Patent Application
20100138777
The present invention relates to a communication technology for communicating information via a network.
In recent years, information providing services have been in operation that allow terminal apparatus to download data files from servers connected to the Internet. Patent Document 1 discloses a portable game device capable of acquiring content information from a server apparatus. Generally, in a download service, an information providing server first presents a use permission page on a terminal apparatus, and a user then enters a predetermined input through the terminal apparatus so as to receive a use permission from the information providing server and thereupon have a download page for a data file presented on the terminal apparatus.
For a user who has once received a use permission, it is quite troublesome to have to perform a procedure for a use permission again when he/she accesses the information providing server the next time. Normally, therefore, the arrangement is such that the terminal apparatus stores the address of the download page once a use permission is received and thus the download page can be accessed directly using the stored address in the subsequent accesses to the information providing server.
[Patent Document 1] United States Patent Application Publication No. US2006/0277472
It is a common practice that users exchange data with each other. If the address of a download page stored by a terminal apparatus is copied by another terminal apparatus, it will be possible that the download page can be accessed directly from the other terminal apparatus without going through the use permission page. This, however, can lead to an unwelcome situation in which users who have not received a use permission can access the download page freely and therefore the data file may be distributed without limitation.
In view of such circumstances, a purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology which can efficiently realize a limitation on accesses to data files.
In order to resolve the above problem, one embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal apparatus to be connected to an information providing server on a network, and the terminal apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit which acquires address information on a first screen layout file for generating an initial page used to shift to a selection page of a data file and address information on a second screen layout file for generating the selection page of a data file; an encryption processor which encrypts the address information on the second screen layout file by using identification information on the terminal apparatus; and a memory unit which stores the address information on the first screen layout file and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides a terminal apparatus to be connected to an information providing server on a network, and the terminal apparatus comprises: an acquisition unit which acquires address information on a first screen layout file for generating an initial page used to shift to a selection page of a data file and encrypted address information on a second screen layout file for generating the selection page of a data file; a memory unit which stores the address information on the first screen layout file and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file; a decoding processor which decodes the address information on the second screen layout file read out from the memory unit by using identification information on the terminal apparatus; an input receiver which receives a request for access to the second screen layout file from a user; an access address determining unit which determines the address information on the first screen layout file as an address to be accessed, when the decoding processor fails to decode the address information; a communication control unit which accesses the determined access address; a screen generator which generates a display screen based on the screen layout file received by the communication control unit; and a screen display unit which displays the generated screen.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides an information providing system comprising a terminal apparatus and an information providing server connected via a network, and the information providing server includes: a storage which stores a first screen layout file for generating an initial page used to shift to a selection page of a data file, a second screen layout file for generating the selection page of a data file, and one or more data files; and a first communication control unit which transmits a file to the terminal apparatus from the storage according to an access from the terminal apparatus, and the terminal apparatus includes: a memory unit which stores the address information on the first screen layout file and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file; a decoding processor which decodes the address information on the second screen layout file read out from the memory unit by using identification information on the terminal apparatus; an input receiver which receives a request for access to the second screen layout file from a user; an access address determining unit which determines the address information on the first screen layout file as an address to be accessed, when the decoding processor fails to decode the address information; and a second communication control unit which accesses the determined access address.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for accessing a file in an information providing server from a terminal apparatus, and the file access method comprises: acquiring address information on a first screen layout file for generating an initial page used to shift to a selection page of a data file; acquiring address information on a second screen layout file for generating the selection page of a data file; encrypting the address information on the second screen layout file by using identification information on the terminal apparatus; storing the address information on the first screen layout file and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file in a memory unit; decoding the address information on the second screen layout file read out from the memory unit by using the identification information on the terminal apparatus; receiving a request for access to the second screen layout file from a user; determining, as an address to be accessed, either the address information on the first screen layout file or the address information on the second screen layout file according to a result of the decoding; and accessing the determined access address.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for accessing a file in an information providing server from a terminal apparatus, and the file access method comprises: acquiring address information on a first screen layout file for generating an initial page used to shift to a selection page of a data file; acquiring encrypted address information on a second screen layout file for generating the selection page of a data file; storing the address information on the first screen layout file and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file in a memory unit; decoding the address information on the second screen layout file read out from the memory unit by using identification information on the terminal apparatus; receiving a request for access to the second screen layout file from a user; determining the address information on the first screen layout file as an address to be accessed, when the decoding fails; and accessing the determined access address.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides a data structure of a screen layout file for generating a selection page of a data file, and the data structure allows a computer to have a memory unit store information on an address to be accessed and the data structure includes: address information on a screen layout file for generating an initial page, used to shift to the selection page, by a computer; address information on one or more data files; and encryption instruction information which instructs to encrypt the address information on the screen layout file for the selection page and have the encrypted address information stored in the memory unit, wherein when it is determined by the computer that the encryption instruction information is contained, the address information on the screen layout file for the selection file is encrypted and, the encrypted address information and address information on plain text of the screen layout file for the initial page are stored in the memory unit.
