JP2002007769A - Method for information service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To readily provide a service for obtaining information data which a user is interested in and desires. SOLUTION: In this method for an information service, a server on the side of an intermediating company receives linking information on the liking of the user from a user terminal to store it in a user database, receives related information on distributable information data from the server on the side of a distribution company to store it in a related information database, and retrieves the related information which matches with the liking of a user, based on the user database and the related information database, to transmit the retrieved related information to the user terminal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information service method for providing information data such as music, movies or game software using a communication line.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There has been a service for distributing information data such as music using a communication line such as the Internet. This means that a user who wants to distribute information data such as music can use his or her personal computer (PC).
Or a mobile terminal or the like to access the information data distribution site via the Internet, download the information data from the information data distribution site to its own PC or the memory of the mobile terminal, store it, and execute a specific reproduction software. That is, the stored information data is reproduced.

[0003]

However, in the conventional information data distribution service, the information data that the user wants to access cannot be found unless the user searches for an information data distribution site by himself / herself. Were not all present in one site. Therefore, it has been difficult to immediately access desired information data.

[0004] For this reason, the user must somehow search for the desired information data on the network. When the user somehow searches for the information data, the information may have already deteriorated in quality. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to provide a service that enables a user to easily obtain desired information data of high interest.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in an information service method according to the present invention, an intermediary company server receives preference information on user preferences from a user terminal, stores the preference information in a user database, and distributes the information. Receives related information on information data that can be distributed from the company server and stores it in the related information database, and searches for related information that matches the user's preference based on the user database and the related information database. The information is transmitted to the user terminal. Information that matches the user's preference can be provided in real time.

[0006] Further, it is preferable that the intermediary company server receives related information on information data that can be distributed from a plurality of distribution company servers. Further, the preference information is preferably received based on a questionnaire transmitted from the intermediary company server to the user terminal, and the questionnaire may be a fortune-telling format, a character determination format, a conversation format with a character, or a game format. It is preferable to be composed of The user's preferences can be checked not directly but indirectly.

Further, the preference information preferably includes history information of the distribution request transmitted from the user terminal. Furthermore, it is preferable that the preference information includes position information indicating the position of the user terminal transmitted from the user terminal. Furthermore, the searched related information transmitted to the user terminal is preferably transmitted as an e-mail magazine, and the e-mail magazine describes an address accessible to the intermediary company server, or information that can be distributed. It is preferable that data excerpt data is attached. This allows the user to provide more detailed services.

Further, it is preferable that the transmission of the searched related information to the user terminal is performed every time the related information relating to the new distributable information data is received from the distribution company. The latest information can be provided to the user. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information service method according to the present invention is characterized in that an intermediary company server receives preference information on a user's preference from a user terminal, stores the information in a user database, Related information about data is received and stored in a related information database, a related information matching a user's preference is searched based on a user database and the related information database, and a home page is created for each user based on the searched related information. It is characterized in that it is created. Each user can simply access a predetermined homepage at any time.

[0009] Further, it is preferable to update the homepage every time the relevant information on the new distributable information data is received from the distribution company, and every time the homepage is updated, the homepage is updated for the user terminal. It is preferable to transmit information to the effect. The latest information can be provided for each user. Furthermore, it is preferable that the contents of the home page can be rewritten by an instruction from the user terminal, and it is preferable that the contents be automatically rewritten based on history information of a distribution request transmitted from the user terminal.

[0010] Further, it is preferable that the contents of the home page be automatically rewritten based on position information indicating the position of the user terminal transmitted from the user terminal. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the information service method according to the present invention is such that the intermediary company server can receive the preference information on the user's preference from the user terminal, store the information in the user database, and distribute the information from a plurality of distribution company servers Related information related to various information data is stored in a related information database. Based on the user database and the related information database, related information matching the user's preference is searched. The method is characterized in that low related information is selected, and the selected related information is transmitted to the user terminal.

Further, the intermediary company server receives a distribution request for information data corresponding to the relevant information from the user terminal, transmits the relevant information to one of the plurality of distribution company servers, and It is preferable to receive the corresponding information data and transmit the received information data to the user terminal. Further, it is preferable that the intermediary company server stores information data corresponding to the related information received by one of the plurality of distribution company servers. Since music data is temporarily stored in the intermediary company server, it is possible to prevent data loss and data transmission errors at the user terminal when a large amount of music distribution is executed at once.

