JP2007183862A - Information provision system, information distribution server, attribute information writing program, information presentation device, information presentation method and information presentation processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide proper information to each individual user without disclosing privacy information, by which the individual user can be identified, to a server or the like at all. <P>SOLUTION: In this information provision system, an attribute information writing program (a card writing application) for writing attribute information into an attribute information recording medium such as an IC card is downloaded to a user terminal from an information distribution server. In the user terminal, the attribute information (liking, taste or the like) of the user oneself is written in the IC card by use of the card writing application. The user possesses the IC card written with the attribute information, and makes an information presentation device (an information board) disposed as a public terminal, for example, read the attribute information recorded in the IC card. The information board transmits information requirement including the read attribute information to the information distribution server. The information distribution server selects the information according to the attribute information included in the information requirement, and transmits it to the information board. The information board presents the received information to the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information providing system, an information distribution server, an attribute information writing program, an information presenting apparatus, an information presenting method, and an information presenting processing program, and more particularly to a technique for appropriately providing information such as appropriate advertisements for each individual user.

JP 2003-85659 A JP 2002-108920 A JP 2001-331523 A JP 2003-44607 A

As a method of providing information such as advertisements, in order to provide useful information for individual users, the user's personal information, hobbies, preferences, etc. are registered with the advertisement distributor, and the advertisement distributor Information and various services according to hobbies and the like are provided by e-mail and direct mail.
For example, when a user uses a kind of service in which various points are given by a member's card or an IC card, the input screen on the home page of the WWW (World Wide Web) on the Internet can be used. Personal information is disclosed by transmitting personal information, preference information, and the like to the home page server. In response to this, the trader side performs service point addition according to product purchase, provision of information such as advertisement, member privilege service, etc. to the registered user.

The personal information includes an address, name, telephone number, e-mail address, credit card number, etc., and these are information that can identify individual users.
Further, by disclosing personal interests, preferences, favorite product fields, sex, age, etc. to the trader along with personal information, the trader can specify an individual and provide an effective advertising service.

However, there are many general users who do not like to know personal information, that is, information that can identify an individual such as the above address and name from the viewpoint of privacy protection.
In the above-mentioned patent document 2, as a technique from the same viewpoint, “personal information consisting of contents not specifying a user” is transmitted from the user terminal to the information providing server, and the personal information received by the information providing server is included. A method for transmitting information corresponding to a user terminal is disclosed. In this case, the content transmitted from the user can maintain anonymity, but from the necessity of information transmission, for example, an e-mail address is known to the information providing server side as information for identifying the user terminal. become.
In recent years, e-mail addresses and telephone numbers have also become important privacy information as information that can be specified by individuals. In this respect, the method of Patent Document 2 that provides information at a user terminal is used to conceal personal information. There is a limit.

  In view of these points, the present invention provides information that can be individually identified for each user, in a state in which the address, name, telephone number, e-mail address, credit card number, and the like, which can be used to identify an individual, can be securely concealed. The purpose is to realize a system that can be provided.

The information providing system of the present invention includes an information distribution server, an information processing terminal device, and an information presentation device that are communicably connected. The information distribution server includes: a program providing unit that causes the information processing terminal device to download an attribute information writing program for writing attribute information as content that does not specify an individual on a predetermined attribute information recording medium; In response to an information request including the attribute information transmitted from the apparatus, information selection processing means for selecting information based on the attribute information and transmitting the selected information to the information presenting apparatus is provided.
The information processing terminal device performs an input process of the attribute information and a process of recording the input attribute information on the attribute information recording medium as an operation based on the attribute information writing program downloaded from the advertisement distribution server. Control means are provided.
The information presentation device includes: attribute information reading means for reading attribute information from the attribute information recording medium; information request means for transmitting an information request including attribute information read by the attribute information reading means to the information distribution server; Information presenting means for presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request;

  An information distribution server according to the present invention is an information distribution server capable of communicating with an information processing terminal device and an information presentation device by network communication, and writes attribute information that does not specify an individual to a predetermined attribute information recording medium. The attribute information writing program is downloaded to the information processing terminal device, and information is selected based on the attribute information in response to an information request including the attribute information transmitted from the information presentation device. And information request response processing means for transmitting the selected information to the information presentation device.

An attribute information writing program according to the present invention includes an input processing step for performing input processing of attribute information as content for which an individual is not specified, and an attribute for recording the attribute information input in the input step on a predetermined attribute information recording medium A program for causing an information processing terminal device to execute an information recording step.
For example, the attribute information recording medium is an IC card, and in the attribute information recording step, control is performed to write attribute information to a writing device for the IC card.

An information presentation apparatus according to the present invention is an information presentation apparatus capable of communicating with an information distribution server by network communication, and includes a predetermined attribute information recording medium in which attribute information as content that does not specify an individual is recorded. Attribute information reading means for reading attribute information, information request means for transmitting an information request including attribute information read by the attribute information reading means to the information distribution server, and transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request Information presenting means for presenting and outputting the received information.
The information presentation method of the present invention includes an attribute information reading step for reading the attribute information from a predetermined attribute information recording medium in which attribute information as content that does not specify an individual is recorded, and an attribute read in the attribute information reading step. An information requesting step for transmitting an information request including information to the information distribution server, and an information presenting step for presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request.
The information presentation processing program of the present invention is a program that causes the information processing apparatus to execute the processing of the information presentation method.

