JP4605069B2 - Music content providing system, electronic musical instrument and music content acquisition program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument system in which a printer is directly connected to an electronic musical instrument and music content can be distributed from the server to the electronic musical instrument through a communication network.

Recent electronic musical instruments have diversified functions. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1, an electronic musical apparatus such as an electronic musical instrument having a function of using music content purchased from a server via a network has appeared. Yes.
JP 2003-76364 A

Patent Document 2 discloses that electronic musical score data on a personal computer is printed by a printer by connecting an electronic musical instrument and a printer to a personal computer capable of downloading electronic musical score data and the like via a network. An electronic music system is disclosed in which musical sounds are generated by an electronic musical instrument using performance data generated from musical score data.
JP 2004-117487 A

  However, in the conventional system, when the music content is purchased with the electronic musical instrument, the recording of the purchase of the music content does not remain in the user's hands. Therefore, after the user purchases the music content, if the music content is lost due to an operation mistake or an accident, the user cannot prove that the music content has been purchased. This could result in a situation where it could not be obtained or trouble occurred with the music content seller.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention can print and leave a record document of music content purchase by a printer directly connected to the electronic musical instrument when the music content is distributed from the server to the electronic musical instrument. Providing an electronic musical instrument system that enables re-acquisition of music content by reconnecting the electronic musical instrument to the server and inputting the items described in the recorded document when the distributed music content is lost due to an operational error or accident The purpose is to do.

  According to the main feature of the present invention, a (CB) electronic musical instrument (EM) to which a printer (PR) is directly connected, and a music content providing server that is communicably connected to the electronic musical instrument (EM) through a communication network (CN). a music contents providing system consisting a (SV), the electronic musical instrument (EM), the content designation information for designating the music content, and the storage destination specifying information that specifies the storage destination of the music content (media ID) A first transmitting means (E6) for transmitting to the music content providing server (SV), a first receiving means (E7) for receiving the music content (Ds3) designated by the content designation information from the music content providing server (SV), The music content (Ds3) received by the first receiving means (E7) is specified by the storage destination specifying information (media ID) Content specifying information (purchase ID) for specifying that the music content (Ds3) is received from the music content providing server (SV), and the first content recording means (E7) for recording in the storage destination (for example, smart media) Content acquisition information (purchase information: Ds4) including the second reception means (E8) for receiving from the music content providing server (SV), and the content acquisition information (purchase information) is received by the second reception means (E8) Accordingly, information output means for outputting print information (image file: De3) based on the received content acquisition information (purchase information) to the printer (PR) [paragraph [0030]: (d), E9, E12] And a document (content purchase document Bs) printed by the printer (PR) based on the print information (image file: De3) 2 is transmitted to the music content providing server (SV) in response to the input of the content specifying information (purchase ID) described in 1 to the music content providing server (SV). A storage unit (E23) and storage destination specifying information (media ID: Ds7) corresponding to the content specifying information (purchase ID) transmitted by the second transmitting unit (E23) are received from the music content providing server (SV). 3 Based on the fact that the storage destination indicated by the storage destination specifying information (media ID) received by the third reception means (E26) matches the storage destination for recording the redistributed music content. (E27, E28 = YES) and the third sender that transmits request information for requesting the music content providing server (SV) to redistribute the music content. Content specifying information (purchase) transmitted by the second transmitting means (E23) redistributed from the music content providing server (SV) in response to transmission of the request information by the stage (E29) and the third transmitting means (E29) 4th receiving means (E29) for receiving the music content (Ds8) corresponding to (ID) and the music content (Ds8) received by the fourth receiving means (E29) as the storage destination (for example, smart media) and a second content recording means for recording (E30), the music content providing server (SV) from the electronic musical instrument (EM), content designation information for designating the music content, and identify the destination of the music content Received by the first server receiving means (S3) and the first server receiving means (S3) for receiving the storage destination specifying information (media ID) First server transmitting means (S4) for transmitting the music content (Ds3) designated by the content designation information to the electronic musical instrument (EM), and content for identifying that the music content (Ds3) has been transmitted to the electronic musical instrument (EM) the specified information second server transmission means for transmitting (purchased ID) to the electronic musical instrument (EM) (S6), content designation information and storage destination specifying information received by the first server receiving means (S3) (media ID) content information recording means for recording in association with the content identification information (purchase ID); and (DBc S5), the content identification information from the electronic musical instrument (EM) (purchased ID: DE4) second server receiving means for receiving (S22) And the content specifying information (purchase I) received by the second server receiving means (S22) from the content information recording means (DBc). Content specifying information associated with) and storage destination specifying information (information extraction means for extracting a media ID) (S22), the storage destination specifying information extracted by the information extraction means (S22) (Media ID) Electronic musical instrument A request transmitted from the electronic musical instrument (EM) corresponding to the storage destination specifying information (media ID) transmitted by the third server transmitting means (S25) and the third server transmitting means (S25). a third server reception means for receiving information (S26), music content third in response to reception of the request information by the server receiving means (S26), content designation information extracted by the information extraction means (S22) designates ( A music content providing system comprising a fourth server transmitting means (S26) for transmitting Ds8) to an electronic musical instrument (EM) is provided. . Note that the parentheses indicate reference symbols, terms and the like of the embodiment, and the same applies to the following.

  Further, according to this feature, the music content is designated in the electronic musical instrument (EM) that is connected to the printer (PR) directly (CB) and connected to the music content providing server (SV) through the communication network (CN). content designation information, and a storage destination specifying information that specifies the storage destination of the music content first transmission means for transmitting the (media ID) of the music content providing server (SV) (E6), music content designation information designating The first receiving means (E7) for receiving the content (Ds3) from the music content providing server (SV), and the music content (Ds3) received by the first receiving means (E7), the storage destination specifying information (media ID) A first content recording means (E7) for recording in a storage location (for example, smart media) specified by Content acquisition information (purchase information: Ds4) including content specifying information (purchase ID) specifying that the music content (Ds3) has been received from the music content provider server (SV) is received from the music content provider server (SV). and second receiving means (E8), content acquisition information by the second receiving means (E8) (purchase information) in response to the received print information (image file based on the received content acquisition information (purchase information) : Information output means [paragraph [0030]: (d), E9, E12] for outputting De3) to the printer (PR) and a document printed by the printer (PR) based on the print information (image file: De3) In response to input of content specifying information (purchase ID) described in (content purchase document Bs) in response to a user operation The second transmitting means (E23) for transmitting the input content specifying information (purchase ID: De4) to the music content providing server (SV), and the content specifying information (purchasing ID) transmitted by the second transmitting means (E23) ) Corresponding to the storage location (media ID: Ds7) from the music content providing server (SV), and the storage location identification information (E26) received by the third reception portion (E26). The music content providing server (SV) is requested to redistribute the music content based on the fact that the storage location indicated by the media ID matches the storage location where the music content to be redistributed is recorded (E27, E28 = YES). The third transmission means (E29) for transmitting the request information to be provided, and the music content provision in response to the transmission of the request information by the third transmission means (E29) A fourth receiving means (E29) for receiving the music content (Ds8) corresponding to the content specifying information (purchase ID) transmitted by the second transmitting means (E23) redistributed from the server (SV); 4. Electronic musical instrument (EM) comprising second content recording means (E30) for recording the music content (Ds8) received by the receiving means (E29) in the storage destination (for example, smart media). In addition, the music content is designated to the computer (EM) functioning as an electronic musical instrument that is connected to the printer (PR) directly (CB) and is communicably connected to the music content providing server (SV) through the communication network (CN). Content designation information to be stored and storage location specifying information (media ID) for specifying the storage location of the music content are stored in the music content. A first transmission step (E6) for transmitting to the server providing server (SV), a first receiving step (E7) for receiving the music content (Ds3) designated by the content designation information from the music content providing server (SV), A first content recording step (E7) for recording the music content (Ds3) received in one receiving step (E7) in a storage location (for example, smart media) specified by the storage location specifying information (media ID); Content acquisition information (purchase information: Ds4) including content specifying information (purchase ID) for specifying that the music content (Ds3) is received from the music content provider server (SV) is received from the music content provider server (SV). Content acquisition information (purchase information) in the second reception step (E8) and the second reception step (E8) An information output step of outputting print information (image file: De3) based on the received content acquisition information (purchase information) to the printer (PR) in response to reception (paragraph [0030]: (d), E9 , E12] and content specifying information (purchase ID) described in the document (content purchase document Bs) printed by the printer (PR) based on the print information (image file: De3) is input according to a user operation. In response to this, the content transmitted in the second transmission step (E23) and the second transmission step (E23) for transmitting the input content specifying information (purchase ID: De4) to the music content providing server (SV). Storage destination specifying information (media ID: Ds7) corresponding to the specifying information (purchasing ID) is received from the music content providing server (SV). The storage destination indicated by the storage destination specifying information (media ID) received in the third reception step (E26) matches the storage destination for recording the redistributed music content. (E27, E28 = YES), the third transmission step (E29) for transmitting request information for requesting the music content providing server (SV) to redistribute the music content, and the request in the third transmission step (E29). The music content (Ds8) corresponding to the content specifying information (purchase ID) transmitted in the second transmission step (E23) redistributed from the music content providing server (SV) in response to the transmission of the information is received. 4 receiving step (E29) and the music content (Ds8) received in the fourth receiving step (E29) Music content acquisition program for executing a second content recording procedure consisting the steps (E30) [Claim 3] is provided for recording on the media).

  In this invention, an electronic musical instrument (EM), at the time of purchase the music content from the music content providing server (SV) via a communication network (CN), content designation information and music content that specifies the music content to be purchased Content distribution instruction information (De1) such as storage destination specifying information (media ID) for specifying the storage destination of the file is sent to the server (SV). Server (SV) is, the music content (Ds3) the content specified information is specified with delivery to the electronic musical instrument (EM), content specific information to generate content specific information (purchase ID) to identify the distribution of the music content Content acquisition information (purchase information: Ds4) including (purchase ID) is transmitted to the electronic musical instrument (EM). The electronic musical instrument (EM) is directly connected to the printer (PR) without using a personal computer or the like, and receives content acquisition information (purchase information) from the server (SV). Correspondingly created print information (image file) [specifically, the content acquisition information is converted into print information corresponding to the printer print capability represented by the capability information (d) acquired from the printer PR (E9)]. The content purchase record document (Bs) including the content specifying information (purchase ID) is printed on the printer (PR). Further, in the server (SV), content distribution information such as content designation information and storage destination identification information (media ID) is recorded in the distribution information recording means (DBc) in association with the content identification information (purchase ID).

  Therefore, according to the present invention, when a desired music content is purchased from a music content providing server by connecting the electronic musical instrument directly to the network, music can be obtained with a simple system configuration in which a printer is directly connected to the electronic musical instrument without a personal computer. A content purchase record document that records the purchase of content can be easily printed and left. Further, the printed recording document describes a content identification information, since the server content distribution information is recorded in association with the content identification information, the electronic musical instrument user, based on the content identification information on the recording document Thus, it is possible to make a detailed inquiry regarding the acquired music content.

  In the present invention, furthermore, when the electronic musical instrument (EM) has already acquired the music content from the music content providing server (SV), the content purchase record document (Bs) including the content specifying information (purchase ID) is transferred to the printer (PR). In the electronic musical instrument (EM), when the user inputs content specifying information (purchase ID) on the content purchase document (Bs), the corresponding storage destination specifying information (media ID) is stored in the server. (SV) returns to the electronic musical instrument (EM). In the electronic musical instrument (EM), when the storage destination specifying information (media ID) of the storage destination of the music content to be redistributed is the same as the returned storage destination specifying information (media ID), the music content is stored in the server. Acquired from (SV) and recorded in the storage destination.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when music content is lost due to an operation error or accident, by reconnecting to the server and inputting the description items of the content purchase record document that records the purchase content of the music content. The music content can be reacquired. In addition, since the music content can be re-acquired only when the storage destination specifying information recorded on the server side matches the storage destination specifying information on the electronic musical instrument side, unauthorized music content Can be reliably prevented.

  The print information output from the electronic musical instrument to the printer is preferably image data, that is, print image information. In this case, a simpler system configuration can be obtained by providing a USB interface for the electronic musical instrument and printer and connecting the two devices with a USB cable. In addition, by adopting PictBridge (registered trademark) as a communication protocol, it is possible to connect to both devices regardless of manufacturer or model of both devices, and content purchase documents can be easily printed with a directly connected printer according to the print image information from the electronic musical instrument. be able to.

[Outline of electronic musical instrument system]
An electronic musical instrument system according to the present invention includes an electronic musical instrument, a printer, and a music content providing server. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an electronic musical instrument in an electronic musical instrument system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic musical instrument EM is a computer having a musical tone information processing function, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) 1, a random access memory (RAM) 2, a read only memory (ROM) 3, an external storage device 4, a performance operation detection circuit 5, A setting operation detection circuit 6, a display circuit 7, a sound source circuit 8, an effect circuit 9, a USB interface (I / F) 10, a MIDI interface (I / F) 11, a communication interface (I / F) 12, and the like are provided. 1 to 12 are connected to each other via a bus 13.

  CPU1 in accordance with a predetermined control program, purchase processing of music content using a clock of the timer 14, the printing process of the music content purchase information, and performs various music processing, including re-download processing of the music content, RAM 2 The data processing unit is configured together with the ROM 3 and the like. The RAM 2 is used as a work area for temporarily storing various data necessary for these processes. The ROM 3 stores in advance various control programs and data for executing these processes.

  The external storage device 4 is not only a built-in storage medium such as a hard disk (HD) but also a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a flexible disk (FD), a magneto-optical (MO) disk, a digital multipurpose disk ( Various controllable external recording media such as a small memory card such as a DVD and a smart media (registered trademark) and the like can be stored in an arbitrary external storage device 4. it can. Also, music content downloaded from a server can be stored in a specific storage medium (media) such as smart media.

  The performance operation detection circuit 5 detects the operation content of the performance operator 15 including the keyboard 15a [FIG. 2 (1)] and a wheel, and introduces information corresponding to the detected performance operation of the user to the data processing unit. The setting operation detection circuit 6 detects the operation content of the setting operation element 16 provided on the operation panel of the electronic musical instrument EM, and introduces information corresponding to the detected setting operation of the user to the data processing unit. The display circuit 7 is connected to a display 17 such as an LCD for displaying various screens necessary for playing and setting the electronic musical instrument EM and various indicators, and the display and lighting contents of the display 17 and the indicators are commanded from the CPU 1. Control according to. For example, it is possible to perform display assistance and performance contents display for the operation of the operators 15 and 16, and to display a screen based on the score data included in the music content stored in the external storage device 4 on the display 17.

  The sound source circuit 8 and the effect circuit 9 having the effect imparting DSP constitute a musical sound signal generation unit (also referred to as a sound source unit, and both the circuits 8 and 9 can include software). Based on this, a tone signal is generated by the tone generator circuit 8 and an effect is given to the tone signal by the effect circuit 9. The musical tone signal generation units (sound source units) 8 and 9 are also included in performance data stored in an arbitrary medium in the ROM 3 and the external storage device 4 and music content recorded on a specific medium in the external storage device 4 A musical tone signal can be generated based on the performance data and audio data. The sound system 18 placed after the effect circuit 9 includes a D / A converter, an amplifier, and a speaker, and generates a musical sound based on the musical signal from the musical signal generators 8 and 9.

  A USB compatible printer PR is connected to the USB I / F 10 through a USB cable CB. The printer PR is not shown in detail, but basically includes a CPU, RAM, ROM, print output unit, and USB I / F, and purchases content input from the electronic musical instrument EM through the USB cable CB and USB I / F. The information can be printed out as a print document in the print output unit. Further, another MIDI music device MD is connected to the MIDII / F11, and MIDI performance data can be exchanged with the other music device MD and used in the electronic musical instrument EM. Further, the communication I / F12 includes a modem, a server computer and other electronic musical instruments such as music content providing server SV is connected via a communications network CN such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN).

  The music content providing server SV has the same configuration as the electronic musical instrument EM, but does not include a performance operation unit or a musical tone signal generation unit. The external storage device stores a content storage database DBa that stores a large amount of various music contents that can be provided, including electronic musical instrument control programs, performance data, score data, and various guidance information necessary for providing music contents. A content guide database DBb, a content distribution record database DBc storing information related to music content already provided to the electronic musical instrument EM and other electronic musical instruments, and the like are constructed.

[System Overview]
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the electronic musical instrument system according to one embodiment of the present invention. This electronic musical instrument system includes an electronic musical instrument EM, a printer PR, and a music content providing server SV, as shown in the system conceptual diagram of FIG. 2 (1). The electronic musical instrument EM includes an keyboard 15a in this example. The operation panel surface is provided with various panel setting switches (setting operation elements) 16, a display 17, and various indicators (not shown). A USB terminal for outputting print information is provided on the back surface of the electronic musical instrument EM, and a USB compatible printer PR is directly connected to the USB terminal via the USB cable CB.

  When the electronic musical instrument EM and the printer PR are connected, the electronic musical instrument EM becomes a USB device, the printer PR behaves as a USB host, and the electronic musical instrument EM acquires printing capability from the printer PR. The printer PR prints various print documents Bs based on various print information from the electronic musical instrument EM, and FIG. 2B shows an example of the print document Bs output from the printer PR. In this case, it is advantageous to adopt a standard called “PictBridge (registered trademark)” that can be interconnected regardless of the manufacturer and model of both devices as the communication protocol between the two devices. That is, the electronic musical instrument EM also functions as an SICD (Still Image Capture Device) interface for an arbitrary printer PR compatible with PictBridge, and the printer PR can easily obtain a required document Bs according to the print image information from the electronic musical instrument EM. Can be printed on.

  The electronic musical instrument EM further includes a network terminal of the communication I / F 12 on the back, and a music content providing server including a content storage database DBa, a content guide database DBb, a content distribution record database DBc, etc. via the communication network CN. Connected to the SV, the desired music content can be acquired from the server SV.

  The music content stored in the content storage database DBa of the server SV includes MIDI performance data (song data), audio data file (waveform data), electronic score data, and data for setting performance conditions of the electronic musical instrument. (Registration data, pattern data, style data, etc.), and a control program that gives various processing functions to the electronic musical instrument. The server SV guides music content that can be provided to the electronic musical instrument EM that has accessed the server SV according to the guidance information stored in the content guidance database DBb, and the information of the provided music content is recorded in the content distribution record database DBc. .

  The purchased music content downloaded from the server SV to the electronic musical instrument EM is stored in a specific storage destination for security. A typical example of media for recording such purchased security music contents in the external storage device 4 is ID-added smart media. However, any other storage medium can be a storage location for music content as long as it can have storage location identification information such as a media ID. For example, the storage destination may be an MO having a media ID, or an external storage device such as an internal HD or an external HD may be the storage destination. In the latter case, the electronic musical instrument EM itself or the external storage device The attached ID, serial number, etc. can be read from the CPU 1 and used as storage location specifying information.

  When content information designating desired music content and storage location specifying information are sent from the electronic musical instrument EM to the server SV, the server SV delivers the designated music content to the electronic musical instrument EM, and the content information and storage location specifying information are sent. The content purchase record data to which a purchase ID described later is added is recorded in the content distribution record database DBc, and the content purchase information including the purchase ID is sent to the electronic musical instrument EM. The electronic musical instrument EM generates print information based on the content purchase information received from the server SV, and causes the printer PR to automatically print out the content purchase document Bs as shown in FIG. . Therefore, the electronic musical instrument user can confirm the purchase contents of the music content on the paper.

  In the example of FIG. 2 (2), the content purchase document Bs includes, as main items, a purchase ID (AZ121879344), content designation information (purchased music content) following the title section ("music data shop usage statement"). Is specified by type, song name, etc. It may be a unique content name, and the price is added), the purchase date and time are described, and the contact information is finally written. Here, the purchase ID represents content specifying information for specifying the purchase (first distribution) fact of the music content, and is given a unique value for each initial distribution of the music content. It is specified by the storage destination specifying information and the content distribution time information.

  In this system, in the electronic musical instrument EM, when the music content that has already been acquired is lost due to some mistake such as an operation mistake or accident, the same music content is reproduced based on the purchase ID described in the content purchase document Bs. Can be acquired. That is, when the electronic musical instrument EM is reconnected to the server SV and the electronic musical instrument user inputs the purchase ID on the content purchase document Bs to the electronic musical instrument EM and sends it to the server SV, the server SV stores the content distribution record database DBc. When the content purchase record data is searched and collated with the purchase ID from the electronic musical instrument EM, the same music content is distributed again to the electronic musical instrument EM.

  Instead of the purchase ID, purchase identification data including a combination of storage destination identification information (media ID), content designation information, and content distribution time information (purchase date / time information) may be used. In addition to the items shown in the figure, auxiliary information such as user information and the serial number of the electronic musical instrument is printed on the content purchase document Bs in order to make it easier for the purchaser to understand or to make the check more strict. Alternatively, such auxiliary information may be input so that the content can be reacquired. Further, regarding the content purchase information transmitted from the server SV, only the parameters (element data) may be transmitted from the server SV and generated as image data by the electronic musical instrument EM, or may be transmitted from the server SV in the image data format. The electronic musical instrument may convert according to the capability of the printer PR.

  As described above, in the electronic musical instrument system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the electronic musical instrument EM accesses the server SV via the communication network, and specifies the content designation information for designating the distributed music content and the storage destination of the music content. When a specified media ID (storage destination specifying information) is sent to request distribution of desired music content, the server SV distributes the music content to the electronic musical instrument EM, and in addition to the content designation information and the media ID, the music content. The content purchase record data including the purchase ID (content specifying information) for specifying the purchase ID is recorded in the content distribution record database DBc, and the content purchase information (Ds4) including the purchase ID is sent to the electronic musical instrument EM. The printer PR, which is directly connected to the electronic musical instrument EM through the USB cable CB, automatically prints out the content purchase document Bs based on the content purchase information received by the electronic musical instrument EM. When the distributed (purchased) music content disappears, when the purchase ID written in the purchase document Bs is input to the electronic musical instrument EM and sent to the server SV, the server SV searches the content distribution record database DBc, and the electronic musical instrument When the purchase ID and media ID from the EM match the content purchase record data in the database DBc, the same music content is redistributed to the electronic musical instrument EM.

[Example of processing flow]
(1) Processing at Printer Detection In the electronic musical instrument system according to one embodiment of the present invention, when the electronic musical instrument EM and the printer PR are connected, that is, the electronic musical instrument EM and the printer PR that are turned on are connected by the USB cable CB. When the electronic musical instrument EM and the printer PR are connected with a cable and then turned on after being connected, the following processes (a) to (d) are executed according to the PictBridge standard:
(A) Using the connection or power-on of the USB cable CB as a trigger, the electronic musical instrument EM detects the printer PR as a USB host device, and the printer PR detects the electronic musical instrument EM as a USB Still Image Capture device.
(B) Confirm that the devices EM and PR correspond to the image printing protocol.
(C) Confirm what service functions the two devices EM, PR have each other. The electronic musical instrument EM informs the printer that it has an image file (print image information) supply function and uses the print function of the counterpart device PR. The printer PR informs the electronic musical instrument EM that it has a printing function and uses the image file supply function of the counterpart device EM.
(D) The electronic musical instrument EM inquires about the capability that can be set to the printer PR, and the printer PR accordingly indicates the capability that can be set such as a file format (for example, BMP format) that the printer PR can receive. Returns ability information.

(2) Processing at Content Purchase FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing an example of processing at the time of content purchase according to one embodiment of the present invention. This processing flow is called “processing 1”, and is started when the electronic musical instrument EM accesses the content providing server SV and gives an instruction to start purchase, and when the desired music content is first acquired (purchased). After the music content purchase process (FIG. 3) is executed and the music content is acquired, the music content purchase information printing process (FIG. 4) according to the PictBridge standard is executed between the electronic musical instrument EM and the printer.

  When “Processing 1” starts in the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV is requested to provide information on the music content that can be purchased by the browsing operation of the music content purchase request by the electronic musical instrument user (step E1). In response to the request from the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV extracts “purchasable content list page information Ds1” corresponding to the request from the content guide database DBb and returns it to the electronic musical instrument EM (step S1).

  The electronic musical instrument EM acquires the purchaseable content list page information Ds1 transmitted from the server SV in response to the purchase request, and displays the purchaseable content list page on the screen of the display 17 according to the information Ds1 (E1). Then, for purchasable content list page that is displayed on the screen, by the user, when the operation to select a desired music content you want to buy is made, specify the content specification information (music content that has been selected in accordance with this operation Next, the server SV is requested for the necessary purchase procedure (E2).

  In response to a request from the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV inputs information on the electronic musical instrument EM side necessary for the music content purchase procedure such as user information of the electronic musical instrument EM and a payment method for the musical content from the guidance database DBb. “Purchase procedure page information Ds2” is extracted and returned to the electronic musical instrument EM (S2). The electronic musical instrument EM acquires purchase procedure page information Ds2 from the server SV, displays the purchase procedure page along with the purchase button on the screen according to the information Ds2 (E3), and waits for a user input operation to the purchase procedure page (E4).

  Here, the user performs an operation of inputting user information, payment method, and the like on the purchase procedure page, the purchase button in the purchase procedure page is pressed, and music content designated by the content designation information is recorded. When an operation for instructing the destination (for example, smart media) is performed, the media ID (storage destination specifying information) of the instructed storage destination is acquired (E5). Then, purchase instruction (content distribution instruction) information De1 including content designation information, user information, payment method information, media ID, and the like is sent to the server SV (E6).

  On the other hand, the server SV charges the electronic musical instrument user according to the consideration of the music content indicated by the content designation information of the purchase instruction information De1 received from the electronic musical instrument EM, the payment method of the consideration indicated by the payment method information, the user information, and the like. Processing is performed (S3), and the music content Ds3 designated by the content designation information is extracted from the content storage database DBa and distributed to the electronic musical instrument EM (S4). Then, the electronic musical instrument EM receives the music content Ds3 from the server SV and records it on the designated storage destination medium (E7).

  After the distribution of the music content Ds3, the server SV generates purchase date / time information (content distribution time information) indicating the distribution time and a purchase ID (content specification information) for specifying the distribution of the music content Ds3 to the electronic musical instrument EM. The content purchase record data in which the purchase ID is associated with the information set including at least the content designation information, the media ID, and the purchase date / time information is created and recorded in the content distribution record database DBc (S5). Further, the content purchase information Ds4 including the purchase ID is created based on the content purchase record data and sent to the electronic musical instrument EM (S6), and the “processing 1” on the server SV side is terminated.

  On the other hand, when receiving the content purchase information Ds4 including the purchase ID from the server SV (E8), the electronic musical instrument EM prints content purchase information with the printer PR (E9 to E13, P1 to P7: FIG. 4). The content purchase document Bs based on the content purchase information Ds4 received by the electronic musical instrument EM is printed out from the printer PR.

  First, the electronic musical instrument EM obtains from the content purchase information Ds4 an image file (printed image information) De3 that matches the format supported by the printer PR (included in the capability information acquired in the process (d) at the time of printer detection). And the file information (file size, etc.) De2 is created (E9), and then the printer PR is requested to start printing (E10). In response to this, the printer PR starts a printing process, receives a print start request from the electronic musical instrument EM (step P1), and then requests file information from the electronic musical instrument EM (P2). When the electronic musical instrument EM sends file information De2 corresponding to the created image file De3 in response to a request from the printer PR (E11), the printer PR receives the file information De2 from the electronic musical instrument EM (P3). Then, an image file is requested from the electronic musical instrument EM (P4).

  When the electronic musical instrument EM sends the image file De3 in response to a request from the printer PR (E12), the printer PR receives the image file De3 from the electronic musical instrument EM (P5), and the electronic musical instrument EM receives the content according to the image file De3. The purchase document Bs is printed (P6), and when the content purchase document Bs is printed, a print completion notification is sent to the electronic musical instrument EM (P7), and the printing process of the printer PR is terminated. When the electronic musical instrument EM receives a completion notification from the printer PR (E13), the electronic musical instrument EM ends “Process 1”.

(3) Processing at Content Re-Download FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing at content re-download according to an embodiment of the present invention. This processing flow is called “processing 2” or re-downloading process, and starts when the electronic musical instrument EM accesses the content providing server SV and instructs to start re-downloading. When “processing 2” starts in the electronic musical instrument EM and the server SV is requested to provide information related to the redistribution of the music content by the browsing operation of the music content redistribution request by the electronic musical instrument user (step E21), the server SV In response to the request from the EM, the “re-download page information Ds5” corresponding to the request is extracted from the content guide database DBb and returned to the electronic musical instrument EM (step S21).

  The electronic musical instrument EM acquires the redownload page information Ds5 transmitted from the server SV in response to the redistribution request, and displays the redownload page on the screen of the display 17 according to the information Ds5 (E21). In accordance with the guidance of the re-download page, by the user, when the operation to enter the purchase ID of the content purchase document Bs are carried out, to determine the purchase ID in response to the input operation (E22), then send the purchase ID to the server SV (E23).

  When the server SV receives the purchase ID from the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV searches the content distribution record database DBc with the received purchase ID, and temporarily stores the search result on the RAM (S22). Then, it is determined whether or not the content purchase record data including the purchase ID that matches the purchase ID could be found (S23).

  Here, when the corresponding content purchase record data is found (S23 → YES), a “purchase ID search result Ds6” indicating that the purchase record data search by purchase ID is “successful” is sent to the electronic musical instrument EM ( E24), in response to a request from the electronic musical instrument EM, processing (S25, S26) for sending the media ID (Ds8) and the content (Ds9) to the electronic musical instrument EM is performed. On the other hand, when purchase record data is not found (S23 → NO), a “purchase ID search result Ds9” indicating that the search is “failed” is sent to the electronic musical instrument EM (E27). When there is a request, exception processing for returning error information or newly distributing music content is performed (S28).

  When receiving the purchase ID search results Ds6 and Ds9 from the server SV (E24), the electronic musical instrument EM determines whether or not the search result indicates “success” (E25), and indicates “success”. If so (E25 → YES), the server SV is requested for the media ID corresponding to the purchase ID (E26). In response to a request from the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV extracts a media ID associated with the purchase ID from the corresponding content purchase record data, and returns this to the electronic musical instrument EM (S25). Thereby, the electronic musical instrument EM acquires the media ID associated with the purchase ID (E26).

  The electronic musical instrument EM obtains the media ID of the designated storage location in response to a user operation indicating the storage location (for example, smart media) where the music content to be downloaded again is recorded (E27), and the storage location It is determined whether or not the media ID matches the media ID acquired from the server SV (E28). If both media IDs match (E28 → YES), the server SV is requested to redistribute the content (E29). ).

  In response to the redistribution request from the electronic musical instrument EM, the server SV retrieves the corresponding music content from the content storage database DBa and redistributes it to the electronic musical instrument EM (S28). As a result, the electronic musical instrument EM acquires the requested music content (E29), and records the acquired music content on the designated storage destination medium (E30).

  After recording the music content on the medium (E30), the electronic musical instrument EM indicates that the purchase ID retrieval result from the server SV indicates “failure” (E25 → NO) or the media ID does not match (E28 → NO). Then, the server SV is notified of the completion of the re-download procedure (S31), and “Process 2” is terminated. In addition, after the content redistribution (S26) or the exception process (S28), the server SV receives the procedure end notification and deletes the search result temporarily stored from the RAM (E29), and executes “Process 2”. finish.

[Various Embodiments]
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a plurality of music contents that can be purchased with a single operation in the electronic musical instrument EM may be used. In that case, a plurality of content purchase documents Bs representing purchase of each music content are printed according to the number of music contents.

  When deciding whether or not to re-download music content, not only the information specifying the storage location, such as the media ID, but also the file you want to re-download and the previously downloaded file is on the media in a damaged state You may make it re-download after confirming. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the downloaded music content from being downloaded again after being moved from the medium.

  In the embodiment, the user inputs the purchase ID while referring to the print document Bs when the content is re-downloaded, and the re-download is automatically performed between the electronic musical instrument and the server. The user may send the print document Bs to the contact person by facsimile, or read the print document Bs by telephone, and the person in charge of the contact person may permit re-downloading in response to them.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the electronic musical instrument by one Example of this invention. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an electronic musical instrument system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a part of flowchart showing the example of the process (process 1) at the time of the content purchase by one Example of this invention. It is the other part of the flowchart showing the example of the process (process 1) at the time of the content purchase by one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the example of the process (process 2) at the time of content re-downloading by one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

CB USB cable for direct connection of electronic musical instrument EM and printer PR,
Dbc Music content providing server SV content distribution record database,
Bs Print document (content purchase document).

Claims (3)

A music content providing system comprising an electronic musical instrument to which a printer is directly connected, and a music content providing server that is communicably connected to the electronic musical instrument through a communication network,
The electronic musical instrument
First transmission means for transmitting to the music content providing server content specifying information for specifying music content and storage destination specifying information for specifying a storage destination of the music content;
First receiving means for receiving music content specified by the content specifying information from the music content providing server;
First content recording means for recording the music content received by the first receiving means in a storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying information;
Second receiving means for receiving, from the music content providing server, content acquisition information including content specifying information for specifying that the music content has been received from the music content providing server;
An information output means for outputting print information based on the received content acquisition information to the printer in response to reception of the content acquisition information by the second receiving means;
In response to input of content specifying information described in a document printed by the printer based on the print information in response to a user operation, the input content specifying information is transmitted to the music content providing server. Two transmission means;
Third receiving means for receiving storage destination specifying information corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted by the second transmitting means from the music content providing server;
Requesting the music content providing server to redistribute the music content based on the fact that the storage location indicated by the storage location specifying information received by the third receiving means matches the storage location where the music content to be redistributed is recorded. Third transmission means for transmitting request information to be transmitted;
A fourth receiving means for receiving music content corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted by the second transmitting means, which is redistributed from the music content providing server in response to transmission of the request information by the third transmitting means;
Second content recording means for recording the music content received by the fourth receiving means in the storage destination,
The music content providing server is
First server receiving means for receiving, from the electronic musical instrument, content designation information for designating music content and storage location specifying information for specifying a storage location of the music content;
First server transmission means for transmitting music content designated by the content designation information received by the first server reception means to the electronic musical instrument;
Second server transmission means for transmitting content specifying information for specifying that the music content has been transmitted to the electronic musical instrument to the electronic musical instrument;
Content information recording means for recording the content specifying information and the storage destination specifying information received by the first server receiving means in association with the content specifying information;
Second server receiving means for receiving content specifying information from the electronic musical instrument;
Information extracting means for extracting content specifying information and storage destination specifying information associated with the content specifying information received by the second server receiving means from the content information recording means;
Third server transmitting means for transmitting the storage destination specifying information extracted by the information extracting means to the electronic musical instrument;
Third server receiving means for receiving request information transmitted from the electronic musical instrument corresponding to the storage destination specifying information transmitted by the third server transmitting means;
And fourth server transmission means for transmitting the music content specified by the content specification information extracted by the information extraction means to the electronic musical instrument in response to reception of the request information by the third server reception means. To provide music content. In an electronic musical instrument in which a printer is directly connected and connected to a music content providing server through a communication network,
First transmission means for transmitting to the music content providing server content specifying information for specifying music content and storage destination specifying information for specifying a storage destination of the music content;
First receiving means for receiving music content specified by the content specifying information from the music content providing server;
First content recording means for recording the music content received by the first receiving means in a storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying information;
Second receiving means for receiving, from the music content providing server, content acquisition information including content specifying information for specifying that the music content has been received from the music content providing server;
An information output means for outputting print information based on the received content acquisition information to the printer in response to reception of the content acquisition information by the second receiving means;
In response to input of content specifying information described in a document printed by the printer based on the print information in response to a user operation, the input content specifying information is transmitted to the music content providing server. Two transmission means;
Third receiving means for receiving storage destination specifying information corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted by the second transmitting means from the music content providing server;
Requesting the music content providing server to redistribute the music content based on the fact that the storage location indicated by the storage location specifying information received by the third receiving means matches the storage location where the music content to be redistributed is recorded. Third transmission means for transmitting request information to be transmitted;
A fourth receiving means for receiving music content corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted by the second transmitting means, which is redistributed from the music content providing server in response to transmission of the request information by the third transmitting means;
An electronic musical instrument comprising: second content recording means for recording the music content received by the fourth receiving means in the storage destination. To a computer that functions as an electronic musical instrument to which a printer is directly connected and connected to a music content providing server through a communication network,
A first transmission step of transmitting content specifying information for specifying music content and storage location specifying information for specifying a storage location of the music content to the music content providing server;
A first receiving step of receiving music content specified by the content specifying information from the music content providing server;
A first content recording step of recording the music content received in the first receiving step in a storage destination specified by the storage destination specifying information;
A second receiving step of receiving from the music content providing server content acquisition information including content specifying information specifying that the music content has been received from the music content providing server;
An information output step of outputting print information based on the received content acquisition information to the printer in response to reception of the content acquisition information in the second reception step;
In response to input of content specifying information described in a document printed by the printer based on the print information in response to a user operation, the input content specifying information is transmitted to the music content providing server. Two transmission steps;
A third receiving step of receiving, from the music content providing server, storage destination specifying information corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted in the second transmitting step;
The music content providing server is requested to redistribute the music content based on the fact that the storage location indicated by the storage location specifying information received in the third receiving step matches the storage location where the music content to be redistributed is recorded. A third transmission step of transmitting request information to be transmitted;
A fourth receiving step of receiving music content corresponding to the content specifying information transmitted in the second transmission step, redistributed from the music content providing server in response to transmission of the request information in the third transmission step;
The music content acquisition program which performs the procedure which consists of the 2nd content recording step which records the music content received by the 4th receiving step in the said preservation | save destination.

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