JP2003303039A - Content providing system, image display device, server, and content providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To easily select desired content and download the content immediately. SOLUTION: Since it is possible to previously store a content image and a content ID that can be provided by the image display device, a user can search for a content from the content image and the content ID, and once as in the related art. The trouble of opening a homepage etc. can be saved. Since each of the content images selected by the user has an ID, it is possible to immediately download the content stored in the server-side content storage unit having a unique relationship with the ID.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a content providing system, an image display device, a server and a content providing method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some cases, a small display portion of a portable device such as a mobile terminal or a mobile phone cannot display an image having a large amount of information at one time. Therefore, for example, so-called scrolling is performed in which an image of a certain range is displayed on the display unit and the image to be displayed on the display unit is moved according to the operation of a button. However, since the buttons for operation are particularly small in a portable device, the operation for scrolling is often troublesome.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-7027 discloses a technique of scrolling an image displayed on a display unit in accordance with the movement of a casing forming the device. For example, when a user holding such a device moves the device to the right, the image also scrolls to the right. According to such a technique, it is possible to eliminate the troublesomeness of the scroll operation by the button as described above, and it is possible to perform a display that matches the intuition of a person.

[0004]

By the way, it is conceivable to use the device capable of performing the scroll operation by moving the casing as described above to receive the contents through the Internet. It is possible to access the homepage and find the content you want to download from this homepage.

However, when displaying a general home page on such a device, since the image area of the home page is large relative to the display part of the device, it is necessary to scroll the device up and down, left and right to find the content to be downloaded. is there. Also, when trying to download content, the access button, so-called download button, etc. must be searched for.

Further, even when the content desired to be downloaded is found, it is possible that the download may fail or may take a long time depending on the access situation.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a content providing system capable of easily selecting a desired content and immediately downloading the content, an image display device and a server used in this system, and , The purpose is to provide a method of providing such content.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the content providing system of the present invention has a case having a display section for displaying an image, and the content is displayed on the display section according to the movement of the case. Means for scrolling an image that can be provided, means for storing content that can be provided and information for identifying the content, means for selecting a desired content via the display unit, and a means for selecting the content that corresponds to the selected content. An image display device having means for transmitting identification information and receiving content corresponding to the transmission of the identification information, content storage means for storing content corresponding to the identification information, and receiving the transmitted identification information Then
A server having a unit for extracting the content corresponding to the received identification information from the content storage unit and transmitting the content to the image display device.

In the present invention, the screen display device can previously store the content that can be provided and the information for identifying the content, and the selected desired content is received from the server based on the stored information. Here, the content that can be provided is, for example, the information displayed on the display unit of the image display device, and is the information about the content displayed in the size of the display unit or a size smaller than that. . The information for identifying the content is, for example, an ID for each content.

For example, the user scrolls the information on the content displayed on the display unit and selects the information on the desired content, thereby transmitting the identification information attached to the content to the server. , The content corresponding to the transmitted identification information is transmitted to the screen display device. This server stores in advance the content corresponding to the identification information.

Therefore, according to the present invention, first of all, the contents that can be provided by the image display device, that is, the information about the contents can be stored in advance, so that the user can search for the contents from this information, It is possible to save the time and effort required to open a home page once as in the past. Secondly, since the information regarding the content selected by the user has unique identification information, it is possible to immediately download the server-side content having a one-to-one unique relationship with this identification information. Also,
Information about the contents stored in advance in this way is
For example, if the size of the display unit of the image display device is set to a size smaller than or equal to that of the display unit and displayed on the display unit, the user can scroll the display image by moving the casing and easily display the desired content. You can find out. In a conventional general home page, the image area is too large as compared with the size of the display unit, and is not as convenient as the present invention.

Further, the transmission and reception of the identification information and the content between the image display device of the present invention and the server can be performed via the network. As the network, for example, the Internet or the like can be used.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the image display device further comprises means for storing the price of the provable content and means for displaying the price of the provable content on the display unit. However, when a plurality of the image display devices simultaneously select the same content, the prices of the available contents are discounted and displayed on the plurality of image display devices. Thereby, for example, the user can decide the purchase or use of the content while considering the price of the content displayed on the display unit, and the price of the content can be discounted by the plurality of image display devices. For example, the user can consider this number of people and the amount of money and acquire this content at a low cost.

The image display apparatus of the present invention includes a casing having a display unit for displaying an image, a unit for scrolling the image displayed on the display unit according to the movement of the casing, contents that can be provided, Means for storing information for identifying content, means for selecting desired content via the display unit, transmitting the identification information corresponding to the selected content, and responding to the transmission of the identification information And means for receiving content that can be provided.

