CN1816980B - Recording apparatus, recording method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

Allowing a large amount of recorded information to be readily distinguished and identified at any time after they are recorded. When the broadcast information is received from the broadcast station 32a, content-related information related to and corresponding to the content of the broadcast information is received by the receiving apparatus through the network 30 and temporarily stored in the temporary storage apparatus 3. When there is an external request for recording the related information, the related information temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 3 is recorded in the holding means 4 by the related information recording means 5, while the broadcast information received at the time of receiving the recording request is related to the related information recorded in the holding means 4 and recorded in the holding means 4 by the broadcast information recording means 6. Accordingly, it is possible to easily identify related information related to broadcast information through recorded broadcast information.

Description

Recording device, recording method

technical field

The present invention relates to a recording device, a recording method and a program. More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording device, recording method and program for acquiring sound and images of programs broadcast through radio and television broadcasting and information provided through a network.

Background technique

Radio and television stations (hereinafter simply referred to as "radio stations") broadcast various programs. Spectators/listeners listen to and watch programs by receiving broadcast signals transmitted from various stations through radio receivers and television receivers. Viewers/listeners are generally able to record broadcast information in the form of sound and images of programs broadcast by broadcast stations provided that certain conditions need to be met.

Broadcasting stations publish information on broadcast programs such as the contents of broadcast programs and information on musical pieces broadcast in the programs (name, name of artist performing, name of CD (Compact Disc) on which musical pieces are recorded, quantity, year of release, and distribution and the time and date when the music was broadcast) and allow anyone who wants that information to obtain it via a network using a personal computer (PC) etc. connected to the broadcasting station.

The information thus obtained can now be used for various services. For example, the person who gets the information can have a number of music pieces delivered to him/her and/or buy a CD recording those pieces by using the information about the pieces that that person has acquired.

Some systems in which radio stations broadcast music data or pieces have been proposed, and these systems also broadcast in advance image data such as cover photos for those pieces, text data including names of those pieces, and sound data including sampled sounds and suitable compressed/encrypted data of music data so that users can receive them at their terminals to view received images and/or listen to received sounds. In addition, with the proposed system, the user can utilize compressed/encrypted data recorded in the user terminal by performing a predetermined operation on the user terminal during or after viewing and/or listening, usually through an EMD (Electronic Music Distribution) server (see, inter alia, Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No.: 2000-183835 (paragraph number [0019]-[0026], Fig. 1)) to obtain suitable music data.

However, when the user is required to watch images and/or listen to music while broadcasting music and record information about the music so that he/she can use the recorded information to retrieve the transmitted music or music recorded therein at some point thereafter When a CD is commercialized, if the user only knows the name of the music, the name of the performing artist, the time and date of playing, etc., especially when the number of music is large and includes a large number of names and other information, it may be difficult for the user to accurately recall the music. Sounds and images related to them. Therefore, if a user has to choose a CD, although he or she wants to get 10 pieces of music, for example because of a limited budget, the user may have difficulty telling which one is his or her most concerned about.

In addition, although the user can recognize musical pieces by listening to the sampled sounds contained in the broadcast data after they are broadcast if he or she wants to acquire suitable music data through this known system, the system configuration and transmission from the broadcasting station to the user The configuration of the broadcast data of the terminal will inevitably be complicated.

Contents of the invention

In view of the circumstances described above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus, recording method, and program that allow a user to identify specific information from among recorded pieces of information without requiring a complicated system.

In one aspect of the present invention, the object of the present invention is achieved by providing a recording apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving content-related information on content contained in received broadcast information temporary storage means for temporarily storing content-related information; related information recording means for recording content-related information stored in the temporary storage means in the holding means in response to an externally input recording request; and broadcast information recording means, and for recording received broadcast information in holding means in response to an externally input recording request so as to correlate with related information recorded in the holding information.

With the recording device having the above structure, the receiving means receives content-related information contained in received broadcast information, and the temporary storage means temporarily stores the content-related information. Then, the relevant information recording means records the content-related information in the temporary storage means in the holding means in response to an externally input recording request, and the broadcast information recording means records the received broadcast information in the holding means so as to be consistent with the information recorded in the holding means. Keep relevant information in your device relevant. Since the related information is related to the received broadcast information and recorded in the holding means, the related information related to the broadcast information can be easily identified at any time thereafter.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a recording method including: a receiving step of receiving content-related information on content contained in received broadcast information; a temporary storing step of temporarily storing the content-related information; responding to An externally input recording request records the content-related information stored in the temporary storage step in a related information recording step in the holding device; A broadcast information recording step related to the relevant information recorded in the hold information.

With the recording method having the above configuration, content-related information contained in received broadcast information is received in the receiving step and temporarily stored in the temporary storing step. Then, in the relevant information recording step, the content-related information in the temporary storage device is recorded in the holding device and the broadcast information received is recorded in the holding device in the broadcast information recording step, and then the information in the broadcast information recording step is made The received broadcast information is correlated with the related information recorded in the holding means and actually recorded in the holding means.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the following processes: receiving information on content related to content contained in received broadcast information; temporarily storing content-related information; responding The content-related information stored in the temporary storage step is recorded in the holding device due to an externally input recording request; Related information in .

With the program having the above configuration, content-related information contained in received broadcast information is received and temporarily stored. Then, the temporarily stored related information is recorded in the holding means in response to an externally input recording request, and then the received broadcast information is correlated with the related information recorded in the holding means and actually recorded in the holding means.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when content-related information contained in received broadcast information is recorded, the received broadcast information is correlated with the related information at the time of recording, so that when the related information is collated, by using The broadcast information can easily distinguish and identify the related information from other related information. Then, the user can accurately recall the musical piece that he or she cares most when checking the related information. Therefore, the result of the operation of retrieving related information is highly reliable, so that the user can reliably receive a service of delivering a musical piece or purchase a commercialized CD on which the musical piece is recorded. Then, the market for the music-related service can be expanded. And such a market can contribute to the creation of a new musical culture.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, showing the principle and its configuration.

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a network system that can be used with the first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of a terminal device;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the terminal device of FIG. 3 showing its hardware configuration;

Fig. 5 is the schematic diagram showing the program module of the terminal device of its configuration;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations using a method of recording broadcast information from when a cropping request is given to a terminal device.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of a method for recording broadcast information for a predetermined period of time before and after a clipping request is given to a terminal device;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a music-related service providing system usable with the second embodiment of the present invention showing its overall configuration;

9 is a schematic functional circuit block diagram of a client terminal showing its hardware configuration;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a directory configuration;

Fig. 11 is a schematic functional circuit block diagram of an entry server showing its hardware configuration;

Fig. 12 is a schematic functional circuit block diagram of the music information delivery server showing its hardware configuration;

Fig. 13 is a schematic functional circuit block diagram of a transaction server showing its hardware configuration;

14 is a schematic functional circuit block diagram of a radio broadcast information delivery server showing its hardware configuration;

15 is a program chart showing a processing procedure for user authentication between a client terminal and an entry server;

Fig. 16 is a procedure chart showing the processing procedure of user authentication between the client terminal and the music information delivery server;

FIG. 17 is a program chart showing a processing procedure for providing a music data delivery service;

18 is a program chart showing a processing program for providing transaction services;

19 is a program chart showing a processing procedure (A) for providing a radio broadcast information (broadcast list information) delivery service; and

FIG. 20 is a procedure chart showing a processing procedure (B) for providing a radio broadcast information (real-time broadcast list information) delivery service.

Detailed ways

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

(1) Principle and configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a recording apparatus and an embodiment according to the present invention, showing its principle and configuration.

The recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is capable of receiving broadcast information from a broadcast station 32a and recording it. In addition, it can record information on content related to content provided through the network.

More specifically, recording device 1 includes: receiving device 2, it has the function of receiving broadcast information and outputting and displaying sound and image, also has the function of receiving information about such as the music that is contained in the broadcast information that it receives and so on. Functions of related information (for example, the title of the music piece and the performance artist's name and the name, number, and the release year and dealer of the CD that recorded the music piece and the time and date when the music piece was broadcast) and a temporary storage device 3 for temporary storage Relevant information received by the receiving device 2. The broadcast information may contain the content of related information.

The recording device 1 also includes: a related information recording device 5 for recording the relevant information temporarily stored in the temporary storage device 3 in the holding device 4 when a recording request is input to the recording device 1, and a broadcast information recording device 6 for The received broadcast information is recorded, correlating it with the related information recorded in the holding means 4 .

The recording device 1 also includes recording time setting means 7 for setting a recording time period for recording broadcast information by the broadcast information recording means 6, and voice information synthesizing means 8 for synthesizing voice information with the recorded broadcast information.

The temporary storage device 3 and the holding device 4 are generally part of the recording device or a recording area of the recording device 1 or connected to the recording device 1 .

When recording information on content related to content such as music in the recording apparatus 1, for example, the recording apparatus 1 records the broadcast information it is receiving from the clock time when it receives a recording request for recording related information. related information.

In this case, if the user of the recording apparatus 1 wants to record related information on a broadcast music piece, when the user performs a predetermined operation on the recording apparatus 1, a recording request to record related information on the music piece is input into the recording apparatus 1 . Then, when a recording request is input, the recording means 1 records the related information received by the receiving means 2 and temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 3 in the holding means 4 through the related information recording means 5 . Simultaneously the recording means 1 starts recording the sound and image of the broadcast information it is receiving and records it by the broadcast information recording means 6 for a predetermined time period. The recording means 1 performs this recording operation so as to correlate with the relevant information recorded in the holding means 4 . Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 records broadcast information from the clock time at which a recording request is input to it for the related information, correlating the broadcast information with the related information.

Alternatively, it may be so set that when the recording apparatus 1 records related information on content such as a musical piece, it records broadcast information to be correlated with the related information before and after a recording request input.

If so, the recording device 1 starts recording the sound of the broadcast information it is receiving with the broadcast information recording device 6 at a predetermined time period from a predetermined clock time such as the clock time when the user starts listening to the program being broadcasted. The image is recorded in the holding device 4 . When a predetermined period of time elapses, the recording apparatus 1 determines whether the user has made a recording request for related information. If it is determined that there is no recording request, it starts recording the sound and image of the broadcast information it is receiving in the holding means 4 for a predetermined period of time. Now, the recording device 1 rewrites what it has recorded so that it functions as a ring recording device for continuously recording (by ring buffer recording) the previous broadcast information and the subsequent broadcast information.

On the other hand, if the recording means 1 determines that the user has made a recording request when a predetermined period of time elapses, it stores the relevant information temporarily stored in the temporary storage means 3 from the clock time when the recording request is made through the relevant information recording means 5 Recorded in holding device 4. Simultaneously, the recording means 1 records broadcast information in the holding means 4 by the broadcast information recording means 6 within another predetermined time period from the clock time at which the predetermined time period has elapsed. At this time, it records the broadcast information so as to correlate with the related information recorded in the holding device 4 . Therefore, the recording apparatus 1 records the broadcast information to be correlated with the related information before and after the input of the recording request.

In this way, since the related information is related to the broadcast information when the recording request is made and is recorded, when viewing the recorded related information, the user can easily distinguish the related information from other related information with the broadcast information related to the related information and recognize it.

The user can appropriately define the time period during which the recording device 1 records broadcast information through the recording time setting device 7 .

The content of the broadcast information and the content of the related information recorded in the holding device 4 may not be directly linked to each other. For example, when recording the related information related to a music piece, the broadcast information recorded in response to a recording request for a predetermined period of time except for the music piece In addition to the sound, the voice of the host or announcer of the program broadcasting the music may be included. The broadcast information may not include the sound of the music, but may include the sound of the music broadcast before or after the music. When entering the recording request of recording related information When the broadcast information being broadcast at the time is recorded, the relevant information can be easily distinguished and identified.

The recording apparatus 1 may also synthetically combine sound information such as beeping sounds and broadcast information when a recording request for related information is made and record broadcast information synthetically composed with the sound information so as to be correlated with the related information. With this setting, it is very clear when a recording request is input so that it is clear at what clock time in the broadcast information that the user wants to record related information within the time period of the broadcast information recorded before and after the clock time when the recording request to record related information is made. Then, the user can determine the relationship between the related information and the broadcast information and identify the related information more accurately.

In the following description of the preferred embodiments, the recording apparatus 1 will be used as a terminal device connected to a server of a broadcasting station through a network and the user of the terminal device receives broadcast information such as music from a broadcasting station and can simultaneously acquire A network of related information about music provided by a server of a radio station through the network will be described.

The relevant information related to the music piece includes: the name, the name of the artist who performed it, the name of the CD on which the music piece was recorded, the quantity, the year of release and the dealer, and the time and date when the music was broadcast. In the following description, the process of recording the related information when the user acquires the related information of the musical piece is called "trimming" and the trimmed related information is called "trimming information".

(2) The first embodiment

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of a network system usable with the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the terminal device 10 is connected to various servers through a network 30 . The network 30 is, for example, an Internet server. Network 30 may be the Internet. Servers that can be used for the purpose of the present invention include a CD title information providing server 31 , a broadcasting station server 32 , a music information delivery server 33 and a CD shop server 34 .

The CD title information providing server 31 provides a service of delivering related information related to musical pieces recorded on purchasable CDs and sound data of the musical pieces for listening.

