JP6424287B1 - Electronic content providing apparatus and electronic content providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic content providing apparatus and method for providing appropriate electronic content according to user's preference.
An electronic content providing apparatus includes a browsing processing unit that outputs information on a component corresponding to a browsing request for a component of electronic content. The browsing processing unit 11 receives a first browsing request for a predetermined component and outputs information about the component, and then receives a second browsing request for another component of the same electronic content. If it is determined that the current request is within a predetermined period after acceptance of the first browsing request, information on the next component is output and the current time is 1 When it is determined that it is not within the predetermined period after the acceptance of the browsing request, it is determined whether or not the approval process for outputting the information of the next component is executed, and the approval process is executed. Only when it is determined that it is, information on the next component is output.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic content providing apparatus and an electronic content providing method.

  Electronic content provision services such as e-books and e-manga are prevalent, but users who want to use and view these electronic content for a fee will know in advance how attractive the electronic content is to them. Often you want to keep track of.

  From this point of view, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses that paid electronic book data such as novels and comics are distributed to electronic book terminals so that the user can perform trial reading of paid electronic books. If the electronic book selected as is not included in the trial reading history, trial reading of the electronic book is permitted, and if the selected electronic book is included in the trial reading history and no predetermined restriction information remains, the electronic book An electronic book system is disclosed in which trial reading of a book is prohibited.

JP 2013-105297 A

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 allows a user to make a trial reading under a certain restriction condition. However, in this method of providing a trial reading in a fixed manner, the interest and interest depend on the content of the content and the user's preference. As a business operator, the opportunity to provide electronic content may be missed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic content providing apparatus and an electronic content providing method capable of providing electronic content in an appropriate manner according to the user's preference. There is to do.

One aspect of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is an electronic content providing apparatus that accepts and accepts a browsing request for the component in electronic content in which a plurality of components are expanded in a predetermined order. A browsing processing unit that outputs information on a component corresponding to a browsing request, and the browsing processing unit receives a first browsing request that is a browsing request for the predetermined component and outputs information on the component In the case where a second browsing request that is a browsing request for another component in the same electronic content is received, and the received second browsing request is determined to be a browsing request for a component subsequent to the predetermined component, When it is determined that the current time is within a predetermined period after the first browsing request is received, information on the next component is output, while the current time is the first browsing. If it is determined that it is not within the predetermined period after accepting the request, it is determined whether or not a predetermined approval process for outputting information of the next component is performed, and the predetermined Only when it is determined that the approval process is executed, the information of the next component is output.
In the present invention and the present specification, the “time” means a time including a date (00/00, 00:00:00, etc.).

  According to the present invention, electronic content can be provided in an appropriate manner according to the user's preference.

It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of the electronic content provision system 1 in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions with which the electronic content provision apparatus 10 and the user terminal 20 are provided. It is a figure explaining the main functions with which the electronic content provision apparatus 10 is provided. It is a figure which shows an example of the content management table. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a component type management table 200. FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of limited free period information. It is a figure which shows an example of the user payment management table. It is a figure which shows an example of the user limited free section management table. It is a flowchart explaining an example of an electronic content provision process (first half part). It is a flowchart explaining an example of an electronic content provision process (second half part). It is an example of the menu screen 1000 displayed for the first time on the user terminal 20 regarding the designated content. It is a flowchart explaining the detail of a limited free period setting process. It is an example of the menu screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20 immediately after the current time is within the limited free period of the first limited free element. It is an example of the menu screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20 when the current time is within the limited free period of the second and third limited free elements in the limited free section. It is a flowchart which shows an example of an approval confirmation process.

Hereinafter, the electronic content providing system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. << System configuration >>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an electronic content providing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The electronic content providing system 1 includes an electronic content providing apparatus 10 that provides one or more electronic contents 3 such as an electronic cartoon, and one or more electronic contents 3 provided by the electronic content providing apparatus 10. And the user terminal 20.

