JP2002169832A - Device and method for providing information, and computer-readable recording medium with information providing program recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to obtain only information from an information provider such as a store in an easily usable limited area. SOLUTION: Alliance store information including area information showing which previously sectioned area an alliance store belongs to is stored on a 1st DB 16 and a server 1 makes a user's information terminal 2 specifies an area for retrieval from the 1st DB 16; and an alliance store information retrieving means 11 performs retrieval from the 1st DB 16 according to the specified area to obtain and send alliance store information corresponding to the corresponding area information back to the user's information terminal 2 and further the server 1 makes the user's information terminal 2 to specify an alliance store, a distributed information registering means 13 registers information showing the relation between the specified alliance store and user in a 2nd DB 17 while relating them to each other, and a distributing means 12 distributes information from the alliance store to the user according to the information on the relation registered in the 2nd DB 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and a computer readable recording program for providing information such as guidance of an information provider such as a store to a registered user. It relates to a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the rapid increase in the number of Internet users in recent years, not only large stores operating nationwide but also small stores in the region are conducting publicity activities using the Internet. . For public relations using the Internet, e-mail or We
b server's homepage (W
eb page).

[0003] In particular, since information distribution using electronic mail is performed in the form of direct mail to a specific user who has registered as a member, it is more effective than public information by a passive Web server expecting access from an unspecified user. It is efficient, and it is possible for the shop to actively publicize the user. In addition, according to the e-mail, it is possible to transmit the bargain information of the store and the like to the user in real time, which is particularly effective for instant information distribution.

[0004]

However, since information distributed via the Internet does not have a regional limitation, users are located far away from their area of residence and cannot easily use the area. They even get information. Therefore, the user has to extract only what is really necessary from the acquired excess information, and in recent years when the information is flooded, this extraction work is very complicated.

Therefore, in the present invention, an information providing apparatus, an information providing method, and an information providing method capable of obtaining only information from an information provider such as a store in a limited area which can be easily used by a user. Provided is a computer-readable recording medium recording a provided program.

[0006]

An information providing apparatus according to the present invention is an information providing apparatus for providing information provided by an information provider to an information terminal of a user connected via a communication line, A first database for storing provider information including region information indicating to which of the regions the information provider belongs in advance, and a first database based on a request accompanied by designation of a region by a user's information terminal. Search means to search the database of the relevant information, obtain provider information corresponding to the relevant regional information, and return it to the information terminal of the user, and specify based on the request accompanying the specification of the information provider by the user's information terminal Registration means for associating the provided information provider with the user and registering information indicating the relation in the second database, and using the information based on the information indicating the relation registered in the second database. Is obtained and a delivery means for delivering the information from the information provider with respect to users.

Further, an information providing method of the present invention is an information providing method for providing information provided by an information provider to an information terminal of a user connected via a communication line,
To store in the first database provider information including regional information indicating to which of the pre-partitioned areas the information provider belongs, and to search the first database in the information terminal of the user. The first database is searched based on the designated area, the provider information corresponding to the corresponding area information is obtained and returned to the information terminal of the user, and the information terminal of the user is further specified. To specify an information provider, associate the specified information provider with the user, register information indicating the association in the second database, and, based on the information indicating the association registered in the second database. It is characterized in that information from an information provider is distributed to a user.

According to these inventions, a user searches for an information provider limited to a specified area, selects and registers an information provider based on the search result, and obtains necessary information locally selected. Only distribution can be received. Here, distribution of information from the information provider can be performed to an e-mail address or the like specified at the time of registration of the user, and the user can arbitrarily specify a distribution destination of this information and Information can be obtained by a good method.

[0009] In addition to the above configuration, the information providing apparatus of the present invention further searches the second database based on a request from the information terminal of the information provider, and outputs user information as a search result to the information provider. It is desirable to have a second search means for replying to the information terminal.

[0010] Thus, the information provider can obtain information of the user who wants to distribute the information by himself, and can perform marketing, product development, and the like based on this information.

Here, if the information registered in the second database includes any of the user's area of residence, age, gender, or occupation, the information provider can provide more detailed information based on the information. Marketing and product development can be performed.

The information terminal of the user connected to the information providing apparatus of the present invention is preferably a mobile phone.
In recent years, i-mo has been
de (registered trademark) (eye mode (registered trademark)) or EZw
Internet connection services for mobile phones such as eb (Easy Web) (all of which are trade names) are provided, and a user obtains information from an information provider using a mobile phone capable of connecting to the Internet as these communication lines. Therefore, it is possible to use the information obtained immediately wherever the user is.

The information providing apparatus according to the present invention is realized using, for example, a personal computer or a workstation, and the program for realizing the information providing apparatus is a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, or an optical disk. It is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic disk. For example, the present invention provides a computer-readable program that records an information providing program that causes a computer to function as an information providing device that provides information provided by an information provider to a user's information terminal connected via a communication line. A request, which is a recording medium and stores a first database storing provider information including a region information indicating to which region the information provider belongs in advance, is accompanied by designation of a region by a user's information terminal. Search means to retrieve provider information corresponding to the relevant regional information and return it to the user's information terminal, and to specify based on the request accompanied by the information provider's specification by the user's information terminal Registration means for associating the provided information provider with the user and registering information indicating the association in the second database, and registering the information in the second database. Those causing a computer to function as a delivery means for delivering the information from the information provider to the user based on and information indicating the related with.

The program recorded on such a recording medium is loaded on a main memory as appropriate and executed by a computer. At that time, a drive device such as a CD-ROM drive, a floppy disk drive, or a magneto-optical disk drive is used as necessary. When the recording medium is provided in a server or the like connected by a communication line such as a network, the program is read or downloaded from the server through the communication line. When the program is transferred to the processing device via a communication line, the communication line itself also corresponds to a recording medium. The programs can be supplied to operate under various OSs, platforms, system environments, or network environments.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 1 of a service provider as an information providing apparatus for providing an information distribution service, and the Internet (not shown) serving as a communication line for the server 1. The information terminal 2 includes a user's information terminal 2 as a client that transmits and receives information by connecting via a network, and a member store's information terminal 3 as an information provider.

The server 1 has at least a central processing unit (CPU), a storage device, and a communication device (all not shown), and is connected to the Internet via the communication device. In the storage device, a processing program for executing a member store information search unit 11, a distribution unit 12, a distribution information registration unit 13, a member store information registration unit 14, and a user search unit 15, which will be described later, is recorded. The functions of the units 11 to 15 are realized by executing the processing program under the control of the CPU. Also,
First and second databases 1 are stored in a storage device of the server 1.
6, 17 are constructed.

The information terminals 2 and 3 are a CPU, an input device, a display device, a storage device, and a communication device (all not shown).
, A personal computer, a mobile phone, another mobile terminal, or the like having a function of browsing information of the server 1 connected via the Internet by a communication device.

FIG. 2A shows a first database (hereinafter, referred to as a first database).
This indicates member store information as provider information accumulated in the “first DB” 16). The member store information is information about the member store, and as shown in FIG.
Data 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 indicating the location (area, prefecture, city, county, ward, town and village), category, contact information (email address, telephone number), member store information, member store ID and password, respectively , 26, 27.

The company name data 21 is information indicating the name of the member store. The location data 22 is regional information indicating to which of the regions the member store's location belongs in advance, and the prefecture, prefecture,
It is composed of information indicating municipalities and municipalities. The category data 23 is information indicating a classification such as the type of business to which the member store belongs. The inquiry destination data 24 is information such as an e-mail address and a telephone number to be a contact when a user makes an inquiry to the member store. The member store information sentence data 25 is information provided from each member store to the information terminal 2 of the user, and is information such as various guides such as bargain sales and events and addresses of homepages.
Member store ID data 26 and password data 27
Authentication information for connecting to the server 1 by the information terminal 3 of the member store.

FIG. 2B shows a second database (hereinafter, referred to as a second database).
User information stored in the “second DB” 17 is shown. User information is information about the user,
As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the mail address, residence area (area, prefecture, city, county, ward, town and village), age group, gender, occupation, user ID, password, and the user and member store Data 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 3 each indicating a member store ID as information indicating the association
8.

