Digital contents distributing method and its implementation system, and medium where process program thereof is recorded

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to a digital content distribution system for distributing digital contents, and in particular, digital contents generated by digitizing originals such as books are distributed from a storage management center to a store, and digital contents selected by a customer are sold at the store. It is related to the technology that is effective when applied to the digital content distribution system.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

With the spread of the Internet, electronic commerce has progressed, and the sale of digital contents that can be sold and delivered on networks has attracted attention. In addition, it is expected that the contents of information (novels, comics, music, games, etc.) sold in goods and package media through existing distribution channels will be digitized and distributed / sold on the network.

【0003】

Conventional technologies for selling digitized content include mail-order sales of various contents on Internet electronic mall sites, download of digital contents themselves via networks, and storage media of contents desired by customers at stores such as convenience stores. Terminals that copy to the provided media and services that deliver information by telephone service number are operating as actual businesses.

【0004】

Further, an information distribution system for distributing information created or edited using information distributed in a network and an information creation method applied to the system are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-254850. This information distribution system creates new information using the information distributed in the network and distributes it through the network, and creates and changes the information according to the processing conditions such as the information viewing environment and the creation environment. This is to make it easy to execute the editing process of.

【0005】

In addition, distribution and sales using paper media currently play a central role in the distribution and sale of content, and in distribution using paper media, the printing format and bundling method of content on paper are the distribution form. It affects the viewing style and is currently forming a culture. While preserving the distribution form and viewing form and inheriting the formed culture, we will shift to a system that realizes network distribution and sales by converting content using paper media into digital content, and environmental problems of existing distribution media. , There is a need for a digital content distribution system that solves distribution issues such as content up-to-dateness issues, product returns and destruction issues, and distribution cost issues.

【0006】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

In the conventional technology for selling digital contents, the digital contents are sold, but the digital contents are not distributed in the form of digital data throughout the digital contents distribution system, so that the digital contents are digitized. There is a problem that the digital contents generated by the above cannot be immediately distributed to the dealer via the network and sold to the customer.

【0007】

That is, in the conventional technology for selling digital contents, normal distribution such as delivery of a CD-ROM containing digital contents is included in the middle of the digital contents distribution system, so that new digital contents are delivered or ordered by a customer. There is a problem that it takes several days or the like to deliver the desired digital content.

【0008】

In addition, when selling digital content via a network, the digital content is copied and sold, but in the conventional technology for selling digital content, a license fee for the digital content is collected according to the number of copies. Since the system for paying the content holder has not been established, there is a problem that the license fee according to the number of sales may not be paid to the content holder.

【0009】

In addition, the form of viewing the content that has already been distributed by the user is an important point. That is, what is distributed in the form of a book has the appearance of a book, a method of finding it as a book has been established, and the reader has a way of reading a book such as reading page by page and turning pages.

【0010】

However, the conventional technology for selling digital contents does not digitize the appearance of books, CDs, and other items that are actually distributed as faithfully as possible. The appearance of digital content digitized from the original may differ significantly, and there is a problem that it becomes difficult to handle it in the same way as the actual one. For example, if you enter only the text data of a book to make an e-book, the appearance information such as the cover and spine will be lost, so search for the book you saw in the advertisement or a familiar book while looking at the cover or spine at the bookstore. It is difficult to find an e-book consisting only of text data in the same way as in.

【0011】

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to provide a technique capable of high-speed distribution of digital contents. Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable of distributing a license fee according to the number of digital contents sold to content holders.

【0012】

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is a digital content distribution system that distributes digital content via a network, distributes and sells the digital content via the network, and distributes a license fee according to the number of sales to content holders. ..

【0013】

In the digital content distribution system of the present invention, first, the original is received from the content holder who owns the original of the content, and the original is digitized at the digitization center to generate digital content. The generated digital content is stored in the storage management center after receiving the approval of the content holder.

【0014】

The storage management center creates a distribution schedule for distributing digital contents, and distributes a plurality of digital contents from the storage management center to the store according to the distribution schedule. It should be noted that a plurality of distribution management centers are set up by dividing a plurality of stores into specific groups such as affiliated stores and managing distribution to the stores belonging to each group, and the distribution management centers are relayed to the distribution. May be done.

【0015】

The retail store sells the digital content by copying the specific digital content selected by the customer from the distributed digital content to a medium or downloading it to a playback device.