The broadcast station server 32 is a server that manages a broadcast station 32a for FM broadcast, TV broadcast, and/or some other broadcast. The functions of the broadcast station server 32 for providing related information are roughly divided into two categories. The first is a function of providing relevant information related to a musical piece being broadcast (real-time broadcast). The second is a function of providing a list (broadcast list) of related information related to tunes that have been broadcast in response to a request from the terminal device 10 . For example, the broadcasting station server 32 may provide related information related to musical pieces broadcast in a specific program and related to musical pieces broadcast in a specific time zone.

The music delivery server 33 is a server that provides a service of delivering digital data (music data) related to musical pieces. For example, the music delivery server 33 may provide music data only to terminal devices 10 that have reserved one or more pieces of music. The music delivery server 33 can also provide related information related to the music pieces it delivers.

The CD shop server 34 is a server for receiving mail order orders for CDs. The CD shop server 34 provides a service of delivering sound data for listening and a service of providing related information related to musical pieces recorded on sold CDs.

In this way, a plurality of servers provide information on a piece or a group of music pieces on the network. That is, each server is used on the network 30 as an information source for a piece or a group of music pieces.

Note, however, that the server in FIG. 2 is merely a means of providing a source of music or a group of music via the network 30. That is, a device that provides a source of a tune or set of tunes that can be accessed from some other device on the network 30 can be used on the network 30 as a source of a tune or set of tunes.

The music delivery server 33 and the CD shop server 34 are servers that can purchase music pieces. That is, they work to sell the sound data of a piece of music or the sound data of a group of music online. Therefore, the user can operate the terminal device 10 through the network 30 to access the sale. The server of the music to actually purchase one or a group of music. The user 10 of the terminal equipment can download the sound data from the music delivery server 33 by signing a purchase contract with the music delivery server 33. The user of the terminal equipment 10 can also download the sound data through the CD shop server 34 enters into a purchase contract causing the CD store server 34 to deliver one or more CDs to his or her home.

The terminal device 10 locally holds a source of a tune or a set of tunes on a recording medium which may include a CD 19a', an MD (MiniDisc) 19b' and/or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) 21. The source may vary according to the target of the type of terminal device 10 .

Note that the local source of a piece or set of music shown in Figure 2 is just an example. That is, if the terminal device 10 is a locally existing recording medium, it can be used as a local source of a musical piece or a group of musical pieces when the musical piece is a musical piece or a group of musical pieces recorded on the recording medium.

The terminal device 10 includes a clipping information storage device 21a for recording (holding) clipping-related information. The cropping information storage device 21 a is a secondary storage device of the terminal device 10 . For example, the terminal device 10 can use a partial storage area of the HDD 21 or some other media device as the cropping information storage device 21a. Note that the terminal device 10 can cut out a song or a group of music. Therefore, when the terminal device 10 trims the entire FM radio program or the entire CD music collection containing a large number of user-focused tunes, the group of user-focused tunes can be kept by a single trimming operation.

Meanwhile, the terminal device 10 of the present embodiment can also be used as an audio device for playing back musical pieces.

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of a terminal device.

As shown in FIG. 3, a terminal device 10 usable in this embodiment shows an appearance similar to ordinary audio system components. The terminal device 10 includes a device main body 10 a , speakers 25 a , 25 b and a remote controller 40 . The device main body 10a has a function of reproducing CDs and DVDs (Digital Versatile Discs), a function of recording music on and reproducing MDs, and a function of receiving FM broadcasts and TV broadcasts. The speakers 25a, 25b output sound to the speakers 25a, 25b as sound signals generated by the device main body 10a.

The device main body 10 a also has a display 17 . The display 17 displays related information related to the musical piece being played back and/or cut related information.

The remote controller 40 is an input device for remote-controlling the device main body 10a. The remote controller 40 is provided with a plurality of control keys. When the user presses one of the control keys, the remote controller 40 sends a signal corresponding to the pressed control key to the main body 10a of the device through a wireless communication device which may be an infrared ray.

The operation keys generally include direction keys 41a-41d, input key 42, function selection keys 43a-43c, tool key 44 and return key 45.

The arrow keys 41 a - 41 d are used to move a cursor displayed on the display 17 or a bright spot on the display 17 . The four direction keys 41a-41d correspond to up, down, left and right respectively, and move the cursor or bright spot in the direction of the pressed key.

The enter key 42 is generally used to confirm what is displayed on the display 17 .

Function selection keys 43a-43c are used to select functions. For example, the three function selection keys 43a-43c may respectively correspond to a comprehensive service utilization function, a tuning function, and a partial content management function. When one of the function selection keys is pressed, the device main body 10a enters an operation mode of a function corresponding to the pressed function selection key.

The tool key 44 is a button for displaying a tool menu on the display 17. The tool menu contains commands selected according to what is displayed on the display 17. Therefore, the user can select a command from the tool menu and cause the terminal device 10 to execute commands related to the tool menu. Processing corresponding to the selected command. For example, the user can select a command by operating any one of the direction keys 41a-41d and pressing the enter key 42. Then, processing corresponding to the selected command is performed in the device main body 10a. For example, When the relevant information of the music that is being broadcast is displayed on the display 17 as real-time broadcast information, the user of the terminal device 10 can press the input key 42 to select the crop command to crop by one of the tool key 44 and direction keys 41a-41d. Songs and information displayed on it.

The return key 45 is a button for returning the displayed content on the display 17 to the previous state. Note that the remote control 40 may be provided with a plurality of other control keys in addition to the keys shown in FIG. 3 . For example, the control keys include: volume control keys for CDs, playback keys, and stop keys.

The internal configuration of the terminal device 10 will be explained below.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the terminal device 10 showing its hardware configuration.

It is possible to manage the source of the musical piece and record and play back the musical piece through the terminal device 10 as shown in FIG. 4 .

A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11 controls the entire terminal device 10 and performs processing operations according to programs that have been started. For example, the CPU 11 may work to communicate via the network 30, perform input/output operations for the user, perform operations such as replaying and/or cropping content from media and storing and managing content to the HDD 21 and based on relevant information cropped Information is retrieved over the network 30 . The content data that the terminal device 10 of this embodiment can record and reproduce includes audio content data and video content data of moving pictures. The CPU 11 sends control signals to any one of the component circuit sections through the bus 12 and they exchange data.

A ROM (Read Only Memory) 13 stores an operating program to be executed by the CPU 11, a program loading program, various arithmetic coefficients, and parameters used in the program. Programs executed by the CPU 11 are formed in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 20. The RAM 20 is also used as a data area and task area required when the CPU 11 executes various processes. For example, relevant information received by the terminal device 10 from the server is temporarily stored in the RAM 20.

The operation input section 15 has various operation elements including operation keys, a jog dial, and a touch panel provided on the casing of the terminal device 10 . The terminal device 10 may be provided in an operation input section 15 having a keyboard and a mouse for operating a GUI (Graphical User Interface). Information input to operate the input section 15 is subjected to predetermined processing in the input processing section 14 and sent to the CPU 11 as an operation command. The CPU 11 controls and executes necessary processing operations so that the terminal device 10 can operate in response to input operation commands.

The display processing section 16 is connected to a display 17 which is generally a liquid crystal display to display various information on the display 17 . When the CPU 11 supplies display data to the display processing section 16 according to the state of any one of various operations, the state of any one of various input operations, and/or the state of communication, the display processing section 16 causes the display 17 to operate to Display data provided to it. For example, the display 17 may display received broadcast information, content transmitted from a server and information on the content and/or cropping information. When one or more pieces of music are retrieved through the network 30, the result of the retrieval is displayed on the display 17.

The media drive 19a, 19b is a drive capable of recording and reproducing the contents of one or more music pieces recorded on a portable recording medium (but it can only reproduce the contents according to the type of recording medium). It is not necessarily limited to a single type of recording medium that the media drive 19a, 19b can operate for recording and reproducing content. That is, the media drives 19a, 19b may be capable of recording content on or reproducing content from various recording media. For example, media drive 19a may be adapted to reproduce content from CDs and DVDs, while media drive 19b may be adapted to record content on or reproduce content from an MD.

It should be noted that a portable recording medium on which a plurality of music pieces are recorded is not limited to an optical recording medium such as a CD or a DVD. For example, a semiconductor memory recording medium including storage contents such as a flash memory can be used for the purpose of the present invention. If so, The reader/writer is then connected to the bus 12 for the flash memory.

A user can enjoy music by inserting a recording medium (CD, DVD, MD, etc.) recorded with content including music pieces into the media drive 19a or 19b and performing a predetermined operation on the remote controller 40 or the operation input section 15 . If, for example, the user operates the remote controller 40 for a playback operation of the media drive 19a, the CPU 11 issues a command for reproducing the content to the media drive 19a. Then, in response, the media drive 19a accesses specific content recorded on the recording medium loaded therein and reads out the content.

If the contents thus read out are audio contents, the CPU 11 performs decoding processing as necessary, and then transfers them to the audio data processing section 24. Then, the audio data processing section 24 performs appropriate processing including sound field processing such as equalization, D/A conversion processing and amplification processing on the audio data and outputs them from the speaker section 25 . The speaker section 25 includes a plurality of speakers 25a, 25b as shown in FIG. 3 and can output stereo sound.

Under the control of the CPU 11, the content reproduced by the media drive 19a or 19b can be accumulated in the HDD 21 as an audio data file. The audio data file may store audio data in a CD format quantized with 16 bits and sampled with a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz. The content may be subjected to compression processing by a predetermined system and stored in the HDD 21 as compressed audio data to save the capacity of the HDD 21. Although any compression system may be used, compression systems that can be used for the purpose of the present invention include the ATRAC (Advanced Transform Audio Coding) system, the MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) system, and the like.

The tuner 17 is typically an AM/FM radio tuner that demodulates broadcast signals received by the antenna 26 under the control of the CPU 11. However, it goes without saying that the tuner 27 may be a TV tuner, a satellite broadcast tuner, or a digital broadcast tuner. The demodulated broadcast signal is then subjected to predetermined processing in the audio data processing section 24 and output from the speaker section 25 as broadcast sound. Alternatively, the demodulated broadcast signal is then subjected to predetermined processing in the display processing section 16 and displayed on the display 17 as a broadcast image.

Then, the received broadcast signal (broadcast information) subjected to predetermined processing in the audio data processing section 24 or the display processing section 16 under the control of the CPU 11 is recorded in the HDD 21 or the clipping information storage device 21a. At this time, under the control of the CPU 11, the broadcast signal may be correlated with specific related information recorded in the clipping information storage device 21a and recorded in the clipping information storage device 21a.

In addition, appropriate sound information such as beeping may be added to the received broadcast signal in the audio data processing section 24 or the display processing section 16 under the control of the CPU 11, if necessary. For example, when a command to record a broadcast signal in the HDD 21 is input to the CPU 11, sound information is added to the broadcast signal and the sound information-added broadcast signal is recorded in the cropping information recording device 21a or some other suitable recording device. .

By operating the input section 15 or the remote controller 40, the user can select a time period for recording the broadcast signal in the cropping information recording device 21a or some other suitable recording device. When the broadcast signal is actually recorded, the CPU 11 executes required processing in the audio data processing section 24a or the display processing section 16 according to the selected value.

Under the control of the CPU 11, the communication processing section 22 performs encoding processing on data to be transmitted. Also under the control of the CPU 11, it also performs decoding processing on received data. The network interface 23 transmits the data to be transmitted encoded by the communication processing section 22 to a predetermined corresponding device on the external network through the network. The network interface 23 also transmits information transmitted from a predetermined corresponding device on an external network through the network to the communication processing section 22 . Then, the communication processing section 22 transmits the received information to the CPU 11. The information transmitted from the terminal device 10 via the network may be information on content, which may be request information requesting information on music pieces broadcast by the FM radio broadcasting system. The information received by the terminal device 10 can also be the described content-related information.

The infrared communication section 28 communicates with the remote controller 40 through radio communication means such as infrared rays. The infrared communication section 28 performs predetermined processing on a signal sent from the remote controller 40 and sends it to the CPU 11 as an operation command. The CPU 11 performs necessary processing operations and control operations so that the apparatus can operate in a manner corresponding to the input operation command.

The processing functions of this embodiment are realized by the above-mentioned hardware configuration.

Note that the configuration of the terminal device 10 is not limited to the one shown in FIG. 4 and the apparatus may have any of various modified configurations. For example, the terminal device 10 may be provided with an interface for communicating with peripheral devices through a communication system such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE1394, or Bluetooth. Then, the terminal device 10 can store in the HDD 21 the audio data downloaded by the network interface 23 through the network 30 or the audio content transferred through the interface which may be USB or IEEE1394 bus. The terminal device 10 may also be provided with terminals when it is used with a microphone or external headphones, a video output compatible with the operation of replaying DVDs, connection terminals and/or optical digital connection terminals. In addition, the terminal device 10 can also be provided with a PCMCIA slot and/or a memory card slot, so that it can exchange data with an external information processing device and/or audio device.

The configuration of the program modules of the system to which the present embodiment is applicable will be described below. The program module refers to data describing processing to be executed by the terminal device 10 . That is, the terminal device 10 can realize predetermined functions according to the program modules. In the following description, the functions realized by executing the program modules will be referred to by naming the program modules.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of program modules of a terminal device showing its configuration.

As shown in FIG. 5, the program modules of the terminal device 10 are designed to operate on an OS (Operating System). The terminal device 10 can communicate with various servers which, due to the function of the program modules, can include, in addition to the CD name information providing server 31, broadcast station server 32, music delivery server 33, and CD store server 34, suitable for providing various An integrated service server 35 and an Internet radio server 36 for integrated services.

The HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) message program 111 is designed to communicate with various servers including: CD title information providing server 31 , broadcasting station server 32 , CD shop server 34 and general service server 35 through HTTP communication. The communication device program 112 is a communication module designed to communicate with various servers including the integrated service server 35 .

The content reproduction module 113 used when translating the codec of the content and the copyright protection information management module 114 used when processing the information related to copyright protection are set as high-level modules related to the communication device program (connected to the user interface) similar in function). The Internet radio tuning/reproducing module 118 used when tuning and reproducing broadcast information of a station in an Internet radio station is provided as a high-order module related to the content reproduction simulation 113 . The music purchase/reproduction module 119 used when purchasing musical pieces and reproducing musical pieces for listening is provided as a high-order module related to the copyright protection information management module 114 .

An XML (Extensible Markup Language) browser 151 is provided as a high-level module related to the Internet radio tuning/demodulation module 118 and the music purchase/reproduction module 119 . The XML browser 151 translates the contents of XML documents transmitted from various servers and displays them on the display 17 . When the terminal device 10 operates in the integrated service usage mode, the content input to the terminal device 10 by the user is translated by the XML browser 151 . Then, the XML browser 151 transmits a processing request to some other module according to the input content. For example, music selected by the user through the XML browser 151 is purchased through the music purchase/reproduction module 119 and written into the HDD 21 through the hard disk content controller 117.

The communication device program 112 is connected to the authentication library 131 of the program library 130 . The authentication library 131 executes authentication processing for various servers including the integrated service server 35 .

The database access module 115, the content data access module 116, and the hard disk content controller 117 are provided as high-level modules related to the communication device program 112. The database access module 115 accesses various databases formed in the HDD 21. The content data access module 116 accesses content stored in the HDD 21 . The hard disk contents controller 117 manages the contents stored in the HDD 21.

A related information display module 120 , a tuner tuning/reproduction/recording module 121 , and a music piece purchase/reproduction module 119 are provided as high-order modules related to the hard disk content controller 117 . The relevant information display module 120 displays on the display 17 the title of the music broadcast by the radio station and the name of the performing artist. The tuner tuning/reproducing/recording module 121 is adapted to tune into a radio station and record the content of music received from the radio station in the HDD 21.

For example, by the content data access module 116, the melody received by the radio station transferred through the radio user interface (audio UI) 152 is written in the HDD 21.

The related information display module 120 receives from the name information providing server 31 and/or the broadcasting station server 32 the title of the music broadcasted from the radio station and the name of the artist of the performance through the tuner tuning/reproducing/recording module 121 and through the HTTP message program 111 as relevant information and display them on the display 17 through the audio user interface 152.

Relevant information displayed on the display 17 through the audio user interface 152 may be temporarily stored in the clipping library 132 of the program library 130 . The relevant information can be finally stored in the HDD 21 through the database access module 115 according to the instructions given by the user.

The program modules of the terminal device 10 also include a CD playback module 141 for playing back a CD and an HDD reproduction module 142 for reproducing data from the HDD 21. The CD playback module 141 and the HDD playback module 142 are adapted to output the result of an operation on playback of a CD or an operation of reproducing data from the HDD 21 through the audio data processing section 24 and the speaker section 25.

The terminal device 10 having the above configuration can receive related information from a server and tailor the related information. It is also operable to retrieve one or more pieces of music and purchase them when clipping relevant information.

The processing performed when the relevant information is tailored by the terminal device 10 described above to correlate it with the broadcast information received from the broadcast station 32a will be described below.

The user of the terminal device 10 receives broadcast information from the broadcast station 32a through the terminal device 10 and watches images and/or listens to the sound of the broadcast. At the same time, the user of the terminal device 10 receives contents represented by music pieces transmitted from the broadcast station server 32 of the broadcast station 32 a and displays them on the display 17 . Therefore, the content corresponds to the broadcast information transmitted from the broadcast station 32a. Therefore, the user of the terminal device 10 can refer to the content corresponding to the broadcast information (which may be the name of the broadcasted tune and the name of the performance artist) when viewing and/or listening to the broadcast information. At this time, the terminal device 10 also receives related information related to the content (for example, the name, quantity, and release year and dealer of the CD on which the music is recorded, in addition to the title of the music and the name of the performing artist). The relevant information is temporarily stored in the terminal device 10 .

When the user of the terminal device 10 is watching and listening to broadcast information, he or she can find one that the user cares about. Then, when the content of the music piece (real-time broadcast information) is displayed, the user can crop related information related to the music piece displayed by performing a predetermined operation on the remote controller 40 or the operation input section 15 .

Then, the terminal device 10 records the broadcast information received when the cropping request is sent to the terminal device 10 so as to correlate it with the relevant information.

As pointed out earlier, there are two methods that can be used to tailor related information and correlate it with received broadcast information. The first is to send the clipping request to the terminal device 10 within a predetermined time period A technique of recording broadcast information. The second is a technique of recording broadcast information within a predetermined period of time before and after the time point when the cropping request is sent to the terminal device 10.

First, the first technique will be discussed below.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of operations using a method of recording broadcast information from a point in time when a cropping request is given to the terminal device 10. Referring to FIG.

Since the user of the terminal device 10 usually selects the title of a music piece corresponding to the displayed content through the remote controller 40 (step S1 ), a request for clipping related information related to the music piece is input into the terminal device 10 .

Then, in response to the input, the terminal device 10 records the relevant information of the melody, temporarily stored content in the HDD 21 and crops it (step S2).

In addition, the terminal device 10 starts recording the sound and image of the broadcast information received from the time point when the trimming request was input together with the trimming of the related information (step S3). Then, it records the broadcast information in the HDD 21 for a predetermined period of time (for example: 100 bills) (step S4). At this time, the terminal device 10 correlates the received broadcast information with the tailored related information.

As a result, the broadcast information is recorded in the terminal device 10 within a predetermined time from the point in time when a clipping request for the related information is given and related to the related information.

The second technique is discussed below.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of operations of a method of recording broadcast information from before and after a point in time when a cropping request is given to the terminal device 10. Referring to FIG.

The terminal device 10 starts recording the sound and image of the broadcast information received from the point of time when the user starts watching and listening to it (step S10). Then, it records broadcast information in the HDD 21 for a predetermined period of time (for example, 100 seconds) (step S11).

When the predetermined period of time elapses, the terminal device 10 determines whether there is a tailoring request for related information (step S12).

If it is determined in step S12 that there is no cropping request, the terminal device 10 returns to step S10 and records broadcast information for a predetermined time from this point on. At this time, the terminal device 10 rewrites the recorded related information.

At any time during the above step S10 - step S12 , the user of the terminal device 10 can usually select a music piece corresponding to the content being displayed through the remote controller 40 . Note, however, that if the user selects a tune and inputs a trimming request, the terminal device 10 does not immediately trim the related information of the tune but waits for the recording process of the related information within a predetermined period of time for recording broadcast information (until determination is made) .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that there is a cutting request before the point in time when the predetermined period of time elapses, then the terminal device 10 records the relevant information of the corresponding music piece of the temporarily stored content in the HDD 21 and cuts it (step S13).

In addition, when the predetermined time period of step S11 elapses, the terminal device 10 starts to record the sound and image of the received broadcast information and the clipping of related information in another predetermined time period (for example, 100 seconds) (step S14) and The broadcast information is recorded in the HDD 21 within a predetermined period of time (step S15). At this time, the terminal device 10 records the received broadcast information and correlates it with the clipped related information.

As a result, broadcast information is recorded in the terminal device 10 for 200 seconds, for example, before and after the point in time when the cropping request is given and related to the related information.

Then in response to the user's operation carried out on the remote controller 40, the item of relevant information clipped by the above-mentioned first technique or the second technique will be displayed on the display 17 in the form of a list. The user checks the list and can One of the options is selected on the remote controller 40. Then, the selected related information and the broadcast information related to the related information and recorded are reproduced through the terminal device 10.

In this way, since the relevant information is clipped and related to the broadcast information being broadcast when the clipping request is given, the user of the terminal device 10 can view the clipped related information by listening to the sound and viewing the image related to and recorded with the relevant information. It is easy to distinguish this related information from the rest of the related information.

The clipping information can be used when the user accesses the CD title information providing server 31, the music delivery server 33 or the CD store server 34 from the terminal device 10 to retrieve a piece of music or purchase a set of sound data, CD or DVD.

The above-mentioned processing functions are realized by programs executed by the CPU 11 of the terminal device 10. The program is usually stored in HDD 21 or ROM 13 for installation.

The program may be temporarily or permanently stored on a removable recording medium such as a floppy disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), MO (Magneto-Optical) disk, DVD, magnetic disk, or semiconductor memory. This removable recording medium can be set as a so-called software package.

For example, in the case of the present embodiment, the program may be recorded on a medium that can be accommodated in the media drives 19a, 19b and provided as a software package. Then, the terminal device 10 can read out the program from the recording medium through any one of the medium drives 19a, 19b and store it in the HDD 21 or the RAOM 13 for installation. When the program is provided as a software package, the program of the system to which the present invention can be applied can be installed in any general-purpose personal computer.

As described above, the program can be installed from a removable recording medium. Also, it can be downloaded from a server storing the program through a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

In addition, it is intended that the program may be updated to increase the processing function of the present invention or distributed as a software package or transmitted over a network. Then, with the system installed and present, the user can fetch the update and install it.

(3) The second embodiment

A service system for providing information related to musical pieces being broadcast, which can be realized by one of a plurality of service providing servers, will now be described by way of a second embodiment. This service system has a single start broadcast feature.

(3-1) System configuration of music-related service provision system

Referring to FIG. 8, a music-related service providing system, generally indicated by reference numeral 1000, is shown. The system includes a user terminal 1002, or a client terminal of a customer who contracts with an operator of the music-related service providing system 1000, an entry server 1003 that manages the client terminal 1002, and a plurality of servers 1004-1008 that provide music-related services to the client terminal 1002.

In the case of the present embodiment, the music information delivery server 1004 provides audio codecs in ATRAC3 (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding 3), AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), WMA (Windows Media Audio), Real Audio G2 music codec (Real AUDIO G2Music Codec), MP3 (MPEG audio layer-3) and other formats to transmit music data to the music data transmission service of the client terminal 1002.

The transaction server 1005 provides transaction services by selling CDs (Compact Disks), DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks) and the like to users through the client terminals 1002 .

The radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 provides a radio broadcast information delivery service of providing the client terminal 1002 with radio broadcast information on broadcast programs and music pieces broadcast from radio stations.

The Internet server 1007 provides an Internet radio broadcasting service in which radio broadcasting data is transmitted by streaming through the network NT1000 corresponding to the Internet.

In addition, the billing server 1008 performs billing processing of charging various service fees to users in response to requests from the portal server 1003 and other servers.

(3-2) Functional circuit block configuration of the client terminal 1002

The following describes the hardware configuration of the client terminal 1002 using functional circuit blocks. As shown in FIG. 9, the client terminal 1002 includes an operation input section 1020 including various control buttons provided on the surface of the cabinet and its memory controller (not shown). When the user operates the operation input section 1020 , the latter recognizes it and sends an operation input signal corresponding to the operation to the input processing section 1021 .

The input processing section 1021 converts the operation input signal supplied thereto from the operation input section 1020 into a specific operation command and transmits it to the control section 1023 through the bus 1022 .

The control section 1023 controls various circuits connected thereto through the bus 1022 in accordance with operation commands and control signals sent thereto from the circuits.

The display control section 1024 performs digital/analog conversion processing on video data supplied thereto via the bus 1022 and sends the acquired analog video signal to the display section 1025 .

The display section 1025 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display that can be directly built into the casing surface of the apparatus or provided as a separate unit.

The display section 1025 receives the result of the processing operation of the control section 1023 and various video data in the form of an analog video signal through the display control section 1024, and it displays an image corresponding to the analog video signal.

The sound control section 1026 performs digital/analog conversion processing on audio data supplied thereto via the bus 1022 and sends the acquired analog audio signal to the speaker 1027 . The speaker 1027 outputs a sound corresponding to the analog audio signal supplied from the sound control section 1026 .

The external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 operates to read content data recorded on an external recording medium such as a CD or a memory stick (trade name) of a flash memory contained in a protective case and reproduce them or content data to be recorded Recorded on external recording media.

When the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 reads video data from the external recording medium as content data, it supplies the read video data to the display control section 1024 through the bus 1022 .

Then, the display control section 1024 converts the video data read out from the external recording medium as content data by the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 into an analog video signal and supplies it to the display section 1025 .

On the other hand, when the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 reads audio data from the external recording medium as content data, it supplies the read audio data to the sound control section 1026 through the bus 1022 .

Then, the sound control section 1026 converts the audio data read out from the external recording medium as content data by the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 into an analog audio signal and supplies it to the speaker 1027 .