  The electronic content 3 is electronic content in which a plurality of constituent elements 4 are developed in a predetermined order. For example, the electronic content 3 is an electronic comic composed of a plurality of “story”, an electronic book composed of a plurality of chapters, a plurality of scenes It is an electronic animation etc. comprised by these. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the electronic content 3 is an electronic comic composed of a plurality of stories, and each story is developed in a predetermined order. Moreover, in this embodiment, each user browses each story (component 4) of this electronic comic sequentially from the first component 4 (first story) to the last component 4 (last story). Shall be.

  In the present embodiment, the constituent element 4 includes an “always free element” that can be viewed at any time without requiring a predetermined approval process, which will be described later, and a “limited free element” that can be freely viewed without requiring an approval process only within a predetermined period. Suppose that there are three types of “always payable elements” that cannot be viewed unless the approval process is executed.

  The user terminal 20 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. Each user terminal 20 and the electronic content providing apparatus 10 are connected via a wired or wireless communication network 5 such as the Internet, a LAN (Local Area Network), or a dedicated line.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration included in the electronic content providing apparatus 10 and the user terminal 20. These information processing devices include a processor 31 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a main storage device 32 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid). State drive
) And the like, an input device 34 composed of a keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc., an output device 35 composed of a monitor (display), etc., and a communication device 36 that communicates with other information processing devices.

<< System function >>
Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating main functions provided in the electronic content providing apparatus 10. The electronic content providing apparatus 10 includes a browsing processing unit 11 and an information transmitting / receiving unit 12.

  The information transmitting / receiving unit 12 receives each browsing request for the component 4 from the user terminal 20 and supplies the browsing request to the browsing processing unit 11, and the information on the component 4 output by the browsing processing unit 11 in response to the browsing request It transmits to the user terminal 20.

  The browsing processing unit 11 receives a browsing request (limited free element) of the component 4 in the electronic content 3 (electronic book in this embodiment) in which a plurality of components 4 (“story” in the present embodiment) are developed in a predetermined order. (Always free element or always paid element browsing request) is received, and information on the component 4 corresponding to the received browsing request is output to the information transmitting / receiving unit 12.

  First, the process which the browsing process part 11 performs with respect to the browsing request | requirement of a limited free element is demonstrated.

  When the browsing processing unit 11 receives a browsing request (hereinafter referred to as a first browsing request) for the component 4 (story) of the limited free element, the browsing processing unit 11 outputs information on the component 4. Thereafter, when the browsing processing unit 11 receives a browsing request (hereinafter referred to as a second browsing request) for the next component 4 of the same electronic content 3 as the component 4 that has received the browsing request in the first browsing request, It is determined whether or not the time is within a predetermined period after receiving the first browsing request (hereinafter referred to as a limited free period). If it is determined that the time is within the limited free period, the next story The information of (component 4) is output. On the other hand, if the browsing processing unit 11 determines that the current time is not within the limited free period after accepting the first browsing request, the browsing processing unit 11 outputs a predetermined information for outputting the information of the next story (component 4). Whether or not the approval process is executed is determined, and only when it is determined that the approval process is executed, the information of the next story (component 4) is output.

In the present embodiment, the predetermined approval process is an approval process for browsing the electronic content 3 performed in correspondence with the predetermined payment process.
In the present embodiment, the user purchases a ticket corresponding to the specific electronic content 3. And the electronic content provision apparatus 10 performs the process which matches the ticket which the user purchased with the browsing outside the limited free period of a limited free element about the said user as an approval process. Note that the tickets are managed as the number of tickets purchased by the user. For example, in order for the electronic content providing apparatus 10 to perform an approval process for browsing outside the limited free period, the user must store one ticket in advance. It is necessary to purchase (one payment process). This approval process is also performed for the always-paid element described later.

Next, a process executed when the browsing processing unit 11 always receives a request for browsing a free element will be described.
The browsing processing unit 11 determines whether or not the component 4 that has received the browsing request is always a free element. If it is determined that the component 4 is always a free element, whether or not the approval process has been executed is determined. The information of the component 4 (always free element) is output without determination.

