Support Server Automating Content Distribution Route Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack an efficient method for determining the distribution route of content, such as film data, via a communication network, leading to high operational burdens and costs due to the need for manual negotiation among content creators, distributors, and movie theater managers.

Innovation Solution

A support server system that receives and stores facility and advertising agent condition information, enabling the selection of optimal content user terminals and advertising agents based on predefined criteria, thereby automating the determination of content distribution routes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual negotiation is used to determine distribution routes among content creators, distributors, and movie theater managers, then flexibility and customization are improved, but operational burden and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution route customizationVSAvoidtime for negotiation and route determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support server automatically performs the distribution route determination function that previously required manual negotiation among multiple parties. By implementing self-service automation, the system eliminates the time-consuming negotiation process while maintaining the ability to customize distribution routes based on predefined conditions and parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system requires preliminary registration of distribution conditions, facility information, and content specifications before the actual distribution route determination. This preliminary action enables the automated system to quickly match content with appropriate distribution routes without requiring real-time negotiation, thus reducing time loss while preserving customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual negotiation is used to determine distribution routes, then detailed customization is improved, but device complexity and operational cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution route customizationVSAvoidsystem complexity for route determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support server acts as an intermediary between content creators, distributors, and movie theaters, centralizing the route determination function. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture by replacing complex multi-party negotiation processes with a single automated system that handles all routing decisions based on registered conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical process of manual negotiation and paper-based route determination with an automated information processing system. This substitution eliminates the need for complex human coordination mechanisms while maintaining detailed customization capabilities through software-based condition matching and route optimization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of energy

If film data is distributed via communication network instead of physical film, then distribution cost is reduced, but the problem of determining distribution route remains unresolved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution costVSAvoidease of route determination

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support server automatically performs route determination without requiring manual intervention, making the electronic distribution process truly effortless. This self-service automation resolves the remaining operational burden of route determination that persisted even after transitioning from physical to electronic film distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

By requiring preliminary registration of distribution conditions, facility capabilities, and content requirements, the system prepares all necessary information in advance. This preliminary action enables the automated route determination to proceed smoothly without requiring subsequent manual negotiation, thus fully realizing the operational ease benefits of electronic distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7577976B2Support server, support method, and program for determining providing route of content

Publication Date: 2009.08.18 RAKUTEN GROUP INC

AI summary

A support server receives via a communication network, facility condition information provided by a content providing terminal that provides a content, showing the condition of the facility where a content is used, and facility information provided by a content user terminal, which is set in the facility where the content is used. The support server stores the received facility condition information and the facility information in a database. The support server extracts facility information that meets the condition shown by the stored facility condition information, from the stored facility information. Then, the support server selects the content user terminal set in the facility specified by the extracted facility information, as the providing destination of the content.