JP2001258008A - Contents supply system and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents supply system that can supply contents to a person for personal use, while limiting the amount of use of contents. SOLUTION: When a user terminal 2 transmits data to specify a user to a server 1, the server 1 stores a user ID to a logical position whose contents are analyzed illegally by an operation of an operator. When the user terminal 2 transmits an image ID of a purchased image and data denoting number of purchased images to the server 1, the user transmits the user ID to the server 1, and the server 1 encrypts image data by the user ID and transmits the encrypted data to the user terminal 2. When the server 1 confirms the reception of the image data and the supply of decision data, the server 1 transmits license data to the user terminal 2. The user terminal 2 updates a use right database, so as to provide the use right of the received image data to the user. Thus, the use can browse the image and allows a printer 3, to also print out the image within a range of number of the purchased images.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a content supply system and the like capable of supplying a content while preventing unauthorized duplication of the content.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the advance of digital image processing technology,
It is becoming possible to process and edit various contents, for example, image data, and output them as a hard copy by a color printer or the like. In order to prevent unauthorized use of content, content encryption and content user authentication are performed.

[0003]

However, once the contents composed of digital data are decrypted or once the user is authenticated, the contents can be used in an unregulated manner such as unlimitedly copied. There is a problem that the interests of the right holders such as persons are impaired.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a content supply system that enables a user to use a content for personal use while limiting the usage amount of the content.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a content supply system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a mobile telephone and a server connected to the mobile telephone via a network. The mobile phone is configured such that the user identifies user identification information for identifying a user, and usage authority information indicating whether the user has authority to use specific image data. The content is stored in a manner that is difficult to specify, the user identification information stored by itself and the image data identification information that specifies the image data to be supplied are transferred to the server via the network. Determining whether or not the user has the right to use the encrypted image data supplied to the user based on the use right information,
When it is determined that the user has the authority, the image data is decrypted by using the user identification information stored by the user, the image represented by the image data is reproduced, and after the image data is reproduced, the user is allowed to execute the image data. Determines whether or not the user has the authority to use, based on the determination result, rewrites the use authority information stored by itself, the server, the mobile phone, the user identification information and the image data identification information When transferred to the user, the image data specified by the image data identification information is encrypted using the user identification information and transferred to the mobile phone via the network.

[0006] According to such a content supply system, the image data is used as long as the user has the authority to use the image data. If the use authority is lost as a result of the use, the image data is not used. For this reason, the image data is provided for personal use while limiting the degree of use by the user.

A content supply system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a terminal and a server, and the terminal uses user identification information for identifying a user and content specific to the user. Storage means for storing use authority information indicating whether or not the user has the right to perform the operation in a manner in which it is difficult for the operator to specify the content of the user identification information; and a user identification information stored in the storage means in the server. Means for supplying information and content identification information for specifying the content to be supplied, and whether or not the user has the right to use the encrypted content supplied to the user. And decoding means for decoding and reproducing the content by using the user identification information stored in the storage means when determining that the content is authorized. Updating means for judging whether or not the user is still authorized to use the content after the content has been reproduced, and rewriting the usage authority information stored in the storage means based on a result of the judgment. And when the user identification information and the content identification information are supplied from the terminal, the server encrypts the content specified by the content identification information using the user identification information and supplies the content to the terminal. Means.

[0008] According to such a content supply system, the content is used as long as the user has the right to use the content, and is not used if the use right is lost as a result of the use. Therefore, the content is provided for personal use while the degree of use by the user is restricted.

When the terminal receives the encrypted content from the server, the terminal supplies reception confirmation information for confirming reception of the content to the server, and the server provides the user with the content by the server. Means for updating the usage right information so as to indicate that the user has the right to use the content, when provided with the authorization information for confirming that the user is given the right to use the server. May include means for generating the authorization information and supplying it to the terminal when the reception confirmation information is supplied from the terminal. With such a configuration, the content supply system newly grants a user to use the content.

[0010] The server receives the e-mail from the user as a sender and stores the e-mail to request the e-authorization information. Means for transmitting an e-mail containing the authorization information to be stored and the user as a recipient, even if the terminal fails to receive the authorization information, the e-mail will be used at a later date. The grant information is delivered.

