Information distribution system

• US 20010032188A1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Arai, Shigeshi, Miyabe, Yoshiyuki
• Application Number:
  US09/792,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload

Abstract

A program distribution system, capable of decreasing the load of distributing programs and capable of managing transfer and installation of programs at distribution destinations by the distribution source, is disclosed. Computer software distributed to a PC 116 includes a program for transfer, historical information of program transfer, a program for installation and an application program(s). The transfer program adds both information on a terminal to be a destination of transfer and information on a media used for the transfer to the historical information, and it transfers to a PC 172 the whole software including itself. The installation program transmits the historical information to a distribution management device 103 via a network 151 and an external connection device 104. The distribution management device 103 receives the historical information and makes a response to the PC 172 whether or not installation of the software therein is permitted. The installation program performs processing for installation upon receipt of a response of permission.

Claims

1. An information distribution system comprising an information distribution management device managing distribution of information and a terminal connected to the management device so as to communicate with each other,

wherein the information to be distributed is distributed to the terminal with a utilization program for performing processing required to use the information,

wherein the terminal device performs processing for utilization of the information in accordance with processing of the utilization program,

and wherein at beginning of the utilization processing, the utilization program asks the device for permission of the utilization processing as a result of communication therewith and performs the utilization processing on receipt of the permission from the device.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein the information to be distributed is a program.

10. The system of

claim 1

wherein the information to be distributed is data.

11. The system of

claim 1

wherein the utilization processing performed by the terminal device is processing for transfer of the distributed information,

and wherein the utilization program includes a program for transferring the information to another device.

12. The system of

claim 11

wherein history of transfer is added to the information to be distributed,

and wherein the transfer program transfers the history of transfer in addition to the information,

13. The system of

claim 12

wherein the transfer program transfers the history of transfer with update thereof.

14. The system of

claim 13

wherein the transfer program updates the history of transfer with addition of information on a media used for the transfer.

15. The system of

claim 13

wherein the transfer program updates the history of transfer with addition of information on a terminal to be a destination of the transfer.

16. The system of

claim 13

wherein the transfer program add a new history of transfer with delete of previous history.

17. The system of

claim 16

wherein the transfer program deletes the previous history one of cases in that storage capacity of the history of transfer exceeds a predetermined capacity and in that the number of the history recorded exceeds a predetermined number.

18. The system of

claim 11

wherein the transfer program transfers the transfer program itself together with the information.

19. The system of

claim 11

wherein the transfer program transfers the whole of the utilization program together with the information.

20. The system of

claim 11

wherein the distributed information accompanies an information ID identifying the information.

21. The system of

claim 20

wherein the transfer program used by the terminal device transmits an information ID of information when the information is transferred to the information distribution management device,

and wherein the information distribution management device determines whether or not transfer of the information is permitted in accordance with the information ID thus received.

22. The system of

claim 20

wherein the information distribution management device generates a new information ID for information to be transferred and records the generated ID when a request for transferring information is received from the transfer program being executed in the terminal device, and the ID is sent to the transfer program,

and wherein the transfer program adds the new ID being received to the information to be transferred and transmits the information accompanying the new ID.

23. The system of

claim 22

wherein the utilization processing of information performed by the terminal device is processing for installing the distributed information,

and wherein the utilization program includes an installation program, which makes information usable on the terminal device.

24. The system of

claim 23

wherein the distributed information accompanies an information ID identifying the information.

25. The system of

claim 24

wherein the installation program in the terminal device transmits the ID accompanied by the information at beginning of information transfer,

and wherein the information distribution management device determines whether or not whether or not installation of the information is permitted in accordance with the information ID thus received.

26. The system of

claim 24

wherein the information distribution management device generates a new information ID for information to be transferred and records the generated ID when a request for installing information is received from the installation program being executed in the terminal device, and the ID is sent to the installation program,

and wherein the installation program adds the new ID being received to the information to be installed and transmits the information accompanying the new ID.

27. The system of

claim 23

wherein historical information of its transfer is added to the information to be transferred, and the installation program in the terminal device transmits the historical information to the information distribution management device,

and wherein the management device not provides to the installation program in the terminal device permission for installation of the information when no historical information of its transfer is received.

28. The system of

claim 23

wherein the information to be distributed is encrypted,

and wherein the management device transmits a cipher key for decryption to the installation program when installation is permitted in response to a request for installation.

2. An information distribution management device in an information distribution system, managing distribution of information,

wherein the device is connected to a terminal device so as to communicate with each other,

and wherein the device returns permission of processing for utilization of the distributed information in response to a demand for the permission which is transmitted by the terminal device at beginning of use of the distributed information in accordance with a utilization program distributed with the information.

3. A data storage medium, storing a program for managing distribution of information by which a computer functions as an information distribution management device,

wherein the program controls the computer to return permission of processing for utilization of the distributed information in response to a demand for permission which is transmitted by a terminal device at beginning of use of the distributed information in accordance with a utilization program distributed with the information.

4. A program for managing distribution of information by which a computer functions as an information distribution management device,

wherein the program performs processing in which permission of processing for utilization is returned in response to a demand for permission which is transmitted by the terminal device at beginning of use of the distributed information in accordance with a utilization program distributed with the information.

5. A terminal device, in an information distribution system, connected to an information distribution management device so as to communicate with each other,

wherein the terminal device performs processing for utilization of information in accordance with processing of a utilization program distributed with the information,

and wherein at beginning of the utilization processing, the utilization program asks the device for permission of processing of the utilization processing as a result of communication therewith and performs the utilization processing on receipt of the permission of the processing from the device.

6. A data storage medium, storing a utilization program for performing processing required to use distributed information with a computer,

wherein the program asks for permission of processing for utilization of the information as a result of communication with an information distribution management device

and wherein the program makes the computer to perform the utilization processing on receipt of the permission from the device.

7. The data storage medium of

claim 6

wherein the medium also stores information together with the program.

8. A utilization program for performing processing required to use distributed information with a computer,

wherein the program asks for permission of processing for utilization of the information as a result of communication with an information distribution management device

and wherein the program makes the computer to perform the utilization processing on receipt of the permission from the device.

29. A data storage medium, storing information to be distributed, historical information of its transfer and a utility application, wherein the historical information is stored at a region for storing history of transfer in a past and at another region for storing a new history of transfer,

and wherein the new history is additionally written therein with the utility application executed by the terminal device at which the information is distributed.

30. A historical information storage medium, storing historical information of information to be transferred associated with each other, wherein the historical information of the transferred information is recorded for every transfer of the information at separate regions,

and wherein storage medium has a structure in which historical information is additionally recorded therein for every transfer of information with a terminal device, which performs the transfer of the information.

31. A tracking method for recording a distribution path of information distributed to a terminal device connected one of directly and indirectly with an information distribution management device, the method being used at the management device, wherein the information to be distributed is transmitted together with a program for transferring the information,

wherein the transfer program updates the information on distribution path and transmits to the management device the updated information on distribution path when information is transferred to another device with the terminal device,

and wherein the distribution path for the information is recorded in the management device thereby the distribution path for the information is tracked.

32. A method of distributing information through one of a network and a media, wherein a distribution source adds to information to be distributed a utilization program, which makes the information usable and distributes the resultant information,

and wherein at an information user receiving the information, the information is not able to use on receipt of permission of use thereof which is obtained by utilizing the program.

33. A system comprising a program distribution management device for managing information on program distribution and terminal devices connected to the management device via a communication line, wherein on a program storage medium inserted in a terminal device, an application program and an installation program for installing the application program into the terminal device is recorded,

wherein the installation program transmits to the management device a request for permission as to the installation via the communication line,

and wherein installation processing of the application program is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

34. A system comprising a data distribution management device for managing information on data distribution and terminal devices connected to the management device via a communication line, wherein on a program storage medium inserted in a terminal device, specific application data and an installation program for installing the application data into the terminal device is recorded,

wherein the installation program transmits to the management device a request for permission as to the installation of the application data via the communication line,

and wherein installation processing of the application data is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

35. A program distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving a request for permission of distribution including information for identifying programs from a terminal device connected to the device;

recording means, recording a possibility of distribution whether or not distribution of the programs being permitted per every information for dentifying the programs;

judging means, obtaining information on a possibility of distribution according to the information for identifying the programs as a result of conducting a search in the recording means when the receiving means receives a request for permission of distribution; and

transmission means, transmitting to the terminal device information on permission of the distribution when a judgement of the judging means permits the distribution.

36. A data distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving a request for permission of distribution including information for identifying data from a terminal device connected to the device;

recording means, recording a possibility of distribution whether or not distribution of the data being permitted per every data for identifying the data;

judging means, obtaining information on a possibility of distribution according to the information for identifying the data as a result of conducting a search in the recording means when the receiving means receives a request for permission of distribution; and

transmission means, transmitting to the terminal device information on permission of the distribution when a judgement of the judging means permits the distribution.

37. A program storage medium storing an application program and an installation program for installing the application program into a terminal device, wherein the installation program transmits to a program distribution management device connected to the terminal device a request for permission as to installation of a program prior to install the application program into the terminal device,

and wherein installation processing of the application program is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

38. A program storage medium storing an application data and an installation program for installing the application data into a terminal device, wherein the installation program transmits to a data distribution management device connected to the terminal device a request for permission as to installation of a program prior to install the application data into the terminal device,

and wherein installation processing of the application data is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

39. A terminal device capable of executing an application program, wherein a program storage medium inserted therein stores an application program,

historical information of its transfer, and

a program for transferring the application program, the historical information and the transfer program itself to another terminal device,

and wherein the transfer program executes transfer processing with addition of information on a transmission media used for the transfer.

40. A terminal device capable of processing application data, wherein a program storage medium inserted therein stores application data,

historical information of its transfer, and

a program for transferring the application data, the historical information and the transfer program itself to another terminal device,

and wherein the transfer program performs transfer processing with addition of information on a transmission media used for the transfer.

41. A program storage medium storing an application program, historical information of its transfer, a program for transferring data including the application program to another terminal device, wherein the transfer program performs transfer processing with addition of information on a transmission media used for the transfer.

42. A program storage medium storing an application data, historical information of transfer, a program for transferring data including the application data to another terminal device, wherein the transfer program performs transfer processing with addition of information on a transmission media used for the transfer.

43. A system comprising a program distribution management device for managing information on program distribution and terminal devices connected to the management device via a communication line, wherein on a program storage medium inserted in a terminal device, an application program and a program for transferring data including the application program to another terminal device is recorded,

wherein the transfer program transmits to the management device a request for permission as to the transfer via the communication line,

and wherein transfer processing is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

44. A system comprising a data distribution management device for managing information on data distribution and terminal devices connected to the management device via a communication line, wherein on a program storage medium inserted in a terminal device, an application data and a program for transferring data including the application data to another terminal device is recorded,

wherein the transfer program transmits to the management device a request for permission as to the transfer via the communication line,

and wherein transfer processing is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

45. A storage medium storing an application program and a program for transferring data including the application program to another terminal device, wherein the transfer program transmits to a program distribution management device connected to the terminal device a request for permission as to transfer of the program to another terminal device prior to perform transfer processing,

and wherein the transfer processing is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

46. A storage medium storing application data and a program for transferring data including the application data to another terminal device, wherein the transfer program transmits to a data distribution management device connected to the terminal device a request for permission as to transfer of the data to another terminal device prior to perform transfer processing,

and wherein the transfer processing is performed only when permission for the request is received from the management device.

47. A program distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving historical information on distribution of a program from a terminal device connected to the management device; and

transmission means, transmitting a message for confirming receipt of the historical information to the terminal device when the receiving means receives the historical information.

48. A program distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving a request for permission of distribution including information for identifying programs and historical information on distribution of the program from a terminal device connected to the device;

recording means, recording a possibility of distribution whether or not distribution of the programs being permitted per every information for identifying the programs;

judging means, obtaining information on the possibility of distribution according to the information for identifying the data as a result of conducting a search in the recording means when the receiving means receives the request for permission of distribution and the historical information; and

transmission means, transmitting to the terminal device information on permission of the distribution when a judgement of the judging means permits the distribution.

49. A data distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving historical information on distribution of application data from a terminal device connected to the management device; and

transmission means, transmitting a message for confirming receipt of the historical information to the terminal device when the receiving means receives the historical information.

50. A data distribution management device comprising:

receiving means, receiving a request for permission of distribution including information for identifying application data and historical information on distribution of the application data from a terminal device connected to the device;

recording means, recording a possibility of distribution whether or not distribution of the application data being permitted per every information for identifying the application data;

judging means, obtaining information on the possibility of distribution according to the information for identifying the data as a result of conducting a search in the recording means when the receiving means receives the request for permission of distribution and the historical information; and

transmission means, transmitting to the terminal device information on permission of the distribution when a judgement of the judging means permits the distribution.