JP2000353134A - Method for providing information and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an information providing method capable of providing information required to be observed by a user without imposing psychologycal burden to the user. SOLUTION: A user service program to be driven by a user terminal judges the congested state of communication between a server and a provider and the congested state of communication between the provider and its own terminal (step Sa3), and at the time of judging the congestion of communication between the server and the provider (step Sa4 YES), a contents file stored in the download preparation space of the provider is downloaded (step Sa5). At the time of judging the congestion of communication between the provider and the terminal itself (step Sa6, YES), the downloaded contents file is reproduced (step Sa7).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an information providing method for providing information to a user terminal connected to a computer communication network, and a recording medium therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of accessing a server on the Internet, for example, a general personal user has
First, there is a method in which a user terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a user terminal) connects to an Internet service provider (hereinafter, referred to as a provider) and accesses a server on the Internet via the provider.

In this case, the communication between the user terminal and the provider is usually performed by a modem using a telephone line, and the communication speed is limited by the communication between the provider and the server connected by a dedicated line. Slower than speed. Therefore, when the user terminal communicates with the server on the Internet in such a situation, the communication speed when receiving data from the server is often limited by the communication speed between the user terminal and the provider. .

[0004] In recent years, with the increase in the number of Internet users, the Internet has been used as an effective advertising means. When advertising a certain product to a user who has accessed the server, for example,
Information related to the product (for example, an image file of the appearance of the product, a text file in which a description about the product is described, or the like; hereinafter, referred to as advertisement data) is stored in advance in the storage device of the server. H that defines the contents of the home page provided by the server
The storage location of the advertisement data is described in the TML file.

Thus, when the browser of the user terminal accesses the server, first, the HTML file is read into the user terminal, the home page of the server is displayed, and the advertisement data described in the HTML file is read. Then, the advertisement data is displayed in the displayed homepage.

[0006]

As described above, since the connection between the provider and the user terminal is often made via a telephone line by a modem, the communication speed is low ( Generally, 64
kbps, 33.6 k to 56.6 kbps for analog lines).
For this reason, when the content amount of the homepage provided by the server becomes large, it takes much time to download the content of the homepage including the advertisement data, and the time until the entire homepage is displayed becomes longer. In this case, there is a high possibility that the user cannot wait and moves to another server without seeing information on the product.

In addition, when the communication speed between the provider and the server is reduced due to an increase in traffic on a dedicated line connecting the provider and the server, the server processing is performed because the number of accesses to the server is increased. Even when the load increases, the ability to provide services from the provider to the user terminals decreases as a result. That is, the amount of data per unit time transmitted by the provider to the user terminal is smaller than the communication speed between the user terminal and the provider.

As a result, the download time of the content data of the home page including the advertisement data becomes longer, and the time until the entire home page is displayed on the user terminal becomes longer, so that the user cannot wait for the information of the product without waiting. It is more likely that the server will be moved to another server without having to do so. Further, even when the user actively tries to view the entire home page, the user is frustrated and puts a psychological burden.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an information providing method and a recording medium for providing information desired by a user without imposing a psychological burden on the user. It is intended to provide.

[0010]

The invention according to claim 1 is a computer communication system comprising a server, a user terminal receiving a service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server. In the information providing method for providing information to the user terminal from the, the user terminal, the communication congestion state between the server and the connection device, the communication congestion state between the connection device and the own terminal, When the communication between the server and the connection device is determined to be congested, the information stored in the information provision storage area of the connection device is downloaded, and the downloaded information is It is displayed when it is determined that communication between the device and the terminal itself is congested.

Here, when the user terminal receives a service from a server connected to the Internet, the connection device becomes an Internet service provider, and the user terminal is a client connected to a low-speed LAN and a high-speed client. When receiving a service from a server connected to the LAN, it becomes a router. The information providing storage area is a storage area provided in a storage device provided in the connection device and shared by the user terminal and the connection device. Further, the format of the information provided to the user terminal includes a still image, a moving image, character information, and the like, and the meaning of “display of information” includes reproduction of a moving image.

According to the above-described configuration, when communication between the server and the connection device is congested, information stored in the connection device is downloaded, and the downloaded information is transmitted between the connection device and the user terminal. Displayed when communication between is busy. Therefore, information desired by the user can be provided without imposing a psychological burden on the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method according to the first aspect, each time the user terminal downloads information stored in the information providing storage area of the connection device, the user terminal downloads the information. It is characterized in that the number of downloads is accumulated and the accumulated download value is transmitted to the connection device.

According to the above configuration, the number of downloads of the information downloaded to the user terminal is transmitted to the connection device. Accordingly, the connection device refers to the number of downloads and appropriately selects information to be stored in the information provision storage area, so that, for example, a plurality of pieces of information included in the connection device is provided to the user terminal without bias. Can be adjusted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method according to the first or second aspect, the user terminal includes:
Each time the downloaded information is displayed, the number of times of display of the downloaded information is accumulated, and the accumulated value is transmitted to the connection device.

According to the above configuration, the number of times that the information downloaded to the user terminal is actually displayed on the user terminal is transmitted to the connection device. This makes it possible for the connection device to check whether the information downloaded to the user terminal is actually displayed on the user terminal, and to accurately check the number of persons who actually saw the information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method according to the first aspect, the connection device includes a plurality of pieces of information to be provided to the user terminal, and a plurality of information to be provided to each of the plurality of pieces of information. Provided user attribute data defining attributes and user attribute data relating to a user of a user terminal connectable to the own device, and when a connection request to the server is received from the user terminal, the user of the user terminal User attribute data and the provided user attribute data corresponding to each of the plurality of pieces of information, and based on a result of the comparison, information suitable for the user of the user terminal from the plurality of pieces of information. The information is selected and stored in the information providing storage area.

Here, the user attribute data includes, for example, the address, name, age, date of birth, family structure, occupation,
In addition to a telephone number, a credit card number, and the like, the data represents user preferences. The provided user attribute data includes the attributes of the user to whom the information is to be provided (user address,
Age, date of birth, family structure, occupation, preferences, etc.).

According to the above-described configuration, information matching the user's preference and the like is selected and stored in the information provision storage area. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with information that is easily accepted by the user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the information providing method of the fourth aspect, the connection device refers to the cumulative download value transmitted from the user terminal, and displays the selected information. Among these, the information that has been downloaded to the user terminal the least is stored in the information providing storage area.

According to the above-described configuration, the information with the least number of downloads to the user terminal is stored in the information provision storage area with reference to the cumulative download value transmitted from the user terminal. Thereby, a plurality of pieces of information possessed by the connection device can be provided to the user terminal without bias.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer communication system comprising a server, a user terminal receiving a service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for downloading information from an apparatus is recorded, wherein the program includes a communication congestion state between the server and the connection apparatus, and a communication state between the connection apparatus and the own terminal. Determining a communication congestion state; and, when determining that communication between the server and the connection device is congested, downloading information stored in an information provision storage area of the connection device. When the downloaded information is determined to be congested with the communication between the connection device and the terminal itself. It is characterized by having a Shimesuru step.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer communication system comprising a server, a user terminal receiving a service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for providing information to a terminal, the program includes:
Provided user attribute data that defines attributes of a user to be provided for each of a plurality of pieces of information to be provided to a user terminal, stored in the connection device, and user attribute data relating to a user of a user terminal connectable to the own device. Upon receiving a connection request from the user terminal to the server, comparing user attribute data relating to the user of the user terminal with provided user attribute data corresponding to each of the plurality of pieces of information. Selecting information appropriate for the user of the user terminal from the plurality of information based on a result of the comparison, and storing the selected information in the information providing storage area.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an information providing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First,
FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a computer communication system to which the information providing method of the present embodiment is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a server which provides a program such as a homepage, which is connected to the Internet 2 by a dedicated line. Here, although only one server is shown in FIG. 1, it is assumed that many servers are actually connected to the Internet 2.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a user terminal (for example, a personal computer) that acquires information from the server 1 on the Internet 2 in the present embodiment. A program called a user service program is installed in the user terminal 3 in advance, and the user service program allows a dial-up connection with a provider 5 using a modem via the telephone line 4 and a connection to the provider 5.
Download and play information (contents) provided by.

The provider 5 connects the user terminal dial-up connected via the telephone line 4 to the Internet 2. In addition, a program called a content service program is installed in the provider 5 in advance.
Information (contents) is provided to the user terminal 3 that has been dial-up connected.

