JP2002083190A - System and method for information delivery, information delivery device, processor and method for processing distributed information, and recording medium for recording the methods - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily provide related information concerned in information distributed via a network, even when kinds of the delivery informations are plural. SOLUTION: Icon images IP1, IP2 including the related information concerned in the information distributed via the network are displayed within the first control area R1 together with other information. A collective D/L button B10 for moving all the icon images IP1, IP2 or either of them to the second control area R2 to be taken in is displayed within the first control area R1 to be operable by a user, even when an imaging image Im is mixed. The icon images IP1, IP2 are moved to the second area R2 when the D/L button B10 is clicked by the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system, an information distribution apparatus, and a method for distributing information according to a user's request via a network such as the Internet, and a method for receiving information distributed via a network. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a distribution information processing apparatus and method for performing processing on a recording medium, and a recording medium for recording the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a communication environment via a network such as the Internet has been developed, and various types of information (contents) are distributed via the network. Taking the Internet as an example, the Internet is configured by interconnecting routers and servers. However, the number of servers connected to the Internet keeps increasing year by year, and various types of information distributed from servers are collected. The amount is huge. In order for a user to receive various information distributed via the Internet, a user inputs a character string called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) from a terminal device such as a so-called personal computer connected to the Internet, or a server. It is necessary to access the server by directly specifying an IP (Internet Protocol) address uniquely assigned to the server.

[0003] Here, the user of the terminal device generally tends to access specific information on a limited specific server. For this reason, a function called a so-called bookmark is known so that such information can be accessed with a small operation procedure. Here, the bookmark function refers to the specification of information distributed via a network as one character string or one image (icon),
The user uses the character string or the like as a key and selects and specifies the character string so that the specified information can be accessed. In other words, when the Internet is compared to a book, the bookmark is a function of a bookmark. By using this function,
The information can be accessed more quickly than when a character string such as a URL is input to specify the information.

[0004] The above technology is not only applied to personal computers, but is also widely applied to home electric appliances. In particular, the digital television is configured to be able to connect to a network such as the Internet, in addition to simply receiving a broadcast, and is required by a user using the digital television as a terminal device and using the above-described bookmark function. Quick access to information.

[0005]

By the way, it has become possible to quickly access necessary information by using the above-mentioned bookmark function, but the user tries to look at information once obtained once again. In this case, the information must be obtained again by accessing the information using the bookmark function. When a user visits a homepage that has never been visited in the past, he first needs to get an overview of the information provided on that homepage,
In many cases, detailed information is gradually obtained. Therefore, when the user tries to obtain more detailed information, an operation of accessing the same homepage using a browsing program called a browser is required, and there is a problem that convenience is poor.

In recent years, an environment in which products such as music, movies, games, and the like are sold via the Internet has been established. When selling these products through a network, the artist's photograph that intuitively recalls the contents, a part of the name scene, and the like are displayed as image information, and the user selects the product by clicking the image information. To sell the selected product. Even in such a case, there is a case where the user wants to take a long time to carefully examine the details of the product, but there is a problem that the convenience is poor as described above.

[0007] Further, when a product is sold through a network, a plurality of products are usually provided, and the user examines the product while comparing information on these products over time, and as a result of the examination. Purchasing one or more products is performed. However, conventionally, it is necessary to access a homepage that provides products using a browser and display a page including information on the products for each product, which has a problem of poor convenience.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem of the related art, and relates to a case where there are a plurality of types of information to be distributed, related information related to information distributed via a network. An object of the present invention is to provide an information distribution system and method, an information distribution device, a distribution information processing device and method, and a recording medium for recording the method, which can be easily obtained.

[0009]

Hereinafter, in the examples shown in this section, for ease of understanding, each constituent element of the present invention will be described with typical reference numerals shown in the drawings of the embodiments. The configuration of the present invention or each component requirement is not limited to those restricted by these reference numerals.

[Information Distribution System, Information Distribution Device, Information Distribution Method] In order to solve the above problems, an information distribution system of the present invention comprises an information distribution server (32) connected to a network (N1) and a terminal device ( 10, 12, 14, 1
6), and the information distribution server (32) transmits at least one of the icon images (IP1, IP2) including the related information (RE10) related to the information to be distributed to the terminal device (10, 12, 14,. 16) The capturing means (B10) for capturing in the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) by a predetermined operation by the user of the icon image (I).
P1 and IP2) together with the transmission to the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) via the network (N1).

The information distribution apparatus of the present invention is connected to a network (N1) and includes an icon image (IP1, IP2) including related information (RE10) related to information to be distributed.
2, ip, ip10, ip11) at least one of the terminal devices (10,
12, 14, 16) by means of a predetermined operation by the user, the capturing means (B 10) for capturing the data into the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16).
2, ip, ip10, ip11) and the terminal device (10, 12, 1, 1) via the network (N1).
4, 16).

According to these inventions, there is provided a fetching means for fetching at least one of the icon images including the related information related to the information distributed via the network into the terminal device by a predetermined operation by the user of the terminal device. Is transmitted to the terminal device via the network together with the icon image.

Further, in the information distribution system of the present invention, the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) includes an instruction input means (70, 95) for inputting an instruction of a user, and the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16) via the network (N1). The icon image (IP) is displayed without displaying the information to be distributed and the related information (RE10).
1, IP2) is displayed in the first management area (R1), and the capture means (B10) is displayed in the first management area (R1) in a state where it can be operated by the user. An icon image associated with the icon image (IP1, IP2) when the predetermined operation on the capture unit (B10) is input from the area control unit (64) and the instruction input unit (70, 95). (Ip, i
p10, ip11) is displayed in the second management area (R2) and is taken into the second management area control means (7).
4).

