JP2003108873A - Information providing server, information providing method and its program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing server for providing information corresponding to the access frequency of a user in simple constitution not requiring a region for inputting personal information and storing the personal information by the user, an information providing method and its program. SOLUTION: On receiving Cookie from a user terminal 10, a retail store terminal 20 requests a retail store customer information terminal 30 to analyze the Cookie. The retail store customer information terminal 30 detects the access count (the frequency of access to the retail store terminal 20 of the user terminal 10) contained in the Cookie. The retail store terminal 20 provides information corresponding to the detected access count to the user terminal 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an information providing server,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an information providing server, an information providing method, and a program for providing information to a user terminal according to the number of times of access by the user terminal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an information viewer uses a user terminal to access another terminal connected to the user terminal and obtain necessary information. However, the above-mentioned terminal has a problem that only the same information can be provided to any user terminal (information viewer).

In order to solve the above problems, there have been the following conventional techniques. In the sales support system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-113053 (hereinafter, conventional example 1), the customer's IP address is read at the time of access by the customer, and the customer information holding unit holds the read IP address based on the read IP address. The customer who was accessing the site was identified and the customer who accessed the site was identified. Further, in Conventional Example 1, the number of times of access by the customer who has accessed is counted up, and the information to be provided to the customer is configured based on the number of times of access.

Further, in the content evaluation apparatus and the recording medium (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 2) disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-101212, a Cookie for identifying the user terminal is issued to the above user terminal. However, the information relating to the number of times the issued Cookie and the user terminal have accessed the content is stored in the access history table. Furthermore, in the conventional example 2, the stored Cookie
The content was evaluated based on e and the number of times of access.

In addition, in the value-added information providing method for a home page disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-160051 (hereinafter, Conventional Example 3), personal information including a user identifier, an electronic mail address, etc. for each user is stored. , And information about the number of times the user participated in a questionnaire or event on the home page. Further, in Conventional Example 3, when the user inputs the user identifier and the type of value-added information that the user wants to receive, the value-added information requested to be provided is referred to by referring to the participation frequency information of the user. Was determined to be available.

[0006]

However, in Conventional Example 1 and Conventional Example 2, the user's personal information (including the number of times of access by the user) is stored in order to identify the user who has accessed (requested to provide information). The part to do was necessary. In addition, the user must
I had to enter my personal information. Even if the conventional example 1 and the conventional example 2 are combined, the same problem occurs.

Further, the present invention has a configuration different from that of the conventional example 3 and provides the user with information according to the number of access times of the user.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has a simple structure which does not require a user to input personal information and a portion for storing the personal information, and to obtain information according to the access frequency of the user. Information provision server to provide,
The purpose is to provide an information providing method and its program.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is an information providing server connected to a user terminal via a predetermined network, and is recorded in the user terminal. The access count information receiving means for receiving the access count information, which is the information on the number of times the user terminal has accessed the server itself from the last access, when the user terminal accesses the server, and the access count. An access number detecting unit that refers to the access number information received by the information receiving unit and detects the number of times of access, and a provision information creating unit that creates provision information based on the access number detected by the access number detecting unit. Provided information transmitting means for transmitting the provided information created by the information creating means to the user terminal. .

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, in the information providing server according to claim 1, the access number information is included in the cookie.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the information providing server according to claim 1 or 2, access number information rewriting means for rewriting the access number information received by the access number information receiving means, and access number information. Rewriting information transmitting means for transmitting the access number information rewritten by the rewriting means to the user terminal.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, in the information providing server according to claim 3, the access number rewriting means adds 1 to the access number in the received access number information.

According to the invention of claim 5, in the information providing server according to any one of claims 1 to 4, when the user terminal requests to newly create access number information. Alternatively, if the access count is not detected by the access count detecting means, the access count information creating means for newly creating the access count information and the access count information newly created by the access count information creating means are transmitted to the user terminal. And a production information transmitting means for performing the same.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information providing method using a user terminal and an information providing server connected to the user terminal via a predetermined network. The access number information recording step of recording the access number information which is information on the number of times of access to the providing server, and the access number information recorded by the access number information recording step at the time of accessing the information providing server, to the information providing server. And an access number information receiving step of receiving the access number information transmitted by the access number information transmitting step, and an access number received by the access number information receiving step. Referring to the information, the access count detection step of detecting the number of accesses and the access count detected in the access count detection step Based on the scan number, and provides information creating step of creating an advertisement, and having and a provided information transmission step of transmitting the provided information created in the user terminal by providing information creation process.

According to the invention of claim 7, in the information providing method of claim 6, the access number information is:
It is characterized in that it is included in Cookie.

According to the invention of claim 8, in the information providing method according to claim 6 or 7, the information providing server rewrites the access number information rewriting step of rewriting the access number information received in the access number information receiving step. And a rewriting information transmitting step of transmitting the access number information rewritten in the access number information rewriting step to the user terminal.

According to the invention described in claim 9, in the information providing method according to claim 8, the access number rewriting step includes adding 1 to the access number in the received access number information.
Is added.

Further, according to the invention of claim 10, in the information providing method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, the information providing server newly creates the access number information from the user terminal. If the request is made, or if the access count is not detected by the access count detection process, the access count information creation process for newly creating access count information and the access count information newly created by the access count information creation process Is transmitted to the user terminal.