【0016】

When the digital content desired by the customer is not delivered to the store, the store sends a distribution request to the storage management center via the distribution management center, and the digital content is distributed on demand. Digital contents distributed on demand are cached in the distribution management center when passing through the distribution management center, and if the same distribution request is received from another store managed by the distribution management center, the storage management center On-demand distribution is performed from the distribution management center to the store that has the same distribution request without going through.

【0017】

Each time a digital content is sold, each store stores the sales content in a magnetic disk device and collects sales information. The storage management center receives the sales information collected at each store via the distribution management center, aggregates it, calculates the license fee, and then remits the license fee to the content holder.

【0018】

As described above, according to the digital content distribution system of the present invention, all the digital content is distributed from the storage management center to the store via the network, so that the digital content can be distributed at high speed.

【0019】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a digital content distribution system for selling an electronic book generated by digitizing a book at a store such as a bookstore or a convenience store will be described below.

【0020】

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment includes a digitization device 100, an approval device 110, a storage management device 120, a distribution management device 130, a sales device 140, and a playback device 150. doing.

【0021】

The digitizing device 100 is a device that digitizes the original book to generate an electronic book, receives an approval message from the approval device 110, and sends it to the storage management device 120. The approval device 110 is a device for the publisher to approve the contents of the electronic book generated by the digitizing device 100.

【0022】

The storage management device 120 is a device that stores electronic books generated by the digitizing device 100. The distribution management device 130 converts the communication protocol between the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140 to absorb the difference in the interface, and manages the distribution of the electronic book to the sales device 140 connected to the device. It is a device.

【0023】

The sales device 140 is a device that sells an electronic book to a customer by copying the electronic book selected by the customer onto a medium or downloading the electronic book to the playback device 150. The playback device 150 is a device for playing back an electronic book purchased from the sales device 140.

【0024】

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, a plurality of distribution management centers are connected to one storage management center via a network, and a bookstore, a convenience store, or an electronic mall, which is a plurality of stores, is connected to one distribution management center. WWW server is connected via the network. Here, the network is a communication path for distributing electronic books, which are digital contents, from a predetermined place to a place, and includes both wired and wireless.

【0025】

The distribution management center converts the communication protocol between the storage management center and the store, and distributes to a plurality of stores belonging to each group when a plurality of stores are divided into specific groups such as affiliated stores. In the case of a store that does not belong to any group, the center may be directly connected to the storage management center without going through the distribution management center. In this way, by making the stores belonging to one group the same type of stores such as affiliated stores, if it is a convenience store, the distribution schedule will be suitable for the stores of that group, such as focusing on magazines. Can be set up. As shown in Fig. 1, a distribution management center may be set up for each group to form multiple distribution management centers, or multiple groups may be connected to one distribution management center for each group within one distribution management center. You may perform different management.

【0026】

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the digitizing device 100 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the digitizing device 100 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 201, a memory 202, a magnetic disk device 203, a keyboard 204, a display device 205, a communication adapter 206, and a scanner 207. There is.

【0027】

The CPU 201 is a control device that controls the operation of the entire digitizing device 100. The memory 202 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the digitizing device 100. The magnetic disk device 203 is a storage device that stores data such as the various processing programs and electronic books.

【0028】

The keyboard 204 is an input device for inputting an operation instruction or the like to the digitizing device 100. The display device 205 is an output device that displays the operating status of the digitizing device 100 and the like. The communication adapter 206 is an adapter that communicates with another device. The scanner 207 is a device that reads the original book as image data.

【0029】

Further, the digitizing device 100 has a digitizing processing unit 210. The digitization processing unit 210 is a processing unit that digitizes the original book to generate an electronic book, requests the approval device 110 to confirm the contents, and sends the approved electronic book to the storage management device 120.

【0030】

A program for causing the digitizing device 100 to function as the digitizing processing unit 210 shall be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The medium for recording the program may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

【0031】

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the approval device 110 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the approval device 110 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 301, a memory 302, a magnetic disk device 303, a keyboard 304, a display device 305, and a communication adapter 306.

【0032】

The CPU 301 is a control device that controls the operation of the entire approval device 110. The memory 302 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the approval device 110. The magnetic disk device 303 is a storage device that stores data such as the various processing programs and electronic books.