The mail address data 31 is information on the address of an e-mail received by the information terminal 2 of the user. The residence area data 32 is area information indicating to which of the pre-partitioned areas the residence area of the user belongs, and the prefecture, the prefecture,
It is composed of information indicating municipalities and municipalities. The age group data 33 is information indicating the age of the user. The gender data 34 is information indicating the gender of the user. The occupation data 35 is information indicating the occupation of the user. The user ID data 36 and the password data 37 are authentication information for connecting to the server 1 by the information terminal 2 of the user.

The member store information retrieving means 11 receives the first DB based on a request accompanied by the user's information terminal 2 specifying a region.
16 and retrieves member store information belonging to the location corresponding to the corresponding regional information, and returns it to the information terminal 2 of the user. The user connects to the server 1 via the information terminal 2 and
From the menu screen 41 shown in FIG.
Is designated, and the region is designated on the region designation screens 42, 43, and 44 shown in FIGS. (B), (c), and (d), respectively (in the illustrated example, "Kyushu district", "Fukuoka prefecture", and "Fukuoka city"). Is designated), and the category is designated ("super" in the illustrated example) on the category designation screen 45 shown in FIG.

The member store information retrieving means 11 performs the first D based on the request accompanied with the designation of the region and the category.
Location data 22 and category data 23 of B16
And obtains member store information belonging to the relevant region and category, returns it to the information terminal 2 of the user, and displays a list on the member store list screen 46 shown in FIG. When an arbitrary member store is designated from the member store list screen 46 displayed on the information terminal 2, the member store information search means 11 displays the member store information on the member store information display screen 47 shown in FIG. Let it. The member store information displayed here is the first DB
There are 16 company name data 21, inquiry destination data 24, member store information sentence data 25, and the like.

The distribution information registering means 13 associates the designated member store with the user based on the request accompanying the designation of the member store by the user's information terminal 2 and stores information indicating the relation in the second DB 17. register. When “Register” is designated from the member store information display screen 48 shown in FIG. 4A acquired by the member store information search means 11 by specifying the member store from the member store list screen 46 shown in FIG. The distribution information registration means 13 causes the information terminal 2 to display an authentication screen 49 shown in FIG.

When a user ID and a password are entered on the authentication screen 49 of the information terminal 2 and "register" is designated, the distribution information registration means 13 determines the designated member store and its user based on the entered user ID. And stores the member store ID data 38 as information indicating the relationship in the second DB1.
Register to 7. The registration result is stored in the distribution information registration unit 13.
Is displayed on the registration information confirmation screen 50 shown in FIG. On the registration information confirmation screen 50, a list of affiliated stores associated with the user is displayed.

The user ID and the password are registered in advance in the second DB 17 by the distribution information registration means 13. The user connects to the server 1 via the information terminal 2,
“User registration” is designated from the menu screen 51 shown in FIG. 5A, and the user information input screen 5 shown in FIG.
2. User's email address, residence area, age,
Enter your gender, occupation, user ID and password.

As the mail address, input the e-mail address of the information terminal 2 of the user for receiving the e-mail. The resident area is input by selecting from the respective selection menus of the area, the prefecture, the municipal county, and the municipalities which have been classified in advance. For example, the area is "Kanto area"
"Kansai area""Kinkiarea""Kyushuarea""Chinaarea"
Select from "Shikoku area", "Hokkaido area", etc. When "Kyushu district" is selected as the area, the prefecture is selected from "Fukuoka prefecture", "Kumamoto prefecture", "Nagasaki prefecture", "Saga prefecture", "Oita prefecture", "Kagoshima prefecture", "Miyazaki prefecture", and the like. When “Fukuoka Prefecture” is selected as the prefecture, the city / ward county is selected from “Fukuoka City”, “Kitakyushu City”, “Munakata City”, “Dazaifu City”, and the like. If you select “Fukuoka City” as the city, “Chuo Ward”, “Hakata Ward”, “Sawara Ward”, “Jonan Ward”
Select from "East Ward", "Minami Ward", "West Ward", etc. Similarly, age, gender and occupation are each age ("teens"
"20s""30s""40s""50s""60s"
Gender ("male""female"), occupation ("company employee""publicservant""self-employment""housewife""student"
Input by selecting from a selection menu such as "part-time job" and "other". For the user ID and the password, the user inputs an arbitrary character string combining 4 to 10 half-width alphanumeric characters.

After inputting these items, the user registration screen 5
When “i-mail registration” of No. 2 is designated, the distribution information registration unit 13 registers the input information in the second DB 17 as shown in FIG. The result of the registration is displayed on the user registration completion screen 53 shown in FIG. In addition, user ID, password,
If the mail address has already been registered and is duplicated, the distribution information registration means 13 causes the information terminal 2 to display a registration error screen 54 as shown in FIG.

The member store information in the first DB 16 is registered by the member store information registering means 14. The member store is connected to the server 1 by the information terminal 3, and when "member registration" is designated from the menu screen 61 shown in FIG. 6A, the member store is displayed on the information terminal 3 by the member store information registration means 14. On the area designation screens 62, 63, and 64 shown in FIGS. 7B, 7C, and 7D, respectively, the area to which the member store belongs is designated (in the illustrated example, “Kanto area”, “Tokyo”). , And "Shibuya-ku"), and a category is specified on the category specification screen 65 shown in FIG. 7A (in the illustrated example, "department store"). Next, the merchant
A member store information input screen 66 shown on the information terminal 3 by the member store information registration means 14 shown in FIGS.
The member name, location, mail address (e-mail), telephone number (tel), member store information, member store ID, and password of the member store are input by a and 66b.

For the company name, enter the name of the member store. As the location, the location designated by FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D is automatically input. For the mail address and the telephone number, enter a contact address when the user makes an inquiry to the member store. The member store information text is used to input information such as various information such as bargain sale and events of the member store. Merchant ID and password must be between 4 and 10 alphanumeric characters
Enter any character string that combines characters.

After inputting these items, when "register a member store" is designated on the member store information input screen 66b, the member store information registering means 14 converts the input information into the member store information as shown in FIG. Register in 1DB16. The registered result is displayed on the member store registration completion screen 67 shown in FIG. If the member store ID has already been registered and is duplicated, or if the required items (items indicated by “*” symbols on the member store information input screens 66a and 66b) are blank, the member store information registration unit 14 A registration error screen 68 as shown in FIG.

It should be noted that the information registered in the first DB 16 is displayed on the menu screen 61 shown in FIG.
Can be edited at any time by specifying. When "basic information editing" is designated, the member store information registration means 14 causes the information terminal 3 to display a member store ID and password input screen (not shown). When the member store ID and the password are input from the information terminal 3, the member store information registration means 14 acquires the member store information from the first DB 16 based on the member store ID and the password.
Display and edit on the information terminal 3 as in (b) and (c). The edited result is registered in the first DB 16 by the member store information registration unit 14.

The distribution means 12 distributes information from the member store to the user by e-mail based on the information indicating the relationship between the member store and the user registered in the second DB 17.
The member store is connected to the server 1 by the information terminal 3, and FIG.
From the menu screen 61 shown in FIG.
Is designated, the distribution means 12 causes the information terminal 3 to display a member store ID and password input screen 71 shown in FIG. When the member store ID and the password are input by the information terminal 3 and “inquiry” is designated, the distribution means 12 displays the mail creation screen 72 shown in FIG.

The mail creation screen 72 has a mail text creation field 72a for creating a text of a mail mainly composed of character information to be transmitted to the user, and a URL to be automatically inserted into the mail to be transmitted to the user. (Uniform Res
source locator) URL text creation field 72 for creating text with an image to be linked to an address
b, and an image selection field 72c for selecting an image to be attached to the text input in the URL text creation field 72b. When the input or selection of each column 72a, 72b, 72c is completed and "i-mail transmission" is designated, the distribution unit 12
2 is registered in the second DB 17 based on the member store ID input on the input screen 71 of FIG.
The member store ID data 38 of the user information of (b) is searched. Then, the user associated with the corresponding member store ID data 38 is extracted, and the mail shown in FIG. 9A is transmitted to the mail address based on the mail address data 31 of the user.

As shown in FIG. 9 (a), a mail sent to the user's information terminal 2 includes a company name 73 based on the company name data 21, and a text mainly composed of text information created in the email text creation field 72a. 74 and URL text creation field 72b
The URL address 75 linked to the image-attached text 76 shown in FIG. The text with image 76 is composed of an image 76a selected in the image selection field 72c and a text 76b input in the URL text creation field 72b.

The user search means 15 searches the second DB 17 based on a request from the information terminal 3 of the member store, and returns user information as a search result to the information terminal 3 of the member store. The information terminal 3 of the member store connects to the server 1 and FIG.
When "reference to user statistics" is designated from the menu screen 61 shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the information terminal 3 as shown in FIG.

When the member store ID and the password are inputted by the information terminal 3 and "reference" is designated, the user search means 15 makes the second DB based on the inputted member store ID.
The member store ID data 38 of the user information of FIG. 2B registered in FIG.
The users associated with 8 are extracted and counted, and the statistical result is displayed on the information terminal 3 as a user statistics reference screen 78 shown in FIG. On the user statistics reference screen 78, statistics related to the area of residence (district), statistics for each age group (age), statistics for each gender, and statistics for each occupation are displayed as bar graphs for the users associated with the member store. Is done.

The operation of the information providing system having the above configuration will be described below. In the first DB 16, each affiliated store connects to the server 1 by the information terminal 3 in advance, and the affiliated store information registration unit 14 according to the procedure shown in FIGS. It is assumed that information is accumulated.

When connecting to the server 1 for the first time, the user registers user information. The user connects to the server 1 by the information terminal 2, and registers the user information shown in FIG. 2B by the distribution information registration means 13 according to the procedure shown in FIG. When the user registration is completed, the user enters the information terminal 2
To the server 1 and the member store information search means 11 acquires member store information belonging to the designated region and category according to the procedure shown in FIG. The user looks at the contents of the acquired member store information, and if the user wishes to receive an e-mail from the member store, the distribution information registration means 13 follows the procedure shown in FIG. The user information is registered in the member store ID data 38.

On the other hand, when transmitting mail to a user who wants to receive mail from the member store, the member store connects to the server 1 by the information terminal 3 and the distribution means 12 shown in FIG. The mail shown in FIG. 9 is created according to the procedure shown. In the created mail, the user associated with the second DB 17 is extracted by the distribution means 12 based on the member store ID of the member store, and the mail is transmitted to the mail address based on the mail address data 31 of the user. I do. Thereby, the mail is delivered to the information terminal 2 of the user who has registered the receipt of the mail to this member store.

That is, the user connects to the server 1 through the information terminal 2 and searches for a member store limited to the area designated by the member store information search means 11. Based on the search result, the distribution information registration means 13 uses the distribution information registration means 13. It is possible to select a member store, register it in the second DB 17, and receive only distribution of necessary information from the member store selected regionally. Here, if the user's information terminal 2 is a mobile phone that can connect to the Internet, the user can receive mail from this member store anywhere, and use the information obtained immediately. It is possible to

Further, the user can distribute information from the member store to the e-mail address specified at the time of registering the user information shown in FIG. 5, so that the user can use a mobile phone. Even without this, information can be obtained by a convenient method by arbitrarily designating the distribution destination of this information to a mail address or the like of a personal computer at home or office.

Further, the member store can connect to the server 1 by the information terminal 3 and obtain the information of the user who wants to receive the mail from the member store by the user search means 15. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the user information obtained by the user search means 15 is based on statistics of the user associated with the member store for each residence area (district) and for each age group (age). This is a bar graph of statistics, gender statistics, and occupational statistics. A member store can perform marketing, product development, and the like based on the bar graph.

[0044]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Provider information including area information indicating to which of the areas the information provider belongs in advance is stored in the first database, and the first information is stored in the information terminal of the user. A region is designated for searching the database, the first database is searched based on the designated region, provider information corresponding to the corresponding region information is obtained, and the information is returned to the information terminal of the user. The information provider of the user is designated as the information provider, the designated information provider is associated with the user, information indicating the association is registered in the second database, and the association registered in the second database is registered. By distributing the information from the information provider to the user based on the information shown, the user searches for the information provider only in the designated area and selects the information provider based on the search result. And to register, it is possible to receive only the regional delivery of the selected required information.

(2) The user can cause the information provider to distribute the information to the e-mail address or the like specified at the time of the user registration, and the user specifies the information distribution destination. Then, the information can be obtained by a convenient method by arbitrarily designating it in a mail address or the like of a mobile phone or a personal computer at home or office.

(3) Second to information terminal of information provider
By providing a condition for retrieving the database of the user, searching the second database based on the designated condition, and returning the information of the user as a search result to the information terminal of the information provider, thereby providing the information. Can obtain information on users who wish to distribute information by themselves,
Marketing, product development, and the like can be performed based on this information.

(4) By using the user's information terminal as a portable telephone which can be connected to the Internet, the user can receive mail from this member store wherever he is and can obtain it immediately. Information can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information providing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a diagram illustrating an example of member store information stored in a first database, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of user information stored in a second database.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a user information terminal when searching for member store information;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed at the time of registration of distribution information displayed on an information terminal of a user.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen at the time of user registration displayed on the information terminal of the user.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen at the time of member store registration displayed on the information terminal of the member store.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed at the time of member store registration displayed subsequent to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on an information terminal of a member store when e-mail is transmitted.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mail created by a distribution unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen at the time of a user search displayed on an information terminal of a member store.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 server 2, 3 information terminal 11 member store information search means 12 distribution means 13 distribution information registration means 14 member store information registration means 15 user search means 16 first database (first DB) 17 second database (second DB) 41, 51, 61 Menu screen 42, 43, 44, 62, 63, 64 Area designation screen 45, 65 Category designation screen 46 Member store list screen 47, 48 Member store information display screen 49 Authentication screen 50 Registration information confirmation screen 52 Use User information input screen 53 User registration completion screen 54, 68 Registration error screen 66a, 66b Member store information input screen 67 Member store registration completion screen 71, 77 Input screen 72 Email creation screen 72a Email text creation field 72b URL text creation field 72c Image selection field 78 User statistics reference screen

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/60 506 G06F 17/60 506

Claims (7)

[Claims] An information providing apparatus for providing information provided by an information provider to an information terminal of a user connected via a communication line, wherein the information providing apparatus includes: A first database for storing provider information including regional information indicating whether the user belongs to the first database, and the first database based on a request accompanied by designation of a region by a user's information terminal.
Search means for searching for a database and obtaining provider information corresponding to the corresponding regional information and returning the information to the information terminal of the user; and Registration means for associating a designated information provider with the user and registering information indicating the relation in the second database; and providing the user with information based on the information indicating the relation registered in the second database. And a distribution unit that distributes information from an information provider to the information providing apparatus. 2. A second search means for searching the second database based on a request from the information terminal of the information provider and returning user information as a search result to the information terminal of the information provider. 3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: 3. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information registered in the second database includes any one of a residence area, an age, a gender, and an occupation of the user. 4. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal of the user is a mobile phone. 5. An information providing method for providing information provided by an information provider to a user's information terminal connected via a communication line, the information providing method comprising: Provider information including area information indicating whether the user belongs is stored in a first database, and the user's information terminal is caused to specify the area in order to search the first database. Searching the first database based on the information to obtain provider information corresponding to the corresponding regional information and returning it to the information terminal of the user, and further causing the information terminal of the user to specify an information provider, The designated information provider is associated with the user, and information indicating the association is registered in the second database. Based on the information indicating the association registered in the second database, the user is notified. An information providing method characterized by distributing information from an information provider. 6. A condition for the information provider of the information provider to search the second database,
6. The information providing method according to claim 5, wherein the second database is searched based on the designated condition, and user information as a search result is returned to an information terminal of the information provider. 7. A computer-readable recording recording an information providing program for causing a computer to function as an information providing device for providing information provided by an information provider to a user's information terminal connected via a communication line. A first database that stores provider information including regional information indicating to which of the regions the information provider belongs in advance, in response to a request accompanied by designation of a region by a user's information terminal; A search means for searching based on the information and obtaining provider information corresponding to the corresponding regional information and returning the information to the information terminal of the user; and specifying the information based on a request accompanying the specification of the information provider by the information terminal of the user. Registering means for associating the provided information provider with the user and registering information indicating the association in the second database; A computer-readable recording medium that stores an information providing program that causes a computer to function as a distribution unit that distributes information from an information provider to a user based on the registered information indicating the association.