Digital content distribution system, apparatus, method, and its computer program or computer-readable storage medium containing such program

• US 20040133847A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Machida, Kazuhiro, Fujita, Kenichi, Iino, Daisuke, Saito, Asako
• Application Number:
  US10/680,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133847A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/500
• 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: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

The present invention is intended to electronically sell digital contents to moving users anytime. Each user'"'"'s receiving terminal includes a unit of monitoring conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus run by a content provider and, according to the communication conditions, the receiving terminal sends its equipment identifier data to the digital content distribution apparatus to designate the receiving terminal. The digital content distribution apparatus includes a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock data descriptive of content volumes downloaded and stocked in the receiving terminals, associated with the equipment identifier, and a unit of determining a digital content to download which determines a digital content to download to the receiving terminals, based on the content download and stock data, and downloads the digital content to the receiving terminals. These essential components can arrange that providers download contents to be sold to users to the receiving terminals and have them stocked in the terminals when online with the terminals so that the users can purchase the contents any time.

Claims

1. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system comprising a digital content distribution apparatus and receiving terminals,

said digital content distribution apparatus comprising:

a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in the receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

a unit of determining digital content to download which determines digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloads the digital content to said receiving terminals;

each of said receiving terminals comprising;

a unit of equipment identifier data management which manages equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals; and

a unit of service provision which transmits/receives data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus and provides service to an end user,

wherein said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving said equipment identifier data from one of said receiving terminals, identifies said content download and stock management data for the receiving terminal having the equipment identifier, using said equipment identifier data received, and thereby can provide service to the end user at said receiving terminal.

2. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 1, wherein said equipment identifier data for each of said receiving terminals is stored onto a portable storage medium and service can be provided to the end user after the portable storage medium is attached to each said receiving terminal used by the end user.

3. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 1, further comprising an information terminal which is connectable to said receiving terminals and has a channel for transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus, wherein the unit of service provision of said receiving terminal detects communication channel conditions whereby digital content transmission and reception can be performed through either said receiving terminal'"'"'s channel or said information terminal'"'"'s channel, which performs at a higher rate, to said digital content distribution apparatus.

6. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 1, wherein said content download and stock management data includes, at least, space available in a storage medium included in each of said receiving terminals and a list of digital contents stored on said storage medium.

11. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 1, wherein

each of said receiving terminals further comprises:

a unit of generating usage history information which, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generates usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content; and

a unit of sending usage history information which transmits said usage history information with said equipment identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus,

said digital content distribution apparatus in said digital content distribution system further comprises;

a unit of user information management which manages user information about the users of said receiving terminals associated with said equipment identifier data;

a unit of receiving usage history information which receives said usage history information and said equipment identifier data from each said receiving terminal; and

a billing unit which identifies user information, based on said equipment identifier data received, and bills the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

17. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 1, wherein said unit of service provision of said receiving terminal transmits data format information about data formats in which said receiving terminal can process content data to said digital content distribution apparatus and said unit of determining digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus downloads a digital content in a format compliant to said data format information received from each said receiving terminal to said receiving terminal.

4. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system including receiving terminals, each comprising:

a unit of equipment identifier data management which manages equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals;

a unit of monitoring communication conditions for monitoring conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus which distributes said digital content; and

a unit of service provision which transmits/receives data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus according to said conditions of communication and provides service to an end user,

7. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 4, wherein said unit of service provision of said receiving terminal receives a removal instruction command to remove digital contents out of the digital contents retained on said receiving terminal and removes the digital contents, according to said removal instruction command.

9. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 4, wherein each of said receiving terminals further comprises:

a display unit which accepts a purchase order for a digital content from the user by providing a user-interface screen that allows the user to specify content designation information that designates a digital content and displays the thus designated digital content; and

a unit of booking content to receive which registers said content designation information if said receiving terminal does not retain the digital content designated by said content designation information,

wherein said unit of service provision of said receiving terminal transmits said content designation information to said digital content distribution apparatus, according to communication conditions monitored by said unit of monitoring communication conditions, and thereby the digital content designated by said content designation information can be booked and received.

12. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 4, wherein

each of said receiving terminals further comprises:

a unit of generating usage history information which, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generates usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content; and

a unit of sending usage history information which transmits said usage history information with said equipment identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

13. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 12, wherein

each said receiving terminal further comprises:

a unit of service enable/disable decision which checks to see that said usage history information has been transmitted to said digital content distribution apparatus within a predetermined period after the user purchased at least one content and, if transmission of said usage history information has not occurred within the predetermined period, stops the service of digital content distribution at least until sending of said usage history information occurs.

14. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 13, wherein said unit of service enable/disable decision of said receiving terminal makes a display of a message that prompts the user to transmit said usage history information.

18. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 4, wherein said unit of service provision of said receiving terminal transmits data format information about data formats in which said receiving terminal can process content data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

5. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system including a digital content distribution apparatus comprising:

a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

a unit of determining digital content to download which determines a digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloads the digital content to said receiving terminals;

8. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 5, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus generates a removal instruction command to remove digital contents from the storage medium included in each of said receiving terminals, based on said content download and stock data, and sends the thus generated removal instruction command to each of said receiving terminals.

10. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 5, wherein said unit of determining digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving content designation information that designates a digital content from one of said receiving terminals, transmits the digital content designated by said content designation information to said receiving terminal.

15. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 5, wherein said digital content distribution apparatus in said digital content distribution system further comprises:

a unit of user information management which manages user information about the users of said receiving terminals associated with said equipment identifier data;

a unit of receiving usage history information which receives said usage history information and said equipment identifier data; and

a billing unit which identifies user information, based on said equipment identifier data received, and bills the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

16. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 15, wherein said unit of determining digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving said equipment identifier data and said usage history information from one of said receiving terminals, determines a digital content to download to the receiving terminal identified by said equipment identifier data, based on said equipment identifier data and said usage history information.

19. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 5, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus downloads digital content in a format compliant to said data format information received from each of said receiving terminals to said receiving terminal.

20. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system including a digital content distribution apparatus and an information terminal which receives a digital content, said information terminal comprising:

a unit of service provision which, when a portable storage medium is mounted on said information terminal, transmits medium identifier data for identifying said storage medium to said digital content distribution apparatus of said digital content distribution system, receives the digital content downloaded from said digital content distribution apparatus, and stores the digital content onto said storage medium,

said digital content distribution apparatus comprising;

a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in said storage medium per end user; and

a unit of determining a digital content to download which determines a digital content to download to said information terminal on which said storage medium has been mounted, using said content download and stock management data, and downloads the digital content to said information terminal,

wherein said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving said medium identifier data from said information terminal, identifies said content download and stock management data for the medium, using said medium identifier data received, and thereby can provide service to the end user at said information terminal.

23. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 20, wherein said content download and stock data includes, at least, space available in said storage medium and a list of digital contents stored on said storage medium.

26. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 20, wherein said content distribution system further includes receiving terminals on which each said storage medium should be mounted and a digital content stored on said storage medium can be rendered, each of said receiving terminals comprising:

a display unit which accepts a purchase order for a digital content from the user by providing a user-interface screen that allows the user to specify content designation information that designates the digital content, reads the thus designated digital content from said storage medium, and displays the content; and

a unit of booking a content to receive which, if said storage medium does not retain the digital content designated by said content designation information, stores said content designation information onto said storage medium,

said information terminal further comprising;

a unit of detecting content designation information which, when said storage medium is mounted, detects said content designation information stored on said storage medium and reads said content designation information,

wherein said unit of service provision of said information terminal transmits said content designation information to said digital content distribution apparatus and, thereby, the digital content designated by said content designation information can be booked and received.

30. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 20, wherein said content distribution system further includes receiving terminals on which each said storage medium should be mounted and digital content stored on said storage medium can be rendered, each said receiving terminal comprising:

a unit of generating usage history information which, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generates usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content and stores said generated usage history information onto said storage medium,

said information terminal further comprising;

a unit of detecting usage history information which, when said storage medium is mounted, detects usage history information stored on said storage medium and reads the usage history information; and

a unit of transmitting usage history information which transmits said usage history information with said medium identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus, said digital content distribution apparatus further comprising;

a unit of user information management which manages user information about users associated with said medium identifier data;

a unit of receiving usage history information which receives said usage history information and said medium identifier data from said information terminal; and

a billing unit which identifies user information, based on said medium identifier data received, and bills the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

37. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 20, wherein each of said receiving terminals stores data format information about data formats in which said receiving terminal can process content data onto said storage medium, said unit of service provision of said information terminal, when said storage medium is mounted, reads said data format information from said storage medium and transmits said data format information to said digital content distribution apparatus, and said unit of determining digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus downloads a digital content in a format compliant to said data format information received from said information terminal to said information terminal on which said storage medium has been mounted.

21. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system including an information terminal which receives a digital content, said information terminal comprising:

a unit of service provision which, when a portable storage medium is mounted on said information terminal, transmits medium identifier data for identifying said storage medium to a digital content distribution apparatus in said digital content distribution system, receives the digital content downloaded from said digital content distribution apparatus, and stores the digital content onto said storage medium.

24. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 21, wherein said unit of service provision of said information terminal receives a removal instruction command to remove digital contents out of the digital contents stored on said storage medium and removes the digital contents from said storage medium, according to said removal instruction command.

27. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 21, wherein said content distribution system further includes receiving terminals on which said storage medium should be mounted and digital content stored on said storage medium can be rendered, each of said receiving terminals comprising:

a display unit which accepts a purchase order for a digital content from the user by providing a user-interface screen that allows the user to specify content designation information that designates the digital content, reads the thus designated digital content from said storage medium, and displays the content; and

a unit of booking content to receive which, if said storage medium does not retain the digital content designated by said content designation information, stores said content designation information onto said storage medium.

28. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 21, wherein said information terminal further comprises a unit of detecting content designation information which, when said storage medium is mounted, detects said content designation information stored on said storage medium and reads said content designation information, and

wherein said unit of service provision of said information terminal transmits said content designation information to said digital content distribution apparatus and, thereby, the digital content designated by said content designation information can be booked and received.

31. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 27, wherein each of the receiving terminals on which each said storage medium should be mounted and the digital content stored on said storage medium can be rendered further comprises a unit of generating usage history information which, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generates usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content and stores said generated usage history information onto said storage medium.

32. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 31, wherein each said receiving terminal further comprises:

a unit of service enable/disable decision which checks to see that said usage history information has been transmitted to said digital content distribution apparatus within a predetermined period after the user purchased at least one content and, if transmission of said usage history information has not occurred within the predetermined period, stops the service of digital content distribution at least until sending of said usage history information occurs.

33. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 32, wherein said unit of service enable/disable decision of said receiving terminal makes a display of a message that prompts the user to transmit said usage history information.

34. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 32, wherein said information terminal further comprises:

a unit of detecting usage history information which, when said storage medium is mounted, detects usage history information that at least one content has been purchased at one of said receiving terminals, stored on said storage medium, and reads the usage history information; and

a unit of sending usage history information which transmits said usage history information with said medium identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

38. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 27, wherein each of said receiving terminals stores data format information about data formats in which said receiving terminal can process content data onto said storage medium.

39. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 21, wherein said unit of service provision of said information terminal, when said storage medium is mounted, reads said data format information from said storage medium and transmits said data format information to said digital content distribution apparatus.

22. A digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution system including a digital content distribution apparatus comprising:

a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in storage media which should be mounted for getting service on an information terminal that receives a digital content; and

a unit of determining a digital content to download which determines a digital content to download to said information terminal on which one of said storage media has been mounted, using said content download and stock management data, and downloads the digital content to said information terminal.

25. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 22, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus generates a removal instruction command to remove digital contents from said storage medium, based on said content download and stock data, and transmits the thus generated removal instruction command to the information terminal on which said storage medium has been mounted.

29. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 22, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving content designation information that designates digital content from said information terminal, transmits the digital content designated by said received content designation information to said information terminal.

35. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 22, wherein said digital content distribution apparatus in said digital content distribution system further comprises:

a unit of user information management which manages user information about users associated with said medium identifier data;

a unit of receiving usage history information which receives said usage history information and said medium identifier data from said information terminal; and

a billing unit which identifies user information, based on said medium identifier data received, and bills the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

36. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 35, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving said medium identifier data and said usage history information from said information terminal, determines a digital content to download to the information terminal on which the storage medium identified by said medium identifier data has been mounted, based on said medium identifier data and said usage history information.

40. The digital content distribution system for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 22, wherein said unit of determining a digital content to download of said digital content distribution apparatus downloads a digital content in a format compliant to said data format information received from said information terminal to said information terminal on which said storage medium has been mounted.

41. A digital content distribution method for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution method comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus;

(b) a step of determining a digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals;

said digital content distribution method further comprising the following steps which are executed on said receiving terminals;

(c) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals; and

(d) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus and providing service to an end user.

42. A digital content distribution method for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution method comprising the following steps which are executed on receiving terminals:

(a) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals;

(b) a step of monitoring the conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus which distributes said digital content; and

(c) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus, according to said conditions of communication, and providing service to an end user.

44. The digital content distribution method for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 42, wherein said digital content distribution method further comprises the following steps which are executed on the receiving terminals:

(a) a step of, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generating usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content; and

(b) a step of transmitting said usage history information with said equipment identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

43. A digital content distribution method for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution method comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

(b) a step of determining digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals.

45. The digital content distribution method for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 43, wherein said digital content distribution method further comprises the following steps which are executed on the digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing user information about the users of said receiving terminals associated with said equipment identifier data;

(b) a step of receiving said usage history information and said equipment identifier data from each of said receiving terminals; and

(c) a step of identifying user information, based on said equipment identifier data received, and billing the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

46. A computer-readable storage medium containing a digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus;

(b) a step of determining digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals;

said digital content distribution program further comprising the following steps which are executed on said receiving terminals;

(c) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals; and

(d) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus and providing service to an end user.

47. A computer-readable storage medium containing a digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on receiving terminals:

(a) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals;

(b) a step of monitoring the conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus which distributes said digital content; and

(c) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus, according to said conditions of communication, and providing service to an end user.

49. The computer-readable storage medium containing a digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 47, wherein said digital content distribution program further comprises the following steps which are executed on the receiving terminals:

(a) a step of, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generating usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content; and

(b) a step of transmitting said usage history information with said equipment identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

48. A computer-readable storage medium containing a digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

(b) a step of determining digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals;

50. The computer-readable storage medium containing a digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 48, wherein said digital content distribution program further comprises the following steps which are executed on the digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing user information about the users of said receiving terminals associated with said equipment identifier data;

(b) a step of receiving said usage history information and said equipment identifier data from each of said receiving terminals; and

(c) a step of identifying user information, based on said equipment identifier data received, and billing the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

51. A computer-executable digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus;

(b) a step of determining the digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals;

said digital content distribution program further comprising the following steps which are executed on said receiving terminals;

(c) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals; and

(d) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus and providing service to an end user.

52. A computer-executable digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on receiving terminals:

(a) a step of managing equipment identifier data for identifying each of said receiving terminals;

(b) a step of monitoring the conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus which distributes said digital content; and

(c) a step of transmitting/receiving data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus, according to said conditions of communication, and providing service to an end user.

54. The computer-executable digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 52, wherein said digital content distribution program further comprises the following steps which are executed on the receiving terminals:

(a) a step of, in response to user action of purchase order for at least one content, generating usage history information that the user has now purchased the at least one content; and

(b) a step of transmitting said usage history information with said equipment identifier data to said digital content distribution apparatus.

53. A computer-executable digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels, said digital content distribution program comprising the following steps which are executed on a digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing content download and stock data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in receiving terminals which receive a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

(b) a step of determining digital content to download to said receiving terminals, using said content download and stock management data, and downloading the digital content to said receiving terminals;

55. The computer-executable digital content distribution program for implementing digital content transmission and reception on communication channels according to claim 53, wherein said digital content distribution program further comprises the following steps which are executed on the digital content distribution apparatus:

(a) a step of managing user information about the users of said receiving terminals associated with said equipment identifier data;

(b) a step of receiving said usage history information and said equipment identifier data from each said receiving terminal; and

(c) a step of identifying user information, based on said equipment identifier data received, and billing the user identified by the thus identified user information, according to said usage history information.

56. A content distribution apparatus comprising:

a unit of download and stock management which manages content download and stock management data descriptive of digital content volumes downloaded and stocked in the content receiving apparatus which receives a digital content from said digital content distribution apparatus; and

a unit of determining digital content to download which determines digital content to download to said content receiving apparatus, using said content download and stock management data, and downloads the digital content to said content receiving apparatus;

wherein said digital content distribution apparatus, upon receiving equipment identifier data from one of said content receiving apparatus, identifies said content download and stock management data for the content receiving apparatus having the equipment identifier, using said equipment identifier data received, and thereby can provide service to the end user at said content receiving apparatus.

57. A digital content receiving apparatus comprising:

a unit of equipment identifier data management which manages equipment identifier data for identifying said content receiving apparatus; and

a unit of monitoring communication conditions for monitoring conditions of communication with a digital content distribution apparatus which distributes said digital content; and

a unit of service provision which transmits/receives data to/from said digital content distribution apparatus according to said conditions of communication and provides service to an end user.

wherein said content receiving apparatus, when demanding a content, sends the equipment identifier data of said content receiving apparatus, to said digital content distribution apparatus.