Optional combinations of the aforementioned constituting elements described above, and implementations of the invention in the form of methods, apparatuses, systems, recording media, computer programs and so forth may also be effective as additional modes of the present invention.
An information providing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention realizes an environment for connecting a communication terminal apparatus to an information providing server on a network such as the Internet. The information providing server includes a Web server that provides a screen layout file written in languages such as HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and XML (Extensible Markup Language) to a user's communication terminal apparatus and a distribution server of a data file written in the screen layout file. The Web server provides an RSS (RDF Site Summary or Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) file describing address information, update time, and the like of one or more data files and also provides a use permission file to be accessed by a user as a prerequisite for presentation of the RSS file. Upon receipt of the RSS file, the communication terminal apparatus can open a data file selection page (download page) on the screen.
It is to be noted that while the Web server which provides a screen layout file and the distribution server which provides a data file itself may be configured as different servers, they may also be configured as one and the same server. The communication terminal apparatus receives a use permission page from a Web server and then acquires an RSS file upon the entry of a predetermined input by the user. The communication terminal apparatus stores the address information on the RSS file (hereinafter referred to as “RSS registration” also), and can directly access a selection page of a data file (RSS page) in the subsequent accesses without going through the use permission page. The selection page of a data file displays, for example, titles of a plurality of data files, so that the user can download a data file corresponding to a desired title by selecting it.
The data file may be that of a game application. For instance, the data file may be a trial version of a game program or may also be follow-up data of a game already in distribution. The follow-up data includes scenario data to increase the variation in game progression and also character data and item data in a new game. The data file is not limited to game applications, but may be that of other types. For example, the present information providing system may be suitably used in such a case where a network environment in which friends view photos among themselves is to be realized.
The communication terminal apparatus 10, which is organized with communication functions, has a communication function using a wireless LAN scheme and a communication function for connecting with an external equipment by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. Note that the communication terminal apparatus 10 may have a communication function using other wireless communication schemes and/or other wired communication schemes. Furthermore, the communication terminal apparatus 10 has a function of transmitting data to and receiving data from a removable memory unit and also a function of reading data from a ROM (Read Only Memory).
The access point 12 connects a communication terminal apparatus 10 to another communication terminal apparatus by a wireless LAN, or connects a communication terminal apparatus 10 to another access point by a wireless LAN, or further functions as a relay unit for connecting the communication terminal apparatus 10 to a network 14 such as the Internet or a wired LAN. In the information providing system 1, the communication terminal apparatus 10 can be connected to the information providing server 20 through the access point 12. Also, the communication terminal apparatus 10 can be connected to the information providing server 20 by using, for instance, a PC (personal computer) or the like connected to the network 14 as a relay unit.
The communication control unit 24 controls communications with the communication terminal apparatus 10 via the communication interface 22. As the communication control unit 24 receives a file transmission request from the communication terminal apparatus 10, the read/write control unit 26 reads out a file to be transmitted, from address information contained in the transmission request and sends it to the communication control unit 24. Note that the address information is information specifying a directory and a file name in the storage 32. The communication control unit 24 transmits a file read out from the storage 32 to the communication terminal apparatus 10 via the communication interface 22.