【0033】

The keyboard 304 is an input device for inputting an operation instruction or the like to the approval device 110. The display device 305 is an output device that displays the operating status of the approval device 110 and the like. The communication adapter 306 is an adapter that communicates with other devices.

【0034】

Further, the approval device 110 has an approval processing unit 310. The approval processing unit 310 is a processing unit that displays the contents of the electronic book requested to be confirmed by the digitizing device 100 and sends a message indicating whether or not to approve the contents of the electronic book to the digitizing device 100. ..

【0035】

The program for making the approval device 110 function as the approval processing unit 310 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, stored on a magnetic disk or the like, and then loaded into a memory and executed. The medium for recording the program may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

【0036】

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the storage management device 120 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the storage management device 120 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 401, a memory 402, a magnetic disk device 403, a keyboard 404, a display device 405, and a communication adapter 406.

【0037】

The CPU 401 is a control device that controls the operation of the entire storage management device 120. The memory 402 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the storage management device 120. The magnetic disk device 403 is a storage device that stores data such as the various processing programs and electronic books.

【0038】

The keyboard 404 is an input device for inputting operation instructions and the like to the storage management device 120. The display device 405 is an output device that displays the operating status of the storage management device 120 and the like. The communication adapter 406 is an adapter that communicates with other devices.

【0039】

The storage management device 120 also includes a storage management processing unit 410, a distribution control processing unit 411, a request distribution processing unit 412, and a license processing unit 413.

【0040】

The storage management processing unit 410 is a processing unit that receives an electronic book created by the digitizing device 100 and stores it in the magnetic disk device 403. The distribution control processing unit 411 is a processing unit that creates a distribution schedule for distributing the electronic book to the sales device 140 and instructs the distribution management device 130 to distribute the electronic book according to the distribution schedule. The on-demand distribution processing unit 412 is a processing unit that receives a distribution request from the sales device 140 relayed from the distribution management device 130 and transmits the electronic book for which the distribution request has been made to the distribution management device 130.

【0041】

The license processing unit 413 aggregates the sales information collected by each sales device 140 for each electronic book, calculates the license fee for each electronic book from the aggregated sales information, and calculates the license fee for each of the calculated electronic books. It is a processing department that sends money to publishers.

【0042】

The program for making the storage management device 120 function as the storage management processing unit 410, the distribution control processing unit 411, the on-demand distribution processing unit 412, and the license processing unit 413 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like. After being stored, it shall be loaded into memory and executed. The medium for recording the program may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

【0043】

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the distribution management device 130 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the distribution management device 130 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 501, a memory 502, a magnetic disk device 503, a keyboard 504, a display device 505, and a communication adapter 506.

【0044】

The CPU 501 is a control device that controls the operation of the entire distribution management device 130. The memory 502 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the distribution management device 130. The magnetic disk device 503 is a storage device that stores data such as the various processing programs and electronic books.

【0045】

The keyboard 504 is an input device for inputting an operation instruction or the like to the distribution management device 130. The display device 505 is an output device that displays the operating status of the distribution management device 130 and the like. The communication adapter 506 is an adapter that communicates with other devices.

【0046】

The distribution management device 130 also includes a protocol conversion processing unit 510, a distribution processing unit 511, a distribution request relay processing unit 512, and a sales information relay processing unit 513.

【0047】

The protocol conversion processing unit 510 is a processing unit that mutually converts the communication protocol between the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140 to absorb the difference in the interface. The distribution processing unit 511 is a processing unit that distributes electronic books to the sales device 140 according to the distribution schedule instructed by the storage management device 120.

【0048】

The distribution request relay processing unit 512 is a processing unit that relays the distribution request from the sales device 140 to the storage management device 120 and distributes the electronic book transmitted from the storage management device 120 to the sales device 140 in response to the distribution request. The sales information relay processing unit 513 is a processing unit that relays the sales information transmitted from the sales device 140 to the storage management device 120.

【0049】

The program for making the distribution management device 130 function as the protocol conversion processing unit 510, the distribution processing unit 511, the distribution request relay processing unit 512, and the sales information relay processing unit 513 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and is recorded on a magnetic disk or the like. After being stored in, it shall be loaded into memory and executed. The medium for recording the program may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

【0050】

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the sales device 140 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the sales device 140 of the present embodiment includes a CPU 601, a memory 602, a magnetic disk device 603, a keyboard 604, a display device 605, a communication adapter 606, and a medium writing device 607. ing.

【0051】

The CPU601 is a control device that controls the operation of the entire sales device 140. The memory 602 is a storage device for loading various processing programs and data for controlling the operation of the sales device 140. The magnetic disk device 603 is a storage device that stores data such as the various processing programs and electronic books.

【0052】

The keyboard 604 is an input device for inputting an operation instruction or the like to the sales device 140. The display device 605 is an output device that displays the operating status of the sales device 140 and the like. The communication adapter 606 is an adapter that communicates with other devices. The medium writing device 607 is a device that writes the selected electronic book on the medium.

【0053】

Further, the sales device 140 includes a distribution content reception processing unit 610, a selection processing unit 611, a sales processing unit 612, a distribution request processing unit 613, and a sales information collection processing unit 614.

【0054】

The distribution content reception processing unit 610 is a processing unit that receives the electronic book distributed from the distribution management device 130 and stores it in the magnetic disk device 603. The selection processing unit 611 is a processing unit that receives the identification information of a specific electronic book selected by the customer from the product information of the electronic book.

【0055】

The sales processing unit 612 is a processing unit that sells a specific electronic book selected by the customer. The distribution request processing unit 613 is a processing unit that transmits a distribution request for an electronic book selected by the customer to the distribution management device 130. The sales information collection processing unit 614 is a processing unit that collects sales information of electronic books sold by the sales device 140 and transmits the sales information to the storage management device 120.

【0056】

The program for making the sales device 140 function as the distribution content reception processing unit 610, the selection processing unit 611, the sales processing unit 612, the distribution request processing unit 613, and the sales information collection processing unit 614 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. After being stored in a magnetic disk or the like, it is loaded into a memory and executed. The medium for recording the program may be a medium other than the CD-ROM.

【0057】

Next, in the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, a process of digitizing a book owned by a publisher and generating an electronic book which is digital content will be described.

【0058】

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the digitization processing unit 210 of the present embodiment. After receiving the original from the publisher in step 701, in step 702, the digitizing processing unit 210 of the digitizing device 100 digitizes the received original to generate an electronic book and also generates product information corresponding to the electronic book. To do. In step 703, the digitized and generated electronic book is transmitted to the approval device 110 of the publisher and waits for a response from the approval processing unit 310.

【0059】

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the approval processing unit 310 of the present embodiment. In step 801, the approval processing unit 310 of the approval device 110 receives the electronic book generated by the digitizing device 100, and in step 802, the contents of the received electronic book are displayed on the display device 305.

【0060】

If the input from the operator is received in step 803 and the operation content input from the operator approves the content of the electronic book, the process proceeds to step 804, and the approval message is transmitted to the digitizing device 100. If the operation content input from the operator indicates the correction of the electronic book, the process proceeds to step 805, and the correction content input from the operator is transmitted to the digitizing device 100.

【0061】

In step 704, the digitization processing unit 210 of the digitizing device 100 examines the content of the response message from the publisher, and if there is a correction to the electronic book generated in step 702, the correction processing is performed in step 705. Later, the process returns to step 702, and the following processing for digitization is performed again. If the content of the electronic book generated in step 702 is approved, the electronic book is sent to the storage management processing unit 410 of the storage management device 120.

【0062】

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the storage management processing unit 410 of the present embodiment. In step 901, the storage management processing unit 410 of the storage management device 120 receives the electronic book and its product information transmitted from the digitizing device 100. In step 902, the electronic book and its product information are stored in the database in the magnetic disk device 403. Then, in step 903, database update processing such as index update is performed.

【0063】

Next, in the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, a process of selling the electronic book after distributing the electronic book stored in the storage management device 120 to the sales device 140 will be described.

【0064】

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the distribution control processing unit 411 of the present embodiment. In step 1001, the distribution control processing unit 411 of the storage management device 120 creates a distribution schedule for distributing the electronic book to the sales device 140. In step 1002, the electronic book delivered according to the delivery schedule and its product information are read out.

