Patent Publication Number: US-2002010738-A1

Title: Content managing system and content managing method

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a content managing system and a content managing method for use in a system that allows the contents of files containing moving pictures, still pictures, and music programs to be totally managed.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] A service that provides files containing moving pictures, still pictures, music programs, and so forth through a network is becoming attractive. In such a conventional content delivering service, when a user purchases content, he or she accesses a particular server that delivers the content through a user terminal unit and downloads a file containing the desired content through the network.  
       [0005] In recent years, servers that deliver content such as moving pictures, still pictures, music programs, and so forth have been used on a network. When such a service is used, a user terminal unit is connected to a server that delivers content through the network. When the user terminal unit is connected to such a server, the names of various content and data about the various content that the server provides are displayed. When the user purchases particular content, the user terminal unit transmits a download request for the desired content to the server.  
       [0006] When the server receives the download request for the desired content, the server retrieves the file of the desired content from a predetermined library and transfers the retrieved file to the user terminal unit through the network. The file containing the content is stored to a hard disk drive or the like of the user terminal unit.  
       [0007] In the conventional content delivery service, when a user purchases a content, the file containing the content is directly transferred from the server to the user terminal unit through the network. However, since the amount of data in a file containing a moving picture, a still picture, a music program, or the like is large, it takes a long time to download the file. Sometimes, the download of the file may fail.  
       [0008] In addition, the capacity of the storage of the user terminal unit is limited. When the conventional content delivery service is used, the storage becomes full with files of content having large data amounts. Thus, it becomes difficult to manage the files. Moreover, when the user terminal unit manages the content files, they may be destroyed or mistakenly erased.  
       [0009] To solve such a problem, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a system that allows a user to easily purchase one or more files of content and that integrally manages content.  
       [0010] In the proposed system, a content managing company has a content library, a library managing server, a customer file storage, a customer file managing server, a delivery managing database, and a delivery managing server. The content library stores various content that the content managing company provides and sells. The library managing server manages the content library. The customer file storage stores content of users. The customer file managing server manages the customer file storage. The delivery managing database stores delivery information. The delivery managing server manages the delivery of content. User areas for individual users are assigned in the customer file storage. A user terminal unit is connected to a server of the content managing company through a network.  
       [0011] The customer file storage provides a user area for storing content of a user who made a contract with the content managing company. The user can freely use the user area of the customer file storage in the range of the contracted capacity while the contract is valid. The user can add, delete, and move content stored in the user area. In addition, the user can store files containing content that he or she has purchased to the user area.  
       [0012] To make the services of the content managing company more attractive, it is preferred that each user is allowed to actively join the service and that the services include providing, selling, and searching content.  
       [0013] Thus, the content managing company may provide a service for storing content such as a photographs that a user photographed to the user area and creating an album of the stored contents. In such an album creating service, it is preferred to provide a service for creating an album of photographs that are categorized as a person, a trip, or an event corresponding to the preference of the user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a content managing system and a content managing method that allow a content managing service to be provided over a network and allow the operability of such a service to be improved.  
       [0015] A first aspect of the present invention is a content managing system having a content managing portion comprising a customer file storage device, having a plurality of areas, assigned to individual users, for storing content files for the users, and a customer file managing system for managing the customer file storage device, wherein the content managing portion and a user terminal unit are connected through a network, the user terminal unit operates the content managing portion through the network so as to manage the content files for the users, and wherein when a content file of a user is stored to the area for the user of the customer file storing means, an attribute of the content file is determined, the attribute is added to the content file, and the resultant file is stored to the area for the user.  
       [0016] A second aspect of the present invention is a content managing method having a content managing portion for assigning storage areas to individual users and storing content files for the individual users to the individual user areas, the content managing portion and a user terminal unit being connected through a network, the user terminal unit operating the content managing portion through the network so as to manage the content files for the users, the method comprising the steps of deciding an attribute of the content file when the content file for a user is stored to the storage area for the user, adding the attribute to the content file, and storing the resultant file to the storage area for the user.  
