JP2001175577A - Push type information distributing method, and repeater therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a repeater partially take charge of a push type information providing service in place of an information provider(IP) server. SOLUTION: The user of a mobile system MS prepared to receive the information providing service from an unspecified IP previously performs a registration procedure by accessing a gateway server GWS (S71). When information desired to provide the user is generated, on the other hand, an IP server W constitutes this information as electronic mail and transmits it to the gateway server GWS after adding the attribute data of the user (S72). When the electronic mail to which the attribute data have been added, is received, the gateway server GWS stores the electronic mail in a third mailbox BOX3, performs matching of user attributes and calls the mobile system MS of the relevant user (S73). The called user requests the download of the electronic mail to the gateway server GWS (S74). The gateway server GWS transmits the electronic mail to the requesting mobile system MS (S75 and S76).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push-type information distribution method for providing information from a server device to a plurality of user terminals via a network, and a relay device therefor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the field of an information providing service via the Internet or the like, a user accesses a server device of an information provider (content provider) from a communication terminal such as a personal computer to download desired information. A so-called pull-type information distribution method is known. In recent years, so-called push-type information distribution in which information is independently provided to a user from a server device side without waiting for access by the user has been proposed.

On the other hand, information communication networks in recent years have become complicated and diversified, and various relay devices are interposed between a server device and a user terminal, such as interconnecting networks having different communication protocols via a gateway device. Network forms are also increasing.

[0004]

As described above, as the forms of networks are becoming more complex and diverse, there are various forms of information delivery services. As one of them, it is conceivable that a relay device plays a part of a service accompanying information distribution in place of the server device.

The present invention has been made under such a background, and has a new type of push-type which can take part of a service accompanying information distribution between a server device and a user terminal in place of the server device. An object is to provide an information distribution method and a relay device thereof.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server for an information provider, and provision of information from the server. A push-type information distribution method for an information communication network, comprising: a plurality of user terminals for receiving information, and a relay device for relaying information distribution between the server device and the user terminals, wherein the relay device relays information distribution. Storing in advance the registration information relating to the information provider to be provided with the service; and transmitting the information mail supplied from the registered server device by specifying the address on the network of the user terminal desired as the destination. Receiving, storing the received information mail, and making a call to a user terminal whose address on the network is specified. And steps, characterized in that it comprises a step of transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the calling user terminal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device of an information provider, a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and information distribution between the server device and the user terminal. A push-type information distribution method for an information communication network including a relay device for relaying, wherein the relay device stores in advance registration information about an information provider that is a target of a relay service for information distribution,
Storing in advance information relating to a user terminal receiving an information providing service provided by the registered server device; receiving an information mail supplied from the registered server device; and storing the received information mail Calling, calling the corresponding user terminal based on the information on the user terminal receiving the information provision service stored in advance, and transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the called user terminal. And the step of performing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method according to the first or second aspect, the relay device includes: a user mailbox for relaying an electronic mail between user terminals; A push mailbox for relaying information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal,
The step of storing the received information mail is performed using the push mailbox.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method of the third aspect, the information mail includes a user management number assigned to a user terminal desired as a destination, and The server is supplied from the server device by designating the address of a mailbox for use.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server device of an information provider, a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and information distribution between the server device and the user terminal. A push-type information distribution method for an information communication network including a relay device for relaying, wherein the relay device stores in advance registration information about an information provider that is a target of a relay service for information distribution,
Storing the attributes of the user and the address of the user terminal on the network for each user in association with each other;
Receiving, from the registered server device, an information mail supplied by designating an attribute of a user desired as a destination; storing the received information mail; and storing the stored user attribute. Matching with the attribute of the specified user to specify an address on the network of the user terminal corresponding to the user corresponding to the specified attribute, and calling the specified user terminal And transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the calling user terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method according to the fifth aspect, the plurality of user terminals access the relay device in advance to provide the information distribution provided by the server device. Registering an address on each network in the server device as a registration procedure for receiving a service, and excluding the unregistered user terminal from the call target by the relay device. It is characterized by.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method according to the fifth or sixth aspect, the relay device further comprises: a user mailbox for relaying an electronic mail between user terminals; A push mailbox for relaying information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal,
The step of storing the received information mail is performed using the push mailbox.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the server device belongs to a first information communication network according to a first communication protocol. On the other hand, the plurality of user terminals belong to a second information communication network that follows a second communication protocol different from the first information communication network, and the relay device includes the first and second communication protocols. Are converted into each other to relay the transmission and reception of the information mail.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the push-type information distribution method of the eighth aspect, each of the plurality of user terminals is used only in the second information communication network. An address on the network is provided, and is identified in the first information communication network by an address on the first network that has a one-to-one correspondence with an address on the second network. An address on the first network and an address on the second network are mutually converted.

[0015] The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to claim 8.
Or the push-type information distribution method according to 9, wherein the second information communication network is a local network accommodating a specific user terminal, while the first information communication network is an absolute network on the network. A global network in which information resources such as the server devices to which identification information for identifying a unique address is assigned are interconnected.

The invention according to claim 11 is the first invention.
0, in the push-type information distribution method,
Is a mobile communication network accommodating a plurality of user terminals, which are mobile terminals, while the first information communication network is the Internet.

The invention according to claim 12 is the ninth invention.
3. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of user terminals are provided with a telephone number as an address on the second network and a one-to-one correspondence with the telephone number as an address on the first network. A corresponding user management number is assigned, and the relay device converts the telephone number and the user management number to each other.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a relay device for relaying information distribution between a server device of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device. Server registration information storage means for storing registration information relating to an information provider to be subjected to a relay service of distribution, and specifying and supplying an address on the network of a user terminal desired as a destination from the registered server device Receiving means for receiving the information mail to be received, storing means for storing the received information mail, calling means for calling a user terminal whose address on the network is designated, and Transmission means for transmitting the stored information mail in response to the request.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a relay apparatus for relaying information distribution between a server of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server. Server registration information storage means for storing registration information about an information provider to be subjected to a distribution relay service; and user registration information for storing information about a user terminal receiving an information providing service provided by the registered server device in advance. Storage means, receiving means for receiving the information mail supplied from the registered server device, storage means for storing the received information mail, and information based on the previously stored user terminal receiving the information providing service. Calling means for calling the corresponding user terminal; and storing the data in response to a request from the called user terminal. And a sending means for transmitting the information mail.

Further, the invention according to claim 15 is the same as the invention according to claim 1.
The relay device according to 3 or 14, wherein a mailbox for a user that relays an electronic mail between user terminals,
A push mailbox for relaying an information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to a user terminal, wherein the storage unit stores the received information mail in the push mail. It is characterized in that it is stored in a box.

The invention according to claim 16 is the first invention.
5. The relay device according to 5, wherein the information mail is supplied from the server device by designating a user management number assigned to a user terminal desired as a destination and an address of the mailbox for push. It is characterized by.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a relay device for relaying information distribution between a server device of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device. Server registration information storage means for storing registration information relating to an information provider to be subjected to a distribution relay service; and attribute storage means for storing, for each user, a user attribute and an address of a user terminal on a network in association with each other. Receiving means for receiving an information mail supplied by designating the attribute of a user desired as a destination from the registered server device; storing means for storing the received information mail; Perform matching between the attribute and the attribute of the specified user,
Specifying means for specifying an address on the network of the user terminal corresponding to the user corresponding to the specified attribute; calling means for calling the specified user terminal; and requesting from the called user terminal Transmitting means for transmitting the stored information mail accordingly.

The invention according to claim 18 is the first invention.
7. The relay device according to 7, wherein a mailbox for a user that relays an e-mail between the user terminals and a push for relaying an information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal. Wherein the storage means stores the received information mail in the push mailbox.

The invention according to claim 19 is the invention according to claim 1.
19. The relay device according to any one of 3 to 18, wherein the server device belongs to a first information communication network according to a first communication protocol, while the plurality of user terminals are connected to the first information communication network. Different second
And a protocol conversion unit for converting the first and second communication protocols into and out of each other.

Further, the invention described in claim 20 is the first invention.
9. The relay device according to 9, wherein each of the plurality of user terminals is provided with an address on a second network that is used only in the second information communication network, and in the first information communication network. , An address that is identified by an address on the first network that has a one-to-one correspondence with an address on the second network, and that mutually converts the address on the first network and the address on the second network. It is characterized by comprising a conversion means.

The invention according to claim 21 is the first invention.
21. The relay device according to 9 or 20, wherein the second information communication network is a local network accommodating a specific user terminal, while the first information communication network is an absolute address on the network. It is a global network in which information resources such as the server devices and the like to which identification information for identifying the information is allocated are interconnected.

The invention according to claim 22 is the same as the claim 2.
1. The relay device according to 1, wherein the second information communication network is a mobile communication network accommodating a plurality of user terminals, which are mobile terminals, while the first information communication network is the Internet. Features.

Further, the invention according to claim 23 is the invention according to claim 2
0, the plurality of user terminals are given a telephone number as an address on the second network, and have a one-to-one correspondence with the telephone number as an address on the first network. A user management number is given, and the address conversion means converts the telephone number and the user management number to each other.

[0029]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is configured as a system in which the present invention is applied to a mobile packet communication network. Note that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various changes can be made within the scope of the technical idea.

A: Configuration of Embodiment (1) Overall Configuration of System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, an MS is a mobile station that receives a packet communication service of a mobile packet communication network MPN. The mobile station MS is connected to the mobile packet communication network MPN shown in FIG. 1 and is also connected to a mobile telephone network (not shown), so that it can receive a mobile telephone service. The mobile device MS includes a voice input / output unit for allowing a user to make a voice call, a wireless unit for performing wireless communication with the base station BS, an information display unit including a liquid crystal panel and the like, and information input such as numeric input and character input. In addition to an operation unit for performing operations, a microcomputer for controlling these units is built in. The mobile device MS is equipped with document data browsing software (so-called browser), and is provided with HTML format data (hereinafter referred to as HTML) supplied from an information provider (hereinafter abbreviated as IP) via a mobile packet communication network MPN. , HTML data).

The mobile packet communication network MPN includes a base station BS, a packet subscriber processing unit PS, a gateway server GWS, a subscriber database UDB, a billing system BILL, and a communication line connecting these. The base station BS has a radius of 5
It is arranged at a predetermined interval divided in a range such as 00 m,
Wireless communication is performed with the mobile station MS located in the wireless zone formed by each. The packet subscriber processing unit PS is a computer system provided in a packet switching center that accommodates a plurality of base stations BS, and receives a packet exchange request from the mobile station MS (packet registration processing described later) and moves. It relays the packet exchange in the packet communication network MPN.

The gateway server GWS is a computer system provided in a mobile packet gateway relay exchange for interconnecting the mobile packet communication network MPN and another network such as the Internet INET, and has different communication protocols between the networks. Perform the conversion. Specifically, the transmission protocol for the mobile packet communication network that the mobile packet communication network MPN follows, and the Internet INET
, Etc., to and from TCP / IP. Further, the gateway server GWS performs control on various applications such as an information distribution service and a billing process associated with information distribution in cooperation with the IP server W, the subscriber database UDB, and the billing system BILL.

The subscriber database UDB holds a subscriber registration information file composed of registration information on subscribers of the mobile packet communication network MPN and an IP registration information file composed of registration information of IP serving as an information provider. FIG. 2 is a data format diagram illustrating the contents of the subscriber database UDB. As shown in the figure, the subscriber registration information file contains, for each subscriber of the mobile packet communication network MPN (that is, the user of the mobile device MS), the telephone number, name, gender, date of birth, and address of the mobile device MS. And other attribute data indicating the attributes of each subscriber. In addition, the IP registration information file contains, for each IP that has contracted to receive the gateway service with the mobile packet communication network MPN, the name of the business and the absolute address on the network (for example, the Internet). In the case of (1), a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for specifying an information resource on the WWW (World Wide Web). Hereinafter, in this embodiment, an absolute address on the network will be described as a URL.) In the case of business charging, information indicating that fact, information indicating whether the charging mode is a pay-as-you-go system or a flat-rate system are stored. Here, the information provider charging means that charging for information distribution via a communication line is performed not for the user who has received the distribution but for the information provider. On the other hand, charging a user is hereinafter referred to as user charging.

The billing system BILL calculates a fee for providing the service based on the history information of the service supplied from the gateway server GWS, and issues a bill to the user or the IP. Billing forms include user billing and information provider billing, pay-as-you-go and flat-rate billing, and the billing system BILL performs billing processing according to each billing form.

The IP server W is a server system operated by IP, and sends information to be provided to the user to the network in the form of HTML data. The IP server W may be connected to the gateway server GWS via the Internet INET, may be connected to the gateway server GWS via a dedicated line, or may be provided inside the gateway server GWS.
There is also a service provided by the PN operator itself (IP server W-MAX described later).

(2) Configuration of Gateway Server GWS Next, the configuration of the gateway server GWS will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the gateway server GWS. In the figure, the gateway server GWS is
System control unit I-MAX, customer information management unit U-MA
X, charging management unit P-MAX, electronic mail management unit M-MA
X, an IP server W-MAX, and a bus BUS connecting these components.

The system control unit I-MAX controls each unit of the gateway server GWS, and performs protocol conversion between the mobile packet communication network MPN and another network such as the Internet INET. Function.

The customer information management unit U-MAX stores subscriber registration information and IP registration information obtained by referring to the subscriber database UDB, as well as correspondence between the telephone number of the mobile station MS and a user management number (described later). It stores and manages the relationship, the access history of the user to the IP server W (for example, the number of accesses to each IP server), and the like. Further, the customer information management unit U-MAX performs mutual conversion between telephone numbers and user management numbers, collation of telephone numbers, matching of attribute data, and the like based on the storage information.

The charging management unit P-MAX records and manages information necessary for charging for the information distribution service.
The information is supplied to the billing system BILL.
Specifically, the fact that the e-mail was received from the IP server W is stored as history information, the number of packets transmitted and received when the e-mail is delivered to the user is counted, and the counted value is stored. I have. In addition, charging management section P-
MAX refers to the contents of the subscriber database UDB taken into the customer information management unit U-MAX, and determines whether the form of billing for each IP is information provider billing and whether it is a pay-as-you-go system. Judgment is made, and charging is requested to the charging system BILL according to the charging mode.

The e-mail management unit M-MAX includes the mobile unit M
S user, mobile station MS user and Internet I
Intermediation of e-mail transmission and reception between users of another network such as NET or between the user of the mobile station MS and the IP server W. The e-mail management unit M-MAX has a mailbox for storing e-mails to be transmitted and received for each user and for each IP server W. The following three types of mailboxes are provided according to the type of mail service. Yes, these are distinguished by mailbox addresses (email addresses). The first mailbox BOX1 is a well-known mailbox that stores e-mails exchanged between users at an e-mail address assigned to each user.

Next, the second mailbox BOX2
Is a mailbox for storing electronic mail transmitted from the IP for the purpose of providing information to a specific user or the like. Here, the specific user is a user who has completed a registration procedure for the IP in advance. The second mailbox BOX2 is used in a first mode of a service based on push-type information distribution described later.

Next, the third mailbox BOX3
Is a mailbox for storing electronic mail transmitted from the IP to the user for the purpose of providing information or the like, like the second mailbox BOX2. The difference from the second mailbox BOX2 is that, instead of storing e-mails provided to users registered in advance in IP, attributes designated by IP (attributes such as gender, age, address, etc.) The e-mail provided to the user having is stored. This third mailbox BOX3
Is the second service of the push type information distribution described later.
Used in the embodiment.

The IP server W-MAX is a server system provided by the operator of the mobile packet communication network MPN. This IP server W-MAX also provides services such as providing information to the user, like the other IP servers W.

B: Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, information distribution will be described, and then charging processing will be described. B-1: Information Distribution Information distribution according to the present embodiment includes a pull-type information distribution in which the user of the mobile station MS independently accesses the IP server W to receive the information distribution, and an IP distribution without waiting for the user's access.
There is push-type information distribution in which information is distributed from the server W to specific or unspecified users. Less than,
These will be described separately.

(1) Pull Type Information Distribution FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a basic operation of pull type information distribution. As shown in the figure, first, the mobile station MS registers a packet in the packet processing unit PS (step S1). The packet registration is a registration procedure performed in advance so that the mobile station MS can exchange packets with the mobile packet communication network MPS. When the packet registration is completed, the mobile station MS sets the mobile packet communication network MP
S transmits a line connection request signal (step S
2). This line connection request signal is sent to the gateway server GWS via the packet subscriber processing device PS (step S3). Meanwhile, the gateway server GWS
Returns a line connection response signal to the mobile station MS via the packet subscriber processing unit PS when the line connection is possible (steps S4 and S5). This enables packet exchange between the mobile station MS and the gateway server GWS.

Next, the mobile station MS transmits a connection request signal by designating the URL of the desired IP server W (step S6). This connection request signal is transmitted to the gateway server GWS via the packet subscriber processing device PS (step S7). In response to this, the gateway server GWS sets a link with the IP server W of the designated URL (step S8).

When a link is established with the gateway server GWS, the IP server W transmits HTML data prepared in advance to the mobile station MS (step S9). This HTML data is transferred to the packet processing unit PS via the gateway server GWS (step S10). Further, the packet subscriber processor PS converts the received HTML data into the mobile station MS.
(Step S11). Steps S6 to S
The operation 11 is repeatedly executed according to the data amount of data to be distributed from the IP server W to the mobile station MS. During this time, the mobile station MS interprets the sequentially distributed HTML data by its browser and displays the received information on the information display unit.

When the data distribution to mobile station MS is completed, mobile station MS transmits an acknowledgment signal for data reception (step S12). The packet subscriber processor PS sends this acknowledgment signal to the gateway server G.
The transfer is made to the WS, and a delivery notification is made (step S13). On the other hand, when the IP server W completes data distribution to the mobile station MS, the link between the gateway server GWS and the IP server W is released (step S14). Further, when there is a data delivery notification from the mobile station MS to the gateway server GWS, the gateway server GWS executes a charging process for the information distribution. The details of the charging process executed at this time will be described later.

(2) Push Type Information Delivery First, the basic operation of push type information delivery will be described.
Next, two modes of the service based on push-type information distribution will be described. Basic Operation of Push-Type Information Distribution FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a basic operation of push-type information distribution. As shown in the figure, first, the IP server W
The information to be provided to the user is transmitted as an e-mail to the gateway server GWS (step S21). Upon receiving the e-mail, the gateway server GWS stores the e-mail in a predetermined mailbox and transmits a communication start notification signal to the packet subscriber processing device PS (step S22). The communication start notification signal includes information for specifying the destination address of the electronic mail. Upon receiving the communication start notification signal, the packet subscriber processor PS calls the mobile station MS corresponding to the destination address included in the signal (step S).
23).

When the user of the mobile station MS performs a predetermined operation on the mobile station MS in response to the call, the aforementioned step S
The same sequence as steps 1 to S5 is executed, and a packet exchange with the gateway server GWS becomes possible (steps S24 to S28). Next, the gateway server GWS transmits an incoming notification signal including the address information of the mailbox in which the electronic mail is stored to the packet subscriber processing device PS (step S29). Further, the packet subscriber processor PS transmits the received incoming call notification signal to the mobile station MS (step S30).

When the mobile station MS receives the incoming call notification signal, it transmits a connection request signal designating a mailbox address included in the signal to the packet subscriber processing unit PS (step S31). This connection request signal is transferred to the gateway server GWS via the packet subscriber processing device PS (step S32). Upon receiving the connection request signal, the gateway server GWS transmits a connection confirmation response signal to the packet subscriber processing device PS (Step S33). The packet subscriber processor PS transmits the received connection confirmation response signal to the mobile station MS (step S34).

Next, gateway server GWS reads the e-mail received from IP server W from the address of the mailbox specified by the connection request signal, and transfers the e-mail to packet subscriber processing unit PS (step). S35). Packet subscriber processing device P
When S receives the e-mail, it sends it to the mobile station MS that issued the connection request (step S36). The operations in steps S31 to S36 are repeatedly executed according to the data amount of the e-mail to be delivered from the IP server W to the mobile station MS.

When the mobile station MS receives the e-mail in this way, a delivery notification to the gateway server GWS is made in the same sequence as in steps S12 and S13 (steps S37 and S38), and the push-type information distribution is completed.

Further, when there is a data delivery notification from the mobile station MS to the gateway server GWS, the gateway server GWS executes a charging process for the information distribution. The details of the charging process executed at this time will be described later.

First Aspect of Service Based on Push-Type Information Distribution In this embodiment, there are two modes as a service based on push-type information distribution. First, the first mode will be described. In the first mode, a user who has completed a registration procedure with an IP in advance is provided with information for the purpose of providing information or the like.
This service accumulates the e-mail transmitted from P in the second mailbox BOX2, calls the corresponding user, and distributes the e-mail according to the user's request.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the first mode. In the figure, first, a user who desires a service such as information provision for a specific IP operates the mobile station MS to access the network, and performs a registration procedure for the IP server W in advance (step S61). In the access at this time, the subscriber's telephone number of the user (that is, the telephone number of the mobile station MS) is transferred to the gateway server GWS, and the gateway server GWS transmits the telephone number to the outside of the mobile packet communication network MPN. In order to avoid this, the customer information management unit U-MAX converts the telephone number into a user management number which is identification information of a user corresponding to the telephone number on a one-to-one basis. The user management number is transmitted from the gateway server GWS to the IP server W, and is stored in the IP server W as user registration information (step S62).

When information to be provided to a registered user occurs in the IP server W, the IP server W configures the information in the form of transmission data in the form of e-mail, and stores the transmission data in the e-mail in a second form. The address of the mailbox BOX2 and the user management number of the registered user who wants to provide the information are added and transmitted to the gateway server GWS (step S63).

When the gateway server GWS receives the e-mail from the IP server W, the gateway server GWS accumulates the e-mail in the second mailbox BOX2 of the e-mail management unit M-MAX, and specifies the specified e-mail in the customer information management unit U-MAX. The user management number is converted into a corresponding telephone number, and a call is made to the mobile station MS of the telephone number (step S6).
4).

When the user of the mobile station MS receiving the call desires to receive the information provided from the IP, the user operates the mobile station MS to operate the gateway server GW.
S is accessed and an electronic mail download request is made (step S65). Meanwhile, the gateway server GWS
Is checked by the customer information management unit U-MAX by comparing the telephone number of the mobile station MS that has made the request with the telephone number corresponding to the user management number specified by the IP server W when receiving the e-mail. Mailbox BO
After determining whether or not access to X2 is possible, an e-mail is read from the mailbox BOX2 and the mobile station MS
(Steps S66, S67). Thus, I
Information can be provided to a specific user registered in the P server W.

Second Aspect of Service by Push-Type Information Distribution Next, the second aspect will be described. The second aspect is I
An e-mail transmitted from the IP for the purpose of providing information or the like to a user having an attribute (sex, age, address, etc.) designated by P is stored in the third mailbox BOX3, and the corresponding user is stored. , And distributes the electronic seal in response to a user request.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the second mode. In the figure, first, a user who is ready to receive a service such as information provision from an unspecified IP accesses the network by operating the mobile station MS and performs a registration procedure in advance with the gateway server GWS (step S7).
1). With the access at this time, the telephone number of the mobile device MS is transferred to the gateway server GWS, and this is stored in the customer information management unit U-MAX of the gateway server GW as user registration information.

On the other hand, when information to be provided to the user occurs in the IP server W, the IP server W
The information is configured in the form of an e-mail, and attribute data such as gender, age, and address for identifying the user is added to the e-mail and transmitted to the gateway server GWS (step S72).

When the gateway server GWS receives the electronic mail to which the attribute data has been added from the IP server W, the gateway server GWS stores the electronic mail in the third mailbox BOX3, and in the customer information management unit U-MAX,
The matching is performed between the attribute data added to the electronic mail and the attribute data of each user registered in the subscriber database UDB, and the corresponding user is specified. For example, if the attribute specified by the IP server W is "3
"0-year-old man", the subscriber database U
The user corresponding to this attribute is searched from the users registered in the DB, and the telephone number of the searched user is extracted. The gateway server GWS makes a call to the mobile station MS of the telephone number thus extracted (step S
73).

The user of the mobile station MS receiving this call sets the I
If the user wishes to receive the information provided by P, the user operates the mobile station MS to operate the gateway server G
The client accesses the WS and requests downloading of an e-mail (step S74). On the other hand, the gateway server GW
S checks access to the third mailbox BOX3 by comparing the telephone number of the mobile station MS that has made the request with the telephone number of the user who has completed the above-mentioned registration procedure in the customer information management unit U-MAX. After determining whether or not the e-mail is accepted, the e-mail is read from the third mailbox BOX3 and transmitted to the requested mobile station MS (steps S75 and S76). In this way, among users who are ready to receive information provision from unspecified IP server W, IP
The server W can provide an information providing service to a user who wants to provide information.

B-2: Charging Process Charging includes a communication fee charging for a communication service and an information fee charging for an IP information providing service. In this embodiment, the communication fee charging will be described as an example. The charging process according to the present embodiment includes user charging for charging the user who has received the information and information provider charging for charging the IP that has provided the information. In the present embodiment, whether to charge the user or to charge the information provider is managed by different methods in the case of the pull-type information distribution and the case of the push-type information distribution. Hereinafter, each case will be described.

(1) In the case of pull-type information distribution In general, in the case of pull-type information distribution, information is provided in response to a user's independent request, so that user billing is easier to adapt. However, there is also a case where the IP wants to provide information free of charge in response to an unspecified user's request for the purpose of an advertisement or the like, and in this case, the information provider billing is more familiar. Therefore, in the present embodiment, in the case of pull-type information distribution,
In principle, user billing is applied. When exceptionally applying information provider billing is applied, the target IP is registered in the subscriber database UDB in advance.
Then, the gateway server GWS extracts, from the subscriber database UDB, a list of URLs of the IP server W to which the information provider charging is applied, and stores the list in the charging management unit P-MAX as an information provider charging target IP table. To memorize it.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a billing process in the case of pull-type information distribution. In the figure, first, when the user operates the mobile station MS to access a predetermined IP server W, the gateway server GWS receives the delivery confirmation signal from the user, and the URL of the IP server W accessed by the user at the time of receiving the delivery confirmation signal from the user. Is checked whether it corresponds to the information provider's charging target IP listed in the table (step S101).

Here, if the IP does not correspond to the information provider's charging target IP, user charging is applied in principle. In this case, the charging management unit P-MA of the gateway server GWS
X transmits the user management number of the user who received the information distribution and the count value of the number of transmitted and received packets to the billing system BILL (step S102). The billing processing system BILL calculates a communication fee by multiplying the packet count supplied from the gateway server GWS by the unit price, and issues a bill to the user specified by the user management number (step S103). .

On the other hand, if the URL of the IP server W accessed by the user corresponds to the information provider charging target IP, the information provider charging is applied. In this case, the charging management unit P-MAX of the gateway server GWS transmits the counted value of the number of transferred packets and the URL of the accessed IP server W to the charging processing system BILL (step S104). The billing system BILL is:
The communication charge is calculated by multiplying the packet count supplied from the gateway server GWS by the unit price, and a bill is issued to the IP (step S105).

(2) In the case of push-type information distribution Next, a charging process in the case of push-type information distribution will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a billing process in the case of push-type information distribution. In the figure, when the gateway server GWS receives the e-mail from the IP server W to the second mailbox BOX2 or the third mailbox BOX3, it recognizes that there is a request for the push type information distribution, and It is determined that user charging is applied (step S201). That is, in the case of the push-type information distribution, the information providing form is easily adapted to the information provider billing. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the information provider billing is applied uniformly. Of course, it is possible to apply the user billing also in the case of the push-type information distribution, and in that case, as in the case of the above-described pull-type information distribution, the subscriber database U
Based on the contents set in the DB, it is determined whether the information provider charges or the user is charged. In the case of the user charging, a process corresponding to the user charging may be performed.

Next, as described above, the gateway server GWS specifies the user to whom the information is to be provided, calls the mobile device MS, and sends the electronic device received from the IP server W to the requested mobile device MS. The mail is distributed, but in the case of the information provider billing, the user is not charged for this distribution, but all are charged to the IP. In this case, the charging management unit P-MA of the gateway server GWS
X is the IP stored in the subscriber database UDB
With reference to the registration information, it is checked whether the charging mode for the IP server W is the metered system or the flat-rate system (step S202).

In the case where the charging mode is the metering system, the charging management unit P-MAX of the gateway server GWS calculates the count value of the number of packets transmitted / received at the time of transmitting the e-mail and the URL of the IP server W from which the e-mail is transmitted. Is transmitted to the billing system BILL (step S203). The billing system BILL calculates a communication fee by multiplying the packet count supplied from the gateway server GWS by the unit price, and issues a bill to the IP (step S20).
4).

On the other hand, when the form of charging is the flat-rate system, the charging management unit P-MAX of the gateway server GWS transmits the URL of the IP server W to the charging processing system BILL at the timing of receiving the e-mail from the IP server W. And
Instruct charging for the IP (step S20)
5). In response, billing system BILL issues a fixed amount bill to the instructed IP (step S206).

When the fixed-rate billing mode is billing for a certain period such as a month unit, billing for IP is performed irrespective of whether or not an e-mail arrives from IP server W to gateway server GWS. Therefore,
In this case, there is no cooperation between the gateway server GWS and the billing system BILL, and the billing system BILL is not linked.
Autonomously issues periodic bills to IP.

C: Modification As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, for example, the following various changes can be made. (1) The embodiment is directed to a case where information is provided from another network (first information communication network) such as the Internet INET to the mobile station MS belonging to the mobile packet communication network MPN. The present invention can be applied to a case where information is provided from such a network to a mobile station MS belonging to the mobile packet communication network MPN if another global network exists. In this case, UR
Instead of L, the information resource of the IP server W may be specified by an absolute address defined on the applicable global network. The network to which the user terminal belongs (second information communication network) is not limited to the mobile packet communication network MPN, and provides information to user terminals belonging to other local networks such as a fixed network that accommodates fixed terminals. It is also applicable when performing.
Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to a packet switching network but also to a data communication network performing data communication in another format.
The communication protocol described in the embodiment is merely an example.
In addition, the format of the data distributed from the IP server is also HTM.
Not limited to L, other formats may be adopted. For example,
If the information to be distributed is only text data, HTM
Of course, it is not necessary to adopt a data format compatible with multimedia like L.

(2) In the embodiment, the communication fee charging for the pull-type information distribution is uniformly set according to the metered system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The information may be registered in the subscriber database UDB, and a charging process according to each charging mode may be performed. When a flat-rate system is adopted in the pull-type information distribution, a fixed amount is charged to the user or the IP irrespective of the number of packets transmitted and received, as in the case of the push-type information distribution. In the embodiment, the charging mode is set for each IP in the IP registration information file of the subscriber database UDB. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the charging mode can be set for each user in the subscriber registration information file. is there. When it is desired to set a charging mode for each IP and each user, a charging mode for each user is set for each IP in the IP registration information file, or a charging mode for each IP is set for each user in the subscriber registration information file. Just set it.

(3) In the embodiment, only communication fee charging has been described for simplicity. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to information fee charging. However, in the case of adopting the metering system according to the information fee charging, instead of charging according to the number of packets transmitted and received as in the case of communication fee charging, for example, charging according to the number of transmitted and received e-mails, or If it is desired to change the amount depending on the case, various charging forms can be applied, such as adding the amount information for the mail distribution to the e-mail transmitted from the IP server W and sending it to the gateway server GWS. In the case of information fee charging, only user charging may be performed, and information provider charges may not be performed. In this case, the subscriber database UDB
May be set to user charging in the IP registration information file, or the charging process may not be performed for an IP for which information provider charging is set.

(4) In the embodiment, the charging mode in the pull-type information distribution is determined by the gateway server GWS holding the list of the information provider's charging target IPs and referring to the list. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a tag is added to the HTML data transmitted from the IP server W to add information indicating whether or not the information provider charges, and the gateway server GWS determines the charging mode based on this information. Is also good.

(5) The network configuration of the embodiment is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the gateway server GWS may be divided into a node having a function of converting a communication protocol and a node having another function, and the functions may be shared by a plurality of nodes.

(6) In the embodiment, the IP server W manages the information of the user registration for the IP in the first mode of the service based on the push-type information distribution.
In the present invention, the information management of the user registration may be performed by the gateway server GWS. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the gateway server GWS prepares only an interactive screen (hereinafter, a registration screen) for prompting a registration operation from a series of interactive screens displayed when a user performs a registration procedure for an IP. The generated HTML data may be transmitted to the user's mobile device MS for display, and the gateway server GWS may store and manage the user registration information based on the user's registration operation. In this case, the IP address of the gateway server GW is determined based on the address information such as the URL specified when the user accesses the IP server W.
It can be grasped by S. Therefore, if the gateway server GWS holds the HTML data for providing the registration screen of the plurality of IP servers W in association with the address information such as the URL, the gateway server GWS registers based on the address information such as the URL specified by the user. User's mobile device M as screen
It is possible to specify HTML data to be transmitted to S.

(7) In the embodiment, in the case of push-type information distribution, the user of the mobile station MS that has received the incoming call of the e-mail operates the mobile station MS and operates the gateway server G
In this case, the mobile station MS automatically accesses the gateway server GWS without waiting for the user's instruction operation to receive the incoming call, and the electronic mail is downloaded. You may make it download.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A relay device provided between the server device and the user terminal,
A part of the service accompanying the push-type information distribution can be taken in place of the server device, and a new-type push-type information distribution method and a relay device thereof can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a data format diagram showing contents of a subscriber database according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gateway server according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing a basic operation of pull-type information distribution according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a basic operation of push-type information distribution according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a first service based on the push-type information distribution.
It is a key map showing an aspect of.

FIG. 7 shows the second service of the push type information distribution.
It is a key map showing an aspect of.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a billing process in the case of the pull-type information distribution.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a billing process in the case of the push-type information distribution.

FIG. 10 is a screen transition diagram for explaining a modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

BILL Billing System BOX1 First Mailbox BOX2 Second Mailbox BOX3 Third Mailbox BS Base Station GWS Gateway Server BUS Bus I-MAX System Control Unit (Reception Unit, Calling Unit, Transmission Unit, Protocol Conversion Unit) M-MAX E-mail management unit (storage unit) P-MAX charging management unit U-MAX customer information management unit (calling unit, storage unit, specifying unit, address conversion unit) INET Internet MS mobile unit MPN mobile packet communication network PS packet Subscriber processing device UDB Subscriber database W, W-MAX IP server

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shoji Nakachi 2-1-1-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Inside NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (72) Inventor Seki ▲ Saki ▼ Yoshifumi Tokyo 2-11-1, Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku Inside NTT DoCoMo, Inc.

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. Information comprising a server device of an information provider, a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and a relay device relaying information distribution between the server device and the user terminal. A push-type information distribution method for a communication network, wherein the relay device stores, in advance, registration information on an information provider that is a target of an information distribution relay service; and a destination from the registered server device. Receiving an information mail supplied by designating an address on the network of the user terminal desired as: storing the received information mail; and for the user terminal whose address on the network is designated. Making a call, and transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the called user terminal. And a push-type information distribution method. 2. Information including a server device of an information provider, a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and a relay device for relaying information distribution between the server device and the user terminal. A push-type information distribution method for a communication network, wherein the relay device stores, in advance, registration information on an information provider that is a target of an information distribution relay service; and information provided by the registered server device. Storing in advance information relating to a user terminal receiving a provided service; receiving information mail supplied from the registered server device; storing the received information mail; providing the pre-stored information; Calling a corresponding user terminal based on information on the user terminal receiving the service; Transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the calling user terminal. 3. The relay device relays an electronic mail between a user terminal and a user mailbox for relaying an electronic mail between the user terminals, and an information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a push mailbox, wherein the step of storing the received information mail is performed using the push mailbox. 4. The information mail is supplied from the server device by designating a user management number assigned to a user terminal desired as a destination and an address of the push mailbox. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 3. 5. Information including a server device of an information provider, a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and a relay device for relaying information distribution between the server device and the user terminal. A push-type information distribution method for a communication network, wherein the relay device stores, in advance, registration information on an information provider that is a target of an information distribution relay service; and for each user, a user attribute and a user terminal. Storing an address on a network in association with the address; receiving an information mail supplied from the registered server device by specifying an attribute of a user desired as a destination; and the received information Storing the mail; and matching the attribute of the stored user with the attribute of the designated user. Specifying the address on the network of the user terminal corresponding to the user corresponding to the specified attribute; calling the specified user terminal; and responding to a request from the called user terminal. Transmitting the stored information mail. 6. The plurality of user terminals access the relay device in advance and register addresses on each network in the server device as a registration procedure for receiving an information distribution service provided by the server device. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 5, further comprising: a step of: excluding the unregistered user terminal from the call target by the relay device. 7. The relay device relays an e-mail between user terminals for a user, and relays an information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 5, further comprising a push mailbox, wherein the step of storing the received information mail is performed using the push mailbox. 8. The server device belongs to a first information communication network according to a first communication protocol, while the plurality of user terminals are connected to a first information communication network according to a second communication protocol different from the first information communication network. 2. The relay device according to claim 1, wherein the relay device is a gateway device that converts the first and second communication protocols to each other and relays the exchange of the information mail. Or 7
The push-type information distribution method according to any of the above. 9. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of user terminals each include the second terminal.
Second used only within the information and communication network of
Are assigned in the first information communication network, and are identified by addresses on the first network that correspond one-to-one with addresses on the second network in the first information communication network. The method according to claim 8, wherein the address on the first network and the address on the second network are mutually converted. 10. The second information communication network,
The first information communication network is a local network accommodating a specific user terminal. On the other hand, the first information communication network uses information resources such as the server device to which identification information for identifying an absolute address on the network is assigned. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the push-type information distribution method is a global network connected to each other. 11. The second information communication network comprises:
The push-type information distribution method according to claim 10, wherein the mobile communication network accommodates a plurality of user terminals, which are mobile terminals, and the first information communication network is the Internet. 12. The plurality of user terminals are provided with a telephone number as an address on the second network, and a user management number corresponding to the telephone number on a one-to-one basis as an address on the first network. 10. The push-type information distribution method according to claim 9, wherein the relay device mutually converts the telephone number and the user management number. 13. A relay device for relaying information distribution between a server device of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and a relay service for information distribution. Server registration information storage means for storing registration information relating to an information provider; reception for receiving an information mail supplied from the registered server device by designating an address on a network of a user terminal desired as a destination; Means, storing means for storing the received information mail, calling means for calling a user terminal whose address on the network is designated, and storing the information mail in response to a request from the calling user terminal. A relay unit for transmitting an information mail. 14. A relay device for relaying information distribution between a server device of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, and a relay service for information distribution. A server registration information storage unit that stores registration information about an information provider; a user registration information storage unit that stores information about a user terminal that receives an information providing service provided by the registered server device in advance; Receiving means for receiving the information mail supplied from the server device; storing means for storing the received information mail; calling the user terminal based on the information on the user terminal receiving the information provision service stored in advance; And transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the calling user terminal. A relay device comprising: a transmission unit. 15. A user mailbox for relaying electronic mail between user terminals, and a push mailbox for relaying information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal. 15. The relay device according to claim 13, wherein the storage unit stores the received information mail in the push mailbox. 16. 16. The information mail is supplied from the server device by designating a user management number assigned to a user terminal desired as a destination and an address of the mailbox for push. Claim 15
3. The relay device according to claim 1. 17. A relay device for relaying information distribution between a server device of an information provider and a plurality of user terminals receiving information provided from the server device, wherein the relay device is a target of an information distribution relay service. A server registration information storage unit that stores registration information about an information provider; an attribute storage unit that stores a user attribute and an address of a user terminal on a network in association with each user; Receiving means for receiving an information mail supplied by designating an attribute of a user desired as a destination; storing means for storing the received information mail; and storing the attribute of the stored user and the attribute of the specified user. Specification that matches with the attribute and specifies the network address of the user terminal corresponding to the user corresponding to the specified attribute A caller for calling the specified user terminal; and a transmitter for transmitting the stored information mail in response to a request from the called user terminal. . 18. A mailbox for a user that relays an e-mail between user terminals, and a mailbox for a push that relays an information mail transmitted from the server device of the registered information provider to the user terminal. 18. The relay device according to claim 17, wherein the storage unit stores the received information mail in the push mailbox. 19. The server device belongs to a first information communication network according to a first communication protocol,
The plurality of user terminals belong to a second information communication network according to a second communication protocol different from the first information communication network, and a protocol conversion for mutually converting the first and second communication protocols 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
19. The relay device according to any one of items 3 to 18. 20. The plurality of user terminals each have an address on a second network used only in the second information communication network,
In the first information communication network, the second
Address conversion means, which is identified by an address on the first network corresponding to an address on the first network in a one-to-one correspondence, and which converts the address on the first network and the address on the second network mutually. 20. The relay device according to claim 19, wherein: 21. The second information communication network,
The first information communication network is a local network accommodating a specific user terminal. On the other hand, the first information communication network uses information resources such as the server device to which identification information for identifying an absolute address on the network is assigned. 21. The relay device according to claim 19, wherein the relay device is a global network connected to each other. 22. The second information communication network,
22. The relay device according to claim 21, wherein the relay device is a mobile communication network accommodating a plurality of user terminals that are mobile terminals, while the first information communication network is the Internet. 23. The plurality of user terminals are provided with a telephone number as an address on the second network, and a user management number corresponding to the telephone number on a one-to-one basis as an address on the first network. 21. The relay device according to claim 20, wherein the address conversion unit converts the telephone number and the user management number into each other.