only with a fixed combination of a wireless LAN registered in advance and a mobile terminal, there is a problem that the system for distributing contents is not flexible and the convenience for users is low.

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique for communicating smoothly via wireless LAN.

  It is another object of the present invention to increase the flexibility on the system when performing communication via a wireless LAN and to improve the convenience for the user.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention 1 provides a wireless network connection system for connecting an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution device to a base station of any wireless network. This system has the following means.
License storage means for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other ,
A use condition storage means for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right in association with each other;
A connection request means for reading a temporary usage right identifier from the license storage means and transmitting it to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
Determining means for determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the use condition of the temporary usage right identifier read by the connection requesting means;
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on the determination result of the determination means.

  The wireless network is, for example, a wireless LAN. Since it is possible to connect to a wireless LAN using a temporary usage right that is combined with content, the number of base stations that can be used by users increases. For example, when a mobile terminal receives content streaming while changing base stations one after another while moving, there is an advantage that the content can be reproduced smoothly. In this way, the degree of freedom for using the wireless LAN base station is increased, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

A second aspect of the present invention provides the license storage unit according to the first aspect, wherein at least a network identifier for identifying a wireless network is stored in association with the temporary use right identifier. Further, the connection request means requests the base station to transmit the network identifier,
The temporary usage right identifier is read out from the license storage unit using the network identifier acquired in response to the request as a key.

  There are cases where a plurality of combinations of different contents and temporary usage rights are stored in the mobile terminal. In this case, as a method for automatically determining which temporary usage right should be used, for example, the ID of the wireless LAN provider may be used. Since the temporary use right to be used is specified using the wireless LAN provider ID, it is possible to correctly determine which temporary use right should be used for which base station.

  In some cases, the mobile terminal stores a plurality of temporary use rights for the same wireless LAN provider ID. At this time, for example, the user can determine the right to use temporarily by selecting the content.

  A third aspect of the present invention relates to the second aspect, wherein at least one regular usage right identifier for identifying a regular usage right for connection to a wireless network is associated with a network identifier for identifying a wireless network connectable with the regular usage right. There is provided a wireless network connection system further including a regular usage right storage means for storing. In this system, the connection request means uses the network identifier acquired from the base station as a key, and either the temporary use right identifier or the regular use right identifier from the license storage means or the regular use right storage means. Is transmitted to the base station.

  When the user has a regular use right, the user can connect to the wireless LAN using the regular use right. When the user has only the temporary use right, the user can connect to the wireless LAN using the temporary use right. Since both the regular use right and the temporary use right can be used, the convenience of the user using the mobile terminal is improved. When both the regular usage right identifier and the temporary usage right identifier correspond to the same network ID, the regular usage right identifier is normally used preferentially.

Invention 4 is the invention 1, wherein
The usage condition storage means stores each temporary usage right identifier and its time limit in association with each other;
The determination unit provides a wireless network connection system that determines whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on a temporal restriction of the temporary usage right identifier.

  For example, by invalidating a temporary usage right after the expiration date, the wireless LAN provider gives a certain restriction to the use of the wireless LAN by a user who has not been granted a regular usage right. In addition, a condition may be set for the length of connection time due to the temporary use right. Such restrictions can ensure the safety of the wireless LAN. In addition, it is possible to prevent the communication band of the wireless LAN from being excessively crowded and to secure the communication band of a user having a regular usage right.

  A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the wireless network connection system according to the first aspect, wherein the usage condition storage unit stores each temporary usage right identifier and the remaining usable number of times in association with each other. The determination means determines whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the remaining usable number of times of the temporary usage right identifier.

  By setting a limit on the number of times the temporary usage right is used, the wireless LAN provider gives a certain limit to the use of the wireless LAN by a user who has not been granted a regular usage right. Thereby, the safety of the wireless LAN can be ensured. In addition, it is possible to prevent the communication band of the wireless LAN from being excessively crowded and to secure the communication band of a user having a regular usage right.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the wireless network connection system according to the first aspect, wherein the usage condition storage means stores each temporary usage right identifier and its access restriction in association with each other. The system further includes relay control means for restricting relay of communication between the information terminal and other network resources based on the access restriction of the temporary usage right identifier.

  For example, the relay control means can permit only access to content that can be decrypted with the DRM license that is set with the temporary use right. The relay control means can limit the access destination from the mobile terminal only to access to the portal site of the wireless LAN provider.

  The base station basically allocates communication bands to mobile terminals in the order of connection requests. However, the base station can also assign a communication band with higher priority to a mobile terminal having a regular usage right than to a mobile terminal having a temporary usage right.

A seventh aspect of the present invention provides the wireless network connection method according to the first aspect, further including the following means.
Monitoring means for monitoring signal strength of radio waves transmitted from the base station of the wireless network;
Access point determination means for determining which base station to connect to based on the signal strength of the radio wave and the presence / absence of a regular use right and / or temporary use right of the wireless network.

  In this system, the connection request means determines a temporary usage right identifier to be transmitted based on the determination of the access point.

  For example, it is assumed that the mobile terminal is within the range of two base stations and the two base stations belong to different wireless LANs. At this time, it is assumed that the wireless LAN of the base station having a weak signal level has a regular use right, but the wireless LAN of the base station having a strong signal level has only a temporary use right. In this case, the mobile terminal can determine, as an access point, a wireless LAN base station having a temporary use right. Further, the mobile terminal can change the usage right ID to be transmitted in the connection request according to the access point.

  Thus, by having the temporary use right, it is possible to connect to a base station that cannot be connected originally. This is preferable because it leads to smooth content distribution by wireless LAN, and the convenience of the user is enhanced.

