JP2003263573A - Content distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] In a service for distributing paid content, it is possible to reduce the content usage fee paid by a user, and a company is able to reduce the number of people who do not publicize their content with CM etc. The purpose of this service is to collect paid content usage fees that can motivate consumers to make purchases. SOLUTION: A content user purchases a product of a specific seller in order to reduce the usage fee of paid content.
The content distribution device manages the purchase history of the user. The content distribution device reduces the content usage fee using the purchase history. Instead, the difference between the discounted content usage fees is charged to the seller who sold the product.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for distributing pay content, and more particularly to a technology for collecting a usage fee for pay content.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, contents such as music and programs are
It is being distributed and used via digital broadcasting and the Internet. Producing and distributing such content is generally very expensive. So, as one method, the sponsor
Providing funds for the production and distribution of content, the content production and distribution person uses the funds provided by the sponsor to produce and distribute the content. Sponsors, instead of providing funding for production and distribution,
Promote your company's PR and products by linking with the contents. For example, the production distributor creates and distributes the content in which the advertisement of the company managed by the sponsor is inserted. Whenever the content user plays the content, the corporate advertisement is also played. In this way, by performing the advertisement in association with the content, the sales of the product of the company increase, and the sponsor can collect the funds provided for the production and distribution of the content.

However, when the distributed content is played back, the advertisement of the company is inserted in the content to be played back, which hinders the user from using the content such as not being able to enjoy the content alone. So some users want content that doesn't have corporate advertising inserted. In order to deliver content without such company advertisements, the user must bear the content production fee, and depending on the degree of use, the content usage fee can be Have to pay.

In paid broadcasting, a program may be broadcast free of charge for the purpose of acquiring new viewers. In this case, the broadcasting station bears the cost for producing and broadcasting the program. There is. Further, in this case, the viewer cannot watch the favorite program for free, and can only watch the program that is broadcast for free. There are also services that use coupons to lower the content usage fee, but for companies that issue coupons, users can buy products of other companies without purchasing their own products. Even though points are added, you must issue a coupon, and issuing a coupon is
It is not directly linked to having your product purchased. Therefore, the company has to carry out advertising activities such as commercials in addition to issuing coupons.

[0005]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-216451

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, when users try to use contents for free, they must always see the advertisement of the company, while avoiding seeing the advertisement of the company. To do this, you have to pay a usage fee for the content. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system, a fee collection method, a program, and a recording medium that can provide content to users at a low usage fee.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, and the pay content and the product information. It is a content distribution system including a receiving device for receiving and a sponsor device included in the sponsor. The user purchases the product related to the product information. The reception device transmits purchase history information indicating that the user has purchased the product sold by the sponsor to the content distribution device. The content distribution device receives the purchase history information, calculates a discount amount of the viewing fee of the pay content using the received purchase history information, and subtracts the discount amount from the viewing fee of the pay content. The user is billed for the amount and the sponsor is billed for the discount amount.
The sponsor device transmits information for offsetting the requested discount amount to the content distribution device.

According to this structure, the content distribution device calculates the discount amount of the viewing fee of the pay content by using the purchase history information, and deducts the billing amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from the viewing fee of the pay content. The user is billed, the sponsor is billed for the discount amount, and the sponsor device transmits information for offsetting the billed discount amount to the content distribution device.

As described above, since the sponsor pays a part of the viewing fee, the usage fee paid by the user can be reduced.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. Embodiment 1 A content distribution system 1a as one embodiment of the present invention will be described. Content distribution system 1
1, a is a broadcasting station system 100a, a plurality of viewer systems 200a, ..., A viewer system 201a, and a plurality of sponsor systems 300a ,.
., 301a.

The broadcasting station system 100a and the plurality of sponsor systems 300a, ..., 301a are connected to the Internet 2a. A broadcasting company that operates pay digital broadcasting has a broadcasting station system 100a. Broadcasters produce programs and broadcast station systems 1
00a broadcasts a program produced by a broadcasting company for a fee via the broadcasting satellite 3a.

A sponsor who sells various products and provides various services has a sponsor system 300a. The sponsor creates product information that introduces these products and services, and the sponsor system 300
a outputs the product information to the broadcasting station system 100a via the Internet 2a. The same applies to other sponsor systems.

The broadcasting station system 100a receives the merchandise information from the sponsor system 300a, and broadcasts the merchandise information received together with the program through the broadcasting satellite 3a. The viewer has a viewer system 200a, and the viewer system 200a receives the broadcast program and product information and reproduces the received program and product information. Upon receiving the program, the viewer pays a viewing fee corresponding to the received program to the broadcaster. The same applies to other viewer systems. Also, the viewer knows the product sold by the sponsor or the service provided by the sponsor based on the broadcasted product information, and purchases the product or receives the service. At this time, the viewer pays for the sponsor.

On the other hand, when the broadcasting station system 100a broadcasts the product information, the introduction information indicating that the product information has been broadcast is output to the sponsor system 300a. When the sponsor system 300a receives the introduction information from the broadcasting station system 100a, the sponsor pays the broadcasting company an introduction fee according to the received introduction information.

In this way, the broadcasting company allocates the viewing fee paid by the viewer and the introduction fee paid by the sponsor to the production cost of the program. Broadcasting system 100a
As shown in FIG. 1, is composed of a program distribution device 110a, a product introduction management device 130a, and a transmitting antenna 180a. The viewer system 200a is composed of a broadcast receiving device 210a, a monitor 230a, a speaker 280a, and a receiving antenna 220a. The same applies to other viewer systems. The sponsor system 300a also includes a sales management device 310a. The same applies to other sponsor systems.

Each device will be described in detail below. 1.1 Program Distribution Device 110a The program distribution device 110a, as shown in FIG.
12a, a multiplexing unit 113a, a control unit 114a, and an information storage unit 115a. Program distribution device 110
Specifically, a is a microprocessor, ROM, RA
A computer system including an M, a hard disk unit, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit.
The microprocessor operates in accordance with the computer program to cause the program distribution device 110a.
Achieve its function.

(1) Information Storage Unit 115a The information storage unit 115a has program information 121a and a product information table 122a. The program information 121a is
It contains information about programs to be broadcast and is composed of video data and audio data.

The product information table 122a is composed of a plurality of product information, as shown in FIG. 2 as an example. Each product information is provided by each sponsor regarding a product or service broadcast with the program. Each item information includes a sponsor ID, a sponsor name, an item ID, an item name, and a unit price. The sponsor ID is identification information for identifying the sponsor, the sponsor name is a name for identifying the sponsor, and the product I
D is identification information for identifying a product sold by the sponsor or a service provided by the sponsor, a product name is a name for identifying the product or service, and a unit price is a sales unit price of the product or service. is there.

(2) Multiplexing Unit 113a Under the control of the control unit 114a, the multiplexing unit 113a reads the program information 121a from the information storage unit 115a, reads the product information table 122a from the information storage unit 115a, and reads the read product information. All the product information is acquired from the table, the read program information and product information are multiplexed, and the multiplexed program information and product information is transmitted by the transmission unit 112.
Output to a.

(3) Transmission unit 112a The transmission unit 112a receives the multiplexed program information and product information from the multiplexing unit 113a, puts the received multiplexed program information and product information on the broadcast wave, and broadcasts the broadcast wave. Is broadcast via the transmitting antenna 180a and the broadcasting satellite 3a. (4) Control Unit 114a The control unit 114a generates introduction information by adding the broadcast date and time when the product information was broadcast to the product information included in the read and broadcast product information table, and introduces the generated introduction information. Output to the management device 130a.

1.2 Product Introduction Management Device 130a As shown in FIG. 1, the product introduction management device 130a includes an input / output unit 131a, an information storage unit 132a, a communication unit 133a, and a control unit 134a. The product introduction management device 130a is a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110a. The product introduction management device 130a achieves its function by the microprocessor operating in accordance with the computer program.

(1) Information Storage Unit 132a As shown in FIG. 1, the information storage unit 132a has an introduction information table 141a, an introduction fee table 142a, and a sponsor information table 143a. (Introduction Information Table 141a) Introduction Information Table 141
As shown in FIG. 3, a is composed of a plurality of pieces of introduction information. Each introduction information indicates the product information broadcast by the program distribution device 110a, and the sponsor ID,
It includes the sponsor name, product ID, product name, unit price, and broadcast date and time. Since the sponsor ID, the sponsor name, the product ID, the product name, and the unit price are as described above, the description thereof will be omitted. The broadcast date and time indicates the date and hour, minute, second when the product information was broadcast.

(Sponsor Information Table 143a) The sponsor information table 143a is composed of a plurality of sponsor information, as shown in FIG. Each sponsor information corresponds to each sponsor, and the sponsor ID
And URL (Uniform Resource Lo)
It is composed of

Since the sponsor ID is as described above, its explanation is omitted. The URL is information indicating the location of the sponsor system owned by the corresponding sponsor on the Internet. (Introduction Fee Table 142a) Introduction Fee Table 142a
Is composed of a plurality of introduction fee information, as shown in FIG. Each introduction fee information indicates an introduction fee paid by the sponsor for each broadcast day, and is composed of a sponsor ID, a broadcast date, and an introduction fee.

Since the sponsor ID is as described above, its explanation is omitted. The broadcast date indicates the date of broadcasting. The referral fee is information for paying the amount of money for the product introduction paid by the sponsor on the day indicated by the broadcast date, or information for offsetting the payment of the amount. The introduction fee may be electronic money information that has the same value as a currency and is used in place of the currency.

(2) Input / output unit 131a The input / output unit 131a receives the introduction information from the program distribution device 110a and outputs the received introduction information to the control unit 134a. (3) Control Unit 134a The control unit 134a extracts the sponsor ID from the received introduction information, and the UR corresponding to the extracted sponsor ID.
The destination of the introduction information is determined by reading L from the sponsor information table 143a. Next, the control unit 1
34a transmits the received introduction information to the sponsor system indicated by the URL read via the communication unit 133a and the Internet 2a.

Further, the control unit 134a uses the received introduction information as the introduction information table 141 in the information storage unit 132a.
Write to a. Furthermore, the control unit 134a controls the Internet 2a and the communication unit 1 from the sponsor system 300a.
The introduction fee information is received via the secure communication protocol via 33a, and the received introduction fee information is written in the introduction fee table 142a of the information storage unit 132a.

(4) Communication unit 133a The communication unit 133a is connected to each sponsor system via the Internet 2a, and transmits / receives information between each sponsor system and the control unit 134a. 1.3 Sales Management Device 310a The sales management device 310a, as shown in FIG.
11a, a control unit 312a, and an information storage unit 313a.

The sales management device 310a is the program distribution device 1
It is a computer system similar to 10a. The sales management device 310a achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. The sales management device included in the other sponsor systems has the same configuration as the sales management device 310a, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

(1) Information Storage Unit 313a The information storage unit 313a has an introduction information table 321a and an introduction fee table 322a, as shown in FIG. (Introduction Information Table 321a) Introduction Information Table 321
As shown in FIG. 6, a is composed of a plurality of pieces of introduction information. Each introduction information includes a sponsor ID, a sponsor name, a product ID, a product name, a unit price, and a broadcast date and time. The sponsor ID, the sponsor name, the product ID, the product name, the unit price, and the broadcast date and time are as described above, and thus the description thereof will be omitted.

(Introduction Fee Table 322a) As shown in FIG. 7, the introduction fee table 322a is composed of a plurality of pieces of introduction fee information. Each referral fee information indicates the total amount of referral fees paid by the sponsor to the broadcasting station for each broadcast date, and is composed of the sponsor ID, the broadcast date, and the referral fee.
Since the sponsor ID and the broadcast date are as described above, the description will be omitted. The introduction fee is information indicating that the sponsor paid the amount of money as a price for introducing the product on the day indicated by the broadcast date, or that the payment of the amount was offset. In addition,
The referral fee may be electronic money information having a value equivalent to currency and used in place of currency.

(2) Control Unit 312a The control unit 312a receives introduction information from the product introduction management device 130a via the Internet 2a and the communication unit 311a, and uses the received introduction information to calculate the total introduction fee for the day. calculate. The referral fee corresponding to the referral information is predetermined. For example, a fixed amount of referral fee is set for each referral information. Alternatively, a different referral fee may be set for each product. Based on the introduction fee determined in this way, the control unit 312a calculates the introduction fee corresponding to the introduction information. In addition, the control unit 312a
Stores the accumulated referral fees up to that day, and adds the calculated referral fees to the accumulated referral fees. In this way, the control unit 312a calculates the total of the referral fees for the day.

Next, the controller 312a controls the sponsor I
D, the introduction date information including the broadcast date and the calculated total introduction fee is generated. Here, the introduction fee is information indicating payment of the amount of money equivalent to the introduction fee, or information indicating offsetting of the amount of money. The introduction fee may be electronic money information that has the same value as a currency and is used in place of the currency. The control unit 312a uses the generated introduction fee information via the communication unit 311a and the Internet 2a.
Using a secure communication protocol, the product introduction management device 13
0a.

The control unit 312a also writes the generated introduction fee information in the introduction fee table 322a of the information storage unit 313a. Here, the introduction fee included in the introduction fee information is information indicating payment of an amount corresponding to the introduction fee or information indicating offsetting of the amount. 1.4 Broadcast Receiving Device 210a The broadcast receiving device 210a receives a broadcast wave broadcast from the broadcasting station system 100a via the broadcasting satellite 3a,
Select the channel desired by the viewer from the received broadcast waves, extract the program and product information from the selected channel,
The extracted program and product information is converted into video and audio, and the video and audio are monitored 230a and speaker 28, respectively.
Output to 0a. Monitor 230a and speaker 280a
Respectively display video and output audio.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed by the monitor 230a. As shown in this figure, the screen D01 is
Program display section D011, product name display section D012 to D015
And a detailed information display portion D016. The program display portion D011 is an area in which a broadcast program is displayed as a video. The product name display portions D012 to D015 are
Each is an area in which the product name included in the broadcasted product information is displayed. In this figure, the product name display section D0
Of 12 to D015, only the product name display portion D012 is highlighted. This indicates that the product name displayed on the product name display portion D012 is selected by the viewer.