[0011] The terminal may include means for externally supplying payment information used to settle the price of the content when the encrypted content is supplied from the server. In this case, the server may be configured to receive the acknowledgment information from the terminal and, when the terminal supplies the settlement information, generate the authorization information and supply it to the terminal. . With such a configuration, the content supply system reliably charges for the content.

[0012] When the decoding means determines that the user has the right to use the content, the decoding means includes copying means for decoding and copying the content. Includes copy permission number data indicating the number of times copying is permitted,
The updating unit may be configured to change the copy permission number data within a range where the number of times indicated by the copy permission number data does not become 0 or less.
The copy unit may include a unit that updates the content so that the number of copies of the content is reduced. With such a configuration, the content supply system limits copying to content to a predetermined number of times.

[0013] The content may be composed of data representing an image, for example. In this case, for example, the copying means only needs to include means for printing an image represented by the content.

The storage means stores the use right information in an encrypted state, the decryption means includes means for decrypting the use right information, and the updating means comprises: The storage device may further include means for updating and encrypting the decrypted use right information and storing the use right information encrypted by itself in the storage unit. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the content of the usage right information is illegally decrypted or illegally changed.

[0015] The server may include, for example, a unit for supplying the terminal with a program for causing the terminal to function as the storage unit, the decryption unit, and the update unit. In this case, the terminal may perform functions of the storage unit, the decryption unit, and the update unit by executing a program supplied from the server.

A computer-readable recording medium according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a computer
User identification information for identifying a user, and usage right information indicating whether the user has the right to use a specific content, in a manner that makes it difficult for the operator to specify the content of the user identification information Storage means for storing, user identification information stored in the storage means, and means for externally supplying content identification information for specifying content to be supplied, and encrypted content supplied to itself from outside Determining whether or not the user is authorized to use the content based on the usage authority information. When determining that the user is authorized, decrypts and reproduces the content using the user identification information stored in the storage unit. Decoding means for determining whether or not the user is still authorized to use the content after the content has been reproduced, and based on the determination result, And characterized by recording the usage and updating means for rewriting the privilege information, and program for functioning in said storage means stores.

The computer that executes the program recorded on such a recording medium permits the user to use the content as long as the user has the right to use the content, and does not permit the user if the right to use the content is lost as a result of the use. For this reason,
The content is provided for personal use with a limited degree of use by the user.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a content supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described using an image distribution system as an example. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1, the image distribution system includes a server 1, a user terminal 2, and a printer 3.

The server 1 and the user terminal 2 are connected to each other via a network N such as the Internet, and the printer 3 is connected to the user terminal 2. Note that a unique identification code is assigned to each of the server 1 and the user terminal 2. The identification code is, for example, the IP assigned to the server 1 and the user terminal 2.
(Internet Protocol) address.

The server 1 includes, as shown in FIG.
1, the main storage unit 12, the external storage unit 13, and the transmission / reception unit 1.
4. The main storage unit 12, the external storage unit 13, and the transmission / reception unit 14 are all connected to the control unit 1 via an internal bus.
1 connected.

The control unit 11 has a CPU (Central Process
ng Unit) and the like, and performs processing described later according to a program stored in the external storage unit 13. The main storage unit 12 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like,
Used as a work area of the control unit 11.

The external storage unit 13 is composed of a hard disk device or the like, and stores in advance a program for causing the control unit 11 to perform processing described later. Then, the external storage unit 13
Supplies data stored therein to the control unit 11 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 11. Further, the external storage unit 13 stores an identification code uniquely assigned to the external authentication server SS. As shown in FIG. 1, the authentication server SS is connected to the network N, and executes processing described later.

Further, the external storage unit 13 stores a customer database, a content database, and a sales record database. The customer database is the user terminal 2
A user ID (IDentification) identifying the user of
User identification data (for example, the user's address, name, mail address, etc.) used to identify the user, and data for identifying the user terminal 2 used by the user (for example, an identification code of the user terminal 2) And a set of data including the data in a form associated with each other. The content database includes image data representing an image to be supplied to the user terminal 2, price data representing the price of the image data, and an image ID for identifying the image data in an associated manner. Data set. The sales record database is formed from a set of data including the above-described image ID and sales number data indicating the total number of prints permitted to print the image identified by the image ID in a mutually associated form. Become.

