U.S. patent application number 10/305898 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for information providing method and information providing system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Tsuchiya, Atsushi.
Application Number | 20030126237 10/305898 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19175428 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030126237 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsuchiya, Atsushi |
July 3, 2003 |
Information providing method and information providing system
Abstract
A terminal can play back song or video information in real time
without downloading it, and thus restrictions on the hardware of
the terminal are reduced and a large amount of music can be
listened to anytime and anywhere. Also, the user can listen to
music more cheaply than if it was downloaded, and copyright
problems are reduced. Further, the terminal is charged based on the
playback time or the amount of information. Accordingly, when the
user stops playback because he or she does not like a song, the
price is less than it is when the user listens to the song to the
end, and thus the user can feel free to use this service.
Inventors: |
Tsuchiya, Atsushi; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,
KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
19175428 |
Appl. No.: |
10/305898 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
709/220 ;
348/E5.006; 348/E5.105; 348/E7.073 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/44543 20130101;
H04N 21/4753 20130101; H04N 21/25875 20130101; H04N 7/17336
20130101; H04N 21/482 20130101; H04N 21/25435 20130101; H04N 21/443
20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04H 20/38 20130101; H04H 60/82
20130101; H04N 21/4828 20130101; H04H 60/21 20130101; H04N 21/47202
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/220 |
International
Class: |
G06F 015/177 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 29, 2001 |
JP |
P2001-365396 |
Claims
1. A method for providing music or video information from a server
to a terminal through a network, the method comprising:
transmitting the information from the server to the terminal;
playing back the transmitted information in real time in the
terminal; stopping transmission of the information from the server
to the terminal when the terminal outputs a playback stop
instruction while the information is being played back; and
determining a charge to the terminal for the transmitted
information based on a factor selected from the group consisting of
an amount of the transmitted information and an amount of time the
transmitted information was played back.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the charge to the
terminal when all the information in a unit of information has been
transmitted to the terminal or played back in the terminal is less
than (i) the charge to the terminal when all the information in the
unit of information has been downloaded to the terminal, and (ii) a
cost of purchasing a medium recorded with the unit of
information.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the charge to the
terminal is zero when the amount of time the transmitted
information was played back or the amount of the transmitted
information does not reach a predetermined level.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: specifying
in the terminal a genre or an artist of the information; and
transmitting from the server to the terminal at least one piece of
information corresponding to the specified genre or artist.
5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising: evaluating
a preference of a user of the terminal for the information in
advance in the server; selecting in the server a plurality of
pieces of information according to the preference of the user; and
transmitting at least one of the plurality of pieces of information
from the server to the terminal as the at least one piece of
information corresponding to the specified genre or artist.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: requesting,
from the terminal to the server, information in units of files so
as to specify at least one piece of information; and transmitting
the information in the units of files from the server to the
terminal in response to the request.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adding to
the information in the server predetermined information related to
the information; and transmitting the information together with the
predetermined information from the server to the terminal.
8. A method for providing music or video information from a server
to a terminal through a network, the method comprising:
sequentially transmitting from the server to the terminal pieces of
specific partial information selected in advance from a plurality
of pieces of information; playing back the transmitted pieces of
specific partial information in real time in the terminal;
selecting in the terminal a desired piece of information from the
plurality of pieces of information based on the played back pieces
of specific partial information; and transmitting the selected
piece of information from the server to the terminal.
9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: providing
the pieces of specific partial information from the server to the
terminal free of charge; playing back the selected piece of
information in real time in the terminal; stopping transmission of
the selected piece of information from the server to the terminal
when the terminal outputs a playback stop instruction while the
selected piece of information is being played back; and determining
a charge to the terminal for the selected piece of information
based on a factor selected from the group consisting of an amount
of the selected piece of information transmitted and an amount of
time the selected piece of information was played back.
10. A system for providing music or video information, comprising:
a server; a terminal; and a network operable to carry information
between the server and the terminal; the terminal including: means
for playing back in real time information transmitted from the
server; and means for communicating a playback stop instruction to
the server while the information is being played back; and the
server including: means for transmitting the information to the
terminal; means for stopping transmission of the information to the
terminal when the terminal communicates the playback stop
instruction to the server; and a charge determining unit operable
to determine a charge to the terminal for the transmitted
information based on a factor selected from the group consisting of
an amount of the transmitted information and an amount of time the
transmitted information was played back.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the charge
determining unit determines the charge to the terminal when all the
information in a unit of information has been transmitted to the
terminal or played back in the terminal, the charge being less than
(i) the charge to the terminal when all the information in the unit
of information has been downloaded to the terminal, and (ii) a cost
of purchasing a medium recorded with the unit of information.
12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the charge
determining unit determines that the charge to the terminal is zero
when the amount of time the transmitted information was played back
or the amount of the transmitted information does not reach a
predetermined level.
13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal further
comprises: means for specifying a genre or an artist of the
information; and wherein the server further comprises: means for
transmitting to the terminal at least one piece of information
corresponding to the specified genre or artist.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the server further
comprises: a database for storing evaluation data of a preference
of a user of the terminal for the information; and means for
selecting a plurality of pieces of information according to the
evaluation data, whereby the means for transmitting transmits at
least one of the plurality of pieces of information to the terminal
as the at least one piece of information corresponding to the
specified genre or artist.
15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the terminal further
comprises: means for requesting from the server information in
units of files so as to specify at least one piece of information;
and wherein the server further comprises: means for transmitting
the information in the units of files to the terminal in response
to the request.
16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the server further
comprises: a database for storing predetermined information related
to the information, the predetermined information being added to
the information when the information is transmitted to the
terminal; and means for transmitting to the terminal the
information together with the predetermined information.
17. A system for providing music or video information, comprising:
a server; a terminal; and a network operable to carry information
between the server and the terminal; the server including: means
for sequentially transmitting to the terminal pieces of specific
partial information selected in advance from a plurality of pieces
of information; and means for transmitting to the terminal a
desired piece of information selected in the terminal, and the
terminal including: means for playing back the transmitted pieces
of specific partial information in real time; and means for
selecting the desired piece of information from the plurality of
pieces of information based on the played back pieces of specific
partial information.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the pieces of
specific partial information are provided from the server to the
terminal free of charge, the terminal further comprising: means for
playing back the selected piece of information in real time, and
the server further comprising: means for stopping transmission of
the selected piece of information to the terminal when the terminal
outputs a playback stop instruction while the selected piece of
information is being played back; and a charge determining unit
operable to determine a charge to the terminal for the selected
piece of information based on a factor selected from the group
consisting of an amount of the selected piece of information and an
amount of time the selected piece of information was played back.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Japanese
Application No. 2001-365396 filed Nov. 29, 2001, the disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an information providing
method and an information providing system for providing music or
video information, for example, through the Internet.
[0003] With the development of an Internet-related technique, music
information and so on has been provided to users through the
Internet by using various methods. Among them, the following are
two main methods:
[0004] 1. Charge-free and short-time audition or playback of music
as a promotion
[0005] 2. Paid distribution by downloading
[0006] Users can obtain music information by, for example, paid
distribution by downloading, and do not need to go to a store.
Therefore, increased convenience can be realized.
[0007] In the charge-free and short-time audition, however, users
can listen to music only for a short time and they cannot always
listen to a desired song. Also, in the playback as a promotion,
users cannot always listen to a desired song, as in the short-time
audition.
[0008] On the other hand, in the paid distribution by downloading,
more songs are provided than in a short-time audition and a
promotion, and a desired song is more likely to be provided.
However, this service is expensive and users may have second
thoughts.
[0009] In such a situation, the Internet cannot be used adequately
and copyright holders of music cannot obtain sufficient income.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-described situation, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a method and a system in which music or video
information can be provided to users more cheaply and conveniently
through a network and more profit can be distributed to copyright
holders.
[0011] In order to achieve the above-described object, according to
a first aspect of the present invention, a method for providing
music or video information from a server to a terminal through a
network is provided. The method includes transmitting the
information from the server to the terminal; playing back the
transmitted information in real time in the terminal; stopping
transmission of the information from the server to the terminal
when the terminal outputs a playback stop instruction while the
information is being played back; and determining a charge to the
terminal for the transmitted information based on a factor selected
from the group consisting of an amount of the transmitted
information and an amount of time the transmitted information was
played back.
[0012] In the present invention, since music or video information
can be played back in real time in the terminal without downloading
it, restrictions on the hardware of the terminal are reduced and a
large amount of music can be listened to anytime and anywhere.
Also, copyright problems can be reduced.
[0013] Also, the charge to the terminal is determined based on the
playback time or the amount of information. Thus, when the user
stops playback because he or she does not like the song, the price
is lower than the case where the user listens to the song to the
end, and thus the user can feel free to use this service.
[0014] Further, in the known art of charge free or pay downloading,
copyright holders cannot obtain sufficient income. However, by
introducing a charging method based on the playback time, increased
income can be expected.
[0015] Preferably, when all the information in a unit of
information has been transmitted to the terminal or played back in
the terminal, the charge to the terminal is less than (i) the
charge to the terminal when all the information in the unit of
information has been downloaded to the terminal, and (ii) the cost
of purchasing a medium recorded with the unit of information.
Accordingly, the user can listen to a song to the end at a lower
cost, and also the user can evaluate a song, which cannot be
performed in a short-time audition, at a lower cost than the case
where the song is downloaded or the case where the user buys a
recording medium recorded with the information.
[0016] Also, the user can enjoy listening to music at ease, feeling
as if he or she has rented a song instead of buying it. Further,
copyright holders can obtain new income.
[0017] Preferably, the terminal is not charged when the playback
time or the amount of transmitted information does not reach a
predetermined level. With this arrangement, the user is not charged
when he or she stops playback after listening to a song for about
10 seconds. Therefore, the user is not charged when he or she
listens to a non-favorite song, and thus the user can feel free to
try an unknown song. Also, when the user likes a song after
listening to the beginning of the song, he or she need not perform
a further operation to listen to the song to the end, which is
convenient.
[0018] The method may further include specifying in the terminal a
genre or an artist of the information; and transmitting from the
server to the terminal at least one piece of information
corresponding to the specified genre or artist. Accordingly, the
user can specify his or her favorite genre, for example, the top
100, instead of a song itself, and thus the user can listen to a
currently popular song. In this case, the user is charged based on
the playback time, and thus the user can feel free to try a
song.
[0019] The method may further include evaluating a preference of a
user of the terminal for the information in advance in the server;
selecting in the server a plurality of pieces of information
according to the preference of the user; and transmitting at least
one of the plurality of pieces of information from the server to
the terminal as the at least one piece of information corresponding
to the specified genre or artist. With this arrangement, the server
can store the user's preference so as to select many of the user's
favorite songs at the time of genre playback. Accordingly, the
number of operations required by the user, such as skipping songs,
can be reduced and the royalties for the information providing
program can be increased.
[0020] The method may further include requesting, from the terminal
to the server, information in units of files so as to specify at
least one piece of information; and transmitting the information in
the units of files from the server to the terminal in response to
the request. With this arrangement, if the user registers a song in
a favorites file, he or she can play back all of the songs in the
favorites file simply by specifying the file. Further, a specific
favorite song can be played back by specifying the song in the
file. Accordingly, the user need not input or search for a song,
and thus the operation by the user can be simplified.
[0021] Further, continuous playback and shuffle playback can be
performed in the file, and songs can be sorted out or classified
when the number of songs in the file increases.
[0022] Preferably, predetermined information related to the
information is added to the information in the server so that the
information is transmitted from the server to the terminal together
with the predetermined information. Accordingly, the latest
information about the song can be provided while the song is being
played back, and thus convenience for the user is enhanced and
sales promotion can be performed.
[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a
method for providing music or video information from a server to a
terminal through a network is provided. The method includes
sequentially transmitting from the server to the terminal pieces of
specific partial information selected in advance from a plurality
of pieces of information; playing back the transmitted pieces of
specific partial information in real time in the terminal;
selecting in the terminal a desired piece of information from the
plurality of pieces of information based on the played back pieces
of specific partial information; and transmitting the selected
piece of information from the server to the terminal. In the
present invention, pieces of specific partial information of music
or video information are sequentially transmitted. Thus, by
selecting a climax part of a song as well as the beginning of the
song, the user can select a favorite song referring to the
sequentially transmitted pieces of specific information so as to
register the favorite song in his or her favorites file.
Accordingly, the user can select and play back a song rapidly the
next time, which leads to a significant increase in the user's
convenience.
[0024] The method may further include providing the pieces of
specific partial information from the server to the terminal free
of charge; playing back the selected piece of information in real
time in the terminal; stopping transmission of the selected piece
of information from the server to the terminal when the terminal
outputs a playback stop instruction while the selected piece of
information is being played back; and determining a charge to the
terminal for the selected piece of information based on a factor
selected from the group consisting of an amount of the selected
piece of information transmitted and an amount of time the selected
piece of information was played back. Accordingly, the user can
sequentially listen to, for example, the climax of songs without
worrying about the charge. When the user likes a song, he or she
can register the song immediately in his or her file.
[0025] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a
system for providing music or video information is provided. The
system includes a server; a terminal; and a network operable to
carry information between the server and the terminal. The terminal
includes a unit for playing back in real time information
transmitted from the server; and a unit for communicating a
playback stop instruction to the server while the information is
being played back. The server includes a unit for transmitting the
information to the terminal; a unit for stopping transmission of
the information to the terminal when the terminal communicates the
playback stop instruction to the server; and a charge determining
unit operable to determine a charge to the terminal for the
transmitted information based on a factor selected from the group
consisting of an amount of the transmitted information and an
amount of time the transmitted information was played back.
[0026] In the present invention, since music or video information
can be played back in real time in the terminal without downloading
it, restrictions on the hardware of the terminal are reduced and a
large amount of music can be listened to anytime and anywhere.
Also, copyright problems can be reduced.
[0027] Also, the charge to the terminal is determined based on the
playback time or the amount of information. Thus, when the user
stops playback because he or she does not like the song, the price
is lower than the case where the user listens to the song to the
end, and thus the user can feel free to use this service.
[0028] Further, in the known art of charge free or pay downloading,
copyright holders cannot obtain sufficient income. However, by
introducing a charging method based on the playback time, increased
income can be expected.
[0029] Preferably, the charge determining unit determines the
charge to the terminal when all the information in a unit of
information has been transmitted to the terminal or played back in
the terminal, the charge being less than (i) the charge to the
terminal when all the information in the unit of information has
been downloaded to the terminal, and (ii) a cost of purchasing a
medium recorded with the unit of information. Accordingly, the user
can listen to a song to the end at lower cost, and also the user
can evaluate a song, which cannot be performed in a short-time
audition, at a lower cost than the case where the song is
downloaded or the case where the user buys a recording medium
recorded with the information.
[0030] Preferably, the charge determining unit determines that the
terminal is not charged when the playback time or the amount of
transmitted information does not reach a predetermined level. With
this arrangement, the user is not charged when he or she stops
playback after listening to a song for about 10 seconds. Therefore,
the user is not charged when he or she listens to a non-favorite
song, and thus the user can feel free to try an unknown song. Also,
when the user likes a song after listening to the beginning of the
song, he or she need not perform a further operation to listen to
the song to the end, which is convenient.
[0031] The terminal may further include a unit for specifying a
genre or an artist of the information; and the server may further
include a unit for transmitting to the terminal at least one piece
of information corresponding to the specified genre or artist.
Accordingly, the user can specify his or her favorite genre, for
example, the top 100, instead of a song itself, and thus the user
can listen to a currently popular song. In this case, the user is
charged based on the playback time, and thus the user can feel free
to try a song.
[0032] The server may further include a database for storing
evaluation data of a preference of a user of the terminal for the
information; and a unit for selecting a plurality of pieces of
information according to the evaluation data, whereby the
transmitting unit transmits at least one of the plurality of pieces
of information to the terminal as the at least one piece of
information corresponding to the specified genre or artist. With
this arrangement, the server can store the user's preference so as
to select many of the user's favorite songs at the time of genre
playback. Accordingly, the number of operations required by the
user, such as skipping songs, can be reduced and the royalties for
the information providing program can be increased.
[0033] The terminal may further include a unit for requesting from
the server information in units of files so as to specify at least
one piece of information; and the server may further include a unit
for transmitting the information in the units of files to the
terminal in response to the request. With this arrangement, if the
user registers a song in a favorites file, he or she can play back
all of the songs in the favorites file simply by specifying the
file. Further, a specific favorite song can be played back by
specifying the song in the file. Accordingly, the user need not
input or search for a song, and thus the operation by the user can
be simplified.
[0034] Further, continuous playback and shuffle playback can be
performed in the file, and songs can be sorted out or classified
when the number of songs in the file increases.
[0035] The server may further include a database for storing
predetermined information related to the information, the
predetermined information being added to the information when the
information is transmitted to the terminal; and a unit for
transmitting to the terminal the information together with the
predetermined information. Accordingly, the latest information
about the song can be provided while the song is being played back,
and thus convenience for the user is enhanced and sales promotion
can be performed.
[0036] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a
system for providing music or video information is provided. The
system includes a server; a terminal; a network operable to carry
information between the server and the terminal; the server
including a unit for sequentially transmitting to the terminal
pieces of specific partial information selected in advance from a
plurality of pieces of information; and a unit for transmitting to
the terminal a desired piece of information selected in the
terminal; and the terminal including a unit for playing back the
transmitted pieces of specific partial information in real time;
and a unit for selecting the desired piece of information from the
plurality of pieces of information based on the played back pieces
of specific partial information. In the present invention, pieces
of specific partial information of music or video information are
sequentially transmitted. Thus, by selecting a climax part of a
song as well as the beginning of the song, the user can select a
favorite song referring to the sequentially transmitted pieces of
specific information so as to register the favorite song in his or
her favorites file. Accordingly, the user can select and play back
a song rapidly the next time, which leads to a significant increase
in the user's convenience.
[0037] Preferably, the pieces of specific partial information are
provided from the server to the terminal free of charge, the
terminal may further include a unit for playing back the selected
piece of information in real time, and the server may further
include a unit for stopping transmission of the selected piece of
information to the terminal when the terminal outputs a playback
stop instruction while the selected piece of information is being
played back; and a charge determining unit operable to determine a
charge to the terminal for the selected piece of information based
on a factor selected from the group consisting of an amount of the
selected piece of information and an amount of time the selected
piece of information was played back. Accordingly, the user can
sequentially listen to, for example, the climax of songs without
worrying about the charge. When the user likes a song, he or she
can register the song immediately in his or her file.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a system according to a
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
terminal in the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0040] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a
server in the system shown in FIG. 1;
[0041] FIG. 4 shows an example of a Web site of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating a process according
to the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0043] FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating a process according
to a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for illustrating a process of
inputting an evaluation by specifying a genre;
[0045] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating a process according
to a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 9 is a flowchart for illustrating a process of
registering a song in a favorites file while the song is being
played back;
[0047] FIG. 10 is a flowchart for illustrating a process of playing
back a song in the favorites file in real time;
[0048] FIG. 11 is a flowchart for illustrating a process according
to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and
[0049] FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating a process according
to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0051] FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a system according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 1, a site-side server 2 and user-side
terminals 3 are connected to the Internet 1. The server 2 and the
terminals 3 can be formed with, for example, personal computers and
necessary software. In this case, song information (files) is
provided as specific information from the site side to the user
side. However, the specific information may be video, news,
etc.
[0053] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each
of the terminals 3. In this embodiment, a personal computer is used
as the terminal 3, but a home audio system, a car stereo, or a
portable telephone also may be used.
[0054] The terminal 3 includes a CPU 4 and a RAM 5 for performing
processing, a communication unit 6 for performing communication
through the Internet 1, an input/output unit 7 such as a keyboard,
a display, and a speaker, a software storage unit 8 for storing
various types of software, and a data storage unit 9 for storing
various types of data.
[0055] The software storage unit 8 includes a real-time playback
mechanism 8a for playing back a song transmitted from the server 2
through the Internet 1 in real time (for example, by streaming); a
stop instructing mechanism 8b for instructing that playback be
stopped; a genre specifying mechanism 8c for specifying a genre or
an artist of a song; an evaluation input mechanism 8d for
evaluating a song while it is played back; a favorite-registering
mechanism 8e for registering a favorite song in a favorites file
while it is being played back; a file-based song information
request mechanism 8f for requesting song information in units of
files; a real-time partial information playback mechanism 8g for
playing back partial information of a song transmitted from the
server 2 in real time; a partial-information-based song selecting
mechanism 8h for selecting a desired song based on the played back
partial information; and a partial-information-based song playback
mechanism 8i for playing back the selected song in real time.
[0056] The genre specifying mechanism 8c is used for specifying an
interesting genre (for example, jazz, top 100, and new J-POP).
Accordingly, the server 2 transmits an arbitrary song in the genre
even when the user does not specify a song.
[0057] Further, by registering a favorite song by using the
favorite-registering mechanism 8e, the user need not input or
search for the title of the song.
[0058] The file-based song information request mechanism 8f may
request song information by specifying one or more songs in a file,
instead of in units of files.
[0059] The data storage unit 9 includes file data 9a of registered
favorite songs. With this arrangement, the terminal 3 can edit its
own favorites file.
[0060] Alternatively, the terminal 3 need not include the data
storage unit 9; instead, the terminal 3 can register a favorite and
edit a file on a Web site provided from the server 2.
[0061] For example, a favorites file or the like need not be
recorded in the terminal 3, but may be managed on the server 2. If
the user has a user ID, the user can find his or her favorites file
by using any of the terminals 3 so as to play back a song.
[0062] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the
server 2. The server 2 includes a CPU 10 and a RAM 11 for
performing processing, a communication unit 12 for performing
communication through the Internet 1, an input/output unit 13 such
as a keyboard and a display, a software storage unit 14 for storing
various types of software, and a data storage unit 15 for storing
various types of data.
[0063] The software storage unit 14 includes a Web site serving
mechanism 14a for serving a Web site to the terminal 3 through the
Internet 1; a user authentication mechanism 14b for authenticating
a user ID and password transmitted from the terminal 3; a song
transmitting mechanism 14c for transmitting a song specified by the
user to the terminal 3 through the Internet 1; a transmission
stopping mechanism 14d for stopping transmission of a song when a
stop instruction from the stop instructing mechanism 8b of the
terminal 3 has been transmitted to the server 2 through the
Internet 1; a charge determining mechanism 14e for determining the
charge based on the playback time or on the amount of information;
a genre-based song selecting mechanism 14f for selecting a song to
be transmitted to the terminal 3 in accordance with a genre or an
artist; a genre-based song transmitting mechanism 14g for
transmitting to the terminal 3 a song of the genre or the artist
specified by the genre specifying mechanism 8c of the terminal 3; a
file-based song transmitting mechanism 14h for transmitting a file
when the file-based song information request mechanism 8f of the
terminal 3 requests transmission of songs in units of files; an
additional-information-based song transmitting mechanism 14i for
providing the latest information about a song while it is being
played back; a partial information transmitting mechanism 14j for
transmitting to the terminal 3 through the Internet 1 partial
information which has been selected in advance; a
partial-information-based song transmitting mechanism 14k for
transmitting to the terminal 3 through the Internet 1 a song
selected by the partial-information-based song selecting mechanism
8h of the terminal 3; a partial-information-based transmission
stopping mechanism 141 for stopping transmission of a song when the
terminal 3 instructs that transmission be stopped; and a
partial-information-based charge determining mechanism 14m for
determining the charge based on the playback time or the amount of
information of songs according to the partial information.