Thus, the content that can be provided and the information for identifying the content can be stored in advance, and the selected desired content can be obtained based on the stored information. For example, the user can search for the content from the information stored in advance as described above, and can save the time and effort of once opening a home page and the like as in the conventional case. In addition, if the information about the content stored in advance is displayed on the display unit in the size of the display unit of the image display device or smaller than the display unit, the user moves the housing. This makes it possible to easily find the desired content by scrolling the display image.

The server of the present invention has a content storage unit for storing content to be provided having identification information, a casing having a display unit for displaying an image, and a display unit for displaying the image in response to movement of the casing. Means for scrolling an image to be displayed, means for storing content that can be provided and information for identifying the content, means for selecting a desired content via the display unit, and corresponding to the selected content Means for transmitting the identification information to
Receiving the identification information transmitted by the image display device having means for receiving the content that can be provided in response to the transmission of the identification information, and extracting the content corresponding to the received identification information from the content storage means. Means for transmitting the leveraged content to the image display device.

With this, the content that can be provided and the information for identifying the content can be stored in the image display device in advance, and the desired content selected can be obtained from the server based on the stored information.

According to the content providing method of the present invention, the image displayed on the display unit can be scrolled in accordance with the movement of the housing, and the content that can be provided and the information for identifying the content are stored. In the image display device capable of performing the step of selecting a desired content via the display section, the server having the content storage means for storing the content corresponding to the identification information is stored in the selected content. A step of transmitting the corresponding identification information, a step of receiving the transmitted identification information by the server, extracting a content corresponding to the received identification information, and transmitting the content to the image display device. To have.

According to the present invention, the content can be searched from the information stored in advance, and it is possible to save the time and effort of once opening a home page or the like as in the conventional case. In addition, if the information about the content stored in advance is displayed on the display unit in the size of the display unit of the image display device or smaller than the display unit, the user moves the housing. This makes it possible to easily find the desired content by scrolling the display image.

Further, according to the present invention, the price of the provable content can be displayed on the display unit before the user selects the content, for example. This allows the user to decide whether to purchase or use the content while considering the price.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the outer appearance of the image display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this image display device 1
Is, for example, a housing 2 sized so that the user can hold it with one hand.
Have. A camera 3, a microphone 4, a speaker 5, a display unit 6, and an operation area 7 are provided on the front surface 2 a of the housing 2. Further, the lower surface 2b of the housing 2 is provided with a mounting portion 9 on which a stick-shaped storage medium 8 is removably mounted. The camera 3 is, for example, a CCD camera, and the display unit 6 is, for example, a color liquid crystal display device. The operation area 7 is provided with an OK button 10, an Undo button 11, a camera capture button 12, a number key 13 and the like.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image display device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image display device 1 has a main bus 14, a CPU 15, a ROM 16, and an S-RAM.
(Static RAM) 17, RAM 18, storage medium interface 19, sensor interface 20 and various other interfaces such as TTY (Tele Type).
writer) 21, Ethernet (registered trademark) board (Ethernet (registered trademark) Board) 2
2. Image processing unit (Image P
processing unit) 23, a Visca interface (Visca Interface) 24,
VGA board 25, audio / video interface (Audio & Video In)
interface) 26 is connected.

The CPU 15 controls the image display apparatus 1 as a whole, the ROM 16 stores a program required for its operation, and the S-RAM 17 stores necessary data, for example, a unique image display apparatus 1. ID is stored,
The RAM 18 is used as a work space for processing.

The mounting unit 9 is connected to the storage medium interface 19 so that data can be communicated with the storage medium 8 mounted on the mounting unit 9.

A position detecting sensor 27 is connected to the sensor interface. As the position detection sensor 27, for example, an acceleration sensor can be used. The acceleration sensor is, for example, an element that detects acceleration in the biaxial direction or triaxial direction when the user moves the space while holding the image display device 1 in his hand. For example, an acceleration sensor is used as a sensor for detecting acceleration in two axial directions, the vertical direction component and the horizontal direction component of the acceleration applied to the image display device 1 are detected, and time integration calculation is performed for each component to obtain a velocity component and a displacement. It is designed to calculate the components. This calculation result is used for scrolling an image described later.

TTY (Tele Typewrite)
r) 21 is connected to various buttons in the above operation area.

Ethernet board (Ethernet)
The board 22 is connectable to the Ethernet. For example, it is connected to a server via Ethernet, and is connected to the Internet via this server.

Image processing unit (Ima
The camera interface (Camera Interface)
e) 28 is connected, and the above-mentioned CCD camera 3 is connected to this camera interface 28. An image connected by the CCD camera 3 can be captured in the image display device 1 and can be displayed on the display unit 6.

Visca interface (Visca
An external personal computer or the like is connected to the interface 24, and various controls of the image display device 1 can be performed via this interface.

VGA board 25
The liquid crystal display device as the display unit 6 is connected to the.

Audio Video Interface (Aud
An audio / video system device is connected to the io & Video Interface) 26. A signal from an audio / video system device can be taken into the image display device 1 via the interface 26, and conversely, an audio signal or an image signal can be output to an audio / video system device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image displaying contents that can be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, images A1, A2, B1 and B2 showing four contents that can be provided are displayed as one image 29. That is, one image 29 is divided into four images A1, A2, B1 and B2,
Each of the divided images A1, A2, B1, and B2 is an image of the content that can be provided. An image of such a content that can be provided may be displayed as a so-called icon.

In this image display device 1, an area 30 surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 3 indicates the range of the screen displayed on the display section 6. For example, when a user holding such an image display device 1 moves the image display device 1 to the right, the position detection sensor 27 detects the movement, and C
The screen (area 30) is similarly scrolled rightward under the control of the PU 15. By performing such scrolling, the entire image 29 can be viewed. As will be described later, it is possible to select a desired content by selecting one of the divided screens A1, A2, B1, and B2 from such a display state.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a content table stored in the image display device.

As shown in FIG. 4, in this table 31, a content ID 33 and a content name are associated with each area (A1, A2, B1, B2) 32 where the divided image is located on the entire image. 34, content attribute 35,
The content price 36 is described in a table format. The content ID 33 is an ID given to each content. For example, the content ID 33 can be used to download the content or the like. The content name 34 is a name given to each content. For the content attribute 35, for example, the date and time when the content is updated is used. The content price 36 is a price when the content provider sells the content to the user. Such a table 31
Is an S-RAM from the time of sale of the image display device 1, for example.
Although it is stored in 17, it is sequentially updated via the network, for example, and the date and time is stored in the content attribute 35. It should be noted that such a table 31 may be stored in the storage medium 8.

As shown in FIG. 5, a server 50 for providing contents is connected on a network 55 such as the Internet or an intranet. A terminal 60 such as a personal computer for creating or editing content is connected to the Internet server 50. The terminal 60 may create or edit the content of the server 50 via the network.

In the server 50, a table storage unit 52 storing the content table shown in FIG. 3, a content storage unit 53 storing each content, a content ID 33 stored in the content table and a content storage unit 53. A communication unit 51 is provided for providing the content between the content address storage unit 54 and the image display device 1 which are stored in association with the content address stored in the image display device 1 via the network 55. .

The image display device 1 requesting to provide the content transmits the content ID 33 corresponding to the content to the server 50 via the network 55. As a network protocol, HTTP (Hyper T
ext Transfer Protocol) and UDP
(User Datagram Protocol) or the like can be used.

Upon receiving this content ID 33, the server 50 extracts the address corresponding to the received content ID 33 from the content address storage unit 52, and the content at the extracted address is stored in the content storage unit 5
3, and the read content is transmitted to the image display device 1 via the network 55.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a content charge based on the content table 31.

For example, when the user collectively selects a plurality of contents from the image display device 1,
The CPU 15 calls the price of each content selected from the table 31 and calculates the total. At that time, for example, the total price may be appropriately discounted according to a combination of a plurality of selected contents.

Next, the operation of the image display device 1 thus constructed will be described.

FIG. 7 shows an image display device 1 according to this embodiment.
3 is a flowchart showing the operation of FIG.

When the image display device 1 is powered on,
The initial screen is displayed on the display unit (step 701). Figure 7
Is a diagram showing an example of such an initial screen, and the screen of the display unit 6 shown in FIG. 8 includes, for example, "menu", "restaurant", "department store", "cinema", "restaurant", " There are "Map", "Picture", "Character input", etc., which are not displayed on this screen, but there are other items below this,
By moving the image display device 1 downward, the screen can be scrolled downward to see the items below. Items that can be selected on the current screen are highlighted (reference numeral 37 in FIG. 8), and when the OK button 10 is pressed, the highlighted items are selected. Such highlighting is fixed on the screen, for example, and the item to be highlighted can be selected by scrolling the screen and moving the item as described above.

Here, when the image display device 1 is moved up and down (step 702), the image display device 1 scrolls the screen of the display unit 6 vertically, for example (step 703). When a desired item, for example, "picture" is highlighted by the user and the OK button 10 is pressed (step 704), the "picture" selection screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 6 (step 705).