The transmission / reception unit 14 has a DSU (Data Service U)
nit) and the like, and is connected to the control unit 11 via an internal bus, and is also connected to the network N.
The transmitting and receiving unit 14 controls the control unit 1 according to the instruction of the control unit 11.
The information supplied from 1 is transmitted to the user terminal 2 (that is, transmitted to the network N with the identification code of the user terminal 2 attached). Further, it receives information addressed to itself (that is, information with an identification code of the server 1) from the network N and supplies it to the control unit 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the user terminal 2 includes a control unit 21, a main storage unit 22, an external storage unit 23, a transmission / reception unit 24, an input unit 25, and a display unit 26. . The main storage unit 22, the external storage unit 23, the transmission / reception unit 24, the input unit 25, and the display unit 26 are all connected to the control unit 21 via an internal bus.

The control unit 21 comprises a CPU or the like, and according to each program described later stored in the external storage unit 23,
The processing described below is executed. The main storage unit 22 includes a RAM or the like, and is used as a work area of the control unit 21. The external storage unit 23 includes a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk device, and stores in advance a program for causing the control unit 21 to perform a process described below. Then, in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21, the control unit 21 supplies data stored therein to the control unit 21. The programs stored in the external storage unit 23 include:
The program includes a helper program, an image using program, and a printing program, which will be described later, and a program for controlling processing of a browser, which will be described later. Further, the external storage unit 23 also stores image data stored by the control unit 21 by a process described later.

The external storage unit 23 stores a use authority database. The usage authority database contains the image ID
And the image identified by the image ID
And a set of data including the remaining number data indicating how many more copies of the user may be copied in a mutually associated manner.

The use authority database is stored in the external storage unit 23 in a state encrypted by a predetermined method. In order to prevent the contents from being illegally analyzed by the operation of the user terminal 2, the usage authority database stores a logical location (directory) in the storage area of the external storage unit 23 where data normally referred to by the user is not stored. ) Is stored.

The transmission / reception unit 24 includes a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like, and is connected to the control unit 21 via an internal bus, and is also connected to the network N. The transmission / reception unit 24 controls the control unit 21 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21.
The supplied information is sent to the user terminal 2. Further, it receives information addressed to itself from the network N and supplies it to the control unit 21.

The input unit 25 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and supplies information according to the operation of the operator to the control unit 21. The display unit 26 includes a CRT (cathode ray tube),
It is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays an image according to the instruction of the control unit 21 on its own display screen.

The printer 3 prints an image in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21 of the user terminal 2 on a sheet of paper or the like in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 21 via an interface circuit (not shown).

(Operation) Next, the operation of the image distribution system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the user terminal 2 at the time of user registration. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing of the server 1 at the time of user registration. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing of the user terminal 2 when purchasing an image. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing of the server 1 when purchasing an image. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process at the time of printing an image.

(Processing at the time of user registration) When the user of the user terminal 2 wants to receive the distribution of the image from the server 1, the user first operates the input unit 25 of the user terminal 2 to send the browser to the user terminal 2. (That is, the processing of steps S102 and S103 described later) is instructed (FIG. 4, step S101).

When the control unit 21 of the user terminal 2 is instructed to execute the browser processing, the control unit 21 reads out the browser program data from the external storage unit 23 and starts the browser processing. The control unit 21 that has started the processing of the browser waits for the user to operate the input unit 25 to input a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the data to be accessed (step S102). The URL is a code indicating a server that stores data to be accessed, and a directory of a storage area in which data to be accessed is stored among storage areas of a storage device provided in the server.

When the user completes the input of the URL, the control section 21 transmits the input URL and the identification code assigned to the user terminal 2 itself to the transmission / reception section 24.
To supply. The transmitting / receiving unit 24 uses the URL supplied to itself.
And the identification code of the user terminal 2 is transmitted to the network N in association with each other (step S103).

The URL transmitted in step S103 is
If it indicates the directory in which the registration form is stored, the transmitting / receiving unit 14 of the server 1 proceeds to step S10
The information transmitted in step 3 is received and supplied to the control unit 11 (FIG. 5, step S201). When the control unit 11 is supplied with the URL and the identification code of the user terminal 2, the data stored in the external storage unit 13 is stored in the directory indicated by the URL supplied from the transmission / reception unit 14. Reads out the data representing the form. And
The read data is transmitted to the user terminal 2 indicated by the identification code via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step S20).
2).

The transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the user terminal 2 receives the data transmitted to the user terminal 2 in step S202 and supplies the data to the control unit 21. The control unit 21 instructs the display unit 26 to display the registration form represented by the data, and the display unit 26 displays the registration form according to the instruction (step S104).

The registration form includes an entry column for entering the above-mentioned user identification data. In addition,
To enter data in the entry column, the user or the like operates the input unit 25 to instruct the control unit 21 to move a cursor to be displayed on the display screen of the display unit 26 to the entry column. After the cursor is moved to the entry field in response to this instruction, the user or the like further operates the input unit 25 to input data, and the control unit 21 displays the input data on the display unit 2.
6 is displayed at the cursor position on the display screen.

When the display section 26 displays the registration form, the control section 21 allows the user to operate the input section 25 to enter the user identification data in the entry field of the registration form.
Waiting for user's registration application (step S
105). When the user enters the user identification data and instructs the user to apply for registration, the control unit 21 transmits the user identification data entered in the entry column to the transmission / reception unit 24.
To the server 1 via the server (step S10).
6). That is, the registration form is returned.

The transmission / reception unit 14 of the server 1 executes step S1
In step 06, the user identification data transmitted to the server 1 is received and supplied to the control unit 11. The control unit 11 generates a user ID to be assigned to the user indicated by the user identification data supplied thereto, and associates the generated user ID with the user identification data supplied thereto in the customer database in association with each other. It is stored (step S203). Then, the user ID generated in step S203 is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step S204).

The transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the user terminal 2 receives the user ID transmitted to the user terminal 2 and
To supply. Upon receiving the user ID, the control unit 21 executing the image use program receives the user ID.
Is stored in the external storage unit 23 (step S107).

In step S107, the control unit 21 specifically generates a file including a user ID, for example.
A special file name (for example, a file name similar to the file name of a file previously stored in the external storage unit 23) that makes it difficult to identify the file if the file includes a user ID. And is stored in the external storage unit 23. The directory in which the control unit 21 stores the file including the user ID is a special directory that does not store the file that the user normally refers to, for example, in order to prevent the user ID from being unduly known by the operation of the user terminal 2. Directory.

User registration is performed by the processing of steps S101 to S107 and S201 to S204 described above. That is, the user ID and the user identification data are stored in the customer database, and the user ID is stored in the external storage unit 23 of the user terminal 2.

The mode in which the control unit 21 of the user terminal 2 stores the user ID in the external storage unit 23 in step S107 is an arbitrary mode that makes it difficult for the operator of the user terminal 2 to specify the user ID. It may be an aspect. For example, the control unit 21 may assign an invisible attribute to a file including the user ID.

(Process at the Time of Image Purchase) When a user who has received user registration purchases an image, the user first instructs the user terminal 2 to execute the above-described browser process. Then, when the user terminal 2 starts the browser process, the user operates the input unit 25 to input the URL of the purchase application form.
Is input (FIG. 6, step S301). As a result, similarly to step S103, the URL of the purchase application form and the identification code of the user terminal 2 are transmitted to the network N in association with each other by the user terminal 2.

Then, the server 1 executes the above step S2
01 and the processing of S202 are performed, and the URL of the purchase application form and the identification code of the user terminal 2 are received. Then, the data representing the purchase application form is read from the external storage unit 13 and transmitted to the user terminal 2 indicated by the received identification code (FIG. 7, step S40).
1).

As a result, the user terminal 2 proceeds to step S10
4 is performed, and as a result of this processing, the display unit 26
Displays a purchase application form (step S30).
2). The purchase application form includes an image ID indicating an image that the user wants to purchase and an entry field for entering purchase number data specifying the number of images to be purchased.

When the display unit 26 displays the purchase application form, the control unit 21 operates the input unit 25 so that the user enters the image ID and the purchase quantity data in the entry fields of the purchase application form. And waits for an instruction to purchase an image. Then, when the user enters the image ID and the number-of-purchased data and instructs to apply for image purchase, the control unit 2
1 transmits the entered image ID and purchase number data to the server 1 via the transmission / reception unit 24 (step S303). Further, the control unit 21 starts executing the helper program, and transmits the user ID stored in the external storage unit 23 to the server 1 according to the helper program (step S304).