In addition, the control section 1023 can transfer the content data read from the external recording medium by the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 to the recording medium 1029 provided inside the client terminal 1002 through the bus 1022 and store the content data in the recording medium 1029. (hereinafter the action of storing content data in the recording medium 1029 is referred to as splitting).

When the control section 1023 reads video data, which may also be called image data, from the recording medium 1029 as content data, it supplies the video data it reads to the display control section 1024 via the bus 1022 .

On the other hand, when the control section 1023 reads audio data, which may also be called sound data, from the recording medium 1029 as content data, it supplies the audio data it reads to the sound control section 1026 via the bus 1022 .

In addition, the control section 1023 reads out the music data from the recording medium 1029 and sends the music data to the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 to record the music data in the external recording medium through the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028.

The broadcast signal receiving section 1030 receives radio broadcast waves transmitted from radio stations and supplies them to the tuner section 1031 .

The tuner section 1031 extracts a radio broadcast signal of a broadcast frequency corresponding to a radio station normally designated by the operation input section 1020 under the control of the control section 1023 and performs predetermined reception processing on the signal. Then, it sends the processed audio data to the sound control section 1026 through the bus 1022 .

The sound control section 1026 converts the audio data sent from the tuner section 1031 into an analog audio signal and sends it to the speaker 1027 so that the speaker 1027 outputs a broadcast program being broadcast from a radio station, so the user listens to the sound of the broadcast program.

The control section 1023 can record the sound of the broadcast program in the recording medium 1029 by transferring the audio data acquired at the tuner section 1031 to the recording medium 1029 and storing them in the recording medium 1029 .

In addition, the control section 1023 can connect the user terminal 1002 with the network NT1000 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 and access the entrance server 1003 and other servers 1004-1007 on the network NT1000 to communicate with the entrance server 1003 and other servers 1004-1007 Exchange various information and various data.

The encoder/decoder section 1034 compresses/encodes the content data received from the network NT 1000 sequentially through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032, and compresses/encodes and reads out from the recording medium 1029 and the external recording medium. The contents data are decoded and sent to the display control section 1024 and the sound control section 1026 .

In addition, the encoder/decoder section 1034 compresses/encodes content data read from an external recording medium but not compressed/encoded and audio data supplied from the tuner section 1031 and transmits the compressed/encoded content data to the recording medium. Media 1029.

As a result, the content data compressed/encoded by the encoder/decoder section 1034 is stored in the recording medium 1029 under the control of the control section 1023 .

The copyright management section 1035 generates copyright management information corresponding to content data downloaded sequentially from the network NT 100 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 and content data corresponding to content data read out from the external recording medium through the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028. Copyright Management Information.

The copyright management information generated by the copyright management section 1035 is associated with the corresponding content data and registered in the recording medium 1029 under the control of the control section 1023 .

When the content data associated with the corresponding copyright management information is found between the recording medium 1029 and the specific external recording medium and when the content data associated with the corresponding copyright management information is found between the specific external recording medium and the recording medium 1029 When content data is stored, the copyright management section 1035 protects the copyright of the content data by appropriately updating the copyright management information corresponding to the content data.

The page information generation section 1036 translates the page information of the XML (Extensible Markup Language) file or HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) file received sequentially from the network NT1000 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 and generates to be displayed on the display section 1025 video data on . Then, it sends the generated video data to the display control section 1024 .

The authentication processing section 1037 executes authentication processing of sequentially sending authentication information to the portal server 1003 and other servers 1004-1007 on the network NT 1000 connected thereto through the network interface 1033 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033.

The authentication information storage section 1038 stores authentication information required when the authentication processing section 1037 accesses the entry server 1003 and other servers 1004-1007.

The radio broadcast display control section 1039 transmits a request signal requesting radio broadcast information on the tuned-in broadcast program so that the user can listen to it to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 corresponding to the radio station broadcasting the broadcast program being received.

Accordingly, the radio broadcast display control section 1039 receives the radio broadcast information transmitted from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 on the network NT 1000 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in order and transmits the received radio broadcast information to the display control section 1024 for The display section 1025 is caused to display radio broadcast information including the name of the currently received broadcast program, the title of the music piece being received, and the name of the performing artist.

The control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 manages content data stored in the recording medium 1029 by the directory shown in FIG. 10 . First, an optional number of "folder" directories are prepared within a predefined range for one level below the "root" directory. A "folder" directory is usually prepared to correspond to the type of content or the user/owner of the terminal device.

An optional number of "album" directories are prepared within a predetermined range for the next layer of each "folder" directory. An "album" directory is usually prepared to correspond to each album name. One or more "track" files are stored one level below each "album" directory and belong to the "album" directory. Each "track" file is for a piece of music or a set of content.

The directory of content data is managed by a database file stored in the recording medium 1029 .

(3-3) Functional circuit block configuration of the portal server 1003

The hardware configuration of the portal server 1003 will be described below in terms of functional circuit blocks with reference to FIG. 11 . A control section 1050 in the portal server 1003 controls operations of various circuits connected thereto via a bus 1051 .

The communication control section 1052 exchanges various information with the client terminal 1002 and other servers 1004-1008 through the network interface 1053 under the control of the control section 1050.

User ID (identification) information and password information of each user who has contracted with the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 are correlated with each other and registered in the customer database section 1054 .

The page information storage section 1055 stores page information and the like managed by the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 .

Note that this page information is described by a language such as XML and contains URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information required to access the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, radio broadcast information delivery server 1006, and Internet radio server 1007.

When the authentication processing section 1056 receives user ID information and password information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence, it checks whether the user ID information and password information it received is used as Customer information is registered in the customer database section 1054 .

When the authentication processing section 1056 ends the user authentication processing, it sends out information on the entry authentication result (authentication session ID information described below) showing the result of the user authentication processing and stores the sent information on the entry authentication result in the authentication In the information storage part 1057.

At this time, if the user is authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1056, the control section 1050 sequentially passes the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 to store the information stored in the subscriber's page information storage section 1055. The page information is sent to the client terminal 1002 together with information on the result of the entrance authentication.

It may be set so that if the user is not authenticated as an authorized user as a result of user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1056, the control section 1050 transmits the authentication error information and the information stored in the page via the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in sequence. The authentication failure notification page information indicating the authentication failure in the storage section 1055 is sent to the client terminal 1002 together.

In addition, when the authentication processing section 1056 receives the user's client terminal 1002 from the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 sequentially through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052, it acquires and When sending the information about the entrance authentication result (the authentication ticket will be described below), it combines the received information about the entrance authentication result with the entrance authentication result temporarily stored in the authentication information storage part 1057 and corresponding to the user. Compared.

With the above arrangement, the authentication processing section 1056 checks as authentication processing whether the information on the entry authentication result received from the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, and radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 is appropriate information on the entry authentication result and sequentially Information on the result of the checking process is sent back to the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, and radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 through the communication control section 1052 and the communication interface 1053.

The frequency information storage section 1056 stores area codes such as zip codes for identifying each area, frequency information on broadcasting frequencies of radio broadcasts that can be received in each area indicated by the corresponding area code, radio frequency information of radio broadcasts, etc. The name of the station (hereinafter referred to as the name of the radio station) and the call sign of the radio station (which is the unique identification information for each radio station in the form of coordinates).

The URL storage section 1059 stores the call sign of each radio broadcast station and can be used to acquire radio broadcast information (hereinafter referred to as real-time broadcast information) URL information.

(3-4) Functional circuit block configuration of the music information delivery server 1004

The hardware configuration of the music information delivery server 1004 will be described below with functional circuit blocks by referring to FIG. 12 . The control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 controls the operations of various circuits connected thereto via the bus 1071 .

The communication control section 1072 exchanges various information and various data including content data with the client terminal 1002 and other servers including the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1073 under the control of the control section 1070 .

User ID information and password information of users who have contracted with the operator of the music information delivery server 1004 are correlated with each other and registered in the customer database section 1074 . However, note that if the authentication processing section 1075 (to be described in detail below) has a function of performing authentication processing for each user based on information on the entry authentication result issued from the entry server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002, the customer database section 1074 can be omitted.

The page information storage section 1076 stores page information for delivering music data introducing musical pieces that can be downloaded. This page information is managed by the music information delivery server 1004 .

Note that page information for transferring music data is described by a language such as XML and allows the user of the client terminal 1002 to select the music data he or she wants to download.

When the control section 1070 receives a page information acquisition request signal requesting page information for music data transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence, it sequentially passes through the The communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 transmit the page information for transmitting music data stored in the page information storage section 1076 to the client terminal 1002.

When the authentication processing section 1075 receives user ID information and password information of a user using the client terminal 1002 transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence, it checks the user ID information it receives in user authentication processing. Whether or not ID information and password information are registered in the customer database section 1074 as customer information.

In addition, as a user authentication technique different from user authentication processing using user ID information and password information, the authentication processing section 1075 receives information about the portal sent from the portal server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 sequentially. Information on the authentication result (authentication ticket described below) and transmits the received information on the authentication result to the portal server 1003 through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1075 receives information sent back from the portal server 1003 as a result of performing authentication processing on the information on the authentication result via the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in response to the information on the entry authentication result being sent to the entry server 1003. Information about the result of the verification process. Then, it checks whether or not the user has concluded a contract with the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 based on the received information of checking the processing result.

When the authentication processing section 1075 ends the user authentication processing, it sends out server authentication result information (hereinafter referred to as service session ID information) showing the result of the user authentication processing.

At this time, if the user is authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1075, the control section 1070 transmits the page information stored in the subscriber to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 sequentially. Page information for transferring music data and server authentication result information in the storage section 1076 are stored.

On the other hand, if the user is not authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1075, the control section 1070 transmits authentication error information and Authentication failure notification page information indicating authentication failure is stored in the page information storage section 1076 .

Meanwhile, the authentication information storage section 1077 temporarily stores server authentication result information issued from the authentication processing section 1075 and various authentication information required by the authentication processing section 1075 in user authentication processing for a user using the client terminal 1002 .

The music data storage section 1078 stores sets of music data compressed/encoded in the above-mentioned ATRAC3 format and MPS format and associated with retrieval keys which may be content ID information for sets of music data.

When the retrieval section 1079 receives a download request signal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 as a result of the page information for transmitting music data being transmitted to the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence, requesting it to download the When searching for desired music data including a search key for music data desired to be downloaded, it extracts the search key from the received download request signal.

Then, the retrieval section 1079 retrieves, from the sets of music stored in the music data storage section 1078, the music data desired to be downloaded that meets the retrieval requirement indicated in the retrieval key using the retrieval key.

Then, the control section 1070 transmits the retrieved music data desired to be downloaded to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 in sequence.

In addition, the control section 1070 transmits to the accounting server 1008, through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073, billing information for charging the user a service fee for downloading music data to the client terminal 1002 to the billing server 1008 so that the billing server 1008 performs Billing processing for services that download music data to users.

(3-5) Functional circuit block configuration of transaction server 1005

The hardware configuration of the transaction server 1005 will be described below with functional circuit blocks with reference to FIG. 13 . A control section 1090 in the transaction server 1005 controls operations of various circuits connected thereto via a bus 1091 .

The communication control section 1092 exchanges various information with the client terminal 1002 and other servers including the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1093 under the control of the control section 1090 .

User ID information and password information of each user who has made a contract with the operator of the transaction server 1005 are correlated with each other and registered in the customer database section 1094 as customer information. Note, however, that the customer database section 1094 may be omitted if the authentication processing section 1095 has a function of performing authentication processing for each user based on information on the portal authentication result issued from the portal server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002.

The page information storage section 1096 stores page information for trading media packages introducing media packages such as CDs, DVDs, etc. to be traded. Page information is managed by the transaction server 1005 .

Note that the page information for trading media packs is described by a language such as XML and allows the user of the client terminal 1002 to select one or more media packs such as CD, DVD, etc. that he or she wants to buy.

When the control section 1090 receives a page information acquisition request signal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 sequentially, requesting page information for trading media packs, it responds to the received page information acquisition request signal The page information for the transaction media package stored in the page information storage section 1096 is transmitted to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 in this order.

When the authentication processing section 1095 receives user ID information and password information of a user using the client terminal 1002 transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in sequence, it checks the user ID information it receives in user authentication processing. Whether ID information and password information are registered in the customer database section 1094.

In addition, as a user authentication technique different from user authentication processing using user ID information and password information, the authentication processing section 1095 receives, through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092, information about the portal sent from the portal server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002 in sequence. Information on the authentication result (authentication ticket described below) and transmits the received information on the authentication result to the portal server 1003 through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1095 transmits to the portal server 1003 in response to the information on the authentication result of the portal, and receives from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 sequentially as information on the authentication result to perform authentication processing (that is, the above-mentioned check processing) ) to send back information about the result of the verification process. Then, it checks whether or not the user has concluded a contract with the music-related service providing system 1000 based on the received information of the check processing result.

When the authentication processing section 1095 ends the user authentication processing, it sends out server authentication result information (hereinafter referred to as service session ID information) showing the result of the user authentication processing.

At this time, if the user is authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1095, the control section 1090 transmits the page information stored in the subscriber to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 sequentially. The page information for the transaction media package and the server authentication result information in the storage section 1096 are stored.

On the other hand, if the user is not authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1095, the control section 1090 transmits authentication error information and Authentication failure notification page information indicating authentication failure stored in the page information storage section 1096.