Invention 8 provides a wireless network connection system according to Invention 1, further comprising the following means.
・ Issuance that stores an issuance history in which an identifier of a content distribution apparatus that distributes content that can be reproduced by a license specified by a license identifier associated with each temporary usage right identifier and each temporary usage right identifier is stored History storage means,
A usage history storage unit that stores a usage history including the temporary usage right identifier received from the mobile terminal when a connection is permitted by the determination unit;
A billing unit that calculates a billing amount for the content distribution apparatus based on the issuance history and the usage history.

  When a temporary usage right is used for content distribution, a wireless LAN provider can charge a content distribution company according to the usage history. Therefore, the wireless LAN provider can collect a consideration for temporary use. On the other hand, content distributors are expected to be able to distribute content smoothly by wireless LAN and increase the usage of content.

A ninth aspect of the invention provides a wireless network connection method for connecting an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution apparatus to any of the wireless networks. The method includes the following steps.
A license storage step of storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other; ,
A use condition storage step for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right in association with each other;
A connection request step for reading and transmitting the temporary usage right identifier stored in the license storage step to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
A determination step of determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on a use condition of the temporary usage right identifier read in the connection request step;
A connection step of connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on the determination result in the determination step.

  This method has the same effects as the first aspect.

A tenth aspect of the present invention provides an information terminal that acquires and plays back content from a content distribution apparatus by connecting to a base station of any wireless network. This information terminal has the following means.
License storage means for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other ,
A connection request means for reading a temporary usage right identifier from the license storage means and transmitting it to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on the determination result of the determination means.

  This information terminal corresponds to the information terminal in the wireless network connection system of aspect 1.

Invention 11 provides an information terminal according to Invention 10, further comprising the following means.
A use condition storage means for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right in association with each other;
A determination unit that determines whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on a use condition of the temporary usage right identifier read by the connection request unit.

  In the information terminal, the connection request unit requests connection based on the determination of the determination unit.

  When the usage condition is given to the information terminal rather than the base station, the information terminal judges whether or not the connection is possible. Thereby, the burden of a base station can be reduced.

A twelfth aspect of the present invention provides a base station of a wireless network that connects an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution apparatus to the wireless network. This base station has the following means.
License storage means for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other ,
Store at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network and usage conditions for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary usage right in association with each other. Usage condition storage means,
A connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request together with a temporary usage right identifier from the information terminal, and connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on a usage condition of the temporary usage right identifier received by the connection request receiving means. Judgment means for judging whether or not to do,
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on the determination result of the determination means.

  This base station corresponds to the base station in the wireless network connection system of aspect 1.

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention provides a license for content provided by a content distribution device that distributes content via a wireless network for acquiring and outputting the content. This license includes a content identifier for identifying the content, a condition for reproducing the content, a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted content, and temporary usage right information. The temporary use right information includes a temporary use right identifier that identifies a temporary use right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network, and a network identifier that identifies the wireless network.

  This license corresponds to a license with a temporary use right used in the wireless network connection system. When the content distributor distributes this license, the degree of freedom of use of the base station is widened in distributing contents via a wireless LAN, and smooth wireless communication becomes possible. This can be expected to increase the use of content and enhance wireless LAN facilities.

  By using the present invention, flexibility on a system that performs communication via a wireless LAN is increased, communication can be performed smoothly, and user convenience is improved.

<Outline of the invention>
In the present invention, the wireless LAN provider grants the user a regular usage right and a temporary usage right as usage rights to use the wireless LAN. The regular use right is granted to the user by itself, and permits the user to connect to the wireless LAN and communicate via the wireless LAN. The temporary use right is given to the user in a set together with a license necessary for reproducing the content distributed from the content distribution apparatus. This temporary use right is a use right for permitting the use of the wireless LAN only when content that can be played back is acquired with the corresponding license.

  An information terminal that wants to acquire and play a certain content transmits a usage right granted by a provider of the wireless LAN α to the base station of the wireless LAN α to request connection. Connections using the temporary usage right are permitted within the range within the expiration date and within the range not exceeding the upper limit of the number of connections. Further, the relay of communication by the base station after connection by the temporary use right is limited as compared with the communication by the regular use right. For example, it is limited only to the acquisition of content that can be played back with a license set with the temporary use right.

  The content license is a set with a plurality of temporary use rights a, b... Granted by the respective providers of wireless LANs α, β. Therefore, the information terminal requests connection using the temporary use right a when in the area of the base station of the wireless LAN α, and requests connection using the temporary use right b when in the area of the base station of the wireless LAN β. do it. In addition, when the wireless LAN base station has a regular usage right, the connection may be requested using the regular usage right.

The use of temporary usage rights expands the range of wireless LAN options that information terminals can connect to. Therefore, from the user's point of view, the usability of the wireless LAN is improved and the convenience is improved. Moreover, it is preferable from the viewpoint of the content distributor since the usage of the content is increased. Furthermore, it is preferable from the viewpoint of the wireless LAN provider because the utilization of the wireless LAN increases.

<First Embodiment>
[overall structure]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless network connection system 100 according to the first embodiment. In this example, a wireless LAN is used as a wireless network, and a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a PHS / PDA / notebook type PC is used as an information terminal. The wireless network connection system is configured by connecting at least one mobile terminal 10 and at least one wireless LAN 20a, 20b via a wireless LAN 30. Each wireless LAN 20 is configured by connecting a plurality of base stations 40 via a wired network (not shown) such as the Internet or an optical fiber.

  Each wireless LAN 20a, b has member tables 21a, b, usage right issuing means 22a, b, usage right management DBs (databases) 23a, b and history DBs 24a, b. These means and DB are provided in the wireless LAN control devices 41a and 41b to which the base station 40 can be connected, and are connected to the base station 40 through a network (not shown).

