Content distribution method for distributing digital content, digital content distribution program, and digital content distribution system

Abstract

To provide a content distribution method that enables only those who own a storage medium with a communication function to view the digital content. [Solution] A person who owns a storage medium 3 with a communication function that stores content identification information CI uses his / her own communication terminal 5 to obtain the content identification information CI from the storage medium 3 with a communication function, and sends the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI of his / her own communication terminal 5 to the server 1, thereby enabling the viewing of digital content recorded on the server 1. When the storage medium 3 with a communication function is transferred to a third party, the third party who has received the transfer similarly obtains the content identification information CI from the storage medium 3 with a communication function using his / her own communication terminal 5', and sends the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI' of his / her own communication terminal 5' to the server 1, the transferor's combination registration is deleted from the server 1, and the transferor's communication terminal 5 is prohibited from viewing the digital content.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a content distribution method for distributing digital content such as audio and video, a digital content distribution program, and a digital content distribution system. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent No. 3930866 (Patent Document 1) discloses a digital content usage system relating to a viewing device using an e-book viewer. This system uses a user identifier and a device identifier as judgment criteria, making it easy to change the device used to view digital content. Recently, audio and video data have begun to circulate as "one-of-a-kind digital data (NFT)." When audio or video (digital content) is recorded on a compact disc, the ownership of the compact disc changes when the compact disc is transferred, making it suitable for NFTs. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3930866 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, audio and video data is easy to copy, and it is not easy to transfer it as unique digital data.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a digital content distribution method, a digital content distribution program, and a digital content distribution system suitable for distributing audio and video data as transferable data. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The digital content distribution method of the present invention is a method for distributing digital content using a digital content distribution system equipped with a server, a storage medium with a communication function, and multiple communication terminals. The server stores multiple digital contents and multiple content identification information that is set in a one-to-one relationship for the multiple digital contents. In this application, even if multiple copies of the same content are assigned content identification information, this is considered to be a one-to-one relationship.

[0007] The plurality of storage media with communication functions store content identification information set for one digital content. The plurality of communication terminal devices have a function to receive the content identification information stored in the storage media with communication functions, a function to send the received content identification information and their own terminal device identifier to a server, and a function to download and make viewable the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server or to make viewable the digital content by streaming, on the condition that the combination of the content identification information and their own terminal device identifier is registered in the server.

[0008] In the digital content distribution method of the present invention, a server is used to perform a registration step, a determination step, and a duplicate viewing prohibition step. In the registration step, a combination of content identification information and terminal identifier sent from a communication terminal is registered in a combination registration unit in the server. In the determination step, it is determined whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is currently registered in the combination registration unit. Then, in the duplicate viewing prohibition step, if it is determined in the determination step that the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is not registered, the combination is registered in the combination registration unit, and viewing of the digital content on the registered communication terminal is enabled. In the duplicate viewing prohibition step, if it is determined in the determination step that the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier has a terminal device identifier that is different from that of the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier, the registration of the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier is deleted from the combination registration unit to prohibit viewing of the digital content on the already registered communication terminal device, and the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier is registered in the combination registration unit to enable viewing of the digital content on the communication terminal device related to the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier.

[0009] According to the method of the present invention, a person who owns a storage medium with a communication function can use his or her own communication terminal to obtain content identification information from the storage medium with a communication function and send the content identification information and the terminal identifier of his or her own communication terminal to a server, thereby enabling the viewing of digital content recorded on the server. If that person (transferor) then transfers the storage medium with a communication function to a third party (transferee), the third party can similarly use his or her own communication terminal to obtain content identification information from the storage medium with a communication function and send the content identification information and the terminal identifier of his or her own communication terminal to the server. This deletes the transferor's combination registration from the server, prohibiting the transferor from viewing the digital content on his or her communication terminal. As a result, only the transferee who owns the storage medium with a communication function can view the digital content, making it possible to transfer the digital content as unique digital data.

[0010] When a communication terminal device attempts to view downloaded digital content, it checks whether the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier is registered with the server, and if not, deletes the downloaded digital content. As a result, the downloaded digital content can be viewed only if the combination of content identification information and the terminal device's own terminal device identifier is registered with the server.

[0011] When a streaming request is received from a communication terminal, the server checks whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier is registered, and if not, prohibits streaming. As a result, digital content can be viewed only when the combination of content identification information and the user's own terminal identifier is registered in the server.

[0012] The storage medium with communication function may be of any type, but may be, for example, a card equipped with an IC tag capable of short-range communication. Such a card makes it easy to carry and store, and increases the convenience of transfer. Furthermore, a card equipped with an IC tag can be sold as a transferable item for a fee by a creator or publisher of digital content. In this way, the amount of digital content issued can be controlled in the same way as with tangible objects.

[0013] The present invention can also be specified as a program for a digital content distribution system. The program for a digital content distribution system of the present invention is a computer program used in a server in a digital content distribution system comprising: a server that stores multiple digital contents and content identification information set in a one-to-one relationship for the multiple digital contents; multiple storage media with communication functions that store content identification information set for each digital content; and communication terminal devices. The multiple communication terminal devices have functions to receive the content identification information stored in the storage media with communication functions, to send the received content identification information and their own terminal device identifiers to the server, and to download and make viewable the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server, or to make viewable the digital content by streaming, provided that the content identification information and terminal device identifier are registered in the server. The digital content distribution system of the present invention is configured to realize a combination registration function that registers a combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier sent from a communications terminal device in a combination registration unit; a determination function that determines whether the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier sent from the communications terminal device is registered; and if the determination function determines that the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier sent from the communications terminal device is not registered, it registers the combination in the combination registration unit, allowing viewing of the digital content on the registered communications terminal; if the determination function determines that the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier has a different terminal device identifier from the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier, it deletes the registration of the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier from the combination registration unit, prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communications terminal; and registers the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit, allowing viewing of the digital content on the communications terminal related to the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier.

[0014] The duplicate viewing prohibition function has a function that, when a streaming request is received from a communication terminal, checks whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier is registered, and prohibits streaming if it is not registered.

[0015] The present invention can also be specified as a digital content distribution system that implements the method of the present invention. The digital content distribution system of the present invention includes a server that stores multiple digital contents and content identification information set in a one-to-one relationship for the multiple digital contents, one or more storage media with communication functions that store content identification information set for one digital content, and multiple communication terminals. The multiple communication terminals have the functions of receiving the content identification information stored in the storage media with communication functions, sending the received content identification information and their own terminal identifiers to the server, and downloading and making viewable the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server or making the digital content viewable by streaming, provided that the content identification information and terminal identifier are registered with the server. In the present invention, the server further includes a combination registration unit that registers the combination of the content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal, a determination unit that determines whether the combination of the content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is currently registered, and a duplicate viewing prohibition unit. If the determination unit determines that the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier sent from the communications terminal device is not registered, the duplicate viewing prohibition unit registers the combination in the combination registration unit, enabling viewing of the digital content on the registered communications terminal device, and if the determination unit determines that the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier has a terminal device identifier that differs from that of the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier, the duplicate viewing prohibition unit deletes the registration of the already registered combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier from the combination registration unit, prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communications terminal device, and registers the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit, enabling viewing of the digital content on the communications terminal device associated with the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier.The digital content distribution system of the present invention allows the method of the present invention to be easily realized.

[0016] The communication terminal used in the digital content distribution system of the present invention has a function of checking whether or not a combination of content identification information and terminal identifier is registered in the server when the downloaded digital content is viewed, and deleting the downloaded digital content if it is not registered.

[0017] In addition, the server used in the digital content distribution system of the present invention has the function of checking whether the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier is registered when a streaming request is received from a communication terminal device, and prohibiting streaming if it is not registered. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an embodiment of a digital content distribution system for implementing a digital content distribution method of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a flowchart of an example of a program used in a server of the digital content distribution system of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a flowchart of a program used during input operations of an application used in a communication terminal of the digital content distribution system of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] 2 is a flowchart of a program used when acquiring content for an application used in a communication terminal of the digital content distribution system of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of an example of an embodiment of a digital content distribution system of the present invention that implements the digital content distribution method of the present invention. The digital content distribution system of this embodiment includes a server 1 that stores, in a main registration unit 12, a plurality of digital contents consisting of audio and video and a plurality of content identification information CIs set for the plurality of digital contents in a one-to-one relationship, a storage medium 3 with a communication function that stores one content identification information CI set for one digital content, and a plurality of communication terminals 5, 5'. In this embodiment, the content identification information CI is composed of a combination of a plurality of codes.

[0020] The communication-capable storage medium 3 is not limited to a specific type, but in this embodiment, a card with an IC tag capable of short-range communication is used. Each of the communication terminals 5, 5′ includes a communication unit 51 that receives content identification information CI stored in the communication-capable storage medium 3 and sends the received content identification information CI and its own terminal identifier TI to the server 1, and an identification information storage unit 52 that stores the received content identification information CI. The communication terminals 5, 5′ are electronic communication devices such as smartphones with built-in CPUs. Each of the communication terminals 5, 5′ includes a content execution unit 53 that downloads digital content corresponding to the content identification information CI sent from the server 1 from the main registration unit 12 of the server 1 and makes the digital content viewable or streams the digital content, provided that the combination of the content identification information CI and its own terminal identifier TI is registered in the server 1. The communication terminals 5, 5′ also store an application program for implementing the content distribution method of the present invention in an application storage unit 54. In this embodiment, this application program is downloaded from the application storage unit 16 of the server 1, but it goes without saying that the application program may also be obtained from another server.

[0021] The server 1 is managed by the system operator, constructed in a computer, and connected to communication terminals 5, 5', such as smartphones, owned by multiple users, via a network NW. The server 1 includes a communication unit 11 that communicates with the multiple communication terminals 5, 5' via the network NW, and a main registration unit 12 that registers multiple pieces of content identification information CI set in a one-to-one relationship for multiple pieces of digital content. The server 1 used in this embodiment also includes a determination unit 13, a combination registration unit 14, and a duplicate viewing prohibition unit 15 to implement the method of the present invention. The combination of the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI sent from the communication terminals 5, 5' is registered in the combination registration unit 14 within the server 1. The determination unit 13 determines whether the combination of the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI sent from the communication terminals 5, 5' is currently registered in the combination registration unit 14. If the judgment unit 13 judges that the combination of the content identification information CI and the terminal device identifier TI sent from the communication terminal device 5, 5' is not registered, the overlapping viewing prohibition unit 15 registers the combination in the combination registration unit 14, and enables the digital content to be viewed on the registered communication terminal device.

[0022] Specifically, on the condition that the combination of content identification information CI and one's own terminal identifier TI has been registered in the server 1, digital content corresponding to the content identification information CI sent from the server 1 to the communication terminal 5 can be downloaded from the main registration unit 12 of the server 1, or the digital content can be streamed and viewed using the communication terminal 5. For example, a person who owns a storage medium 3 with a communication function can use his / her own communication terminal 5 to obtain content identification information CI from the storage medium 3 with a communication function and send the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI of his / her own communication terminal 5 to the server, thereby becoming able to view the digital content recorded on the server.

[0023] When the storage medium 3 with communication function is transferred from the owner (transferor) of the communication terminal 5 to a third party (transferee), the third party (transferee) will follow the same procedure as above using his / her own communication terminal 5′ when viewing the content. In this case, the determination unit 13 will determine that the combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI′ newly sent from the third party (transferee) has a different terminal identifier from the combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI already registered. The overlapping viewing prohibition unit 15 deletes the registration of the already registered combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI from the combination registration unit 14, prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communication terminal 5. Then, the combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI′ newly sent is registered in the combination registration unit 14, enabling viewing of the digital content on the communication terminal 5′ associated with the newly sent combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI′.

[0024] The communication terminals 5, 5' used in this embodiment have a function to check whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier is registered with the server 1 when downloading digital content for viewing, and to delete the downloaded digital content if it is not registered. As a result, the downloaded digital content can be viewed only when the combination of content identification information and the user's own terminal identifier is registered with the server.

[0025] In addition, when a streaming request is received from a communication terminal, the server 1 has the function of checking whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier is registered, and prohibiting streaming if it is not registered. As a result, digital content can be viewed only when the combination of content identification information and the user's own terminal identifier is registered in the server.

[0026] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the storage medium with communication function 3 is transferred to a third party (transferee), the third party who has received the transfer obtains the content identification information CI from the storage medium with communication function 3 using his / her own communication terminal 5' in the same manner as described above, and sends the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier TI' of his / her own communication terminal 5' to the server 1, whereby the combination registration of the transferor is deleted from the server 1 and the digital content is prohibited from being viewed on the transferor's communication terminal 5. Then, only the transferee who owns the storage medium with communication function 3 can view the digital content on the communication terminal 5', so that the digital content can be transferred as one and only digital data.

[0027] The application program used in the communication terminals 5, 5' of this embodiment has a function to check whether the combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier (TI, TI') is registered with the server 1 when downloading digital content for viewing, and to delete the downloaded digital content if it is not registered. As a result, the downloaded digital content can be viewed only when the combination of content identification information and the user's own terminal identifier is registered with the server.

[0028] When a streaming request is received from a communication terminal, the server 1 has a function of checking whether the combination of the content identification information CI and the terminal identifier (TI, TI') is registered, and prohibiting streaming if it is not registered. As a result, streaming viewing of digital content is possible only when the combination of the content identification information CI and its own terminal identifier (TI, TI') is registered in the combination registration unit 14 of the server 1.

[0029] In this embodiment, the storage medium 3 with a communication function is a card type with an IC tag, which makes it easy to carry and store, and increases the convenience of transfer. Furthermore, a card with an IC tag may be a transferable item that a digital content producer or publisher sells for a fee. In this way, the amount of digital content issued can be controlled in the same way as with tangible objects. In this embodiment, to increase convenience, a content identification information creation unit 17 is provided in the server 1, which allows content identification information to be assigned to the content production company PC. As a result, the content production company PC records the acquired content identification information on the storage medium 3 with a communication function, and the storage medium 3 with a communication function seller MS can sell this storage medium 3 with a communication function in the same way as a paid product. The server 1 becomes a digital content distribution server when the content production company registers the digital content in the main registration unit 12 in the server 1. As a result, the content production company does not need to create its own content distribution system.

[0030] 2 is a flowchart showing an example of an algorithm of an embodiment of a program for a content distribution system of the present invention, which is installed in a server 1 equipped with a computer as a computing device. First, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not new content is to be registered. If new registration is to be made, in step ST2, content identification information CI is stored together with the registered content. Specifically, in step ST2, a plurality of digital contents and a plurality of pieces of content identification information CI set in a one-to-one relationship for the plurality of digital contents are stored.

[0031] Next, in step ST3, it is confirmed whether a combination of content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI has been sent from the communication terminal 5. If it has been sent, the process proceeds to step ST4, where it is determined whether the combination of content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal has already been registered. If it has already been registered, in step ST5, the communication terminal continues to view the content corresponding to the content identification information.

[0032] If it is determined in step ST4 that the combination of the content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communications terminal has been registered, then in step ST5, the continuation of viewing of the content corresponding to the content identification information is maintained on that communications terminal. If it is determined in step ST4 that the combination of the content identification information CI and terminal identifier TI sent from the communications terminal has not already been registered, then the process proceeds to step ST6, where the combination (CI, TI) of the content identification information and terminal identifier sent from the communications terminal is registered in the combination registration unit 14. Next, if it is determined in step ST7 that the content identification information of the newly registered combination of content identification information and terminal identifier matches the content identification information already registered, but the terminal identifier (TI') does not match, then the process proceeds to step ST9. In step ST9, the registration of the combination (CI, TI) of the content identification information and terminal identifier whose content identification information matches the identification information already registered, but whose terminal identifier does not match, is deleted from the combination registration unit 14, and viewing of the digital content on the already registered communications terminal is prohibited. Then, the digital content can be viewed on the communication terminal device associated with the newly sent combination (CI, TI') of content identification information and terminal device identifier. If it is determined in step ST7 that the content identification information matches the already registered content identification information and that the terminal device identifier matches, the registration of the already registered combination is maintained in step ST8, and continuation of viewing on the communication terminal device is maintained as in step ST5.

[0033] It is also possible to register the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit 14 in the case where it is determined in step ST7 that the newly sent combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier has a different terminal device identifier from the combination of content identification information and terminal device identifier that has already been registered, without performing step ST6.

[0034] In the above program, the determination unit 13 is realized in the server 1 by steps ST3 to ST7, and the duplicate viewing prohibition unit 15 is realized in the server 1 by steps ST5, ST8 and ST9.

[0035] 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing algorithms for implementing the reception and playback functions of application programs installed in the communication terminals 5, 5' used in the content distribution system of FIG. 1. In step ST21, the program for implementing the reception function of FIG. 3 receives content identification information stored in the communication-enabled storage medium 3 via NFC (near field communication). The received content identification information is stored in the identification information storage unit 52. In step ST22, the received content identification information and the terminal's own terminal identifier are sent from the communication unit 51 to the server 1 to receive the application, and the application is stored in the application storage unit 54, thereby implementing the content execution unit 53. The program of FIG. 4 executes content playback, and starts content viewing in step ST31. In step ST32, the server 1 is accessed to check whether the received content identification information and the terminal's own terminal identifier are registered in the combination registration unit 14. If registration is confirmed in step ST33, the content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server 1 is downloaded and made available for viewing, or is viewed via streaming (step ST34). If it is confirmed in step ST33 that there is no registration, even if the content has been downloaded before, the download is erased and the content cannot be viewed (step ST35). In the case of streaming, streaming is also disabled. By implementing such a function in the communication terminal, it is determined whether or not the content can be viewed.

[0036] The above-described embodiment is an example for implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Furthermore, any changes or improvements to the above-described embodiment do not fall outside the technical scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] According to the method of the present invention, only the person who owns the storage medium with communication function can view the digital content, so the digital content can be transferred as one and only digital data. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 server 3. Storage media with communication functions 5,5´ Communication terminal 11 Communications Department 12. Main Registry 13 Judgment section 14 Combination registration section 15 Duplicate viewing prohibition section 16 Application storage section 17 Content Identification Information Creation Unit CI Content Identification Information

Claims

1. a server that stores a plurality of digital contents and a plurality of pieces of content identification information that are set in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of digital contents; a plurality of storage media with a communication function, each storing the content identification information set for one of the digital contents; A method for distributing digital content using a digital content distribution system including a plurality of communication terminals, each of which has a function of receiving the content identification information stored in the storage medium with communication function, a function of sending the received content identification information and its own terminal identifier to the server, and a function of downloading the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server and making it viewable or making the digital content viewable by streaming, on condition that the content identification information and the terminal identifier are registered in the server, Using the server, a registration step of registering a combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal in a combination registration unit in the server; a determination step of determining whether or not the combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is registered in the combination registration unit; a duplicate viewing prohibition step of: if it is determined in the determination step that the combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier sent from the communication terminal device is not registered, registering the combination in the combination registration unit, and enabling viewing of the digital content on the registered communication terminal device; if it is determined in the determination step that the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier has a different terminal device identifier from an already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier, deleting the registration of the already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier from the combination registration unit, and prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communication terminal device; and registering the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit, and enabling viewing of the digital content on the communication terminal related to the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier.

2. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the communication terminal has a function of checking whether a combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier is registered with the server when the downloaded digital content is viewed, and deleting the downloaded digital content if the combination is not registered.

3. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the server has a function of, when a streaming request is received from the communication terminal, checking whether the combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier is registered, and prohibiting streaming if the combination is not registered.

4. 2. The digital content distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the storage medium with a communication function is a card with an IC tag that is capable of short-distance communication.

5. 5. The digital content distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the card with the IC tag is a transferable item sold for a fee by a creator or publisher of the digital content.

6. a server that stores a plurality of digital contents and content identification information that is set in a one-to-one relationship for the plurality of digital contents; a plurality of storage media with a communication function, each storing content identification information set for one of the digital contents; A computer program used in a server of a digital content distribution system comprising a plurality of communication terminals each having a function of receiving the content identification information stored in the storage medium with communication function, a function of sending the received content identification information and its own terminal identifier to the server, and a function of downloading the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server and making it viewable or making it viewable by streaming the digital content, on condition that the content identification information and the terminal identifier are registered in the server, a combination registration function for registering a combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal in a combination registration unit; a determination function for determining whether or not the combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is registered; a program for a digital content distribution system that implements a duplicate viewing prohibition function that, if the judgment function determines that the combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier sent from the communication terminal device is not registered, registers the combination in the combination registration unit, thereby enabling viewing of the digital content on the registered communication terminal device; if the judgment function determines that the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier has a different terminal device identifier from an already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier, deletes the registration of the already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier from the combination registration unit, thereby prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communication terminal device; and registers the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit, thereby enabling viewing of the digital content on the communication terminal device associated with the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier.

7. The program for a digital content distribution system according to claim 6, wherein the duplicate viewing prohibition function has a function of checking whether the combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier is registered when a streaming request is received from the communication terminal device, and prohibiting streaming if the combination is not registered.

8. a server that stores a plurality of digital contents and content identification information that is set in a one-to-one relationship for the plurality of digital contents; one or more storage media with a communication function that stores the content identification information set for one of the digital contents; a plurality of communication terminals each having a function of receiving the content identification information stored in the storage medium with communication function, a function of sending the received content identification information and its own terminal identifier to the server, and a function of downloading the digital content corresponding to the content identification information sent from the server and making it viewable or making it viewable by streaming the digital content, on the condition that the content identification information and the terminal identifier are registered in the server; The server further a combination registration unit that registers a combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal; a determination unit that determines whether or not the combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier sent from the communication terminal is currently registered; a duplicate viewing prohibition unit that, when the determination unit determines that the combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier sent from the communication terminal device is not registered, registers the combination in the combination registration unit, thereby enabling viewing of the digital content on the registered communication terminal device; and, when the determination unit determines that the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier has a terminal device identifier that is different from that of the already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier, deletes the registration of the already registered combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier from the combination registration unit, thereby prohibiting viewing of the digital content on the already registered communication terminal device; and registers the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier in the combination registration unit, thereby enabling viewing of the digital content on the communication terminal device associated with the newly sent combination of the content identification information and the terminal device identifier.

9. The digital content distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the communication terminal has a function of checking whether a combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier is registered with the server when the downloaded digital content is viewed, and deleting the downloaded digital content if the combination is not registered.

10. The digital content distribution system according to claim 8, wherein the server has a function of, when a streaming request is received from the communication terminal, checking whether the combination of the content identification information and the terminal identifier is registered, and prohibiting streaming if the combination is not registered.

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