The transmission / reception unit 14 of the server 1 determines in step S3
03, the image ID and the number-of-purchases data transmitted to the server 1 are received and supplied to the control unit 11 (step S40).
2) Also, the user ID transmitted to the server 1 in step S304 is received and supplied to the control unit 11 (step S403). The control unit 11 stores these three data supplied to itself in the external storage unit 13 (step S404). Then, the customer database is searched using the user ID supplied thereto as a key, and it is determined whether or not the user ID using the key is stored in the customer database (step S405). When it is determined that the image is not stored, the control unit 11 transmits a message indicating that the image cannot be sold to the user terminal 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step S406).
When the transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the user terminal 2 receives this message and supplies it to the control unit 21, the control unit 21 displays an image indicating that the image cannot be sold on the display unit 26,
The process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S 405 that the user ID is stored in the customer database, the control unit 11 reads out the user identification data associated with the user ID and stores it in the external storage unit 13. It is stored (step S407).

Next, the control section 11 searches the content database for the image data of the image indicated by the image ID included in the data supplied to itself, and retrieves the searched image data using the user ID supplied to itself. (Step S408). For example, DES (Data
Encryption Standard).
Then, the control unit 11 transmits the encrypted image data to the user terminal 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14 (Step S409).

The transmission / reception unit 24 of the user terminal 2 receives the encrypted image data transmitted to the user terminal 2 in step S409 and supplies it to the control unit 21. Upon receiving the encrypted image data, the control unit 21 executing the helper program stores the encrypted image data in the external storage unit 23 (Step S305).

Next, the control unit 21 causes the display unit 26 to display a message confirming that the image has been received.
A message confirming that the image has been received is transmitted to the server 1 via the transmission / reception unit 24 (step S3).
06).

The transmitting / receiving unit 14 of the server 1 determines in step S3
At step 06, the message transmitted to the server 1 is received and supplied to the control unit 11 (step S410). Then
The control unit 11 reads out the identification code of the authentication server SS from the external storage unit 13, and reads out, from the content database, price data representing the price of the image data retrieved in step S408. Then, the control unit 11 transmits the read price data and the identification code of the user terminal 2 to the authentication server SS indicated by the read identification code via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step S411). Then, it waits for the authentication server SS to transmit a message notifying the completion of the settlement procedure to itself (step S).
412).

When the authentication server SS receives the identification code indicating the user terminal 2 and the amount data indicating the payment amount via the network N, the authentication server SS sends the payment form to the user terminal 2 indicated by the received identification code. Send the data that represents. The user terminal 2 performs the same processing as in step S104, and as a result, the display unit 26 displays a payment form (step S307). That is, step S307
The transmitting / receiving unit 24 of the user terminal 2 receives the data representing the payment form transmitted from the authentication server SS to the user terminal 2 and supplies the data to the control unit 21. Control unit 21
Causes the display unit 26 to display the payment form represented by this data. The payment form displays the price indicated by the price data received by the authentication server SS. The payment form includes payment data used by the user for payment (for example, the card number of a credit card owned by the user). (Including data).

When the display unit 26 displays the payment form, the control unit 21 operates the input unit 25 by the user to enter payment data in the entry field of the purchase application form and instruct the return of the form. Wait to do. Then, when the user enters payment data and instructs return of the form, the control unit 21 transmits the entered payment data to the authentication server SS via the transmission / reception unit 24 (step S308).

In step S308, the settlement data is stored in a procedure (for example, SSL (Secure) to prevent leakage of the contents of the settlement data due to an external attack.
Socket Layer) and SET (Secure Electronic Trans)
action) or other protocol that encrypts and transmits payment data.

Upon receiving the payment data transmitted to itself in step S308, the authentication server SS stores the received payment data and the price data received from the server 1 in association with each other, and stores the data in the payment procedure. A message notifying the completion is transmitted to the server 1. The transmission / reception unit 14 of the server 1 receives the message transmitted by the authentication server SS and supplies the message to the control unit 11. The control unit 11
A license file is generated in response to this message, and the generated license file is transmitted to the user terminal 2 via the transmission / reception unit 14 (step S41).
3). The license file is data that specifies an image to which the user of the user terminal 2 has been given use authority and indicates the number of purchases that the user is permitted to copy the image. The data includes data including the image ID and the number-of-purchased data received in S402.

