Contents distribution system, method thereof, accounting device, contents distribution apparatus, and program

• US 7,549,578 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rakuten Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nishioka, Michio, Omino, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M
• Application Number:
  US11/225,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20060054689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/383, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/381, 705/26, 705/12, 705/13, 705/14, 705/44, 705/45
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/123 Shopping for digital content

Abstract

A contents distribution system capable of using contents from a wireless device without using a Kiosk terminal, its method, an accounting device, a contents distribution apparatus, and a program. A wireless device 10 issues a purchase request for contents to a contents server 30. The wireless device 10 accepts payment information about contents based on the payment data of the contents received from the contents server 30 at the purchase request, and transmits payment data to the contents server 30. The contents server 30 transmits the contents to the wireless device 10 by way of the access point 20.

Claims

1. A contents distribution system including a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, and an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request means for issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus;

payment information acceptance means for accepting payment information about the desired contents based on payment data of the desired contents; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at a purchase request;

payment data reception means for receiving payment data; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device; and

wherein the desired contents are transmitted based on a receipt of the purchase request and the payment data by the apparatus from the wireless device.

6. The contents distribution system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a listing transmission means for transmitting a listing of provided contents to the wireless device;

the wireless device further comprises;

listing reception means for receiving a listing of the provided contents transmitted by the listing transmission means;

display means for displaying the received listing of the provided contents; and

selection means for selecting the desired contents from the displayed listing of the provided contents.

2. A contents distribution system including a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, and an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request means for issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus;

payment information input means for inputting payment data of the desired contents, certifying a payment; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at a purchase request;

payment data reception means for receiving the payment data; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device; and

wherein the desired contents are transmitted based on a receipt of the purchase request and the payment data by the apparatus from the wireless device.

3. A contents distribution system including a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network distributes contents, and a settlement device, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request means for issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus;

payment information acceptance means for accepting payment information about the desired contents based on payment data of the received desired contents; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at a purchase request;

request reception means for receiving a contents distribution request from the settlement device; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device; and

the settlement device comprises;

payment data reception means for receiving the payment data; and

request means for requesting the apparatus to distribute the desired contents; and

wherein the desired contents are transmitted based on a receipt of the contents distribution request and the payment data by the apparatus from the settlement device.

4. A contents distribution system including a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus which is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, and an accounting device wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request means for issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus; and

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device and the accounting device at a purchase request;

payment data reception means for receiving the payment data from the accounting device; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device;

the accounting device comprises;

payment information acceptance means for accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the received payment data of the desired contents; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data to the apparatus; and

wherein the desired contents are transmitted based on a receipt by the apparatus of the purchase request from the wireless device and the payment data from the accounting device.

5. A contents distribution system including a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, an accounting device, and a settlement device, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request means for issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus; and

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device and the accounting device at a purchase request;

request reception means for receiving a contents distribution request from the settlement device; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device;

the accounting device comprises;

payment information acceptance means for accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the received payment data of the desired contents; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data to the settlement device;

the settlement device comprises;

payment data reception means for receiving payment data; and

request means for requesting the apparatus to distribute the desired contents; and

wherein the desired contents are distributed based on a receipt by the apparatus of the purchase request from the wireless device and the payment data from the accounting device.

7. A contents distributing method using a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, and an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

a step of connecting to the apparatus over the network; and

a step of purchase request means issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of accepting the purchase request; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at the purchase request;

the wireless device further comprises;

a step of payment information acceptance means accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the received payment data of the desired contents; and

a step of the payment data transmission means transmitting the payment data to the apparatus; and

the apparatus further comprises

a step of a contents transmission means transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device by way of the access point; and

the wireless device further comprises

a step of contents reception means receiving the desired contents from the apparatus.

8. A contents distributing method using a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, and an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

a step of connecting to the apparatus over the network; and

a step of purchase request means issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of accepting the purchase request; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at the purchase request;

the wireless device further comprises;

a step of payment information input means inputting the payment data of the desired contents certifying a payment; and

a step of the payment data transmission means transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus further comprises

a step of a contents transmission means transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device by way of the access point; and

the wireless device further comprises

a step of contents reception means receiving the desired contents from the apparatus.

9. A contents distributing method using a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, and a settlement device, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

a step of connecting to the apparatus over the network; and

a step of purchase request means issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of accepting the purchase request; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device at the purchase request;

the wireless device further comprises;

a step of payment information acceptance means accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the received payment data of the desired contents; and

a step of the payment data transmission means transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the settlement device;

the settlement device comprises;

a step of payment data reception means receiving the payment data of the desired contents; and

a step of request means requesting the apparatus to distribute the desired contents;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of request reception means receiving the request to distribute the desired contents from the settlement device; and

a step of contents transmission means transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device; and

the wireless device further comprises

a step of contents reception means receiving the desired contents from the apparatus.

10. A contents distributing method using a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, and an accounting device, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

a step of connecting to the apparatus over the network; and

a step of purchase request means issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of accepting the purchase request; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device and the accounting device at the purchase request;

the accounting device comprises;

a step of payment information acceptance means accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the payment data of the received desired contents; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus further comprises;

a step of payment data reception means receiving the payment data of the desired contents; and

a step of contents transmission means transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device and the accounting device; and

the wireless device further comprises

a step of contents reception means receiving the desired contents from the apparatus.

12. The contents distributing method according to any of claims 7 to 11, wherein:

the apparatus further comprises a step of listing transmission means transmitting a listing of provided contents to the wireless device; and

the wireless device further comprises;

a step of listing reception means receiving the listing of the provided contents transmitted by the listing transmission means;

a step of display means displaying the received listing of the provided contents; and

a step of selecting the desired contents to be received from the displayed listing of the provided contents.

11. A contents distributing method using a wireless device, an access point of the wireless device, an apparatus that is connected to the access point over a network and distributes contents, an accounting device, and a settlement device, wherein:

the wireless device comprises;

a step of connecting to the apparatus over the network; and

a step of purchase request means issuing a purchase request for desired contents to the apparatus;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of accepting the purchase request; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of the desired contents to the wireless device and the accounting device at the purchase request;

the accounting device comprises;

a step of payment information acceptance means accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the payment data of the desired contents; and

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting the payment data of the desired contents to the settlement device;

the settlement device comprises;

a step of payment data reception means receiving the payment data;

of the desired contents and

a step of request means requesting the apparatus to distribute the desired contents;

the apparatus comprises;

a step of request reception means receiving the request to distribute the desired contents from the settlement device; and

a step of contents transmission means transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device; and

the wireless device further comprises

a step of contents reception means receiving the desired contents from the apparatus.

13. An accounting device provided with an access point of a wireless device in close vicinity, wherein:

the access point is connected to an apparatus for distributing contents over a network; and

the wireless device comprises;

purchase request transmission means for transmitting a purchase request issued for desired contents selected in the wireless device; and

contents reception means for receiving the desired contents from the apparatus; and

the accounting device comprises;

payment information acceptance means for accepting payment information about the desired contents based on the payment data of the desired contents received from the apparatus at the purchase request; and

payment data transmission means for transmitting the payment data to the apparatus for performing a settlement.

14. A contents distribution apparatus, comprising:

payment data transmission means for transmitting payment data of desired contents to a wireless device at a purchase request issued for the desired contents through an access point of the wireless device connected over a network by referring to a listing of provided contents;

payment data reception means for receiving payment data after completion of a payment procedure; and

contents transmission means for transmitting the desired contents to the wireless device by way of the access point.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising software instructions for a method for a contents distribution apparatus, the method comprising:

a step of payment data transmission means transmitting payment data of desired contents to the wireless device at a purchase request issued for the desired contents through an access point of a wireless device connected over a network;

a step of payment data reception means receiving payment data after completion of a payment procedure; and

a step of contents transmission means transmitting desired contents to the wireless device.

16. A digital contents distribution method comprising:

connecting a wireless device to an apparatus over a wireless network;

transmitting a purchase request for desired digital contents from the wireless device to the apparatus;

transmitting payment data information for the desired contents from the apparatus to the wireless device;

transmitting payment data for the desired contents from the wireless device to the apparatus;

receiving the payment data for the desired contents from the wireless device at the apparatus;

upon receipt of the payment data, transmitting the desired contents from the apparatus to the wireless device via an access point.

17. A digital contents distribution method comprising:

connecting a wireless device to an access point;

transmitting a purchase request for desired digital contents from the wireless device to a contents server via the access point and a wireless network;

receiving, at an accounting system, acceptance of payment for the desired digital contents, via a predetermined key;

transmitting payment data for the desired digital contents from the accounting system to the contents server via the wireless network;

upon receipt of the payment data, transmitting the desired digital contents from the contents server to the wireless device via the access point and the wireless network.

18. A digital contents distribution method comprising:

displaying a plurality of available access points on a display of a wireless device;

receiving at the wireless device a user selection of one of the plurality of access points;

connecting the wireless device to the selected access point;

transmitting a purchase request and payment data for desired digital contents from the wireless device to an apparatus via the access point and a wireless network;

transmitting the desired digital contents from the apparatus to the wireless device via the access point and the wireless network.