       [0017] The content managing company has a content library, a library managing server, a customer file storage, a customer file managing server, a delivery managing database, and a delivery managing server. The content library stores various content that the content managing company provides and sells. The library managing server manages the content library. The customer file storage stores the content of users. The customer file managing server manages the customer file storage. The delivery managing database stores delivery information. The delivery managing server manages the delivery of content. User areas for individual users are assigned in the customer file storage. A user terminal unit is connected to a server of the content managing company through a network.  
       [0018] The customer file storage provides a user area for storing content of a user who made a contract with the content managing company. The user can freely use the user area of the customer file storage in the range of the contracted capacity while the contract is valid. The user can add, delete, and move content stored in the user area. In addition, the user can store the content files that he or she has purchased to the user area.  
       [0019] A still picture file that a user photographed is transmitted from the user terminal unit to the customer managing server through the network. The still picture file is uploaded to the user area for the user of the customer file storage.  
       [0020] When a still picture file is uploaded to the user area, an attribute is added to the still picture file and registered to the database. As a result, with still picture files sorted corresponding to each attribute, an album can be created. Alternatively, with still picture files extracted corresponding to the same attribute, an album can be created.  
       [0021] When an album creation command is transmitted from the user terminal unit, a still picture file stored in the user area is sent to the album creating portion. The album creating portion creates an album. The created album is delivered to the house of the user. 
     
    
    
     [0022] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of a content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0024]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0026]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0028]FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining an attribute added to a still picture file;  
     [0029]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0030]FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0031]FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0032]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0033]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0034]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0035]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0036]FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0037]FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0038]FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention;  
     [0039]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention; and  
     [0040]FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for explaining a page in the content managing system according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0041] Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of a system according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral is a content managing company. The content managing company  1  totally manages content data of moving pictures such as movies and dramas, content data of still pictures, content data of music programs, and so forth. In addition, the content managing company  1  provides a service for storing the content of users as well as a service for selling and providing content.  
     [0042] The content managing company  1  has a content library  11 , a library managing server  12 , a customer file storage  13 , a customer file managing server  14 , a delivery managing database  15 , and a delivery managing server  16 . The content library  11  stores various content that the content managing company  1  provides and sells. The library managing server  12  manages the content library  11 . The customer file storage  13  stores the content of users. The customer file managing server  14  manages the customer file storage  13 . The delivery managing database  15  stores delivery information. The delivery managing server  16  manages the delivery of content. In addition, the content managing company  1  has a mail processing server  17 . The mail processing server  17  exchanges message with customers.  
     [0043] These servers  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  17  are connected to a network so that data are exchanged therebetween. In addition, these severs  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  17  can be connected to the network  3  through a communication interface  19 . The network  3  is for example the Internet.  
     [0044] These servers  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  17  may be provided by dedicated computers, respectively. Alternatively, the servers  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  17  may be provided by a single computer. The content library  11 , the customer file storage  13 , and the customer database  15  may be provided by a storage device of a server or by dedicated computers. In addition, these servers  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  17  and the content library  11 , the customer file storage  13 , and the customer database  15  may be managed by different companies rather than the same company.  
     [0045] A user terminal unit  2  is a terminal unit that each user operates. The user terminal unit  2  can be provided by a personal computer. The user terminal unit  2  has a communicating function. The user terminal unit  2  can be connected to the network  3 . The user terminal unit  2  may be connected to the network  3  through a telephone line, a network service of a CATV (Cable Television), a network service of a cellular phone, a dedicated line, or the like.  
     [0046] The content library  11  has a storage device having a large storage capacity so that it can store large amounts of different content data that the content managing company  1  provides and sells. As shown in FIG. 2, the various content is stored in files. Each content file stored in the content library  11  is managed with “file name”, “registered date and time”, “genre”, “file size”, “file format”, “fee”, and “title of content”.  
     [0047] The “file name” is a uniquely designated name of each content file so as to identify it. The “registered date and time” is the date and time at which each content file will be registered or was registered. The “title of content” is a field that represents the title of each content file. The “title of content” may contain a still picture of a typical scene, a moving picture thereof, an audio guide, or the like. The “genre” is information as to how each content file is categorized. The “file size” is the size of each content file. The “file size” is normally a value expressed as bytes. Alternatively, the “file size” may be a special parameter corresponding to each file format. For example, in the case of a moving picture, the “file size” may be a value expressed as the reproduction time of the moving picture. The “file format” is information that represents the format of each content file. The “fee” is the fee necessary for purchasing each content file. The “fee” may contain copyright information.  
     [0048] The library managing server  12  manages the content library  11 . When another device on the network transmits a content request to the library managing server  12 , it searches the content library  11  for the requested content file and transfers the retrieved content file to the device. In other words, the library managing server  12  has a searching function. When the library managing server  12  receives a keyword, the library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for a content file that contains the keyword and outputs the searched result. In addition, the library managing server  12  can output the searched result corresponding to the file name, the registered date and time, the genre, the file size, the fee, and the title of the content.  
     [0049] In addition to content files stored in the content library  11 , the library managing server  12  manages content files that are scheduled to be delivered later. Corresponding to a request received from an external device, the library managing server  12  can provide information about content files that are scheduled to be delivered later and output the searched result. When the library managing server  12  receives a content file that will be newly delivered, the library managing server  12  registers the content file to the content library  11 .  
     [0050] The customer file storage  13  provides a user area  18  that a user who made a contract with the content managing company  1  can use for storing content. As shown in FIG. 3, the customer file storage  13  assigns a record capacity to each user. Each user is managed with a unique user ID. The total capacity for each user is designated corresponding to a contract that each user made with the content managing company  1 . Corresponding to the contract, the total capacity is designated and assigned as the user area  18  for each user. Each user can freely use the assigned user area  18  of the customer file storage  13  in the range of the contracted capacity in the period corresponding to the contract. In other words, each user can store a new content file to the user area  18 , delete a content file from the user area  18 , move a content file in the user area  18 , and download a content file stored in the user area  18  to the user terminal unit  2 . The user can store his or her own content files to the user area  18 .  
     [0051] When the content managing company  1  makes a contract with each user, the content managing company  1  will charge the user corresponding to the size of the user area  18 . Of course, the content managing company  1  can change the size of the user area  18  later.  
     [0052] Each user can purchase content data stored in the content library  11  and content files that are scheduled to be delivered later. The user can store a purchased content file to the user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . In addition, the user can store a content file that he or she created to the user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 .  
     [0053] The customer file managing server  14  manages content files stored in the user area  18  for each user of the customer file storage  13  using a database shown in FIG. 4. The customer file managing server  14  can perform for example, a file searching process, a file transferring process, a file deleting process, and so forth. The file managing server  14  prohibits each user from accessing the user area  18  assigned to another user.  
     [0054] As shown in FIG. 4, each user is managed with a unique user ID. Each content file stored by each user is managed with the user ID, the file name, the genre, the file size, and the storage record area. An automatic delete option is added to each content file. When the automatic delete option is added to a content file, the content file is deleted when the capacity of the user area  18  runs out and can no longer store new content files. Moreover, the customer file managing server  14  performs a record capacity increasing/decreasing process for the user area corresponding to a changed contract, a contract period managing process, and so forth.  
     [0055] The delivery managing server  16  manages the delivery of content data. When the delivery managing server  16  receives a content purchase request from a user, the delivery managing server  16  creates delivery management information for each user in the delivery managing database  15 . As shown in FIG. 5, the delivery managing database  15  is managed with the user ID, the file name, the requested date and time, the scheduled file registration date and time, the capacity, the genre, and the file transferred date.  
     [0056] When a user purchases content, a file purchase request command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2  to the delivery managing server  16  through the network  3 . Corresponding to the purchase request, delivery management information for each user is created in the delivery managing database  15 .  
     [0057] The delivery managing server  16  sends a copy command to the library managing server  12  for copying the content file to the user area  18  for the user. The library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for a file containing the desired content. When the content library  11  contains the file, the library managing server  12  retrieves the file from the content library  11 , and sends the retrieved file to the customer file managing server  14 . The customer file managing server  14  copies the file to the user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 .  
     [0058] Thus, the content purchasing process can be accomplished as a copying process for copying a file from the content library  11  to the user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . Since the capacity of a content file containing a moving picture is large, it takes a long time to transfer the file. In contrast, according to such a system, since the content file is copied between servers on the same network, the content purchasing process can be quickly completed. In addition, a situation in which the download of the content file fails does not take place.  
     [0059] A user can access his or her assigned user area  18  through the user terminal unit  2 . As was described above, a content file that a user purchased is stored in the user area  18 . The user can access the user area  18  and download it to the user terminal unit  2  or reproduce it on a real time basis (as the streaming reproducing operation).  
     [0060] In the system, as was described above, a user area for storing content is assigned to each user who has made a contract with the content managing company  1 . Each user can use a content purchase service and other services with the user area.  
     [0061] Next, services provided by the content managing company  1  will be described.  
     [0062] The user terminal unit  2  has a communicating function for connecting it to the network  3 . A browser that allows the user to browse web pages is installed to the user terminal unit  2 . When the user uses a service provided by the content managing company  1 , he or she makes a contract with the content managing company  1 . After the user has entered a contract with the content managing company  1 , it assigns a user ID and a password to the user.  
     [0063] When a user who has entered a contract with the content managing company  1  wants to use the services of the content managing company  1 , he or she connects the user terminal unit  2  to the network  3 , starts up the browser, and accesses the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of the content managing company  1 . When the user terminal unit  2  accesses the URL of the content managing company  1 , it transmits an authentication page to the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0064] The authentication page contains a user ID input box and a password input box. The user inputs the user ID and the password assigned by the content managing company  1  to those boxes and then clicks a login button.  
     [0065] When the user inputs the user ID and the password to those boxes and then clicks the login button, the content managing company  1  performs an authenticating process for determining whether or not the accessed user is a user who made a contract with the content managing company  1 . When the content managing company  1  has authenticated the user as a valid user, the content managing company  1  transmits a user home page to the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0066] The user home page is a home page that is dedicated for each user and that is necessary for using the services of the content managing company  1 . The user home page displays the user ID of the user, the total capacity of the user&#39;s user area, the used capacity, and so forth. In addition, the user home page displays an input for checking the used state of the user area of the user, an input for purchasing content, and an input for using various services.  
     [0067] When the user checks for the used state of the user area  18 , he or she clicks a predetermined area on the home page. At a result, a user area used state request command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The user area used state request command is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0068] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the user area used state request command, the customer file managing server  14  checks for the used state of the user area  18  corresponding to the user ID of the user. With the managing database shown in FIG. 4, the customer file managing server  14  checks for the used state of the user area  18  for the user and transmits a user stored content list page to the user terminal unit  2 . The user can view the used state of the user area  18  on the user stored content list page.  
     [0069] The user can download a content file stored in the user area  18  or reproduce the contents of the content file on a real time basis (as the streaming reproducing operation).  
     [0070] When the user reproduces a content file stored in the user area  18  on a real time basis (as the streaming reproducing operation), he or she designates the name of the content file, then clicks a predetermined button. As a result, a streaming reproduction request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The steaming reproduction request command for the file is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0071] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the steaming reproduction request command from the user terminal unit  2 , the customer file managing server  14  retrieves the designated file from the user area  18  and transfers the data of the file to the user terminal unit  2  for the streaming reproducing operation. At that point, the user terminal unit  2  starts up an application for the streaming reproducing operation for the moving picture contained in the file. When the customer file managing server  14  transmits the data from the file to the user terminal unit  2 , the application for the streaming reproducing operation reproduces the content corresponding to the transmitted data.  
     [0072] When the user stores the content file, he or she designates the file and clicks a predetermined button. As a result, a file transfer request command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The file transfer request command is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0073] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the file transfer request command, the customer file managing server  14  retrieves the designated file from the user area  18  and transfers the retrieved file to the user terminal unit  2 . The content file transferred from the customer file managing server  14  is stored to the hard disk drive or other storage device of the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0074] When the user purchases content, he or she inputs the file name of the content to a redetermined box of the purchase page. The file name may be selected from a box that contains a plurality of file names. Alternatively, contents may be narrowed down corresponding to the searched result so that the user can select a file name from the narrowed result. When the user inputs the file name and clicks the purchase button, a file purchase request command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The file purchase request command is transmitted to the delivery managing server  16  through the network  3 .  
     [0075] When the delivery managing server  16  receives the file purchase request command, the delivery managing server  16  registers the file purchased state to the delivery managing database shown in FIG. 5 and transmits a copy command for copying the file to the user area  18  for the user to the library managing server  12 .  
     [0076] When the library managing server  12  receives the copy command, the library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for the file. When the content library  11  contains the file, the library managing server  12  retrieves the file from the content library  11  and copies the file to the designated user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . As a result, the content purchasing process is completed.  
     [0077] When the requested file is scheduled to be delivered later, the library managing server  12  notifies the delivery managing server  16  of the scheduled delivery date. On the scheduled delivery date, the delivery managing server  16  sends a copy command for copying the file to the user area  18  for the user to the library managing server  12 . When the library managing server  12  receives the copy command, the library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for the file. When the content library  11  contains the file, the library managing server  12  retrieves the file from the content library  11  and copies the file to the designated user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . As a result, the content purchasing process is completed.  
     [0078] After the content file corresponding to the purchase request has been copied from the library to the user area  18  of the user and the content purchasing process has been completed, a charging process is performed for the fee associated with the content purchase.  
     [0079] In the system, as described above, a user area  18  is assigned to each user. A purchased content file can be stored to the user area  18 . In addition, since the user area  18  can be used for storing content that the user has created, he or she can use a service associated with storing his or her own content files.  
     [0080] For example, each user can use a service for creating an album using content files containing photographs that the user photographed (still picture files) stored in the user area  18 .  
     [0081] A still picture file that the user photographed is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2  to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 . The still picture file is uploaded to the user area  18  for the user of the customer file storage  13 . Before the still picture file is uploaded, the user can edit it using a photograph editing application. The photograph editing process may be provided as a service of the content managing company  1 . The still picture file uploaded to the user area  18  is registered to the database of the customer file managing server  14 .  
     [0082] When an album creation command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 , a still picture file stored in the user area  18  is sent to the album creating portion  21 . The album creating portion  21  creates an album  22 . The created album  22  is delivered to the house of the user.  
     [0083] In the album creating service, it is preferred to create an album of still picture files categorized corresponding to a person, a trip, or an event.  
     [0084] In this example, when a still picture file is uploaded to the user area  18 , an attribute is added to the still picture file and registered to the database. As a result, with still picture files sorted corresponding to each attribute, an album can be created. Alternatively, with still picture files extracted corresponding to the same attribute, an album can be created.  
     [0085] In other words, the content managing company  1  has a photograph file managing server  20 . When a user uses the album creating service, he or she pre-registers reference information as a key of an attribute to the photograph file managing server  20  of the content managing company  1 . The reference information is a representative still picture that tends to be uploaded with a high probability. For example, when the user creates an album of photographs of his or her family, he or she registers the photographs of the faces and the names of the family members as keys of the reference information. The reference information may be pictures or keywords.  
     [0086] When a still picture file is uploaded from the user terminal unit  2 , the photograph file managing server  20  compares information of pre-registered contents with information of the uploaded file and performs a similarity searching process for determining reference information that is similar to the still picture file. Corresponding to the determined result, the photograph file managing server  20  adds a proper attribute to the still picture file. When photographs of the faces and the names of the family members are pre-registered as keys of the reference information, the photograph file managing server  20  compares the information of the uploaded still picture file with the information of each photograph of the faces of the family members, obtains the most similar information of the family member, and adds a relevant attribute of the name of the family member to the still picture file.  