Here again, similarly, the image display device 1 is moved when the image display device 1 is moved vertically and horizontally (step 70).
6) According to this movement, the screen of the display unit 6 is scrolled, for example, vertically and horizontally (step 707). This selection is performed by, for example, highlighting the image with the largest area on the display screen among the four images A1, A2, B1, and B2, selecting the highlight screen by scrolling, and pressing the OK button 10. Just select the content.

Regarding the display of the selection screen in step 701, for example, in the initial screen display, as shown in FIG. 8, the size of each screen such as "menu", "restaurant", "map", etc. The size of the images A1, A2, B1, and B2 is smaller than the size of the display unit 6 of the display device 1, and the sizes of the images A1, A2, B1, and B2 are about the size of the display unit 6 in the display of the selection screen in step 705. Therefore, the user can easily find out the desired content by scrolling the image display device 1. On a conventional general home page, the image area is too large compared to the size of the display unit 6, and the convenience of the present invention is not provided.

Images A1, A2, B1, B of contents that can be provided by the user and are divided into four images.
When one of the two images is selected (step 708),
As shown in FIG. 9, the image display device 1 displays the amount presentation screen 38 on the display unit 6 (step 709). On this screen 38, there are, for example, an amount display section 39 for displaying the amount of content, a purchase confirmation button 40, and a multiple content purchase button 41. If the user presses the purchase button 41 for a plurality of contents, it is possible to return to the initial screen again and add the contents to be purchased. In that case, the charge is calculated as shown in FIG. 6, and the amount display section 39 of the amount presentation screen 38 is displayed.
Shows the total amount.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the content is selected by the user (902) in response to the presentation of the amount of content (901) (903), the selected content is transmitted from the server 42 to the Internet 43, for example. And is provided to the image display device 1 via the (step 71
0). That is, the content is provided to the user through the path 904 for requesting the content online store to purchase the content.

The image display device 1 displays the content 44 on the display unit 6 as shown in FIG. 11, for example. (Step 711). The user appropriately moves the image display device 1 to display the image 45 of the content 44 displayed on the display unit 6.
You can scroll to see.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the content image (eg, the four-divided image shown in FIG. 3) and the content ID that can be provided by the image display device 1 can be stored in advance. The user can search for content from this content image and content ID,
It is possible to save the time and effort required to open a home page once as in the past. Since each content image selected by the user has an ID, the content stored in the content storage unit 53 on the server 50 side having a one-to-one unique relationship with this ID can be immediately downloaded. .

Further, in this embodiment, if the content uses a camera connected to the server, a plurality of users can simultaneously receive a real-time moving image such as a live image of a singer.

FIG. 12 shows an example of an image displayed on the display unit 6 when "map" is selected from the items on the initial screen shown in FIG. From this state, the image display device 1
Is moved (step 706), the screen is scrolled vertically and horizontally (step 707), and a predetermined image on the map is selected (step 708). For example, a more detailed map in the area is selected. Can be displayed on the display unit 6 and stored in the storage medium 8.

In the above, the path 9 for requesting the purchase of the content from the content online store shown in FIG.
Although the example in which the content is provided to the user by 04 is shown, the content may be provided to the user by the path 905 for directly selling the storage medium 8 storing the content from the store. In that case, it goes without saying that the storage medium 8 storing the content may be sold as a product,
The user may bring the storage medium 8 into the store and write the content in the brought-in storage medium 8 from the content providing device installed in the store.

Next, with reference to FIG. 13, a description will be given of a case where a plurality of users who respectively own the image display device 1 receive the contents.

When a plurality of users use the same content in the same time zone, the system charges the same content by the user. Specifically, as shown in the figure, for example, three users own the image display device 1, and each user has a content ID.
It is assumed that the content of -1 (the area of the display unit is A1) is selected. In this case, the regular price of content ID-1 is 30
If it is a yen, it will be discounted by 3 people and the user unit price will be 10
It becomes a circle. Also, for example, when five users use the content of content ID-4 in the same time zone,
When the regular price of the content ID-4 is 100 yen, the discount is made by 5 people and the user unit price is 20 yen. In this embodiment, the user unit price is equally divided by the number of users.

In this case, the server 50 transmits the table 70 stored in the table storage unit 52 to each image display device 1 via the network 55, and each image display device 1
As shown in FIG. 14, for example, an amount presentation screen 38 is displayed on the display unit 6.
Is displayed (step 709 (see FIG. 7)). In the amount presentation screen 38, the number of users who are currently using the content of ID-1 is displayed on the number display unit 65, and the discounted discount price is displayed on the amount display unit 39. As a result, the user can easily understand popular contents by examining the number of people and the amount of money, and can acquire the contents at low cost.