  The member tables 21a and 21b store users who have been granted regular usage rights (hereinafter referred to as wireless LAN members) and their authentication information. The authentication information is, for example, a password set by the member himself or information for specifying an information terminal used by the member. Each base station 40 downloads or refers to the member table 21 as necessary, and uses it for authentication of the regular use right of the mobile terminal 10.

  The usage right issuing means 22 issues a regular usage right and a temporary usage right, and stores the issued usage right in the history DB 24. The history DB 24 stores issuance history information (see FIG. 10A described later). The usage right issuing means 22 also issues usage conditions for temporary usage rights and stores them in the usage right management DB 23. Each base station 40 can be connected to the usage right management DB 23 and the history DB 24, and each base station downloads or references it at a predetermined timing.

  The wireless LAN 20 is connected to the content distribution server 60 and the DRM license server 70 via a wired network 50 such as the Internet or an optical fiber. The content distribution server 60 reads content from the content DB 61 and distributes it to the mobile terminal 10 via any one of the wireless LANs 20. Here, the content DB 61 stores content such as encrypted music data and video data.

  The DRM license server 70 generates a DRM license necessary for content reproduction and stores it in the DRM license DB 71. In addition, the DRM license server 70 requests the wireless LANs 20a and 20b for a temporary usage right to be associated with the DRM license, acquires it, stores it in the DRM license DB 71 in association with the DRM license. Further, the DRM license server 70 reads out the DRM license and the wireless LAN temporary use right from the DRM license DB 71 and distributes them to the mobile terminal 10 via any one of the wireless LANs 20. Details of the DRM license and the temporary usage right will be described later.

  Note that it is not always necessary to give the DRM license online. For example, the recording medium on which the DRM license is recorded may be mailed from the administrator of the DRM license server 70 to the user of the mobile terminal 10.

[mobile computer]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the mobile terminal 10. The mobile terminal 10 is broadly divided into (1) a wireless LAN connection function, (2) content acquisition / playback function, and (3) access point determination function.

(1) Connection function to wireless LAN (1-1) Connection function based on regular usage right The mobile terminal 10 has the following means for realizing a connection function based on a regular usage right.
(A) Regular usage right DB 101: Accumulate regular usage right information. Details of the regular usage right information will be described later.
(B) Usage right acquisition unit 102: Reads out the normal usage right information for connecting to the base station 40 to be connected, that is, the access point, from the normal usage right DB 101. The legitimate usage right information to be read is specified by a wireless LAN ID (described later) acquired by the connection unit 103.
(C) Connection means 103: Requests a wireless LAN ID for specifying a wireless LAN from the base station, and acquires it. In addition, a wireless LAN connection request message is transmitted to the access point to request connection to the wireless LAN 20.
(D) Communication level monitoring means 104: Monitors the communication level indicating the signal strength from the base station 40 based on the beacon packet from the base station 40 of any wireless LAN 20. Further, the communication level from the monitored base station 40 is written in the monitoring buffer.
(E) Wireless LAN communication interface (I / F) 106: Data is transmitted and received between the base station 40 of the wireless LAN 20 and the mobile terminal 10.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of regular usage right information. In the present embodiment, the regular usage right information includes a wireless LAN ID, a usage right ID, and a password. The reason why the wireless LAN ID is included is to specify which wireless LAN the regular usage right information is for. The usage right ID is an identifier for identifying a regular usage right and a temporary usage right for connection to the wireless LAN, and is unique in each wireless LAN. The password is an example of authentication information for authenticating the user of the mobile terminal 10.

  FIG. 4A is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a wireless LAN connection request message when the regular usage right is used. The wireless LAN connection request message includes a command ID, a mobile terminal ID, and regular usage right information. The command ID indicates that this message is a wireless LAN connection request message. In this example, the mobile terminal ID is the MAC address of the wireless LAN card stored in the buffer. The mobile terminal ID is used by the base station 40 as authentication information for authenticating the member of the wireless LAN together with the password in the regular usage right information. The regular usage right information is the same as that shown in FIG. The reason why the regular use right information is included in the wireless LAN connection request message is to perform authentication processing based on the regular use right information on the base station side.

(1-2) Connection Function with Temporary Usage Rights The mobile terminal 10 has the following means for realizing a connection function with temporary usage rights.
(A) License control unit 107: The license control unit 107 exists for each DRM license. Each license control unit 107 includes the following (b) to (e).
(B) License DB 108: Stores DRM license and temporary usage right information in association with each other. Details of the DRM license and the temporary usage right information will be described later.
(C) License acquisition means 109: A set of DRM licenses and temporary usage rights is acquired from the DRM license server 70 via the wireless LAN 20 and stored in the license DB 108.
(D) Temporary usage right extraction unit 110: Reads temporary usage right information including the wireless LAN ID acquired by the connection unit 103 from the license DB 108. The read temporary usage right information is transferred to the usage right acquisition means 102.
(E) Connection means 103: The wireless LAN ID is acquired from the base station 40. Further, a wireless LAN connection request message based on the temporary usage right information is transmitted to the access point, and a connection is requested to the wireless LAN 20. That is, when there is a regular usage right, the connection unit 103 generates a wireless LAN connection request message based on the regular usage right information. In addition, the connection unit 103 generates a wireless LAN connection request message based on the temporary use right information when only having the temporary use right. As described above, since both the regular usage right and the temporary usage right can be connected to the wireless LAN 20, the convenience of the user who uses the mobile terminal 10 is improved. When both the regular usage right information and the temporary usage right information including the same wireless LAN ID exist, the regular usage right information is usually used preferentially. This is because, as will be described later, there are many cases where a certain restriction is imposed on the use of the wireless LAN by the temporary use right information.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of license information stored in the license DB 108. The license information stores a DRM license and at least one temporary usage right information in association with each other. A DRM license may be associated with a plurality of temporary usage right information. This is because a plurality of wireless LANs 20 may issue temporary usage rights for common contents.

