JP2003150597A - Electronic book system, electronic book server, book data providing method, book data providing program, and book data providing program storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The present invention proposes an electronic book system that is far more convenient without forcing a user to perform a troublesome operation. According to the present invention, an electronic book (2) acquires a download right of book data, and an electronic book server (3) associates a user ID of the electronic book (2) with a book data ID code of book data to which the download right is given. Generates a book / purchaser correspondence table 38 and receives a download request from the electronic book 2;
When it is possible to confirm that the download data is the book data for which the download right has been acquired in advance, the electronic book 2 acquires the download right for the book data by transmitting a predetermined data amount to the electronic book 2. After that, you can get the minimum amount of book data anytime and anywhere just by making a download request,
It is not always necessary to store book data using a large-capacity memory, and book data can be acquired and displayed only when necessary.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic book system, an electronic book server, a book data providing method, a book data providing program, and a book data providing program storage medium. , Which is referred to as an electronic book), and is suitable for application to an electronic book system for displaying via an electronic book.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic book, book data previously downloaded and stored from a predetermined electronic book server is read out from a built-in memory, and the contents of the book corresponding to the book data are associated with each page. By displaying on the left display section and the right display section, which are liquid crystal displays provided, the user can use the book as if he / she were reading a real book.

In this kind of electronic book, the contents of various books can be displayed by sequentially updating the book data stored in the built-in memory, and a removable storage medium (recording medium) in which book data is stored in advance. By mounting the device, the book data can be read from the recording medium and displayed, and thus the contents of various kinds of books can be provided to the user even by exchanging the recording medium.

[0004]

By the way, in the electronic book having such a structure, when the data amount of the book data corresponding to one book is enormous, a large number of book data are stored in the built-in memory. I couldn't do that. Therefore, when the book data of the desired book is not stored in the electronic book, the user has to download the file again to update the book data or replace the recording medium, which complicates the operation. was there.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and is an electronic book system, an electronic book server, a book data providing method, a book data providing program, and a book data providing program which are more convenient without requiring a user to perform a troublesome operation. It is intended to propose a book data providing program storage medium.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, in an electronic book system including an electronic book server and an electronic book connected to each other via a network, the electronic book is an electronic book server. After receiving the book list, the download right of the book data arbitrarily selected from the book list is acquired from the electronic book server, and the electronic book server gives the download right to the electronic book. Then, a book / purchaser correspondence table that associates the user ID of the electronic book with the book ID of the book data to which the download right is given is generated and stored, and when a request to download the book data is received from the electronic book, The book data is downloaded in advance by the user based on the book / purchaser correspondence table. Sure they are the de right is acquired, book data via the network to the predetermined data amount only ebook to send upon obtaining the confirmation.

[0007] If the electronic book acquires the download right for desired book data in advance via the electronic book server, the minimum required data can be set anytime, anywhere by only requesting the download to the electronic book server. Since you can get only the amount of book data,
It is not always necessary to hold a large amount of book data, and even if the book data does not have a large memory, the book data can be acquired and displayed only when necessary.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(1) Overall Configuration of Electronic Book System In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic book system according to the present invention as a whole, which is an electronic book 2 carried by a user, and an electronic book storing book data of plural kinds of books. For example, the book server 3 and a kiosk terminal 5 installed in a bookstore for downloading book data are connected via a network such as the Internet 4.

In the electronic book system 1, a computer device 6 of a publisher, a personal computer 7 used by a writer or a writer, and an electronic book server 3 are connected via the Internet 4, whereby the electronic book server 3 is connected. Can store the book data directly transmitted from the publisher or the writer, provide the latest book data to the electronic book 2 owned by the user via the kiosk terminal 5, or the electronic book 2 to the electronic book 2 via the Internet 4. The book data is also provided directly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electronic book 2 is rotatably attached to a rotary shaft portion 12 in which a left side display portion 10 and a right side display portion 11 are positioned substantially in the center, as if it were an actual book. The left and right display units 10 and 11 can be opened and closed centering on the rotary shaft 12 as if they were opened.

Here, the left side display section 10 and the right side display section 11
The left LCD (Liquid Crystal Displa
y) 24L and a right LCD 24R are attached, and the same content as an actual book is displayed on the left display section 10 and the right display section 11 page by page.

Further, the electronic book 2 is provided with a jog dial 12A, which is rotatable in the directions of arrow a and arrow b and can be pushed down, at a position below the rotary shaft portion 12,
The contents displayed on the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11 are switched according to the turning operation of the jog dial 12A,
The user is given an impression as if the page of the book is actually turned.

Incidentally, the jog dial 12A is designed to give the user a light catching feeling at every predetermined rotation angle with respect to the rotating operation on the jog dial 12A, and the amount of one rotation operation corresponding to this light catching feeling (hereinafter This is called a rotation click corresponding to turning one page) is made to be recognized by the user through the tactile sensation of the fingertip.

Therefore, the electronic book 2 has the jog dial 1
The page turning operation is performed according to the number of rotation clicks for 2A, and the display content is switched according to the number of rotation clicks.

In practice, as shown in FIG. 3, when the electronic book 2 is held by the user's left hand, a jog dial 12A is provided at a position where the thumb of the left hand can be rotated, and the user holds the electronic book 2 with the left hand. It has a structure excellent in operability such that the jog dial 12 can be rotated by the thumb of the left hand as it is, and thus the page turning operation can be easily performed.

Incidentally, in the electronic book 2, the left side display unit 10
Alternatively, an acceleration sensor (not shown) is built in on the back side of the right side display unit 11, and as shown in FIG. 4, the operation direction of the motion of returning the wrist of the user is detected by the acceleration sensor and according to the detection result. The page turning operation is also performed. As a result, the user can easily perform the page turning operation even in a situation where it is difficult for the user to operate the jog dial 12.

In the electronic book 2, an acceleration sensor is used as a means for detecting the direction of movement when the wrist is turned back. Instead of the acceleration sensor, a mercury switch for tilt detection or a variable resistor is used to hang a weight. Alternatively, the operation direction may be detected by incorporating the one on the back side of the left side display unit 10 or the right side display unit 11.

Further, in the electronic book 2, as shown in FIG. 5, if a contact sensor (not shown) such as a capacitance sensor or a pressure sensor is provided on the liquid crystal display surface of the left display section 10 and the right display section 11. The page turning operation can be executed by detecting the direction when the surface of the liquid crystal display is traced with a finger.

Similarly, in the electronic book 2, if the infrared light emitting portions 15 and 17 and the infrared light receiving portions 16 and 18 are provided in the left side display portion 10 and the right side light receiving portion 11, respectively, as shown in FIG. After the user's hand is sensed by the infrared light emitting unit 15 and the infrared light receiving unit 16 of the
By detecting the user's hand with the infrared light emitting portion 17 and the infrared light receiving portion 18, the operation direction can be detected, and the page turning operation can be executed in the operation direction.

Similarly, in the electronic book 2, the right side display unit 11
After the user's hand is detected by the infrared light emitting unit 17 and the infrared light receiving unit 18 of the above, the operation direction is detected by detecting the user's hand by the infrared light emitting unit 15 and the infrared light receiving unit 16 of the left display unit 10, and It is also possible to execute the page return operation in the direction opposite to the page turning operation.

The electronic book 2 is provided with an antenna 13 of a retractable type above the rear side of the rotary shaft 12, and the electronic book server 3 is connected to the electronic book server 3 via the Internet 4 for communication. It is adapted to be used when downloading book data from the server 3.

The kiosk terminal 5 (FIG. 1) downloads the book data of the book selected by the user via the terminal screen from the electronic book server 3 with respect to the electronic book 2 mounted in the predetermined mounting slot 5A. The kiosk terminal 5 itself writes the book data directly to the electronic book 2.

The kiosk terminal 5 is particularly effective when it is placed in a small-scale retail store where it is difficult to arrange a large number of books at the store, and the electronic book server is also used for books not owned by the retail store. It is possible to meet all the needs of the user since it can be downloaded via the.

As a result, the user of the electronic book 2 can download the book data of the desired book by directly accessing the electronic book server 3 and also can download the book data of the desired book via the kiosk terminal 5. Therefore, the method of acquiring the book data can be arbitrarily selected.

