CONTENT TRANSMISSION SERVER AND CLIENT AND METHOD

• US 20100095316A1
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Machida, Yoshihiro, Kamogawa, Kouji, IWABUCHI, Kazunori
• Application Number:
  US12/421,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095316A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2225 Local VOD servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2541 Rights Management protecting software against unauthorised usage in a vending or licensing environment G06F21/10; security in data switching network management H04L41/28; security management or policies for network security H04L63/20; access security in wireless networks H04W12/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2543 Billing , e.g. for subscription services payment schemes, architectures or protocols G06Q20/00; e-commerce G06Q30/00; arrangements for billing for the use of broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/21
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47202 for requesting content on demand, e.g. video on demand
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6125 involving transmission via Internet transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17327 with deferred transmission or handling of upstream communications

Abstract

A content transmission server and client and method which may implement the viewing of contents by concentrating all the contents into the storage/delivery-performing server, and performing the television broadcast, and which may make unnecessary the video-recording at user'"'"'s own whereabouts, and may prevent the unauthorized copy and leakage-out onto an unauthorized network by making the on-server video-recording always available in a manner of the on-server right purchasing.

Claims

1. A content delivery server, comprising:

a reception unit for receiving contents from a content supply server;

a memory unit for storing said received contents;

a viewing management unit for managing said contents and content IDs corresponding to said contents; and

a delivery unit for receiving a content ID from a user terminal, and delivering, to said user terminal, said content corresponding to said content ID.

2. The content delivery server according to claim 1, further comprising:

user management information including property-right purchase information for indicating whether or not said content is purchased by said user,

said viewing management unit recording said content ID corresponding to said content into said property-right purchase information included in said user management information, if said viewing management unit accepts a purchase request for said content from said user terminal.

3. The content delivery server according to claim 2, wherein

said viewing management unit accepts collection of a content storage fee from said user terminal, if said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information included in said user management information.

4. The content delivery server according to claim 2, wherein

said viewing management unit confirms whether or not said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information included in said user management information, said content ID being received from said user terminal,

said delivery unit delivering said content corresponding to said content ID to said user terminal, if said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information.

5. The content delivery server according to claim 2, wherein

said user management information further includes property-right reservation information which is used for reserving said purchase of said content,

said viewing management unit recording said content ID corresponding to said content into said property-right reservation information, if said viewing management unit accepts a reservation request for said content from said user terminal,

said viewing management unit deleting said content ID from said property-right reservation information, and recording said content ID into said property-right purchase information, if said reserved content is received from said content supply server.

6. The content delivery server according to claim 1, wherein

said viewing management unit displays information on an electronic program guide, if said content is received from said content supply server, said information indicating that said content has been pre-received.

7. The content delivery server according to claim 1, further comprising:

content management information including copyright information on said content,

said viewing management unit confirming whether or not copyright protection is specified for said content corresponding to said content ID by said copyright information, said content ID being received from said user terminal,

said delivery unit delivering said content corresponding to said content ID to said user terminal, if said copyright protection is not specified for said content.

8. A method of delivering content, comprising the steps of:

receiving contents from a content supply server;

maintaining said received contents into a memory unit; and

receiving a content ID from a user terminal, and delivering, to said user terminal, said content corresponding to said content ID.

9. The method of delivering content according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining user management information including property-right purchase information for indicating whether or not said content is purchased by said user; and

recording said content ID corresponding to said content into said property-right purchase information included in said user management information, if a purchase request for said content is accepted from said user terminal.

10. The method of delivering content according to claim 9, further comprising a step of:

accepting collection of a content storage fee from said user terminal, if said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information included in said user management information.

11. The method of delivering content according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

confirming whether or not said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information included in said user management information, said content ID being received from said user terminal; and

delivering said content corresponding to said content ID to said user terminal, if said content ID is recorded in said property-right purchase information.

12. The method of delivering content according to claim 9, wherein

said user management information further includes property-right reservation information which is used for reserving said purchase of said content,

said method, further comprising the steps of:

recording said content ID corresponding to said content into said property-right reservation information, if a reservation request for said content is accepted from said user terminal; and

deleting said content ID from said property-right reservation information, and recording said content ID into said property-right purchase information, if said reserved content is received from said content supply server.

13. The method of delivering content according to claim 8, further comprising a step of:

displaying information on an electronic program listing, if said content is received from said content supply server, said information indicating that said content has been pre-received.

14. The method of delivering content according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

maintaining content management information including copyright information on said content;

confirming whether or not copyright protection is specified for said content corresponding to said content ID by said copyright information, said content ID being received from said user terminal; and

delivering said content corresponding to said content ID to said user terminal, if said copyright protection is not specified for said content.