Data delivery management system

• US 7,194,470 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyawaki, Hiroshi, Takahashi, Kazunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US10/464,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/104.1, 707/1, 707/100, 707/200, 709/203, 709/710, 703/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5016 the resource being the memory

Abstract

A data delivery management system is provided that allows an unused capability of an end-user terminal to effectively be used. A data delivery server system (110) stores and manages an apportionment management table (116) listing the apportionment Levels of the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal (101) in an apportionment management database (114). The data delivery server system (110) specifies an apportionment level to use, bills an appropriate charge according to an apportionment level charge table (117), and uses the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal (101).

Claims

1. A data delivery management system, comprising:

an end-user terminal; and

a data delivery server, said data delivery server system delivers data to said end-user terminal over a network, and said end-user terminal comprises;

a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a storage capability of a storage device in said end-user terminal, the storage capability being apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal, and

said data delivery server system comprises;

an apportionment management database for storing and managing therein the apportionment management information concerning said end-user terminal,

a delivery server for delivering data to said end-user terminal, and

a delivery system management server for controlling storage of the apportionment management information in said apportionment management database, and controlling, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database the delivery of data to said end-user terminal by said delivery server, so that the data is delivered according to the storage capability apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal.

2. The data delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the storage capability, said apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the storage capability, and the apportioned amount of the storage capability includes at least one of storage capacity, transfer speed, use time zone, and use term of the storage device.

3. The data delivery management system according to claim 2, wherein said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information generated based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

4. The data delivery management system according to claim 2, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

5. The data delivery management system according to claim 2, wherein said terminal system management device records usage of the end-user terminal and automatically sets an appropriate apportioned amount or apportionment level of the storage capability according to the recorded usage.

6. The data delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and said data delivery server system selects at least one of the plurality of end user terminals, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to send to the selected end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

7. The data delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein when the end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system from the end-user terminal.

8. The data delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein information about usage charge for the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal is added to information about the storage capability to produce apportionment management information, to allow an end-user to set the usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information including the information about the usage charge stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the end-user terminal makes available toe the data delivery server system the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

9. The data delivery management system according to claim 1, wherein said data delivery server system sends the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from the content supply server for usage the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the storage capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal or terminals.

10. A data delivery management system, comprising:

an end-user terminal; and

a data delivery server, said data delivery server system delivers data to said end-user terminal over a network, and said end-user terminal comprises;

a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a display capability of a display device in said end-user terminal, the display capability being apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal, and

said data delivery server system comprises;

an apportionment management database for storing and managing therein the apportionment management information concerning said end-user terminal,

a delivery server for delivering data to said end-user terminal; and

a delivery system management server for controlling storage of the apportionment management information in said apportionment management database, and controlling, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database the delivery of data to said end-user terminal by said delivery server, so that the data is delivered according to the display capability apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal.

11. The data delivery management system according to claim 10, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the display capability, the apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the display capability, and said apportioned amount of the display capability includes at least one of display content, display quality, display brightness, display time zone, and display term of the display device.

12. The data delivery management system according to claim 11, wherein said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information generated based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

13. The data delivery management system according to claim 11, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

14. The data delivery management system according to claim 11, wherein said terminal system management device records usage of the end-user terminal and automatically sets an appropriate apportioned amount or apportionment level of the display capability according to the recorded usage.

15. The data delivery management system according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and said data delivery server system selects at least one of the plurality of end-user terminals, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to send to the selected end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

16. The data delivery management system according to claim 10, wherein when the end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system from the end-user terminal.

17. The data delivery management system according to claim 10, wherein information about usage charge for the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal is added to information about the display capability to produce apportionment management information, to allow an end user to set the usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information including the information about the usage charge stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the end-user terminal makes available to the data delivery server system the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

18. The data delivery management system according to claim 10, wherein said data delivery server system sends the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from the content supply server for usage the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal or terminals.

19. A data delivery management system, comprising:

an end-user terminal; and

a data delivery server, said data delivery server system delivers data to said end-user terminal over a network, and said end-user terminal comprises;

a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning an output capability of an output device in said end-user terminal, the output capability being apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal, and

said data delivery server system comprises;

an apportionment management database for storing and managing therein the apportionment management information,

a delivery system management server for controlling storage of the apportionment management information in said apportionment management database, and controlling, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database the delivery of data to said end-user terminal by said delivery server, so that the data is delivered according to the display capability apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal.

20. The data delivery management system according to claim 19, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the output capability, said apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the output capability, and the apportioned amount of the output capability includes at least one of output speed, output content, output quality, output brightness, output time zone, and output term of the output device.

21. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information generated based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

22. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

23. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein said terminal system management device records usage of the end-user terminal and automatically sets an appropriate apportioned amount or apportionment level of the output capability according to the recorded usage.

24. The data delivery management system according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and said data delivery server system selects at least one of the plurality of end-user terminals, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to send to the selected end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to user the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

25. The data delivery management system according to claim 19, wherein when the end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system from the end-user terminal.

26. The data delivery management system according to claim 19, wherein information about usage charge for the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal is added to information about the output capability to produce apportionment management information, to allow an end user to set the usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information including the information about he usage charge stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the end-user terminal makes available to the data delivery server system the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

27. The data delivery management system according to claim 19, wherein said data delivery server system sends the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from the content supply server for usage the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal, said data delivery server system allows the content system to use the output capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal or terminals.

28. A data delivery management system, comprising:

an end-user terminal; and

a data delivery server, said data delivery server system delivers data to said end-user terminal over a network, and said end-user terminal comprises;

a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning an input capability of an input device included in said end-user terminal, the input capability being apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal, and

said data delivery server system comprises;

an apportionment management database for storing and managing therein the apportionment management information concerning said end-user terminal,

a delivery system management server for controlling storage of the apportionment management information in said apportionment management database, and controlling, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database the delivery of data to said end-user terminal by said delivery server, so that the data is delivered according to the display capability apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal.

29. The data delivery management system according to claim 28, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the input capability, said apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the input capability, and the apportioned amount of the input capability includes at least one of input content, input quality, input speed, input time zone, and input term of the input device.

30. The data delivery management system according to claim 29, wherein said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information generated based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

31. The data delivery management system according to claim 29, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

32. The data delivery management system according to claim 29, wherein said terminal system management device records usage of the end-user terminal and automatically sets an appropriate apportioned amount or apportionment level of the input capability according to the recorded usage.

33. The data delivery management system according to claim 28, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and said data delivery server system selects at least one of the plurality of end-user terminals, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to send to the selected end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use the display capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

34. The data delivery management system according to claim 28, wherein when the end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system from the end-user terminal.

35. The data delivery management system according to claim 28, wherein information about usage charge for the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal is added to information about the input capability to produce apportionment management information, to allow an end user to set the usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information including the information about the usage charge stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the end-user terminal makes available to the data delivery server system the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

36. The data delivery management system according to claim 28, wherein said data delivery server system sends the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and, when said data delivery server system receives a request form the content supply server for usage the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the input capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal or terminals.

37. A data delivery management system, comprising:

an end-user terminal; and

a data delivery server, said data delivery server system delivers data to said end-user terminal over a network, and said end-user terminal comprises;

a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a communication capability of a communication device included in said end-user terminal, the communication capability being apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal, and

said data delivery server system comprises;

an apportionment management database for storing and managing therein the apportionment management information concerning said end-user terminal,

a delivery system management server for controlling storage of the apportionment management information in said apportionment management database, and controlling, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database the delivery of data to said end-user terminal by said delivery server, so that the data is delivered according to the display capability apportioned and provided by said end-user terminal.

38. The data delivery management system according to claim 37, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the communication capability, said apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the communication capability, and the apportioned amount of the communication capability includes at least one of transfer rate, communication amount, communication time zone, and communication term of the communication device.

39. The data delivery management system according to claim 38, wherein said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information generated based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

40. The data delivery management system according to claim 38, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

41. The data delivery management system according to claim 38, wherein said terminal system management device records usage of the end-user terminal and automatically sets an appropriate apportioned amount or apportionment level of the communication capability according to the recorded usage.

42. The data delivery management system according to claim 37, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and said data delivery server system selects at least one of the plurality of end-user terminals, based on the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database, to send to the selected end-user terminal information indicating that said delivery server system wants to use the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

43. The data delivery management system according to claim 37, wherein when the end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system from the end-user terminal.

44. The data delivery management system according to claim 37, wherein information about usage charge for the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal is added to information about the communication capability to produce apportionment management information, to allow an end user to set the usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends to the end-user terminal information indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information including the information about the usage charge stored and managed in the apportionment management database, the end-user terminal makes available to the data delivery server system the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal.

45. The data delivery management system according to claim 37, wherein said data delivery server system sends the apportionment management information stored and managed in the apportionment management database to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the network, and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from the content supply server for usage the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the communication capability apportioned and provided by the end-user terminal or terminals.