JP2002117332A - Update information transmitting method and its system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a customer side automatically aquirable update information on contents sold at a distributor without requiring an action. SOLUTION: A customer/update information management device 40 is arranged on a network. The customer side 50 registers customer information including an electronic address of the customer in the customer/update information management device 40 for receiving support for the contents purchased at a bookshop 30. A contents publishing source 10 transmits update information about the contents to the customer/update information management device 40. The customer/update information management device 40 stores the update information transmitted from the contents publishing source 10 and transmits the update information to the customer side 50 on the basis of the registered electronic address of the customer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a bookstore or the like that allows a customer to browse a large number of merchandise and automatically updates the contents purchased by a customer at a retailer's own choice. A method and system for sending to a customer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, support for content purchased by a user at a store, such as a book, is generally provided by user registration, but content production companies and publishers are not registered. Only the notification of the update of the content or the like is sent to the user who has made the update, but the update information of the content itself is not automatically sent, and it is necessary for the customer to take some action. Further, it has been difficult to electronically link the support right with the delivery of the content and to perform a process of changing the support right.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional method, it is necessary for the customer to take an action in order to obtain the update information of the content purchased at the store. Further, when the contents are delivered, the process of changing the support right cannot be easily performed.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a method in which a customer takes no action when content is updated.
An object of the present invention is to provide a method and a system for transmitting update information that can acquire the updated content, ensure the process of changing the support right, and prevent the duplication of the right.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a customer / update information management device is provided on a network, and when a customer receives support for purchased content, the customer information including an electronic address of the customer is provided. Is registered in the customer / update information management device, and the content publisher transmits update information for the content to the customer / update information management device, and the customer / update information management device stores the update information transmitted from the content publisher. The main feature is that update information is transmitted to the customer based on the electronic address of the registered customer.

Further, according to the present invention, a content publisher issues a content by assigning a different identifier to each content, and registers the identifier in a customer / update information management device. The customer information of the customer is transmitted to the customer / update information management device together with the assigned identifier. If the identifier transmitted from the customer side is registered, the customer / update information management device transmits the customer information to the customer / update information management device. Registered customer information.

[0007] Thus, when the content is updated, the customer can obtain the update information without taking any action by himself / herself. Also, when the customer performs user registration at the time of purchase, using the assigned identifier,
By registering information including a password or the like and a mail address which is an electronic address of the user, duplication of rights can be prevented by transmitting update information to the mail address of the customer. Further, by using an identifier and a password, the right can be changed by changing the mail address.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a system according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. Specifically, update information such as printing errors in a book issued by a publisher is automatically transmitted to a reader customer via the Internet. 1 shows a system for transmitting information in a dynamic manner. In the figure, a solid line indicates an information transmission route, and a broken line indicates a physical distribution route.

In FIG. 1, a publisher (computer in a publishing company) 10 and a printing company (computer in a printing company) 20
The customer and the update information management device 40 are connected by a normal or dedicated communication network 70. On the other hand, customer terminal 50, buyer registration system 60 and customer / update information management device 4
0 is connected by the Internet 80. Note that the bookstore (bookstore terminal) 30 may also be connected to the communication network 70 or the Internet 80.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of the customer / update information management device 40. The customer / update information management device 40 is the main control device 4
1, a communication device 42, a buyer management database (buyer management DB) 43, and a book content update information database (book content update information DB) 44. Main controller 41
Manages the entire customer / update information management apparatus, has a function of generating a required number of identifiers, and various other processing and control functions to be described later. Communication device 42
Performs necessary communication with the publisher 10 and the printing company 20 via the communication network 70 on the one hand, and
Has a function of performing necessary communication with the customer terminal 50 and the purchaser registration system 60 via the Internet. The buyer management DB 43 manages information on customers (purchasers) who have purchased books.
The book content update information DB 44 stores update information of books.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the buyer management DB 43. In the figure, reference numerals 431 to 43n denote buyer tables, each of which corresponds to a book issued by the publisher 10, and is distinguished by, for example, a book name. Each buyer table 431-43
n is composed of a plurality of lines, each line including an identifier, a password, a mail address, a customer name, an address, and the like. Here, the number of lines, that is, the number of identifiers corresponds to the number of copies of the book. When reprinting a book, the number of lines is added only to the reprinted portion.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration example of the book content update information DB 44. In the figure, reference numerals 441 to 44n denote book content update files, each of which corresponds to a book issued by the publisher 10 and is distinguished by a book name, for example, as in the purchaser table of FIG. Each book contents update file 441-44n
Holds update information of the book.