【0065】

In step 1003, the created distribution schedule, the read electronic book, and the product information thereof are transmitted to the distribution management device 130, and the distribution management device 130 is instructed to distribute the electronic book according to the distribution schedule. In step 1004, for each distribution management device that performs distribution processing according to the distribution schedule, it is checked whether or not the distribution instruction to them has been completed. If the instruction to each distribution management device has not been completed yet, the process returns to step 1003 to continue the process, and if the instruction to each distribution management device is completed, the process ends.

【0066】

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the distribution processing unit 511 of the present embodiment. In step 1101, the distribution processing unit 511 of the distribution management device 130 receives the distribution schedule, the electronic book, and its product information as a distribution instruction from the storage management device 120. In step 1102, the received distribution schedule, the electronic book, and the product information thereof are stored in the magnetic disk device 503.

【0067】

In step 1103, the communication protocol between the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140 is converted by the protocol conversion processing unit 510, and the electronic book and its product information are distributed to each sales device 140 according to the distribution schedule. In step 1104, it is checked whether or not the distribution of the electronic book and its product information to each of the sales devices whose distribution processing is performed according to the distribution schedule is completed. If the distribution to each sales device has not been completed yet, the process returns to step 1103 to continue the process, and if the distribution to each sales device is completed, the process ends. Even if broadcast communication is performed to a plurality of sales devices 140 using a communication satellite or the like, and the electronic book and its product information are distributed to each sales device whose distribution process is performed according to the distribution schedule, the e-book and its product information can be distributed at once. good.

【0068】

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the distribution content reception processing unit 610 of the present embodiment. In step 1201, the distribution content reception processing unit 610 of the sales device 140 receives the electronic book and its product information distributed from the distribution management device 130, and stores the electronic book and its product information in the magnetic disk device 603. In step 1202, the received product information is added to the previous product information, and the data used in the search process when the customer selects the electronic book to be purchased is updated. In step 1203, the free space of the magnetic disk device 603 is checked, and a disk management process such as deleting data that has not been recently used for sale is performed according to the value.

【0069】

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the sales processing unit 612 of the present embodiment. In step 1301, the selection processing unit 611 of the sales device 140 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for searching an electronic book on the display device 605, and accepts the search conditions input by the customer. When the search condition is input from the customer, the selection processing unit 611 searches the product information in the sales device 140 in step 1302, and reads out the product information of the electronic book that matches the received search condition. In step 1303, the product information of the electronic book obtained as a result of the search is displayed on the display device 605, and the customer's selection of the electronic book is accepted.

【0070】

In step 1304, it is checked whether or not the specific electronic book in the displayed product information is selected by the customer, and if the electronic book is selected, the process proceeds to step 1305. If a re-search is instructed, the process returns to step 1301 and the input of the search condition is accepted again.

【0071】

In step 1305, the sales processing unit 612 checks whether the e-book selected by the customer has already been distributed, and if the e-book has been distributed, proceeds to step 1307 to process the sales of the distributed e-book. I do. If the electronic book has not been distributed, the process proceeds to step 1306, and the distribution request processing unit 613 transmits the distribution request of the electronic book to the distribution management device 130 to receive the distribution of the electronic book on demand.

【0072】

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the distribution request relay processing unit 512 of the present embodiment. In step 1401, the distribution request relay processing unit 512 of the distribution management device 130 receives the distribution request from the sales device 140. In step 1402, it is checked whether or not the electronic book requested by the received distribution request is already stored in the magnetic disk device 503 of the distribution management device 130, and the electronic book is stored in the distribution management device 130. Go to step 1405, otherwise go to step 1403. In step 1403, the protocol conversion processing unit 510 converts the communication protocol between the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140, and transmits the distribution request received from the sales device 140 to the storage management device 120.

【0073】

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the request delivery processing unit 412 of the present embodiment. In step 1501, the on-demand distribution processing unit 412 of the storage management device 120 receives the distribution request from the sales device 140 relayed by the distribution management device 130. In step 1502, the electronic book requested by the received distribution request is searched, and in step 1503, the searched electronic book is read out. In step 1504, the read electronic book is transmitted to the distribution management device 130, and the distribution management device 130 is instructed to distribute the electronic book.

【0074】

In step 1404, the electronic book transmitted from the storage management device 120 in response to the distribution request is received and stored in the magnetic disk device 503. In step 1405, the electronic book requested from the sales device 140 by the distribution request is read from the magnetic disk device 503 and distributed to the sales device 140.