That is, in the present invention, an attribute information writing program for performing processing of writing attribute information to an attribute information recording medium such as an IC card is downloaded from the information distribution server to the information processing terminal device. The information processing terminal device is a user terminal used by a general user, for example.
The information processing terminal device that has downloaded and started the attribute information writing program writes the attribute information of the user to an attribute information recording medium such as an IC card. At the time of this writing, network communication with the information distribution server or the like is not performed. The attribute information referred to in this specification is information that cannot identify an individual user, such as hobbies, preferences, favorite product fields, sexes, and ages.
The general user possesses the attribute information recording medium in which the attribute information is written as described above, and reads the attribute information recorded on the attribute information recording medium, for example, in an information presentation device arranged as a public terminal. . The information presentation device transmits an information request including the read attribute information to the information distribution server. The information distribution server selects information according to the attribute information included in the information request, and transmits the information to the information presentation device. The information presentation device presents the received information to the user.

In this case, the user can appropriately input the attribute information in accordance with the information providing service by using the attribute information writing program in the information processing terminal device (user terminal), and write the attribute information in the attribute information recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately write to the attribute information recording medium without notifying the attribute information to the information distribution server.
Further, since the attribute information recorded on the attribute information recording medium is information that cannot identify an individual user, even if this attribute information recording medium is read by the information presenting apparatus and the attribute information is sent to the information presenting apparatus and the information distribution server. There is no risk of privacy leaks. That is, the information distribution server and the information presentation device cannot identify a user who uses an attribute information recording medium such as an IC card for the information presentation device.
Further, since the information distribution server does not transmit information to the information processing terminal device that is a user terminal, it is not necessary to inform the information distribution server side of the e-mail address of the information processing terminal device (user terminal).
In addition, since the attribute information becomes information for selecting information necessary for the user, the information distribution server can select appropriate information for each user and present it with the information presenting apparatus.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to provide appropriate information for each individual user, for example, a product advertisement suitable for the user's hobbies and preferences, without disclosing any privacy information that can identify the individual user.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
[1. System configuration and operation overview]
[2. Computer system configuration]
[3. Information board configuration]
[4. Configuration of reader / writer and IC card]
[5. Functional configuration of each part]
[6. Example of ad delivery processing]
[7. Effect of embodiment, modification and program]

[1. System configuration and operation overview]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the information providing system of the present embodiment.
In the information providing system, the user terminal 10, the advertisement distribution server 50, and the information board 1 are connected to be communicable via a network 60 such as the Internet. The network 60 is a wide area network such as the Internet, for example, and can interconnect devices according to a predetermined communication protocol such as TCP / IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). However, as an actual system operation to be described later, communication between the advertisement distribution server 50 and the user terminal 10 and communication between the advertisement distribution server 50 and the information board 1 are performed, and particularly between the user terminal 10 and the information board 1. There is no communication.

The user terminal 10 corresponds to an information processing terminal device referred to in the claims of the present invention. This user terminal 10 is an information processing terminal device used by a user who enjoys providing information by the information providing system of this example, and specifically, for example, a personal computer installed in a home or the like.
The user terminal 10 is connected to a reader / writer device 12 that can write and read information to and from the IC card 11. The IC card 11 is a recording medium owned and used by the user, and is an example of an attribute information recording medium referred to in the claims of the present invention. Here, it is assumed that the IC card 11 is a non-contact type IC card.
The reader / writer device 12 is connected as an external device of the user terminal 10, and performs writing to and reading from the IC card 11 based on the control of the user terminal 10.
Note that the user terminal 10 downloads a card writing application from the advertisement distribution server 50. This card writing application is an attribute information writing program referred to in the claims of the present invention. When the card writing application is started in the user terminal 10, information writing to the IC card 11 using the reader / writer device 12 is performed as processing of the card writing application.

The advertisement distribution server 50 is an example of an information distribution server in the claims of the present invention. In this example, the advertisement distribution server 50 is a server that distributes various types of advertisement information as information. The advertisement distribution server 50 is configured by a computer system such as a workstation or a personal computer.
The advertisement distribution server 50 performs a process of causing the user terminal 10 to download a card writing application in a state where the advertisement distribution server 50 is connected to the user terminal 10. The advertisement distribution server 50 selects advertisement information in response to an advertisement request from the information board 1 and performs a process of transmitting the selected advertisement information to the information board 1.

  The information board 1 is an example of an information presentation device as defined in the claims of the present invention. This information board 1 is arranged as an electronic advertisement display in a place that can be used by the general public, for example, in a store, a station, a shopping center, a train vehicle, etc., and is supplied from the advertisement distribution server 50 to the user in a display format. Presented advertisement information. Specifically, the attribute information recorded on the IC card 11 presented by the user is read, and an advertisement request including the attribute information is transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 50. The advertisement information transmitted from the advertisement distribution server 50 is displayed and presented to the user. The information board 1 performs processing based on such a program that performs processing for providing information to the user. This program is an information presentation processing program as defined in the claims of the present invention, and an information presentation method as defined in the claims of the present invention is executed as an operation executed by the program.

An outline of the operation of such an information providing system will be described.
First, communication is performed between the advertisement distribution server 50 and the user terminal 10, and the card writing application is downloaded. That is, the user connects to the advertisement distribution server 50 from the user terminal 10 such as a personal PC via the network 60 and downloads a software program as a card writing application related to the advertisement providing service.