Meanwhile, the authentication information storage section 1097 temporarily stores server authentication result information issued from the authentication processing section 1095 and various authentication information required by the authentication processing section 1095 in user authentication processing for a user using the client terminal 1002 .

The media package information storage section 1098 stores information about a plurality of media packages to be traded such as CDs and DVDs (hereinafter referred to as media package information) in relation to a retrieval key which may be media package ID information for a plurality of media packages. .

When the retrieval section 1099 receives the media information request signal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 as a result of the page information for the transaction media package being transmitted to the client terminal 1002 from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in sequence, the request is related to such as When receiving media package information related to a specific media package such as CD or DVD, it extracts a retrieval key for retrieving the specific media package from the received media information request signal.

Then, the retrieval section 1099 retrieves the media package information of a specific media package that meets the retrieval requirement indicated in the retrieval key from among the plurality of media package information stored in the media package information storage section 1098 using the retrieval key.

Then, the control section 1090 transmits the retrieved media package information to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 in sequence. Media package information about a particular media package is thereby presented to the user.

Then, if the control section 1090 receives a purchase request signal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in order to request the purchase of a specific media package, it executes the purchase of transmitting the specific media package to the user using the client terminal 1002. deal with.

In addition, the control part 1090 sends billing information for charging the user for purchasing a specific media package to the billing server 1008 through the communication control part 1092 and the network interface 1093 in turn so that the billing server 1008 executes the billing information for the user to purchase the specific media package. Accounting handling for package services.

In addition, when the billing process of the user's billing server 1008 is completed, the control section 1090 transmits purchase completion page information indicating that the purchase process of the media package is completed to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 in sequence.

(3-6) Functional circuit block configuration of radio broadcast information delivery server 1006

The hardware configuration of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 will be described below in terms of functional circuit blocks with reference to FIG. 14 . A control section 1110 in the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 controls operations of various circuits connected thereto via a bus 1111 .

The communication control section 1112 exchanges various information and various data with the client terminal 1002 and other servers including the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1113 under the control of the control section 1110 .

User ID information and password information of users who have made a contract with the operator of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 are correlated with each other and registered in the customer database section 1114 as customer information. Note, however, that the customer database section 1114 may be omitted if the authentication processing section 1115 has a function of performing authentication processing for each user based on information on the portal authentication result issued from the portal server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002.

Page information storage section 1116 stores radio broadcast information corresponding to radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 for transmitting broadcast programs (hereinafter referred to as broadcast list information) that have been broadcast from each radio station managed by radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 page information. Page information is often used to get broadcast lists.

Note that the page information for transmitting the broadcast list is described by a language such as XML and is provided for prompting the user of the client terminal 1002 to input the time and date of broadcast program transmission and the name of the program as a broadcast list for the user to acquire. The input box for the retrieval key of the information.

The broadcast list information storage section 1117 stores broadcast list information including: titles of broadcast programs that have been broadcast from each radio station corresponding to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006, the clock time and time of the start and end of each broadcast program Name, the name of the performing artist, the clock time of the start and end of the broadcast of each music piece in each broadcast program. The information is generated in the form of a list.

When the control section 1110 receives a page information acquisition request signal transmitted from the client terminal 1002 via the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112 sequentially, requesting page information for transmitting broadcast list information, it responds to the received page information acquisition request The signal transmits the page information for delivering the broadcast list information stored in the page information storage section 1116 to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 in sequence.

When the retrieval part 1118 receives the broadcast list information request signal sent from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1113 and the communication control part 1112 in sequence, it is requested to download the page information containing the information about the broadcast list information for retrieving and inputting that the user wants to obtain and input. When the desired broadcast list information of the search key is selected, it fetches the search key from the received broadcast list information request signal.

Then, the retrieval section 1118 retrieves the desired part of the broadcast list information stored in the broadcast list information storage section 1117 using the retrieval key, which meets the retrieval requirement of the retrieval key.

Then, the control section 1110 transmits the retrieved broadcast list information desired by the user to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 in sequence.

The real-time broadcast list information storage section 1119 stores broadcast list information including titles of broadcast programs being broadcast from each radio station with the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006, the clock time and name of the start and end of each broadcast program , the name of the performing artist, the clock time when the music being broadcast on the radio starts and ends.

When the authentication processing section 1115 receives the user ID information and password information of the user using the client terminal 1002 transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112 sequentially with a broadcast information request signal requesting acquisition of broadcast information, it It is checked in the user authentication process whether the user ID information and password information it received are registered in the customer database section 1114 .

In addition, as a user authentication technique different from user authentication processing using user ID information and password information, the authentication processing section 1115 receives, through the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112, information about the portal sent from the portal server 1003 and transmitted from the client terminal 1002 in sequence. Information on the authentication result (authentication ticket described below) and transmits the received information on the authentication result to the portal server 1003 through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 in sequence.

Then, the authentication processing section 1115 transmits to the portal server 1003 in response to the information on the authentication result of the portal, and receives from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112 sequentially as information on the authentication result to perform authentication processing (that is, the above-mentioned check processing) ) to send back information about the result of the verification process. Then, it checks whether or not the user has concluded a contract with the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 based on the received information of checking the processing result.

When the authentication processing section 1115 ends the user authentication processing, it sends out server authentication result information (hereinafter referred to as service session ID information) showing the result of the user authentication processing.

At this time, if the user is authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1115, the control section 1110 transmits to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 sequentially. The real-time broadcast information and server authentication result information in section 1116.

On the other hand, if the user is not authenticated as an authorized user as a result of the user authentication processing performed by the authentication processing section 1115, the control section 1110 transmits authentication error information and Authentication failure notification page information indicating authentication failure is stored in the page information storage section 1116 .

In this way, if the user is authenticated as an authorized user, the control section 1110 transmits real-time broadcast information to the user in response to the user's request for acquiring real-time broadcast information, and if the user is not authenticated as an authorized user, it prevents the user from receiving information including the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006. Radio broadcast information delivery service, including the service of delivering real-time broadcast information.

Meanwhile, the authentication information storage section 1120 temporarily stores server authentication result information issued from the authentication processing section 1115 and various authentication information required by the authentication processing section 1115 in user authentication processing for a user using the client terminal 1002 .

(3-7) Summary of processing operations of each server

The processing performed between the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 and the processing between the client terminal 1002 and the server including the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, and the radio information delivery server 1006 will be described in summary below with reference to the program charts of FIGS. 15-20. processing performed between other servers within the

(3-7-1) User authentication processing procedure between client terminal 1002 and portal server 1003

First, the procedure of user authentication processing executed between the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 will be described with reference to FIG. 15 .

When the power supply of the client terminal 1002 is turned on or an operation input signal recognized by the operation input section 1020 is converted into an operation command by the input processing section 1021 in response to the user's operation of pressing a specific operation button of the operation input section 1020, the music-related service providing system 1000 The control section 1023 of the contracted client terminal 1002 starts authentication request processing.

When the client terminal 1002 starts authentication request processing, the control section 1023 generates a connection request signal containing authentication session ID information and other information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 in advance and passes through the communication control section 1032 and the network sequentially in step SP1000. The interface 1033 sends the generated connection request signal to the portal server 1003 .

Note that in order to perform any of various processes such as user authentication processing, the authentication session ID information is identification information issued by the portal server 1003, which is used to identify each time the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 are connected for communication The state of each connection of a communication (or session).

A predetermined validity period (for example, about 1 minute) is defined for each authentication session ID information. The validity period starts when the portal server 1003 issues authentication session ID information for user authentication processing and the like.

Therefore, if the client terminal 1002 that acquires the authentication session ID information from the portal server 1003 cannot present the authentication session ID information to the portal server 1003 within the validity period, the portal server 1003 determines that the connection for communication identified by the authentication session ID information is disconnected .

With this setting, the portal server 1003 prevents authentication session ID information issued in the past from being improperly or fraudulently used by users who have not made a contract with the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 for user authentication processing and other purposes.

Authentication session ID information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 is issued by the portal server 1003 when the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 are connected for communication in order to perform user authentication processing and the like in the past.

In step SP1001, when a connection request signal is sent from the client terminal 1002, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003 receives the connection request signal through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and will include the authentication information contained in the received connection request signal. The session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1056 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1056 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1050 based on the authentication session ID information received from the client terminal 1002 as a connection request signal.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1056 cannot authenticate the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information or the like received from the client terminal 1002 has expired, the control section 1050 passes the communication control section 1052 and The network interface 1053 transmits authentication error information indicating an authentication error to the client terminal 1002 .

Then, in step SP1002, when the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the authentication error information transmitted from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence, it reads out the user ID stored in the authentication information storage section 1038. ID information, password information and other information and correspondingly through the communication control part 1032 and the network interface 1033 sequentially send the user ID information, password information and other information it reads to the entrance server 1003 .

In step SP1003, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003 receives user ID information, password information, and other information from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence, and the user ID information, password information, and other information it receives The information is sent to the authentication processing section 1056 .

Then, under the control of the control section 1050, the authentication processing section 1056 detects whether user ID information, password information, and other information received from the client terminal 1002 are included in the client information registered in the client database section 1054 in user authentication processing. .

If the result control section 1050 authenticates that the user using the client terminal 1002 is a user authorized by the authentication processing section 1056, it issues authentication session ID information of the current communication connection state between the client terminal 1002 and the portal server 1003 as the portal authentication result information, and at the same time, the authentication session ID information sent to the client terminal 1002 is temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057 together with other information.

Then, the control section 1050 transmits the authentication session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 by the authentication processing section 1056 to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in order.

Then, in step SP1004, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the authentication session ID information and other information transmitted from the entry server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence and the authentication session ID information and other information it receives The information is sent to the authentication processing section 1037 .

Next, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores the authentication session ID information and other information it has received in the authentication information storage section 1038 under the control of the control section 1023 .

Then, the control section 1023 sequentially stores the page information acquisition request signal for requesting page information from the portal server 1003 and the page information received from the portal server 1003 in the authentication information storage section 1038 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in sequence. The authentication session ID information and other information are sent to the entry server 1003 together.

Then, in step SP1005, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003 receives the page information acquisition request information, authentication session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 and transmits the authentication session ID information and other information it received to the authentication Portion 1056 is processed.

Then, in step SP1003, the authentication processing section 1056, under the control of the control section 1050, executes user authentication processing in which it combines the authentication session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 to the client terminal 1002 and temporarily stores in the The authentication session ID information in the authentication information storage section 1057 is compared with other information.

If, in step SP1006, the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates that the user using the client terminal 1002 is an authorized user, it determines that the request for acquiring page information from the client terminal 1002 is an appropriate request and extends the authentication session ID information sent to the client terminal 1002 and expiration dates for other information.

Then, the control section 1050 reads out the page information requested by the user from the page information storage section 1055 and sequentially passes the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 the page information it read out and the authentication session whose validity period is extended by the authentication processing section 1056 The ID information is sent to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

Then, in step SP1007, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the page information, authentication session ID information, and other information transmitted from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence (the authentication session ID information and other information The validity period is extended) and the received page information is sent to the page information generating section 1036 and the authentication session ID information and other information whose validity period is extended are sent to the authentication processing section 1037.

Page information generating section 1036 generates video data of a page in which links to music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, and radio broadcast delivery server 1006 are embedded based on page information supplied from control section 1023 and sends the video data it produces to A control section 1024 is displayed.

Then, the display control section 1024 performs D/A conversion processing on the video data supplied from the page information generating section 1036 and sends the acquired analog video signal to the display section 1025 so that the display section 1025 displays the page of the portal server 1003 as an analog video-based Image of the signal.

On the other hand, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the authentication session ID information and other information received from the entry server 1003 whose validity period is extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to be rewritten before the validity period is extended. Authentication session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the authentication session ID information and other information temporarily stored in step SP1004 for the extended validity period.

(3-7-2) User authentication processing procedure between client terminal 1002 and each server 1004-1006

The procedure of user authentication processing performed between the client terminal 1002 and other servers including the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, and audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As described above with reference to FIG. 15, the user authentication processing may be user authentication processing in which the client terminal 1002 acquires page information from the portal server 1003, and then accesses the music information delivery server 1004 through a link buried in the page information for execution. , transaction server 1005 or audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 (hereinafter referred to as indirect access authentication processing).

Alternatively, the user authentication process may be a user authentication process in which the client terminal 1002 directly accesses the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005 through URL information registered in advance as a bookmark for execution without acquiring page information from the portal server 1003. or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 (hereinafter referred to as direct access authentication processing).

Note, however, that regardless of the combination of the client terminal 1002 and the server which may be the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006, the indirect access authentication process can be performed by the following same procedure.

Note also that regardless of the combination of the client terminal 1002 and the server which may be the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006, direct access authentication processing can be performed by the following same procedure.

The indirect access authentication process and the direct access authentication process differ from each other only in the way of acquiring URL information used by the client terminal 1002 to access the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, or audio broadcast information delivery server 1006. That is, after acquiring the URL information, the subsequent procedures of the indirect access authentication processing and the direct access authentication processing are the same.

Therefore, it is assumed in the following description that the client terminal 1002 accesses the music information delivery server 1004 and a single user authentication process is described for the indirect access authentication process and the direct access authentication process.