The detailed information display area D016 is an area for displaying information other than the product name included in the product information.
Here, the product ID, the product name, the sponsor name, and the unit price, which are the information related to the product selected by the viewer, are displayed. 1.5 Operation of Content Distribution System 1a The operation of the content distribution system 1a will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

The multiplexing unit 113a of the program distribution device 110a
Under the control of the control unit 114a.
The program information 121a is read from (step S12
1), the product information table 122 from the information storage unit 115a
a is read (step S122), the read program information and product information are multiplexed (step S123), and the transmission unit 112a puts the multiplexed program information and product information on the broadcast wave and transmits the broadcast wave to the transmission antenna 180a. And is transmitted via the broadcast satellite 3a (step S124).

The broadcast receiving device 210a receives the broadcast wave (step S101), selects a channel desired by the viewer from the received broadcast wave, extracts program information and product information from the selected channel, and extracts the extracted program. The information and the product information are converted into video and audio, and the video and audio are output to the monitor 230a and the speaker 280a, respectively.
30a and the speaker 280a respectively display an image and output a sound (step S102).

The control unit 114a also generates introduction information from the product information contained in the read and broadcast product information table (step S125), outputs the generated introduction information to the product introduction management device 130a, and the input / output unit. 131a
Receives the introduction information and outputs the received introduction information to the control unit 134a (step S126). Next, the control unit 134a determines the sponsor ID from the received introduction information.
Is extracted and the URL corresponding to the extracted sponsor ID is read from the sponsor information table 143a to determine the destination of the introduction information (step S131),
The received introduction information is transmitted to the sponsor system indicated by the URL read via the communication unit 133a and the Internet 2a (step S132). The control unit 134a also writes the received introduction information to the introduction information table 141a in the information storage unit 132a (step S133).

The control unit 312a receives the referral information via the Internet 2a and the communication unit 311a (step S132), calculates the total referral fee for the day by using the received referral information (step S134), and secures the safety. The introduction fee information including the calculated total introduction fee is transmitted to the product introduction management device 130a via the communication unit 311a and the Internet 2a (step S135), and the control unit 312a introduces The fee information is written in the introduction fee table 322a of the information storage unit 313a (step S137).

The control unit 134a receives the introduction fee information via the Internet 2a and the communication unit 133a (step S135), and writes the received introduction fee information into the introduction fee table 142a of the information storage unit 132a (step S136). 2. Embodiment 2 A content distribution system 1b as another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

2.1 Overview of Content Distribution System 1b The content distribution system 1b is as shown in FIG.
Broadcast system 100b, multiple viewer system 200
b, ..., Viewer system 201b, a plurality of sponsor systems 300b, ..., 301b, and a plurality of retail store systems 400b ,. Each system is connected to the internet 2b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the sponsor 30b, which sells various products and provides various services, pays the broadcasting company 10b a sponsor fee used as part of the cost for producing the program ( Step S15
3). Broadcasters operating paid digital broadcasting business 10
b has a broadcasting station system 100b. The broadcasting company 10b produces a program, and the broadcasting station system 100b
Broadcasts a program (that is, content) produced by the broadcaster via the broadcast satellite 3b for a fee to provide it to the viewer (step S152).

The sponsor 30b has a sponsor system 300b. The sponsor 30b creates sponsor information that introduces products and services that it sells or provides, and the sponsor system 300b outputs the sponsor information to the broadcasting station system 100b via the Internet 2b (step S153). The broadcasting station system 100b receives the sponsor information from the sponsor system 300b (step S153) and provides the received sponsor information (that is, the content) together with the program to the viewer by broadcasting the information through the broadcasting satellite 3b. Yes (step S152).

The viewer 20b is the viewer system 200b.
And the viewer system 200b receives the broadcast program and sponsor information (step S15).
2) Replay the received program and sponsor information. The viewer 20b transmits the viewing history information to the broadcaster 10b (step S151). The viewer 20b knows the product sold by the sponsor or the service provided by viewing the broadcast sponsor information, and purchases the product or receives the service from the sponsor (step S155). . At this time, the viewer 20b
Pays the price to the sponsor (step S15)
4). Alternatively, the viewer 20b purchases a product or receives a service from a retailer (step S159).
At this time, the viewer 20b pays the price to the retailer who is the product seller (step S158). The viewer 20b also receives purchase history information indicating the history of product purchase or service provision from the retailer via the IC card 600b (step S159).

Also, the broadcaster 10b is the viewer 20b.
The viewing history information of the program and the purchase history information of the product or service are received from (step S151). Next, the broadcaster 10b calculates the viewing fee charged to the viewer 20b according to the viewing history information, calculates the discounted amount of the viewing fee according to the purchase history information, and subtracts the discounted amount from the viewing fee. The viewer 20b is charged the amount, and the viewer 20b pays this amount to the broadcaster 10b (step S151).

At this time, the broadcaster 10b charges the sponsor 30b a discounted viewing fee, and the sponsor 30b
Pays an amount corresponding to the discount amount to the broadcaster 10b (step S153). In this way, the broadcaster 10b can allocate the viewing fee paid by the viewer (subtracting the discount amount), the sponsor fee paid by the sponsor 30b, and the amount corresponding to the discount amount to the production cost of the program. it can.

As shown in FIG. 10, the broadcasting station system 100b includes a program distribution device 110b and a viewing history management device 13.
0b, a viewing fee calculation device 150b, a product purchase history management device 170b, and a transmission antenna 180b.
In addition, the viewer system 200b includes the broadcast receiving device 210.
b, a monitor 230b, a speaker 280b, a receiving antenna 220b, a communication device 240b, a product purchase history management device 250b, and an IC card reader 270b. The same applies to other viewer systems. Also,
The sponsor system 300b includes a selling device 310b. The same applies to other sponsor systems. Further, the retail store system 400b includes a settlement device 410b,
IC card writer 430b and bar code reader 440
b. The same applies to other retail store systems.

Each device will be described in detail below. 2.2 Program Distribution Device 110b As shown in FIG. 12, the program distribution device 110b includes a transmission unit 112b, a multiplexing unit 113b, a control unit 114b, and an information storage unit 115b. Program distribution device 11
0b is, specifically, a microprocessor, ROM, R
A computer system including an AM and the like.
A computer program is stored in the RAM. The program distribution device 1 is operated by the microprocessor operating in accordance with the computer program.
10b achieves that function.

(1) Information storage unit 115b As shown in FIG. 12, the information storage unit 115b stores the program information 121b and other program information (not shown), the EPG.
(Electronic Program Guide) 122b, a sponsor list 123b, sponsor A information 124b, ..., Sponsor C information 125b are stored.

The program information 121b is composed of video data and audio data. The same applies to other program information. The EPG 122b is information that constitutes an electronic program guide that introduces programs. Sponsor list 123
b includes a plurality of sponsor names and sponsor IDs.

The sponsor A information 124b is information on the product sold by the sponsor A or the service provided by the sponsor A, and includes the sponsor name, sponsor ID, expiration date, message, URL, image information, product name, product ID, and unit price. There is. The same applies to other sponsor information. Here, the sponsor name is a name that identifies the sponsor, and the sponsor ID is identification information that uniquely identifies the sponsor. The expiration date indicates the expiration date when the sponsor guarantees the content of each piece of information included in the sponsor A information 124b to the viewer. The message includes information that the sponsor wants to convey to the viewer about the product or service. Here, as an example, it is assumed that the information about the discount amount of the viewing fee is included. The URL indicates the location on the Internet of the sponsor system owned by the sponsor who provides the sponsor A information 124b. The image information is an image showing the product or service indicated by the product ID included in the sponsor A information 124b. The product name is a name for identifying a product sold by the sponsor or a service provided by the sponsor. The product ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the product or service. The unit price is the sales unit price of a product or service.

(2) Transmitting section 112b and multiplexing section 113b
And control unit 114b The control unit 114b controls the program information 1 from the information storage unit 115b.
21b and other program information, EPG 122b, sponsor list 123b, sponsor A information 124b, ...
.., the sponsor C information 125b is read, and the transmission unit 11
2b and the multiplexing unit 113b, the read program information 121b and other program information, EPG
122b, sponsor list 123b, sponsor A information 124b, ..., Sponsor C information 125b
Multiplexed within each channel and transmitted.

Specifically, as shown as an example in FIG. 13, the program stream T102, the EPG stream T106, and the sponsor-related information stream T107 are multiplexed and broadcast on the channel T101 “100”. The program stream T102 includes program A, program E, program G, and other programs. EPG stream T106
Includes a plurality of EPGs. The sponsor-related information stream T107 includes a plurality of sponsor-related information S. Each sponsor-related information S is a sponsor list T109,
Sponsor A information T110, Sponsor B information T111
And sponsor C information T112. The sponsor list and the sponsor information are as described above.

Further, as shown as an example in FIG. 14, program information and sponsor-related information are also broadcast on other channels. Channel T121 "101"
, The program stream including the program B and the program H is broadcast, the program stream including the program C, the program F, and the program I is broadcast on the channel T122 “102”, and the program D and the program J are broadcast on the channel T123 “103”. A program stream including is being broadcast. Also,
The sponsor-related information stream T125 is broadcast on the channel T124 “104”. The sponsor-related information stream T125 includes a plurality of sponsor-related information S. Here, channel T124 "104"
Is a program sponsor presentation specialized channel that presents only program sponsors. In the program sponsor presentation specialized channel, sponsors and products offering programs can be searched. In the program sponsor presentation specialized channel, information such as product information, the expiration date of the product purchase, and the discount amount of the viewing fee paid by the sponsor by purchasing the product is provided.

2.3 Viewing History Management Device 130b As shown in FIG. 12, the viewing history management device 130b includes a control unit 131b, a communication unit 132b, an input / output unit 133b, an information storage unit 134b, an input unit 135b, and a display unit 136b.
It consists of The viewing history management device 130b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b. The viewing history management apparatus 130b achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Information storage unit 134b The information storage unit 134b has a viewing history information table 137b.
have. The viewing history information table 137b has an area for storing a plurality of viewing history information. The viewing history information is information indicating the history of viewing the program by the viewer, and includes the viewer ID, the viewer name, the channel number, the program name, and the viewing date and time.

Here, the viewer ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the viewer. The viewer name is a name that identifies the viewer. The channel number indicates the channel on which the program was broadcast. The program name is a name for identifying the program. The viewing date and time indicates the date and time when the program was viewed by the viewer. (2) Control Unit 131b The control unit 131b receives the viewing history information from the broadcast receiving device 210b via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 132b. When the viewing history information is received, the control unit 131
b writes the received viewing history information into the viewing history information table 137b in the information storage unit 134b.

Further, the control section 131b has an input / output section 133.
A request for reading the viewing history information is received from the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b via b. Upon receiving the request,
The control unit 131b reads the viewing history information from the viewing history information table 137b included in the information storage unit 134b,
The read viewing history information is read via the input / output unit 133b.
It is output to the viewing fee calculation device 150b.

(3) Communication unit 132b, input / output unit 133
b, the input unit 135b, and the display unit 136b, the communication unit 132b is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b, and transmits / receives information between the control unit 131b and the external device. Also, the input / output unit 133
b transmits and receives information between the control unit 131b and the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b.

The input section 135b receives an operation from the operator. The display unit 136b displays various types of information. 2.4 Viewing Charge Calculating Device 150b As shown in FIG. 12, the viewing charge calculating device 150b includes a control unit 151b, an information storage unit 152b, an input / output unit 153b, and a communication unit 154b.

The viewing fee calculation device 150b is, specifically,
It is a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b. The microprocessor operates according to the computer program, so that the viewing fee calculation device 150b
Achieve its function. (1) Control Unit 151b The control unit 151b receives the viewing history information from the viewing history management device 130b via the input / output unit 153b. Upon receiving the viewing history information, the control unit 151b calculates the viewing fee using the received viewing history information. The viewing fee is calculated according to the channel number, program name, viewing date and time included in the viewing history information.

The control unit 151b also receives purchase history information from the product purchase history management device 170b. When the purchase history information is received, the discount amount is calculated based on the discount information included in the purchase history information. Next, the control unit 151b
Calculates the amount charged to the viewer by the following formula. Billed amount = viewing fee-discounted amount Further, the control unit 151b performs a billing process to the viewer based on the calculated billed amount.

Further, the control unit 151b transmits the purchase history information and the bill for the calculated discount amount to the selling apparatus 310b via the communication unit 154b and the Internet 2b. (2) Information storage unit 152b, input / output unit 153b, and communication unit 154b The information storage unit 152b stores various types of information. Communication unit 1
54b is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b, and transmits / receives information between the control unit 151b and the external device. Further, the input / output unit 153b is
Information is transmitted and received between the control unit 151b and the product purchase history management device 170b.

2.5 Product Purchase History Management Device 170b As shown in FIG. 12, the product purchase history management device 170b includes a control unit 171b, a communication unit 172b, and an information storage unit 17.
3b, input unit 174b, display unit 175b and input / output unit 1
It is composed of 76b. Product purchase history management device 17
0b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b. The product purchase history management device 170b achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Control Unit 171b The control unit 171b issues a request for reading the purchase history information,
It is transmitted to the product purchase history management device 250b via the communication unit 172b and the Internet 2b. In addition, the control unit 1
71b receives the purchase history information from the product purchase history management device 250b via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 172b, and the received purchase history information is input / output unit 17
It is output to the viewing fee calculation device 150b via 6b.

(2) Communication unit 172b, information storage unit 173
b, input unit 174b, display unit 175b, and input / output unit 17
6b The information storage unit 173b has a purchase history information table 177b.
have. The communication unit 172b is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b, and transmits / receives information between the control unit 171b and the external device.
Further, the input / output unit 176b transmits / receives information between the control unit 171b and the viewing fee calculation device 150b.

