JP2002083227A - Information distribution device, information distribution system and information distribution method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information distribution device enabling a person to take exchange rate into consideration in the purchase of contents. SOLUTION: On the basis of the contents-providing request from a terminal device (user terminal) 1, the control part 23 of an information distribution server device 20 retrieves a contents server device, having the contents intended by the user accumulated therein on the basis of the information in a list data server device 6, and provides the retrieval result as a candidate list to the terminal device 1 through a transmission part 22. The selling price of the contents included in the candidate list is updated, on the basis of the information of an exchange rate management server device 7, and the updated selling price is provided to the thermal device 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention selects a desired large-capacity server device from a plurality of large-capacity server devices storing a plurality of contents which are separately installed at remote locations, and selects the selected large-capacity server device. The present invention relates to an information distribution device, an information distribution system, and an information distribution method for acquiring desired content from a server device and distributing the content.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Contents (information) such as audio data, video data, and game programs (game data).
A digital signal is stored in a large-capacity memory and the server device and the terminal device are connected to an analog telephone line, ISDN (Integrate
so-called content-on-connection, which is connected via a public line such as a ted standard digital network) or a satellite line, and the terminal device requests a target content from the server device and the terminal device is provided from the server device via the public line. Demand systems are known.

[0003] Such content-on-demand
In the system, there is an advantage that shopping can be enjoyed at home by electronically performing the billing process. In this case, since what is sold is digital data, there is also an advantage that the user (user) can immediately obtain the desired content.

As shown in FIG. 6, server devices having a large-capacity memory for storing various contents as described above and providing stored contents in response to requests are installed around the world, as shown in FIG. They are connected through a communication line that runs like a net or a spider web.

[0005] Through terminal devices connectable to a communication line, contents can be provided from any server device in the world. Such a distributed database system formed by laying communication lines around the world like a network is generally called WWW (WWW).
orld wide Web).

FIG. 7 shows an outline of an example of a content-on-demand system formed using WWW. The system shown in FIG. 7 is for distributing music (song) data as contents.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 4 denotes a group of record companies (groups of music production companies), which comprises record companies (music production companies) such as 4a to 4z. Each of the record companies 4a to 4z digitizes the music of the artist to which the record company belongs, and a plurality of content server devices 3A to 3Z.
Is stored in the large-capacity memory operated by the music content providing Web sites 3AS to 3ZS created in the above.

[0008] A Web site 3AS for providing music content created in each of the content server devices 3A to 3Z.
Each of ~ 3ZS corresponds to a CD (compact disk) shop, and handles digitized music data supplied from each record company as commodities. Content server devices 3A to 3Z each having a large-capacity memory for storing content are installed all over the world, and one We
For the b site, for example, a mirror site may be provided in a content server device in a plurality of countries.

[0009] The Web sites 3AS to 3ZS created in each of the content server devices 3A to 3Z are, as described above,
Each of the websites 3AS to 3ZS can be browsed from a terminal device of a user in each country via a public line such as an analog telephone line, ISDN, or a satellite line.
iform resource locator) address is assigned.

Then, the user operates the terminal device 1 shown in FIG.
The user inputs a URL address through an operation unit 11 including a pointing device such as a mouse, a keyboard, and the like, and connects to a desired Web site. Then, on the purchase reception screen provided from the connection destination Web site, a desired music (song) is selected through the operation unit 11, a request for providing the desired music data is transmitted, and the distribution of the desired music data is performed. To get this.

At the time of purchasing the desired music data, in order to be authenticated whether or not the user is a payable user and can safely distribute the music data,
An authentication code capable of identifying the user himself is input via the operation unit 11 and transmitted to the control unit 12 and the accounting server 5 as an authentication center via the Internet 2. As the authentication code, an ID number, a credit card number, an e-mail address, a residential area, a name, a bank account number, and the like, which are assigned in advance, are used.

[0012] The charging server 5 performs an authentication process and a charging process based on the authentication code input by the user. When the authentication is established in the charging server 5, the content server to which the content is requested is sent from the content server. The content, in this case, the requested music data, is distributed (transmitted) to the terminal device 1 of the user requesting the content.