     [0087]FIG. 6 is a block diagram for explaining such a process. In FIG. 6, a reference information database  31  pre-stores reference information as keys of attributes. When data are uploaded, a search engine  33  compares the uploaded data  32  with the reference information registered in the reference information database  31  and executes the similarity searching process. Corresponding to the most similar reference information as the result of the similarity searching process, a relevant attribute is added to the uploaded data.  
     [0088] As described above, when a still picture file is uploaded, a relevant attribute is added to the still picture file and registered to the database. As a result, with attributes, still pictures can be sorted and extracted. Thus, an album of photographs categorized corresponding to a person, a trip, or an event can be easily created.  
     [0089] FIGS.  7  to  18  show examples of pages provided by the content managing company. When a user who made a contract with the content managing company  1  uses a service thereof, he or she connects the user terminal unit  2  to the network  3 , starts up the browser, and accesses the URL of the content managing company  1 . When the user terminal unit  2  accesses the URL of the content managing company  1 , the content managing company  1  transmits an authentication page shown in FIG. 7 to the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0090] The authentication page contains a user ID input box  51  and a password input box  52 . The user enters a user ID and a password assigned by the content managing company  1  to the boxes  51  and  52  and then clicks a login button  53 .  
     [0091] When the user enters the user ID and the password to the boxes  51  and  52  and clicks the login button  53 , the content managing company  1  performs the authenticating process that determines whether or not the user is a valid user who has a contract with the content managing company  1 . When the content managing company  1  has authenticated the user as a valid user, the content managing company  1  transmits a user home page shown in FIG. 8 to the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0092] The user home page is a home page dedicated for each individual user who uses the services of the content managing company  1 . The user home page displays an indication  54  for the user ID, the total capacity of the user area, the used capacity, and so forth.  
     [0093] The user home page also displays an input  55  for checking for the used state of the user area  18  for each user, an input  56  for purchasing content, an input  57  for using various services, and an input  58  for designating various options. The user home page may display an input  59  for recommended content.  
     [0094] When the user clicks the input  55  for checking for the used state of the user area  18 , a user area used state request command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The user area used state request command is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0095] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the user area used state request command, the customer file managing server  14  checks for the used state of the user area  18  corresponding to the user ID of the user. The customer file managing server  14  checks for the user area  18  of the user using the management table shown in FIG. 4 and transmits a user stored content list page shown in FIG. 9 to the user terminal unit  2 . The user can check for the used state of the user area  18  on the user stored content list page shown in FIG. 9.  
     [0096] The user stored content list page displays a file name indication  61 , a genre indication  62 , a size indication  63 , and a automatic delete YES/NO indication  64 . Each row of the user stored content list page displays an open button  65  and a store button  66 .  
     [0097] When the user clicks the file name indication  61 , a content explanation request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The content explanation request command for the file is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0098] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the content explanation request command, the customer file managing server  14  checks for the content explanation with the management table shown in FIG. 4 and transmits a content explanation page to the user terminal unit  2 . The user can view the content explanation on the content explanation page.  
     [0099] In FIG. 9, when the user clicks the automatic delete YES/NO indication  64 , an automatic delete option change command is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The automatic delete option change command is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 . When the customer file managing server  14  receives the automatic delete option change command, the customer file managing server  14  changes the automatic delete YES/NO option of the management table shown in FIG. 4.  
     [0100] When the user clicks the open button  65 , a streaming reproduction request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The streaming reproduction request command is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0101] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the streaming reproduction request command, the customer file managing server  14  retrieves the designated file from the user area  18  and transfers the data contained in the file to the user terminal unit  2  for the streaming reproducing operation. At that point, the user terminal unit  2  starts up the application for the streaming reproducing operation for the moving picture. When the customer file managing server  14  transmits the data contained in the file to the user terminal unit  2 , the streaming reproducing application reproduces the content corresponding to the transmitted data.  
     [0102] When the user clicks the store button  66 , a transfer request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The transfer request command for the file is transmitted to the customer file managing server  14  through the network  3 .  
     [0103] When the customer file managing server  14  receives the transfer request command for the file, the customer file managing server  14  retrieves the designated file from the user area  18  and transfers the retrieved file to the user terminal unit  2 . The content file transferred from the customer file managing server  14  is stored to the hard disk drive or other storage device of the user terminal unit  2 .  
     [0104] On the user home page shown in FIG. 8, when the user clicks the content purchase indication  56 , a content purchase page as shown in FIG. 11 is transmitted to the user terminal unit  2 . The content purchase page displays a purchase request indication  71 , a purchase confirmation indication  72 , a delivery schedule indication  73 , and a library search indication  74 .  
     [0105] When the user clicks the purchase request indication  71 , as shown in FIG. 12, a purchase page is transmitted to the user terminal unit  2 . The purchase page displays a purchase file name input box  75 . When the user inputs a desired file name to the input box  75  and clicks an OK button  76 , a search request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The search request command for the file is transmitted to the library managing server  12  through the network  3 .  
     [0106] When the library managing server  12  receives the search request command for the file, the library managing server  12  searches the database shown in FIG. 2 for a content with the designated file name. When the database contains the content with the designated file name, the library managing server  12  retrieves the content from the database and transmits the content data to the user terminal unit  2 . The purchase page displays information  77  about the content as shown in FIG. 12.  
     [0107] The user can check the information  77  to ensure that the content file contains the desired content. When the user wants to purchase the content, he or she clicks a purchase button  78 .  
     [0108] When the user clicks the purchase button  78 , a purchase request command for the file is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The purchase request command for the file is transmitted to the delivery managing server  16  through the network  3 .  
     [0109] When the delivery managing server  16  receives the purchase request command for the file, the delivery managing server  16  registers the file purchased state to the delivery managing database shown in FIG. 5 and sends a command for copying the file to the user area  18  of the user who requested the file to the library managing server  12 .  
     [0110] When the library managing server  12  receives the copy command, the library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for the file. When the content library  11  contains the file, the library managing server  12  retrieves the content file from the content library  11 , and copies the content file to the designated user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . As a result, the content purchasing process is completed.  
     [0111] When the file is scheduled to be delivered later, the library managing server  12  notifies the delivery managing server  16  of the scheduled delivery date. On the scheduled delivery date, the delivery managing server  16  sends a copy command for copying the file to the user area  18  of the user who requested the file to the library managing server  12 . When the library managing server  12  receives the copy command, the library managing server  12  searches the content library  11  for the file. When the content library  11  contains the file, the library managing server  12  retrieves the file from the content library  11  and copies the data of the file to the designated user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 . As a result, the content purchasing process is completed.  
     [0112] After the content file is retrieved from the library corresponding to a purchase request of a user, and copied to the user area  18  of the user who purchased the content, a charging process is performed corresponding to the fee associated with the purchase of the content.  
     [0113] When the user clicks the delivery schedule indication  73  shown in FIG. 11, a scheduled delivery content list page is transmitted to the user terminal unit  2 . The scheduled delivery content list page displays a file name indication  81 , a scheduled delivery date and time indication  82 , a genre indication  83 , a size indication  84 , a file format indication  85 , a fee indication  86 , and a purchase button  87 .  
     [0114] When the user wants to purchase content on the scheduled delivery content list page, he or she clicks the purchase button  87 . When the user clicks the purchase button  87 , the purchase page shown in FIG. 12 appears. On the purchase page, the file name box  75  indicates the file name of the file that the user wants to purchase. As was described above, on the purchase page, the user can purchase the data contained in the content file.  
     [0115] When the user clicks the library search indication  74  shown in FIG. 11, a content search page shown in FIG. 14 appears. The content search page displays a keyword input box  91 .  
     [0116] When the user wants to search content from the library or checks for content that is scheduled to be delivered later, he or she inputs a keyword of the desired content to the keyword input box  91  on the content search page and then clicks an OK button  92 .  
     [0117] When the user inputs a keyword to the keyword input box  91  and clicks the OK button  92 , a search request command for a content that contains the keyword is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2 . The search request command is transmitted to the library managing server  12  through the network  3 .  