The input section 174b receives an operation from the operator. The display unit 175b displays various kinds of information. 2.6 Broadcast Reception Device 210b As shown in FIG. 15, the broadcast reception device 210b includes a tuner unit 211b, a demodulation unit 212b, a separation unit 213b, an audio decoder 214b, a video decoder 215b, and a synthesis unit 21.
6b, control unit 217b, connection unit 218b, and input / output unit 2
It is composed of 19b.

The broadcast receiving device 210b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distributing device 110b. When the microprocessor operates according to the computer program, the broadcast receiving device 210b becomes
Achieve that function. (1) Remote controller 290b and input / output unit 219b The remote controller 290b receives various instructions from the user and outputs the received instructions to the input / output unit 219b. The input / output unit 219b receives the instruction and outputs the received instruction to the control unit 217b.

Here, the instruction is an EP by the viewer.
EPG instruction for displaying G screen, E by viewer
Instructions for program selection from PG screen, sponsor list instruction for displaying sponsor list by viewer, instruction for selecting sponsor by viewer, instruction for displaying order screen for ordering products or services to sponsor, etc. The input of numbers, the purchase instruction to the sponsor of the product or service, the instruction to watch the program by the viewer, and the like.

(2) Control Unit 217b The control unit 217b receives an EPG instruction, a program selection instruction, a sponsor list instruction, a sponsor selection instruction from the user via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b.
It receives instructions for displaying the order screen, accepting the input of other numbers, purchasing instructions to the sponsors, program viewing instructions, and the like.

Upon receiving the EPG instruction, the control unit 217b controls the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211b, the demodulation unit 212b and the separation unit 213b to receive the EPG broadcast. Thus, FIG.
The EPG screen D11 shown in is displayed. Also, the control unit 2
Upon receiving the program selection instruction and further the program viewing instruction, the control unit 17b controls the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211b, the demodulation unit 212b, and the separation unit 213b to receive the program.

Upon receiving the sponsor list instruction, the control unit 217b controls the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211b, the demodulation unit 212b and the separation unit 213b to receive the sponsor list. Thus, the sponsor list screen D12 shown in FIG. 19 is displayed. In addition, when the control unit 217b receives an instruction for selecting a sponsor from the viewer, the reception antenna 220 is received.
b, tuner section 211b, demodulation section 212b and separation section 2
13b is controlled to receive the sponsor information corresponding to the selection instruction. Thus, the sponsor information screen D13 shown in FIG. 19 is displayed.

The control section 217b also generates viewing history information based on the viewer's instruction to view the program. An example of the viewing history information is shown as viewing history information 261b in FIG. As shown in this figure, the viewing history information 261b includes a viewer ID, a viewer name, a channel number, a program name, and a viewing date and time. Since the viewer ID, the viewer name, the channel number, the program name, and the viewing date and time are as described above, the description thereof will be omitted. Next, the control unit 217b
The generated viewing history information is transmitted to the viewing history management device 130b of the broadcasting station system 100b via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b.

When the control unit 217b receives the instruction to display the order screen, the control unit 217b extracts the URL from the sponsor information and issues an order screen request indicating that the extracted URL and the order screen are requested. It is transmitted via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b. Also, the control unit 2
17b receives the order screen information from the sales device 310b via the Internet 2b and the communication device 240b, generates the order screen D14 shown in FIG. 19 from the received order screen information, and synthesizes the generated order screen D14.
It outputs to monitor 230b via 16b. Thus
The order screen D14 is displayed.

Next, when the control section 217b receives the order quantity and the purchase instruction to the sponsor, the control section 217b generates order information based on the information on the goods or services displayed on the order screen D14 and the received order quantity. To do. An example of order information is shown as order information 262b in FIG. As shown in this figure, the order information 262b includes orderer name, orderer ID, order date and time, order name, order URL, order item name,
It is composed of an order item ID, the number of orders, a unit price, a total amount, and discount information. Here, the orderer name is a name that identifies an orderer, that is, a viewer, the order date and time is a date and time when a product or service is ordered, and the order destination name is a sponsor who sells the product or provides the service. The ordering destination URL indicates the location of the sponsor system owned by the sponsor, and the order item name indicates the name for identifying the product or service ordered by the viewer from the sponsor,
The order item ID indicates identification information for uniquely identifying the product or service, the number of orders indicates the number of products or services ordered by the viewer to the sponsor, and the unit price is set by the viewer to the sponsor. The sales unit price of the ordered product or service is shown, the total amount is the amount obtained by multiplying the sales unit price by the number of orders, and the discount information is the information showing the discount rate of the viewing fee that the viewer should pay. Next, the control unit 21
7b transmits the generated order information to the sales device 310b via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b.

Further, the control section 217b displays the order screen D14.
Purchase history information is generated based on the information about the goods or services displayed in and the number of received orders. An example of purchase history information is shown as purchase history information 263b in FIG. As shown in this figure, purchase history information 263b
Is composed of an orderer name, an orderer ID, an order date and time, an order name, an order URL, an order item name, an order item ID, the number of orders, a unit price, a total price, and discount information. Orderer name, Orderer I
D, order date and time, order name, order destination URL, order item name, order item ID, order number, unit price, total amount, and discount information are as described above, and description thereof is omitted. Next, the control unit 217b outputs the generated purchase history information to the product purchase history management device 250b via the connection unit 218b and the connection unit 252b.

(2) Tuner section 211b, demodulation section 212
b and separation unit 213b The tuner unit 211b is controlled by the control unit 217b.
A broadcast wave to be broadcast on a channel desired by the user is selected. The demodulation unit 212b demodulates the signal of the selected broadcast wave under the control of the control unit 217b. Separation part 2
Under the control of the control unit 217b, the 13b extracts program information, EPG, etc. from the demodulated signal.

(3) Video Decoder 215b, Audio Decoder 214b and Synthesizing Unit 216b The video decoder 215b decodes the video data and outputs it to the monitor 230b via the synthesizing unit 216b. The combining unit 216b combines the image generated by the image decoder 215b and the image generated by the control unit 217b, and outputs the obtained combined image to the monitor 230b.

The audio decoder 214b decodes the audio data and outputs it to the speaker 280b. (4) Connection Unit 218b The connection unit 218b is connected to the product purchase history management device 250b, and transmits and receives information between the control unit 217b and the product purchase history management device 250b.

2.7 Product Purchase History Management Device 250b As shown in FIG. 15, the product purchase history management device 250b includes an information storage unit 251b, a connection unit 252b, and a control unit 2.
It is composed of 53b. Product purchase history management device 25
0b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b. The product purchase history management device 250b achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Information storage unit 251b The information storage unit 251b is a product purchase history management table 25.
It has 4b. Product purchase history management table 254b
Has an area for storing a plurality of purchase history information. Since the purchase history information is as described above, the description is omitted.

(2) Control Unit 253b The control unit 253b changes from the broadcast receiving device 210b to the connection unit 2.
The purchase history information is received via 52b, and the received purchase history information is written in the product purchase history management table 254b in the information storage unit 251b. In addition, the control unit 253
In b, the IC card 600b is the IC card reader 270b.
Then, the product purchase history information is read from the IC card 600b via the IC card reader 270b and the connection unit 252b, and the read product purchase history information is written in the product purchase history management table 254b of the information storage unit 251b.

Further, the control unit 253b receives a request for reading the purchase history information from the product purchase history management device 170b via the Internet 2b and the communication device 240b. Next, the control unit 253b controls the information storage unit 251b.
Purchase history information is read from the product purchase history management table 254b included in the product purchase history management table 254b, and the read purchase history information is transmitted to the product purchase history management device 170b via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b.

(3) Connection Unit 252b The connection unit 252b is connected to the broadcast receiving device 210b, and transmits / receives information to / from the broadcast receiving device 210b and the control unit 253b. Further, the connecting portion 252b is an IC
It is connected to the card reader 270b, receives information from the IC card reader 270b, and outputs the received information to the control unit 253b.

2.8 Communication Device 240b The communication device 240b is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b. The communication device 240b transmits / receives information between an external device and the broadcast receiving device 210b. Further, the communication device 240b transmits / receives information between an external device and the product purchase history management device 250b.

2.9 Sales Device 310b As shown in FIG. 20, the sales device 310b includes an information storage unit 311b, an input unit 312b, a display unit 313b, and a control unit 3.
14b, a sales processing unit 315b, and a communication unit 316b. The sales device 310b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b. The vending device 310b achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Information storage unit 311b The information storage unit 311b has an order information table 317b and order screen information 318b. The order information table 317b has an area for storing a plurality of order information. Since the order information is as described above, the description is omitted.

The order screen information 318b is composed of information for forming the order screen D14 shown in FIG. (2) Control unit 314b The control unit 314b receives the URL and the order screen request from the broadcast receiving device 210b via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b, reads the order screen information 318b from the information storage unit 311b, and reads the read order. The screen information is sent via the communication unit 316b and the Internet 2b.
It transmits to the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b of the viewer system 200b.

Further, the control unit 314b controls the broadcast receiving apparatus 2
The order information is received from 10b via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b, and the received order information is written in the order information table 317b in the information storage unit 311b. In addition, the control unit 314b controls the viewing fee calculation device 150.
b through the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b to receive the purchase history information and the discount amount, and the control unit 314b.
Calculates the discount amount based on the received purchase history information, and determines whether the received discount amount matches the calculated discount amount. If they match, the payment of the discount amount to the broadcaster is processed.

If they do not match, the controller 314b
Other processing such as displaying that effect is performed. (3) Sales Processing Unit 315b The sales processing unit 315b uses the order information stored in the order information table 317b to perform sales processing for products or services.

(4) Input unit 312b, display unit 313b,
The communication unit 316b and the input unit 312b receive the operation of the operator. The display unit 313b displays various kinds of information. Communication unit 316b
Is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b, and transmits / receives information between the control unit 314b and the external device.

2.10 Settling Device 410b As shown in FIG.
1b, display unit 412b, information storage unit 413b, control unit 4
14b, settlement section 415b, printing section 416b and communication section 4
It is composed of 17b. Further, the settlement device 410b includes an IC card writer 430b and a bar code reader 4
40b is connected.

The settlement device 410b is specifically a computer system similar to the program distribution device 110b.
The settlement device 410b achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. Here, the IC card 600 owned by the viewer
b is attached to the IC card writer 430b connected to the settlement device 410b.

(1) Information Storage Unit 413b The information storage unit 413b has a product information table 418b. The product information table 418b includes a plurality of product information, as shown in FIG. 22 as an example. Each product information is composed of a product ID, discount information, a unit price, and a maker ID. The product ID is identification information for uniquely identifying the product or service. The discount information is information indicating a discount on the viewing fee. The unit price indicates the sales unit price of the product or service. The maker ID is identification information for identifying the manufacturer who produced the product, that is, the sponsor.

(2) Control Unit 414b The control unit 414b acquires the product ID from the bar code attached to the product or the package of the product via the bar code reader 440b, and determines the product to be used for providing the service. Acquire the product ID from the attached barcode. next,
The control unit 414b receives the purchase number of the product or service from the retailer via the input unit 411b, and stores the discount information corresponding to the product ID acquired from the product information table 418b included in the information storage unit 413b. And the unit price is read.

Next, the control unit 414b calculates the purchase amount by multiplying the read unit price by the number of purchases received, and outputs information indicating the calculated purchase amount to the settlement unit 415b. Next, the control unit 414b generates product purchase history information based on the name of the retail store, product information, the number of purchases, the purchase price, and the purchase date and time, and uses the generated product purchase history information as an IC.
Output to the IC card 600b via the card writer 430b.

(3) Settlement Unit 415b The settlement unit 415b receives the information indicating the purchase amount from the control unit 414b and performs the settlement process for the purchase price. (4) Communication unit 417b The communication unit 417b is connected to an external device via the Internet 2b, and transmits / receives information between the control unit 414b and the external device.

(5) Input unit 411b, display unit 412b, and printing unit 416b The input unit 411b receives the operation by the operator. The display unit 412b displays various information under the control of the control unit 414b. The printing unit 416b prints various information under the control of the control unit 414b. 2.11 IC Card 600b The IC card 600b is a card type recording medium having a built-in semiconductor memory, and includes an information storage unit 31b and an input / output unit 32b as shown in FIG.

The input / output unit 32b of the IC card 600b is
The product purchase history information is received from the settlement device 410b via the IC card writer 430b, and the received product purchase history information is written in the information storage unit 31b. 2.12 Operation of Content Delivery System 1b The operation of the content delivery system 1b will be described.

(1) Operation of Broadcast Receiving Apparatus 210b Regarding operation of the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b, FIGS.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in. A case where the viewer views a program broadcast by the broadcast station system 100b by the broadcast receiving device 210b will be described.

The control section 217b sends an EPG instruction for displaying the EPG screen by the viewer to the remote controller 290b.
And via the input / output unit 219b (step S2
01), the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211
b, the demodulation unit 212b, and the separation unit 213b are controlled to receive the EPG being broadcast (step S2
02), the video decoder 215b decodes the video data of the EPG, and the monitor 230b via the synthesizing unit 216b.
Output to. Thus, the EPG screen D11 is displayed (step S203).

Next, the remote controller 290b receives the program selection instruction from the EPG screen by the viewer, outputs the received program selection instruction to the input / output unit 219b (step S204), and the control unit 217b inputs / outputs. The instruction to select the program is received from the section 219b (step S20).
5). Next, the control unit 217b receives a sponsor list instruction for displaying the sponsor list by the viewer via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b (step S206), the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211b, and the demodulating unit. The video decoder 215b controls the 212b and the separation unit 213b to receive the sponsor list (step S207), and the video decoder 215b decodes the video data of the sponsor list and outputs the video data to the monitor 230b via the synthesizing unit 216b. Thus, the sponsor list screen D12 is displayed (step S208).

Next, the control section 217b receives an instruction for selecting a sponsor by the viewer via the remote controller 290b and the input / output section 219b (step S209), and the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner section 211b, the demodulating section 2 are received.
12b and the separation unit 213b are controlled to receive the sponsor information corresponding to the selection instruction (step S210), and the video decoder 215b decodes the video data of the sponsor information and monitors it via the synthesis unit 216b. The audio data is output to 230 b, and the audio decoder 214 b decodes the audio data of the sponsor information, and outputs it to the speaker 28.
Output to 0b. Thus, the sponsor information screen D13
Is displayed (step S211).

In this way, the viewer can know the sponsor information regarding the product sold by the sponsor or the service provided by the sponsor. Next, a case where the viewer orders a product or service of the sponsor known from the sponsor information will be described. The control unit 217b instructs the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219 from the viewer to give an instruction to display an order screen for ordering the product or service displayed on the sponsor information screen D13 to the sponsor.
b (step S221), the URL is extracted from the sponsor information (step S222), and the order screen request indicating that the extracted URL and the order screen are requested is transmitted via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b. (Step S223).

Next, the control unit 314b of the selling apparatus 310b whose existence position is indicated by the URL receives the URL and the order screen request via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b (step S223), and the information storage unit. The order screen information 318b is read from the 311b (step S224), and the read order screen information is transmitted to the viewer system 200b via the communication unit 316b and the Internet 2b (step S225).

The control unit 217b of the broadcast receiving device 210b
Receives the order screen information via the Internet 2b and the communication device 240b (step S22).
5) The order screen D14 is generated from the received order screen information, and the generated order screen D14 is output to the monitor 230b via the combining unit 216b. Thus, the order screen D1
4 is displayed (step S226).

Next, the remote controller 290b receives an input of the number of orders from the viewer to the sponsor of the product or service displayed on the order screen D14, and outputs the received number of orders to the input / output unit 219b ( Step S22
7), the control unit 217b receives the number of orders via the input / output unit 219b (step S228). Further, the remote controller 290b accepts a purchase instruction from the viewer to the sponsor of the product or service displayed on the order screen D14, and the input-accepted purchase instruction is input / output unit 219.
b (step S229), and the control unit 217b
The purchase instruction is received via the input / output unit 219b (step S230).

Next, the control unit 217b displays the order screen D14.
Order information is generated based on the information about the product or service displayed on the screen and the number of received orders (step S231), and the generated order information is transmitted to the sales device 310b via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b. Yes (step S232). The control unit 314b of the sales device 310b is configured to operate the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b.
The order information is received via (step S23
2) Write the received order information in the order information table 317b in the information storage unit 311b (step S23).
3) Next, the sales processing unit 315b uses the order information table 317b to perform the sales process of the product or service (step S234).

On the other hand, the control unit 21 of the broadcast receiving device 210b
7b generates purchase history information based on the information about the goods or services displayed on the order screen D14 and the number of received orders (step S235), and uses the generated purchase history information as the connection unit 218b and the connection unit 252b. To the control unit 253b, and the control unit 253b outputs the product purchase history management table 254b in the information storage unit 251b.
The received purchase history information is written in (step S2
36).

As described above, the viewer makes an order for a product or service. Also, the viewer receives and views the program as follows. The control unit 217b receives the EPG instruction for displaying the EPG screen by the viewer via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b (step S251), and receives the receiving antenna 220.
b, tuner section 211b, demodulation section 212b and separation section 2
13b is controlled to receive the EPG (step S252), the video decoder 215b decodes the EPG video data, and the monitor 2 is decoded via the synthesizing unit 216b.
Output to 30b. Thus, the EPG screen D11 is displayed (step S253).

Next, the remote controller 290b receives a program selection instruction from the EPG screen by the viewer, outputs the received program selection instruction to the input / output unit 219b (step S254), and the control unit 217b inputs / outputs. The instruction to select the program is received from the section 219b (step S25).
5). Next, the control unit 217b receives a program viewing instruction from the viewer via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b (step S256), and the receiving antenna 2 is received.
20b, tuner section 211b, demodulation section 212b, and separation section 213b are controlled to receive a program, and video decoder 215b decodes the video data of the program,
Output to the monitor 230b via the synthesizer 216b, the audio decoder 214b decodes the audio data of the program,
Output to the speaker 280b. Thus, the program is displayed (step S257).

The control section 217b also generates viewing history information based on the viewer's instruction to view the program (step S258), and the generated viewing history information is sent to the communication device 2
It is transmitted to the viewing history management apparatus 130b of the broadcasting station system 100b via the Internet 40b and the Internet 2b (step S259). The control unit 131b of the viewing history management apparatus 130b receives the viewing history information via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 132b (step S259),
The received viewing history information is written in the viewing history information table 137b in the information storage unit 134b (step S26).
0).

(2) Operation of Retail Store System 400b The operation of the retail store system 400b will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. Here, a case will be described where the viewer purchases a product sold by the sponsor or a service provided by the sponsor, which he / she has learned as described above, from a retail store. Here, the IC card 600 owned by the viewer
b is attached to the IC card writer 430b connected to the settlement device 410b.

The control section 414b is equipped with a bar code reader 44.
0b, the product ID is obtained from the bar code attached to the product or the packaging of the product, or the product ID is obtained from the bar code attached to the product used for providing the service (step S271), and input. The number of purchases of products or services is received from the retailer via the unit 411b (step S272), and the discount information stored corresponding to the product ID acquired from the product information table 418b of the information storage unit 413b is read. (Step S27
3) The unit price is read out (step S274), and the purchase amount is calculated by multiplying the unit price read out by the number of purchases received (step S275), and then the settlement unit 415b.
Performs payment processing for the purchase price (step S27)
6).

Next, the control unit 414b controls the name of the retail store,
Product purchase history information is generated based on the product information, the number of purchases, the purchase price, and the purchase date and time (step S277), and the generated product purchase history information is output to the IC card 600b via the IC card writer 430b. Card 600b
The input / output unit 32b receives the product purchase history information and writes the received product purchase history information to the information storage unit 31b (step S278).

Then, the viewer receives the IC card 600b in which the product purchase history information is written from the retailer,
Go home. At home, the viewer attaches the IC card 600b to the IC card reader 270b connected to the product purchase history management device 250b. Product purchase history management device 2
The control unit 253b of the 50b is the IC card reader 270b.
Also, the product purchase history information is read from the IC card 600b via the connection unit 252b (step S279), and the read product purchase history information is written in the product purchase history management table 254b of the information storage unit 251b (step S279).
280).

As described above, when a viewer purchases a product or receives a service at a retail store,
The product purchase history information about these products or services is the product purchase history management device 2 of the viewer system 200b.
It is stored in 50b. (3) Viewing history management device 130b, viewing fee calculation device 15
0b, the product purchase history management device 170b, the product purchase history management device 250b, and the sales device 310b. Here, the viewing history management device 130b, the viewing fee calculation device 150b, the product purchase history management device 170b, the product purchase history management device 250b, and The operation of the selling apparatus 310b will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 27 and 28.

Control unit 151b of viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b
Through the input / output unit 153b.
0b outputs a request to read viewing history information,
The control unit 131b of the viewing history management apparatus 130b receives the request via the input / output unit 133b (step S
291). Next, the control unit 131b controls the information storage unit 134.
The viewing history information is read from the viewing history information table 137b included in b (step S292), the read viewing history information is output to the viewing fee calculation device 150b via the input / output unit 133b, and the control unit of the viewing fee calculation device 150b. 1
The 51b receives the viewing history information via the input / output unit 153b (step S293). Next, the control unit 151b
Calculates a viewing fee using the received viewing history information (step S294).

On the other hand, the product purchase history management device 170b is
A request for reading the purchase history information is issued via the communication unit 172b and the Internet 2b to the product purchase history management device 2
50b, and the control unit 253b of the product purchase history management device 250b uses the Internet 2b and the communication device 240.
A request for reading the purchase history information is received via b (step S311). Next, the control unit 253b controls the product purchase history management table 25 included in the information storage unit 251b.
The purchase history information is read from 4b (step S31
2), the read purchase history information is sent to the product purchase history management device 17 via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b.
0b, and the control unit 171b of the product purchase history management device 170b receives the purchase history information via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 172b (step S31).
3), the control unit 171b outputs the received purchase history information to the viewing fee calculation device 150b via the input / output unit 176b (step S314).

Next, the control unit 1 of the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b
51b calculates the discount amount (step S295),
The billing amount (= viewing fee-discount amount) is calculated (step S29).
6) The billing process to the viewer is performed (step S29).
7). Next, the control unit 151b of the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b
Transmits the calculated request for the discount amount to the selling apparatus 310b via the communication unit 154b and the Internet 2b (step S298).

Next, the control unit 314b of the selling apparatus 310b.
Via the Internet 2b and the communication unit 316b,
The discount amount is received (step S298), and then the control unit 3
14b calculates the discount amount (step S299),
It is determined whether the received discount amount and the calculated discount amount match, and if they match (step S300), the discount amount is paid to the broadcaster (step S3).
02).

If they do not match (step S30)
0), the control unit 314b performs other processing such as displaying that effect. 2.13 Summary As described above, according to the second embodiment described above, the broadcasting company, based on the sponsor fee and the viewing fee, as an example, the total of the production cost, the distribution cost, and the profit of the broadcasting company. Is 2
Produce and broadcast program B, which costs 10 million yen. As an example, the sponsor S of the program B pays a program production fee of 10
Pay, 000,000 yen to broadcasters. The broadcaster thinks that the remaining 10 million yen will be covered by the viewing fee, and the program B
Program B produced by the program distribution device 110b
To broadcast.

When the program B is broadcast, the viewer uses the broadcast receiving device 210b to watch the broadcast program B. When watching the program B, the viewer controls the broadcast receiving device 210b with the remote controller to display the EPG screen D11,
The program B is selected by checking the EPG screen D11. Next, the viewer, in order to check the sponsor of the program B, the sponsor list screen D12 for checking the sponsor of the program B.
Is displayed. Next, the sponsor S is selected from the sponsor list screen D12, and the sponsor information screen D13 of the sponsor S is displayed. Here, the viewer views the list of commercial products for which the sponsor S and the viewing discount are discounted and the CM thereof on the sponsor information screen D13. On the screen, information about the product, the expiration date of the product purchase, and the information about the viewing fee paid by the sponsor by purchasing the product are displayed.

[0125] Here, the viewer sees the program B for the beer worth 5000 yen which is a product sold by the sponsor S.
Know that the viewing fee will be 200 yen discount. Thus
The viewer decides to purchase this beer for 10,000 yen. When purchasing beer, the viewer selects the order screen button on the sponsor information screen D13. When the viewer selects the order screen button, the broadcast receiving device 210b
Is connected to the selling device 310b of the sponsor S via the communication device 240b and the Internet 2b.
Next, the order screen D1 on the beer purchase site of Sponsor S
4 is displayed. The viewer uses the order screen D14 to
Buy 10,000 yen of beer from Sponsor S's beer purchase site. After purchase, the viewer's product purchase history management device 25
In 0b, the purchase record of the purchased product, price, date and time is recorded.

When it is difficult to record the product purchase information in the viewer system for some reason, the selling apparatus 310b of the sponsor S determines that the broadcasting system 10
The product purchase information may be transmitted to the product purchase history management device 170b of 0b, and the received product purchase information may be stored in the product purchase history management device 170b. Next, the program viewing history that the viewer viewed program B is the communication device 24.
0b is sent to the viewing history management device 130b of the broadcasting station system 100b.

When the broadcast station system 100b calculates the viewer's program viewing fee, the broadcast station system 100b uses the viewer's product purchase history management device 250b to communicate with the communication device 24.
Use 0b to get purchase history information. Since the viewing history information indicating that the viewer has viewed the program B provided by the sponsor S is stored in the viewing history management device 130b, the viewing fee calculation device 150 is based on that information.
b calculates the viewing fee for the viewer. Based on the viewing history information, the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b determines that the viewing fee of the viewer is 1000 yen, for example.

The viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b also refers to the product purchase history of the viewer stored in the product purchase history management apparatus 170b. The product purchase history management device 170b stores purchase history information indicating that the viewer has purchased beer, which is a product of Sponsor S, for 10,000 yen before the start of program B. Device 150b
Recalculates the viewing fee using this information. The viewing rate becomes low, and as an example here, the viewing fee is changed to a discounted value of 400 yen.

Finally, the broadcasting station system 100b charges the viewer the viewing fee of 600 yen calculated by the viewing fee calculating device 150b. The viewer pays 600 yen to the broadcasting company, and the payment by the viewer to the broadcasting company is completed. In addition, the sponsor S
I bought beer worth 10,000 yen, so I paid 400 yen, which is the discount for the viewer's viewing fee, to the broadcaster instead of the viewer.

[0130] Thus, the broadcaster pays the planned viewing fee 1
It is possible to collect 000 yen and cover program production costs and broadcasting costs. The viewer system of the viewer may not include the product purchase history management device. In this case, the selling device 31 of the sponsor S
0b transmits the product purchase information to the product purchase history management device 170b of the broadcasting station system 100b, and stores the received product purchase information in the product purchase history management device 170b.

Further, although the above description has been made on the broadcasting system for providing the program to the viewer by using the broadcast wave, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when data such as music is distributed to viewers via the Internet, the usage fee may be collected by a similar method. Further, as described in Embodiment 2 above, the viewer needs to check the sponsor of program B in order to view program B at a discounted viewing fee. Here, a method for investigating the sponsor and a method for purchasing the product will be described, which is different from the method described above.

