Communication terminal, portable terminal, circulating server, providing server, electronic book distributing method, and eletronic book distributing program

Abstract

A portable terminal according to the present invention is provided with an electronic book coupon storage, a book data receiver, an electronic book coupon deductor, and a book data decryptor. The electronic book coupon storage stores an electronic book coupon used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of page data units, along with a decryption key used in decryption of the plurality of page data units. The book data receiver receives the book data from an electronic book providing server. The electronic book coupon deductor deducts an electronic worth equivalent to a price according to page data requested to be read out, from the electronic book coupon. The book data decryptor decrypts the page data in steps of one page data unit by use of the decryption key in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth.

1 . A communication terminal, comprising: 
 an electronic value storage unit configured to store an electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key, said decryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;    an electronic book request transmitter configured to transmit an electronic book readout request to an electronic book providing server;    a book data receiver configured to receive the book data from the electronic book providing server;    a deductor configured to deduct electronic worth from the electronic value storage unit, according to the component data requested to be read out by the readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit from the electronic value; and    a component data decryptor configured to decrypt component data in increments of one component data unit by use of said decryption key, wherein the decryptor decrypts said component data unit after the deduction of the electronic worth by the deductor.    
     
     
         2 . The communication terminal according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic value receiver configured to receive the electronic value and the decryption key from a circulating server, 
 wherein the electronic value unit is configured to store the electronic value and the decryption key received by the electronic value receiver.    
     
     
         3 . A portable terminal, comprising: 
 an electronic value storage unit configured to store an electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key, said decryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;    an electronic book request transmitter configured to transmit an electronic book readout request to an electronic book providing server;    a book data receiver configured to receive the book data from the electronic book providing server;    a deductor configured to deduct electronic worth from the electronic value storage unit, according to the component data requested to be read out by the readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit; and    a component data decryptor configured to decrypt the component data in increments of one component data unit by use of said decryption key, wherein the terminal decrypts said component data after the deduction of the electronic worth by the deductor.    
     
     
         4 . The portable terminal according to  claim 3 , further comprising an electronic value receiver configured to receive the electronic value and the decryption key from a circulating server, 
 wherein the electronic value storage unit is configured to store the electronic value and the decryption key received by the electronic value receiver.    
     
     
         5 . The portable terminal according to  claim 3 , wherein the book data receiver is configured to receive the book data in increments of one component data unit from the providing server.  
     
     
         6 . The portable terminal according to  claim 3 , further comprising a bill information transmitter configured to transmit information for specifying the component data and price, as bill information to the circulating server.  
     
     
         7 . The portable terminal according to  claim 6 , wherein the bill information transmitter is configured to transmit the bill information to the circulating server in conjunction with a charge request to replenish the electronic value of the portable terminal from the circulating server.  
     
     
         8 . The portable terminal according to  claim 7 , further comprising a charge information receiver configured to receive charge information to replenish the electronic value of the portable terminal from the circulating server, 
 wherein said electronic value is replenished based on the charge information received by the charge information receiver.    
     
     
         9 . The portable terminal according to  claim 3 , wherein said electronic value storage unit is comprised of a tamper-resistant device, and 
 wherein the component data decryptor is configured to decrypt the component data in increments of one component data unit inside the electronic value storage unit.    
     
     
         10 . The portable terminal according to  claim 3 , wherein said decryption key is used in decryption of a second decryption key for decryption of said plurality of component data units, and 
 wherein, in conjunction with the deduction of the electronic worth according to the component data by the deductor, the component data decryptor is configured to decrypt the second decryption key for decryption of the component data units in increments of one component data unit by use of the decryption key and to decrypt the component data in increments of one component data unit.    
     
     
         11 . A circulating server configured to communicate with a communication terminal, said circulating server comprising: 
 an electronic value storage unit configured to store an electronic value along with a decryption key, said electronic value and said decryption key configured to be transmitted to the communications terminal, wherein said electronic value and said decryption key are stored in an electronic value storage unit of the terminal so that said terminal acquires with said electronic value at least one of component data units of book data, from a providing server; and    an electronic value transmitter configured to transmit said electronic value and said decryption key to the communication terminal, wherein the terminal is configured to decrypt said component data after deducting an electronic worth from the electronic value of the electronic value storage unit of the terminal, in accordance with the component data indicated in a readout request by the terminal, said electronic worth associated with said component data unit.    
     
     
         12 . A circulating server according to  claim 11 , wherein said server is configured to connect to a portable terminal as said communication terminal.  
     
     
         13 . A circulating server according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a bill information receiver configured to receive bill information from the portable terminal; and    a bill information storage unit configured to store the bill information received by the bill information receiver, in correspondence to identification information of the portable terminal.    
     
     
         14 . A circulating server according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a bill information receiver configured to receive bill information from the portable terminal;    a collection information storage unit configured to store a collected bill payment for each of said book data in correspondence to the bill information received by the bill information receiver, as collection information; and    a profit allocator configured to allocate the collected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of the collection information stored in the collection information storage unit.    
     
     
         15 . The circulating server according to  claim 12 , wherein the electronic value storage unit of the circulating server is configured to be tamper-resistant, and 
 wherein said electronic value is configured to be transmitted and received between the electronic value storage unit of the circulating server and the electronic value storage unit of the portable terminal, in conformity to a protocol defined between the circulating server and the portable terminal.    
     
     
         16 . A providing server configured to be connected to a communication terminal, said providing server comprising: 
 book data encrypting means for encrypting book data containing a plurality of component data units, in steps of one component data unit; and    book data transmitting means for transmitting the book data encrypted by the book data encrypting means to the communication terminal where the terminal decrypts said encrypted book data substantially in conjunction with an electronic worth associated with said component data unit being deducted from an electronic value stored in said terminal.    
     
     
         17 . A providing server according to  claim 16 , wherein said server is configured to connect to a portable terminal as said communication terminal.  
     
     
         18 . The providing server according to  claim 17 , wherein the book data transmitting means transmits the book data in steps of one component data unit to the portable terminal.  
     
     
         19 . The providing server according to  claim 17 , further comprising decryption key encrypting means for encrypting a plurality of decryption keys for decryption of the plurality of component data units in the book data.  
     
     
         20 . An electronic book distributing method for a portable terminal, said electronic book distributing method comprising: 
 storing in a storage unit of the portable terminal an electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;    sending a readout request from the portable terminal to a providing server, for readout of component data of the book data from the providing server;    receiving the book data from the providing server to a book data receiver of the portable terminal;    when sending the readout request, deducting, by the portable terminal, in accordance with the readout request an electronic worth from the electronic value stored in said storage unit of the portable terminal, according to the component data requested to be read out in the sending, in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit and decrypting, by the portable terminal, the component data in-increments of one component data unit by use of said decryption key after deducting the electronic worth according to the component data unit.    
     
     
         21 . An electronic book distributing method for a circulating server configured to be connected to a portable terminal, said electronic book distributing method comprising: 
 transmitting an electronic value along with a decryption key to the portable terminal, said terminal configured to store said electronic value and said decryption key, wherein said terminal is configured to deduct an electronic worth from said electronic value stored in a storage unit of said terminal, according to component data of book data requested to be read out in a readout request sent by the terminal to a providing server,    decrypting with said terminal said component data in increments of one component data unit with said decryption key.    
     
     
         22 . An electronic book distributing method for a circulating server according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 receiving bill information from the portable terminal; and    storing in a storage unit of the circulating server the bill information received in the bill information receiving, in correspondence to identification information of the portable terminal.    
     
     
         23 . An electronic book distributing method for a circulating server according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 receiving bill information from the portable terminal;    storing in a storage unit of the circulating server a collected bill payment for each said book data in correspondence to the bill information received in the bill information receiving, as collection information; and    allocating the collected bill payment at a predetermined ratio on the basis of the collection information.    
     
     
         24 . An electronic book distributing method for a providing server configured to be connected to a portable terminal, said electronic book distributing method comprising: 
 encrypting book data containing a plurality of component data units, in steps of one component data unit; and    transmitting the book data encrypted in the book data encrypting step to the portable terminal, said portable terminal configured to store an electronic value and a decryption key, where the terminal deducts an electronic worth from said electronic value and substantially in conjunction decrypts said component data unit of the book data received from the providing server.    
     
     
         25 . An electronic book distributing computer program product, having instructions that when executed by a processor perform increments comprising: 
 storing in a storage unit of a portable terminal an electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;    sending a readout request for readout of component data of the book data from a providing server;    receiving the book data from the providing server to a book data receiver of the portable terminal;    when sending the readout request, deducting an electronic worth from the electronic value stored in said storage unit of the portable terminal, according to the component data requested to be read out in the sending, in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit and    decrypting, by the portable terminal, the component data in increments of one component data unit by use of said decryption key after the deduction of the electronic worth according to the component data.    
     
     
         26 . A communication terminal configured to be connected to a book distribution system, said communication terminal comprising: 
 electronic value storing means for storing an electronic value on the communication terminal, said electronic value used in acquisition of book data containing a plurality of component data units, along with a decryption key said decryption key used in decryption of at least one of the plurality of component data units;    electronic book request transmitting means for transmitting an electronic book readout request to an electronic book providing server;    book data receiving means for receiving the book data from the providing server;    deducting means for deducting an electronic worth from the electronic value storing means of the communication terminal, according to the component data requested to be read out by the readout request, in increments of an electronic worth of one component data unit from the electronic value; and    component data decrypting means for decrypting component data in increments of one component data unit by use of said decryption key, wherein the decrypting means decrypts said component data after the deduction of the electronic worth by the deducting means.    
     
     
         27 . A circulating server configured to communicate with a communication terminal and a book distribution system, said circulating server comprising: 
 an electronic value storing means for storing an electronic value along with a decryption key, said electronic value and said decryption key to be transmitted to the terminal, wherein said electronic value and said decryption key are stored in an electronic value storing means of the terminal so that said terminal acquires with said electronic value at least one of the component data units of book data from a providing server; and    an electronic value transmitting means for transmitting said electronic value and said decryption key to the communication terminal wherein the terminal is configured to decrypt said component data after deducting an electronic worth from the electronic value of the electronic value storing means of the terminal, in accordance with the component data indicated in a readout request by the terminal, said electronic worth associated with said component data unit.