JP2007164563A - Apparatus and system for providing digital content - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To smoothly perform purchase / billing / distribution processing for each user in a redistributable manner for each individual work.
A list of works stored in server apparatuses A to C is prepared in a storage means 120 as a content table TC, and presented to a terminal device 10 of a user U1 by a presentation means 130. When the user selects a desired work to be purchased from the list, the purchase processing means 160 records the code of the purchased work in the user's personal table TU1, and performs a charging process. The presentation unit 170 refers to the personal table TU1 and presents the purchased work list of the user U1 to the terminal device 10. When the user selects a desired work from this list, the enabling means 150 obtains the storage address of the work from the content table TC and transmits it to the terminal device 10. The terminal device 10 receives data distribution of the desired work from the server devices A to C using this storage address.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for providing digital content to individual users using a network.

  With the spread of the Internet, a method of providing digital users such as text data, music data, and video data to individual users by distributing them via a network has become common. For this reason, the distribution business of digital contents, which has taken the form of selling physical media such as CDs and DVDs in stores and virtual malls, is gradually beginning to shift to a form of provision using a network. The digital content providing form using the currently used network includes streaming distribution that reproduces content data in real time while sequentially transferring the content data from the server device to the user terminal device, and the entire content data from the server device to the user. This is broadly divided into download distribution in which data is transferred to a terminal device and stored, and then played back. Both of these distribution forms are widely used on a business basis, although there is a slight difference in charge forms.

In addition, there are various methods for selling such digital contents, and a new apparatus for transacting contents using a network has been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a transaction apparatus that smoothly performs a content transaction via a network by mediating between a seller and a buyer of digital content. Patent Document 2 discloses a digital content distribution apparatus that recruits a plurality of purchase applicants, realizes joint purchase of digital content, and distributes the same.
JP 2004-178444 A JP 2005-222334 A

  Distributing and selling digital content over a network significantly reduces distribution costs compared to selling physical media such as CDs and DVDs because physical inventory does not need to be managed. There is a merit that can be made. However, when distributing using a network, a physical medium is not required in the distribution process, but the data constituting the digital content is stored in a physical medium (for example, a hard disk) in any location. Aside from this, it is necessary to distribute this upon request. For example, in the case of taking the form of streaming distribution, it is necessary to store data in a server device serving as a distribution source and distribute it every time the user uses it. In addition, when taking the form of download distribution, if distribution is performed only once, redistribution is not required as long as it is stored on the user's terminal device side, but in the case of content with a large data capacity such as movie content, In order to make effective use of the limited storage capacity on the terminal device side, there are not a few usage modes in which data is erased after content reproduction and downloaded from the server device each time it is used.

  Under these circumstances, the process of requesting content data from the terminal device on the user side to the server device via the network is frequently performed, whether in the form of streaming distribution or download distribution. Each time, the content data needs to be redistributed from the server device to the user terminal device. In addition, in the case of music content, movie content, etc., the business entity that manages the copyright is different for each work, so the content data itself is distributed and managed on each server device managed by various business entities. There are many. For this reason, in the conventional system, it has been difficult to perform purchase / billing / distribution processing in a redistributable manner for each individual work for each user.

  Therefore, the present invention realizes a digital content providing apparatus and system capable of smoothly performing purchase / billing / distribution processing for each user in a redistributable manner for each work. The purpose is to do.

(1) According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital content providing apparatus that provides digital content stored in a predetermined server device to a terminal device of a user who purchased the usage right via a network.
Content table storage means for storing a content table that associates a content code for specifying the content, a work name of the content, and address data indicating a storage location of the actual data of the content for each digital content When,
Content data registration means for registering information in the content table;
User personal table storage means for storing a user personal table for recording the content code of the purchased digital content for each individual user;
A work list list presenting means for presenting a work list showing work names stored in the content table to the user's terminal device via the network in response to access from the user;
Purchase processing means for recording the content code of the desired purchase content in the user personal table of the user when the user inputs via the terminal device designating the desired purchase content in the presented work list. ,
In response to access from a user, a work list of digital contents specified by the content code recorded in the user personal table for the user is extracted from the content table, and a purchased work list is provided that lists the extracted work names. , A purchased work list presentation means for presenting to a user terminal device via a network;
When a user performs an input designating desired content in the presented purchased work list via the terminal device, the terminal device can access the server device in which the desired content is stored. Content enabling means for recognizing address data about the content desired to be used by referring to the content table, and transmitting the recognized address data to the user terminal device;
Is provided.