The viewer operates the broadcast receiving device 210b using a remote controller or the like to display the information provided by the program sponsor presentation specialized channel. In the program sponsor presentation specialized channel, information such as product information, expiration date of product purchase, and discount of viewing fee paid by the sponsor by purchasing the product is provided. Program B
After viewing, the viewer pays a viewing fee of 2 for each 5000 yen of beer sold by Sponsor S, based on the information provided by the program sponsor presentation specialized channel.
Know that you get a ¥ 00 discount. After that, the
Purchase beer worth 10,000 yen at a retail store using the card 600b. When paying the price, the viewer has to use the IC card 60
0b is also given to the retail store at the same time. The retail store inputs the payment to the payment device 410b to settle the received payment, and the IC
The card 600b is inserted into the IC card writer 430b. The IC card writer 430b is linked with the settlement device 410b, and records the date of purchase and the data that the beer of the sponsor S has been purchased for 10,000 yen on the IC card 600b. A credit card may be used as a medium for paying the price and recording the purchase history.

The viewer takes the IC card 600b home and mounts the IC card 600b on the IC card reader 270b connected to the product purchase history management device 250b. When the IC card 600b is mounted, the product purchase history information recorded in the IC card 600b is read by the IC card reader 270b, and the read product purchase history information is recorded in the product purchase history management device 250b.

When the broadcasting station system 100b requests the viewer's communication device 240b to acquire the product purchase history information, the viewer's product purchase history management device 250b sends the product purchase history management device 170 of the broadcasting station system 100b.
The product purchase history information is transmitted to b. Based on this product purchase history information, the broadcasting station system 100b calculates the viewing fee of the viewer and charges the viewing fee to the viewer and the sponsor S in the same manner as above.

For data distribution of music and the like, the usage fee can be collected by the same method. Also, S
Even if a recording medium other than an IC card such as a D card or a mobile terminal is used, the usage fee can be collected by the same method. 3. Third Embodiment A content distribution system 1c as another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

3.1 Overview of Content Delivery System 1c The content delivery system 1c is as shown in FIG.
Broadcast system 100c, multiple viewer system 200
, viewer system 201c, a plurality of sponsor systems 300c, ..., 301c and a plurality of retail store systems 400c ,. Each system is connected to the Internet 2c.

As shown in FIG. 30, the sponsor 30c, which sells various products and provides various services, pays the broadcasting company 10c a sponsor fee used as a part of the cost for producing the program ( Step S40
3). Broadcasters operating paid digital broadcasting business 10
c has a broadcasting station system 100c. The broadcasting company 10c produces a program and broadcasts it to the broadcasting station system 100c.
Is provided to the viewer 20c by broadcasting the program (that is, the content) produced by the broadcasting company 10c through the broadcasting satellite 3c for a fee (step S40).
2).

The sponsor 30c has a sponsor system 300c. The sponsor 30c creates sponsor information that introduces products and services that it sells or provides, and the sponsor system 300c outputs the sponsor information to the broadcasting station system 100c via the Internet 2c (step S403). The broadcasting station system 100c receives the sponsor information from the sponsor system 300c (step S403), and broadcasts the received sponsor information (that is, the content) together with the program to the viewer 20c through the broadcasting satellite 3c. It is provided (step S402).

The sponsor 30c provides the retailer 40c with the product (step S408), and the retailer 40c
c pays the purchase price to the sponsor 30c (step S407). The viewer 20c is a viewer system 200c.
The viewer system 200c receives the broadcast program and sponsor information (step S40).
2) Replay the received program and sponsor information. The viewer 20c transmits the viewing history information to the broadcaster 10c (step S401).

[0140] The viewer 20c knows the product sold by the sponsor or the service provided by viewing the sponsor information broadcast, and purchases the product or receives the service from the retailer. (Step S406). At this time, the viewer 20c pays the price to the retailer (step S405). The retail store system 400c allows the viewer 2 to access the Internet 2c.
Purchase history information indicating the history of product purchase or service provision by 0c is transmitted to the broadcasting station system 100c (step S404).

Also, the broadcasting station system 100c of the broadcasting company 10c receives the purchase history information of the product or service by the viewer from the retail store system 400c (step S404). Next, the broadcaster 10c calculates the viewing fee charged to the viewer 20c according to the viewing history information, calculates the discounted amount of the viewing fee according to the purchase history information, and subtracts the discounted amount from the viewing fee. The viewer 20c is charged the amount, and the viewer 20c pays this amount to the broadcaster 10c (step S401).

At this time, the broadcasting company 10c requests the sponsor 30c for the discounted amount of the viewing fee, and the sponsor 30c
Pays an amount corresponding to the discount amount to the broadcaster 10c (step S403). In this way, the broadcaster can allocate the viewing fee paid by the viewer (subtracting the discount amount), the sponsor fee paid by the sponsor, and the amount corresponding to the discount amount to the production cost of the program.

As shown in FIG. 29, the broadcasting station system 100c includes a program distribution device 110c and a viewing history management device 13.
0c, a viewing fee calculation device 150c, a product purchase history management device 170c, and a transmission antenna 180c.
In addition, the viewer system 200c includes the broadcast receiving device 210.
c, a monitor 230c, a speaker 280c, a receiving antenna 220c, and a communication device 240c. The same applies to other viewer systems. The sponsor system 300c also includes a selling device 310c. The same applies to other sponsor systems. Further, the retail store system 400c includes a settlement device 410c, a communication device 430c, a barcode reader 440c, and a personal identification device 450c. The same applies to other retail store systems.

The program distribution device 110c, the viewing history management device 130c, the viewing fee calculation device 150c, the product purchase history management device 170c and the transmitting antenna 180c are respectively the program distribution device 110b and the viewing history management device 130.
b, viewing fee calculation device 150b, product purchase history management device 1
70b and the transmitting antenna 180b have the same configuration.

Further, the broadcast receiving device 210c and the monitor 23
0c, the speaker 280c, the receiving antenna 220c, and the communication device 240c are the broadcast receiving device 210, respectively.
b, the monitor 230b, the speaker 280b, the receiving antenna 220b, and the communication device 240b. The selling device 310c has the same configuration as the selling device 310b.

The settlement device 410c and the barcode reader 440c have the same configurations as the settlement device 410b and the barcode reader 440b, respectively. Here, the difference will be mainly described. Each device will be described in detail below. 3.2 Program Distribution Device 110c The program distribution device 110c has the same configuration as the program distribution device 110b, so here, the program distribution device 11c.
0c and the program distribution device 110b will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 31, the program distribution device 110c broadcasts a program stream T402 and a banner CM stream T403 via a channel T401 "101". Here, the program stream T402 includes the program B as an example. The banner CM stream T403 is, for example, the banner advertisement information T404 ,.
.., including T407. Each banner advertisement information is information indicating an advertisement displayed together with the program.

3.3 Broadcast Receiver 210c The broadcast receiver 210c has the same structure as the broadcast receiver 210b. Here, the broadcast receiving device 210c
The difference between the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b and the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b will be mainly described. (1) Remote controller 290b and input / output unit 219b The remote controller 290b further accepts user's operations on various buttons and outputs instructions corresponding to the accepted button operations to the input / output unit 219b. Input / output unit 219
b receives the instruction and transmits the received instruction to the control unit 2
Output to 17b.

The buttons include a pay button, an accept button, and other buttons. The pay button is a button that is displayed on the screen when a program is displayed with a banner advertisement.If the pay button is operated by the user and the approval button is operated immediately after that, the subsequent program will be displayed. There is a charge to watch. Therefore, the viewer pays the viewing fee in order to view the subsequent programs. However,
After that, the banner advertisement will not be displayed.

The acceptance button is a button that is displayed only immediately after the user operates the pay button. The accept button is displayed in order to allow the user to cancel the operation of the pay button if the user accidentally operates the pay button. When the user operates the accept button, it is considered that the user has consented to the pay viewing of the program.

(2) Control Unit 217b The control unit 217b receives an instruction from the user via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b by operating the pay button, the accept button, and other buttons. When the control unit 217b receives a program selection instruction and further receives a program viewing instruction, the reception antenna 220b, the tuner unit 211b, the demodulation unit 212b, and the separation unit 213b.
Control to receive the program and banner advertisement information. Thus, as shown as an example in FIG. 32, the screen D31 including the program and the banner advertisement is displayed. Screen D
31 includes a portion D311 where the program is displayed and a portion D312 where the banner advertisement is displayed. Also, a pay button D313 is displayed.

When the control section 217b receives the instruction from the operation of the pay button, as shown in FIG. 32, the screen D31 is displayed.
A screen D32 formed by superimposing a message section D314 on the screen
Control to display. Message part D314
Includes the message "If you select the pay button, you will be charged 1000 yen for viewing fee", the accept button and the cancel button.

Here, when the control section 217b receives the instruction by the operation of the accept button, it controls so as to display the screen D33 as shown in FIG. On screen D33,
No banner ads are displayed. When the control unit 217b receives an instruction by operating the cancel button while the screen D32 is displayed, the control unit 217b controls the screen D31 to be displayed again as shown in FIG. Here, a banner advertisement is displayed.

When the control section 217b receives an instruction by operating the pay button, thereafter, the control section 217b accumulates the viewing time for receiving and displaying the program. As a result, the cumulative viewing time is obtained.
When the control unit 217b receives the instruction to end the viewing of the program being viewed for a fee, thereafter, the viewing information including the cumulative viewing time obtained by the cumulative total is sent to the broadcasting station system via the communication device 240c. Send to 100c.

3.4 Viewing Charge Calculating Device 150c The viewing charge calculating device 150c has the same structure as the viewing charge calculating device 150b. Here, the viewing fee calculation device 1
The difference between 50c and the viewing fee calculation apparatus 150b will be mainly described. The viewing fee calculation apparatus 150c receives the viewing information including the cumulative viewing time from the broadcast receiving apparatus 210c, and calculates the viewing fee charged to the viewer based on the cumulative viewing time included in the received viewing information.

3.5 Product Purchase History Management Device 170c The product purchase history management device 170c has the same configuration as the product purchase history management device 170b. Here, the product purchase history management device 170c and the product purchase history management device 17
The difference from 0b will be mainly described. The product purchase history management device 170c receives the product purchase history information from the settlement device 410c of the retail store system 400c via the Internet 2c, and stores the received product purchase history information.

3.6 Adjusting Device 410c The adjusting device 410c has the same structure as the adjusting device 410b. Here, the settlement device 410c and the settlement device 4
The difference from 10b will be mainly described. When a viewer purchases a product at a retail store, the barcode reader 440c connected to the settlement device 410c reads the product ID from the barcode attached to the product. In addition, the settlement device 410c receives the input of the number of purchased products from the operator.

Next, the settlement device 410c acquires a customer identification number that uniquely identifies the viewer. The customer identification number is acquired by the operator inputting the customer identification number. It should be noted that it may be performed by reading from a credit card recording the customer identification number or may be performed by reading from an IC card recording the customer identification number.

Next, the settlement device 410c reads out the discount information corresponding to the product ID from the product information table, reads out the unit price, calculates the purchase amount, and executes the settlement process. In addition, the settlement device 410c generates product purchase history information,
The generated product purchase history information is transmitted to the product purchase history management device 170c of the broadcasting station system 100c via the communication device 430c and the Internet 2c.

3.7 Operation of Content Delivery System 1c The operation of the content delivery system 1c will be described. (1) Operation of Broadcast Receiver 210c The operation of the broadcast receiver 210c will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the control section 217b receives a program selection instruction and further receives a program viewing instruction (step S421), the receiving antenna 220b and the tuner section 21 are received.
1b, the demodulation unit 212b and the separation unit 213b are controlled to receive the program and banner advertisement information (step S422), and further, the synthesis unit 216b is controlled to synthesize and display the program and banner advertisement information. To do. Thus, as shown as an example in FIG. 32, the screen D31 including the program and the banner advertisement is displayed (step S42).
3).

The control section 217b receives an instruction by operating the pay button (step S424), and further receives an instruction by operating the accept button (step S42).
5), the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner section 211b,
The demodulation unit 212b and the separation unit 213b are controlled to receive only the program (step S426), and
The combining unit 216b is controlled so that only the received program is displayed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 32 as an example,
A screen D33 including only the program is displayed (step S4
27). Next, the control unit 217b accumulates the viewing time for receiving and displaying the program. As a result, the cumulative viewing time is obtained (step S428).

Next, the control unit 217b returns to step S406 and repeats the processing until it receives an instruction to end the viewing of the program being viewed for a fee (step S429). The control unit 217b receives the instruction to end the viewing of the program being viewed for a fee (step S42).
9) After that, the viewing information including the cumulative viewing time thus obtained is transmitted to the broadcasting station system 100c via the communication device 240c (step S430).

(2) Operation of the settlement device 410c and the product purchase history management device 170c The operation of the settlement device 410c and the product purchase history management device 170c will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When a viewer purchases a product at a retail store, a barcode reader 440c connected to the checkout device 410c
Reads the product ID from the barcode attached to the product (step S451). Next, the settlement device 410c
Accepts the input of the number of purchased products from the operator (step S452). Next, the settlement device 410c acquires a customer identification number that uniquely identifies the viewer (step S4).
53).

Next, the settlement device 410c reads the discount information corresponding to the product ID from the product information table (step S454) and the unit price (step S45).
5) The purchase amount is calculated (step S456), and the settlement process is performed (step S457). Next, the settlement device 410
c generates product purchase history information (step S45
8), the generated product purchase history information, the communication device 430c
And the broadcasting station system 10 via the Internet 2c.
It is transmitted to the product purchase history management device 170c of 0c (step S459).

The product purchase history management device 170c receives the product purchase history information from the settlement device 410c of the retail store system 400c via the Internet 2c (step S459), and stores the received product purchase history information (step S459). S460). 3.8 Summary As described above, the third embodiment is different from the second embodiment.
Compared with the example of the pay broadcasting described in, the content transmitted from the broadcasting station is different, and the transmission route of the purchase history information of the product purchased by the viewer to the broadcasting station system is different.

The viewer is viewing the program B broadcast by the program distribution device 110c of the broadcasting station system 100c. A banner advertisement is inserted in the program B, and the banner advertisement includes advertisement of the company providing the program, information on products for which the viewing fee is discounted, a discount rate of the viewing fee of the program, and the like. Has been. The viewer also views the banner advertisement together with the program B.

