U.S. patent application number 11/406677 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-24 for large capacity data sales mediation server and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to NEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Koji Maeda.
Application Number | 20060190414 11/406677 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18808362 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060190414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maeda; Koji |
August 24, 2006 |
Large capacity data sales mediation server and method
Abstract
An animation data sales mediation method, an animation data
sales mediation system and so on are capable of providing large
capacity data such as animation data by a large capacity storage
medium in advance, rendering the time required for transfer of the
data via the network extremely short by passing a key code for
viewing the animation data via the network, rendering the labor and
costs required for sales of the animation data extremely low, and
providing the latest unauthorized copy technology to the animation
data. The animation data sales mediation system has the steps of
having a user terminal send to a large capacity data sales server
an online access code corresponding to the large capacity data one
to one, having the large capacity data sales server send the key
code to the user terminal, having the user terminal encrypt and
store the key code, and having the animation data used by using the
key code.
Inventors: |
Maeda; Koji; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
NEC CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
18808362 |
Appl. No.: |
11/406677 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09983449 |
Oct 24, 2001 |
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11406677 |
Apr 18, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20130101;
G06Q 20/12 20130101; G06Q 20/3821 20130101; G06Q 20/382 20130101;
G06Q 20/108 20130101; G06Q 30/0633 20130101; G06Q 20/1235 20130101;
H04L 2463/101 20130101; H04L 63/0428 20130101; G06Q 10/087
20130101; G06F 21/10 20130101; G06Q 20/20 20130101; G06Q 20/1085
20130101; G06Q 20/3829 20130101; G06Q 20/206 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/071 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 99/00 20060101
G06Q099/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 25, 2000 |
JP |
2000-332119 |
Claims
1. A large capacity data sales mediation system having a user
terminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a large
capacity data sales server, said user terminal comprising: means
for sending to said large capacity data sales server a registration
request signal including user identification information and an
online access code unique to large capacity data stored in a large
capacity storage medium; means for receiving from said large
capacity data sales server a registration confirmation signal and
for encrypting and storing a key code included in said registration
confirmation signal; and means for reproducing the large capacity
data by using the key code, said large capacity data sales server
comprising: means for storing information on the key code
corresponding to said online access code; means for sending said
user identification information to said large capacity data sales
mediation server; and means for acquiring the key code
corresponding to said online access code from said means for
storing information and sending the key code to the user terminal
by including it in the registration confirmation signal, and said
large capacity data sales mediation server comprising: storage
means for storing user information; means for determining whether
user information corresponding to said user identification
information is stored in said storage means and producing a
determination result; and means for sending said determination
result to said large capacity data sales server, wherein said large
capacity data sales server sends said registration confirmation
signal to said user terminal upon receiving from said large
capacity data sales mediation server a determination result
indicating that user information corresponding to said user
identification information is stored in said storage means.
2. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 1, wherein said large capacity data sales server further
comprises means for counting a number of user terminals storing the
key code corresponding to said online access code.
3. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 2, wherein said large capacity data sales server sends said
registration confirmation signal to said user terminal upon
acquiring information on the key code corresponding to said online
access code from said means for storing and determining that the
number of user terminals storing the key code corresponding to said
online access code is smaller than a predetermined number.
4. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 1, wherein said large capacity data sales server sends said
registration confirmation signal to said user terminal upon
receiving payment of a usage charge for said large capacity
data.
5. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 1, wherein said user terminal further comprises: means for
sending to said large capacity data sales server a deregistration
request signal for requesting erasure of said key code in the user
terminal; means for receiving from said large capacity data sales
server a deregistration confirmation signal; and means for, upon
receiving the deregistration confirmation signal from the large
capacity data sales server, erasing said key code in said user
terminal, and wherein said large capacity data sales server further
comprises means for sending said deregistration confirmation signal
to said user terminal.
6. A large capacity data sales mediation method comprising steps
of: extracting at a user terminal from a large capacity storage
medium an online access code corresponding to large capacity data
and sending a registration request signal including user
identification information and said online access code to a large
capacity data sales server; sending from said large capacity data
sales server said user identification information to a large
capacity data sales mediation server; performing at said large
capacity data sales mediation server authentication of said user
identification information and sending results of said
authentication to said large capacity data sales server; sending
from the large capacity data sales server to said user terminal a
registration confirmation signal including the key code
corresponding to said online access code; encrypting at said user
terminal said key code; storing at said user terminal said
encrypted key code; and reproducing at said user terminal said
large capacity data by using said key code, wherein said large
capacity data sales server sends said registration confirmation
signal to said user terminal upon receiving from said large
capacity data sales mediation server results of said authentication
indicating that said user identification information is
authentic.
7. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 6, further comprising a step of: counting at said large
capacity data sales server a number of user terminals storing the
key code corresponding to said online access code, wherein sending
from said large capacity data sales server to said user terminal
said registration confirmation signal occurs upon acquiring
information on the key code corresponding to said online access
code and determining that the number of user terminals storing said
key code is smaller than a predetermined number.
8. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 6, wherein said large capacity data sales server sends to
said user terminal said registration confirmation signal upon
receiving payment of a usage charge for said large capacity
data.
9. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 8, further comprising steps of: paying by a manager of said
large capacity data sales mediation server said usage charge to a
manager of said large capacity data sales server; and collecting by
the manager of said large capacity data sales mediation server said
usage charge.
10. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 6, further comprising steps of: sending by said user terminal
to said large capacity data sales server a deregistration request
signal including a request for erasure of said key code in the user
terminal; sending by said large capacity data sales server a
deregistration confirmation signal to said user terminal; and
receiving at said user terminal said deregistration confirmation
signal and erasing at said user terminal said key code.
11. A large capacity data sales mediation system having a user
terminal, a large capacity data sales mediation server and a large
capacity data sales server, said user terminal comprising: means
for sending to said large capacity data sales mediation server a
registration request signal including user identification
information and an online access code unique to large capacity data
stored in a large capacity storage medium; means for receiving from
said large capacity data sales mediation server a registration
confirmation signal including a key code corresponding to said
online access code; means for encrypting said key code; means for
storing said encrypted key code; and means for reproducing large
capacity data by using the key code, said large capacity data sales
mediation server comprising: storage means for storing user
information; means for determining whether user information
corresponding to said user identification information is stored in
said storage means; means for sending said online access code to
said large capacity data sales server; means for receiving from
said large capacity data sales server said key code corresponding
to said online access code; means for sending to the user terminal
said registration confirmation signal; and means for counting a
number of user terminals storing the key code, and said large
capacity data sales server comprising: means for storing
information on the key code corresponding to said online access
code; and means for acquiring the key code corresponding to said
online access code from said means for storing information and
sending the key code to said large capacity data sales mediation
server, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends said registration confirmation signal to said user terminal
upon acquiring user information corresponding to the user
identification information from said storage means, meeting at the
large capacity data sales server a condition that the key code
corresponding to said online access code is stored in said means
for storing information, and determining that the number of user
terminals storing the key code is smaller than a predetermined
number.
12. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 11, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends to said user terminal said registration confirmation signal
upon further receiving payment of a usage charge for said large
capacity data.
13. The large capacity data sales mediation system according to
claim 11, wherein said user terminal further comprises: means for
sending to said large capacity data sales mediation server a
deregistration request signal for requesting erasure of said key
code in the user terminal; and means for receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from said large capacity data sales mediation
server; and means for erasing said key code in said user terminal,
and wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server further
comprises means for sending said deregistration confirmation signal
to said user terminal.
14. A large capacity data sales mediation method comprising steps
of: extracting at a user terminal from a large capacity storage
medium an online access code corresponding to large capacity data
and sending a registration request signal including user
identification information and said online access code to a large
capacity data sales mediation server; sending by said large
capacity data sales mediation server the online access code to said
large capacity data sales server; retrieving at said large capacity
data sales server a key code corresponding to said online access
code and sending by said large capacity data sales server said key
code to said large capacity data sales mediation server; sending by
the large capacity data sales mediation server to said user
terminal a registration confirmation signal including the key code;
encrypting at said user terminal said key code; storing at said
user terminal said encrypted key code; and reproducing at said user
terminal the large capacity data by using said key code, wherein
said large capacity data sales mediation server sends to said user
terminal said registration confirmation signal upon said large
capacity data sales mediation server acquiring user information
corresponding to said user identification information, said large
capacity data sales server acquiring the key code corresponding to
said online access code, and said large capacity data sales
mediation server determining that a number of user terminals
storing the key code is smaller than a predetermined number.
15. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 14, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends to said user terminal said registration confirmation signal
upon further receiving payment of a usage charge for said large
capacity data.
16. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 14, further comprising steps of: sending by said user
terminal to said large capacity data sales mediation server a
deregistration request signal including a request for erasure of
said encrypted key code in the user terminal; sending by said large
capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration confirmation
signal to said user terminal; and receiving at said user terminal
the deregistration confirmation signal and erasing at said user
terminal said encrypted key code.
17. A large capacity data sales mediation server comprising: means
for receiving from a user terminal a registration request signal
comprising an online access code and user identification
information, said user terminal having large capacity data stored
in a large capacity storage medium; storage means for storing user
information; means for storing information on a key code
corresponding to said online access code; means for acquiring the
key code from a large capacity data sales server and storing the
key code in said means for storing; means for determining whether
user information corresponding to said user identification
information is stored in said storage means; means for acquiring
the key code from said means for storing and sending to the user
terminal a registration confirmation signal comprising the key
code; and means for counting a number of user terminals storing the
key code, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends to said user terminal said registration confirmation signal
upon acquiring user information corresponding to said user
identification information from said storage means, acquiring the
key code from said means for storing, and t determining that the
number of user terminals storing the key code is smaller than a
predetermined number, and wherein said key code is used by said
user terminal to reproduce said large capacity data at said user
terminal.
18. The large capacity data sales mediation server according to
claim 17, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
acquires said key code from said large capacity data sales server
upon failing to acquire said key code from said means for
storing.
19. The large capacity data sales mediation server according to
claim 17, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends to said user terminal said registration confirmation signal
upon further receiving payment of a usage charge for said large
capacity data.
20. The large capacity data sales mediation server according to
claim 17, further comprising means for receiving a deregistration
request signal from said user terminal and for sending a
deregistration confirmation signal to said user terminal.
21. A large capacity data sales mediation method comprising steps
of: extracting, at a user terminal, from a large capacity storage
medium an online access code corresponding to large capacity data
and sending a registration request signal comprising user
identification information and said online access code to a large
capacity data sales mediation server; sending by a large capacity
data sales server to said large capacity data sales mediation
server a key code corresponding to said online access code; storing
at said large capacity data sales mediation server said key code;
sending by the large capacity data sales mediation server to said
user terminal a registration confirmation signal including the key
code; encrypting at said user terminal said key code; storing at
said user terminal said encrypted key code; counting at said large
capacity data sales mediation server a number of user terminals
storing said key code; and reproducing at said user terminal the
large capacity data by using said key code, wherein said large
capacity data sales mediation server sends to said user terminal
said registration confirmation signal upon acquiring user
information corresponding to said user identification information
from said large capacity data sales mediation server, acquiring the
key code from either said large capacity data sales mediation
server or said large capacity data sales server, and determining
that the number of user terminals storing the key code is smaller
than a predetermined number.
22. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 21, wherein said large capacity data sales mediation server
sends to said user terminal said registration confirmation signal
upon further receiving payment of a usage charge for said large
capacity data.
23. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 21, further comprising steps of: upon said large capacity
data sales mediation server failing to acquire said key code,
sending by said large capacity data sales mediation server the
online access code to said large capacity data sales server; and
sending by said large capacity data sales server the key code to
said large capacity data sales mediation server.
24. The large capacity data sales mediation method according to
claim 56, further comprising steps of: sending by said user
terminal to said large capacity data sales mediation server a
deregistration request signal including a request for erasure of
said encrypted key code in the user terminal; sending by said large
capacity data sales mediation server send a deregistration
confirmation signal to said user terminal; and upon receiving the
deregistration confirmation signal from said large capacity data
sales mediation server, erasing at said user terminal said
encrypted key code.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a division of application Ser. No.
09/983,449, filed Oct. 24, 2001, now pending, and related to two
concurrently filed applications entitled LARGE CAPACITY DATA SALES
SERVER AND RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING PROGRAM THEREOF (Attorney
Docket No. 072982-0273) and LARGE CAPACITY DATA SALES MEDIATION
SERVER AND TERMINAL (Attorney Docket No. 072982-0275) and based on
Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-332119, filed Oct. 25, 2000,
by Koji Maeda. This application claims only subject matter
disclosed in the parent application and therefore presents no new
matter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to large capacity data sales
method and system, and large capacity data sales mediation method
and system for selling data of a large capacity such as animation
data.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] In recent years, a technology (service) for distributing
data such as music via a network as the Internet is rapidly
becoming widespread. For instance, an incoming tone distribution
service for a portable telephone is quite successful in terms of
business.
[0004] According to the above conventional technology, however,
time required for transmitting data is extremely long in the case
of distributing or selling large capacity data of a data amount
(capacity) far larger than music data, such as animation data, map
data and dictionary data is conducted. For this reason,
communication costs and so on also become huge. In addition,
sending and receiving data of such large amount put an enormous
load on a communication environment.
[0005] Therefore, distribution and sales of data via the network is
effective for data of a small capacity such as melody data for
incoming tone as in the above conventional technology, but it is
not practical in the case of large capacity data such as animation
data.
[0006] On the other hand, storage media capable of storing large
capacity data as animation data are currently quite inexpensive.
For instance, a DVD-ROM, a typical one of such storage media is
capable of storing large capacity data such as movies, and may be
even attached to a magazine or the like nowadays.
[0007] Moreover, a CD-ROM, which is becoming popular as a storage
medium for storing large capacity data in spite of its smaller
capacity than the DVD-ROM, are occasionally distributed for
free.
[0008] Thus, it is expected that the animation data will be sold
and distributed by such storage media rather than a communication
line in the future as well.
[0009] As for a sales and distribution method of the animation data
using such storage media, however, various problems are pointed
out. A first problem is that this large capacity data may be
distributed to a number of unspecified persons. A second problem is
that this large capacity data becomes expensive. A third problem is
that much labor and costs are required therefor.
[0010] The first problem is a problem of so-called unauthorized
copies. For instance, a variety of technologies for preventing
unauthorized copies are installed on the DVD-ROM, but these
unauthorized copy preventing technologies are uniformly provided as
a standard of the DVD-ROM, and so their level relatively become
lower and vulnerable as the technology level is ever rising.
[0011] The second problem arises because such a sales method only
allows assignment of the large capacity data. To be more specific,
it is very expensive to sell and/or distribute storage media in
which the large capacity data is stored because recovering the
storage media is difficult as compared with the cases of renting
them (assignment with a deadline).