(2) Book Data Acquisition Processing As shown in FIG. 7, the electronic book 2 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) for centrally controlling the entire electronic book 2.
20, RAM used as work area (Random A
ccess memory (ROM), basic program, and ROM (Read Only) that stores various application programs
Memory) 22, a left LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 24L for displaying the contents of the left page on the left display unit 10,
Right side LC displaying the contents of the right side page on the right side display section 11
D24R, a built-in non-volatile memory 23 for storing book data downloaded from the electronic book server 3, a command in response to a rotating operation and a pressing operation of the jog dial 12A, and operation buttons provided on the surface of the housing of the electronic book 2. The CPU 20 generates an instruction according to an operation (not shown)
Input interface 25 to communicate to, kiosk terminal 5
A network interface 26 for performing data communication with the electronic book server 3 via the electronic book server, a transmitting / receiving circuit 27 for performing transmission / reception processing such as modulation / demodulation for direct data communication with the electronic book server 3 wirelessly, and a battery 28.
Are connected to each other via a bus 29.

In this electronic book system 1, the book data purchased by the user is downloaded from the electronic book server 3 to the electronic book 2 and displayed for the user to read, as the usage pattern. Actually, the user merely acquired the right to freely download the book data of the purchased book from the electronic book server 3 and to read the book data at any time. Not available for download.

That is, in the electronic book system 1, the electronic book server 3 is prohibited from downloading all the book data for one book to the electronic book 2 in a lump, whereby the book data for one book can be read. It is designed to prevent unauthorized copying, unauthorized transfer, unauthorized use, etc.

In the electronic book system 1, in addition to the purchase method of purchasing book data of a book as a usage pattern, a lending method of allowing a right to download book data for a fixed period (hereinafter, referred to as a download right) is considered. Then, the form of providing the book data is determined according to the wishes of the service provider.

By the way, in the electronic book 2, the purchase mode for purchasing the book data from the electronic book server 3 and the contents of the already purchased book data are displayed on the left display unit 1.
0 and the reading mode for displaying the contents of the book data on the right side display unit 11 to allow the user to read the contents of the book data. The purchase mode and the reading mode will be described respectively.

The electronic book 2 directly accesses the electronic book server 3 wirelessly from the electronic book 2 via the Internet 4 in the purchase mode and directly downloads the book data of the desired book from the electronic book server 3. There is an indirect method in which book data of a desired book is indirectly downloaded by wire via the kiosk terminal 5 from the electronic book server 3, and the user can select either one.

(2-1) Direct Method Purchase Mode First, in the direct method purchase mode, C of the electronic book 2 is used.
Upon recognizing that the antenna 13 is pulled out by the user, the PU 20 determines that the user wants to download the book data from the electronic book server 3, and supplies power from the battery 28 to various circuit units. It is started by launching the basic program and application program.

Then, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 transmits the user ID and the password input by the user to the electronic book server 3 which is registered as a destination in advance, and the electronic book server 3 registers the electronic book 2 properly. When the user is authenticated, the bookstore selection screen 40 as shown in FIG.
Download (40L and 40R) and display on the left side 1
0 and displayed on the right display unit 11.

In this case, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
Since it is a dedicated terminal that does not need to go through many steps before starting like a personal computer, it can be started instantly, and the bookstore selection screen 40 is displayed as an initial screen in a short time after the antenna 13 is pulled out. This is done so that the user can use the device without feeling time stress.

On the bookstore selection screen 40, for example, a display area 41 of "bookstrip label" showing a bookstore that specializes in travel-related books, and a "business book specialty store" showing a bookstore that specializes in business books. The display portion 42 and the like are displayed, and other various bookstores are displayed as the page advances.

Here, in the bookstore selection screen 40, the display portion 42 of the currently focused and selectable bookstore (“business book specialty store”) is shaded, and the jog dial 12A is displayed. The focus portion is moved and displayed in the rotating operation direction in accordance with the rotating operation.

The user finds a desired bookstore among those displayed on the bookstore selection screen 40 and operates the jog dial 12A to focus on the display portion 42 of the desired bookstore (in this case, "business book specialty store"). Then, the jog dial 12A may be pressed in that state.

As a result, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
A book selection screen 44 (44L and 44R) corresponding to a “business book specialty store” as shown in FIG. 9 is downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and displayed on the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11, as if the user actually It is designed to give the impression of entering a "business bookstore" bookstore and selecting books.

Here, the book selection screen 44 is displayed on the left side display unit 1.
44L of the book content screen displayed at 0 and the right side display unit 11
And the book shelf screen 44R displayed on the screen. On the bookshelf screen 44R, a plurality of books with the spine cover directed to the bookshelf are displayed side by side, and at the bottom of the bookshelf, the bookstore name (“business book specialty store”), the number of books handled (“20000 kinds” )), The number of weekly visitors (“1200”) and the number of visitors today (“15”) are displayed, and the current position of the bookshelf in the main room is displayed.

In the bookshelf screen 44R, when the user selects a desired book, for example, the book 45 titled "Winter myth lie" by operating the jog dial 12A or the like, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 brings the book 45 to the front side. The book 45 is displayed in a nearly tilted state to give the user an impression as if the user were trying to remove the book 45 by hand, and the user can visually and intuitively recognize that the book 45 has been selected. ing.

In the book content screen 44L, the "title", "author", and "summary" corresponding to the book 45 selected by the user on the book shelf screen 44R are shown via the balloon 47 by the predetermined character 46. . This allows the user to easily select a desired book 45 from the book selection screen 44 including the book shelf screen 44R and the book content screen 44L while grasping the content.

When the jog dial 12A is pressed while the book 45 is selected, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the book 45 has been decided by the user, and a book purchase screen as shown in FIG. 50 (50 L
And 50R) are downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and displayed on the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11.

The book purchase screen 50 is the settlement content screen 50L.
And a purchase decision screen 50R. On the purchase decision screen 50R, a cover display section 51 of the book selected by the user, a summary display section 52 showing a rough "synopsis", a purchase decision button 53 and a cancel button 54.
And the book 45 is displayed on the payment content screen 50L.
A balloon 55 showing the price, the settlement method, etc. is displayed.

When the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the user presses the purchase decision button 53 on the book purchase screen 50, for example, an electronic payment screen for making payment by prepaid card type electronic money (not shown). No.) is displayed to prompt the user to input the characters written on the back surface of the card of the prepaid card type electronic money.

Here, the prepaid card type electronic money is entered on the back surface of the prepaid card obtained by a user who wishes to purchase the content (book data in this case) corresponding to the payment by bit cash, at a predetermined handling shop. This is a system that allows the user to make a payment on the Web by inputting the characters that have been entered, up to the maximum purchase amount of the prepaid card. Since the user does not need to directly input the credit card number, personal information can be prevented from leaking onto the Internet 4 in advance.

The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 transmits the characters of the prepaid card type electronic money input by the user through the operation buttons or the like to the electronic book server 3 through the transmission / reception circuit 27 and the antenna 13, and the electronic book server concerned. Wait for the authentication result by 3.

As shown in FIG. 11, the electronic book server 3
Is a CPU that controls the entire electronic book server 3 as a whole.
30, a RAM 32 used as a work area, an electronic book 2, a computer device 6 of a publisher, a personal computer 7 used by a writer, a kiosk terminal 5 and a network interface 33 for performing data communication via the Internet 4, a basic program and A book data storage unit 34A that stores various kinds of application data and also stores a plurality of types of book data, a usage history database 34B that stores a usage history of the usage status of the user's book data, and a payment database 34C for performing electronic payment. And a hard disk 3 that builds a purchased book database 34D that stores and manages book data of books for which a download right has been purchased by the user.
4 is connected to each other via a bus 35.

The CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 receives the character of the prepaid card type electronic money from the electronic book 2 through the network interface 33, and refers to the payment database 34C based on the character to be an authorized user. When the authentication is completed, the electronic book 2 is notified that the user is an authorized user and the remaining usable amount of the prepaid card type electronic money.

When the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 receives the notification of the authentication result indicating that the user is an authorized user from the electronic book server 3, the message "Your balance is 10000felica-pt" is displayed in the balloon 55 of the settlement content screen 50L (FIG. 10). Display the usage balance, and waits again for the purchase button 53 to be clicked.

After that, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the purchase button 53 has been clicked again, it sends a download right acquisition request for allowing the electronic book server 3 to download the book data. To do.

The CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 permits the download of the book data based on the download right acquisition request from the electronic book 2 (hereinafter, this is referred to as "giving download right") and the permitted book data. Is stored in the purchased book database 34D, and then the billing process is performed by updating the billing data corresponding to the book data with respect to the settlement data of the user in the settlement database 34C.

At this time, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
12 has a book name correspondence table 37 in which a unique book data ID (Identification) code is assigned to a book name as shown in FIG. The book data ID code associated with the book name correspondence table 37
Read out and send to electronic book 2.

At this time, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
Owns a book purchaser correspondence table 38 in which the user ID code of the electronic book 2 which gave the download right to the book data ID code is registered in the book data storage unit 34A as shown in FIG. The user ID code of the electronic book 2 that has been given the download right is additionally registered with respect to the book data ID code of the book purchaser correspondence table 38.

As a result, the CPU 3 of the electronic book server 3
0 makes it possible to centrally manage who has the download right for which book.

Further, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 is
As shown in FIG. 14, the usage history correspondence table 39 in which the book data ID code and the reading flag are associated with the user ID code is owned by the usage history database 34B, and the reading flag of the usage history correspondence table 39 is stored. It is possible to identify whether the book corresponding to the book data ID code is “unread” or “read” via the.

That is, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
Recognizes that it is "unread" when the reading flag is "0", and "reads" when the reading flag is "1".
The electronic book 2 can provide information on the usage history in response to a request from the electronic book 2.

For convenience of explanation, only the reading flag is explained in the usage history correspondence table 39, but in addition to the reading flag, a book that has not been read at all for more than several days, or has already been read once. Various types of attribute information relating to the book data of the user are associated with the flag relating to the book that has been read, and various attribute information in which the reading progress status information is the number of pages of "two-page spread in the middle of reading" in the book. Is recorded as a usage history.

On the other hand, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
When the download right of the book data selected by the user is acquired from the electronic book server 3, the electronic book server 3 receives the notification of the book data ID code for the book for which the right is acquired, and stores the notification in the nonvolatile memory 23. .

As described above, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 is
By sequentially storing the book data ID codes of the books for which the download right has been acquired in the non-volatile memory 23, when the user wishes to download the book for which the right has been acquired, the book data ID code is simply transmitted to the electronic book server 3. Well, the book data can be easily obtained at any time.

Actually, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 makes a request to the electronic book server 3 for information regarding a book purchased by itself, the electronic book server 3 of FIG.
The “My bookshelf” screen 60 as shown in FIG. 5 is downloaded and displayed on the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11.

The "My bookshelf" screen 60 is created based on the usage history correspondence table 39 (FIG. 14).
It is displayed as if the books purchased by the user (obtained the download right) are actually arranged on the bookshelf.

The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the book (“Winter myth lie”) 61 for which the download right has been acquired through the “My bookshelf” screen 60 in a state of being tilted toward the front side, The user can visually recognize that the book 61 is the book for which the download right has been acquired and is currently selected.

In the "My bookshelf" screen 60, the "title", "author", "last read date", "purchase date", "page number" and "other information" of the book 61 currently selected. (For example, the number of pages that have already been read) is displayed in the balloon section 62, and the reading book 6 is read.
3 is displayed in a tilted state, and the book 64 that has not been read at all recently is displayed in a horizontal state. The usage history and the like of the book are visually displayed by the display form of the books 63 and 64. It is designed so that it can be recognized intuitively and intuitively.

Further, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 causes the "buy order" button 65, "read order" button 66, "author name" button 67 and "EX" on the "My bookshelf" screen 60.
When any of the "IT" buttons 68 is selected, the order of the books arranged on the bookshelf of the "My bookshelf" screen 60 is changed and displayed, and the order can be changed and displayed by the user. Has been done.

After that, when the user decides to read the book 61, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
The book data ID code corresponding to the book 61 is transmitted to the electronic book server 3.

As a result, the CPU 3 of the electronic book server 3
0 is the book data I from the purchased book database 34D.
The book data of the book 61 corresponding to the D code is read out for a predetermined number of predetermined pages (for example, 10 pages) and is transmitted to the electronic book 2.

As a result, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
As shown in FIG. 16, the jog dial 12 by the user
The first table-of-contents portion 69 according to the page turning operation for A
Is displayed on the right side display unit 10 and the left side display unit 11.

(2-2) Indirect purchase mode In contrast, in the indirect purchase mode, the electronic book server 3 indirectly obtains the right to download book data via the kiosk terminal 5 installed in a bookstore or the like. When a user owns a certain book, for example, the book is used as one “trigger” to easily search for other books that have a relationship with the book and acquire the download right. This is a purchase method that can be performed, and will be specifically described below.

As shown in FIG. 17, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 has a microprocessor configuration, and the electronic book 2 is electrically connected to the data writing unit 87 via the electronic book loading slot 5A. When the book information reading unit 81 formed of a scanner or the like covers the cover portion of the actual book owned by the user, a content search / presentation program is started from the book data storage unit 84, and the book information reading unit is executed according to the content search / presentation program. The cover portion is read by 81, and the image is displayed on the display unit 85.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, in the kiosk terminal 5, the cover portion 90 of the book read by the book information reading unit 81 (the cover portion of the book and the cover portion of the band).
Is displayed on the display section 85, and the author (“Murashita Ryu”) extracted from the cover section 90 at the bottom of the cover section 90, the title (“the world after three minutes”), the publisher (“Gensatsusha Bunko”). )), A net price (“480 yen”) when the book is purchased on the Web, and a book reservation button 91 and an electronic book purchase button 92 are displayed.

Further, the cover sheet portion 9 displayed on the display portion 85
For 0, for example, the author name (“Murashita Ryu”) selection part 93 and the publisher name (“Gensatsuya Bunko”) selection part surrounded by a thick frame of a predetermined color for the character string that can be extracted as a keyword 94,
A cover designer's name (“Tadanori Yokoo”) selection portion 95 and an award (“Akutagawa Award”) selection portion 96 are displayed as related information, and a keyword used at the time of retrieval is arbitrarily operated by operating an operation input unit (not shown). It is designed to be selectable.

When the controller 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 recognizes that the award portion 96 has been selected by the user, for example, it extracts the character string “Akutagawa Award” as a keyword and then collates it with the book information database 83.

In practice, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5
As shown in FIG. 19, based on the keyword correspondence table 98 stored in the book information database 83, "Akutagawa Award"
All the book data ID codes associated with the keyword are read out and displayed on the display unit 85 as a search result screen 100 in which the cover parts of the books corresponding to the book data ID codes are listed as shown in FIG.

On this search result screen 100, for example, the cover portion of the book of the Akutagawa Prize winning works over the past three years is displayed by year, and the user can select the desired book while operating the triangular scroll button on the right side of the screen. It is designed to be found.

When the desired book does not exist in the search result screen 100, the user displays the "keyword" button 101, the "publisher" button 102, the "author" button 103, and the "genre" button 104 displayed at the upper end of the screen. Then, any button may be selected from the “recommendation for that person” button 105 and the “new publication 10 of this month” button 106 and clicked.

For example, when the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 recognizes that the "new publication of this month 10" button 106 has been clicked, all the book data ID codes associated with the keyword "new publication of this month" are published. It reads from the information database 83 and displays the search result screen 110 on “new publication of this month” as shown in FIG.

Search result screen 11 regarding "new publication of this month"
In 0, the cover portion of the book newly published this month is displayed in a ring shape and is rotated and displayed according to the operation of the operation input unit.

For example, if the desired book 111 that the user desires to purchase exists in the search result screen 110,
The book 111 may be selected, the book reservation button 91 may be clicked, and finally the electronic book purchase button 92 may be clicked.

Accordingly, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 is
Displays a predetermined authentication screen (not shown) on the display unit 85, a password for certifying that the user is an authorized user registered in advance in the electronic book server 3, a credit card number for electronic payment, etc. Is prompted, and an authentication process is requested to the electronic book server 3 based on the entered password to confirm that the user is an authorized user.

When the authentication confirmation is completed, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 requests the electronic book server 3 via the network interface 86 to download the book data for the book 111 displayed on the reserved book display unit 112.

The CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 reads the book 11 based on the download request from the kiosk terminal 5.
1 is allowed to download the book data, and the payment data corresponding to the book data is settled in the payment database 3
The charging process is performed by adding and updating the payment data in 4C.

After that, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
Reads out the book data requested to be downloaded from the book data storage unit 34A for a predetermined number of 10 pages and transmits the read book data to the kiosk terminal 5.

The control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 writes the book data of 10 pages received from the electronic book server 3 into the electronic book 2 attached to the electronic book attaching opening 5A via the data writing unit 87. Has been done.

When the book data for the book 111 is stored in the book data storage unit 84 in advance, the kiosk terminal 5 reads the book data for 10 pages from the book data storage unit 84, and the data writing unit 87. Writing is performed on the electronic book 2 attached to the electronic book attachment opening 5A via the.

In this case, the kiosk terminal 5 is configured to notify the electronic book server 3 of the usage history information that the book data for 10 pages has been downloaded.

When the book data purchase processing by the electronic book 2 is completed in this way, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 causes the book data purchase end screen 1 as shown in FIG.
20 is displayed on the display unit 85 so that the user can recognize that the purchase of the book data has been safely completed.

In the kiosk terminal 5, instead of reading the cover portion of the book owned by the user by the book information reading unit 81, the user can directly input keywords such as the publisher name and the author name to search for the book. It is also possible to display the result and select the book desired by the user from the results.

(2-3) Book Data Acquisition and Display Processing Next, the book data purchased (download right acquisition) in the electronic book 2 through the direct purchase mode or the indirect purchase mode is read from the electronic book server 3 for a predetermined number of pages ( 10 pages each) download and left LCD 24
The acquisition display process of the book data displayed on the L and right LCD 24R will be described.

The user who is the owner of the electronic book 2 reads the book for which the download right has been acquired in advance,
First, the antenna 13 is pulled out to establish a state in which it can communicate with the electronic book server 3 via the Internet 4.

The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 uses the antenna 1
When the printer 3 recognizes that the book 3 has been pulled out, it determines that it desires to download the book data that has been purchased (download right acquisition) in advance from the electronic book server 3, and supplies power from the battery 28 to various circuit units. It is started by supplying and starting the basic program and the application program, and the "My bookshelf" screen 60 as shown in FIG. 15 is downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and displayed on the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11. .

Then, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that, for example, the book 61 that the user desires to read is selected and clicked from the "My bookshelf" screen 60, the book data for the book 61 is selected. The ID code and the user ID code are transmitted to the electronic book server 3.

The CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 creates the book name correspondence table 37 (FIG. 12) and the book purchaser correspondence table 38 (FIG. 13) based on the user ID code and the book data ID code received from the electronic book 2. By referring, it is confirmed whether or not the book requested by the user of the electronic book 2 is the book data for which the download right has been acquired in advance, and the book data for which the download request is made only when the confirmation is obtained. Is transmitted to the electronic book 2.

At this time, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
When it is recognized that the book data is unread based on the usage history correspondence table 39 (FIG. 14),
The usage status of the book data of the electronic book 2 by transmitting only the first 10 pages of the book data, rewriting the reading flag to "1", and adding the transmission of the book data of 10 pages as the usage history information. Is managed to manage.

The CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 is
When it is recognized that the book data is read roughly based on the usage history correspondence table 39 (FIG. 14), the book data after the unread portion is transmitted by 10 pages, and the total number of transmitted pages is calculated. By rewriting as the usage history information, the usage status of the book data of the electronic book 2 can be accurately managed, and the book data after the unread portion can always be transmitted.

If the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads, for example, only 3 pages out of 10 pages of book data downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and leaves the remaining 7 pages in an unread state, The electronic book server 3 uses the number of pages that have been read as usage data.
And the usage history correspondence table 39 is rewritten.

As a result, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
Next, when the book data is downloaded, it is possible to accurately download from the unread portion, so that it is possible to prevent the useless and meaningless download of the book data.

(2-4) Book data download right income and display processing procedure in the direct method purchase mode Here, the book data download right acquisition processing procedure and the book data display in the direct method purchase mode described above are displayed. To summarize the processing procedure, as shown in FIG. 23, first, in step SP1, the electronic book 2
CPU 20 of the user ID for the electronic book server 3
And send a password to request authentication,
Move to next step SP2.

When the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 authenticates that the user of the electronic book 2 is an authorized user in step SP2, in the next step SP3 the bookstore selection screen 40 (FIG. 8) and the book selection screen 44 (FIG. 9). ) Is presented to the electronic book 2 and the process proceeds to the next step SP4.

At step SP4, C of the electronic book 2
The PU 20 makes a download right income request for the book data of the book 45 selected by the user via the book selection screen 44 to the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3,
Move to next step SP5.

In step SP5, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 transmits the book purchase screen (FIG. 10) to the electronic book 2 and proceeds to next step SP6. Step S
In P6, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 performs the intention of the download right income request and the settlement request at that time to the electronic book server 3 through the “buy” button 53 of the book purchase screen 50, and the next step SP7 Move to.

In step SP7, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 recognizes the download right of the book data requested by the user of the electronic book 2 and executes the charging process for the download right of the book data. Book purchaser correspondence table (FIG. 13) and usage history correspondence table 39 for
After (FIG. 14) is created, the process proceeds to the next step SP8.

At step SP8, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 reads out only the predetermined 10 pages of the book data requested to be downloaded by the user of the electronic book 2 from the purchased book database 34D and transmits it to the electronic book 2. Together with the usage history correspondence table 3
The contents of 9 are updated, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step SP9.

At step SP9, C of the electronic book 2
The PU 20 causes the user to read by receiving and displaying the book data from the electronic book server 3, and proceeds to the next step SP10.

In step SP10, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads the book data downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and leaves the remaining several pages in an unread state, the CPU 20 uses the number of pages that have been read at this point. The situation data is transmitted to the electronic book server 3, and the process proceeds to the next step SP11.

In step SP11, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 updates the usage history correspondence table 39 based on the usage status data, and the direct book data download right acquisition procedure and book data display processing by the electronic book 2. Finish the procedure.

(2-5) Book data download right income and display processing procedure in the indirect purchase mode Next, the book data download right acquisition processing procedure and the book data display processing procedure in the indirect purchase mode are summarized. 24, when the electronic book 2 is first attached to the electronic book attachment slot 5A of the kiosk terminal 5 in step SP21, the electronic book system 1 proceeds to next step SP22.

In step SP22, the kiosk terminal 5
When the user of the electronic book 2 causes the book information reading unit 81 to cover the cover portion of the book owned by the user, the control unit 80 reads the cover portion by the book information reading unit 81, and proceeds to the next step SP23. .

In step SP23, the kiosk terminal 5
The control unit 80 displays the search result screen 100 (FIG. 20) of a plurality of types of books related to the keyword extracted from the cover part and selected by the user on the display unit 85, and proceeds to the next step SP24.

In step SP24, the kiosk terminal 5
The control unit 80 recognizes the book 111 to be purchased which is selected and determined by the user in the search result screen 100, and proceeds to the next step SP25.

In step SP25, the kiosk terminal 5
The control section 80 requests the electronic book server 3 to perform an authentication process based on the password input by the user, the credit card number for electronic payment, and the like, and proceeds to the next step SP26.

In step SP26, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 authenticates whether or not the owner of the electronic book 2 is a legitimate user, and when it is confirmed that the owner is the legitimate user, the CPU 30 proceeds to the next step SP27. .

In step SP27, the kiosk terminal 5
The control unit 80 of the electronic book server 3 issues a download request for the book data of the book 111 selected and determined.
Go to PU30 and move to next step SP28.

In step SP28, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 recognizes the download right of the book data requested to be downloaded by the user of the electronic book 2 and executes the charging process for the download right of the book data. After creating the book purchaser correspondence table (FIG. 13) and the usage history correspondence table 39 (FIG. 14) for the user, the process proceeds to the next step SP29.

In step SP29, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 reads only the predetermined 10 pages of the book data requested to be downloaded by the user of the electronic book 2 from the purchased book database 34D and controls the kiosk terminal 5. 80 and the contents of the usage history correspondence table 39 are updated, and the next step SP
Move to 30.