The invention according to claim 11 is a computer-readable program for causing a user terminal and an information providing server connected to the user terminal via a predetermined network to execute processing. , Access number information recording processing for recording access number information, which is information on the number of times the information providing server is accessed, and access number information recorded by the access number information recording processing when accessing the information providing server Access number information transmission processing for transmitting to the information providing server, and the access number information receiving processing for receiving the access number information transmitted by the access number information transmitting processing to the information providing server, and the access number information receiving Access count detection that refers to the access count information received by processing and detects the number of accesses Based on the access count detected by the access count detection process, an additional information creation process of creating additional information, and an additional information transmission process of sending the additional information created by the additional information creation process to the user terminal. It is characterized by being executed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the computer-readable program according to the eleventh aspect, the access number information is included in the cookie.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the computer-readable program of the eleventh or twelfth aspect, the access number information for rewriting the access number information received by the access number information receiving process in the information providing server. A rewriting process and a rewriting information transmitting process of transmitting the access number information rewritten by the access number information rewriting process to the user terminal are performed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the computer-readable program of the thirteenth aspect, the access number rewriting process adds one to the access number in the received access number information. .

According to the invention of claim 15, in the computer-readable program according to any one of claims 11 to 14, new access number information is created from the user terminal in the information providing server. Access number information creation process for creating new access number information and access newly created by the access number information creation process when the access number is not detected by the access number detection process. And a creation information transmission process for transmitting the number information to the user terminal.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the information providing system in this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The information providing system includes a user terminal 10 and
It has a retail store terminal 20, a retail store customer information terminal 30, and a network 100. The user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20, and the retail store customer information terminal 30 are interconnected via a network 100.

The information viewer uses the user terminal 10 to
The retail store terminal 20 providing the information desired to be browsed is accessed via the network 100. User terminal 10
Is an information processing device such as a personal computer.
The user terminal 10 accesses information provided by the retail store terminal 20 on the network (hereinafter referred to as provided information) and displays the provided information.

The user terminal 10 also includes a control unit 11 and
Transmission / reception unit 12, Cookie recording unit 13, and display unit 1
4 and. The control unit 11 controls each part of the user terminal 10. The transmitting / receiving unit 12 is the network 1
00, and data etc. (provided information and Co
sending and receiving). The cookie recording unit 13 is a unit that records a cookie. Display 1
4 displays predetermined information (including provision information).

The cookie recorded in the cookie recording section 13 includes information on the number of times the user terminal 10 has accessed the retail store terminal 20 (access frequency).

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store (retail store terminal 2
Information on products etc. related to 0 managers)
00 on offer. The retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
When the access from the user terminal 10 is received, the user terminal 10 requests the transmission of the Cookie. Retail store terminal 20
Transmits the Cookie received from the user terminal 10 to the retail store customer information terminal 30 and requests the retail store customer information terminal 30 to confirm the content of the Cookie. Retail store terminal 20
Is confirmed by the retailer customer information terminal 30.
The user (information viewer) of the user terminal 10 is provided with the provided information according to the content of ie (the number of times the user terminal 10 has accessed the retail store terminal 20 up to the present time).

The retail store terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 and
Transmission / reception unit 22, information recording unit 23, and information creation unit 24
And. The control unit 21 controls each part of the retail store terminal 20. The transmission / reception unit 22 uses the network 10
Connected to 0, data, etc. (provided information and Coo
(including kie). The information recording unit 23 is a part that records the provided information. The information creation unit 24 is a part that creates the provided information.

The provision information provided by the retail store terminal 20 may be product information related to the administrator of the retail store terminal 20 or may be some kind of service information. Further, more information than usual may be provided to the user terminal 10 having a high access frequency. For example, a user terminal 10 that is frequently accessed (a regular customer)
The bargain information at the retail store may be specially provided.

The retail store customer information terminal 30 is the retail store terminal 2
Received Cookie from 0 and received Cookie
It is determined whether or not e is legitimate. Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 detects the content of the received Cookie (the access frequency of the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20) and sends it to the retail store terminal 20.

Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 includes a control unit 31, a transmission / reception unit 32, a cookie confirmation unit 33,
And a cookie creating unit 34. The control unit 31
Each part of the retail customer information terminal 30 is controlled. The transmission / reception unit 32 transmits / receives data and the like (including Cookie).

The cookie confirmation unit 33 is used by the retail store terminal 2
It is determined whether or not the Cookie transmitted from 0 has been tampered with. In addition, the cookie confirmation unit 33 performs an error check (for example, checksum) to determine whether or not the transmitted Cookie has data loss due to an accident on the communication path.

The cookie creating unit 34 is used by the user terminal 1
0 or when the retailer terminal 20 requests the creation of a new Cookie, the new Cookie is created.
Further, when the user terminal 10 accesses the retail store terminal 20, the access count information included in the cookie held by the user terminal 10 is rewritten.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the information providing system in the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and along FIG. In addition, below,
The network 100 is assumed to be the Internet.

First, the information viewer uses the user terminal 10 to access the information providing homepage established by the retail store terminal 20 on the network 100 (step A1).

Next, the retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
The Cookie for which the acquisition request has been made is received from the user terminal 10 (step A2). The retail store terminal 20 transmits the received Cookie to the retail store customer information terminal 30, and C
The retailer customer information terminal 30 is requested to confirm the information (access information) included in the cookie.

The retail store customer information terminal 30 is the retail store terminal 2
It is determined whether or not the Cookie received from 0 is legitimate (whether or not it has been tampered with). Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 checks the error of the cookie to determine whether or not data is missing in the cookie due to a trouble on the communication path. Cookie
Is authentic, and when it is determined that the Cookie has no data loss, the access information (the number of accesses from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20) included in the Cookie is detected, The above information on the number of accesses is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step A3).

Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 is Coo
The access count included in the kie is rewritten, and a new cookie is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20. When the user terminal 10 accesses the retail store terminal 20 for the first time, the user terminal 10 does not hold the cookie. When the retail store customer information terminal 30 receives information from the retail store terminal 20 that “the cookie is not transmitted from the user terminal 10 because the user terminal 10 accessed the retail store terminal 20 for the first time”, the retail store customer information terminal 30 creates a new cookie, It is transmitted to the store terminal 20 (step A4).

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store customer information terminal 3
When receiving the Cookie from 0, the Cookie is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step A5).

The user terminal 10 operates from the retail store terminal 20 to C
When receiving the cookie, the received cookie is recorded (step A6).

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store customer information terminal 3
Provision information is created / determined based on the access count information received from 0 and transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step A7).

The user terminal 10 displays the provided information received from the retail store terminal 20 on the screen (step A8). This is the end of the operation of the information providing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a processing operation for a cookie by the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1 and along FIG. 3, a cookie by the information providing system in the present embodiment
The processing for is described. The operation of the information providing system shown in FIG. 3 is performed in steps A2 to A2 of FIG.
The operation in A6 is described in detail.

First, the retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
Request to send a Cookie (step B).
1).

The user terminal 10 operates from the retail store terminal 20 to C
When receiving the request to send the cookie, the own terminal (Cookie
It is determined whether or not Cookie is recorded in the IE recording unit 13) (step B2).

When it is determined that the cookie is not recorded in the user terminal 10 (step B2 / No), the retailer terminal 20 is requested to create a new cookie (step B7).

When it is determined that the cookie is recorded in the user terminal 10 (step B2 / Yes), the cookie including the access number information from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20 is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20. (Step B3).

The retail store terminal 20 is connected to the user terminal 10 through C.
Upon receiving the cookie, the received cookie is transmitted to the retail store customer information terminal 30, and the received cookie is received.
The retailer customer information terminal 30 is requested to confirm whether or not e is valid (step B4).

The retail store customer information terminal 30 is the retail store terminal 2
When receiving a cookie and a confirmation request for a cookie from 0, the received cookie is analyzed, and a cookie is received.
Check if the ie is legitimate. Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 determines whether or not the cookie correctly includes access information (information on the number of accesses from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20). The retail store customer information terminal 30 transmits the cookie analysis result (including access information) to the retail store terminal 20 (step B).
5).

The retail store terminal 20 is the retail store customer information terminal 3
When receiving the analysis result of Cookie from 0, Cookie
It is determined whether or not the access count can be confirmed from ie (whether or not the analysis result includes the access count information) (step B6).

When it is determined that the number of accesses is confirmed from the cookie (step B6 / Yes), the retail store terminal 20 rewrites the number of accesses included in the cookie to "+1" to create a new cookie. As described above, the request is made to the retail store customer information terminal 30 (step B8).

The retail store customer information terminal 30 is the retail store terminal 2
When receiving a request to create a cookie from 0,
A new Cookie in which the number of accesses included in IE is increased by “1” is created, and the created new Cookie is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step B10).

The retail store terminal 20 is the retail store customer information terminal 3
When receiving the Cookie created from 0, the received Cookie is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step B11).

The user terminal 10 operates from the retail store terminal 20 to C
When you receive the cookie,
Recording in the cookie recording unit 13 (step B1)
3). As described above, the cookie (the number of accesses) recorded in the cookie recording unit 13 is rewritten.

When it is determined that the number of accesses is not confirmed from the cookie (step B6 / No), or when a new Co is sent from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20.
Requested to create an okie (user terminal 10 is Coo
If the kie is not held) (step B7), the retail store terminal 20 adds a new Coo to the retail store customer information terminal 30.
Creation of kie (access information) is performed by the retailer customer information terminal 3
Request 0 (step B9).

The retail store customer information terminal 30 is the retail store terminal 2
When a request for creating a new Cookie is received from 0, a new Cookie is created (the number of accesses is "1") and is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step B10).

The retail store terminal 20 is the retail store customer information terminal 3
When the newly created Cookie is received from 0, the received Cookie is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step B12).

The user terminal 10 can access the C terminal from the retail store terminal 20.
When you receive the cookie,
Recording in the cookie recording unit 13 (step B1)
3). This is the end of the processing operation for the cookie by the information providing system.

(Second Embodiment) Unless otherwise specified, the configuration and operation of the second embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the information providing system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The information providing system includes a user terminal 10 and
It has a retail store terminal 20, a retail store customer information DB 40, and a network 100. The user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20, and the retail store customer information DB 40 are interconnected via the network 100.

The information viewer uses the user terminal (information processing device such as a personal computer) 10 to connect the network 1 to the retail store terminal 20 which provides information desired to be viewed.
Access via 00. The user terminal 10 accesses the provision information provided by the retail store terminal 20 on the network and displays the corresponding provision information.

Further, the user terminal 10 includes a control unit 11 and
It has a transmission / reception unit 12, a display unit 14, and an input unit 15. The control unit 11 controls each part of the user terminal 10. The input unit 15 is a unit for inputting identification information necessary for browsing the provided information. The transmission / reception unit 12 is connected to the network 100 and transmits / receives data and the like (including provision information and identification information). Display unit 14
Displays predetermined information (including provided information).

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store (retail store terminal 2
(0 administrator: information provider) provides information such as products related to the network 100. When receiving the access from the user terminal 10 and receiving the identification information, the retail store terminal 20 transmits the received identification information to the retail store customer information DB 40, and identifies the information viewer based on the identification information. Request to the information DB 40. When the retail store terminal 20 receives the information on the number of accesses by the information viewer (user terminal 10) specified by the retail store customer information DB 40, the retail store terminal 20 provides the provision information corresponding to the number of accesses to the user of the user terminal 10 (information browsing). Person).

Further, the retail store terminal 20 includes a control unit 21,
Transmission / reception unit 22, information recording unit 23, and information creation unit 24
And. The control unit 21 controls each part of the retail store terminal 20. The transmission / reception unit 22 uses the network 10
It is connected to 0 and sends and receives data and the like (including provision information and identification information). The information recording unit 23 is a part that records the provided information. The information creation unit 24 is a part that creates the provided information.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
The identification information is received from 0, and it is analyzed whether or not the customer information corresponding to the received identification information is stored in the own DB. When the received identification information matches the customer information stored in the own DB, the analysis result (including the access count of the matched customer) is sent to the retail store terminal 20.

Further, the retail store customer information DB 40 has a control section 41, a transmitting / receiving section 42, and a customer information recording section 43. The control unit 41 controls each part in the retail store customer information DB 40. The transmission / reception unit 42 transmits / receives data and the like (including identification information and customer information).

In the customer information recording section 43, personal information (hereinafter referred to as customer information) of the customer (information viewer) is recorded.
The customer information includes information corresponding to the identification information and the number of times each customer (user terminal 10) has accessed the retail store terminal 20 (access count).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The operation of the information providing system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 and along FIG. In addition, below,
The network 100 is assumed to be the Internet.

First, the information viewer uses the user terminal 10 to access the information providing homepage established by the retail store terminal 20 on the network 100 (step C1).

Next, the retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
Access by the user terminal 10, the identification information received from the user terminal 10 is transmitted to the retail store customer information DB 40, and the information visitor is identified based on the identification information.
Request 0 (step C2).

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
The identification information received from 0 is analyzed, and it is determined whether the customer information matching the identification information is recorded in the customer information recording unit 43. When it is determined that the customer information that matches the identification information is recorded in the customer information recording unit 43, the retailer customer information DB 40 displays an answer indicating whether or not the matched customer information is recorded, The matched customer information (including the access number information) and the matched customer information are transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step C3).

The retail store terminal 20 has a retail store customer information DB 4
Based on the answer received from 0, it is judged whether the information viewer (user terminal 10) can be identified successfully (step C).
4).

When it is determined that the information viewer is not successfully identified (the customer information matching the identification information is not recorded in the retail store customer information DB 40) (step C4).
/ No), the retail store terminal 20 determines that the current access by the user terminal 10 is the first access, and recognizes that the number of past (up to the previous) access by the user terminal 10 is “0”. (Step C5). Retail store terminal 20
Requests the retail store customer information DB 40 to register, as the customer information, information related to the user terminal 10 whose number of past accesses is “0”.

If it is determined that the information viewer has been successfully identified (the customer information matching the identification information was recorded in the retail store customer information DB 40) (step C4 / Yes).
The retail store terminal 20 stores the answer together with the retail store customer information DB 4
The past (up to the previous) access count of the information viewer included in the customer information sent from 0 is confirmed, and "1" is added to the confirmed access count (step C6). The retail store terminal 20 requests the retail store customer information DB 40 to register the information related to the user terminal 10 obtained by adding “1” to the past access count as customer information.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
Based on the registration request from 0, the information related to the user terminal 10 is registered in the customer information recording unit 43 as customer information (step C7).

The retail store terminal 20 composes the provided information based on the past access count (or the access count up to the present time) and sends it to the user terminal 10 (step C).
8).

The user terminal 10 displays the provided information received from the retail store terminal 20 on the screen (step C9). This is the end of the operation of the information providing system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a processing operation for identification information and customer information by the information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, a process of identifying information and customer information by the information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of the information providing system shown in FIG. 6 is a detailed description of the operation in steps C2 to C4 of FIG.

In the present embodiment, an ID for identifying the information viewer and a password for permitting the browsing of the provided information will be used as the identification information in the following description. Note that I
The D and the password are input by the input unit 15.
The ID input by the input unit 15 is the user terminal 10
The character string may be a predetermined character string or any other character as long as it can identify the (user viewer). Similarly, the password may be a predetermined character string or may be another character string.

First, the retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
Is requested to send the ID and password (step D1).

The user terminal 10 determines whether or not it is the first time to access the retail store terminal 20 (step C1 in FIG. 5) (step D2).

When the access to the retail store terminal 20 by the user terminal 10 is not the first time (the information viewer holds the ID and password) (step D2 /
No), the information viewer inputs the ID and password using the input unit 15. The input ID and password are transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step D).
3).

The retail store terminal 20 sends the received ID and password to the retail store customer information DB 40, and confirms the received ID and password by the retail store customer information DB.
40 requests (step D4).

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
When the ID and password are received from 0, the customer information recording unit 43 is referred to, and the ID received from the retail store terminal 20 is received.
Then, it is determined whether or not the ID and password matching the password and the password are included in the customer information recorded in the customer information recording unit 43. The retail store customer information DB 40 stores the reference result (whether or not the matching ID and password are recorded) in the customer information recording unit 43.
Answer 0. When the ID and password that match the received ID and password are recorded, the retail store customer information DB 40 stores information about the customer corresponding to the matched ID and password (the number of accesses from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20). ) Is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step D5).