Hereinafter, the operations of issuing a book, registering support, transmitting update information, and updating customer registration information in the update information transmission system of FIG. 1 will be described. [Issuing a Book] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a book issuing process. When publishing a book, the publisher 10 sends book information to the printing company 20. This may be via a normal physical distribution route or via the communication network 70. At the same time, the publisher 10 communicates with the customer /
It requests the update information management device 40 to generate an identifier to be added to the book to be issued. Customer / update information management device 40
Then, when the main control device 41 receives an identifier generation request from the publisher 10 via the communication device 42, the main control device 41 assigns different identifiers that cannot be easily inferred from the assignment rules.
It is generated by the number of copies of the book and transmitted to the printing company 20 via the communication device 42. In addition, the main control device 41 generates a purchaser table to which the book name or the like is given in the purchaser management DB 43 (here, 431), and sets identifiers for the number of issued copies in the purchaser table 431. . At this time, the fields other than the identifier, such as the password, the mail address, the customer name, and the address, in the buyer table 431 are left blank. In addition, when reprinting a book, the number of lines may be added to the purchaser table by the book name as a key by the number of reprints, but the identifier is not generated the same identifier as that at the time of previous publication. .

The printing company 20 prints as many copies as the number of copies issued based on the book information sent from the publisher 10, and assigns a different identifier sent from the customer / update information management device 40 to each book. The data is encrypted so that it can be decrypted only with a special barcode, and is processed so that it can be referred to only after the purchase, such as a zipper, and delivered to each bookstore 30.

The bookstore 30 sells books to customers. When a customer purchases a book, the encrypted identifier attached to the book is read and decrypted with the barcode of the cash register, and the decrypted identifier is printed on a receipt and passed to the customer.

At the bookstore 30, if the book is unsold or damaged, the book is returned to the printing company 20. In the printing company 30, when a return is made, the communication network 70
The customer / update information management device 40 is notified of the identifier assigned to the returned book via the, and requests deletion. The main control device 41 of the customer / update information management device 40 includes:
Upon receiving a request to delete the identifier from the printing company 30 via the communication device 42, the buyer management DB 43
And deletes the corresponding identifier in the purchaser table 431.

[Support Registration] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the support registration process. Thereafter, the customer who has purchased the book performs a purchaser registration in order to receive support for the book from the publisher 10. The purchaser registration is performed by accessing the purchaser registration system 60 from the customer terminal 50 via the Internet 80. That is, the customer accesses the purchaser registration system 60 using the WWW browser or the like of the customer terminal 50, and together with the identifier received from the bookstore 30, the password and personal information such as his / her mail address, name, and address (customer information ).

In the purchaser registration system 60, the customer /
The update information management device 40 is accessed, and the identifier and personal information input from each customer terminal 50 are transmitted to the customer / update information management device 40.

The main control device 41 of the customer / update information management device 40 communicates with the buyer registration system 6 via the communication device 42.
When receiving the identifier, the password, and the personal information (customer information) transmitted from 0, it searches the buyer management DB 43 and checks whether the corresponding identifier is set in the purchaser table. Determine if it is correct. If the identifier is correct, the main control device 41 places the password and e-mail address, name (customer name), address, etc. sent together with the identifier on the line in the purchaser management table 431 where the identifier is set. Set personal information (customer information). On the other hand, if the transmitted identifier is not set in the purchaser table 431, the main control device 41 refuses to store the transmitted password and personal information in the purchaser management DB 43, and informs that fact. Notification is sent to the purchaser registration system 60 through the communication device 42. The purchaser registration system 60 notifies the customer that the support registration has been rejected.

[Transmission of Update Information] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of update information transmission. Publisher 10
Transmits update information of the book to the customer / update information management device 40 via the communication network 70 when the content of the issued book is updated.

In the customer / update information management device 40, when the main control device 41 receives the book update information transmitted from the publisher 10 via the communication device 42, the book content update information DB 44 stores the book content update information in the book content update information DB44. A file is generated (here, 441), a book name or the like is added, and update information is stored. If a book content update file 441 having the same book name already exists in the book content update information DB 44, the update information sent to the book content update file 441 is stored. After that, the main control device 41
The purchaser management DB 43 is searched using the book name as a key, and based on the mail address registered in the corresponding purchaser table 431, for example, the latest update information of the book content update file 441 is transmitted to the communication device 42 and the Internet 80. To the corresponding customer terminal 50 via the.

Thus, the customer can receive the updated contents of the book purchased at the bookstore with the WWW browser of the customer terminal 50 and read it. Further, by using the identifier and the password from the customer terminal 50 to access the customer / update information management device 40 via the Internet 80, it is also possible to acquire past update information and the like from the customer / update information management device 40. is there. Furthermore, if, for example, new book guidance and other necessary information are stored in the book content update information DB 44, the customer can also acquire such information.

[Change of Registration Information] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for changing registration information. The customer accesses the customer / update information management device 40 via the Internet 80 using the identifier and the password from the customer terminal 50 when changing the e-mail address to receive support or transferring the support right itself.

When the main control device 41 of the customer / update information management device 40 receives the identifier and the password from the customer via the communication device 42, it searches the purchaser management DB 43,
It checks whether the identifier and password from the customer are registered, and if registered, permits access to the customer.

The customer inputs the e-mail address to be changed and the personal information (customer information) from the customer terminal 50.
Main controller 41 of customer / update information management device 40 receives personal information via communication device 42, and
In step 43, the personal information (customer information) in the row where the corresponding identifier is set in the corresponding purchaser table 431 is changed.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, by setting the publisher, printing company, and bookstore of FIG. 1 to be a content production company, a publishing company, and a store, user registration of the content and transmission of the content update content, including books widely sold at the store, are performed. Through a network such as the Internet, using an email address, etc., the customer can receive the updated content without taking any action to the production company, publishing company, retailer, etc. Rights can be prevented from overlapping.

In the embodiment, the purchaser registration system is set on the network (Internet), and the customer transmits the identifier and the personal information to the purchaser registration system via the network. An identifier or personal information may be transmitted to the customer / update information management device via the server.

The functions of the customer / update information management device are as follows:
It may be handled by a computer of a publisher or a content production company. This allows publishers and production companies to manage only their own content and reflect content updates quickly. Further, the generation of the identifier can also be performed by a computer of a publisher or a content production company.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By registering the user for the content to be sold and transmitting the updated content via a network using an e-mail address, the user can receive the updated content without any action, and the user registration right is duplicated. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a customer / update information management device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a purchaser management database.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of a book content update information database.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a book issuing process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of support registration.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of an update information transmission process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of processing for changing registration information.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Publisher (production company) 20 Printing company (publishing company) 30 Bookstore (distributor) 40 Customer / update information management device 50 Customer terminal 60 Purchaser registration system 70 Communication network 80 Internet

