Content distribution system

Abstract

A contents distribution system comprises a contents provider and a user's portable terminal player. The contents provider, which comprises a contents server and a user information database storing therein user download information and right information, distributes contents over a communication network according to the SDMI check-in / check-out rule. The user's portable terminal player comprises a recording medium playback function that plays back the contents downloaded on a recoding medium and a check-in function that returns a playback right to the contents provider. When the contents are distributed to the portable terminal player, the contents provider manages contents distribution according to the check-in / check-out rule in such a way that the contents provider manages the number of check-outs of the contents to the user and, when the user checks in the distributed contents, the portable terminal player erases a contents playback encryption key and a file name and, at the same time, returns the playback right to the user information database.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of systems for distributing typical contents of music digital data to portable terminal players (device combining recording media and playback devices on portable terminals such as mobile phones and PHS). Background technique [0002] Recently, under the background of progress in data compression technology, improvement in transmission speed on communication networks (public telephone line network and packet communication network, etc.), and increase in capacity of non-volatile semiconductor memories, contract users ( A new content distribution system in which content such as music is distributed to a personal computer (hereinafter also referred to as a PC) or a portable terminal (including a mobile phone, PHS) or a music station terminal, etc., and listened to by an audio device has been partially put into practical use. up. [0003] Generally speaking, as shown in the composition diagram of the co...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, even for created music content, it takes time to download, and the user and the content supply device 10 that both sells and distributes through the portable terminal player 20' will fall into a situation where the line connection is difficult.

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