Based on the response transmitted from the retail store customer information DB 40, the success or failure of identification of the accessed information viewer (whether the ID and password transmitted from the user terminal 10 are recorded in the customer information recording unit 43). (Step D6).

When it is determined that the ID and password transmitted from the user terminal 10 are recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (step D6 / Yes), the retail store terminal 2
0 specifies the information viewer who has accessed the retail store terminal 20, and ends the identification of the information viewer.

When it is determined that the ID and password transmitted from the user terminal 10 are not recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (step D6 / No), the retail store terminal 20 sends the ID transmitted by the user terminal 10. ID whose password and password are recorded in the customer information recording section 43
And that the password did not match, the user terminal 1
0 is notified (step D7), and the user terminal 10 is again requested to input the ID and password (step D1).

When the user terminal 10 is accessing the retail store terminal 20 for the first time (the information viewer does not hold the ID and password) (step D2 / Ye).
s), the user terminal 10 uses the registration ID to newly register the ID and password in the customer information recording unit 43.
And the password are input, and the input ID and password are transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step D8).

When the retail store terminal 20 receives the registration ID and password from the user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20 transmits the received registration ID and password to the retail store customer information DB 40, and also receives the received registration ID and password as customer information. The retailer customer information DB 40 is requested to record in the recording unit 43 (step D9).

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
When the registration ID, the registration password, and the ID and password registration request are received from 0, the received I
The D and password are registered in the customer information recording section 43.
After registering the ID and password, the retail store customer information DB 40 notifies the retail store terminal 20 of the completion of registration (step D10).

The retail store terminal 20 has a retail store customer information DB 4
When receiving the notification of registration completion from 0, the received notification of registration completion is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step D11).

Upon receiving the registration completion notification from the retail store terminal 20, the user terminal 10 displays on the display unit 14 that the registration of the ID and password of the browse requester has been completed (step D12).

(Third Embodiment) Unless otherwise specified, the configuration and operation of the third embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of an information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the information providing system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 7.

The information providing system includes a user terminal 10 and
It has a retail store terminal 20, a retail store customer information DB 40, and a network 100. The user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20, and the retail store customer information DB 40 are interconnected via the network 100.

The information viewer uses the user terminal (information processing device such as a personal computer) 10 to connect the retail store terminal 20 which provides information desired to be viewed to the network 1
Access via 00. The user terminal 10 accesses the provision information provided by the retail store terminal 20 on the network and displays the corresponding provision information.

Further, the user terminal 10 includes a control unit 11 and
The transmitter / receiver 12 and the display 14 are included. Control unit 11
Controls each part of the user terminal 10. The transmission / reception unit 12 is connected to the network 100, and transmits / receives data and the like (including provision information and identification information necessary for browsing the provision information). The display unit 14 displays predetermined information (including provision information).

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store (retail store terminal 2
Information (offer information) such as products related to 0 manager is provided on the network 100. When receiving the access from the user terminal 10 and receiving the identification information, the retail store terminal 20 transmits the received identification information to the retail store customer information DB 40, and identifies the information viewer based on the identification information. Request to the information DB 40. The retail store terminal 20 provides the user (information browser) of the user terminal 10 with the provided information according to the number of accesses by the information browser (user terminal 10) identified by the retail store customer information DB 40.

Further, the retail store terminal 20 includes a control unit 21 and
Transmission / reception unit 22, information recording unit 23, and information creation unit 24
And. The control unit 21 controls each part of the retail store terminal 20. The transmission / reception unit 22 uses the network 10
It is connected to 0 and sends and receives data and the like (including provision information and identification information). The information recording unit 23 is a part that records the provided information. The information creation unit 24 is a part that creates the provided information.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
The identification information is received from 0, and it is analyzed whether or not the customer information corresponding to the received identification information is stored in the own DB. When the received identification information matches the customer information stored in the own DB, the retail store customer information DB 40 sends the analysis result (including the number of matched customer accesses) to the retail store terminal 20.

Further, the retail store customer information DB 40 has a control section 41, a transmission / reception section 42, and a customer information recording section 43. The control unit 41 controls each part in the retail store customer information DB 40. The transmission / reception unit 42 transmits / receives data and the like (including identification information and customer information).

Customer information is recorded in the customer information recording section 43. The customer information includes information corresponding to the identification information and the number of times each customer (user terminal 10) has accessed the retail store terminal 20 (access count).

In this embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, it is assumed that the provision information is provided from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20 by the operation shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processing operation for identification information and customer information by the information providing system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, a process of identifying information and customer information by the information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The operation of the information providing system shown in FIG. 8 is a detailed description of the operation in steps C2 to C4 of FIG.

Generally, a unique IP address is assigned to each terminal (including the user terminal 10), and the terminal can be specified based on the IP address.
In the present embodiment, the description will be given below with the IP address assigned to the user terminal 10 as the identification information.

When the user terminal 10 accesses the retail store terminal 20, the IP address of the user terminal 10 is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step E1).

When the retail store terminal 20 receives the IP address of the user terminal 10 simultaneously with the access from the user terminal 10, the retail store customer information is determined from the received IP address so as to determine whether or not there was a previous access. DB
40 is requested (step E2). In addition, retail store terminal 2
0 can know the IP address of the user terminal 10 when accessed from the user terminal 10.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
When the IP address is received from 0, the customer information recording unit 43
It is determined whether the customer information recorded in the customer information recording unit 43 includes an IP address that matches the IP address received from the retail store terminal 20 with reference to. The retail store customer information DB 40 responds to the retail store terminal 20 with the reference result in the customer information recording unit 43 (whether the matching IP address was recorded). When the IP address that matches the received IP address is recorded, the retail store customer information DB 40 stores the information (the number of accesses from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20) related to the customer corresponding to the matched IP address, It is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step E3).

The retail store terminal 20 uses the retail store customer information DB 4
Based on the response transmitted from 0, it is determined whether the identification of the accessed information viewer is successful (whether the IP address transmitted from the user terminal 10 is recorded in the customer information recording unit 43) (step E4). ).

When it is determined that the IP address transmitted from the user terminal 10 is recorded in the customer information recording unit 43 (it is the IP address which the retail store terminal 20 knows) (step E4 / Yes), Retail store terminal 20
Identifies the user terminal 10 that has accessed its own terminal, and ends the identification of the user terminal 10.

When it is determined that the IP address transmitted from the user terminal 10 is not recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (the IP address is not known by the retail store terminal 20) (step E4 / No). , Retail store terminal 2
0 determines that the access from the user terminal 10 is the first time, so that the retail store customer information DB is set so that the IP address of the user terminal 10 is newly registered in the customer information recording unit 43.
Ask 40.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
When the registration request for the IP address of the user terminal 10 is received from 0, the IP address of the user terminal 10 is registered in the customer information recording unit 43. After registering the IP address, the retail store customer information DB 40 notifies the retail store terminal 20 of the completion of the registration (step E5).

The retail store terminal 20 uses the retail store customer information DB 4
When the registration completion notification is received from 0, the received registration completion notification is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step E6).

When the user terminal 10 receives the notification of the completion of registration from the retail store terminal 20, the user terminal 10 displays on the display unit 14 that the registration of the IP address of its own terminal is completed (step E7).

(Fourth Embodiment) Unless otherwise specified, the configuration and operation of the fourth embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the structure of an information providing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The configuration and operation of the information providing system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG.

The information providing system includes a user terminal 10 and
It has a retail store terminal 20, a retail store customer information DB 40, and a network 100. The user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20, and the retail store customer information DB 40 are interconnected via the network 100.

The information viewer uses the user terminal 10 to
The retail store terminal 20 providing the information desired to be browsed is accessed via the network 100. User terminal 10
Is an information processing device such as a personal computer.
In the user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20 accesses the provision information on the network and displays the corresponding provision information.

The user terminal 10 includes a control unit 11 and
Transmission / reception unit 12, Cookie recording unit 13, and display unit 1
4 and. The control unit 11 controls each part of the user terminal 10. The transmitting / receiving unit 12 is the network 1
00, and sends and receives data and the like (including the provision information and the identification information necessary for browsing the provision information). The cookie recording unit 13 is a unit that records a cookie. The display unit 14 displays predetermined information (including provision information).

The Cookie recorded in the Cookie recording unit 13 is information corresponding to the ID for identifying the user terminal 10 (information viewer) and the password for permitting the browsing of the provided information. It is included.

The retail store terminal 20 is a retail store (retail store terminal 2
Information (offer information) such as products related to 0 manager is provided on the network 100. When receiving the access from the user terminal 10 and receiving the identification information, the retail store terminal 20 transmits the received identification information to the retail store customer information DB 40, and identifies the information viewer based on the identification information. Request to the information DB 40. The retail store terminal 20 provides the user (information browser) of the user terminal 10 with the provided information according to the number of accesses by the information browser (user terminal 10) identified by the retail store customer information DB 40.

Further, the retail store terminal 20 includes a control unit 21,
Transmission / reception unit 22, information recording unit 23, and information creation unit 24
And. The control unit 21 controls each part of the retail store terminal 20. The transmission / reception unit 22 uses the network 10
It is connected to 0 and sends and receives data and the like (including provision information and identification information). The information recording unit 23 is a part that records the provided information. The information creation unit 24 is a part that creates the provided information.

The retail store customer information DB 40 is stored in the retail store terminal 2
The identification information is received from 0, and it is analyzed whether or not the customer information corresponding to the received identification information is stored in the own DB. When the received identification information matches the customer information stored in the own DB, the retail store customer information DB 40 sends the analysis result (including the number of matched customer accesses) to the retail store terminal 20.

Further, the retail store customer information DB 40 has a control section 41, a transmission / reception section 42, a customer information recording section 43, and a Co
The cookie confirmation unit 44 and the cookie creation unit 45 are included. The control unit 41 controls each part in the retail store customer information DB 40. The transmission / reception unit 42 transmits / receives data and the like (including identification information).

Customer information is recorded in the customer information recording section 43. The customer information includes information corresponding to the identification information and the number of times each customer (user terminal 10) has accessed the retail store terminal 20 (access count).

[0129] The cookie confirming unit 44 is the retail store terminal 2
It is determined whether or not the Cookie transmitted from 0 has been tampered with. The cookie confirmation unit 44 also performs an error check (for example, checksum) to determine whether or not the transmitted Cookie has data loss due to an accident on the communication path.

The cookie creating section 45 uses the user terminal 1
0 and the retailer terminal 20 request creation of a new cookie, a new cookie is created.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the provision information is provided from the user terminal 10 to the retail store terminal 20 by the operation shown in FIG. 5, as in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a processing operation for identification information and customer information by the information providing system in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, referring to FIG.
A process for identifying information and customer information by the information providing system according to the present embodiment will be described along with 0.
The operation of the information providing system shown in FIG. 10 is a detailed description of the operation in steps C2 to C4 of FIG.

In this embodiment, the cookie recording unit 13
The cookie recorded in contains information corresponding to the ID and password of the browse requester. Hereinafter, the information corresponding to the above ID and password is used as identification information,
Proceed with the explanation.

First, the retail store terminal 20 is the user terminal 10
Request to send a Cookie (step F
1).

The user terminal 10 operates from the retail store terminal 20 to C
When receiving the request to send the cookie, the own terminal (Cookie
It is determined whether or not Cookie is recorded in the IE recording unit 13) (step F2).

When it is determined that the cookie is not recorded in the user terminal 10 (step F2 / No), the user terminal 10 requests the retail store terminal 20 to create a new cookie (step F7).

When it is determined that the cookie is recorded in the user terminal 10 (step F2 / Yes), the user terminal 10 transmits the cookie including the access information (information corresponding to the ID and the password) to the retail store terminal 20. (Step F3).

[0138] The retail store terminal 20 receives from the user terminal 10 C
Upon receiving the cookie, the received cookie is transmitted to the retail store customer information DB 40, and the received cookie is received.
Confirm the retail store customer information D to see if e is genuine.
Request B40 (step F4).

The retail store customer information DB 40 is the retail store terminal 20.
When receiving the cookie and the confirmation request of the cookie from the cookie, the cookie confirming unit 44 receives the received cookie.
Analyze the kie to see if the cookie is legitimate. In addition, the cookie confirmation unit 44
It is determined whether or not the oki properly includes access information (information corresponding to the information viewer's ID and password). That is, the I included in the received Cookie
It is determined whether the information corresponding to D and the password matches the information corresponding to the ID and the password included in the customer information recorded in the customer information recording unit 43. The retail store customer information DB 40 transmits the cookie analysis result (including access information) to the retail store terminal 20. Also, C
If information corresponding to the ID and password that matches the information corresponding to the ID and password included in the cookie is recorded in the customer information recording unit 43, the retail store customer information DB 40 stores the information corresponding to the matched ID and password. Corresponding customer information (including the number of accesses to the retail store terminal 20 by the user terminal 10) is also transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step F5).

The retail store terminal 20 uses the retail store customer information DB 4
Based on the analysis result transmitted from 0, whether or not the access information is correctly included in the cookie (Cookie
It is determined whether or not the access information included in e has been recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (step F6).

When it is determined that the information corresponding to the ID and password included in the cookie has been recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (step F6 / Yes), the retail store terminal 20 accesses the retail store terminal 20. The user terminal 10 is specified, and the identification of the user terminal 10 ends.

If it is determined that the information corresponding to the ID and password included in the cookie has not been recorded in the customer information recording section 43 (step F6 / No),
Alternatively, when the user terminal 10 requests the retail store terminal 20 to create a new Cookie (step F7), the retail store terminal 20 creates a new Cookie (information corresponding to an ID and a password) so that the retail store stores the new Cookie. A request is made to the customer information DB 40 (step F8).

The retail store customer information DB 40 is the retail store terminal 20.
When you receive a Cookie creation request from Cookie,
The e creating unit 45 creates a new cookie (including information corresponding to the ID and password). The retail store customer information DB 40 is created by the Cookie after the Cookie is created.
e is transmitted to the retail store terminal 20 (step F9).

The retail store terminal 20 has a retail store customer information DB 4
When the newly created Cookie is received from 0, the received Cookie is transmitted to the user terminal 10 (step F10).

The user terminal 10 moves from the retail store terminal 20 to Co
Upon receiving the cookie, the cookie recording unit 13 records the received cookie (step F11).

In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, the retail store customer information terminal 30 or the retail store customer information D
Although B40 is described on the assumption that it is in a terminal space different from the retail store terminal 20, the retail store customer information terminal 30 and the retail store customer information DB 40 are included in the retail store terminal 20. Good. That is, the configuration of the retail store terminal 20 and the retail store customer information terminal 30 (or the retail store customer information DB 4) are provided to a server that provides one piece of information (information providing server).
0) may be provided.

Also, the user terminal 10 is the network 1
Retail store terminal 20, retail store customer information terminal 3 through 00
0, or a process of transmitting / receiving data to / from the retail store customer information DB 40, a process of recording a cookie, a process of displaying information, and a process of inputting information.

Further, the retail store terminal 20 is the network 1
User terminal 10 and retail store customer information terminal 3 through 00
0, or a process of transmitting / receiving data to / from the retail store customer information DB 40, a process of creating and recording information to be provided to the user terminal 10, and an analysis of the information transmitted from the user terminal 10, the retail store customer information terminal 30. Alternatively, a process of requesting the retail store customer information DB 40, a process of transmitting the provided information to the user terminal 10 based on the analysis result of the information, and a request of information creation to the retail store customer information terminal 30 or the retail store customer information DB 40 And processing.

Further, the retail store customer information terminal 30 and the retail store customer information DB 40 are requested by the retail store terminal 20 to perform processing for transmitting / receiving data to / from the user terminal 10 or the retail store terminal 20 via the network 100. A process of analyzing the information and transmitting the analysis result to the retail store terminal 20, a process of rewriting the information transmitted from the retail store terminal 20, and a process of newly creating information based on a request from the retail store terminal 20. , Processing for recording customer information.

The above processing is executed by a computer program stored in the user terminal 10, the retail store terminal 20, the retail store customer information terminal 30, and the retail store customer information DB 40. The above program is an optical disc or a magnetic disc. It may be recorded in the recording medium and loaded from the recording medium, or may be loaded from an external device connected via a predetermined network.

The above embodiment is an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. It becomes possible to carry out.

[0152]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The information providing server provides information to the user terminal based on the number of times of access from the user terminal, so that the user terminal (information viewer) who has accessed the information providing server a predetermined number of times or more has value added information. It is possible to obtain (for example, deeper information on a familiar store).

The information providing server also provides information to the user terminal based on the number of times the user terminal has accessed. Therefore, it is possible to increase the number of times the user terminal accesses the information providing server.

Further, the information providing server analyzes the cookie recorded in the user terminal, refers to the information on the number of times the user terminal has accessed the information providing server, and provides the information to the user terminal based on the number of times of access. To do. Therefore, the information providing server provides the user terminal (information viewer) with a simple configuration that does not require a database for storing personal information (information viewer's name, telephone number, email address, etc.) of the user terminal (information viewer). It becomes possible to provide information effectively.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information providing system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of operations performed by the information providing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 user terminals 11, 21, 31, 41 Control unit 12, 22, 32, 42 Transmitter / receiver 13 Cookie recorder 14 Display 15 Input section 20 retail store terminals 23 Information Recording Section 24 Information creation department 30 Retail Customer Information Terminal 33,44 Cookie confirmation section 34, 45 Cookie creation section 40 Retail Customer Information DB 43 Customer Information Recording Department 100 networks

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An information providing server connected to a user terminal via a predetermined network, the information being recorded in the user terminal, until the previous access from the user terminal to the own server. The access number information, which is information on the number of times of access to the server, is referred to when the access number information receiving unit receives the access number information from the user terminal to the server, and the access number information received by the access number information receiving unit is referred to. The access number detecting means for detecting the number of times of access, the provision information creating means for creating the provision information based on the access number detected by the access number detecting means, and the provision information created by the provision information creating means An information providing server, comprising: additional information transmitting means for transmitting to a user terminal. 2. The access number information is included in Cookie.
Information provision server described. 3. An access number information rewriting unit for rewriting the access number information received by the access number information receiving unit, and a rewriting information transmitting unit for transmitting the access number information rewritten by the access number information rewriting unit to the user terminal. The information providing server according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. The information providing server according to claim 3, wherein the access number rewriting unit adds 1 to the access number in the received access number information. 5. When the user terminal requests to newly create the access number information, or when the access number is not detected by the access number detecting means, the access number information is newly created. 5. The access number information creating means for performing, and the creation information transmitting means for sending the access number information newly created by the access number information creating means to the user terminal. Or 1
The information providing server described in the section. 6. A user terminal, an information providing server connected to the user terminal via a predetermined network,
An information providing method using the, wherein the user terminal, the access number information recording step of recording access number information is information of the number of times the information providing server is accessed, at the time of access to the information providing server, The access number information recorded in the access number information recording step is
An access number information transmitting step of transmitting the access number information to the information providing server, wherein the information providing server receives the access number information transmitted by the access number information transmitting step, and the access number An access number detecting step of detecting the number of times of access by referring to the access number information received in the information receiving step; and a provision information creating step of creating provision information based on the access number detected in the access number detecting step. And a provision information transmitting step of transmitting the provision information created by the provision information creating step to the user terminal, the information providing method. 7. The access number information is included in Cookie.
How to provide the described information. 8. The information providing server transmits an access number information rewriting step of rewriting the access number information received in the access number information receiving step, and transmits the access number information rewritten in the access number information rewriting step to the user terminal. The information providing method according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: 9. The information providing method according to claim 8, wherein the access number rewriting step adds one to the access number in the received access number information. 10. The information providing server, when the user terminal is requested to newly create the access number information, or when the access number is not detected by the access number detecting step, the access is performed. An access number information creating step of newly creating the number information, and a creation information transmitting step of sending the access number information newly created by the access number information creating step to the user terminal. Any one of items 6 to 9
Information provision method described in section. 11. A computer-readable program for causing a user terminal and an information providing server connected to the user terminal via a predetermined network to execute processing, the user terminal comprising: An access number information recording process for recording access number information which is information on the number of times the information providing server is accessed, and access number information recorded by the access number information recording process when accessing the information providing server,
An access number information receiving process for executing the access number information transmitting process for transmitting to the information providing server, the information providing server receiving the access number information transmitted by the access number information transmitting process, and the access number. An access number detection process for detecting the number of times of access by referring to the access number information received by the information reception process, and a provided information creation process for creating provided information based on the access number detected by the access number detection process. A computer-readable program for executing the additional information transmitting process of transmitting the additional information created by the additional information creating process to the user terminal. 12. The access number information is included in Cookie.
The computer-readable program according to 1. 13. The access number information rewriting process for rewriting the access number information received by the access number information receiving process, and the access number information rewritten by the access number information rewriting process for transmitting to the user terminal to the information providing server. The computer-readable program according to claim 11 or 12, for causing the rewriting information transmission process to be performed. 14. The computer-readable program according to claim 13, wherein the access number rewriting process adds 1 to the access number in the received access number information. 15. When the information providing server is requested by the user terminal to newly create the access count information, or when the access count is not detected by the access count detection processing, the access is performed. 12. An access number information creating process for newly creating the number information, and a created information transmitting process for sending the access number information newly created by the access number information creating process to the user terminal. 15. The computer-readable program according to any one of 1 to 14.