Normally, music data, which is content, is subjected to data compression processing, is encrypted with an encryption key, and is distributed through the Internet 2. For this reason,
When using the distributed music data, the encryption is decrypted by the decryption unit 14 using the encryption key 15,
Further, the data is subjected to decompression processing by the decompressor 4 and can be reproduced as an audio signal.

The music data, which is the content subjected to the compression processing and the encryption processing, is stored in a memory 1 such as a hard disk, an optical disk, or a flash memory in the terminal device 1.
6 and can be used repeatedly. And
It is considered that the same content, in this case, music data is scattered in a plurality of content server devices and sold through a plurality of Web sites. That is,
It is conceivable that music sold worldwide is recorded in content server devices in each country.

[0015]

By the way, when a user downloads and purchases a desired song, it is not generally known which content server in which country the user can purchase the song at low cost. In the conventional content-on-demand system, a user downloads and purchases from a content server installed in his home country. However, it is considered that a person who downloads and purchases target music data from a server installed in a neighboring country may be able to purchase the music data at a low price due to differences in settlement currency and the like.

For example, consider the case where the same music data can be purchased from a content server device installed in the United States and a content server device installed in Japan. FIG. 8 is a display screen (purchase acceptance screen) when a content server device installed in the United States is accessed from a user-owned terminal device. FIG. 9 is a content server device installed in Japan. It is a display screen (purchase acceptance screen) at the time of access from a device.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, icons (function icons) i1 to i7 corresponding to executable functions are displayed at the top of the display screen, and a URL input field NU is provided. Have been. A list of available music data (songs) is displayed below the URL input field NU.

In the case of the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9, the list of music data that can be provided is such that a so-called album in which a plurality of songs are collected is used as a providing unit (sales unit). Cover) Alb1 to Alb5
Is displayed, and below it, an album title (Album Title), an artist name (Artist Name), and a price (P
rice) is displayed.

In this case, the content server device installed in the United States and the content server device installed in Japan have a mirror server relationship, and provide a music list, which is a list of the same available music data. I am trying to do it. Of course, the music provided by the content server installed in the United States and the music provided by the content server installed in Japan need not be exactly the same, and partially overlapped songs are recorded. In some cases.

The albums (sales albums) that can be provided through the purchase acceptance screens shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are exactly the same because of the mirror server relationship as described above. However, the currency of the price is ＄ (dollar)
If the currency is the same, the price of the album may be different even for the same album.

Through the purchase acceptance screen shown in FIG. 8, the album title (Album Title) "AAAAA" and the artist name (Artist Name) "VVV"
The music data of the album "V" can be purchased for $ 13. On the other hand, the same album, ie, album title (Alb
um Title) "AAAAA" and artist name (Artist Name) "VVVV" can be purchased for 1500 yen for music data of an album.

Then, in the case of the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,
Assuming that the user is resident in Japan and the exchange rate on the date of purchase is $ 1 = ¥ 100, the selling price of the content server device in the United States is ¥ 1,300, and the user accesses the United States content server and downloads it. It is better to do it. However, if the exchange rate on the date of purchase is $ 1 = 120 yen, the selling price of the content server device in the United States is 1560 yen, and it is better to access the Japanese content server and download it.

As described above, when purchasing predetermined content, the content is downloaded from a content server device installed in the country of purchase, or from a content server device installed in a country different from the country of purchase. When downloading, the selling price may change.

The difference in the selling price may be caused by a change in the tax system depending on the country or state, or a difference between the country of purchase (the country where the terminal device is located) and the country of purchase (the country where the content server device is located). If they are different, the currencies will be different, of course. Furthermore, it is caused by various economic factors such as the price index and differences in the economic system.

When electronic payment is performed in the content-on-demand system, usually, payment is performed in the currency of the purchaser, that is, in the currency of the country where the content server device is installed. The user is charged at the exchange rate of, and from the viewpoint of the user, there is a request to purchase the content from the content server device which can be purchased at the lowest cost.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information distribution apparatus, an information distribution system, and an information distribution method that can take into account an exchange rate when purchasing content.

[0027]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information distribution apparatus in which a plurality of content server devices for storing a plurality of contents are separately provided at remote locations. An information distribution device for selecting a predetermined content server device from the plurality of content server devices and distributing a content desired by the user via a communication line, wherein the information distribution device receives user-related information and a content provision request from the user. Receiving means for receiving,
Exchange rate information receiving means for receiving provision of exchange rate fluctuation information; search means for searching for a content server device in which the content desired by the user is stored based on the content provision request received by the receiving means; Candidate list providing means for creating a candidate list of content server devices storing contents desired by the user based on search results from the means, and providing the candidate list to the user; The selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list provided by the providing unit is determined based on the information on the user received by the receiving unit and the exchange rate fluctuation information from the exchange rate fluctuation information receiving unit. Updating means for updating the information, and the indication updated by the updating means. The sales price of the content in each of the content server in the list, characterized by comprising a transmitting means for transmitting to the user.

According to the information distribution apparatus of the present invention, based on the content providing request from the user, the search means searches the content server device storing the content desired by the user. The search result is provided to the user as a candidate list by the candidate list providing means.

Then, the price when the content requested by the content providing request is provided from the content server device included in the candidate list is updated by the updating unit with the information on the user and the exchange rate fluctuation information received by the exchange rate fluctuation information receiving unit. And is provided to the user.

Thus, the user can quickly and accurately select a content server device capable of receiving the target content at the lowest cost, and download the target content from the selected content server device. Can be.

In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the terminal device and the information distribution device are connected using a communication line, and a user distributes desired contents from the information distribution device to the terminal device. An information distribution system, wherein the information distribution device includes: a receiving unit configured to receive information on a user and a content providing request transmitted from the terminal device; and a currency exchange information receiving unit configured to receive provision of currency exchange information. A search unit that searches for a content server device in which the content desired by the user is stored based on the content provision request received by the reception unit; and a search unit that searches the content server device based on a search result of the search unit. Create a suggestion list,
A candidate list providing unit that provides the candidate list to the user, and a selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list provided by the candidate list providing unit, wherein the selling price of the content is received by the receiving unit. Updating means for updating based on the information about the user and the currency exchange information from the currency exchange information receiving means,
Transmitting means for transmitting to the user the selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list updated by the updating means, wherein the terminal device receives information on the user and the content provision request Input means for receiving an input of the information, a transmission means for transmitting the information on the user and the content provision request input through the input means to the information distribution device via the communication line, and a transmission from the information distribution device. Selecting means for selecting a predetermined content server device by referring to the selling price of each content server device in the candidate list updated by the updating means.

In the information distribution method according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the terminal device and the information distribution device are connected using a communication line, and a user distributes a desired content from the information distribution device to the terminal device. An information distribution method, wherein the information distribution device receives information about the user and a content provision request transmitted from the user through the terminal device, and the information distribution device responds to the received content provision request. A content server device in which the user stores desired content based on the content server device, and a candidate list of content server devices that provide content based on the information on the searched content server device in the information distribution device. Is created, and the information distribution device generates each content server in the candidate list. The selling price of the content in the device is updated based on the received information on the user and the exchange rate fluctuation information, and the information distribution device sends the content server device in the updated candidate list to the terminal device. And transmitting the selling price of the content.

[0033]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information distribution apparatus, an information distribution system and an information distribution method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment described below, the present invention is applied to a content-on-demand system that uses the WWW (World Wide Web) to distribute music data as content in response to a request from a user. An example will be described.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a content-on-demand system to which an embodiment of an information distribution apparatus, an information distribution system, and an information distribution method according to the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a content-on-demand system according to this embodiment includes a terminal device (user terminal) 1, the Internet 2, a content server device 3, a record company (music production company) 4, and a billing server device 5. , A list data server device 6, an exchange rate management server device 7, and an exchange management company 8 as main components.

In FIG. 1, the terminal device 1, the Internet 2, the content server device 3, the record company 4, and the billing server device are the same as those of the conventional content on device shown in FIG.
It has the same configuration and the same functions as the corresponding parts in the example of the demand system.

However, the content-on-demand system of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has a list data server device 6 provided with a search site (search Web site) 6S and an exchange rate management server device 7. And a foreign exchange management company 8 are newly provided.

In the content-on-demand system according to the present embodiment, when a user purchases music data (music) as desired content,
The user accesses the search site 6S through the terminal device 1 and inputs a content name, a content creator name, and the like.
A search is made for a content server storing the desired music data.

The search site 6S uses search software as a search engine to search for a content server device in which contents desired by the user are recorded. Is displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 1 to notify the user of the content server device name or the plurality of URL addresses. The plurality of server names or the plurality of URL addresses notified to the user correspond to the addresses of the content server devices 3A to 3Z scattered in each country.

The exchange management company 8 transmits the exchange rate that changes every moment to the exchange management server 7 at a predetermined timing via a public line or a dedicated line. The exchange management server 7 uses the exchange rate obtained from the exchange management company 8 to update the price of the content to be displayed on the search site 6S in accordance with the change in the exchange rate.

In this case, the search location of the user is Japan,
When the search result on the search site 6S indicates a content server device in the United States, a content server device in Japan, and a content server device in China, the US dollar currency unit is converted to Japanese yen and the search is performed. Is displayed on the search site 6S, and the yuan (gen), which is a Chinese currency unit, is converted into Japanese yen and displayed on the search site 6S. In other words, it is converted into the currency corresponding to the search location of the user and displayed. Of course, instead of the search location of the user, it may be displayed after being converted into a currency unit according to the user's nationality.

As described above, in this embodiment,
Search site 6S included in the list data server device 6
Can search for the location of the content intended by the user according to the information from the user, and notify the user of the location. If music data, which is the content intended by the user, is stored in content server devices in a plurality of countries, and if download is possible from any of the content server devices, the content server device in any country If you download from, you can easily and easily know whether the sales amount will be the cheapest.

In the case of the example shown in FIG. 1, the list data server device 6 having the search site 6S is provided.
Can acquire the content intended by the user from the content server device in response to the request from the user, and distribute the acquired content to the terminal device of the requesting user. Therefore, the user can download the target content from the content server device in the country where the sales amount is the lowest. Thus, in FIG.
List data server device 6 including search site 6S
In addition, the exchange rate management server device 7 realizes a function as an information distribution device according to the present invention.

Next, an information distribution server device to which the information distribution device according to the present invention is applied will be described in more detail. FIG. 2 shows an information distribution server device 20 according to this embodiment.
FIG. The information distribution server device 20 shown in FIG. 2 includes the charging server device 5, the list data server device 6, and the exchange rate management server device 7 shown in FIG. 1 in the same server device, in this example, information distribution. It is arranged in the server device 20. Of course, as shown in FIG. 1, each server device may be arranged in a separated place, for example, in a different country.

The content server devices 3 installed in each country are physically separated from each other. In FIG. 2, the latest information (latest exchange information) of the exchange fluctuation information (exchange rate) that changes every moment is transmitted from the exchange management company 8 such as a newspaper company or a news agency to the information distribution server device 20 via a communication line. The data is received by the receiving unit 21 in the distribution server device 20. The latest exchange information received by the receiving unit 21 is transmitted to the exchange rate management server 7 via the control unit 23, and the latest exchange information is updated.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the latest exchange information stored in the exchange rate management server 7 and updated. FIG. 3 is, for example, dated July 30, 2000 AD. When the dollar, which is the currency unit of the United States, is used as the reference currency, conversion values of the currencies of each country are tabulated and stored in the exchange rate management server 7. It is so. FIG. 3 shows the conversion values for yen, euro, pound, and mark. Naturally, the currency unit of China is yuan, the currency unit of South Korea is won, and the currency unit of France is franc. Of course, it is also possible to manage the currencies of the whole world. Further, a plurality of currency conversion tables based on the currency of each country, such as a table converted into a yen basis and a table converted into a mark basis, in addition to the dollar-based table, may be stored in the exchange rate management server 7. Good.

When the user wants to purchase desired content, the user inputs a desired content name, an artist name, and the like as a content provision request (user selection information) on the terminal device 1 and inputs the request to the Internet 2 or the like. The information is transmitted to the information distribution server device 20 via the communication line.

The content providing request (user selection information) including the user's desired content name, artist name, and the like received by the receiving unit 22 in the information distribution server device 20 is supplied to the control unit 23. The control unit 23 searches the list data server device based on the received content providing request (user selection information), and acquires a content server device list in which the content desired by the user is stored as the latest list.