Further, it is preferable that the intermediary company server receives a distribution request for information data corresponding to the related information from a user terminal, and transmits the relevant information to one of the plurality of distribution company servers. The distribution can be performed directly from the distribution company server to the user terminal without going through the intermediary company server.

[0013]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a music distribution method according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a system according to the music distribution method of the present invention. 10 is a network such as the Internet, 20
Is a broker company server, 30 is a provider, 50 is a distribution company A side server, 60 is a distribution company B side server, and 70 is a distribution company C side server. Various servers and terminals are connected to the network 10. A plurality of user terminals 40 are further connected to the provider 30 using a telephone line or the like so as to be accessible.

The user terminal 40 is a PC, an in-vehicle terminal, a mobile phone, or the like, and outputs position information of the user terminal 40.
A navigation device such as a GPS device is provided. In the case of a terminal used in a house, the position information may be stored by manual input, and the position information may be used. Although FIG. 1 illustrates one user terminal 40, it is preferable that a plurality of user terminals be connected to a network via a plurality of providers. Further, in FIG. 1, three distribution companies A to C are described, but the number is not limited to three, and more distribution companies may be connected to the network.

The intermediary company server 20 is composed of a CPU and the like, and has a processing unit 21 having various communication functions and data processing functions, and a keyboard and mouse, etc., an input unit 22 capable of inputting various data, a display and An output unit 23 is configured by a printer or the like and capable of displaying or printing out various data, and a storage unit 24 configured by a memory or the like and capable of storing various data. The storage unit 24 also stores a main program, a user database 25 (hereinafter, referred to as a “user DB”) that records information about users, and a related information database 26 (hereinafter, “related”) related to information data provided by a distribution company. Information DB ”) is stored.

The distribution company A-side server 50 includes a CPU and the like, a processing unit 51 having various communication functions and data processing functions, a keyboard and a mouse, etc., and an input unit 52 capable of inputting various data. An output unit 53 is configured by a display, a printer, and the like, and is capable of displaying or printing out various data. The storage unit 54 is configured by a memory and the like, and is capable of storing various data. The storage unit 54 stores an information data database 55 (hereinafter, referred to as “information data DB”) in which information data and the like provided by the distribution company A server 50 are stored. The distribution company B side server 60 and the distribution company C side server have the same configuration as the distribution company A side server.

FIG. 2 shows that a user accesses an intermediary company,
It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the initial setting for registering user personal information etc. The procedure of FIG.
0 is executed by the processing unit 21 in accordance with the main program stored in the storage unit 24 of “0”. First, the user terminal 40 connects to the intermediary company server 2 via the provider 30 or the like.
0 and transmits a request for a user ID, and the intermediary company server 20 receives the user ID request (step 2).
02).

Next, the intermediary company server 20 stores the user ID
Is automatically set, the set user ID is added, and a user personal information input screen for inputting the user's personal information is transmitted in the form of a questionnaire (step 203).
FIG. 3 shows an example of the user registration screen. In FIG. 3, 3
01 indicates a user ID automatically set by the intermediary company server 20. Reference numerals 302 to 313 denote spaces for inputting various data, and the user inputs necessary items in the spaces. Also, 313 to 315
Is a button for shifting to a screen for determining fortune-telling or the like.
For example, when the button 315 is clicked, a personality determination screen as shown in FIG. 4 is transmitted from the intermediary company server 20 to the user terminal 40.

In FIG. 4, the user answers the questions Q1 to Q11 with YES or NO,
The user decides which type of V-type is identified, and clicks on one of the buttons 401 to 404 of the corresponding type. Then, the result is transmitted to the intermediary company server 20, and the fact that the character of the user is the type clicked is stored. The categorization method is not limited to the method shown in FIG. 4, and various methods can be adopted. Similarly, the button 31 of FIG.
If you click 4, the screen will move to a screen that identifies the user to one of four predetermined types while performing fortune-telling.
Clicking the button 316 in FIG. 3 shifts to a screen for identifying the user to one of four predetermined types by talking with a character (such as an animation or a game), and clicking the button 317 in FIG. Then, while playing the game, the screen shifts to a screen for identifying the user to one of four predetermined types.

As described above, the information entered using the questionnaire format user personal information input screens 302 to 313 shown in FIG. 3 and the information regarding the user determined from the screens 313 to 317 shown in FIG. Is received by the intermediary company server 20 as user information (step 20).
4) stored in the user DB 25 (step 20)
5), the initial setting is completed (step 206).

The user DB 25 created in this way
An example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a user I
D, 502 is the user's name, 503 is the user's email address, 504 is the user's address, 505 is the user's gender, 506 is the user's age, 507 is the user's blood type,
508 is the user's favorite music genre, 509 is the user's favorite singer (artist) name, 510 is the user's favorite movie genre, 511 is the user's favorite actor name,
512 is a user's favorite game genre, 513 is a character name of the user's favorite (anime, game, etc.),
514 is a fortune-telling type, 515 is a character judgment type (type determined from 315 in FIG. 3 to the screen in FIG. 4), 516 is a character type, 517 is a game type, 518 is position data of the user terminal 40, and 519 is a user. Respectively shows home data. The data items making up the user DB 25 are not limited to these, and various other data items can be added, or the current item can be deleted.

Here, the favorite music genres 508 include pop songs, pops, jazz, enka songs and nursery rhymes, and the favorite movie genres 510 include adventure, horror, science fiction, action and comedy, and the like. Favorite game genres include shooting, puzzles and role playing. Position data 51
8 is data output from the navigation system 41 attached to the user terminal 40. The position data 518 is not provided from the input screen shown in FIG. 3 but at an appropriate timing during the progress of the procedure shown in FIG.
Preferably, the information is automatically transmitted from 0 to the intermediary company server 20. Further, the position data 518 is preferably information indicating, for example, the latitude and longitude on the earth where the user terminal 20 is located.

As described above, according to the procedure shown in FIG.
Information necessary for specifying the user and preference information (including position information) for specifying the user's preference can be stored in the user DB 25 of the mediation company server 20. Next, referring to FIG. 6, each distribution company server 50, 6
A procedure in which the broker information server 20 obtains the new information which has started distribution by 0 and 70 will be described. The procedure of FIG. 6 is executed by the processing unit 21 according to the main program stored in the storage unit 24 of the intermediary company server 20.

First, each of the distribution company servers 50, 60 and 70 inputs the data itself of the information data to start the distribution and the input of the relevant information relating to the information data to start the distribution by the input sections 52, 62, And 72 and the like. Next, each of the distribution company servers 50, 60, and 70 stores the data itself and the like in the information data DBs 55, 65, and 75, and transmits the related information to the intermediary company server 20.

Next, the intermediary company server 20 receives such new information from each of the distribution company servers 50, 60 and 70 as needed or periodically (step 602). FIG. 7 shows an example of the information data DBs 55, 65, and 75. FIG.
701 indicates a code number of information data,
02 indicates excerpt data of the information data, and 703 indicates the information data itself. Here, the excerpt data 702 is
For example, it refers to data that records only the chorus part of a song.
Here, the information data 703 is MP3 (MPE).
G1 Audio Layer 3) is stored after being converted to a format, but other compression techniques, for example, Twi
nVQ, Windows (R) MediaTe
technologies, or ATRAC (registered trademark) 3
It is also possible to adopt a data format compressed by the above method.

Next, the related information received by the intermediary company server 20 is stored in the related information DB 26 (step 603).
An example of the related information DB 26 is shown in FIG. The items described in FIG. 8 are the related information received from each distribution company server. 8, 801 is the code number of the information data, 802 is the name of the information data, 803 is the identification information of the information data, 804 is the excerpt data from the information data (corresponding to 702 in FIG. 7), and 805 is the most Suitable age range, 806 is the blood type most suitable for the information data, 807 is the music genre of the information data, 808 is the name of the artist or singer who is playing the information data, 809 is the genre of the movie of the information data, 810 is the name of an actor appearing or leading in the movie of the information data, 811
Is the genre name of the game of the information data, 812 is the character name appearing in the game of the information data, 813 is a fortune-telling type most suitable for the information data, 814 is a character judgment type most suitable for the information data, and 815 is the most suitable type for the information data. A suitable character type, 816 is a game type most suitable for information data, 817 is a name of a distribution company capable of distributing information data, 818 is a distribution price for distributing information data,
Reference numeral 819 indicates position data most suitable for information data. The data items making up the related information DB 26 are not limited to these, and various other data items can be added, or the current item can be deleted. For example, it is assumed that the fortune-telling type of the information data is determined in advance by the distribution company or the intermediary company.

Here, the corresponding position data is data indicating that the information data is related to a specific area, a specific prefecture or a specific city, and is specified, for example, in the range of latitude and longitude on the earth. . If the information data is not related to a specific area or the like, no position data is set, and such information data is handled as data corresponding to all areas.

Next, the intermediary company server 20 stores the related information D
B26 is searched (step 604), and for each user,
It is determined whether or not there is related information that matches the preference of each user (step 605). Specifically, the user DB2
It is searched whether or not the related information matching the taste of the user ID = 1002 registered in 5 is registered in the related information DB 26. Whether the preference is met or not is determined by, for example, a favorite music genre (508 in FIG. 5), a favorite singer name (509 in FIG. 5), and a personality determination type (515 in FIG. 5).
Is determined by searching the related information DB 26 for related information that matches.

For example, when the user terminal 40 is a PC fixed to the user's home, the location data 518 corresponding to the position where the user's home is located is used to determine the area where the user terminal 40 is located. Is searched using the corresponding position data 819 of the related information DB. When the user terminal 40 is an in-vehicle terminal or the like and moves along with the movement of the car, the position data 5 corresponding to the position of the movement place is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the car.
18, the information data related to the area where the user terminal 40 is located is stored in the corresponding position data 819 of the related information DB.
Will be searched for. This is so that information data corresponding to the place can be obtained at the travel destination. Preferably, the position data 518 is updated to data corresponding to the latest current position at a predetermined timing or periodically. In addition, a fixed position such as a home and a moving position where the vehicle moves as the vehicle moves are separately registered (518 and 51 in FIG. 5).
9), a method of searching for information data related to the home position and the moving position by updating only the moving position is also effective.

Further, it can be freely set by the user or the intermediary company server 20 as to what data items match and whether the data items match the user's preference. When the user terminal 40 is a mobile terminal, it is preferable that the search data items can be changed between when the user terminal 40 is located at home and when the user terminal 40 travels.

If it is determined in step 605 that there is no related information that matches the user's preference, a series of procedures ends (step 609). In step 605, if there is related information that matches the user's preference, the matching related information is extracted (step 606), and a mail magazine to the user is created based on the extracted related information (step 607). ). For example, user ID = 1002
And the code number 1000
Assuming that the related information related to 002 has been extracted, a mail magazine as shown in FIG. 9 is created.

In this case, there is a possibility that the same related information data matching the user's preference can be distributed from a plurality of distribution companies. In such a case, the distribution price information (FIG. 8)
818), the intermediary company server 20 may be configured to automatically select the lowest-priced distribution company server. Next, the intermediary company server 20 transmits the created mail magazine to the user's e-mail address registered in the user DB 25 (step 60).
8), a series of procedures ends (step 609).

In this way, when the user opens the transmitted e-mail magazine at the user terminal 40, it becomes possible to automatically receive the relevant information that matches his / her preference. The user who has received the mail magazine as shown in FIG. 9 can receive the information data of code number 100002 by accessing the intermediary company or the distribution company A. In fact, when it is desired to receive the distribution of the information data with the code number 100002, the user can directly access the distribution company A to receive the distribution (download) of the information data. Alternatively, first, the user terminal 40 accesses the intermediary company server 20, and then the intermediary company server 20 can temporarily receive and store the information data from the distribution company A, and then distribute (download) the information data to the user terminal 40. Once the information data is stored in the intermediary company server 20, even if a communication error or the like occurs between the intermediary company server 20 and the user terminal 40, the distribution can be easily performed again, which is effective.

In the case where an agreement has been made with the user in advance, the mail magazine transmitted to the user includes:
Information data itself (703 in FIG. 7) as an attached file
It is also possible to attach and transmit. If there is a problem in transmitting the information data itself as an attached file from the viewpoint of the amount of data or the like, only the excerpt data (702 in FIG. 7) is attached as an attached file, and the user can input, for example, a rust portion of music. Only the user terminal 40 may be made to be able to reproduce it. Further, it is desirable to describe in the mail magazine an access address of a destination to which the information data notified by the mail magazine can be received. If the user opens the e-mail magazine and wants to receive the distribution of the notified music data, the user can click the access address to access the destination (the brokerage company or the distribution company A). It is desirable to configure.

Further, in this way, the history information of the distribution request of the information data transmitted by the user terminal 40 is stored in the storage unit 24 of the intermediary company server 20, and further user preference is determined based on the past history. It is also possible. Further, the transmission history of the past e-mail magazine, the distribution history from the user, and the like are put together, and the mediation company server 20 provides the homepage format for each user so that each user can access his / her own homepage. Then, the user may be able to more easily access related information that matches his / her preference. FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of such a homepage. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a search item for which the user has requested automatic transmission of an e-mail magazine, 1002 denotes a transmission history of a past e-mail magazine, and 1003 denotes a history of a distribution request from the user. ing. Data items posted on the homepage as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, it is preferable that a change such as addition or deletion can be freely performed in the intermediary company server 20. By doing so, it is possible to provide information that more closely matches the user's preference.

It should be noted that the contents of the home page shown in FIG.
It is preferred that this is done every time it is received from 0, 60, 70 or the like. It is also possible to record the access history to the homepage for a predetermined period, and change the content of the homepage based on the history information.
Further, based on the position data 518 from the user terminal 40, it is also possible to change the contents of the home page every time the position data 518 changes.

[0037]

According to the present invention, when new information matching the user's preference registered in advance is found, the user can automatically receive the information, so that the user can obtain information matching the user's preference. It has become possible to greatly reduce the labor for

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a system for implementing a music distribution method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing initial registration of a user.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a user personal information input screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for determining a user's preference.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user DB.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for automatically transmitting information to a user.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information data DB.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a related information DB.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an e-mail.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of creating a homepage for each user.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Network 20 ... Intermediary company server 30 ... Provider 40 ... User terminal 50 ... Distribution company A side server 60 ... Distribution company B side server 70 ... Distribution company C side server

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G06F 17/40 310 G06F 17/40 310Z

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An intermediary company server receives preference information on a user's preference from a user terminal and stores it in a user database, and receives related information on distributable information data from a distribution company server and stores it in the related information database. An information service method comprising: searching for related information that matches a user's preference based on the user database and the related information database; and transmitting the searched related information to the user terminal. 2. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the intermediary company server receives related information on information data that can be distributed from a plurality of distribution company servers. 3. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the preference information is received based on a questionnaire transmitted from the intermediary company server to the user terminal. 4. The information service method according to claim 3, wherein the questionnaire is configured in a fortune-telling format. 5. The information service method according to claim 3, wherein the questionnaire is configured in a form of personality judgment. 6. The information service method according to claim 3, wherein the questionnaire is configured in a conversation style with a character. 7. The information service method according to claim 3, wherein the questionnaire is configured in a game format. 8. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the preference information includes distribution request history information transmitted from the user terminal. 9. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the preference information includes position information indicating a position of the user terminal transmitted from the user terminal. 10. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the searched related information transmitted to the user terminal is transmitted as a mail magazine. 11. The information service method according to claim 9, wherein an address accessible to the intermediary company server is described in the mail magazine. 12. The mail magazine is attached with excerpt data of the distributable information data.
Information service method described in. 13. The information service method according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the searched related information to the user terminal is performed every time the related information relating to new distributable information data is received from the distribution company. . 14. An intermediary company server receives preference information on a user's preference from a user terminal and stores it in a user database, and receives related information on distributable information data from a distribution company server and stores it in the related information database. An information service method comprising: searching for related information that matches a user's preference based on the user database and the related information database; and creating a homepage for each user based on the searched related information. . 15. The information service method according to claim 14, wherein the homepage is updated each time relevant information relating to new distributable information data is received from the distribution company. 16. Every time the homepage is updated,
16. The information service method according to claim 15, wherein information indicating that the homepage has been updated is transmitted to the user terminal. 17. The information service method according to claim 14, wherein the content of the home page can be rewritten according to an instruction from the user terminal. 18. The information service method according to claim 14, wherein the content of the home page is automatically rewritten based on history information of a distribution request transmitted from the user terminal. 19. The information service method according to claim 14, wherein the content of the home page is automatically rewritten based on position information indicating the position of the user terminal transmitted from the user terminal. 20. An intermediary company server, receives preference information on user's preference from a user terminal and stores it in a user database, and receives related information on information data that can be distributed from a plurality of distribution company servers and receives a related information database. Based on the user database and the related information database, search for related information that matches the user's preference, select the related information with the lowest distribution price from the searched related information, and select the selected related information. An information service method comprising transmitting information to the user terminal. 21. The intermediary company server further receives a distribution request for information data corresponding to the related information from the user terminal, and transmits the related information to one of the plurality of distribution company servers. The information service method according to claim 20, wherein the information data corresponding to the related information is received, and the received information data is transmitted to the user terminal. 22. The information service method according to claim 21, wherein the intermediary company server stores information data corresponding to the related information received by one of the plurality of distribution company servers. 23. Further, the intermediary company server receives a distribution request for information data corresponding to the related information from the user terminal, and transmits the relevant information to one of the plurality of distribution company servers. The information service method according to claim 20.