Data delivery management system

• US 20030236798A1
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a storage capability of a storage device or storage devices, the storage capability being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned storage capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes the apportioned storage capability available.

7. 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.

13. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the public network and said data delivery server system selects one or more of said plurality of end-user terminals on the basis of the apportionment management information to send the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use the apportioned capability.

14. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein a plurality of end-user terminals are connected to said data delivery server system over the public network, at least one of said end-user terminals comprises said terminal system management device, and said data delivery server system selects one or more of said end-user terminals on the basis of the apportionment management information to send the information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use the apportioned capability.

15. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said data delivery server system sends information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability.

16. The data delivery management system according to claim 13, wherein said data delivery server system sends information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability.

17. The data delivery management system according to claim 14, wherein said data delivery server system sends information indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability.

18. The data delivery management system according to claim 17, wherein the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability can be set by an end user on the end-user terminal.

19. The data delivery management system according to claim 17, 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 apportioned capability according to said recorded usage.

20. The data delivery management system according to claim 18, wherein, when said end-user terminal is connected to said data delivery server system over the public network, the apportionment management information is automatically sent to said data delivery server system.

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

22. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein information about usage charge for the apportioned capability is added to information about the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability to produce apportionment management information and an end user is allowed to set said usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends information to the end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information, the end-user terminal makes the apportioned capability available to the data delivery server system.

23. The data delivery management system according to claim 21, wherein information about the usage charge for the apportioned capability is added to information about the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the apportioned capability to produce apportionment management information and an end user is allowed to set said usage charge on the end-user terminal, and when said data delivery server system sends information to the end user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system pays the usage charge according to the apportionment management information, the end-user terminal makes the apportioned capability available to the data delivery server system.

24. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein said data delivery server system sends said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the public network and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from said content supply server for using the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system allows said content supply system to use the apportioned capability of the end-user terminal or terminals.

25. The data delivery management system according to claim 21, wherein said data delivery server system sends said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the public network and, when said data delivery server system receives a request from said content supply server for using the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system allows said content supply system to use the apportioned capability of the end-user terminal or terminals.

26. The data delivery management system according to claim 22, wherein said data delivery server system sends said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability and the usage charge to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the public network;

and, when said data delivery server system receives information indicating that the content supply system pays the usage charge, bills the content supply system for the usage charge and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

27. The data delivery management system according to claim 23, wherein said data delivery server system sends said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability and the usage charge to a content supply system connected to said data delivery server system over the public network, and, when said data delivery server system receives information indicating that the content supply system pays the usage charge, bills the content supply system for the usage charge and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

28. The data delivery management system according to claim 24 or 26, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, said data delivery server system sends said request management information to the end-user terminal or terminals, and when said data delivery server system receives information indicating permission to use the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

29. The data delivery management system according to claim 25 or 27, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, said data delivery server system sends said request management information to the end-user terminal or terminals, and when said data delivery server system receives information indicating permission to use the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

30. The data delivery management system according to claim 24 or 26, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, said data delivery server system sends said request management information to the end-user terminal or terminals, and when said data delivery server system receives information indicating permission to use the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system bills the content supply system for the charge and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

31. The data delivery management system according to claim 25 or 27, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, said data delivery server system sends said request management information to the end-user terminal or terminals, and when said data delivery server system receives information indicating permission to use the apportioned capability, said data delivery server system bills the content supply system for the charge and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by the end-user terminal or terminals.

32. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said request management information concerning the capability with said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability to automatically select one or more end-user terminals from among the plurality of end-user terminals connected to said data delivery server system over the public network so that the request from the content supply system is met, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said one or more of the end-user terminals.

33. The data delivery management system according to claim 21, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said request management information concerning the capability with said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability to automatically select one or more end-user terminals from among the plurality of end-user terminals connected to said data delivery server system over the public network so that the request from the content supply system is met, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said one or more of the end-user terminals.

34. The data delivery management system according to claim 22, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said request management information concerning the capability and the charge with said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability and the usage charge to automatically select one or more end-user terminals from among the plurality of end-user terminals connected to said data delivery server system over the public network so that the capability requested and the charge desired by the content supply system are met, bills the content supply system for the charge, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said one or more of the end-user terminals.

35. The data delivery management system according to claim 23, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by the content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said request management information concerning the capability and the charge with said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capability and the usage charge to automatically select one or more end-user terminals from among the plurality of end-user terminals connected to said data delivery server system over the public network so that the capability requested and the charge desired by the content supply system are met, bills the content supply system for the charge, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said one or more of the end-user terminals.

36. The data delivery management system according to claim 20, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by each of a plurality of content supply systems connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery sever system compares said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capabilities of the plurality of end-user terminals connected to the data delivery server system over the public network with said request management information concerning the capabilities requested by the plurality of content supply systems to automatically select a pair of an end-user terminal or terminals and a content supply system respectively having conditions matching with each other, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said end-user terminal or terminals.

37. The data delivery management system according to claim 21, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested by each of a plurality of content supply systems connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery sever system compares said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capabilities of the plurality of end-user terminals connected to the data delivery server system over the public network with said request management information concerning the capabilities requested by the plurality of content supply systems to automatically select a pair of an end-user terminal terminals and a content supply system respectively having conditions matching with each other, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said end-user terminal or terminals.

38. The data delivery management system according to claim 22, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by each of a plurality of content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capabilities and the usage charges of the plurality of end-user terminals connected to the data delivery server system over the public network with said request management information concerning the capabilities requested and the charges desired by the plurality of content supply systems to automatically select a pair of an end-user terminal or terminals and a content supply system respectively having conditions matching with each other, bills the content supply system for the charge, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said end-user terminal or terminals.

39. The data delivery management system according to claim 23, wherein said data delivery server system comprises a request management database for storing and managing request management information concerning a capability or capabilities requested and the charge desired by each of a plurality of content supply system connected to the data delivery server system over the public network, and said data delivery server system compares said apportionment management information concerning the apportioned capabilities and the usage charges of the plurality of end-user terminals connected to the data delivery server system over the public network with said request management information concerning the capabilities requested and the charges desired by the plurality of content supply systems to automatically select a pair of an end-user terminal or terminals and a content supply system respectively having conditions matching with each other, bills the content supply system for the charge, and allows the content supply system to use the capability apportioned by said end-user terminal or terminals.

40. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 28, 32, and 36, wherein said request management information concerning capabilities includes the required amount or the required level of the capability requested by the content supply system, said required level specifying grade-wise the required amount.

41. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 29, 33, and 37, wherein said request management information concerning the capability includes the required amount or the required level of the capability requested by the content supply system, said required level specifying grade-wise the required amount.

42. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 30, 34, and 38, wherein said request management information concerning the capability and the charge includes the required amount or the required level of the capability requested by the content supply system, said required level specifying grade-wise the required amount and includes the charge desired by the content supply system, said charge being in accordance with the required amount or the required level.

43. The data delivery management system according to any of claims 31, 35, and 39, wherein said request management information concerning the capability and the charge includes the required amount or the required level of the capability requested by the content supply system, said required level specifying grade-wise the required amount and includes the charge desired by the content supply system, said charge being in accordance with the required amount or required level.

44. The data delivery management system according to claim 34 or 38, wherein the selection is automatically made so that the selection is most advantageous to the end-user terminal in terms of charge.

45. The data delivery management system according to claim 35 or 39, wherein the selection is automatically made so that the selection is most advantageous to the end-user terminal in terms of charge.

46. The data delivery management system according to claim 34 or 38, wherein the selection is automatically made so that the selection is most advantageous to the content supply system in terms of charge.

47. The data delivery management system according to claim 35 or 39, wherein the selection is automatically made so that the selection is most advantageous to the content supply system in terms of charge.

2. A data delivery management system in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a processing capability of a processor, the processing capability being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned processing capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes the apportioned processing capability available.

8. The data delivery management system according to claim 2, wherein said apportionment management information includes the apportioned amount or apportionment level of the processing capability, said apportionment level specifying grade-wise the apportioned amount of the processing capability, and the apportioned amount of the processing capability includes at least one of processing speed, occupancy rate, use time zone, and use term of the processor.

3. A data delivery management system in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a display capability of a display device or display devices, the display capability being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned display capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes said apportioned display capability available.

9. The data delivery management system according to claim 3, 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.

4. A data delivery management system in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning an output capability of an output device or output devices, the output device being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned output capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes the apportioned output capability available.

10. The data delivery management system according to claim 4, 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.

5. A data delivery management system in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning an input capability of an input device or input devices, the input capability being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned input capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes the apportioned input capability available.

11. The data delivery management system according to claim 5, 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.

6. A data delivery management system in which a data delivery server system delivers data to at least one end-user terminal over a public network, wherein

said at least one end-user terminal comprises a terminal system management device for generating apportionment management information concerning a communication capability of a communication device or communication devices, the communication capability being apportioned by said at least one end-user terminal,

said data delivery server system comprises an apportionment management database for storing and managing said apportionment management information, and

when said data delivery server system sends information to said at least one end-user terminal for indicating that said data delivery server system wants to use an apportioned communication capability according to said apportionment management information stored and managed in said apportionment management database, said at least one end-user terminal makes the apportioned communication capability available.

12. The data delivery management system according to claim 6, 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.