[0064] The transmission stopping mechanism 14d does not stop
transmitting a song as long as a stop instruction from the stop
instructing mechanism 8b of the terminal 3 has not been transmitted
to the server 2 through the Internet 1, and the song transmitting
mechanism 14c continues to transmit the song to the end.
[0065] The charging method depends on an action of the user after
playback has been started. When the user performs no action during
playback, the charge determining mechanism 14e determines that the
user has listened to a song and charges the user accordingly. The
charge determining mechanism 14e reads how many seconds have passed
from the start of playback, and charges the user, for example, ten
yen when the entire song has been listened to and does not charge
the user when only ten seconds have passed from the start of
playback. Also, five yen, for example, is charged when a playback
stop instruction is given two minutes after the start of playback,
that is, for one chorus.
[0066] Accordingly, the user is not charged when he or she listens
to music for only a short time. Thus, the user can feel free to
listen to a song that he or she cannot recognize only from the
title.
[0067] In the known art, the user can select free of charge or
purchase by downloading. In addition, in the above-described
method, the charge when the user stops playback before the end of
the song is lower than when the user listens to the entire song.
Accordingly, the user can prevent wasteful expenditure and
copyright holders can obtain new income.
[0068] The user is charged every time he or she listens to music,
and thus the user is charged when he or she listens to the same
song again.
[0069] When the terminal 3 performs an evaluation of a song during
playback, the genre-based song selecting mechanism 14f in the
server 2 records the tastes of the user in a client data file 15b,
which will be described later, in association with the user ID, so
that the genre-based song selecting mechanism 14f selects many of
the user's favorite songs and few non-favorite songs. Accordingly,
the number of operations required by the user, such as skipping,
can be reduced and the royalties for the information providing
program can be increased.
[0070] The user's tastes are determined in the following way. For
example, a plurality of songs are played back and some of the songs
are stopped by the user within a charge-free time. When 70% of the
songs which are stopped early are enka (Japanese ballad), it is
determined that the user does not like enka, and when 70% of the
songs which are stopped early are jazz, it is determined that the
user does not like jazz.
[0071] The partial information transmitting mechanism 14j selects
and transmits part of a song stored in a song data file 15c, which
will be described later, for example, information for the climax of
the song.
[0072] The data storage unit 15 includes a basic data file 15a for
forming a Web site, the client data file 15b, the song data file
15c, and a related information data file 15d. The data in these
files is updated as required.
[0073] The client data file 15b includes data of a favorites file
and genre customizing and charge information as well as
authentication information such as the name, address, ID, and
password of each user in the form of a database.
[0074] The song data file 15c includes data for
genre-classification such as a song ID, the name of an artist, the
title, and additional data such as information for defining the
climax of the song, as well as data of songs, all in the form of a
database.
[0075] The related information data file 15d includes data such as
additional information added to a song, in the form of a database.
This data is, for example, the latest information about the song
and concert information.
[0076] FIG. 4 shows an example of a Web site 16 served by the Web
site serving mechanism 14a. In FIG. 4, (a) is the top page of the
Web site, that is, a user authentication page; (b) is a menu page
presented when the user is authenticated; (c) is a page of a
program list presented when the user selects program list in the
menu page; (d) is a J-POP page presented when the user selects
J-POP in the program list page; and (e) is a page for playing back
the 10th song presented when the user selects this week's top 10 in
the J-POP page.
[0077] Also in FIG. 4, (f) is a search page presented when the user
selects search in the menu page; (g) is an XYZ page presented when
the user inputs the artist XYZ in the search page; and (h) is a
playback page when the user selects "I Love You" in the XYZ
page.
[0078] Further, (i) is a favorites page presented when the user
selects favorites in the menu page; (j) is a ballad page presented
when the user selects ballads in the favorites page; and (k) is a
playback page presented when the user selects all songs in the
ballad page. The playback page displays the name of the artist and
the title of the song which is being played back.
[0079] The user ID and the password can be input to the user
authentication page (a) by using the input/output unit 7, for
example, a keyboard. Also, by clicking a desired item in each
selection page, the page for the selected item is presented.
[0080] Further, by clicking a next button 17 or 18 of the XYZ page
(g) or the ballad page (j), titles other than the currently
presented titles are displayed.
[0081] Also, by clicking a forward button 21 in the "this week's
top 10" page (e), higher-ranked songs are displayed in a
fast-forward manner. By clicking a back button 19, lower-ranked
songs are displayed. In addition, by clicking a stop button 20, a
playback stop instruction is output by the stop instructing
mechanism 8b so that transmission is stopped by the transmission
stopping mechanism 14d of the server 2 to stop playback.
[0082] By clicking a stop button 22 or 23 of the playback page (h)
or (k), a playback stop instruction is output by the stop
instructing mechanism 8b so that transmission is stopped by the
transmission stopping mechanism 14d of the server 2 and playback is
stopped.
[0083] By clicking a forward button 24 in the playback page (k),
the user can skip to the next song.
[0084] Also, in each of the playback pages (e), (h), and (k), the
latest information about the song can be displayed by the
additional-information-based song transmitting mechanism 14i in the
server 2 so that sales promotion can be performed.
[0085] A link to the XYZ page may be displayed in the playback page
(e). Accordingly, the number of hits to these pages can be
increased.
[0086] Next, the operation of the system configured in this manner
will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 5.
[0087] For example, when the URL of the Web site 16 is input
through the input/output unit 7 by using a predetermined browser in
the terminal 3, the server 2 serves the Web site 16 to the terminal
3 through the communication unit 12 and the Internet 1 by using the
Web site serving mechanism 14a.
[0088] Then, as shown in (a) of FIG. 4, necessary information is
input in the spaces for the user ID and the password in the Web
site 16 by using a keyboard or the like (step 101). This
information is transmitted to the server 2 through the Internet 1
and the user authentication mechanism 14b authenticates the user
(step 102).
