JP2010140075A - File charging system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a file charging system in the case of downloading a file in which URL is preliminarily written. <P>SOLUTION: This file charging system is provided with: a holder having a plurality of files in a file server; a means for authenticating ID and password for permitting access to the holder; a means for charging an authenticated users; and a means for transmitting the file. A server management means is provided with a means for counting the number of registration of the ID or password of a user who requests the download of the file. When the number of registration counted by the counting means exceeds the prescribed number, the server management means issues a holder in which the file is stored in order to increase the number of registration of the user ID or password. The file in which URL is preliminarily written can be charged, and the holders can be issued by the server management means while the number of the holders is not limited so that it is possible to permit the charged download of the files to user side reproduction equipment at the user side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a file billing system for downloading a file in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is written in advance. In particular, the file billing system of the present invention has a URL written therein and charges when downloading a file in which video and / or music is stored so that the file can be freely played on a player. It is.

  Conventionally, a billing system such as a video file and / or a music file can usually download the file after paying a fee. In addition, the file is charged and authenticated by the charging system, and then the location of the file to be purchased is identified and can be downloaded.

  Since an RSS (Rich Site Summary, hereinafter simply referred to as RSS) formatted file has a URL written in advance, the location of the file can be known, but charging cannot be performed. The file can be downloaded by issuing a serial number (password) at the time of billing authentication. However, a reproduction program is required in which the file is not reproduced until a serial number is input. Since the file is downloaded by an exclusive reproduction program that is not reproduced by another program, the image and / or music file cannot be reproduced by another reproduction device, for example, a portable reproduction device.

  The RSS formatted file is charged at the time of distribution after authenticating the directory in which the file is stored. The file is downloaded by requesting an ID and a password when the file is accessed according to the file download protocol HTTP, and when the file can be verified, the file access is permitted. However, the maximum number of ID / password pairs that can be managed by the web server is 10,000.

Also, the moving image information distribution system is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-323370, and when moving image information is newly posted and the moving image information is changed, there is no need to significantly change the configuration of the web page. Even a web page manager without specialized knowledge can easily and quickly change the contents of video information.
JP 2007-323370 A

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an RSS (Rich Site Summary).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a file billing system capable of managing an infinite number of IDs and passwords even for formatted files. Since the present invention can increase the number of file server holders indefinitely even for files other than the RSS format, a file billing system that allows a desired file to be downloaded and enjoyed by other players is provided. The purpose is to provide.

(First invention)
The file billing system of the first invention is necessary for downloading a file in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is written in advance, a holder having a plurality of files, an ID for permitting access to the holder, and An authentication means for authenticating a password; a charging means for charging the user authenticated by the authentication means; a file server comprising a transmission means for transmitting a file; a counting means for counting the number of registered IDs or passwords; A server management unit capable of transmitting a holder including the plurality of files, an authentication unit, a billing unit, and a file transmission unit to the file server when the number of registrations counted by the counting unit exceeds a predetermined number; Phi characterized by being Billing system.

(Second invention)
The file billing system of the second invention is characterized in that the file stored in the file server is in RSS (Rich Site Summary) format.

(Third invention)
The file billing system of the third invention is characterized in that the file is an image, a moving image, or music.

  According to the present invention, the number of IDs and passwords can be managed indefinitely even for RSS formatted files.

  According to the present invention, since the number of file server holders can be increased indefinitely, a desired file can be downloaded and enjoyed by another portable player.

(First invention)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, charging is performed when a file in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is previously written is downloaded, so that it can be easily reproduced by, for example, a portable player. The file server includes a holder having a plurality of files, an authentication unit that authenticates an ID and a password that permit access to the holder, a charging unit that charges the authenticated user, and a transmission unit that transmits the file. At least.

  The server management means includes a counting means capable of counting the number of registered IDs or passwords of users who wish to download files, and if the number of registrations counted by the counting means exceeds a predetermined number, the number of registered user IDs or passwords is calculated. Publish a holder storing the file so that it can be increased. That is, the server management means transmits a holder including the plurality of files, authentication means, billing means, and file transmission means to the file server.

  A file in which a URL has been written in advance can be charged and can be issued by the server management means with no limit on the number of holders, so that the file can be downloaded to a playback device on the user side for a fee. be able to. Conventionally, a web server that can manage about 10000 ID / password pairs can be expanded infinitely by using the system of the present invention.

(Second invention)
In the file billing means in the second invention, the file stored in the file server of the first invention is in an RSS (Rich Site Summary) format. As for the RSS format, the system that can not be charged can be easily made by this system.

(Third invention)
In the file billing means in the third invention, the file of the first invention or the second invention is an image, a moving image, or music. The images, moving images, and music can be easily downloaded as files, but there are many restrictions due to copyright. The file billing means of the present invention can easily download the file composed of the image, the moving image, and the music, and can be easily played back by another playback device.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a holder in which a file is stored according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a plurality of the same images and / or music files 1, 2,..., N are stored from holder 1 to infinity (∞). The files 1, 2,... N request an ID and a password from the person who has accessed. A person who has been authenticated with the ID and password can download it by selecting a desired file.