Further, a storage device (for example, a hard disk or the like) provided in the provider 5 is provided with a storage space called a download preparation space (information providing storage area). This download preparation space is a storage space separately reserved for each user, and is shared by the provider 5 and the user terminal 3. That is, the content service program of the provider 5 is:
Data can be read and written to the download preparation space of all users, and the user service program of the user terminal 3 can read and write data to the download preparation space allocated to the user terminal 3. is there.

The database 6 stores user data,
Four types of data including a content file, content management data, and check data are stored.
Hereinafter, the contents of various data stored in the database 6 will be described.

User data: User data is data representing personal information of a user, and is mainly used as a material for determining what content (information) the provider provides to the user. These consist of the following fields:

Field 1: User ID. This is information for identifying the user. In the present embodiment,
This user ID needs to be unique (not duplicated). Specifically, the login ID used for connection to the Internet 2 may be used as it is, or an arbitrary ID may be used as long as it corresponds one-to-one with the login ID. However, in this case, user I
In addition to D, a field for specifying a login ID is required.

Field 2: Profile information (user attribute data) This is information in which private information (attribute) of the user is described. For example, address, name, age, date of birth, family structure,
In addition to the occupation, telephone number, credit card number, etc., it includes several flags based on the results of a questionnaire or the like so that the user's preferences can be subdivided and grouped. An example of this flag is shown below.

A flag indicating whether the user is interested in the car, C
AR: "1" when there is, "0" when there is none. • Flag indicating the user's personal computer history, PC ... n [year]
(N is an integer).・ Flag indicating how many wines to drink each week, WD ... m
[Book] (m is an integer). A flag indicating whether the person is single or married, MR: "0" if single, "1" if married.

Content file: Data containing information (content) actually provided to the user. The types of content files include still images, moving images, text (character information), and the like. One content may be constituted by these plural types of files. In this case, the files are combined into one file by compression so that the files can be easily downloaded to the user terminal 3. Further, each content file has content management data (described below) for managing the content file corresponding to each content file.

Content management data: The content management data includes information for managing the corresponding content file, and the attributes and contents of the corresponding content file. The content management data is downloaded to the user terminal 3 together with the corresponding content file, and is referred to when the user terminal generates check data (described later). The content management data is composed of the following fields.

Field 1: Content ID. This is information for identifying the corresponding content file. The content ID is information unique (not duplicated) to each content file.

Field 2: Content type (provided user attribute data). This is information indicating conditions for what kind of user the corresponding content file should be provided. For example, the information is that the age is 18 years or older, the person who is interested in a car is the object, or the person who lives in a rental house is the object. The content service program provides information appropriate for each user by comparing the content type with the profile information (field 2 of user data) of the user who has made a dial-up connection.

Field 3: Content format. This is information indicating what kind of file the corresponding content file is made of. For example, a still image, a number of still images, a moving image, and a file type of mpeg1.
Such information.

Usually, if the file type is specified, the application to be used to reproduce the content file is generally determined. However, an application for directly reproducing the content file without specifying the file format is used. May be specified. Further, when a plurality of file formats such as a still image and a moving image or a still image and a text document are mixed in one content file, each of those file formats is indicated. Further, there is a case where an application for reproducing the content file is included in the content file without specifying a file format or the like.

Field 4: File name of the content file. In the case where a plurality of files are combined into one at the time of compression, the file name given to the one file is recorded in this field.

Field 5: Information provision term. This is for responding to a request from the information provider for when it is desired to provide the information contained in the corresponding content file. For example, in the case of campaign notification information in which the application deadline is the last day of July, the information provision deadline is the last day of July. The provider 5 refers to the information provision period and prevents the user terminal 3 from downloading the expired content file. Further, even after downloading to the user terminal 3, it is possible to prevent the user from showing the content file when the date comes, or to automatically delete the content file when the date comes.

Field 6: Points. When the user terminal 3 downloads a content file or has the user view the content, it is necessary to determine some index as a price. Here, the value is represented as points, and is a field for storing points to be added each time the content is downloaded once or the content of the downloaded content file is viewed once. By providing this field, the provider (or the provider of each content)
Can provide services such as redeeming prizes according to accumulated points. These are the same as general credit card usage points. Accordingly, the user is more likely to view the downloaded content with the motivation of “accumulating points”.