(2) According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first aspect described above,
The purchase processing means performs a charging process for the user for the purchase consideration of the right to use the content desired to be purchased designated by the user.

(3) According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the second aspect described above,
The content table storage means has a function of storing a content table including a usage price for each digital content,
The work list list presentation means has a function of presenting a work list including the usage price together with the work name for each digital content,
The purchase processing means has a function of performing billing processing with reference to the usage price in the content table.

(4) According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to third aspects described above,
The work list list presenting means and the purchased work list presenting means have a function of presenting a list only for authenticated access by a predetermined method.

(5) According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the fourth aspect described above,
The user personal table storage means has a function of storing a user personal table including an account code and a password for each user,
The work list list presenting means and the purchased work list presenting means have a function of presenting a list only for authenticated access using a regular account code and password included in the user personal table. It is.

(6) According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to fifth aspects described above,
The user personal table storage means has a function of recording each content code by classifying it into a plurality of groups in the user personal table based on a user instruction,
The purchased work list presenting means has a function of classifying each group and presenting the list.

(7) According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to sixth aspects described above,
The content table storage means has a function of storing a content table including address data indicating the plurality of storage locations for digital content in which actual data is stored in the plurality of storage locations,
The content enabling means has a function of transmitting to the terminal device address data indicating the storage location closest to the user from the terminal device.

(8) According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to seventh aspects described above,
The work list list presenting means has a function of presenting the work list on the web page by transmitting the web page data to the user terminal device,
The purchase processing means has a function of recognizing the click operation of the user who designates a specific work name on the work list on the Web page as a designation input of purchase desired content.

(9) According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to eighth aspects described above,
The purchased work list presenting means has a function of presenting a purchased work list for the user on the web page dedicated to the user by transmitting the web page data to the terminal device of the user,
The content enabling means has a function of recognizing a user's click operation for designating a specific work name on the purchased work list on the Web page as a designation input of desired use content.

  (10) According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to ninth aspects is configured by incorporating a dedicated program in a computer.

  (11) According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the digital content providing apparatus according to the first to ninth aspects described above and the digital content to be provided by the providing apparatus are stored and transmitted from the providing apparatus. A digital content providing system by a server device that distributes digital content in which actual data is stored in a storage location indicated by the address data to a terminal device that has been accessed using the address data It is configured.

(12) According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing system according to the eleventh aspect described above,
The server device performs streaming distribution of the desired content to the terminal device.

(13) According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing system according to the eleventh aspect described above,
The server device downloads and distributes content desired to be used to the terminal device.

(14) According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing system according to the above eleventh to thirteenth aspects,
The content enabling means in the providing device has a function of transmitting a predetermined authentication code to the user's terminal device together with address data about the desired content.
The server device distributes the digital content only to the terminal device that has made access with the authentication code.

(15) According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the digital content providing system according to the above-described eleventh to fourteenth aspects,
The purchase processing means in the providing device pays a price including a content usage fee that should be paid to the entity that manages and operates the server device, and a management fee that should be paid to the entity that manages and operates the providing device. The user is charged.

  According to the digital content providing apparatus and the providing system of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly perform purchase / billing / distribution processing in a redistributable manner for each individual work for each user. become.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a digital content providing system according to a basic embodiment of the present invention. A portion surrounded by a one-dot chain line in the figure is the digital content providing apparatus 100 according to the present invention, and the server apparatus A, B, C added to the providing apparatus 100 is the digital content according to the present invention. It becomes a providing system.

  The server apparatuses A, B, and C store digital content data to be provided. The digital content handled by this system is various, such as text data, music data, and video data, and any data can be used as long as it can be distributed to a user via a network. In the embodiment shown here, since the Internet is used as the network 200, the server apparatuses A, B, and C may be installed anywhere in an environment accessible from the Internet. Of course, here, for convenience of explanation, a simple example in which three server apparatuses A, B, and C are installed is shown, but in practice, a larger number of server apparatuses can be provided.

