JP2001282839A - Information distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information distribution system by which information originators can effectively provide information at an adequate cost, and users can acquire information efficiently and quickly. SOLUTION: An original sender makes an access to a server 10 from an original sender terminal 31 in advance to register information data. In this occasion, for linking to the information, the attribute of the provided information (expective destination area, expective user's age, etc.), is sent to the server 10, which stores the attribute in an information profile database 41. A user, trying to acquire information, enters the field of interest, address, etc. from an user terminal 30 to access the server 10 and the inputted data is stored in a user profile storage part 51. An information-providing decision part 60 compares the user's attribute stored in the user profile storage part 51 with the attribute of each provided information registered in the information profile database 41. As the result of the comparison, information whose attribute coincides with the user's attribute is provided to the user.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information distribution system using a network.
Regarding the efficiency of information provision

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information distribution system using a network, if a user registers information of his / her own hobbies and fields of interest in a terminal device, information corresponding to the hobbies and interests is provided to the user. There is something to offer. For example, this is an information providing service in which a user registers his / her own address and provides a weather forecast for that area.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-301946 discloses an information providing apparatus which provides optimal advertisement information for a user by considering the user's intention and preference, etc., and improves the efficiency of the advertisement effect. I have.

First, the configuration of this information providing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The information providing server is connected to a terminal via a network, and a user requests the information providing server to provide various information from the terminal via the network. The information providing server includes an information database, a user profile database that stores personal information about users in advance, an information search unit, a user profile search unit, and the like.

Next, the operation of the information providing apparatus will be described. Upon receiving the information provision request from the terminal, the information provision server extracts an information acquisition key (keyword, menu information, operation sequence) input by the user, and searches the information provision database for information corresponding to the information provision request. Instruct the information retrieval unit. Then, the information retrieved by the information retrieval unit is provided to the user via the network. That is, the information provided to the user is determined by the "information acquisition key", and the advertisement is displayed in consideration of the user's intentions and preferences.

[0005]

However, the information distribution system and the information providing apparatus using the above-described network have the following problems.

First, when an information receiver tries to obtain information, it is necessary to search from a vast amount of information, so that it takes a long time to search for information, which leads to a reduction in communication costs. In particular, it is often meaningless to acquire information or the like in an area far from the area where the information receiver resides.

Second, even when an information sender wants to provide information only to a specific user group (for example, a user's area, age, etc.), the information is provided without considering it. In other words, the same cost as in the case of providing information indefinitely is required. In particular, even if information is provided to information recipients outside a specific area and cannot be used effectively, the information is also provided to persons in that area, resulting in unnecessary costs. .

[0008] In addition, it is impossible to change the display mode of the information to be provided by the information sender in consideration of the user layer. For example, a user who is not interested in the information to be provided may want to provide only a summary of the information. Note that the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-30194
In 6, the information is determined by the information acquisition key (keyword, menu information, operation sequence) input by the user, and the information sender cannot select the user.

Third, when information is provided according to the hobbies and interests of the information receiver, the amount of information that matches the hobby or the like is small, so that a situation occurs in which the information that can be obtained by the information receiver decreases. .

[0010] Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and can effectively provide information to an information sender at an appropriate cost, and can obtain information efficiently and quickly for a user. An object is to provide an information distribution system.

[0011]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention (1)
An information distribution system according to the present invention includes a server having an information data storage unit for storing information to be provided by an information sender and an associated attribute associated with the information, and the information transmitted from the server via a transmission unit. An information distribution system comprising a terminal device capable of receiving the information data stored in the server or the terminal device, wherein the server or the terminal device compares the attribute of the information receiver with the attribute of the information receiver, and stores the information data based on the comparison result. The information providing apparatus further includes an information provision determining unit that selects information to be provided to the information recipient from among the sections, or determines an information provision form based on the comparison result.

Therefore, the information receiver can efficiently obtain useful information according to his / her interest, address, and the like. On the other hand, an information sender can provide information to a desired user group, and can efficiently provide information at an appropriate cost.

(2) The information distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that the server transmits information to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device of the information receiver. Therefore, if the information receiver sets the information to be obtained and the attribute of the information via the terminal device, the information corresponding thereto is provided, and the information can be efficiently obtained.

(3) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the server or the terminal device includes a receiver attribute data storage unit for storing an attribute of the information receiver, and the receiver attribute data storage unit includes a receiver designation data storage unit. An attribute area and a receiver fixed attribute area are provided, and the receiver designation attribute area stores information receiver attributes that can be arbitrarily set by the information receiver.

Therefore, the information receiver registers his / her interests, hobbies, and the like in the receiver-specified attribute area, and registers the address and age in the receiver fixed attribute area. Can be easily compared, and information can be provided in consideration of the degree of interest of the information receiver.

(4) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, each of the plurality of attributes of the information receiver is assigned a priority or a weight, and the information provision determining means receives the information to be provided. And determining the order of provision or display form of the information to be provided to the information recipient in consideration of the priority or the weight.

[0017] Therefore, the information receiver can obtain information in the order of higher interest, and can reduce time loss and communication cost. On the other hand, the information sender
Provide all interested information recipients with all of the information,
By providing only the abstract of the information to the information recipient having a low degree of interest, the information can be efficiently provided at an appropriate cost.

(5) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the number of acquired information is set in the attribute of the information receiver.
The server provides information in consideration of the information acquisition number.

Therefore, the number of pieces of information can be reduced by comparing the attribute of the information receiver with the accompanying attribute, and when the number of pieces of information to be acquired is less than the number of pieces of information to be acquired, the number of pieces of information can be adjusted by setting a change attribute or the like. . That is, the information receiver can acquire the information of the number by setting the number of acquired information.

(6) The information distribution system according to the present invention is characterized in that the number of information distributions is set in the accompanying attribute, and the server provides information in consideration of the information distribution number. .

Therefore, the number of distributions is narrowed down by comparing the attribute of the information receiver with the accompanying attribute, and when the number of distributions is less than the number of information distributions, the number of distributions can be adjusted by setting a change attribute or the like. That is, the information sender can distribute the information of the number by setting the number of information distribution cases.

(7) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the server obtains the information by changing the attribute change information in which a plurality of pieces of information storing a plurality of associations are stored and the number of pieces of information to be provided to an information receiver. Attribute changing means for setting an attribute of the information receiver or a change attribute in place of the accompanying attribute so as to satisfy the number of cases, the attribute change means considering the relevance in the attribute change information, And the information provision determination means compares the change attribute with the accompanying attribute or the attribute of the information receiver, and provides the information receiver to the information receiver from the information data storage unit based on the comparison result. Selecting information to be determined, or determining a form of information provision based on the comparison result.

Therefore, it is possible to adjust the amount of information obtained by the information receiver by setting an attribute (change attribute) related to the attribute of the information receiver and comparing the changed attribute with the accompanying attribute. it can.

(8) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, a specific area is set in the attribute of the information receiver or the accompanying attribute, and a plurality of physical distances are stored in the attribute change information. A plurality of areas for setting the change attribute are set, and the attribute changing means sets the change attribute in consideration of a physical distance from the specific area, and the information provision determining means Comparing the change attribute with the accompanying attribute or the attribute of the information receiver, and selecting information to be provided to the information receiver from the information data storage unit based on the comparison result, or It is characterized in that the form of information provision is determined based on the result.

Therefore, by providing information of an area at a predetermined distance from an area specified by the information receiver (such as the address of the information receiver), the amount of information obtained by the information receiver can be adjusted. That is, by considering the physical distance between the areas, it is possible to provide useful information for the information receiver.

(9) In the information distribution system according to the present invention, the server obtains a geographical attribute from an access point accessed by the information receiver, and the information provision determining means determines the additional attribute and the geographical attribute. Comparing the information with the user and selecting information to be provided to the information recipient from the information data storage unit based on the comparison result, or determining an information provision mode based on the comparison result. It is characterized by.

Therefore, even when the address of the information receiver is not registered in the receiver attribute data storage unit or when the information receiver is temporarily moving, the current position of the information receiver is considered. Therefore, effective information can be provided to the information receiver.

(10) The information distribution system of the present invention comprises:
The priority of each of the plurality of information recipients is specified, and the server provides information in consideration of the number of information distribution cases and the priority.

Therefore, if the number of information distributions exceeds the number of information distributions by comparing the attributes of the information recipients and the accompanying attributes, information is preferentially provided to information recipients with a high degree of interest. Can be matched.

(11) The information distribution system according to the present invention comprises:
The number of acquired information is set in the attribute of the information receiver, and the information receiver instructs the setting of the change attribute in consideration of the number of acquired information.

Therefore, the information receiver does not automatically set the change attribute but the information receiver sets the change attribute, so that no useless information is provided.

(12) The information distribution system of the present invention comprises:
The server is characterized in that the server registers information titles or abstracts of information to be provided in the information display table capable of displaying a plurality of titles or abstracts.

Therefore, by registering a plurality of information titles or summaries in one information display table, only information selected by the information receiver needs to be distributed, and efficient information distribution can be achieved.

In the following embodiment, the accompanying attribute is
This corresponds to the attribute of the provided information.

The information data storage section corresponds to the information profile database 41 or the information profile storage section 40 in the following embodiment.

The information provision deciding means corresponds to the information provision decision unit 60 in the following embodiment.

The receiver attribute data storage section corresponds to the user profile storage section 51 or the user profile database 50 in the following embodiment.

The attribute change information corresponds to network type area information in the following embodiment.

The attribute changing means corresponds to the user attribute extension program 106 in the following embodiment.

The recording medium on which the program is recorded is a concept including a flexible disk, a CD-ROM, a hard disk, a memory card, a ROM, a punch card, a tape, and the like. In addition to a recording medium on which a program that can be directly executed by a computer is recorded, a recording medium on which a program that can be executed once by being installed on another recording medium (such as a hard disk), or an encrypted or recorded medium is recorded. This is a concept including a recording medium on which a compressed program is recorded.

[0041]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. First Embodiment 1.1 Overall Configuration FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A publisher who intends to distribute information by this system accesses the server 10 from the publisher terminal 31 and registers information data in advance. At this time, the submitter sends the attributes of the provided information (desired distribution area, desired distribution user age, etc.) to the server 10 in association with the information, and the server 10 stores the attributes in the information data storage unit. It is stored in the profile database 41. In this way, the information profile database 41 of the server 10 stores information data of many submitters,
The attribute of the provided information is accumulated.

On the other hand, a user who wants to obtain information inputs a field of interest from the user terminal 30 and the server 1
0 is stored in a user profile storage unit 51 which is a receiver data storage unit. At this time, the user inputs an attribute such as an address together with the field of interest. Therefore, the user profile storage unit 5 of the server 10
1 stores an area of interest, an address, and the like.

The information provision determining unit 60 of the server 10 compares the user attribute stored in the user profile storage unit 51 with the attribute of each provided information registered in the information profile database 41. As a result of the comparison, information whose attributes match is provided to the user.

As described above, if this system is used,
The user can acquire information according to the field of interest, and can improve the efficiency of information acquisition.
On the other hand, for the submitter, by registering the attribute of the provided information, the information can be distributed only to a desired user group, and the efficiency of the information distribution can be improved.

1.2 Hardware Configuration 1.2.1 Server FIG. 2 shows a hardware configuration example of the server 10 shown in FIG. An interface 72, a memory 73, a hard disk 74, an input device 75, and a CD-ROM drive 76 are connected to the CPU 71 via a bus line. On the hard disk 74, the information profile database 41, the user profile storage unit 51, the information attribute profile registration program 101, the user profile storage program 102, the provided information registration program 103, the information determination program 104, and the operating system 105 (such as Microsoft windows)
Are registered.

Information attribute profile registration program 10
1 is a program for registering the attribute of the provided information in the information profile database 41. The provided information registration program 103 is a program for registering information data from a submitter. The information determination program 104 compares the attribute of the user with the attribute of each provided information stored in the information profile database 41,
This is a program for sending only information with matching attributes to the user.

In this embodiment, these programs execute the above-described functions in cooperation with the operating system 105.

1.2.2 User Terminal and Submitter Terminal FIG. 3 shows an example of a hardware configuration of the user terminal 30. An interface 92, a memory 93, a hard disk 94, an input device 95, and a CD-ROM drive 96 are connected to the CPU 91 via a bus line.

On the hard disk 94, a browser program 97 (Microsoft Intranet) for browsing information from the server 10 and transmitting data to the server 10 is provided.
Internet Explorer 9), operating system 9
8 and the like are recorded. The publisher terminal 31 has the same configuration as the user terminal 30.

1.3 Information Registration Processing and Information Acquisition Processing The processing in the case where the submitter registers information data and attributes in the server 10 and the processing in which the user registers attributes in the server 10 to acquire information will be described below. Will be explained.

1.3.1 Information Registration Process of Submitter FIG. 4 shows the process of the browser program 97 of the submitter terminal 30 and the information attribute registration program 101 and the provided information registration program 10 of the server 10 when registering information.
The process of No. 3 is shown by a flowchart.

When the submitter requests transmission of the information registration form (ST111), the server 10 sends the submitter terminal 31.
The information registration form is transmitted to (ST112).
A screen as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display of publisher terminal 30 (ST113). The submitter inputs information genre, desired distribution area, and the like according to each item of the information registration form (ST114), attaches information data to be distributed, and transmits the attribute registration form to the server 10. (ST115).

Next, the information attribute registration program 101 and the provision information registration program 103 of the server 10 register the attributes of the information data and the provision information in the information profile database 50 as shown in FIG. 6 (ST11).
6).

The information profile database 50
Is provided with columns for a flag 1 and a flag 2.

1.3.2 User Information Acquisition Processing The processing of the browser program 97 of the user terminal 30 and the processing of the information determination program 104 of the server 10 when the user registers attributes in the server 10 to acquire information are shown in FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG.
Shows an example in which the user attempts to acquire information on “car”.

When the user A requests the server 10 to transmit the attribute registration form (ST121), the server 10 transmits the attribute registration form to the user terminal 30 (ST122). A screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 30 (ST12).
3). Then, the address "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka", the field of interest "automobile", etc. are input (ST124), and this attribute registration form is transmitted to the server 10 (ST125). Server 10
By the processing of the user profile storage program 102, the user attribute is stored in the user profile storage unit 51 (ST126).

Then, the information determination program 104 compares the attribute of the provided information with the attribute of the user as follows.

First, the field of interest "automobile" is obtained from the user profile storage unit 51 (ST301), and each information obtained from the information profile database 41 is compared with the information genre (ST302, 303). Then, the flag 1 of the information whose information genre is "automobile" is set (ST304 to ST306) (see FIG. 10A).
Next, the user's address "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka" is acquired from the user profile storage unit 51 (ST307), and the distribution area of each information in which the flag 1 is set and the user's address "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka" Perform comparison (ST3
08-310). When the user's address "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka" is included in the desired distribution area (in this case, "match"), flag 2 of the information is set (ST31).
1 to 313) (see FIG. 10b). For example, since the delivery desired area of the sports car a is “Fukuoka prefecture, Saga prefecture”, the flag 2 of the sports car a is set.

Next, information in which flag 2 is set is transmitted (ST314 to 317), and flag 1 and flag 2 are reset (ST318). On the other hand, when there is no information for which the flag 2 is set, it is determined not to distribute information at all (ST319).

Therefore, the user can acquire information matching his / her attribute by setting the attribute in the attribute registration form.

When comparing the attributes of the user and the attributes of the provided information, vectors may be created in consideration of the entire attributes, and the vectors may be compared.

Also, the user ID is entered in the attribute registration form.
By providing a column for inputting a number, it is not necessary to write the previously input address, date of birth, and the like.

Further, the attribute registration form may be provided with an information acquisition method column. For example, when the latest information is registered in the information profile database 41, the information is provided.

2. 2. Second Embodiment 2.1 Overall Configuration Same as 1.1 above.

2.2 Hardware Configuration of Server FIG. 11 shows a hardware configuration example of the server 10.
The hard disk 74 further stores a user attribute extension program 106 and network type area information 107 which is attribute change information.

The user attribute extension program 106 is a program for setting an extended attribute which is a change attribute in place of a user attribute. Network type area information 107
Stores the physical distance between each area.

The hardware configurations of the user terminal 30 and the publisher terminal 31 are the same as in 1.2.2.

2.3 Submitter Information Registration Process, User Information Acquisition Process The information registration process is the same as in 1.3.1. Hereinafter, the processing of the information determination program 104 and the user attribute extension program 106 in the case where the number of pieces of information desired by the user (hereinafter, referred to as the number of pieces of information to be obtained) is set by setting an attribute registration form and the information is to be obtained is shown in FIGS. Is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The case where the user A tries to acquire the information of “car” will be described as an example. Further, the information profile database 51 is provided with a column for a flag 3.

According to STs 301 to 302, flag 2 of the information in which the attribute of the provided information matches the attribute of the user is set.

Next, the number of information for which the flag 2 is set is compared with the number of information distribution cases (ST331). Hereinafter, the comparison results (a) and (b) will be described.

(A) When the number of pieces of information with the flag 2 set satisfies the number of obtained information The information with the flag 2 set is distributed in the same manner as described above (ST338 to 341).

(B) When the number of pieces of information for which the flag 2 is set is less than the number of pieces of acquired information Confirm that the address of the user A is "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka" and use the network-type area information 107. Then, an extended attribute is set by adding an area within a predetermined distance centering on Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture (ST332). That is, the first extended attribute “Fukuoka, Saga, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Onoda, Yamaguchi” is set in the user profile storage unit 51. Then, the first extended attribute is compared with the distribution desired area of the information for which the flag 2 is not set (ST33).
3 to 336), if they match, the flag 3 is set (ST337) (see FIG. 13A). For example, since the delivery desired area of the sports car j is “Yamaguchi prefecture, Hiroshima prefecture, Shimane prefecture”, it matches the first extended attribute and sets the flag 3 of the sports car j.

Next, the number of pieces of information for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is compared with the number of pieces of acquired information. Hereinafter, the comparison results (c) and (d) will be described.

(C) When the number of pieces of information for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set satisfies the number of acquired information, the information for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is distributed in the same manner as described above (ST338 to 341). ).

(D) When the number of pieces of information for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is less than the number of pieces of information to be acquired, extended attributes are set in the same manner as described above. That is,
The second extended attribute "Fukuoka prefecture, Yamaguchi prefecture, Oita prefecture, Saga prefecture" is set in the user profile storage unit 51, and each information is compared with the distribution desired area. For example, since the delivery desired area of the sports car k is “Oita Prefecture”, the area matches the second extended attribute, and the flag 3 of the sports car k is set (ST332 to 337) (see FIG. 13B).

Hereinafter, extended attributes are set until the number of pieces of information for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set satisfies the number of obtained information.

Therefore, the user can secure a desired number of information by setting the number of acquired information in the attribute registration form, and can correct the adverse effect of the shortage of information caused by setting the attribute.

Further, since the extended attribute is set based on the physical distance based on the network type area information 87, information in an area far from the user's address is not provided to the user.

In this embodiment, information is provided to the user after setting the extended attribute one or more times and satisfying the number of acquired information. However, the information may be provided to the user before setting the extended attribute or each time the extended attribute is set.

In this embodiment, the setting of the extended attribute in place of the user's address stored in the user profile storage unit 51 is set. However, other attributes such as a field of interest may be set.

2.4 The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but may be an information distribution system as described below.

2.4.1 In this embodiment, the server 10 automatically sets the extended attributes.
The server 10 may set extended attributes.
In other words, information is provided to the user before setting the extended attribute, and the extended attribute is set as described above in accordance with a command from the user.

In this case, information can be efficiently acquired without setting unnecessary extended attributes.

2.4.2 In this embodiment, the extended attribute is set using the network type area information 87. However, the extended attribute is set using the tree type area information as shown in FIG. You may. That is, extended attributes are set using a certain degree of association. For example, if information in Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture is not enough, information on the entire Tokushima Prefecture is provided to the user, and in this case, if it is not enough, the information is expanded to the Shikoku region.

Therefore, if a predetermined relationship is set between a plurality of attributes, an extended attribute can be set according to the relationship.

2.4.3 In this embodiment, user attributes are stored in the user profile storage unit 51, but a database capable of registering attributes of a plurality of users may be provided.

In this case, an attribute of a third party having an attribute similar to the user can be used to set an extended attribute in place of the attribute of a certain user.

2.4.4 When a plurality of attributes are set by the user, another attribute may be used to set an extended attribute in place of a certain attribute. For example, if the user sets “address”, “return address”, and “frequently visited area”, the attributes of “return address” and “frequently visited area” are set to set the extended attribute of “address”. It is like using.

2.4.5 In this embodiment, extended attributes are set in order to adjust the number of pieces of information acquired by the user. However, the number of pieces of information may be adjusted by changing the comparison condition between the attribute of the user and the attribute of the provided information.

2.4.6 In this embodiment, the user attributes are stored in the user profile storage unit 51 provided in the server 10, but the user attributes may be stored in the user terminal 30. In this case, the information determination program 1 in the server 10
04 detects the attributes of the user stored in the user terminal 30 and determines information to be provided to the user.

2.4.7 The user may specify a priority order to set a field of interest, and acquire information preferentially from information having a high degree of interest. For information of low interest, only the information abstract may be provided. Note that weighting such as a percentage may be used instead of priority.

3. Third Embodiment 3.1 Overall Configuration FIG. 14 shows an overall configuration of an information distribution system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Server 1 for distributing information
0, user terminal 30 receiving information, server 10
Is connected to the Internet 20 as a transmission means.

A user who intends to receive information distribution by this system accesses the server 10 from the user terminal 30 and registers in advance. The user
The server sends attributes such as its own mail address, address, and age to the server 10, and the server 10 stores the attributes in a user profile database 50, which is a receiver attribute data storage unit. In this way, the mail addresses and attributes of many users are stored in the user profile database 50 of the server 10.

On the other hand, a publisher who intends to provide information,
Information is input from the publisher terminal 31, the server 10 is accessed, and the information is stored in the information profile storage unit 40, which is an information data storage unit. At this time, the submitter inputs the attributes of the information (the genre of the information, the desired distribution area, the desired user age, etc.) in association with the information.
Therefore, the information profile storage unit 40 of the server 10
Stores information and attributes thereof in association with each other.

The information provision deciding unit 60, which is the information provision deciding means of the server 10, includes the attribute of the provision information, which is the accompanying attribute stored in the information profile storage 40, and the attribute of each user stored in the user profile database 50. Compare with As a result of the comparison, a user having an attribute matching the attribute of the provided information is selected. The information provision deciding unit 60 of the server 10 distributes information to the user selected in this way using the mail address in the user profile database 50.

As described above, if this system is used,
The submitter can provide information only to users who match the attributes of the information to be provided, and can improve the efficiency of information provision. On the other hand, for the user,
By registering one's own attribute, only information suitable for oneself can be acquired, and the efficiency of information acquisition can be improved.

3.2 Hardware Configuration 3.2.1 Server FIG. 15 shows a hardware configuration example of the server 10 shown in FIG. The CPU 71 has an interface 72, a memory 73, a hard disk 7 via a bus line.
4. The input device 75 and the CD-ROM drive 76 are connected.

The hard disk 74 has an information profile storage section 40 and a user profile database 5
0, an information attribute profile storage program 81, a user profile registration program 82, a provided information storage program 83, a user determination program 84, an operating system 85 (such as Microsoft windows), and the like are registered.

Information attribute profile storage program 81
Is a program for storing the attributes of the provided information in the information profile storage unit 40. The user profile registration program 82 is a program for registering user attributes in the user profile database 50. Further, the provided information storage program 83 is a program for storing information from the submitter in the information profile storage unit 40. User decision program 84
Is a program for comparing the attribute of the provided information with the attribute of each user stored in the user profile database 50 and transmitting the information only to the user whose attribute matches.

In this embodiment, these programs execute the above-mentioned functions in cooperation with the operating system 85.

3.2.2 User terminal and publisher terminal Same as 1.2.2 above.

3.3 User Attribute Registration Process and Submitter Information Providing Process Hereinafter, a process in which a user performs user registration in the server 10, and a case where a submitter registers provided information in the server 10 and provides information to the user The process will be described separately.

3.3.1 User Attribute Registration Process FIG. 16 shows a user terminal 3 for user registration.
0 is shown by a flowchart in the processing of the browser program 97 and the processing of the user profile registration program 82 of the server 10.

When the user requests transmission of the attribute registration form (ST11), the server 10 sets the user terminal 3
Then, an attribute registration form is transmitted to ST0 (ST12).
A screen as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed on the display of the user terminal 30 (ST13). The user inputs a field of interest, an address, etc. according to each item of the attribute registration form (ST14), and transmits the attribute registration form to the server 10 (ST15).

Next, the user profile registration program 82 of the server 10 registers the user's mail address, field of interest, and the like in the user profile database 50 as shown in FIG. 18 (ST16).

Note that the user profile database has columns for flag 1 and flag 2.

The user profile database 50 may be divided into an area for storing arbitrarily settable attributes such as “field of interest” and an area for storing arbitrarily unsettable attributes such as “address”. Good. In this case, the former corresponds to the recipient designation attribute area, and the latter corresponds to the recipient fixed attribute area.

The user may also input age, family structure, frequently visited areas, and the like in the attribute registration form.

3.3.2 Information Providing Process of Submitter When the submitter registers the provided information in the server 10 and requests distribution, the process of the browser program 97 of the submitter terminal 31 and the process of the user determination program 84 of the server 10 The process is shown as an example in the flowcharts of FIGS. 19 and 20 when the card dealer A attempts to provide information on “sports car a”.

When the card dealer A requests the server 10 to transmit the information registration form (ST21), the server 10 transmits the information registration form to the poster terminal 31 (ST22). A screen as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed on the display of the publisher terminal (ST23). And the address "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka", the information genre "Automobile"
Enter the desired distribution area "Fukuoka Prefecture, Saga Prefecture" (ST
24) The information of "sports car a" is attached to this information registration form and transmitted to the server 10 (ST2).
5). By the processing of the information attribute profile storage program 81 and the provided information storage program 83 of the server 10, the information profile storage unit 40 stores the provided information attributes (information genre, desired distribution area, etc.) and the information data of "sports car a". Is performed (ST26).

Then, the user decision program 84
The attribute of the provided information is compared with the attribute of the user as follows.

First, the information genre “automobile” is acquired from the information profile storage unit 40 (ST201), and comparison with the user's field of interest is made from the user profile database 50 (ST202, 203). And
Users whose field of interest is "automobile" (user A, etc.)
Is set (ST204 to ST206) (FIG. 2)
2A).

Next, the distribution desired area “Fukuoka prefecture, Saga prefecture” is obtained from the information profile storage unit 40 (ST20).
7) Compare the address of each user with the flag 1 set and the desired distribution area "Fukuoka Prefecture, Saga Prefecture" (ST2).
08-210). If the address of the user is included in the distribution desired area “Fukuoka Prefecture, Saga Prefecture” (in this case, “match”), flag 2 is set (ST 211 to ST 21).
3) (see FIG. 22B). For example, since the address of the user A is “Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka”, the flag 2
Is set.

Next, the address of the user with the flag 2 set is obtained (ST215), and the information is distributed to the user (ST216 to ST218). Thereafter, a report for reporting the result of the information distribution to the submitter is created (ST219) and transmitted to the submitter terminal 31 (ST220). The result of the information transmission as shown in FIG. 23 is reported to the poster. Then, the flag 1 and the flag 2
Is reset (ST221). If no user has the flag 2 set, it is determined not to distribute any information (ST222).

Therefore, the submitter can provide information to a desired user layer by setting the attribute of the provided information in the information registration form.

When creating a report, the report may be created using the address of the user registered in the user profile database 50 or the like.

Further, even when there is no user with the flag 2 set, it may be determined to provide information to the user with the flag 1 set.

Further, after first comparing the delivery desired area with the user's address, the information genre and the field of interest may be compared.

Further, for a user for whom the flag 1 is not set, the flag 2 may be set by comparing the user's address with the distribution desired area. In this case, information can be provided to a user having an attribute that matches either the information genre or the desired distribution area.

[0120] The report of the result of the information distribution to the submitter is not limited to electronic mail.

3.4 3.4.1 The server 10 records only the title of the information to be provided to the user by recording the title of the information to be provided in the calendar display table which is the information display table as shown in FIG. May be. In this case, by clicking the title of the information, the content of the information is displayed on the user terminal 30 via the Internet 20.

Therefore, the user can manage the information in association with the date and time, and only needs to click on the subject when he / she wants to know the contents of the information in detail.

Note that the information may be an abstract of information instead of the title of the information.

3.4.2 In this embodiment, the submitter stores information data in the information profile storage unit 40 provided in the server 10. However, instead of information data, URL
May be registered. In this case, the user is the publisher terminal 3
1, information can be obtained directly.

[0125] 4. Fourth Embodiment 4.1 Overall Configuration The same as 3.1 above.

4.2 Hardware Configuration of Server FIG. 25 shows a hardware configuration example of the server 10.
The hard disk 74 further stores an information attribute extension program 86 and network type area information 87 as attribute change information.

The information attribute extension program 86 is a program for setting an extended attribute which is a change attribute instead of the attribute of the provided information. In the network type area information 87,
The physical distance between each area is stored.

The hardware configurations of the user terminal 30 and the publisher terminal 31 are the same as those in 1.2.2.

4.3 User Attribute Registration Process and Submitter Information Provision Process The user attribute registration process is the same as in 3.3.1. Hereinafter, the processing of the user determination program 84 and the information attribute extension program 86 in the case where the submitter sets the desired number of distributions (hereinafter referred to as information distribution number) in the information registration form and requests distribution of information will be described with reference to FIGS. This is shown in the flowchart of FIG. The case where the car dealer A intends to provide information on “sports car a” will be described as an example. The user profile database 50 is provided with a flag 3 column.

In accordance with ST201 to ST212, the flag 2 of the user whose attribute of the provided information matches the attribute of the user is set.

Next, the number of users to whom the flag 2 is set is compared with the number of information distribution cases (ST231).
Hereinafter, the comparison results (a) and (b) will be described.

(A) When the number of users with the flag 2 set satisfies the number of information distribution cases Similarly to the above, the address of the user with the flag 2 set is obtained and information is distributed to them ( ST23
8-ST244).

(B) When the number of users for whom the flag 2 is set is less than the number of information distributions: Confirm that the address of the car dealer A is "Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka" and use the network-type local information 87. Then, an extended attribute is set by adding an area within a predetermined distance centering on Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture (ST232). That is, the first extended attribute “Fukuoka, Saga, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Onoda, Yamaguchi” is set in the information profile storage unit 40. Then, the first extended attribute is compared with the address of the user whose flag 2 is not set (ST233 to ST233).
36) If they match, flag 3 is set (ST)
237) (see FIG. 27A). For example, since the address of the user E is “Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture”, the address matches the first extended attribute, and the flag 3 of the user E is set.

Next, the number of users to whom the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is compared with the number of information distribution cases (ST231). Below, the comparison results (c) and (d)
Will be described.

(C) When the number of users to whom the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set satisfies the number of information distribution cases In the same manner as described above, the address of the user to which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is obtained (ST238). ), And distribute information to the user (ST239 to ST244).

(D) When the number of users for which the flag 2 or the flag 3 is set is less than the number of information distribution cases, extended attributes are set in the same manner as described above. That is,
The second extended attribute “Fukuoka prefecture, Yamaguchi prefecture, Oita prefecture, Saga prefecture” is set in the information profile storage unit 40 and compared with the address of the user. For example, since the address of user F is "Oita Prefecture Beppu City", it matches the second extended attribute, and sets flag 3 of user E (ST232 to ST2).
37) (see FIG. 27B).

In the same manner as described above, extended attributes are set until the number of users for whom the flag 2 or 3 is set satisfies the number of information distribution cases.

Therefore, the submitter can secure the desired number of users by setting the number of information distributions in the information registration form, and correct the adverse effect of the shortage of distributions caused by setting the attribute of the provided information. Can be.

Further, since the extended attribute is set based on the physical distance based on the network type area information 87, the information is not distributed to the user in an area far from the area desired to be distributed.

In this embodiment, after the extended attribute is set once or more than once and the number of information distributions is satisfied, the information is provided to the user and the result of the information distribution is reported to the poster. . However, the result of the information distribution may be reported to the submitter before setting the extended attribute or every time the extended attribute is set.

Further, in this embodiment, the extended attribute is set by the physical distance from the address of the submitter, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an extended attribute in which a region adjacent to the desired distribution region is added may be set.

Further, in this embodiment, the setting of the extended attribute in place of the desired distribution area stored in the information profile storage unit 40 is set, but other attributes such as the information genre may be used.

4.4 The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and may be an information distribution system as follows.

4.4.1 In this embodiment, the server 10 automatically sets the extended attribute. However, the extended attribute may be set by the submitter's instruction. In other words, before setting the extended attributes, report the information distribution results to the publisher,
The extension attribute is set as described above in accordance with the submitter's command.

In this case, it is possible to efficiently distribute information without setting useless extended attributes.

4.4.2 In this embodiment, the extended attribute is set using the network type area information 87. However, the extended attribute is set using the tree type area information as shown in FIG. You may.

4.4.3 In this embodiment, an extended attribute is set to satisfy the number of information distribution cases, but a reduction attribute may be set so as not to exceed the number of information distribution cases. 4.4.
4 When the information is distributed with the extended attribute set, the user who sets the flag 2 and flag 3, that is, the user who provides the information by setting the extended attribute, is given an abstract of the information. Only may be provided.

4.4.5 When a user registers a plurality of fields of interest in the user profile database 50, if a priority is set, a user with a low degree of interest (ie, a user with a low priority) is set. Alternatively, only the information abstract may be provided. In addition, not priority,
Weighting such as a percentage may be used.

4.4.6 When providing a plurality of types of information to a user, the order of providing information to the user may be determined according to the priority specified by the user. Note that weighting may be used instead of priority.

[0150] 5. Fifth Embodiment An information distribution system using an access point in a case where a user tries to acquire information will be described below.

5.1 Overall Configuration This is the same as the overall configuration shown in 1.1 above.

5.2 Hardware Configuration of Server FIG. 29 shows a hardware configuration example of the server 10.
In the hard disk, a telephone number / address correspondence table 108, a region determination program 109, and the like are registered.

In the telephone number / address correspondence table 108, telephone numbers and area names are registered in association with each other. The geographical attribute determination program 109 stores a telephone number and a telephone number / address correspondence table 10 obtained from the access point accessed by the user.
8 to obtain geographical attributes.

5.3 User Information Acquisition Processing 5.3.1 The following describes the processing of the geographical attribute determination program 109 when a user acquires information without registering attributes in the server 10 with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 30ab. I do.

When a user requests information from server 10, a geographical attribute is obtained using telephone number and telephone number / address correspondence table 108 obtained from an access point accessed by the user (ST501, 502). .
Then, a desired distribution area of each piece of information in the information profile database 41 is obtained and compared with its geographical attribute. The following is the same as above (ST503 to ST503).
06).

[0156] Therefore, when the user is temporarily moving, it is possible to obtain information at the moving place.

5.3.2 The processing of the geographical attribute determination program 104 when a user registers an attribute in the server 10 and obtains information will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

After comparing the information genre with the field of interest,
The user attribute stored in the user profile storage unit 51 is searched. Search results (a), (b)
(ST521, ST522) will be described below.

(B) The geographical attribute is 1 for the user attribute
If one is stored, the geographical attribute is acquired (ST524).

(C) A case where a plurality of geographical attributes are stored in the attribute of the user The telephone number obtained from the access point and the telephone number correspondence table 1
08 to obtain a geographical attribute (ST52).
5).

Using the geographical attributes obtained from the above,
In the same manner as above, comparison is made with the distribution desired area (ST526).
531), information to be provided to the user is determined.

Therefore, when the user does not input a geographical attribute in the attribute registration form or inputs a plurality of geographical attributes, an appropriate geographical attribute can be set.

Instead of the telephone number / address correspondence table 108, data in which an IP address and a region name are registered in correspondence may be used. In this case, the geographical attribute determination program 104 does not obtain the user's telephone number from the access point, but obtains the IP address.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information distribution system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a user terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a submitter information registration process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an information registration form according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing registered contents of an information profile database 41 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an attribute registration form according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10A is a diagram illustrating a user profile database 50 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a user profile database 50 in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12C is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13A is a diagram showing registered contents of a user profile database 50 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 13B is a diagram showing registered contents of a user profile database 50 in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an information distribution system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a user attribute registration process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an attribute registration form according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing registered contents of a user profile database 50 in the third embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a submitter information providing process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a submitter information providing process according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an information registration form according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing registered contents of a user profile database 50 in the third embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a result of information distribution transmitted to a publisher terminal in the third embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a calendar display in the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26a is a flowchart of a submitter information providing process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26B is a flowchart of a submitter information providing process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 26c is a flowchart of a publisher information providing process according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing registered contents of a user profile database 50 in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing tree-structured network area information in which geographical attributes are stored.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a server according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30A is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 30B is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31a is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31B is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31c is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 31D is a flowchart of a user information acquisition process according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an information providing apparatus according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 41: Information profile database 51: User profile storage unit 60: Information provision determination unit 106: User attribute extension program 107: Network type regional information

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04L 12/54 H04L 11/20 101B 12/58 F-term (Reference) 5B049 AA03 EE05 FF01 GG00 5B075 NS01 PQ02 PQ05 PQ75 PR08 5B085 BG07 5K030 HA05 HB17 JT02 KA01 KA05 KA07 LA03 LE05 LE17 9A001 BB04 EE06 FF03 JJ01 JJ06 JJ13 JJ25 JJ27

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A server having an information data storage unit for storing information to be provided by an information sender and associated attributes associated with the information, and receiving the information from the server via transmission means. An information distribution system comprising: a terminal device capable of performing the following: the server or the terminal device compares the attribute of the information receiver with the attribute of the information receiver, and stores the information in the information data storage unit based on the comparison result. An information distribution system, comprising: an information provision determining unit that selects information to be provided to the information recipient from the above or determines an information provision form based on the comparison result. 2. A server for providing information to a terminal device via a transmission means, comprising: an information data storage unit for storing information to be provided by an information sender and an accompanying attribute associated with the information; Comparing the accompanying attribute and the attribute of the information receiver, and selecting information to be provided to the information receiver from the information data storage unit based on the comparison result, or information based on the comparison result A server comprising information provision determining means for determining a provision mode. 3. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein the server transmits information to the terminal device in response to a request from the terminal device of the information receiver. What to do. 4. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein said server or terminal device includes a receiver attribute data storage unit for storing an attribute of an information receiver, and said receiver attribute data storage unit. The unit comprises a recipient designation attribute area and a recipient fixed attribute area, wherein the recipient designation attribute area stores information recipient attributes that can be arbitrarily set by the information recipient. What to do. 5. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein each of a plurality of attributes of the information receiver is assigned a priority or a weight, and It is characterized in that a provision order or a display form of information to be provided to the information recipient is determined in consideration of the order or the weight. 6. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein the information receiver is configured to assign priority or weight to the information to be acquired by the information receiver or the attribute of the information receiver. By specifying, the information receiver acquires the information selected by the information provision determining means according to the provision order or display form of the information to be provided to the information recipient determined by the information provision determining means. Characterized by that. 7. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein the number of acquired information is set in an attribute of the information receiver, and the server considers the number of acquired information, Features that provide information. 8. The information distribution system or server according to claim 1, wherein said server transmits information to said terminal device in consideration of the number of information acquisition requests requested from the terminal device of the information receiver. Characterized by performing. 9. The information distribution system or server according to claim 7, wherein the server has attribute change information in which a plurality of pieces of information storing a plurality of associations are stored, and information provided to an information receiver. Attribute change means for setting an attribute of the information receiver or a change attribute in place of the accompanying attribute, so that the number of information change information satisfies the number of acquired information, wherein the attribute change means considers relevance in the attribute change information. Then, the change attribute is set, and the information provision determining means compares the change attribute with the accompanying attribute or the attribute of the information receiver, and based on the comparison result, A method for selecting information to be provided to an information recipient, or determining a form of information provision based on the comparison result. 10. The information distribution system or server according to claim 9, wherein said attribute changing means sets said changed attribute a plurality of times. 11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the attribute associated with the information to be provided by the information sender is compared with the attribute of the information receiver.
An information distribution method, wherein information to be provided to the information recipient is selected based on the comparison result, or an information provision mode is determined based on the comparison result. 12. An alternative to the attribute of the information receiver or the accompanying attribute based on a plurality of pieces of information storing a plurality of associations so that the number of pieces of information provided to the information receiver satisfies the information acquisition number. Setting the attribute, setting the change attribute in consideration of the relevance, the information provision determining unit compares the change attribute with the attribute of the accompanying attribute or the attribute of the information receiver, and based on the comparison result, A program for selecting information to be provided to the information recipient from the information data storage unit, or for causing a computer to perform an information distribution process of determining an information provision mode based on the comparison result. Recording medium.