According to the present invention, the information and the icon image distributed via the network are displayed in the first management area of the terminal device without displaying the related information.
The capturing means is displayed in a state where the user can perform the operation,
When a predetermined operation is performed on the capturing means, at least one of the icon images related to the icon image is changed to the second one.
The data is displayed and taken in the management area (R2).

Further, in the information distribution system according to the present invention, the second management area control means (74) may be arranged such that, when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means (70, 95), the second management area control means (74). The icon image (i) displayed in (R2)
related information (RE1) related to p, ip10, ip11)
0) is displayed.

According to the present invention, the related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area (R2) when a predetermined instruction is given is displayed.

[Distribution Information Processing Apparatus and Distribution Information Processing Method] In order to solve the above problems, a distribution information processing apparatus of the present invention is connected to a network (N1) and distributed via the network (N1). Icon images (IP1, IP1) containing related information (RE10) related to the information
It is characterized in that at least one of the items 2) is displayed together with a fetching means (B10) for fetching the inside by a predetermined operation of the user.

According to the present invention, at least one of the icon images including the related information related to the information distributed via the network is displayed together with the taking-in means for taking in the inside by a predetermined operation of the user.

Further, the distribution information processing apparatus of the present invention includes an instruction input means (70, 95) for inputting an instruction of a user, and information distributed via the network (N1) and the related information (RE10). The icon images (IP1, IP2) are displayed in the first management area (R1) without being displayed, and the capture means (B10) is operable by the user in the first management area (R1). R1), the icon image (IP1) is displayed when the predetermined operation for the capture means (B10) is input from the first management area control means (64) displayed on the instruction input means (70, 95). , IP2) related icon images (i
a second management area control means (74) for displaying and taking in at least one of p, ip10, and ip11) in the second management area (R2).

According to the present invention, the information and the icon image distributed via the network are displayed in the first management area of the terminal device without displaying the related information.
The capturing means is displayed in a state where the user can perform the operation,
When a predetermined operation is performed on the capturing means, at least one of the icon images related to the icon image is changed to the second one.
The data is displayed and taken in the management area (R2).

Further, in the distribution information processing apparatus according to the present invention, the second management area control means (74) may be configured to execute the second management area control when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means (70, 95). Icon image (i) displayed in region (R2)
related information (RE1) related to p, ip10, ip11)
0) is displayed.

According to the present invention, when a predetermined instruction is given by the user, related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area is displayed.

Further, the distribution information processing apparatus according to the present invention further includes the related information (RE1) via the network (N1).
0) is provided.

According to the present invention, the related information is further obtained via the network.

[Recording medium] In order to solve the above problems,
The recording medium according to the first aspect of the present invention includes related information (R) related to information distributed via a network (N1).
E10) and at least one of the icon images (IP1, IP2) to the terminal device (10, 12, 14, 16).
The terminal device (10, 1
Intake means (B10) for incorporation into (2, 14, 16)
To the terminal device (10, 1, 1) via the network (N1) together with the icon images (IP1, IP2).
2, 14, 16) is recorded.

The recording medium according to the first aspect of the present invention is mainly connected to a network, and the recorded contents are read by a server that distributes various information.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the second aspect of the present invention
The recording medium according to the aspect of (1) captures at least one of the icon images (IP1, IP2) including the related information (RE10) related to the information distributed via the network (N1) by a predetermined operation of the user. It is characterized by recording a program having a display step together with a loading means (B10) to be read.

The recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention stores the icon images (IP1, IP2) without displaying the information distributed via the network (N1) and the related information (RE10). The first management area (R1) is displayed in the first management area (R1) and the capture means (B10) is operable by the user.
1) displaying an icon image (i) associated with the icon image (IP1, IP2) when the predetermined operation is performed on the capturing means (B10).
p, ip10, ip11) in the second management area (R2).

The recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention is configured such that the icon image (i) displayed in the second management area (R2) when a predetermined instruction is given from the user.
related information (RE1) related to p, ip10, ip11)
A program having a step of displaying 0) is recorded.

Further, a recording medium according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized by recording a program having a step of acquiring related information (RE10) via the network (N1).

The recording medium according to the second aspect of the present invention is mainly connected to a network, and the recorded contents are read by a terminal device that makes an information distribution request to a server.

[0032]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an information distribution system and method, an information distribution apparatus, a distribution information processing apparatus and method, and a recording medium for recording the method will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. .

[Information Distribution System] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a personal computer,
12 is a digital television, 14 is a PDA (Personal Dat
a Assistance) and 16 are mobile phones, which constitute a terminal device. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the personal computer 10 and the digital television 12 are connected to a network N1 such as the Internet, and the PDA 14 and the mobile phone 16 are connected to a network via a base station 20, a network N2, and a network connection device 22. It is connected to N1. Reference numeral 30 indicates that the information distribution server 32 and the database device D are connected to a LAN (Local Area).
Network) is an information distribution site connected to each other via a network N3.

The personal computer 10, the digital television 12, and the information distribution server 32 provided in the information distribution site 30 can communicate with each other via the network N 1. The provided information distribution server 24 can communicate with each other via the base station 20, the network N2, the network connection device 22, the network N1, and the like.
The configuration shown in FIG. 1 is merely a diagram for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and the connection form between each of the terminal devices and the information distribution site 30 and the network N1 is shown in FIG. It is not limited to things. The communication means between each terminal device and the information distribution site 30 is not particularly limited, and may be a telephone line, a dedicated line, a radio wave, an optical communication, or a combination thereof.

The terminal device is a personal computer 10, a digital television 12, a PDA 1 shown in FIG.
4 and the mobile phone 16, and may be any of a terminal device installed indoors and a portable terminal device. In the following description, a case in which the personal computer 10 is used to access the information distribution site 30 via the network N1 will be described as an example for easy understanding. Personal computer 10
Is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Proces
sor Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM
(Read Only Memory) or a storage device such as a hard disk, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a CRT (Cathod
A display device such as a Ray Tube or a liquid crystal display device, and a communication interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a router.

Further, a CD-ROM device, a DVD (registered trademark) device, a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device,
It has an external storage device such as a flexible disk device, a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM disk, an IC card memory device, or a magnetic tape device. These external storage devices
This is a device for reading a program recorded on a portable recording medium into the personal computer 10.
The storage device in the personal computer 10 includes:
To enable communication via the network N1, at least an operating system (OS) and an HTT
A P (HyperTextTransfer Protocol) browsing program (a browser or the like) is stored.

The information distribution server 32 is connected to the network N1
In response to the information distribution request transmitted via the server, required information is read from the database device D and transmitted to the terminal device that transmitted the information distribution request. Here, the various types of information stored in the database device D are, for example, information on sold products. This information includes an icon image including related information on the product and character information. The details of the icon image will be described later.
Note that FIG. 1 shows a form in which the information distribution server 32 and the database device D are connected to each other via the network N3 for easy understanding. All may be constituted by one server.

The information distribution server 32 is composed of, for example, a general-purpose computer. This general-purpose computer has a CPU
MPU, RAM, ROM, storage device such as hard disk, input device such as keyboard and mouse, display device such as CRT and liquid crystal display element, modem, terminal adapter,
Or, a communication interface such as a router is provided. Further, C
An external storage device such as a D-ROM device, a DVD (registered trademark) device, a hard disk device, a magneto-optical disk device, a flexible disk device, a semiconductor storage device such as a RAM disk, an IC card memory device, or a magnetic tape device is provided. The information distribution server 32 is connected to the network N1.
At least the OS and the program for the HTTP server are stored in the storage device in order to enable the communication via.

[Information distribution device and icon image]
An information distribution device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the information distribution server 32 and the database device D constitute an information distribution device. The information distribution server 32 reads information corresponding to the information distribution request transmitted from the personal computer 10 via the network N1 from the database device D, and transmits the information to the personal computer 10 via the network N1.

The information distribution server 32 transmits an icon image included in the information to be transmitted, and transmits the icon image to a second management area (to be described in detail later) provided in the personal computer 10 at a time. The data is transmitted including a batch download (D / L) button having a function of downloading individual items. This batch D / L button is a part of the taking means. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the icon image is created in advance and stored in the database D to simplify the description. In the present embodiment, the icon image includes image information (for example, image information relating to a character in a game or the like) that briefly indicates a product, and related information related to the product (for example, various information such as character information for explaining the product). It is comprised including. Note that the related information included in the icon image is not limited to information related to a product, and may be related to arbitrary information distributed by the information distribution server 32.

The icon image may be created in advance, or may be created dynamically by the information distribution server 32. In this case, the image information and the related information for creating the icon image need not always be stored in the database device D, but are stored in the information distribution server 32 or a server (not shown) connected to the network N1. May be. The data format of the image information is BMP
Format, GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) format,
JPEG (Joint Photographic coding Experts Group)
Format and other TIFF (Tagged Image F
ile Format). In addition, the information distribution server 32 may include a button having a function for downloading a program for executing a process related to an icon image in the personal computer 10. Further, in the present embodiment, a case will be described as an example in which related information included in the icon image is created in advance for the sake of simplicity of explanation, but the information distribution server 32 may dynamically create the related information. .

The functions of the information distribution apparatus may be realized in the form of hardware by forming a logic circuit in the information distribution server 32, and a program for realizing each function is stored in a storage device. The present invention may be realized by executing a program. Furthermore, a CD on which this program is recorded
-The information distribution server 32 may read the contents of a recording medium such as a ROM and execute the reading.

Here, the icon image will be described in detail. The icon image is image information that briefly indicates the content of the information to be provided as described above, and the content of the information can be grasped at a glance. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the icon image includes related information in the image information. However, as described later, in the first management area of the personal computer 10, no related information is displayed, and only the image information of the icon image is displayed.

The method of creating the icon image is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, for example, it is performed as follows. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded. Here, a case where the image information is an image in the GIF format will be described. The format of the image information is not limited to the GIF format, but may be a JPEG format or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the icon image includes a plurality of fields FA1 to FA6. The field FA1 is a field in which information indicating a start portion of the icon image is stored. Here, since the case where the image information is in the GIF format is considered,
The field FA1 stores a character string “GIF” for identifying that the icon image is image information in the GIF format and its version. The field FA3 stores color scheme table image data. here,
The color scheme image data is image data in which pixels are arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. Further, in the present embodiment, since the case where the image information is in the format of the GIF format is considered, the color combination table type image data is encoded using the variable length code LZW algorithm.

The field FA5 is a field provided for storing the comment extension part, and includes text information which does not become graphic information in the GIF data stream. This can include any annotations about graphics, production names or descriptions, or any other non-control or graphic data. The field FA6 is a field for storing information indicating an end portion indicating that the data stream of the icon image has ended, and means that other parameter information and the like do not follow. Field F
Information other than the above-described information is stored in a field FA2 provided between A1 and the field FA3 and a field FA4 provided between the field FA3 and the field FA5. For example, information including parameters defining a region of the display device necessary for displaying an icon image, such as a screen width, a screen height, and a color resolution, is stored.

The related information RE1 is stored as it is or after being subjected to a process such as encryption in the field FA5 in which the comment extension part is stored, and is integrated as one piece of image information. As a result, as a result, the icon image as a data stream can include related information therein. In the above description, the case where the image information is created in the GIF format has been described as an example. However, even if the image information is in another format, the related information is recorded in an area separated from the image information. It does not matter if it is done.

Next, another method for creating an icon image from image information and related information will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of the format of the image information in which the related information is embedded. In the example described with reference to FIG.
A case where the image information is GIF format image information will be described. The format of the image information is not limited to the GIF format, but may be a JPEG format or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the icon image includes a plurality of fields FB1 to FB6. The field FB1 is a field in which information indicating the start portion of the icon image is stored as described above. Here, a case is considered in which the image information is in the GIF format, so that the icon image is
'GI for identifying image information in IF format
The character string F 'and its version are stored. Field FB3 stores color scheme image data. Here, the color scheme image data is image data in which pixels are arranged in order from left to right and from top to bottom. However, in the case of this example, the image data contains the related information RE.
2 is mixed with the image information IM1 by using a digital watermarking technique so that the related information cannot be visually recognized as it is, and the image information can be visually recognized as it is. The image data created in this manner is encoded using a variable length code LZW algorithm. A field FB5 is a field provided for storing an annotation extension part, and a graphic information in a GIF data stream is provided. It contains textual information that does not result in Although this field is not particularly required in this example, it can be freely used by the information provider if necessary. The field FB6 is a field for storing information indicating an end portion indicating that the data stream of the icon image has ended, and means that other parameter information or the like does not follow.
The fields FB2 and FB4 correspond to the fields FA2 and FA4 shown in FIG. 2, respectively. Incidentally, in the example shown in FIG.
Although the case where the image information is in the GIF format has been described as an example, the image information may be in another format.

As described above, the icon image containing the related information is stored in the database device D, and the information distribution server 32 responds to the information distribution request transmitted via the network by the database device D. File including the button having the function of reading out the necessary information from the PC and downloading the program necessary for processing the icon image in the personal computer 10 and the above-mentioned batch D / L button, for example, H
Create a file in TML format. Then, the contents of this file are transmitted to the personal computer 10 that transmitted the information distribution request via the network N1.

[Distribution Information Processing Apparatus] Next, a distribution information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. In the example shown in FIG.
0, the digital television 12, the PDA 14, or the mobile phone 16 realizes a distribution information processing apparatus. In the present embodiment, a case where the distribution information processing apparatus is embodied by a personal computer 10 will be described as an example, but the digital television 12, the PDA 14, and the like shown in FIG.
It can be realized by providing the mobile phone 16 with functions similar to the functions described below. Note that the distribution information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is a GUI (Graphical User Interface).
Is provided.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the distribution information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Each functional block shown in FIG. 4 shows only functions directly related to the present invention. Personal computer 10
Is, as described above, a CPU or MPU, RAM, RO
M or a storage device such as a hard disk, an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display device, and a communication interface such as a modem, a terminal adapter, or a router. External storage device. The storage device has O
S and an HTTP browsing program (a browser or the like) are stored.

Each function shown in FIG. 4 may be realized in the form of hardware by forming a dedicated logic circuit in the personal computer 10 separately from the above-described configuration. Store in storage device, CPU
May be realized by executing this program. Furthermore, the present invention may be realized in a form in which the personal computer 10 reads and executes the contents of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM in which the program is recorded. As shown in FIG. 4, the personal computer 10
2. First management area control unit 64, icon image storage unit 6
6, display unit 68, instruction input unit 70, instruction determination unit 72, second management area control unit 74, related information extraction unit 76, related information storage unit 78, related information display control unit 80, and related information processing unit 82. It is comprised including.

The communication unit 62 includes, for example, hardware such as a modem and a terminal adapter, and a TCP / IP (Transmis
This is realized by software such as a program that controls communication according to a communication protocol such as sion control protocol (Internet Protocol). The communication unit 62 is connected to the network N1, transmits an information distribution request in response to the instruction input from the instruction input unit 70, and receives information transmitted through the network N1 in response to the information distribution request. Then, the data is output to the first management area control unit 64 and the icon image storage unit 66. Although details will be described later, when a request for related information is output from the related information processing unit 82, a request signal for related information is transmitted to the information distribution server 32 via the network N1, and the obtained related information is transmitted. Is output to the related information processing unit 82. When the distribution information processing device is realized by the PDA 14 or the mobile phone 16, the communication unit 62 may include an antenna.

The first management area control unit 64 communicates with the communication unit 6
2 for controlling the display of the distribution information output from the server 2 and is realized by, for example, a browser. Specifically, the first management area control unit 64 controls the personal computer 10
A first management area (window) is generated on a display device such as a CRT provided in the computer, and information is displayed in the generated first management area. If the information contains an icon image, the first
When displaying the icon image, the management area control unit 64 displays only the image information of the icon image, and performs display control so that the related information included in the icon image is not displayed. In addition, the collective download (D /
L) When a button or a button having a function of downloading a program for executing a process related to an icon image in the personal computer 10 is included, the display is controlled. Further, these buttons are accompanied by a program (script) that defines a process when an operation is performed. This program (script) forms a part of the capturing means. The first management area control unit 64 interprets and executes the program (script) and performs processing specified by the program (script).

The icon image storage section 66 temporarily stores the icon image output from the communication section 62, and is realized by a storage device such as a RAM. The display unit 68
It controls display of a display device provided in the personal computer 10, and includes a first management area generated by the first management area control unit 64, a second management area generated by the second management area control unit 74, and related information display. The display control of the related information display area generated by the control unit 80 is performed. Specifically, the size of the display area of the display device is limited, and the first management area,
The second management area and the related information display area may protrude from the display area of the display device. In this case, the user cannot visually recognize the protruding portion, and the convenience is deteriorated. Therefore, the display unit 68 performs control to change the shape of the related information display area so that the related information display area fits within the display screen of the display device, for example.

The instruction input unit 70 is used by a user to input various instructions to the personal computer 10, and is realized by a mouse, a keyboard, a dial, a handle, a stick, a touch panel, and an OS.
The instruction determination unit 72 determines an instruction input from the instruction input unit 70. For example, when the instruction input unit 70 has a mouse having two click buttons, the moving amount of the mouse, the pressing of the left click button, and the instruction by pressing the right click button are determined. Further, in the present embodiment, the case where a GUI is provided is described as an example, and therefore, the instruction determination unit 72 receives any operation instruction such as a selection operation, a drag operation, and a drop operation of various icons provided in the GUI. Determine if this has been done.

The second management area control section 74 manages icon images. Specifically, the second management area (window)
When the instruction determination unit 72 determines that a predetermined operation (for example, right-click operation) has been performed on the icon image displayed in the second management area, the related information display control unit 80 Is performed to control the display of the related information included in the icon image and perform various processes according to the related information. Here, the icon displayed in the second management area is displayed in the second management area when the user performs an operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area. Here, the operation of moving the icon image to the second management area corresponds to the operation of taking the icon image into the personal computer 10.

Here, the personal computer 10 has G
Since the UI is provided, it is preferable that the operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area is a drag-and-drop operation.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the user clicks the batch D / L button displayed in the first management area, all of the icon images displayed in the first management area or a predetermined number of icon images are displayed. 2 can be moved to the management area. Further, the predetermined operation on the icon image displayed in the second management area is, for example, an operation of right-clicking on the icon image.

The related information extracting section 76 extracts related information from the icon images stored in the icon image storing section 66. There is no particular limitation on the timing of extracting the related information, but it may be performed when the instruction determining unit 72 determines that an instruction to move the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area has been made. It is suitable. The related information storage unit 78 stores the related information extracted by the related information extracting unit 76. The related information extraction unit 76 is realized by a CPU and a program stored in a storage device, and the related information storage unit 78 is realized by a storage device such as a RAM. The related information display control unit 80 controls the display of the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 in the related information display area under the control of the second management area control unit 74.

The related information processing section 82 determines that the user has issued an instruction to update the related information or an instruction to execute various processes according to the related information (for example, an instruction to execute an application or an instruction to access a URL embedded in the related information). When the instruction determination unit 72 determines, the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78 is updated and various processes are performed according to the content of the instruction. Here, “update” means the related information storage unit 7
8 includes a meaning of changing the related information stored in the related information 8 into completely new related information, and a meaning of adding new related information to the related information stored in the related information storage unit 78. If the icon image includes all the related information, the amount of information of the icon image increases and the operability of the user deteriorates. In the case where the related information processing 82 instructs the user to move the icon image to the second management area. It is preferable to update the related information by acquiring the related information from the information distribution server 32 when is performed.

The configuration of the distribution information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG.
May be realized in the personal computer 10 in advance. Further, the content of a recording medium storing a program for realizing each functional block shown in FIG. 4 may be read into the personal computer 10 to realize each functional block.

In a state where each functional block is not realized in the personal computer 10 in advance and the first management area control unit 64 includes a browser, the icon image is displayed in the first management area. Displayed in the area. However, at least functional blocks corresponding to the second management area control unit 74, the related information extraction unit 76, the related information storage unit 78, the related information display control unit 80, and the related information processing unit 82 are incorporated in the personal computer 10. There is no state. Therefore, an operation of moving the icon image displayed in the first management area to the second management area cannot be performed. In the present embodiment, a download (D / L) button for downloading a program (a program for processing an icon image) for realizing each of the above-described function blocks is displayed in the first management area, and the above-described functions are realized. Network N
1 can be obtained immediately, so that convenience can be enhanced.

[Information Delivery Method and Delivery Information Processing Method] Next, the operation of the information delivery system, the information delivery device, and the delivery information processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention in the above-described configuration, that is, the information delivery method and the information delivery method The distribution information processing method will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an information distribution method and a distribution information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the user issues an instruction to acquire information distributed from the information distribution server 32 (information acquisition instruction) in FIG.
(E1), the instruction determination unit 72 determines this instruction and outputs a signal indicating that an information acquisition instruction has been issued to the first management area control unit 64. First
When this signal is input, the management area control unit 64 outputs a control signal to the communication unit 62, and the communication unit 62 transmits an information distribution request to the information distribution server 32 via the network N1 (E2).

When an information distribution request is transmitted via the network N1, the information distribution server 32 reads information specified by the information distribution request from the database device D. At this time, the information distribution server 32 also reads an icon image and the like related to the read information (E3). When these pieces of information are read, the information distribution server 32 adds a batch D / L button to the information read from the database device D (E4), and furthermore, a program (icon) that realizes each functional block shown in FIG. Download (D /
L) A button is added (E5) to create a file in, for example, an HTML format.

In this embodiment, in order to facilitate understanding, information read out from the database device D is added to the
The case where the L button and the D / L button are added will be described as an example. However, instead of adding them each time information is read from the database device D, a collective D / L button and a D / L button may be added to information stored in the database device D in advance. In this case, the information distribution server 32 sends a D /
The information to which the L button and the D / L button are added is read from the database device D.

When the information distribution server 32 adds a batch D / L button and a D / L button to information including an icon image and the like, these are transmitted to the personal computer 10 via the network N1. Personal computer 1
0, the information including the batch D / L button, the D / L button, and the icon image is output to the first management area control unit 64 via the communication unit 62 in FIG.
The result corresponding to 2) is displayed in the first management area (E
7). At this time, the icon image output from the communication unit 62 is stored in the icon image storage unit 66.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of information including a batch D / L button, a D / L button, and an icon image. 6, reference numeral 90 denotes a personal computer 10
2 shows a display area of a display device provided in the display device. In this display area 90, a first management area R1 and a second management area R2 are displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the contents of a homepage that provides a game as a product are displayed in the first management region R1, and the contents are titles t1, t2,
The collective D / L button B10 for instructing to move all the image image Im1, the messages m1, m2, the icon images IP1, IP2, and the icon images displayed in the first management area R1 to the second management area R2, and FIG. It includes a D / L button B11 to which a function of downloading a program for realizing each of the indicated functions is added. The batch D / L button B10 and the D / L button B11 are displayed in a state where the user can operate them. It should be noted here that the icon images IP1 and IP2 display only image information relating to the icon images, and do not display related information.

While the icon images IP1 and IP2 are displayed in the first management area R1, the user operates the mouse to issue an instruction to move one or both of the icon images IP1 and IP2 to the second management area R2. When this is performed (E8), the fact is output from the instruction determination unit 72 to the second management area control unit 74, the related information extraction unit 76, and the related information processing unit 82. In the personal computer 10 having a GUI, it is preferable that the movement instruction is performed by a drag-and-drop operation according to a user's instruction. This operation is performed when the icon images IP1,
The user moves the mouse cursor C to the position where IP2 is displayed, and operates the mouse while pressing the left mouse button to move the mouse cursor C to the second management area R.
2 is an operation of moving the mouse inside and releasing the left button of the mouse.

When the movement instruction is given, the second management area control unit 74 sets the icon images IP1, IP2 for which the movement instruction has been given.
One or both of them are read from the icon image storage unit 66 and displayed in the second management area 20. Further, the related information extracting unit 76 stores the icon image IP for which the movement instruction has been given.
Related information included in one or both of IP1 and IP2 is extracted and stored in the related information storage unit 78.

When the user issues an instruction to move the icon images IP1 and IP2 displayed in the first management area R1 to the second management area R2, the user displays the batch D / L button B10 in the first management area R1. When the mouse cursor C is moved to the displayed position and a left-click operation is performed, for example, all of the icon images displayed in the first management region R1 or a predetermined number of icon images are displayed in the second management region R.
The same processing is performed as when the instruction to move to No. 2 is issued. This is performed by the first management area control unit 64 interpreting and executing a program (script) attached to the batch D / L button B10. Batch D / L button B1
Since the processing when 0 is operated (clicked) is defined by the program (script) attached to the batch D / L button B10, the instruction of the icon image to be moved to the second management area D2 is given by the program (script). ).

As shown in FIG. 6, the image Im1
And the icon images IP1 and IP2 are visually the same, and the user recognizes both as mere image information. However, the difference is that an instruction to move to the second management area R2 can be given to the icon images IP1 and IP2, and related information can be obtained after the instruction to move. Therefore, the user may erroneously instruct the image image Im1 to move to the second management area R2. This movement instruction may be issued more frequently as the number of images displayed in the first management area R1 increases.
Deteriorate user operability. However, collective D /
Since the L button B10 is accompanied by a program (script) indicating an icon image to be moved to the second management area R2, an instruction to move only the icon image to the second management area R2 can be given. And batch D
Since the operation can be performed only by clicking the / L button B10 once, convenience and operability are extremely improved.

When the user performs a click operation on the collective D / L button B10, the first management area control unit 64 interprets and executes a program (script) attached to the collective D / L button B10. In this program (script), it is assumed that an instruction to move both the icon images IP1 and IP2 shown in FIG. 6 to the second management area R2 is defined. The first management area control unit 64 sets the icon image I
A signal indicating that the movement instruction of both P1 and IP2 has been issued is output to the second management area control unit 74. The second management area control unit 74 controls the icon images IP1, I
When both of P2 are read from the icon image storage unit 66,
It is displayed in the second management area 20. Further, the first management area control unit 64 extracts the related information included in both the icon images IP1 and IP2 for which the movement instruction has been issued to the related information extracting unit 76, and stores the related information in the related information storage unit 78.

In this embodiment, for the sake of simplicity, an example in which all relevant information is included in the icon image in advance is described. However,
When the information amount of the related information is large, the icon image includes information for requesting the information distribution server 32 for the related information as the related information, and the related information extracting unit 76 extracts the related information and stores the related information in the related information storage unit. When the information is stored in the storage 78, the related information processing unit 82 may obtain the related information from the information distribution server 32. This is preferably applied, for example, when downloading a game program having a large amount of information.

After the above processing is completed, the user operates the mouse to move the mouse cursor to a position where the icon image displayed in the second management area R2 is displayed, and performs a specific operation (for example, right-click). When this is done (E9), related information related to the icon image located at the position where the mouse cursor is displayed is displayed. In this process, when the user performs a mouse movement and right-click operation, the instruction determination unit 72 in FIG. 4 determines that a specific operation (right-click) has been performed on the icon image, and a signal indicating that operation is performed. Is output to the second management area control unit 74.

The second management area control unit 74 includes an instruction determination unit 72
Related information display control unit 80 based on a signal output from
Control. Here, the second management area control unit 74
Since a signal indicating that a right-click operation has been performed on the icon image displayed in the management area has been input, the second management area control unit 74 associates relevant information related to the icon image on which the right-click operation was performed. It reads out from the information storage unit 78 and outputs a control signal for performing display control. The related information display control unit 80 reads the relevant information from the related information storage unit 78 based on the control signal output from the second management area control unit 74, and outputs the relevant information to the display unit 68.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of how the related information is displayed. 7, when the user operates the mouse 95 to move the mouse cursor C to the position where the icon image ip displayed in the second management area R2 is displayed and presses the right-click button 96b, FIG. As shown, the related information is displayed in the related information display area R3. In the example shown in FIG. 7, 4 is displayed in the related information display area R3.
Related information RE10 including two pieces of related information is displayed. By the above operation, the user can set the icon image ip
And related information related to.

For example, when the URL is included in the related information displayed in the related information display area R3,
The user operates the mouse 95 to move the mouse cursor C to a position where the related information is displayed (in the example shown in FIG. 7, a position where “related information d” is displayed), and performs a predetermined operation ( For example, when the left click button 96a is pressed), the instruction determination unit 72 shown in FIG. 4 determines that a specific operation (left click) has been performed on the related information, and outputs a signal indicating that to the related information. Output to the information processing unit 82. The related information processing unit 82 outputs to the communication unit 62 an access request for the URL included in the related information on which the left click operation has been performed from the related information storage unit 78. Communication unit 62
Transmits an access request to the information specified by the URL via the network N1 to acquire the corresponding information, and outputs the result to, for example, the first management area control unit 64. When the first management area control unit 64 performs processing such as layout setting of the information and outputs the information to the display unit 68, the acquired information is displayed on the display device.

The display format of the related information displayed in the related information display area R3 is not only a list of a plurality of related information as shown in FIG. 7, but also a hierarchical format as shown in FIG. The display format may be used. In this case, the related information itself is also formed hierarchically. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of related information displayed in a hierarchical format. In FIG. 8, marks denoted by reference symbols M1 to M3 are marks indicating that there is lower layer related information. In the example shown in FIG.
The first hierarchy DR1 to the third hierarchy DR3 are illustrated,
The related information of the layer DR2 is a layer related to “related information b” in the first layer, and the related information of the third layer DR3 is the second information.
This is a hierarchy related to “related information b1” in the hierarchy. The number of layers of related information and the number of related information provided in each layer
It is set for each related information.

In the embodiment described above, the case where a game is provided as a product has been described as an example. However, in the case of a game, the personal computer 10 is always connected to the network N1 to communicate with the information distribution server 32. A mode in which the game is advanced while playing (online) or a mode in which the game program is collectively downloaded from the information distribution server 32 and the game is played only by the personal computer 10 are conceivable. When playing the game offline, the latter will be selected.

In the case of downloading the programs collectively, the game program can be set as the related information of the icon image itself. In addition, information indicating the location of the program is included as related information of the icon image, and a predetermined operation (for example, right-click) is performed on the icon image displayed in the second management area R2. The program can be downloaded from the information distribution server 32 as related information. When this operation is performed, the related information processing unit 82 illustrated in FIG. 4 performs a process of acquiring related information from the information distribution server 32.

Here, when charging for the provision of the game, it is preferable to charge when the program as the related information is obtained from the information distribution server 32. Specifically, when the program is set as the related information included in the icon image, the batch download button can be pressed or individually dragged and held.
By dropping, the icon image is moved to the second management area R2.
Charge when registering / displaying. When the program is transferred when registering and displaying the icon image in the second management area R2, a fee is charged when registering and displaying the program. Further, when the program is transferred when a predetermined operation is performed on the icon image displayed in the second management area R2, a fee is charged when the program is transferred. In the case of a mode in which a game is advanced while communicating with the information communication server 32, charging may be performed according to the connection time, or a predetermined fee may be charged per game.

Although the case where the related information is displayed in a hierarchical manner has been described above, the icon image itself displayed in the second management area R2 may be displayed in a hierarchical manner. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which icon images displayed in the second management area R2 are displayed in a hierarchical manner. In FIG. 9, R2
Reference numeral 0 denotes a second management area in which a plurality of management areas corresponding to the second management area R2 in FIG. 9 are superimposed, and each management area is distinguished by a tab. The example illustrated in FIG. 9 illustrates a second management area R20 including four management areas with tabs T1 to T4.

The user operates the mouse to operate the tabs T1 to T4.
Is selected, the contents of the management area with the selected tab are displayed. In the example shown in FIG.
The contents of the management area marked with 4 are displayed, and three icon images ip10 to ip12 are displayed in this management area. When the user performs a specific operation (for example, right-click operation) on any of the icon images ip10 to ip12, the related information included in each icon image is displayed as described above.

The information distribution system and method, the information distribution apparatus and method, the distribution information processing apparatus and method, and the recording medium for recording the method according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above. It is described for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore,
Each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the information distribution server 32 transmits the icon image including a batch download (D / L) button having a function of downloading a predetermined number of icon images at a time to the second management area provided in the personal computer 10. Thus, the display is made in the first management area R1 of the personal computer 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Instead of the L button B10, an icon image including the same function as the collective D / L button B10 as related information may be transmitted.

In the above embodiment, the first management area R 1 and the second management areas R 2, R 2
20, the same icon image was displayed, but the second
The icon images displayed in the management areas R2 and R20 and the first
It may be different from the icon image displayed in the management area R1. At this time, the appearance and ideas of the icon images displayed in the second management areas R2 and R20 and the first management area R1
It is preferable that these icon images have a relevance to the same degree or similarity in the appearance and idea of the icon images displayed in.

In this case, the second management area R1
When an instruction to move to the management areas R2 and R20 is issued, the personal computer 10 may access the information distribution site 30 and acquire an image icon to be displayed in the second management areas R2 and R20. Second management area R
2. The icon image displayed on R20 may be a large image or a finer image than the icon image displayed on the first management area R1. The information amount of the icon image and the related information transmitted from the information distribution server 32 to the personal computer 10 is appropriately set according to the communication environment. For example, if the communication speed is 64 kb
If it is less than about ps (Bit Per Second), the amount of information of the icon image and the related information is reduced as much as possible. Do not invite. If the communication speed is as high as about 1 Mbps, the operability is further improved by increasing the amount of icon images or related information transmitted at one time.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the game is distributed as a product has been described as an example, but the product is not limited to the game and may be any product. Also, the present invention can be applied to an information search server that provides a search result for a search request. In this case, the information search server associates the search result with the icon image containing the related information related to the search result. Usually, there are many tens of search results.
Convenience can be significantly improved by moving to the second management area collectively with the button.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is an effect that related information related to information distributed via a network can be easily obtained even when there are a plurality of types of distributed information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating another example of a format of image information in which related information is embedded.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a distribution information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an information distribution method and a distribution information processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of information including a batch D / L button, a D / L button, and an icon image.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of how related information is displayed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of related information displayed in a hierarchical format.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which icon images displayed in a second management area R2 are displayed hierarchically.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 personal computer (terminal device) 12 digital television (terminal device) 14 PDA (terminal device) 16 mobile phone (terminal device) 32 information distribution server 64 first management area control unit (first management area control) Means) 70: instruction input unit (instruction input unit) 74: second management area control unit (second management area control means) 82: related information processing unit (related information processing means) 95: mouse (instruction input means) B10 Batch download button (loading means) D: Database device (database) IP1, IP2: Icon image ip, ip1, ip2: Icon image N1: Network R1: First management area R2, R20: Second management area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 12/00 515 G06F 12/00 515B 13/00 540 13/00 540F

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. An information distribution server connected to a network and a terminal device, wherein the information distribution server determines at least one of icon images including related information related to information to be distributed by a user of the terminal device. An information distribution system, comprising: transmitting, to the terminal device via the network, the capturing unit that captures the information in the terminal device by the operation described above, together with the icon image. 2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device displays an icon image in a first management area without displaying information distributed via the network and the related information. A first control unit that displays the capture unit in the first management area in a state where the capture unit can be operated by the user;
A management area control unit, and when the predetermined operation on the capture unit is input from the instruction input unit, at least one of the icon images related to the icon image is displayed and captured in the second management area. 2. The information distribution system according to claim 1, further comprising two management area control means. 3. The second management area control means, when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means, the second management area control means
The information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein control is performed to display related information related to the icon image displayed in the management area. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the icon images including related information related to information distributed via a network is taken into the terminal device by a predetermined operation by a user of the terminal device. Transmitting an image together with the image to the terminal device via the network. 5. An icon image is displayed in a first management area of the terminal device without displaying information distributed through the network and the related information, and the capturing means is provided to the user. Displaying in an operable state; and displaying and capturing at least one of the icon images related to the icon image in the second management area when the predetermined operation is performed on the capturing unit. 5. The information distribution method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of: 6. The information distribution method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of displaying related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area when a predetermined instruction is given. 7. At least one of icon images connected to a network and including relevant information related to information to be distributed.
Transmitting information to the terminal device via the network together with the icon image, so that the user can take in the terminal device by a predetermined operation by the user of the terminal device connected to the network. apparatus. 8. At least one of the icon images connected to the network and including related information related to information distributed via the network is displayed together with a capturing means for capturing the icon image by a user's predetermined operation. A distribution information processing apparatus, characterized in that: 9. An instruction input means for inputting an instruction of a user, displaying the icon image in the first management area without displaying information distributed via the network and the related information, Displaying a first means in the first management area in a state in which the means can be operated by the user;
A management area control unit, and when the predetermined operation on the capture unit is input from the instruction input unit, at least one of the icon images related to the icon image is displayed and captured in the second management area. 9. The distribution information processing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising two management area control means. 10. The second management area control means performs control for displaying related information related to an icon image displayed in the second management area when a predetermined instruction is input from the instruction input means. 10. The distribution information processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the distribution information processing is performed. 11. The distribution information processing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising related information processing means for acquiring related information via said network. 12. At least one of icon images including related information related to information distributed via a network.
And displaying the information together with the capturing means for capturing the information by a user's predetermined operation. 13. The icon image is displayed in a first management area without displaying information distributed through the network and the related information, and the capture unit is operable by the user. Displaying the state in the first management area in a state, and displaying at least one of the icon images related to the icon image in the second management area when the predetermined operation is performed on the capturing unit. 13. The distribution information processing method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: 14. The distribution according to claim 13, further comprising a step of displaying related information related to the icon image displayed in the second management area when a predetermined instruction is given from the user. Information processing method. 15. The distribution information processing method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of acquiring related information via said network. 16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a capturing unit configured to capture at least one icon image including related information related to information distributed via a network into the terminal device by a predetermined operation by a user of the terminal device. A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program having a step of transmitting an image to the terminal device via the network via the network. 17. At least one of icon images including related information related to information distributed via a network.
A computer-readable recording medium for recording a program having a step of displaying one of them together with capturing means for capturing the information by a user's predetermined operation. 18. The icon image is displayed in a first management area without displaying information distributed via the network and the related information, and the capture means is operable by the user. Displaying the state in the first management area in a state, and displaying at least one of the icon images related to the icon image in the second management area when the predetermined operation is performed on the capturing unit. 18. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 17, wherein a program having a step of reading and recording is recorded. 19. A program recording a program having a step of displaying related information related to an icon image displayed in the second management area when a predetermined instruction is given from the user. 19. The computer-readable recording medium according to 18. 20. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 19, wherein a program having a step of further acquiring related information via said network is recorded.