  The DRM license includes at least a license identifier that identifies the DRM license itself. In this example, a content ID is used as a license identifier. Furthermore, the DRM license preferably includes a content reproduction condition and a content decryption key. The content reproduction condition is a condition for reproducing the content specified by the content ID. For example, it is determined whether or not the content can be played based on the number of times that playback can be performed and the expiration date for playback. The content decryption key is information necessary for decrypting the encrypted content.

  The temporary usage right information includes a usage right ID for identifying the temporary usage right, a wireless LAN ID, and a password. In this example, both the temporary use right and the regular use right are identified by the use right ID. Of course, different IDs can be assigned to the temporary use right and the regular use right. The reason why the wireless LAN ID is included in the temporary usage right information is to determine which wireless LAN the temporary usage right is used for. By linking the wireless LAN and the temporary use right using the wireless LAN ID, it is possible to correctly determine which temporary use right should be used for which wireless LAN. The password is an example of authentication information for authenticating the user of the mobile terminal 10.

  In some cases, a mobile terminal stores a plurality of pieces of temporary use right information for the same wireless LAN ID. This occurs when the same wireless LAN issues temporary usage rights to different DRM licenses, and DRM licenses corresponding to the temporary usage rights are stored in the license DB 108. At this time, for example, by allowing the user to select content, the temporary use right to be used for connection can be determined.

  FIG. 4B is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a wireless LAN connection request message when a temporary use right is used. The wireless LAN connection request message includes a command ID, a mobile terminal ID, and temporary usage right information. The command ID indicates that this message is a wireless LAN connection request message, as in FIG. As the mobile terminal ID, the MAC address of the wireless LAN card is mentioned as described above. The mobile terminal ID is used in the base station 40 as authentication information for authenticating the member of the wireless LAN together with the password in the regular usage right information. The temporary use right information is the same as that shown in FIG. The reason why the temporary use right information is included in the wireless LAN connection request message is to perform an authentication process based on the temporary use right information on the base station side.

(2) Content Acquisition / Playback Function The mobile terminal 10 has the following functions for content acquisition / playback.
(A) Reproducibility determination unit 111: Based on the content reproduction condition of the DRM license, the mobile terminal 10 determines whether or not the content can be reproduced. If playback is possible, the content ID, which is the identifier of the DRM license, is notified to the decryption key acquisition means 112, and the decryption key is read out. When reproduction is impossible, the fact is notified to the input / output means 116 described later.
(B) Decryption key acquisition means 112: Reads the decryption key included in the designated DRM license from the license DB 108.
(C) Acquisition means 113: A content acquisition request message is transmitted to the content distribution server 60 via the base station 40, and the content is acquired. Details of the content acquisition request message will be described later.
(D) Decryption means 114: Decrypts the acquired content with the decryption key read from the license DB 108.
(E) Playback means 115: Processes the decrypted content based on the playback conditions.
(F) Input / output means 116: Accepts selection of content to be reproduced from the user. In addition, the reproduced content is output visually or as audio.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a content acquisition request message transmitted by the acquisition unit 113. This message includes a transfer request command to the content distribution server 60, a mobile terminal identifier, a content acquisition request command, and a content ID. As will be described later, the base station 40 refers to the head “transfer request command to the content distribution server 60” and controls packet relay.

(3) Access Point Determination Function The mobile terminal 10 has access point determination means for determining an access point that is a base station to be connected. The access point determination unit determines an access point based on the communication level monitored by the communication level monitoring unit 104, the presence / absence of the usage right, and the type of usage right.

  FIG. 7A is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a monitoring buffer to which writing has been added by the access point determination means. In the monitoring buffer, the communication level of the base station 20 monitored by the communication level monitoring unit 104 is written. In addition, whether or not the user has the right to use and the type of right to use is written for the wireless LAN to which each base station belongs.

  Referring to FIG. 7A, for example, the communication level from the base station of the wireless LAN (α, γ) 20 is strong, but the mobile terminal 10 has only a temporary use right. On the other hand, the communication level from the base station of the wireless LAN (β) 20 is medium, but the mobile terminal 10 has a regular usage right. In such a case, the access point determination means may prioritize the communication level and set the access point to the wireless LAN (α) or the wireless LAN (γ). Conversely, the access point determination means may prioritize the usage right and use the wireless LAN (β) having the regular usage right as the access point.

  Thus, by having a temporary use right, it is possible to connect to a wireless LAN (α) 20 or a wireless LAN (γ) 20 that cannot be connected originally. This is preferable because it leads to smooth content distribution by the wireless LAN 20 and increases the convenience for the user.

  By the way, the access point determination means stores a setting for determining the access point with priority given to the communication level or the usage right. This setting may be received from the user, or may be made in advance by the provider of the mobile terminal 10.

  FIG. 7B is an example of a setting screen output by the access point determination unit via the input / output unit 116. The access point determination means can accept the setting on this screen and can determine the access point according to the setting.

[base station]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the base station 40. The base station 40 roughly divides (1) connection / relay processing and (2) history management processing.

(1) Connection / Relay Processing The base station 40 includes the following means for connecting the mobile terminal 10 to a wireless LAN and controlling relay of communication between the mobile terminal 10 and external resources.
(A) Usage right management DB 401: Accumulate temporary usage rights and regular usage rights issued to members of the DRM license server 70 and the wireless LAN 20. The usage right management information stored in this database is acquired from the usage right management DB 23 of the wireless LAN control device 41 in the wireless LAN. Details of the usage right management information will be described later.
(B) Wireless LAN communication interface (I / F) 402: Data is transmitted and received between the mobile terminal 10 and the base station 40.
(C) Wireless LAN ID transmitting means 403: Transmits a wireless LAN to which the base station 40 itself belongs and a wireless LAN ID for specifying a wireless LAN provider in response to a request from the mobile terminal 10. The wireless LAN ID is stored in the wireless LAN ID buffer 404.
(D) Connection determination means 405: Refers to the usage right management DB 401 to determine whether or not to permit connection using the usage right ID included in the wireless LAN connection request message transmitted from the mobile terminal 10. Details of the determination method will be described later. Further, the connection determination unit 405 allocates a communication band to the mobile terminal 10 that has permitted the connection. The connection determination unit 405 basically allocates communication bands to the mobile terminals 10 in the order of connection requests. However, the connection determination unit 405 can also allocate a communication band with higher priority to the mobile terminal 10 having the regular use right than the mobile terminal 10 having the temporary use right.
(E) Relay control means 406: Controls access to resources on the Internet 50 from the mobile terminal 10 and acquisition of resources on the Internet 50 by the mobile terminal 10 based on temporary use right access conditions (described later). Details of the function of the relay control unit 406 will be described later.
(F) Communication interface (I / F) 410: Data is transmitted and received between the resources on the network 50 and the base station 40.

  FIG. 9 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of the usage right management information stored in the usage right management DB 401. The usage right management information stores at least a usage right ID and usage conditions of the usage right identified by the usage right ID in association with each other. This is because there is a difference in use restrictions of the wireless LAN between the regular use right and the temporary use right.

  In this example, the usage right management information includes a usage right ID, a password, and a usage condition in one record. In this example, an available period, available number of times, and access conditions are used as usage conditions. By setting the use conditions, the wireless LAN provider can make a difference in use of the wireless LAN between the mobile terminal 10 having the regular use right and the mobile terminal 10 having the temporary use right. In the present embodiment, the regular usage right is not restricted or only the usable period is restricted. On the other hand, in addition to the usable period, the number of usable times and access conditions are limited to the temporary use right.

The use restriction of the wireless LAN based on the use conditions will be described more specifically. In FIG. 9, the usage rights with the usage rights IDs “0002” and “0003” are set with restrictions on the number of usages and access conditions in addition to the usage period. The connection determination unit 405 does not permit a connection using a temporary usage right that has passed the usable period or a temporary usage right that has been used for zero. As a result, it is possible to give a certain restriction to the use of the wireless LAN by a user to whom the wireless LAN provider has not granted a regular usage right. In this example, an expiration date is set, but an upper limit may be set for the length of connection time by the temporary use right. Such restrictions can ensure the safety of the wireless LAN. In addition, it is possible to prevent the wireless LAN communication band from being excessively crowded, and to secure the communication band of a user having a regular usage right as necessary.

  The relay control unit 406 limits the relay of communication of the mobile terminal 10 based on the access conditions even after the mobile terminal 10 and the wireless LAN 20 are connected with the temporary use right. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the use of the wireless LAN by the temporary use right from deviating from the intended purpose.

  For example, in the example of FIG. 9, the use of the wireless LAN with the temporary usage right of the usage right ID “0002” is limited to the reception of content that can be decrypted with the DRM license that is set with the temporary usage right. Further, the relay control unit 406 limits the access destination from the mobile terminal 10 using the usage right “0003” to a specific site. An example of the specific site is a portal site of a wireless LAN provider. The access destination of the mobile terminal 10 is described in the head part “transfer request command to the content distribution server” of the content acquisition request message (see FIG. 6) transmitted from the mobile terminal 10. In addition, “content ID” is also described in this message. The relay control unit 406 refers to the head part and the content ID and determines whether to relay the packet from the mobile terminal 10 or the packet to the mobile terminal 10.

(2) History Management Processing The base station 40 has the following means for charging the content distributor according to the usage history of the temporary usage right.
(A) History DB 407: Stores usage right issuance history and usage right usage history. Details of the history DB 407 will be described later. The issuance history stored in this database is acquired from the history DB 24 of the wireless LAN control device 41 in the wireless LAN.
(B) History writing unit 408: Based on the connection permission of the connection determining unit 405, the ID of the usage right used for the wireless LAN connection is written in the history DB 407. Details of the writing of the usage right ID to the history DB 407 will be described later.
(C) Billing unit 409: Refers to the history DB 407 and calculates a billing amount to the content distributor for each predetermined period based on the usage history. Also, the usage history is cleared every time a predetermined period has elapsed.

  FIG. 10A is a conceptual explanatory diagram of issue history information accumulated in the history DB 407. The issue history information includes the usage right ID and the content distributor ID in one record. This issuance history information is synchronized with the issuance history information of the wireless LAN control device 41 at a predetermined timing. For example, the history writing unit 408 acquires the issue history information from the wireless LAN control device 41 at a predetermined time interval and replaces it with the issue history information in the history DB 407. The content distributor ID is the network address of the content distribution server 60 that distributes content that can be decrypted by the DRM license associated with the temporary usage right specified by the usage right ID.

FIG. 10B is a conceptual explanatory diagram of usage history information stored in the history DB 407. The usage history information includes the ID of the temporary usage right used for connection to the wireless LAN 20. In addition, the date and time of connection to the wireless LAN 20 and the length of connection time may be included. The usage history information is reset by the charging unit 409 every predetermined period. This is because the content distributor is charged every predetermined period. The billing unit 409 of each base station 40 calculates a billing amount corresponding to the number of temporary usage rights used within a predetermined period for each content distributor and transmits it to the wireless LAN control device 41. The wireless LAN control device 41 totals the billing amount for each content distributor and executes a billing process for each content distributor.

  The provider of the wireless LAN 20 can charge the content distributor according to the usage history when the right of temporary use is used for content distribution. Therefore, the wireless LAN provider can collect a consideration for temporary use. On the other hand, content distributors can expect smooth distribution of content through the wireless LAN 20 and increase the usage of content.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of determining whether or not a temporary usage right is used. This figure shows the contents that the connection determination means 405 writes in a buffer (not shown). In one record of the buffer, in addition to the same items as the usage information management DB, the mobile terminal ID is described. The connection determination unit 405 describes the ID of the mobile terminal 10 to which the communication band is allocated in a record corresponding to the usage right ID used by the mobile terminal 10. The history writing unit 408 monitors the writing of the mobile terminal ID to the buffer, and adds the usage right ID corresponding to the written mobile terminal ID to the usage history. As described above, the usage history including the ID of the usage right actually used for connection to the wireless LAN 20 can be generated.

[processing]
FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the flow of main processing performed by the mobile terminal 10 and the base station 40. First, main processing performed by the mobile terminal 10 will be described. This process can be broadly divided into (1-1) access point determination process, (1-2) connection request process, and (1-3) content acquisition process.

(1) Main processing of mobile terminal (1-1) Access point determination processing Step S101: The communication level monitoring means 104 monitors a signal from an arbitrary base station 40, and if the communication level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the base station It is determined that the station 40 has been entered. The communication level monitoring means 104 notifies the user via the input / output means 116 that the mobile station has entered the area of the base station.

  Step S102: The communication level monitoring means 104 determines whether or not an instruction to connect to the wireless LAN 20 has been input. When a connection instruction is input, the process proceeds to step S103. The communication level monitoring means 104 monitors the communication level and notifies whether it is in the area or not until a connection instruction is input even if it is within the area of the base station 40.

  Step S103: When a connection instruction is input, the access point determination means requests a wireless LAN ID from all the base stations 40 in which the mobile terminal 10 is located. In response to this, the wireless LAN ID transmission means 403 of the base station 40 transmits the wireless LAN ID stored in the buffer 404 to the mobile terminal 10.

Step S104: The access point determination means determines whether or not there is a usage right for each received wireless LAN ID. Specifically, the access point determination unit notifies the usage right acquisition unit 102 and the temporary usage right extraction unit 110 of the received wireless LAN ID. The usage right acquisition unit 102 extracts the regular usage right information including the wireless LAN ID from the regular usage right DB 101 and passes it to the access point determination unit. Similarly, the temporary usage right extraction unit 110 extracts temporary usage right information including the wireless LAN ID from the license DB 108 and passes it to the access point determination unit. The access point determination means is a usage right acquisition means 1
02 and the data shown in FIG. 7 are written in the monitoring buffer based on the data passed from the temporary usage right extraction unit 110. Further, the access point determination means determines whether or not there is a usage right for each wireless LAN ID based on the monitoring buffer.

  Step S105: When there is no right to use any of the received wireless LAN IDs, the access point determination means outputs a notification to that effect via the input / output means 116.

  Step S106: The access point determining means determines any of the base stations 40 belonging to the wireless LAN having the usage right as an access point. If there is a range of two base stations 40 belonging to the same wireless LAN, priority should be given to the one with the higher communication level. For base stations 40 belonging to different wireless LANs, which base station 40 is to be used as an access point is determined in consideration of the communication level and usage rights. This determination is made according to the setting of whether to prioritize the communication level or the usage right.

(1-2) Connection Request Processing Step S107: The connection unit 103 determines whether the mobile terminal 10 has a plurality of usage rights for the wireless LAN 20 to which the access point belongs. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may have both a regular usage right and a temporary usage right. For example, the mobile terminal 10 may have a plurality of temporary usage rights. Furthermore, a case where the mobile terminal 10 has a plurality of regular usage rights can be considered. If there is no usage right, the process proceeds to step S109 described later, and a wireless LAN connection message is transmitted to the base station 40 as an access point. If there are multiple usage rights, the process proceeds to step S108.

  Step S108: The connection unit 103 selects the right to use for the wireless LAN connection message. For example, when there is a regular usage right and a temporary usage right, the connection unit 103 generates a wireless LAN connection message using the regular usage right information. For example, when there are a plurality of temporary use rights and regular use rights, the connection unit 103 accepts content selection from the user, and uses the information on the temporary use right corresponding to the DRM license necessary for reproduction of the selected content. Generate a connection message.

  Step S109: The connection means 103 transmits the generated wireless LAN connection message to the base station 40.

  Steps S110 to S113: The connection unit 103 waits for a response to the wireless LAN connection message (S110), and receives a success response (S111), and outputs a connection success via the input / output unit 116 (S112). Conversely, when a failure response is received (S111), the connection unit 103 outputs the connection failure via the input / output unit 116 (S113).

(1-3) Content Acquisition Processing Step S114: When the connection to the wireless LAN 20 is successful, the acquisition unit 113 transmits a content acquisition request message to the base station 40. The content ID described in the content acquisition request message is determined as follows. When the acquisition unit 113 is connected to the wireless LAN 20 based on the temporary usage right information, the acquisition unit 113 extracts the content ID associated with the temporary usage right information from the license DB 108. When connected to the wireless LAN 20 based on the regular usage right information, the acquisition unit 113 can determine the content ID by receiving the selection of the content. When content is selected in step S108, it is not necessary to accept further content selection.

Step S115: The acquisition unit 113 receives content streaming from the content distribution server 60 via an access point or downloads a content file. Here, consider the case of downloading a content file.

  Step S116: The mobile terminal 10 executes a content reproduction subroutine to be described later, and reproduces and outputs the downloaded content.

(2) Main processing of base station Next, an example of the flow of main processing performed by the base station 40 will be described.

  Steps S201 to S202: Upon receiving a wireless LAN connection message from the mobile terminal 10, the connection determination unit 405 determines whether or not to permit connection (S201). Specifically, the connection determination unit 405 extracts the usage right ID included in this message, reads the usage conditions corresponding to the usage right ID from the usage right management DB 401, and determines whether or not the connection is possible based on the usage conditions. . When the connection is permitted, the process proceeds to step S203, and when the connection is not permitted, the connection failure is notified to the mobile terminal 10 (S202).

  Step S203: The connection determination means 405 writes the ID of the mobile terminal 10 that has permitted connection in the corresponding entry of the buffer shown in FIG. The mobile terminal ID can be acquired from the wireless LAN connection message. Further, the history writing means 408 adds the mobile terminal ID to the usage history of the history DB 407 in response to the writing of the mobile terminal ID to the buffer.

  Step S204: The connection determination unit 405 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of the connection success.

  Steps S205 and S206: When receiving the content acquisition request message, the relay control unit 406 determines whether to relay communication between the mobile terminal 10 and the content distribution server 60 (S205). Specifically, whether or not relaying is possible is determined based on the description in the content acquisition request message and the usage condition of the usage right ID used for connection of the mobile terminal 10. When the relay control unit 406 determines that relaying is not possible, the relay control unit 406 notifies the mobile terminal 10 of relay failure (S206).

  Step S207: The relay control unit 406 relays content data transmitted from the content distribution server 60 to the mobile terminal 10.

(3) Content Playback Subroutine FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of the content playback subroutine. When the process proceeds to step S116 in the main process of the mobile terminal 10, the following content reproduction subroutine is executed. In this process, the acquired content is decrypted and reproduced.

  Step S121: The decrypting means 114 determines whether or not the DRM license of the acquired content is in the license DB 108. This determination is made by searching the DRM license DB 108 using the content ID as a key. If there is a DRM license, the process proceeds to step S125 described later. If there is no DRM license, the process proceeds to step S122.

  Step S122: The license acquisition unit 109 transmits a license request including the content ID to the DRM license server 70, and stores the acquired license information in the license DB 108.

Step S123: The license acquisition unit 109 waits until a license is acquired (
S123), when acquired, the process proceeds to step S125. If it cannot be acquired due to a network failure or the like, the user is notified through the input / output means 116 that the content cannot be reproduced (S124).

  Step S125: The reproduction possibility determination unit 111 reads out the license reproduction condition from the license DB 108, and determines whether reproduction is possible. If reproduction is impossible, the user is notified that the content cannot be reproduced (S124). If reproduction is possible, the process proceeds to step S126.

  Steps S126 and S127: The decryption key acquisition unit 112 reads the content decryption key from the license DB 108 and decrypts the content.

  Step S127: The decryption means 114 reads the content decryption key from the license DB 108 and decrypts the encrypted content.

  Step S128: The reproduction means 115 reproduces and outputs the decrypted content to the input / output means 116.

[effect]
In this system, the user can connect to the wireless LAN using the temporary use right that is set together with the content, so that the number of available access points increases for the user. For example, when the mobile terminal receives content streaming while changing the access point one after another while moving, there is an advantage that the content can be reproduced smoothly. In this way, the degree of freedom for using the wireless LAN base station is increased, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

  Also, since the temporary use right to be used is specified using the wireless LAN ID, it is possible to correctly determine which temporary use right should be used for which base station.

  Furthermore, since the use of the wireless LAN with the temporary use right is restricted according to the use conditions, it is possible to prevent the security of the wireless LAN from being hindered.

  In addition, since the access point is determined based on both the communication level from the base station and the right to use, the flexibility of the connection form to the wireless LAN and the convenience of the user can be further enhanced.

<Other embodiments>
(A) In the first embodiment, the usage conditions associated with the usage rights are stored on the base station 40 side, but can also be stored on the mobile terminal 10 side. FIG. 14A shows the configuration of the regular usage right information in the regular usage right DB 101 of the mobile terminal 10 in that case. The usage conditions are included in the regular usage right information. FIG. 14B shows the configuration of license information in the license DB 108 of the mobile terminal 10 in that case. Usage conditions are included in the temporary usage right information.

  FIG. 15A shows the configuration of the usage right management information in the usage right management DB 23 of the wireless LAN control device 41 and the usage right management DB 401 of the base station 40. This configuration is a configuration in which usage conditions are excluded from the usage right management information shown in FIG. FIG. 15B is a conceptual explanatory diagram of a buffer for writing the mobile terminal ID for the usage right ID used by the connection determining unit 405.

When the mobile terminal 10 stores the usage conditions, the mobile terminal 10 determines whether or not connection is possible and whether or not relaying is possible. That is, the connection determination means 405 is provided on the mobile terminal 10 side,
Before transmitting the wireless LAN connection message, the validity of the usage right is determined. Further, the relay control unit 406 is provided on the mobile terminal 10 side, and before transmitting the content acquisition request message, it is determined whether the relay is in progress or not. Thereby, the burden of the base station 40 which transmits / receives data with many mobile terminals 10 can be reduced.

  (B) A program for executing the above method and a computer-readable recording medium recording the program are included in the scope of the present invention. Here, examples of the recording medium include a computer readable / writable flexible disk, hard disk, semiconductor memory, CD-ROM, DVD, magneto-optical disk (MO), and others. The programs include those stored in the recording medium and those that can be downloaded.

  The present invention is applicable to a wireless network and a mobile terminal connected to the wireless network.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a wireless network connection system according to a first embodiment. Block diagram showing functional configuration of mobile terminal Conceptual diagram of regular usage right information stored in the regular usage right DB (A) Conceptual explanatory diagram of a wireless LAN connection request message when a regular usage right is used (b) Conceptual explanatory diagram of a wireless LAN connection request message when a temporary usage right is used Conceptual illustration of license information stored in the license DB Conceptual illustration of content acquisition request message (A) Conceptual explanatory diagram of the monitoring buffer to which writing has been added by the access point determination means (b) An example of a setting screen output by the access point determination means via the input / output means Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the base station Conceptual diagram of usage right management information stored in the usage right management DB (A) Conceptual explanatory diagram of issuance history information accumulated in the history DB (b) Conceptual explanatory diagram of usage history information accumulated in the history DB Explanatory diagram showing how to determine whether or not temporary use rights are used Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the flow of the main process which a mobile terminal and a base station perform Flow chart showing an example of the flow of a content playback subroutine (A) In the wireless network connection system according to the second embodiment, a conceptual explanatory diagram of regular usage right information stored in the regular usage right DB in the mobile terminal. (B) In the wireless network connection system according to the second embodiment, Conceptual explanatory diagram of license information stored in the license DB in the mobile terminal (A) In the wireless network connection system according to the second embodiment, a conceptual explanatory diagram of the usage right management information stored in the usage right management DB in the base station. (B) In the wireless network connection system according to the second embodiment, the base Explanatory diagram showing how to determine whether or not the temporary use right is used at the station

Explanation of symbols

10: Mobile terminal 20: Wireless LAN
30: Wireless network 40: Base station 50: Wired network 60: Content distribution server 70: DRM license server

Claims (13)

A wireless network connection system for connecting an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution device to a base station of any wireless network,
A license storage unit for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other; ,
A use condition storage means for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right;
A connection requesting means for reading and transmitting a temporary usage right identifier from the license storage means to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
Determining means for determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the usage condition of the temporary usage right identifier read by the connection requesting means;
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on a determination result of the determination means;
A wireless network connection system comprising: The license storage means stores at least a network identifier for identifying a wireless network in association with the temporary usage right identifier,
The connection request unit requests the base station to transmit the network identifier, and reads the temporary usage right identifier from the license storage unit using the network identifier acquired in response to the request as a key. The wireless network connection system according to claim 1. Regular usage right storage means for storing at least one regular usage right identifier for identifying a regular usage right for connection to a wireless network and a network identifier for identifying a wireless network connectable with the regular usage right in association with each other Further including
The connection requesting unit reads either the temporary usage right identifier or the regular usage right identifier from the license storage unit or the regular usage right storage unit using the network identifier acquired from the base station as a key. The wireless network connection system according to claim 2, wherein the wireless network connection system transmits to a base station. The usage condition storage means stores each temporary usage right identifier and its time limit in association with each other,
The determination means determines whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on a temporal restriction of the temporary use right identifier;
The wireless network connection system according to claim 1, wherein: The usage condition storage means stores each temporary usage right identifier and the remaining usable number of times in association with each other,
The determination means determines whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the remaining usable number of times of the temporary usage right identifier.
The wireless network connection system according to claim 1, wherein: The usage condition storage means stores each temporary usage right identifier and its access restriction in association with each other,
Relay control means for restricting relay of communication between the information terminal and other network resources based on the access restriction of the temporary usage right identifier;
The wireless network connection system according to claim 1, wherein: Monitoring means for monitoring signal strength of radio waves transmitted from a base station of the wireless network;
Access point determination means for determining which base station to connect to based on the signal strength of the radio wave and the presence or absence of a regular use right and / or a temporary use right of a wireless network;
The wireless network connection system according to claim 1, wherein the connection request unit determines a temporary usage right identifier to be transmitted based on the determination of the access point. Issuance history storing an issuance history in which an identifier of a content distribution apparatus that distributes content that can be played back by a license specified by a license identifier associated with each temporary usage right identifier and each temporary usage right identifier is stored Storage means;
A usage history storage unit that stores a usage history including the temporary usage right identifier received from the mobile terminal when a connection is permitted by the determination unit;
Billing means for calculating a billing amount for the content distribution device based on the issuance history and the usage history;
The wireless network connection system according to claim 1, further comprising: A wireless network connection method for connecting an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution device to any of the wireless networks,
A license storage step of storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other; ,
A use condition storage step for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right;
A connection request step for reading and transmitting the temporary usage right identifier stored in the license storage step to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
A determination step of determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the use condition of the temporary usage right identifier read in the connection request step;
A connection step of connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on a determination result in the determination step;
A method for connecting to a wireless network, comprising: An information terminal that acquires and plays back content from a content distribution device by connecting to a base station of any wireless network,
A license storage unit for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other; ,
A connection requesting means for reading and transmitting a temporary usage right identifier from the license storage means to one of the base stations of the wireless network, and requesting a connection;
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on a determination result of the determination means;
Information terminal characterized by including. A use condition storage means for storing each temporary use right identifier and a use condition for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary use right;
Determination means for determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on a use condition of the temporary use right identifier read by the connection request means;
The information terminal according to claim 10, wherein the connection request unit requests connection based on the determination of the determination unit. A base station of a wireless network that connects an information terminal that acquires and reproduces content from a content distribution device to the wireless network,
A license storage unit for storing a license identifier for identifying a license for acquiring the content and at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network in association with each other; ,
Use in which at least one temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network and usage conditions for restricting connection to the wireless network by each temporary usage right are stored in association with each other Condition storage means;
A connection request receiving means for receiving a connection request together with a temporary usage right identifier from the information terminal;
Determining means for determining whether to connect the information terminal to the wireless network based on the usage condition of the temporary usage right identifier received by the connection request receiving means;
Connection means for connecting the information terminal to the wireless network based on a determination result of the determination means;
A base station of a wireless network, comprising: A content distribution apparatus for distributing content provides a content license provided via a wireless network for acquisition and output of the content,
A content identifier for identifying the content, a condition for reproducing the content, a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted content, and temporary usage right information,
The temporary usage right information is a content license including a temporary usage right identifier for identifying a temporary usage right for temporarily connecting to the wireless network and a network identifier for identifying the wireless network.

Images