Further, the control unit 23 acquires the latest exchange information from the exchange rate management server 7 based on the information on the user included in the content provision request (user selection information), which specifies the search location of the user.

Based on the latest exchange information obtained from the exchange rate management server 7, the price list of the contents included in the latest list from the list data server 6 is matched with the price information of the user by the control unit 23. Convert to
The latest list converted by the control unit 23 is transmitted from the transmission unit 22 to the terminal device 1 which is a user terminal.

The terminal device 1 selects a content server device as a download source based on the converted latest list distributed from the information distribution server device 20, and sends the selected information to a content providing request (user selection information). To the information distribution server device 20.

The control unit 23 controls the switch 24 so as to select a content server device from which content is to be downloaded from the content server device group 3 based on a content provision request (user selection information) from the terminal device 1. Then, the music data (content data) transmitted from the content server device selected by the switch 24 is distributed (transmitted) to the terminal device 1 which is the user terminal requesting the content.

Further, the charging data server 5 is
The information corresponding to the content provision request (user selection information) is transmitted to the control unit 23 from the charging data server 5 and transmitted to the bank or credit company 9 via the transmitting unit 22 to perform the charging process. Done.

FIG. 4 shows a display example of a screen for notifying the user of a search result using a search site in response to a content provision request from the user. At the top of FIG.
Icons (function icons) i1 to i7 corresponding to executable functions are displayed, and a URL input field NU is provided.

Then, below the URL input field NU,
The album jacket Alb of the music data (album) that is the content to be searched is displayed,
Album title (Album Tit)
le) and the artist name (Artist Nam)
e) and the search date DT are displayed.

At the bottom of these displays, an AA with an artist name of VVVV is requested by the user.
This is a case in which an album AA is searched and it is displayed as a search result that the content desired by the user is recorded in three content server devices.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, Japan Download Site 1500YEN USA Download Site 1430YEN ($ 13) China Download Site 1690YEN (13 yuan)
wnload Site) and US content server devices (US
A.Download Site), Chinese server equipment (ChinaDownloa)
d Site) contains the content requested by the user.

In FIG. 4, in the display fields JDS, UDS, and CDS for each content server device in which the content intended by the user is recorded, the amount of the content is displayed in Japanese yen. . In the example of FIG. 4, the Japanese content server device (Ja
pan Download Site)
1500 yen, US content server device (US
A.Download Site)
It costs 430 yen, and is a Chinese server device (China Download S
ite), it is shown to be 1690 yen.

Therefore, in the case of this example, as shown in FIG. 4, when downloading the same content, it is the cheapest for the user to download from the USADownload Site which is a content server device installed in the United States. This is useful.

In FIG. 4, the underline of each content server name indicates a link, and the actual website is clicked with a mouse or the like, that is, from the content server device selected by clicking. Switch to site view. For example, if the user
Click the UDS in the USADownload Site field to switch to the display shown in Fig.
Music data, which is the target content, can be downloaded from the load Site.

In this case, the music data is downloaded from the USADownload Site, and the desired music data can be downloaded and used at a lower cost than when downloading from a content server device in Japan or China.

In this embodiment, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, a purchase icon Bic and a trial listening icon Tic are provided, and a trial listening can be performed before purchasing.

Next, an information transmission procedure (processing procedure) in the content-on-demand system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a transition diagram for explaining information transmission between the terminal device 1 and various server devices in the content-on-demand system according to this embodiment.

First, in step SP 1, the user transmits a search keyword related to desired content from the terminal device (user terminal) 1 to the list data server 6. The search keyword includes a content name, a content creator name, a genre, and the like, and corresponds to the content provision request described above.

In step SP2, the list data server 6 lists a plurality of content servers in which the desired content is recorded based on the received search keyword and transmits the list to the exchange rate management server 7 as the latest list.

The exchange rate management server 7 performs an operation of converting the price included in the latest list received from the list data server into a currency convenient for the user based on the latest exchange rate, and proceeds to step SP3. Then, the search result after conversion at the latest exchange rate is transmitted to the user terminal.

The currency convenient for the user is determined based on the country in which the user has searched or the country in which the user resides. The country in which the user searched or the country of residence of the user may be automatically transmitted from the user terminal,
The user may input the regional information.

The user selects a content server from the content server device group 3 based on the provided latest list, transmits the selected information to the list data server 6 in step SP4, and selects the list in step SP5. The data server 6 performs a so-called link operation by accessing the selected content server.

In step SP6, the requested music data (content data) is transmitted from the selected content server to the user terminal device 1, and in step SP7, the user information is transmitted from the terminal device 1 to the accounting server device 5. The billing server 5 performs a billing process based on the transmitted user information.

The operating company that operates the server device 20 may collect the operating costs from the content servers installed in each country as the operating costs of the above-described service, or download the contents via the server device 20. In this case, a part of the sales price may be collected as a margin.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where music data (songs) are distributed as contents has been described as an example. However, the content is not limited to music data (audio data).

For example, so-called video data such as still image data such as a photograph and moving image data such as a movie, a game program (game data) executable on a user terminal (terminal device), and video data such as a movie Of course, the game data and the audio data may be provided together, or the game data and the audio data may be provided together.

The present invention can be applied to a case where various data such as text data such as novels and commentary books, and various application software such as word processing software and spreadsheet software are provided as contents.

As described above, a plurality of separate server devices, for example, a list data server device and an exchange rate management server device may form an information distribution device, or one server. As described above, the device may have functions as a list data server device, an exchange rate management server device, and a billing server device, and may function as an information distribution device.

In the above-described embodiment, the list server device 6 is described as having the search site 6S, but the present invention is not limited to this. A search site may be provided in any other server device, or a search server device that provides the search site may be provided separately. That is, the information distribution device may be configured by one server device, or may be configured by a plurality of server devices having different functions.

Updating of the price list included in the contents server device list may be performed by the exchange rate management server device, or another server device may receive the latest exchange information from the exchange rate management server device. Of course. Further, the latest exchange information may be provided at a predetermined timing as described above, or may be provided from an exchange management company every time the rate is changed.

Further, as described above, the conversion of the content price is performed not only based on the country in which the search was performed, but also based on the nationality of the user. The conversion can also be performed by In this case, as information about the user,
What is necessary is just to notify the server device which performs price conversion from the terminal device which currency unit of the country performs conversion.

In the above-described embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the exchange rate management server device 7 manages the ever-changing exchange rate provided by the exchange management company 8 shown in FIG. Has made it possible to select to download from a content server device installed in the country with the lowest exchange rate at the time of downloading the desired content. However, it is not limited to this.

For example, if the tax system differs depending on the area in the same country, a tax rate management company is set up instead of the exchange management company 8, and the tax rate for each area provided by the tax rate management company is managed by the tax rate management company. Then, when the user downloads the desired content, the content may be downloaded from a content server device installed in the area with the lowest tax rate. The area corresponds to, for example, a state in the United States of America.

Conventionally, a user has no choice but to purchase a product at a store in the residence where he or she lives (even if the user purchases a thing at a travel destination or the like). In this case, the tax must be paid in accordance with the tax rate applicable to the residential area.

However, by configuring the network as in the example of providing the tax rate management company described above, when downloading the desired content via the network, the user does not necessarily have to install the content installed in his / her own residential area. There is no need to purchase content from the server device, and it is possible to download desired content from the content server device installed in an area where the tax rate is low, so that there is more room for selection and areas with different tax rates, for example, between states. The effect is to cause economic free competition between them.

In the above-described embodiment, the nationality is the nationality of the user, and the country of residence refers to the country in which the user actually resides. Usually, the nationality and the country of residence often coincide. . Therefore, in this specification, nationality (country of nationality) and country of residence are used as synonyms.

The residential district is an administrative unit area such as a state in the United States, a prefecture in Japan, or a municipal government, for example, in which the tax system or currency unit may be different. That is, the residential area is provided in the country of residence, and corresponds to the area and area where the user resides.

Therefore, the information on the user is, as described above, regional information such as nationality, country of residence, and resident area. In the case of a foreign national resident in Japan, the user's nationality, It is possible to use any actual country of residence or residence area as regional information.

[0084]

As described above, according to the present invention, content data that a user desires to purchase is stored from a content server device that stores content (content data) that is separately installed. In addition to searching for a candidate for the content server, a candidate list can be notified to the user.