Next, a process that is executed when the browsing processing unit 11 always receives a paid element browsing request will be described.
The browsing processing unit 11 determines whether or not the component 4 that has received the browsing request is always a paid element. If the browsing processing unit 11 determines that the component 4 is always a paid element, whether or not an approval process is further performed. Determine whether. As a result, the pay element information is always output only when it is determined that the approval process has been executed.

  And as above-mentioned, the information transmission / reception part 12 transmits the information of the component 4 which the browsing process part 11 output to the user terminal 20 which is the transmission origin of a browsing request.

<< Management information >>
Next, information managed (stored) by the electronic content providing apparatus 10 will be described. The electronic content providing apparatus 10 stores a content management table 100, a component type management table 200, a limited free period information 300, a user settlement management table 400, and a user limited free section management table 500.

<Content management table 100>
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the content management table 100. The content management table 100 is a table that stores basic information of the component 4 of each electronic content 3, and a content ID field 101 that stores information for identifying each electronic content 3 (hereinafter referred to as a content ID). , A component ID field 102 in which information (hereinafter referred to as a component ID) for identifying each component 4 constituting the electronic content 3 of the content field ID 101 is stored, and a component 4 of the component ID field 102 It is composed of at least one record having each field of data field 103 in which information (for example, file name) for specifying data storing contents (for example, information on characters and images) is stored.

<Component Type Management Table 200>
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the component type management table 200. The component type management table 200 is a table that stores the types (constant free element, limited free element, always paid element) of each component 4 of each electronic content 3, and stores the content ID of each electronic content 3. The content ID field 201, the always free section field 202 in which information for specifying the range of the always free element of the electronic content 3 in the content ID field 201 (hereinafter referred to as the always free section), and the electronic content 3 in the content ID field 201 are stored. The limited free section field 203 in which information specifying the range of the limited free element (hereinafter referred to as the limited free section) is stored, the range of the constantly charged element of the electronic content 3 in the content ID field 201 (hereinafter referred to as the always paid section). )) Is always stored in the toll section. Rudo 204, composed of at least one or more records having fields of. In addition, since each of these sections is determined by the talk unit of the electronic content 3, each section field 202 to 204 may store the number of first and last stories in the section, or all the sections corresponding to the section. The number of stories may be stored. For example, if the limited free section of an electronic content 3 is the first episode to the fourth episode, “1, 4” may be stored as the limited free section, or “1, 2, 3, 4” may be stored. It may be stored.

Here, depending on the electronic content 3, there is a case where any one of the always pay element, the limited pay element, and the always free element does not exist. In this case, the section information is stored in the section fields 202 to 204 corresponding to the non-existing element. Not.
The limited free section is, for example, a section of two or more consecutive component elements 4 immediately after the always free section when there are always free elements. On the other hand, when the free element does not always exist, the limited free section is, for example, a section of two or more consecutive component elements 4 from the first component element 4 of the electronic content 3.
In addition, when there are always free elements, the range is, for example, a section of one or more consecutive component 4 starting from the component 4 next to the last component 4 of the limited free section And

<Limited free period information 300>
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the limited free period information 300. The limited free period information 300 is information for defining the limited free period of the limited free element, from when the user browses a limited free element until the next limited free element can be viewed free of charge. It includes information on a viewable waiting time 301 that is a required time, and a viewable period 302 that is a length of a period during which the limited free element can be viewed for free. In the present embodiment, the limited free period information 300 is common to all electronic contents 3, but may be different depending on the electronic contents 3, and in that case, the limited free period information is provided for each electronic content 3. Information 300 is set.

<User payment management table 400>
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user settlement management table 400. The user settlement management table 400 is a table storing user information related to the approval process, and a user ID field 401 in which information (hereinafter referred to as a user ID) specifying a user who views the electronic content 3 is stored. A content ID field 402 in which the content ID of the electronic content 3 viewed by the user in the user ID field 401 is stored; a component ID field 403 in which the component ID of the component 4 in the electronic content 3 in the content ID field 402 is stored; In addition, a ticket that stores information indicating whether or not the approval process related to the component 4 (specifically, the limited free component or the always paid component) in the component ID field 403 has been performed (ticket purchased / not purchased) is stored. Each field 404 Even without consisting of one or more records. Note that the contents of the ticket field 404 are updated each time the electronic content providing apparatus 10 executes an approval process.