It is to be noted that
In the present exemplary embodiment, the address information on the first screen layout file 34 may be made available to the end users and the initial page may be a use permission page offered to a user who desires to download a data file 38. On the other hand, in the information providing system 1, it is so arranged that the second screen layout file 36 cannot be accessed by the user unless he/she goes through the use permission page once and also, even if an access has been made through the use permission page, the address information on the second screen layout file 36 is not displayed on the communication terminal apparatus 10. Therefore, the user cannot normally get to know the address information on the second screen layout file 36, and hence he/she cannot obtain the second screen layout file 36 by inputting the address information on the second screen layout file 36 to the communication terminal apparatus 10.
Upon receipt of an input of address information on the first screen layout file 34 from the user, the communication terminal apparatus 10 accesses and obtains the first screen layout file 34 and has the initial page displayed on the screen using a browsing software such as a browser or viewer. The communication terminal apparatus 10 can access the second screen layout file 36 for the first time when it has received a predetermined input from the user in response to the initial page.
Upon acquisition of the second screen layout file 36, the communication terminal apparatus 10 has the selection page of data files 38 displayed on the screen using a browsing software such as a browser or viewer. The selection page is organized in such a manner as to include a list of data files that can be downloaded by the communication terminal apparatus 10, and the user can download a desired data file 38 by selecting the data file 38. The second screen layout file 36, which may be an RSS file, is of a structure containing titles of one of more data files, release dates, address information (URL: Uniform Resource Locator) showing the storage locations of the data files, and the like. Upon receipt of a distribution request from the communication terminal apparatus 10, the distribution server 18 distributes the data file 38 to the communication terminal apparatus 10.
The communication interface 66, which has a USB interface 62 and a wireless interface 64, transmits information to and receives information from external apparatuses such as an information providing server 20, terminal apparatus and the like. The media drive 52 is a drive unit which, with a recording medium 102 installed, drives and recognizes the recording medium 102 and reads necessary data from it. The recording medium 102, which may be a medium such as an optical disk or magneto-optical disk, records game software. The game software contains an execution program for executing a game and also address information (URL) to be used in downloading follow-up data. This address information is recorded in a predetermined area of the recording medium 102.
The read/write control unit 54 controls the reading and writing of data to and from a memory unit 100 which is detachably installed on the communication terminal apparatus 10. The data file 38 transmitted from the information providing server 20 is written into the memory unit 100 by the read/write control unit 54. When the data file is a trial version game program, the trial-version game can be executed by a not-shown game application processor. It is to be noted that the memory unit 100 is not limited to a removable type and may be a built-in type such as a hard disk.
The user information holding unit 80 stores user information. The user information includes the birth date, sex, nickname, and the like of the user. The terminal ID holding unit 82 stores the identification information (ID) of the communication terminal apparatus 10. The terminal ID, which is predefined as a unique character string, does not mix with the IDs of the other terminal apparatuses. The terminal ID holding unit 82 may be constituted by a flash memory provided in the communication terminal apparatus 10.
The data processing unit 70 includes a screen generator 72, an address information acquiring unit 74, and a storage processor 76. The address information processing unit 110 includes an address information receiver 112, a data conversion unit 114, an address information read unit 120, an address information write unit 122, and an access address determining unit 124. The data conversion unit 114 has an encryption processor 116 and a decoding processor 118. The function of the communication terminal apparatus 10 is realized by the use of a CPU, memory, memory-loaded programs, and the like. Depicted herein are functional blocks realized by cooperation of those. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks may be achieved by a variety of manners including hardware only, software only or a combination of both.
<Data File Download Procedure from the State Without a Use Permission>
A procedure for downloading a data file 38 from a state of the communication terminal apparatus 10 which has not yet received a use permission will be explained below. Note that the URL of a screen layout file stored in the storage 32 of the information providing server 20 is called the URL of the Web page also, so that the address information (URL) of the screen layout file may sometimes be expressed as the address information (URL) of the page hereinbelow.
The user enters the URL (http://www.example.com/index.html) of the initial page (use permission page) in the communication terminal apparatus 10 by operating the control module 44. Upon receipt of the URL of the initial page, the input receiver 50 supplies it to the address information receiver 112. Upon receipt of the URL of the initial page by the address information receiver 112, the access address determining unit 124 determines the URL of the initial page as the address to be accessed (access address). The access address determining unit 124 conveys the URL of the initial page to the communication control unit 60, and the communication control unit 60 accesses the first screen layout file 34 of the information providing server 20 via the communication interface 66.
In the information providing server 20, when the communication control unit 24 has received a request for access to the first screen layout file 34, the read/write control unit 26 reads out the first screen layout file 34 using the address information contained in the access request. The communication control unit 24 transmits the read-out first screen layout file 34 to the communication terminal apparatus 10 via the communication interface 22.
Note that the arrangement may be such that the information providing server 20 determines the terminal type of the communication terminal apparatus 10 which has sent the access request and, depending on the terminal type, does not transmit the first screen layout file 34. The information providing system 1 provides a scheme for limiting access to the data file 38, but if the communication terminal apparatus 10 does not have the function of non-display of a selection page URL, encryption of the selection page URL or the like, which will be discussed later, it does not allow the information providing server 20 to transmit the first screen layout file 34 to the terminal apparatus. This arrangement strengthens the function of access limitation of the information providing system 1. The terminal type may be determined by the use of information such as user agent contained in an access request, for instance.
In the communication terminal apparatus 10, the communication control unit 60 receives the first screen layout file 34 and supplies it to the data processing unit 70. The screen generator 72, which is a browser, generates an initial page based on the first screen layout file 34. The screen generator 72 has the generated initial page displayed on the screen display unit 40.
Note that, in the example shown in
In the information providing server 20, as the communication control unit 24 receives a request for access to the second screen layout file 36, the read/write control unit 26 reads out the second screen layout file 36 from the address information contained in the access request. The communication control unit 24 transmits the second screen layout file 36 thus read out to the communication terminal apparatus 10 from the communication interface 22.
Note that the information providing server 20 may determine the terminal type of the communication terminal apparatus 10 which has sent the access request and, depending on the terminal type, may not transmit the second screen layout file 36. Where the communication terminal apparatus 10 does not have a reader function capable of processing an RSS format of the second screen layout file 36, the information providing server 20 is not allowed to transmit the second screen layout file 36 to the terminal apparatus. This arrangement strengthens the function of access limitation of the information providing system 1. The terminal type may be determined by the use of information such as user agent contained in an access request, for instance.
The second screen layout file 36 is structured by implementing a data structure that allows the computer, namely, the communication terminal apparatus 10, to have the memory unit 100 store the information on the address to be accessed. The data structure contains address information on the first screen layout file 34 to have the communication terminal apparatus 10 generate the initial page, address information on one or more data files 38, and encryption instruction information for instructing encryption of the address information on the second screen layout file 36 for the selection page and storage of it in the memory unit 100.
In the second screen layout file 36, a description indicating an RSS file is presented on line 1, and information on a tag set is described on lines 1 and 2. Described from <channel> on line 3 to </channel> on line 20 is channel information on the RSS file, with title information on the channel described on line 4 and address information on the first screen layout file 34 (http://www.example.com/index.html) described on line 5. Described on line 6 is encryption instruction information (REQUIRED) indicating that the address information on the second screen layout file 36 must be encrypted. As the communication terminal apparatus 10 determines that encryption instruction information (REQUIRED) is contained, the address information on the second screen layout file 36 for the selection page is encrypted, and the encrypted address information and the address information in plain text on the first screen layout file 34 for the initial page (line 5) are stored in the memory unit 100. On the other hand, if the communication terminal apparatus 10 determines that encryption instruction information is not contained, the address information on the second screen layout file 36 is not encrypted, and is stored in the memory unit 100 together with the address information on the first screen layout file 34 in plain text.
Described from <item> on line 7 to </item> on line 19 is accompanying information on a data file to be downloaded. Where there are a plurality of data files, accompanying information on a plurality of data files is described using item tags. The title information on the data file is described on line 8, and the address information on the data file is described on line 11. In this manner, the second screen layout file 36 is configured by including the address information (line 5) on the first screen layout file 34 and the address information (line 11) on the data file 38. Also, thumbnail information is described from line 14 to line 17. The ID (XXXX00001) of a game application is described on line 18.
