JP2002230396A - Method and system for menu service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy for a user to obtain information on a service com pany that the user is interested in, to provide efficient information provision focused on a target user for the service provider, and to charges the profit that the service provider acquires. SOLUTION: The user acquires a store ID from a service provider at a visiting place by a digital camera 12 with a short-range communication function and sends the store ID from a client computer 10 to a menu server 20 after going home. The menu server 20 sends menu button information corresponding to the received store ID to the client computer 10, which displays menu buttons on the display to enable access to a service server 30 of the corresponding service provider through the operation of a menu button. A menu server operator which controls the menu server 20 charges a service provider who desires to register menu buttons.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention provides an Internet user with menu button information for accessing a service server of a service provider, and charges the service provider for the provision of the menu button information. Menu service method and menu service system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the spread of the Internet has made it possible to easily search for various information and browse its contents. In addition, by setting up a WWW site, a service provider can disclose information to an unspecified number of Internet users, and can carry out commercial transactions such as Internet shopping on the site. became.

[0003]

However, in order to obtain information provided by a service provider required by a user, a storage location (URL (Uniform Resource
urce Locators)) is known and needs to be entered, accessed from another linked site, or searched by a search service, which is troublesome.

[0004] On the other hand, service providers cannot provide information to target users, for example, those who come to their own stores, and provide Internet services to target users efficiently. There is a problem that cannot be marketed.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and makes it easy for a user to obtain information of a service provider in which the user is interested, and provides the service provider with the above-mentioned target user. It is an object of the present invention to provide a menu service method and a menu service system capable of realizing efficient provision of information focused on a service provider and charging a profit obtained by a service provider.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a menu service method, comprising transmitting a service provider's identification information from a user's portable terminal and / or a client computer to a menu server. ,
The menu server transmits menu button information corresponding to the received service provider identification information to a client computer, and the client computer receiving the menu button information transmits the menu button information based on a predetermined client application. A menu server operating company that displays a menu button on a display according to the button information, enables access to a service server of a corresponding service company based on the operation of the menu button, and manages the menu server,
It is characterized in that the service provider is charged.

That is, by transmitting the identification information of the service provider to the menu server from the user side, menu button information for accessing the service server of the service provider is acquired from the menu server. By operating the menu button displayed on the display based on the obtained menu button information, the user can easily access the service server of the corresponding service provider. As a result, the service provider can provide efficient information only to the user who has acquired the menu button information, and the menu server operating provider charges from the service provider who wishes to register the menu button. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the client computer transmits a request for counting the number of access times of a service provider corresponding to the menu button to the menu server based on an operation of the menu button, and The server counts up the number of accesses of the service provider every time a request for counting the number of times of access of the service provider is received from the client computer, and the menu server operating provider is provided for each of the service providers. It is characterized in that charging is performed according to the number of accesses.

The identification information of the service provider is transmitted from the communication device of the service provider to the portable terminal of the user by short-range wireless communication as described in claim 3 of the present application, and is directly transmitted from the portable terminal to the menu server or the menu server. client·
It is characterized by being transmitted to a menu server via a computer. Thus, the identification information of the service provider can be automatically collected when the user visits the store or the like of the service provider with the portable terminal.

The identification information of the service provider is manually input by an input means of the portable terminal of the user as shown in claim 4 of the present application, and is transmitted directly to the menu server by a communication function of the portable terminal, or As shown in FIG. 5, the information is manually input by the input means of the client computer and transmitted from the client computer to the menu server. In other words, a user who has viewed the notice or the like on which the identification information of the service provider has been posted may input the identification information of the service provider himself.

[0011] When the menu update button displayed on the display is operated based on the client application, the client computer sends the identification information of the service provider to the menu server as shown in claim 6 of the present application. It is characterized by transmission.

[0012] The menu server manages menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider for each user as described in claim 7 of the present application, and displays a menu displayed on a display based on the client application. When the update button is operated and the menu update request is received together with the identification information of the user, the menu button information corresponding to the user is transmitted to the client computer of the user.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in a menu service system comprising a client computer and a menu server of a menu server operator, the client computer is configured to manually enter or carry a mobile phone based on a predetermined client application. A function of transmitting the service provider identification information input from the terminal to the menu server, a function of displaying a menu button on a display based on the menu button information received from the menu server, and a function of displaying the menu button on the display. A function of accessing a service server of a corresponding service provider based on an operation of a menu button, and a function of notifying the service server of identification information of the service provider every time the service server of the service provider is accessed. Has a function of transmitting menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider received from the client computer to the client computer, and an access notification from the client computer to the service provider. And a function of managing the number of accesses by counting each time, and a menu server operator that manages the menu server charges each service provider according to the number of accesses.

The portable terminal has a wireless communication function of performing short-range wireless communication with communication equipment of the service provider and receiving identification information of the service provider as described in claim 9 of the present application. And inputting the identification information of the service provider to the client computer.

When the menu update button displayed on the display is operated based on the client application as described in claim 10 of the present application, the client computer identifies the identification information of the service provider and the identification of the user. Information and a menu update request are transmitted to a menu server.

The menu server has a function of managing menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider for each user, as described in claim 11 of the present application,
Upon receiving the user identification information and the menu update request, menu button information corresponding to the user is transmitted to the user's client computer.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a menu service method and a menu service system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a menu service system according to the present invention. The menu service system shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a client computer 10 in which a client application (in this embodiment, image viewer software for displaying a list of images in a digital camera) is installed, and a menu server operating company. And a menu server 20.

The client computer 10 comprises:
Digital camera 12 to camera cradle 14 and US
It is possible to transmit and receive information such as images via the B cable 16, specify the address of a service server (WWW server) 30 of a desired service provider on the Internet using a URL, and perform image and audio Alternatively, other information or the like is transmitted to the service server 30 so that the service of the service provider can be enjoyed.

The client computer 10
Is a client application that automatically detects (using the Plug & Play function) the connection of the digital camera 12 when the digital camera 12 is mounted on the camera cradle 14, and displays a list of images in the digital camera 12. Start the viewer automatically.

FIG. 2 shows a display screen of the image viewer displayed on the display of the client computer 10.

Display screen 50 displayed by this image viewer
Inside, a file list display unit 53 for displaying a folder structure, an image list display unit 55 for displaying a list of reduced images (thumbnail images) 54 of the images stored in the folder designated by the user, A menu display section 56 for displaying a list of the menu buttons 51 is provided.

Each menu button 51 is a link button for connecting to each service server 30. For example, a print service button, a photo CD creation service button, a photo publication button, a photo contest posting button, an auction site selection button Service selection buttons such as a mobile phone display button and an Internet shopping site selection button.

The user does not show one or more desired images from the file name displayed on the file list display section 53 or the list of reduced images 54 displayed on the image list display section 55. Alternatively, by simply selecting using an input means such as a keyboard and clicking on a desired menu button 51, transmission of information such as images necessary for ordering a print service, a photo CD creation service, and publication of photos on the Internet service,
In addition, it becomes possible to upload an image file and a sound file for posting a photo contest.

The image viewer 50 is provided with a menu update button 58. When the user clicks the menu update button 58 as necessary, the user accesses the menu server 20 to obtain the latest menu button information. It can be performed. The details of obtaining the menu button information will be described later.

Next, a method in which the client computer 10 acquires menu button information customized for each user from the menu server 20 will be described.

In FIG. 1, the menu server operating company that manages the menu server 20 is a service company such as a company or a store that operates a WWW site (for example, the store “ABC” in FIG. 1) and a menu service system. Sign a usage contract. By this usage contract, the menu server operating business operator can identify the unique identification information for each service
A "store ID" is issued, and menu button information (store ID, URL of WWW site, button image, etc.) corresponding to the store ID is registered in the database 22 of the menu server 20.

On the other hand, a short-range wireless communication device (not shown) of the Bluetooth standard for wirelessly transmitting the store ID registered in the menu server 20 is installed in the store “ABC”. It is assumed that a short-range wireless device conforming to the Bluetooth standard is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, a user carries a digital camera 12 to visit a store “ABC”, and the store “ABC”
When the digital camera 12 enters the communication range of the wireless communication device installed in the digital camera 12, wireless communication is automatically started between the two wireless communication devices, and the shop ID is input to the digital camera 12. As described above, when the user carries the digital camera 12 and visits the service provider, the store ID is automatically input to the digital camera 12 without the user's awareness.

After that, when the user returns home and attaches the digital camera 12 into which the store ID has been input to the camera cradle 14 and turns on the power of the client computer 10, the image in the digital camera 12 is copied as described above. The image viewer, which is a client application for displaying a list, is automatically started, and the image viewer shown in FIG. 2 is displayed on the display of the client computer 10.

Here, the user sets the menu update button 58
Click to access the menu server 20,
The user ID is transmitted from the client computer 10 to the menu server 20 together with the menu update request. The store ID is read from the digital camera 12, and the store ID is also transmitted to the menu server 20 at the same time.

The menu server 20 stores a user (user I
D) Each store ID is managed as a database,
The shop ID received as described above is additionally registered. As described above, the menu server 20 manages the menu button information corresponding to each shop ID, reads the menu button information corresponding to the shop ID managed by the user ID from the database, and stores the menu button information in the client.・ Send to the computer 10.

The client computer 10 downloads the menu button information, displays a button image on the menu display section 56 of the image viewer 50 based on the downloaded menu button information, and
The downloaded menu button information is stored in a storage area in the computer. Thus, the list display of the menu buttons 51 in the image viewer 50 of the client computer 10 is updated.

When the user presses a desired menu button 51 among the menu buttons displayed in a list on the image viewer 50 as described above, the image viewer 50 uses the access method and the URL described in the menu button information, and
Connect to the service server of the service provider (for example,
Start the WWW browser and pass the URL of the service server written in the menu button information). Thus, the user can access the service server of the desired service provider and enjoy the service of the service provider.

The client computer 10
When the user accesses the service server of the service provider by operating the menu button, the service server notifies the menu server 20 of the store ID and the user ID of the service provider that operates the service server, and requests a count of the number of accesses.

The menu server 20 manages the number of access times for each service provider (store ID). When the menu server 20 receives a request for counting the number of access times of the service provider from the client computer 10, the access of the corresponding service provider is performed. Count the number of times.

The menu server 20 charges the service provider according to the number of accesses counted for each service provider. The service provider may be charged by electronic payment or by a payment method such as bank transfer or cash on delivery.

As described above, a service provider such as a company or a store operating a WWW site can efficiently guide a user who has visited a store once to the WWW site, and Marketing can be done efficiently. On the other hand, the user can easily access the WWW site of the store where the user has actually performed, and the search operation and the operation of following the link can be reduced. Further, the menu server operating company can increase profits by charging a service company that wants to register a menu button according to the number of accesses.

In this embodiment, the store ID of the service provider is obtained via the digital camera 12 owned by the user. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
DA) or the service provider's store ID may be obtained via another mobile terminal such as a mobile phone. In addition, the store ID of the service provider is automatically input to the mobile terminal of the user who visits the store or a certain point by short-range wireless communication of the Bluetooth standard. However, the present invention is not limited to this. If the mobile terminal is electrically connected to the installed terminal and the store ID of the service provider is taken into the mobile terminal, or if the mobile terminal has means for manually inputting the store ID, the service provider The store ID described in a notice or a flyer at the store may be manually input to the portable terminal. Further, the client application may have a function of manually inputting the store ID.

Further, in this embodiment, when the menu update button 58 of the image viewer 50 is pressed, the store ID read into the portable terminal (digital camera 10) is read and transmitted to the menu server 20. As described above, when the mobile terminal has a function of directly communicating with the menu server 20, the menu server 20 is directly accessed from the mobile terminal, and the store ID is notified to the menu server 20 together with the user ID. Good.

Further, the client application is not limited to the image viewer, and may be a launcher having a menu display section for displaying a list of menu buttons of various services.

Further, the menu server operating company is
The service provider who wants to register the menu button is charged according to the number of accesses, but instead or simultaneously, a menu button registration fee is collected on a monthly or yearly basis. Is also good.

[0043]

As described above, according to the present invention, the identification information of the service provider is transmitted from the user to the menu server, and the menu button information of the service provider can be obtained from the menu server. By operating the menu button displayed on the display according to the menu button information, it is possible to access the service server of the corresponding service provider,
A service provider such as a company or a store that operates a WWW site can efficiently guide a target user to the WWW site and efficiently market. In addition, the user can easily access a WWW site such as a store where the user has actually visited, and the search operation and the operation of following a link can be reduced. Further, the menu server operating company can increase profits by charging a service company that wants to register a menu button.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a menu service system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a display screen of an image viewer displayed on a display of the client computer shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

10 client computer, 12 digital camera, 20 menu server, 30 service server

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04Q 7/38 H04B 7/26 109M

Claims (11)

[Claims] An identification information of a service provider is transmitted from a user's portable terminal and / or a client computer to a menu server, and the menu server transmits menu button information corresponding to the received identification information of the service provider. The client computer that has transmitted the menu button information to the client computer, displays a menu button on a display according to the menu button information based on a predetermined client application, and responds based on the operation of the menu button. A menu service method, wherein a service server of a service provider to be accessed is accessible, and a menu server operator that manages the menu server charges the service provider. 2. The client computer transmits a request for counting the number of times of access of a service provider corresponding to the menu button to the menu server based on the operation of the menu button. Each time a request for counting the number of times of access of the service provider is received from a computer, the number of accesses of the service provider is counted up, and the menu server operating provider responds to the number of accesses for each of the service providers. 2. The menu service method according to claim 1, wherein billing is performed. 3. The identification information of the service provider is transmitted from a communication device of the service provider to a mobile terminal of a user by short-range wireless communication, and is transmitted from the mobile terminal directly via a menu server or the client computer. 3. The menu service method according to claim 1, wherein the menu service is transmitted to a menu server. 4. The service provider according to claim 1, wherein the identification information of the service provider is manually input by an input means of a mobile terminal of the user and transmitted directly to a menu server by a communication function of the mobile terminal. Menu service method. 5. The identification information of the service provider is manually input by input means of the client computer.
3. The menu service method according to claim 1, wherein said menu is transmitted from said client computer to a menu server. 6. The client computer transmits identification information of the service provider to a menu server when a menu update button displayed on a display is operated based on the client application. The menu service method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 5, wherein 7. The menu server manages menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider for each user, and operates a menu update button displayed on a display based on the client application; 7. The menu service method according to claim 1, wherein when a menu update request is received together with the identification information of the user, menu button information corresponding to the user is transmitted to the client computer of the user. 8. A menu service system comprising a client computer and a menu server of a menu server operator, wherein the client computer is a service provider manually input or input from a portable terminal based on a predetermined client application. The function of transmitting the identification information of the menu server to the menu server, the function of displaying the menu button on the display based on the menu button information received from the menu server, and the operation of the menu button displayed on the display A function of accessing a service server of a corresponding service provider; and a function of notifying the service server of identification information of the service provider every time the service server of the service provider is accessed. The server has a function of transmitting menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider received from the client computer to the client computer, and counts an access notification from the client computer for each service provider to access. A menu service system having a function of managing the number of times, wherein a menu server operating company that manages the menu server charges for each of the service companies according to the number of times of access. 9. The mobile terminal has a wireless communication function of performing short-range wireless communication with a communication device of the service provider to receive identification information of the service provider, and identifying the received service provider. 9. The menu service system according to claim 8, further comprising a function of inputting information to said client computer. 10. The client computer,
When a menu update button displayed on a display is operated based on the client application, the identification information of the service provider, the identification information of the user, and a menu update request are transmitted to a menu server. Item 8 or 9, the menu service system. 11. The menu server has a function of managing menu button information corresponding to the identification information of the service provider for each user, and responds to the user by receiving the identification information of the user and a menu update request. 11. The menu service system according to claim 10, wherein the menu button information to be transmitted is transmitted to the user's client computer.