Field 7: Reproduction time. The time required to view the corresponding content (content playback time). The content file (that is, a still image, a moving image, text, etc.) downloaded from the provider 5 is displayed or reproduced by a user service program operating on the user terminal 3. , Information indicating the playback time of the moving image. If the reproduction of the content does not use the above-described user service program but requires execution of a dedicated program, or if it is desired to maintain the display, “0” (zero = reproduction time unknown) is set. You.

Field 8: File size. This is information indicating the size of the corresponding content file, and serves as a guide for the time required for download and the like, and for determining whether or not it is a size that can be downloaded to the hard disk of the user terminal 3. In the case of content that is displayed or reproduced while being downloaded (called a stream format), “0” (zero = file size is unknown or is not stored on the hard disk of the user terminal) is set.

Check data: Check data is data generated by the above-described user service program and transmitted to the provider 5. This data allows the provider company or each content provider to check which user has downloaded and played back which content. This data is also used when the content provided to the user is not biased to a specific content.

With this check data, it is possible to check whether or not the downloaded content has actually been reproduced on the user terminal.
The number of people who played (viewed) the content can be checked accurately. Until now, it has not been possible to accurately measure data on how many people actually saw a commercial, but by examining this check data, an accurate numerical value can be obtained. Check data consists of the fields described below.

Field 1: User ID. Same as the user ID used in field 1 of the user data. -Field 2: content ID. Same as the content ID used in field 1 of the content management data.

Field 3: Download flag. A flag indicating whether the content file indicated by the content ID has been downloaded. If downloaded multiple times, the number is set. Field 4: Check flag. The content file indicated by the content ID is
A flag indicating whether or not the content has been reproduced on the user terminal 3.
If played multiple times, the number is set. The timing at which the value of this flag is incremented will be described later.

Next, an information providing method of the present embodiment in the computer communication system shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an information providing procedure according to the present embodiment, wherein (a) shows a processing procedure of a user service program executed by the user terminal 3 and (b) shows a content executed by the provider 5. 9 shows a processing procedure of a service program. In implementing the information providing method of the present embodiment, it is assumed that the user of the user terminal 3 has previously registered as a user with the provider 5 and obtained a user ID. At this time, it is assumed that personal information, hobbies, preferences, and the like of the user are stored in the database 6 as user data.

First, referring to FIG.
The process performed by the user service program will be described. When making a dial-up connection from the user terminal 3 to the provider 5, the user service program described above is started. Here, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the user service program is activated. In this figure, SC indicates a monitor screen of the user terminal 3, and 10 indicates a user interface of the activated user service program.
The user interface of the user service program (hereinafter, simply referred to as a user service program) 10
Has a browser activation button 11, a content indicator 12, a line congestion gauge 13, a download indicator 14, and a provider information display area 15.

The browser start button 11 is used for the user terminal 3
This is a button for starting the browser installed in the browser. By clicking this button and letting the user launch the browser from the user service program,
After the user terminal 3 connects to the Internet 2, the home page first displayed on the browser cannot be changed by the user.

The content indicator 12 is an indicator indicating whether or not the content file provided by the provider 5 has been downloaded to the user terminal 3. Here, the downloaded content file (including the corresponding content management data) is used. If there is
“P” is displayed, and if there is no “P”, “N” is displayed. Therefore, FIG. 3 shows a state where there is no downloaded content file. The content indicator 12 allows the user to know whether the content is automatically reproduced.

The line congestion gauge 13 shows the line congestion between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 by a bar graph. In FIG. 3, the line between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 is 100%. Indicates that it is used. Also, the download indicator 14
Flashes when a content file is being downloaded from provider 5. The provider information display area 15 displays provider information downloaded from the provider 5 when the user terminal 3 establishes a connection with the provider 5. This provider information is provided by provider 5
In the above, the content is information separately prepared, and is information for notifying each user from the provider 5 such as maintenance time, access point change / addition information, and the like.

When the user service program described above is started, a connection dialog 16 for making a dial-up connection to the provider 5 is displayed on the monitor screen SC. Then, the user sets the connection dialog 16
When a user ID and a password are input to the user ID input field 17 and the password input field 18 respectively, and the connection button 19 is clicked, the user service program proceeds to step Sa1 and performs a dial-up connection process for the provider 5. Execute Thus, the authentication of the user terminal 3 is performed in the provider 5.

After the authentication is performed, when the connection between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 is established, the user service program first downloads the provider information from the provider 5 and displays it on the provider information display area 15. Next, when the user clicks the browser activation button 11, the user service program proceeds to step Sa2.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the browser 20 specified by the user in advance is started. This browser 20
Functions independently of the user service program, and the user can access the URL (Uniform Resource L
ocator) to access the homepage you want to see. Here, the user is the server 1 shown in FIG.
Is specified.

Next, the user service program proceeds to step Sa3, where the congestion between the provider 5 and the server (the server 1 in this case) accessed by the browser 20, and the connection between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 Check for congestion. Here, first, the congestion state between the provider 5 and the server 1 is measured, for example, by periodically measuring the amount of data per unit time received by the user service program at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 10 seconds). , The measured value is the device used for the connection (eg, modem,
If the transfer capacity is less than half of the transfer capacity of the terminal adapter or the like, it is determined that the provider 5 and the server 1 are congested. It should be noted that it is possible to set the user's ability to determine how much the transfer capacity is reduced before the traffic is considered congested.

The congestion state between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 is determined by, for example, periodically measuring the amount of data received by the user service program per unit time at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 10 seconds). If the measured value exceeds half the transfer capacity of the device (for example, modem, terminal adapter, etc.) used for connection, it is determined that the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 are congested. It should be noted that the user may be able to set how much the transfer capacity is satisfied before it is considered congested.

Next, the user service program proceeds to step Sa4, and determines whether the connection between the provider 5 and the server 1 is busy. Here, when it is determined that the vehicle is congested, the determination result is YES, and the process of step Sa5 is performed. When it is determined that the vehicle is not congested, the determination result is NO, and the process proceeds to step Sa6 without performing the process of step Sa5. here,
The result of the determination is YES, and the process of step Sa5 is performed.

At step Sa5, the user service program downloads the content file existing in the download preparation space provided in the provider 5 and the content management data corresponding to the content file. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the download indicator 14 of the user service program 10 blinks to notify the user that the content file is being downloaded. Then, when the download of the content file is completed, step Sa
Proceed to step 6. If there is no content file in the download preparation space described above, the process proceeds to step Sa6 without doing anything.

Here, the downloaded content file is decompressed and stored in a storage device built in the user terminal 3 together with the content management data until it is reproduced. Further, the display of the content indicator 12 of the user service program 10 changes from “N” to “P”.

Further, the content ID is recognized from the field 1 of the downloaded content management data, check data for the recognized content ID is generated together with the user ID, and stored in the storage device of the user terminal 3. At this time, if the content file has been downloaded for the first time, the value of the download flag (field 3) is set to “1”. If the content file has been downloaded in the past, the previously generated check data is searched based on the content ID, and the value of the download flag of the searched check data is incremented by one.

Next, at step Sa6, it is determined whether or not the space between the user terminal 3 and the provider 5 is busy.
Here, if it is determined that the vehicle is congested, the result of the determination is YES, and the processing of steps Sa7 and Sa8 is performed. When it is determined that the vehicle is not congested, the determination result is NO, and the process proceeds to Step Sa9 without performing the processes of Steps Sa7 and Sa8. Here, it is assumed that the determination result is YES, and the process of step Sa7 is performed.

At step Sa7, the user service program executes the field 3 of the content management data.
The content file is reproduced according to the information of (content format). For example, when the downloaded content file is a moving image, the user service program activates the moving image reproducing program to reproduce the downloaded content file. As a result, as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the monitor screen SC, and the content file is reproduced.

Next, when the reproduction of the content file is completed, the flow advances to step Sa8 to update the value of the check flag (field 4) of the check data generated in step Sa5. That is, if the content file was reproduced for the first time in step Sa7, the value of the check flag is set to “1”. If the content file has been reproduced in the past, the value of the check flag of the check data is incremented by one. The generated or updated check data is written to the download preparation space of the provider 5 as a reproduction end file.

Then, the process proceeds to a step Sa9, where it is determined whether or not the connection with the provider 5 is disconnected by the user. If the connection is not broken, the judgment result is N
O is returned to step Sa3, and thereafter, the processing of steps Sa3 to Sa9 is repeated until the connection is disconnected. Then, when it is determined in step Sa9 that the connection has been disconnected, the determination result is YES, and the user service program ends the processing.