【0075】

In step 1307, the sales processing unit 612 of the sales device 140 processes the sales of the electronic book distributed from the distribution management device 130, and transfers the sales of the sales device 140 to the license processing account. In step 1308, the sales information collection processing unit 614 of the sales device 140 purchased the product ID of the sold electronic book, the salesperson ID of the salesperson in charge, and the salesperson as sales information indicating the contents of the sales processing performed in the above processing. The customer's personal ID, payment confirmation type, sales date, etc. are stored in the magnetic disk device 603.

【0076】

Further, the digitization processing unit 210 of the digitizing device 100 can generate an electronic book composed of a plurality of digital data by dividing the original book into predetermined units such as chapters and pages and digitizing the original book. The selection processing unit 611 of the sales apparatus 140 may accept the selection of the divided predetermined unit of electronic books, and the sales processing unit 612 may sell the divided predetermined units of electronic books. In the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, as described above, the original content can be sold by dividing it into arbitrary units, so that it is possible to provide a more flexible service to the customer.

【0077】

Further, the digitization processing unit 210 of the digitizing device 100 may digitize the original book as image data to generate an electronic book. In this case, the appearance of the original content is reproduced as image data. Therefore, the characters in the book are input as text data, the figures in the book are input as image data, and then the input digit data and image data are input. Compared to the case of digitizing an electronic book by editing it, it is not necessary to perform an editing operation for faithfully reproducing the original content, and it is possible to express characters that cannot be expressed as text data.

【0078】

Further, when the selection processing unit 611 of the sales device 140 selects a specific electronic book, if the image data of the generated cover and spine is displayed as product information, the books are arranged in the actual bookstore. It is possible to reproduce such a state on the display device 605 of the sales device 140, and the customer can select an electronic book as if selecting a book at a bookstore.

【0079】

Next, in the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, a process of distributing the profit to the publisher according to the number of electronic books sold by the sales device 140 will be described.

【0080】

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the license processing unit 413 of the present embodiment. In step 1601, the license processing unit 413 of the storage management device 120 transmits the transmission request of the sales information collected by the sales device 140 to the distribution management device 130.

【0081】

In step 1602, the license processing unit 413 of the storage management device 120 receives the sales information of the sales device 140 relayed by the distribution management device 130, and in step 1603, the received sales information is stored in the magnetic disk device 403.

【0082】

In step 1604, for each distribution management device connected to the storage management device 120, it is checked whether or not the reception of sales information from them has been completed. If the reception of sales information from each distribution management device has not been completed, the process returns to step 1601 to continue the process, and if the reception of sales information from each distribution management device is completed, the process ends. ..

【0083】

In step 1605, the sales information received from the plurality of sales devices 140 is read from the magnetic disk device 403 and aggregated for each electronic book. In step 1606, the copyright license management information in the magnetic disk device 403 is referred to, and the aggregated sales Calculate the license fee for each e-book from the information.

【0084】

In step 1607, the license fee of each e-book calculated above is totaled for each publisher, and in step 1608, the total license fee is calculated from the license processing account to which the sales of each sales device 140 are remitted to the account of each publisher. To send money.

【0085】

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the sales information relay processing unit 513 of the present embodiment. In step 1701, the sales information relay processing unit 513 of the distribution management device 130 receives the sales information request transmitted from the storage management device 120, and in step 1702, the protocol conversion processing unit 510 sets the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140. The received sales information request is relayed to the sales device 140 while converting the communication protocol between the two.

【0086】

In step 1703, the sales information relay processing unit 513 of the distribution management device 130 receives the sales information transmitted from the sales device 140, and in step 1704, the protocol conversion processing unit 510 between the storage management device 120 and the sales device 140. The sales information is transmitted to the storage management device 120 while converting the communication protocol.

【0087】

In step 1705, for each sales device whose sales information is relayed by the distribution management device 130, it is checked whether or not the relay of the sales information has been completed. If the relay of the sales information of each sales device has not been completed, the process returns to step 1702 to continue the process, and if the relay of the sales information of each sales device 140 is completed, the process ends.

【0088】

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the sales information collection processing unit 614 of the present embodiment. In step 1801, the sales information collection processing unit 614 of the sales device 140 receives the sales information request relayed by the distribution management device 130. In step 1802, the sales information is read from the magnetic disk device 603 and aggregated for each electronic book, and in step 1803, the aggregated sales information is transmitted to the distribution management device 130.