     [0118] When the library managing server  12  receives the search request command, the library managing server  12  searches the library for a file that contains the keyword. When the library contains a file containing the keyword, the library managing server  12  displays the file name, the registered date and time, the genre, the size, the file format, and the fee for purchasing the content file that matches the search condition. Thus, the library managing server displays a file name indication  93 , a registered date and time indication  94 , a genre indication  95 , a size indication  96 , a file format indication  97 , and a fee indication  98 , respectively.  
     [0119] When the user wants to purchase the content on the content search page, he or she clicks a purchase button  99 . When the user clicks the purchase button  99 , the purchase page shown in FIG. 12 appears. On the purchase page, the purchase file name input box  75  indicates the file name of the file that the user wants to purchase. On the purchase page, the user can purchase data contained in the content file.  
     [0120] When the user clicks the various service indications  57  on the home page, he or she can use various services. One of the services is an album creating service. In the album creating service, a still picture file that the user photographed is transmitted from the user terminal unit  2  to the customer file managing server  14 . The still picture file is stored to the user area  18  of the customer file storage  13 .  
     [0121] The user can operate the user terminal unit  2  so as to display a list of still picture files that he or she photographed. The still picture file list displays the file name, the attribute, the registered date and time, the size, and the file format of the file of each content as a file name indication  101 , an attribute indication  102 , a registered date and time indication  103 , a size indication  104 , and a file format indication  105 , respectively. The row of each content displays a sort button  108  and an album create button  109 .  
     [0122] As was described above, when a still picture file is uploaded from the user terminal unit  2 , the photograph file managing server  20  compares pre-registered information with information of the uploaded file and performs a similarity searching process for determining reference information that is similar to the uploaded still picture file. Corresponding to the determined result, an attribute is added to the uploaded still picture file. When the user clicks the sort button  108 , the photograph file managing server  20  sorts the still picture files corresponding to each attribute as shown in FIG. 16.  
     [0123] When the user presses the album create button  109 , an album creating page shown in FIG. 17 appears. The album creating page displays an album name input box  111 , an attribute input box  112 , a sequence input box  113 , a duration input box  114 , a “number of photographs” input box  115 , and so forth.  
     [0124] When the user designates a desired attribute in the attribute input box, an album of photographs corresponding to the designated attribute can be created. When a family is designated as an attribute, an album of still picture files of the family members can be created.  
     [0125] When the user inputs relevant data to the album name input box  111 , the attribute input box  112 , the sequence input box  113 , the duration input box  114 , the “number of photographs” input box  115 , and so forth, then clicks a preview button  116 , an image of an album that is created is displayed as shown in FIG. 18. When the user clicks an order button  117 , the album is created and delivered to the user.  
     [0126] According to the present invention, a content managing company has a content library, a library managing server, a customer file storage, a customer file managing server, a delivery managing database, and a delivery managing server. The content library stores various content that the content managing company provides and sells. The library managing server manages the content library. The customer file storage stores the content of users. The customer file managing server manages the customer file storage. The delivery managing database stores delivery information. The delivery managing server manages the delivery of content. In the customer file storage, user areas are assigned for individual users. A user terminal unit is connected to a server of the content managing company through a network.  
     [0127] The customer file storage provides a user area for storing content of a user who made a contract with the content managing company. The user can freely use the user area of the customer file storage in the range of the contracted capacity while the contract is valid. The user can add, delete, and move content stored in the user area. In addition, the user can store content files that he or she has purchased in the user area.  
     [0128] A still picture file that a user photographed is transmitted from the user terminal unit to the customer managing server through the network. The still picture file is uploaded to the user area for the user of the customer file storage.  
     [0129] When a still picture file is uploaded to the user area, an attribute is added to the still picture file and registered to the database. As a result, with still picture files sorted corresponding to each attribute, an album can be created. Alternatively, with still picture files extracted corresponding to the same attribute, an album can be created.  
     [0130] Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions, and additions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.