Note that such contents are suitable for so-called chat in which a plurality of users exchange messages and play games in real time, and live images as described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the content is an image has been described, but the content may be music or the like.

Although the image showing the contents shown in FIG. 3 is divided into four, the number of images may be larger than this.
May be less. When there are many divisions like this,
In order to reduce the scroll amount
One or more areas may be displayed on the display unit 6. In this case, the area scrolled to the center of the display unit 6 can be selected.

Further, the storage medium may be a memory device with copy guard or the like using an illegal copy prevention technique.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The desired content can be easily selected, and the content can be immediately downloaded.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an image display device according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image displaying content that can be provided.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a content table stored in an image display device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a network of an image display device and a server.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining a charge for a plurality of contents.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of the image display device according to this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an amount presentation screen displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 10 is a diagram conceptually showing a system configuration according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a content image displayed on an image display device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a content image displayed on the image display device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of content prices when used by a plurality of users.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display image on a content price display unit when used by a plurality of users.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image display device 2 housing 6 Display 15 CPU 27 Position detection sensor 29 Image showing content that can be provided 33 Content ID

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A housing having a display unit for displaying an image,
A unit for scrolling an image displayed on the display unit according to the movement of the housing, a unit for storing content that can be provided and information for identifying the content, and a desired content via the display unit. An image display device having means for selecting and means for transmitting the identification information corresponding to the selected content and receiving content according to the transmission of the identification information; and storing content corresponding to the identification information. A server for receiving the transmitted identification information, extracting the content corresponding to the received identification information from the content storage means, and transmitting the content to the image display device. A content providing system comprising: 2. The content providing system according to claim 1, wherein the content information that can be provided is displayed on the display unit in a size equal to or smaller than the size of the display unit. Content providing system. 3. The content providing system according to claim 1, wherein transmission and reception of the identification information and the content between the image display device and the server are performed via a network. 4. The content providing system according to claim 1, wherein the image display device stores the price of the provable content, and the price of the provable content is displayed on the display unit. Content, characterized in that, when a plurality of image display devices select the same content at the same time, the price of the content that can be provided is discounted and displayed on the plurality of image display devices. Offer system. 5. A casing having a display unit for displaying an image, means for scrolling the image displayed on the display unit according to movement of the casing, and contents for providing and contents. Means for storing information, means for selecting a desired content via the display unit, transmitting the identification information corresponding to the selected content, and providing content that can be provided in response to the transmission of the identification information. An image display device comprising: a receiving unit. 6. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein the content information that can be provided is displayed on the display unit in a size equal to or smaller than the size of the display unit. Image display device. 7. The image display device according to claim 5, wherein transmission / reception of the identification information and the content of the image display device is performed via a network. 8. The image display device according to claim 7, wherein the image display device stores the price of the provable content, and the price of the provable content is displayed on the display unit. An image, further comprising means, wherein the price of the provable content is discount-displayed on the plurality of image display devices when the plurality of image display devices simultaneously select the same content. Display device. 9. A content storage unit for storing content to be provided having identification information, a casing having a display unit for displaying an image, and an image displayed on the display unit according to movement of the casing. Means for scrolling, means for storing content that can be provided and information for identifying the content, means for selecting a desired content via the display unit, and the identification information corresponding to the selected content Receiving the identification information transmitted by the image display device, and receiving the content corresponding to the received identification information, A server for extracting the content from the content storage means and transmitting the content to the image display device. 10. The server according to claim 9, wherein transmission and reception of content and identification information with the image display device are performed via a network. 11. The image displayed on the display unit can be scrolled according to the movement of the housing, and
A step of selecting a desired content via the display section of an image display device capable of storing content that can be provided and information for identifying the content; and content that stores content corresponding to the identification information Transmitting the identification information corresponding to the selected content to a server having a storage means, the server receiving the transmitted identification information, and extracting the content corresponding to the received identification information. And a step of transmitting the leveraged content to the image display device. 12. The content providing method according to claim 11, wherein transmission and reception of the identification information and the content between the image display device and the server are performed via a network. . 13. The content providing method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of displaying a price of the provable content on the display unit before selecting the content. Method of providing content to be used. 14. The content providing method according to claim 13, wherein when a plurality of the image display devices simultaneously select the same content, the price of the provable content is displayed in the plurality of image displays. A method of providing contents, which is displayed at a discount on the device.