By downloading the card writing application to the user terminal 10, the user can use the user terminal 10 to write attribute information that matches the advertisement providing service of this system to the IC card 11 that the user owns. Become.
That is, the card writing application is activated in the user terminal 10 and the IC card 11 is set in the reader / writer device 12. At this time, the user terminal 10 is in an offline state in which network communication is canceled. In the offline state, input of attribute information and writing to the IC card 11 are executed according to the card writing application. Depending on the card writing application, an input screen for inputting attribute information is displayed to the user of the user terminal 10, and the user inputs his / her attribute information in an item selection format, for example.
This attribute information is attribute information that does not specify an individual, for example, hobby, taste, field of advertisement or product that wants to receive information, age, gender, etc. For example, hobby, taste, product field, etc. Suppose that the content is classified and systematized so as to match the advertisement providing service in Japan.
However, the name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and the like as information that can identify an individual (or a terminal owned by the individual) are not included in the attribute information recorded on the IC card 11 by this system.
When the user inputs attribute information along the input screen, the attribute information is recorded on the IC card 11 set in the reader / writer device 12.

The user usually carries the IC card 11 and holds the IC card 11 over the information reading portion of the information board 1 at a place where the information board 1 is installed, for example.
The information board 1 reads attribute information from the IC card 11. Then, an advertisement request including attribute information is transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 50.
When receiving the advertisement request, the advertisement distribution server 50 selects appropriate advertisement information according to the attribute information and transmits it to the information board 1. The information board 1 displays the advertisement information transmitted from the advertisement distribution server 50. As a result, when viewed from the user, by holding the IC card 11 over a predetermined position on the information board 1, it becomes possible to view an advertisement suitable for the user.

[2. Computer system configuration]

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of each part of the information providing system as described above will be described in detail. First, the configuration of a computer system 100 that can be used as the user terminal 10 or the advertisement distribution server 50 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a hardware configuration example of the computer system 100. As shown in the figure, a computer system 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a memory 102, a network interface 103, a display controller 104, an input device interface 105, an external device interface 106, a keyboard 107, a mouse 108, an HDD (Hard Disc Drive). 109, a media drive 110, a bus 111, and a display device 112.

A CPU 101, which is a main controller of the computer system 100, executes various applications under the control of an operating system (OS). For example, when the computer system 100 is used as the advertisement distribution server 50, the CPU 101 executes an advertisement registration server application, an advertisement selection server application for selecting advertisement information, and the like, so that the computer system 100 is It functions as the advertisement distribution server 50. When such a computer system 100 is used as the user terminal 10, the operation necessary in this example is executed as the user terminal 10 by executing the card writing application described above.
As illustrated, the CPU 101 is interconnected with other devices (described later) by a bus 111. Each device on the bus 111 is given a unique memory address or I / O address, and the CPU 101 can access the device using these addresses. An example of the bus 111 is a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus.

  The memory 102 is a storage device used for storing program codes executed by the CPU 101 and temporarily storing work data being executed. In this figure, the memory 102 is shown as including both a volatile memory and a nonvolatile memory. For example, it includes a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) for storing a program, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for calculation work area and various temporary storages, and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory).

The network interface 103 can connect the computer system 100 to a network such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network) according to a predetermined communication protocol such as Ethernet. The network interface 103 is generally provided in the form of a LAN adapter card, and is used by being attached to a PCI bus slot on a motherboard (not shown). However, it is also possible to connect to an external network via a modem (not shown) instead of a network interface.
On the LAN, a plurality of host terminals (computers) are connected in a transparent state, and a distributed computing environment is constructed. A part of the host operates as a router and is connected to another external network such as a LAN or the Internet. Distribution of software programs and data contents is performed on the Internet.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that advertisement information and selection results thereof are distributed via a network. For example, the advertisement distribution server 50 configured by the computer system 100 distributes, for example, streaming of advertisement information to the information board 1 via the network.

  The display controller 104 is a dedicated controller for actually processing drawing commands issued by the CPU 101, and supports, for example, a bitmap drawing function equivalent to SVGA (Super Video Graphic Array) or XGA (eXtended Graphic Array). The drawing data processed in the display controller 104 is once written in a frame buffer (not shown), for example, and then output to the display device 112 on the screen. The display device 112 is, for example, a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) display, a liquid crystal display (Liquid Crystal Display), or the like.

  The input device interface 105 is a device for connecting user input devices such as a keyboard 107 and a mouse 108 to the computer system 100. In the user terminal 10, the user inputs attribute information according to the processing of the card writing application. In this case, the user inputs setting contents of the attribute information item using the keyboard 107 and the mouse 108. In the case of the advertisement distribution server 50, the operator uses the keyboard 107 and the mouse 108 to input and operate for registration and management of advertisement information to be provided.

  The external device interface 106 is a device for connecting external devices such as the HDD 109 and the media drive 110 to the computer system 100. The external device interface 106 conforms to an interface standard such as IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) or SCSI (Small Computer System Interface).