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) // G06F 13/00 630 G06F 13/00 630A (72) Inventor Kazuki Okada 2-chome Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 3-1 F-term in Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (reference) 5B049 AA05 AA06 BB25 CC02 CC05 CC22 DD05 EE01 FF03 FF04 FF09 GG04 GG07 GG10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A method for transmitting update information on content purchased by a customer at a store to a customer via a network, comprising: placing a customer / update information management device on the network; In order to receive support for the customer, the customer information including the electronic address of the customer is registered in the customer / update information management device, and the content publisher transmits the update information on the content to the customer / update information management device. The update information management device stores update information transmitted from a content publisher and transmits the update information to the customer based on the registered electronic address of the customer. Method. 2. The update information transmitting method according to claim 1, wherein the content publisher issues the content by assigning a different identifier to each content, and registers the identifier in a customer / update information management device. Side transmits the customer information of the customer to the customer / update information management device together with the identifier assigned to the purchased content, and the customer / update information management device checks if the identifier transmitted from the customer side is registered. And registering the customer information transmitted from the customer side. 3. The update information transmitting method according to claim 2, wherein the customer / update information management device generates and holds an identifier, and transmits the identifier to a content publisher. Transmission method. 4. The update information transmitting method according to claim 1, wherein a customer registration system is set up on a network, and the customer registers customer information in the customer registration system, and the customer registration system registers the customer information. Transmitting the updated customer information to the customer / update information management device. 5. The update information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the customer / update information management device transmits the update information to the customer side in response to a request from the customer side. Information transmission method. 6. The update information transmission method according to claim 1, wherein the function of the customer / update information management device is provided to the content publisher. 7. A method for transmitting update information on content purchased by a customer at a store to a customer via a network, comprising: a purchaser management database for managing customer information; and a content update information on the network. A customer / update information management device having a content content update information database to be stored and a purchaser registration system for registering the content purchaser are provided. When publishing the content, the content publisher sends the content to the content publisher. The client / update information management device requests the customer / update information management device to generate an identifier. The customer / update information management device generates a different required number of identifiers and sends the identifiers to the content issuer. Is stored in the buyer management database, and the content publisher The encrypted identifier is assigned to the content, and the content to which the identifier is assigned is delivered to the store. When the customer purchases the content, the store decrypts the encrypted identifier assigned to the content. The customer sends the customer information including the electronic address of the customer together with the identifier to the buyer registration system, and the buyer registration system sends the identifier,
Holds the customer information and transmits it to the customer / update information management device. The customer / update information management device associates the identifier transmitted from the purchaser registration system with the identifier if the identifier is registered in the purchaser management database. Registering the customer information transmitted from the customer side in the buyer management database, and when updating the content of the published content, the content publisher transmits the update information to the customer / update information management device, and updates the customer / update information. The management device stores the update information transmitted from the content publisher in the content content update information database, and updates the content information update information database based on the customer's electronic address registered in the buyer management database. A method of transmitting update information, which is transmitted to a customer. 8. The update information transmitting method according to claim 7, wherein the customer sends a request for changing the customer information together with the identifier to the customer / user.
If the identifier transmitted from the customer is registered in the buyer management database, the customer / update information management device transmits the customer information corresponding to the identifier to the customer transmitted from the customer. Update information transmission method characterized by changing to information. 9. The update information transmission method according to claim 7, wherein the customer accesses the customer / update information management device by using the identifier to obtain the update information and the like. Method. 10. A system for transmitting update information on content purchased by a customer at a store to a customer via a network, comprising: a content production company, a publisher, a store, a customer terminal,
When a customer / update information management device and a purchaser registration system exist, and a production company publishes content, the production company sends the content to the issue company, and provides a necessary number of identifiers to the customer / update information management device. Has to be sent to the publisher, and in the case of updating the content, means for sending the update information to the customer / update information, and the publisher encrypts a different identifier for each content. And means for sending the content to which the identifier has been assigned to the store, wherein the store decrypts and passes the encrypted identifier attached to the content to the customer who purchased the content. The customer terminal has means for inputting customer information including an electronic address together with the identifier, means for sending the identifier and the customer information to the purchaser registration system, The system further includes means for accessing the customer / update information management device. The purchaser registration system transmits the identifier and the customer information from the customer terminal to the customer / update information management device. A customer / update information management device, a purchaser management database for managing customer information, a content content update information database for storing content update information, and a means for generating a sequence of identifiers whose generation rules cannot be inferred. In response to the request of the production company, the required number of identifiers are sent to the issuing company, and the identifiers are stored in the buyer management database, and based on the identifier transmitted by the buyer registration system. , Means for storing customer information in the buyer management database, and access from the customer terminal using the identifier, thereby enabling the customer management database to be managed. And means for updating the information, when the update information of the content is transmitted from the production company,
Means for storing the update information in the content content update information database, and means for transmitting the update information of the content content update information database to the customer terminal based on the customer's electronic address stored in the buyer management database, An information update transmission system, characterized in that: