JP2003114729A - System and method for providing membership shareware - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service capable of making a user use a shareware freely by paying a fixed fee, while a service provider holds the rights of using for plural sharewares. SOLUTION: The service provider is interposed between a shareware preparing person and the user, and the shareware is made thereby to be used easily by the user. Actually, the service provider has agreements with the plurality of shareware preparing persons, and has the rights of the using thereof. The provider forms a library by integrating collectively the sharewares after the agreement. The service provider gives the right of using for the library to the user paying the fixed fee, and the service capable of using plural sharewares is provided by the agreement with the signal service provider.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an application providing service, and more particularly to a "membership shareware providing service" for providing an application desired by a user via a network such as the Internet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when purchasing shareware, you need to find the shareware you need on the Internet,
You pay for each shareware you want to use with each payment method and use those applications.

[0003]

Shareware is cheaper in monetary than generally sold applications, but many of them are functionally simple. Due to the above-mentioned characteristics, there is a high need for shareware. Since there is no shareware, there is a problem in that the work of paying the price that occurs each time the shareware is used is considered to be quite troublesome for the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a service in which a service provider holds the right to use a plurality of sharewares, so that the user can freely use the above-mentioned sharewares by paying a fixed fee. Is.

[0005]

Therefore, in the present invention, a service provider is placed between the shareware creator and the user so that the user can easily use the shareware.

[0006] Specifically, a service provider (such as an internet provider) has a right to use a plurality of shareware and pays a fixed fee, so that the service user can freely use the shareware. It is a service that can be done.

[0007] Further, the service provider is a service for creating a library in which shareware is collected by contracting with the shareware creator and holding the usage right, and providing the library.

More specifically, it is assumed that the service provider makes a contract with a plurality of shareware creators and has the right to use the contract. In addition, the service provider collects those contracted shareware into a library. A service provider is a service that allows multiple shareware to be freely used by giving the user who has paid a certain fee (becoming a member) the right to use the library and contracting with the service provider. is there.

Further, the present invention receives shareware, which is permitted to hold the usage right, transmitted from a shareware creator via a network, and a shareware library including one or a plurality of the shareware is received. Library creating means for creating and storing in a predetermined storage means, and in response to an access from a user via a network, the user is made to browse the shareware library, and the user uses the shareware library. Requesting access to the shareware library, the member-only shareware including a server device having a library management unit that authenticates whether the user has the right to use the shareware library and permits the use of the shareware library. Including provision system.

In this case, the server device is
In response to the access from the shareware creator via the network, the shareware creator is prompted to enter the information necessary for the shareware license agreement, and the information entered by the shareware creator. In the
It is determined whether or not the shareware use right holding contract includes necessary information, and if the shareware use right holding contract includes necessary information, the shareware creator contract with the shareware creator is determined. In response to a request from a shareware creator contracting means for performing shareware usage right possession contract processing, and a user who has browsed the shareware library, the user is prompted to input information necessary for a user contract, It is determined whether the information input by the user includes information required for the user contract, and if the information required for the user contract is included, the It further has a service user contract means for selling the usage right of the shareware library.

Further, the right of use of the shareware library to be sold is set to have a predetermined period of use, and a fixed amount system is set for each period of use.

Further, the invention of the above system also holds as a method invention. Further, the above invention is also realized as a program for causing a computer to realize a predetermined function or a recording medium recording the program.

In this specification, the term "means" includes the case where the function of the means is realized by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Also, the function of one means is 2
Realized by one or more hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software,
The functions of two or more means may be realized by one piece of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

As a typical example of implementation by a combination of hardware and software, execution in a computer system having a predetermined program is given.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, an embodiment of a membership shareware providing service of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a membership-based shareware providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the membership shareware providing service of the present invention is a user terminal 10.
Service provider terminal 20 and shareware creator terminal 30
And a communication network 100 such as the Internet that connects these (alternately) to each other (mutually).

The user terminal 10 is an information processing device such as a personal computer. The user terminal 10 has a function of accessing the shareware library 21 provided by the service provider terminal 20 on the network 100 and downloading any shareware 31.

The service provider terminal 20 is used by the service provider and is constituted by an information processing device such as a workstation server. Service provider terminal 2
0 receives the information transmitted by the user terminal 10 by the operation of the user, and the shareware 31 designated by the information
Is provided to the user terminal 10.

The shareware creator terminal 30 is an information processing device such as a personal computer. The shareware creator terminal 30 is the shareware library 2 provided on the network 100 by the service provider terminal 20.
1 has a function of accessing 1 and updating the created shareware 31.

Next, a method of providing the membership shareware providing service of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the membership shareware providing method according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the network 100 is the Internet.

The shareware creator is the shareware 31
Is created (step A1). Shareware creator
When a contract is concluded with a service provider and the contract is concluded, the service provider is granted the right to use the shareware 31 (step A
2) (Step B1), the shareware creator terminal 30 transmits (shareware 31) to the service provider terminal 30 provided on the network 100 to perform registration (step A3).

The service provider makes a contract with a plurality of shareware creators (step B1) and creates a library 21 in which the registered shareware 31 is collected (step B2). The library 21 can be freely referenced from the network 100.

The service user refers to the library 21 provided by the service provider via the network 100 (step C1), confirms the contents, and then makes a contract with the service provider (step B3) (step C2).

After the contract, the service provider gives the service user a usage right (step B4). After that, the service user can freely use the shareware 31 registered in the library 21 (step C3).

(Other Embodiments) Next, other embodiments will be described. Here, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the service provider terminal 20 according to another embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, a service provider terminal 20 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a shareware creator contracting means 25, a library creating means 26, and a service user contracting means 27. , Library management means 28
With.

The functions of each means will be described below in accordance with the flow of the method of providing the membership shareware providing service described above.

First, the shareware creator contracting means 25
Has a function of making a shareware right-of-use contract with a shareware creator. Specifically, the shareware creator contracting means 25 responds to the access from the shareware creator terminal 30 via the network 100,
The contract screen is transmitted to the shareware creator terminal 30 to prompt the user to enter information necessary for the contract. Here, the information necessary for the contract is, for example, the name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, account number for payment of the shareware creator, and the like.

When information is input by the shareware creator and transmitted to the service provider terminal 20, the shareware creator contract means 25 determines whether the information necessary for the contract has been input, and enters the contract. When the necessary information is entered, a predetermined contractor ID is issued and transmitted to the shareware creator terminal 30. As a result, a shareware use right holding contract is signed, and the service provider can hold the shareware use right.

Next, the library creating means 26 has a function of creating a shareware library based on the shareware registered by the shareware creator. Specifically, in response to the access from the shareware creator terminal 30 via the network 100, a shareware registration screen is transmitted to the shareware creator terminal 30 to prompt input of information necessary for shareware registration. . Here, the information necessary for shareware registration is a contractor ID and shareware data.

When the shareware creator inputs the information and sends it to the service provider terminal 20, the library creating means 26 judges whether or not the necessary information is input, and the necessary information is input. If so, register the sent shareware. Then, payment processing is performed based on the received contractor ID. For example, a process of transferring a predetermined amount of money to a designated account is performed.

Then, the library creating means 26 uses the received shareware data to create a shareware library including one or a plurality of shareware and stores it in a predetermined storage means.

Next, the service user contract means 27 has a function of making a user contract with the service user.
Specifically, the service user contract means 27 transmits a user contract screen to the user terminal 10 in response to a request from the service user who browses the shareware library,
Prompt for information required for user contract. Here, the information necessary for the user contract is, for example, the name, address, telephone number, electronic mail address, credit card number for deducting the charge, etc. of the service user.

Information is entered by the service user,
When transmitted to the service provider terminal 20, the service user contract means 27 determines whether necessary information is input, and when the necessary information is input, a predetermined user ID (or a predetermined user ID) The user ID and password are issued and transmitted to the user terminal 10. Then, the charge withdrawal process is performed. Here, the charge is a charge for using the shareware library, and is, for example, a flat-rate system for each predetermined period (yearly or monthly). As a result, the user contract is concluded, and the service user can obtain the usage right to use the library including a plurality of shareware by paying once.

Next, the library management means 28 has a function of managing the shareware library stored in a predetermined storage means and held by the service provider terminal 20.