<User-limited free section management table 500>
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user-limited free section management table 500. The user-limited free section management table 500 is a table that stores user information related to the limited free section, and includes a user ID field 501 in which user IDs are stored, and the electronic content 3 viewed by the user in the user ID field 501. The content ID field 502 in which the content ID is stored and the time at which the browsing request is first received for the limited free element of the electronic content 3 in the content ID field 502 (that is, the browsing request for the first limited free element in the limited free section) The first browsing time field 503 for storing the (accepted time) and the free browsing available period field 504 for storing a list of limited free periods set for each limited free element in the limited free section. At least one record In constructed.

  The functions of the electronic content providing apparatus 10 as described above are stored in the main storage device 32 or the auxiliary storage device 33 by the hardware of the electronic content providing apparatus 10 or the processor 31 of the electronic content providing apparatus 10. This is realized by reading and executing the program.

  In addition, these programs are non-temporary that can be read by an information processing apparatus such as a secondary storage device, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, an SSD, or an IC card, an SD card, a DVD, etc. Stored in a data storage medium.

<< System processing >>
Next, a specific example of processing performed in the electronic content providing system 1 will be described.
<Electronic content provision processing>
FIGS. 9 and 10 are flowcharts illustrating an example of processing (hereinafter referred to as electronic content providing processing) performed in the electronic content providing system 1.

  First, the user terminal 20 transmits user information (information including a user ID and a content ID) to the electronic content providing apparatus 10 (s11), and the electronic content providing apparatus 10 receives this (s21).

  The electronic content providing apparatus 10 uses a user ID (hereinafter referred to as a designated user ID, a user specified by the designated user ID as a designated user) and a content ID (hereinafter referred to as a designated content ID) in the received user information. Based on this, the outline of the content designated by the designated content ID is displayed and menu information for generating a menu screen for accepting a browsing request from the user is transmitted to the user terminal 20 (s22). Specifically, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 creates the menu information based on the content management table 100, the component type management table 200, and the user settlement management table 400, and transmits the generated information to the user terminal 20. To do. The user terminal 20 receives this information (s12), and displays a menu screen based on the received information (s13).

  Here, FIG. 11 is an example of the menu screen 1000 that is displayed for the first time on the user terminal 20 in s13 (assuming that the approval process has not been performed). The menu screen 1000 includes a title display 1001 of the electronic content 3 corresponding to the specified content ID (obtained from the content ID field 101 of the content management table 100), a ticket purchase column 1002 for the user to purchase a ticket, and a purchased ticket. A ticket display 1009 for displaying information relating to the number of copies and a limited free section display 1010 for displaying a limited free section for the specified content (obtained from the limited free section field 203 of the component type management table 200) are displayed. .

  In addition, the menu screen 1000 includes an item display 1003 (obtained from the component ID field 102 of the content management table 100) of each of the plurality of component elements 4 specified by the designated content ID, and the type and state corresponding to this item display 1003 Display 1007 is displayed. The type and status display 1007 is displayed based on the always free section field 202, the limited free section field 203, the always paid section field 204 of the component type management table 200, and the ticket field 404 of the user settlement management table 400. . Specifically, a free display 1004 indicating that it is always a free element, a limited free display 1005 indicating that it is the first limited free element that has not been approved, and a subsequent limited free that is outside the limited free period Either a pay display 1006 indicating that the element is an element or a constant pay element is displayed for each component 4 of the designated content.

  Next, in s14 of FIG. 9, the user terminal 20 receives designation of browsing of the component 4 from the user. Specifically, for example, the user terminal 20 requests input of any of the plurality of item displays 1003 on the menu screen 1000 (that is, browsing of the component 4 corresponding to the first episode of the electronic content 3 (manga A)). Accept).

