Data distributing method, data distributing system, computer, reproducing APPARTUS AND MEMORY PRODUCT

• US 20020160749A1
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Youichiro
• Application Number:
  US09/979,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data

Abstract

An audio data distributing method for distributing audio data from a distributing server to a terminal unit by two-way communication. Audio data identification information and data of an audition period or number of auditions are sent from the terminal unit to the distributing server (P18, P24); the distributing server sends audio data of the received audio data identification information and the received data of an audition period or number of auditions to the terminal unit (P26) and charges the terminal unit according to the audio data and the audition period or number of auditions (P30); and the terminal unit disables reproduction of the received audio data when the audition period of the received data has expired or the number of auditions has been reached. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an audio data distributing method capable of offering a short-time audition, sale with a time limit and sale with a limited number of auditions at low prices.

Claims

1. A data distributing method for distributing data from a distributing server to a terminal unit by two-way communication, characterized in that:

said terminal unit sends data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials to said distributing server;

said distributing server sends data of the received data identification information and the received data of a trial period or number of trials to said terminal unit and charge said terminal unit according to said data and said trial period or number of trials; and

said terminal unit disables reproduction of said received data when the trial period of said received data has expired or the number of trials has been reached.

2. The data distributing method as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that:

when a request to extend or add said trial period or number of trials is required from said terminal unit, said distributing server sends data of said trial period or number of trials extended or added to said terminal unit and additionally charges said terminal unit according to said trial period or number of trials; and

said terminal unit updates the trial period or number of trials of said data according to the received data.

3. The data distributing method as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that:

when a request to purchase said data is required from said terminal unit, said distributing server sends data for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials to said terminal unit and additionally charges said terminal unit according to said request; and

said terminal unit invalidates said data of the trial period or number of trials according to the received data.

4. A data distributing system for distributing data from a distributing server to a terminal unit by two-way communication, characterized in that:

said distributing server comprises means for receiving data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials from said terminal unit, means for sending data of the data identification information received by said means and the received data of a trial period or number of trials to said terminal unit, and means for charging said terminal unit according to said data and said trial period or number of trials; and

said terminal unit comprises means for sending data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials to said distributing server, means for receiving the data and data sent by said distributing server, and means for disabling reproduction of the data received by said means when the trial period of the data received by said means has expired or the number of trials has been reached.

5. The data distributing system as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that:

said distributing server further comprises means for receiving a request to extend or add said trial period or number of trials from said terminal unit, means for sending data of the trial period or number of trials extended or added according to the request received by said means to said terminal unit, and means for additionally charging said terminal unit according to said trial period or number of trials; and

said terminal unit further comprises means for sending a request to extend or add the trial period or number of trials of said data to said distributing server, means for receiving the data sent by said distributing server, and means for updating the data of the trial period or number of trials of said data according to the data received by said means.

6. The data distributing system as set forth in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that:

said distributing server further comprises means for receiving a request to purchase said data from said terminal unit, means for sending data for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials to said terminal unit when said means receives said request, and means for additionally charging said terminal unit according to said request; and

said terminal unit further comprises means for sending a request to purchase said data to said distributing server, means for receiving the data sent by said distributing server, and means for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials according to the data received by said means.

7. A computer for distributing data to an external apparatus by two-way communication, characterized by comprising:

means for receiving data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials from said external apparatus;

means for sending data of the data identification information received by said means and the received data of a trial period or number of trials to said external apparatus; and

means for charging said external apparatus according to said data and said trial period or number of trials.

8. The computer as set forth in claim 7, characterized by further comprising:

means for receiving a request to extend or add said trial period or number of trials from said external apparatus;

means for sending data of the trial period or number of trials extended or added according to the request received by said means to said external apparatus; and

means for additionally charging said external apparatus according to said trial period or number of trials.

9. The computer as set forth in claim 7 or 8, characterized by further comprising:

means for receiving a request to purchase said data from said external apparatus;

means for sending data for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials to said external apparatus when said means receives said request; and

means for additionally charging said external apparatus according to said request.

10. A reproducing apparatus for receiving data from an external apparatus by two-way communication, characterized by comprising:

means for sending data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials to said external apparatus;

means for receiving data and data of a trial period or number of trials from said external apparatus; and

means for disabling reproduction of data received by said means when the trial period of the data received by said means has expired or the number of trials has been reached.

11. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, characterized by further comprising:

means for sending a request to extend or add said trial period or number of trials to said external apparatus;

means for receiving data of the trial period or number of trials extended or added according to said request from said external apparatus; and

means for updating the data of the trial period or number of trials of said data according to the data received by said means.

12. The reproducing apparatus as set forth in claim 10 or 11, characterized by further comprising:

means for sending a request to purchase said data to said external apparatus;

means for receiving data for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials from said external apparatus; and

means for invalidating said data of the trial period or number of trials according to the data received by said means.

13. A memory product readable by a computer and storing therein a computer program for receiving data from an external apparatus by two-way communication, characterized by storing therein a computer program including:

program code means for causing said computer to send data identification information and data of a trial period or number of trials to said external apparatus;

program code means for causing said computer to receive data and the data of the trial period or number of trials from said external apparatus; and

program code means for causing said computer to disable reproduction of the data received by said computer when the trial period of the received data has expired or the number of trials has been reached.