JP2004240564A - Information providing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information providing system in which highly reliable information is provided to the receiver side of information without requiring an information provider side and the information receiver side to bear so large burden. <P>SOLUTION: The information providing system is provided with a center server S, a plurality of information provider side terminals 4 and a plurality of receiver side terminals 5 connectable to the center server. The center server is provided with a function for storing provided information from a plurality of information providers, a function for displaying an information confirmation picture 12 for confirming the presence/absence of the update of the stored provided information, a function for, when the presence or absence of the information update is inputted from the information provider side terminal through the information confirmation picture, storing the input date as the provided information confirmation date while making the input date correspond to the provided information, a function for storing the information contents transmitted from the information provider side terminal as the provided information and a function for displaying the provided information and the information confirmation date on the receiver side terminal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for providing various information via communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, a store such as a game arcade collects useful information from the outside for customers who visit the store, displays it on a display terminal installed in the store, and provides it to its own customers. was there.
As shown in FIG. 5, the computer 2 in the game hall 1 collects and stores information for customers, for example, information on restaurants near the own store, and displays the information on a display 3 installed in the store. Was to be displayed. This display 3 may be provided anywhere in the game arcade, but may also be adjacent to the game arcade and also serve to display game arcade information and the like.
The computer 2 of the game hall 1 is connected to a communication means N such as the Internet, and can be connected to the information provider terminal 4 via this communication means.
[0003]
The information provider side terminal 4 is a terminal that provides information such as a restaurant around the game arcade 1. Using the information provider side terminal 4, information is registered or updated in the computer 2. Or The information provider may be a restaurant providing information to the computer 2 or a third party specializing in providing information.
When the information content once registered in the computer 2 differs from the actual condition, for example, when the business hours of a restaurant or the like are changed or the store is moved, each information provider Individually notified the computer 2 of the game arcade 1 of the change in the information content.
Further, the same information provider sometimes provides the same information to a plurality of stores.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-160970
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the system as described above, when there is a change in the information content, each information provider individually notifies the update information using the information provider side terminal 4. If the information was provided to the store, the updated information had to be notified by the number of the stores, and the burden on the information provider was heavy. For this reason, even if the actual situation is different from the information content registered in advance, the contact may be delayed or left untouched.
Conversely, if the game site 1 checks the information contents with the information provider one by one, the more information the store manages, the more the burden of checking work Grew big and didn't last long.
[0006]
As a result, the reliability of the information stored in the computer 2 is lowered, and there is a problem that valuable information cannot be provided to customers of the store.
An object of the present invention is to realize an information providing system that can provide highly reliable information to an information receiver without imposing too much burden on both the information provider and the information receiver.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention comprises a center server, a plurality of information provider terminals and a plurality of receiver terminals connectable to the center server, wherein the center server is provided by the plurality of information providers. The function of storing information, the function of displaying an information confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the stored provided information has been updated, and the presence or absence of information update via the information confirmation screen are input from the information provider terminal. A function of storing the input date as the information confirmation date of the provided information in association with the provided information; a function of storing the information content transmitted from the information provider terminal as the latest provided information; And a function of displaying the provided information and the information confirmation date on the side terminal.
[0008]
The second invention is based on the premise of the first invention, in that the center server has a function of displaying the contents of the latest provided information stored by the center server and the information confirmation date on the information confirmation screen. Has features.
The third invention is based on the first or the second invention, and the center server has a function of storing an e-mail address of an information provider for each provided information. It is characterized in that it has a function of transmitting a reminder mail for urging the terminal to access the information confirmation screen based on a preset timing.
[0009]
The fourth invention is based on the first to third inventions, and the center server stores a preset confirmation period, specifies provided information that does not include the information confirmation date within the confirmation period, and It is characterized in that it has a function of stopping the display of the provided information on the receiver side terminal.
[0010]
The fifth invention is based on the above-mentioned respective inventions, and the provided information is information to be added to the landmark, and the center server has a function of storing position information of the receiver side terminal, and a function of an area including the position. The receiver terminal has a function of pasting provided information corresponding to a landmark of map information and a function of storing map information of the specific area in association with a specific URL (uniform resource locator). It is characterized in that it has a function of accessing a URL corresponding to map information of an area including its own position and receiving map information.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, this system connects a plurality of information provider terminals 4 and a center server S via a communication network N1, and connects the center server S to the center server S via a communication network N2. A plurality of recipient terminals 5 are connected.
The center server S is provided in an information center different from the information provider and the receiver.
[0012]
The receiver terminal 5 is a terminal that receives the provided information provided via the center server S, and causes the provided information to be displayed on a display (not shown) connected thereto. The receiver-side terminal 5 can be installed in, for example, a game hall or a restaurant to provide information to customers of the shop.
In FIG. 1, a communication network N1 connecting the information provider terminal 4 and a communication network N2 connecting the receiver terminal 5 are separately shown. This is because the information provider and the receiver are separately displayed for easy understanding, but the communication networks N1 and N2 may be the same.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the center server S includes a processing unit 6 for performing data processing, a provided information storage unit 7, a map information storage unit 8, a provider information storage unit 9, a recipient information storage unit 10 And However, these processing units and storage units may be provided in hardware in the center server S or may realize their functions in software, and either storage unit may be formed separately. And may be connected.
[0014]
The provided information storage unit 7 stores information provided by an information provider. In this embodiment, the provided information is landmark added information. The landmark additional information is information corresponding to the landmark on the map, and includes, for example, business hours of a specific store displayed on the map, regular holidays, and special sale information. When the store corresponding to the landmark becomes an information provider that provides its own data, and when a third party becomes an information provider that provides information about a specific store to the center server S. There is.
[0015]
The provision information storage unit 7 stores, for example, data as shown in a table 11 in FIG.
The table 11 includes, for the information number, a provider ID for identifying the provider of the information, a confirmation cycle for confirming whether or not the information content has changed, a recipient ID for identifying a recipient to receive this information, This is data in which specific information contents are associated with information confirmation dates.
Since the provider ID is the ID of the provider who provided the information, it corresponds to the information on a one-to-one basis. However, since the recipient ID is the ID of the recipient who needs the information, a plurality of The recipient ID may be associated with the recipient ID.
[0016]
Which receivers need which information is set in advance. However, as shown in Table 11, there is a method other than the method of storing the receivers in association with the individual information numbers. There is also a method of setting the type of necessary information and the type of unnecessary information for each recipient. For example, if the recipient is an amusement arcade and wants to provide only the information of nearby restaurants and convenience stores to the customers of his / her store, the types of information to be provided include "restaurant information" and "convenience store". "Store information" or a rival "gaming center information" may be set as an unnecessary information type. However, when the same information is provided to all recipients, there is no need for data for associating each information with the recipient.
[0017]
The map information storage unit 8 of the center server S stores map data for the whole country. The processing unit 6 creates map information in which the landmark additional information is pasted on the map of the map data, and provides the map information to the receiver-side terminal 5. The map information storage unit 8 stores both the map data to which the landmark additional information is not attached and the map information to which the landmark additional information is attached. Of course, the presence or absence of the landmark additional information may be stored in a separate storage unit.
The provider information storage unit 9 stores the mail address of the information provider. The e-mail address is not limited to that of the information provider side terminal 4 and may be any address that can reliably contact the information provider. In addition, if there is information on the information provider, the information is stored in the provider information storage unit 9.
[0018]
Further, the recipient information storage unit 10 is a place for storing information on recipients. The recipient information includes the location information of the recipient terminal. Specifically, the recipient ID is associated with an address, latitude / longitude information, and the like. Here, the position information of the receiver side terminal is not, for example, the exact latitude and longitude information of the position where the receiver side terminal 5 is installed, but the provided information using the receiver side terminal 5. The information may be information about a game center to be displayed or location information for each restaurant. Then, even if the installation location of the receiver-side terminal 5 moves in a large store, there is no need to change the position information.
[0019]
Further, the recipient information storage unit 10 stores a provided information URL corresponding to the recipient side terminal 5. The provided information URL is provided when the receiver terminal 5 accesses the provided information, and in this embodiment, the URL of the URL on which the map information to which the landmark additional information is pasted is displayed. That is.
In addition, information for specifying the information to be received by the receiver side terminal 5 may be stored in the receiver information storage unit 10 as the receiver information.
[0020]
Next, a procedure in which the center server S provides information to the receiver terminal 5 using the system of this embodiment will be described.
The information center collects landmark additional information from a plurality of information providers and inputs it to the center server S. The input of the landmark additional information may be performed from the provider terminal 4 via the communication network N1, or the collected information may be manually input at the information center without using the provider terminal 4. You may make it.
[0021]
The center server S inputs necessary landmark additional information as well as necessary data into other storage units. When necessary data is input, the processing unit 6 creates map data for each receiving terminal. The processing unit 6 specifies an area including the position of the receiver side terminal from the position information of each receiver stored in the receiver information storage unit 10 and includes a necessary landmark in the map data of the area. Create map information with additional information attached. Further, a URL corresponding to the recipient is attached to the map information and stored in the map information storage unit 8.
[0022]
That is, when the specific receiver-side terminal 5 accesses its own URL, a map of the area including the location of its own store is displayed. Then, when the user clicks on a landmark portion on which the additional information is pasted, the telephone number of the store, business hours, and the like are displayed.
The landmark additional information added to the map is set in advance as necessary information in association with the recipient.
[0023]
Various methods are conceivable as a method for specifying the area. For example, a display area may be the same as that of a particular recipient, for example, a radius of 500 m or an address of a store or the like corresponding to the recipient. Alternatively, map information of a plurality of scales including the store of the receiver may be prepared, and a desired scale may be selected while displaying the map information on the receiver side terminal 5.
[0024]
Further, the processing unit 6 transmits an access prompt mail to the information provider so as to access the provided information confirmation screen 12 shown in FIG. 4 based on the confirmation cycle of the table 11 in FIG. For example, in the table 11 of FIG. 3, the information provider ID of the information number 1 is 001, and the confirmation cycle is 30 days.
Therefore, the processing unit 6 automatically transmits the reminder mail to the information provider of ID001 every 30 days after the provision information of the information number 1 is input.
Here, the destination to which the access mail is transmitted is the mail address stored in the provider information storage unit 9. The URL of the provided information confirmation screen 12 must be notified to the information provider simultaneously with or separately from the reminder mail.
[0025]
When the information provider who has received the reminder mail accesses the URL for the information confirmation screen from the information provider side terminal 4, the provided information confirmation screen 12 of FIG. 4 is displayed. The provided information confirmation screen 12 is a screen created for each provided information by the processing unit 6 of the center server S, and is stored with a URL for a specific information confirmation screen.
The provided information confirmation screen 12 includes an information content display area 13 for displaying the latest information content at the time, a no button 14 for clicking when there is no change in the information content, and a date when the information content was previously confirmed. , A final information confirmation date display field 15 for displaying the last information confirmation date, and a transmission button 16.
[0026]
The information provider checks the information content display area of the provided information confirmation screen 12 to confirm whether the information content provided by the information provider matches the current situation, and if the information content needs to be updated. If it is determined, the information in the information content display area 13 is changed. Then, when the information content is changed, the transmission button 16 is clicked. When the transmission button 16 is clicked, the information content of the information content display area 13 is transmitted to the center server S. In the center server S, the processing unit 6 makes the received information content the latest provided information, and stores the input date as the information confirmation date in the provided information storage unit 7.
Then, in response to the access from the receiver side terminal 5, the processing unit 6 displays the updated provided information and the last information confirmation date that is the updated date.
[0027]
On the other hand, when the information provider determines that it is not necessary to update the information displayed on the provided information confirmation screen 12, the user clicks the none button 14 on the screen 12. When the user clicks the none button 14, only the no signal is transmitted to the center server S. The processing unit 6 that has received this information sets the date as the information confirmation date and stores the date in the provided information storage unit 7 in association with the corresponding provided information.
When this information is displayed on the receiver side terminal 5, the information content is the same as before the information confirmation date, but only the latest information confirmation date is updated.
[0028]
As described above, each piece of provided information is stored in association with the final information confirmation date, and the information confirmation date is displayed on the receiver side terminal 5, so that the receiver can check the displayed provided information. Accuracy can be measured. For example, even if the information content has not changed after a long time, if the final information confirmation date of the information is near, the reliability of the provided information is high, and if the final information confirmation date is very old, It can be assumed that the reliability of the provided information is low.
By providing an information content display area 13 for displaying the latest information content on the provided information confirmation screen 12 as in this embodiment, the information provider can check the content provided by the user on the spot. It is convenient. However, the provided information confirmation screen 12 does not have to include the information content display area 13.
[0029]
On the information provider side, a reminder e-mail is sent periodically to urge the user to access the provided information confirmation screen 12, and if the access is made in accordance with the reminder, the information provided by the information provider is confirmed. Can be easy. Compared to the case where an action for updating information is performed by itself, the loss of updating is reduced. Furthermore, it is troublesome to contact the information center when there is no change in the information content, but it is troublesome to display the provided information confirmation screen 12 and click the none button 14. If not, it's not too much trouble. In particular, if the information provider wants to use the provided information effectively, it is considered that the provided information is updated and confirmed more reliably.
[0030]
Further, the processing unit 6 deletes the provided information from the provided information storage unit 7 if there is no transmission of the update data or the transmission of the absence signal within a preset confirmation period after the transmission of the reminder mail. You can also set it as follows. This is because information for which information confirmation has not been performed for a long time is determined to have low reliability, and such low-reliability information is prevented from being disclosed to the recipient. In this embodiment, when the center server S does not receive a response via the provided information confirmation screen 12 within the preset confirmation period, that is, when the final information confirmation date is not included in the confirmation period Although the corresponding provided information is deleted, the received information may not be temporarily displayed on the receiver side terminal 5 without being deleted. In that case, the reminder mail is transmitted thereafter, and when the response to the provided information confirmation screen 12 is transmitted, the display on the receiving terminal 5 is restarted.
[0031]
In this way, if the information provider neglected to check the information content, the provided information would not be displayed, and if the information provider wanted to provide his / her information, the information provider would be sure to confirm the information. Will do it.
Various settings can be considered for the confirmation period. For example, if a certain period is set as the confirmation period after sending the reminder email, or if a certain period is set as the confirmation period from the previous information confirmation date, the check date is set regardless of the reminder email or the past information confirmation date Then, there is a case where a certain period is set as the confirmation period retroactively from the check date. Then, if there is no answer within the confirmation period, the display of the provided information is stopped.
[0032]
In the system of this embodiment, since the data displayed on the receiver terminal can be known at the time when the information is finally confirmed, the reliability of the information can be measured. Moreover, it is not necessary for the information receiver side to check the information provider for the update of the information content each time.
In addition, since the information provider can easily update and check the information content, the information provider is less likely to fail to update or check. As a result, the reliability of the provided information increases. Further, the information for which the information has not been confirmed may not be provided, and the reliability of the displayed information may be further increased.
Therefore, the receiver can obtain highly reliable information, and can also provide useful information to his or her customers.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first to fifth aspects, by providing the center server between the information provider and the receiver, it is possible to collectively manage information updates and confirmations at the center. That is, there is no need for the information provider to transmit update information or a confirmation signal to each recipient.
In addition, since the information provider uses the information confirmation screen to easily confirm the information content, the confirmation can be reliably performed.
[0034]
According to the second aspect, the information provider can check the contents of the information provided by the information provider on the spot by viewing the information confirmation screen.
According to the third aspect, it is possible to periodically prompt the information provider to confirm the information content. Moreover, the receiver does not need to individually urge the information provider to confirm the information contents or to inquire whether the information has been updated.
[0035]
According to the fourth invention, it is possible to prevent the provided information, whose contents have not been confirmed for a certain period or more, from being displayed on the receiver side terminal. Therefore, only more reliable information will be provided to the recipient.
According to the fifth aspect, the receiver can obtain map information around the receiver only by accessing the dedicated URL using the receiver terminal. There is no need to narrow down the required area from the wide range of map information.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration inside a center server of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an example of data stored in a provision information storage unit according to the embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a provided information confirmation screen of the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a conventional information providing system.
[Explanation of symbols]
S center server 4 information provider side terminal 5 receiver side terminal 12 information confirmation screen 13 information content display area 15 information confirmation date display field

Claims (5)

A center server, comprising a plurality of information provider terminals and a plurality of receiver terminals connectable to the center server, wherein the center server has a function of storing information provided by the plurality of information providers. , A function to display an information confirmation screen for confirming whether or not the stored provided information has been updated; and a function for displaying an information update screen when information is updated or not inputted from the information provider terminal via the information confirmation screen. And the function of storing the information content transmitted from the information provider terminal as the latest provided information, and providing the provided information to the recipient terminal. An information providing system having a function of displaying information and the information confirmation date. 2. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the center server has a function of displaying the contents of the latest provided information stored by the center server and the information confirmation date on the information confirmation screen. The center server presets a function of storing the information provider's e-mail address for each provided information and a reminder e-mail that prompts the information provider side to access the information confirmation screen for this e-mail address. The information providing system according to claim 1, further comprising a function of transmitting based on timing. The center server stores a preset confirmation period, specifies provided information that does not include the information confirmation date within the confirmed period, and has a function to stop displaying the provided information on the receiver side terminal. Item 4. The information providing system according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The provided information is the information to be added to the landmark, and the center server pastes the provided information corresponding to the landmark of the map information of the area including the position and the function of storing the position information of the receiver side terminal. A function for storing a specific URL (uniform resource locator) in association with the map information of the specific area, and each receiver terminal corresponds to the map information of the area including its own position. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a function of accessing a URL and receiving map information.

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