Then, the control unit 11 accesses the sales record database, and indicates the value of the number-of-sold-sheets data associated with the image ID of the sold image (the image specified by the license file) by the purchase indicated by the license file. Increment by the number corresponding to the number of sheets (step S4
14).

On the other hand, the transmitting / receiving section 24 of the user terminal 2 receives the license file transmitted to the user terminal 2 in step S413 and supplies the license file to the control section 21 (step S309). When receiving the license file, the control unit 21 executing the helper program accesses the usage right database and decrypts the usage right database (step S310).

Next, the control unit 21 stores the image ID of the image specified by the license file received by the user terminal 2 and the purchased number data indicating the purchased number indicated by the license file in the decrypted usage right database. Are added in an associated manner (step S
311). Then, the usage right database to which the data has been added is stored in step S310 and step S50 described below.
The data is encrypted in such a manner that it can be decrypted by the process 2 and stored in the external storage unit 23 (step S312). In step S312, the use authority database is stored in a directory in the storage area of the external storage unit 23 that does not store data normally referred to by the user.

Next, the control unit 21 sends a message confirming that the use authority database has been updated to the transmission / reception unit 2.
4 to the server 1 (step S31).
3). When the transmission / reception unit 14 of the server 1 receives this message and supplies it to the control unit 11 (step S415),
The process ends.

With the processing in steps S301 to S313 and S401 to S415 described above, the image is supplied from the server 1 to the user terminal 2, and the user is given use authority. The payment data and price data stored in the authentication server SS in association with each other are read out for payment or any other purpose, or output to the outside.

(Processing at the time of printing an image) When a user who has purchased an image prints an image, the user operates the input unit 25 of the user terminal 2 to instruct execution of a print program. Then, the control unit 21 instructs the display unit 26 to display the image for the print instruction, and the display unit 26 displays the image for the print instruction in accordance with the instruction (FIG. 8, step S501). Wait for print instructions. The image for the print instruction includes an image ID indicating an image that the user wants to print.
And an entry column for entering print number data for designating the number of prints to be purchased.

Then, the user operates the input unit 25 to
It is assumed that the image ID and the number-of-printed-data are entered in the entry column of the image for print instruction, and the image printing is instructed. Then, the control unit 21 accesses the usage right database and decrypts the usage right database (step S502).

Next, the control unit 21 searches the decrypted use authority database using the image ID entered by the user as a key, and retrieves the remaining number data associated with the image ID used as the key. Then, the smaller one of the retrieved remaining number data value and the printed number data value entered by the user is specified (step S50).
3).

Next, the control section 21 reads the encrypted image data indicated by the user ID and the image ID entered by the user from the external storage section 23, and uses the read user ID to encrypt the encrypted image data. Is decrypted (step S504). Then, it instructs the printer 3 to print the images represented by the decoded image data by the number specified in step S503 (step S505). The printer 3 prints the images represented by the decoded image data by the number specified in step S503 according to the instruction of the control unit 21.

Next, the control unit 21 decrements the value of the remaining number data retrieved in step S503 by the value of the number of print data entered by the user (step S50).
6) Perform substantially the same processing as the processing in step S312 described above (step S507), and end the processing.
However, if the value resulting from the decrement in step S506 is 0 or a negative value, the control unit 21 proceeds to step S506.
At 506, instead of decrementing, step S5
03 deletes the remaining number data retrieved.

Steps S501 to S507 described above
With this process, printing of an image is performed with the number of sheets within the range of the remaining number of sheets.

(Processing at the time of using an image) The user who has purchased the image operates the input unit 25 of the user terminal 2 to use the image to which the user has been granted the right to use without copying. Instruct 2 to execute the image utilization program. Then, the control unit 21 instructs the display unit 26 to display the image for browsing instruction, and the display unit 26 displays the image for browsing instruction according to the instruction, and waits for the instruction for image browsing. The print instruction image includes an entry field for entering an image ID indicating an image that the user wants to view.

Then, the user operates the input unit 25, and
The image ID is entered in the entry field of the image for browsing instruction, and the image browsing is instructed. Then, the control unit 21 accesses the use authority database, decrypts the use authority database, searches the decrypted use authority database using the image ID entered by the user as a key, and retrieves the image I as the key.
It is determined whether D exists. If it is determined that the file does not exist, the process is terminated.
The user ID is read from the user ID, and the encrypted image data identified by the image ID entered by the user is decrypted using the read user ID. Then, the display unit 26 displays the image represented by the decoded image data.

The configuration of the image distribution system is not limited to the above. For example, the image distribution system may include a plurality of user terminals 2. The data to be supplied by the server 1 to the user terminal 2 is not limited to data representing an image, but includes general digital contents which are data representing voice, text, and other arbitrary information.

The user terminal 2 has a portable structure, and is provided with a mobile phone (for example, a mobile phone or a PHS (Pe
rsonal Handyphone System), GSM (Grobal Syste
m for Mobile communication)). In this case, the transmitting / receiving unit 24 includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver, and modulates a carrier in a predetermined format using information supplied from the control unit 21 according to an instruction from the control unit 21 to obtain a signal. The modulated wave is transmitted. The transmitting / receiving unit 24
Is a modulated wave representing information addressed to the user terminal 2 (ie,
Receiving and demodulating a modulated wave obtained by modulating a carrier in a predetermined format using information addressed to the user terminal 2);
It is assumed that information addressed to the user terminal 2 obtained by demodulation is supplied to the control unit 21. In this case, the user terminal 2 may be connected to the network N via a packet network. The packet network includes a base station and a telephone line used for mobile telephone communication, a server computer connected to the telephone line and the network N, and the like.
The packet network receives and demodulates the modulated wave transmitted by the transmission / reception unit 24 of the user terminal 2 and transmits information obtained by demodulation (ie, information used when the user terminal 2 modulates a carrier) to the network N. It shall be. It is assumed that the packet network receives information transmitted from the server 1 or the authentication server SS to the user terminal 2, generates a modulated wave representing the received information, and transmits the modulated wave to the user terminal 2.

The server 1 stores the license file generated by the server 1 in the external storage unit 13 or the like for a predetermined period in association with the user identification data indicating the user of the user terminal 2 to which the license file is transmitted. You may make it. When the user identification data includes the user's mail address, for example, the server 1
May be assigned a mail address. In this case, for example, when the user sends an e-mail having a predetermined format for requesting retransmission of the license file to the server 1, the server 1 receives the e-mail and stores the e-mail in the external storage unit 13 or the like. Among the license files, a file associated with the user identification data including the mail address of the transmission source user may be read. The read license file is
For example, it may be transmitted to the user who is the source of the above-mentioned mail for requesting retransmission of the license file, as the body of the mail or an attached file. When the user terminal 2 receives the mail, the user terminal 2 stores the license file included in the received mail in step S
It is treated as the license file received in step 309, and according to the processing of the helper program or the like, the above-described step S31 is performed.
What is necessary is just to perform the process after 0.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the content supply system according to the present invention can be realized using a normal computer system. The program was installed from a medium (ROM, floppy (registered trademark) disk, CD-ROM, etc.) storing a program for executing the above-described operation of the server 1 in the server computer, and was connected to the server computer. By installing a helper program, an image utilization program, a printing program, and a program for controlling the processing of a browser from a medium storing the program in a personal computer, the content supply system that executes the above processing can be configured. it can. Note that the helper program, the image use program, the printing program, and the program for controlling the processing of the browser need not necessarily be recorded on the same medium, and these four programs are distributed and recorded on a plurality of media. You may.

For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS) of a communication network and distributed via the network. Further, for example, the server 1 stores a helper program, an image using program, and a printing program, and stores the user terminal 2 (or the user terminal 2).
(A computer that performs the above function) may download these three programs from the server 1 via the network N and install them on their own. Then, by starting this program and executing it in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the OS, the above-described processing can be executed.

[0077]

As described above, according to the present invention, a content supply system capable of providing content for personal use while limiting the usage amount of the content is realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a content supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a basic configuration of a server in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of the user terminal of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing of a user terminal at the time of user registration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing of a server at the time of user registration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the user terminal when purchasing an image.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating processing of a server when an image is purchased.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process when printing an image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 2 user terminal 11, 21 control unit 12, 22 main storage unit 13, 23 external storage unit 14, 24 transmission / reception unit 25 input unit 26 display unit 3 printer N network SS authentication server