[0168] If the viewer does not mind watching the banner advertisement after watching the banner advertisement for a while, the viewer continuously enjoys the program B in which the banner advertisement is displayed for free. be able to. However, if the viewer does not want to see the banner advertisement while viewing the program B, the viewer can erase the banner advertisement by operating the broadcast receiving device 210c and selecting the pay button on the screen. it can. When the viewer selects the pay button, the viewer is informed that the viewer fee of 1000 yen is charged. When the viewer confirms that the viewing of the program will be charged and accepts the reception of the paid program, the viewing information is transmitted from the communication device 240c to the viewing history management device 190c.

The viewer can view the banner advertisement, etc.
Every time you buy beer of Sponsor S for 5000 yen,
Know that the viewing fee of the program will be discounted by 200 yen. Therefore, the viewer decides to purchase the beer sold by the sponsor of the program B, goes to the retail store, and purchases 10,000 yen of beer at the retail store. When paying the purchase price to the retailer, an operator of the retail store, that is, a clerk of the retail store inputs data of the purchased product and the amount into the settlement device 410c. At the same time, the operator assigns the customer identification number previously assigned to the viewer by the broadcaster to the personal identification device 4
Enter in 50c. This allows the person who purchased the product to
It is recognized that you are a viewer.

When the customer identification number is input, a medium in which information for identifying an individual such as an IC card or a credit card is recorded may be used in addition to the number input by the clerk. Further, a device in which information for identifying an individual is recorded, such as a mobile terminal or a mobile phone, may be used. Further, the customer identification number may be detected by personal authentication using physical characteristics such as fingerprint collation. Moreover, the customer identification number is directly input to the personal identification device 450c.
Instead of entering into
The data may be transmitted to the personal identification device 450c.

[0171] In order to prevent the clerk from illegally inputting the customer identification number of another person, a password, fingerprint collation, etc. are used when the product is purchased, and processing such as inquiring to the customer identification center is performed. Good. When the store clerk inputs product purchase information to the settlement device 410c, the settlement device 410c provides the customer identification number, the date when the purchase was made, and data indicating that the beer of the sponsor S has been purchased for 10,000 yen, to the communication device 430c and the Internet 2c. Through
Commodity purchase history management device 170 of broadcasting system 100c
Send to c.

The viewing fee calculation apparatus 150c of the broadcasting station system 100c calculates the viewing fee when the viewing history management apparatus 1 is used.
Based on the viewing history information of the viewer recorded in 30c and the purchase history information recorded in the product purchase history management device 170c, the viewing fee of the viewer is calculated as in the second embodiment, and The sponsor S is charged a viewing fee.
For data distribution of music and the like, the usage fee can be collected by the same method.

4. Fourth Embodiment A content distribution system 1d as another embodiment of the present invention will be described. 4.1 Overview of Content Delivery System 1d The content delivery system 1d is as shown in FIG.
Broadcasting system 100d, Viewing fee management center system 5
00d, a plurality of viewer systems 200d, ..., A viewer system 201d and a plurality of sponsor systems 30.
0d, ..., 301d.

[0174] Viewing fee management center system 500d, plural viewer systems 200d, ..., viewer system 2
01d and a plurality of sponsor systems 300d, ...
.., 301d are connected to the Internet 2d. As shown in FIGS. 36 and 37, the sponsor 30d that sells various products and provides various services,
The sponsor fee used as a part of the cost for producing the program is paid to the broadcaster 10d (step S50).
2).

A broadcasting company 10d operating a pay digital broadcasting business has a broadcasting station system 100d. The broadcasting company 10d produces a program, and the broadcasting station system 10
0d provides the viewer with the program (that is, the content) produced by the broadcasting company for a fee via the broadcasting satellite 3d (step S504). The sponsor 30d has a sponsor system 300d. The sponsor 30d creates sponsor information that introduces the product or service that it sells or provides, and provides the created sponsor information to the broadcaster 10d (step S502).

[0176] The broadcasting station system 100d transmits the sponsor information (that is, the content) together with the program.
It is provided to the viewer by broadcasting through the broadcasting satellite 3d (step S504). The viewer 20d has a viewer system 200d, and the viewer system 200d
d receives the broadcast program and sponsor information (step S504), and reproduces the received program and sponsor information. Further, the viewer 20d transmits viewing history information indicating that the program has been viewed to the viewing fee management center system 500d included in the viewing fee management center 50d (step S503).

Also, the viewer 20d knows the product sold by the sponsor or the service provided by viewing the broadcast sponsor information, and purchases the product or receives the service from the sponsor ( Step S506). At this time, the viewer 20d pays for the sponsor 30d (step S505). The sponsor 30d transmits purchase history information regarding the product purchased by the viewer 20d or the service provided by the viewer 20d to the viewing fee management center 50d (step S507).

Next, the viewing charge management center 50d calculates the discounted amount of the viewing charge according to the purchase history information, and the viewer 20d
Subtract the discount amount from the viewing fee. Also, the discount amount is charged to the sponsor 30d. The sponsor 30d pays the requested discount amount to the viewing charge management center 50d, substituting a part of the viewing charge of the viewer (step S507). The viewing fee management center 50d analyzes the viewing history information received from the viewer 20d, extracts the preference information of the viewer 20d, and sends the extracted preference information to the sponsor 30d (step S508). The sponsor 30d pays the preference information use fee as a reward for the received preference information to the viewing fee management center 50d (step S507).

The viewing fee management center 50d calculates the viewing fee charged to the viewer 20d according to the viewing history information, deducts the discount amount from the viewing fee, and further deducts the preference information utilization fee from the viewer 20d. The viewer 20d
This amount is paid as the viewing fee to the viewing fee management center 50d (step S503). The viewing fee management center 50d pays the discount amount and the preference information use fee to the broadcaster 10d,
The broadcaster 10d receives the discount amount and the preference information use fee (step S501).

In this way, the broadcasting company 10d determines that the sponsor fee paid by the sponsor 30d, the discount amount paid by the sponsor 30d, the preference information usage fee paid by the sponsor 30d, and the viewer. The total amount of the viewing fees (excluding the discount and the preference information usage fee) paid from can be applied to the program production costs.

As shown in FIG. 35, the broadcasting station system 100d includes a program distribution device 110d and a transmitting antenna 18.
It consists of 0d. Viewing fee management center system 500
d is a viewing history management device 530d and a viewing fee calculation device 55
0d and a product purchase history management device 570d. In addition, the viewer system 200d includes the broadcast receiving device 2
10d, a monitor 230d, a speaker 280d, a receiving antenna 220d, and a communication device 240d.
The same applies to other viewer systems. In addition, the sponsor system 300d includes the service fee settlement device 31.
0d, a communication device 330d and a personal identification device 340d. The same applies to other sponsor systems.

The program distribution device 110d and the transmission antenna 180d are similar to the program distribution device 110b and the transmission antenna 180b, respectively. The viewing history management device 530d, the viewing fee calculation device 550d, and the product purchase history management device 570d are respectively the viewing history management device 1
30b, the viewing fee calculation device 150b, and the product purchase history management device 170b. Broadcast receiving device 210d, monitor 230d, speaker 280d, receiving antenna 22
0d and the communication device 240d are the same as the broadcast receiving device 210b, the monitor 230b, the speaker 280b, the receiving antenna 220b, and the communication device 240b, respectively.

Here, the difference will be mainly described. Each device will be described in detail below. 4.2 Program Distribution Device 110d Since the program distribution device 110d has the same configuration as the program distribution device 110b, here, the program distribution device 11d.
The difference between 0d and the program distribution device 110b will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 38, the program distribution device 110d broadcasts the program stream T502 and the message stream T503 via the channel T501 "100". Here, the program stream T502 includes the program A as an example. Further, the message stream T503 includes, as an example, a plurality of message information M. As shown as an example in FIG. 38, each message information includes information regarding the discount of the viewing fee of the program, “the viewing fee is discounted by 30% when the purchase history is disclosed to the sponsor”.

4.3 Broadcast Reception Device 210d The broadcast reception device 210d has the same configuration as the broadcast reception device 210b. Here, the broadcast receiving device 210d
The difference between the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b and the broadcast receiving apparatus 210b is mainly described. (1) Remote controller 290b and input / output unit 219b The remote controller 290b further accepts user's operations on various buttons and outputs instructions corresponding to the accepted button operations to the input / output unit 219b. Input / output unit 219
b receives the instruction and transmits the received instruction to the control unit 2
Output to 17b.

The buttons include a consent button.
The accept button is a button displayed on the screen together with the message information described above. When the viewer operates the consent button, the disclosure of the purchase history of the viewer is approved.
If the viewer's purchase history is disclosed to the sponsor, the price of viewing the program is discounted in return. (2) Control Unit 217b The control unit 217b receives an instruction from the user by operating the accept button via the remote controller 290b and the input / output unit 219b.

When the control section 217b receives a program selection instruction and further receives a program viewing instruction, the receiving antenna 220b, the tuner section 211b, and the demodulation section 212b.
And the separating unit 213b is controlled to receive the program and message information. Thus, as shown in FIG. 39 as an example, the program D411 and the message information D41.
A screen D41 including 2 is displayed. Message information D4
A consent button D 413 is attached to 12.

The control unit 217b internally stores a viewer ID for uniquely identifying the viewer. When the control unit 217b receives the instruction by the operation of the acceptance button, the control unit 217b reads the viewer ID stored therein, indicates the approval of disclosure of the viewer's purchase history information to the sponsor, and displays the approval information including the message information. The generated and read viewer ID and the generated approval information are transmitted to the product purchase history management device 570d in the viewing charge management center system 500d via the communication device 240d and the Internet 2d.

4.4 Service charge settlement device 310d,
The personal identification device 340d and the communication device 330d The sponsor having the sponsor system 300d is, for example, a railway company. Service charge settlement device 31
As an example, 0d is a device for paying for the purchase price of a ticket when boarding a train managed by a railway company.

The service charge settlement device 310d accepts the designation of the destination from the user, calculates the boarding fare to the destination for which the designation is received, and displays the calculated boarding fare. The personal identification device 340d stores in advance the characteristic information extracted from the fingerprint of the user and the customer identification number that uniquely identifies the user. The personal identification device 340d reads the user's fingerprint, extracts the characteristic information from the read fingerprint, searches the extracted characteristic information and the characteristic information stored in advance for a match, and finds a match. If it exists, the customer identification number stored correspondingly is obtained, and the obtained customer identification number is output to the service charge settlement device 310d.

The service charge settlement device 310d receives the customer identification number, generates purchase history information composed of the received customer identification number, the current date and time, the destination, and the boarding fare, and transmits the generated purchase history information to the communication device 330d. And the product purchase history management device 5 via the Internet 2d.
Send to 70d. The service charge settlement device 310d is
Receive a discount bill from the viewing fee calculator 550d,
The discount amount is calculated, and when the calculated discount amount matches the received billing amount, the received billing amount is paid to the viewing fee management center system 500d.

The service charge settlement device 310d receives the preference information from the product purchase history management device 570d, and stores the received preference information inside. In addition, at this time, a request for the price of the preference information is received from the product purchase history management device 570d, the price is calculated, and the calculated price information is transmitted to the viewing fee calculation device 550d. The communication device 330d is connected to an external device via the Internet 2d, and transmits / receives information between the service charge settlement device 310d and the external device.

4.5 Viewing History Management Device 530d, Viewing Fee Calculation Device 550d and Product Purchase History Management Device 570d (Viewing History Management Device 530d) Viewing History Management Device 530
d receives a request for reading the viewing history information from the viewing fee calculation device 550d. When the request is received, the viewing history information stored inside is read and the read viewing history information is output to the viewing fee calculation device 550d.

(Product Purchase History Management Device 570d) The product purchase history management device 570d is the service charge settlement device 31.
Purchase history information is received from 0d via the Internet 2d, and the received purchase history information is stored inside. The product purchase history management device 570d receives the viewer ID and the consent information from the broadcast receiving device 210d via the Internet 2d, and stores the received viewer ID and the approval information therein.

Next, the product purchase history management device 570d
The purchase history information and the consent information stored inside are output to the viewing fee calculation device 550d. Further, the product purchase history management device 570d analyzes the viewing history information stored therein to generate the viewer preference information. For example, when there are many sports programs in the viewing history information, the viewer analyzes that he likes sports. When there are many music programs, it is analyzed that the viewer likes music. Next, the product purchase history management device 570d transmits the generated preference information to the service charge settlement device 310d via the Internet 2d.

At this time, the request for the price of the transmitted preference information is transmitted to the service charge settlement apparatus 310d via the Internet 2d. (Viewing fee calculation device 550d) Viewing fee calculation device 550d
Requests the viewing history management device 530d to read the viewing history information.

Also, the viewing fee calculation device 550d receives the viewing history information from the viewing history management device 530d, and calculates the viewing fee of the viewer based on the received viewing history information. Further, the viewing fee calculation device 550d receives the purchase history information and the consent information from the product purchase history management device 570d, and calculates the discounted amount of the viewing fee by the following formula based on the received purchase history information and the consent information. .

Discount amount = (discount amount according to purchase history information + discount amount according to approval information) Next, the viewing fee calculation device 550d is configured to access the Internet 2d.
A request for the calculated discount amount is transmitted to the service charge settlement device 310d via. Also, the viewing fee calculation device 550d
Receives price information as a price for disclosure of preference information from the service charge settlement apparatus 310d, and stores the received price information.

Next, the viewing fee calculation apparatus 550d calculates the amount charged to the viewer by the following formula. (Amount charged to the viewer) = (Viewing charge)-(Discount)-(Amount indicated by price information) Further, the viewing charge calculation device 550d charges the viewer the charge. 4.6 Operation of Content Delivery System 1d The operation of the content delivery system 1d will be described.

(1) Operation of Broadcast Receiver 210d The operation of the broadcast receiver 210d will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the control unit 217b receives a program selection instruction and further receives a program viewing instruction (step S541), the reception antenna 220 is received.
b, tuner section 211b, demodulation section 212b and separation section 2
13b is controlled to receive the program and message information (step S542), and is controlled to display the screen D41 including the program D411 and the message information D412 (step S543).