【0089】

Next, another configuration example in the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment will be described.

【0090】

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a second configuration example of the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment. In the digital content distribution system shown in Fig. 19, the digitization center, storage management center, and distribution management center are integrated into one center. In this case, the necessary equipment is shared and operated by each center. The required personnel can be reduced.

【0091】

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a third configuration example of the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment. In the digital content distribution system shown in FIG. 20, each digitization center is set up near the publisher, and the storage management center and the distribution management center are integrated into one center. In this case, since digitization can be performed near the location of each publisher where the original content actually exists, the distribution of the original content can be reduced.

【0092】

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a fourth configuration example of the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment. In the digital content distribution system shown in FIG. 21, the digitization center and the storage management center are integrated into one center and connected to each distribution management center. In this case, since each distribution management center can be arranged separately for each distribution route, it is possible to reduce network traffic when transmitting and receiving digital contents, product information, etc., and distribute the processing load. .. In addition, each distribution center can prepare equipment dedicated to its distribution.

【0093】

As described above, according to the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, all the digital content is distributed from the storage management center to the store via the network, so that the digital content can be distributed at high speed. ..

【0094】

Further, according to the digital content distribution system of the present embodiment, when the digital content is sold, the sales information is collected and the license fee is calculated. Therefore, the license fee according to the number of digital contents sold is distributed to the content holders. It is possible to do.

【0095】

[Effect of the invention]

According to the present invention, since all the digital contents are distributed from the storage management center to the store via the network, it is possible to distribute the digital contents at high speed.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the digital content distribution system of this embodiment.

[Figure 2]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the digitizing apparatus 100 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 3]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the approval apparatus 110 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 4]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the storage management apparatus 120 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 5]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the distribution management apparatus 130 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 6]

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the sales apparatus 140 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 7]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the digitization processing unit 210 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 8]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the approval processing part 310 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 9]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the accumulation management processing part 410 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 10]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the distribution control processing unit 411 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 11]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the delivery processing part 511 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 12]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the delivery content reception processing unit 610 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 13]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the sales processing unit 612 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 14]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the delivery request relay processing unit 512 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 15]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the request delivery processing part 412 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 16]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the license processing part 413 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 17]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the sales information relay processing unit 513 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 18]

It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of the sales information collection processing unit 614 of this embodiment.

[Fig. 19]

It is a figure which shows the 2nd configuration example of the digital content distribution system of this embodiment.

[Fig. 20]

It is a figure which shows the 3rd configuration example of the digital content distribution system of this embodiment.

[Fig. 21]

It is a figure which shows the 4th configuration example of the digital content distribution system of this embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... Digitizer, 110 ... Approval device, 120 ... Storage management device, 130 ... Distribution management device, 140 ... Sales device, 150 ... Playback device, 201 ... CPU , 202 ... Memory, 203 ... Magnetic Disk Device, 204 ... Keyboard, 205 ... Display Device, 206 ... Communication Adapter, 207 ... Scanner, 210 ... Digitization Processing Unit, 301 ... CPU, 302 ... Memory, 303 ... Magnetic disk device, 304 ... Keyboard, 305 ... Display device, 306 ... Communication adapter, 310 ... Approval processing unit, 401. .. CPU, 402 ... Memory, 403 ... Magnetic Disk Device, 404 ... Keyboard, 405 ... Display Device, 406 ... Communication Adapter, 410 ... Storage Management Processing Unit, 411 .. .Distribution control processing unit, 412 ... Delivery processing unit on request, 413 ... License processing unit, 501 ... CPU, 502 ... Memory, 503 ... Magnetic disk device, 504 ... Keyboard, 505 ... Display device, 506 ... Communication adapter, 510 ... Protocol conversion processing unit, 511 ... Distribution processing unit, 512 ... Distribution request relay processing unit, 513 ... Sales information relay processing unit , 601 ... CPU, 602 ... Memory, 603 ... Magnetic Disk Device, 604 ... Keyboard, 605 ... Display Device, 606 ... Communication Adapter, 607 ... Media Writer, 610 ... Distribution content reception processing unit, 611 ... Selection processing unit, 612 ... Sales processing unit, 613 ... Distribution request processing unit, 614 ... Sales information collection processing unit.