[0089] At this time, the user authentication mechanism 14b calls up
the client data file 15b stored in the data storage unit 15 and
verifies the input user ID and password.
[0090] If the input user ID and password match the client data, the
CPU 10 instructs the Web site serving mechanism 14a to display the
menu page so that the Web site serving mechanism 14a displays the
menu page shown in (b) of FIG. 4 (step 103).
[0091] If the input user ID and password do not match the client
data, a message to that effect is displayed on the terminal 3, and
a further input is required in the terminal 3.
[0092] Next, the terminal 3 selects an item in the menu page (step
104). For example, by selecting search, the search page shown in
(f) of FIG. 4 is displayed, and the user inputs a title so as to
specify a song (step 105). Then, this information is transmitted to
the CPU 10 in the server 2, and under the control of the CPU 10,
the song transmitting mechanism 14c reads the specified song from
the song data file 15c stored in the data storage unit 15 and
starts to transmit the song to the terminal 3 through the Internet
1 (step 106).
[0093] Accordingly, by using the real-time playback mechanism 8a in
the terminal 3, streaming of a desired song can be performed
through the speaker of the input/output unit 7 (step 107).
[0094] Various methods can be adopted to specify a song other than
the above-described method.
[0095] Next, when the stop button 20 in the playback page (e) of
FIG. 4 is clicked within a predetermined short time at the terminal
3, that information is transmitted to the transmission stopping
mechanism 14d in the server 2 through the Internet 1 and the stop
instructing mechanism 8b in the terminal 3 determines whether the
time is within the predetermined time (step 108). If it is
determined that the time is within the predetermined time, that
information is transmitted to the charge determining mechanism 14e
in the server 2 and the process is completed without charge.
[0096] If the playback is stopped at some mid-point (step 109)
after the predetermined short time has passed, that information is
transmitted to the charge determining mechanism 14e of the server 2
through the Internet 1, and the user is charged according to the
playback time.
[0097] Further, when a song is played back to the end, the playback
in the terminal 3 ends in accordance with the playback stop by the
song transmitting mechanism 14c in the server 2 (step 110). In this
case, a stop instruction is not output from the terminal 3 during
playback, and thus the charge determining mechanism 14e charges a
full amount which is cheaper than downloading. The charge
information is stored, for example, in the client data file 15b in
the data storage unit 15.
[0098] Accordingly, when the user indicates that he or she does not
like a song within a short playback time, the user can stop the
song and is not charged. Thus, the user can feel free to listen to
an unknown song. Also, when the user wants to stop a song after the
predetermined short time has passed, the user can stop it at some
mid-point. In this case, the price is lower than the case where the
user listens to the song to the end. Thus, the user can feel free
to listen to songs. As a result, copyright holders can obtain
sufficient income compared to the case of conventional
free-of-charge or pay downloads.
[0099] The charging method is not limited to the above-described
method in which the user is charged in accordance with the playback
time. Alternatively, the user may be charged in accordance with the
amount of played back information.
[0100] As described above, according to the first embodiment, since
a song or video information is played back in real time in the
terminal 3 without downloading it, restrictions on the hardware of
the terminal 3 are reduced and a large amount of music can be
listened to anytime and anywhere. Also, the user can listen to
music more cheaply compared to the case of downloading it, and
copyright problems are reduced.
[0101] Also, the terminal 3 side is charged based on the playback
time or the amount of played back information. Thus, when the user
stops playback because he or she does not like the song, the price
is lower than the case where the user listens to the song to the
end. Accordingly, the user can feel free to listen to music.
[0102] Further, since the user is not charged when he or she stops
playback after listening to a song for about 10 seconds, the user
is not charged when he or she does not like the played back music.
Thus, the user can feel free to listen to unknown songs. Also, if
the user likes a song being played back, he or she can continue to
listen to the song to the end, which is convenient.
[0103] Also, in the conventional art of free or pay downloads,
copyright holders cannot obtain sufficient income. However, with
the introduction of a charging method based on the playback time
and so on, further profit can be expected.
[0104] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the process according
to the second embodiment. The configuration of a system according
to the second embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment,
and the corresponding description will be omitted.
[0105] Now, the operation in the second embodiment will be
described. From the step in which the URL of the Web site 16 is
input through the input/output unit 7 by using the predetermined
browser in the terminal 3 to the step in which the menu page shown
in (b) of FIG. 4 is displayed in the terminal 3 is the same as in
the first embodiment, and thus the corresponding description will
be omitted.
[0106] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, when the terminal 3 side
selects program list in the menu page presented to the terminal 3,
the program list shown in (c) of FIG. 4 is displayed. Then, when
the terminal 3 side selects J-POP and the genre specifying
mechanism 8c in the terminal 3 selects "this week's top 10" in the
J-POP page (d) of FIG. 4 (step 201), the genre-based song selecting
mechanism 14f selects the 10th song "I Love You" from the song data
file 15c stored in the data storage unit 15 in the server 2 (step
202), and then the genre-based song transmitting mechanism 14g
starts to transmit the 10th song as shown in (e) of FIG. 4 (step
203).
[0107] As in the first embodiment, when the terminal 3 side clicks
the stop button 20 in the playback page (e) of FIG. 4 within the
predetermined short time, the user is not charged. Also, when the
terminal 3 side stops playback at some midpoint after the
predetermined short time has passed, the user is charged according
to the playback time. If the user listens to a song to the end, the
user is charged the full amount.
[0108] However, in the second embodiment, a playback stop
instruction is transmitted to the genre-based song selecting
mechanism 14f as well as to the transmission stopping mechanism
14d. By receiving the instruction, the genre-based song selecting
mechanism 14f selects the next song, for example the ninth song,
from the song data file 15c. Then, the genre-based song
transmitting mechanism 14g transmits the ninth song to the terminal
3 through the Internet 1.
[0109] When the 10th song is played back to the end, for example,
the stop button 20 in the playback page (e) of FIG. 4 is clicked
and it is determined whether real-time playback of songs in the
genre "this week's top 10" is stopped (step 204). If real-time
playback of the songs in the genre is stopped, the charge
information is stored in the client data file 15b.
[0110] Further, when the stop button 20 in the playback page (e) of
FIG. 4 is not clicked and when real-time playback of the songs in
the genre "this week's top 10" is not stopped, the next song, for
example, the ninth song is played back.
[0111] As described above, according to the second embodiment,
since the terminal 3 side can specify a genre or an artist instead
of a song itself, an interesting song can be played back in real
time even if the user does not have information such as the title
of the song. In addition, the user is not charged if he or she
stops playback within the predetermined short time, and thus the
user can feel free to listen to the songs.
[0112] Also, when the terminal side 3 specifies a genre or an
artist, the server 2 can select and transmit a plurality of
arbitrary songs. Therefore, the user need not repeatedly search for
songs, which is inconvenient.
[0113] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process of inputting an
evaluation when a genre is specified. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a
process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
The configuration of a system according to the third embodiment is
the same as in the first embodiment, and thus the corresponding
description will be omitted.
[0114] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, if a song being played back
is evaluated (step 301) by using the evaluation input mechanism 8d
in the terminal 3 shown in FIG. 2 while a genre-based playback is
being performed, the evaluation data is stored as the user's tastes
in the client data file 15b of the data storage unit 15, the data
being related to the user ID in the server 2 through the Internet
1.
[0115] Next, the operation in the third embodiment will be
described. From the step in which the URL of the Web site 16 is
input through the input/output unit 7 by using the predetermined
browser in the terminal 3 to the step in which the menu page shown
in (b) of FIG. 4 is displayed in the terminal 3 is the same as in
the first embodiment, and thus the corresponding description will
be omitted.
[0116] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 8, when the genre specifying
mechanism 8c specifies a genre, the genre-based song selecting
mechanism 14f in the server 2 selects a song to be played back in
real time from the song data file 15c. Herein, the genre-based song
selecting mechanism 14f reads data of the user's tastes from the
client data file 15b (step 401) and selects many of the user's
favorite songs and few non-favorite songs (step 402).
[0117] After the genre-based song selecting mechanism 14f selects a
favorite song, the same steps as in the second embodiment are
performed to the step of stopping genre playback, and thus the
corresponding description will be omitted.
[0118] According to the third embodiment, a song is evaluated while
it is being played back so that many favorite songs may be selected
based on the evaluation when a genre-based selection is performed.
Therefore, the number of operations required by the user, such as
skipping, can be reduced and the royalties for the information
providing program can be increased.
[0119] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process of registering a song
in the favorites file while the song is being played back. FIG. 10
is a flowchart of a process of playing back a song in the favorites
file in real time according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 9, by clicking "register in favorites" in
the playback page (h) of FIG. 4 while a song is being played back,
the favorite-registering mechanism 8e in the terminal 3 registers
the song in the file data 9a so as to store the song (step 501). At
the same time, the title and so on of the song is registered and
stored in the client data file 15b in the server 2 as favorites
(step 502).
[0121] The configuration of a system according to the fourth
embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, and thus the
corresponding description will be omitted.
[0122] Next, the operation in the fourth embodiment will be
described. From the step in which the URL of the Web site 16 is
input through the input/output unit 7 by using the predetermined
browser in the terminal 3 to the step in which the menu page is
displayed in the terminal 3 is the same as in the first embodiment,
and thus the corresponding description will be omitted.
[0123] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 10, when the file-based song
information request mechanism 8f in the terminal 3 selects
favorites in the menu page (step 601), the favorites page is
displayed, and by selecting ballad, the ballad page shown in (j) of
FIG. 4 is displayed.
[0124] By specifying a playback method (step 602), for example, by
selecting playback all songs, the file-based song transmitting
mechanism 14h in the server 2 selects a predetermined song from the
song data file 15c (step 603), and the selected song is transmitted
to the terminal 3 through the Internet 1.
[0125] Then, after a real-time playback of a first song, the charge
is determined by the charge determining mechanism 14e and that
information is stored in the client data file 15b as data.
[0126] Also, except for the case where playback of a file is
stopped by the stop instructing mechanism 8b, the process returns
to step 603 so that another predetermined song is selected from the
song data file 15c (step 603), and the selected song is transmitted
to the terminal 3 through the Internet 1.
[0127] Furthermore, when playback of a file is stopped by the stop
instructing mechanism 8b, a playback stop instruction is
transmitted to the transmission stopping mechanism 14d in the
server 2 by clicking the stop button 23 in the playback page (k) of
FIG. 4, and thus playback of the file is stopped.
[0128] According to the fourth embodiment, favorite songs can be
registered in the favorites file while listening to the songs, and
when the user wants to listen to all the favorite songs, the songs
can be played back simply by opening the favorites file and
clicking "playback all songs". Accordingly, the user need not
search for and input each favorite song, and the user's operation
can be significantly reduced.
[0129] Also, by changing the playback method, only one specific
song in a file can be played back. Further, the file data 9a can be
freely sorted out and edited in the terminal 3 side. Thus, the user
can transmit the edited file data to the server 2 through the
Internet 1 so that the file data can be stored in the client data
file 15b.
[0130] Alternatively, the terminal 3 need not include the data
storage unit 9 for the file data 9a, and the data may be edited,
processed, and stored in the server 2. Also, a song is not
downloaded to the file data 9a which stores only information such
as the title of the song and the name of the artist.
[0131] Accordingly, there are less restrictions in the hardware in
the terminal 3, and the user can play back his or her favorite
songs anywhere by using a terminal in which his or her user ID is
input. Also, since a song is not downloaded, copyright problems are
reduced.
[0132] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process according to the
fifth embodiment. The configuration of a system according to the
fifth embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, and the
thus the corresponding description will be omitted.
[0133] Next, the operation of the fifth embodiment will be
described. From the step in which the URL of the Web site 16 is
input through the input/output unit 7 by using the predetermined
browser in the terminal 3 to the step in which the genre-based song
selecting mechanism 14f selects a predetermined song from the song
data file 15c stored in the data storage unit 15 in the server 2 is
the same as in the second embodiment, and thus the corresponding
description will be omitted.
[0134] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 11, when a song is selected (step
701), the additional-information-based song transmitting mechanism
14i selects information related to the song to be played back in
the form of characters and videos from the related information data
file 15d stored in the data storage unit 15 (step 702), and the
related information is transmitted to the terminal 3 through the
Internet 1 together with the song (step 703). Accordingly, the song
and the additional information are played back in the terminal 3
side (step 704).
[0135] After that, the same steps as in the second embodiment are
performed, except that additional information is played back
together with each song.
[0136] According to the fifth embodiment, additional information
can be provided while a song is being played back, and thus the
user can obtain useful information and sales promotions can be
performed.
[0137] Also, the information is not downloaded to the terminal 3,
and thus a large volume of information such as video information
can be provided without keeping the user waiting.
[0138] Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be
described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a process according to the
sixth embodiment. The configuration of a system according to the
sixth embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment, and thus
the corresponding description will be omitted.
[0139] Next, the operation according to the sixth embodiment will
be described. From the step in which the URL of the Web site 16 is
input through the input/output unit 7 by using the predetermined
browser in the terminal 3 to the step in which the menu page is
displayed in the terminal 3 is the same as in the first embodiment,
and thus the corresponding description will be omitted.
[0140] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 12, by clicking "others" in the
menu page (b) of FIG. 4 so as to specify genre-specific partial
information (step 801), the partial information transmitting
mechanism 14j of the server 2 selects predetermined partial
information, for example, the climax of a song from the song data
file 15c (step 802), and the selected information is transmitted to
the terminal 3 through the Internet 1 so as to be played back by
the real-time partial information playback mechanism 8g.
[0141] Then, when the stop button in the playback page is clicked
after the partial information of a song is played back so that
playback of the partial information is stopped (step 803), and when
the partial-information-based song selecting mechanism 8h specifies
a song of desired partial information (step 804), the corresponding
song is selected from the song data file 15c in the server 2, and
the selected song is transmitted to the terminal 3 through the
Internet 1 by the partial-information-based song transmitting
mechanism 14k, and thus a desired song is played back by the
partial-information-based song playback mechanism 8i in the
terminal 3. Incidentally, the user is not charged when he or she
plays back partial information itself. Accordingly, the user can
feel free to listen to partial information.
[0142] Also, when playback of partial information is not stopped at
step 803, the process returns to step 802 and predetermined partial
information is selected so as to transmit the next partial
information, and the selected information is transmitted to the
terminal 3.
[0143] Furthermore, when a song is not specified at step 804, it is
determined that the user does not want to listen to partial
information and a song, and playback ends.
[0144] When a song is specified at step 804 and when a playback
stop instruction is output during playback (step 805), for example,
when the stop button in the playback page is clicked, the
partial-information-base- d transmission stopping mechanism 141 in
the server 2 stops playback, the partial-information-based charge
determining mechanism 14m determines the charge according to the
playback time, and the charge information is stored in the client
data file 15b.
[0145] Further, when the song is played back to the end (step 806),
the partial-information-based transmission stopping mechanism 141
in the server 2 transmits information that the song has been fully
played back to the partial-information-based charge determining
mechanism 14m, which determines the full charge, and the charge
information is stored in the client data file 15b.
[0146] According to the sixth embodiment, partial information of a
plurality of songs can be continuously played back in real time and
free of charge. In this method, the user can evaluate a song more
adequately than in the case where the user listens to free
information of the climax of the song so as to fully play back the
song, and thus wasteful listening can be prevented. Also, if the
user does not click the stop button, partial information of a
plurality of songs can be continuously listened to. Thus, the user
need not operate pages for each song and the burden on the user can
be reduced.
[0147] Also, when the user listens to partial information and
specifies a song so as to start listening to the song, and when the
user wants to stop playback at some mid-point, the user is charged
according to the playback time if he or she stops playback. Thus,
the user can feel free to play back songs. Also, in the method
where the user is charged according to playback time based on the
partial information, copyright holders can obtain more income than
in the case of conventional free or pay downloading.
[0148] As described above, according to the present invention, the
user can have broader options. That is, with the conventional
method, the user selects a charge-free audition or promotion (in
many cases, time is limited and it is not on-demand), or purchases
with a charge. In addition, according to the present invention, the
user can try a song at a low price, and buy the song if he or she
likes the song (if the user thinks it is more economical to buy the
song because he or she wants to listen to the song many times), by
using the service according to the present invention.
[0149] The service providers can expect income by the promotion,
and it becomes possible to ensure income by attracting users who
have been reluctant to purchase songs (users who do not bring
income). Also, a promotion for a song can be performed while the
song is being played back, and thus a good promotional effect can
be achieved. For example, the latest concert information may be
provided.
[0150] Further, those who are in the business of selling CD
packages can coexist with the service providers so as to obtain
co-prosperity by using segregation (for example, songs included in
only an album are not transmitted).
[0151] Although the invention herein has been described with
reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that
these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0152] For example, in the above-described embodiments, the
charging method is based on the playback time or the amount of
information. However, the user may be charged according to the
contents of the played back information. For example, the latest
information may be more expensive. Accordingly, various charging
methods can be adopted and income for copyright holders can be
further increased.
[0153] Further, in the above-described embodiments, partial
information of a plurality of songs is selected from the song data
file 15c and is transmitted as partial information. Alternatively,
information about the climax of a song may be prepared in advance
independently from the data of the songs, and the information about
the climax may be transmitted as partial information.
[0154] As described above, in the present invention, real-time
playback of music or video can be enjoyed on a network easily and
at a low price. Further, income of copyright holders can be
increased.
* * * * *