  The terminal devices 10 and 20 connected to the network 200 are terminal devices used by the users U1 and U2, respectively. In this example, since the network 200 is the Internet, the terminal devices 10 and 20 are any devices such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a PDA as long as they have a function capable of connecting to the Internet. It doesn't matter. In the case of the embodiment shown here, the user can purchase the right to use the desired digital content by receiving an operation input on the Web page and receive the provision thereof. It is only necessary to have a general Web browsing function. Here, for convenience of explanation, a state in which two users are accessing the network 200 using the terminal devices 10 and 20, respectively, is shown. It is possible to use this providing system.

  The digital content providing apparatus 100 is an apparatus having a function of providing the digital content stored in each of the server apparatuses A, B, and C to the terminal device of the user who purchased the usage right via the network 200. . The providing apparatus 100 is actually realized by one or a plurality of server computers connected to the network 200. Here, focusing on the function, a plurality of configurations shown by blocks in the figure are provided. It will be understood as a collection of elements. Actually, the functions of these individual components are realized by incorporating a dedicated program into the server computer.

  As shown in the figure, the digital content providing apparatus 100 includes a content data registration unit 110, a content table storage unit 120, a work list list presentation unit 130, a user personal table storage unit 140, a content availability unit 150, a purchase processing unit 160, The purchased work list presenting means 170 is configured.

  For each digital content stored in each of the server devices A, B, and C, the content table storage unit 120 includes a content code for identifying the content, a work name of the content, and actual data of the content. The content data registration unit 110 has a function of storing a content table TC that associates address data indicating a storage location with a usage price of the content, and the content data registration unit 110 registers information in the content table TC. It is a component for performing.

  An example of the content table TC is shown in FIG. The illustrated content table TC is shown in a table format, and a content code, a work name, address data, and a usage price for one digital content are associated with one row. For example, in the first line, there is information that the address data is “ADRS-A101” and the usage price is “150 yen” for the work “For Elise” with the content code “A001”. It is registered. The content code may be any code as long as it can specify individual digital contents. For example, not only the file name and data name of the content itself, but also the content storage location address may be used as the content code. In the example shown in the figure, any work having a code beginning with A is a music content in which real data is stored in the server apparatus A, and any work having a code beginning with B has real data in the server apparatus B. Stored movie content.

  The address data in the content table TC indicates the storage location of the actual data of the work, and the access to the actual data is enabled by this address data. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing actual data of each work stored in each server device corresponding to the content table TC shown in FIG. In the server apparatus A, music data such as “For Elise”, “Turkish March”, and “Swan Lake” are stored at locations specified by respective predetermined addresses. The movie data such as “Roman holiday” and “Gone with the wind” are stored at locations specified by respective predetermined addresses. Here, for convenience of explanation, an example of address data such as “ADRS-A101” is used. However, when the Internet is used as the network 200, the address data includes a URL indicating the storage location of each content data. It is preferable to use it.

  On the other hand, the usage price in the content table TC indicates a price for obtaining the right to use the work, and corresponds to the amount paid when the user purchases the right to use the work. In this example, only one usage price is set for one work. However, for example, it is possible to set different pricing for the usage fee by streaming distribution and the usage fee by download distribution. It is also possible to set different prices for each period. Further, when the same fee is set, it is not necessary to set a usage fee for each work in the content table TC.

  An administrator of this system can perform an operation of registering information from the content data registration unit 110 to the content table TC as necessary. This registration work includes not only the work of registering new works but also the work of updating existing data. Therefore, when the storage location of the content data of a registered work is moved or the usage price is changed, the administrator operates the content data registration unit 110 to update the content table TC. be able to.

  The user personal table storage means 140 is a component having a function of storing a user personal table. The figure shows a state in which personal tables TU1, TU2, TU3, and TU4 for users U1, U2, U3, and U4 are stored. The main purpose of this user personal table is to record the content code of digital content purchased for each individual user. In the case of the embodiment shown here, the function of storing personal information of individual users together Is given.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the personal table TU1 of the user U1. In this example, an individual such as an account code “XYZ0001”, a password “PATENT”, a name “Patent Taro”, an address “Minato-ku Tokyo”, and an email address “tokkyo@xxx.co.jp” for the user U1. Information and content code for digital content that user U1 has purchased so far (in this case, the code recorded in the “purchased work” column divided into two groups, a music part and a movie part) ) And billing information (in this example, the amount recorded for each date in the “billing information” column) is recorded. In this example, the information recording in the “purchased work” column and the “billing information” column is executed by the purchase processing means 160 as will be described later, but the personal information of the user U1 is not shown in the user registration. A means may be provided separately so that the user can input when performing new registration.