Specifically, the library management means 28 is
In response to the access from the user terminal 10 via the network 100, the user browses the shareware library.

Further, when the service user desires to use the application included in the shareware library, the user is requested to input the user ID (or the user ID and password), and the input user ID (or the user ID and the password). Authenticate the service user based on the password and permit the use of shareware. Then, the designated application is downloaded to the user terminal 10.

The server device described in these embodiments includes both a case where it is realized by one physical server device and a case where it is realized by a plurality of server devices.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate changes or improvements based on the contents disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, such changes or improvements are also included in the present invention.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Service users can freely use multiple shareware with one contract, and can reduce the work of paying for multiple shareware.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a membership shareware providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a membership shareware providing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a service provider terminal 20 according to another embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 user terminals 20 Service Provider Terminal 21 library 25 Shareware creator contract method 26 Library creation means 27 Service User Contract Means 28 library management means 30 shareware creator terminal 31 shareware 100 networks

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) G06F 17/60 ZEC G06F 9/06 660C

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A shareware transmitted from a shareware creator via a network and permitted to hold a use right is received to create a shareware library including one or more of the shareware, and the predetermined shareware library is created. In the case where the user makes the user browse the shareware library and requests the use of the shareware library in response to the access from the user via the network, the library creating means stored in the storage means of Is a membership shareware providing system including a server device having a library management unit that authenticates whether the user has a right to use the shareware library and permits the use of the shareware library. 2. The server device, in response to an access from a shareware creator via a network, prompts the shareware creator to input information necessary for a shareware right to use contract, In the information entered by the shareware creator,
It is determined whether or not the shareware use right holding contract includes necessary information, and if the shareware use right holding contract includes necessary information, the shareware creator contract with the shareware creator is determined. Shareware creator contract means for performing shareware right-of-use contract processing, and in response to a request from a user who browses the shareware library, prompts the user to input information necessary for a user contract, It is determined whether the information input by the user includes information required for the user contract, and if the information required for the user contract is included, the The member-only shareware providing system according to claim 1, further comprising: a service user contract means for selling the usage right of the shareware library. 3. The membership shareware providing system according to claim 2, wherein a right of use of the sold shareware library is set for a predetermined period of use, and is a flat rate system for each period of use. 4. A shareware library including one or a plurality of the shareware, wherein the library creating means receives the shareware transmitted from the shareware creator via the network and permitted to hold the usage right. Creating and storing in a predetermined storage means, the library management means in response to the access from the user via the network, causing the user to browse the shareware library, and a service user. In response to a request from a user who browses the shareware library, the contracting means prompts the user to input information necessary for a user contract, and the user inputs the information input by the user. If the contract includes the necessary information, and if the user contract contains the necessary information, Selling the usage right of the shareware library to the user; and the library management means, when the user requests the use of the shareware library, the user uses the shareware library. The method of providing a membership shareware, comprising the step of authenticating whether or not the user has the usage right and permitting the use of the shareware library. 5. A computer receives shareware transmitted from a shareware creator via a network and permitted to hold a usage right, and creates a shareware library including one or more of the shareware. Then, in response to an access from a user via a network, a library creating means to store the shareware library in a predetermined storage means, the user is made to browse the shareware library, and the user requests the use of the shareware library. In such a case, a program for functioning as a library management unit that authenticates whether or not the user has a use right of the shareware library and permits the use of the shareware library. 6. A computer, in response to an access from a shareware creator via a network, prompting the shareware creator to input information necessary for a shareware use right holding contract, and sharing the share. When it is judged whether the information input by the software creator includes the information necessary for the shareware use right holding contract, and the information necessary for the shareware use right holding contract is included. Includes a shareware creator contract means for performing a shareware right-of-use contract processing with the shareware creator, in response to a request from a user who browses the shareware library, to the user, Prompt for information required for the user contract, and determine whether the information input by the user includes the information required for the user contract. If the user contract does not include the necessary information, the service user contract means for selling the use right of the shareware library to the user,
The program according to claim 5, which further functions as the program. 7. The program according to claim 6, wherein a right to use the shareware library to be sold is set for a predetermined period of use, and is a flat rate system for each period of use.