In step SP30, the kiosk terminal 5
The control unit 80 receives the book data for 10 pages from the electronic book server 3, temporarily stores the book data in the book data storage unit 84, and stores the book data for the electronic book 2 mounted in the electronic book mounting slot 5A. Is written via the data writing section 87, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step SP31.

In step SP31, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 transfers the electronic book server 3 to the kiosk terminal 5.
The book data written via the is displayed to allow the user to read the book, and the process proceeds to the next step SP32.

In step SP32, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads the book data acquired via the kiosk terminal 5 and leaves the remaining several pages in an unread state, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 indicates the number of pages read at the present time. The data is sent to the electronic book server 3 as usage data, and the process proceeds to the next step SP33.

In step SP33, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 updates the usage history correspondence table 39 based on the usage status data, and the indirect method of downloading book data acquisition processing procedure and book data display processing by the electronic book 2. Finish the procedure.

(3) Book Data Display Processing Next, a reading mode when the user actually reads the book data downloaded to the electronic book 2 will be described.

(3-1) Page Display Processing in Reading Mode The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the “My bookshelf” screen 60 (FIG. 15) downloaded from the electronic book server 3 in the reading mode, and the user selects it from the screen. “Title”, “Author”, corresponding to the selected book 61,
For the book 61 via the blowing unit 62 including attribute information such as “last read date”, “purchase date”, “page number” and “other information (page number already read etc.)” Show summary.

When the book 61 is selected and decided, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 downloads and displays the reading decision screen 130 for the book 61 as shown in FIG. 25 from the electronic book server 3.

On the reading determination screen 130, the cover portion of the book 61 is displayed on the right side display section 11, and the blowing section 62 containing the attribute information on the book 61 is displayed on the left side display section 10 in "My bookshelf". The screen 60 is displayed in the same manner.

After confirming the reading decision screen 130, the user decides whether or not to read, clicks the "Read" button 133 when reading, and clicks the "Cancel" button 134 when not reading. click.

When the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the “Read” button 133 has been clicked on the reading decision screen 130, the CPU 6 of the electronic book server 3 reads the book 6 concerned.
A download request for 1 is made.

Thus, the CPU 3 of the electronic book server 3
0 acquires the reading progress status information of the book 61 from the usage history correspondence table 39 of the usage history database 34B, and transmits the reading progress status information and the unread portion of the book data for 10 pages to the electronic book 2. Has been done.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 26, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 causes the first two pages (for example, 15/3) of 10 pages downloaded from the electronic book server 3.
50 pages and 16/350 pages) are displayed on the right side display unit 11 and the left side display unit 10, respectively.

At this time, at the same time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
Recognizes which position the currently displayed page corresponds to the total number of pages of the entire book according to the reading progress status information, and as the recognition result, 15/350 pages of the right side display unit 11 and 16/350 of the left display 10
Vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 having the same thickness as that of an actual book are displayed on the outer edge of the page.

The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 performs fractional display such as "15/350" or "16/350" as the number of pages on the 15/350 and 16/350 pages. Not only the page number but also the total number of pages of the whole book is accurately presented numerically.

That is, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the pages 15/350 of the right side display unit 11 and the left side display unit 10.
By displaying vertical striped patterns 136 and 137 having the same thickness as an actual book on the outer edge of 16/350 pages of the above, the user can determine which position of the entire page the currently displayed page corresponds to. On the other hand, it can be intuitively and roughly recognized, and by displaying fractions such as “15/350” and “16/350” in one corner of the 15/350 and 16/350 pages,
It is possible to make it possible to accurately numerically recognize which position the currently displayed page corresponds to in the entire book.

By the way, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 determines which position in the entire book the page to be currently displayed corresponds to "0", according to the reading progress status information.
"0.1", "0.2", "0.3", ... "0.
The thickness of the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 is finely changed for each of the 11 stages by recognizing it in 9 stages of "9" and "1.0".

In the present embodiment, the recognition is performed in 11 steps, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the difference in the total number of pages and the liquid crystal display in the left side display section 10 and the right side display section 11 may be recognized. The thickness of the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 may be finely changed according to the display capability.

Therefore, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the reading progress status information is "0", it recognizes that no reading has been done up to now and no page has been displayed yet. The vertical stripe pattern 136 is not displayed at all, and only the left vertical stripe pattern 137 is displayed thickest.

Similarly, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the reading progress status information is "0.5",
Vertical striped pattern 136, recognizing that it has progressed to about half
And 137 are displayed with the same thickness.

As described above, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 is
The reading progress information is recognized in 11 steps and
By adjusting the thickness of the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 by the fineness of each step, the actual reading progress and the vertical stripe pattern 13
6 and the thickness of 137 are prevented from being uncomfortable.

By the way, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 operates as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the page displayed on the right side display unit 11 is the front side of the book, and the page displayed on the left side display unit 10 is the back side of the book. As the reading progress progresses, vertical stripes 13
The overlapping degree of pages in 6 is gradually thickened, and the overlapping degree of pages in the vertical stripe pattern 137 is gradually thinned.

Further, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 can determine whether it is the vertical writing display or the horizontal writing display based on the attribute information of the book, and when it judges that it is the horizontal writing display. Contrary to the case of vertical writing, the page displayed on the left side display unit 10 is the front side of the book and the page displayed on the right side display unit 11 is the back side of the book, and vertical stripes are formed as the reading progress progresses. The degree of page overlap in 137 is gradually thickened, and the page overlap in the vertical stripe pattern 136 is gradually thinned.

The CPU 20 of the electronic book 2, when the degree of overlapping of the pages in the vertical striped pattern 136 and the vertical striped pattern 137 becomes thin to some extent, sets the vertical striped line as the actual number of remaining pages according to the number of remaining pages. It is designed to match.

In this case, the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137.
The number of lines of vertical stripes that can be displayed depends on the display capability of the liquid crystal display in the left display unit 10 and the right display unit 11. For example, when the number of remaining pages is 5 or less, vertical stripes corresponding to the number of remaining pages are displayed. The line is displayed so as to actually match the remaining number of pages.

As a result, the user can recognize the actual number of remaining pages to some extent accurately by the vertical striped line indicating the degree of page overlap in the vertical striped pattern 136 and the vertical striped pattern 137, and whether the user actually reads a book or not. You can feel like it.

(3-2) Page display processing procedure according to reading progress, that is, as shown in FIG. 27, CPU 2 of electronic book 2
In the case of 0, the routine starts from the start step of RT1 and moves to step SP41.

In step SP41, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes the book 61 selected by the user via the "My bookshelf" screen 60 (FIG. 15) and displays the reading decision screen 130 (FIG. 25) regarding the book 61. It is downloaded from the electronic book server 3 and displayed, and then the process proceeds to the next step SP42.

In step SP42, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads the book 6 via the reading decision screen 130.
Determine if it was decided to read 1. If a negative result is obtained here, this means that the user has no intention to read the book 61 by clicking the “Stop” button 134, and at this time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads “My bookshelf”. Returning to the screen 60, the user is allowed to select another book.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP42, this means that the user has the intention to read the book 61 by clicking the "read" button 133, and at this time, the electronic book. 2 CPU 20
Moves to the next step SP43.

At step SP43, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 obtains 11-step reading progress information on the book 61 from the usage history database 34B of the electronic book server 3, and at the same time, the book data storage section 34A.
From, the book data of the book 61 is downloaded and acquired, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step SP44.

At step SP44, when displaying the downloaded book data, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes, based on the reading progress information, what stage of the entire page the read part corresponds to, and at that stage. The vertical striped pattern 136 and the vertical striped pattern 137 having the corresponding thickness are displayed on the outer edge of the page, and the process proceeds to the next step SP45.

In step SP45, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 determines whether or not the user inputs a command to end the reading mode, and when a negative result is obtained, moves to next step SP46.

In step SP46, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 determines whether a page turning operation has been performed via the jog dial 12A or the like. If a negative result is obtained here, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 goes to step SP.
Returning to 44, the vertical stripe pattern 136 and the vertical stripe pattern 137 are continuously displayed.

On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP46, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 moves to next step SP47, performs page turning operation for the number of pages corresponding to the page turning operation, and then executes step SP44. The process returns to step SP44 and the subsequent steps are repeated.

By the way, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 recognizes that the reading mode is ended when a positive result is obtained in step SP45, and the next step SP4
Go to 8.

In step SP48, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 uses the number of pages for the two facing pages read at the current point of time as the usage status data.
Then, the usage history database 34B is updated and the page display processing procedure according to the reading progress status is ended in the next step SP49.

(3-3) Progress status sensation notification processing according to reading progress status Further, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 weights, for example, inside the right display section 11. A moving unit 150 is provided, and the CPU 20 can move and control the position of the center of gravity of the right display unit 11.

In the weight moving section 150, a battery bracket 151 having the battery 28 mounted thereon is fixed to a rack 153, the rack 153 is engaged with a pinion gear 154, and the pinion gear 154 is connected to a worm gear 155. ing.

Further, the weight moving section 150 is adapted to rotationally drive the worm gear 155 by a stepping motor 156 driven under the control of the CPU 20, and the rack force is transmitted by the rotational force transmitted from the worm gear 155 to the pinion gear 154. 153 can be moved in parallel between the rotating shaft portion 12 side of the right side display portion 11 and the open end portion side.

As a result, the weight moving section 150 is moved to the rack 1
The battery 28 is also moved in parallel with the parallel movement of 53, so that the center of gravity of the right side display unit 11 can be moved.

In practice, as shown in FIG. 29, the electronic book 2
The CPU 20 enters from the start step of routine RT2 and moves to step SP51. In step SP51, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the "My bookshelf" screen 60.
When the book 61 selected by the user is recognized through (FIG. 15) and the reading determination screen 130 corresponding to the book 61 is requested to the electronic book server 3, the next step SP5.
Move to 2.

In step SP52, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 reads the book 61 via the reading determination screen 130 (FIG. 25) downloaded from the electronic book server 3.
Determine whether to read the.

If a negative result is obtained here, it means that the user has no intention to read the book 61 by clicking the "stop" button 134, and at this time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 returns to step SP51. Let the user select the book again.

On the other hand, when a positive result is obtained in step SP52, this means that the user has the intention to read the book 61 by clicking the "read" button 133, and at this time, the electronic book 2 The CPU 20 moves to the next step SP53.

At step SP53, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 obtains 11-step reading progress status information regarding the book 61 from the usage history database 34B of the electronic book server 3 and at the same time, the book data storage section 34A.
To download and obtain the book data, and move to the next step SP54.

At step SP54, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 has a weight position correspondence table (not shown) indicating the position of the battery 28 in the right side display portion 11 in accordance with the reading progress status information of 11 stages. , The position of the battery 28 corresponding to the stage of the reading progress status information is detected based on the weight position correspondence table, and the next step S
Move to P55.

In step SP55, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 detects the current position of the battery 28 in the right side display section 11 and the right side display section of the battery 28 detected from the weight position correspondence table based on the reading progress status information in step SP54. The difference from the position within 11 is calculated and grasped, and the routine goes to the subsequent Step SP56.

In step SP56, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 gives the stepping motor 156 a drive command for moving only the difference calculated in step SP55 to move the battery 28 in parallel, and proceeds to the next step SP57.

In this case, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
When the stage based on the reading progress status information is close to the “0” stage and the progress of reading is shallow, the battery 28 is rotated.
Outputs a drive command to position it near the 2 side,
When the stage based on the reading progress status information is close to the “1” stage and the progress of reading is deep, the battery 28 is connected to the right side display unit 1.
A drive command for locating the position 1 on the open end side is output.

In step SP57, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 determines whether or not the page turning operation is performed by the user. If a positive result is obtained here, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 actually performs the page turning operation, returns to step SP54, and repeats the above-described processing.

That is, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 performs the page turning operation, grasps the reading progress status information,
When it is recognized that the reading progress status information has changed due to the page turning operation, the battery 28 is moved in parallel again according to the change.

On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP57, this means that the page turning operation has not been performed by the user, and it is not necessary to continue displaying the current page and move the position of the battery 28. At this time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 moves to the next step SP58 and ends the center-of-gravity movement control processing procedure.

Therefore, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 positions the battery 28 at a position closest to the rotating shaft portion 12 when the reading progress is still shallow and almost no pages are being read, and the reading progress is deep. When the user is reading to a page where reading is likely to end, the battery 28 is positioned at a position closest to the open end side of the right side display unit 11 so that the progress of the page can be adjusted according to the progress of the page. As a result, the impression that the weight of the right side display unit 11 changes like a real book can be felt very naturally.

Therefore, the user unknowingly recognizes that the body weight of the electronic book 2 changes naturally with the progress of reading, and the progress of reading has to be confirmed by visually observing the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137. Can be intuitively grasped.

In the electronic book 2, the weight controller 150
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be incorporated in the left side display unit 10 or may be incorporated in both the left side display unit 10 and the right side display unit 11. You can

(4) Operations and Effects With the above configuration, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3
In the purchase mode, the download right of the book data is given based on the download right acquisition request from the electronic book 2, and the book data ID code of the book data given the download right and the user ID code of the electronic book 2 are given. In association with the book purchaser correspondence table 38 (see FIG.
Register in 3) and centrally manage who has the download right for which book.

At this time, the CP of the electronic book server 3
The U30 associates the user ID code with the attribute information such as the book data ID code, the reading flag, and the reading progress status information by using the usage history correspondence table 3
9 (FIG. 14) is generated and the usage history correspondence table 39 is generated.
Various usage histories related to the user's book data are managed via.

On the other hand, when the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 acquires the download right for downloading the book data via the electronic book server 3, the electronic book server 3 notifies the book data ID code of the acquired book data. From then on, when downloading the book data thereafter, it is only necessary to transmit the book data ID code to the electronic book server 3.

When the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 receives the request for downloading the book data from the electronic book 2, the CPU 30 confirms the usage status based on the usage history correspondence table 39 (FIG. 14) and confirms the usage of 10 pages after the unread portion. The book data is transmitted to the electronic book 2.

Thus, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
When a request for downloading the book data is made, the book data for 10 pages of the unread portion can be automatically acquired from the electronic book server 3, and if the download is requested again when the reading of the 10 pages is completed, further The book data for 10 pages can be downloaded from the unread part of.

Therefore, even if the data capacity of the RAM 21 is not large, the electronic book 2 acquires only the required number of pages after the unread portion from the electronic book server 3 based on the download right at any time, anywhere and any number of times. Can be displayed.

Further, when the electronic book 2 is attached to the attachment opening 5A, the control section 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 covers the cover portion of the actual book owned by the user when the book information reading section 81 covers it. A plurality of keywords in the image read from the part are extracted, and a search result screen 100 for books related to the keyword selected by the user from the extracted keywords.
By displaying (FIG. 20), it is possible to present the search results of books outside the categories that the user can think of.

Further, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5 has a "keyword" button 101, a "publisher" button 102, an "author" button 103, a "genre" button 104, and "that person's recommendation" in the search result screen 100. Button 105
And the "New issue of this month 10" button 106 is displayed,
The search results of a wider range of books can be presented to the user.

Then, when the book 111 is selected via the search result screen 100, the control unit 80 of the kiosk terminal 5
The book data of the book 111 is received from the electronic book server 3 or read out from the book data storage unit 84 of its own and written into the electronic book 2 attached to the attachment opening 5A.

As a result, the user can select even a book that he or she cannot think of by himself or herself through the search result screen 100 without performing a complicated search operation. The book data can be immediately downloaded to the electronic book 2 on the spot.

As described above, the electronic book 2 not only accesses the electronic book server 3 directly but also searches for a book through the kiosk terminal 5 and at the same time retrieves the book data through the kiosk terminal 5 on the spot. You can also get it easily.

In the reading mode, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 acquires the reading progress status information of the book data relating to the book 61 for which the download request is made from the electronic book server 3, and the unread portion corresponding to the reading progress status information. The book data for 10 pages is received.

As a result, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
The first two pages of 10 pages downloaded from the electronic book server 3 (for example, 15/350 and 16 /
(Page 350) is displayed on the right side display unit 11 and the left side display unit 10, respectively, and at the same time,
Vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 having a thickness according to the reading progress information are displayed on the outer edge of page 0 and page 16/350 of the left side display unit 10.

At this time, at the same time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
Is the page number "15/350" or "16/35".
By displaying a fraction such as "0", not only the current number of pages but also the position of the whole book as a whole is accurately presented.

In this way, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 is
Page 15/350 of right side display section 11 and left side display section 1
Vertical stripe pattern 13 with the same thickness as the actual book that matches the reading progress information on the outer edge of page 16/350 of 0
By displaying 6 and 137, it is possible to make the user intuitively and roughly recognize which position of the entire book the currently displayed page corresponds to.

At the same time, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
By displaying fractional numbers such as "15/350" and "16/350" at the corners of the 15/350 and 16/350 pages, what position the currently displayed page corresponds to as a whole book? Can be made to be recognized numerically accurately by the user.

Further, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 causes the remaining 5
When the number of pages becomes equal to or less than the number of pages, the line of vertical stripes corresponding to the number of remaining pages is displayed so as to actually match the number of remaining pages to display the actual number of remaining pages in the vertical striped pattern 136 and the vertical striped pattern 137. The vertical striped line indicates that the number of remaining pages can be recognized by the user with a certain degree of accuracy, and the user can make an impression as if he or she is reading an actual book.

Further, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the vertical stripe display sections 136 and 137 and sets the battery 28 of the weight moving section 150 to the optimum position in the right side display section 11 according to the reading progress status information at that time. The position of the battery 28 is moved stepwise as the page is read in parallel, so that the vertical stripe display portions 136 and 137 are changed and the weight of the right display portion 11 is perceived. Based on such changes, the user can be given an impression as if he / she is reading an actual book.

Further, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 uses the battery 28 as a target for moving the center of gravity through the weight moving unit 150, so that space can be saved as compared with the case where a dedicated weight is used. At the same time, the weight can be reduced.

According to the above configuration, the CP of the electronic book 2
The U20 acquires the right to download the book data from the electronic book server 3, and only makes a download request to the book data for which the right has been acquired in advance.
Since it is possible to automatically obtain and display the book data of 10 pages of the unread part from the computer, even if the data capacity of the RAM 21 is not large, only the required number of pages from the unread part can be electronically downloaded based on the download right. Book server 3
It is possible to easily obtain and display from anytime, anywhere and any number of times.

Further, the kiosk terminal 5 has a cover portion of a book owned by the user himself, and only allows the user to select a keyword obtained from the cover portion of the book, and the search results regarding many kinds of books related to the keyword can be obtained. In addition to presenting the search result of the book that can be presented and the user cannot think of it without forcing the user to perform a complicated operation, the electronic book 2 is provided on the spot with the right to download the book data. Can be written on.

Further, when displaying the book data on the left side display section 10 and the right side display section 11, the electronic book 2 has a vertical striped pattern 136 and a vertical striped pattern 13 having a thickness corresponding to the reading progress status information.
7 is displayed, and the battery 28 of the weight moving unit 150 is positioned at an optimum position in the right side display unit 11 according to the reading progress status information at that time, and the battery 28 of the battery 28 is read as the page is read. By moving the position in stages, it is possible to give the same impression as when reading a book.

(5) Other Embodiments In the above embodiment, the page turning operation in the electronic book 2 is executed in response to the turning operation of the jog dial 12A provided at the lower end of the turning shaft portion 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 30, page turning is performed via a jog dial-like jog dial knob 160 provided on an extension line of the central axis of the rotating shaft portion 12. To perform an action
As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the page turning operation may be performed via the disk-shaped jog dial 161 provided on the back surface side of the right side display unit 11.

Further, in the above-mentioned form, the electronic book 2
Although the case where the characters displayed by the CPU 20 of the above is a constant size has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the character size is defaulted by inputting a relative value or an absolute value before or during the display of book data. The display may be changed to be arbitrarily larger or smaller than the state.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 displays the book data in page units divided in advance by the predetermined number of characters has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The page division unit may be changed to display a new page unit in accordance with the change in the character size.

In this case, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
While recalculating the total number of pages based on the new page,
Vertical reading patterns 136 and 137 are calculated by recalculating the reading progress status.
The thickness should be readjusted. As a result, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 can flexibly deal with the case where the book data is not divided into page units by a predetermined number of characters.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 simply displays the characters according to the book data has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the place desired by the user can be set. Characters or segments are designated by the jog dial 12A or other input means, and the background color of the designated range of characters or segments is changed to a predetermined color to be displayed, or the characters or segments themselves are designated. The marking may be performed by changing the color and displaying.

Thus, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2
Since the book data can be displayed in a marked state when it is displayed again, it is possible to discriminate where the user desires to be at a glance through the marking.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 simply displays the character corresponding to the book data has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be arbitrarily designated. A dictionary search may be performed for words such as letters. In this case, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 uses the dictionary application program stored in its own non-volatile memory 23 or the dictionary application program stored in the book data storage unit of the electronic book server 3. You may do it.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 is made to download the book data from the electronic book server 3 for every 10 pages has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the user is not limited to this. All the book data may be downloaded to a personal computer or the like owned by the user, the book data may be transferred from the personal computer by 10 pages at a time, and the progress of reading may be managed by the personal computer.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the user is made to intuitively and roughly recognize the progress of reading by adjusting the thickness of the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137 has been described. Not limited to this,
As shown in FIGS. 32 (A) and 32 (B), the user may intuitively recognize the progress of reading by the difference in the size of the arrows and the number of the arrows, or as shown in FIG. 32 (C). The thickness portion may be displayed as the red display portion 190 and the blue display portion 191 instead of the vertical stripe patterns 136 and 137, or the gradation of the display portion may be changed so that the user can intuitively and roughly recognize the reading progress situation. Good.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, FIG.
Although the case where the book 61 is determined and the page is directly turned from the page as shown in FIG. 6 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. 33 (A), (B) and (C) are used. As shown in, the spine of the book 61 may be displayed first, then the process of opening the book 61 may be shown, and finally the page may be opened in stages. According to this, it is possible to first recognize that the book 61 is opened to the right.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the characters of the book data are displayed in the normal display form has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. Characters of the book data may be bent and displayed in an S-shape in response to a predetermined button operation or the like, or may be displayed in a special form such as a scattered display. Also in this case, the CPU 20 of the electronic book 2 changes the division of the number of pages to recalculate the total number of pages, detects the reading progress status again according to the new total number of pages, and detects the vertical stripe pattern 136.
And 137 are newly displayed so that the user can intuitively recognize the reading progress status in the special display mode.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the weight moving section 150 having the rack and pinion structure is built in the right side display section 11 has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and a linear motion type linear motor 170 or the like in which the weight 171 linearly translates in the direction of the arrow may be incorporated in the right display unit 11.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, other related books are searched and displayed by reading the cover portion 90 of the book via the kiosk terminal 5, and the other book data selected from them is displayed. Although the case of writing to the electronic book 2 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and other related CDs or game software can be searched by reading a CD or game software cover cover which is a content recording medium. Alternatively, music data of another CD or program data of game software selected from the above may be written in the electronic book 2.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 30 of the electronic book server 3 uses the book data storage section 34A.
The case where the application program as the book data providing program stored in advance in the RAM 32 is developed on the RAM 32 and the above-described book data right acquisition processing procedure and display processing procedure are performed according to the book data providing program has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the program storage medium in which the book data providing program is stored may be installed in the electronic book server 3.

[0206] The electronic book server 3 stores the book data providing program for executing the series of processes described above.
As a program storage medium for installing the program in an executable state, for example, a floppy (registered trademark)
Disc, CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Mem)
ory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or other package media, as well as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk in which the book data providing program is temporarily or permanently stored. As a means for storing the book data providing program in these program storage media, wired and wireless communication media such as a local area network, the Internet and digital satellite broadcasting may be used, and various communication interfaces such as routers and modems may be used. It may be stored.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the electronic book 2 which is a dedicated terminal is used to download and display the book data from the electronic book server 3 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not limited to, small personal computer, PDA (Personal)
Various other information processing devices such as a digital assistant) may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 30 as the right granting means for giving the download right of the book data to the electronic book 2 and the user ID of the electronic book 2 for giving the download right.
When a book data download request is received from the CPU 30 and the book data storage unit 34A as a management unit that generates and stores a book purchaser correspondence table 38 in which a code and a book data ID code are associated with each other, and a book data download request is received from the electronic book 2. Based on the purchaser correspondence table 38, it is confirmed that the book data has the download right acquired in advance, and when the confirmation is obtained, the book data is transmitted to the electronic book 2 for a predetermined 10 pages. The case where the electronic book server of the present invention is configured by the CPU 30 as the control means and the book data storage unit 34A has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the book purchaser correspondence table 38 is used to purchase the purchased book. The data may be stored in the database 34D, and the right granting means, the management means, and the right granting means having various other configurations may be stored. The control means may be configured electronic book server.

[0209]

As described above, according to the present invention, if the electronic book obtains the download right for desired book data in advance via the electronic book server, the electronic book can be simply downloaded. Since it is possible to obtain a predetermined minimum amount of book data at any time and anywhere, it is not necessary to hold a large amount of book data, and even if it does not have a large memory, it is necessary. The book data can be acquired and displayed only in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of an electronic book system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an external configuration of an electronic book.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a usage state of an electronic book.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning operation (1) of an electronic book.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning operation (2) of the electronic book.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning operation (3) of the electronic book.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic book.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a bookstore selection screen displayed on an electronic book.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a book selection screen displayed on an electronic book.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a book purchase screen displayed on an electronic book.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electronic book server.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a book name correspondence table managed by the electronic book server.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a book / purchaser correspondence table managed by the electronic book server.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a usage history correspondence table managed by the electronic book server.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a “my bookshelf” screen displayed on an electronic book.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a display switching state to book contents.

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a kiosk terminal.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a reading result of a cover portion of a book displayed on a kiosk terminal.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a keyword correspondence table managed by the electronic book server.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a search result screen displayed on the kiosk terminal.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a search result screen regarding a new publication of this month displayed on the kiosk terminal.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a book data purchase end screen for this month displayed on the kiosk terminal.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a book data right acquisition processing procedure and a display processing procedure in a direct purchase mode.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a book data right acquisition processing procedure and a display processing procedure in the indirect purchase mode.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing a reading determination screen displayed on the electronic book.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing a page display state according to a reading progress state displayed on the electronic book.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a page display processing procedure according to a reading progress situation.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration for moving the center of gravity.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a procedure for a center-of-gravity movement control process.

FIG. 30 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning operation by holding the jog dial in another embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a schematic diagram showing a page turning operation by a jog dial on the back surface according to another embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a schematic diagram showing a display form of a reading progress situation in another embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram showing a display mode in another embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a character display method (1) according to another embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 35 is a character display method (2) according to another embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of the movement of the center of gravity using a linear motor or the like in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... E-book system, 2 ... E-book, 3 ...
E-book server, 5 ... Kiosk terminal, 10 ... Left display unit, 11 ... Right display unit, 12 ... Rotating shaft unit, 12
A ... Jog dial, 20, 30 ... CPU, 28 ...
... battery, 34 ... HDD, 80 ... control unit, 150
...... Weight moving part.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) G06F 13/00 540 G06F 13/00 540A 15/00 310 15/00 310A

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An electronic book system including an electronic book server and an electronic book connected to each other via a network, wherein the electronic book receives a book list list from the electronic book server and then displays the book list list. The electronic book server acquires the download right of the book data arbitrarily selected from the electronic book server, and the electronic book server gives the download right to the electronic book. And a book / purchaser correspondence table in which the book ID of the book data to which the download right is given is associated with each other is generated and stored, and when the download request for the book data is received from the electronic book, the book / purchase is performed. The book data is downloaded in advance by the user based on the person correspondence table. It is characterized in that the book data is confirmed to have been acquired, and when the confirmation is obtained, the book data is transmitted to the electronic book via the network by a predetermined data amount. Electronic book system. 2. The usage history correspondence table in which the electronic book server associates an identification flag for identifying the case where the book data has already been transmitted and the case where the book data has not been transmitted with the user ID. Is generated and stored, and based on the usage history correspondence table, it is determined whether the book data for the download request has been transmitted or not, and the electronic book is notified of the identification result. The electronic book system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic book system comprises: 3. The electronic book server transmits the book data for a predetermined number of pages to the electronic book in response to one download request, and at the same time, the reading progress status information on the book data is identified by the identification flag. It is stored together with the user ID of the usage history correspondence table, and based on the reading progress status information of the usage history correspondence table, the page of the unread part is read from the unread portion for the next download request. The electronic book system according to claim 1, wherein only a few minutes are transmitted as the predetermined data amount. 4. An electronic book server for transmitting book data to an electronic book connected via a network, wherein after transmitting a book list list to the electronic book,
The right granting means for giving the electronic book the right to download the book data arbitrarily selected from the list of books by the electronic book, and the use of the electronic book for giving the download right. Book in which the person ID and the book ID of the book data to which the download right is given are associated
Upon receiving a download request for the book data from the electronic book and a management unit that generates and stores a purchaser correspondence table, the book data is given the download right by the user in advance based on the book / purchaser correspondence table. And a control means for confirming that the book data has been acquired and transmitting the book data by a predetermined data amount to the electronic book via the network when the confirmation is obtained. And an e-book server. 5. The use history correspondence table in which the management means associates an identification flag for identifying the case where the book data has already been transmitted and the case where the book data has not been transmitted with the user ID with each other. It is generated and stored, and based on the usage history correspondence table, it is identified whether the book data for the download request has already been transmitted or has not been transmitted, and the identification result is notified to the electronic book. The electronic book server according to claim 4, wherein: 6. The control means transmits the book data to the electronic book for a predetermined number of pages in response to the one download request, and the reading progress status information on the book data together with the identification flag. It is stored in association with the user ID in the usage history correspondence table, and based on the reading progress status information in the usage history correspondence table, the number of pages from the unread portion of the book data for the next download request. The electronic book server according to claim 4, wherein only the minute is transmitted as the predetermined amount of data. 7. A book data providing method for transmitting book data to an electronic book connected via a network, comprising: transmitting a book list list to the electronic book;
A step of granting a right to download the book data arbitrarily selected from the list of books by the electronic book to the electronic book, and the use of the electronic book for giving the download right. Book in which the person ID and the book ID of the book data to which the download right is given are associated
When a management step of generating and storing a purchaser correspondence table and a request to download the book data from the electronic book are received, the book data is given the download right in advance by the user based on the book / purchaser correspondence table. A control step of confirming that the book data has been acquired, and transmitting the book data by a predetermined data amount to the electronic book via the network when the confirmation is obtained. Book data provision method. 8. The use history correspondence table in which the management flag is associated with an identification flag for identifying the case where the book data has already been transmitted and the case where the book data has not been transmitted, in the managing step. It is generated and stored, and based on the usage history correspondence table, it is identified whether the book data for the download request has already been transmitted or has not been transmitted, and the identification result is notified to the electronic book. The book data providing method according to claim 7, wherein 9. In the control step, the book data is transmitted to the electronic book by a predetermined number of pages in response to one download request, and the reading progress status information on the book data together with the identification flag. It is stored in association with the user ID in the usage history correspondence table, and based on the reading progress status information in the usage history correspondence table, the number of pages from the unread portion of the book data for the next download request. 8. The book data providing method according to claim 7, wherein only minutes are transmitted as the predetermined data amount. 10. A book list list is transmitted to an electronic book connected to a computer via a network, and then book data arbitrarily selected from the book list list by the electronic book is downloaded. A right grant step of giving a right to the electronic book, and a user ID of the electronic book and a book ID of the book data to which the download right is given are associated with the giving of the download right. Books /
When a management step of generating and storing a purchaser correspondence table and a request to download the book data from the electronic book are received, the book data is given the download right in advance by the user based on the book / purchaser correspondence table. A book for confirming that the book has been acquired and executing a control step of transmitting the book data by a predetermined data amount to the electronic book via the network when the confirmation is obtained Data provision program. 11. A book list list is transmitted to an electronic book connected to a computer via a network, and a right to download book data arbitrarily selected from the book list list by the electronic book is given. The right granting step to be given to the electronic book and the download right being given are associated with the user ID of the electronic book and the book ID of the book data to which the download right is given. Books /
When a management step of generating and storing a purchaser correspondence table and a download request for the book data from the electronic book are received, the book data is given the download right in advance by the user based on the book / purchaser correspondence table. A book for confirming that the book has been acquired and executing a control step of transmitting the book data to the electronic book via the network by a predetermined data amount when the confirmation is obtained A computer-readable book data providing program storage medium storing a data providing program.