Content delivery apparatus, user terminal device, relief management method and computer program

Abstract

A content delivery apparatus, when a content delivery request is outputted from a user terminal device, encrypts the requested content with an encryption key, adds a view period to it to deliver it to a request source and delivers a viewing key in response to a view request from the user terminal device within the view period. A user relief management unit monitors failure information notifying, grasps a delivery disabled period from the failure information, specifies a delivery destination user for a content of which the view period is overlapped with the delivery disabled period and issues a relief right with a relief period specified thereto to the specified user. A contract period processing unit manages the relief right and permits viewing within the relief period set by the relief right when a view right based on the relief right is output from the user terminal device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Applications No. 2005-096392, filed Mar. 29, 2005; and No. 2006-045405, filed Feb. 22, 2006, the entire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to contents a content delivery apparatus which performs a delivery service of a content such as a video via a communication line to a terminal device on a user side, a user terminal device which receives the delivery service, a relief management method to relieve an impossibility of viewing when a failure occurs and a computer program which achieves the management method. More specifically, the present invention relates to a relief technique for a failure occurrence period within a period when a validity term is set to the content. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A download t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a content delivery apparatus, a user terminal device, a relief management method and a computer program which can sufficiently take measures for eliminating dissatisfaction of a user even when a failure occurs within a view period and the user cannot view a content within the view period, and thereby, can eliminate the dissatisfaction of the user, secure the belief of the service provider and eliminate extra costs and burdens and can achieve an operation with a satisfactory service.

Problems solved by technology

However, a viewing service with a time limit causes a problem when the failure occurs in a time band desired by the user.

That is, in such a case, although the user has any self-responsibility, the user tends to miss a viewing chance.

And when the user cannot have a time to view the contents within the view period, the user complains extremely, so that the case may cause a trouble between the service provider and user.

This problem is caused from an insufficient relief method for the user, as a content of a service, and it is required for the problem to be solved quickly.

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