As is well known, the HDD 109 is an external storage device in which a magnetic disk as a storage carrier is fixedly mounted, and is superior to other external storage devices in terms of storage capacity and data transfer speed. Placing the software program on the HDD 109 in an executable state is called “installation” of the program in the system. Normally, the HDD 109 stores an operating system program code to be executed by the CPU 101, application programs, device drivers, and the like in a nonvolatile manner.
For example, in the case of the user terminal 10 of the present embodiment, a card writing application is installed on the HDD 109. In the case of the advertisement distribution server 50, an application for advertisement registration and advertisement provision is installed on the HDD 109. Also, each advertisement information, various information set for the information board 1, request conditions for selecting advertisement information, and the like can be stored on the HDD 109. In the advertisement distribution server 50, an advertisement exposure log in which each advertisement information is exposed to the user can be recorded on the HDD 109 as an advertisement viewing history.

The media drive 110 is a device for loading a portable medium 120 such as a CD (Compact Disc), an MO (Magneto-Optical disc), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) and accessing the data recording surface. The portable medium 120 is mainly used for the purpose of backing up software programs and data files as data in a computer readable format, and for moving them (including sales, distribution, and distribution) between systems.
For example, various applications used in the advertisement distribution server 50 in this embodiment, a card writing application installed in the user terminal 10, and the like can be distributed and distributed using these portable media 120.
Further, in the case of the advertisement distribution server 50, the respective advertisement information, attribute information in the advertisement request from the information board 1, and the like can be stored, distributed and distributed using these portable media 120. Of course, the advertisement information selected to be supplied to each information board 1 is not streamed from the advertisement distribution server 50 but can be stored in this type of portable media 120 and moved between systems. is there.

The computer system 100 as shown in FIG. 2 may be a compatible computer or a successor of a personal computer PC / AT (Personal Computer / Advanced Technology) manufactured by IBM Corporation. Of course, a computer system having another architecture can be applied as the user terminal 10 or the advertisement distribution server 50 according to the present embodiment.
2 has been described as a system that can be applied to both the user terminal 10 and the advertisement distribution server 50. Of course, the processing capacity, the memory capacity, the connected devices, and the like depend on the functions required for each. It is assumed. For example, the advertisement distribution server 50 is provided with a large capacity or a large number of HDDs 109 for storing a large amount of advertisement information, or when a plurality of computer devices are connected in order to support access from a large number of information boards 1. Is also envisaged.

[3. Information board configuration]

Next, the configuration of the information board 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 shows an information board 1 that functions as an advertisement display in the present embodiment. The information board 1 is installed at a predetermined place in the city, and provides various kinds of information such as a store advertisement related to the neighborhood to the user.
In the example of FIG. 3, the information board 1 is provided with four display units 2 (display units 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D). Then, the user confirms the guidance displayed on each of the display units 2A to 2D, and the information request unit 3 (information request units 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D) provided on the display unit 2 Detailed information can be confirmed on the screen of the display unit 2 by bringing the IC card 11 to be closer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of guidance display displayed on the display units 2A to 2D of the information board 1 of FIG.
In this example, the guidance of the display unit 2A is such that the user is provided with information regarding the “Tokyo shopping map” by bringing the IC card 11 close to the information requesting unit 3A arranged at the lower right. The information on the “restaurant Alice” can be received by guiding the display unit 2B by bringing the IC card 11 close to the information requesting unit 3B arranged at the lower right. Indicates that it is possible.
Further, the guidance of the display unit 2C allows the user to be provided with information on “how to walk in Tokyo” by bringing the IC card 11 close to the information request unit 3C arranged at the lower right. The information on the display unit 2D can be provided with information on “Daikanyama” by bringing the IC card 11 close to the information requesting unit 3D arranged at the lower right of the guidance. It is shown that.

When the user confirms such guidance and, for example, tries to confirm information such as the menu of the food provided at “Restaurant Alice” or the appearance image of the store, as shown in FIG. By bringing 11 to the information request unit 3B, the information is displayed on the display unit 2B and can be confirmed. The information can also be written to the IC card.
Although not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a reader / writer device 4 (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D) is provided on the back side of the information request unit 3 (information request units 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D). The reader / writer 4 reads the attribute information from the IC card 11 brought close to the reader / writer 4.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the IC card 11 is close to the information request unit 3B of the information board 1 from the side. Here, an example is shown in which the reader / writer device 4B is installed on the back side of the information rest part 3B.
When the user brings the IC card 11 close to the information request unit 3B and receives the electromagnetic wave radiated from the reader / writer device 4B, it is recorded in the IC card 11 in a non-contact manner by communication using the electromagnetic wave. Attribute information, identification information, and the like are provided to the reader / writer device 4B (information board 1).
When the identification information or attribute information is notified from the IC card 11, the information board 1 is the information of “Restaurant Alice” desired by the user based on the information and is selected by the attribute information. Information is displayed on the display unit 2B. Such information may be written in the IC card 11.
When the provided information is displayed on the display unit 2B, the user can check the menu of “Restaurant Alice”, a photo of the dish, or a service according to the user on the spot.
In FIG. 6, dotted line arrows indicate communication performed between the information board 1 and the IC card 11 via electromagnetic waves. Since the information board 1 provides information based on the identification information notified via the electromagnetic wave, even if another IC card exists in the vicinity, information is erroneously transmitted to the IC card. Can be suppressed. The identification information is information indicating the individual IC card 11 and is not attribute information that can identify the user.
Although FIG. 6 shows the reader / writer device 4B, similarly, the reader / writer device 4A is provided inside the information request unit 3A, and the reader / writer device 4C is provided inside the information request unit 3C. The reader / writer device 4D is provided inside the information request unit 3D.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the internal configuration of the information board 1.
Information is exchanged with the IC card 11 by the reader / writer devices 4A to 4D provided in the display units 2A to 2D.
The CPU 41 develops a control program stored in the ROM 42 in the RAM 43 and controls the overall operation of the information board 1. The RAM 43 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 41 to execute various processes.
The CPU 41, ROM 42, and RAM 43 are connected to each other via a bus 47, and various processing units are connected to the bus 47.

The content storage unit 44 stores various types of information (contents) such as advertisements to be provided to the user, and reads the content based on instructions from the CPU 41. In the content storage unit 44, for example, advertisement information content to be displayed on each of the display units 2A to 2D at normal times (particularly when the IC card 11 is not in close proximity), content for guidance display as shown in FIG. Is remembered. When the IC card 11 is not used, the CPU 41 reads content such as guidance display or general advertisement from the content storage unit 44 and displays it on the display units 2A to 2D.
Further, an advertisement request is transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 50 using the attribute information read from the IC card 11, and the advertisement information content transmitted from the advertisement distribution server 50 according to the request is also stored in the content storage unit 44.
In addition, the content stored in the content storage unit 44 can be rewritten by an administrator of the information board 1, for example, the advertisement distribution server 50. Therefore, the latest information can be provided to the user.

The communication unit 46 includes a modem, a terminal adapter, and the like, and transmits and receives various types of information via the network 60. In other words, in the case of this example, the communication unit 46 transmits an advertisement request to the advertisement distribution server 50 via the network 60 and receives advertisement information.
The content acquired from the advertisement distribution server 50 by the communication unit 46 may be provided to the IC card 11.

For example, LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) 5 (5A to 5D) are arranged as display devices in the display unit 2 (2A to 2D). As described above, the reader / writer device 4 (4A to 4D) is arranged in the display unit 2 (2A to 2D).
The LCDs 5 </ b> A to 5 </ b> D each display predetermined guidance based on an instruction from the CPU 41, and the reader / writers 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> D communicate with the adjacent IC card 11 via electromagnetic waves based on the instruction from the CPU 41.
In addition, you may make it change the information displayed on display part 2A-2D for every predetermined period, for example.

[4. Configuration of reader / writer and IC card]

FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of the reader / writer device 4 (4A to 4D) in the information board 1 and the reader / writer device 12 used by the user connected to the user terminal 10.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 include an IC 30, a demodulation unit 22, an antenna 23, a modulation unit 24, and an oscillation circuit 25. The IC 30 includes a CPU 31, an SPU (Signal Processing Unit) 32, an SCC (Serial Communication Controller) 33, and a memory 34. Further, the memory 34 has a RAM 35 and a ROM 36. These CPU 31 to memory 34 are connected to each other via a bus 37.

  The CPU 31 expands the control program stored in the ROM 36 in the RAM 35, and based on the response data transmitted from the IC card 11 and the control signal supplied from the CPU 41 in FIG. 7 (or the CPU 101 in FIG. 2). Various processes are executed. For example, the CPU 31 generates a command to be transmitted to the IC card 11, outputs it to the SPU 32 via the bus 37, and performs authentication processing for data transmitted from the IC card 11.

  When the response data from the IC card 11 is supplied from the demodulator 22, the SPU 32 performs, for example, BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying) demodulation (Manchester code decoding) on the data, and obtains the acquired data. It supplies to CPU31. In addition, when a command to be transmitted to the IC card 11 is supplied via the bus 37, the SPU 32 performs BPSK modulation (coding into Manchester code) on the command and outputs the acquired data to the modulation unit 24.

  The SCC 33 supplies the data supplied from the CPU 41 in FIG. 7 (or the CPU 101 in FIG. 2) to the CPU 31 via the bus 37 or the data supplied from the CPU 31 via the bus 37 to the CPU 41 (or CPU 101).

The modulation unit 24 generates a carrier wave having a predetermined frequency (for example, 13.56 MHz) supplied from the oscillation circuit (OSC) 25 by performing ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) modulation based on data supplied from the SPU 32. The modulated wave is output from the antenna 23 as an electromagnetic wave.
On the other hand, the demodulator 22 demodulates the modulated wave (ASK modulated wave) acquired via the antenna 23 and outputs the demodulated data to the SPU 32.
The antenna 23 radiates a predetermined electromagnetic wave, and detects whether or not the non-contact type IC card 11 is approached based on a change in load with respect to the electromagnetic wave. When the IC card 11 comes close, the antenna 23 transmits and receives various data to and from the IC card 11.

Next, the configuration of the IC card 11 will be described with reference to FIG.
The IC card 11 has a configuration shown in FIG. 9 in a business card size plastic card, for example. That is, the antenna 13, the controller (CPU) 14, the RF unit 15, the ROM 16, the RAM 17, the EEP-ROM 18, and the regulator 19 are provided.

  The IC card 11 does not have a power source such as a battery. The operating power supply voltage Vd is obtained by the regulator 19. The regulator 19 induces magnetic field energy obtained by the antenna 13 at the time of communication with the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 with a coil, and converts it into a DC voltage Vd to obtain an operating power supply voltage for each part.

  The controller 14 controls the communication operation with the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 described above. Further, the RF unit 15 performs modulation / demodulation processing of the transmission / reception signal between the reader / writer devices 4 and 12. That is, the modulation signal received by the antenna 13 is demodulated by the RF unit 15 and delivered to the controller 14. Further, the controller 14 delivers data to be transmitted to the RF unit 15. The RF unit 15 modulates transmission data and transmits the data to the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 from the antenna 13. Response transmission from the IC card 11 to the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 is performed by returning a part of the carrier magnetic field to the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 by load modulation.

The ROM 16 stores an OS for processing of the controller 14 and necessary operation programs. The RAM 17 is a work memory used by the controller 14 for arithmetic processing and the like.
Various data and programs are written / read on the EEP-ROM 18 which is a nonvolatile memory. In the present embodiment, user attribute information is recorded on the IC card 11, but this attribute information is stored in the EEP-ROM 18.

[5. Functional configuration of each part]

The configuration of the user terminal 10, the information board 1, and the advertisement distribution server 50 constituting the information providing system of this example is as described above. The functional configuration provided by software for realizing the operation of this example is shown in FIG. Shown in

As shown in FIG. 10A, in the user terminal 10, when the card writing application 70 downloaded from the advertisement distribution server 50 is activated, the attribute information input processing function 71 illustrated in the CPU 101 and the card writing control are illustrated. Function 72 is expressed.
The attribute information input processing function 71 is a function that controls the execution of input of user attribute information in the user terminal 10, and displays an input screen on the display device 112 of the user terminal 10, and uses the keyboard 107 and the mouse 108. A process of constructing input information as attribute information in response to a user input operation is performed.
The card writing control function 72 controls the reader / writer device 12 to perform processing for recording the attribute information obtained by the attribute information input processing function 71 on the IC card 11.

In the advertisement distribution server 50, the CPU 101 has an application providing function 51 and an advertisement request handling function 52 as shown in FIG. An advertisement database 53 is formed in the HDD 109 or the like.
The application providing function 51 performs processing for downloading the card writing application 70 in response to a download request from the user terminal 10 when communicating with the user terminal 10.
The advertisement request handling function 52 performs processing for selecting advertisement information and transmitting the selected advertisement information in response to an advertisement request from the information board 1.
The advertisement database 53 is a database in which attribute information (hobby, taste, product field, age, sex, etc.) corresponding to various advertisement information contents is associated with various advertisement information contents. The advertisement request handling function 52 selects the advertisement information content corresponding to the advertisement request from the advertisement database 53 and transmits it to the information board 1.

The CPU 41 of the information board 1 includes an attribute information reading function 81, an advertisement request function 82, and an advertisement display control function 83, as shown in FIG.
The attribute information reading function 81 controls the reader / writer device 4 to read the attribute information recorded on the IC card 11 when the IC card 11 possessed by the user is brought close to the information board 1.
The advertisement request function 82 performs a process of generating an advertisement request including attribute information read from the IC card 11 and transmitting the advertisement request to the advertisement distribution server 50.
The advertisement display control function 83 performs control for causing the display unit 2 to display the advertisement information content transmitted from the advertisement distribution server 50.

[6. Example of ad delivery processing]

Processing performed until the user receives advertisement presentation on the information board 1 in the information distribution system of this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 show processing realized by the functions of the respective units shown in FIG.
FIGS. 11A and 11B show processing of the user terminal 10 (CPU 101 of the user terminal 10) and processing of the advertisement distribution server 50 (CPU 101 of the advertisement distribution server 50).
FIG. 11 shows a process of downloading the card writing application 70 from the advertisement distribution server 50 to the user terminal 10 and a process of writing attribute information to the IC card 11 in the user terminal 10.

First, as a process for downloading the card writing application 70, for example, a browser for browsing the Internet page is activated in the CPU 101 of the user terminal 10, and steps F101 to F103 in FIG. 11A are performed.
The user terminal 10 performs processing for establishing a communication connection with the advertisement distribution server 50 as step F101. For example, the website of the advertisement distribution server 50 is accessed to establish a communication connection state with the advertisement distribution server 50. The advertisement distribution server 50 performs a process of establishing communication in response to the connection request of the user terminal 10 as Step F201 in FIG.

The user terminal 10 transmits a download request for the card writing application 70 to the advertisement distribution server 50 in step F102.
Upon receiving the download request in step F202, the advertisement distribution server 50 performs a download process for the card writing application 70 in step F203.
As a download process in step F103, the user terminal 10 downloads the card writing application 70 transmitted from the advertisement distribution server 50, that is, loads a program or file configured as the card writing application 70 and installs it in the computer system. Thus, the CPU 101 of the user terminal 10 is brought into a state where the card writing application 70 can be activated.

  When the download process is completed, the user terminal 10 releases the connection with the advertisement distribution server 50. Of course, depending on the user's will, browsing may continue.

With the above communication processing, the user terminal 10 can acquire the card writing application 70, and at a later time, the CPU 101 can execute processing based on the function of the card writing application 70 shown as steps F111 to F114.
The attribute information writing process to the IC card 11 by the card writing application 70 is performed in a state where communication with the advertisement distribution server 50 is released. Furthermore, it is preferable to be performed in an offline state in which all communication is canceled.
The card writing application 70 is activated in step F111 based on the user operation in a state where the user has been offline due to manual operation of the user or automatic processing accompanying the termination of the browser or the like.
When the card writing application 70 is activated, it first confirms that the communication with the advertisement distribution server 50 is released in step F112.
If the communication connection is not released at this point, the communication release process is performed. At this time, the user may select whether to end the processing of the card writing application 70 or to cancel the communication and continue the processing of the card writing application 70.

When the offline state is confirmed, the card writing application 70 executed by the CPU 101 of the user terminal 10 performs an attribute information input process as step F113.
That is, an input screen for various attribute information is displayed on the display device 112 to respond to a user input corresponding to the screen content. For example, the user inputs his / her hobbies, preferences, product fields that he / she wants to receive advertisements, age, gender, and the like, and obtains user attribute information.
When the user input is completed, the process proceeds to step F114, where attribute information is written to the IC card 11. That is, a writing instruction and attribute information as data to be written are transmitted to the reader / writer device 12 connected to the user terminal 10. In response to this, the reader / writer device 12 writes the attribute information of the individual user on the IC card 11 set.
Thus, the user can hold the IC card 11 in which the attribute information is written, and the preparation for receiving the advertisement on the user side is completed.

12 (a) and 12 (b) show the process of the information board 1 (CPU 41 in FIG. 7) and the advertisement distribution server 50 ( The processing of the CPU 101) in FIG. 2 is shown.
The user selects a desired screen from the guidance display as shown in FIG. 4 at the place where the information board 1 is installed, and performs the operation of holding the IC card 11 as shown in FIGS.
When the CPU 41 of the information board 1 detects that the IC card 11 is in proximity to the reader / writer device 4 (any of 4A to 4D) in step F301, the information is recorded from the reader / writer device 4 to the IC card 11. Read attribute information.
When the attribute information is acquired from the IC card 11, the CPU 41 generates advertisement request data including the attribute information and information on the field selected by the user in the display unit 2 as shown in FIG. Is transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 50.

When receiving the advertisement request from the information board 1 in step F211, the CPU 101 of the advertisement distribution server 50 confirms the contents (attribute information, etc.) included in the advertisement request in step F212 and searches, for example, the advertisement database. The advertisement information content that matches the attribute information is extracted. For example, it is a process of selecting advertisement information content that meets the user's hobbies, preferences, and the like.
For example, in the information board 1, it is assumed that the user selects the display unit 2A of “Tokyo shopping map” in FIG. 4 and holds the IC card 11 over the information request unit 3A. Further, it is assumed that the hobby is “sports” as attribute information in the IC card 11.
In such a case, since advertisement information content is selected based on “sports” in the category of “shopping in Tokyo”, advertisement information of sports shops in Tokyo and the like is extracted.
Of course, this is a simple example. Other attribute information is also referred to, and the attribute information is classified systematically and hierarchically (for example, sports, soccer, baseball, tennis) , Skiing, etc.), useful advertisement information content that more closely matches the user is selected.

After selecting the advertisement information content, the CPU 101 of the advertisement distribution server 50 transmits the advertisement information content to the information board 1 in step F213.
When the CPU 41 of the information board 1 receives the advertisement information content data in step F303, it takes it into the content storage unit 44 and displays it on the display unit 2 (for example, the display unit 2A in the above example).
As described above, the user can browse the advertisement information suitable for the user only by holding the IC card.

In the information board 1, when there is advertisement information content suitable for the attribute information read from the IC card 11 in the content storage unit 44, the advertisement information content may be displayed.

[7. Effect of embodiment, modification and program]

According to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the information providing system of this example, it is possible to provide appropriate information for each individual user, for example, a product advertisement that meets the user's hobbies and preferences, without disclosing any privacy information that can identify the individual user.
In particular, on the user terminal 10 side, the user inputs personal attribute information and writes it to the IC card 11. The attribute information is input by the function of the card writing application 70 installed in the user terminal 10. This is because it is not necessary to communicate with the advertisement distribution server 50 at this time. Further, as in the above example, if the card writing application 70 confirms the offline state at the time of activation, the possibility that the attribute information is transmitted can be eliminated. Accordingly, the advertisement distribution server 50 cannot know the contents of the attribute information of the individual user who provided the card writing application 70 by downloading.
In the information board 1, the attribute information is read from the IC card 11, but the attribute information does not include information that can identify an individual, and the attribute information is only for selecting the advertisement information that the user desires. Since it is information, personal privacy information is not transmitted to the information board 1 or the advertisement distribution server 50 in this case as well.
From these facts, it is possible to realize an environment in which personal privacy information is not reliably transmitted to the advertisement distribution server 50, and the user can obtain advertisement information suitable for each individual user by the attribute information.

In addition, the advertisement distribution server 50 provides the card writing application 70 to the user terminal 10, but providing the card writing application 70 by downloading from the advertisement distribution server 50 side means that the user terminal 10 side There are advantages that the attribute information can be written in the IC card 11 with the contents and data format suitable for the information providing system and that the card writing application 70 can be easily upgraded.
For example, the card writing application 70 is upgraded in accordance with the information service that can be provided on the system, the field / category of advertisement selection, or the segmentation, and the attribute information is written on the user terminal 10 side. Therefore, it is easy to update the attribute information of the IC card 11 possessed by the user in accordance with the version upgrade of the system itself. This facilitates the evolution of the contents of information services that can be provided, and makes it easier to provide information services that are more useful to users and the latest information.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be considered.
First, the information provided to the user is described as advertisement information, but it can be used not only for mere products and store advertisements but also for product discounts and electronic coupon services.
Furthermore, it is natural that various information can be provided without being limited to advertisements. For example, it can be realized as an information service system such as news. In this case, if the attribute information recorded on the IC card 11 includes a field selected by the user, for example, a field selected from politics, economy, current affairs, performing arts, sports, culture, etc., the information board 1 etc. In the information presenting apparatus, it is possible to browse news in a field desired by the user.
Of course, it is possible to provide various services such as information services for areas and facilities, information retrieval services at museums and libraries, and the latest information and viewing services for artists who like music and performing arts.

In the example of the information board 1, information is displayed on the display screen. However, information presentation by voice is also possible. Further, the information board 1 may not have a plurality of display screens.
Further, although the non-contact type IC card 11 has been described as an example of the attribute information recording medium, a contact type IC card may be used. Furthermore, it may be other than an IC card. For example, a magnetic card or an optical recording card may be used. In addition, a portable device incorporating a card medium, a disk medium, a solid-state memory, or the like, such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a cellular phone may be used as the attribute information recording medium.
Of course, the reader / writer devices 4 and 12 may be devices that can write and read information according to the attribute information recording medium used.
Although a personal computer is assumed as the user terminal 10, a PDA or a mobile phone can be used as the user terminal 10.
As an information distribution server such as the advertisement distribution server 50, a server that downloads an attribute information writing program such as a card writing application 70, and an information provider that selects information according to attribute information and transmits it to the information board 1 The server may be configured as another server system.

The attribute information writing program and the information presentation processing program of the present invention can be recorded in advance in a system HDD as a recording medium in an information processing apparatus such as a computer system, a ROM in a microcomputer having a CPU, or the like.
Alternatively, these programs are temporarily stored on a removable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), an MO (Magnet optical) disk, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), a magnetic disk, and a semiconductor memory. Alternatively, it can be stored (recorded) permanently. Such a removable recording medium can be provided as so-called package software. For example, it can be installed in a computer system by being provided by a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or the like. In addition to installing from a removable recording medium, the program can be downloaded from a download site via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet.

It is explanatory drawing of the information provision system of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of a computer system that can be used as a user terminal and an advertisement distribution server according to an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the information board of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the display of the information board of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of IC card reading by the information board of embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of communication with the IC card of the information board of embodiment. It is a block diagram of the information board of an embodiment. It is a block diagram of the reader / writer device of an embodiment. It is a block diagram of the IC card of the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the function structure of each part of embodiment. It is a flowchart of the process until attribute information writing to the IC card of the embodiment. It is a flowchart of a process until the information presentation by the information board of embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information board, 2, 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D Display part, 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D Information request part, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 10 User terminal, 12 Reader / writer apparatus, 11 IC card, 31, 41, 101 CPU, 50 advertisement distribution server, 60 networks

Claims (7)

An information providing system in which an information distribution server, an information processing terminal device, and an information presentation device are communicably connected,
The information distribution server
Program providing means for causing the information processing terminal device to download an attribute information writing program for writing attribute information as content that does not specify an individual to a predetermined attribute information recording medium;
In response to an information request including the attribute information transmitted from the information presentation device, information selection processing means for selecting information based on the attribute information and transmitting the selected information to the information presentation device is provided. ,
The information processing terminal device
As an operation based on the attribute information writing program downloaded from the advertisement distribution server, a control means for performing the attribute information input process and the process of recording the input attribute information on the attribute information recording medium,
The information presentation device
Attribute information reading means for reading attribute information from the attribute information recording medium;
An information requesting means for transmitting an information request including attribute information read by the attribute information reading means to the information distribution server;
An information providing system comprising: information presenting means for presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request. An information distribution server capable of communicating with an information processing terminal device and an information presentation device by network communication,
Program providing means for causing the information processing terminal device to download an attribute information writing program for writing attribute information that does not specify an individual to a predetermined attribute information recording medium;
In response to an information request including the attribute information transmitted from the information presentation device, information selection processing means for selecting information based on the attribute information and transmitting the selected information to the information presentation device;
An information distribution server comprising: An input processing step for performing input processing of attribute information as content that does not specify an individual;
An attribute information recording step for recording the attribute information input in the input step on a predetermined attribute information recording medium;
Attribute information writing program for causing the information processing terminal device to execute. The attribute information recording medium is an IC card,
4. The attribute information writing program according to claim 3, wherein in the attribute information recording step, control is performed to write attribute information to a writing device for the IC card. An information presentation device capable of communicating with an information distribution server by network communication,
Attribute information reading means for reading the attribute information from a predetermined attribute information recording medium in which attribute information as content not specifying an individual is recorded;
An information requesting means for transmitting an information request including attribute information read by the attribute information reading means to an information distribution server;
Information presenting means for presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request;
An information presentation device comprising: An attribute information reading step for reading the attribute information from a predetermined attribute information recording medium in which attribute information as content not specifying an individual is recorded;
An information request step for transmitting an information request including the attribute information read in the attribute information reading step to the information distribution server;
An information presentation step of presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request;
An information presentation method comprising: An attribute information reading step for reading the attribute information from a predetermined attribute information recording medium in which attribute information as content not specifying an individual is recorded;
An information request step for transmitting an information request including the attribute information read in the attribute information reading step to the information distribution server;
An information presentation step of presenting and outputting information transmitted from the information distribution server in response to the information request;
An information presentation processing program for causing an information processing apparatus to execute.

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