[0012] The third problem arises because large capacity media must
be sold by way of an actual distribution channel. For instance, a
still popular sales method of delivering an animation medium to a
predetermined retailer and collecting a price from a purchaser
requires a lot of labor and costs. While comprehensive efficiency
of this sales method is better than said cases of distributing
and/or selling the large capacity data such as the animation data
by using the aforementioned network, it is extremely inefficient if
compared to a distribution method via a network of small-scale data
such as the above music data.
[0013] On the other hand, the first conventional technology
disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. HEI 03-3290 discloses
an image reproduction system constituted so that an image
reproduction device has mode switches for respective mode
functions, and a recording medium with an inserted key code
corresponding to one of the modes of the above mode switches is
provided so as to operate the image reproduction device only in the
case where, on setting the recording medium on the above image
reproduction device, the mode function of the above mode switch
corresponds to the key code of the recording medium.
[0014] As for this first conventional technology, however, it is
just that the image reproduction device operates only in the case
where the key code of the recording medium corresponds to the mode
function of the above mode switch, and as the applicant who
proposed the first conventional technology points out, it does not
show a countermeasure against the above-mentioned problem of
unauthorized copies even though it can be used in order not to show
children an educationally undesirable VTR, for instance. In
addition, it does not indicate any countermeasure against the above
second and third problems.
[0015] The second conventional technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid Open No. HEI 08-235759 discloses a disk
reproducing device for reproducing an image program recorded on a
disk on which an image display prohibition process is performed by
correspondence of a lock code, having a power switch for turning on
and off the power of the device proper, and a means for storing an
image display state and a reproduced position address when the
above described power switch is turned off, a checking means for
checking a previous image display state from the above described
means for storing when the above described power switch is turned
on, and means for maintaining an image display prohibition state in
the case where, as a result of the check, it is verified that the
image display prohibition was cancelled to display images last time
due to correspondence of the lock code.
[0016] However, this second conventional technology is a technology
for a problem that, in a parental process technology for rendering
a part or all of a video tape, a video disk and so on
irreproducible without inputting a specific key code, a player
having a memory play function for, if switched off and then
switched on, starting reproduction from a scene reproduced when
switched off last time has the memory play function also performed
to the video disk having undergone the parental process, and so it
is not a technology for solving the problems described above.
[0017] The third conventional technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 10-334048 discloses a method
of sending predetermined chargeable information on a WWW server to
a user side in response to a request from a personal computer on
the above user side on which a WWW browser of the Internet is
mounted; the above method having: a first password sending stage
for inputting a first password on the above WWW browser from the
personal computer on the above user side and sending the inputted
first password to the above WWW server; a second password returning
stage for the above WWW server to issue a second password according
to the above first password and return the above second password to
the user browsing the above WWW browser; a password notifying stage
for the above user to dial a number of a center device of a
videotex communication network displayed on the above WWW browser
and notify the above center device of the above first password and
the second password acquired by way of the above Internet and also
notify the above WWW server or a server different from the above
WWW server and having a function of governing an accounting check
of the WWW server of the above first password and the second
password received by the above center device; a password checking
stage for the above WWW server or the above different server to
check the above first password and the second password received
from the above user via the above center device against the above
first password received from the above user via the above Internet
and the above second password issued by the above WWW server; and a
chargeable information sending stage for sending the above
predetermined chargeable information from the above WWW server to
the personal computer on the above user side in the case where the
check results in the above password checking stage correspond.
[0018] However, this third conventional technology is a technology
for handling the chargeable information that is difficult to handle
on the WWW server by using the videotex communication network, and
so it is not a technology for solving the problems described
above.
[0019] The fourth conventional technology disclosed in Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 11-225324 discloses a
technology related to a reproduction system for reproducing AV
information recorded on a storage medium and outputting it on a
display device, the above system having: a means for storing
resource use information for, to use related information related to
predetermined stream information included in the above described AV
information, connecting to a resource having said related
information, the above resource use information having a plurality
of definitions of the same related information based on
predetermined system attribute information; and control means for,
when reproducing the above described AV information, selecting the
above described resource use information determined based on the
above described system attribute information to process the above
described related information acquired from the resource and
display it on the screen of the above described display device.
[0020] However, this fourth conventional technology is a technology
for, in a system for reproducing the AV information from a storage
medium such as the DVD, acquiring related information related to
predetermined stream information by using resources of a computer
network in addition to ordinary reproduction of a title, and so it
is not a technology for solving the problems described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present invention has been implemented in consideration
of the above problems, and its object is to provide an animation
data sales mediation method, an animation data sales mediation
system, an animation data sales mediation server and a user
terminal capable of providing large capacity data such as animation
data by a large capacity storage medium in advance, rendering the
time required for transfer of the data via the network extremely
short by passing the key code for viewing the animation data via
the network, rendering the labor and costs required for sales of
the animation data extremely low, and providing the latest
unauthorized copy prevention technology to the animation data.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
animation data sales method, an animation data sales system, an
animation data sales server and a user terminal capable of
providing large capacity data such as animation data by a large
capacity storage medium in advance, rendering the time required for
transfer of the data extremely short by passing the key code for
viewing the animation data via the network, rendering the labor and
costs required for sales of the animation data extremely low, and
providing the latest unauthorized copy prevention technology to the
animation data.
[0023] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
storage medium recording an animation data purchase program for
purchasing large capacity data such as animation data in this
manner. 10024] In order to attain these objects, the first aspect
of the present invention provides a large capacity data sales
system having a user terminal and a large capacity data sales
server, the user terminal comprising: means for sending to the
large capacity data sales server an online access code unique to
large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium by
including it in a registration request signal; means for encrypting
and storing a key code included in a registration confirmation
signal received from the large capacity data sales server; and
means for reproducing the large capacity data by using the key
code, and the large capacity data sales server comprising: means
for storing information on the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one; and means for, in the case where the
registration request signal has a registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, acquiring the key code corresponding to the
online access code from the means for storing and sending the key
code to the user terminal by including it in the registration
confirmation signal.
[0024] In accordance with the second aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales system according to the
first aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data
sales server further comprises means for determining the number of
the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one respectively.
[0025] In accordance with the third aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales system according to the
second aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data
sales server sets conditions for the registration confirmation
signal sending requirement, including a condition that information
on the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one
is stored in the means for storing and a condition that the number
of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined
number.
[0026] In accordance with the fourth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales system according to the
first aspect of the present invention, the registration request
signal further includes user identification information, and the
large capacity data sales server further has storage means for user
information, and sets a condition, for the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, that the user
identification information corresponds to the user information.
[0027] In accordance with the fifth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales system according to the
first aspect of the present invention, the large capacity data
sales server sets a condition, for the registration confirmation
signal sending requirement, that a usage charge for the large
capacity data is paid.
[0028] In accordance with the sixth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales system according to the
first aspect of the present invention, the user terminal further
comprises: means for sending to the large capacity data sales
server a deregistration request signal for requesting erasure of
the key code in the user terminal; and means for, in the case of
receiving the deregistration confirmation signal from the large
capacity data sales server, erasing the key code in the user
terminal, and the large capacity data sales server further
comprises means for, in the case where the deregistration request
signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, sending the deregistration confirmation signal to the
user terminal.
[0029] In accordance with the seventh aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a user terminal comprising: means for
sending to the large capacity data sales server an online access
code unique to large capacity data stored in a large capacity
storage medium by including it in a registration request signal;
means for encrypting and storing a key code included in a
registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity
data sales server; and means for reproducing the large capacity
data by using the key code.
[0030] In accordance with the eighth aspect of the present
invention, the user terminal according to the seventh aspect of the
present invention comprises: means for sending to the large
capacity data sales server a deregistration request signal
including a request for erasure of the key code in the user
terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales server,
erasing the key code.
[0031] In accordance with the ninth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales server,
comprising: means for storing information on a key code
corresponding to an online access code one to one; means for, in
the case where a registration request signal received from a user
terminal has a registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, acquiring the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one from the means for storing and sending a
registration confirmation signal including the key code to the user
terminal.
[0032] In accordance with the tenth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to the
ninth aspect of the present invention, comprises: means for
determining the number of the user terminals for storing the key
code corresponding to the online access code one to one
respectively; and conditions for the registration confirmation
signal sending requirement including a condition that information
on the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one
is stored in the means for storing and a condition that the number
of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined
number.
[0033] In accordance with the eleventh aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales server according to the
tenth aspect of the present invention, the registration request
signal further includes user identification information, and the
server further has storage means for user information, and sets a
condition, for the registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, that the user identification information corresponds
to the user information.
[0034] In accordance with the twelfth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to the
ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized by setting a
condition, for the registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacity data is
paid.
[0035] In accordance with the thirteenth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to the
ninth aspect of the present invention is characterized by further
comprising means for, in the case where a deregistration request
signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, sending a deregistration confirmation signal to the
user terminal having sent the deregistration request signal.
[0036] In accordance with the fourteenth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales method
comprising the steps of: having a user terminal extract from a
large capacity storage medium an online access code corresponding
to large capacity data one to one and send the online access code
to a large capacity data sales server by including it in a
registration request signal; in the case where the registration
request signal has a registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the large capacity data sales server send to
the user terminal a registration confirmation signal including a
key code corresponding to the online access code one to one; having
the user terminal encrypt and store the key code; and having the
user terminal reproduce the large capacity data by using the key
code.
[0037] In accordance with the fifteenth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales method according to the
fourteenth aspect of the present invention further comprises the
step of: having the large capacity data sales server determine for
each online access code the number of the user terminals for
storing the key code corresponding to the online access code one to
one; the conditions for the registration request signal to have the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement including a
condition that the large capacity data sales server can acquire
information on the key code corresponding to the online access code
one to one and a condition that the number of the user terminals
for storing the key code is smaller than a predetermined
number.
[0038] In accordance with the sixteenth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales method according to the
fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the registration
request signal further includes user identification information,
and the large capacity data sales server further stores user
information, and sets a condition, for the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, that the user
identification information corresponds to the user information.
[0039] In accordance with the seventeenth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales method according to the
fourteenth aspect of the present invention is characterized by
setting a condition, for the registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacity
data is paid.
[0040] In accordance with the eighteenth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales method according to the
fourteenth aspect of the present invention comprises the steps of:
having the user terminal send to the large capacity data sales
server a deregistration request signal including a request for
erasure of the key code in the user terminal; in the case where the
deregistration request signal has a deregistration confirmation
signal sending requirement, having the large capacity data sales
server send the deregistration confirmation signal to the user
terminal; and in the case of receiving the deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales server,
having the user terminal erase the key code.
[0041] In accordance with the nineteenth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
system having a user terminal, a large capacity data sales
mediation server and a large capacity data sales server, the user
terminal comprising: means for sending to the large capacity data
sales server a registration request signal including user
identification information and an online access code unique to
large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium;
means for encrypting and storing a key code included in a
registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity
data sales server; and means for reproducing the large capacity
data by using the key code, the large capacity data sales server
comprising: means for storing information on the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one; means for
sending the user identification information to the large capacity
data sales mediation server; and means for, in the case where the
registration request signal inputted from the user terminal has a
registration confirmation signal sending requirement, acquiring the
key code corresponding to the online access code from the means for
storing and sending the key code to the user terminal by including
it in the registration confirmation signal, and the large capacity
data sales mediation server comprising: storage means for user
information; and means for determining whether or not the user
information corresponding to the user identification information is
stored in the storage means and sending the determination results
to the large capacity data sales mediation server, and the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement setting a
condition that it receives from the large capacity data sales
mediation server a notice to the effect that the user information
corresponding to the user identification information is stored in
the storage means.
[0042] In accordance with the twentieth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the
large capacity data sales server further comprises means for
determining the number of the user terminals for storing the key
code corresponding to the online access code one to one
respectively.
[0043] In accordance with the twenty first aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention, the
large capacity data sales server further has conditions for the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement including a
condition that information on the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one is stored in the means for storing,
and a condition that the number of the user terminals for storing
the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one is
smaller than a predetermined number.
[0044] In accordance with the twenty second aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the
large capacity data sales server sets a condition, for the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a usage
charge for the large capacity data is paid.
[0045] In accordance with the twenty third aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, the
user terminal further comprises: means for sending to the large
capacity data sales server a deregistration request signal for
requesting erasure of the key code in the user terminal; and means
for, in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmation
signal from the large capacity data sales server, erasing the key
code in the user terminal, and the large capacity data sales server
further comprises means for, in the case where the deregistration
request signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, sending the deregistration confirmation signal to the
user terminal.
[0046] In accordance with the twenty fourth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales server,
comprising: means for storing information on a key code
corresponding to an online access code one to one; means for having
a large capacity data sales mediation server perform user
authentication based on user identification information included in
a registration request signal inputted from a user terminal; and
means for, in the case where the registration request signal has a
registration confirmation signal sending requirement, acquiring the
key code corresponding to the online access code from the means for
storing and sending the key code to the user terminal by including
it in a registration confirmation signal, the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement including a condition that
the user is identified by the user authentication.
[0047] In accordance with the twenty fifth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to the
twenty fourth aspect of the present invention further comprises:
means for determining the number of the user terminals for storing
the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one
respectively; and conditions, for the registration confirmation
signal sending requirement, that is, a condition that information
on the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one
is stored in the means for storing and a condition that the number
of the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined
number.
[0048] In accordance with the twenty sixth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to the
twenty fourth aspect of the present invention is characterized by
setting a condition, for the registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, that a usage charge for the large capacity
data is paid.
[0049] In accordance with the twenty seventh aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales server according to claim
the twenty fourth aspect of the present invention further comprises
means for, in the case where a received deregistration request
signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, sending a deregistration confirmation signal to the
user terminal.
[0050] In accordance with the twenty eighth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
server comprising: storage means for user information; and means
for determining whether or not the user information corresponding
to user identification information inputted from a large capacity
data sales server is stored in the storage means and sending the
determination results to the large capacity data sales mediation
server.
[0051] In accordance with the twenty ninth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
method comprising the steps of: having a user terminal extract from
a large capacity storage medium an online access code corresponding
to large capacity data one to one and send a registration request
signal including user identification information and the online
access code to a large capacity data sales server; having the large
capacity data sales server send the user identification information
to the large capacity data sales mediation server; having the large
capacity data sales mediation server perform user authentication
based on the user identification information and send
authentication results to the large capacity data sales server; in
the case where the registration request signal has a registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, having the large capacity
data sales server send to the user terminal a registration
confirmation signal including the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one; having the user terminal encrypt and
store the key code; and having the user terminal reproduce the
large capacity data by using the key code, wherein the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement has a condition that the
user is identified by the authentication results.