  When the designation of browsing of the component 4 is accepted, the user terminal 20 transmits a browsing request for the designated component 4 (hereinafter referred to as “designated element”) to the electronic content providing apparatus 10 (s15).

When receiving the designated element (s23), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether the received designated element is always a free element (s24). Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 refers to the always free section field 202 of the record in which the designated content ID is stored in the content ID field 201 in the component type management table 200, and the designated element is included therein. Whether or not is included is determined.

  If the received designated element is always a free element (s24: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 transmits the contents of the designated element to the user terminal 20 (s25). Specifically, for example, in the content management table 100, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 stores the content ID of the designated content in the content ID field 101 and the component ID of the designated element in the component ID field 102, respectively. The contents of the data field 103 of the record are transmitted to the user terminal 20.

  The user terminal 20 displays the received contents of the designated element on a screen or the like (s16 in FIG. 10). Thereby, the user can browse the designated element (one episode of the electronic comic).

  On the other hand, if the received designated element is not always free (s24: NO in FIG. 9), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether an approval process for the designated element is being executed by the designated user (s26). . Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 refers to the user settlement management table 400, the designated user ID is stored in the user ID field 401, the content ID of the specified content is stored in the content ID field 402, and the component ID field 403. The component ID of the designated element refers to the contents of the ticket field 404 of the record stored therein, and confirms the presence or absence of the approval process.

  If the approval process for the specified element is not executed by the specified user (s26: NO), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 performs the process of s27 described below. On the other hand, when the approval process for the specified element is executed by the specified user (s26: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 transmits the contents of the specified element to the user terminal 20 (s25). Specifically, for example, in the content management table 100, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 stores the content ID of the designated content in the content ID field 101 and the component ID of the designated element in the component ID field 102. The content of the data field 103 of the existing record is transmitted to the user terminal 20. Thereafter, the same processing as in s16 is performed.

  Next, in s27 of FIG. 10, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the designated element is a limited free element. Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 includes the limited free section stored in the limited free section field 203 of the record in which the content ID field 201 stores the content ID of the designated content in the component type management table 200. It is determined whether or not the specified element is included in.

  If the designated element is not a limited free element (s27: NO), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 executes an approval confirmation process (described later) (s28).

  On the other hand, when the designated element is a limited free element (s27: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines that the designated element is the component 4 (the first in the limited free area that is first requested to be viewed in the limited free area). It is determined whether or not it is a component 4) (s29). Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 refers to the user-limited free section management table 500, the user ID of the designated user in the user ID field 501, and the content ID of the designated content in the content ID field 502, respectively. It is determined whether or not time information is already stored in the first browsing time field 503 of the stored record, and if it is not stored, it is determined that the component 4 is the first requested to be viewed.

  If the designated element is not the component 4 that is requested to be viewed for the first time in the limited free section (when time information is already stored in the first viewing time field 503) (s29: NO), the process of s35 described later is performed. Done. On the other hand, when the designated element is the component 4 that is first requested to be viewed in the limited free section (when time information is not stored in the first viewing time field 503) (s29: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 executes a process of setting a limited free period for each limited free element of the limited free section (hereinafter referred to as a limited free period setting process, details will be described later) (s31).

  After the limited free period setting process, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 transmits the contents of the designated element to the user terminal 20 (s33). Specifically, for example, in the content management table 100, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 stores the content ID of the designated content in the content ID field 101 and the component ID of the designated element in the component ID field 102. The data stored in the data field 103 of the existing record is transmitted to the user terminal 20. Thereafter, the process of s16 is performed.

  On the other hand, in s35, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether or not the current time is the limited free period of the designated element. Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 refers to the user-limited free section management table 500 and stores the specified user ID in the user ID field 501 and the specified content ID in the content ID field 502, respectively. With reference to the free browsing possible period stored in the free browsing possible period field 504 of the record, it is determined whether or not the current time is within the free browsing possible period of the designated element.

  When the current time is the limited free period of the designated element (s35: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 executes the process of s33. Then, the user terminal 20 displays the received contents of the designated element on a screen or the like (s16). Thereby, the user can browse the designated element.

