| Content distribution system; content distribution method; distribution server, client terminal, and portable terminal used in the system; and computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the system -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Content distribution system; content distribution method; distribution server, client terminal, and portable terminal used in the system; and computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the systemUSPTO Application #: 20070260679Title: Content distribution system; content distribution method; distribution server, client terminal, and portable terminal used in the system; and computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the system Abstract: A user accesses a sound data distribution server by operating a client terminal. The sound data distribution server transmits data for displaying a list of distributable music. The data are displayed on a display unit of the client terminal. While referring to the display on the display unit, the user requests the sound data distribution server for distribution of regular music data. This request is issued from the client terminal. A cellular phone to which the regular music data are to be distributed is specified by data (e.g., a mail address of the cellular phone) input at the client terminal. This enables the sound data distribution server to recognize the cellular phone and distribute the regular music data to the cellular phone. (end of abstract) Agent: Morrison & Foerster, LLP - Los Angeles, CA, US Inventors: Takeshi Kikuchi, Yutaka Hasegawa, Kosei Terada, Satoru Umezawa USPTO Applicaton #: 20070260679 - Class: 709203000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Multicomputer Data Transferring, Distributed Data Processing, Client/server The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070260679. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a division of U.S. patent application No. 09/882,721 filed Jun. 15, 2001, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a system which includes a distribution server capable of distributing content items such as sound data (e.g., data of incoming call melodies), a client terminal (e.g., a personal computer) capable of communicating with the distribution server, and a portable terminal (e.g., a cellular phone) capable of communicating with the distribution server, and in which the distribution server distributes the content items to the client terminal or the portable terminal. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] With recent development of communication techniques, portable terminals such as cellular phones and mobile computers have come into wide use. Meanwhile, the number of content distribution services which enable users to obtain content items to be used on their portable terminals has increased. Among the content distribution services, a service which enables a cellular phone, which is one type of portable terminal, to obtain data of an incoming call melody, which is one type of content item, is called an "incoming-call-melody providing service." The incoming-call-melody providing service enables a user of a cellular phone to select a desired music data item from a large number of music data items provided in the distribution server and to request distribution of the selected music data item. In response to the request, the distribution server distributes to the cellular phone the music data item selected by the user. [0006] However, under the above-described conventional technique, all of various operations for obtaining an incoming call melody must be performed on a cellular phone. However, such operations are not easy to perform on cellular phones having a reduced size. Therefore, completing necessary operations requires a prolonged period of time. In addition, in the case in which a user decides whether to buy a music data item after a trial listen of the music (trial of a content item), the time during which his/her cellular phone is connected to a distribution server tends to increase. Moreover, due to relatively high communication cost of such a cellular phone, among other causes, a relatively high usage fee is charged to a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a content distribution system and method which enable users to obtain content items for portable terminals from a distribution server through simple operation, without imposing undue stress on the users. [0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a distribution server, a client terminal, and a portable terminal which constitute the content distribution system. [0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the content distribution system. [0010] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides a content distribution system which comprises a portable terminal, a distribution server capable of communicating with the portable terminal, and a client terminal capable of communicating with the distribution server and in which a content item is distributed from the distribution server to the portable terminal, wherein the distribution server comprises content distribution means for distributing the content item to the portable terminal in response to a request from the client terminal; the client terminal comprises content request means for requesting the distribution server to distribute the content item to the portable terminal; and the portable terminal comprises content execution means for performing operation on the basis of the distributed content item. [0011] By virtue of the above-described configuration, a user can request the distribution server to distribute the content item to the portable terminal, by operating the client terminal, which-is generally superior in ease of operation to the portable terminal. Therefore, the user can easily receive the content distribution service. [0012] In the content distribution system, preferably, the distribution server comprises trial-content distribution means for distributing, in response to a request from the client terminal, a trial content item to the client terminal, the trial content item being used at the client terminal in trial use of the content item to be distributed to the portable terminal; and the client terminal comprises trial-content request means for requesting the distribution server to distribute the trial content item, and trial means for using on a trial basis the trial content item transmitted from the distribution server. [0013] By virtue of the above-described configuration, through operation of the client terminal a user can easily obtain the trial content item which is used at the client terminal in a trial use of the content item to be distributed to the portable terminal. [0014] Preferably, the content distribution means of the distribution server comprises URL mailing means for sending an electronic mail to the portable terminal in order to transmit to the portable terminal the URL of a download page for downloading the content item, and download means for downloading the content item to the portable terminal in response to access to the URL by the portable terminal; and the portable terminal comprises content obtaining means for accessing the URL of the download page transmitted from the distribution server in order to download the content item. [0015] By virtue of the above-described configuration, a user can obtain the content item through simple operation of accessing a URL which is transmitted by use of an electronic mail function provided in many portable terminals. Therefore, the user can easily receive distribution of the content item. In addition, since the user must access the transmitted URL in order to obtain the content item, a final confirmation as to whether the user wishes to purchase the content item can be performed at the portable terminal. [0016] Preferably, the content request means of the client terminal comprises address transmission means for transmitting to the distribution server a mail address of the portable terminal to which the URL of the download page is to be transmitted by means of an electronic mail. [0017] By virtue of the above-described configuration, a user can easily transmit to the distribution server the mail address of the portable terminal to which the content item is to be downloaded. [0018] Preferably, the content request means of the client terminal comprises portable-terminal-specifying-data transmission means for transmitting to the distribution server data for specifying the portable terminal; and the content distribution means of the distribution server comprises direct distribution means for distributing the content item directly to the portable terminal specified by the data transmitted by the portable-terminal-specifying-data transmission means. [0019] By virtue of the above-described configuration, a user can easily cause the distribution server to recognize the portable terminal to which the content item is to be distributed, by use of the client terminal, and enable the portable terminal to obtain the content item. [0020] Preferably, the data transmitted by the portable-terminal-specifying-data transmission means of the client terminal include a mail address of the portable terminal; and the direct distribution means of the distribution server transmits an electronic mail directed to the mail address of the portable terminal, while attaching the content item to the electronic mail. [0021] By virtue of the above-described configuration, by use of the client terminal a user can easily transmit to the distribution server the mail address of the portable terminal to which the content item is to be distributed. In addition, the user can easily obtain the content item by use of an electronic mail function and a document attaching function thereof provided in many portable terminals. Continue reading... Full patent description for Content distribution system; content distribution method; distribution server, client terminal, and portable terminal used in the system; and computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Content distribution system; content distribution method; distribution server, client terminal, and portable terminal used in the system; and computer readable recording medium on which is recorded a program for operating a computer used in the system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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