When the control section 217b receives the instruction by the operation of the acceptance button (step S544), it reads the viewer ID stored therein and indicates the approval of the disclosure of the viewer's purchase history information to the sponsor. The consent information including the message information is generated, and the read viewer ID and the generated consent information are transmitted to the product purchase history management device 570d in the viewing charge management center system 500d via the communication device 240d and the Internet 2d ( Step S
545).

The product purchase history management device 570d receives the viewer ID and the approval information from the broadcast receiving device 210d via the Internet 2d (step S54).
5) The received viewer ID and consent information are stored internally (step S546). (2) Operation of Service Charge Settling Device 310d FIG. 41 shows the operation of the service charge settling device 310d.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in.

The service charge settlement device 310d accepts the destination designation from the user (step S561), calculates the boarding fare to the destination for which the designation is received (step S562), and displays the calculated boarding fare (step S563). ). Next, the personal identification device 340d reads the user's fingerprint (step S564), extracts characteristic information from the read fingerprint (step S565), and extracts the extracted characteristic information from the previously stored characteristic information. If there is a match (step S566), the customer identification number stored correspondingly is obtained (step S567), and the obtained customer identification number is output to the service charge settlement device 310d. To do. The service charge settlement device 310d receives the customer identification number and generates purchase history information including the received customer identification number, current date and time, destination, and boarding charge (step S
568), using the generated purchase history information as the communication device 330d.
And the product purchase history management device 570d via the Internet 2d (step S569).

The product purchase history management device 570d receives the purchase history information from the service charge settlement device 310d via the Internet 2d (step S569), and stores the received purchase history information inside (step S57).
0). (3) Operation of Broadcast Receiver 210d The operation of the broadcast receiver 210d will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

When the control section 217b receives a program selection instruction and further receives a program viewing instruction (step S581), the receiving antenna 220b and the tuner section 21 are received.
1b, the demodulation unit 212b, and the separation unit 213b are controlled to receive the program (step S582), and the received program is displayed (step S58).
3).

When the program ends (step S584),
The control unit 217b transmits the viewing history information to the viewing history management device 53 via the communication device 240d and the Internet 2d.
0d (step S585). The viewing history management device 530d receives the viewing history information (step S58).
5) The received viewing history information is stored inside (step S586).

(4) Viewing history management device 530d, viewing fee calculation device 550d, and product purchase history management device 570d
Of the viewing history management device 530d, the viewing fee calculation device 550d, and the product purchase history management device 570d of FIG.
It demonstrates using the flowchart shown in FIGS.

[0208] The merchandise purchase history management device 570d outputs the purchase history information stored therein to the viewing charge calculation device 550d (step S605), and then the consent information stored inside is downloaded to the viewing charge calculation device. It is output to 550d (step S606). The viewing fee calculation apparatus 550d requests the viewing history management apparatus 530d to read the viewing history information (step S601).

The viewing history management device 530d receives a request for reading viewing history information from the viewing fee calculation device 550d (step S601), reads the viewing history information stored inside (step S602), and reads the viewing history information. The information is output to the viewing fee calculation device 550d (step S603). Next, the viewing fee calculation device 550d receives the viewing history information from the viewing history management device 530d (step S603), and calculates the viewing fee of the viewer based on the received viewing history information (step S60).
4).

Next, the viewing fee calculation device 550d calculates the discounted amount of the viewing fee by the following formula based on the received purchase history information and consent information. Discount amount = (discount amount according to purchase history information + discount amount according to approval information) (step S607). Next, the viewing fee calculation device 550d is connected to the Internet 2d.
A request for the calculated discount amount is transmitted to the service charge settlement device 310d via (step S608).

Next, the service charge settlement device 310d
A discount amount request is received from the viewing fee calculation device 550d (step S608), and the discount amount is calculated (step S6).
09), when the calculated discount amount and the received billing amount match (step S610), the received billing amount is paid to the viewing fee management center system 500d (step S612).

(5) Operation of the product purchase history management device 570d FIG. 45 shows the operation of the product purchase history management device 570d.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in. The product purchase history management device 570d analyzes the purchase history information stored therein to generate viewer preference information (step S63).
1) The generated preference information is transmitted to the service charge settlement device 310d via the Internet 2d (step S632).

The service charge settlement device 310d receives the preference information from the product purchase history management device 570d (step S632), and stores the received preference information inside (step S633). Further, at this time, the product purchase history management device 570d transmits the bill for the transmitted preference information to the service charge settlement device 310d via the Internet 2d (step S634).

The service charge settlement device 310d receives a request for the price of the preference information from the product purchase history management device 570d (step S634), calculates the price (step S635), and uses the secure communication protocol to calculate the calculated price. The information is transmitted to the viewing fee calculation device 550d. Here, the price information is information indicating payment of the price.
The price information may have the same value as the currency and may be used instead of the currency (step S).
636).

The viewing fee calculation device 550d receives the price information as a price for disclosure of the preference information from the service charge settlement device 310d (step S636), and stores the received price information (step S637). Next, the viewing fee calculation device 550d calculates the amount charged to the viewer by the following formula.

(Amount charged to the viewer) = (Viewing charge)-(Discount)-(Amount indicated by price information) (step S638) Further, the viewing charge calculation device 550d charges the viewer the charged amount. (Step S639). 4.7 Summary As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the viewing fee management center system approves in advance to the viewer whether or not the purchase history information of the viewer may be disclosed to the sponsor. Take If the viewer consents to the disclosure, the viewer pays, for example, 3 from the regular viewing fee.
You can watch pay-per-view broadcasts at a 0% discount.

The sponsor S operates a railway company as an example, and the viewer uses a section operated by the sponsor S for a section of 500 yen every day as an example. Since the viewer purchases the ticket before getting on the train, he / she pays for the ticket with the service charge settlement device 310d. When the payment button is pressed, the viewer's fingerprint is read, and the personal identification device 340d recognizes that the viewer has purchased.

A recording medium such as an IC card or a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone may be used to identify the customer. Alternatively, the customer himself / herself may input the customer identification number. Alternatively, an ID for identifying an individual such as a credit card or a driver's license may be used. Further, the service fee settlement device may be a gate type automatic service fee settlement device such as an automatic ticket gate in addition to the ticket settlement device.

The purchase history information including the amount of money and the date and time when the viewer purchased the ticket is transmitted to the product purchase history management device 570d via the communication device 330d. Viewers were asked to take a boarding advertisement within the train within 2 weeks before and after the broadcast of program B
See the announcement that the viewership of program B is 200 yen off for every 000 yen. A viewer who is expected to use 10,000 yen within two weeks before and after the day on which the program B is broadcast returns to his / her home and broadcasts the program B broadcast by the program distribution device 110d of the broadcasting station system 100d to the broadcast receiving device 210d. Use to watch. When the program B is viewed, the broadcast receiving device 210d
The viewing history information is transmitted to the viewing history management device 530d using the communication device 240d.

When the viewing charge management center system 500d calculates the viewing charge of the viewer, the viewing charge calculation device 550d.
Refers to the viewing history information stored in the viewing history management device 530d. Since the viewing fee of the program B is 1000 yen, the viewing fee of the viewer is 1000 yen, but the railway of Sponsor S is used for 10,000 yen in the product purchase history management device 570d as expected by the viewer. Since the purchase history information that indicates that there is stored, 400 yen is discounted,
The viewing fee will be 600 yen. The discounted 400 yen is charged to the sponsor S.

Since the viewer has consented to the disclosure of the purchase history information, the viewing fee calculation apparatus 550d discounts the viewing fee of the viewer by 30%. In other words, the current viewing fee of 600 yen is discounted by 300 yen.
Therefore, the viewing fee charged to the viewer by the viewing fee management center system 500d is 300 yen. Product purchase history management device 570d of the viewing charge management center system 500d
Sends to the sponsor S the viewer preference information indicating what kind of product the viewer purchased and when. As the price, the viewing fee management center system 500d further charges the sponsor S for a viewing fee of 300 yen, which is a discount of the viewing fee of the viewer. Therefore, Sponsor S
Pays a total viewing fee of 700 yen on behalf of the viewer.

The viewing charge management center system 500d pays the viewing charge collected from the viewer and the sponsor S to the broadcasting company, and the broadcasting company collects the costs and profits of program production and distribution. Regarding data distribution such as music,
Usage fees can be collected in the same way.

5. Other Modifications Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention also includes the following cases. (1) You may comprise as follows.

The content distribution system includes a content distribution device that distributes content such as programs and product information related to products sold by the sponsor, a receiving device that receives the content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. It consists of and. The content distribution device may distribute the content for a fee, or may distribute the content for free.

The user views the contents such as programs by the receiving device. Also, the product information is viewed and the product related to the product information is purchased from the sponsor. At this time, the receiving device is connected to the sponsor device via the Internet, and the user uses the receiving device to order the product to the sponsor device via the Internet, May be purchased. Here, the receiving device transmits purchase amount information indicating the purchase amount of the product purchased by the user to the content distribution device.

[0226] Further, the user may purchase the product at a retail store which is a product seller. At this time, the IC card is inserted into the selling device installed in the retail store. The sales device writes information about the purchase of the product such as the purchase price of the product in the IC card. The user returns home and inserts the IC card in which the information is written into the receiving device. The receiving device is equipped with an IC card reader, and the IC card reader reads out information related to the purchase of a product from the IC card, and from the read information, purchase amount information indicating the purchase amount of the product is delivered to the content. Send to the device.

[0227] The content distribution device receives the purchase amount information and calculates a tenant fee or an intermediary fee charged to the sponsor according to the received purchase amount information by a predetermined calculation method. Next, the content distribution device
Information indicating a request for an amount equivalent to the requested tenant fee or mediation fee is transmitted to the sponsor device. The sponsor device receives the information indicating the charge of the amount and transmits the information for paying the tenant fee or the brokerage fee indicated by the amount to the content distribution device.

[0228] Also, the user can
When a product is purchased, instead of the receiving device sending the purchase price of the product to the content distribution device, the sponsor device that received the order through the receiving device and sold the product sends the sales price of the product to the content distribution device. The content distribution device may transmit and receive the sales amount, and calculate the tenant fee or the brokerage fee according to the received sales amount.

When a user purchases a product at a retail store, the selling device outputs the purchase price of the product to the receiving device via the IC card, and the receiving device delivers the purchase amount of the product to the content distribution. Instead of transmitting to the device, the selling device transmits the sales amount of the product to the content distribution device, the content distribution device receives the sales amount, and calculates the tenant fee or the brokerage fee according to the received sales amount. May be

[0230] Note that the receiving device transmits the purchase amount of the product instead of transmitting the purchase amount of the product, and the content distribution device receives the purchase amount, and depending on the purchase amount, a tenant fee or an intermediary fee. The fee may be calculated, and the calculated tenant fee or brokerage fee may be charged to the sponsor device. (2) In Embodiments 2 to 4, the product purchase history management device of the broadcasting station does not necessarily have to be included in the broadcasting station.
Another institution may have a product purchase history management device. In this case, when the viewing fee calculation device calculates the viewing fee, the purchase history information of the viewer is transmitted from the product purchase history management device to the viewing fee calculation device.

(3) In the second to third embodiments, as described in the fourth embodiment, by applying the viewer's preference information to the sponsor, the viewer's viewing fee is discounted. You can also (4) In Embodiments 1 to 4, the broadcaster is supposed to deliver the program, but the delivery target is not limited to the program. For example, contents such as movies, music, text information, computer programs, etc. may be distributed.

(5) In Embodiments 1 to 4, when the content is distributed by using communication represented by the Internet, or when the content is once stored in the storage device of the content receiver and then used. Also applies. (6) In the above embodiment, the sponsor sells the product and provides the service. As you can see, products and services are different concepts,
A product may be interpreted as a concept including a service.

(7) In the above embodiment, the viewer has the broadcast receiving apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this. The viewer may purchase and own the broadcast receiving apparatus, or may rent it and occupy it. In addition, the viewer may view the program or the content by using the broadcast receiving device of a third party.

(8) The present invention may be methods shown by the above. Further, it may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal including the computer program. The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium, such as a flexible disk, for the computer program or the digital signal.
Hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD
-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray D
ISC), a semiconductor memory, or the like. Further, it may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded in these recording media.

Furthermore, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal transmitted via an electric communication line, a wireless or wired communication line, a network typified by the Internet, or the like. Further, the present invention may be a computer system including a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the memory stores the computer program and the microprocessor operates according to the computer program.

Further, another computer system which is independent by recording the program or the digital signal on the recording medium and transferring the program or transferring the program or the digital signal via the network or the like. May be carried out by (9) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.

[0237]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
Content users will be able to use content without any obstructive data or restrictions such as corporate advertisements at a low price. In addition, the company that sells the purchased product pays the usage fee instead of just purchasing the necessary one in daily life, and the content usage fee becomes low, which increases the willingness to purchase.

[0238] Further, also for the side producing the contents, the funds for producing and distributing the contents can produce contents of higher quality by collecting the contents production fee and the usage fee from the company. In addition, since it has information such as the purchase history of the user, such information can be used as a funding source to procure funds in more fields.

[0239] Furthermore, pay contents production fee,
Even for providers who cooperate in content creation, by becoming a content sponsor and substituting a part of the content usage fee, users' willingness to purchase increases, and more people specify and purchase their products. be able to. Further, in addition to the content production fee, there is no need to newly create an advertisement such as a CM that is inserted and linked in the content, so that the advertisement cost can be suppressed. Also,
By buying the user's preference information from the content distributor, it becomes possible to make a sales strategy for the product by using it when analyzing the product or considering a new product.