  For example, a web server (not shown) is provided separately, and a portal web page as shown in FIG. 5 is presented from this web server to users who use this system. It is preferable that one of the three selections of “2. Presentation of work list” and “3. Display of purchased work list” is selected by a click operation. The user accesses the portal Web page shown in FIG. 5 by using the Web browser function of the terminal device, and performs an operation of clicking one of the selection branches. A new user who has not performed user registration first clicks “1. New user registration” to perform registration. When “1. New user registration” is clicked, a web page for user registration is displayed, and the user's personal information is input here, and a personal table as shown in FIG. 4 is created (at this time) The “purchased work” column and the “billing information” column are blank), and these may be stored in the user personal table storage means 140.

  Of course, the user's personal information can be diverted from another system. For example, if the system according to the present invention is operated in cooperation with a credit card company or the like, personal information already owned by the credit card company is used as it is, and a personal table for each user is automatically created. It is possible to create. In this case, the user does not need to perform a new registration operation by clicking “1. New user registration” and inputting personal information, and the user uses the account code and password used at the credit card company as they are. This system can be used.

  On the other hand, in the portal Web page shown in FIG. 5, when the user clicks “2. Display work list list”, the work list list presenting means 130 is accessed, and the work list list is presented as described later. Is called. The user can perform a procedure for newly purchasing a desired item from the work list. When the user clicks on “3. Presented purchased work list”, the purchased work list presenting means 170 is accessed, and the purchased work list is presented as described later. The user can use (browse) a desired one from the purchased work list.

  Of course, in this system, it is not essential to prepare a portal Web page as shown in FIG. If the user can directly access the work list list presenting means 130 and the purchased work list presenting means 170 when necessary using the terminal device, the access is not necessarily made via the portal Web page as shown in FIG. There is no need to do it. However, practically, if a portal Web page as shown in FIG. 5 is prepared, it is convenient because the user can perform all procedures related to the system simply by accessing the portal Web page. . Therefore, the following description will be made on the assumption that the user accesses this system via the portal Web page.

  Now, it is assumed that the user U1 who has completed user registration clicks “2. Display work list” on the portal Web page of FIG. Then, access to the work list list presenting means 130 is performed from the terminal device 10 of the user U1. The work list list presenting means 130 presents a work list showing the work names stored in the content table TC to the terminal device 10 of the user U1 via the network 200 in response to such access from the user. Execute the process. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the work list L1 presented in this way. The user U1 can browse the list L1 on the screen of the terminal device 10. If the work list display means 130 transmits the list L1 as Web page data, the user U1 can browse the list L1 using the Web browser function of the terminal device 10.

  However, in practice, since a large number of digital content works are stored in the content table TC, it is difficult to present the contents of the entire list on one screen of the terminal device 10. Therefore, for practical use, it is preferable to store individual works by genre in the content table TC and present the work names of the corresponding works for each genre designated by the user U1. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the title of each genre is displayed in the left window divided into a music part and a movie part, and only works corresponding to the genre selected by the user U1 are displayed. The list is displayed in the right window. The illustrated example shows a state when the user U1 clicks the genre “classic”. Of course, the genre can be further divided into multiple hierarchies, or it can be divided into genres such as composers and directors. Further, if necessary, a search function using a character string may be added.

  The user U1 can purchase a desired work from the work list L1. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the usage price is displayed together with the work name for each work. Both are information stored in the content table TC. In addition, a “Purchase” button is arranged beside each work name, and the user U1 clicks the “Purchase” button beside the work name to be purchased to indicate that the work is desired to be purchased. Instruction input can be performed. “Purchase” of the work here means “purchase” of the right to use the work, and the work for which the usage right has been purchased is used in the form of streaming distribution or download distribution as described later. It becomes possible to do.

  When the user U1 inputs via the terminal device 10 designating the content desired to be purchased in the work list list L1, the purchase processing unit 160 assigns the content code of the content desired to purchase to the individual user of the user U1. It has a function of recording in the table TU1 and performing charging processing for the user U1. For example, if the user U1 clicks the “Purchase” button next to the work name “For Elise” on the work list L1 shown in FIG. It is given as a specified input for the content you want to purchase.

  As described above, when the work list list presenting means 130 sends the web page data to the terminal device 10 of the user U1 to present the work list list L1 on the web page, the purchase processing means 160 is provided. Can recognize the click operation of the user U1 who designates a specific work name on the work list list L1 of this Web page as a designation input of the content desired to purchase.

  The purchase processing means 160 recognizes the content code “A001” of the purchase desired content designated by the user U1 by making an inquiry to the work list listing presentation means 130 (or by directly making an inquiry to the content table TC). Also, based on the information given from the terminal device 10, the account “XYZ0001” of the user U1 is recognized. Then, the content code “A001” is recorded in the personal table TU1 of the user U1 stored as a table corresponding to the account “XYZ0001” in the user personal table storage means 140. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the content code “A001” is written in the “purchased work” column. The example shown in FIG. 4 shows a state in which three content codes “A001”, “A003”, and “B002” have already been written. This is because the user U1 already has three works “for Elise”. "", "Swan Lake" and "Gone with the Wind" have been purchased.

  Further, the purchase processing means 160 executes a charging process for the user U1 along with the writing of the content code in the personal table TU1 of the user U1. As in the above example, when the user U1 purchases “For Elise”, the purchase processing means 160 makes an inquiry to the work list list presentation means 130 (or directly inquires the content table TC). Accordingly, the usage price “150 yen” of the content desired to be purchased designated by the user U1 is recognized, and the user U1 is charged for 150 yen. This billing process may be, for example, a process of accounting for 150 yen for a server device of a credit card company not shown, or based on the prepaid card information presented by the user U1. It may be a process of subtracting 150 yen from the amount.

  Further, in the embodiment described here, the purchase processing means 160 executes a process of writing the purchase date and the purchase price in the “billing information” column of the personal table TU1 of the user U1 shown in FIG. The information written here indicates the purchase history of the user U1, and can be used in various forms as necessary.

  Next, consider a case where the user U1 clicks on “3. Present purchased item list” on the portal Web page of FIG. In this case, the purchased work list presenting means 170 is accessed from the terminal device 10 of the user U1. The purchased work list presenting means 170 responds to the access from the user U1 with the content code (in the case of the example shown in FIG. 4, "purchased work" recorded in the user personal table TU1 for the user U1). The work name of the digital content specified by the code described in the column) is extracted from the content table TC, and the purchased work list listing the extracted work names is presented to the terminal device 10 of the user U1 via the network. Execute the process. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the purchased work list L2 presented in this way. The user U1 can browse this list L2 on the screen of the terminal device 10. If the purchased work list presentation means 170 transmits the list L2 as Web page data, the user U1 can browse the list L2 using the Web browser function of the terminal device 10.

  Also in this case, as the number of purchased works increases, it is difficult to present the contents of the entire list of purchased works on one screen of the terminal device 10. Therefore, in practice, it is preferable to present each genre or add a search function using a character string, in the same way as the method of presenting the work list L1 described above.

  The role of the purchased work list L2 is to allow the user to confirm the purchased work and to input a usage instruction for a desired work among the purchased works. In the case of the list L2 shown in FIG. 7, a “use” button is arranged beside each work name, and the user U1 clicks the “use” button beside the work name that the user wants to use. It is possible to input an instruction indicating that the user wishes to use.

  When the user U1 inputs via the terminal device 10 designating the content desired to be used in the purchased work list L2, the content enabling means 150 stores the content desired to be used by the terminal device 10. By referring to the content table TC so that the server device can be accessed, the address data for the desired use content is recognized, and the recognized address data is transmitted to the terminal device 10 of the user U1. For example, if the user U1 clicks the “use” button next to the work name “For Elise” on the purchased work list L2 shown in FIG. 7, the click operation makes the content available. It is given to the means 150 as a designation input of the desired content.

  As described above, the purchased work list presentation unit 170 presents the purchased work list L2 for the user U1 on the Web page dedicated to the user U1 by transmitting the web page data to the terminal device 10 of the user U1. In the case of doing so (for example, FIG. 7), the content enabling means 150 inputs the user's click operation that designates a specific work name on the purchased work list L2 of this Web page by specifying the use desired content. Can be recognized.

  By making an inquiry to the purchased work list presentation means 170 (or by directly making an inquiry to the content table TC), the content enabling means 150 makes an address data “ADRS-A101 specified by the user U1. Is transmitted to the terminal device 10. When the terminal device 10 accesses the location specified by the address data “ADRS-A101”, the actual data of the work “For Elise” can be accessed, and the work can be used. Since the right to use the work has already been purchased, there is no need to perform a billing process at the time of use.

  As described above, the use of digital contents can be performed in a streaming distribution form (a form in which content data is reproduced in real time while being sequentially transferred from a server apparatus to a user terminal apparatus), or a download distribution form. (The whole content data is transferred from the server device to the user's terminal device and saved, and then played back). What form should be used for distribution may be determined in advance. When each server device A, B, C receives an access designating a specific address from the user's terminal device, the digital content existing in the storage location indicated by the designated address in a predetermined format determined in advance. The actual data is distributed to the user terminal device. Of course, it is also possible to deliver in a form designated by the user from a plurality of delivery forms. Also, the use of digital content in the present system is not necessarily limited to a streaming distribution form or a download distribution form. For example, it is possible not only to use the distributed digital content in a browsing format, but also to allow the user to make secondary use such as processing and diverting it to a printed matter or a web page. .

  The digital content providing system according to the basic embodiment of the present invention has been described based on the block diagram of FIG. According to this system, it is possible to smoothly perform purchase / billing / distribution processing for individual works in a redistributable manner for each individual user. The user can purchase at any time by performing an operation of designating the right to use an arbitrary work listed in the work list L1 as shown in FIG. 6 on the list. The purchased work can be confirmed at any time in the form of the purchased work list L2 as shown in FIG. In addition, it is possible to receive distribution of the specific work at any time by simply performing an operation of designating the specific work on the purchased work list L2 as shown in FIG.

  Usually, the storage location of digital content data stored in each of the server apparatuses A, B, and C is often changed due to various circumstances. In the system according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to store the storage location of the purchased digital content in the terminal device of each user, even if the storage location of the digital content is changed, There is no inconvenience. Of course, when the storage location of each digital content is changed, the administrator of this system needs to operate the content data registration unit 110 to perform processing for changing the address data in the content table TC. However, as long as the administrator performs such changes without delay, there will be no inconvenience for the user to use the purchased digital content, and the user will distribute the purchased digital content. You can receive as many times as you like.

  In the future, it is expected that the environment for accessing the Internet will become more and more enriched, and usage forms that receive content distribution via mobile phones and content distribution via in-car facilities will also become common. It seems to be. Moreover, the use of digital contents with relatively large data capacity, such as movies, is expected to increase. In the system according to the present invention, once the content has been purchased, it can be received any number of times, so there is no need to store data on the terminal device side of the user. Ideal operation becomes possible.

  Finally, some modifications to the system according to the basic embodiment described above will be described.

  (1) In the above-described embodiment, a process for performing user authentication when there is an access from the user terminal device to the providing device 100 is not described. However, in practice, in order to eliminate unauthorized access, It is preferable to perform authentication. Specifically, for example, when the terminal device 10 of the user U1 accesses the work list list presenting means 130 or when there is an access to the purchased work list presenting means 170, an account code and a password are input. As requested, the work list list presenting means 130 or the purchased work list presenting means 170 searches each user personal table in the user personal table storage means 140, and the account code and password associated with the access are genuine. It is only necessary to present the list only for access by authorized account code and password and authenticated access.

  Of course, the authentication method is not limited to a method using an account code and a password, and may be a biometric authentication method using a fingerprint or a vein, or a number unique to a terminal device used by the user (for example, An authentication method using a serial number embedded in each device at the time of manufacture may be used, and other authentication methods may be used.

  In the case of accessing the work list list presenting means 130 or the purchased work list presenting means 170 via the portal web page as shown in FIG. If the user authentication is executed, the authentication at the time of access to the work list list presenting means 130 or access to the purchased work list presenting means 170 can be omitted.

  (2) In the personal table TU1 shown in FIG. 4, the "Purchase work" column is divided into two groups, "Music part" and "Movie part", and the contents code is recorded for each group. However, this grouping may be arbitrarily performed based on a user instruction. That is, if the user personal table storage means 140 has a function of recording each content code in a plurality of groups in the user personal table based on the user's instruction, the user personal table storage means 140 can be set to a group arbitrarily set by the user. Each content code can be recorded according to the classification based on the classification. In this case, it is preferable that the purchased work list presentation means 170 is also provided with a function of presenting a list classified into groups arbitrarily set by the user. By doing so, the user can organize the purchased works for each group arbitrarily set by the user. For example, if group setting is performed for each family member, a plurality of family members can manage their favorite works as one group with one account. Alternatively, if groups for home use and in-vehicle use are set, grouping can be performed for each use environment.

  (3) When developing a relatively large-scale business using the system according to the present invention, the actual data of the same content is stored redundantly in a plurality of storage locations in preparation for a malfunction or accident of the server device. It is preferable to perform the operation. When such an operation is performed, a content table TC including address data indicating the plurality of storage locations is prepared for digital content in which actual data is stored in a plurality of storage locations. In this case, the content enabling means 150 is provided with a function of selecting address data indicating a storage location that is closest to the user's terminal device and transmitting it to the terminal device. preferable. Here, the “closest storage location” may be “a server apparatus installed in the geographically closest position” or “a server apparatus arranged in the position with the smallest number of hops on the network”. Alternatively, “a server apparatus in which the data transfer time is shortest in time” may be used.

  (4) The digital content to be provided by the system according to the present invention is not necessarily stored in one server device. Even content data related to a single work can be divided and stored in a plurality of server devices. Eventually, since it is only necessary for one piece of work to be distributed to the user terminal device, there is no problem even if the distribution source is distributed to a plurality of server devices. Therefore, for example, the distributed data archive system described in International Publication No. WO01 / 46808 based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty can be used as a server device in the system according to the present invention.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the content enabling means 150 transmits the address data about the desired usage content to the user terminal device so that the terminal device can access the actual data of the desired usage content. ing. However, if a method is used in which only address data is transmitted to the user terminal device to enable access, there is a risk of access being performed in an unauthorized manner. Therefore, in practice, the content enabling means 150 is provided with a function of transmitting a predetermined authentication code to the user terminal device together with the address data about the content desired to be used. It is preferable to distribute the digital content only to the terminal device that has made an access with a valid authentication code. If it is determined in advance what kind of authentication code is to be generated by the content enabling means 150 and the server device side (for example, an authentication code using a predetermined algorithm using date and time data and address data). The server device can determine whether the authentication code generated on the content enabling means 150 side is correct.

  (6) When a relatively large-scale business is developed using the system according to the present invention, it is preferable to take a form in which a consortium of a plurality of companies is used as a management parent. Specifically, companies that manage the entire system (system management companies) that provide server devices managed by various companies (content provider companies) that own copyrights for digital contents. However, it is preferable to install the providing apparatus 100 surrounded by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 so that the entire system can be operated. In this case, the content usage fee to be paid to the business entity (content providing company) that manages and operates the server device, and the management fee to be paid to the business entity (system management company) that manages and operates the providing device 100 The user may be charged for the price including. Therefore, the usage price registered in the content table TC is set to be the total amount of the content usage fee and the management fee. In the charging process performed by the purchase processing unit 160, the content usage fee and the management fee are separately provided. Should be dealt with.

  In such joint operation, if the content provider changes the storage location of the actual data, the content provider will promptly notify the system management company of the address of the actual data after the change. The system management company may operate the content data registration unit 110 to immediately perform an address change operation on the content table TC.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the provision system of the digital content which concerns on fundamental embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the content table TC stored in the content table storage means 120 in the system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing actual data of each work stored in each server device corresponding to the content table TC shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the personal table TU1 of the user U1 stored in the user personal table storage means 140 in the system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the Web page used as the contact window of the provision apparatus in the system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the work list list L1 shown by the work list list presentation means 130 in the system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the purchased work list L2 shown by the purchased work list presentation means 170 in the system shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20: User terminal device 100: Digital content providing device 110: Content data registration means 120: Content table storage means 130: Work list list presentation means 140: User personal table storage means 150: Content availability means 160: Purchase processing means 170: Purchased work list presentation means 200: Network (Internet)
A, B, C: Server device L1: Work list list L2: Purchased work list TC: Content table TU1: Personal table of user U1