  On the other hand, when the current time is not the limited free period of the designated element (s35: NO), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 executes an approval confirmation process (s37), and the process ends.

Here, the details of the limited free period setting process will be described.
<Limited free period setting process>
FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the details of the limited free period setting process. First, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 sets the current time as the browsing time of the first limited free element (s51). Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 includes a user-limited free section management table 500 in which the user ID of the designated user is stored in the user ID field 501 and the content ID of the designated content is stored in the content ID field 502, respectively. The current time is stored in the first browsing time field 503 of this record (hereinafter referred to as user record).

  Next, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 sets a limited free period for the first limited free element (s53). Specifically, for example, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 sets the time (current time) stored in the first browsing time field 503 as the beginning of the limited free period of the designated content, and ends the limited free period of the designated content. The time after the period stored in the browsing possible period 302 from the start period is set.

Subsequently, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether an approval process is being executed for the next limited free element in the designated content (s55). Specifically, for example, in the user settlement management table 400, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 includes the designated user ID in the user ID field 401, the content ID of the designated content in the content ID field 402, and the component ID field 403. If the component ID of the limited free element is “purchased” in the contents of the ticket field 404 of each stored record, it is determined that the approval process is being executed.

  When the approval process is being executed (s55: YES), since the designated user should be allowed to view the limited free element, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 is limited free for the limited free element. Without setting a period, the process is skipped to s59 described later. On the other hand, when the approval process is not executed (s55: NO), the following process is performed.

  That is, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 sets a limited free period for the limited free element (s57). Specifically, for example, at the beginning of the limited free period for the limited free element, the time after the period stored in the viewable waiting time 301 from the previously set start time (start time set in s53) is set and limited. At the end of the free period, a time is set after the period indicated by the viewable period 302 from the previously set start period.

  The electronic content providing apparatus 10 refers to the component type management table 200 to determine whether or not the component 4 next to the component 4 for which the limited free period is set in s57 is a limited free element (s59). . When the next component 4 is a limited free element (s59: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 repeats the process of s55 to set a limited free period for the component 4, and the next component If 4 is not a limited free element (s59: NO), the limited free period setting process is terminated assuming that a limited free period is set for all the limited free elements in the limited free section (s61).

  In this way, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 sets a limited free period for all limited free elements (except for those that have been approved) in the limited free section.

  Here, FIG. 13 is an example of the menu screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20 immediately after the current time is within the limited free period of the first limited free element. As shown in the figure, in the limited free display 1005a related to the first limited free element, in addition to the fact that the component 4 is a limited free element, a time until the limited free period ends is displayed. Note that this limited free display 1005a includes, for example, the start of the limited free period of the first limited free element in the free browsing available period field 504 of the user limited free section management table 500 and the current time. Displayed by calculating the time difference and transmitting it to the user terminal 20.

  As described above, the user can confirm that the limited free period has started because browsing of the first component 4 of the limited free section has started.

  Next, FIG. 14 is an example of a menu screen 1000 displayed on the user terminal 20 when the current time is within the limited free period of the second and third limited free elements in the limited free section. In this case, an end display 1008 of each limited free period is displayed near the item display 1003a of the second and third limited free elements. Note that the display 1008 at the end includes, for example, the start of the limited free period of the second limited free element in the free browsing available period field 504 of the user limited free section management table 500, the current time, and the like. And the time difference between the start of the limited free period of the third limited free element and the current time is calculated, and these calculated time differences are transmitted to the user terminal 20 for display.

  As described above, the user can check how long the second and third limited free elements of the limited free section can be viewed free of charge.

<Approval confirmation process>
Next, details of the approval confirmation process will be described.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the approval confirmation process. First, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 determines whether an approval process for a designated element is being executed (s71). Specifically, for example, in the user settlement management table 400, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 includes the user ID of the designated user in the user ID field 401, the user ID of the designated user in the content ID field 402, and the component ID field 403. The contents of the ticket field 404 of the record in which the constituent element 4 of the designated element is stored are confirmed. If it is “purchased”, it is determined that the approval process for the designated element is being executed.

  When the approval process for the designated element is executed (s71: YES), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 transmits the contents of the designated element to the user terminal 20 (s73), and the user terminal 20 receives the contents of the received designated element. Is displayed (s16 in FIG. 10). Thereby, the user can browse the designated element.

  On the other hand, when the approval process for the designated element is not executed (s71: NO), the electronic content providing apparatus 10 displays a predetermined screen (not shown) for prompting the purchase of a ticket necessary for the approval process on the user terminal 20. (S75), and the approval confirmation process ends (s77).

  As described above, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment receives a browse request (first browse request) for a predetermined limited free element of the electronic content 3 and outputs information about the limited free element. When a request to view another limited free element (second browsing request) of the same electronic content 3 is received and it is determined that the second browsing request is a request for browsing the limited free element next to the predetermined limited free element, If the time is within the limited free period after accepting the first viewing request, the information on the next limited free element is output. On the other hand, if the current time is not within the limited free period, the next limited free period is output. It is determined whether or not a predetermined approval process for outputting element information has been executed. Only when it is determined that an approval process has been executed, the information on the next component is output.

  That is, the user can freely browse the limited free element next to the predetermined limited free element only during the limited free period, and cannot browse unless the approval process is executed outside the limited free period. In this way, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can prompt the user to sequentially browse each component 4 of the electronic content 3 in order, and can increase the user's interest and interest in the electronic content 3. it can. Thus, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can provide the electronic content 3 in an appropriate manner according to the user's preference.

  Further, the approval process in the present embodiment is an approval process for browsing the electronic content 3 performed in correspondence with a predetermined payment process (ticket purchase). Therefore, when the current time is outside the limited free period, the user needs to make a predetermined payment (ticket purchase). With such a mechanism, it becomes possible to prompt the user to pay effectively.

  In addition, in the electronic content providing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the received browsing request is always a free element browsing request, it is always free without determining whether or not the approval process has been performed. Since the element information is output, the user can freely browse the free element at any time before viewing the limited free element. Thereby, the interest with respect to the electronic content 3 can be more aroused.

Further, in the electronic content providing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, when the received browsing request is a constantly paid element browsing request, only when the approval process for outputting the constantly paid element information is performed. Since the information on the paid element is always output, it is possible to smoothly guide the user whose interest in the electronic content 3 has increased by browsing the limited free component 4 to the browsing of the paid element at all times.

  In addition, the electronic content providing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment receives each browsing request for the component 4 from the user terminal 20 and transmits the information on the component 4 output in response to the received browsing request to the user terminal 20. Since the structure which carries out is provided, it can respond appropriately with respect to the browsing request from each user.

  The above description of the embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the approval process is performed corresponding to the purchase of a valid ticket for each electronic content 3, but the ticket may be valid over a plurality of electronic contents 3. Further, the approval process is not performed in response to the purchase of the ticket, but the user may perform the payment process directly in correspondence with the electronic content providing system 1.

  In the present embodiment, the information of the limited free period information 300 is common to each user and each electronic content 3, but may be changed for each type. Moreover, you may change these for every component 4.

  Also, in this embodiment, if a limited free element with a current time is within the limited free period, the user is not limited any number of times (without requiring an approval process) within the limited free period. Although the element can be browsed, it may be browsed only a predetermined number of times even within a limited free period.

  Further, in the present embodiment, since it is assumed that the components of the electronic content 3 are read in order from the beginning, the limited free period is set by the first component 4 of the limited free element that is viewed first. For example, even when the component 4 in the middle of the limited free element is first viewed, the limited free period may be set. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electronic content provision system, 3 Electronic content, 4 Component, 5 Communication network, 10 Electronic content provision apparatus, 11 Browsing processing part, 12 Information transmission / reception part, 100 Content management table, 101 Content ID field, 102 Component ID field, 103 Data field, 200 Component type management table, 201
Content ID field, 202 always free section field, 203 limited free section field, 204 always pay section field, 300 limited free section information, 301 viewable waiting time, 302 viewable period, 400 user settlement management table, 401 user ID field, 402 Content ID field, 403 Component ID field, 404 Ticket field, 500 User-limited free section management table, 501
User ID field, 502 Content ID field, 503 First browsing time field, 504 Free browsing available period field, 1000 menu screen, 1001 title display, 1002 ticket purchase column, 1003 item display, 1004 free display, 1005 limited free display, 1006 pay Display, 1007 type and status display, 1008 end display, 1009 ticket display, 1010 limited free section display, 20 user terminal, 31 processor, 32 main storage device, 33 auxiliary storage device, 34 input device, 35 output device, 36 Communication device