Next, referring to FIG.
The processing performed by the content service program will be described. First, when a dial-up connection request is sent from the user service program of the user terminal 3 via the telephone line 4, the content service program proceeds to step Sb1, where the user ID and the password sent together with the dial-up connection request are sent. Authenticate. Then, as a result of the authentication, if it is confirmed that the user is a registered user, the user terminal 3 is connected to the Internet 2.

Next, in steps Sb2 and Sb3, the content service program determines whether or not a content file (actually including corresponding content management data; the same applies hereinafter) and a reproduction end file are present in the download preparation space. Judge. According to this determination, the content service program determines (1) the case where no content file exists in the download preparation space, (2) the case where both the content file and the reproduction end file exist, and (3) the case where only the content file exists. Different processing is performed depending on the case. Hereinafter, the processing procedure of the content service program will be described for each case described above.

(1) When there is no content file in the download preparation space: In this case, step S
The determination result of b2 is NO, and the process of the content service program proceeds to Step Sb6. Step Sb
In step 6, the content service program searches the database 6 for user data of the user based on the user ID of the user who has requested the dial-up connection in step Sb1.

Next, proceeding to step Sb7, the profile information included in the field 2 of the searched user data is compared with the content type included in the field 2 of each piece of content management data, and provided to the user (user Select a content file that matches the attributes of

Then, the process proceeds to step Sb8, where the download flag of the check data corresponding to the selected content file is checked based on the content ID of the selected content file. After copying to the download preparation space,
Proceed to step Sb9.

If there are a plurality of content files with the least number of downloads, one of them
One of them may be arbitrarily selected and copied to the download preparation space, or one content file may be selected and copied to the download preparation space according to a predetermined selection method. Here, as the above-mentioned predetermined selection method, for example, when a unique number is given as the content ID, the one with the smallest number or the information provision time limit recorded in the field 5 of the check data is used. A method of selecting a shorter period can be considered.

(2) When both the content file and the reproduction end file exist in the download preparation space: In this case, the determination results in steps Sb2 and Sb3 are as follows:
Both are YES, and the processing of the content service program proceeds to step Sb4. In step Sb4, the content service program copies the reproduction end file (check data) existing in the download preparation space to the database 6. Thereby, if the check data of the same user ID and the same content ID already exists in the database 6,
The check data is updated.

Then, the process proceeds to a step Sb5, wherein the content file and the reproduction end file existing in the download preparation space are deleted. Then, the processing of steps Sb6 to Sb8 described above is performed, and the new content file and the corresponding content management data are copied to the download preparation space.

(3) When only a content file exists in the download preparation space: In this case, step S
The determination result of b2 is YES, the determination result of step Sb3 is NO, and the process of the content service program proceeds to step Sb9 as it is.

According to the above processing, if there is no content file in the download preparation space, a content file matching the attribute of the user who has requested the dial-up connection is selected in step Sb1, and the download file assigned to the user is selected. It is copied to the preparation space. If both the content file and the reproduction end file exist in the download preparation space, it is determined that the content file has been reproduced on the user terminal 3 and the new content file is copied to the download preparation space. Further, when only the content file exists in the download preparation space, it is determined that the content file has not yet been downloaded to the user terminal 3, and the process proceeds to step Sb9 without performing any processing.

At step Sb9, the content service program determines whether the user has disconnected from the provider 5 or not. If the connection has not been disconnected, the determination result is NO, and step Sb2
And thereafter, steps Sb2 to Sb2 until the connection is disconnected.
The process of Sb9 is repeated. Then, Step Sb9
When it is determined that the connection has been disconnected, the determination result is YES, and the content service program ends the process for the user.

In the above description, a communication system that exchanges information via the Internet is assumed as a computer communication system to which the information providing method of the present embodiment is applied. It is also possible to apply to. In this case, server 1
Is a server connected to a high-speed LAN, a provider 5 is a router, and a user terminal 3 is a client connected to a low-speed LAN. Although the download preparation space is provided in the storage device provided in the provider 5, a part of the storage area of the database 6 may be allocated to the download preparation space.