In the communication terminal apparatus 10, the communication control unit 60 receives a second screen layout file 36 and supplies the received second layout file 36 to the data processing unit 70. The address information acquiring unit 74 acquires both address information on the first screen layout file 34 contained in the second screen layout file 36 and address information on the second screen layout file 36. The address information acquiring unit 74 acquires the address information on the second screen layout file 36 in a manner such that the second screen layout file 36 shown in
Since the address information on the second screen layout file 36 has already been identified at the time the second layout file 36 is accessed, the address information acquiring unit 74 may acquire the address information on the second layout file 36 at that time. Also, since the address information on the first screen layout file 34 has already been identified at the time the second layout file 34 is accessed, the address information acquiring unit 74 may acquire the address information on the first layout file 34 at that time. The address information acquiring unit 74 supplies the address information on the first screen layout file 34 and the address information on the second screen layout file 36 to the address information processing unit 110. Based on the encryption instruction information described in line 6 in
As the address information receiver 112 receives the address information on the first screen layout file 34, the address information on the second screen layout file 36 and the encryption instruction information, the address information receiver 112 supplies the address information on the second screen layout file 36 to the encryption processor 116. The encryption processor 116 reads out the terminal ID from the terminal ID holding unit 82 so as to encrypt the address information on the second layout file 36 using the terminal ID. The address information write unit 122 writes the address information on the first screen layout file 34 and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file 36 to the memory unit 100 by way of the read/write control unit 54. Note that the address information on the first screen layout file 34 is not subjected to encryption processing and thus remains as plain text. At this time, the title information on an RSS channel (line 4 in
When the communication control unit 60 supplies the second screen layout file 36 to the data processing unit 70, the screen generator 72 generates a selection page of data files based on the second screen layout file 36. The screen generator 72 has the thus generated selection page displayed on the screen display unit 40.
The screen generator 72 may not allow item information on game applications, which the user does not have, to be included in the selection page by referencing the ID of said item (line 18 in
On the other hand, if the data file is a trial version of a game program, it will be preferable that such a program be downloaded by as many as user as possible. In the light of this, the screen generator 72 determines the file type of the second screen layout file 36 based on the information of an extension in line 11 of the second screen layout file 36 or the information of the file type in line 12. And an arrangement may be such that if the data file is a program file, the screen generator 72 allows it to be included in the selection page regardless of the ID information of the game.
There may be cases where it is desirable that the viewing limitation be imposed on the age of users depending on the type of a data file. Though not included in the second screen layout file 36 shown in
As the user selects a title displayed on the selection page and presses a predetermined button (the circle button, for instance) by operating the control module 44, the input receiver 50 receives a selection input of the data file 38 and then selection input information is supplied to the address information receiver 112. The input receiver 50 may have the URL of the selected data file 38 included in the selection input information. Also, the address information receiver 112 may acquire a URL within an <enclosure> tag, based on the selection input information. As the address information receiver 112 receives the URL of the data file 38, the access address determining unit 124 determines the URL of the data file 38 to be the access address. The access address determining unit 124 conveys the URL of the data file 38 to the communication control unit 60, and the communication control unit 60 accesses the data file 38 of the information providing server 20 via the communication interface 66.
In the information providing server 20, as the communication control unit 24 receives a request for access to the data file 38, the read/write control unit 26 reads out the data file 38 from address information contained in the access request. The communication control unit 24 transmits the read-out data file 38 from the communication interface 22 to the communication terminal apparatus 10.
In the communication terminal apparatus 10, the communication control unit 60 receives the data file 38, verifies the file attribute of the received data file 38, and supplies it to the data processing unit 70. The storage processor 76 creates a directory of the memory unit 100 based on the ID information on the data file 38 and then stores the data file 38 there. If the directory exists already, the data file 38 will be stored in said directory. This enables the communication terminal apparatus 10 to download a desired data file 38.
<Data File Download Procedure After RSS Registration>
Next, a description is given of a procedure for downloading a data file 38 by the communication terminal apparatus 10 after an RSS registration has been completed.
If the communication terminal apparatus 10 receives the use permission through the initial page and accesses the selection page, the memory unit 100 will be in a state where the RSS registration information is being stored therein. The user first operates the control modules 44, so that information on an RSS registered in the screen display unit 40 is displayed.
When the list screen of selection pages are generated, the input receiver 50 first receives a request for a display of the list screen of a selection page from the user and then supplies the display request to the address information processing unit 110. The address information read unit 120 reads out one or more pieces of registered RSS registration information from the memory unit 100. The decoding processor 118 acquires the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file 36 from the read-out RSS registration information and decodes it using the terminal ID stored in the terminal ID holding unit 82. If the data conversion unit 114 that has performed the encryption processing performs decoding processing, the decoding of the address information will normally be successful. However, in such a case, for instance, where the terminal ID is corrupted, the decoding of the address information will fail. When the decoding has been completed successfully, the decoded address information in plain text is stored in the memory unit 100.
Even if the decoding processing performed by the decoding processor 118 has completed successfully, the screen generator 72 will generate a display screen in such a manner that the URL of the decoded selection page is not displayed thereon. Hiding the URL thereof keeps the URLs of the selection pages secret, so that the URLs of the selection pages are not revealed to users of communication terminal apparatuses to which the use permission is not granted.
In the state where the list screen of an RSS page as shown in
Specifically, if the decoding processor 118 succeeds in the decoding, the access address determining unit 124 will determine the address of the second screen layout file 36 as the address to be accessed. As a result, the communication terminal apparatus 10 can access the selection page of the data file 38 without going through the initial page. On the other hand, if the decoding processor 118 fails the decoding, the access address determining unit 124 will determine the address of the first screen layout file 34 as the address to be accessed and acquire address information on the first screen layout file 34. In a case that the decoding fails, the communication terminal apparatus 10 will need to access the selection page of the data file 38 through the initial page.
If the URL of the encrypted selection page has been decoded successfully, the communication control unit 60 transmits an access request to the second screen layout file 36. In the information providing server 20, as the communication control unit 24 receives the request for access to the second screen layout file 36, the read/write control unit 26 will read out the second screen layout file 36 from the address information contained in the access request. The communication control unit 24 transmits the read-out second screen layout file 36 to the communication terminal apparatus 10 from the communication interface 22. In so doing, the arrangement may be such that the information providing server 20 determines the terminal type of the communication terminal apparatus 10 and, depending on the terminal type, does not transmit the second screen layout file 36.
In the communication terminal apparatus 10, the communication control unit 60 receives the second screen layout file 36 and supplies it to the data processing unit 70. The screen generator 72 generates a selection page based on the second screen layout file 36. Note that the screen generator 72 generates a display screen in such a manner that the address information on the data file 38 is not displayed on the selection page. Hiding the address information thereof keeps the URLs of the data file 38 secret.
The address information acquiring unit 74 acquires the address information on the first screen layout file 34 contained in the second screen layout file 36 and also acquires the address information on the second screen layout file 36. The address information acquiring unit 74 determines if the acquired address information on the first screen layout file 34 has already been stored in the memory unit 100 as the RSS registration information or not. If the acquired address information thereof has already been stored therein, the address information acquiring unit 74 may discard the acquired address information. If, on the other hand, the acquired address information has already been stored therein but the second screen layout file 36 has been updated, the address information acquiring unit 74 may supply this acquired address information on the first screen layout file 34, the address information on the second screen layout file 36, and the instruction information on encryption processing to the address information receiver 112 so as to update the RSS registration information. The aforementioned method may be used as a method for generating the RSS registration information.
As the address information acquiring unit 74 acquires the address information on the first screen layout file 34 and the address information on the second screen layout file 36, the address information processing unit 100 may generate RSS registration information and overwrites the RSS registration information stored in the memory unit 100 without determining whether the second screen layout file 36 is updated or not. As a result, the address information processing unit 110 can have the memory unit 100 store the latest RSS registration information without determining whether the second screen layout file 36 is updated or not.
As the user selects a title displayed on the selection page and presses a predetermined button (the circle button, for instance) by operating the control module 44, the input receiver 50 receives the selection input of the data file 38 and then the selection input information is supplied to the address information receiver 112. As the address information receiver 112 receives the URL of the data file 38, the access address determining unit 124 determines the URL of the data file 38 to be the access address. The access address determining unit 124 conveys the URL of the data file 38 to the communication control unit 60, and the communication control unit 60 accesses the data file 38 of the information providing server 20 via the communication interface 66.
In the information providing server 20, as the communication control unit 24 receives a request for access to the data file 38, the read/write control unit 26 reads out the data file 38 from address information contained in the access request. The communication control unit 24 transmits the read-out data file 38 from the communication interface 22 to the communication terminal apparatus 10.
In the communication terminal apparatus 10, the communication control unit 60 receives the data file 38 and supplies it to the data processing unit 70. The storage processor 76 creates a directory of the memory unit 100 based on the ID information on the data file 38 and then stores the data file 38 there. If the directory exists already, the data file 38 will be stored in said directory. This enables the communication terminal apparatus 10 to download a desired data file 38 without going through the initial page if the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file 36 has been decoded successfully.
As the input receiver 50 receives a request for access to the selection page from the user and if the decoding processing is successful (Y of S22), the access address determining unit 124 determines the URL of the selection page to be the access address (S24) and the communication control unit 60 accesses the selection page (S32).
If, on the other hand, the decoding processing fails (N of S22), the access address determining unit 124 determines the URL of the initial page to be the access address (S26) and the communication control unit 60 access the initial page (S28). As the input receiver 50 receives a predetermined input for the initial page from the user and receives a use permission (S30), the communication control unit 60 accesses the selection page (S32). In the exemplary embodiment, the use permission is said to be granted and received if a message displayed on the initial page is selected and a button is depressed. The encryption processor 116 encrypts the URL of the selection page using the terminal ID. Then the address information write unit 122 saves the encrypted URL of the selection page, the URL of plain text of the initial page, and the title information and thumbnail images of an RSS channel in the memory unit 100 as the RSS registration information by overwriting the corresponding existing data therein (S34). Note that the address information write unit 122 may additionally store the RSS registration information in the memory unit 100. As the input receiver 50 receives a selection input of a data file for the selection page from the user, the communication control unit 60 accesses the selected data file so as to download it (S36).
<Procedure for Data File Download from Different Communication Terminal Apparatuses>
Next, a description is given of a procedure for using the RSS registration information of a communication terminal apparatus to which a use permission has been given, in another communication terminal apparatus 10. For example, a communication terminal apparatus 10 acquires the RSS registration information generated by another communication terminal apparatus via the communication interface 66 and stores it in the memory unit 100. Since this communication terminal apparatus 10 is not granted the use permission, it is undesirable that the selection page of a data file be browsed without going through the initial page. Accordingly, the information providing system 1 is structured such that the downloading of the data file 38 is not possible unless the use permission has been granted, even if the address information acquiring unit 74 of the communication terminal apparatus 10, to which the use permission is not given, acquires the RSS registration information from another communication terminal apparatus and stores it in the memory unit 100.
The user operates the control module 44 to generate a request for a display of the list screen of the selection page. The input receiver 50 receives the request for a display of the list screen thereof from the user and supplies the request to the address information processing unit 110. The address information read unit 120 reads out one or more pieces of registered RSS registration information from the memory unit 100. The decoding processor 118 acquires the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file 36 from the read-out RSS registration information and decodes it using the terminal ID stored in the terminal ID holding unit 82. Here, the address information on the second screen layout file 36 contained in the RSS registration file is encrypted using the ID of another terminal apparatus. Hence, the decoding processor 118 cannot decode the address information and the decoding processing fails.
The screen generator 72 generates the list screen of the selection page, and the screen display unit 40 displays information on the registered RSS. The RSS registration information contains the title information and thumbnail images of an RSS channel in plain text. Thus, the screen generator 72 can generate a display screen that contains the title information and thumbnail images of an RSS channel even if the RSS registration information has been acquired from another communication terminal apparatus.
In the state where the list screen of an RSS page as shown in
Specifically, if the decoding processor 118 succeeds in the decoding, the access address determining unit 124 will determine the address of the second screen layout file 36 as the address to be accessed. On the other hand, if the decoding processor 118 fails the decoding, the access address determining unit 124 will determine the address of the first screen layout file 34 as the address to be accessed. In this case, the decoding processor 118 fails to perform the decoding processing, so that the access address determining unit 124 extracts the address information on the plain text of the first screen layout file 34 contained in the RSS registration information. The failure of decoding prompts the communication terminal apparatus 10 to access the selection page of the data file 38, which in turn requires the user of the communication terminal apparatus 10 to go through the initial page. The procedure performed by the communication terminal apparatus 10 for the downloading of the data file 38 follows the flow shown in
Though a description has been given of a case where the address information on the second screen layout file 36 is acquired from the information providing server 20, the address information thereof may be acquired from other means. An example is hereinbelow shown where the address information on the first screen layout file 34 and the address information on the second screen layout file 36 are recorded in the recording medium 102. Note that encryption instruction information indicating that the address information on the second screen layout file 36 must be encrypted is also recorded in the recording medium 102.