[0052] In accordance with the thirtieth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the twenty ninth aspect of the present invention further
comprises the step of: having the large capacity data sales server
determine for each online access code the number of the user
terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one; the conditions for the registration request
signal to meet the registration confirmation signal sending
requirement including a condition that the large capacity data
sales server can acquire information on the key code corresponding
to the online access code one to one and a condition that the
number of the user terminals for storing the key code is smaller
than a predetermined number.
[0053] In accordance with the thirty first aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the twenty ninth aspect of the present invention is
characterized by setting a condition, for the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, that a usage charge for
the large capacity data is paid.
[0054] In accordance with the thirty second aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the thirty first aspect of the present invention further
comprises the steps of: having a manager of the large capacity data
sales mediation server pay the usage charge to a manager of the
large capacity data sales server; and having the manager of the
large capacity data sales mediation server collect the usage charge
from the user of the large capacity data.
[0055] In accordance with the thirty third aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the twenty ninth aspect of the present invention further
comprises the steps of: having the user terminal send to the large
capacity data sales server a deregistration request signal
including a request for erasure of the key code in the user
terminal; in the case where the deregistration request signal has a
deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the
large capacity data sales server send the deregistration
confirmation signal to the user terminal; and in the case of
receiving the deregistration confirmation signal from the large
capacity data sales server, having the user terminal erase the key
code.
[0056] In accordance with the thirty fourth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
system having a user terminal, a large capacity data sales
mediation server and a large capacity data sales server, the user
terminal comprising: means for sending to the large capacity data
sales mediation server a registration request signal including user
identification information and an online access code unique to
large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium;
means for encrypting and storing a key code included in a
registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity
data sales mediation server; and means for reproducing large
capacity data by using the key code, and the large capacity data
sales mediation server comprising: storage means for user
information; means for determining whether or not user information
corresponding to the user identification information is stored in
the storage means; means for sending an online access code included
in the registration request signal to the large capacity data sales
server; means for, in the case where the registration request
signal inputted from the user terminal has a registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, sending to the user
terminal the registration confirmation signal including the key
code inputted from the large capacity data sales server; and means
for determining the number of the user terminals for storing the
key code corresponding to the online access code one to one, and
the large capacity data sales server comprising: means for storing
information on the key code corresponding to the online access code
one to one; and means for acquiring the inputted key code
corresponding to the online access code from the means for storing
and sending the key code to the large capacity data sales mediation
server, and the registration confirmation signal sending
requirement including a condition that user information
corresponding to the user information included in the registration
request signal is stored in the storage means, a condition that the
information on the key code corresponding to the online access code
one to one is stored in the means for storing, and a condition that
the number of the user terminals for storing the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller than
a predetermined number.
[0057] In accordance with the thirty fifth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the thirty fourth aspect of the present invention, the
large capacity data sales mediation server sets a condition, for
the registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a
usage charge for the large capacity data is paid.
[0058] In accordance with the thirty sixth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to thirty fourth aspect of the present invention, the
user terminal further comprises: means for sending to the large
capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration request
signal for requesting erasure of the key code in the user terminal;
and means for, in the case of receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales mediation
server, erasing the key code in the user terminal, and the large
capacity data sales mediation server further has means for, in the
case where the deregistration request signal received has a
deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending the
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.
[0059] In accordance with the thirty seventh aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a user terminal comprising: means for
sending to a large capacity data sales mediation server a
registration request signal including user identification
information and an online access code unique to large capacity data
stored in a large capacity storage medium; means for encrypting and
storing a key code included in a registration confirmation signal
received from the large capacity data sales mediation server; and
means for reproducing large capacity data by using the key
code.
[0060] In accordance with the thirty eighth aspect of the present
invention, the user terminal according to the thirty seventh aspect
of the present invention further comprises: means for sending to
the large capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration
request signal requesting erasure of the key code in the user
terminal; and means for, in the case of receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales mediation
server, erasing the key code in the user terminal.
[0061] In accordance with the thirty ninth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales server
comprising: means for storing information on a key code
corresponding to an online access code one to one; means for
acquiring from the means for storing the key code corresponding to
the online access code inputted from the large capacity data sales
mediation server and sending the key code to the large capacity
data sales mediation server.
[0062] In accordance with the fortieth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
server comprising: storage means for user information; means for
determining whether or not the user information corresponding to
user identification information included in a registration request
signal is stored in the storage means; means for sending an online
access code included in the registration request signal to the
large capacity data sales server; means for, in the case where the
registration request signal has a registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, sending to the user terminal the registration
confirmation signal including a key code inputted from the large
capacity data sales server; and means for determining the number of
the user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one respectively, the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement setting a condition that
user information corresponding to the user identification
information is stored in the storage means, a condition that the
information on the key code corresponding to the online access code
one to one is stored in the means for storing, and a condition that
the number of the user terminals for storing the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller than
a predetermined number.
[0063] In accordance with the forty first aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation server
according to the fortieth aspect of the present invention, the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement includes a
condition that a usage charge for the large capacity data is
paid.
[0064] In accordance with the forty second aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation server according
to the fortieth aspect of the present invention comprises means for
sending a deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal
in the case where a deregistration request signal received from the
user terminal meets a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement.
[0065] In accordance with the forty third aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
method comprising the steps of: having a user terminal extract from
a large capacity storage medium an online access code corresponding
to large capacity data one to one and send a registration request
signal including user identification information and the online
access code to a large capacity data sales mediation server; having
the large capacity data sales mediation server send the online
access code included in the registration request signal to the
large capacity data sales server; having the large capacity data
sales server send a key code corresponding to the inputted online
access code one to one to the large capacity data sales mediation
server; in the case where the registration request signal has a
registration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the
large capacity data sales mediation server send to the user
terminal a registration confirmation signal including the key code
inputted from the large capacity data sales server; having the user
terminal encrypt and store the key code; and having the user
terminal reproduce the large capacity data by using the key code,
wherein the registration confirmation signal sending requirement
includes a condition that user information corresponding to the
user identification information is stored in the large capacity
data sales mediation server, a condition that the information on
the key code corresponding to the online access code one to one is
stored in the large capacity data sales server, and a condition
that the number of the user terminals for storing the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one is smaller than
a predetermined number.
[0066] In accordance with the forty fourth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation method
according to the forty third aspect of the present invention, the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement includes a
condition that a usage charge for the large capacity data is
paid.
[0067] In accordance with the forty fifth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the forty third aspect of the present invention further
comprises the steps of: having the user terminal send to the large
capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration request
signal including a request for erasure of the key code in the user
terminal; in the case where the received deregistration request
signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the large capacity data sales mediation server
send the deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal;
and in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmation signal
from the large capacity data sales mediation server, having the
user terminal erase the key code.
[0068] In accordance with the forty sixth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
system having a user terminal, a large capacity data sales
mediation server and a large capacity data sales server, the user
terminal comprising: means for sending to the large capacity data
sales mediation server a registration request signal including user
identification information and an online access code unique to
large capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium;
means for encrypting and storing a key code included in a
registration confirmation signal received from the large capacity
data sales mediation server; and means for using large capacity
data by using the key code, the large capacity data sales server
comprising: first means for storing information on the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one; and means for
sending information on the key code to the large capacity data
sales mediation server in predetermined timing, and the large
capacity data sales mediation server comprising: storage means for
user information; second means for storing information on the key
code corresponding to the online access code one to one; means for
determining the number of the user terminals for storing the key
code corresponding to the online access code one to one
respectively; means for acquiring the information on the key code
from the large capacity data sales server and storing it in the
second means for storing; means for determining whether or not user
information corresponding to the user identification information is
stored in the storage means; and means for, in the case where the
registration request signal has a registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, acquiring the key code corresponding to the
registration request signal one to one from the second means for
storing and sending to the user terminal the registration
confirmation signal including the key code, wherein the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement includes a
condition that user information corresponding to the user
identification information is stored in the storage means, a
condition that the information on the key code corresponding to the
online access code one to one is stored in either the first or
second means for storing, and a condition that the number of the
user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined number.
[0069] In accordance with the forty seventh aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the forty sixth aspect of the present invention, the
predetermined timing is timing to be given a notice from the large
capacity data sales mediation server that no key code corresponding
to the online access code is stored in the second means for
storing.
[0070] In accordance with the forty eighth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the forty sixth aspect of the present invention, the
large capacity data sales mediation server sets a condition, for
the registration confirmation signal sending requirement, that a
usage charge for the large capacity data is paid.
[0071] In accordance with the forty ninth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation system
according to the forty sixth aspect of the present invention, the
user terminal further comprises: means for sending to the large
capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration request
signal for requesting erasure of the key code in the user terminal;
and means for, in the case of receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales mediation
server, erasing the key code in the user terminal, and the large
capacity data sales mediation server further comprises means for,
in the case where the received deregistration request signal has a
deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement, sending the
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal.
[0072] In accordance with the fiftieth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales server
comprising: means for storing information on a key code
corresponding to an online access code one to one; and means for
sending information on the key code to a large capacity data sales
mediation server in predetermined timing.
[0073] In accordance with the fifty first aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales server according to the
fiftieth aspect of the present invention, the predetermined timing
is the timing to be given a notice that the large capacity data
sales mediation server detects no key signal corresponding to the
online access signal stored in the server.
[0074] In accordance with the fifty second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
server comprising: storage means for user information; means for
storing information on a key code corresponding to an online access
code one to one; means for acquiring the information on the key
code from the large capacity data sales server and storing it in
the means for storing; means for determining whether or not user
information corresponding to user identification information
included in a registration request signal inputted from the user
terminal is stored in the storage means; means for, in the case
where the registration request signal has a registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, acquiring the key code
corresponding to the registration request signal one to one from
the means for storing and sending to the user terminal the
registration confirmation signal including the key code; means for
determining the number of the user terminals for storing the key
code corresponding to the online access code one to one
respectively, wherein the registration confirmation signal sending
requirement includes a condition that user information
corresponding to the user identification information is stored in
the storage means, a condition that the information on the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one is stored in the
means for storing, and a condition that the number of the user
terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined number.
[0075] In accordance with the fifty third aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation server
according to the fifty second aspect of the present invention, the
information on the key code is acquired from the large capacity
data sales server in the case of detecting no key code
corresponding to the online access code included in the
registration request signal stored in the means for storing.
[0076] In accordance with the fifty fourth aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation server
according to the fifty second aspect of the present invention, the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement includes a
condition that a usage charge for the large capacity data is
paid.
[0077] In accordance with the fifty fifth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation server according
to the fifty second aspect of the present invention is
characterized by having means for, in the case where the received
deregistration request signal has a deregistration confirmation
signal sending requirement, sending a deregistration confirmation
signal to the user terminal.
[0078] In accordance with the fifty sixth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a large capacity data sales mediation
method comprising the steps of: having a large capacity data sales
server send to a large capacity data sales mediation server
information on a key code corresponding to an online access code
one to one; having the large capacity data sales mediation server
store the information on the key code; having a user terminal
extract the online access code corresponding one to one to large
capacity data stored in a large capacity storage medium storing the
large capacity data and send a registration request signal
including user identification information and the online access
code to the large capacity data sales mediation server; in the case
where the registration request signal has a registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, having the large capacity
data sales mediation server send to the user terminal a
registration confirmation signal including the key code
corresponding to the online access signal included in the
registration request signal; having the user terminal encrypt and
store the key code; and having the user terminal reproduce the
large capacity data by using the key code, the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement including a condition that
user information corresponding to the user identification
information is stored in the large capacity data sales mediation
server, a condition that the information on the key code
corresponding to the online access code one to one is stored in
either the large capacity data sales mediation server or the large
capacity data sales server, and a condition that the number of the
user terminals for storing the key code corresponding to the online
access code one to one is smaller than a predetermined number.
[0079] In accordance with the fifty seventh aspect of the present
invention, in the large capacity data sales mediation method
according to the fifty sixth aspect of the present invention, the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement includes a
condition that a usage charge for the large capacity data is
paid.
[0080] In accordance with the fifty eighth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the fifty sixth aspect of the present invention further
comprises the steps of: in the case where no information on the key
code corresponding to the online access code is stored, having the
large capacity data sales mediation server send the online access
code to the large capacity data sales server; and having the large
capacity data sales server send the information on the key code
corresponding to the online access code to the large capacity data
sales mediation server.
[0081] In accordance with the fifty ninth aspect of the present
invention, the large capacity data sales mediation method according
to the fifty sixth aspect of the present invention further
comprising the steps of: having the user terminal send to the large
capacity data sales mediation server a deregistration request
signal including a request for erasure of the key code in the user
terminal; in the case where the received deregistration request
signal has a deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the large capacity data sales mediation server
send the deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal;
and in the case of receiving the deregistration confirmation signal
from the large capacity data sales mediation server, having the
user terminal erase the key code.
[0082] In accordance with the sixtieth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium
recording a program for implementing the steps of: sending to a
large capacity data sales server a registration request signal
including an online access code unique to large capacity data;
extracting a key code in a registration confirmation signal
inputted from the large capacity data sales server to encrypt and
store it; and decoding the key code and using the large capacity
data by using the key code.
[0083] In accordance with the sixty first aspect of the present
invention, the computer-readable recording medium according to the
sixtieth aspect of the present invention records a program for
further implementing the steps of: sending to the large capacity
data sales server a deregistration request signal for requesting
deregistration; and in the case of receiving a deregistration
confirmation signal from the large capacity data sales server,
erasing the stored key code.
[0084] In accordance with the sixty second aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium
recording a program for implementing the steps of: sending to a
large capacity data sales mediation server a registration request
signal including an online access code unique to large capacity
data; extracting a key code in a registration confirmation signal
inputted from the large capacity data sales mediation server to
encrypt and store it; and decoding the key code and using the large
capacity data by using the key code.
[0085] In accordance with the sixty third aspect of the present
invention, the computer-readable recording medium according to the
sixty second aspect of the present invention, records a program for
further implementing the steps of: sending to the large capacity
data sales mediation server a deregistration request signal for
requesting deregistration; and in the case of receiving the
deregistration confirmation signal from the large capacity data
sales mediation server, erasing the stored key code.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0086] The objects and features of the present invention will
become more apparent from the consideration of the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0087] FIG. 1 is a first diagram for describing configuration of a
large capacity data sales mediation system and a flow of data and
so on;
[0088] FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing configuration of a large
capacity data sales system and the flow of data and so on;
[0089] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for describing the large capacity
data sales mediation system;
[0090] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing internal configuration of
a user terminal;
[0091] FIG. 5 is a diagram representing types of signals;
[0092] FIG. 6 is a first block diagram showing the internal
configuration of a large capacity data sales server;
[0093] FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing operation of a key code
sending feasibility determination division 84 in the case where a
registration request signal is inputted;
[0094] FIG. 8 is a flowchart for describing operation of the key
code sending feasibility determination division 84 in the case
where a deregistration request signal is inputted;
[0095] FIG. 9 is a second block diagram showing the internal
configuration of a large capacity data sales server;
[0096] FIG. 10 is a first sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales system;
[0097] FIG. 11 is a second sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales system;
[0098] FIG. 12 is a third sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales system;
[0099] FIG. 13 is a fourth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales system;
[0100] FIG. 14 is a third block diagram showing the internal
configuration of the large capacity data sales server;
[0101] FIG. 15 is a first block diagram showing the internal
configuration of a large capacity data sales mediation server;
[0102] FIG. 16 is a first sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0103] FIG. 17 is a second sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0104] FIG. 18 is a third sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0105] FIG. 19 is a second block diagram showing the internal
configuration of the large capacity data sales mediation
server;
[0106] FIG. 20 is a fourth block diagram showing the internal
configuration of the large capacity data sales server;
[0107] FIG. 21 is a second diagram for describing the configuration
of the large capacity data sales mediation system and the flow of
data and so on;
[0108] FIG. 22 is a fourth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0109] FIG. 23 is a fifth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0110] FIG. 24 is a sixth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0111] FIG. 25 is a seventh sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0112] FIG. 26 is an eighth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0113] FIG. 27 is a third block diagram showing the internal
configuration of the large capacity data sales mediation
server;
[0114] FIG. 28 is a fifth block diagram showing the internal
configuration of the large capacity data sales server;
[0115] FIG. 29 is a third diagram for describing the configuration
of the large capacity data sales mediation system and the flow of
data (signals) and so on;
[0116] FIG. 30 is a ninth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0117] FIG. 31 is a tenth sequence diagram for describing the flow
of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0118] FIG. 32 is an eleventh sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0119] FIG. 33 is a twelfth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0120] FIG. 34 is a thirteenth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0121] FIG. 35 is a fourteenth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system;
[0122] FIG. 36 is a fifteenth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system; and
[0123] FIG. 37 is a sixteenth sequence diagram for describing the
flow of processing in the large capacity data sales mediation
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0124] Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail referring to attached drawings.
[0125] The following description is one embodiment of the present
invention, and the present invention should not be limited by such
description.
[0126] While the following will be described by using animation
data that is one form of large capacity data, the large capacity
data is not limited to the animation data but it may be any data
having capacity of which distribution by a data distribution method
using a network is not realistic in terms of download time,
communication costs and so on, such as map data, programs, music
data and dictionary data.
[0127] In addition, while the following will be described by using
an animation medium that is one of large capacity storage media,
the large capacity storage media are not limited to it and they
include a DVD-ROM, a CD-ROM and so on capable of storing the above
described large capacity data, such as animation data, map data,
programs, music data and dictionary data. Such large capacity data
does not need to be stored in one large capacity storage medium but
may be stored in a plurality of media.
[0128] First, an animation data sales system, which is a large
capacity data sales system will be described, and an animation data
sales server, which is a large capacity data sales server and a
user terminal will be described.
Large Capacity Data Sales System
[0129] The animation data sales system of the present invention has
the user terminal and the animation data sales server. FIG. 2 shows
an example of this. In this drawing, the server of an animation
distribution service company 80 falls under the animation data
sales server.
<Animation Data Sales System>
[0130] As shown in FIG. 2, the animation data sales system has user
terminals 40 and 50 that are the first user terminals and the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 having the
first animation data sales server.
[0131] Hereafter, the animation data sales system will be
described, and the first user terminals and the first animation
data sales server will also be described.
[0132] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of data (signal) and an
animation medium in the animation data sales system.
[0133] As shown in FIG. 2, a user 10 acquires from a PC (personal
computer) shop 20 and so on an animation medium 30 in which the
animation data is stored. Moreover, the animation medium 30 may be
acquired not only from the PC shop 20 but from an arbitrary place.
As a charge may be collected as mentioned later, it is not
necessary to collect the charge (a consideration for the animation
medium (animation data)) when distributing the animation medium 30.
Accordingly, the animation medium 30 may be distributed anywhere
such as the PC shop 20 as shown in FIG. 2, or at a retailer, a
station and so on otherwise.
[0134] The animation medium 30 includes at least the animation data
and an online access code 60 for acquiring a key code 90. In
addition, it may have a reproduction program for reproducing the
animation data on the user terminals 40 and 50. Also, it may have
transmission program for sending the online access code 60 to the
animation distribution service company 80.
[0135] Moreover, the animation medium 30 (animation data) may be
reproduced by the reproduction program not stored in the animation
medium 30. For instance, it may be reproduced by the reproduction
program stored in advance in the user terminals 40 and 50 or by an
animation data reproducing device that may be included in the user
terminals 40 and 50.
[0136] Moreover, any format can be used for the formats (compressed
format, storage format and so on) of the animation data, the above
program and so on.
[0137] To reproduce the animation data (animation medium), it
requires at least the program or the device for reproducing the
above described animation data and the key code 90 corresponding to
the animation medium (animation data). To be more specific, the
animation data cannot be reproduced in the case where there is no
key code 90 unique to the animation medium (animation data).
[0138] Thus, the key code 90 is unique to each animation medium
(animation data), and besides, only a predetermined number
(preferably one) thereof is provided, and is encrypted by
cryptography and stored in the user terminal 40.
[0139] Because of this, the animation medium (animation data) is
not viewed by a plurality of user terminals under one license (key
code 90). To be more specific, the animation data sales mediation
system of the present invention prevents unauthorized copies by
using key code technology, providing only a predetermined number
(preferably one) of the key code 90 and using the cryptography.
[0140] Any technology may be used for the key code technology. To
be more specific, either a technology in the public domain or the
latest technology may be used for the key code technology.
[0141] As described above, the predetermined unauthorized copy
prevention technology is mounted on the animation medium (animation
data) and the animation data reproducing device (or the user
terminals 40 and 50).
[0142] However, even if this unauthorized copy prevention
technology is the latest technology at the stage of establishing
specifications of the animation medium and so on, it gradually
becomes inferior due to the daily progress in the technology, and
so the possibility of cracking this unauthorized copy prevention
technology becomes gradually high. For this reason, once the
unauthorized copy prevention technology is decrypted and an
unauthorized copy technology is invented, the unauthorized copy
prevention technology for the animation medium becomes useless
since the networks have come into wide use.
[0143] Accordingly, as mentioned above, it is possible to change
the unauthorized copy prevention technology for each animation
medium (animation data) by allowing any technology to be used as
the key code technology and thus it becomes very difficult to make
unauthorized copies (to decrypt and analyze the unauthorized copy
prevention technology).
[0144] Furthermore, as the use of the newest key code technology
allows the newest unauthorized copy prevention technology to be
adopted in ever-advancing technological standards, in addition to
the unauthorized copy prevention technology unique to the animation
medium that becomes inferior to the ever-advancing technological
standards, so that it becomes very difficult to make unauthorized
copies.
[0145] The user 10 acquires the key code 90 required for
reproducing this animation medium (animation data) from the server
of the animation distribution service company 80 by using the user
terminal 40. As a method of acquiring this, the online access code
60 stored in the animation medium 30 is sent to the server of the
animation distribution service company 80 and the key code 90
corresponding to it is sent in return. The details will be
described below.
[0146] The user terminal 40 only has to send and receive data
(signals) such as the online access code 60 and the key code 90 to
and from the server of the animation distribution service company
80. To be more specific, the first user terminals and the first
animation data sales server just have to be connected to an
environment capable of data communication such as a network 100.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 40 can be connected
to the network via an Internet provider 70.
[0147] The user 10 sends a registration request signal having at
least the online access code 60 to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 by using the user terminal 40. User
information can be sent in addition to the online access code 60 by
this registration request signal. This user information can be any
information by which the user can be identified, and in the case of
collecting a charge for the animation medium (animation data), it
can be any information for collecting a consideration (charge) of
the animation data (animation medium) such as the user's name,
address, telephone number and payment method of the charge.
[0148] Moreover, in the case where the number of the issued key
code 90 is smaller than the above predetermined number, the user 10
can cancel the contract once and execute a view contract again to
reproduce the animation data on a terminal other than the user
terminal in which the key code 90 is stored. This will be described
later.
[0149] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
first determines whether or not there is the predetermined key code
90 corresponding to the online access code 60. Next, it performs a
search as to whether the predetermined number of the key codes 90
have already been issued to the online access code 60.
[0150] The predetermined number of the key codes 90 are issued to
one online access code 60. To be more specific, the number of the
user terminals and animation reproducing devices capable of
reproducing one animation medium (animation data) will be a limited
number.
[0151] Thus, the key code 90 is no longer provided to the
registration request signal sent from the animation medium
(counterfeit) copied in an unauthorized manner, and it becomes
possible to prevent reproduction of the animation data by the
counterfeit. To be more specific, it will no longer be reproduced
on one animation medium by an indefinite number of persons.
[0152] The number of the key codes 90 to be issued should
preferably be 1 that allows the charge to be collected from each
person (user terminal, animation reproducing device).
[0153] As it only issues the limited number of the key codes 90
(licenses), it is possible, in the case of billing the charge
(consideration) for the animation medium (animation data), to bill
and/or collect from each person (each user 10, each user terminal
40, 50) for the charge.
[0154] In other words, as the key code 90 unique to the animation
medium (animation data) is only passed to the user 10 having sent
the online access code 60 to the animation distribution service
company 80, it becomes possible to collect the charge from the user
10 having viewed the animation data.
[0155] Hereafter, the case where only one key code 90 is provided
(issued) to the online access code 60 will be taken as an example
and described.
[0156] The key code 90 is only stored in the user terminal 40
having sent the registration request signal including the online
access code 60. Accordingly, the animation medium (animation data)
is only reproduced on the user terminal 40 (or the animation data
reproducing device under management by the user terminal 40).
[0157] Thus, the user 10 enter into a contract with the animation
distribution service company 80 to reproduce the animation medium
30 on the user terminal 40 (or the animation data reproducing
device under management by the user terminal 40).
[0158] The user 10 cancels the above contract in the manner
mentioned later in the case of reproducing the animation medium 30
on the user terminal 50 (or the animation data reproducing device
under management by the user terminal 50).
[0159] Next, the user terminal 50 is used to send the online access
code 60 to the server of the animation distribution service company
80 and have the key code 90 sent in return to the user terminal 50
to be stored therein. Thus, it becomes possible for the user 10 to
reproduce the animation on the user terminal 50 (or the animation
data reproducing device under management by the user terminal
50).
[0160] Moreover, in the case of changing the user terminal for
reproducing the animation medium 30 in this manner, a charge
collection method can be established arbitrarily, for instance, a
charge collection method for not newly collecting the charge from
the same user 10.
[0161] Any other user (not shown) cannot reproduce the animation
medium 30 on a user terminal that is not shown. It is because the
user cannot receive the key code 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 even if the online access code 60 is sent to the
animation distribution service company 80, as described above. To
be more specific, the server of the animation distribution service
company 80 does not issue the key code 90 to this user (user
terminal) since a key code 90 corresponding to the online access
code 60 has already been sent (issued) to the user 10 (user
terminal 40).
[0162] Accordingly, there will no longer be a situation where
so-called secondhand goods appear on the market in a state
uncontrollable by the animation distribution service company, that
is, in a state where it is impossible to collect the charge for the
animation medium (animation data) from another user. It is because,
in order for the other user to reproduce the animation by using the
animation medium 30, it is first necessary for the other user,
after the user 10 cancelled the above contract as to be mentioned
later, to have a contract with the animation distribution service
company 80 in the above described manner.
[0163] Thus, it becomes possible for the animation distribution
service company 80 to supply the animation medium 30 to the market
without apprehension of the problem that marketing of one animation
medium 30 may cause it to be reproduced by indefinite number of
users (the problem of so-called secondhand goods).
[0164] In addition, the user 10 only has to pay the charge when
viewing the animation data. Accordingly, it becomes possible to
implement a charge system that is more elaborate than a
conventional one.
[0165] Moreover, especially in the case of including the user
information in the above registration request signal, it becomes
possible for the animation distribution service company 80 to grasp
the user 10 viewing the animation data, and so a fairly detailed
market research can be conducted.
[0166] Furthermore, it becomes possible to effectively deal with
the problem of thefts (stealing, shop lifting) that has been
problematic in the conventional sales method of the animation media
via retailers and so on by rendering the key code 90 essential to
viewing the animation data.
[0167] Moreover, any method can be used as a method of sending the
online access code 60 to the server of the animation distribution
service company 80. For instance, it is also feasible to store in
the animation medium 30 a program for sending the registration
request signal including the online access code 60 to the animation
distribution service company 80. In this case, it becomes possible
for the user 10 to send the online access code 60 to the animation
distribution service company 80 by starting the program from the
user terminal 40. It is also feasible to send the online access
code 60 to the animation distribution service company 80 by using a
communication function of the user terminal 40.
[0168] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
stores the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60,
and in the case where the predetermined number of the key codes 90
have not been issued to the online access code 60 yet, it sends the
key code 90 to the user terminal 40 having sent the online access
code 60.
[0169] In addition, it increases the number of the key codes 90
provided to the online access code 60 by one and stores this
number.
[0170] Moreover, it is also feasible to store information on the
user (user information) to whom the key code 90 was provided.
[0171] The user terminal 40 stores the key code 90. In this case,
the key code 90 is encrypted by cryptography and stored. Any
technology may be used for the cryptography, that is, either a
technology in the public domain or the latest technology may be
used.
[0172] Thus, the key code 90 is encrypted and stored, so that even
if this key code 90 is duplicated onto another user terminal, the
animation medium 30 can no longer be reproduced. Thus, it becomes
possible to effectively prevent the animation medium 30 from being
reproduced by a plurality of user terminals (or the animation data
reproducing devices under management by the user terminals).
[0173] In addition, as any technology may be used for the
cryptography, it becomes possible, for instance, to change this
technology for each animation medium 30 and render unauthorized
copying more difficult.
[0174] Furthermore, it becomes possible, by using the newest
cryptography, to adopt the newest copy prevention technology from
the viewpoint of the ever-advancing technological level and render
unauthorized copying even more difficult.
[0175] When reproducing the animation medium 30, the user terminal
40 (or the animation data reproducing device under management by
the user terminal 40) decodes and extracts the above encrypted key
code 90 to reproduce the animation data by using the key code 90.
In the case where there is no key code 90, the animation data
(animation medium) cannot be reproduced.
[0176] As mentioned above, the user 10 can also cancel this
contract. This contract is cancelled by deleting the key code 90
stored in the user terminal 40 and erasing the information about
the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 being
provided to the user terminal 40 from this server. To be more
specific, any method of canceling the contract may be used as far
as it is a method of conducting such work.
[0177] For instance, it is also possible to cancel the contract as
follows.
[0178] The user 10 sends the deregistration request signal from the
user terminal 40 to the server of the animation distribution
service company 80. This deregistration request signal includes at
least the online access code 60 and the name of the user terminal
in which the key code 90 is stored.
[0179] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
determines whether or not the online access code 60 is an existing
code. If it exists, the server determines whether or not the key
code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 is provided.
Moreover, it is possible, in addition to such determination, to let
the server determine whether or not the key code 90 is provided to
the user terminal 40. In addition, it is also possible to add the
user information to the above deregistration request and let the
server determine whether or not the key code 90 is provided to the
user identified by the user information.
[0180] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
sends a deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40
in the case where the key code 90 is provided, meaning that the
deregistration request is a reasonable request. In addition, it
stores the number of the key codes 90 provided to the online access
code 60 by reducing it by one. In this case, the above user
information and so on may be erased, and the information about the
key code 90 not being provided to the user 10 may be added.
[0181] The user terminal 40 erases the stored key code 90 upon
receipt of this deregistration confirmation. Thus, the viewing
contract of the animation medium (animation data) is canceled.
[0182] Hereafter, the first user terminal will be described in
detail referring to FIG. 4.
(First User Terminal)
[0183] According to FIG. 4, the user terminals 40 and 50 as the
first user terminals have a network I/F 41, a control division 42,
a signal generating division 43, a storage division 44, a signal
decrypting division 45, an animation data reproduction control
division 46 and a key code cancellation division 47, and perform
the above described operation.
[0184] The network I/F 41 performs communication with the animation
distribution service company 80.
[0185] The control division 42 controls the network I/F 41, the
signal generating division 43, the storage division 44, the signal
decrypting division 45, the animation data reproduction control
division 46 and the key code cancellation division 47, and controls
operation of the user terminals.
[0186] In addition, it encrypts the key code 90 included in the
above registration confirmation signal and stores it in the storage
division 44.
[0187] The signal generating division 43 creates the above
described signals, and sends them to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 via the network I/F 42. As for
these signals, at least the registration request signal and the
deregistration request signal shown in FIG. 5 are generated. The
registration request signal and the deregistration request signal
are created according to instructions of the user 10 as described
above and sent to the server of the animation distribution service
company 80.
[0188] The storage division 44 stores the key code 90 received from
the server of the animation distribution service company 80.
[0189] The signal decrypting division 45 decrypts a signal sent
from the animation distribution service company as shown in FIG. 2,
and delivers the decrypting results to the control division 42.
This signal may be the registration confirmation signal or a
registration reject signal for the registration request signal, or
the deregistration confirmation signal or a deregistration reject
signal for the deregistration request signal.
[0190] The animation data reproduction control division 46 uses the
key code 90 decoded by the key code cancellation division 47 to
reproduce the animation data on the animation data reproducing
device.
[0191] Moreover, the animation data reproducing device may exist in
the user terminal 40. This animation data reproducing device should
be able to display the animation data at least, and in the case
where this animation data has audio data, it should also be able to
display the audio data.
[0192] The data included in the animation medium 30 is read by the
animation medium (large capacity medium) reading division (not
shown). This animation medium reading division may be either inside
or outside the user terminal. It may also be placed inside the
animation data reproducing device.
[0193] Moreover, as described above, these signals may be generated
by the signal generating division 43, or it may also be generated
by the control division 42 based on the program included in the
animation medium 30 and so on.
[0194] In addition, as described above, the animation data may also
be generated software-wise by the control division 42 (or the
animation data reproduction control division 46) based on the
animation reproduction program included in the animation medium 30
and so on.
[0195] In addition, the signal received from the animation
distribution service company 80 may be analyzed by the control
division 42 operating based on the program included in the
animation medium 30 and so on.
[0196] In addition, the process of encrypting the key code 90 and
storing it in the storage division 44 may be performed by an
encryption processing division (not shown).
[0197] Moreover, the user terminal 40 is an example of the first
user terminals of the animation data sales system. Accordingly, in
the case where the large capacity data is other data such as map
data, it has a map data reproduction control division instead of
the animation data reproduction control division 46.
[0198] Hereafter, the first animation data sales server will be
described by referring to FIG. 6.
(First Animation Data Sales Server)
[0199] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
that is the first animation data sales server has a network I/F 81,
a control division 82, a received information decrypting division
83, a key code sending feasibility determining division 84, an
online code database 85 and a signal generating division 86, and
performs the above described operation.
[0200] The network I/F 81 performs communication with the user
terminals 40 and 50.
[0201] The control division 82 controls the network I/F 81, the
received information decrypting division 83, the key code sending
feasibility determination division 84 and the online code database
85, and performs the operation of the above described server of the
animation distribution service company 80.
[0202] The received information decrypting division 83 analyzes the
signal (the registration request signal, the deregistration request
signal etc.) shown in FIG. 2 received via the network I/F 81, and
delivers the analysis results to the control division 82.
[0203] As for the online code database 85, the online access code
60 provided to the animation medium 30 and the key code 90
corresponding thereto one to one are stored in the online code
database 85 as being associated to each other. In addition, for
each online access code 60, the number of the provided key codes 90
corresponding thereto is stored.
[0204] The signal generating division 86 generates the signal as
shown in FIG. 5 and sends it to the user terminal 40. To be more
specific, the registration confirmation signal or the registration
reject signal is generated for the registration request signal, and
the deregistration confirmation signal or the deregistration reject
signal for the deregistration request signal. It follows an
instruction from the key code sending feasibility determination
division 84 as to which of the registration confirmation signal or
the registration reject signal is generated or which of the
deregistration confirmation signal or the deregistration reject
signal is generated.
[0205] If the results of analyzing the registration request signal
are inputted to the control division 82, the key code sending
feasibility determination division 84 performs a search, as shown
in FIG. 7, as to whether the online access code 60 is stored in the
online code database 85 (step S1).
[0206] In the case where the online access code 60 is stored (step
S1/YES), the key code sending feasibility determination division 84
checks the number of the provided key codes 90 corresponding
thereto (step S2).
[0207] The key code sending feasibility determination division 84
checks whether the number of the provided key codes 90 is smaller
than the above predetermined number (the number of the key codes 90
provided to one online access code 60) (step S3).
[0208] In the case where the number of the provided key codes 90 is
smaller than the above predetermined number (step S3/YES), the key
code sending feasibility determination division 84 extracts from
the online code database 85 the key code 90 corresponding to the
online access code 60 (step S4). Then the key code sending
feasibility determination division 84 will have the signal
generating division 86 create the online access code 90 via a
network I/F 91 and send the registration confirmation signal
including the key code 90 to the user terminal having sent the
registration request (step S5).
[0209] Next, the number of the key codes 90 provided to each online
access code 60 stored in the online code database 85 is increased
by one (step S6), and the process is terminated.
[0210] In the case where the online access code 60 is not stored
(in the case where it is not the legitimate online access code 60;
step S1/NO), and in the case where the number of the provided key
codes 90 is equal to or larger than the above predetermined number
(step S3/NO), the key code sending feasibility determination
division 84 will have the signal generating division 86 create the
registration reject signal and send it to the user terminal 40
having sent the online access code 60 (step S7), and the process is
terminated.
[0211] In the case where the above deregistration request is
inputted, the key code sending feasibility determination division
84 checks whether the online access code 60 included in the
deregistration request is legitimate (checks whether the
deregistration request is legitimate; step S10). To be more
specific, it checks whether the key code has already been provided
to the online access code 60, whether the key code 90 has been
provided to the user terminal that is the sender of the
deregistration request, and so on.
[0212] In the case where this deregistration request is legitimate
(step S10/YES), the key code sending feasibility determination
division 84 will have the signal generating division 86 create the
deregistration confirmation signal and send it via the network I/F
81 to the user terminal 40 having sent the above deregistration
request (step S11).
[0213] Then the number of the provided key codes 90 corresponding
to the online access code 60 stored in the online code database 85
is subtracted by one (step S12), and the process is terminated.
[0214] In the case where this deregistration request is not
legitimate (step S10/NO), the key code sending feasibility
determination division 84 will have the signal generating division
86 create the deregistration reject signal and send it via the
network I/F 81 to the user terminal 40 having sent the above
deregistration request signal (step SI 3), and the process is
terminated.
[0215] Moreover, the online access code 60 may be associated with
the key code 90 by a predetermined conditional formula and so on.
In this case, the key code 90 is created by the control division
82, the received information decrypting division 83, or the key
code sending feasibility determination division 84 based on an
online access code 60 sent from the user terminal 40 and by using
the above predetermined conditional formula.
[0216] In addition, a condition other than the ones described above
may be set as a requirement for sending the above registration
confirmation signal and/or a requirement for sending the
deregistration confirmation signal. For instance, payment of a
consideration for the animation medium (animation data) may be
added as a condition for sending the registration confirmation
signal. Hereafter, the requirement for sending the registration
confirmation signal is represented as a registration confirmation
signal sending requirement and the requirement for sending the
deregistration confirmation signal as a deregistration confirmation
signal sending requirement.
[0217] In addition, it may further have a user information database
87 and a user identification division 88, as shown in FIG. 9.
[0218] In the user information database 87, information on the user
10 having provided the key code 60 will be stored. This information
includes at least the name of the user terminal having provided the
online access code 60, the name of the online access code 60 and
the name of the key code 90.
[0219] The user identification division 88 manages the user
information database 87 and performs user authentication based on
the inputted user information. In addition, it registers and
updates the user information in the user information database 87.
As mentioned later, more detailed information (user name, charge
collection method and so on) may be stored in the case of
collecting the charge for the animation medium (animation data)
from the user 10.
[0220] In this case, as a condition of the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement and/or the deregistration
confirmation signal sending requirement, a condition that the user
10 can be identified as a result of the user authentication by the
user identification division 88 may be added.
[0221] Moreover, it is a matter of course that these components may
be operated by the control division 82 according to the
program.
[0222] Thus, it becomes possible to reproduce the animation medium
(animation data) by exchanging signals between the user terminal
and the server of the animation distribution service company. FIG.
5 shows the six signals required for reproduction of this animation
data, their source of transmission, etc. To be more specific, the
above operation is implemented by the registration request signal,
the registration confirmation signal, the registration reject
signal, the deregistration request signal, the deregistration
confirmation signal and the deregistration reject signal. The flow
of this operation (signals) is summarized using the sequence
diagrams of FIGS. 10 to 13.
[0223] FIGS. 10 and 11 describe the operation by which the user
terminal 40 acquires the key code 90 from the animation
distribution service company 80.
[0224] As shown in FIG. 10, the user terminal 40 sends the
registration request signal to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80. This registration request signal
includes at least the online access code 60.
[0225] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
determines whether this registration request signal satisfies the
above registration confirmation signal sending requirement. In the
case where it satisfies the requirement, it sends to the user
terminal 40 the registration confirmation signal including the key
code 90 as shown in FIG. 10.
[0226] The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90
included in the received registration confirmation signal.
[0227] In the case where it does not satisfy the above requirement,
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 sends
the registration reject signal to the user terminal 40 as shown in
FIG. 11.
[0228] Thus, the key code 90 for reproducing the animation medium
(animation data) is sent only to the user terminal 40 having sent
the registration request signal satisfying the requirement.
[0229] FIGS. 12 and 13 show the flow of a deregistration
process.
[0230] The user terminal 40 sends the deregistration request to the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 as shown in
FIG. 12.
[0231] The server of the animation distribution service company 80
determines whether this deregistration request satisfies the above
deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement.
[0232] In the case where it satisfies the requirement, it sends the
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40 as shown
in FIG. 12.
[0233] In the case where it does not satisfy the requirement, it
sends the deregistration reject signal to the user terminal 40 as
shown in FIG. 13.
[0234] The user terminal 40 having received the deregistration
confirmation signal erases the key code.
[0235] By this method, the key code 90 for reproducing the
animation medium (animation data) is deleted by sending the
deregistration signal satisfying the deregistration confirmation
signal sending requirement. Thus, the number of the provided key
codes 90 stored in the online code database 85 is subtracted by
one.
[0236] Accordingly, it becomes possible for the user 10 to
reproduce the animation medium 30 on another user terminal (such as
the user terminal 50) by performing operation according to the
sequence diagram of FIG. 10 from another user terminal (such as the
user terminal 50) (it becomes possible to shift the animation
reproduction environment from the user terminal 40 to the user
terminal 50).
[0237] Next, the method of collecting the charge for the animation
medium (animation data) will be described.
(Charge Collection Method)
[0238] Collecting the charge for the animation medium (animation
data) is voluntary. To be more specific, the animation medium
(animation data) may be delivered either for a consideration or at
no charge.
[0239] In the case of assigning it for a consideration, the charge
may be collected by the following method for instance.
(First Charge Collection Method)
[0240] The charge can be collected by adding as the above
registration confirmation signal sending requirement a condition
that the consideration for the animation medium (animation data) is
paid to the animation distribution service company 80. Any method
can be used as this method of payment, such as paying the above
charge to the animation distribution service company 80 by using
electronic money technology or having a third party organization
make advances.
[0241] Moreover, this charge may be paid either in a lump sum or by
a predetermined amount for each fixed period. In the latter case,
it may be set such that the payment continues until deregistration
or stops after the elapse of a predetermined period.
(Second Charge Collection Method)
[0242] It is also possible to collect the charge according to
viewing time. An example of this method is shown below.
[0243] The animation data reproduction control division 46 is
instructed to reproduce the animation data by the user and then
starts to reproduce it, and has the signal generating division 43
generate a reproduction start signal and send it to the server of
the animation distribution service company 80. This reproduction
start signal includes information on at least the time when the
reproduction of the animation data was started and the name of the
user terminal that reproduced the data.
[0244] The received information decrypting division 83 of the
animation distribution service company 80 stores this information
for each user terminal name in the user information database
87.
[0245] Next, when the animation data reproduction control division
46 is instructed to stop the reproduction of the data and then
stops it, and the animation data reproduction control division 46
will have the signal generating division 43 generate a reproduction
stop signal and send it to the server of the animation distribution
service company 80. This reproduction stop signal includes
information on at least the time when the reproduction of the
animation data was stopped and the name of the user terminal that
reproduced the data.
[0246] The received information decrypting division 83 of the
animation distribution service company 80 stores this information
for each user terminal name in the user information database
87.
[0247] The control division 82 of the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 checks the above information stored
in the user information database 87 for each predetermined period,
and checks the viewing time of the user 10 during this period to
bill the user 10 for the charge corresponding to this viewing time.
Any appropriate method can be used as this method of billing
(collection) of the charge.
[0248] In addition, if the animation data reproduction control
division 46 is instructed to stop the reproduction of the animation
data by the user, it may have the signal generating division 43
generate a reproduction time information signal and send it to the
server of the animation distribution service company 80. This
reproduction time information signal includes information on at
least the time when the animation data was reproduced and the name
of the user terminal that reproduced it.
[0249] The received information decrypting division 83 of the
animation distribution service company 80 stores the information
included in the reproduction time information signal in the user
information database 87.
[0250] The control division 82 checks the above information stored
in the user information database 87 for each predetermined period,
and checks the viewing time of the user 10 during this period to
bill the user 10 for the charge corresponding to this viewing
time.
(Third Charge Collection Method)
[0251] It is also possible to collect the charge according to
frequency of viewing instead of the viewing time.
[0252] In this case, definition of the frequency of viewing can be
established arbitrarily, and so, for instance, one view can be
defined as viewing all of the animation data was viewed or viewing
the animation data for predetermined time or longer.
[0253] If the conditions for counting the above frequency of
viewing are met, the animation data reproduction control division
46 has the signal decrypting division 45 generate a count
information signal and send it to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80. This count information includes at
least the frequency of viewing and the name of the user terminal
that reproduced it.
[0254] The received information decrypting division 83 of the
animation distribution service company 80 stores this information
for each user terminal in the user information database 87.
[0255] The control division 82 checks the frequency of viewing of
the user 10 from the information stored in the user information
database 87 for each predetermined period, and bills the user 10
for the charge corresponding to this frequency of viewing.
(Fourth Charge Collection Method)
[0256] The key code 90 may be erased from the user terminal 40 each
time it reproduces the animation data.
[0257] That is, in this animation data (large capacity data) sales
system, the key code 90 in the user terminal 40 is erased if the
reproduction of the animation data is stopped or the predetermined
time elapses during the reproduction, so that the key code 90 must
be newly downloaded in the case of reproducing the animation data
again.
[0258] Thus, it is no longer necessary to perform the above
described operation for deregistration in order to reproduce the
animation medium on another user terminal. In addition, the
animation distribution service company 80 can conduct collection of
the charge and so on more elaborately since the reproduction state
of the animation data can be grasped in more detail.
[0259] As for a method of implementing this, it is possible for
instance, for the control division 42 to erase the key code 90
stored in the storage division 44 on condition that it must be
after the elapse of a predetermined time after the key code 90 is
stored in the storage division 44 or upon receipt of an instruction
to stop the animation from the user 10. This condition can be
established arbitrarily.
[0260] It is also possible that the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 sends a key code erasure order
signal to the user terminal 40 after the elapse of the
predetermined time after sending the key code 90, and the signal
decrypting division 45 of the user terminal 40 erases the key code
90 stored in the storage division 44 via the control division 42
based on this signal.
[0261] Moreover, in such a case of assigning the animation medium
(animation data) for a consideration, the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 has the user identification
division 88 and the user information database 87 as shown in FIG.
9. The user information required for collecting the charge is
stored in the user information database 87. This information
includes the user name, charge payment method and so on for
instance.
<Animation Data Sales Method>
[0262] The animation data sales method as one of the large capacity
data sales methods can be performed as described above.
[0263] To be more specific, this data sales method has the steps
of: having the user 10 acquire the animation medium 30 from an
animation media distribution place such as the PC shop 20; having
the user 10 send the registration request signal including the
online access code 60 from the user terminal 40 to the server of
the animation distribution service company 80; and in the case
where the above registration request signal satisfies the
registration confirmation signal sending requirement, having the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 send to the
user terminal 40 the key code 90 corresponding to the online access
code 60 one to one and essential for reproducing the animation
data.
[0264] This animation data sales method may further have the steps
of: having the user 10 send the deregistration request signal to
the animation distribution service company by using the user
terminal 40; in the case where this deregistration request signal
satisfies the deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 send the deregistration confirmation signal to
the user terminal 40; and having the key code 90 stored in the user
terminal 40 erased.
[0265] The above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement may be, for instance, the requirement to satisfy the
condition that the server of the animation distribution service
company 80 has the key code 90 corresponding to the online access
code 60 and the condition that the number of the issued key codes
90 corresponding to the online access code 60 is smaller than the
predetermined number. In addition, it can be included as a
condition that the above registration request signal includes the
user information from which the user 10 can be identified. It can
also be included as a condition that the consideration for the
animation medium (animation data) is paid.
[0266] The above deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement may be, for instance, that the above deregistration
request signal was received from the user terminal 40 and/or the
user 10 having been sent the key code 90.
[0267] In addition, the above animation data sales method may
further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the
animation distribution service company 80 of the time for
reproducing the animation medium (animation data), and having the
animation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10
the consideration according to the time.
[0268] In addition, the above animation data sales method may
further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify the
animation distribution service company 80 of the frequency of
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having the
animation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10
the consideration according to the frequency.
[0269] Next, the animation data sales mediation system that is the
large capacity data sales mediation system will be described. In
addition, its user terminal, the animation data sales mediation
system, that is the large capacity data sales mediation server, the
animation data sales server, that is the large capacity data sales
server, and the large capacity data sales mediation method will be
described.
[Large Capacity Data Sales Mediation System]
[0270] The animation data sales mediation system of the present
invention has the user terminal, the animation data sales mediation
server and the animation data sales server. An example of this is
shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 and the server of the Internet
provider 70 fall under the animation data sales server and the
animation data sales mediation server respectively.
[0271] In this animation data sales mediation system, the animation
data sales mediation server takes charge of some of the functions
of the animation data sales server of the above animation data
sales system. Hereafter, the first to third animation data sales
mediation systems wherein the functions shared between the
animation data sales server and the animation data sales mediation
system are different will be described. In addition, the user
terminal, the animation data sales server, the animation data sales
mediation server and the animation data sales mediation method will
be described.
<First Animation Data Sales Mediation System>
[0272] The first animation data sales mediation system has the
second user terminal, the first animation data sales mediation
server and the second animation data sales server.
[0273] As shown in FIG. 3, the first animation data sales mediation
system has the user terminals 40 and 50, the server of the Internet
provider 70 that is the first animation data sales mediation
server, and the server of the animation distribution service
company 80 that is the second animation data sales server.
[0274] The first animation data sales mediation system is different
from the above animation data sales system on the following
point.
[0275] The different point is that the user authentication is
performed by the server of the Internet provider 70.
[0276] To be more specific, in the case where the user information
is included in the above registration request signal, the server of
the animation distribution service company 80 makes an inquiry to
the server of the Internet provider 70 as to whether this user
information is legitimate. Then it is rendered as a condition, for
the above registration confirmation signal sending requirement,
that the user information is legitimate.
[0277] Thus, it becomes possible to prevent unauthorized copies
more effectively by rendering the user information as a condition
of the above registration confirmation signal sending requirement.
It is because the animation distribution service company 80 can
grasp the user's identity.
[0278] Accordingly, it is proper enough for the first animation
data sales mediation server that it performs the user
authentication.
[0279] In addition, the second user terminal may be the same as the
above first user terminal.
[0280] In addition, as for the second animation data sales server,
it is proper enough, in addition to the functions of the above
first animation data sales server, that it sends a user
authentication request signal to the above first animation data
sales mediation server and have the user authentication results
sent in return, and render the results as a condition for the above
registration confirmation signal sending requirement.
[0281] Moreover, it is proper if the above registration request
signal includes the user information.
[0282] As shown in FIG. 14, the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 has the network I/F 81, the control
division 82, the received information decrypting division 83, the
key code sending feasibility determining division 84, the online
code database 85 and the user information database 87. Moreover,
the user authentication is performed by the server of the Internet
provider 70, and so it is not required.
[0283] The key code sending feasibility determining division 84
delivers the inputted user information to the server of the
Internet provider 70 via the network I/F 81, and has the user
authentication results sent in return. In this case, it has the
signal generating division 86 create the user authentication
request signal including the user information and send it to the
server of the Internet provider 70.
[0284] The user authentication results are a condition for the
above registration confirmation signal sending requirement as
described above. Thus, in the case where the above registration
request signal has the unmistaken (legitimate, correct) user
information and satisfies other requirements, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 84 sends the registration
confirmation signal to the user terminal 40. To be more specific,
it sends the registration confirmation signal in the case where the
user 10 is identified.
[0285] Operations of the other components are the same as the case
of the above animation data sales system.
[0286] As shown in FIG. 15, the server of the Internet provider 70
has at least a network I/F 71, a user identification division 72, a
control division 73 and a user information database 74.
[0287] The network I/F 71 performs communication with the server of
the animation distribution service company 80.
[0288] If the user authentication request is inputted from the
server of the animation distribution service company 80, the user
identification division 72 determines whether or not the user
information included in the user authentication request matches
with the user information stored in the user information database
74. Then it sends the determination results to the server of the
animation distribution service company 80 via the network I/F
71.
[0289] The control division 73 controls the network I/F 71, the
user identification division 72 and the user information database
74 and controls this server.
[0290] The user information database 74 has the user information
stored in advance.
[0291] The user authentication may be performed in any manner. For
instance, the user identification division 72 checks the user name
included in the user information in the above registration request
signal, and performs a search for the user information having the
same user name as this from the user information database 74. Of
the searched-for user information, if there is information matching
with all other information, this user information is determined to
be correct.
[0292] Moreover, the user 10 is required to store user information
10 in the first animation data sales mediation server in advance.
Any appropriate method may be used as the method of storing the
user information.
[0293] Thus, it becomes possible to prevent any unauthorized copies
effectively by setting a condition that the user information must
be correct for the above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement. In addition, it becomes possible for the animation
distribution service company 80 to grasp elaborate information such
as the place where the animation medium 30 exists, usage conditions
and so on. This flow will be summarized in FIGS. 16 to 18 with
reference to FIG. 1 wherein the flow of signals and so on is added
to the block diagram of FIG. 3.
[0294] The user terminal 40 sends to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 the registration request signal
including the user information 10 and the online access code 60
included in the animation medium 30 acquired from the PC shop 20
and so on.
[0295] The key code sending feasibility determining division 84
determines whether or not the inputted online access code 60 is
legitimate (whether or not the key code 90 is stored in the online
code database 85). In addition, it determines whether or not the
number of the issued key codes 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number. In the
following description, a requirement wherein the user
authentication requirement is excluded from the registration
confirmation signal sending requirement is indicated as a code
authentication requirement. As for this code authentication
requirement, conditions other than those enumerated here may also
be set for determination.
[0296] In the case where the above registration request signal does
not satisfy the above code authentication requirement, the key code
sending feasibility determining division 84 sends the registration
reject signal to the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG. 18.
[0297] In the case where the above registration request signal
satisfies the above code authentication requirement, the key code
sending feasibility determining division 84 has the signal
generating division 86 generate the user authentication request
signal and send it to the server of the Internet provider 70 as
shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.
[0298] The user identification division 72 of the Internet provider
70 performs the user authentication based on this request, and
sends the user authentication results to the server of the
animation distribution service company 80.
[0299] In the case where the user authentication results identify
the user 10, the key code sending feasibility determining division
84 sends the key code 90 to the user 10 (user terminal 40) as shown
in FIG. 16. In addition, it stores (registers) information that the
key code 90 was provided to the user in the user information
database 87, and increases the number of the issued key codes 90 by
one and then stores it in the online code database 85.
[0300] The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code
90.
[0301] In addition, in the case of receiving the user
authentication results including that the user 10 cannot be
identified from the user information, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 84 has the signal generating
division 86 generate the registration reject signal and send it to
the user terminal 40 as shown in FIG. 17.
[0302] Moreover, the order of performing the code authentication
and the user authentication can be different from the order shown
in FIGS. 16 to 18.
[0303] Cancellation of the contract may be conducted in the same
manner as the above animation data sales system. Moreover, a
condition that the user information should be legitimate may be set
as a condition for the above deregistration confirmation signal
sending requirement. In this case, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 84 can have the server of the Internet
provider 70 performed this operation.
[0304] Moreover, it is a matter of course that each of these
components may be operated by each control division according to
the program.
<First Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>
[0305] The first animation data sales mediation method may be
conducted as described above.
[0306] To be more specific, this first animation data sales
mediation method has the steps of: having the user 10 send to the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 the
registration request signal having at least the user information
and the online access code 60; having the animation distribution
service company 80 send the above user information to the server of
the Internet provider 70; having the server of the Internet
provider 70 perform the user authentication based on this user
information and send the results to the animation distribution
service company 80; having the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 check, the registration confirmation signal
sending requirement for any condition other than the user
authentication condition (code authentication condition); having
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 send to
the user terminal 40 the key code 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 one to one in the case of meeting the user
authentication condition as well as the code authentication
condition; and having the user terminal 40 encrypt and store the
key code 90.
[0307] This animation data sales mediation method may further have
the steps of: having the user 10 send the deregistration request
signal to the animation distribution service company by using the
user terminal 40; in the case where this deregistration request
signal satisfies the deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 send the deregistration confirmation signal to
the user terminal 40; and having the user terminal 40 erase the
stored key code 90.
[0308] In addition, the above deregistration request signal may
include the user information, and the above deregistration
confirmation signal sending requirement may include a condition
that the user 10 should be identified The above animation data
sales mediation method may further have the steps of: having the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 send the
user information to the server of the Internet provider 70; and
having the server of the Internet provider 70 perform the user
authentication, and the above server of the animation distribution
service company 80 may use, of the above deregistration
confirmation signal sending requirement, the user authentication
results by the server of the Internet provider 70 as the user
authentication condition.
[0309] The above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement may include, for instance, the condition that the
animation distribution service company 80 has the key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60, the condition that the
number of the issued key codes 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number and the
condition that the user 10 can be identified from the above user
information. In addition, it may be included as a condition that
the consideration for the animation medium (animation data) is
paid. Moreover, the Internet provider 70 may make advances for the
consideration for the animation medium (animation data).
[0310] The above deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement may include a condition that the above deregistration
request signal was received from the user terminal 40 and/or the
user 10 having been sent the key code 90.
[0311] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the animation distribution service company 80 of the time for
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having the
animation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10
the consideration according to this time.
[0312] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the time for reproducing
the animation medium (animation data); and having the Internet
provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration according to
the time; and having the Internet provider 70 pay the collected
consideration to the animation distribution service company.
[0313] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 of the
frequency of reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and
having the animation distribution service company 80 collect from
the user 10 the consideration according to the frequency.
[0314] Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the frequency of
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); having the
Internet provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration
according to the frequency; and having the Internet provider 70 pay
the collected consideration to the animation distribution service
company.
<Second Animation Data Sales Mediation System>
[0315] The second animation data sales mediation system has a third
user terminal, a second animation data sales mediation server and a
third animation data sales server.
[0316] The third user terminal is different from the first and
second user terminals only in that its signal sending source and
destination are the second animation data sales mediation
server.
[0317] In this second animation data sales mediation system, the
second animation data sales mediation server registers and manages
the user authentication and the user information, and the third
animation data sales server determines whether or not the online
access code is appropriate and manages the key code. Details are
described below.
[0318] As shown in FIG. 3, this second animation data sales
mediation system has the user terminals 40 and 50 that are the
third user terminals, the server of the Internet provider 70 that
is the second animation data sales mediation server, and the server
of the animation distribution service company 80 that is the third
animation data sales server.
[0319] As shown in FIG. 19, the server of the Internet provider 70
has the network I/F 71, the user identification division 72, the
control division 73, the user information database 74, a data
distribution destination determining division 75, an animation
distribution service company database 76, a key code sending
feasibility determining division 78, a received information
decrypting division 79 and a signal generating division 69.
[0320] The network I/F 71 performs communication with the user
terminals 40 and 50 and the server of the animation distribution
service company 80.
[0321] The user identification division 72 determines whether or
not the user 10 is a user registered in the user information
database 74 (performs the user authentication) from the user
information included in the above registration request signal
inputted from the user terminals 40 and 50.
[0322] The control division 73 controls the entire operation of the
server.
[0323] The user information is registered in the user information
database 74. In addition, this user information includes
information on the name of the animation medium 30 to which the key
code 90 is provided and so on for each user 10.
[0324] The data distribution destination determining division 75
determines the server of the animation distribution service company
80 for sending the online access code 60 included in the above
registration request signal referring to the animation distribution
service company database 76, and sends the online access code 60 to
this server.
[0325] The animation distribution service company database 76
stores the name of the animation distribution service company 80
for storing the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code
60 stored therein. For instance, the data of some high-order bytes
of the online access code 60 may represent the name of the
animation distribution service company 80 so that a correspondence
table of the data and the name of the company will be stored.
[0326] The key code sending feasibility determining division 78
determines whether or not to send the key code 90 to the user
terminal 40 based on the information inputted from the server of
the animation distribution service company 80 and the user
authentication results from the user identification division 72. In
the case of sending the key code 90, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 78 will have the signal generating
division 69 create the above registration confirmation signal and
send it to the user terminal 40. In the case of not sending the key
code 90, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78
will have the above registration reject signal created and sent to
the user terminal 40.
[0327] In addition, the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 determines whether or not the inputted deregistration
request signal has the above deregistration confirmation signal
sending requirement. If the signal has the above requirement, the
key code sending feasibility determining division 78 will have the
signal generating division 69 generate the deregistration
confirmation signal and send it to the user terminal 40. The key
code sending feasibility determining division 78 will also have the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 subtract
one from the number of the provided key codes 90. It may also add
the information that the key code 90 is not (currently) provided to
the user information stored in the user information database 74. If
the signal does not have the above requirement, the key code
sending feasibility determining division 78 will have the signal
generating division 69 send the above deregistration reject
signal.
[0328] The received information decrypting division 79 decrypts the
inputted signal and delivers the decryption results to the control
division 73.
[0329] The signal generating division 69 generates a signal
according to an instruction from the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 and sends it to the user terminal 40.
[0330] As shown in FIG. 20, the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 has the network I/F 81, the control
division 82, the received information decrypting division 83, the
key code sending feasibility determining division 84 and the online
code database 85.
[0331] The network I/F 81 performs communication with the server of
the Internet provider 70 at least. It may also be allowed to
perform communication with the user terminals 40 and 50.
[0332] The control division 82 controls the entire operation of the
server.
[0333] The received information decrypting division 83 analyses the
data (signals) inputted from the server of the Internet provider 70
and delivers the analysis results to the control division 82.
[0334] The key code sending feasibility determining division 84
determines whether or not the online access code 60 inputted from
the server of the Internet provider 70 is legitimate (whether or
not it is stored in the online code database 85). This can be
determined as described above. The key code sending feasibility
determining division 84 also determines whether or not the number
of the issued key codes 90 corresponding to the online access code
60 is smaller than the predetermined number the key code sending
feasibility determining division 84 also manages the number of the
provided key codes 90 for each online access code 60 using the
online code database 85.
[0335] The online code database 85 stores the key code 90 unique to
the online access code 60. In addition, as mentioned above, the
number of the provided key codes 90 is stored for each online
access code 60.
[0336] Moreover, the key code 90 may be calculated by performing an
operation on the online access code 60 according to a predetermined
conditional formula. In this case, the control division 82 (or a
key code sending feasibility determining division 84) creates the
key code 90 from the inputted online access code 60.
[0337] Hereafter, the flow of signals in the second animation data
sales mediation system will be described referring to FIGS. 21 to
26. FIG. 21 shows the flow of the online access code 60 and the key
code 90.
[0338] As shown in FIG. 22, the user terminal 40 sends the
registration request signal including at least the online access
code 60 and the user information to the server of the Internet
provider 70.
[0339] The user identification division 72 determines whether or
not this user information matches with the user information stored
in the user information database 74. The method of this
determination may be as described above.
[0340] In the case where the user identification division 72
identifies the user 10, the data distribution destination
determining division 75 determines the name of the animation
distribution service company 80 for sending the online access code
60 by contrasting the information stored in the animation
distribution service company database 76 with the above
registration request signal. For instance, as described above, the
name of the animation distribution service company represented by
some high-order bits of the online access code 60 may be determined
by using the table stored in the animation distribution service
company database 76.
[0341] The data distribution destination determining division 75
sends the online access code 60 to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 based on the determination
results.
[0342] The key code sending feasibility determining division 84
performs the same operation as mentioned as to the above animation
data sales system. To be more specific, it determines whether or
not the inputted online access code 60 is legitimate by referring
to the online code database 85. In addition, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 84 determines whether or not the
number of the provided key codes 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number.
[0343] In the case where the online access code 60 is legitimate
and the number of the provided key codes corresponding to the
online access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number, the
key code sending feasibility determining division 84 sends the key
code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 to the server of
the Internet provider 70.
[0344] If the key code 90 is inputted, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 78 adds the information indicating
that a license for reproducing the animation was provided, to the
user information stored in the user information database 74. This
information may be, for instance, information about the key code 90
being sent to the user terminal 40 or the names of the user
terminal 40 and the online access code 60 for which animation
reproduction was permitted. After adding the user information, the
key code sending feasibility determining division 84 will have the
signal generating division 69 generate the registration
confirmation signal including the key code 90 and send it to the
user terminal 40. Moreover, other conditions may be added as the
above registration confirmation signal sending requirement. In
addition, the key code sending feasibility determining division 84
increases the number of the key codes 90 stored in the online code
database 85 by one.
[0345] Upon receipt of this registration confirmation signal, the
user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90 as with the
first user terminal in the above animation data sales system and
also reproduces the animation medium (animation data) using the key
code 90.
[0346] As shown in FIG. 23, in the case where the user
identification division 72 cannot identify the user 10 (and/or in
the case where the above registration request signal does not
satisfy another condition of the registration confirmation signal
sending requirement), the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 will have the signal generating division 69 create the
registration reject signal and send it to the user terminal 40.
[0347] In addition, as shown in FIG. 24, if the input from the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 indicates
that the code authentication was unsuccessful, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 78 sends the registration reject
signal to the user terminal 40 using the signal generating division
69 as shown in FIG. 24.
[0348] If the deregistration request signal is inputted from the
user terminal 40, the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 of the Internet provider 70 determines whether or not
this signal is appropriate as mentioned as to the above animation
data sales system.
[0349] In the case of effecting deregistration as a result of the
determination, the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 instructs the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 to subtract one from the number of the
distributed key codes 90 stored in the online code database 85 as
shown in FIG. 25.
[0350] Upon receipt of this instruction, the received information
decrypting division 83 (or the key code sending feasibility
determining division 84) of the animation distribution service
company 80 subtracts one from the above provided number and stores
it.
[0351] The control division 73 of the Internet provider 70 uses the
signal generating division 69 thereafter to send the above
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40.
[0352] If this signal is inputted, the user terminal 40 erases the
stored key codes 90 as described above.
[0353] In the case of not effecting deregistration as a result of
the above determination, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 sends the deregistration reject signal to
the user terminal 40 using the signal generating division 69.
[0354] Thus, as the second animation data sales mediation server
performs user management such as the user authentication, user
registration and so on, the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 only has to manage the online access code 60 and
the key codes 90.
[0355] In addition, safety of the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 is enhanced since the user 10 no
longer accesses the server directly.
[0356] Moreover, the order of the user authentication and the code
authentication may be reversed.
[0357] In addition, it is a matter of course that each constituent
may be operated by the control division 82 according to the
program.
<Second Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>
[0358] The second animation data sales mediation method may be
performed as described above.
[0359] To be more specific, it has the steps of: having the user
send the registration request signal including at least the online
access code 60 and the user information to the server of the
Internet provider 70; having the server of the Internet provider 70
send the online access code 60 to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80; in the case where the key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60 is stored in the server
of the animation distribution service company 80 and the number of
the issued key codes 90 is smaller than the predetermined number,
having the key codes 90 sent to the server of the Internet provider
70; in the case where the above registration request signal meets
the above registration confirmation signal sending requirement,
having the server of the Internet provider 70 send the registration
confirmation signal including the key codes 90 to the user
terminal, add the information about this transmission, and increase
the number of the key codes 90 stored in the animation distribution
service company 80 by one; and having the user terminal 40 encrypt
and store the key codes 90.
[0360] This animation data sales mediation method may further have
the steps of: having the user 10 send the deregistration request
signal to the server of the Internet provider 70 using the user
terminal 40; in the case where the deregistration request signal
satisfies the deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the server of the Internet provider 70 send the
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40; having
the key codes 90 stored in the user terminal 40 erased; and having
one subtracted from the number of the key codes 90 stored in the
server of the animation distribution service company 80.
[0361] The above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement may include, for instance, the condition that the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 has the key
code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60, the condition
that the number of the issued key codes 90 corresponding to the
online access code 60 is smaller than the predetermined number, and
the condition that the user 10 can be identified from the above
user information. In addition, it may include the condition that
the consideration for the animation medium (animation data) is
paid. Moreover, the Internet provider 70 may make advances for the
consideration for the animation medium (animation data).
[0362] The above deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, for instance, may include a condition that the above
deregistration request signal was received from the user terminal
40 and/or the user 10 having been sent the key code 90.
[0363] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the animation distribution service company 80 of the time for
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having the
animation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10
the consideration according to this time.
[0364] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the time for reproducing
the animation medium (animation data); and having the Internet
provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration according to
the time; and having the Internet provider 70 pay the collected
consideration to the animation distribution service company.
[0365] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 of the
frequency of reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and
having the animation distribution service company 80 collect from
the user 10 the consideration according to the frequency.
[0366] Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the frequency of
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); having the
Internet provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration
according to the frequency; and having the Internet provider 70 pay
the collected consideration to the animation distribution service
company.
<Third Animation Data Sales Mediation System>
[0367] The third animation data sales mediation system has a fourth
user terminal, a third animation data sales mediation server and a
fourth animation data sales server.
[0368] The fourth user terminal is the same as the above third user
terminal.
[0369] In this third animation data sales mediation system, the
third animation data sales mediation server takes charge of almost
all the functions of the first animation data sales system in the
above animation data sales system, and the fourth animation data
sales server operates only in the case where no key codes
corresponding to the online access code exists in the third
animation data sales mediation server. The details will be
described below.
[0370] As shown in FIG. 3, this third animation data sales
mediation system has the user terminals 40 and 50 that are the
fourth user terminals, the server of the Internet provider 70 that
is the third animation data sales mediation server, and the server
of the animation distribution service company 80 that is the
animation data sales server.
[0371] As shown in FIG. 27, the server of the Internet provider 70
has the network I/F 71, the user identification division 72, the
control division 73, a data distribution destination determining
division 75, the user information database 74, an animation
distribution service company database 76, an online code database
77, the key code sending feasibility determining division 78, the
received information decrypting division 79 and the signal
generating division 69.
[0372] The network I/F 71 performs communication with the user
terminals 40 and 50 and the server of the animation distribution
service company 80.
[0373] The user identification division 72 performs the user
authentication based on the inputted user information and the user
information stored in the user information database 74.
[0374] The control division 73 controls operation of this
server.
[0375] The data distribution destination determining division 75
determines a destination of the online access code 60 inputted from
the key code sending feasibility determining division 78 referring
to the animation distribution service company database 76. This can
be performed in the same manner as described above.
[0376] The user information is registered in the user information
database 74 as described above.
[0377] The animation distribution service company database 76 has
the name of the animation distribution service company 80 (or the
name of the server of the animation distribution service company
80) having the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code
60 stored as described above.
[0378] The online code database 77 stores the key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60 as in the case of online
code database 85 of the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 in the above animation data sales system. In
addition, the number of the provided key codes 90 is stored for
each online access code 60. Moreover, as described above, in the
case where the key code 90 can be calculated by applying a
predetermined conditional formula to the online access code 60,
this conditional formula is stored. The key code 90 is created by
the key code sending feasibility determining division 78 based on
this conditional formula.
[0379] A correspondence table of the online access codes 60 and the
key codes 90, and the key code 90 are acquired from the server of
the animation distribution service company 80 in predetermined
timing.
[0380] The key code sending feasibility determining division 78
refers to the online code database 77, just as the key code sending
feasibility determining division 84 in the above animation data
sales system, to determine whether or not the inputted registration
request signal satisfies the above registration confirmation signal
sending requirement. This requirement includes at least the three
conditions, that is, a condition that the online access code 60
included in this registration request signal is stored in the
online code database 77, a condition that the number of the
provided key codes corresponding to the online access code 60 is
smaller than the above predetermined number, and a condition that
the user 10 can be identified by the user identification division
72 (user authentication condition). Moreover, the user
authentication is performed by the user identification division 72.
In addition, in the case where the online access code 60 is not
stored in the online code database 77, it delivers the online
access code 60 to the data distribution destination determining
division 74.
[0381] In the case where the inputted registration request signal
meets the above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, it has the signal generating division 69 create the
registration confirmation signal and send it to the user terminal
40. In the case where the signal does not meet this requirement,
the key code sending feasibility determining division 84 will have
the signal generating division 69 create the registration reject
signal and send it to the user terminal 40.
[0382] In the case where the inputted deregistration request signal
meets the above deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, the key code sending feasibility determining division
84 will have the signal generating division 69 create the
deregistration confirmation signal and send it to the user terminal
40. In the case where the signal does not meet this requirement,
the key code sending feasibility determining division 84 will have
the signal generating division 69 create the deregistration reject
signal and send it to the user terminal 40.
[0383] Moreover, in the case where there is no key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 78 may either have the signal
generating division 69 send the registration reject signal or have
the key code 90 sent from the server of the animation distribution
service company 80. This operation will be mentioned later.
[0384] The received information decrypting division 79 delivers the
analysis results of the inputted signal to the control division
73.
[0385] The signal generating division 69 creates each signal based
on instructions from the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 and sends it to the user terminal 40 via the network
I/F 71.
[0386] As shown in FIG. 28, the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 has the network I/F 81, the control
division 82, the received information decrypting division 83, the
key code sending feasibility determination division 84 and the
online code database 85. The network I/F 81 performs communication
with the server of the Internet provider 70. The control division
82 controls the operation of the server.
[0387] The key code sending feasibility determination division 84
performs a search as to whether the key code 90 corresponding to
the inputted online access code 60 is stored in the online code
database 85. In the case where the key code 90 is stored, it sends
the key code to the server of the Internet provider 70.
[0388] The online code database 85 stores at least the key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60. Moreover, as described
above, it is also possible to store the predetermined conditional
formula for deriving the key code 90 from the online access code
60. In the case where the conditional formula is stored in such a
manner, the key code sending feasibility determination division 84
applies this conditional formula to the online access code 60 and
creates the key code 90.
[0389] This flow of signals and so on in the third animation data
sales mediation system will be described referring to the sequence
diagrams of FIGS. 30 to 37 and FIGS. 21 and 29.
[0390] The user 10 sends the above registration request signal from
the user terminal 40 to the server of the Internet provider 70.
[0391] The key code sending feasibility determining division 78
determines whether or not the inputted registration request signal
satisfies the above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement. To be more specific, it has the user authentication
performed by the user identification division 72 and the code
authentication performed by the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78. In the case where the above registration
request signal satisfies the above registration confirmation signal
sending requirement, the key code sending feasibility determining
division 78 will have the signal generating division 69 send the
registration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40 as shown
in FIG. 30. This code authentication requirement includes at least
the two conditions; a condition that the online access code 60
included in the above registration request signal is stored in the
online code database 77 and a condition that the number of the
provided key codes 90 is less than the predetermined number, and
performing a search for any other conditions is voluntary. In
addition, the number of the provided key codes 90 stored in the
online code database 77 is increased by one. It also adds the
information that the key code 90 has been added to the user
information stored in the user information database 75.
[0392] The user terminal 40 encrypts and stores the key code 90 as
described above.
[0393] The flow of the data (signals) is as shown in FIG. 29.
[0394] As shown in FIG. 31, in the case where the user 10 could not
be identified as a result of the user authentication by the user
identification division 72, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 will have the signal generating division 69
send the registration reject signal to the user terminal 40.
[0395] The key code sending feasibility determining division 78
acquires the key code 90 from the server of the animation
distribution service company 80. As for this method of acquisition,
either one of the following methods or both of them may be
used.
[0396] As a first method, there is a method of having the key code
sending feasibility determination division 84 of the animation
distribution service company 80 send the correspondence table of
the online access codes 60 and the key codes 90 in predetermined
timing.
[0397] Accordingly, in the case where no key code 90 corresponding
to the online access code 60 is stored in the online code database
77 of the Internet provider 70, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 will have the signal generating division 69
send the registration reject signal as shown in FIG. 32.
[0398] As a second method, there is a method of sending the online
access codes 60 inputted from the user terminal 40 to the animation
distribution service company 80 and having the corresponding key
code 90 sent in return.
[0399] To be more specific, in the case where no key code 90
corresponding to the online access code 60 is stored in the online
code database 77 of the Internet provider 70, the key code sending
feasibility determining division 78 will have the data distribution
destination determining division 75 send the online access codes 60
to the server of the predetermined animation distribution service
company 80. The data distribution destination determining division
75 determines the destination of the online access codes 60 as
mentioned above. In the case where the data distribution
destination determining division 75 cannot determine the
destination of the online access codes 60, it will have the signal
generating division 69 send the registration reject signal as shown
in FIG. 32.
[0400] The key code sending feasibility determination division 84
of the animation distribution service company 80 performs a search
for the key code 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 at
the online code database 85. If the key code 90 is successfully
retrieved, the key code is sent to the server of the Internet
provider 70.
[0401] In the case where the above registration request signal
meets the above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement, the key code sending feasibility determining division
78 of the Internet provider 70 will have the signal generating
division 69 send the registration confirmation signal as shown in
FIG. 33. In the case where the above signal does not meet the above
requirement, the key code sending feasibility determining division
78 will have the signal generating division 69 send the
registration reject signal as shown in FIG. 34. The flow of the
data (signals) in the case of sending the registration confirmation
signal is as shown in FIG. 21.
[0402] In the case where the key code sending feasibility
determination division 84 of the animation distribution service
company 80 cannot successfully perform a search for the key code 90
at the online code database 85, it notifies the server of the
Internet provider 70 thereof as shown in FIG. 35.
[0403] The key code sending feasibility determining division 78 of
the Internet provider 70 will have the signal generating division
69 send the registration reject signal to the user terminal 40.
[0404] Moreover, a method other than this may be used to acquire
the key code 90.
[0405] As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, deregistration is performed not
through the server of the animation distribution service company
80.
[0406] To be more specific, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 of the Internet provider 70 determines
whether or not the inputted deregistration request signal satisfies
the above deregistration confirmation signal sending requirement in
the above described manner. In the case where the above signal
satisfies the above requirement, the key code sending feasibility
determining division 78 will have the signal generating division 69
send the deregistration confirmation signal as shown in FIG. 36. In
the case where it does not satisfy the requirement, the key code
sending feasibility determining division 78 will have the signal
generating division 69 send the deregistration reject signal as
shown in FIG. 37.
[0407] Moreover, it is a matter of course that each of the above
constituents may be operated by the control division according to
the program.
<Third Animation Data Sales Mediation Method>
[0408] The third animation data sales mediation method may be
performed as described above.
[0409] To be more specific, the third animation data sales
mediation method has the steps of: having the user 10 send the
registration request signal including at least the online access
code 60 and the user information to the server of the Internet
provider 70 using the user terminal 40; in the case where the above
registration request signal satisfies the above registration
confirmation signal sending requirement, having the server of the
Internet provider 70 send the registration confirmation signal
including the key code 90 to the user terminal 40, add the
information indicating that the key code has been sent to the user
information to be stored, and increase the number of the key codes
90 stored by the animation distribution service company 80 by one;
and having the user terminal 40 encrypt and store the key codes
90.
[0410] In addition, determination of whether the above registration
request signal satisfies the above registration confirmation signal
sending requirement may be made based on data showing a
corresponding relation between the online access code 60 and the
key code 90.
[0411] Furthermore, this data may be stored in the server of the
Internet provider 70.
[0412] In addition, the third animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 send to the server of the Internet
provider 70 the data showing the corresponding relation between the
online access code 60 and the key code 90 in predetermined timing;
and having the server of the Internet provider 70 store this
data.
[0413] In addition, the third animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: in the case where the server of the
Internet provider 70 could not successfully search for the key code
90 corresponding to the online access code included in the above
registration request signal, having the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 send the online access code 60; and
in the case where the key code 90 corresponding to the online
access code 60 inputted in the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 is discovered, having it sent to the server of
the Internet provider 70.
[0414] This animation data sales mediation method may further have
the steps of: having the user 10 send the deregistration request
signal to the server of the Internet provider 70 using the user
terminal 40; in the case where the deregistration request signal
satisfies the deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, having the server of the Internet provider 70 send the
deregistration confirmation signal to the user terminal 40; having
the key codes 90 stored in the user terminal 40 erased; and having
one subtracted from the number of the key codes 90 stored in the
server of the Internet provider 70.
[0415] The above registration confirmation signal sending
requirement may include, for instance, a condition that at least
one of the servers of the Internet provider 70 and the animation
distribution service company 80 has the key code 90 corresponding
to the online access code 60, the condition that the number of the
issued key codes 90 corresponding to the online access code 60 is
smaller than the predetermined number and the condition that the
user 10 can be identified from the above user information. A
condition that the consideration for the animation medium
(animation data) is paid may also be included. Moreover, the
Internet provider 70 may make advances for the consideration for
the animation medium (animation data).
[0416] The above deregistration confirmation signal sending
requirement, for instance, may include a condition that the above
deregistration request signal was received from the user terminal
40 and/or the user 10 having been sent the key code 90.
[0417] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the animation distribution service company 80 of the time for
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and having the
animation distribution service company 80 collect from the user 10
the consideration according to this time.
[0418] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the time of reproducing
the animation medium (animation data); and having the Internet
provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration according to
the time; and having the Internet provider 70 pay the collected
consideration to the animation distribution service company.
[0419] In addition, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 of the
frequency of reproducing the animation medium (animation data); and
having the animation distribution service company 80 collect from
the user 10 the consideration according to the frequency.
[0420] Moreover, the above animation data sales mediation method
may further have the steps of: having the user terminal 40 notify
the server of the Internet provider 70 of the frequency of
reproducing the animation medium (animation data); having the
Internet provider 70 collect from the user 10 the consideration
according to the frequency; and having the Internet provider 70 pay
the collected consideration to the animation distribution service
company.
[0421] Moreover, as to the charge collection method of the above
first animation data sales system, the same process executed by the
animation distribution service company 80 in the above animation
data sales system may be performed by the first animation data
sales mediation server or the above second animation data sales
server.
[0422] Likewise, in the above second animation data sales system,
the same process as above may be performed by the above second
animation data sales mediation server or the above third animation
data sales server.
[0423] In addition, in the third animation data sales system, the
same process as above may be performed by the third animation data
sales mediation server or the above fourth animation data sales
server.
[0424] Moreover, while the above description takes the animation
data sales mediation server as the server of the Internet provider
70, it is not limited to this. To be more specific, it is
sufficient, as mentioned above, as long as the functions of the
animation data sales mediation server are possible.
[0425] However, there arises the following merit by using the
animation data sales mediation server as the server of the Internet
provider 70.
[0426] The Internet provider 70 can grasp the user's identity (user
information) in detail. In addition, it is possible to acquire the
user's credit information through the payment for the Internet
connection charge and for products made through the Internet
provider 70 and so on.
[0427] Furthermore, as the Internet provider 70 and the user
terminal 40 are connected one to one instead of the WWW (world wide
web), it becomes even easier to identify the user 10.
[0428] Thus, the Internet provider 70 having thorough information
about the user allows any charge to be collected with high
reliability and safety especially in the case of collecting the
charge for the animation medium (animation data). In addition, such
charge can be collected together with the Internet connection
charge, for instance.
[0429] Moreover, it is possible to omit the user information
included in the above registration request signal and/or the above
deregistration request signal by using the large capacity data
sales mediation server as the server of the Internet provider. It
is because the Internet provider is connected to the user terminal
in one to one correspondence so as to allow the user to be
identified without necessarily acquiring the user information from
the user.
[Record Medium Recording Animation Data Purchase Method]
[0430] In addition, the above user terminal may perform the above
described operation by control of the program recorded on a record
medium.
[0431] To be more specific, this record medium has the program
recorded in a format readable by the user terminal 40 for
implementing on the user terminal 40 the functions of: sending the
registration request signal including the online access code 60 to
the server of the animation distribution service company 80 or the
server of the Internet provider 70; encrypting and storing the key
code 90 corresponding one to one to the received animation medium
(animation data) inputted to the server of the animation
distribution service company 80 or the server of the Internet
provider 70, being essential for reproducing; and decoding the
encrypted key code 90 when reproducing the animation medium
(animation data) to perform reproduction using the key code 90.
[0432] In addition, this record medium may have the program
recorded for further implementing the functions of: sending the
deregistration request signal requesting the deregistration to the
server of the animation distribution service company 80 or the
server of the Internet provider 70; and erasing the key code stored
in the above user terminal upon receipt of the deregistration
confirmation signal from the server of the animation distribution
service company 80 or the Internet provider 70.
[0433] As is clear from the above description, the present
invention allows sales and distribution of large capacity data to
be efficiently conducted by providing the user with the large
capacity storage medium in which the large capacity data such as
the animation data is stored at an arbitrary place and permitting
usage of the large capacity data on the network.
[0434] The present invention requires less work for the sales of
the large capacity data since the consideration for the large
capacity data can be collected via the network.
[0435] According to the present invention, only the predetermined
number of key codes corresponding one to one to the online access
code unique to the large capacity data, and which are essential for
using the large capacity data are issued, and so there will no
longer be the case where a single large capacity storage medium is
reproduced by a plurality of user terminals. Thus, it is possible
to prevent the large capacity storage medium from being copied in
an unauthorized manner.
[0436] According to the present invention, it is possible to
prevent the large capacity data (storage medium) from being used by
a user (user terminal) having no key code since the use of data
requires the key code corresponding one to one to the online access
code unique to the large capacity data. In addition, it is possible
to prevent unauthorized copies and so on more effectively by
adopting the newest technology as the key code technology.
[0437] According to the present invention, it is possible to
prevent the large capacity storage medium from being reproduced on
any user terminal other than the agreed one since the key code
essential for using the large capacity data is encrypted and stored
in the user terminal. In addition, it becomes possible to prevent
unauthorized copies and so on more effectively by adopting the
newest technology as the encryption technology.
[0438] In addition, according to the present invention, it is
possible for a distributor of the large capacity data to distribute
the large capacity data by a simple server since the large capacity
data sales mediation server mediates the sales of the large
capacity data.
[0439] According to the present invention, it is possible for a
seller of the large capacity storage medium (data) to grasp the
information, usage situation and so on regarding the user of the
large capacity data. In addition, in the case where the large
capacity data sales mediation server performs the user
authentication, it is possible for the distributor of the large
capacity data to easily grasp the user information. Moreover, it is
possible to grasp the detailed user information in the case where
the large capacity data sales mediation server has the detailed
user information, in particular, in the case where it is the server
of the Internet provider.
[0440] It is possible to collect the usage charge for the large
capacity data from each user since the users of the large capacity
storage medium can be grasped.
[0441] According to the present invention, it is possible to
elaborately set the usage charge for the large capacity data, and
so it is also possible, for instance, to collect the usage charge
each time the large capacity data is used. In addition, the user
can pay the usage charge according to the actual usage situation of
the large capacity data.
[0442] In addition, as the usage charge is collected by the large
capacity data sales mediation server, it is possible for the seller
of the large capacity data to engage in sales via the network of
the animation medium without having to use a complicated system. In
particular, in the case where the large capacity data sales
mediation system is the Internet provider, it is possible to
collect the usage charge together with the Internet connection
charge so as to collect the usage charge more securely.
[0443] According to the present invention, it is possible for the
distributor of the large capacity data to collect the usage charge
safely and securely by performing the user authentication on
issuing the key code. Moreover, the work required for the
distribution of the large capacity data on the part of the
distributor thereof is alleviated since the user authentication is
performed by the large capacity data sales mediation server. In
addition, it is possible for the distributor of the large capacity
data to collect the usage charge more safely and securely in the
case where the large capacity data sales mediation server has the
detailed user information, in particular, in the case where it is
the server of the Internet provider since the user authentication
can be performed more securely.
[0444] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described using specific terms, the description has been for
illustrative purpose only, and it is to be understood that changes
and variations may be made without departing from the sprit or
scope of the following claims.
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