The present invention comprises a content distribution device that distributes paid contents and product information related to products sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the paid contents and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A configured content distribution system,
The user purchases the product related to the product information, and the receiving device transmits purchase history information indicating that the user has purchased the product sold by the sponsor to the content distribution device, and the content distribution device. The device receives the purchase history information, calculates the discount amount of the viewing fee of the paid content using the received purchase history information, and uses the billing amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from the viewing fee of the paid content. The discounted amount to the sponsor, and the discounted amount to the sponsor,
The sponsor device transmits information for offsetting the requested discount amount to the content distribution device.

According to this structure, the content distribution apparatus uses the purchase history information to calculate the discount amount of the paying fee for the pay content, and subtracts the billing amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from the paying content. The user is billed, the sponsor is billed for the discount amount, and the sponsor device transmits information for offsetting the billed discount amount to the content distribution device.

[0242] As described above, since the sponsor pays a part of the viewing fee, the usage fee paid by the user can be reduced. Here, in the content distribution system, the reception device is connected to the content distribution device via a communication line, and purchase history information indicating that a user has purchased a product sold by a sponsor is distributed to the content distribution system. It may be configured to transmit to the device.

According to this structure, the receiving device that receives the paid content transmits the purchase history information indicating that the user has purchased the product sold by the sponsor to the content distribution device, so that the product is purchased. It is possible to reduce the usage fee of the paid content to the user who made the purchase. Here, in the content distribution system, the receiving device is connected to a sponsor device via a communication line, and when purchasing the product, transmits order information for ordering the product to the sponsor device. Then, the purchase history information of the product may be generated, and the generated purchase history information may be transmitted to the content distribution device.

According to this structure, the receiving device, when purchasing the product, transmits the order information for ordering the product to the sponsor device and also generates and transmits the purchase history information of the product. Therefore, there is no difference between the entity that orders the product and the entity that creates the purchase history. Here, the content distribution system further includes a sales device owned by a product seller, the user purchases the product from the product seller, and the sales device is portable when selling the product. The purchase history information indicating the purchase of the product is written in the storage medium, and the user,
The portable storage medium in which the purchase history information is written is attached to the receiving device, and the receiving device further includes a reading unit that reads the purchase history information from the attached portable storage medium and reads it. The purchase history information may be transmitted.

According to this structure, the selling device of the product seller who purchased the product writes the purchase history information indicating the purchase of the product in the portable storage medium when the product is sold, and the user can purchase the product. A portable storage medium is attached to the receiving device, and the receiving device reads the purchase history information from the portable storage medium and transmits the read purchase history information, so only the person who purchased the product can obtain the purchase history information. It can be transmitted to the content distribution device.

Here, in the content distribution system, the sponsor device is connected to the content distribution device via a communication line, and when the product is sold, purchase history information of the product is generated and generated. The purchase history information may be transmitted to the content distribution device. According to this configuration, when selling the product, the sponsor device generates purchase history information of the product and transmits the generated purchase history information to the content distribution device. There is no discrepancy.

Here, the content distribution system is
Further, including a sales device owned by a product seller, the user purchases the product from the product seller, and the sales device generates and generates purchase history information of the product when the product is sold. The purchase history information may be transmitted to the content distribution device. According to this configuration, the sales device of the product seller who purchased the product by the user generates purchase history information of the product when the product is sold, and transmits the generated purchase history information to the content distribution device. Therefore, there is no discrepancy between the sale of the product and the purchase history information.

Here, in the content distribution system, the content distribution apparatus further generates usage information regarding the usage of the product by the user from the purchase history information of the user, and transmits the generated usage information to the sponsor apparatus. Then, the sponsor device receives the usage information, transmits payment information indicating payment of the amount of consideration for receiving the usage information to the content distribution device, and the content distribution device further receives the payment information. However, the user may be charged with an amount obtained by subtracting the amount indicated by the payment information from the billed amount.

According to this structure, the content distribution apparatus generates the usage information on the usage of the product by the user from the purchase history information of the user and transmits the usage information to the sponsor apparatus, and the sponsor apparatus stores the usage information of the usage information. Transmitting consideration information indicating payment of the amount of consideration for reception to the content distribution device, the content distribution device receives the consideration information, and further subtracts the amount indicated by the consideration information from the billed amount. Since the user is charged, the user's usage fee can be further reduced.

[0250] Further, the present invention is a content distribution device that distributes paid content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the paid content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. And a content distribution device configured to calculate a billing amount as a price for distribution of product information, and transmitting the calculated billing amount to a sponsor device, wherein the sponsor device The amount of money is received, and payment information indicating payment of the received billing amount is transmitted to the content distribution device.

According to this structure, the content distribution apparatus can obtain a sponsor fee according to the number of information on the distributed product, the number of distributions, etc., and therefore can obtain income without inserting a CM or the like. Becomes Further, the number of information items about the delivered products, the number of delivery times, etc. do not need to be delivered at a specific time unlike CM, and can be freely flown on the back of the content. There is no limit.

Since the sponsor device does not need to create an advertisement and only pays the sponsor fee, the advertisement cost can be suppressed. In addition, a company or the like that does not have the ability to create a commercial or the like can provide a means for introducing or purchasing its own product with a small amount of sponsor fee, so that an effective advertisement can be performed. Further, the present invention includes a content distribution device that distributes the content and product information related to the product sold by the sponsor, a receiving device that receives the content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. In the content distribution system, a user purchases the product related to the product information, and the receiving device transmits purchase amount information indicating a purchase amount of the product purchased by the user to the content distribution device. Then, the content distribution device receives the purchase amount information, calculates an intermediary fee to be charged to the sponsor according to the received purchase amount information, and charges the sponsor to the intermediary fee. The information for paying the generated intermediary fee is transmitted to the content distribution device.

According to this structure, the sponsor device pays for the amount and quantity of the product purchased by the receiving device by using the content distributed by the content distribution device. Therefore, when the product is not sold, Since it is only necessary to pay the minimum sponsor fee (tenant fee plus brokerage fee), it is possible to reduce the risk that the sponsorship fee is paid but the product is not sold. On the contrary, if the product sells, it is necessary to pay a lot of sponsor fees, but it is considered that the product was sold and the money could be effectively used.

[0254] Further, if the content distribution device can create and distribute the content that sells the product,
It is possible to obtain a lot of sponsor fees, and it is possible to earn more than the content creation fee.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system 1a.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a data structure of a product information table 122a.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a data structure of an introduction information table 141a.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a data structure of a sponsor information table 143a.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a data structure of an introduction fee table 142a.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a data structure of an introduction information table 321a.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a data structure of an introduction fee table 322a.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed by a monitor 230a.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the content distribution system 1a.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system 1b.

FIG. 11 shows a transmission path of information in the content distribution system 1b.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a broadcasting station system 100b.

FIG. 13 shows a program or the like broadcast on channel T101.

FIG. 14 shows programs and the like broadcast on channels T121 to T124.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a viewer system 200b.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a data structure of viewing history information 261b.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a data structure of order information 262b.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a data structure of purchase history information 263b.

FIG. 19 shows an example of a screen displayed by the monitor 230b.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a selling device 310b.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a retail store system 400b.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a data structure of a product information table 418b.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an IC card 600b.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing an operation of the broadcast receiving device 210b. Continued in FIG.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an operation of the broadcast receiving device 210b. Continuing from FIG.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an operation of the retail store system 400b.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing operations in the viewing history management device 130b, the viewing fee calculation device 150b, the product purchase history management device 170b, the product purchase history management device 250b, and the sales device 310b. 28 is continued.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing operations in the viewing history management device 130b, the viewing fee calculation device 150b, the product purchase history management device 170b, the product purchase history management device 250b, and the sales device 310b. It continues from FIG.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system 1c.

FIG. 30 shows an information transmission route in the content distribution system 1c.

FIG. 31 shows a program or the like broadcast on channel T401.

FIG. 32 shows an example of a screen displayed by a monitor.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an operation of the broadcast receiving device 210c.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing operations of the settlement device 410c and the product purchase history management device 170c.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a content distribution system 1d.

FIG. 36 shows an information transmission path in the content distribution system 1d.

FIG. 37 shows an information transmission path in the content distribution system 1d.

FIG. 38 shows a program or the like broadcast on channel T501.

FIG. 39 shows an example of a screen displayed by the monitor.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing an operation of the broadcast receiving device 210d.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing an operation of the service charge settlement device 310d.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the operation of the broadcast receiving device 210d.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart showing operations of a viewing history management device 530d, a viewing fee calculation device 550d, and a product purchase history management device 570d. Continuing to FIG.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart showing operations of a viewing history management device 530d, a viewing fee calculation device 550d, and a product purchase history management device 570d. Continuing from FIG.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart showing an operation of the product purchase history management device 570d.

[Explanation of symbols] 1a Content distribution system 1b Content distribution system 1c Content distribution system 1d content distribution system 100a broadcasting station system 100b broadcasting system 100c broadcasting station system 100d broadcasting station system 200a viewer system 200b viewer system 200c viewer system 200d viewer system 300a Sponsor system 300b Sponsor system 300c Sponsor system 300d sponsor system 400b retail system 400c retail store system 500d Viewing fee management center system

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Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the pay content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A content distribution system in which a user purchases the product related to the product information, and the receiving device distributes purchase history information indicating that the user has purchased the product sold by the sponsor. To the device, the content distribution device receives the purchase history information, uses the received purchase history information to calculate a discount amount of the paying fee for the pay content, and calculates the discount amount from the paying fee for the pay content. The user is charged with a billed amount obtained by subtracting, the billed amount is billed to the sponsor, and the sponsor device is Content distribution system and transmits the information to offset determined by the discount amount to the content distribution device. 2. In the content distribution system, the reception device is connected to the content distribution device via a communication line, and purchase history information indicating that a user has purchased a product sold by a sponsor is provided. The content delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the content delivery system transmits the content delivery apparatus. 3. In the content distribution system, the receiving device is connected to a sponsor device via a communication line, and when purchasing the product, order information for ordering the product to the sponsor device. The content distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising: transmitting the purchase history information of the product, and transmitting the generated purchase history information to the content distribution device. 4. The content distribution system further includes a sales device owned by a product seller, the user purchases the product from the product seller, and the sales device sells the product, Writing purchase history information indicating purchase of a product in a portable storage medium, the user attaches the portable storage medium in which the purchase history information is written to the receiving device, and the receiving device further attaches The content delivery system according to claim 2, further comprising a reading unit that reads the purchase history information from the read portable storage medium, and transmits the read purchase history information. 5. In the content distribution system, the sponsor device is connected to the content distribution device via a communication line, and when the product is sold, purchase history information of the product is generated, and the generated purchase is generated. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein history information is transmitted to the content distribution device. 6. The content distribution system further includes a sales device owned by a product seller, the user purchases the product from a product seller, and the sales device sells the product at the time of selling the product. The purchase history information of a product is generated, and the generated purchase history information is transmitted to the content distribution device.
Content distribution system described in. 7. In the content distribution system, the content distribution device further generates usage information regarding usage of the product by the user from purchase history information of the user, and transmits the generated usage information to the sponsor device. The sponsor device receives the usage information, transmits payment information indicating payment of the amount of consideration for receiving the usage information to the content distribution device, and the content distribution device further receives the payment information. The content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the user is charged an amount obtained by subtracting the amount indicated by the payment information from the billed amount. 8. A content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the pay content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A content distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the content distribution device calculates a charge amount as a price for the distribution of the product information, transmits the calculated charge amount to the sponsor device, and the sponsor device receives the charge amount. A content distribution system, wherein payment information indicating payment of the received billing amount is transmitted to the content distribution device. 9. A content distribution device that distributes content and product information about a product sold by a sponsor, and a receiving device that receives the content and the product information.
In a content distribution system including a sponsor device owned by the sponsor, a user purchases the product related to the product information, and the receiving device displays a purchase amount of the product purchased by the user. The purchase amount information shown is transmitted to the content distribution device, the content distribution device receives the purchase amount information,
The brokerage fee charged to the sponsor is calculated according to the received purchase amount information, the brokerage fee is charged to the sponsor, and the sponsor device transmits information for paying the billed brokerage fee to the content distribution device. A content distribution system characterized by: 10. A content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the pay content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A fee collection method used in a content distribution system, wherein a user purchases the product related to the product information, and the fee collection method is that the user sells a product sold by a sponsor by the receiving device. An information transmitting step of transmitting purchase history information indicating that the content has been purchased to the content distribution apparatus, the content distribution apparatus receiving the purchase history information, and using the received purchase history information Billing amount obtained by calculating the discount amount and subtracting the discount amount from the viewing fee of the paid content A calculation transmission step of charging a discount amount to a user and requesting the discount amount to a sponsor, and a discount amount transmission step of transmitting information for offsetting the requested discount amount to the content distribution device by the sponsor device. A charge collection method characterized in that 11. A content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the pay content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A computer program for fee collection used in a content distribution system, wherein the user purchases the product related to the product information, and the user purchases the product sold by the sponsor by the receiving device. An information transmission step of transmitting the purchase history information shown to the content distribution device, the content distribution device receives the purchase history information, and uses the received purchase history information to calculate a discount amount of the viewing fee of the pay content. However, the billing amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from the viewing fee for paid contents A calculation transmission step of billing the user and billing the discount amount to the sponsor; and a discount amount transmission step of transmitting information for offsetting the billed discount amount to the content distribution device by the sponsor device. A computer program for collecting charges, which is characterized in that 12. A content distribution device that distributes pay content and product information related to a product sold by a sponsor, a receiving device that receives the pay content and the product information, and a sponsor device that the sponsor has. A computer-readable recording medium recording a computer program for fee collection used in a content distribution system, wherein a user purchases the product related to the product information, and the computer program includes the receiving device. An information transmitting step of transmitting to the content distribution device purchase history information indicating that the user has purchased a product sold by the sponsor, and the content distribution device receives the purchase history information and the received purchase By using the history information, A calculating and transmitting step of calculating a discount amount, charging the user a billing amount obtained by subtracting the discount amount from the viewing fee of the pay content, and charging the discount amount to the sponsor; And a discount amount transmitting step of transmitting information for offsetting the discount amount to the content distribution device.