Patent ID: 7356557

Claim:
A content distribution system which comprises a portable terminal, a distribution server capable of communicating with said portable terminal, and a client terminal capable of communicating with said distribution server and in which a content item is distributed from said distribution server to said portable terminal by use of said client terminal, wherein said distribution server comprises: first request receiving means for receiving a first request from said client terminal, the first request being for requesting said distribution server to distribute a trial content item to said client terminal, trial content distribution means for distributing, in response to said first request from said client terminal, said trial content item to said client terminal, second request receiving means for receiving a second request from said client terminal, the second request being for requesting said distribution server to distribute a regular content item, input screen data transmitting means for transmitting an input screen data to said client terminal, said input screen data being for inputting, by use of the client terminal, destination information which specifies said portable terminal to which said regular content item is desired to be distributed, destination information receiving means for receiving said destination information from said client terminal, regular content distribution means for distributing, in response to said second request from said client terminal, a regular content item to said portable terminal which is specified by said destination information, and charging means for charging a fee to a user of said portable terminal which is specified by said destination information, when the regular content item is distributed to said portable terminal which is specified by said destination information; said client terminal comprises: trial content request means for transmitting said first request to request said distribution server to distribute said trial content item to said client terminal, trial content item receiving means for receiving said trial content item distributed from said distribution server, reproducing means for reproducing said received trial content item, and regular content request means for transmitting said second request to request said distribution server to distribute said regular content item, input screen data receiving means for receiving said input screen data transmitted from said distribution server, display means for displaying an input screen based on said received input screen data, and destination information transmitting means for transmitting said destination information inputted by use of said input screen; and said portable terminal comprises: regular content item receiving means for receiving said regular content item distributed from said distribution server, and reproducing means for reproducing said received regular content item.