Claims (10)

A browsing processing unit that receives a browsing request for the component in electronic content in which a plurality of components are expanded in a predetermined order, and outputs information on the component corresponding to the received browsing request;
The browsing processing unit
After receiving a first browsing request that is a browsing request for the predetermined component and outputting information of the component, a second browsing request that is a browsing request for another component in the same electronic content is received,
When it is determined that the received second browsing request is a browsing request for a component next to the predetermined component, it is determined that the current time is within a predetermined period after the first browsing request is received. If it is determined that the next component is output, the current time is not within the predetermined period after the first browsing request is received. It is determined whether or not a predetermined approval process for outputting information has been executed, and only when it is determined that the predetermined approval process has been executed, information on the next component is output ,
An electronic content providing apparatus comprising:   The electronic content providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined approval process is an approval process for browsing the electronic content, which is performed in correspondence with a predetermined payment process. When the browsing processing unit determines that the received browsing request is a browsing request for an always-free element that is a component that does not require the execution of the approval process for output of the information, the browsing processing unit Outputting the information of the always free element without determining whether or not the execution has been performed;
The electronic content providing apparatus according to claim 2. When the browsing processing unit determines that the received browsing request is a browsing request for an always-pay element that is a component that requires the execution of the approval process for output of the information, It is determined whether or not the approval process for outputting information has been executed, and only when it is determined that the approval process has been executed, the information on the constantly paid element is output.
The electronic content providing apparatus according to claim 2.   The information processing unit according to claim 1, further comprising: an information transmission unit that receives a request for browsing the component from a predetermined terminal and transmits information on the component output in response to the received browsing request to the predetermined terminal. Electronic content providing apparatus. An electronic content providing device
Receiving a browsing request for the component in electronic content in which a plurality of components are expanded in a predetermined order, and executing browsing processing to output information on the component corresponding to the received browsing request;
In the browsing process,
After receiving a first browsing request that is a browsing request for the predetermined component and outputting information of the component, a second browsing request that is a browsing request for another component in the same electronic content is received,
When it is determined that the received second browsing request is a browsing request for a component next to the predetermined component, it is determined that the current time is within a predetermined period after the first browsing request is received. If it is determined that the next component is output, the current time is not within the predetermined period after the first browsing request is received. It is determined whether or not a predetermined approval process for outputting information has been executed, and only when it is determined that the predetermined approval process has been executed, information on the next component is output ,
Electronic content provision method.   The electronic content providing method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined approval process is an approval process for browsing the electronic content performed in correspondence with a predetermined payment process. The electronic content providing apparatus includes:
In the browsing process, if it is determined that the received browsing request is a request for browsing a free element that is a component that does not require the execution of the approval process to output the information, the predetermined approval process is executed. Output the always-free element information without determining whether or not
The electronic content providing method according to claim 7. The electronic content providing apparatus includes:
In the browsing process, when it is determined that the received browsing request is a browsing request for a constantly paid element that is a component that requires the execution of the approval process for output of the information, information on the constantly charged element To determine whether or not the approval process for outputting is performed, and only when it is determined that the approval process is performed, the information on the constantly paid element is output.
The electronic content providing method according to claim 7. The electronic content providing apparatus includes:
7. The information transmission process of receiving the component browsing request from a predetermined terminal and transmitting the information of the component output in response to the received browsing request to the predetermined terminal is executed. Electronic content provision method.

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