Further, the sales price of the content data desired by the user in each content server device in the candidate list can be converted into the user's currency according to the fluctuation of the exchange rate and notified. This allows
A user can purchase desired content data from a content server device that provides content data at the lowest cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a content-on-demand system to which an information distribution device, an information distribution system, and an information distribution method according to the present invention are applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining various server devices in the content-on-demand system shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an exchange rate conversion table stored in an exchange rate management server.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a search result screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a transition diagram for describing a processing procedure in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a WWW (World Wide Web) on which a content-on-demand system is formed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional content-on-demand system formed using WWW.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a GUI (Graphical User Interface) when selecting content stored in the content server.

FIG. 9 is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for selecting content stored in another content server.
FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Terminal device (user terminal) 2. Internet 3.
... Content server device group, 3A to 3Z ... Content server device, 4 ... Record company (music production company) group, 4A
4B: Record company (music production company), 5: Billing server device, 6: List data server device, 7: Exchange rate management server device, 8: Exchange management company, 9: Bank, credit company, 20: Information distribution Server device, 21 receiving unit, 22 transmitting unit, 23 control unit, 24 switching unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G10K 15/02 G10K 15/02 H04N 7/173 610 H04N 7/173 610Z 640 640Z

Claims (9)

[Claims] A plurality of content server devices for storing a plurality of contents are separately provided at a remote location, and a predetermined content server device is selected from the plurality of content server devices to transmit a content desired by a user through a communication line. Receiving means for receiving information on the user from the user and a content provision request, exchange rate information receiving means for receiving provision of exchange rate fluctuation information, Search means for searching for a content server device in which the content desired by the user is stored based on the received content providing request, and content desired by the user is stored based on a search result from the search means. Create a candidate list of content server devices that Candidate list providing means to be provided; information on the user received by the receiving means, the selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list provided by the candidate list providing means; Updating means for updating based on the exchange rate fluctuation information from the exchange rate fluctuation information receiving means; transmitting the selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list updated by the updating means to the user; An information distribution apparatus comprising: 2. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the content is audio data, video data,
An information distribution device comprising at least one of game data. 3. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the user is nationality information indicating a nationality of the user. 4. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the user is area information indicating an area where the user has input the information on the user. 5. An information distribution system for connecting a terminal device and an information distribution device using a communication line so that a user can distribute desired content from the information distribution device to the terminal device. The apparatus includes: a receiving unit that receives information about the user and a content provision request transmitted from the terminal device; an exchange fluctuation information reception unit that receives provision of exchange fluctuation information; and a content provision request received by the reception unit. Searching means for searching for a content server device in which the content desired by the user is stored; and creating a candidate list of the content server device based on a search result of the searching means. Candidate list providing means to be provided, and each of the candidate lists provided from the candidate list providing means Updating means for updating the selling price of the content in the content server device based on the information on the user received by the receiving means and the exchange fluctuation information from the exchange fluctuation information receiving means; Transmitting means for transmitting a selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the candidate list to the user, wherein the terminal device receives an input of information about the user and the content providing request. Means, transmission means for transmitting the information on the user and the content provision request input through the input means to the information distribution device via the communication line, and updating means transmitted from the information distribution device. Content servers in the candidate list updated in the above manner A selection unit for selecting a predetermined content server device by referring to a sales price of the device. 6. The information distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the content is audio data, video data,
An information distribution device comprising at least one of game data. 7. The information distribution system according to claim 5, wherein the information on the user is nationality information indicating a nationality of the user. 8. The information distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information on the user is area information indicating an area where the user has input the information on the user. 9. An information distribution method in which a terminal device and an information distribution device are connected using a communication line, and a user distributes desired content from the information distribution device to the terminal device. The information distribution device receives information about the user and a content provision request transmitted through the terminal device, and the information distribution device stores the desired content based on the received content provision request. The information distribution device, the information distribution device creates a candidate list of content server devices that provide content based on the searched information on the content server device, and the information distribution device The sales price of the content in each content server device in the Update based on the received information on the user and the exchange rate fluctuation information, and transmit the selling price of the content in each of the content server devices in the updated candidate list from the information distribution device to the terminal device. An information distribution method characterized in that: