JP2003153239A - Associated information distribution method, associated information providing method, identification information providing method, associated information distribution system, associated information providing apparatus, identification information providing apparatus, communication terminal, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To distribute associated information to viewers in accordance with providing contents information varied with progress of reproduction without increasing a load of contents information imposed on a transmitter side. SOLUTION: When a broadcast station 11 transmits contents information including information denoting contents and information for acquiring associated information decided for the contents according to a broadcast schedule, a mobile communication terminal 12A receives the contents information and reproduces the information. When a user requests distribution of the associated information during the reproduction, the mobile communication terminal uses the information for acquiring the associated information to transmit an associated information acquisition request denoting an occurrence time of the request. A gate server 14 attaches information denoting a state o a subscriber possessing the mobile communication terminal to the associated information acquisition request and an information server 16 receives the resulting request. The information server 16 returns the associated information on the basis of the occurrence time and the state to the mobile communication terminal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for delivering relevant information corresponding to received / played contents to viewers of the contents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a system for providing information to viewers by fusing broadcast media and communication media has been put into practical use. For example, a digital terrestrial broadcasting station broadcasts a file in which a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is associated with content whose provided information changes with the progress of reproduction such as video, and the viewer side device receives the file. Then, a system has been put into practical use in which the content is played back and the information related to the content is delivered using the URL associated with the content. According to such a system, it is possible to provide the viewer with information related to the content in which the viewer is interested.

[0003]

By the way, it is not possible for a broadcasting station to predict in advance which scene each viewer will be interested in when viewing a content whose provided information changes with the progress of reproduction such as video. It is impossible. For example, one viewer may be interested in the tourist spots featured in the beginning of the content and another viewer may be interested in the campaign featured in the last portion of the content. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for one viewer to be interested in multiple scenes within one content.

Originally, it is desirable that the viewer can provide the related information according to the scene in which he is interested, but in the above-mentioned conventional system, the link information such as the URL is associated with the content. Since it is converted into a file, the related information that the viewer can obtain is fixedly determined for the content. That is, in the conventional system, the viewer can only select whether or not to acquire the related information for each content.

Of course, it is conceivable that the format of the file to be broadcast is changed so that the link information is switched for each scene. It is necessary to associate link information with each scene. This means that at least the scene that provides the related information is extracted and the method of providing the related information is determined before filing, and the burden on the sender of the content information becomes extremely large. Note that such a problem occurs even if the length of the content is shortened so that one content includes only one scene.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides related information corresponding to content providing information whose content changes as playback progresses without increasing the burden on the content information transmitting side. Related information distribution method that can be distributed to viewers, related information provision method,
An object is to provide an identification information providing method, a related information distribution system, a related information providing device, an identification information providing device, a communication terminal, a program, and a recording medium.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides acquisition information for acquiring information related to contents whose provided information changes according to the progress of reproduction and the contents. A content transmission process in which the transmission device transmits content information including information indicating according to a predetermined schedule, and a communication terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the transmission device and capable of communicating with the related information providing device, The reproduction process of receiving the content information and starting reproduction of the content represented by the content information, and the communication terminal requested to deliver related information by the user of the communication terminal during the reproduction of the content, A request transmission step of transmitting an acquisition request for distribution to the related information providing apparatus using the acquisition information, and the related information. Providing apparatus receives the acquisition request,
A related information distribution method including a request receiving process for specifying when the distribution is requested by the user, and a distribution process for the related information providing apparatus to transmit the related information according to the time to the communication terminal. .

Also, the present invention is a communication for receiving content information transmitted by a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule and reproducing content represented by the information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of reproduction. A related information providing method in which a related information providing apparatus distributes related information distributed in relation to the content to a terminal, wherein a user of the communication terminal requests distribution of the related information during reproduction of the content. A receiving step of receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal, a time specifying step of specifying when the distribution is requested by the user, and a transmitting step of transmitting relevant information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal And a related information providing method including:

Further, the present invention represents the acquisition information for acquiring the identification information for receiving the distribution of the related information related to the content whose provision information changes according to the progress of the reproduction from the provision device, and the content. A method for providing identification information, in which a specific apparatus transmits the identification information to a communication terminal that receives content information transmitted by a transmitting apparatus according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces the content, A receiving step of receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal using the acquisition information by a user of the communication terminal requesting distribution of related information during reproduction of content, and the distribution by the user. And a transmission process for transmitting identification information for obtaining relevant information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal. Providing identification information providing method with and.

The present invention also provides content information including acquisition information for acquiring related information distributed in association with content whose provision information changes according to the progress of reproduction, and information representing the content. A transmitting device that transmits according to a predetermined schedule, and a content that can receive the information transmitted by the transmitting device and can communicate with a communication partner, receive the content information, and display the content represented by the content information. A communication terminal which reproduces and transmits an acquisition request requesting the distribution when the user requests distribution of the related information during the reproduction, and the user when the acquisition request is received. Related information distribution having an information providing device that specifies the time when the distribution is requested by the To provide a stem.

Further, the present invention is a communication for receiving content information transmitted by a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule and reproducing the content represented by the information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of reproduction. A related information providing device that distributes related information to a terminal in relation to the content, and is transmitted from the communication terminal when a user of the communication terminal requests distribution of the related information during reproduction of the content. A related information providing apparatus having a receiving means for receiving a request, a time specifying means for specifying a time when the distribution is requested by the user, and a transmitting means for transmitting related information according to the time to the communication terminal. provide.

Further, the present invention represents the acquisition information for acquiring the identification information for receiving the distribution of the related information related to the content whose provision information changes according to the progress of reproduction from the provision device, and the content. An identification information providing apparatus that transmits the identification information to a communication terminal that receives content information that is information including information and that is transmitted by a transmission apparatus according to a predetermined schedule and that reproduces the content. Receiving means for receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal by using the acquisition information when the user of the communication terminal requests distribution of related information during reproduction, and the distribution is requested by the user. And a transmission means for transmitting identification information for acquiring relevant information according to the time to the communication terminal. Providing identification information providing apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, the acquisition information for acquiring the related information distributed in association with the content whose provided information changes according to the progress of reproduction from the related information providing apparatus of the distribution source and the content. Content receiving means for receiving content information transmitted from a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule, and reproduction for reproducing the content represented by the content information received by the content receiving means. Means, detection means for detecting that the user has requested the distribution of the related information, and information for notifying when the detection means detects that the distribution is requested, using the acquisition information. Communication transmitting means for transmitting to the related information providing apparatus, and receiving related information according to the time transmitted from the related information providing apparatus To provide a communication terminal having a communication receiver that.

Further, the present invention is a program for realizing the above related information providing apparatus, a program for realizing the identification information providing apparatus, a program for realizing a communication terminal, and a recording medium storing each program. I will provide a.

According to the present invention, the user of the communication terminal that has received the content information can reproduce the related information during the reproduction of the content represented by the content information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of the reproduction. When the request is made, the related information corresponding to the time when the request is made is distributed to the communication terminal.

The present invention also provides a content transmission process in which a transmitting device transmits content information including acquisition information for acquiring information related to content and information representing the content, and the content transmitting process. A communication terminal capable of receiving the information and communicating with the related information providing device, receiving the content information and starting the reproduction of the content represented by the content information; Request that the communication terminal requested to deliver related information by the user of the communication terminal transmits an acquisition request for requesting the distribution and acquisition request additional information to the related information providing apparatus using the acquisition information. A transmission process, and a distribution process in which the related information providing device transmits related information according to the acquisition request additional information to the communication terminal. To provide the communication information delivery method. In this related information distribution method, when the user of the communication terminal receiving the content information requests distribution of the related information during reproduction of the content represented by the content information, acquisition request additional information indicating the status of the communication terminal is acquired. Related information according to is delivered to the communication terminal.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and includes any aspect within the scope described in the claims, which is obtained by applying a well-known technique to the embodiment.

[First Embodiment] (1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information delivery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this system, a plurality of mobile communication terminals 12 reproduce contents broadcast from a broadcasting station 11, and related information associated with the contents is transferred to the mobile packet communication network 13 and the gateway server 1.
4 and the Internet 15 through the WWW (World Wi
de Web) is acquired from the information server 16 that constitutes the de Web). In the figure, different reference numerals (12A, 12B) are attached to the mobile communication terminals, but when it is not necessary to identify the mobile communication terminals in the description of the present embodiment, they are referred to as mobile communication terminals 12. .

(1-1) Broadcasting Station 11 The broadcasting station 11 broadcasts content (for example, moving images) whose provided information changes with the progress of reproduction by digital terrestrial broadcasting. Like the well-known digital terrestrial broadcasting station, this broadcasting station 11 has a configuration for transmitting content information including information representing content as essential and related information acquisition information as option according to a predetermined broadcasting schedule. I have it. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the related information acquisition information is not a URL indicating the storage location of the related information related to the content, but a CGI (Common Gateway Interfac) that provides the related information.
e) The URL that identifies the program, which is the information server 1
It contains 6 domain names "www.aaa.com". Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the content information is configured such that the related information acquisition information is repeated in a predetermined cycle.

Further, the broadcasting station 11 is constructed so as to be able to communicate with the information server 16 via the public network or a dedicated line and the Internet 15, and every time a new broadcasting schedule is determined,
Broadcast schedule information indicating this new broadcast schedule is sent to the information server 1
Send to 6. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the broadcast schedule information includes information indicating start time and end time for each content. The broadcast schedule information is transmitted according to a communication protocol (eg, FTP (File Transfer Protocol)) corresponding to a related table management program described later.

(1-2) Mobile Communication Terminal 12 The mobile communication terminal 12 is a terminal that can receive the wireless packet communication service provided by the mobile packet communication network 13, and has, for example, the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, the nonvolatile memory 121 is, for example, a ROM (Read Onl
y Memory) and EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Pr)
ogrammable ROM) and the like, and stores a Web browser program and an operating system for using the WWW. This Web browser program is the mobile communication terminal 1 that executes the program.
2 sends a request including the URL to the HTTP (Hy
perText Transfer Protocol), receive a response to the request according to HTTP,
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Langua
ge), and a program written to have a function of providing a user interface according to the interpretation result and a function of receiving and reproducing broadcast data. The mobile communication terminal 12 has a function of updating these software by downloading them from the network.

The CPU 122 is a RAM (Random Access).
A volatile memory 123 such as a memory) can be used as a work area, and when a main power source (not shown) is turned on, a clock signal is supplied from an oscillator (not shown) and operates at a speed corresponding to the frequency of the clock signal. And non-volatile memory 1
The operating system is read from 21 and executed. The operation unit 124 includes operators such as cursor buttons,
Information according to the operation content of the operator is supplied to the CPU 122 that is executing the operating system. Display 12
5 has a display surface for displaying an image, receives information from the CPU 122 executing the operating system,
The image represented by the information is displayed on the display surface. The communication unit 126 is a CPU that is executing an operating system.
The packet including the information supplied from 122 is assembled and transmitted to the mobile packet communication network 13, and the packet transmitted from the mobile packet communication network 13 is decomposed and the information included in the packet is supplied to the CPU 122. . The clock unit 127 measures the current time, includes the above-mentioned oscillator, measures the accurate current time according to the same principle as the radio clock, and receives a predetermined inquiry from the CPU 122 executing the operating system, Information indicating the current time is supplied to the CPU 122. The broadcast receiving unit 128 is controlled by the CPU 122 in a state where the Web browser program is executed.

The CPU 122, which is executing the operating system, reads out the Web browser program from the non-volatile memory 121 and executes it when predetermined information is supplied from the operation unit 124. Hereinafter, the CPU 122 in this state, that is, the state in which the operating system and the web browser program are executed is referred to as a “web browser”.

(1-2-1) Web Browser As shown in FIG. 5, the Web browser waits for the occurrence of a specific event and, when the specific event occurs, performs the processing according to the event. Specifically, the Web browser starts the broadcast receiving / reproducing process when the information requesting the start of the broadcast receiving / reproducing process is supplied from the operating unit 124 (steps SA1 and SA2), and the broadcast receiving / reproducing process from the operating unit 124. When the information requesting the end of the processing is supplied, the broadcast reception / reproduction processing is ended (SA3, SA4), and when the information indicating the pressing of the software button described later is supplied from the operation unit 124, the related information acquisition processing is performed. (SA5,
SA6), and when the information for changing the priority order of the content reproduction screen and the Web page display screen is supplied from the operation unit 124, the front side / rear side is switched between both screens (SA7, SA8). However, if only one of the content reproduction screen and the web page display screen exists, or if both do not exist, the priority order is not changed.

In the broadcast receiving / reproducing process, as shown in FIG. 6, the Web browser first initializes the operation screen for the user's operation (SB1). As a result, the operation screen becomes transparent on the entire surface. Next, the Web browser repeats the process of activating the broadcast receiving unit 128 and reproducing the content represented by the information when the content information is supplied from the broadcast receiving unit 128 (SB2, SB3: YES). , SB4 to SB6).

By the way, at the start of the broadcast reception / reproduction process, the content reproduction screen is displayed in the foreground. This reproduction screen is a screen obtained by overlapping the operation screen and the screen of the moving image included in the content. The operation screen is always displayed in front of the screen of the moving image, and when the information supplied from the broadcast receiving unit 128 includes the related information acquisition information, the related information acquisition information corresponds to the operation information screen. The attached semi-transparent software button is changed so that it can be visually recognized by the user (SB4: YES, SB5).
When the content information is no longer supplied from the broadcast receiving unit 128, the Web browser repeats the initialization of the operation screen until the supply is restarted (SB3: NO,
SB1, SB2).

In the related information acquisition process, that is, the related information acquisition process A shown in FIG. 7, the Web browser
Time information is acquired from the clock unit 127 (SC1), a related information acquisition request is generated based on the specific information including the time information and the related information acquisition information associated with the software button, and the communication unit 126 generates the related information acquisition request. Supply to (SC
2). Further, the Web browser receives the related information supplied from the communication unit 126 in response to the related information acquisition request. If this related information is information representing a Web page,
The Web browser supplies information for displaying the Web page according to the relevant information to the foreground to the display unit 125 (SC3).

(1-3) Gateway Server 14 The gateway server 14 shown in FIG. 1 interconnects the mobile packet communication network 13 and the Internet 15, and, like the gateway server of the same type that has been put into practical use, the protocol. Conversion function and DNS (Domain Name Syste)
m) It has a server function and a proxy server function. This gateway server 14 is largely different from the practically used gateway server of the same kind, and every time a packet transferred from the mobile packet communication network 13 to the Internet 15 is received, the information addition processing shown in FIG. 8 is performed. It is a point.

In the information addition process, the gateway server 14 determines whether or not the packet transferred to the Internet 15 is a specific packet (SD1). The specific packet is a packet including the domain name of the information server 16 registered in advance in the HTTP header. Further, the gateway server 14 determines whether or not it is possible to provide information of a type registered in advance (information required by the information server 16) for a specific packet transferred to the Internet 15 (SD2).

This determination is made on the basis of a database (not shown) which stores the personal information of the subscribers of the mobile packet communication network 13. A configuration example of the personal information table T1 stored in this database is conceptually shown in FIG. As shown in this figure, the personal information table T1
Includes, for example, the address (for example, telephone number) of the mobile communication terminal 12 used by the subscriber, the current rough position of the mobile communication terminal 12, the subscriber's name, address, gender, and date of birth. And information indicating whether or not the personal attribute information of the subscriber can be provided to a third party are stored in association with the address. Of these pieces of information, the information indicating the current rough position is updated at any time based on the contents of the home memory (not shown) of the mobile packet communication network 12. Whether or not the personal information can be provided to a third party is determined in advance between the user of the mobile communication terminal 12 and the operator of the mobile packet communication network 12. Further, in the present embodiment, the types of information registered in advance in the gateway server 14 are limited to those that can be acquired based on the personal information table T1.

When the gateway server 14 determines that it is possible to provide information of the type registered in advance for the specific packet, the mobile communication terminal 1 having the address with the source address of the packet as a key.
The personal information of the subscriber who owns the personal information table T1
The information of the type is obtained based on the extracted personal information, and is added to the packet as specific information (SD2: YES, SD3). On the other hand, when it is determined that the service cannot be provided, the gateway server 14 does not add information (SD2: NO).

(1-4) Information Server 16 The information server 16 shown in FIG. 1 is a computer system connected to the Internet 15 and has the configuration shown in FIG. 10, for example. In FIG. 10, a boot program is stored in the ROM 161, and when power (not shown) is supplied, the CPU 162 uses the RAM 163 as a work area and executes the boot program. The CPU 162 that has executed the boot program is a nonvolatile memory 1 such as a hard disk that stores various software and related information.
It reads the operating system from 64 and executes it. CPU running the operating system
162 is a function for obtaining an accurate current time (for example, NT
In addition to having a P (Network Time Protocol) client function, it has a function of executing the related table management program and the Web server program stored in the nonvolatile memory 164. The communication unit 165 also receives a packet from the Internet 15 and supplies the information included in the packet to the CPU 162, and at the same time, the CP
The information supplied from U162 is packetized and transmitted to the Internet 15.

As a matter of course, before executing the program, the program needs to be installed in the information server 16. CRT (Cath
ode Ray Tube) or a liquid crystal display or the like, the CPU 162 executing the operating system according to operation data supplied from an operation unit 168 such as a keyboard or a pointing device by an operator who visually recognizes an image displayed by the operator. Removable storage device 16
Control 6

The removable storage device 166 is a CD (Comp
act Disc) -a device such as a ROM drive or a DVD-ROM drive, which is a CD-RO under the control of the CPU 162.
The information recorded on a removable recording medium such as an M or a DVD-ROM is read and supplied to the CPU 162. When the Web server program and the related table management program are installed, the recording medium recording these programs is set in the removable storage device 166 and the CP running the operating system is executed.
It is read by the removable storage device 166 under the control of U162, and written in the nonvolatile memory 164 by the CPU 162. As a result, the Web server program and the related table management program are ready to be executed.

(1-4-1) CPU 162 executing management server related table management program
(Hereinafter referred to as a management server) is a broadcast schedule table T2.
The update processing and the related frame association processing are performed in parallel.
The broadcast schedule table T2 is, as illustrated in FIG.
It is a table which stores the start time and end time of broadcasting for each content. In this update process of the broadcast schedule table T2, the management server is the communication unit 1 as shown in FIG.
It waits until information according to the communication protocol corresponding to the related table management program, that is, broadcast schedule information is supplied from 65 (SE1: NO). Upon receiving the supply of the broadcast schedule information, the management server additionally stores the information in the broadcast schedule table T2 (SE1: YES, SE2) and waits again for the supply of the broadcast schedule information.

In the process of associating the related frames, the management server updates the related table T3. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the association table T3 is a table that stores parameters that identify associated information in association with combinations of association frames and conditions. The related frame is an arbitrary time period in the time period in which the content is broadcast, and is specified by the start time and the end time. In addition, the condition is represented by a combination of a range related to the position of the user and a range related to the age,
There can be multiple conditions for one association frame. In addition,
When neither the range regarding the position nor the range regarding the age is set for a certain related frame, one condition of "unlimited" is associated with the related frame.

In the process of associating related frames, as shown in FIG. 14, the management server selects a desired related frame from the valid unrelated frames, and sets the desired related information in the selected related frame. Provides a user interface for associating. Providing this user interface includes displaying an image representing a valid unrelated frame on the display unit 167 and identifying an instruction input by the operator from the operation data supplied from the operation unit 168. The provision of the user interface is repeated until the operator inputs an instruction to select the relevant frame (SF1, SF2:
NO). The unrelated frame is a related frame in which related information can be related, and from the related frame, the related table T3 is displayed.
The related frames stored in (1) (the related frames to which the related information is already related) and the related frames before the current time are excluded.

Further, when the operator inputs an instruction to specify the related frame, the management server waits for the operator to input conditions and parameters (SF2: Y).
ES, SF3). Various well-known methods can be applied to associate this parameter with related information, but in this embodiment, the CPU 1 that executes the operating system is used.
A folder having the same name as the parameter is provided under a predetermined folder (directory) in the file system managed by 62, and the related information associated with the folder is stored in this folder for association. Creation of such a folder and storage of related information are performed by the operator in advance before the association. The data format of the related information may be any format that can be reproduced by the mobile communication terminal 12 (for example, HTML format).

When a folder having the inputted parameter as a folder name does not exist under the predetermined folder (SF
4: NO), the state of the management server becomes a state of providing a user interface (SF1). On the contrary, when it exists (SF4: YES), the management server stores the input condition and parameter in the related table T3 in association with the start time and end time of the relevant frame (SF5).

(1-4-2) Web server As shown in FIG. 15, the CPU 162 (hereinafter referred to as a Web server) executing the Web server program requests the related information from the communication unit 165 in accordance with HTTP. Is generated, a process (or thread) is generated in response to the request, and a response process is performed in this process (SG1, SG2).

In one process, the Web server acquires the related information acquisition information and the specific information included in the request from the communication unit 165 as shown in FIG. 16 (SH1), and the related information acquisition information. CG specified by
Launch the I program using CGI. At this time, W
The eb server identifies the related frame in which the time represented by the time information in the specific information in the related table T3 is between the start time and the end time, and the specific information among the parameters associated with this related frame is specified. The parameter associated with the condition that the position and age represented by
2) Pass this to the CGI program. If there is no condition to be satisfied, a specific parameter is passed to the CGI program. Information for notifying the user of the mobile communication terminal 12 that there is no information to be provided is stored in the folder whose folder name is the specific parameter.

The Web server executing the CGI program acquires the related information specified by the above parameters from the non-volatile memory 164 (SH3), and supplies this to the communication unit 165 as a response to the above related information acquisition request. (SH
4). After that, the Web server ends the execution of the CGI program and causes the process to disappear.

(2) Operation Example Next, an operation example of the information distribution system having the above-mentioned configuration will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 17 to 19. However, the personal information table T1 in the mobile packet communication network 13 has the data shown in FIG. 9, the broadcast schedule table T2 in the information server 16 has the data shown in FIG. 11, and the related table T3 has the data shown in FIG. It is assumed that the data shown is stored. Further, the gateway server 14 has the domain name “www.aaa.com” of the information server 16 as the domain name included in the HTTP header of the specific packet and the target mobile communication terminal 12 as the type of information required by the information server 16. The current location and the age of the subscriber who owns the terminal are registered.

Further, it is assumed that the Web browser program has been started in each mobile communication terminal 12, and the Web server program and the related table management program have been started in the information server 16. Further, the content broadcast by the broadcasting station 11 is for advertising the vehicle, and
It is assumed that the screen S101 and the screen S102 shown in 8 are provided to the user of each mobile communication terminal 12. The screen S101 is a moving image screen, and the screen S102 is an operation screen for presenting a software button SB associated with "www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi" as related information acquisition information.

Under such a premise, as shown in FIG. 17, the broadcasting station 11 operates at 00:00 on October 30, 2001.
When the broadcast of the content information is started in a second, the content information is received by the broadcast receiving unit 128 of each mobile communication terminal 12. The content represented by the content information received by the broadcast receiving unit 128 is reproduced by the web browser of each mobile communication terminal 12. As a result, the screen S10 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the display unit 125 of each mobile communication terminal 12.
3 is displayed. The screen displayed on the display unit 125 of each mobile communication terminal 12 is 0:30 on October 30, 2001.
Although it changes with the passage of time until the second (for example, the screen S104 shown in FIG. 18), the software button SB is 200
It continues to be displayed until 0: 1: 30 on October 30, 1st.

(2-1) Case A Under such a situation, at 00:00:10 on October 30, 2001, the user of the mobile communication terminal 12A operates the operation unit 124.
When a user inputs an instruction to press the software button SB, the Web browser of the mobile communication terminal 12A acquires time information indicating the current time from the timekeeping unit 127, and the specific information including the time information and the software button are acquired. A related information acquisition request is generated based on the associated related information acquisition information, and the request is supplied to the communication unit 126. As a result, the packet m10 including the related information acquisition request
1 is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 12A to the gateway server 14 via the mobile packet communication network 13.

Since the packet includes "www.aaa.com" as the related information acquisition information, the gateway server 14 determines that the packet is the above-mentioned specific packet. Furthermore, since the subscriber specified by the source address of this specific packet permits the provision of personal information to a third party (see FIG. 9), the gateway server 14 uses the personal information table T1 to retrieve the personal information. The personal information corresponding to the sender address is extracted, the information of the type (current position and age) registered in advance is created based on this information, and the created information is specified as the specific information and included in the specific packet. It is added to the information acquisition request (SD3).
A packet m102 including a related information acquisition request generated by adding information to the related information acquisition request is sent from the gateway server 14 to the information server 1 via the Internet 15.
6 is transmitted. Note that the information indicating the current position is information with a degree of accuracy that does not seriously affect the confidentiality of the operators and subscribers of the mobile packet communication network 12, and the information indicating the age is the date of birth and the current date and time. It is information created based on.

In the information server 16, the packet m10
When 2 is received by the communication unit 165 of the information server 16, the Web server acquires the specific information from the related information acquisition request included in the packet m102 (SH1), and specifies the related information based on this information (SH2). . Specifically, the time "October 30, 2001 0:00:00" represented by the time information in the specific information is associated with a related frame including between the start time and the end time, and is specified. The parameter “a1” associated with the condition information that matches the age “26” represented by the information indicating the age in the information is extracted from the association table T3.

Next, the information server 16 uses the extracted parameter as a start parameter and the program "www.aaa." Specified by the related information acquisition information in the related information acquisition request.
com / bbb.cgi ”is started. As a result of starting the program, the related information output by“ www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi ”from the Web server to the communication unit 165 is the related information acquisition request. The packet m103 including the related information is supplied as a response to the information server 16
Is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 12A via the Internet 15, the gateway server 14 and the mobile packet communication network 13 (SH3, SH4).

When the packet m103 is received by the communication unit 126, the Web browser of the mobile communication terminal 12A receives the related information contained in the packet m103 by HT.
Interpret and execute according to ML. As a result, the screen S105 of FIG. 18 is displayed in the foreground on the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 12A. In this way, a one-week offer to test drive is presented to subscribers over the age of 18 who have requested the acquisition of relevant information during the first minute of the start of broadcasting the content.

(2-2) Case B When the user of the mobile communication terminal 12B requests the related information at 00:00:10 on October 30, 2001, the operation of the user at the mobile communication terminal 12B is used as a trigger. The related information acquisition request in the packet m102 received by the communication unit 165 of the information server 16 includes specific information based on the personal information of the subscriber of the mobile communication terminal 12B. Information server 16
The Web server acquires the specific information from the related information acquisition request (SH1), and specifies the related information based on this information (SH2). Specifically, the time represented by the time information in the specific information "00:00 on October 30, 2001"
The parameter “a2” associated with the related frame including “second” between the start time and the end time and associated with the condition information matching the age “14” represented by the information indicating the age in the specific information. Is extracted from the association table T3. Since the extracted parameters are different from those in the above case, the content of the related information output by “www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi” according to the parameters is different from that in case A.

The packet m103 containing the related information is transmitted from the information server 16 (SH3, SH4) and received by the communication unit 126 of the mobile communication terminal 12A. After that, the web browser of the mobile communication terminal 12A performs the same process as in case A. As a result, the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 12A.
The screen S106 of FIG. 18 is displayed on the foreground. Thus, a miniature gift offer is presented to subscribers under the age of 18 who have requested the acquisition of relevant information during the first minute of the start of the content broadcast.

(2-3) Case C When the user of the mobile communication terminal 12A requests the related information at 0: 1: 10 on October 30, 2001, the operation of the user at the mobile communication terminal 12A is used as a trigger. The specific information included in the related information acquisition request in the packet m102 received by the communication unit 165 of the information server 16 includes “2001 1
Time information indicating "0:30: 01:30 on 0:30" is included. As is clear from FIG. 13, “October 3, 2001
Since the condition information associated with the related frame including “0 day, 0 hours, 10 minutes” between the start time and the end time does not specify any condition, the parameter “corresponding to the related frame” “B” is extracted from the related table T3 by the Web server of the information server 16. Since the extracted parameter is different from either A or B in the above case, the content of the related information output by “www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi” according to the parameter is either A or B in the above case. Is also different. The subsequent processing is the same as that in case A, and finally, the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 12A displays the screen S1 of FIG.
07 is displayed on the foreground. In this way, the catalog information of the vehicle is presented to the subscriber who requests the acquisition of the related information within 30 seconds before the end of the broadcasting of the content.

(2-4) Case D: The user of the mobile communication terminal 12 owned by the subscriber who is not permitted to provide the personal information to the third party is October 3, 2001.
When the related information is requested at 0 hours, 0 minutes, 10 seconds, the gateway server 14, which receives the packet m101 transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 12 triggered by this request,
As shown in FIG. 19, the packet m1 is added without adding any information to the related information acquisition request in the packet m101.
02 is generated and transmitted to the information server 16 via the Internet 15.

In the information server 16, this packet m10
When the communication unit 165 receives 2, the web server acquires the specific information included in the related information acquisition request in the packet (SH1), and specifies the related information based on this information (SH2). In case D, the time represented by the time information in the specific information is “00:00 on October 30, 2001”.
Although the condition related to age is associated with the parameter associated with the related frame including “10 minutes” between the start time and the end time, such a condition is included in the extracted specific information. It does not include information for determining whether or not it satisfies. Therefore, the startup parameter of "www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi" is a specific parameter. As a result,
From "www.aaa.com/bbb.cgi", information for notifying that there is no information to be provided is output as related information. The subsequent processing is the same as that in case A, and finally, the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 12A displays the screen S1 of FIG.
08 is displayed on the foreground. In this way, it should be provided to subscribers who have requested acquisition of related information within the first minute after the start of content broadcasting, and who have not permitted the provision of personal information to a third party. You will be notified that the information does not exist.

(2-5) Case E: A user of a mobile communication terminal owned by a subscriber who does not permit the provision of personal information to a third party is related to 0: 1: 1: 10 on October 30, 2001. When the information is requested, as in the case D, the communication unit 165 of the information server 16 receives the packet m102 in which the gateway server 14 does not add any information to the related information acquisition request.

The Web server of the information server 16 acquires the specific information included in the related information acquisition request in the packet m102 (SH1), and specifies the related information based on this information (SH2). In case E, the time represented by the time information in the specific information is “October 30, 2001 0
Since no condition is associated with the parameter associated with the related frame that includes “hour 1 minute 10 seconds” between the start time and the end time, as in case C, the parameter is associated with the related frame. The parameter “b” given is We of the information server 16
It is extracted from the association table T3 by the b server. After that, the same operation as in case C is performed.

(3) Supplement As described above, according to the present embodiment, although the broadcast content is associated with only one piece of static related information acquisition information, it is related to the content. The relevant information provider can provide different relevant information to subscribers who play the same content and request the relevant information at different times. Further, according to the present embodiment, even though only one piece of static related information acquisition information is added to the broadcasted content, the related information providers use the same content but different. Different relevant information can be provided to the subscriber.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the related information provider uses the same content even though only one static related information acquisition information is statically added to the broadcasted content. It is possible to provide relevant information to the subscriber according to the status (current location and age) of the subscriber.

Further, in the present embodiment, a plurality of contents to which the same related information acquisition information is added are not broadcast at the same time, and the broadcast contents are immediately reproduced on the mobile communication terminal. The information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information server in order to obtain the related information is only the information indicating the current time, and it is not necessary to transmit the information specifying the content from the mobile communication terminal to the information server. To be

Further, in this embodiment, the information added by the gateway server to the packet to the Internet is not the personal information itself. In particular, information such as the current position that may be misused is converted into low-precision information and added to the packet. Therefore, high security can be ensured. Further, in this embodiment, the information requested by the information server is provided to the information server only for the subscriber who is allowed to provide the personal information to the third party. Therefore, personal information will not be leaked against the intention of the subscriber.

Further, in this embodiment, since the content is broadcast from the broadcasting station, a large amount of content information can be transmitted at a high speed and in a wide range as compared with the case of transmitting by communication.

In the mobile communication terminal 12, an example in which the clock unit 127 has the same function as the radio clock is shown, but the accurate current time is acquired from the mobile packet communication network 13, and the CPU 122 is based on this current time. The operating system may be configured to clock the time. In this case, the clock unit 127 is unnecessary.

[Second Embodiment] The second embodiment of the present invention is greatly different from the first embodiment in that the information server is related information to the mobile communication terminal which is going to acquire the related information in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the information specifying server notifies the resource identifier to the mobile communication terminal trying to acquire the related information, and the mobile communication terminal uses the resource identifier to notify the mobile communication terminal of the information. This is the point of obtaining related information from the providing server. Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, in the drawings used for the description of the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the portions common to the drawings used for the description of the first embodiment.

(1) Configuration FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information distribution system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the system shown in this figure, a plurality of mobile communication terminals 22 reproduces the content broadcast from the broadcasting station 21, and the related information associated with the content is provided to the mobile packet communication network 13, the gateway server 23, and the information identification. The information providing server 2 that constitutes the WWW using the server 24 and the Internet 15
It is acquired from 5. Note that in FIG. 20, different reference numerals (22A, 22B) are assigned to the mobile communication terminals, but when it is not necessary to identify the mobile communication terminals in the description of the present embodiment, they are referred to as the mobile communication terminals 22. To call. Similarly, when it is not necessary to identify the information providing server in the description of this embodiment, the information providing server 2
It is called 5.

(1-1) Broadcasting Station 21 The broadcasting station 21 differs from the broadcasting station 11 of FIG. 1 only in the information to be broadcast and transmitted. As shown in FIG. 21, the content information transmitted by the broadcast station 21 for each content includes start time information indicating the broadcast start time of the content, content length information indicating the time length of the content, and the domain name of the information identifying server 24. It includes the related information acquisition information that includes the. Also, when two sub-contents are included in one content, the start time information, the content length information, and the related information acquisition information are included in the content information for each sub-content. Further, the broadcasting station 11 repeatedly transmits the related information acquisition information when broadcasting the same content, whereas the broadcasting station 21 does not perform such repetition, which is a difference between the two. As shown in FIG. 22, the broadcast schedule information transmitted by the broadcast station 21 indicates not only the start time and the end time but also the screen position (entire surface / upper surface / lower surface) on which the content or sub-content is displayed. It is included.

(1-2) Mobile Communication Terminal 22 FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile communication terminal 22. The difference between the configuration shown in this figure and that of FIG. 4 is that the clock unit 127 is deleted. And the nonvolatile memory 121
Instead of the above, a non-volatile memory 221 is provided. As a matter of course, since the clock unit 127 does not exist,
The CPU 122 that is executing the operating system in the mobile communication terminal 22 does not perform the process using the clock unit 127. The nonvolatile memory 221 differs from the nonvolatile memory 121 only in the contents of stored software.

Further, in the mobile communication terminal 22, the CPU 122 in a state where the operating system and the web browser program are executed, that is, the web browser, W in the mobile communication terminal 12 is caused by the above difference.
It has different functions from the eb browser. Below, only the points in which the Web browser in the mobile communication terminal 22 differs from that in the first embodiment will be explained.

In the mobile communication terminal 22, as shown in FIG. 24, the Web browser does not wait for the start request and the end request of the broadcast reception / reproduction processing, but supplies the information requesting the start of the broadcast reception processing from the operation unit 124. Then, the broadcast reception process is started (SJ1: YES, SJ2), and when the information requesting the end of the broadcast reception process is supplied, the broadcast reception process is ended (SJ3: YES, SJ4), and the reproduction process is started. When the information for requesting is supplied, the reproduction process is started (SJ5: YES, SJ6).

In the broadcast receiving process, the Web browser activates the broadcast receiving unit 128, and stores the information in the volatile memory 123 when the content information is supplied from the broadcast receiving unit 128. Further, in the reproduction process, as shown in FIG. 25, the Web browser repeats the process of reading out and reproducing the unreproduced content information if it is stored in the volatile memory 123 (SK1 to SB6). In this repetition, if the read content information includes content length information (SK2: YES), W
The eb browser generates a process (or thread) in association with the content (or sub-content) whose time length is represented by the content length information, and performs the timer process shown in FIG. 26 in this process (SK3).

In the timer process, the Web browser sets the count value to zero and sets the value corresponding to the time length represented by the content length information included in the read content information as the timeout value, which is not shown. The count value is incremented based on the clock signal from the oscillator (SL1, SL2: NO, SL3). When the count value reaches the timeout value, the Web browser removes the software button corresponding to the timer process from the operation screen (SL4). In this way, the Web browser defines the existence period of the software button. After that, the process (or thread) of the timer process disappears. However, when it is not necessary to change the operation screen, that is, when the content information does not include the related information acquisition information and the software button corresponding to the content is not provided on the operation screen. The operation screen change processing (SL4) is skipped. It should be noted that whether the content and the content correspond to which screen of the whole surface / top surface / bottom surface is defined by the format of the content information, and the web browser follows the format to display either the whole surface / top surface / bottom surface on the software button. Correlate the information shown. That is,
The software button corresponding to the content that does not include the sub-content is associated with the entire surface, and the software button corresponding to the sub-content is associated with the information indicating either the upper surface or the lower surface.

As shown in FIG. 24, the Web browser receives the information indicating that the software button is pressed from the operation unit 124, and then the related information acquisition process B of FIG. 27 is executed.
(SA5: YES, SJ7). In the related information acquisition process B, the Web browser obtains the elapsed time from the start of playing the content according to the count value in the timer process that defines the existence period of the software button, and includes this elapsed time in the content information. Specific information including time information indicating a time added to the time represented by the start time information displayed and screen position information indicating a position (entire surface / upper surface / lower surface) on the operation screen where the software button is provided. Is generated (SM1).

A resource identifier acquisition request is generated based on this specific information and the information associated with the software button, and this request is supplied to the communication unit 126 (SM2),
As a response to this request, the resource identifier supplied from the communication unit 126 is received (SM3). Further, when the Web browser receives the resource identifier, the Web browser supplies a related information acquisition request for requesting acquisition of the information specified by the resource identifier to the communication unit 126 (SM4), and the communication unit 126 responds to the request by the communication unit 126. The supplied information is received, and the information for displaying the Web page according to the information on the back is supplied to the display unit 125 (SM5).

(1-3) Gateway Server 23 The gateway server 23 shown in FIG. 20 differs from the gateway server 14 shown in FIG. 1 in that it not only relays packets between the mobile packet communication network 13 and the Internet 15 but also moves the packets. It has a function of relaying packets among the packet communication network 13, the Internet 15 and the information specifying server 24, and specifies that individual dependent information based on personal information is transferred from the mobile packet communication network 13 to the Internet 15. That is, the packet is not added to the packet, but is transmitted as a response to the request from the information providing server 24. The latter difference means that the gateway server 23 transfers the packet without determining whether or not it is a specific packet. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to store the type of information required by the server that provides the related information in the gateway server 23. It should be noted that it is possible to easily transmit the personal dependence information as a response to the request from the information specifying server 24 by using a well-known technique, and it is possible to judge whether or not to provide the personal information to a third party and The processing policy regarding the provision of the individual dependency information to the information specifying server 24 based on the personal information which is not permitted to be provided to is as described in the first embodiment.

(1-4) Information specifying server 24 The information specifying server 24 of FIG. 20 is a computer system having the configuration shown in FIG. 28 and is connected to the gateway server 14 instead of the Internet 15.
A difference from the configuration of the information server 16 shown in FIG. 10 is that a nonvolatile memory 241 is provided instead of the nonvolatile memory 164. The non-volatile memory of the information specifying server 24 is an operating system, a related table management program, W
eb server program and CGI program ("www.
Information server 8 in that it remembers ccc.com/ddd.cgi ”)
However, the contents of the corresponding programs stored in both memories are different.

(1-4-1) Management Server The CPU executing the related table management program in the information specifying server 24 (hereinafter referred to as the management server) performs the update process of the broadcast schedule table T4 and the related frame associating process. In parallel. The broadcast schedule table T4 illustrated in FIG. 29 is different from the broadcast schedule table T2 in FIG. 11 in that for a content having sub-contents, a start time and an end time are stored for each sub-content.
The point is that not only the start time and end time but also the screen position is stored. Further, the update process of the broadcast schedule table T4 is different from the update process of the broadcast schedule table T2 shown in FIG. 12 only in that the broadcast schedule information additionally stored in the broadcast schedule table T4 includes the screen position. Is.

In the process of associating the related frame, the management server updates the related table T5. The relationship table T5 illustrated in FIG. 30 is different from the relationship table T3 of FIG. 13 in that, for a content having sub-contents, the relationship between the related frame and the condition is associated with each sub-content, and the correspondence table T5 is associated with these combinations. The point that the resource identifier is stored instead of the parameter, the related frame is specified by considering not only the start time and end time but also the screen position, and the condition is the range related to the position of the user and the range related to the date of birth. This is a point represented by a combination of a range related to gender and a range related to family name.

The process of associating the related frames by the management server is as shown in FIG. The process shown in this figure is different from the process shown in FIG. 14 in that the operator inputs the resource identifier information indicating the resource identifier instead of the parameter (SN1), and the condition input by the operator is the position and the birth date. A point represented by a combination of the date, gender, and surname range (SN1), a point that the validity of the input resource identifier information is not checked, and a relation that the operator selects the input condition and the resource identifier information. This is a point (SN2) that is stored in the association table T5 in association with the information indicating the frame.

The “resource identifier” mentioned here is HT.
It is a URI that can be specified by the GET method of TP. In this embodiment, the resource identifier may include a parameter to be passed to the CGI program. The “resource identifier information” may be information that statically identifies the resource identifier or information that dynamically identifies it. That is, the management server allows information including variables as information indicating the resource identifier. For example, “HTTP://www.m.com/m.cgi area = # loc” in FIG.
Contains "#loc" as a variable name. The value of this variable is determined when the Web server described below transmits the resource identifier. In the present embodiment, the operator inputs the condition so that one condition is satisfied regardless of any specific information.

(1-4-2) Specific Web Server Information The CPU executing the Web server program in the specific server 24 (hereinafter referred to as the specific Web server) is
The same process as the process shown in FIG. 15 is performed. However, the providing Web server waits for the resource identifier acquisition request instead of the related information acquisition request (SG1). The content of the response process executed by the providing Web server in another process in step SG2 is as shown in FIG.

In the response process shown in FIG. 32, the specific Web server determines the personal dependence information (position, date of birth, sex and surname) about the subscriber specified by the source address of the packet received by the communication unit 165. (Indicated information) is transmitted to the communication unit 165, which requests the gateway server 23 to transmit (indicated information), and the personal dependency information supplied from the communication unit 165 is received as a response to this request (SP2). . In addition, the specific Web server acquires the related information acquisition information and the specific information included in the request supplied from the communication unit 165 (SP3), and uses the CGI program specified by the related information acquisition information by using CGI. To start.

In the specific Web server which has started the CGI program, the time represented by the time information in the specific information in the related table T5 is between the start time and the end time, and the screen position is the screen in the specific information. A related frame that matches the position is specified, and among the resource identifier information associated with this related frame, the position represented by the individual dependency information acquired from the gateway server 23, the date of birth, the gender, and the surname are satisfied. The associated resource identifier information is specified (SP4), and if the variable name set in advance in this resource identifier information does not exist, the resource identifier information is directly used as the resource identifier, and if it exists, the variable name is set. Generate a resource identifier by replacing it with the value (position / date of birth / gender / surname) indicated by the type of information represented by the variable name That (SP5). That is, in the latter case, the resource identifier is generated based on the subscriber's personal information. Next, the specific Web server uses the resource identifier as a response to the request from the communication unit 165.
Supply to 65 (SP6).

(1-5) Information Providing Server 25A The information providing server 25A shown in FIG. 20 is a computer system having the configuration shown in FIG.
4 only in that a nonvolatile memory 331 is provided instead of
0 is different from the configuration of the information server 16 shown in FIG. The non-volatile memory 331 is an operating system and Web.
Non-volatile memory 1 in that it stores the server program
64, but is different from the nonvolatile memory 164 in that the related table management program is not stored. In addition, the Web stored in the non-volatile memory 331
The contents of the server program are different from the Web server program stored in the non-volatile memory 164.

The CPU executing the Web server program in the information providing server 25A (hereinafter referred to as the providing Web server A) performs the same process as the process shown in FIG. However, the response process executed by the providing Web server A in a separate process in step SG2 is a general Web process.
The processing is similar to that performed by the server, and the provided Web server A
Is information stored in the address specified by the resource identifier included in the request supplied from the communication unit 165 (a format reproducible in the mobile communication terminal 22 (for example, HTML.
Format) information) and supplies it to the communication unit 165 as a response to the request. If the address specified by the resource identifier does not exist, or if the information is not stored in the address, the providing Web server A provides information for notifying the person that there is no information that can be provided. , Is supplied to the communication unit 165 as a response to the request supplied from the communication unit 165.

(1-6) Information Providing Server 25B The information providing server 25B shown in FIG. 20 is a computer system having the configuration shown in FIG.
3 is different from FIG. 3 only in that a nonvolatile memory 341 is provided.
3 is different from the configuration of the information providing server 25A shown in FIG. The non-volatile memory 341 is different from the non-volatile memory 331 only in that it stores a CGI program and in that the contents of the stored Web server program are different.

The CPU executing the Web server program in the information providing server 25B (hereinafter referred to as the providing Web server B) performs the same process as the process shown in FIG. However, the response process executed by the providing Web server B in a separate process in step SG2 is the same as the process executed by a general Web server having a CGI program. That is, if the resource identifier included in the request supplied from the communication unit 165 identifies the CGI program stored in the non-volatile memory 341, the providing Web server B uses the parameter included in the resource identifier as the startup parameter. Start the CGI program,
As a result, the information specified by the parameter is acquired from the non-volatile memory 341 and supplied to the communication unit 165. Further, in the provided Web server B, the resource identifier included in the request supplied from the communication unit 165 is the nonvolatile memory 34.
If the CGI program stored in 1 is not specified, the information stored in the address specified by the resource identifier is read and supplied to the communication unit 165 as a response to the request. In either case, the communication unit 1
The format of the information supplied to 65 is a format (for example, HTML format) that can be reproduced by the mobile communication terminal 22. If the information specified by the resource identifier does not exist, the providing Web server B responds to the request supplied from the communication unit 165 with information for notifying the person that there is no information that can be provided. To the communication unit 165.

(2) Operation Example Next, an operation example of the information distribution system having the above-described configuration will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 35 and 36. However,
The data shown in FIG. 9 is shown in the personal information table T1 in the mobile packet communication network 13, the data shown in FIG. 29 is shown in the broadcast schedule table T4 in the information specifying server 24, and the data shown in FIG. 30 is shown in the related table T5. Stored data, and the domain name of the information providing server 25A is "www.k.com". Furthermore, the CGI program of the information providing server 25B is "www.m.com/m.
cgi ”.

Further, it is assumed that the Web browser program has been started in each mobile communication terminal 22, and the Web server program and the related table management program have been started in the information specifying server 24. In addition, the broadcasting station 21
The content broadcasted at 0:00:00 on October 30, 001 is for advertising the vehicle, and provides the user of each mobile communication terminal 12 with the screen S101 and the screen S102 shown in FIG. And However, on the software button SB of the screen S102, "www.cc" indicating the CGI program of the information specifying server 24 as the related information acquisition information is displayed.
"C.com/ddd.cgi" is associated with "full surface" as the screen position.

In addition, the broadcasting station 21
The content broadcasted at 0: 1: 0 on the day includes sub-contents related to weather forecast and sub-contents related to overseas travel. Screen S301 and screen S30 shown in FIG.
2 is provided to the user of each mobile communication terminal 22. The screen S301 is a moving image screen, and the screen S302
Is an operation screen. For each software button on the upper side of the screen S302, “www.ccc.co
"m / ddd.cgi" is associated with each other. As the screen position, "upper surface" is associated with the upper software button SB1 and "lower surface" is associated with the lower software button SB2.

Under such a premise, as shown in FIG. 35, the broadcasting station 11 sets 00:00 on October 30, 2001.
When the broadcasting of the contents is started in a second, the contents information is transmitted from the broadcasting station 11, and this information is sent to each mobile communication terminal 2
The volatile memory 1 is received by the second broadcast receiving unit 128.
23. In this operation example, it is assumed that the process of reproducing the content using the content information stored in the volatile memory 123 is performed at 0: 3: 0 after the end of the broadcast.

(2-1) Case A For example, at 0: 3: 0 after the end of broadcasting, reproduction of the content broadcasted from 0:00:00 to 0: 1: 0 is performed by the mobile communication terminal 22A. 18 is displayed by the web browser of the mobile communication terminal 22A, and the screen S103 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 22A. Although the screen displayed on the display unit 125 changes over time (for example, the screen S104 shown in FIG. 18), the software button S
B is displayed without change until 0: 4: 0 when the reproduction of the content ends. Since the content does not include sub-content, the display position of the software button SB is the center in the vertical direction. Further, when the reproduction of the content is started, the timer processing corresponding to the content is started by the Web browser, and the elapsed time from the start of the reproduction of the content is measured.

Then, for example, when the user of the mobile communication terminal 22A inputs an instruction to press the software button SB at 0: 3: 10, the Web browser displays the elapsed time from the start of reproduction of the content being reproduced. For the operation in which the software button SB is provided and time information indicating a time (that is, 0:00:10) that is obtained by adding the elapsed time to the time represented by the start time information in the content information. A resource identifier acquisition request is generated based on specific information including screen position information indicating a position on the screen (that is, "entire surface") and related information acquisition information associated with the software button SB (SM1), and Is supplied to the communication unit 126. As a result, the packet m201 including the resource identifier acquisition request is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 22A to the mobile packet communication network 13 and the gateway server 23.
Is transmitted to the information specifying server 24 via.

In the information specifying server 24, the packet m20
When 1 is received by the communication unit 165, the specific Web server acquires the personal dependency information (information indicating the position, the date of birth, the gender, and the surname) of the mobile communication terminal 22A based on the source address of this packet. Try. That is, the packet m202 including the individual dependent information acquisition request is transmitted from the information specifying server 24 to the gateway server 23. Since the subscriber who owns the mobile communication terminal 22A permits the personal information to be provided to a third party, a packet transmitted from the gateway server 23 to the information specifying server 24 in response to the personal dependent information acquisition request. The individual dependence information included in m203 is information that indicates the position, the date of birth, the gender, and the surname without omission.

In the information specifying server 24, when the individual dependence information is supplied from the communication section 165 (SP2), the specifying W
The eb server acquires the related information acquisition information and the specific information included in the resource identifier acquisition request (SP
3), the CGI program specified by the related information acquisition information is started, and the resource identifier information is specified in the related table T5 based on the specified information and the individual dependency information (SP4). The time represented by the specific information is 2
It is 0:00:10 on October 30, 001, and the date of birth represented by the individual dependency information is March 13, 1975.
Since it is a day, "HTTP://www.k.com/k3.html" is specified.

Since this resource identifier information does not include a variable name, it is treated as it is as a resource identifier, and a packet m204 including this resource identifier is sent as a response to the resource identifier acquisition request in the information specifying server 2
4 to the mobile communication terminal 22A (SP5, SP
6). In the mobile communication terminal 22A, when the resource identifier is supplied from the communication unit 126 to the Web browser, the related information acquisition request that requests acquisition of the information specified by the resource identifier is supplied from the Web browser to the communication unit 126. As a result, the packet m20 including the relevant information acquisition request from the mobile communication terminal 22A to the information providing server 25A.
5 is transmitted.

In the information providing server 25A, the communication unit 165
When the related information acquisition request in the packet m205 is supplied from the web server A, the providing Web server A addresses the resource identifier “HTTP://www.k.com/k3.html” included in the related information acquisition request. The information stored in the above is read from the non-volatile memory 331 and supplied to the communication unit 165 as a response to the relevant information acquisition request. As a result, the packet m206 including the information is transmitted from the information providing server 25A to the mobile communication terminal 22A.

When the packet is received by the communication unit 126, the Web browser of the mobile communication terminal 22A interprets and executes the information contained in the packet according to HTML. Thereby, the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 22A.
The screen S201 of FIG. 36 is displayed on the back. In this way, general advertisements are presented to the user of the mobile communication terminal 22A. Even when the subscriber who owns the mobile communication terminal 22A does not permit the personal information to be provided to a third party, the screen S201 is eventually displayed on the display unit 125.

(2-2) Case B For example, at 0: 3: 0 after the end of broadcasting, reproduction of the content broadcast from 0:00:00 to 0: 1: 0 is performed by the mobile communication terminal 22B. When the user of the mobile communication terminal 22B inputs an instruction to press the software button SB at 0: 3: 10, the mobile communication terminal 22A in case A is replaced with the mobile communication terminal 22B. The process is performed, and the packet m201 including the resource identifier acquisition request is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 22B to the information specifying server 24.

However, since the individual dependent information acquired by the information specifying server 24 is information based on the personal information of the subscriber who owns the mobile communication terminal 22B, the date of birth represented by the individual dependent information is 1987. On May 29, the gender becomes male. Therefore, the resource identifier "HTTP://www.k.com/k
The packet m204 including "1.html" is the mobile communication terminal 22B.
Sent to. Then, finally, the packet m206 including the information stored in the address specified by the resource identifier is transmitted from the information providing server 25A to the mobile communication terminal 2
2B, and the screen S202 of FIG. 36 is displayed on the rearmost side on the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 22B. In this way, the information for men limited to birthdays is presented to the user of the mobile communication terminal 22B. The mobile communication terminal 22B
If the subscriber who owns is a woman, the mobile communication terminal 22B
The information for women limited to the birthday shown on the screen S203 of FIG. 36 will be presented to the user.

(2-3) Case C For example, at 0: 4: 0 after the end of broadcasting, reproduction of the content broadcast from 0: 1: 0 to 0: 1: 30 is performed by the mobile communication terminal 22A. When instructed by the user, the content is reproduced by the web browser of the mobile communication terminal 22A, and the screen S303 shown in FIG. 36 is displayed on the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 22A. Display unit 125
Although the screen displayed on the screen changes with the passage of time (for example, the screen S304 shown in FIG. 36), the software buttons SB1 and SB2 are displayed unchanged until 0:03:30 when the reproduction of the content ends.

Then, for example, when the user of the mobile communication terminal 22A inputs an instruction to press the software button SB1 at 0: 4: 10, the Web browser shows time information (that is, 0: 1: 40). Information) and screen position information (that is, information indicating the “upper surface”) and a related information acquisition information associated with the software button SB1 to generate a resource identifier acquisition request, which is then transmitted to the communication unit. Supply to 126. As a result, the packet m201 including the resource identifier acquisition request is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal 22A to the information specifying server 24.

Thereafter, the information specifying server 24 and the gateway server 23 perform the same processing as in case A.
However, the time represented by the specific information included in the resource identifier acquisition request is 00:00 on October 30, 2001.
Since it is 40 minutes, "HTTP://www.m.com/m.cgi area = # loc" is specified as the resource identifier information.
Since this resource identifier information includes the variable name, the information specifying server 24 specifies this variable name in the specified Web.
The resource identifier "HTTP://www.m.com/m.cgi area = 00" when the server replaces with the individual dependency information indicating the position (for example, "00005" indicating the position of the prefectural border between Tokyo and Chiba).
"005" is generated (SP5).

A packet m20 including this resource identifier
4 is transmitted from the information specifying server 24 to the mobile communication terminal 22A, the mobile communication terminal 22A sends the information providing server 25.
A related information acquisition request (packet m205) including the resource identifier is transmitted to B. In the information providing server 25B, the providing Web server A activates the CGI program using the resource identifier. That is, “area = 000
"M.cgi" is started with "05" as the start parameter.
As a result, the information providing server 25B generates information corresponding to the area represented by "00005", and the packet m206 including this information is transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 22A as a response to the related information acquisition request.

Finally, the mobile communication terminal 22A
The screen S305 of FIG. 36 is displayed on the back of the display unit 125 of FIG. In this way, the weather forecast for the vicinity of the present location is presented to the user of the mobile communication terminal 22A. If the software button SB1 is pressed while the mobile communication terminal 22A is located in Saitama Prefecture, the screen S306 will be displayed on the back of the display unit 125 of the mobile communication terminal 22A. When the subscriber who owns the mobile communication terminal 22A does not permit the provision of personal information to a third party, the screen S108 of FIG. 18 is displayed on the back of the display unit 125.

(3) Supplement As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, since there is a possibility that a plurality of sub-contents to which the same related information acquisition information is added may be broadcast at the same time, the related information is provided in consideration of the screen position of the pressed software button. I am trying to do it.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the information specifying server 24 performs the processing of specifying the related information, and the information providing server 25 performs the processing of providing (transmitting) the related information. Thereby, for example, the advertisement agency operates the information specifying server 24 and the advertiser operates the information providing server 25, thereby providing the advertisement without significantly changing the existing advertisement business model. You can

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the information returned by the information specifying server 24 is only the resource identifier, as compared with the mode in which the information providing server 25 transmits the related information via the information specifying server 24. , Information identification server 2
The burden on 4 can be reduced. Further, since the mobile communication terminal 22 individually accesses the information specifying server 24 and the information providing server 25, the process performed by the information specifying server 24 and the process performed by the information providing server 25 can be completely separated. .

Further, according to this embodiment, basically,
Personal packet information is sent and received by the mobile packet communication network 13.
Limited to within. Therefore, high security can be ensured. In the present embodiment, the individual dependency information is transmitted to the information providing server 25B, but the individual dependency information is not transmitted from the information specifying server 24 to the information providing server 25B as it is, but the individual dependency information is transmitted. If the information is processed and then transmitted, higher security can be secured. Further, the resource identifier information including the variable name may be directly transmitted to the mobile communication terminal 22, and the mobile communication terminal may replace the variable name with an actual value to generate the resource identifier. For example, in the case of a mobile communication terminal equipped with GPS (Global Positioning System), it is possible to replace the variable name with a value indicating the current location. Of course, the mobile communication terminal may acquire the information necessary for replacing the variable name from the mobile packet communication network.

Further, in the present embodiment, since it is not necessary to accurately measure the actual time, it is not necessary to provide the mobile communication terminal with a mechanism such as a radio clock. In addition, as a similar effect, in the first embodiment, the gateway server 14 is provided with a mechanism for accurately measuring the actual time, and the information indicating the time is added to the packet from the mobile communication terminal 12 to the information server 16. You can also get it. Of course, in the first embodiment, the related information may be specified based on the packet reception time at the information server 16. In any case, the operation time of the operator can be specified sufficiently accurately by considering the packet transmission delay.

Further, in this embodiment, since the related information acquired by the mobile communication terminal is displayed on the bottom, the mobile communication terminal can acquire the related information without interrupting the viewing of the content. Of course, the same effect can be obtained by modifying the first embodiment so that the related information acquired by the mobile communication terminal is displayed on the bottom surface.

[Modification] Although the mobile packet communication network is used in the above-described first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
A circuit switching network having a caller number notification function such as SDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) may be used. In this case, the dial-up connection server connects the circuit switching network and the Internet, and the fixed communication terminal receives the related information. Of course, the same modification can be applied to the second embodiment. In addition, in the first and second embodiments,
LAN (Local Area Network) instead of the mobile packet communication network
rk) may be used instead. In any of the aspects, it is arbitrary whether the communication terminal and the data terminal are integrated or separated.

Further, as shown in this figure, in the first embodiment, the information server has the function of specifying and providing related information, but even if the information specifying server and the information providing server are distributed in function. Good. For example, the information specifying server may specify the related information, and the information providing server may send the related information directly or via the information specifying server to the mobile communication terminal. Further, as shown in this figure, the information server (information specifying server) is associated with the broadcasting station.
May be provided so that a plurality of broadcasting stations can be supported. Of course, the information identifying the broadcasting station or the content may be included in the content information for broadcasting, and the information server or the information specifying server may specify the relevant frame in consideration of the information. This also applies to the second embodiment.

Also, although an example of broadcasting the content information to the mobile communication terminal has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and the content information may be broadcast to the communication terminal by communication. For example, the broadcasting station 11 of FIG.
, And each mobile communication terminal sends the content information transmitted from the device to the Internet 15, gateway server 14 (or gateway server 23) and mobile packet communication network 13. You may make it receive via.
In short, the content information may be transmitted according to a predetermined time schedule. In the present invention, the number of communication terminals that receive the content information is arbitrary and may be transmitted to all the communication terminals through one common communication channel or may be transmitted through a separate communication channel for each communication terminal. You may.

Further, as shown in FIG. 38, the broadcasting station may be a wireless LAN base station. Of course, each mobile communication terminal in the figure can communicate with the wireless LAN base station. Wireless LA
In the case of N base stations, the area in which data can be transmitted and received is on the order of hundreds of meters, which makes the system particularly excellent in local information distribution. For example, by using it to guide entertainment at a department store or display the waiting time of an attraction at a theme park, it is easy to quickly deliver information limited to that area at low cost. Further, in the case of a wireless LAN base station, user authentication and billing can be performed more easily than with a terrestrial broadcasting station or a satellite broadcasting station, so it is easy to provide pay services, and various services and high value-added services are provided. The system will be easy to provide services. Furthermore, the system shown in this figure can be modified such that each mobile communication terminal acquires related information via a wireless LAN base station.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the position of the mobile communication terminal is specified by the mobile packet communication network. However, the mobile communication terminal is equipped with a GPS receiver and the mobile communication terminal specifies its own position. You may do it. In this case, since the information indicating the position is directly transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information server or the information specifying server, the mobile packet communication network does not need to perform the position-related processing.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the information indicating the state of the mobile communication terminal (or the user thereof) when the user operates the mobile communication terminal in an attempt to acquire the related information is used as the specific information. Is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information server or the information specifying server, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
The mobile communication terminal stores the current position at the start of reception of content information, at the end of reception, or at the start of reproduction, and when reproducing the content represented by the content information, the user operates the mobile communication terminal to acquire related information. At some point, the specific information including the stored current position instead of the current position at that time may be transmitted to the information server or the information specific server.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the relation is based on the time delayed from the actual time by the time corresponding to the time difference between the transmission of the content information and the reproduction of the content represented by the content information. Although an example of specifying information has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the content is MPEG (Moving Picture Co
ding Experts Group / Moving Picture Experts Group)
GOP (Group Of Pictur)
The related information may be specified based on the time code value of the layer e) and the identification information of the content. Thus, the present invention encompasses any aspect of identifying related information based on when acquisition of the related information was requested.

Further, in the above-described second embodiment, when the user of the mobile communication terminal tries to acquire the related information, the request for acquiring the related information is immediately transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information specifying server. However, in the second embodiment, the time information transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information specifying server does not indicate the current time, and therefore may not be transmitted immediately. For example, if the user operates the mobile communication terminal while trying to acquire the related information during the reproduction of the content, a request for acquiring the related information is transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information server or the information specifying server after the reproduction of the content is completed. It may be done. Further, in the second embodiment, the resource identifier is temporarily stored in the mobile communication terminal, and the related information may not be acquired using the resource identifier until the user inputs a predetermined instruction. Good.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, an example in which the request and the response are performed in the same session has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mobile communication terminal may be provided with an e-mail client function, and when the mobile communication terminal sends a related information acquisition request by e-mail, a response to this request may be returned by e-mail. Of course, in this case, the electronic mail address is used instead of the related information acquisition information and the resource identifier.

Further, a so-called client-side image map function may be incorporated in each of the above-described embodiments. For example, if a plurality of software buttons are provided for one content and the information for identifying the pressed button is included in the specific information and transmitted from the mobile communication terminal to the information server or the information specific server, more detailed information can be obtained. Information can be provided. However, in this case, which software button is displayed at which screen position,
The provider of the related information needs to know what kind of object (for example, product) is displayed at each screen position.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the type of information (information based on personal information) provided by the gateway server to the information server or the information specifying server is fixed, but the type is different for each related information provided. It may be changed. However, in the first embodiment, the gateway server mechanically adds information to the packet from the mobile communication terminal to the information server, so even if such a packet may not occur, the time will advance. The information server needs to register the type with the gateway server each time the target relevant frame changes.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the parameter or resource identifier is specified in consideration of the personal information of the subscriber who owns the mobile communication terminal. However, the parameter or resource identifier is specified only based on the time information. May be specified.

Further, in the above-described first embodiment, the gateway server and the information server are separate bodies, but it goes without saying that both may be integrated. In this case, the internet is unnecessary. Of course, in the second embodiment, the gateway server and the information specifying server may be integrated. Further, in each embodiment, the broadcasting station and the information providing server may be integrally configured, the broadcasting station and the information identifying server may be integrally configured, or the broadcasting station and the information identifying server may be integrated. The information providing server may be integrated.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments and each modification, the time when the acquisition of the related information is requested in order to specify the related information is always used, but the related information corresponding to the provided information of the content is used. If you don't need to provide
It is not necessary to use the time when the acquisition of the related information is requested, and further, the content information does not need to be transmitted according to a predetermined time schedule.

For example, in a mode in which the content information is transmitted individually on each communication terminal for each communication terminal, the time when the content information is received by each communication terminal is stored, and the content represented by the content information is stored. When the acquisition of the related information is requested during the reproduction of, the related information may be specified according to the time. In this case, since the timing of receiving the same content information differs for each communication terminal, even if each communication terminal that is playing the same content requests acquisition of related information, The information is different from each other.

Further, for example, the position where the content information is received is stored in each communication terminal, and when the acquisition of the related information is requested during the reproduction of the content represented by the content information, the position is received according to the position. The related information may be specified. In this case, since the location where the same content information is received is usually different for each communication terminal, even if each communication terminal that is reproducing the same content requests acquisition of related information, each communication terminal It is highly possible that related information sent to will not be the same information.

That is, since the past situation (time and position) of the communication terminal at the time of receiving the content information is usually different for each communication terminal, the related information of the relevant information is reproduced at each communication terminal reproducing the same content. Even if acquisition is requested, there is a high possibility that related information transmitted to each communication terminal will not be the same information. Therefore, it is possible to provide more diverse information as compared with a mode in which one related information is fixedly assigned to one content. Also,
When the situation of the communication terminal does not change significantly from the reception of the content to the request of the relevant information, the relevant information that is substantially matched to the current situation of the communication terminal is provided to the user of the communication terminal. Therefore, it is possible to provide more useful information as compared with a mode in which one related information is fixedly assigned to one content.

Also, for example, when acquisition of related information is requested during reproduction of content in each communication terminal,
You may make it specify the relevant information transmitted to each communication terminal according to the present position of each communication terminal. In this case, since the location where the related information is requested is usually different for each communication terminal, even when the related information is requested to be acquired by each communication terminal that is playing the same content, There is a high possibility that related information transmitted to the terminal will not be the same information. Note that the aspect of specifying the related information by using the time when the acquisition of the related information is requested is as described in each of the above embodiments.

That is, since the current situation (time and position) of the communication terminal at the time of requesting the related information is usually different for each communication terminal, the related information of each communication terminal reproducing the same content is Even if acquisition is requested, there is a high possibility that related information transmitted to each communication terminal will not be the same information. Therefore, it is possible to provide more diverse information as compared with a mode in which one related information is fixedly assigned to one content. In addition, the related information suitable for the current situation of the communication terminal is provided to the user of the communication terminal. Therefore, it is possible to provide more useful information as compared with a mode in which one related information is fixedly assigned to one content.

Needless to say, the combination of the related information requested at the communication terminal and the position of the communication terminal at the time of receiving the content information representing the content for which the related information is requested, the related information at the communication terminal. When the combination of the content information representing the requested content and the position of the communication terminal when the related information is requested, and the content information representing the requested content of the related information at the communication terminal are received. And the related information may be specified according to any one of the combinations with the position of the communication terminal at the time of receiving the content information indicating the content for which the related information is requested. In addition, needless to say, in the above-described case, the position and the combination may be combined with other information as exemplified in each of the embodiments and the modified examples to specify the related information.

[0131]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the user of the communication terminal requests the distribution of the related information during the reproduction of the content represented by the received content information in which the provided information changes according to the progress of the reproduction, the time at which the request is made You can receive the related information according to. That is, according to the present invention, the user of the communication terminal can receive the distribution of the related information according to the provision information of the content whose provision information changes with the progress of reproduction. Since the acquisition information (link information) need not correspond to the provided information and corresponds to the content, the burden on the content transmission side does not increase.

Further, according to the present invention, when the user of the communication terminal requests the distribution of the related information during the reproduction of the content represented by the received content information, the acquisition request additional information indicating the status of the communication terminal is obtained. You can receive the related information according to. That is, according to the present invention, the user of the communication terminal can obtain the related information related to the content and according to the situation of the communication terminal.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of content information in the system.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of broadcast schedule information in the system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication terminal 12 which constitutes the same system.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of event processing performed by the mobile communication terminal 12 (Web browser).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of broadcast reception / reproduction processing performed by the mobile communication terminal 12 (Web browser).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of related information acquisition processing A performed by the mobile communication terminal 12 (Web browser).

FIG. 8 is a gateway server 1 that constitutes the system.
4 is a flowchart showing a flow of information addition processing performed by No. 4.

FIG. 9 is a mobile packet communication network 1 that constitutes the system.
3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration example of a personal information table T1 included in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information server 16 configuring the system.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast schedule table T2 included in the information server 16.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of update processing of the broadcast schedule table T2 performed by the information server 16 (management server).

FIG. 13 is a related table T3 included in the information server 16.
It is a conceptual diagram which shows the structure of.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a flow of an association process performed by the information server 16 (management server).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a flow of specific information providing processing performed by the information server 16 (Web server).

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a flow of response processing performed by the information server 16 (Web server).

FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the system.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile communication terminal in the operation example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the system.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an information distribution system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram showing a structure of content information in the system.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram showing the structure of broadcast schedule information in the same system.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile communication terminal 22 which constitutes the same system.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the flow of event processing performed by the mobile communication terminal 22 (Web browser).

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a flow of a reproduction process performed by the mobile communication terminal 22 (Web browser).

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a flow of timer processing performed by the mobile communication terminal 22 (Web browser).

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a flow of related information acquisition processing B performed by the mobile communication terminal 22 (Web browser).

FIG. 28 is an information specifying server 24 that constitutes the system.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a broadcast schedule table T4 included in the information specifying server 24.

FIG. 30 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a related table T5 included in the information specifying server 24.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a flow of an association process performed by the information identification server 24 (management server).

FIG. 32: Information specific server 24 (specific Web server)
It is a flow chart which shows the flow of the response processing which is performed.

FIG. 33 is an information providing server 25 constituting the system.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of A.

FIG. 34 is an information providing server 25 that constitutes the system.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of B.

FIG. 35 is a sequence diagram showing an operation example of the system.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile communication terminal 22 in the operation example of the system.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modified example of the information distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a modified example of the information distribution system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 21 ... Broadcasting station, 12A, 12B, 22A, 22B
... Mobile communication terminal, 13 ... Mobile packet communication network, 14, 2
3 ... Gateway server, 15 ... Internet, 16
... information server, 24 ... information specifying server, 25A, 25B
… Information provision server

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Uehara             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo (72) Inventor Shoichi Horiguchi             2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Stock             Ceremony company NTT Docomo F-term (reference) 5C025 CA01 CA02 CB05 CB06 CB10                 5C064 BA01 BB05 BC23 BD03 BD13

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A transmitter transmits content information including acquisition information for acquiring information related to content whose provision information changes according to the progress of reproduction and information representing the content according to a predetermined schedule. A process of transmitting the content, and a communication terminal capable of receiving the information transmitted by the transmitting device and communicating with the related information providing device, receives the content information and reproduces the content represented by the content information. A reproduction process to be started, and the communication terminal requested to deliver related information by a user of the communication terminal during reproduction of the content, obtains an acquisition request requesting the delivery using the acquisition information, A request transmission process of transmitting to the information providing device, the related information providing device receives the acquisition request, and A related information distribution method comprising: a request receiving step of specifying when distribution is requested; and a distribution step of causing the related information providing device to transmit related information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal. 2. In the process of receiving the request, the related information providing apparatus delays from the actual time by a time corresponding to a time difference between the transmission of the content information and the reproduction of the content represented by the content information. The related information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the time is specified by specifying the time. 3. The related information providing apparatus includes a state specifying step of specifying a state of a user of the communication terminal prior to the delivering step, and in the delivering step, the related information providing apparatus includes the time and the time. The related information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the related information according to the state is transmitted to the communication terminal. 4. The related information providing apparatus includes a providing apparatus storing related information to be distributed and a specifying apparatus for specifying related information to be distributed, and in the request transmitting process, the communication terminal issues the acquisition request. Transmitting to a specific device, in the request receiving process, the specific device receives the acquisition request and specifies a time when the distribution is requested by the user, and in the distribution process, the providing device responds to the time. The related information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the related information is transmitted to the communication terminal. 5. A state identifying process in which the identifying device obtains information indicating a state of a user of the communication terminal from a communication network providing a communication service only to a subscriber and identifies the state prior to the delivering process. In the distribution process, the specifying device specifies the related information according to the time and the state, and transmits information specifying the related information to the providing device, and the providing device outputs the related information. The related information distribution method according to claim 4, wherein the related information is transmitted to a communication terminal. 6. The distribution step corresponds to a step in which the specific device transmits an identifier for acquiring related information according to the time to the communication terminal, and the communication terminal corresponds to the identifier using the identifier. The related information distribution method according to claim 4, further comprising: a step of requesting the providing apparatus to send information, and a step of causing the providing apparatus to send information corresponding to the identifier to the communication terminal as related information. 7. A communication terminal which receives content information transmitted by a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces content represented by the information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of reproduction, A related information providing method in which a related information providing apparatus distributes related information distributed in relation to content, wherein the user of the communication terminal requests distribution of related information during reproduction of the content. Related with a receiving step of receiving a request transmitted from the user, a time specifying step of specifying when the distribution is requested by the user, and a transmitting step of sending related information according to the time to the communication terminal. Information provision method. 8. The time specifying step specifies a time delayed from the actual time by a time corresponding to a time difference between the transmission of the content information and the reproduction of the content represented by the content information. The related information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the time is specified by. 9. The related information providing apparatus has a state specifying step of specifying a state of a user of the communication terminal prior to the time specifying step, and in the transmitting step, the related information providing apparatus sets the time and The related information providing method according to claim 7, wherein the related information according to the state is transmitted to the communication terminal. 10. The acquisition device includes acquisition information for acquiring identification information for receiving distribution of related information related to content whose provision information changes according to progress of reproduction from a provision device, and information representing the content. A method for providing identification information, in which a specific apparatus transmits the identification information to a communication terminal that receives information and is transmitted by a transmitting apparatus according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces the content, A receiving step of receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal using the acquisition information by a user of the communication terminal requesting distribution of related information, and the distribution being requested by the user. The method includes a time specifying step of specifying a time and a transmitting step of transmitting identification information for acquiring related information according to the time to the communication terminal. Identification information providing method. 11. A state identifying process in which, prior to the transmitting process, the identifying device obtains information indicating a state of a user of the communication terminal from a communication network that provides communication services only to subscribers and identifies the state. The identification information providing method according to claim 10, further comprising: transmitting, in the distribution process, identification information for the specific device to obtain related information according to the time and the state, to the communication terminal. 12. Content information including acquisition information for acquiring related information distributed in relation to content whose provision information changes according to progress of reproduction and information representing the content is predetermined. A transmitting device transmitting according to a schedule, capable of receiving the information transmitted by the transmitting device and capable of communicating with a communication partner, receiving the content information, and reproducing the content represented by the content information. When a user requests distribution of related information during reproduction, a communication terminal that transmits an acquisition request that requests the distribution using the acquisition information, and when the acquisition request is received, the distribution is performed by the user. A related information distribution system, comprising: an information providing device that specifies a requested time and sends related information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal. 13. A communication terminal which receives content information transmitted by a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces the content represented by the information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of reproduction. A related information providing apparatus for distributing related information in relation to content, wherein a user of the communication terminal requests distribution of related information during reproduction of content and receives a request transmitted from the communication terminal. A related information providing apparatus comprising: a receiving unit; a time specifying unit that specifies a time when the distribution is requested by the user; and a transmitting unit that transmits related information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal. 14. The acquisition device includes acquisition information for acquiring identification information for receiving distribution of related information related to content whose provision information changes according to progress of reproduction from a provision device, and information representing the content. An identification information providing apparatus for transmitting the identification information to a communication terminal for receiving the content information transmitted according to a predetermined schedule by the transmission apparatus and reproducing the content, the content information reproducing apparatus transmitting the identification information during reproduction of the content. Receiving means for receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal using the acquisition information when the user of the communication terminal requests distribution of related information, and specifying a time when the distribution is requested by the user. Identification information providing means having a time specifying means and a transmitting means for transmitting the identification information for acquiring the related information according to the time to the communication terminal. Equipment. 15. Acquisition information for acquiring from a related information providing apparatus of a distribution source, related information distributed in association with content whose provided information changes according to progress of reproduction, and information representing the content. Content receiving means for receiving content information that is transmitted from the transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule, and reproducing means for reproducing the content represented by the content information received by the content receiving means; Detecting means for detecting that a person has requested the distribution of the related information, and providing the related information using the acquisition information, the information notifying when the detecting means detects that the distribution is requested. Communication transmitting means for transmitting to the device, and a communication receiving device for receiving the related information according to the time transmitted from the related information providing device. Communication terminal and means. 16. A communication terminal, which receives content information transmitted by a transmitter according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces content represented by the information, the provision information of which changes according to the progress of reproduction, A procedure for receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal when a user of the communication terminal requests distribution of the related information during reproduction of the content to a computer device that distributes the related information in association with the content; A program for causing a user to perform a procedure of specifying when the distribution is requested and a procedure of transmitting relevant information corresponding to the time to the communication terminal. 17. The acquisition device includes acquisition information for acquiring identification information for receiving distribution of related information related to content whose provision information changes according to progress of reproduction from the provision device, and information representing the content. Information to a communication terminal that receives content information transmitted by a transmitting device according to a predetermined schedule and reproduces the content, a computer apparatus that transmits the identification information, and use of the communication terminal while reproducing the content A procedure for receiving a request transmitted from the communication terminal using the acquisition information by requesting the distribution of related information by a person, a procedure for specifying when the distribution is requested by the user, and A program for executing a procedure of transmitting identification information for acquiring relevant information to the communication terminal according to time. 18. A relation distributed in relation to a content to a computer device which acquires from a related information providing device of a distribution source, relevant information distributed in relation to a content whose provision information changes according to progress of reproduction. A procedure for receiving content information that is information including acquisition information for acquiring information from a related information providing apparatus that is a distribution source and information that represents the content, and that is transmitted from a transmitting apparatus according to a predetermined schedule, The procedure of reproducing the content represented by the content information received by the content receiving means, the step of detecting that the user has requested the distribution of the related information, and the detecting means that the distribution is requested. Information for notifying when detected, a procedure for transmitting to the related information providing device using the acquisition information, and the related information It transmitted from the test apparatus, a program for executing the steps of receiving related information corresponding to the time. 19. A computer-readable recording medium on which the program according to claim 16 is recorded. 20. A content transmission process in which a transmitting device transmits content information including acquisition information for acquiring information related to the content and information representing the content, and receiving the information transmitted by the transmitting device. A reproduction process in which a communication terminal capable of communicating with the related information providing device receives the content information and starts reproduction of the content represented by the content information, and use of the communication terminal during reproduction of the content. To the related information providing device using the acquisition information, the acquisition request requesting the distribution and the acquisition request additional information indicating the status of the communication terminal. A request transmission process for transmitting, and a delivery error in which the related information providing device transmits related information according to the acquisition request additional information to the communication terminal. A related information distribution method having the following. 21. The related information distribution method according to claim 20, wherein the acquisition request additional information indicates a time when distribution is requested by a user of the communication terminal. 22. The acquisition request additional information indicates a time when the communication terminal receives content information representing content for which distribution of related information is requested by a user of the communication terminal. The related information delivery method described. 23. The relation according to claim 20, wherein the acquisition request additional information indicates a position of the communication terminal when the distribution of the related information is requested by the communication terminal. Information distribution method. 24. The acquisition request additional information indicates a position of the communication terminal when the communication terminal receives content information indicating content for which distribution of related information is requested by a user of the communication terminal. The related information distribution method according to any one of claims 20 to 22.