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Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A mobile telephone comprising: a mobile telephone; and a server connected to the mobile telephone via a network, wherein the mobile telephone has user identification information for identifying a user, and an image specific to the user. User authority information indicating whether or not the user has the authority to use the data is stored in a manner that makes it difficult for the operator to identify the content of the user identification information, and the user identification information stored by the user and the supply are received. Transferring the image data identification information specifying the target image data to the server via the network, and determining whether or not the user has authority to use the encrypted image data supplied to the user. Determined based on the use authority information, when it is determined that there is authority, the image data is decoded using the user identification information stored by itself,
Playing back the image represented by the image data, determining whether or not the user still has the right to use the image data after the image data is played back, and based on the determination result, Rewriting authority information, the server, when the mobile phone has transferred the user identification information and the image data identification information to itself,
A content supply system, comprising encrypting image data specified by the image data identification information using the user identification information, and transferring the encrypted image data to the mobile telephone via the network. 2. A terminal, comprising: a terminal; and a server, the terminal comprising: user identification information for identifying a user; and usage right information indicating whether the user has a right to use a specific content. Storage means for storing the content of the user identification information in such a manner that it is difficult for the operator to specify the content; user identification information stored in the storage means in the server; and content identification for specifying content to be supplied. Means for supplying information, and determining whether or not the user has the right to use the encrypted content supplied to the user based on the usage right information. Decoding means for decoding and reproducing the content using the user identification information stored in the storage means; and Updating means for judging whether or not the user is authorized to use the service, and rewriting the use authority information stored in the storage means based on the judgment result, wherein the server sends the user identification information from the terminal. And a means for, when the content identification information is supplied, encrypting the content specified by the content identification information using the user identification information and supplying the encrypted content to the terminal. . 3. The terminal, when the encrypted content is supplied from the server, means for supplying reception confirmation information for confirming receipt of the content to the server; and Means for updating the use authority information to indicate that the user has the authority to use the content, when authority grant information for confirming that the authority to use the content is given is provided, The content supply system according to claim 2, wherein the server includes a unit that generates the authorization information and supplies the information to the terminal when the reception confirmation information is supplied from the terminal. 4. The server, means for storing the authorization information, and receiving an electronic mail having the user as a sender, and when the electronic mail is for requesting the authority information, 4. The content supply system according to claim 2, further comprising: a unit configured to transmit an electronic mail including the authorization information stored by the user as a recipient of the user. 5. 5. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein said terminal is provided with means for externally supplying, when supplied with said encrypted content from said server, payment information used to settle the price of said content, said server comprising: 5. The terminal according to claim 3, wherein the reception confirmation information is supplied from the terminal, and when the terminal supplies the settlement information, the authorization information is generated and supplied to the terminal. 6. Content supply system. 6. The decrypting means includes a duplicating means for decrypting and duplicating the content when it is determined that the user has authority to use the content. The copy permission number data indicating the number of times the content is permitted to be copied, and the updating unit converts the copy permission number data into a range in which the number of times indicated by the copy permission number data does not become 0 or less.
The content supply system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a unit configured to update the content to reduce the number of copies of the content. 7. The content supply system according to claim 6, wherein said content is constituted by data representing an image, and said copying means comprises means for printing an image represented by said content. 8. The storage unit stores the use right information in an encrypted state, the decryption unit includes a unit for decoding the use right information, and the updating unit includes the decryption unit. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 7, further comprising: means for updating and encrypting the use right information decrypted by the means, and storing the use right information encrypted by itself in the storage means. Content supply system as described. 9. The server stores the terminal in the storage unit,
Means for supplying a program for functioning as the decryption means and the update means to the terminal, wherein the terminal executes the program supplied from the server, whereby the storage means, the decryption means, The content supply system according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the content supply system performs a function of the updating unit. 10. A computer according to claim 11, wherein said computer identifies user identification information for identifying a user and usage authority information indicating whether said user has authority to use a specific content. Storage means for storing in a manner that is difficult to specify; user identification information stored in the storage means; and means for externally supplying content identification information for specifying content to be supplied to the outside; It is determined based on the use right information whether or not the user has the right to use the supplied encrypted content. When it is determined that the user has the right, the user uses the user identification information stored in the storage unit. Decoding means for decoding and playing back the content, and whether the user is still authorized to use the content after the content has been played back. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing the updating unit to rewrite the usage right information stored in the storage unit based on a result of the determination.