JP2002109414A - Rental system of virtual even site - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rental system for a virtual even site where an even can be held at a lower cost than a real event, without a sponsor of the event having to set up or manage the virtual event site by him/herself. SOLUTION: The rental system for a virtual event site comprises a means to provide a virtual event site accessible from a terminal device through a network, a means to distribute information through network inviting a sponsor of the event to be held repetitively for a short period, and a means to receive through a network an application for rent from a sponsor who has responded to the distributed information on invitation, a means to calculate a quotation for renting the event site according to predetermined rental conditions, and a means to transmit the quotation to the sponsor through a network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rental system for a virtual event venue.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various events have been held by gathering a plurality of people. Events are classified, for example, as follows according to the purpose of the event. (1) Commodity sale (including clothing, apparel, food, household goods, house building materials, electrical equipment, industrial machinery, etc., and multi-industry general exhibition) (2) Commodity presentation, trade fair, Business meetings, arts and crafts (paintings,
(3) Meetings, seminars, (4) concerts, sports games (5) ceremonies (commemorative ceremonies, etc.), test venues The above events are for new customer acquisition, product PR, Company P
R, Proposal of business methods such as sales method, inventory clearing sales,
For the purpose of concentrated product sales, strengthening corporate relationships, research announcements, entertainment (leisure), hobby announcements, thanksgiving, commemorative events, etc. Has been implemented to achieve its purpose.

[0003] In general, an event organizer rents a building, a place, or the like, establishes an event venue in the borrowed building, and so on. (For example, in the case of a merchandise immediate sales meeting, a store exhibitor, in a merchandise presentation, at a trade fair, or in a work exhibition, a caller is invited). Exhibitors who responded to the offer
Set up venues (sometimes called “booths” and “corners”) in the event venues, such as exhibition venues, temporary stores, and business negotiation places. In doing so, the event organizer had to prepare a huge amount of rent for the event venue and the expenses for setting up the event venue. Exhibitors also
A large amount of money was required for setting up the venue.

[0004] When the actual event is over, the signboards, artifacts, consumables, etc. used at the event venue, except for existing rental equipment, are demolished and treated as enormous waste. Was.

On the other hand, in recent years, an event organizer has set up a virtual event venue on a WWW site and holds an event in the virtual event venue. That is, an event is provided using a virtual event venue provided on a network.

[0006]

However, conventionally, when an event organizer holds an event using a virtual event venue, the event organizer creates, manages, and operates a WWW site that provides the virtual event venue itself. Was. Conversely, organizers with little knowledge of the Internet, especially with regard to the creation, management, and operation of WWW sites, have to give up because of their lack of knowledge even if they want to hold an event using a virtual event venue. there were. In this case, the organizer had to hold a real event with a great deal of time and money.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a rental system for a virtual event venue, which enables an organizer to hold an event at a lower cost than a real event without managing and operating the virtual event venue. is there.

[0008]

The present invention employs the following configuration to achieve the above object. That is, the present invention provides a means for providing a virtual event venue accessible from a terminal device through a network, and a method for providing an event venue that is lent to the event venue for a short period and repeated events. Means for distributing the recruitment information of the organizer through the network, means for receiving a lending application from the organizer in response to the distributed recruitment information through the network, and estimation of lending at the event venue according to predetermined lending conditions A means for calculating the amount of money, means for transmitting the calculated estimated amount of money to the organizer via a network, and a lending system for a virtual event venue.

According to the present invention, there is provided means for distributing, via a network, exhibitor recruitment information for exhibitors to each booth provided at the virtual event venue lent to the organizer in response to a request from the organizer, Means for receiving, via a network, an exhibitor application from the exhibitor in response to the distributed recruitment information; and, when an exhibitor contract is established between the exhibitor who made the application and the organizer, the organizer A means for transmitting guide information for exhibiting to the exhibitor via a network in response to a request from the exhibitor; a means for receiving from the exhibitor information on an exhibiting target according to the guide information; and information on the exhibit. And means for arranging the exhibit in a booth provided to the exhibitor based on the information.

In the present invention, the virtual event venue is:
For example, it is provided as one of the contents included in the WWW site.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram of a virtual event venue lending system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes a server S, a plurality of terminal devices C1,
A plurality of terminal devices C2 and a plurality of terminal devices C3 are connected via a network.

The server S is managed by a lender at a virtual event venue. Each terminal device C1 is used by an event organizer using a virtual event venue. Each terminal device C2 is used by exhibitors of the event. Each terminal device C3 is used by a visitor of the event.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the server S. In FIG. 2, a server S includes a CPU 1, a main memory (MM) 2, an auxiliary storage device 3, a display (display device) 4, a keyboard (KBD) 5, and a pointing device, which are interconnected via a bus B. And an input device 7 comprising a device (PD) 6.

The server S manages and manages a World Wide Web (WWW) site (hereinafter, referred to as an “event venue site”) that includes a virtual event venue as one of the contents.
Run. For this reason, in the auxiliary storage device 3 of the server S,
Various programs (including communication protocols such as FTP and HTTP) for providing the event venue site to each of the terminal devices C1 to C3, and various data (text files, image files, HTML) used for providing the WWW site Files, etc.).

The MM 2 is used as a work area of the CPU 2 and holds a result of execution of a program by the CPU 2. The MM 2 is a video memory that holds display data such as text and images displayed on the display 4.
(VRAM).

The CPU 2 executes an appropriate program in accordance with data and commands input from the input device 7, and performs processing for providing an event site in response to requests from the terminal devices C1 to C3.

Each of the terminal devices C1 to C3 is connected to the Internet such as a personal computer (PC), a workstation (WS), a mobile computer, or a mobile phone, and is configured using a computer capable of browsing a WWW site. . Since the terminal devices C1 to C3 have almost the same configuration, the terminal device C1 will be described here as an example.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device C1 (C2, C3). As shown in FIG.
1 has substantially the same hardware configuration as the server S, and is connected to the CPUs 11 and M via a bus B1.
M12, an auxiliary storage device 13, a display 14, and an input device 17 (KBD 15 and PD 16).

The terminal device C1 functions as a WWW client when the CPU 11 loads various programs stored in the auxiliary storage device 13 into the MM 12 and executes them. For example, the terminal device C1 accesses an event site of the server S by executing a WWW browser that is one of the programs, and displays the event site provided by the server S on the display 14.

Next, an operation example in the above-described system will be described. 4 and 5 are sequence diagrams illustrating an operation example of the embodiment. In FIG. 4, first, the lender of the virtual event venue creates (data for) the event venue site and stores it in the auxiliary storage device 3 of the server S.

Further, the lender creates recruitment information of the event organizer using the virtual event venue at the event venue site, and stores it in the auxiliary storage device 3 in a state where it can be browsed at the event venue site (step S1). ). As a result, the recruitment information of the organizer is distributed to the viewers of the event site.

Each organizer operates the terminal device C1 to operate
Activate the WW browser to connect the terminal device C1 to the network N, and to set the address of the event site
(URL) is specified to access the event site (step S2).

Then, the CPU 1 of the server S creates screen data of the event venue site including the sponsor recruitment information from the auxiliary storage device 3 and transmits the screen data to the corresponding terminal device C1.
(Step S3). The terminal device C1 transmits the screen data to the server S
, The CPU 11 of the terminal device C1 displays the screen of the event site on the display 14 based on the screen data.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing display examples of the respective screens 30 and 31 of the event site displayed on the display 14. On the screen 30 shown in FIG. 6, a virtual three-dimensional image of the event hall 18 as a virtual event venue is displayed. In the event hall 18, a plurality of events can be held at the same time.

In the vicinity of the front entrance 19 of the event hall 18, images of the signboards 21 to 24 are displayed. Each of the signboards 21 to 24 is a signboard that displays information for holding an event to be held using the event hall 18. When each of the signboards 21 to 24 is clicked using the PD 16, the held information is enlarged or displayed separately. Displayed on the screen.

The robot displayed in front of the front entrance 19 is a navigator of the event hall 18,
With this robot, the organizer will be able to
You will be guided inside. Thereafter, when the host performs an operation for entering the event hall 18 using the input device 17, the screen shown in FIG.

On a screen 31 shown in FIG. 7, an image of an entrance gate to an event venue provided in the event hall 18 is displayed. One or more (four in the example of FIG. 7) companion images are displayed in the passage, and each companion holds various pamphlets. One of the pamphlets is a pamphlet for recruiting organizers, and in FIG. 7, a pamphlet 25 is equivalent to a pamphlet for recruiting organizers.

On the other hand, an entry button 26 is provided on the screen 31, and when the entry button 26 is pressed, a screen (not shown) of the event venue in the event hall 18 is displayed. Thus, the organizer can observe the inside of the event hall 18 with the guidance of the navigator robot. The screen display example shown in FIG. 8 is a screen showing a state in which the navigator guides reception of the event venue.

When the sponsor clicks on the pamphlet 25 by operating the input device 17, a sponsor recruiting screen (not shown) is displayed. An application form is provided on the organizer recruiting screen together with information on recruitment of event organizers using the event hall 18 (recruitment information on rental destinations of the event hall 18). A column for describing personal information and the time and content of the event is provided.

When accepting the recruitment, the organizer fills in the above-mentioned necessary items in the application form and presses the send button provided on the recruitment screen. Then, the contents (holding time, holding contents, etc.) described in the application form are transmitted from the terminal device C1 to the server S as a loan application for the event hall 18 (step S4).

When the server S receives the loan application, the CPU 1 of the server S uses the data for calculating the estimated amount stored in the auxiliary storage device 3 in advance to estimate the rental fee of the event hall 18 corresponding to the loan application. The amount is calculated (step S5) and transmitted to the terminal device C1 (step S6).

When receiving the estimated amount, the terminal device C1 displays the estimated amount on the display 14. The organizer
After accepting the estimated amount, the lender is contacted via the event site or by a predetermined method (postal mail, fax, e-mail, etc.) to conclude a loan contract and pay the rental reservation money (step S7). . As described above, the lender can lend the virtual event hall 18 to the event organizer.

Thereafter, the organizer operates the terminal device C1 to transmit information on the event holding using the event hall 18 and information on recruitment of exhibitors to the server S through the event site site (step S8).

Then, the lender operates the server S,
The information on the event and the recruitment of exhibitors received from the organizer are stored in the auxiliary storage device 3 as part of the screen data on the event site. Thereafter, when any of the signboards 21 to 23 (FIG. 6) in front of the event hall 18 is clicked, a screen including the information on the holding and the recruitment of exhibitors is displayed.
(Not shown) will be presented to all who have accessed the event venue site.

Thereafter, each exhibitor operates the terminal device C2 to start the WWW browser to connect the terminal device C2 to the network N, and designates the address (URL) of the event site site, and Is accessed (step S10).

Then, the CPU 1 of the server S creates screen data of the event site including the exhibitor recruitment information from the auxiliary storage device 3 and transmits the screen data to the corresponding terminal device C2.
(Step S11).

When the terminal device C2 receives the screen data from the server S, the CPU 11 of the terminal device C2 displays the screen of the event site on the display 14 based on the screen data.
To be displayed. Thus, the screens 30 and 31 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are displayed on the display 14 of the terminal device C2.

At this time, one of the companions displayed on the screen 31 shown in FIG. 7 has a pamphlet 27 on exhibitor recruitment. Exhibitors input device 17
When the pamphlet 27 is clicked by the operation described above, an exhibitor recruiting screen (not shown) is displayed on the display 14.

The exhibitor recruiting screen displays the event hall 18
In addition to the event guide information and recruitment information for exhibitors of the event, the application form for exhibitors is displayed. The application form has at least a column for describing the exhibitor's personal information.

When responding to the recruitment, the exhibitor fills out the application form with the necessary items described above and presses the send button provided on the recruitment screen. Then, the content described in the application form (exhibitor's personal information, etc.) is transmitted from the terminal device C1 to the server S as an exhibition application for the event.
(Step S12).

When the server S receives the exhibit application, the lender contacts the organizer by an appropriate method, and gives the organizer the contact information of each exhibitor included in the received personal information in the exhibit application. . The organizer contacts each exhibitor, signs a contract for exhibiting at the event, and receives an exhibition fee from each exhibitor (step S13). Thereafter, the organizer pays the rental fee for the booth in the event hall 18 to be lent to each exhibitor (step S14).

Thereafter, the organizer operates the terminal device C1 to obtain information (guide information) on exhibiting at the event.
Is transmitted from the terminal device C1 to the server S through the event site (step S15).

When the server S receives the guide information, the guide information is transmitted from the server S to each terminal device C2 via the event site (step S16). When each terminal device C2 receives the guide information, the CPU of the terminal device C2
11 displays the guide information on the display 14.

Each exhibitor refers to the guide information displayed on the display 14 or printed on a sheet of paper or the like using a printer (not shown) connected to the terminal device C2, and exhibits in accordance with the guide information. Create thing data.

The exhibit data may be, for example, text information for specifying an object to be exhibited (for example, a product or an exhibit to be displayed at a booth), or image data of the product or the exhibit. The exhibit data also includes information on the exhibit, such as an introduction article, a guide article, and a price of the exhibit. The created exhibit data is stored in the auxiliary storage device 13. Thereafter, the exhibitor transmits the exhibit data from the terminal device C2 to the server S through the event site (step S17).

When the server S receives the exhibit data, the exhibit data is recorded in the auxiliary storage device 3. The lender reflects the exhibit data on the event site data by operating the server S. That is, the lender creates image data to be exhibited based on the text information included in the exhibit data, establishes a virtual booth in the event hall 18, and arranges the exhibiting object in the booth. Is performed (step S18).

In this way, by the time the event is held, the booth based on the exhibit data from each exhibitor and the image data to be exhibited are created as a part of the data of the event site, and stored in the auxiliary storage device 3. Is done. Then, on the day of the event, an event is held in the event hall 18, and the visitors (general users) of the event operate the terminal device C3 to access the event venue site,
It is possible to come to an event held in the event hall 18 (steps S19, S20).

The event is held for a short time. That is, the booth provided in the event hall 18 is closed after a predetermined holding period has elapsed, and a new event is held. As described above, by changing the event in the event hall 18 in a short period of time, a visitor to the event site can access the event site many times without getting tired.

According to the embodiment described above, the management / operator of the event venue site is operated by the virtual event hall 18.
And recruit organizers of events using the event hall 18 through the event site. Then, a rental contract for the event hall 18 is concluded between the organizer and the lender in response to the recruitment, on the condition that the lender manages and operates the event site.

Thereafter, the lender manages and operates the event site (hosting the event) according to the wishes of the organizer. As a result, the actual event organizer can hold an event using a virtual event venue without having to create, manage, and operate the event venue site by itself. Therefore, it is possible to reduce costs such as the rent of the event venue and the cost of setting up the event venue, as compared to the actual event.

In addition, the event organizer can visit the event hall 18 by surfing the site of the event venue when making a loan application for the event hall 18. At this time, the navigator guides the inside of the event hall 18 in an easy-to-understand manner. As a result, the organizer will be able to
It is possible to increase the willingness of the organizer to lend an event hall because the image of the event to be held inside can be grasped.

Further, the following effects can be obtained when the lender rents the event hall 18 to a plurality of organizers at the same time. In an actual event, if the event organizers have a business conflict, they rarely hold an event at the same event venue at the same time in order to avoid mutual contact. Also, the event organizer who manages and operates the virtual event venue,
Few offer virtual event venues to competing organizers.

On the other hand, if the lender of the event site site is a person who can maintain a neutral position in any industry, competing organizers, which are hardly possible in reality, will open the event hall 18. It can be used to hold an event at the same time. As a result, the number of visitors' access to the event site can be increased, and the organizers can mutually benefit.

Also, since the exhibitor can reduce the cost as compared with the case of exhibiting at a real event, the risk can be reduced as compared with the case of exhibiting at a real event.

In an actual event, a booth was set up and discarded for each event.
The image data of the exhibition target and the image data of the booth exhibited by the exhibitor at the event in the above are held in the auxiliary storage device 3 of the server S. Since these image data do not require a large space and cost for storage, they can be stored and reused.

For this reason, when exhibitors exhibit at events at the event hall 18 at different times, it is not necessary to create booth image data or image data to be exhibited each time. This allows the same event to be held repeatedly at different times. In addition, exhibitor fees can be reduced, and exhibitors can exhibit more easily.

In addition, the organizer can repeatedly hold the event with originality each time, and can provide an inexperienced person who has not hosted the event with an opportunity to easily hold an original event.

In addition, the event hall creates maps set up at a plurality of locations (for example, major cities) in Japan and the world on a specific site. It may be held.

For example, at the site, an image of a city which simulates a real city three-dimensionally with each event hall as a core is displayed, and images of historic sites of various places are displayed.

At this time, a site of each company / individual that is suitable for the actual transmission place is attracted, and the “site search engine” function with a regional characteristic is built together with the ability to attract customers of the event. Unlike shopping malls, all sites posted on this map are for event purposes and have short-term impact. Creating, managing, and creating such sites
By running the program, local events can be aroused and contribute to regional development.

[0062]

According to the present invention, the event organizer can
Without having to set up and manage a virtual event venue by itself, it is possible to hold an event at a lower cost than a real event.

Also, exhibitors at the event can participate in the event at a lower cost than the actual event.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a server shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen display example of an event site.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen display example of an event venue site.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen display example of an event site.

[Explanation of symbols]

 C1, C2, C3 Terminal device N Network S server 1, 11 CPU 2, 12 Main memory 3, 13 Auxiliary storage device 4, 14 Display 5, 15 Keyboard 6, 16 Pointing device 7, 17 Input device 18 Event hall 21 to 24 Signboard 26 Admission button 25,27 Brochure 30,31 Screen

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A means for providing a virtual event venue accessible from a terminal device through a network, and a short-term and repetitive event hosted using the event venue to which the event venue is lent. Means for distributing recruitment information of participants through a network, means for receiving a lending application from the organizer in response to the distributed recruitment information through the network, and an estimated amount for lending at the event venue according to predetermined lending conditions And a means for transmitting the calculated estimated amount to the organizer via a network. 2. means for distributing, via a network, exhibitor recruitment information for exhibitors to each booth provided at the virtual event venue lent to the organizer in response to a request from the organizer; Means for receiving an exhibitor application from the exhibitor in response to the recruitment information through the network, and, when an exhibitor contract is established between the exhibitor who made the application and the organizer, the exhibitor On request
Means for transmitting guide information at the time of exhibiting to the exhibitor through a network, means for receiving information on the exhibiting target according to the guide information from the exhibitor, and providing the exhibitor with information based on the information on the exhibit. Means for arranging exhibits in a given booth, a rental system for a virtual event venue, further comprising: