JP2001344052A - Method for generating icon, system for the same, icon information transmitting device and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an icon generating method, an icon generating system, an icon information transmitting device, and a recording medium which make it easier to perform access to a desired WWW site. SOLUTION: A user U notices the identification information of an advertisement provider indicated in a banner F set in a city. Then, the user U, when coming back home, transmits the identification information to an icon generating device 1 by using terminal equipment 2, 2..., and obtains contents information related with the advertisement provider identified according to the identification information. Then, the user confirms the contents information, and when the user desires to perform access to a WWW site related with the contents information, the user receives icon information related with an icon to be used for starting a program for performing access to the WWW site from the icon generating device 1, and generates an icon on the basis of the icon information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an icon generating method for generating an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site, an icon generating system and an icon information transmitting apparatus for implementing the method, and a computer. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a computer program for causing a computer to function as an icon information transmitting device is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the number of users using the Internet has increased rapidly, and Internet technologies such as e-mail and the WWW (World Wide Web) have rapidly spread by these users. In particular, WWW is an HTML (Hyper
The convenience of easily browsing enormous information created in a content description language such as Text Markup Language (Text Markup Language) has been accepted by many users.

[0003] With the spread of such WWW, its own WWW
Attention has been paid to an advertising method for advertising various products and services by establishing a WWW site, and an enormous number of WWW sites for advertising have been established.
By using these WWW sites, advertisement information can be provided to users without being affected by geographical restrictions.

By the way, in order to access a specific WWW site, a domain name indicating the name of a computer operating the WWW site must be specified. Therefore, an advertisement provider who has established a WWW site for advertisement needs to widely inform users of a domain name relating to his / her WWW site. For this reason, the advertisement provider has endeavored to notify the user of the domain name by indicating the domain name on an advertisement display means such as a signboard or registering the domain name in a so-called search service.

A user who knows the domain name of an advertisement provider can access a WWW site by designating the domain name. Here, if it is determined that the WWW site discloses useful information, a WWW browser that automatically accesses the WWW site is provided so that it can be accessed from next time without specifying a domain name. May generate an icon used to launch. Thus, from the next time, it is possible to access a desired WWW site only by clicking the icon.

[0006]

However, even if an icon as described above is created, the icon is not characteristic, so that the icon can access a desired WWW site. There is a problem that it is often difficult to determine whether or not it is the one.

[0007] Further, even when the advertisement is carried out on the WWW site as described above, that is, even when the advertisement information can be provided without any geographical restrictions, the actual product In many cases, services and services are provided not in a store provided on the Internet, which is a virtual space, but in a store existing in a real space. Therefore, it is often the case that a user wants to know advertising information relating to a store that exists within his / her own range of action, but it is difficult to know which store has its own WWW site. there were.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and by generating an icon based on image information simulating an actual advertisement display means, it is possible to determine what kind of icon the icon is used for. An object of the present invention is to provide an icon generation method that can be easily determined and an icon information transmission device for implementing the method.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain content information on an advertisement provider identified by identification information indicated on an existing advertisement display means, and access a WWW site related to the obtained content information. Icon generation method that enables easy access to a desired WWW site by generating an icon used to activate a program, an icon generation system and an icon information transmission device for performing the method, and An object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium in which a computer program for causing a computer to function as an icon information transmitting device is recorded.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an icon generating method for accessing a WWW site associated with an advertisement provider based on identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated on an actual advertisement display unit. An icon generation method for generating an icon used for starting a program, comprising: a step of receiving the identification information; and an icon imitating the existing advertisement display means stored in advance based on the received identification information. Extracting an icon used for starting a program for accessing a WWW site related to an advertisement provider identified by the received identification information, based on the extracted icon information. It is characterized by including.

[0011] An icon generation method according to a second aspect of the present invention is to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider based on identification information for identifying the advertisement provider indicated on the actual advertisement display means. An icon generation method for generating an icon to be used, comprising: obtaining content information on an advertisement provider identified by identification information indicated by the advertisement display means; and accessing a WWW site related to the obtained content information. A step of acquiring icon information relating to an icon used to activate a program to be executed, and a step of generating the icon based on the acquired icon information.

[0012] An icon generation system according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises:
A terminal device having a means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means, and icon information relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site relating to the advertisement provider Comprises an icon information storage unit stored therein and an icon information transmitting device comprising means for transmitting the icon information, wherein the terminal device generates the icon based on the icon information received from the icon information transmitting device. An icon generation system according to claim 1, wherein said icon information transmitting device includes: a content information storage unit in which content information relating to said advertisement provider is stored; Content information about the advertising provider identified by the information. The terminal device further comprises: a first search unit for searching from the information storage unit; and a unit for transmitting the content information searched for by the first search unit. Means for transmitting a request for transmission of icon information relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site, wherein the icon information transmission device further comprises, when receiving the transmission request, an icon associated with the received transmission request A second search unit for searching information from the icon information storage unit; and a unit for transmitting the icon information searched by the second search unit to the terminal device.

[0013] An icon information transmitting apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises:
Connected to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider shown on an actual advertisement display means,
An icon information transmission device comprising: an icon information storage unit in which icon information regarding an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider is stored; and a unit for transmitting the icon information, When receiving the identification information from the terminal device, a search unit that searches the icon information storage unit for icon information related to an icon imitating the advertisement display unit related to the received identification information, and the icon information searched by the search unit. Means for transmitting to the terminal device.

[0014] An icon information transmitting apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises:
Connected to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider shown on an actual advertisement display means,
An icon information transmission device comprising: an icon information storage unit in which icon information regarding an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider is stored; and a unit for transmitting the icon information, The content information storage unit in which the content information about the advertisement provider is stored, and when the identification information is received from the terminal device, the content information about the advertisement provider identified by the received identification information is transmitted from the content information storage unit. A first search unit for searching, a unit for transmitting the content information searched by the first search unit to the terminal device, and an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the transmitted content information A request for transmitting icon information is sent to the terminal device. A second search unit that searches the icon information storage unit for icon information related to the received transmission request when received from the server, and a unit that transmits the icon information searched by the second search unit to the terminal device. It is characterized by.

[0015] The recording medium according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is connected to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means, and accesses a WWW site relating to the advertisement provider. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for transmitting the icon information to a computer including an icon information storage unit storing icon information related to an icon used to start a program to be executed. Program code means for causing a computer to store content information in which content information relating to the advertisement provider is stored; and, when identification information is received from the terminal device, an advertisement identified by the received identification information. The content information on the provider is stored in the content information record. A program code means for causing a computer to transmit the searched content information; and an icon relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site relating to the transmitted content information. When an information transmission request is received from the terminal device, a program code means for causing a computer to search the icon information storage unit for icon information relating to the received transmission request, and the computer transmits the searched icon information to the terminal. A program having program code means to be transmitted to the apparatus is recorded.

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, icon information relating to an icon simulating an actual advertisement display unit is stored in advance, and identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by the advertisement display unit is received. Then, icon information relating to an icon imitating the advertisement display unit including the received identification information is extracted from the stored icon information, and an advertisement provider identified by the identification information is identified based on the extracted icon information. An icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site is generated.

As described above, the icon used to activate the program for accessing the WWW site relating to the advertisement provider is based on the icon information on the icon representing the advertisement display means including the identification information of the advertisement provider. Generated. Therefore, it is possible to easily recall the actual advertisement display means from the icon, and as a result, it is possible to easily determine what kind of application the icon is used for.

According to the second, third, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, the content information relating to the advertisement provider identified by the identification information indicated on the actual advertisement display means is acquired, and the acquisition is further performed. Icon information relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site relating to the content information obtained. Then, the icon is generated based on the acquired icon information.

As described above, based on the advertisement provider identification information shown on the actual advertisement display means, the icon used for accessing the WWW site relating to the advertisement provider is generated, so that the user can Can easily obtain advertising information related to stores existing within his or her range of action, while advertising providers are likely to purchase advertising information for users who are likely to actually purchase products etc. Can be provided, so that effective advertising can be performed.

Further, since the content information relating to the advertisement provider is obtained and the above-mentioned icon is generated after confirming the content information, it is possible to access a WWW site which discloses useful information for the user. Icon can be generated.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the icon generation system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an icon information transmitting device, 2, 2,...
Each of the icon information transmitting device 1 and the terminal devices 2, 2... Is connected to the Internet 3.

F indicates a banner provided in the city. The banner F indicates the telephone number and name of the advertisement provider as identification information for identifying the advertisement provider. The user U who sees the banner F pays attention to the last four digits of the telephone number in the identification information indicated on the banner F. After returning home, the user U operates the terminal devices 2, 2,... Installed at home to access the icon information transmitting device 1, and the procedure described later is executed.

FIG. 2 shows an icon information transmitting apparatus 1 according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the icon information transmitting device 1 has a CPU 11, which is connected to the following hardware units, controls them, and executes various programs stored in the hard disk 14. Execute.

The RAM 12 is, for example, an SRAM or a DRA
M and stores temporary data generated when the program is executed. In addition, the external storage device 13 is configured by, for example, a CD-ROM drive or a flexible disk drive, etc., from the portable recording medium 100 such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk in which the program of the icon information transmitting device 1 of the present invention is recorded. Read the program.

The program of the icon information transmitting apparatus 1 according to the present invention is connected to the external server computer 4 via the Internet 3 in addition to reading from the portable recording medium 100 as described above.
Recording medium 5 storing the program incorporated therein
Can be downloaded to the icon information transmitting apparatus 1. Then, the downloaded program is stored in the hard disk 14, and the stored program is stored in the hard disk 14.
When the PU 11 loads the icon information into the RAM 12, the icon information transmitting apparatus 1 can execute processing described later.

The hard disk 14 stores various programs and data necessary for the operation of the icon information transmitting device 1. The stored programs include WWW server software WS, and C
When the PU 11 executes this program, the icon information transmitting device 1 functions as a WWW server.

The modem 15 is a communication interface for connecting to the Internet 3 via an analog line. Note that DSU (Digita
(Service Unit) 15 to connect to the Internet 3 via a digital line of a baseband transmission system. Also, a wireless communication line may be used instead of a wired communication line.

Further, the hard disk 14 has a
It has two databases (a content information DB 14a and an icon information DB 14b). The content information DB 14a, which is the first database, stores content information on the purchasing company that has purchased the banner F.
This content information includes, for example, W
Information such as a part of information published on the WW site is included. For these pieces of content information, an identifier for identifying each piece of content information (hereinafter, referred to as a content information ID) and a telephone number of each purchasing company are shown below.
Digits are given respectively.

Icon information D which is a second database
B14b stores icon information related to an icon used to start a WWW browser program for accessing a WWW site related to the content information described above. The icon information includes image information simulating the banner F and information such as an icon generation program that is a program for generating an icon using the image information. Also, a plurality of the image information are stored, and the above-mentioned content information ID is given to each of the stored image information.

In the present embodiment, the icon information transmitting apparatus 1 is composed of one apparatus, but it is possible to use a plurality of apparatuses to distribute the load. Of course.

Next, the operation of the icon generation system of the present invention will be described. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the operation flow of the icon information transmitting device 1 and the terminal devices 2, 2,... Of the present invention. User U instructs terminal devices 2, 2,... To transmit an access permission request to icon information transmitting device 1. When receiving the instruction from the user U, the terminal devices 2, 2,... Transmit an access permission request to the icon information transmitting device 1 (S101).

[0032] The icon information transmitting device 1 includes a terminal device 2,
2. When an access permission request is received from... (S20
1) The reception screen information on the reception screen for receiving the search for the content information is transmitted to the terminal devices 2, 2,... (S2).
02).

When receiving the reception screen information from the icon information transmission apparatus 1 (S102), the terminal devices 2, 2,... Display the reception screen on the display screen based on the received reception screen information (S103).

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a reception screen displayed on the display screens of the terminal devices 2, 2,. FIG.
In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a display window of a WWW browser.
A telephone number input field 21 for inputting digits, a search button 22 for receiving an instruction to start a search process,
A content information output field 23 for displaying content information and an icon generation button 24 for receiving an icon generation instruction are provided.

The user U uses the input device (not shown) of the terminal device 2, 2... To enter the last four digits of the telephone number indicated on the banner F into the telephone number input field 21 described above. . When the terminal devices 2, 2,... Receive the last four digits of the telephone number from the user U (S104), the terminal devices 2, 2, ... transmit the received last four digits to the icon information transmitting device 1 (S104).
105).

The icon information transmitting device 1 includes a terminal device 2,
When the last four digits of the telephone number are received from 2 ... (S20
3) Retrieve content information from the content information DB 14a using the last four digits of the received telephone number as a key (S2).
04). If the content information has not been searched (NO in S204), search failure information indicating that the search for the content information has failed is transmitted to the terminal devices 2, 2,... (S205).

When receiving the search failure information from the icon information transmitting device 1 (S106), the terminal devices 2, 2,... Display the received search failure information on the display screen (S10).
7). As a result, the user U enters the lower 4
Know that there is no company content information corresponding to the digit.
Here, when the user U inputs the last four digits of the telephone number again, the process may return to step S104 to resume the process.

On the other hand, if the content information is found in step S204 (YES in S204), icon information transmitting apparatus 1 sends the searched content information to terminal apparatuses 2, 2,... (S206). If there is a purchasing company whose telephone numbers have the same last four digits, a plurality of pieces of content information may be searched. In this case, if the plurality of pieces of content information are transmitted to the terminal devices 2, 2,. Good.

When the terminal devices 2, 2,... Receive the content information from the icon information transmitting device 1 (S108),
The received content information is displayed in the content information output field 23 described above (S109).

The user U browses the displayed content information and, when wishing to access a WWW site relating to the content information, clicks an icon generation button 24 shown in the display window. The terminal devices 2, 2,... Detect this click (S11).
0), a transmission request for icon information is transmitted to the icon information transmitting apparatus 1 (S111).

The icon information transmitting device 1 includes a terminal device 2,
When a request for transmission of icon information is received from 2 ... (S2
07), icon information including the image information and the icon generation program related to the received content information ID is searched from the icon information DB 14b (S208). Then, the searched icon information is transmitted to the terminal devices 2, 2,... (S209).

When receiving the icon information from the icon information transmitting device 1 (S112), the terminal devices 2, 2,... Execute the icon generation program included in the received icon information according to the instruction of the user U (S113). .
As a result of the execution, an icon based on the image information is generated and displayed on the display screen (S114).

.. Have already received the icon information from the icon information transmitting apparatus 1, only the new image information is received as the icon information without receiving the icon generation program again. An icon may be generated and displayed.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a desktop screen displayed on the display screens of the terminal devices 2, 2,.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 30 denotes a desktop. The desktop 30 displays icons 31, 31... Used to start various programs, and the icon 32 generated in step S114 described above. I have. Here, when the user U clicks the icon 32, the WWW browser software starts up and the desired WW
You can automatically access the W site.

As shown in FIG. 6, the icon 32 has an appearance imitating the banner F, and is animated by icon information so as to imitate the appearance of the banner F flying in the wind. Therefore, it is easy for the user U to recall the situation where he actually saw the climb F,
It is possible to easily determine which advertisement provider is the icon to be clicked to access the WWW site.

In the present embodiment, the above-described processing is executed using the last four digits of the telephone number in the identification information indicated on the banner F. It goes without saying that information such as the name of the person may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the banner F is used as the advertisement display means, but it is needless to say that other advertisement display means such as a signboard may be used.

[0048]

As described in detail above, according to the icon generating method according to the first aspect and the icon information transmitting apparatus according to the fourth aspect, in order to activate a program for accessing a WWW site related to an advertisement provider. By generating an icon to be used based on icon information on an icon imitating the advertisement display unit including the identification information of the advertisement provider, it is possible to easily recall the actual advertisement display unit from the generated icon. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine the purpose of the icon.

An icon generation method according to a second aspect, an icon generation system according to a third aspect, and a fifth aspect.
According to the icon information transmitting device described in (1) and the recording medium described in (6), based on the identification information of the advertisement provider indicated on the existing advertisement display means, access to the WWW site related to the advertisement provider is performed. In order to generate the icons used for the purpose, it is possible for the user to easily acquire the advertisement information relating to the store existing within his / her own activity range, while for the advertisement provider to actually purchase the product, etc. The present invention has an excellent effect, for example, since it is possible to provide advertisement information to a person who is likely to perform the advertisement, thereby enabling effective advertisement.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an icon generation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an icon information transmitting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the icon information transmitting device and the terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the icon information transmitting device and the terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a screen example of a reception screen displayed on a display screen of a terminal device.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a desktop screen displayed on a display screen of a terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Icon information transmission device 2 Terminal device 3 Internet 100 Portable recording medium F Nobori U User

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Icon generation for generating an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to an advertisement provider based on identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated on an actual advertisement display unit. A method for receiving the identification information; extracting, based on the received identification information, icon information relating to an icon imitating the existing advertisement display means stored in advance; and Generating an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider identified by the received identification information based on the received identification information. 2. Icon generation for generating an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider based on identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated on an actual advertisement display unit. A method comprising: acquiring content information on an advertisement provider identified by identification information indicated by the advertisement display means; and activating a program for accessing a WWW site related to the acquired content information. An icon generation method comprising: a step of obtaining icon information on an icon to be obtained; and a step of generating the icon based on the obtained icon information. 3. A terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means, and a terminal device for starting a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider. An icon information storage unit in which icon information relating to the icon to be stored is stored, and an icon information transmission device including a unit for transmitting the icon information, wherein the terminal device is configured to execute the operation based on the icon information received from the icon information transmission device. An icon generation system configured to generate the icon, wherein the icon information transmitting device receives a content information storage unit storing content information about the advertisement provider, and identification information from the terminal device. Content information about the advertising provider identified by the received identification information A first search unit for searching for information from the content information storage unit; and a unit for transmitting the content information searched for by the first search unit. The terminal device further comprises: Means for transmitting a request for transmitting icon information relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site relating to information, wherein the icon information transmitting apparatus further comprises: An icon generation system comprising: a second search unit that searches the icon information storage unit for icon information according to the above, and a unit that transmits the icon information searched by the second search unit to the terminal device. 4. A program which is connected to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means and starts a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider. An icon information transmission device comprising: an icon information storage unit in which icon information relating to an icon to be used is stored; and a unit for transmitting the icon information, wherein, when identification information is received from the terminal device, Icon information comprising: searching means for searching icon information storage unit for icon information relating to an icon imitating advertisement displaying means; and means for transmitting the icon information searched by the searching means to the terminal device. Transmission device. 5. A program for connecting to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means, and for starting a program for accessing a WWW site related to the advertisement provider. An icon information transmission device comprising: an icon information storage unit storing icon information on an icon to be used; and a unit for transmitting the icon information, wherein a content information storage unit storing content information on the advertisement provider; A first search unit for searching the content information storage unit for content information on an advertisement provider identified by the received identification information when receiving the identification information from the terminal device; and a content searched by the first search unit. Means for transmitting information to the terminal device; and When a request for transmitting icon information related to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site is received from the terminal device, a second search for searching the icon information storage unit for icon information related to the received transmission request Means for transmitting the icon information retrieved by the second retrieval means to the terminal device. 6. A program which is connected to a terminal device having means for transmitting identification information for identifying an advertisement provider indicated by an actual advertisement display means and starts a program for accessing a WWW site relating to the advertisement provider. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for transmitting the icon information to a computer including an icon information storage unit in which icon information relating to an icon to be used is stored. Program code means for storing content information in which content information about a provider is stored; and when receiving identification information from the terminal device, the computer sends the content information about the advertisement provider identified by the received identification information to the computer. A program to be searched from the content information storage unit A program code means for causing a computer to transmit the searched content information; and a request for transmitting icon information relating to an icon used to start a program for accessing a WWW site relating to the transmitted content information. A program code unit that, when received from the terminal device, causes a computer to search the icon information storage unit for icon information relating to the received transmission request; and a program that causes a computer to transmit the searched icon information to the terminal device. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program having code means.