First, in step SP1010, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 transmits a page information acquisition request signal requesting page information for transmitting music data through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 (in the transaction server 1005 and the audio broadcast information transmission In the case of the server 1006, it may be page information for trading media packs and page information for delivering broadcast list information) together with service session ID information and other information acquired from the authentication information storage section 1038 to the music information delivery Server 1004.

Note that the service session ID information is issued from the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 accessed by the client terminal 1002 in order to perform any processing such as user authentication processing to connect the client terminal 1002 with each other. The music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 appropriately connects for communication identification information that identifies the state of a single connection for communication (or conversation).

In the case of the authentication session ID information described above, a predetermined validity period (for example: about 1 minute) is defined for each service session ID information. The effective period starts when the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, or audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 issues service session ID information for user authentication processing.

Therefore, if the client terminal 1002 that has acquired the service session ID information from one of the servers 1004-1006 cannot present the service session ID information to the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 within the validity period, then Any appropriate one of the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, or audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 determines that the connection for communication identified by the service session ID information is disconnected.

With this setting, the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 prevents authentication session ID information issued in the past from being used by the operator of the music-related service providing system 1000 for user authentication processing and other purposes. Inappropriate or fraudulent use by the user who entered into the contract.

When connecting the client terminal 1002 with the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, or audio broadcast information delivery server 1006 for communication in the past in order to perform user authentication processing, etc., the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005, or audio broadcast information delivery The server 1006 issues the authentication session ID information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

Then, in step SP1011, the control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 receives the page information acquisition request signal, service session ID information, and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in order and receives it. The received service session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing part 1075.

Then, the authentication processing section 1075 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1070, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1077 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1075 cannot authenticate the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information received from the client terminal 1002 has expired, it determines to acquire the A request for page information of data is not an appropriate request.

Then, when the authentication processing section 1075 does not authenticate the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, the control section 1070 transmits authentication error information showing an authentication error and information for identifying music via the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 in sequence. The store code of the server 1004 is transmitted to the client terminal 1002.

In step SP1012, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the authentication error information and the store code transmitted from the music information delivery server 1004 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 sequentially and receives the authentication error information from the music information delivery server 1004 through the music information delivery server 1004. Information recognizes that the user is not authenticated as an authorized user, and it temporarily stores the store code received from the music information delivery server 1004 in the authentication information storage section 1038.

Then, the control section 1023 generates an authentication ticket sending request signal requesting that the entrance server 1003 sends an authentication ticket for accessing the music information delivery server and sends the generated authentication ticket sending request signal and music information through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in sequence. The shop code of delivery server 1004 is sent to portal server 1003 together with the authentication session ID information which has been received from portal server 1003 and temporarily stored in authentication information storage section 1038 .

Then, in step SP1013, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003 receives the authentication ticket transmission request signal, store code, and authentication session ID information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and sends them to the authentication Portion 1056 is processed.

Next, the authentication processing section 1056 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1050, in which it combines service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057. The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1056 cannot authenticate the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information received from the client terminal 1002 has expired, then it determines to acquire the A request for page information of data is not an appropriate request.

Then, when the authentication processing section 1056 does not authenticate the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, the control section 1050 transmits authentication error information showing an authentication error to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in sequence.

On the other hand, if the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user as an authorized user possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information received from 1002 has not expired, it determines that it is appropriate to obtain a request for issuing an authentication ticket from the client terminal 1002. ask.

Then, when the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user using the user terminal 1002 as an authorized user, the control section 1050 proceeds to step SP1018, which will be described in more detail below.

In step SP1014, when the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the authentication error information transmitted from the entry server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence, it reads out the user ID information stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 , password information and other information, and then transmit the user ID information, password information and other information read out to the entry server 1003 through the communication control part 1032 and the network interface 1033 in sequence.

Then, in step SP1015, the control section 1050 of the entry server 1003 receives the user ID information, password information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in turn and receives the received user ID information, password information and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1056.

Then, the authentication processing section 1056 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1050, in which it checks whether the user ID information, password information, and other information received from the client terminal 1002 contain the client information registered in the client database section 1054 middle.

If, as a result, the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, it issues authentication session ID information and other information for the current state of the connection for communication between the client terminal 1002 and the entry server 1003 Authentication session ID information and other information which are sent to the client terminal 1002 under the control of the control section 1050 as information on the entrance authentication result are temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057 .

Then, through the authentication processing section 1056, the control section 1050 transmits the authentication session ID information and other information it sent to the client terminal 1002 to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in sequence.

In step SP1016, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the authentication session ID information and other information transmitted from the entry server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence and makes the authentication processing section 1037 pass the authentication session ID it received Information and other information are temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

Then, the control section 1023 generates an authentication ticket sending request signal requesting the portal server 1003 to send the authentication ticket and temporarily stores the generated authentication ticket sending request signal and the authentication information storage section 1038 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in sequence. The store code and the authentication session ID information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 are transmitted to the portal server 1003 together.

Although the store code is temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 of the client terminal 1002 in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it can be executed by sequentially exchanging the steps SP1012- Shop Code in Processing Operation of SP1016 The shop code is transmitted to the portal server 1003 in step SP1016 instead of temporarily storing it in the authentication information storage section 1038 of the client terminal 1002 .

Then, in step SP1017, the control section 1050 of the portal server 1003 receives the authentication ticket transmission request signal, store code, authentication session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and transmits them. sent to the authentication processing section 1056.

Next, the authentication processing section 1056 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1050, in which it combines the authentication session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the authentication session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057. The information is compared with other information.

When the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user as an authorized user possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information received from the client terminal 1002 has not expired, it determines that a request for sending an authentication ticket from the client terminal 1002 is an appropriate request.

Then, when the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, the control section 1050 proceeds to the next step, or step SP1018.

In step SP1018, the authentication processing section 1056 issues a request signal to allow the client terminal 1002 to access the store code issued by the store code, under the control of the control section 1050 and according to the store code and authentication ticket transmission request signal it received from the client terminal 1002 in the above-mentioned step or step SP1070. The authentication ticket of the identified music information delivery server 1004 is used as information on the entrance authentication result.

Then, the authentication processing section 1056 temporarily stores the authentication ticket and other information it sends in the authentication information storage section 1057 under the control of the control section 1050, and simultaneously extends the validity period of the authentication session ID information it sends to the client terminal 1002.

Then, the control section 1050 sends the authentication ticket and other information together with the authentication session ID information whose validity period has been extended by the authentication processing section 1056 to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in sequence.

In step SP1019, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives, through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032, the authentication session ID information transmitted from the entry server 1003 and whose valid period has been extended, and transmits the received authentication session ID information to Authentication processing part 1037 .

Then, the control section 1023 transmits the authentication ticket it received from the entrance server 1003 together with the authentication request signal to the music information delivery server 1004 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in sequence.

At this time, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the authentication session ID information and other information received from the entry server 1003 and whose validity period is extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite before extending the validity period. Authentication session ID information and other information. Like this, it updates the authentication session ID information temporarily stored in step SP1016 and other information for the valid period of extension.

In step SP1020, the control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 receives an authentication request signal, an authentication ticket, and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence.

Then, the control section 1070 transmits the authentication ticket and other information it receives from the client terminal 1002 together with an authentication ticket verification request signal requesting authentication of the authentication ticket and other information to the portal server 1003 via the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 in sequence.

In step SP1021, the control section 1050 of the entry server 1003 receives the authentication ticket verification request signal, the authentication ticket and other information transmitted from the music information delivery server 1004 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and sends the received authentication ticket The authentication request signal and the authentication ticket are transmitted to the authentication processing section 1056 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1056 performs authentication processing on the authentication ticket received from the music information delivery server 1004 in response to the authentication ticket authentication request signal under the control of the control section 1050, wherein it converts the authentication ticket received from the music information delivery server 1004 It is compared with the authentication ticket that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057 .

If the authentication processing section 1056 confirms that the authentication ticket and other information received from the music information delivery server 1004 are appropriate authentication tickets, etc., the control section 1050 will instruct the authentication ticket etc. to be appropriate authentication tickets through the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 in sequence. Information about tickets and the like is sent to the music information delivery server 1004.

In step SP1022, the control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 receives the information on the authentication result transmitted from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence and transmits the received information on the authentication result to the authentication Part 1075 is processed.

Then, the authentication processing section 1075 issues service session ID information and other information for the current state of the connection for communication between the client terminal 1002 and the music information delivery server 1004 based on the information on the authentication result under the control of the control section 1070 , and temporarily store the service session ID information and other information it sends out in the authentication information storage part 1077.

In addition, the control section 1070 transmits the service session ID information and other information transmitted to the client terminal 1002 through the authentication processing section 1075 to the client terminal 1002 through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 in sequence.

In step SP1023, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the service session ID information and other information transmitted from the music information delivery server 1004 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence and causes the authentication processing section 1037 to authenticate the service it received. Session ID information and other information are temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

Then, the control section 1023 sequentially stores the page information acquisition request signal requesting the page information for transferring the music data and the information it receives from the music information delivery server 1004 and temporarily stores in the authentication information storage section through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033. The service session ID information in 1038 is transmitted to the music information delivery server 1004 together with other information.

In step SP1024, the control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 receives the page information acquisition request signal, service session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence and the service session ID information it receives The session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1075 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1075 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1070, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information it has received from the client terminal 1002 with the information already sent to the client terminal 1002 in step SP1022 and temporarily stores The service session ID information in the authentication information storage section 1077 is compared with other information.

If, as a result, the authentication processing section 1075 authenticates the user as an authorized user, possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information etc. received from the client terminal 1002 has not expired, it determines to acquire page information for transferring music data from the client terminal 1002 The request is a suitable request.

Then, when the authentication processing section 1075 authenticates the user using the user terminal 1002 as an authorized user, the control section 1070 proceeds to the next step or step SP1025.

In step SP1025, the control section 1070 reads out the page information for delivering the music data requested by the user from the page information storage section 1076 and at the same time causes the authentication processing section 1075 to extend the valid period of the service session ID information sent to the client terminal 1002.

Then, the control section 1070 sequentially passes through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 the page information for transferring the music data read out from the page information storage section 1076 and the service session ID information and other information whose validity period has been extended by the authentication processing section 1075 and sent to the client terminal 1002 together.

In step SP1026, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives page information for delivering music data, service session ID information, and other information (service session The valid period of ID information and other information is extended) and the received page information for delivering music data is delivered to the page information generating section 1036, and the service session ID information and other information which it receives from the music information delivering server 1004 are simultaneously delivered sent to the authentication processing section 1037.

Then, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the service session ID information and other information received from the music information delivery server 1004 with an extended validity period in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the service session ID information before the validity period extension. The service session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information temporarily stored in step SP1023 for the extended validity period.

In addition, the page information generation section 1036 generates video data based on the page information for transferring the music data and transfers the generated video data to the display control section 1024 .

Then, the display control section 1024 performs digital/analog conversion processing on the video data supplied from the page information generating section 1036 and transmits the acquired analog video signal to the display section 1025 so that the display section 1025 uses the page information for transmitting the music data as Image display based on analog video signal.

(3-7-3) Processing of provision of music-related services

Now, the procedure of the user authentication process performed between the client terminal 1002 and the music information delivery server 1004, transaction server 1005 or radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 as described with reference to FIG. 16 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 17-20 After the end, when the page information for transferring the music data is obtained from any suitable server in the music information delivery server 1004, the transaction server 1005, or the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 by using the client terminal 1002, it is used for trading page media. Page information or any suitable page information of page information for delivering a broadcast list Music-related service providing process performed in user authentication process when music data delivery service, transaction service or radio broadcast information delivery service is received.

(3-7-3-1) Music data delivery service provision processing program

First, the music data delivery service providing processing procedure after the client terminal 1002 receives the music data delivery service from the music information delivery server 1004 will be described below with reference to FIG. 17 .

In step SP1030, when a control command for selecting a part of a page for transmitting music data displayed as an image on the display part 1025 is input from the input processing part 1021, the control part 1023 of the client terminal 1002 The command generates a download request signal requesting music data that the user wants to download.

Then, the control section 1023 transmits the download request signal together with the service session ID information and other information that have been sent out by the music information delivery server 1004 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 via the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 to the Music information delivery server 1004.

In step SP1031, the control section 1070 of the music information delivery server 1004 receives the download request signal, service session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1073 and the communication control section 1072 in sequence and sends the received service session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1075 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1075 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1070, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1077 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the control section 1070 authenticates the user requesting music data to be downloaded by using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user through the authentication processing section 1075, it proceeds to the next step or step SP1032.

In step SP1032, the retrieval section 1079 retrieves, from the sets of music data stored in the music data storage section 1078, music data desired to be downloaded that meets the retrieval requirement indicated in the retrieval key included in the download request signal, using the retrieval key.

Then, when the music data is retrieved by the retrieval section 1079, the control section 1070 causes the authentication processing section 1075 to extend the validity period of the service session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 and proceed to the next step or step SP1033.

In step SP1033, the control section 1070 reads music data desired to be downloaded and retrieved by the retrieval section 1079 from the music data storage section 1078 and sequentially passes them through the communication control section 1072 and the network interface 1073 and extends them with the authentication processing section 1075. The valid service session ID information is sent to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

In step SP1034, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives music data to be downloaded, service session ID information and other information (service session ID information and The period of validity of other information is extended) and stores the received music data in the recording medium 1029, and it transmits the service session ID information and other information received from the music information delivery server 1004 to the authentication processing section 1037.

The authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the service session ID information and other information received from the music information delivery server 1004 whose validity period has been extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the service before the validity period extension. Session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 for the extended validity period.

Therefore, the client terminal 1002 can download the music data that the user wants to acquire using the music data delivery service provided by the music information delivery server 1004 .

(3-7-3-2) Transaction service provision processing procedure

The transaction service provision processing procedure after the client terminal 1002 receives the transaction service service from the transaction server 1005 will be described below with reference to FIG. 18 .

In step SP1040, when a control command is input from the input processing section 1021 for selecting a page for transferring a page for trading a media package displayed as an image on the display section 1025, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 according to the input The control command of generates a media information request signal requesting media package information about the media package that the user wants to download.

Then, the control part 1023 transmits the media information request signal together with the service session ID information and other information sent by the transaction server 1005 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage part 1038 to the transaction through the communication control part 1032 and the network interface 1033 in turn. Server 1005.

In step SP1041, the control section 1090 of the transaction server 1005 receives the media information request signal, service session ID information, and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in sequence and sends the received service session ID The message and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1095.

Then, the authentication processing section 1095 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1090, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1097 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the control section 1090 authenticates the user requesting to download the media package information by using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user through the authentication processing section 1095, it proceeds to the next step or step SP1042.

In step SP1042, the retrieval part 1099 retrieves a specific media package desired to download that meets the retrieval requirement indicated in the retrieval key included in the download request signal from a plurality of media packages stored in the music data storage part 1098 with the retrieval key. information about the media pack.

Then, when the retrieval section 1099 retrieves the media package information, the control section 1090 causes the authentication processing section 1095 to extend the validity period of the service session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 and proceed to the next step or step SP1043.

In step SP1043, the control section 1090 reads out the media package information retrieved by the retrieval section 1099 from the music data storage section 1098 and sequentially passes them through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 and extends the service period of validity by the authentication processing section 1095. The session ID information is sent to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

In step SP1044, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the service session ID information and other information transmitted from the transaction server 1005 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence (the valid period of the service session ID information and other information is extended) and The received media package information is transmitted to the page information generating part 1036, and at the same time it transmits the service session ID information and other information received from the transaction server 1005 to the authentication processing part 1037.

The authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores the service session ID information and other information received from the transaction server 1005 whose validity period has been extended under the control of the control section 1023 in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the service session ID before the validity period extension. information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 for the extended validity period.

The page information generation section 1036 generates video data based on the media package information given from the control section 1023 and the display control section 1024 converts the generated video data into an analog video signal and transmits the analog video signal to the display section 1025 .

Then, the control section 1023 causes the display section 1025 to display the media package information as an image based on the analog video signal and proceeds to the next step or step SP1045.

In step SP1045, when a control command requesting to purchase a media pack corresponding to media pack information displayed as an image on the display portion 1025 is input from the input processing portion 1021, the control portion 1023 generates a request to purchase the media in response to the input control command. Package purchase request signal.

Then, the control section 1023 transmits the purchase request signal together with the service session ID information and other information received from the transaction server 1005 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 to the Transaction server 1005.

In step SP1046, the control section 1090 of the transaction server 1005 receives the purchase request signal, service session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1093 and the communication control section 1092 in sequence and the service session ID information it receives and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1095.

Then, the authentication processing section 1095 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1090, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1097 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the control section 1090 authenticates the user who requested to purchase the media package by using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user through the authentication processing section 1095, the control section 1090 proceeds to the next step or step SP1047.

In step SP1047, the control section 1090 executes purchase processing including transmitting a media package requesting purchase to the user using the client terminal 1002 and at the same time, sequentially through the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093, which will be performed for the user to purchase the media package. Billing information necessary for the billing process is transmitted to the billing server 1008 so that the billing server 1008 performs billing processing corresponding to the user's purchase of the media pack.

In addition, the control section 1090 causes the authentication processing section 1095 to extend the validity period of the service session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 .

In step SP1048, after the billing process ends, the control section 1090 communicates the purchase completion page information indicating that the purchase process of the media package is completed and the service session for which the validity period has been extended by the authentication processing section 1095 via the communication control section 1092 and the network interface 1093 in sequence. The ID information is transmitted to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

In step SP1049, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the purchase completion page information, service session ID information, and other information transmitted from the transaction server 1005 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence (the service session ID information and other information) The validity period is extended) and transmits the received purchase completion page information to the page information generation section 1036, and it also transmits the service session ID information and other information also received from the transaction server 1005 to the authentication processing section 1037.

On the other hand, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores the service session ID information and other information received from the transaction server 1005 with the validity period extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 under the control of the control section 1023 to rewrite the service before the validity period is extended. Session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information that have been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 for the extended validity period.

Page information generation section 1036 generates video data based on purchase completion page information given from control section 1023 and display control section 1024 converts the generated video data into an analog video signal and transmits the analog video signal to display section 1025 .

Then, the control section 1023 causes the display section 1025 to display the purchase completion page as an image based on the analog video signal.

In this way, the client terminal 1002 can use the transaction service provided by the transaction server 1005 to allow the user to purchase desired media package data.

(3-7-3-3) Broadcast list information delivery service provision processing program

The broadcast list information delivery service providing processing procedure after the client terminal 1002 receives the broadcast list information delivery service as the radio broadcast information delivery service from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 will be described below with reference to FIG. 19 .

In step SP1060, when the search key for retrieving the broadcast list information that the user wants to acquire is operated in the input box of the page for transmitting the broadcast list information displayed as an image on the display section 1025 and input from the input processing section 1021 When a control command corresponding to a character string indicating operation of a retrieval key is issued, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 generates a broadcast list information request signal requesting broadcast list information that the user wants to download according to the input control command.

Then, the control section 1023 sequentially passes through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 the broadcast list information request signal and the service session ID information and other information that have been issued by the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 They are sent to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 together.

In step SP1061, the control section 1110 of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 receives the broadcast list information request signal, service session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112 in order and receives it. The service session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing section 1115.

Then, the authentication processing section 1115 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1110, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1120 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the control section 1110 authenticates the user requesting broadcast list information by using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user through the authentication processing section 1115, it proceeds to the next step or step SP1062.

In step SP1062, the retrieval section 1118 retrieves a predetermined range of broadcast list information that meets the retrieval requirement indicated in the retrieval key included in the broadcast list information request signal from all the broadcast list information stored in the broadcast list information storage section 1117. The part of the broadcast list information that the user wants to obtain.

Then, when the broadcast list information is retrieved by the retrieval section 1118, the control section 1110 causes the authentication processing section 1115 to extend the validity period of the service session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 and proceed to the next step or step SP1063.

In step SP1063, the control section 1070 reads out the broadcast list information stored in the broadcast list information storage section 1117 and retrieved by the retrieval section 1118 and sequentially passes the read broadcast list information and the broadcast list information through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113. The authentication processing part 1115 sends the service session ID information with the extended validity period to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

In step SP1064, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives broadcast list information, service session ID information and other information (service session ID information and others) transmitted from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence. The validity period of the information is extended) and transmits the received broadcast list information to the page information generation section 1036, and transmits the service session ID information and other information received from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 to the authentication processing section 1037.

The authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the service session ID information and other information received from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 whose validity period has been extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the one before the validity period extension. Service session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information that have been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 for the extended validity period.

Furthermore, the page information generation section 1036 generates video data based on the broadcast list information given from the control section 1023 and the display control section 1024 converts the generated video data into an analog video signal and transmits the analog video signal to the display section 1025 so that Or display broadcast list information as an image based on an analog video signal.

Therefore, the client terminal 1002 can acquire broadcast list information desired by the user using the radio broadcast information delivery service provided by the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 .

(3-7-3-4) Real-time broadcast information delivery service provision processing procedure

The radio broadcast information delivery service providing processing procedure after the client terminal 1002 receives the broadcast list information delivery service as the radio broadcast information delivery service from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 will be described below with reference to FIG. 20 .

Note that a radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 that provides real-time broadcast information is provided for each radio station (call sign).

In the initial stage, the client terminal 1002 may not store URL information of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 corresponding to each radio station.

Therefore, it is assumed in the following description of the radio broadcast delivery service providing processing program that the URL information of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 is managed by the entry server 1003 for the call sign of each radio station.

In this radio broadcasting information delivery service providing processing procedure, it is assumed that when the client terminal requests the portal server 1003 to provide frequency information indicating the broadcasting frequencies of the respective radio stations in order to automatically preset the broadcasting frequencies of the radio stations, the client terminal 1002 may not send the authentication dialog ID information and other information are stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 . Therefore, the client terminal 1002 must first transmit the user's user ID information, password information and other information to the portal server 1003 .

In step SP1070, when an operation command capable of being received by the client terminal 1002 to automatically preset the broadcast frequency of each radio station is output from the input processing section 1021, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1021 sequentially passes through the communication control section 1032 and the network. The interface 1033 transmits the frequency information on the broadcast frequency of each radio station to the portal server 1003 together with the area code input by the user and user ID information, password information and other information stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

In step SP1071, the control section 1050 of the entry server 1003 receives the frequency information request signal, area code, user ID information, password information, and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and sends it from The user ID information, password information and other information received by the client terminal 1002 are sent to the authentication processing part 1056.

Then, authentication processing section 1056 performs user authentication processing under the control of control section 1050, wherein it compares user ID information, password information and other information received from client terminal 1002 with client information registered in client database section 1054.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user and the request for acquiring frequency information from the client terminal 1002 is an appropriate request, it issues a request for the client terminal under the control of the control section 1050 at present. 1002 and the entrance server 1003, the authentication session ID information of the state of the connection used for communication, and at the same time, temporarily store the issued authentication session ID information and other information in the authentication information storage part 1057.

When the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user as an authorized user, the control section 1050 proceeds to the next step as step SP1072.

In step SP1072, the control section 1050 retrieves frequency information, radio station names, and their call signs corresponding to the input area code from the list of a plurality of frequency information, radio station names, and their call signs stored in the frequency information storage section 1058 , prepare a list of them and read them out.

Then, the control section 1050 sequentially passes the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 the frequency information, radio station names and their call signs which it has read out from the frequency information storage section 1058 as a list, and transmitted by the authentication processing section 1056 in the above-mentioned step SP1071. Authentication session ID information and the like to the client terminal 1002 are transmitted to the client terminal 1002 together.

In step SP1073, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives, through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032, the frequency information, the radio station names, the list of their call signs, the authentication session ID information, etc. transmitted from the entry server 1003 in sequence, and transmits the information from the The authentication session ID information and the like received by the entry server 1003 are transmitted to the authentication processing section 1037, and it also transmits frequency information, a list of radio station names and their call signs to the display control section 1024.

Then, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores the authentication session ID information and other information received from the portal server 1003 in the authentication information storage section 1038 under the control of the control section 1023 .

Display control section 1024 transmits the list of frequency information, radio station names and their call signs given from control section 1023 to display section 1025 and causes it to display the list.

In addition, the control section 1023 stores the frequency information, the radio station name and its call sign selected from the list by the selection command input from the input processing section 1021 in the recording medium 1029 as preset information and proceeds to the next step or step SP1074.

In step SP1074, the control section 1023 controls the tuner section 1031 to extract the radio broadcast signal of the broadcast program being broadcast at the broadcast frequency corresponding to the tuning control command input from the input processing section 1021, from the radio broadcast wave.

Then, the tuner section 1031 extracts a radio broadcast signal being broadcast at the broadcast frequency from the radio broadcast wave received by the broadcast signal receiving section 1030 and performs predetermined reception processing such as decoding the radio broadcast signal. Then, it transfers the audio data acquired as a result of the reception processing to the sound control section 1026 .

Next, the sound control section 1026 converts the audio data given thereto from the tuner section 1031 into an analog audio signal and transmits the acquired analog audio signal to the speaker 1027. Therefore, the sound of the selected audio program can be output from the speaker 1027.

In step SP1075, the radio broadcast display control section 1039 reads out the call sign stored in the recording medium 1029 and corresponds to the broadcast frequency indicating the frequency corresponding to the above-mentioned tuning control command under the control of the control section 1023 and sequentially passes through the communication control section 1032 and the network. The interface 1033 transmits the read-out call sign to the portal server 1003 together with the authentication session ID information that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 and other information.

In step SP1076, the control section 1050 of the entry server 1003 receives the call sign, authentication session ID information and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1053 and the communication control section 1052 in sequence and the authentication session ID information and other information it receives The information is sent to the authentication processing section 1056 .

Then, the authentication processing section 1056 executes user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1050, in which it combines the authentication session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the authentication session ID that has been temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1057 The information is compared with other information.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1056 authenticates the user who sent the call sign by using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, possibly because the validity period of the authentication session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 has not yet expired, the control section 1050 proceeds to the next step. One step or step SP1077.

In step SP1077, the control section 1050 retrieves, from the pieces of URL information stored in the URL storage section 1059, the piece of URL information related to the call sign received from the client terminal 1002 by referring to the call sign.

In addition, the control section 1050 causes the authentication processing section 1056 to extend the period of validity of the authentication processing ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 .

Then, the control section 1050 reads out the retrieved URL information from the URL storage section 1059 and sequentially passes the communication control section 1052 and the network interface 1053 the read URL information and the authentication session ID information and others whose valid period has been extended by the authentication processing section 1056. The information is sent to the client terminal 1002.

In step SP1078, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the URL information, authentication session ID information, and other information transmitted from the portal server 1003 through the network interface 1033 and the communication control section 1032 in sequence (the validity period of the authentication session ID information and other information is set by extension) and transmits the authentication session ID information and other information it has received to the authentication processing section 1037, and at the same time it transmits the URL information to the radio broadcast display control section 1039.

Then, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the authentication session ID information and other information received from the entry server 1003 whose validity period has been extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the authentication session ID before extending the validity period. information and other information. Thus, it updates the authentication session ID information and other information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 for the extended validity period.

The radio broadcast display control section 1039 temporarily stores URL information given from the control section 1023 in the recording medium 1029 under the control of the control section 1023 so as to correlate with the call sign stored in the recording medium 1029 .

Then, the radio broadcast display control section 1039, under the control of the control section 1023, transmits the real-time broadcast information request signal requesting acquisition of real-time broadcast information and the The service session ID information that has been received from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 is sent to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 together with other information.

Note that the process of transmitting the real-time broadcast information request signal, authentication session ID information, and other information from the client terminal 1002 to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 in step SP1078 of this radio information delivery service providing processing program is the same as that previously described with reference to FIG. 16 . The processing in step SP1010 corresponds.

Therefore, in this radio information delivery service providing processing procedure, the client terminal 1002, the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006, and the portal server 1003 execute steps SP1011-SP1013 and step SP1018 described above with reference to FIG. 16 immediately after the process of step SP1078. - Similar user authentication processing as performed in SP1022, then proceed to the next step or step SP1079.

In step SP1079, the radio broadcast display control section 1039 of the client terminal 1002, under the control of the control section 1023, requests the real-time broadcast information again through the communication control section 1032 and the network interface 1033 in order based on the URL information etc. temporarily stored in the recording medium 1029. The signal is sent to the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 together with service session ID information and other information which have been received from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 and temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

In step SP1080, the control section 1110 of the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 receives the real-time broadcast information request signal, service session ID information, and other information transmitted from the client terminal 1002 through the network interface 1113 and the communication control section 1112 in order and receives it. The service session ID information and other information are sent to the authentication processing part 1115.

Then, the authentication processing section 1115 performs user authentication processing under the control of the control section 1110, in which it combines the service session ID information and other information received from the client terminal 1002 with the service session ID information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1120 compared with other information.

As a result, if the authentication processing section 1115 authenticates the user using the client terminal 1002 as an authorized user, it determines that the request for acquiring real-time broadcast information from the client terminal 1002 is an appropriate request.

Then, when the user using the client terminal 1002 is authenticated as an authorized user by the authentication processing section 1115, the control section 1110 causes the authentication processing section 1115 to extend the validity period of the service session ID information and other information sent to the client terminal 1002 and enter the next step. Step or step SP1081.

In step SP1081, the control section 1110 reads the real-time broadcast information from the real-time broadcast information storage section 1119 and sequentially passes the read real-time broadcast information and the service whose validity period has been extended by the authentication processing section 1115 through the communication control section 1112 and the network interface 1113 The session ID information is sent to the client terminal 1002 together with other information.

In step SP1082, the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 receives the real-time broadcast information, service session ID information and other information (service session ID information and other The validity period of the information is extended) and sends the received service session ID information and other information to the authentication processing section 1037, and it also sends real-time broadcast information to the radio broadcast display control section 1039.

Then, the authentication processing section 1037 temporarily stores, under the control of the control section 1023, the service session ID information and other information received from the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 whose validity period has been extended in the authentication information storage section 1038 to rewrite the one before the validity period extension. Service session ID information and other information. Thus, it updates the service session ID information and other information temporarily stored in the authentication information storage section 1038 .

In addition, the radio broadcast display control section 1039 transmits the real-time broadcast information given from the control section 1023 to the display section 1025 through the display control section 1024, so that the display section 1025 displays the real-time broadcast related to the broadcast program of the radio broadcast being received. information.

In the above-mentioned radio broadcast information delivery service providing processing procedure, the client terminal 1002 periodically repeats the real-time broadcast information acquisition request processing in step SP1079, and the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 responds to each acquisition request it receives from the client terminal 1002. Execution of the processing operations in steps SP1080 and SP1081 is requested.

Therefore, the client terminal 1002 can display the name of the radio program it is receiving, the clock time when the program starts, the clock time when the program ends, the title of the music broadcast in real time during the broadcast program, the name of the performing artist, the time when the music starts The clock time and other information are used as real-time broadcast information, and the real-time broadcast information is continuously updated at the same time.

With the above arrangement, the music-related service providing system 1000 can accurately authenticate the registered user to receive the music-related service provided by the system 1000 and allow the client terminal 1002 used by the user to acquire related information ( real-time broadcast information, broadcast list information, etc.).

Therefore, the music-related service providing system 1000 can prevent any third party from acquiring the related information and fraudulently using the information.

The client terminal 1002 of the second embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 9 corresponds to the terminal device 10 of the first embodiment of the recording device 1 according to the present invention. In addition, the entrance server 1003 described above with reference to FIG. 11 corresponds to the integrated service server 35 of the first embodiment. In addition, the radio broadcast information delivery server 1006 described above with reference to FIG. 14 corresponds to the broadcast station server 32 of the first embodiment.

In addition, the music information delivery server 1004 explained above with reference to FIG. 12 corresponds to the music delivery server 33 of the first embodiment. Finally, the transaction server 1005 described above with reference to FIG. 13 corresponds to the CD shop server 34 of the first embodiment.

Meanwhile, the HTTP message program 111 and the communicator program 112 which show the program modules of the terminal device 10 described above in FIG. 5 are program modules capable of realizing functions similar to the client terminal 1002 and the communication control section 1032 described above with reference to FIG. .

The content reproduction module 113 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the encoder/decoder section 1034 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the copyright protection information management module 114 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to those of the copyright management section 1035 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the Internet radio tuning/reproducing module 118 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of functions of the control section 1023 and the sound control section 1026 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the music purchase/reproduction module 119 is also a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of functions of the control section 1023 and the sound control section 1026 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the XML browser 151 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of the functions of the input processing section 1021 and the page information generating section 1036 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the hard disk content controller 117, the database access module 115, and the content data access module 116 are program modules capable of realizing functions similar to those of the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG.

In addition, the authentication library 131 of the program library 130 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of functions of the authentication processing section 1037 and the authentication information storage section 1038 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the clipping library 132 of the program library 130 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to those of the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the related information display module 120 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to those of the radio broadcast display control section 1039 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the tuner tuning/reproducing/recording module 121 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of functions of the control section 1023 and the sound control section 1026 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the audio user interface 152 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of the functions of the input processing section 1021 and the control section 1023 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

In addition, the CD playback module 141 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the functional combination of the sound control section 1026 and the external recording medium recording/reproducing section 1028 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

Finally, the HDD playback module 142 is a program module capable of realizing functions similar to the combination of the functions of the control section 1023 and the sound control section 1026 of the client terminal 1002 described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

Therefore, the terminal device 10 having the hardware configuration realized by using hardware circuit blocks described with reference to FIG. 4 can perform processing like the client terminal 1002 having the hardware configuration realized by functional circuit blocks described above with reference to FIG. 9 .

Although the above-described embodiment has been described with terrestrial radio broadcasts of broadcast programs broadcast from radio stations and capable of being received by the client terminal 1002, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may also be configured such that the client terminal 1002 is adapted to receive Internet radio broadcasts or satellite radio broadcasts. Radio for related information and radio broadcast information. It can also be configured such that the client terminal 1002 is adapted to receive television broadcasts of television programs broadcast from television stations and acquire various broadcast information related to the television programs from servers on the network NT1000.

Although the recording apparatus according to the present invention has been described above with the first and second embodiments of the terminal device 10 and the client terminal 1002, respectively, the present invention is not limited thereto, and has the potential to cover personal computers, mobile phones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) , game machines and other information processing devices, as well as television receivers, radio broadcast receivers, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and hard disk recorders have a wide range of applications.

More specifically, although hardware circuit blocks, functional circuit blocks, and program modules are installed in the above-described first and second embodiments of the terminal device 10 and client terminal 1002, respectively, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other than the terminal device 10 and the client terminal 1002, this component can be installed in various terminal equipment such as mobile phones and personal computers. That is, a terminal device in which hardware circuit blocks, functional circuit blocks, and program modules are installed can perform the same processing as the terminal device 10 and client terminal 1002 described above.

Although the program according to the present invention is applicable to the program modules described above with reference to FIG. 5, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the program may have various other possible configurations when applied to the program modules.

Although the embodiment of the present invention uses the communication processing section 22 and the network interface 23 of the terminal device 10 described with reference to FIGS. The communication control section 1032 of the client terminal 1002 is described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various other receiving devices may be used for this invention depending on the communication system employed between the recording device and the device for providing content-related information. purpose of the invention.

Although in the description of the present invention given above with reference to FIGS. Temporary storage means for related information, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various other temporary storage means including magneto-optical disks and semiconductor memories may be used for temporarily storing content-related information for the purpose of the present invention.

Although in the description of the present invention given above with reference to FIGS. A related information recording device that records information from a temporary storage device that temporarily stores relevant information in a holding device, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and any Other various related information recording means are used for the purpose of the present invention.

In addition, although in the description of the present invention given above with reference to FIGS. A broadcast information recording device that records broadcast information received in a holding device in response to an externally input recording request so as to correlate it with related information recorded in the holding device, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and as long as the device can record The broadcast information received in the holding means, correlating it with related information is used any other various broadcast information recording means.

Although in the description of the present invention given above with reference to FIGS. Authentication server and other various authentication servers.

Although in the description of the present invention given above with reference to FIGS. Also, other various related information providing servers such as CD title information providing server 31 and a server for operating a television broadcasting station may be used as long as the server can provide information on contents contained in broadcast information.

Finally, although the store code described above with reference to FIGS. Limited to this, other various service identification information may be used as long as the information can be used to identify the relevant information providing server.

Industrial applicability

The present invention can be used in recording devices for personal computers, mobile phones and other devices.

Claims (8)

1. A recording device, characterized in that, comprising: holding means for holding the received broadcast information in said holding means at ring-shaped specific time intervals; a receiving device, configured to receive content-related information related to content contained in the received broadcast information; a temporary storage device for temporarily storing content-related information; related information recording means for recording the content related information stored in the temporary storage means in the holding means in response to an externally input recording request; and broadcast information recording means for recording, in response to an externally input recording request, broadcast information received before and after externally input recording in response to said request in holding means so as to correlate with related information recorded in the holding means. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The specific time interval can be arbitrarily defined. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: synthesizing sound information with broadcast information received at a point in time when a recording request is input externally, and the received broadcast information for synthesizing the sound information is correlated with related information recorded in said holding means and recorded by said broadcast information A device is recorded in said holding device. 4. A recording method, characterized in that, comprising: The broadcast information recording step is suitable for recording the received broadcast information in the holding device at specific time intervals in a ring; a step of receiving content-related information about the content contained in the received broadcast information; a temporary storage step for temporarily storing content-related information; a related information recording step of recording the content related information stored in the temporarily storing step in the holding means in response to an externally input recording request; and A broadcast information recording step of recording, in response to an externally input recording request, broadcast information received before and after the externally input recording in response to the request in the holding means so as to correlate with related information recorded in the holding means. 5. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein: The specific time interval can be defined arbitrarily. 6. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein: In the broadcast information recording step, sound information is synthesized with broadcast information received at a time point when a recording request is input externally, and the received broadcast information for synthesizing sound information is correlated with that recorded in the holding means. Information is correlated and recorded in said holding means. 7. The recording method according to claim 4, wherein: In said receiving step, A terminal device that can communicate with an authentication server having an authentication function and a related information providing server that provides content-related information and is receiving content transmitting request information requesting content related information related to the content being received to the related information providing server together with a service session ID which is a session ID between the terminal device and the related information providing server; receiving information indicating an authentication error and service identification information for identifying the related information providing server from the related information providing server; transmitting authentication ticket transmission request information requesting transmission of an authentication ticket for accessing the relevant information providing server together with an authentication session ID as a session ID between the terminal device and the authentication server to the authentication server; If it is authenticated by the authentication server, receiving the authentication ticket sent from the authentication server and transmitting the authentication request information together with the authentication ticket to the relevant information providing server; If authenticated by the relevant information providing server, receiving a service session ID as a session ID between the terminal device and the relevant information providing server; transmitting request information requesting related information to the related information providing server together with the received service session ID; and If the server authentication is provided by the relevant information, the relevant information corresponding to the request information is received. 8. The recording method according to claim 7, wherein: In said receiving step, The terminal equipment: receiving information indicating an authentication error and transmitting a user ID and password to said authentication server if the authentication by the authentication server is incorrect; If the user ID and password are authenticated by the authentication server, receiving an authentication session ID as a session ID between the terminal device and the authentication server; and and transmitting the authentication ticket request information together with the authentication session ID to the authentication server.

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