Claims (15)

A device that provides digital content stored in a predetermined server device to a terminal device of a user who purchased the usage right via a network,
Content table storage means for storing a content table that associates a content code for specifying the content, a work name of the content, and address data indicating a storage location of the actual data of the content for each digital content When,
Content data registration means for registering information in the content table;
User personal table storage means for storing a user personal table for recording the content code of the purchased digital content for each individual user;
A work list list presenting means for presenting a work list indicating work names stored in the content table to a user terminal device via a network in response to access from a user;
Purchasing process for recording the content code of the desired purchase content in the user personal table of the user when the user inputs via the terminal device designating the desired purchase content in the presented work list Means,
In accordance with access from the user, a purchased work list in which the work names of the digital contents specified by the content codes recorded in the user personal table for the user are extracted from the contents table and the extracted work names are listed. A purchased work list presenting means for presenting to a user terminal device via a network,
When the user performs an input for designating the content desired to be used in the presented purchased work list via the terminal device, the terminal device can access the server device in which the content desired to be used is stored. The content enabling means for recognizing address data about the desired content to be used by referring to the content table and transmitting the recognized address data to the user terminal device,
An apparatus for providing digital content, comprising: The providing device according to claim 1,
An apparatus for providing digital content, wherein the purchase processing means performs a billing process for the user with respect to purchase consideration for the right to use the content desired to be purchased specified by the user. The providing device according to claim 2,
The content table storage means has a function of storing a content table including a usage price for each digital content,
The work list list presentation means has a function of presenting a work list including the usage price together with the work name for each digital content,
A digital content providing apparatus, wherein the purchase processing means has a function of performing billing processing with reference to a use price in a content table. The providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An apparatus for providing digital content, wherein the work list list presenting means and the purchased work list presenting means have a function of presenting a list only for authenticated access by a predetermined method. The providing device according to claim 4,
The user personal table storage means has a function of storing a user personal table including an account code and a password for each user,
The work list list presenting means and the purchased work list presenting means have a function of presenting a list only for authenticated access using a regular account code and password included in the user personal table. A digital content providing apparatus. In the providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The user personal table storage means has a function of recording each content code by classifying it into a plurality of groups in the user personal table based on a user instruction,
An apparatus for providing digital contents, wherein the purchased work list presentation means has a function of classifying each group and presenting the list. In the providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The content table storage means has a function of storing a content table including address data indicating the plurality of storage locations for digital content in which actual data is stored in the plurality of storage locations,
An apparatus for providing digital content, characterized in that the content enabling means has a function of transmitting address data indicating a storage location closest accessed from a user terminal device to the terminal device. In the providing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The work list list presenting means has a function of presenting the work list on the web page by transmitting the web page data to the user terminal device,
A digital content providing apparatus, wherein the purchase processing means has a function of recognizing a click operation of a user who designates a specific work name on the work list of the Web page as a designation input of purchase desired contents. The providing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The purchased work list presenting means has a function of presenting a purchased work list for the user on the web page dedicated to the user by transmitting the web page data to the terminal device of the user,
Content enabling means has a function of recognizing a click operation of a user who designates a specific work name on the purchased work list of the Web page as a designated input of content to be used. Providing device.   The program for functioning a computer as a digital content provision apparatus in any one of Claims 1-9.   A provision device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a terminal device that stores digital content to be provided by the provision device and has accessed using address data transmitted from the provision device On the other hand, a digital content providing system comprising: a server device that distributes digital content in which actual data is stored in a storage location indicated by the address data. The providing system according to claim 11,
A digital content providing system in which a server device performs streaming distribution of content desired to be used to a terminal device. The providing system according to claim 11,
A digital content providing system in which a server device downloads and distributes content desired to be used to a terminal device. The providing system according to any one of claims 11 to 13,
The content enabling means in the providing device has a function of transmitting a predetermined authentication code to the user's terminal device together with address data about the desired content.
A digital content providing system, wherein a server device distributes digital content only to a terminal device that has made access with the authentication code. The providing system according to any one of claims 11 to 14,
The purchase processing means in the providing device pays a price including a content usage fee that should be paid to the entity that manages and operates the server device, and a management fee that should be paid to the entity that manages and operates the providing device. A digital content providing system characterized by charging a user.