JP2003331197A - Device, system, and method for lending contents, and contents managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contents lending system capable of giving satisfaction to a contents rental applicant. <P>SOLUTION: A contents managing device has a first means for storing contents, a second means for distributing contents requested from a contents lending device to the contents lending device, and a third means for controlling a writing and erasing means for writing and erasing the distributed contents to/from a rewritable recording medium in the contents lending device. The contents lending device has a first means for requesting the contents lending device to distribute contents, and a second means for writing and erasing the contents distributed from the contents managing device to/from the rewritable recording medium under the control of the contents managing device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a content lending device, a content management device, a content lending system, and a content lending method, and in particular,
Using the communication network, the content rental device
The present invention relates to a technique effectively applied to a system for recording a content distributed from a content management device in a rewritable recording medium and lending it.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, contents and rental systems have been video and compact disc (CD; Compac).
There is a method in which a content rental source purchases content such as t Disc) and lends the content to a content rental applicant. In addition, there is a limited space for storing content, so after a certain period
It is sold next. In addition, DVD (Digital Versatile
For recording media such as Discs) that do not show deterioration of video, the method of renting from a distribution company to the rental industry consisting of content rental sources for a fixed period and renting it by general content rental applicants is a method. Proposed.

[0003]

However, in the conventional method, the number of media for content is limited to the number prepared by the content rental source, so that the request from the content rental applicant cannot always be met. There was a point. On the other hand, in order to meet all the demands from content rental applicants, the content rental source needs to provide content in each store, including content with a low profit margin.
However, it is difficult to increase the absolute number of contents because the storage space is limited. Further, as the number of content rental source stores increases, employment for operating each store occurs, resulting in higher labor costs. In addition, due to privacy issues related to rental, it was difficult to perform marketing using the rental status of each individual content rental applicant. Further, there is a problem that the content provider does not get a proper consideration because the revenue depends only on the number of media sold to the content rental source, regardless of the increase or decrease of the rental request for the content.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a content lending system and a content lending system which can give a content rental applicant a sense of satisfaction. To provide a method. Further, another object of the present invention is to
It is to provide a content lending device and a content management device applied to the above-described content lending system. The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0005]

Among the inventions disclosed in the present application, a brief description will be given to the outline of typical ones.
It is as follows. That is, the content lending system of the present invention is a content management apparatus that stores, manages and distributes content, and records the distributed content as digital data on a lending rewritable recording medium under the control of the content management apparatus. And a communication network that connects the content lending device and the content lending device. The specific procedure of the content lending method of the present invention is as follows.
It is as follows. A user who wishes to rent a content (hereinafter referred to as a content rental applicant) is authenticated by an existing method, a content lending device, a content management device, or remotely via a network. Acquire and save requests from content rental applicants. The content lending device makes a content distribution request to the content management device. From the content management device to the content lending device,
Content is distributed as digital data. The content management device controls the content lending device to record the distributed content in the lending rewritable recording medium. Rent media to those who want to rent content. The content rental applicant pays the rental fee to the content rental source. The content rental source pays the content provider according to the usage amount of the content.

According to the present invention, the contents accumulated in the contents management device are distributed to the contents lending device at the time of lending, recorded in the lending recording medium in the contents lending device, and lended to the contents rental applicant. Therefore, it becomes possible to always respond to the request for content rental by the content rental applicant. In addition, since the content is stored only in the content management device, it is possible to eliminate the storage space that has been created in each store. Since the content management device has an authentication process and content can be centrally managed by the content management device, the content lending device can be an unmanned terminal, which not only reduces labor costs but also enables marketing using personal information. it can.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to those having the same function, and the repeated description thereof will be omitted. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Note that FIG. 1 also shows the flow of contents according to the present embodiment. Content is rented among a content rental applicant (1-1), a content rental source (1-2), and a content providing source (1-3). The content rental source (1-2) has a content management device (1-4) and one or more content lending devices (1-6), both of which are connected via a communication network (1-5). Has been done. The content rental source (1-2) is the communication network (1-
5) and the content management device (1-4), if not provided, ASP (application service provider), telecommunications carrier, content storage company, etc. may provide and manage the facility.

The content management apparatus (1-4) is a content renting apparatus via a content storage server (1-41) for storing the content borrowed from the content provider (1-3) and a communication network (1-5). (1-
6) Content distribution server (1-42) for distribution to
It is composed of a content management server (1-43) for managing content lending information and the like. When the content rental applicant (1-1) desires to rent, the content lending device (1-6) sends a distribution request to the content management device (1-4) via the communication network (1-5). The content management device (1-4) receives the content borrowed from the content provider (1-3),
The content is distributed to the content lending device (1-6) using the content distribution server (1-42). The content management server (1-43) manages content lending information (for example, the lending count, lending period, lending destination store shown in FIG. 2) and the like. Note that FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining information held by each device in the present embodiment. The distributed content is recorded in the rewritable recording medium (1-7) by the content lending device (1-6) under the control of the content management server (1-43), and the content rental applicant (1-1 ) Is loaned to. When the rewritable recording medium (1-7) is returned, under the control of the content management server (1-43),
The content is erased by the content lending device (1-6).

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the content rental method according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of content rental according to the present embodiment. First, a content rental applicant (2-1) presents his / her identity to a content rental clerk (2-2) with a membership card or the like, and if he / she wishes to rent, authenticates himself (step 100 in FIG. 3, FIG. 3). 4). At this time, the user information of the content rental applicant (2-1) corresponding to the membership card (for example, user I shown in FIG. 2).
D, name, age, address, telephone number, e-mail address, rent status, etc.) may be in the conventional rental system, or in the content renting device (2-3) or the content management device (2-4). May be. The content rental clerk (2-2) requests the content lending apparatus (2-3) to communicate with the content management apparatus (2-4) (in FIG. 4). Content lending device (2-
3) requests the content management device (2-4) to deliver the content via the communication network (2-5) (step 101 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4). The content management device (2-4) is a content lending device (2-3).
The contents are delivered to the mobile phone via the communication network (2-5) (step 102 in FIG. 3, FIG. 4).

The content management device (2-4) controls the content lending device (2-3) to record the distributed content on the rewritable recording medium (step 103 in FIG. 3). The content management device (2-4) provides the content lending information (for example, the number of times of lending, the lending period, and the lending destination store shown in FIG. 2) and the content lending device (2-3) provides the content lending information (for example, Content rental applicants (2-
The content lending information (1) is stored (104 in FIG. 3). At this time, there may be a mechanism for recording the content in advance in the rewritable recording medium according to the demand forecast. The content rental clerk (2-2) takes out the rewritable recording medium (of FIG. 4) and lends the rewritable recording medium having the content recorded to the content rental applicant (2-1) (of FIG. 4). . Content rental applicant (2-1) is a content rental clerk (2
The rewritable recording medium in which the content is recorded is returned to -2) (in FIG. 4). Content management device (2-
4) controls the content lending device (2-3) to erase the content recorded in the returned rewritable recording medium (step 105 in FIG. 3).

According to the present embodiment, since the content rental apparatus centrally manages the content by digitally archiving the content by the content management device, it is not necessary to prepare the content in each store, and the storage space can be efficiently operated. , It is possible to increase the lineup of contents at low cost. Further, since the content is distributed when necessary and the rewritable recording medium in which the content is written is lent, the content renting person can receive the renting at any time without having to rent it when he / she wants. Since the content rental source does not need to prepare the content in each store, the storage space can be efficiently used and the types of content can be efficiently increased. As a rewritable recording medium, DV
Since existing media such as D-RW can be used, content rental applicants can use already popularized playback devices such as DVD players.

[Embodiment 2] This embodiment is an embodiment for explaining payment of charges in the above-mentioned Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of charges in the content lending system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The content rental applicant (3-1) sends the content rental fee (3-6) to the content rental source (3-2).
Pay 1). The content rental source (3-2) is composed of a content lending device manager (3-21) and a content management device manager (3-22), and a content lending device manager (3-). 21) is
The content delivery charge (3-62) is paid to the manager (3-22) of the content management device. The manager (3-22) of the content management device pays the content lending fee (3-63) according to the usage amount of the content provided to the content provider (3-3).

Content rent fee (3
-63) includes a charging system according to the number of times the content is rented, a charging system according to the rental period, and the like. The usage amount of these contents is managed by the contents management device. The owner of the content lending device (3-
21) and the manager (3-22) of the content management apparatus are the same, the content distribution fee (3-62) is not paid. When the content rental source borrows the equipment of the communication network from the communication carrier (3-4), the manager of the content lending device (3-21)
Pays the communication line fee (3-64) to the communication carrier (3-4). When the content rental source borrows the equipment of the content management apparatus or a part of the equipment from the content management business operator (3-5), the manager of the content management apparatus (3-22) Pay the content management fee (3-65) to the content management company (3-5). With the above charging method, the content provider can receive an appropriate consideration for the content according to the rental usage amount of the created content.

[Third Embodiment] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental applicants (4-
1) requests a personal authentication (4-3) from the content renting device (4-21) of the content rental source (4-2).
Performing 1), the content lending device (4-21)
Uses the authentication device (4-22) to perform the authentication procedure (4
-32) is started. As a method of the authentication procedure, there are a method using a user name and a password, a method using a magnetic card or an IC card, for example. At this time, the authentication device (4-22) has unique information (for example, user ID) that can be associated with the specific content rental applicant (4-1) by the method of the authentication procedure, and if the authentication succeeds. It is linked with the user information of the content rental applicant (4-1).

User information (eg user ID, name,
The age, address, telephone number, e-mail address, lending status, etc. are devices (eg, P) that can communicate with the content lending device (4-21) other than the authentication device (4-22).
The customer database on C) may have it. The authentication device (4-22) notifies the content lending device (4-21) of the result of the authentication. If the authentication fails, the procedure is repeated from the beginning. If the authentication is successful, the content rental applicant (4-1) uses the content lending device (4-21) to use the content management device (4-2).
3) It is permitted to perform communication (4-33) regarding rental with. As the communication (4-33) related to rental, there are, for example, one related to content search and one related to content distribution. The content rental operation is from the time when the authentication is successful to the time when the communication (4-33) regarding rental is completed. According to the present embodiment, since the content rental source can automate the process of authentication / rental at the time of rental, which is responsible for content rental applicants, it is easy to install in a different store such as a convenience store. Labor costs can be reduced because the amount of work required is reduced.

[Fourth Embodiment] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental applicants (5-
1) requests the content renting device (5-21) of the content rental source (5-2) for personal authentication (5-3).
Performing 1), the content lending device (5-21)
Performs authentication request communication (5-32) to the content management device (5-22). Content management device (5-22)
Upon receiving the authentication request, starts the authentication procedure (5-33) using the authentication device (5-23). As a method of the authentication procedure, there are a method using a user name and a password, a method using a magnetic card or an IC card, for example.

At this time, the authentication device (5-23) has unique information (for example, a user ID) that can be associated with a specific content rental applicant (5-1) by the method of the authentication procedure, and the authentication is performed. If successful, it is linked with the user information of the content rental applicant (5-1).
User information (eg user ID, name, age, address,
The telephone number, the mail address, the rent status, etc. are the contents management device (5-2) other than the authentication device (5-23).
2) The device that can communicate with the device (for example, the customer database on the PC) may have it. Authentication device (5-23)
Notifies the content management device (5-22) of the authentication result. The notification result is the content management device (5-22).
From the content lending device (5-21) (5-
34) is performed. If the authentication fails, the procedure is repeated from the beginning. If the authentication is successful, the content rental applicant (5-1) is permitted to perform the content rental operation. According to the present embodiment, since the content rental source can automate the process of authentication / rental at the time of rental, which is responsible for content rental applicants, it is easy to install in a different store such as a convenience store. Labor costs can be reduced because the amount of work required is reduced.

[Fifth Embodiment] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a magnetic card and a card reader, a touch panel display as an input / display device, and a DVD-RW (Rewritable) drive as a rewritable recording medium rewriting device are used as personal authentication means. As a device for realizing the present embodiment, an authentication means using a mobile phone, an IC credit card, a non-contact IC card, a password, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device (LCD), a DVD-RW, a DVD + R, or the like.
Any combination of rewritable recording medium rewriting devices such as W, DVD-R, and MO with copyright protection function may be used. The program for controlling the content lending device is stored in the control unit (6-1). The program is provided by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM. When the operator makes an authentication request, the card reader (6-2) corresponding to the reading unit of the authentication device reads the membership card of the magnetic card. Based on the read information, the control unit (6-1) uses the communication unit (6-3) to connect to the authentication server of the content management device for authentication. The authentication function may be included in the program stored in the control unit (6-1).

Whether or not there is an authentication result and the loan list,
Displayed on the touch panel display (6-4), the content rental applicant can issue a search request / rental request by touching the touch panel display (6-4). A logical operation of a specific key and an arbitrary key can be used for the search request.
As the specific key, for example, genre, actor, age, country, popularity of lending, popularity at the time of screening, recommendation of content rental source, random, etc. can be considered. Further, as an arbitrary key, for example, a part of the title, a part of the actor name, etc. can be considered. When the content lending device receives the search request, the content management device displays the search result on the touch panel display (6-4). On the other hand, when the content lending device receives the lending request, the communication unit (6-3) requests the content management device to deliver the content. The content distributed by the content management apparatus is written to the DVD-RW by the DVD-RW drive (6-52) of the media management section (6-5) under the control of the content management apparatus, and is rented out (6- 53)
More will be lent to those who want to rent content.

The media management section (6-5) is a DVD-R.
DVD-RW media storage unit (6 for storing W media)
-51), a DVD-RW drive (6-52) for recording and erasing contents on a DVD-RW medium, a lending section (6-53) for lending the medium to a content rental applicant, and a content rental request. And a return unit (6-54) that receives the return of the medium from the person, and is controlled by the control unit (6-1). The lending unit (6-53) and the returning unit (6-54)
A DVD-RW that has a mechanism such as a CD changer or a Jukebox and can store a large number of DVD-RWs.
The DVD-RW media can be taken in and out from the media storage section (6-51). At the time of renting, the DVD-RW drive (6
After writing the content to the DVD-RW media in -52), the content is taken out from the DVD-RW media storage section (6-51) and lent out to the operator from the lending section (6-53).

At the time of return, the DVD-RW returned by the operator
The media is stored in the DVD-RW media storage unit (6-51) from the return unit (6-54), and the contents are erased by the DVD-RW drive (6-52) under the control of the content management device. It is possible to automatically perform the return process by writing out the lending information together with the content in the DVD-RW medium at the time of lending and reading the lending information from the DVD-RW medium at the time of returning. As lending information, for example, user management I
D ・ It is possible that the loan date is encrypted.
By using this lending information, DVD-RW
It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts such as media replacement. According to the present embodiment, all the processes of authentication, lending, and returning can be automated, so that the terminal can be unmanned, human rights cost can be reduced, and long-term business can be performed.

[Sixth Embodiment] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental source (7-2)
Presents and distributes to the content rental applicant (7-1) the information created based on the history (7-23) at the time of the rental request of the content rental applicant. The content rental source (7-2) includes a content lending device (7-21) and a content management device (7-
22) and a content rental history (7-23). The content rental source (7-2) uses the content renting device (7-21) by the content rental applicant (7-1) to authenticate himself and then terminates the content rental operation at any timing. Then, the information created from the content rental history (7-23) can be presented on the content lending device (7-21). Content rental history (7-2
3) includes all the operations input to the content lending device (7-21) during the content rental operation.

Also, the content rental source (7-2)
Is the information (7-) created by the content rental applicant (7-1) from the content rental history (7-23) at an arbitrary timing not during the content rental operation.
3) can be delivered. The content rental history (7-23) is the content renting device (7-21).
, And the content management device (7-22). Content rental history (7-23)
The following (1)-
There is something like (3). (1) Information on the genre that the content rental applicant (7-1) often searches and rents. (2) Information about actors that the content rental applicant (7-1) often searches for and rents. (3) Information about contents in the charge price range that the content rental applicant (7-1) often rents. This information is for content rental applicants (7-1)
Is very valuable to and effective when used for advertising.
It should be noted that the content rental history is not limited to the above-described example, and any content created from the content rental history is included.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case where the content lending apparatus in the present embodiment authenticates the person and saves the history. Content rental applicants (8-
1) requests the content lending device (8-21) of the content rental source (8-2) for personal authentication (8-3).
By performing 1), the content lending device (8-21) performs authentication, and if the authentication is successful, input / output of the content rental history (8-32) is started. If the authentication fails, the procedure is repeated from the beginning. If the authentication is successful, the history of the content rental applicant (8-1) during the content rental operation is saved (8-32). The information created from the content rental history (8-23) is the content lending device (8-21), or
It may be created by either of the content management devices (8-22).

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a case where the content management apparatus performs personal authentication and saves a history in the present embodiment. Applicants for content rental (9-1)
Asks the content lending device (9-21) of the content rental source (9-2) for personal authentication (9-31).
Then, the content lending device (9-21) starts communication (9-32) with the content management device (9-22) and transmits an authentication request to the content management device (9-22). The content management apparatus (9-22) authenticates, and if the authentication is successful, starts the input / output of the content rental history (9-33), and communicates the history or information created from the history to the content renting apparatus (9-34). ) Do.
If the authentication fails, the content lending device is communicated (9-34) only for the authentication failure.

When the authentication is successful, the history of content rental operation of the content rental applicant (9-1) is communicated (9-32) to the content management apparatus and saved (9
-33) is performed. Content rental history (9-23)
The information created from the content lending device (9-
21) or the content management device (9-22). According to the present embodiment, the content rental source can perform effective information collection and effective advertisement for each content rental applicant. Moreover, since no person is involved in recording the information, it is possible to protect the privacy of the content rental applicant in the rental.

[Seventh Embodiment] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental applicants (1
0-1) uses the communication terminal (10-2) to communicate with the content management device (10-4) and the communication network (10-).
3) Perform authentication processing via. Content management device (1
0-4) has an authentication function and performs authentication by using a password or information of an IC chip embedded in the communication device. If authentication is successful, content rental applicant (10
-1) performs a content rental operation such as a content search. Content rental applicant (10-1)
Can reserve content to rent and stores to receive content. Content management device (10-4)
When a reservation is accepted, the content rental applicant (1
The authentication means (10-8) such as an electronic ticket is issued to 0-1). Next, the content management device (10-4)
From the n number of rental stores (rental store (10-5), rental store (10-6), ..., Rental store n (10-7)) via the communication network (10-3). The content is distributed to the content lending device (10-51) of the rental store (10-5) reserved by the content rental applicant (10-1).

Content renting device (10-51)
Distributes the distributed content to a rewritable recording medium (10
Record in 9). Content lending device (10-5
1) authenticates the reserved content rental applicant (10-1) using the authentication means (10-8), and lends out the content only when the authentication is successful. The authentication means (10-8) at the time of lending is the content management device (10
-4) A method of reading and authenticating the electronic ticket emitted by the user, or managing the content from the content lending device (10-51) using a membership card (or a substitute thereof) such as an IC card, a mobile phone, or a communication terminal. Device (1
0-4) and the like. According to the present embodiment, the content rental applicant can make a reservation for lending from a remote place, so that the waiting time due to the recording time on the rewritable recording medium can be reduced.

[Embodiment 8] FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental applicants (1
1-1) is a content lending device (11) of a store (11-4) that rents using a communication terminal (11-2).
-41) and the authentication process via the communication network (11-3). The content lending device (11-41) has an authentication function, and performs authentication using a password or information of an IC chip embedded in the communication device. If the authentication is successful, the content rental applicant (11-1) performs a content rental operation such as content search.
The content rental applicant (11-1) can reserve the content to be rented. Upon accepting the reservation, the content lending device (11-41) issues an authentication means (11-6) such as an electronic ticket to the content rental applicant (11-1).

Next, the contents management apparatus (11-5) is communicated with the communication network (11-3) to make a content distribution request. Content lending device (11
-41) records the distributed content on the rewritable recording medium (11-7). The content lending device (11-41) authenticates the reserved content rental applicant (11-1) using the authentication means (11-6), and lends out the content only when the authentication is successful. The lending authentication means (11-6) includes a method of reading and authenticating the electronic ticket emitted by the content lending device (11-41), a membership card (or an alternative thereof) such as an IC card, a mobile phone, or a communication terminal. There is a method of re-authentication using the content lending device (11-41). According to the present embodiment, the content rental applicant can make a reservation for lending from a remote place, so that the waiting time due to the recording time on the rewritable recording medium can be reduced.

[Ninth Embodiment] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of a content lending system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the content lending system of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Content rental applicants (1
2-1) uses the communication terminal (12-2) and the content rental source (12-4) and the communication network (12-
Through 3), the authentication process is performed according to the method of the sixth embodiment or the seventh embodiment. If the authentication is successful, the content rental applicant (12-1) performs a content rental operation such as content search. In addition, the communication terminal (12-2) is a content rental applicant (12-
Input / output of the history (12-5) of the content rental operation of 1) is started, and the history or information created from the history is presented to the communication terminal (12-2) in the content rental operation. The information to be presented at this time is created by the communication terminal (12-
It may be performed on either the 2) side or the content rental source side (12-4). Content rental applicants (12-
In 1), the content to be rented can be reserved. At this time, the content is rented according to the method of the sixth embodiment or the seventh embodiment.

The information created from the content rental history (12-5) includes the following (1) to (3). (1) Information on genres that the content rental applicant (12-1) often searches and rents. (2) Information about actors that the content rental applicant (12-1) often searches and rents. (3) Information about content in the charge price range that the content rental applicant (12-1) often rents. This information is available to those who wish to rent a content (12-
It is highly valuable to 1) and is effective when used for advertising. It should be noted that the content rental history is not limited to the above-described example, and any content created from the content rental history is included.

According to the present embodiment, the content rental applicant can make a reservation for renting from a remote place, so that the waiting time due to the recording time on the rewritable recording medium can be reduced. Further, it is possible to receive interesting information based on the past history while keeping the privacy of the rental protected. Further, the content rental source can effectively advertise for each content rental applicant. Although the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course,

[0034]

The effects obtained by the typical ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows. (1) According to the present invention, the content is distributed when necessary and the rewritable recording medium in which the content is written is rented out. It is possible to receive. This eliminates the need for the content rental source to prepare the content in each store, so that the storage space can be efficiently used and the types of content can be efficiently increased. Further, since a conventional medium such as a DVD-RW can be used as the rewritable recording medium, the content rental applicant is
It is possible to use already popularized playback devices such as VD players. (2) According to the present invention, the process of authentication / rental at the time of rental in which the content rental source is responsible for the content rental applicant can be automated, so that it can be easily installed in a different store such as a convenience store. Since the absolute amount of work is reduced, labor costs can be reduced. (3) According to the present invention, since all the processes of authentication, lending, and returning can be automated, unmanned terminals can be made, and human rights costs can be reduced and long-term business can be performed. (4) According to the present invention, the content rental source can collect effective information and perform effective advertisement.
Moreover, since no person is involved in recording the information, it is possible to protect the privacy of the person who wants to rent the content when collecting the information. (5) According to the present invention, the content rental applicant is
Since the rental can be reserved from a remote place, the waiting time due to the recording time on the rewritable recording medium can be reduced. Further, it is possible to receive meaningful information based on the history of content rental operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining information held by each device in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a content rental method according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of content rental according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of charges in the content lending system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a case where a content lending device carries out personal authentication and saves a history record according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a case where the content management apparatus performs personal authentication and saves a history according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a content lending system according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1-1,2-1,3-1,4-1,5-1,7-1,8
-1, 9-1, 10-1, 11-1, 12-1 ... Content rental applicants, 1-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-
2, 7-2, 8-2, 9-2, 12-4 ... Content rental source, 1-3, 3-3 ... Content provider, 1-
4,2-4,4-23,5-22,7-22,8-2
2, 9-22, 10-4, 11-5 ... Content management device, 1-41 ... Content storage server, 1-42 ... Content distribution server, 1-43 ... Content management server,
1-5, 2-5, 10-3, 11-3, 12-3 ... communication network, 1-6, 2-3, 4-21, 5-21,
7-21, 8-21, 9-21, 10-51, 11-4
1 ... Content lending device, 1-7, 10-9, 11
-7 ... Rewritable recording medium, 2-2 ... Content rental clerk, 3-21 ... Content lending device manager, 3-22 ... Content management device manager, 3-4 ...
Telecommunications carrier, 3-5 ... Content management company, 3-61
Content rental fee, 3-62 Content delivery fee, 3-63 Content rental fee, 3-64 Communication line fee, 3-65 Content management fee, 4-2, 5-
23 ... Authentication device, 4-31, 5-31, 8-31, 9-
31 ... Authentication request, 4-32, 5-33 ... Authentication procedure, 4
-33 ... Communication regarding rental, 5-32 ... Communication to content management device, 5-34 ... Communication from content management device, 6-1 ... Control unit, 6-2 ... IC card reader /
Writer, 6-3 ... Communication unit, 6-4 ... Touch panel display, 6-5 ... Media management unit, 6-51 ... DVD-
RW media storage unit, 6-52 ... DVD-RW drive, 6-53 ... Lending unit, 6-54 ... Return unit, 7-2
3, 8-23, 9-23, 12-5 ... Content rental history, 7-3 ... Delivery information, 7-4 ... Content provider, 8-32, 9-33 ... Rental history input / output, 8
-33 ... Communication on network, 9-32 ... Communication with content management device, 9-34 ... Communication with content lending device, 10-2, 11-2, 12-2 ... Communication terminal,
10-5, 10-6, 10-7, 11-4 ... Rental store, 10-8, 11-6 ... Authentication means.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G11B 20/10 ZEC G11B 20/10 ZECD F term (reference) 5B017 AA07 BA06 BB06 CA16 5D044 AB05 AB07 BC01 BC06 CC04 DE50 GK12 HL08 HL11

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A first means for accumulating content, a second means for reading out content requested by an external device from the first means, and delivering the content to the external device; A third means for controlling a writing / erasing means for writing the distributed content to a rewritable recording medium and erasing the content recorded on the rewritable recording medium. 2. The content management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising fourth means for authenticating a user who desires to rent the content requested by the external device. 3. A rental history of a user who wishes to rent the content requested by the external device is created.
A fifth means for holding is provided.
Alternatively, the content management device according to claim 2. 4. A first means for requesting an external device to distribute content that a user desires to rent, and rewritable recording of the content distributed from the external device under the control of the external device. A content lending device, comprising: a second means for writing to the medium and erasing the content recorded on the rewritable recording medium. 5. The content lending device according to claim 4, further comprising third means for authenticating the user who desires to rent. 6. The content lending device according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a fourth means for creating / holding a rental history of the user who desires to rent. 7. A display unit, an authentication unit that authenticates a user who wishes to rent, a communication unit that communicates with an external device, a recording medium storage unit that stores a rewritable recording medium, and the external device. Under the control of (1), a writing / erasing unit that writes content to the rewritable recording medium and erases the content recorded on the rewritable recording medium, and the rewritable recording medium on which the content is recorded. A lending unit that lends the user to the user, a returning unit that receives the rewritable recording medium returned from the user, and a control unit that requests the external device to distribute content that the user desires to rent. A content lending device characterized in that 8. A content lending system comprising: a content lending device, a content management device, and a communication network connecting the content lending device and the content management device, wherein the content management device stores content. 1
Means for reading content requested by the content lending apparatus from the first means and delivering the content to the content lending apparatus; and rewritable recording of the delivered content in the content lending apparatus. A third means for controlling a writing / erasing means for writing on the medium and erasing the content recorded on the rewritable recording medium, wherein the content lending device is provided with respect to the content management device. First means for requesting distribution of content that the user desires to rent, and writing of the content distributed from the content management apparatus to a rewritable recording medium under the control of the content management apparatus, and the rewriting Second means for erasing the content recorded on the recording medium A content lending system characterized by: 9. The content lending system according to claim 8, wherein the content management apparatus has a fourth means for authenticating the user who desires the rental. 10. The content renting system according to claim 8, wherein the content renting device has a third means for authenticating the user who desires the rental. 11. The content management apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a fifth means for creating / holding a rental history of the user who wants to rent. Content lending system. 12. The content lending device according to claim 8, further comprising a fourth means for creating / holding a rental history of the user who wants to rent. Content rental system. 13. A content rental system including a content management apparatus for storing and managing content, and a content rental apparatus connected to the content management apparatus via a communication network for recording the content on a rewritable recording medium. A first step in which the content lending device requests the content management device to deliver content that the user wishes to rent; and the content management device provides the content lending device with the content lending device. A second delivering the requested content
And a third step in which the content management device controls the content lending device to record the distributed content in the rewritable recording medium for lending to the user, and the content management device comprises: A fourth step of controlling the content lending device to erase the content recorded in the rewritable recording medium returned from the user. 14. The content lending method according to claim 13, wherein, before the first step, the content lending device has a step of authenticating the identity of the user. 15. The step of authenticating the identity of the user is a step in which the content lending apparatus authenticates the identity of the user based on information input from a communication terminal used by the user. 14. The content lending method according to 14. 16. The content lending method according to claim 13, wherein the content management device has a step of authenticating the user of the user before the first step. 17. The step of authenticating the user is a step in which the content management device authenticates the user based on information input from a communication terminal used by the user. 16. The content lending method described in 16. 18. A fifth aspect in which the content lending device creates and holds a content lending history of the user.
A sixth step in which the content lending device generates information based on the held history, and a seventh step in which the content lending device presents the generated information to the user. The content lending method according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that it has. 19. A fifth step in which the content management device creates and holds a content lending history of the user, and a sixth step in which the content management device generates information based on the held history. 18. The content lending method according to claim 13, further comprising: a seventh step of presenting the generated information to the user.