The user starts a game execution program from the recording medium 102 mounted on the media drive 52 by operating the control module 44. A not-shown game application processor processes the execution program. When first starting the execution program, the game application processor prompts the user to operate the RSS registration.
As the address information acquiring unit 74 acquires the address information on the first screen layout file 34, the address information on the second screen layout file 36, and the encryption instruction information from the recording medium 102 via the media drive 52, the address information acquiring unit 74 supplies them to the address information processing unit 110. As the address information receiver 112 receives the address information on the first screen layout file 34, the address information on the second screen layout file 36, and the encryption instruction information, the address information receiver 112 supplies the address information on the second screen layout file 36 to the encryption processor 116. The encryption processor 116 reads out the terminal ID from the terminal ID holding unit 82 so as to encrypt the address information on the second screen layout file 36 using the terminal ID. The address information write unit 122 writes the address information on the first screen layout file 34 and the encrypted address information on the second screen layout file 36 into the memory unit 100 by way of the read/write control unit 54 as the RSS registration information. Note that the address information on the first screen layout file 34 is not subjected to encryption processing and thus remains as plain text. This completes the RSS registration.
Though in the above-described example a case is shown where not only the address information on the second screen layout file 36 but also the address information on the first screen layout file 34 is recorded in the recording medium 102, only the address on the second screen layout file 36 may be recorded. In such a case, as the input receiver 50 receives from the user an instruction to register the RSS, the address information acquiring unit 74 reads out the address information on the second screen layout file 36 from the recording medium 102 and the access address determining unit 124 determines the address information on the second screen layout file 36 to be the access address. The access address determining unit 124 conveys the address information to the communication control unit 60, and the communication control unit 60 accesses the second screen layout file 36 of the information providing server 20 via the communication interface 66. As a result, the RSS file as shown in
The present invention has been described based upon illustrative embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are intended to be illustrative only and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications to the combination of constituting elements and processes could be developed and that such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention.
The information providing system 1 can also be used for the case where photos are posted and shared among friends via an SNS (Social Network Service) or the like. Each user has his/her own account and participates in the SNS. In the SNS, friendships may be established and registered among the users, and each user's photos can be viewed among them who have registered the friendships. The photos are not allowed to be seen by users who have not registered the friendships.
In this SNS environment, the first screen layout file 34 may be a file used for “photo album pages of user A”, for instance, and a link to an RSS page (second screen layout file 36) is contained in the first screen layout file 34. Assume herein that the “photo album pages of user A” can be viewed among only user A and users who have registered a friendship with user A.
If user B, who is not logged in, accesses the “photo album pages of user A”, the information providing server 20 will direct him/her to a log-in screen by the information providing server 20. User B enters his/her user ID and password onto the log-in screen. If authentication is successful, whether a friendship between user B and user A has been registered or not will be determined by the information providing server 20.
If the friendship with user A is registered, user B will be led to user A's photo album pages by the information providing server 20. Thus user B can view the photo album of user A and also register the RSS page that describes the address information of the photos. If, on the other hand, the friendship with user A is not registered, user B will be denied the access to the photo album pages by the information providing server 20 even if he/she logs in. As a result, user B cannot view the photo album of user A.
In such an information providing system 1 as described above, a user cannot view the photo album of user A unless the friendship with user A is registered, even though the encrypted address information on the RSS pages is distributed to the general public. As explained in the exemplary embodiments, the encrypted information on the RSS pages cannot be decoded using the device IDs of other users. Thus, though each of the other users needs to access the address of the first screen layout file 34, he/she cannot even access the first screen layout file 34 unless the friendship between him/her and user A is registered. By employing the information providing system 1 that realizes such an SNS environment as described above, an arrangement and structure that allow a data file for private use to be disclosed to reliable users only are provided.
The present invention provides a technology that realizes a limitation on accesses to a data file.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-042023 | Feb 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/000242 | 1/22/2009 | WO | 00 | 2/5/2010 |