Also, a program for executing the processing of the user service program shown in FIG. 2A and the processing of the content service program shown in FIG. 2B are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and this recording is performed. Information may be provided to the user by reading the program recorded in the medium into a computer system and executing the program.

Here, the “computer system” includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.
If a WW (World Wide Web) system is used, this also includes a homepage providing environment (or display environment). The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a portable medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or a storage device such as a hard disk built in a computer system. . Further, the “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and dynamically holds the program for a short time. In this case, a medium that holds a program for a certain period of time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in that case, is also included.

The above-mentioned program may be for realizing a part of the above-mentioned functions, and may be for realizing the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in a computer system, that is, a so-called program. It may be a difference file (difference program).

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the communication between the server and the connection device is congested, the information stored in the connection device is downloaded, and the downloaded information is used when the communication between the connection device and the user terminal is congested. Is displayed. Therefore, information desired by the user can be provided without imposing a psychological burden on the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a communication system to which an embodiment of an information providing method according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an information providing procedure according to the embodiment, wherein (a) shows a processing procedure of a user service program, and (b) shows a processing procedure of a content service program.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a start screen of the user service program.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state when a browser is started from the user service program.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a content file is being downloaded by the user service program.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a content file is being reproduced by the user service program.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 server 2 Internet 3 user terminal 4 telephone line 5 provider 6 database 10 user service program 11 browser start button 12 content indicator 13 line congestion gauge 14 download indicator 15 provider information display area 16 connection dialog 17 user ID input field 18 password input field 19 Connect button 20 Browser 30 Content playback window

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Claims (7)

[Claims] An information providing method for providing information from a connection device to a user terminal in a computer communication system including a server, a user terminal receiving a service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server. The user terminal determines a congestion state of communication between the server and the connection device, and a congestion state of communication between the connection device and the own terminal, between the server and the connection device; When it is determined that the communication of the connection device is congested, the information stored in the information provision storage area of the connection device is downloaded, and the downloaded information is transmitted when the communication between the connection device and the own terminal is congested. An information providing method characterized by displaying when it is determined that the information is present. 2. Each time the user terminal downloads information stored in the information provision storage area of the connection device, the user terminal accumulates the number of downloads of the information and transmits the total download value to the connection device. The information providing method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The user terminal according to claim 1, wherein each time the downloaded information is displayed, the number of times of display of the downloaded information is accumulated, and the accumulated value is transmitted to the connection device. 2
Information provision method described in. 4. The connection device includes: a plurality of pieces of information to be provided to the user terminal; provided user attribute data defining attributes of a user to be provided for each of the plurality of pieces of information; User attribute data relating to the user of the terminal, and when a connection request to the server is received from the user terminal, user attribute data relating to the user of the user terminal and a provided user corresponding to each of the plurality of information Comparing with attribute data, selecting information suitable for the user of the user terminal from the plurality of information based on a result of the comparison, and storing the selected information in the information providing storage area. 2. The information providing method according to 1. 5. The connection device refers to the cumulative download value transmitted from the user terminal, and provides the information having the smallest number of downloads to the user terminal among the selected information. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the information is stored in a storage area.
Information provision method described in. 6. A computer communication system comprising a server, a user terminal receiving a service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server, wherein the program operates on the user terminal and downloads information from the connection device. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon, a step of determining a congestion state of communication between the server and the connection device, and a congestion state of communication between the connection device and the terminal itself, Downloading the information stored in the information provision storage area of the connection device when it is determined that the communication between the server and the connection device is congested; and Displaying when it is determined that communication with the terminal is congested. Computer-readable recording medium recording a program to be executed. 7. In a computer communication system comprising a server, a user terminal receiving service from the server, and a connection device for connecting the user terminal to the server, a program that operates on the connection device and provides information to the user terminal. Is provided on a computer-readable recording medium, stored in the connection device, provided user attribute data that defines a user attribute to be provided for each of a plurality of information to be provided to the user terminal, Based on user attribute data relating to a user of a connectable user terminal, when receiving a connection request from the user terminal to the server, corresponding to the user attribute data relating to the user of the user terminal and each of the plurality of information Comparing with provided user attribute data to be provided, and based on a result of the comparison, Selecting information appropriate to the user of the user terminal from the plurality of pieces of information and storing the information in the information providing storage area.