  The holders 1 to ∞ can increase the number of holders from one to the next even if the number of IDs and passwords in one holder overflows. As long as you pay, you can download the desired file. The downloaded file can be freely played back by another player such as a portable player.

  FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram for explaining a file server and server management means in which a holder is stored, and a user side computer. In FIG. 2, a file providing personal computer 21 can be connected to a file server 22 via the network. The user personal computers 23,..., 23 can be connected to the file server 22 via the network.

  The file server 22 is controlled by server management means 24. The holder stored in the file server 22 includes at least an ID and password authentication unit 221, a billing unit 222, and a file transmission unit 223 that transmits a file to the user side. The user is authenticated by the password authentication means 221 by accessing the file server 22 and transmitting the ID and password. The authenticated user can select a desired file from the holder and download it to his / her personal computer via the file transmission means 223.

  The server management unit 24 in FIG. 2 includes an ID and password number setting unit 241, an ID and password count unit 242, an ID and password number comparison unit 243, a holder issuing unit 244, a directory providing unit 245, and a file server. Transmission means 246 at least. The ID and password number setting means 241 previously sets the number of IDs and passwords that can be registered in one holder.

  The ID and password number counting means 242 counts the number of registered IDs and passwords. The ID and password number comparison means 243 checks whether the number of IDs and passwords registered in one holder has reached a preset number. When the holder issuing unit 244 determines that the number of IDs and passwords exceeds a predetermined number by the ID and password number comparing unit 243, the holder issuing unit 244 newly has the same file and authentication unit as the holder. Issue a holder.

  The holder is sent to the file server 22 by the sending means 246 to the file server after the directory is given by the directory giving means 245. The billing system can issue an unlimited number of ID and password authentications even if the URL has been written in advance, so that the user can download the desired file for a fee and play it freely on the player. be able to.

  FIG. 3 is an example of a flowchart for explaining a case where the user accesses the accounting system of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the user accesses the file server (step 311). The user inputs the ID and password to the authentication means in the file server (step 312). The file server checks whether the user ID and password are correct (step 313). When the file server determines that the ID and password are not correct, the file server prompts the user to input an appropriate ID and password again.

  If the file server determines that the ID and password are registered correctly, the file server prompts the user to input a file and searches for the file (step 314). If it is determined that the file exists, the file server charges by the charging unit (step 315). Next, the file server checks whether or not the procedure for charging is completed (step 316). If the file server determines that the billing procedure has been completed, the file server transmits the file to the user (step 317).

  The user receives the file with his personal computer (step 318). The user confirms that the desired file has been received and terminates access to the server (step 319). In step 314, if the specified file does not exist, the user ends access to the server.

  FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the server management means of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the server management means sets the number of IDs and passwords that can be registered in the holder in advance (step 411). The server management means counts the number of IDs and passwords registered by access from the user by the ID and password number counting means (step 412). The server management means checks whether the number of IDs and passwords exceeds the set number (step 413). The server management means continues counting when the number of set IDs and passwords does not exceed.

  When the server management means determines that the count by the ID and password number counting means exceeds the set number, it issues a new holder (step 414). The holder has the same file and authentication means stored therein. When issuing the holder, the server management means checks whether or not a directory is attached to the holder (step 415). If the server management means determines that the directory is attached to the holder, the server management means transmits the holder to the file server (step 416).

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the claims. Known or well-known blocks can be used for the block of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a holder in which a file is stored in an embodiment of the present invention. (Example 1) It is an example of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a file server and server management means in which a holder is stored, and a user side computer. It is an example of the flowchart for demonstrating the case where a user accesses the charging system of this invention. It is an example of the flowchart for demonstrating the server management means of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

21... File providing personal computer 22... File server 221... ID and password authentication means 222... Billing means 223. Means 241 ... ID and password number setting means 242 ... ID and password number counting means 243 ... ID and password number comparison means 244 ... Holder issuing means 245 ... Directory issuing means 246 ... File Sending to server

Claims (3)

In a file billing system when downloading a file in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is written in advance,
A file comprising: a holder having a plurality of files; an authentication unit that authenticates an ID and a password that permits access to the holder; a charging unit that charges the user authenticated by the authentication unit; and a transmission unit that transmits the file With the server;
A counting unit that counts the number of registered IDs or passwords, and a holder that includes the plurality of files, an authentication unit, a charging unit, and a file transmission unit when the number of registrations counted by the counting unit exceeds a predetermined number. Server management means capable of transmitting to the file server;
A file billing system comprising at least:   2. The file billing system according to claim 1, wherein the file stored in the file server is in an RSS (Rich Site Summary) format.   The file billing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the file is an image, a moving image, or music.

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